The Columbia Museum of Art

Heart eyes for days ❤️

Last-minute local ideas for Valentine’s Day
Cola-skyline-0374
Our city is teeming with romantic possibilities. | Photo by COLAtoday
There’s no dodging Cupid’s arrow — Valentine’s Day is here. Whether you’re celebrating your friendships or sugaring up your sweetheart, we’ve got last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas that will have you loving love.

🌵 Get fantastical with botanicals

If you’re quick, you might have your pick of bouquets using Floom, an online marketplace that partners with florists that deliver locally.

Or, get creative and nab a potted plant from these plant spots. Nothing says forever like a hardy succulent.

      🥂 Keep spirits up

      If you didn’t score reservations, don’t overthink… grab a drink. The following spots have weekday happy hours:
      • Liberty Tap Room and Grill | Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m. | Munch on $5.95 bar bites while you drink $4 draft beers, house wines, and house liquors.
      • Pearlz Oyster Bar | Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m. | Drink up $3 PBRS, $5 house liquors, $5 house wines, $3 champagnes, and $5 oyster shooters.
      • Tin Roof | Mon.-Fri. 4-7 p.m., Sat. + Sun. 2-7 p.m. | Order drinks and food during happy hour with 50% off all appetizers, $5 Titos, Jack and Jameson, $4 Seltzers and Fireball, and $3 Domestic Drafts and Wells.
      For more options, check out our happy hour guide.

      🌟 Go stargazing

      It doesn’t get much more idyllic than bundling up and looking at the stars. Grab some blankets (and maybe a hot drink) and head to one of these spots away from man-made light to take in the sky.
          Want aˈmore? Check out all of these local events happening around the Soda City.
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          Click here to have your event featured.

          Tuesday, Feb. 14
          • Free Chocolate Biscuit Bread Pudding for Dine-In Guests | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Flying Biscuit, 936 Harden St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a free chocolate biscuit bread pudding for dine-in guests only on Valentine’s Day.
          • Kokedama Workshop | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 1211 Franklin St., Columbia | $40 | Classes will include a basic introduction and demonstration on forming your Kokedama.
          • Dueling Pianos: A Valentine’s Special | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | The Venue, 1626 Main St., Columbia | $10-$20 | Listen to a very special dueling piano Valentine’s performance.
          Monday, Feb. 13
          • My Deceased Valentine | Monday, Feb. 13-Sunday, Feb. 19 | 382 Olde Farm Rd., Lexington | $25 | Every year the creatures inhabiting our spooky farm get dolled up to scare you and your special date.
          Friday, Feb. 17
          • Columbia Boat Show | Friday, Feb. 17 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $10 | After a two-year hiatus, Columbia’s Boat Show is coming back.
          • Taylor Swift Dance Party | Friday, Feb. 17 | 9 p.m. | The Senate, 1022B Senate St., Columbia | $22 | Shake it off with your friends and dance the night away to Taylor Swift hits.
          Saturday, February 18
          • Opening Day Performances: Reverent Ornament | Sat., Feb. 18 | 1-4 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | Free | Enjoy an afternoon of cultural enrichment (think: live dance, music, and more) on opening day of “Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World."*
          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
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          “Our Own Work, Our Own Way” at the Columbia Museum of Art

          Try This: “Our Own Work, Our Own Way” at the Columbia Museum of Art
          Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
          Our Own Work Our Own Way
          See how you can Try This exhibition for yourself at the Columbia Museum of Art. | Photo by COLAtoday team
          Hey, COLA, Sam here. 👋 Recently, I had the opportunity to browse the new exhibition “Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection” at the Columbia Museum of Art. Here’s how you can try this for yourself and what you won’t want to miss when you visit.

          What we tried:

          I was able to experience the opening day of “Our Own Work, Our Own Way: Ascendant Women Artists in the Johnson Collection,” an exhibition highlighting works of art from 42 women artists of the 20th century who had connections to the South, including artists from Columbia. These women often faced forms of sexism, racism, or both, and the exhibition celebrates and champions their achievements and art.*
          WHAT NOT TO MISS

          Weather
          • 63º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain
          Opening
          • Bark West — the City of West Columbia’s new unleashed dog park — will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thurs., Feb. 16 at 1940 Augusta Rd. in West Columbia. The new park will feature designated small and large dog areas, an activity course, and you can pre-register your pup for $25. 🐶
          Coming Soon
          • YogaSix — a large yoga franchise — is coming soon to Cardinal Crossing. The new yoga studio will take up ±1,920 sqft of the $60 million mixed-use development in Forest Acres and plans to open sometime this spring. 🧘
          Travel
          • Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) announced the return of American Airlines’ nonstop flight to MIA on June 3. Have plans to travel to Miami this summer? Go ahead and book your flight here. ✈️
          Sports
          • Not to be a broken record, but the Gamecock women’s basketball team broke another record. USC’s 83-48 win over Auburn marked the team’s 30th straight win, making program history. 🏀
          Community
          • Could your nonprofit use help completing a project this spring? Let United Way of the Midlands help you check it off your list. The organization is accepting service project proposals now through Wednesday, March 1. Local volunteers will help fulfill your project needs during Volunteer Week (April 17-22). 🤝 *
          Shop
          • Lowes Foods To Go has dropped its annual subscription cost to $49, and its new app is designed to offer shoppers a simplified and enhanced experience. Bonus: Try it for free with promo code FREESHOP at checkout.*
          Seasonal
          • Valentine’s Day may be tomorrow, but it’s not too late to order that special someone a bouquet of fresh flowers. Don’t have time to cross reference all of the florists in town? Enter: Floom, an online marketplace that partners with talented florists that deliver locally. Shop Valentine’s Day arrangements. 💐 *
          Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

          Hey, lovebirds 🕊

          11 birds you’ll see in Columbia, SC
          Carolina_Wren_2
          The Carolina Wren is SC’s state bird and nicknamed the “Mouth of the South” | Photo Wikicommons
          Check out this soundtrack of the South.

          Imagine getting out of bed in the morning and hearing the songs of the Carolina Wren aka the “Mouth of the South” or the soft warble of the Eastern Bluebird.

          Instead hearing just of a bunch of noise, we’ve put together a guide for you to be able to recognize and tune your ear to the local soundscape.

          Click the button below for 11 birds you may see or hear around our city, featuring a sample of each bird’s song.
          FLAP THIS WAY
          6AM City In-house
          THE WRAP

          Today’s issue was written by Sam.

          Editor’s pick: Tomorrow is Valentine’s day. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on what you love about your life in Columbia. It could be city-related or about what (or who) makes this place feel like home. If you feel passionate enough to tell us about it, feel free to — we’re always listening.

          Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read the details about Dawn Staley’s statue coming to Columbia, 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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