Tin Roof

And the rest was... 📚

Historic conversations roundup for Columbia, SC
History round up image
Photos from some of Columbia’s historic moments. | Photos from Richland Library’s photo archives and COLAtoday team.
Before we look forward to 2023, let’s take a look back at 2022 — actually, let’s take it a step further than just 2022. We’re rounding up several history pieces we wrote this year and sharing tales from Columbia’s past.

The history of COLAtoday | Why not start with our own history? COLAtoday was born on April 3, 2017 — well, the newsletter anyways. For those of you who’ve been following along since 2017, thank you. For all others, allow us to (re)introduce ourselves with this story.

History of Columbia’s oldest restaurant, Villa Tronco | Villa Tronco is arguably the oldest restaurant in Columbia and this is the story of how “Mama Tronco'' introduced pizza to Columbia when she helped feed Northern soldiers in WWII who were stationed at Fort Jackson.

The Great Banana Explosion from 1946 | Stretching about 10 blocks, Assembly Street’s curb market was Columbia’s agriculture hub for produce for over 80 years. On Thursday, Nov. 14, 1946, The State Newspaper reported there was a 100-ft wide explosion that had a lot to do with a banana-ripening chamber + a cigarette.

Brutalism - Cola’s most popular architectural style | Between the early 1950s and 1970s, Columbia went through a rebirth of construction and modern architecture that defines the landscape of our city today.

A quick history of Columbia’s Arcade Mall | Originally built-in 1912, the Arcade Mall has changed several times over the last century. After undergoing a renovation in 2016, it began welcoming several new businesses. Take a closer look at the history of the Arcade Mall and the businesses that make it a modern-day bustling lunchtime spot.

Celebrating 42 years of Cocky | Can you believe there was a time in history when Soda Citizens didn’t like Cocky? Read through the full history of our hero — I mean USC’s mascot — via a timeline that begins in 1971.

Want more? Scroll through the entire “History” section on our website.

What was your favorite local history article from 2022?
LET US KNOW HERE
MUSC Health

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Friday, Dec. 23
  • Columbia Open Studios is NOW OPEN!! | Friday, Dec. 23-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 12-12 a.m. | 701 Center for Contemporary Art, 701 Whaley St., Columbia | $75-$125 | This will be the thirteenth installment of 701 CCA’s Columbia Open Studios, during which the public is invited to spend two days visiting artists’ studios throughout the City of Columbia and Richland and Lexington Counties.
  • Winter Stars Planetarium Experience | Friday, Dec. 23-Sunday, Feb. 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $11.95-$13.95 | Explore the beauty of the night sky in the South Carolina State Museum’s 55-ft. digital dome planetarium.*
Sunday, Dec. 25
Saturday, Dec. 31
  • Brew Year’s Eve Brunch! | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 12-2 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Get the NYE party started with all-you-can-eat pancakes and chicken & waffles, plus other brunch specials from 12-2 p.m.*
  • New Years Eve Celebration at The Grand | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 7 p.m. | The Grand, 1621 Main St., Columbia | Join The Grand for a New Year’s Eve bash featuring grand drinks and food, bowling, a DJ, and a countdown to the ball drop.
  • New Year’s Eve 2023 | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 7 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St., Columbia | Join in on the New Year’s fun with this block party featuring two stages, live music, three bars, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, a balloon drop at The Senate, and a confetti cannon at Tin Roof.
  • New Year’s Eve Party Thru The Decades | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | Chayz Lounge, 607 Meeting St., West, Columbia | $85 | The Tre’King Band will have you up and grooving to the hottest hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s ‘til the drops.
  • Red Carpet NYE 2023 Sponsored by Moet | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m.-1 a.m. | Smoked on Main, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $125-$ | Ring in the new year at Smoked on Main Street and enjoy food, drinks, a photo booth, a DJ, and a band.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
Cool Care Heating & Air

Weather
  • 39º | Cloudy | 0% chance of rain ☁️
Biz
  • Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits (2430 Main St.) is opening an additional location with an abbreviated menu inside of Richland Library (1431 Assembly St.). It will serve its “Signature Biscuits” as well as some avocado toast from AvoGato. 🍞
History
  • You could say it was love at frost sight. Cola’s earliest snowfall record happened on Nov. 1, 2014, and looking at upcoming weather predictions, meteorologists are expecting cold and dry conditions. ☃️
  • Did you know there are 184 National Historic Places in Richland County? Buildings, objects, sites, and city blocks all across Columbia are worthy of preservation. Contact your State Historic Preservation Office if you’ve got a tip on an unsurveyed historic place.
Volunteer
  • For the season of giving, we’ve come up with 35 ways to volunteer and spread cheer to families in need, like Families Helping Families. Know of other ways to help out that we missed? Shoot us an email so we can spread the word. 🎁
Shop
Feel Good
  • Time to give MUSC Health’s Therapy Animal Program a round of a-paws. In addition to the good work they do all year, 22 teams of therapy dogs + their volunteer humans joined a Howliday Parade to brighten the season for patients at several MUSC Health locations. (Have a dog with love to give? Consider volunteering.) 🐶 *
Award
Drink
  • Scrambling to find a last minute gift? Enter: Flaviar — a subscription for those who love premium spirits. Send loved ones a gift subscription and they’ll have the opportunity to taste new, rare, and limited edition spirits of their choice each month. 🥃*
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Columbia Fireflies

Taking a break
Christmas tree lighting Columbia SC
Happy holidays from COLAtoday. | Photo by COLAtoday team.
As we sit down to our laptops for the last time in 2022, it’s nice to reflect back on the year behind us and be thankful for all the great stories we were able to write.

From exploring Columbia’s growing skate scene to our “Hit the Road” summer road trip series, we had fun sharing this wonderful city with you. Thank you for being a reader of COLAtoday.

We will be taking a break next week, catching our breath and spending time with friends and family. Your next regularly scheduled newsletter will hit your inbox Jan. 3, 2023. We hope you’re able to step away as well. And if you find yourself with some downtime, here are a few ways to get out there and explore Cola:
Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

-Sam and David
Nephron Pharmaceuticals
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: Though we are taking a break for the rest of the year, both David and I want you to know that we couldn’t do this without you. Your likes, comments, emails + shares help our COLAtoday team in our goal of connecting communities. Your support is the ultimate gift and we hope you’ll spend time reflecting on the year past and enjoying time with your loved ones.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out predictions for Columbia real estate for 2023, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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