Today’s Forecast

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

♟ Once up-pawn a time…

Make Your Move: Chess Clubs in Columbia, SC

Players compete in the 2023 SC Rapid and Blitz Championship from the Top of Carolina in the Capstone Building. | Photo via Columbia Chess Club

Whether you’re looking to learn or training to be the next Bobby Fischer, the Columbia Chess Club has become a hub for chess enthusiasts, offering a diverse range of clubs with ample opportunities for players of all levels to engage in the classic game.

From libraries and coffee shops to dedicated gaming centers, there’s a chess club for everyone. Here’s a roundup of the top five clubs in the city, complete with meeting times + locations:

Play Freely Chess Club | Mondays at 6 p.m. | Richland County Library, 2916 Broad River Rd. | Alll skill levels are welcome to watch, play, and learn at this gathering. Enjoy the quiet and comfortable atmosphere while refining your strategy.
Starbucks Chess Club | Tuesdays at 2 p.m. | Starbucks, 2807 Rosewood Dr. | Looking for a casual setting to play chess and meet new people? Drop by the Starbucks on Rosewood Drive to test your skills.
Firefly Games Chess Club | Thursdays at 5-9 p.m. | Firefly Games, 536c St. Andrews Rd. | Pay $5 for tournament play or play casually and learn for free. Next week, Grandmaster Bryan Smith will be performing a clock Simul for the Columbia Chess Club.
Think Move Chess Academy | Fridays from 5-7 p.m. | Behind 1st Church of the Nazarene, 901 St. Andrews Rd. | Serious about improving your chess skills? The Think Move Chess Academy offers a focused and supportive environment for players of all ages. Learn from experienced coaches and enhance your game.
Dire Wolf Games Chess Club | Sundays at 10 a.m. | Barnyard Flea Market, R-12, 4414 Augusta Rd. | If you’re looking to learn or seeking opponents, check out the Dire Wolf Games Chess Club at the Barnyard Flea Market for a Sunday morning session.

Now, you’re on the clock.

Events

Friday, May 5

Architectural Scavenger Hunt | Friday, May 5-Wednesday, May 31 | 9 a.m. | City of Columbia, Columbia | Free | Join the fun with this month-long, citywide, architectural scavenger hunt. Find and scan QR codes on buildings in and around Columbia’s historic districts to learn history and register for a chance to win a prize.
Art on State | Friday, May 5 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | 100-200 Blocks of State Street, West Columbia | Free | Sip, shop + stroll under café lights, surrounded by art, listening to your favorite tunes.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Friday, May 5 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Gavin Cross Bobblehead Giveaway pres by SAFE Federal Credit Union (first 1000 fans) / Cinco de Mayo ($3 tacos & $6 margartitas)*

Saturday, May 6

Soda City Market | Saturday, May 6-Saturday, June 10 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street Columbia, 1300-1600 Main St., Columbia | Find everything you need to nourish your brain, body, and belly—helping establish our city as the real southern hotspot for locals and visitors alike.
Makers’ Mall | Saturday, May 6 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | On the first Saturday and Sunday of each month the Friday night NoMa Flea will turn into the weekend Makers’ Mall so you can still shop all the vendors, makers, creators, curators, and more during its regular weekend shopping hours.
Rhythm on the River | Saturday, May 6 | 6-9 p.m. | West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater, 109 Alexander Rd., West Columbia | Free | Enjoy a scenic view of downtown Cola while you lounge back and listen to live music by the river from Civil Remedy.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Saturday, May 6 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Star Wars Night pres by Blanchard Machinery // Post-Game Fireworks*

Sunday, May 7

Art in the Garden | Sunday, May 7 | 2-6 p.m. | Wales Garden, 1819 Seneca Ave., Columbia | Free | Enjoy a lovely stroll down tree-lined streets, four fabulous gardens, and the artwork of 14 local artists.
Lexington County Museum Spring Open House | Sunday, May 7 | 2-5 p.m. | Lexington county museum, 231 Fox St., Lexington | Free | The public is invited to tour the John Fox House, the 1771 Laurence Corley Log House, the ca. 1815 Oak Grove Schoolhouse, and the other historic structures on the grounds of the museum.
Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Sunday, May 7 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $5-$7 | Special Olympics Night pres by TD Bank // Sunday Funday (pre-game autographs & post-game kids run the bases)*

Calendar events here

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News Notes

Opening

Kendra Scott store in Trenholm Plaza is hosting a grand re-opening party Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7 after undergoing a remodeling. Enjoy complimentary sips and sweets while you shop along with 20% off of fashion jewelry.
Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi, located at 1624 Main St., is hosting a grand opening event on Thursday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. The Taste of Hanabi event includes Japanese tastings and entertainment, appetizers, sushi, cocktail tastings, and hibachi bites in the Fire Room. Reserve your tickets.

Closing

The Tuesday Morning location on Forest Drive is closing and hosting a storewide Going Out of Business Sale with everything up to 30% off. Let us know what you’d like to see come to this location near the corner of Forest Drive and Trenholm Road.

Outdoors

The Midlands Rivers Coalition has started its seventh year of recreational water quality monitoring on the Lower Saluda, Broad, and Congaree Rivers. Testing is conducted weekly and results are posted every Thursday. If a sample fails, a swimming advisory is issued.

History

Hettie’s image has been rendered on gold coins and The New York Journal said “There is nothing in Greek sculpture finer than her figure.” This week the City of Columbia and the SC African American Heritage Commission unveiled a historical marker in honor of Gilded Age model Harriette “Hettie” Eugenia Anderson in the Aresenal Hill area.

Drink

Don your best hat and seersucker — Columbia Craft is hosting Hop to Trot on Saturday at 12 p.m. for the Kentucky Derby. Try the new Hazy IPA beer that will be released in new event glassware and compete in the Derby Days best-dressed competition.

Today Is

Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico’s victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla in 1862 — a major symbol of the country’s fight for independence. The State’s rounded up six ways to celebrate in the Columbia area.

Health

During her 20-week ultrasound, a Mt. Pleasant mom was informed that the test revealed her baby boy had a cleft lip and palate. Check out “Jack’s Journey” to learn how MUSC Health ENT experts cared for Jack and helped his family feel supported.*

Wellness

Want to kickstart your metabolism? (Who doesn’t?) Meet Metabolic Daily, a multi-strain probiotic that helps your body do more with the food you eat by boosting sugar and carb metabolism and reducing sugar cravings and energy slumps. Use code 6AMCITY for 20% off your first month of any membership.*

Development

Curious how a manufacturing company turns rubber into protective nitrile gloves? See Nephron Pharmaceuticals’ new 400,000-sqft Nephron Nitrile glove-making facility, which officially opened in December.*

Finance

This card features a whopping 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers (that’s well into 2024) and an additional 0% intro APR on purchases. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It also gives you the chance to rake in cash back deals — with no annual fee.*

Holiday

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Enter: Floom’s limited edition Mother’s Day arrangements. Browse one-of-a-kind bouquets featuring tulips, roses, peonies, orchids, and more. Plus, peruse the selection of indoor plants. Shop now.

Drink

🍹 Four local margs for May 5

Try these four Margaritas in Columbia, SC

Cantina 76 honeysuckle margarita 3 — Cantina 76 on Main Street knows its way around a margarita. | Photo courtesy of Cantina 76

Happy Cinco De Mayo, Cola. We know you may be in the mood for a Margarita this afternoon, so we put together a short list to get you in the tequila-drinking mood. If you’re reading this at 6 a.m., we wanted to let you know it is 5 o’clock in Perth, Australia.

Whether you prefer frozen, on the rocks, or spicy + sweet, there’s a choice for every set of taste buds.

Cantina 76, multiple locations | What to order: Strawberry Basil (lime juice and triple sec, served chilled with muddled strawberries and basil)
COA Agaveria, 823A Lady St. | What to order: Margarita Fresca (Luna Azul Blanco, citrus, your choice of pomegranate, hibiscus, cucumber, mint, strawberry, or mango)
Publico, multiple locations | What to order: Jalapeno Margarita (jalapeno-infused gold tequila, house made-margarita mix, ginger chile salt)
Tio’s, 921 Sumter St. | What to order: House Margarita (choice of flavors, but we recommend the strawberry.)

The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

Thank you to reader Stephanie B. for writing in to let us know that Cantina 76 was featured in Eater as one of 10 outstanding margaritas in the Carolinas. As a past judge in the contest for Cola’s Best Margarita, I can confirm this is a tasty beverage.

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