11.30.2023

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Weekend Forecast

🌦️ Expect highs around 55° + a rainy Saturday

City editor Sam here. 👋 Where does the time go? Tomorrow is Friday, Dec. 1. Does anyone else feel like there is still so much to do before the holidays? For this edition of COLAweekend, I want you to just give your brain a break, for the most part.

Play a game, let’s chat about the holidays, test your state knowledge, and share some book recommendations with me. Before you get to the rest of the items on your long to-do list, just spend a few minutes with me this afternoon.

Events

Friday, Dec. 1

Historic Columbia’s Holiday House Tours | Wednesday, Nov. 15-Saturday, Dec. 30 | Times vary | Hampton-Preston Manion, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | $18 | Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th century.
Christmas in Cayce | Thursday, Nov. 30, Friday, Dec. 1, Saturday, Dec. 2 | Times vary | City of Cayce/Cayce Riverwalk/Cayce Historical Museum, 1800 12th St., Cayce | Free | Kick off the magic of Christmas with three unique events to celebrate Christmas in Cayce.*
Midlands Clay Arts Society Annual Holiday Sale | Thursday, Nov. 30, Friday, Dec. 1, Saturday, Dec. 2 | Times vary | Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St., Columbia | Free | Local ceramic artists will showcase their sculptural, functional, and whimsical wheel thrown and hand built ceramic art.
City of Columbia Food Truck Fridays | Friday, Dec. 1 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | REI Co-Op Parking Lot, Bull St., corner of Bull and Colonial, Columbia | Price of purchase | The City of Columbia Food Truck Fridays initiative highlights various types of cuisines, which can be enjoyed in our city while connecting with each other over great food.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Bierkeller Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) | Saturday, Dec. 2 | Times vary | Bierkeller Columbia, 600 Canalside St., Columbia | Free | Delight in the charm of a traditional German Christmas market along the Congaree River.
Santa’s Market Craft Show | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Seven Oaks Park, 200 Leisure Ln., Columbia | Free | Complete your holiday shopping with one-of-a-kind items including paintings, handmade jewelry, home décor items.
Midlands Native Tree & Shrub Sale | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Woodrow Wilson Family Home, 1705 Hampton St., Columbia | Free | These trees and shrubs are selected to thrive in the Midlands.

Sunday, Dec. 3

Homes for the Holidays | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 1-5 p.m. | Hollywood-Rose Hill Neighborhood, 2818 Devine St., Columbia | $35 | Join this tour in the Shandon/Hollywood-Rose Hill area of homes decked out for the holidays.
Snowball Parade | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 3 p.m. | Main Street, Lexington | Free | Get in the holiday spirit by watching an array of parade floats make their way through downtown.
Columbia Classical Ballet, The Nutcracker | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 3 | Times vary | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $10-$25 | Columbia Classical Ballet presents three nights of this holiday classic.
Winter Wonderland | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 4-7 p.m. | 1600 Block of Main Street, 1621 Main St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy snowfall every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December on the 1600 Block of Main Street.

100+ more fun events to attend

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Answered

When is Arbor Day in South Carolina?

B. The first Friday in December

Okay — I tricked you a teensy bit — federally, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April, but did you know that South Carolina is the only state to celebrate Arbor Day in December?

If native plants are planted, or transplanted, on the first Friday in December, they have the best chance of growing well. Want to partake in tree planting?

The South Carolina Native Plant Society Midlands Chapter is hosting a Midlands Native Tree & Shrub Sale on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Woodrow Wilson Family Home, 1705 Hampton St., Columbia. Go buy and then plant a tree.

From the editor

Asked

Which holiday tree is best — real or artificial? Click your favorite.
- 🌲 Real
- 🎄 Artificial

Read

Scrambling to hit that reading goal you set back in January? Check out 20+ books written by local authors. Also, I’d love to know what’s on your TBR (to-be-read) list for next year. Share your thoughts on your favorite books of the year or which books you’re looking forward to reading. Psst — this weekend seems like it’ll offer the perfect, cozy reading weather.

Shop

Something I really enjoy when I have a few free hours on my hands is to go thrifting around town. I’m even challenging myself to buy some of my holiday gifts second-hand this year. I put together a robust list of flea markets, trade, vintage, and resale shops if you want to join in on the holiday gift hunting.

Seasonal

🗓️ Add to cal: Head to Main Street to celebrate the opening night of a holiday pop up bar

The bar at The Venue decked out in holiday decor.

Bonus: The pop up bar coincides with Winter Wonderland (read: snow on the 1600 block of Main Street). | Photo provided by LTC Hospitality

Ready to have a hoppy holiday, COLA? Celebrate the magic of the season at The Venue‘s pop up bar, Home for the Holidays with Chip Hopkins, happening tonight at 8 p.m.

Listen to live festive tunes while sipping holiday-themed cocktails and savoring delish dishes.

Can’t make it out tonight? The good times are jingling through Dec. 31 (every Thursday-Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m.), so there’s still time to get in on the fun.

Snag tickets

Game

Play “Would You Rather” with us

Play “Would You Rather” with us, Columbia

Columbia is ranked as one of the best places to start a business. | Photo by COLAtoday team

When was the last time you played a game of “Would You Rather,” Cola? In case you’ve never played, here’s a quick rundown:

Step 1 — A question is posed that pitches two options. Example: “Would you rather live in Columbia, South Carolina, or any other city in the world?”

Step 2 — You decide what you’d rather do. No surprise here; we’re saying the 803.

Now that you’re a “Would You Rather” expert, let’s tap into our inner middle schoolers and play this nostalgic game featuring some of the Soda City’s most iconic landmarks, qualities + foods.

Whether it’s choosing between spending time with Coach Shane Beamer or Darius Rucker, or deciding if you’d rather have a lifetime supply of Columbia Craft or Zesto’s fried chicken, we want to know what you’d rather do.

Question one

Would you rather have unlimited fried chicken from Zesto OR beer from Columbia Craft?

I can taste the chicken now.
Beer me, please.

Question two

Would you rather never have to pay for parking again OR never have to look more than 2 min. for parking again?

I’ll save a buck.
Oh, take my money. I hate looking for parking downtown.

Would you rather be able to bring back The Whig OR Yesterday’s Restaurant & Tavern?

Question three

Bring back Main Street’s dive bar.
I miss that cowboy in the bathtub, oh — and the food at Yesterday’s.

Question four

Would you rather experience Columbia 100 years ago OR 100 years in the future?

Take me back.
Show me the future.

See more questions + record your answers at the button below. Thanks for playing, Cola. Is there a “Would You Rather” question about the city that you’d like to see answered? Send it our way and we might just pose it to your fellow readers.

Business

A local resource for Medicare and health insurance

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

A group photo of the representatives at Lourie Life & Health.

Lourie Life & Health represents all the major companies offering Medicare, health, and life insurance. | Photo provided by Lourie Life & Health

Need help making decisions about Medicare or health insurance? Enter: Lourie Life & Health, a local, independent agency that aims to put Soda Citizens’ needs first.

The company is on a mission to educate folks on the options available so they can make the best decision for their needs and budget.

“Our clients appreciate working with a local agency who will be there to answer your questions, now and in the future. We can assist you in-person or over the phone, and our service is at no cost,” says President and CEO Joel Lourie.

Lourie has always believed in giving back to his community. Serving in the SC House and Senate, he concentrated on issues that have a meaningful impact on the lives of South Carolinians (such as healthcare, education, and public safety) with a focus on protecting the state’s children and aging population — a mission he works to continue through Lourie Life & Health.

Medicare + health insurance questions answered

The Buy

Weekend The Buy 11.30.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A Pvolve equipment bundle, so you can try the Jennifer Aniston-endorsed fitness method right from home.

Let us know what you think about COLAweekend, a product of COLAtoday, by answering a few quick questions.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
COLAtoday Team

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Quiz

When is Arbor Day in South Carolina?

A. The last Friday in April
B. The first Friday in December
C. On Earth Day
D. The second weekend in February

Click the correct answer + then scroll down to see if you got it right.

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