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Healthcare
See a specialist without leaving home
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
Telehealth allows patients to be seen quickly with minimal wait times. | Photo provided by MUSC Health
Let’s be honest, Cola — sometimesit feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Even when life is busy, though, our health should be one of our top priorities. Enter: MUSC Health’s brand new Virtual Specialty Care service, which offers at-home appointment convenience for new and existing rheumatology and endocrinology patients. The Virtual Specialty Care service is a welcomed addition to MUSC Health’s already existing telehealth options.
Whether it’s difficulty in traveling, taking time off from work, social anxiety, or the fear of long wait times, telehealth services are designed to remove any restrictions that might be keeping people from seeing the provider they need. Patients can access MUSC’s dedicated virtual team for the care they need with a variety of telehealth options available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the comfort of home. Available services now include:
Urgent care: Did you know? Telehealth visits for urgent care are free for SC state employees and MUSC employees who elect PEBA for health insurance. Urgent care-related conditions include allergies, colds, skin rashes, COVID-19, and more.
Specialty care: MUSC Health now offers virtual visits for rheumatology and endocrinology. This is also a good option for patients with autoimmune diseases, connective tissue diseases, thyroid conditions, or diabetes. Telehealth visits for specialty care services will bill your insurance. Depending on your insurance plan, you may be responsible for any co-pays.
The specialist starts by gathering basic health information to match you with a specialty provider. Just like a traditional health visit, patients receive necessary prescriptions, lab and imaging referrals, and other medical services.
Annie | Friday, Apr. 14-Saturday, Apr. 15 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $55+ | Make sure to wear your smile so you’re fully dressed to see Annie at the Koger Center for the Arts.
Saturday, April 15
Midlands Spring Native Plant Sale 2023 | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Canoeing for Kids, 114 Riverchase Ct., Lexington | Price of purchase | Get a bite to eat from the Wurst Wagon, buy a native plant book from All Good Books, browse plant-based art from Candace Thibeault, and get a bluebird house from Columbia Audubon Society.
West Columbia’s Meeting Street Artisan Market | Saturday, April 15-Saturday, March 22 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a boutique shopping experience, park, play, eat + explore at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every Saturday.
Midlands Plant and Flower Sale | Thursday, April 13-Sunday, April 16 | Price of purchase | Times vary | SC State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia | Shop spring plants and flowers, gardening equipment, decor, and seasonal produce at the State Farmers Market.
12,000 Year History Park - Colonial Forts Tour | Saturday, Apr. 15 | 1 p.m. | Cayce Tennis Center, 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, Cayce | This 2-mile free history tour is about 2 hours long and sponsored by the City of Cayce.
SC Philharmonic: Titans & Outlaws | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $20-$55 | Don’t miss the thrilling conclusion to the 2022-23 Masterworks Series: State of Mind — Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and Copland’s Billy the Kid explode into the Koger Center during this performance.
Sunday, April 16
Spring Fair Food Drive-Thru | Sunday, April 16-Saturday, April 22 | Times vary | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Gate 6, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | Free | The week-long food event, featuring a wide variety of traditional fair food and drinks, will launch with a special Walk-In Kickoff Day on Saturday, April 15, and culminate with Movie Nights under the stars.
Live on Lincoln| Sunday, Apr. 16 | 12:05-8 p.m. | 1200 Lincoln St., Columbia | $100+ | Locals will be treated to a delectable meal prepared by Blue Marlin, served on the historic cobblestone street of Lincoln Street, while enjoying the live performances.
Free Sundays Presented by Still Hopes| Sunday, Apr. 16 | 1-4 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | Free | The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free thanks to Still Hopes.
Avoiding these blunders could help you prevent years of stress and heartache. | Photo by SmartAsset
Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.
KPot Korean BBQ and Hot Pot is coming soon to the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Columbia where Wild Wing Cafe used to be. An opening date has not been announced, but locals can soon expect Asian flavors, spices, and dishes that feature Korean barbecues + a variety of soup bases. (The State)
Arts
Columbia muralist Lauren Andreu and Charleston artist Jared Owens, who designed the mural “A Great Cloud of Witnesses” inside of the first Starbucks Community Store, have been featured in the current edition of “Starbucks Stories.” The publication shares uplifting stories related to Starbucks worldwide. Check out the work in person when ordering from the location at 2509 Forest Drive. (Columbia Business Report)
Festival
The Rosewood Crawfish Festival will take place on Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. This year, you can reserve your own table spread of crawfish instead of just a plate at the new Crawdad Corner. Tickets start at $10.
Job
As it inches closer to its opening in May, Bierkeller Brewing Company is looking to fill full + part-time positions for service members, runners, line cooks, and dishwashers. The German-style brewery will be open Tuesday through Sunday and no experience is needed. For front-of-house positions, email Justin. For kitchen positions, email Brian.
Try This
May the fourth be with you. The SC Philharmonic is hosting its first-ever 5K run on Thursday, May 4 at 4 p.m. at Saluda Shoals Park. Beverages and a Chamber Crawl concert will follow the run or family walk. Register here.
Looking to flex your creative muscles? There’s still time to submit to our poetry contest. Using our Wednesday, April 5 newsletter as your word bank, craft a 75-word or less poem. Finalists will be selected based on criteria including originality + creativity — show us what you got by Sunday, April 16.
It’s shower season, and it’s time to celebrate the soon-to-be parents in your life. From onesies to burp cloths, our online store (Six & Main) has all the essentials for new parents. Shop for the bundle of joy now.
Today Is
National Gardening Day. Treat yourself to a new gardening set — complete with five essential tools, gloves, a mister, and a durable tote bag. Don’t forget the seeds. This kit comes with vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. If space is tight, grab this vertical planter + some highly-rated potting mix.
Outdoors
Celebrate National Gardening Day locally
5 community gardens in Columbia, SC
The NOMA Community Garden with its winter veggies. | Photo by COLAtoday team
Here are a few community gardens to herb your enthusiasm and cultivate your green thumb.
Rosewood Public Orchard, 1381 Jim Hamilton Blvd. Fun Fact:Columbia Resilience — a nonprofit organization that creates + supports programs to strengthen community — has overseen the community garden since 2013. The public orchard is maintained by volunteers on a rotating basis. Read the full origin story.
Ever thought about starting your own garden? The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District’s Seed Sanctuary will provide you with free seeds, so you can start your own garden.
Pro tip: If you don’t really know where to start, join the South Carolina Native Plant Society — a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, protecting, and restoring native plants in our communities.
Pro tip — each of these restaurants has outdoor seating options, so we recommend going on a nice day during spring to enjoy the atmosphere without being too hot.
David and I popped over to Knowledge Perk yesterday for its soft opening. Take a quick tour of the new coffee shop located at the corner of Gervais and Pickens Streets. The official ribbon cutting will take place on Monday at 11 a.m. and, from personal experience, you can’t go wrong ordering an iced vanilla latte made with oat milk.
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