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Cola is cookin’

Lula Drake and City Grit Hospitality Group are James Beard Award finalists

Lula Drake Wine Parlour on Main Street is a finalist for a James Beard Award. | Photo by COLAtoday

Two Columbia establishments were named as finalists for the 2023 James Beard Awards announced Wednesday. Meet the locals that made the cut:

Outstanding Restaurateurs — Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, and Elie Yigo from CITY GRIT Hospitality Group — think: smallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, and Il Focolare Pizzeria.
Outstanding Hospitality — Lula Drake

Winners for the awards, known as the “Oscars of food,” will be announced on Mon., June 5 in Chicago— and we’ll be sure to let you know if we have local winners.

Image from iOS (2) — City Grit Market in the Vista serves wine and ready to eat to-go options. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Get to know the finalists

Lula Drake Wine Parlour, 1635 Main St. | Lula Drake owner Tim Gardner is one of the Midlands advanced sommeliers, and it shows through the restaurant’s selection. Let your taste buds travel by joining its Wine Club offering exclusive wine dinners, curated members-only selections, and special events taking you beyond the everyday menu.

CITY GRIT Hospitality Group, various locations | More than a typical restaurant group, CITY GRIT strives to help our community through its Workforce Development Program and its’ Feed the City concept offering affordable wages, leadership development, and upward mobility for employees. Stop by smallSUGAR in the Vista for breakfast and grab a ‘za from il Focolare to celebrate the nomination.

Past winners from South Carolina include Charleston-based restaurants Husk, FIG, and Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ. You can find the complete list of finalists here.

Events

Thursday, March 30

Studio 54 Ballet - Columbia City Ballet | Thursday, Mar. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Harbison Theatre, 7300 College St., Irmo | $40 | Travel back to the 1970’s New York City to what was considered the world’s most popular nightclub in this showcase by the Columbia City Ballet.
Annual Tartan Day South Celebration | Thursday, Mar. 30 | Various locations around West Columbia | Prices vary for each event | Tartan Day South honors the Celtic culture and heritage in South Carolina’s Midlands region.

Friday, Mar. 31

Lower Saluda Craft BeerFest | Friday, Mar. 31 | 6-9 p.m. | 5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia | $30-$35 | Taste more than 25 unique craft beers, enjoy live music, and take home a commemorative tasting glass.
The NoMa Flea | Friday, March 31-Friday, Dec. 15 | 6-9 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | The market features several anchor vendors and at least 10 rotating, pop-up vendors each week.

Saturday, April 1

The Carolina Cup | Saturday, Apr. 1 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Carolina Cup & National Steeplechase Museum, 200 Knights Hill Rd., Camden | $50 | Saddle up for a South Carolina tradition, and attend the 88th running of The Carolina Cup Races on April 1, 2023.
Columbia International Festival | Saturday, Apr. 1-Sunday, Apr. 2 | Times vary | SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | The Columbia International Festival showcases the music, culture, food, and performing arts of the various cultures, nationalities, races, and language groups represented in South Carolina.

Sunday, April 2

Dining on the Dam | Sunday, Apr. 2 | 5 p.m. | Lake Murray Dam Park Site — Lexington Side, 1832-1834 North Lake Dr., Lexington | Enjoy delicious catered food, live music, an open bar, and a remarkable view of the sunset from the Lake Murray Dam.

Plan ahead with our community events calendar.

100+ more events

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Sports

Lexington High School basketball player Cam Scott was recently named South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year. The junior is a top prospect on the national level and is ranked as the No. 44 recruit in the Class of 2024 by ESPN. Cam also led his team to the 5A state semifinals.

Festival

Rent a wagon and get ready to load it up; the Midlands Spring Plant and Flower Festival returns to the South Carolina State Farmers Market on Thursday, April 13, through Sunday, April 16. Shop for plants, garden essentials, and décor. Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions.

Plan Ahead

LoCo Craft Beer Jam is happening Saturday, April 8 at City Roots Farm in Rosewood, featuring over 40 local, regional, and national beer brands. That’s not all — for $5, catch live music from Darby Wilcox and the Peep Show, Jordan Igoe, Admiral Radio, The Runout, and Little Bird.

Theater

Trustus Theatre in the Vista received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support the production of “Fairview” by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Terrance Henderson. Grab your tickets for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama happening April 28-May 13.

Shop

From Etsy store to brick-and-mortar, Butter My Biscuit Vintage is opening a space in Re-Find, an antiques + vintage store featuring various vendors. Booth renovation is underway, with plans to open this weekend. Follow along on Instagram.
If your vacuum isn’t picking up dirt and debris like it used to, it may be time for a new one. This handheld Shark vacuum is lightweight, cordless, and highly rated on Amazon. Or splurge on the Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum that sucks up particles as small as allergens and bacteria.
Are your kids ready for springtime family photos? Our online store (Six & Main) features Ducks and Drakes, a children’s clothing company with tall kids at the heart of its style and designs. Shop the perfect fit now.

Civic

Local businessman Peter Brown won the special election for the Columbia City Council District 4 seat on Tuesday night, previously held by the late Joe Taylor. Brown received 1,967 votes, and his opponent Beatrice King received 1,464 votes. (The State)

Today Is

National Doctors’ Day. Prisma Health would like to recognize its 2,251 physicians for their dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence. These physicians better the health of patients daily at more than 300 practice sites across SC that rank among the top in the nation in patient satisfaction. Need a doctor? Find a provider. *

Asked

Who will be crowned champion?

Best annual festival in Columbia

COLAC BlueMKT-MarchMadness-Feature Image.jpg — Cottontown Art Crawl and the Greek Festival go head-to-head for Cola’s best fest. | Graphic by COLAtoday

What is March Madness without the madness? As they say, “this is why you play the game.”

In a round 2 upset, Cottontown Art Crawl took down St. Pat’s in Five Points to face off in the finals against the beloved Greek Festival.

See your pick to the finish by voting in our final poll now through Friday, March 31, at 12 p.m.

Make your pick

The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s Edition By:
David

From the Editor

For the past three months, I’ve been trying to get a reservation for two at Neng Jr.'s in Asheville, NC, and I was finally able to secure one. The 17 seat Filipinx restaurant — Asheville’s first of its kind — was named a James Beard Award finalist for Best New Restaurant. Read more about it in AVLtoday and start working on your reservation.

Missed Wednesday’s newsletter? Take a look inside the new Bierkeller coming soon, here.

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