Today’s Forecast

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

Culture

A new chapter for EdVenture (and a new friend for Eddie)

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

Eddie’s dragonfly has flown away to make room for a new insect — one with big ties to the Midlands. | Photo provided by EdVenture

After almost 20 years of resting on the fingertip of Eddie (read: Columbia’s favorite 40-ft. child), the iconic EdVenture dragonfly is being removed to make way for a new insect: a firefly.

Eddie’s new flying friend is one aspect of EdVenture’s new rebrand, being launched in celebration of summer on Tuesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. This event will be free to guests with the purchase of general admission to the museum ($13 for adults and children over the age of 2) and will feature special guests from Congaree National Park, the Columbia Fireflies baseball team, and a notable figure who will “light up” the new firefly being placed on Eddie’s finger.

The museum is also sporting a new logo — which includes a magnifying glass with a firefly underneath — and a new tagline: “Where curiosity is larger than life.” EdVenture’s CEO, Andy Marquart, explains that the purpose of the rebrand is to make EdVenture more place-based. “We want kids to appreciate the world around them — especially the one that is in their backyard. When we began discussing the new brand, we knew that anchoring the theme and concept to the local community was a must.”

EdVenture has been working to build this stronger connection to the community, including partnerships with Congaree National Park and the Columbia Fireflies. Together, these organizations are working to raise awareness about conserving the endangered Loopy Five Firefly, indigenous to South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. It’s one of only three species of synchronous fireflies in North America — and if you’ve never seen them in action, we highly recommend you do.*

Learn more about EdVenture

Asked

How can locals help protect our firefly population?

A. Provide habitat in part of your yard or garden.
B. Avoid pesticide use, which can kill fireflies and their prey.
C. Turn off outdoor lights at night, especially during the summer firefly season.
D. All of the above.

Answer here

Events

Friday, May 12

The NoMa Flea | Friday, May 12-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.
Black Expo’s Taste of Black Columbia | Friday, May 12 | 7:30-11 p.m. | SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $100 | Enjoy a diverse sampling of food and beverages by a variety of restaurants and vendors in the community.

Saturday, May 13

Irmo Library Donation Day | Saturday, May 13 + Thursday, May 25 | Times vary | Irmo Branch Library, 6251 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | Free | Books may be dropped off curbside at the side entrance to the library, where Friends’ volunteers will assist in unloading.
Ag & Art Tour of Aiken County | Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14 | Times vary | Participating Tour Sites in Aiken County | Free | This free event features farms, markets, and artists — this year, the tour includes nine sites across Aiken County.
Colonial Forts Tour | Saturday, May 13 + Saturday, Jun. 10 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Cayce Tennis Center, 1120 Fort Congaree Trail, Cayce | Free | Walk to the site of Fort Congaree and hear its intriguing stories as we delve into the struggles of the Deerskin Economy; then travel forward in time to Fort Congaree and Fort Granby and hear about their own legacies.
Lexington Wine Walk | Saturday, May 13 | 6 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main St., Lexington | $30+ | The event will feature unlimited wine tastings and food for purchase.

Sunday, May 14

Mother’s Day Comedy Brunch | Sunday, May 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Corley Mill House, 221 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington | $60 | Treat your mom to a unique brunch featuring delicious food and drinks, as well as comedy provided by some of the funniest moms in the southeast.
Art Blossoms Brunch | Sunday, May 14 | 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | $90-$110 | Have brunch on Boyd Plaza or in the CMA Reception Gallery, featuring botanically inspired wines, a Bloody Mary bar, and a decadent buffet from Honey River Catering.*

Thursday, May 18

Taste of Hanabi | Thursday, May 18 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi, 1624 Main St., Columbia | $45-$80 | Celebrate the official grand opening of downtown Columbia’s hottest new restaurant — and we’re not just talking about their Fire Room.*

More May this way

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

Kick back and retire (yes, please)

SmartAsset wants to help you retire. | Photo by SmartAsset

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire.

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area.

It’s never too late to work towards more radiant golden years. Take this quiz to see if you can retire comfortably.*

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News Notes

Real Estate

American Land Holdings, a wholesale recreational waterfront development company, announced a pre-construction lake lot sale at WhiteWater Landing. On Saturday, June 17, future residents can buy now + build later on lake lots that start at $69,900. Book your appointment.

Number

$55,000. That’s the amount the Five Points Association donated to 35 local charities, thanks to funds raised at this year’s St. Pat’s in Five Points celebration. This year’s event raised the most funds in event history. (Cola Daily)

Try This

Attend the free Recovery on the River event happening this Saturday, May 13 from 6-9 p.m. at the West Columbia Riverwalk Park + Amphitheater. This is an alcohol-free event that’s part of the “Rhythm on the River” series and will feature live music, food, face painting, and more.

Cause

Keep the Midlands Beautiful is hosting its annual Shoe Recycling Drive to provide shoes in developing countries, to keep shoes out of landfills, and help you clear some space in your closet. Check here for a list of drop-off locations across the Midlands.

Job

Lexington Medical Center is hosting a hiring event at Segra Park on Friday, May 19. The hospital will be conducting on-site interviews from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m for all open positions, including clinical and non-clinical positions.

Award

Two Garvin Design Group (GDG) projects won Historic Columbia 2023 Preservation Awards. GDG’s 1215 Shop Road (Hood Construction Company’s office) and 2901 Rosewood Drive (now known as 5th & Sloan) won awards for rehabilitation and revitalization. As of this year, GDG has won 19 Historic Columbia Preservation Awards and 38 state and local awards.*

Holiday

How to win Mother’s Day? Send the mother figure in your life iconic meals and desserts from across the country with Goldbelly. Think: Ina Garten’s coconut cake, a New York bagel brunch kit, and a chef’s steak dinner for four. Yup, it’s all on Goldbelly.*

Answered

The correct answer is D: All of the above.

These are all ways locals can help our Loopy Live Firefly population (listed as a critically imperiled species) glow. “This particular firefly is at risk of being extinct due to habitat loss and light pollution,” explains Gregory Hauburger, Superintendent of Congaree National Park. “Just as lights along beaches deter sea turtles from nesting, lights from homes also deter fireflies from lighting up at night in the Midlands. Congaree National Park urges folks to turn off outdoor lights at their own home during this time to help the long-term sustainability of the annual firefly synchronization.”

The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

Fan of local pizza? So are these foodie Freetimes writers. Six local writers shared their favorite pizzas around Columbia, and it’s worth a read — but maybe don’t read it until it’s closer to lunchtime.

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