• Univ of South Carolina Gamecocks Baseball vs. UMass Lowell River Hawks Baseball | Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Founders Park, 431 Williams St, Columbia | $12-$15 | Root root root for the Gamecocks when you attend the season opener.
• Sensory Night | Friday, Feb. 17 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St, Columbia | Free | Guests can look forward to lowered lighting and sounds, limited crowd size, programming from our educators, and resources from partner organizations.
• COLAughs Comedy LATE NIGHT @ NoMa Warehouse | Friday, Feb. 17 | 10-11:30 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | $15.50 | Go early to catch the flea and the show starts at 10 p.m.

• Take Heart and Smile: Colagate Bright Smiles Bright Futures | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum, 211 Gervais St., Columbia | Free | Have your child learn about oral health through games and videos as well as have the opportunity for them to receive a free dental screening.
• West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market | Saturday, Feb. 18-Saturday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Browse original arts and crafts from local makers, fresh produce, and local prepared food vendors.
• UNDER THE STARS: 80’s Prom | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 8 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St, West Columbia | $10 | Get dressed up in your best 1980’s get-up and go to prom.

• 2023 Lexington Chili Cookoff | Sunday, Feb. 19 | 12 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main St., Lexington | $15 | Admission includes music and unlimited chili samples, with all proceeds benefitting local charities.
• Oysters, Beer, and Bubbles | Sunday, Feb. 19 | Hendrix, 1649 Main St., Columbia | 2-6 p.m. | $40-$50 | Your ticket grants you five select oyster preparation tickets with beer and bubbles pairings.

• Hey, Swifties — looking to shake it off this weekend? Grab tickets to the Long Live Taylor Swift Dance Party and head to The Senate. Tickets start at $22-OOoooo. 🎟️

• If you can’t catch the season opener baseball game this Friday, don’t worry, the Gamecocks will have home games all weekend. See times and purchase tickets for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday as they play UMass. ⚾

• In case you missed it — Riverbanks Zoo’s Instagram is back. Give them a follow and consider going to the zoo in person this weekend. The weather is looking to be in the mid-60ºs. ☀️

Act like a local:

• Food: Head to Tac/Quila and pair a Jalisco Mule (tequila, lime and watermelon juices, simple syrup, ginger beer, and mint) with the Stuffed Guerito Peppers, made with chorizo, oaxaca cheese, and chipotle mayo.
• Outdoors: Hike through Joshua Tree National Park where you can explore the beauty of the desert’s flora and fauna.

Where to stay:

• Vrbo: Mediterranean villa (~$882/night)

• 55°. That’s the optimal temperature for storing wine. So unless you enjoy keeping your humble abode chilled year round, we recommend buying a wine fridge to foster favorable conditions for long-term aging. Our pick: this sleek wine fridge with touch-panel control and capacity for 24 bottles. Cheers. 🍷 *

• Super Bowl weekend may be over, but NBA All-Star Weekend kicks off Friday, Feb. 17. See the lineup of events — like tomorrow’s All-Star Celebrity Game and Sunday’s 72nd NBA All-Star Game — and get your hands on the limited edition All-Star merch before it sells out. 🏀 *

• Dreaming of a tropical summer vacation? Us too. We’re eyeing this romantic villa with pristine views in Costa Rica and this charming beachfront cottage in St. Kitts. Or maybe we’ll splurge on a trip to Tahiti and stay in this beach house with a private pool. 🏝️ *