07.17.2023

Today’s Forecast

93º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:25 a.m. | Sunset 8:35 p.m.

When you forget to pack your lunch

Where to find lunch in Columbia

The inside walls of Andy’s Deli are like a museum of Columbia and Gamecock history. | Photo by COLAtoday

Looking for a tasty, local lunch spot that doesn’t break the bank? We’re here for you, Cola. Check out this list of 15+ places where a lunch for one costs $10ish or less.

We know cravings are key when it comes to a midday meal, so we’ve broken up these spots into their respective food groups — think delis and pizza.

Fast and casual

Carolina Cafe and Catering Co., 925 Sumter St. | Try one of its signature sandwiches for ~$8. We’re biased and think The Columbia Sandwich is the best, made with turkey, cranberry sauce, and leaf lettuce.

Crêpes & Croissants, 1465 Sumter St. | Enjoy counter-serve, sweet or savory crêpes and croissant sandwiches. Pro tip: Order a fresh French pastry to go or on the side.

Late night bites around Columbia, SC — Beezer’s is a popular spot located across the street from UofSC campus.| Photo by COLAtoday

Sandwiches and delis

Beezer’s Gourmet Sandwich Shop, 919 Sumter St. | Beezer’s is a go-to spot for many USC students. We recommend the Godfather sandwich made with double meat, Genoa salami, capicola ham, Virginia ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, oil and vinegar, and herbs for less than $7.

Sandwich Depot, 1211 Taylor St. | The whole menu, other than the platters, is under $10. We recommend ordering the Kitchen Sink breakfast wrap, made with ham, bacon, sausage, green pepper, tomato, onion, scrambled egg, American cheese + its signature hollandaise for $7.95.

Noodles

Duke’s Pad Thai, 904 Knox Abbott Dr. | If you’re willing to sacrifice an extra $2-$3, Duke’s Noodles and Rice dishes are worth it. If not, and you’re trying to stay in the $10 range, order a Street Eat, a soup, or Duke’s Tacos.

Menkoi Ramen House, 1004 Gervais St. | If it’s your first time, we recommend ordering the Chicken Ramen, made with yellow noodles floating in a chicken-based soup and a chicken breast for $9. Pro tip: Order an extra egg in your ramen bowl for $0.75.

Eat more here

Asked

When it comes to lunchtime, which option do you prefer: eating at home/work or eating out?

A. I prefer eating at home/work
B. I prefer eating out
C. A mix of both
D. It depends on my mood

Let us know here

Events

Monday, July 17

Play Auditions at Trustus Theatre | Monday, July 17-Tuesday, July 18 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., Columbia | Free | Those auditioning need only attend one night of auditions, not both.

Tuesday, July 18

Yoga on Tap | Tuesday, July 18 | 6-7 p.m. | Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi, 1624 Main St., Columbia | $10 | Enjoy a half pint of beer + some sushi on the back patio.

Wednesday, July 19

Blood Drive with the American Red Cross | Wednesday, July 19 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Richland County Administration Building, 2020 Hampton St., Columbia | Free | All donors will receive a $15 e-gift card, a Shark Week T-shirt, and Girl Scout cookies.
Disney Trivia | Wednesday, July 19 | 7-9 p.m. | Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St., Columbia | Free | Pull together a group of friends and test your Disney knowledge.

Thursday, July 20

The Wizard of Oz at Town Theatre | Thursday, July 20-Sunday, July 30 | Times vary | Town Theatre, 1012 Sumter St., Columbia | $15-$25 | Follow the yellow brick road for Town Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz! running now-July 30.*
South Congaree Championship Rodeo | Thursday, July 20 | South Congaree Rodeo, 395 Oak St., West Columbia | $14-$45 | Get ready for three nights of rodeo fun in Lake Murray Country.

Calendar events here

Click here to have your event featured.

Community

Your ultimate guide to Columbia has arrived

Fall in love with the city even more with our Ulitmate City Guide. | Graphic by 6AM City

We all know that Columbia is a special place with a never-ending supply of things to do, see, and experience. That got us thinking — we already spend our days helping you get the most out of our city. So what if we curated a collection of guides that will be updated and available anytime to help you navigate all our great city has to offer?

That’s just what we’ve done. Say hello to COLA’s City Guide, your ultimate digital destination for the best ways to get out there and learn about the city you love.

We’ve broken the guides into three categories:

LIVE — Schools, neighborhoods, and unwritten rules of the city
WORK — Top industries, startups, and great spots to work outside
PLAY — Parks, festivals, hikes, and date nights

That just scratches the surface. We’ve got guides to local Airbnb and Vrbo rentals, navigating the airport, volunteer opportunities around town, and even where you and your pooch can grab a drink together.

Ready to get to know your city even better? Check out the link below. And if there’s a guide you’d love to see, send us a suggestion because this list of guides will just keep growing.

Oh, and one more thing. For all you marketing folks out there, we have one exclusive sponsorship available. We will feature your brand next to everywhere the guides appear in the newsletter, website, and social media. It’s an opportunity that won’t last long, so drop us a line.

Start exploring now

News Notes

Opening

Oliver Gospel’s newest boutique, The Hope Shop, is set to open on Saturday, July 29 at 1111 Taylor St. This curated thrift store offers a wide range of donated name-brand + vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories. All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting programming at Oliver Gospel.

Coming Soon

A new Chicken Salad Chick is set to open in the Trenholm Plaza shopping center on Forest Drive. The new location, expected to open in 2024, will occupy the space previously held by BLD Diner. This will be the third Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in the Columbia area. (The State)

Civic

Explore the Richland County Transportation Penny’s new Facebook page. It will serve as your go-to resource for updates on how the penny tax is improving roads, expanding greenways, and being utilized.

Biz

Turner & Moss Vintage Home, a business that sells vintage items and helps clients curate their homes with unique decor finds, is making a comeback after a two-year hiatus. It will be opening its new location at 715 Saluda Ave. in Five Points.

Eat

This special is sure to maki your Monday. Head to Boku Kitchen and Saloon for Maki Monday featuring $7 sushi donuts (you read that right), $5 temaki handrolls, and $4 sake bombs. Bonus: Take advantage of free parking in their shared lot. Reserve a table.*

Cause

S.O.S. — it’s time to Save Our Summer with The Blood Connection. Blood centers usually struggle to collect enough during the summer months, with July being the hardest. For helping the blood supply, donors receive $60 in rewards (drives may vary). Learn more + donate.*

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.*

Shop

On our wish list: the NETVUE Smart Bird Feeder. It identifies bird species + captures live, high-quality footage you can save or share from your phone.*

Lifestyle

How-to tube down the river

Your how-to guide for tubing down the river in Columbia

The shuttle filled with standard tubes and life jackets | Photo by COLAtoday team

Last week, we asked how some of you beat the heat around town, and reader Tony T. said, “Floating in inner tubes down the river with friends.”

So you want to float the river because it’s a famously hot July, but don’t know where to start. That’s ok, we’ll help. If you want to catch some rays, see some wildlife, and have a water day with friends + family, we recommend taking the Riverbanks Zoo to Gervais Street Bridge Route (Aka the Z-G route).

This ~3-hour, 2.5-mile-long float will put in near Riverbanks Zoo and take you down the lower Saluda River until you reach the West Columbia Riverwalk. Note: This route has Class I + Class II rapids — one to two feet tall rapids over rocks — so children must be 10+ to participate.

Click the button below to know where to meet, understand the shuttle services, how to book, what’s included, what you need to bring, and other local tubing opportunities.

Keep reading

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The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

All of this intense summer heat has me dreaming of fall. Fun reminder, we are officially under 50 days until Gamecock football kicks off for the 2023 season. USC will face North Carolina + play in the Bank of American Stadium in Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets.

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