11.03.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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

🚀 Meet me at The Rocket

Columbia’s most iconic landmarks

In “The Program,” many football scenes were filmed at the Williams-Brice Stadium. | Photo by @sc_drone

We’ve all been there: Someone’s trying to give you directions by describing 10 lefts, 20 rights, and a jumble of cardinal directions. Isn’t it easier to just point out a landmark?

That’s exactly what we’re doing. We have a list of 15 of the most recognizable Soda City landmarks — from the AT&T microwave tower to USC’s Horseshoe. Not only are these local icons easy to remember, but they’ll also get you where you need to go in a jiffy.

Adluh Flour Mill

Address: 804 Gervais St., Columbia
Nearby: The Vista, Gervais Street Bridge

Adluh Flour Mill has been a staple of Cola’s skyline since it was completed in 1920. This operational, historic mill is a unique feature of downtown Columbia and is famed for its Southern breakfast stapes.

AT&T Microwave Cone Antenna Tower

Address: Near Hampton St., Columbia
Nearby: Robert Mills House, USC

This is a towering piece of mid-20th-century telecom history featuring distinctive microwave cone antennas. Once part of a nationwide network for long-distance communication, it’s now a part of the Cola skyline that leaves people curious.

Fishing-at-Lake-Murray — Fishing at the Lake Murray dam. | Photo via @julianachitolina

Lake Murray + Dam Hydroelectric Intake Towers

Address: State Rd. S-36-587, Columbia, SC
Nearby: Dreher Island State Park, Lake Murray Country Visitor Center

Lake Murray and its Hydroelectric Intake Towers are not just functional structures but symbols of the Midlands, offering a scenic spot for sunset walks, boat rides, and picturesque views.

South Carolina State Fair Rocket

Address: North Entrance, South Carolina State Fairgrounds, Columbia
Nearby: Williams-Brice Stadium

A historic missile-turned-landmark, the iconic rocket has graced the SC State Fair since the 1960s. Standing 70 feet tall, it’s a nostalgic meeting point for generations of fairgoers.

Tripping on bricks in the Historic Horseshoe is basically a right of passage. | Photo by COLAtoday

USC’s Historic Horseshoe

Address: Sumter St., Columbia, SC
Nearby: McKissick Museum, Longstreet Theatre, Russell House

The Historic Horseshoe at USC is rich in history and is home to the South Caroliniana Library, the nation’s oldest freestanding college library. A gathering place for students to sprawl out on the lawn, the Horseshoe has hosted notable guests like President William Howard Taft and Pope John Paul II.

10 more landmarks

City Guide presented by AllSouth Federal Credit Union.

Events

Friday, Nov. 3

Fall Back Festival | Friday, Nov. 3 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Corner of State and Meeting Streets, Columbia | This free event perfectly celebrates the fall season with live music, art, food, and drinks.
The NoMa Flea | Friday, Nov. 3 | 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.
Happy All-idays Sketch Show | Friday, Nov. 3 | 8 p.m. | Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St., Columbia | $10 | The Mothers are celebrating a late Halloween, an early Thanksgiving, and a really early Winter Holiday in this sketch comedy show.
Jam Room Music Festival Kick-Off Cookout | Friday, Nov. 3 | 6-10 p.m. | Curiosity Coffee Bar, 2327 Main St., Columbia | Free | Kickoff the Jam Room Music Festival weekend with a night of music, cooking out, and community with Banditos performing two sets.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Gamecock Football vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 12 p.m. | Williams-Brice Stadium, 1125 George Rogers Blvd., Columbia | $40-$95 | Watch USC take on Jacksonville State in the first-ever battle of the Gamecocks.
Jam Room Music Festival | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 12-10 p.m. | Downtown Columbia, Main St., Columbia | Free | Jam Room Music Festival returns to Main Street with a diverse line-up of national, regional, and local acts on two stages.
2023 Midlands Christmas Arts & Crafts Market | Saturday, Nov. 4-Sunday, Nov. 5 | Times vary | South Carolina State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia | Free | Over 170 Crafters and Vendors from all over the Midlands will showcase their talents and creations.
SC Korean Festival | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 11 a.m. | 1412 Richland St., Columbia | Free | The festival showcases traditional music, dance, Taekwondo, and a K-Pop contest with food items like bulgogi and kimchi.

Calendar events here

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Listen

Culture

Local podcast rec: Check out “Our State, Our Stories”

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

Male artist wearing a beanie and denim jacket paints details onto the jaw of a Megalodon replica

Local artist Stavros Chrysostomides working on creating Finn, the museum’s famous Megalodon replica | Photo provided by South Carolina State Museum

Looking for a new listen to add to your rotation? The South Carolina State Museum is excited to release its first-ever podcast series, “Our State, Our Stories,” just in time for its 35th birthday celebration happening this Saturday, Nov. 4.

This season uncovers the true story behind “Bubba the Ghost,” dives into the creation of Finn the Megalodon, goes behind the scenes with the Collections Team, and explores how the museum is planning for the next 35 years — and more.

Learn more and listen

News Notes

Sports

Sumter native, Gamecock alum, and now World Series Champion Jordan Montgomery shined in the playoffs with a 3-1 record and a 2.90 ERA with the Texas Rangers. This is the first World Series Championship for Jordan and the first in Texas Rangers history. (Gamecocks Online)

Health

City leaders are considering joining the ‘Blue Zones’ initiative to bridge a 23-year life expectancy gap across the city. The program aims to foster healthier lifestyles through community-wide collaboration. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann supported the measures to promote active living and better access to health resources. (WLTX)

Seasonal

South Carolina’s official Christmas tree arrives at the State House on Monday, marking the start of the holiday season. A press conference with Experience Columbia SC and the Columbia Garden Club is set for 9:15 a.m. to welcome the large evergreen.

Concert

Two-time Grammy winner Lauren Daigle is set to perform at Colonial Life Arena on Feb. 24, during her Kaleidoscope Tour. She’ll appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday, Nov. 9, before tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m.

Arts

Trustus Theatre will dedicate the new “Earth Medicine” mural on Lady Street on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. The event and mural honor Richard Rowe who founded the Vista Neighborhood Association and served on the boards of Trustus Theatre and the Vista Guild. The event is open to the public.

Drink

Palmetto Wine Sellers will host “Feathers and Fizz,” a sparkling wine tasting, on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 3-5 p.m. Sample 12 wines, enjoy gourmet pairings, and get a 10% discount on any wines in the shop. Tickets are $40.

Biz

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner — Nov. 25, to be exact. What local businesses will you be supporting + which local deals should we check out? Let us know and we may feature your recommendation in an upcoming newsletter.

Finance

This five-star-rated card offers not one, not six, but 21 months of 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers — giving you nearly two years to save big. (All with no annual fee, to boot.) Learn more and apply.*

Eat

Whether you’re warding off a cold or just in the mood for some comfort food, it doesn’t get much more classic than chicken noodle soup. This homemade version is ready in just 35 minutes.*

Home

From essentials like heating, cooling, and lights to daily necessities, our lives run on electricity. Looking for a way to protect your home’s power supply? Enter: Generac®, an automatic standby generator to keep life going without disruption. Learn more + schedule an appointment.*

Seasonal

🕰️ Permission granted to turn back time

Columbia’s century-old downtown clocks

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This clock was installed at the corner of Main and Hampton Streets in 1906. | Photo by COLAtoday

It’s almost time to set the clocks back. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, Nov. 5. Plan ahead and look forward to that extra hour of sleep and an earlier sunrise to help get your day started. A sunrise that starts closer to 6 a.m. sunrise is more our speed.

In the spirit of time, we’re taking a quick look at two of Columbia’s iconic downtown clocks.

After Sylvan Brothers moved to the corner of Main and Hampton Streets in 1905, the company installed the four-sided clock a year later where it still stands today. The other is on the corner of Main and Washington Streets.

Fun fact: Both clocks have four faces with lions’ heads and stand atop a column with a Corinthian capital stand. The clocks also have original internal mechanisms + were made by prolific clockmaker Seth Thomas, who also produced clocks in Boston, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

The Buy

The Buy 11.03.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A party host gift for your weekend plans (do we spy a puzzle?).

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The Wrap

David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

Today’s edition by:
David

From the editor

Come out to the Jam Room Music Festival tomorrow and enjoy a day of free live music on Main Street. As a proud volunteer board member of the Jam Room Foundation, we’ve worked hard this year to put on a great festival for Cola. Plus, we have an excellent lineup of food vendors that includes Sound Bites, Smokey Loggins, Hott Mess, Wurst Wagen, and Hanabi Hibachi and Sushi, so you can leave full and happy.

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