Plus, potential $2 billion Richland County investment.
Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board

Laissez les bons temps rouler ⚜️

Celebrate Mardi Gras in Columbia
mardigrascolumbia_274741142_288287596721896_9207495456679524683_n.jpg

The weather calls for sunny skies and a high of 56° on Saturday. | Photo via Mardi Gras Columbia


Let the good times roll, Cola. Feb. 21 is Fat Tuesday, or as the French say, Mardi Gras.

Well known in the US as a major event in New Orleans, it’s a celebration of indulgence on the eve of Lent, featuring fabulous food + flying jewelry.

These Soda City spots have plenty of Big Easy flair to spare, with traditional desserts, tunes, and much more.

🎷 All that jazz + more
  • 13th annual Mardi Gras Columbia Festival + Parade, City Roots Farm, 1005 Airport Blvd. | Saturday, Feb. 18 | Parade at 11 a.m., festival from 12-7 p.m. | Admission is $5 for adults + free for children 12 and under | Hosted by Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya and held in Cola’s historic Rosewood neighborhood, the 13th annual event is the go-to party to celebrate Mardi Gras in the Soda City. This year will feature 15 live bands on three stages + beer from the bayou-based brewery, Abita.
  • Phat Tuesday Official Mardi Gras Celebration, The Bistreaux by Fleur de Licious, 2700 Broad River Rd. | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Enjoy “Phat Tuesday” fun under one giant tent with live music, food, and of course, beads.
  • Live in the Lobby Jazz: Nola to Cola, Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St. | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | Longtime Wynton Marsalis bandmate and world-renowned alto-saxophonist, Wess Warmdaddy Anderson, brings Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday to life with the swinging, funky sounds on New Orleans.
👑 Where to get your King Cake

King cake is a buttery pastry covered in icing and topped with purple, yellow, and green sprinkles. Here are several places you can grab yours across the Midlands.
Lexington Medical Center

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Feb. 16
Friday, Feb. 17
Saturday, Feb. 18
  • Soda City Market | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street Columbia, 1300-1600 Main St., Columbia | Find everything you need to nourish your brain, body, and belly—helping establish our city as the real southern hotspot for locals and visitors alike.
Sunday, Feb. 19
  • 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.
  • FAAAC presents A Conversation with Hafizah Augustus Geter and Tyrone Geter | Sunday, Feb. 19 | 2-4 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | On the heels of her recently released debut memoir, author and poet Hafizah Augustus Geter joins the Friends of African American Art & Culture for a reception, book signing, and moderated talk.*
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

Here’s where to find good brews + delish dishes 👀

Here’s where to find good brews + delish dishes 👀
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
Savage Craft Aleworks
From oysters to juicy burgers and brunch classics — Savage Craft has it all. | Photo provided by Savage Craft Aleworks
Looking for good brews + tasty food? Hop on over to Savage Craft Ale Works, known for its bold + refreshing beer on tap and delectable dishes from the kitchen.

Executive Chef Dante`, takes pride in creating custom + unique options for guests with the aim of providing a mouth-watering, elevated experience. Here’s a look at some of our fav meals from each menu:

Brunch Menu
  • Spicy Chicken Biscuit: Fried Nashville-style chicken on a honey-drizzled buttermilk biscuit, served with fries.
  • Pancake Plate: For those looking for something sweeter (with savory on the side), these buttermilk pancakes include bacon, scrambled eggs + bourbon maple syrup.
Biergarten Menu
  • New England Lobster Roll: A taste of the coast. This lobster roll is served with a citrus aioli and bib lettuce on a toasted, buttery roll (made in-house) with Old Bay house chips on the side.
  • Buffalo Chicken Sandwich: Lightly breaded fried chicken tossed in buffalo sauce and topped with celery fennel slaw, served with fries.*
SEE MORE MENU ITEMS

Weather
  • 78º | Mostly cloudy | 9% chance of rain
Open
  • The Baked Potato Factory is now open at 10008 Two Notch Rd., located near the Walmart Supercenter. Load up your spud with all kinds of veggies or choose a specialty potato like the “Kickin’ Mac Cheesy Pleaseey” with maple bourbon bacon bits. 🥔
Biz
  • Project Connect — that’s the code name for the new business potentially coming to Richland County that would bring a $2 billion investment and 4,000 new jobs. The new plant is considering a location in an industrial park near Blythewood. 🔐 (The Post and Courier)
Closing
  • The Bed Bath and Beyond next door to Target on Garner’s Ferry is set to close. The company announced the closing of 149 more locations, now affecting around 400 stores across the country. 🛁 (CNN)
Number
  • 1.5 million. That’s how many people tuned in to see the Gamecock’s Women’s Basketball team defeat LSU last Sunday. That makes it the most-watched regular season WCBB game on any network since 2010. 📺
Real Estate
  • ZIP codes near Blythewood, Chapin, and Red Bank had the highest growth rates, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Postal Service. Each area saw between 550 and 700 new residents than the year before. 🏡 (The Post and Courier)
Pets
  • Valentine’s Day has passed, but don’t fret, Columbia Animal Services February Adoption Special goes through Saturday, Feb. 18. Adoption fees are just $14 for cats and dogs looking for a forever home. Browse available pets here. 🐶
Health
  • Have an unexpected illness, injury, or condition that doesn’t need emergency attention? Lexington Medical Center has five urgent care locations in COLA for convenient, walk-in care of broken bones, minor illnesses + more. Check out their Get Care Now page for hours, location, and current wait times.*
Travel
  • Ready to plan springtime adventures? A ~1 hour 30 minute drive from COLA, Greenville, SC is filled with natural beauty, outdoor activities + dining delicacies. Pro tip: Order a free Visitor’s Guide to start planning your trip, and check out VisitGreenvilleSC’s Instagram for itinerary inspo.*
  • How does Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) work? Sign up for free, follow up to five airports, and Going will notify you when flights are 40-90% off. Bonus: You can browse deals immediately after signing up (like a $500+ flight to Italy). 🍝*
Cause
  • Help The Blood Connection and the Lexington County Blowfish save lives by donating blood. TBC will be at the Lexington County Baseball Stadium today from 12-5 p.m. As a thank you for donating, all donors receive a ticket to the Lexington County Chili Cookoff — plus, a $30 eGift card. 🩸 *
Wellness

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

Batter up, Gamecocks baseball preview

Gamecock Baseball 2023 season preview
43125eba-founderspark_210323_02_ryanbethea.jpg-scaled.jpg
The Gamecocks baseball players warming up in Founders Park. | Photo via Gamecocks Online
The Gamecock baseball season begins Friday and the Yardcocks start the season with a top 25 ranking, the goal of returning to the NCAA Tournament, and a trip to Omaha, NE.

⚾️ Five key matchups
  • Clemson | March 3-5 | Tickets
  • UNC | April 4 | Tickets (Charlotte, N.C. — Truist Field)
  • LSU | April 6-8 | Tickets
  • Florida | April 20-22 | Tickets
  • Tennessee | May 18-20 | Tickets
🏆 Gamecock notables
  • Will Sanders — The Junior righthanded pitcher was named a Preseason All-America (second team) + to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List.
  • Televised games — The team will have at least eight games televised on the ESPN family of networks with additional games on SEC Network Plus.
  • Columbia Craft Call In Show — Tune in to 107.5 The Game on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. to hear coach Mark Kingston talk Gamecock baseball or head to Liberty Taproom in the Vista to watch it in person.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: Riding up front in the Mardi Gras parade will be Scott Neulken of the Colatown Bike Collective — who was crowned king for the 2023 event. DYK that the annual festival was started 13 years ago as a fundraiser to help rebuild part of Wil Moore Farms after a barn fire? Now the festival welcomes thousands each year.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out our guide to sports teams in the Soda City, 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.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY