Still here after all these years 🥂

Now and Then: Columbia Nightlife

Bars in Five Points come and go, but these Soda City nightlife establishments have stood the test of time in one way or another.

Thanks to Richland Library’s digital image archive, we tracked down three historic photos of Columbia’s late-night spots (the earliest dating back to 1936) and retook the pictures to show you how they appear today.

🤖 Art Bar

Opened in 1992 in the former Continental Tire location in the Vista, Art Bar celebrated 30 years of embracing Columbia’s alternative culture last September.

The Cola staple has become known for its welcoming atmosphere and as a hot spot for open mic comedy, karaoke, trivia, and live music. It’s also known for its large robots by artist and furniture designer Clark Ellefson, who was one of the original owners.

🍎 The Big Apple

In the 1930s, the former House of Peace synagogue was turned into a dance hall where Black youth from surrounding neighborhoods would gather and dance to upbeat jazz tunes on the pine wood floor. Students from USC would watch from the balconies and admire the dance moves that would go on to start a national craze.

“The Big Apple” dance was performed at Roxy Theaters across the country and even inspired a hit song. The club opened a few more times in the 1940s, but never regained its initial popularity. It was moved to its current location in 1984 from 1318 Park St.

Goatfeathers now and then — Goatfeathers as seen in 1982 and 2023. Photos via Richland Library Digital Archive and COLAtoday

🪶 Goatfeathers

When Goatfeathers opened its doors in the early 1980s, it was the premiere place to grab gourmet coffee and pastries. Jeff Helsey — the original owner and one of the founders of Art Bar — is known for introducing the first cappuccino machine to South Carolina and offering the first Guinness Stout, among other things.

Today Goatfeathers is owned and operated by USC graduate Opie Patterson, who reopened the iconic Five Points bar in 2014 under its beloved nickname, “Goat’s.”

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Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, January 9

Mama To Be Pelvic Health Workshop | Mon., Jan. 9 | 5-7 p.m. | Femme X Columbia, 1501 Richland St., Columbia | $35.00 | Join Dr. Meghan from 5-7 pm for a pregnancy workshop to learn all about your pelvic floor and pregnancy.

Tuesday, January 10

Titos Tuesday at Boku | Tue., Jan. 10 - Tue., Nov. 12 | 4-11 p.m. | Boku Kitchen + Saloon, 916 Gervais St., Columbia | Every Tuesday Boku will have $5 Titos cocktails open to close on top of its happy hour which includes $4 Sake Bombs, $5 appetizers, $6 wine and $7 cocktails from 4-7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 11

An Evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson | Wed., Jan. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $39.00 - $167.00 | Spend an evening with Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and best selling author, discussing the greatest hits of the cosmos over the past two years.
Indigo Girls | Wed., Jan. 11 | 7:30 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $39.50 | The American folk rock duo from Atlanta return to Columbia in support of their new album “Look Long.”
Stroller Tour: Featured Exhibition | Wed., Jan. 11 | 2-3 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | Bring your little ones along for the ride on a stroller-friendly tour of The Art of Elizabeth Catlett for caregivers with babies up to age two (crying and wiggling welcome).*

Thursday, January 12

Oyster Roast Featuring Sycamore Brewing | Thu., Jan. 12 | 6-9 p.m. | The Grand On Main, 1621 Main St., Columbia | Tickets include all-you-can-eat oysters and two beers from Sycamore Brewing.

Friday, January 13

River Rat Brewery Oyster Roast and BBQ | Fri., Jan. 13 | 6-10 p.m. | River Rat Brewery, 1231 Shop Rd., Columbia | $65.00 | Stop by for fresh select oysters and in-house smoked BBQ pork, baked beans, rolls, and coleslaw.

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

Weather

61º | Sunny | 7% chance of rain

Number

$323 million. That’s the amount an unnamed maker of electric vehicle battery components could invest in a manufacturing plant in Richland County. The plant would be located on 206 acres at the Pineview Industrial Park. 🔋 (The Post and Courier)

Read

Curious to see what Soda Citizens read in 2022? Richland Library released a list of its top checkouts from every category. Beyond books — seeds, photography kits, and sewing machines were the top checkouts from the Library of Things. 📚

Concert

Rock band Big Head Todd and the Monsters — best known for their top 10 1990s singles “Bittersweet” and “Broken Hearted Savior” — will be at The Senate on Thursday, March 16. Tickets are on sale now if you want to catch them on their “2023 Winter Tour.” 👹

Try This

Can you build the fastest soapbox in the Midlands? Registration is open for West Columbia’s Kinetic Derby Day, an annual Soapbox Derby event happening on Saturday, April 22. Register here to build, race, volunteer, or be a vendor as the cars zip down Meeting Street. 🏎️

Cause

Looking to make a difference in 2023? Step one: Become a blood donor. Pro tip: January is National Blood Donor Month, which means it’s a great time to help your neighbors and save lives in our community. Schedule a donation appointment. 🩸 *

Health

Open enrollment is ending soon. Under 65 and looking for health coverage? Don’t go uninsured this year — health insurance experts at your local South Carolina BLUE℠ Retail Center are ready to help you find the right plan for you. Secure your health coverage for 2023 before it’s too late.*
Are you 55+ and in need of healthcare? Palmetto Primary Care Physicians’ West Columbia office is accepting new patients. Schedule an appointment online or by calling (803) 791-5680. *

Eat

Swap bland trail mix for a nutrient-dense, tasty snack from KIND. If you’re a chocolate lover, try the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond and Dark Chocolate Cocoa. If you want to add more protein to your diet, the Crunchy Peanut Butter is a must. Wanna try an assortment? Build your own box.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Getting real about real estate in Columbia

2023 predictions for Columbia real estate

Looking to buy or rent this year? The real estate market in the Soda City is strong and full of properties for you to choose from. Our real estate predictions guide — released back in December — gave insight into the state of the market and listed some tips and tricks for selecting a property. But there’s more to know as a potential homebuyer or renter.

Cayce House.jpeg — Many of the homes for sale in Cayce and West Columbia are bungalows and traditional brick ranch-style homes have been renovated in recent years. | Photo via The Moore Company

Have you recently bought or rented in Columbia? Answer a few questions to tell us about your experience in this short survey.

From downtown rentals to suburban abodes, here are a few additional tips for buying or renting in Columbia this year.

CLICK HERE FOR TIPS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: Three more Columbia nightlife staples we’ll take a look at next are Jaco’s, Village Idiot, and Group Therapy. Let us know if you have any stories, photos, or fond memories to share.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Learn more about Columbia’s t-shirt contest, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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