6AM City In-house

Busted Plug towed to storage đźš›

Busted Plug towed away
Busted Plug Lee Snelgrove.jpeg

Crews lifted power lines as the Busted Plug was moved north. | Photo by Lee Snelgrove

The Busted Plug sculpture, aka the world’s largest fire hydrant, was towed away on Thursday afternoon, nearly 22 years to the date it was unveiled.

We’re taking a quick look back at the public art piece and look forward to its uncertain future.

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Hundreds gather to watch the unveiling of the Busted Plug. | Screenshot via Newspapers.com from The State

🔥 A look back
  • Hundreds of Soda Citizens gathered at a ceremony held on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2001, in Busted Plug Plaza. The tarp was removed from the four-story hydrant built by local artist Blue Sky who dedicated the piece to his father. In Cola fashion, the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” played as the “leaning hydrant of Columbia” was unveiled.
  • Most people in attendance had no idea what would be unveiled, and in fanciful fashion, an Elvis impersonator performed before the fire hydrant was revealed.
đźš’ Roadside attraction
🧯 Where’s it going?

It is being moved to a temporary location off Interstate 20 until the city decides where the sculpture will be displayed.

Answered: We asked you where it should go earlier this week and received over 100 responses. Here are some that stood out:
  • I-126, where it splits b/t Huger & Elmwood
  • Finley Park or the Riverfront Park
  • The grounds of the Columbia Fire Department Headquarters
  • BullStreet District
  • Finlay Park or 5 Points- somewhere smallish that would highlight its impressive size!
  • Saluda Dog Park
But not all of you are fans of the whimsical sculpture:
  • The dump
  • Permanently into storage. Never been a fan.
  • Move it to North Carolina.
  • Melt it and recycle it.
We’ll keep you updated on when you can see the Busted Plug again.
MUSC Health

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Feb. 24
  • Stagbriar, Persona La Ave, Outerego | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St. West Columbia | $12-$15 | Local folk-rock band Stagbriar will perform songs from their upcoming album due out later this year.
  • Patrick Davis & His Midnight Choir | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | $40 | Patrick has almost 80 songs recorded by other artists, including Darius Rucker, Jimmy Buffett, Jewel, Morgan Wallen, Lady A, Guy Clark, and Robert Randolph.
Saturday, Feb. 25
  • Mardi Gras at Steel Hands | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 12-11 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Enjoy live music from the Reggie Sullivan Band, the release of the new King Cake Sour Beer, and a crawfish boil.
  • Comedy Night at Columbia Craft | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 8-10 p.m. | Columbia Craft Brewing, 520 Greene St., Columbia | Free | Headliner Brendan Townend is the host of The Savannah Comedy Underground, as well as the person behind the “Savannah, City of” Instagram account.
  • In Full Effect: A Celebration of South Carolina Hip-Hop | Saturday, Feb. 25 | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | In partnership with FatRat Da Czar, this special family event will honor and celebrate 50 years of hip-hop in South Carolina by showcasing its four core elements: DJing, Breakdance, Graffiti art, and Rapping.
Sunday, Feb. 26
  • South Carolina Gamecocks Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Bulldogs Womens Basketball | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $12-$20 | Get there early to celebrate Senior Day and bid farewell to our future graduates.
  • Dinosaur Adventure | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $25 | Experience the thrill of the prehistoric age featuring life-sized dinosaurs and massive family fun.
  • Letters from Anne and Martin | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 3-4 p.m. | Columbia Music Festival Association, 914 Pulaski St., Columbia | Free | The performance combines the voices of Anne Frank and Martin Luther King Jr. in conversation and exploration of their struggles to maintain a sense of hope for humanity despite injustice and persecution.
Friday, March 3
  • Off The Wall & Onto The Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green | Friday, March 3 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St., Columbia | $35 | Columbia City Ballet presents Off the Wall and Onto the Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green bringing the Gullah-inspired paintings to life through creative choreography and innovative sets.*

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

3 ways to hit the water this spring 🛶
Kayakers on the water at Goodale State Park.
There are plenty South Carolina waterways filled with natural beauty to explore, and the Olde English District (Chester, Chesterfield, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, Union + York Counties) is home to a lot of them. | Photo provided by Olde English District
The winter days are almost behind us, COLA. That means spring days filled with outdoor activities are ahead.

Here are a few of our fave ways to hit the water:
  • Paddle past the blooming Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies at Landsford Canal in May and June.
  • Kayak + canoe at state parks like Cheraw State Park in Chesterfield County and Goodale State Park in Kershaw County.
  • Check out the larger bodies of water in the region, including Lake Wateree, Lake Wylie, and Lake Monticello for water sports.*
PLAN YOUR SPRING FUN

Weather
  • 61Âş | Morning showers | 48% chance of rain
Development
  • United Way of the Midlands and Homeless No More announced the Grand Village development, 40 new homes that are replacing the Grand Motel on Two Notch Road. The two-and-three-bedroom apartments are affordable rent homes for families with children, and on-site services are provided by Homeless No More. 🏡
Coming Soon
  • Free Times’ food writer Hannah Wade got an inside look at the new 7,000-sqft Bierkeller space at the Columbia Canal. The German-inspired biergarten and market hall is expected to open in mid-April. Locals can expect five main beers on tap and food like schnitzel and cheese plates.
Arts
  • The Cottontown Art Crawl, happening Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., announced it’ll have music from The Runout Band, TiffanyJ, Cottontown Soul Society, and The Untold Truth. The fifth annual event in the downtown historic neighborhood features 140 artists showcasing and selling original work. 🎨
Sports
  • The South Carolina men’s basketball team lost a thriller in overtime against No. 2 Alabama on Wednesday night. 30 NBA personnel were on hand to watch top draft prospects GG Jackson from USC and Brandon Miller from Alabama, both possible lottery picks.
Real Estate
  • Yip Premier Real Estate is hosting a drop-in to celebrate its 10-year anniversary on March 5 at 2200 Sumter St., next door to Il Focolare. The family-friendly event will benefit Harvest Hope Food Bank and guests are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items.
Concert
  • The South Carolina Philharmonic is hosting its 9th annual Tasting Notes event on Monday, March 27, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the SC State Museum. The orchestra’s signature fundraising event supports education and community outreach programs. Tickets are available here. 🎻
Eat
  • Does the word “diet” always mean restriction (or fads that don’t work)? Apparently, not always. According to MUSC Health, scientific studies on the Mediterranean Diet show its effectiveness at reducing diseases, cancers, weight + depression. Get the deets on the diet that might actually be worth trying. 🍇 *
Finance
  • This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement — and its free tool can match you with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area who can help you work towards financial freedom. Try it out for yourself.*
Number
  • 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. 🍷 *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Piece together this vision 🧩

Piece together this vision
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Puzzle created with Jigsaw Explorer | Graphic by COLAtoday
Happy Friday, Soda Citizens. Whether you’re just getting your day started, on break at work, or getting off early for a long weekend, we wanted to bring you some Friday fun in our newsletter.

Local artist Blue Sky is behind some of Cola’s most recognizable public art, and most of it is very large. This puzzle is one of those pieces and was unveiled in 1975. Recently, it’s been getting a touch-up of paint.

You can make this as difficult or easy as you like (from six to 1,054 pieces) and there’s even a multiplayer mode. It also keeps track of your time — send us a screenshot of your quickest finish and we might just have to shout out your puzzle prowess.
CAN YOU SOLVE IT?
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: I enjoy oversized novelty items — like my 3-ft Bruce Springsteen vinyl record and a giant Ticonderoga pencil — so I’m sad to see the Busted Plug taken to storage. I’m looking forward to it finding a permanent home where the huge hydrant can again bring a look of wonder to an unsuspecting onlooker.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about the revitalization of Finlay Park, 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.

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