Today’s Forecast

66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.

❤️ We like viral videos

Footage of us running into Williams-Brice this weekend. | Video by @gamecockfb

As content creators and Soda Citizens ourselves, we love to see a reel, TikTok, or social media post have a viral moment. But what makes them go viral?

We’re breaking down three posts that have gone viral within the last few weeks and giving them each an imaginary COLAtoday content award.

🥇 Best in show

If you’ve never seen The Office episode where Michael Scott (the boss) runs past a radar gun, don’t worry about watching it, because Gamecock Football’s rendition is even better.

Looks like Soda Citizens may agree with us. The reel has over 400K views and almost 24K comments while the TikTok video has over 600K views and 129K comments.

🎤 The most Soda Citizen-y

If you haven’t seen this reel yet of a young boy singing the National Anthem at a Cola Fireflies game, you’re in for a heart-squeezing treat. The caption says it best: “He thought he couldn’t do it and he absolutely crushed it. 👏"

💙 Pride in place award

It all started with this TikTok, where a creator poked fun at Columbia for its lack of itinerary options during a weekend trip. It reached many local’s accounts with 561.3K views.

One local in particular, Hannah Barnett Boyles, decided to duet his TikTok and showcase some of the best parts of Columbia in five seconds.

The outpouring of support, comments, and likes garnered her TikTok 26.7K views and her reel 54.2K views. We recommend following her Instagram account, Soda City Podcast, to see more relatable memes and listen to her local podcast.

Are shameless plugs still a thing? Follow us here + check out our latest viral moment where we begin a conversation about which parking lot makes us pull our hair out more. If you know, you know.

Watch all of the videos here

Asked

What is the most beautiful building in Columbia? What is the ugliest?

Speaking of social media, don’t sleep on Reddit. We saw this question pop up on the ColumbiYEAH thread + had to extend it to our readers. Read through the comments and let us know your thoughts below.

Share your opinion here

Events

Friday, April 28

Wine for Water, Gills Creek Watershed Association | Friday, Apr. 28 | 6-9 p.m. | Senate’s End, 316 Senate St., Columbia | $35-$45 | Celebrate the end of Earth Month at this annual celebration of clean water and healthy watersheds with food, curated wines, live music, and an exciting silent auction.
Gamecock Baseball vs. Auburn Baseball | Friday, Apr. 28-Sunday, Apr. 30 | Times vary | Founders Park, 431 Williams St., Columbia | $20-$25 | Root root root for the Gamecocks as they play against the Auburn Tigers in Founders Park.

Saturday, April 29

Spring Valley West Community Yard Sale | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Spring Valley West subdivision, Olde Springs Rd., Columbia | Free | Find a treasure, new project, item to repurpose, or that one quirky thing to make your house feel more like home.
5th Annual Taco & Tequila Crawl | Saturday, Apr. 29 | 1-6 p.m. | Vista Bars, Columbia | $19.99 | Stroll through The Vista eating tacos, enjoying exclusive margaritas, tequila, and beer specials.

Sunday, April 30

Columbia Vegfest 2023 | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy live music, a family fun zone, vendors, food trucks, and lots of vegan food.
South Carolina Cornbread Festival | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | NOMA Community Garden, 2714 River Dr., Columbia | $10 | Celebrate all things cornbread at the festival that features a cook-off, corn muffin playland, and a cornbread alley.
Drink Pink Rosé Festival | Sunday, Apr. 30 | 12-5 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | $75-$125 | Enjoy sipping an assortment of fabulous rosé wines while savoring the delicious food of chef Kristian Niemi from restaurants Bourbon and Black Rooster.

Saturday, May 6

Rosewood Crawfish Festival | Saturday, May 6 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | SC State Fair Grounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr., Columbia | $10.00 - $15.00 | Enjoy live music, family fun, Rosewood artisans, and 10,000 pounds of fresh Louisiana crawfish at this annual festival.*

Calendar events here

Click here to have your event featured.

Civic

Programs + initiatives that elevate our region

18. Capture Columbia-Main St District-Fall-2022-COR-Photo by Forrest Clonts-23.jpg

A Capture Columbia tour group explores the Main Street District. | Photo by Forrest Clonts

In case you missed it, the Elevate Midlands 2023 Report was released on April 18.

Created by the Midlands Business Leadership Group, the report looks at our region’s progress and serves as a roadmap for next steps to improve talent retention, promote entrepreneurship, and enhance economic development.

Along with in-depth data, the report shares how programs like Capture Columbia — and other community-minded initiatives — create opportunities for our region.

Curious? Dive into the full Elevate Midlands report.*

Let’s Elevate (the) Midlands, y’all

News Notes

Number

$10 million. That’s the amount the City of West Columbia received from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Investment Program. The grant will assist with water distribution-related projects in both residential + commercial areas, totaling ~$15 million. Read more about the utilization of the funds.

Real Estate

Lexington Town Square — a 75,763-sqft shopping center located at 712 W. Main St. in Lexington — sold for $7.1 million. Marcus & Millichap, a commercial real estate brokerage, facilitated the sale. (Rebusiness Online)

Kids

Bluey + Bingo are coming to Columbia. Bark your calendars for May 9 and 10 to attend Bluey’s Big Play — a 60-minute show where the pups try to get their dad off of the bean bag. Purchase tickets to see a live adaptation of the Emmy award-winning children’s television series.

Outdoors

The Palmetto Trail — a 350-mile continuous sea-to-mountain trail system in SC — is hosting a Trail Talk on Tuesday, May 2. Drop in from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Palmetto Trail office, located at 722 King St., to discuss expanding trail projects. Enjoy Palmetto Trail Ale and grilled grubs while you chat. Register here.

Community

Moving or graduating soon? The City of Columbia Solid Waste Division is offering a quick collection service for move-out piles during May, June, and July. Residents can call 803-545-3800 to report a pile for collection and Solid Waste will collect it the same day. See a full list of items that are available for pickup.

Try This

Make plans to attend Art Blossoms at the Columbia Museum of Art from May 11-14. Visitors can enjoy dozens of living art arrangements and participate in a full schedule of events like a Roses and Rosé tour, tastings, art classes, and a Mother’s Day brunch. See a full lineup of events and buy tickets here.

Wellness

Did you know? “An eye exam is truly the gateway to systemic health,” according to James F. Hill, III, O.D., Associate Professor and Medical Director of MUSC Health’s Storm Eye Institute. Learn how routine eye exams are critical to overall wellness.*

Eat

Planning a family cookout — or a kid’s birthday party? These s’mores cups are perfect for pint-sized party-goers, and they’re easy to make. Pro tip: Top with gummy worms for extra fun.*

Drink

Ditch the hangover without having to ditch your favorite cocktail with Ritual Zero Proof Spirits. The award-winning brand makes non-alcoholic rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey so you can enjoy the ritual of having a drink without feeling icky the following day. Psst — check out Ritual’s collection of cocktail recipes.

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Wellness

This metabolism supplement is endorsed by Halle Berry and backed by science

Metabolic Daily is formulated with Akkermansia muciniphila (only available at Pendulum) and other next generation strains. | Photo by Sean Dagen

Our metabolism slows as we age — so who wouldn’t want to optimize theirs (and maybe feel 22 again)?

Meet Metabolic Daily, a multi-strain probiotic designed to kick-start your metabolism, maintain blood sugar levels, support a healthy weight, and reduce sugar cravings and energy slumps. Think: Balanced, sustained energy throughout the day. (Actress Halle Berry digs it so much she became the CCO.)

Use code 6AMCITY for 20% off your first month of any membership.*

Get 20% off

Shoutout

Your voice is valuable, and so are the special moments in your life. Shoutouts allow us to celebrate job promotions, anniversaries, and exciting experiences right here in Columbia.

Become a COLAtoday member today to reserve your shoutout and celebrate with tens of thousands of locals.

Become a member, get benefits

The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

The COLAtoday team came across a new Instagram account, @hootcolumbia, that doesn’t have much info except for an opening date and location. We’re keeping our owl eyes peeled as more information comes out about this upcoming bar that is set to open in June on Rosewood Dr. We’ll keep you updated.

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Several social media videos that have gone viral within the last month in Columbia, SC

🥇 Best in show

🎤 The most Soda Citizen-y

💙 Pride in place award