Plus, see two new drinks at River Rat Brewery
 
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66º | Heavy thunderstorms | 90% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:30 a.m. | Sunset 5:32 p.m.

 

Culture

Win a choose-your-own-adventure Wild Dunes vacation

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
Heart of the Resort.png
Enter to win a dream vacation in this or one of two other gorgeous Wild Dunes beach houses. | Photo provided by Lowes Foods
Could you use a vacation? How about five nights in a vacation house at Wild Dunes Resort?

Lowes Foods is hosting a sweepstakes for Lowes Foods Vacation Ambassadors. One lucky winner (and up to five guests, ages 21+) will enjoy one of these dream beach trips:

Beach Oasis

Spend your days in Wild Dunes relaxing by your own private pool, then sip evening cocktails on the rooftop deck watching the sunset. When it’s time for dinner, enjoy the huge gourmet kitchen where everyone can gather. This package comes with chairs, beach games, and more to get you around the resort.

Heart of the Resort

This package is at the center of the action. Vacationers can easily walk to the boardwalk, beach, and multiple pools. It includes a cabana rental and time in the beautiful Spa at Sweetgrass.

Marina Life

Calling all nature lovers who want to spend time with dolphins. Drop your kayak (included with this package) in the water and enjoy an eco-tour and chartered boat ride. Bonus: A Lowcountry Boil on Capers Island.

No matter which vacation the winner chooses, the cupboards and fridge will be fully stocked, courtesy of Lowes Foods. They will also win:
  • Free Lowes Foods To Go for a year
  • A chef-prepared dinner with an accompanying local musician
  • A chef-prepared picnic lunch
  • A private wine tasting and pairing
  • An excursion to local breweries
  • And more.
So, what’s the catch? As a Lowes Foods Ambassador, your excursions will be documented for sharing. Think of it as being a vacation influencer — but don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the house on your own.

Entries are open now through August 27, and winners will be selected on August 28. Good luck, Cola.
Learn more and enter to win
Asked

What are the “unwritten rules” of Columbia?


For example, we all know saying, “Sorry, I got stuck behind a train” is a legitimate excuse for being late. Send us your unspoken tips + need-to-knows from locals for the chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
Share your rules with us
 
Events
Friday, July 7
  • Nashville Nights Concert Series | Friday, July 7 | 6 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | Free | Nashville Nights feature talented singer-songwriters traveling from Nashville, TN for special live music performances on stage.
  • Rex Darling, Ghost of the Kodiak, The Simplicity, Hillmouse | Friday, July 7 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $10 | Check out four rising local bands whose roots are all South Carolina based.
Saturday, July 8
  • Accessibility Morning | Saturday, July 8 | Times vary | SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | Free | This program allows children, teenagers, and adults who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have other disabilities to experience the museum’s exhibitions at their own pace and enjoy other special activities.
  • Rosé Wine Tasting | Saturday, July 8 | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St., Columbia | $33 | Try six different rosés with Advanced Sommelier Jonathan Lopez.
Sunday, July 9
  • Heathwood Walking Tour | Sunday, July 9 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Tour begins at Heathwood Park, 800 Abelia Rd., Columbia | $0-$10 | Join Historic Columbia on the second Sunday of July for a stroll through the Heathwood neighborhood.
Monday, July 10
Tuesday, July 11
  • Smoked Oyster Series | Tuesday, July 11 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Smoked, 1643 Main St., Columbia | $60 | Enjoy an intimate evening at Smoked’s oyster bar featuring oyster farms from the East and West Coasts, including an array of gourmet oysters and wine pairings.
More July events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Coming Soon
  • Sully’s Steamers, a regional chain known for its steamed bagel sandwiches, is expanding to Lexington County, and will be located beside Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. The current timeline is to open this fall. Sully’s also has plans for additional locations in Irmo, Forest Acres, and West Columbia. (Lexington Chronicle)
Closing
  • Turntable City, a record shop located in Lexington, announced it will be closing its storefront at the end of the month but plans to relocate to a larger space at a later date. In the meantime, the shop will continue operating online starting August 1 and host sales before closing. (The State)
Travel
  • Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) celebrated the launch of American Airlines’ daily nonstop service from Columbia to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). With this addition, CAE now offers seven destinations on American Airlines this summer.
Biz
  • Transmission Arcade, a local bar + arcade located in the Main Street District, is temporarily closed due to a pipe burst. The closure will last a few days as repairs are being made and events have been postponed until further notice. Stay tuned for updates on the cleanup and reopening.
Try This
  • Mark your calendars for August 5. NoMa Warehouse is partnering with Dorsia Pasta + Katie Wilson to offer locals a special date night, complete with a pasta dinner for two, a bottle of wine, and a professional portrait. Enjoy music, dancing, and tickets are $100 per couple.
Community
  • Join the State Museum for Disability Pride Day, a celebration of abilities and talents happening on Saturday, July 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy Zot Artz, art creation, museum tours with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, and more. Attendance + activities are free for participants.
Family
  • School’s out, and the kids are home — which means more family time. Want to spend time together developing healthy habits this summer? Check out this list of activities for the whole family.*
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
 
Drink

🍻 Drink Up, Cola

River Rat Brewery releases several new drinks for Drink Up

Raspberry Gose
Try the new Raspberry Gose, available now on tap. | Photo provided by River Rat Brewery
During the month of July, COLAtoday is celebrating our local beverage industry the best way we know how — through content.

From entrepreneurs to mixologists, unique coffee shops, fascinating local history + happy hour guides, we will shine a spotlight on the people and places that make our city’s beverage scene special.

Today, we’re highlighting River Rat Brewery and some of its new drinks for summer.

🍺 Raspberry Gose

This new beer is the third release of its Tattoo Series beers, following the Fruited Sour + Good Old Days beers. Two more releases are coming to the series later this year. While you wait, try the Raspberry Gose — a light, tart, and fruity drink.

Watermelon Cooler

Try this: the Watermelon Cooler specialty drink at River Rat Brewery.

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Photo provided by River Rat Brewery

🍉 Watermelon Cooler

This new specialty drink is a perfect summer pairing with hints of watermelon. It’s available for a limited time. Not a watermelon fan? Try the Blackberry Lemonade.
 
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The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor
Alright, it’s hot and I’ve got to know — how do you beat the heat around town? Whether it’s going to local watering holes or finding a shady spot, where do you go and what do you do?
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