Plus, how do you locally celebrate Arbor Day?
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Rosewood Crawfish Festival c/o Solid Entertainment

Today’s Forecast

70º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:41 a.m. | Sunset 8:04 p.m.
 

The North Main widening project is complete

The City of Columbia widened a 1.7-mile stretch of road on North Main Street
North Main Street Widening project
A 1.7-mile stretch of North Main Street was widened, resurfaced, and more. | Photo via Google Maps
Richland County completed improvements and widened a 1.7-mile stretch of North Main Street, extending from Anthony Avenue to Fuller Avenue.

The widening and repaving project was possible thanks to Richland County’s Transportation Penny Program — a $1.07 billion initiative, voted on by Richland County citizens in 2012. The Transportation Penny Program will be utilized for 22 years or until the budget runs out.

See a complete list of projects the billion-dollar budget is supporting pertaining to paving, resurfacing, pedestrian improvements, intersections, and more.

Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other Councilmen attended a ribbon cutting to celebrate the end of the widening of North Main Street. Let’s recap the details of this improvement project.

Project details

Upgrades to the ~1.7-mile stretch include:
  • A widened + repaved the road
  • Enhanced roadway aesthetics (think: developing designated crosswalks)
  • Improved landscaping
  • Increased night safety by implementing street lighting + more pedestrian routes
  • Some relocated utilities underground
According to this prioritization of widening projects document, the North Main Widening project ranked No. 4 in priority and cost ~$53 million.

Budget breakdown

  • $30 million from the Richland Transportation Penny program
  • $16.65 million from the Tiger Grant
  • $5.4 million from the City of Columbia for water and sewer work.
  • $1.3 million from the Federal Earmark
Prisma Health
 
Events
Wednesday, April 26
  • Comedy + Beer at Old Mill Brewpub | Wednesday, Apr. 26, Wednesday, May. 31 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Old Mill Brewpub, 711 E. Main St. Ste. A3, Lexington | $15 | Laugh along with SC comedians and get there early to order pre-show food.
Thursday, April 27
  • Business Networking Happy Hour | Thursday, Apr. 27 | 5-7 p.m. | Thirsty Fellow Pizzeria and Pub, 621 Gadsden St., Columbia | Free | Make meaningful connections with other business-minded Soda Citizens at happy hour.
  • Woman, Life, Freedom: An Evening of the Art of Protest | Thursday, Apr. 27 | 6-8 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free with admission | Learn about Iranian culture and the current women’s rights movement from diasporic artists and scholars living here in Columbia.*
  • Game & Garden Soirée | Thursday, Apr. 27 | 6-9 p.m. | The Hall at Senate’s End, 320 Senate St., Columbia | $65-$120 | Enjoy an evening of cocktails, small plates from local chefs, a silent auction, and live music from the Blue Iguanas.
Friday, April 28
  • Friends of the Irmo Library Book Sale | Friday, Apr. 28-Sunday, Apr. 30 | Times vary | Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St Andrews Rd., Columbia | Free | The used book sale by the Friends of the Irmo Branch Library supports library programming.
Saturday, April 29
More fun calendar events here
Click here to have your event featured.
The Columbia Museum of Art
 
Eat

Food

Take yourself on a Columbia culinary adventure
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
Bird's-eye view of food spread on a wooden table, with steak and fries at the center
If this food spread at Terra has your mouth watering, same. | Photo provided by Experience Columbia SC
Last month, we presented readers with a challenge: to enjoy our city’s outdoors like you were on vacation. Now, we want to revisit that challenge, with a tasty twist. Columbia not only boasts plenty of avenues for outdoor adventures, but it’s also full of unique, diverse, and downright delicious options among our local food and bev scene.

From the Vista to Devine St. to Decker Blvd., we’re home to several distinct food districts, and we can also now claim a handful of James Beard Award finalists. In case you missed it, Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, and Elie Yigo of City Grit Hospitality Group (think: SmallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, and Il Focolare Pizzeria) were recently announced as finalists for Outstanding Restauranteur, and Lula Drake made the list of finalists for Outstanding Hospitality. This may be a first in Columbia history, but honestly, we’re not surprised.

While we eagerly wait for the winners to be announced in early June, we look forward to passing some time at these local gems — which brings us back to our challenge:

This weekend, and throughout the spring and summer, let’s plan to dine out like we’re tourists in our own city. Whether that means treating yourself to a progressive meal (think: a drink and an appetizer on the patio at Terra, an entree while you watch the sunset over the city skyline at Black Rooster, and a slice of bourbon cream pie and a nightcap at The War Mouth) or committing to trying one local spot you’ve never been to each week, the challenge awaits.*
Plan your restaurant route
News Notes
Civic
  • The Congaree Riverkeeper gave an update on the coal tar cleanup. Dominion Energy is installing a rock berm to help with dewatering and an on-site wastewater treatment plant. The company believes they can begin removing tar and other materials sometime in May. Keep up with the project here.
Ranked
  • No. 1. That’s the ranking USC’s International MBA program received for the 10th year in a row and has placed in the top three for the last 34 years, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate School rankings released yesterday. (US News and World Report)
Try This
  • The City of West Columbia is hosting a citywide litter pick-up day + a spring plant sale this Saturday, April 29. Sign up to be a volunteer and meet at City Hall for the litter pick-up. The spring plant sale will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Baskets and bedding flats start at $25 each.
Plan Ahead
  • The Hideout at WECO is hosting a pop-up cat cafe. The local cafe is teaming up with Cat Around Town Project and if you pop by from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 7, you can dine with kittens available for fostering or adoption.
Arts
  • An assistant professor at USC, Dustin Whitehead, produced and directed “Hero” — an independent film that was shot around campus. It has garnered some attention from regional film festivals and confronts how there are different interpretations of the word “hero.” There may be a local premiere in the future. (The Post and Courier)
  • Mural alert. Spot a new Cayce mural located under the Blossom Street bridge, painted by Joel Cothren, and watch the creation process of the new floral mural that’s located on the outside of Azalea Coffee Bar on Devine Street, painted by Ija Monet.
Wellness
  • While we know being aware of our sexual health is important, there’s one topic that many women are hesitant to address: enjoyment. Prisma Health gynecologist Kristl Tomlin, MD, explains what women need to know about sexual enjoyment.*
Today Is
Announced
  • Congratulations Nora R., the winner of our product survey! We hope you enjoy your $500 cash prize, and we thank you for providing your feedback. Responses from this survey are helping us improve our newsletter.
First Bank
 
Wellness

🧠 Eliminate brain fog and mental barriers
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Need focus for an upcoming meeting or big event? Hello, Thesis. | Photo provided by Thesis
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Intrigued? Try Thesis for a month and see what happens. In addition to 15% off, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.*
Don't knock it 'til you try it
6amcity
 
Answered

📚 And the winner is…

Read the winning poem from our 2023 poetry contest
A graphic that says 2023 Poetry Contest Winner.
The votes are in. | Graphic by 6AM City
We’re pleased to announce that “6 April Haiku” by Chelsea B. is the winner of our 2023 poetry contest.

This poem received the most votes from our audience. A big round of applause to our other finalists and everyone who participated in our contest — it was a true joy for the COLAtoday Editorial team to read what you came up with.

Now, we’re handing it over to Chelsea B. to dazzle us with their creation.

“6 April Haiku”

Every night a
Curious new submission
Held open the stars.
The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam
From the editor
Friday is Arbor Day — a day to celebrate trees and folks are encouraged to plant some. We want to share how our readers can get involved. Know of any local ways to observe this holiday? Let us know here.

Missed yesterday’s Newsletter?
See how you can explore artists around the Midlands at ArtFields.
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