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Today’s Forecast

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

🎬 Help us plan a Hallmark holiday movie

What if a Hallmark holiday movie was filmed in Columbia?
State House Christmas
You helped us write a local Hallmark holiday story. Read through your answers. | Photos by @photos_by_octavia
Every Hallmark holiday movie starts the same way: A work-minded person is struggling with an extremely challenging, business-related job. They travel out of “the big city” to a “small town” for the holidays, and there, bump into an old flame/hometown cutie/dog owner. Together, they learn the true meaning of the holidays.

Here’s a fun fact: There’s a list of South Carolina towns that TravelAwaits lists as ideal Christmas Hallmark destinations. Spoiler alert — Cola isn’t on it — so we think it’s time for the Soda City to prove its festive merit for the iconic TV network.

Share your ideas for the perfect Hallmark movie setting with us, and maybe we can send them the network’s way.

Christmas in Cola

The holiday tree at the State House. | Photo by @photos_by_octavia

Setting the scene

First, we need to establish who the protagonist is, and where they are traveling to Columbia from. They could be a tech, business, or financial wizard from Charlotte, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston, or another big city.

Where does the meet cute happen?

Next, where does the protagonist run into the hometown hunk? This could be any major landmark, park, coffee shop, or meeting space. Think of perusing the State House grounds, walking along one of our riverwalks, or bumping into each other at the Soda City Market.

How do they bond?

Somehow, the business-minded person and the hometown hunk find common ground. Or perhaps they bond over something more contentious? This could be a disagreement over Columbia’s best district, a connection over their shared passion for the Gamecocks, or a mutual hate for Malfunction Junction.

Holiday pop-up bar Columbia, SC

Naughty at Boku Kitchen and Saloon | Photo by @boku_cola

Where is the final scene?

At the end of the film, where will the two learn the true meaning of the holidays? At the romantic holiday tree in front of the State House? Under the “snow” during the Winter Wonderland? Clinking their glasses at a holiday pop-up bar?

Take our survey below, and we’ll follow up with the 803’s own Hallmark movie details in an upcoming newsletter.
Hallmark survey here
 
Events
Tuesday, Dec. 12
  • HEXIS, Midwest Lust, All You Need Is Kill, Bathe | Tuesday, Dec. 12 | 7:30-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $15 | HEXIS continue their unique blend of dark and dynamic hardcore and sludge with black metal, post-metal, and ambient passages.
Wednesday, Dec. 13
  • Holiday Market | Wednesday, Dec. 13, Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia | Free |Browse local vendors from your community to get tasty treats, interesting pieces of art, and other holiday gifts.
  • The 282d Army Band Holiday Concert | Wednesday, Dec. 13, Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Times vary | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Free | The 282d Army Band presents a festive concert featuring classic and popular holiday favorites.
Thursday, Dec. 14
  • Sushi Making Class | Thursday, Dec. 14 | 6-8 p.m. | Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi, 1624 Main St. #100, Columbia | $75-$130 | Your ticket includes a welcome sake, a specialty cocktail, appetizers, and two sushi rolls.
  • Holiday Lights on the River | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6-10 p.m. | 6071 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia | $25-$75 | Journey through more than two miles of lights featuring colorful, animated light displays of all shapes and sizes.
Friday, Dec. 15
  • Holiday Weekend Market | Friday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | NoMa Warehouse, 2222 Sumter St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy this three-day holiday market full of local vendors, delicious food, hot chocolate, spirits, live music and entertainment, and all of the holiday cheer you can imagine, including visits and photos with Santa.
Saturday, Dec. 16
  • Cola’s Christmas Comedy Jam | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Bluetile Skateboards, 621-23 Harden St., Columbia | $10 | Join Christian and other top comedians for a night of festive fun.
Sunday, Dec. 17
Calendar events here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Shop

Add to cart is the best part 🎁
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Graphic by 6AM City
Jingle bells might be ringing, but the clock is also ticking to snag one (or all) of our best-selling items from our online shop Six & Main.

So, what products are flying off of our virtual shelves? Take a look for yourself…
  1. The Savvy Oak Dough Bowl Candle is unique and smells amazing.
  2. Holiday parties just got better with the savory Appalachian Trail Mix.
  3. Glassware featuring our city’s skyline is a festive way to toast to the holidays.
  4. Celebrate the city and state we all love with artwork great for any home or office.
  5. Perfectly curated gift sets are excellent go-to presents for the holidays.
Don’t leave these items in your cart for too long — order by noon on Friday, Dec. 15 for delivery by Monday, December 25.
Get the good stuff
News Notes
Development
  • The Post and Courier discussed the growth of Main Street over the last 20 years — sharing about the district transforming from a quiet area to a bustling mixed-use center. Future efforts focus on improving Assembly Street, increasing housing, and expanding the district north.
Biz
  • The City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities is accepting applications for the 2024 NxLevel Microentrepreneur + FastTrac Growth Venture courses. The FastTrac program, in partnership with Midlands Technical College, aids businesses in sustainable growth and efficient operations.
Travel
  • Planning to travel for the holidays? Travelers are advised to plan for crowded airports + highways during the holiday season. Cola Daily shares its top tips when navigating the packed holiday travel season including transit by plane, car, and more. (Cola Daily)
Fun Fact
  • The Richland County Economic Development Office shared that SC’s corporate income tax rate is 5%, which is also one of the nation’s lowest. RCEDO shared this is a way the state aims to support business growth.
Sports
  • The USC men’s basketball team defeated East Carolina 68-62. Their record now sits at 8-1. The USC women’s basketball defeated Utah 78 to 69 to stay undefeated this season. Next up, the men will play Charleston Southern on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. + the women will play Presbyterian College at home on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Seasonal
  • In case you missed it, the Holiday Parade of Lights, hosted by the Greater CWC Chamber and Visitor Programs, drew a large crowd in Cayce + West Columbia. The event marked one of the largest holiday nighttime parades in the Midlands. Take a look through the images Cola Daily captured of the seasonal event. (Cola Daily)
Try This
Edu
Travel
  • New name, new venues, new events. The Charleston Festival (formerly known as the Festival of Houses & Gardens) is happening March 14-April 14 in Charleston. The 2024 season features iconic tours and events, but better than ever — plus, new events to enhance the experience. Learn more + snag tickets.*
Job
  • We’re hiring a City Editor for our newsletter in Charlotte, NC. The person we’re looking for is passionate about storytelling + news and has some serious Charlotte pride. Responsibilities include planning, writing, editing, and publishing the most relevant and engaging daily content about the city. See details and apply.
City of West Columbia
 
Seasonal

Our Editors’ picks for the holiday season
A watercolor patterned present image with blue florals.
Here’s what your local news team wants to unwrap this year. | Graphic by 6AMCity
Happy December. We thought we’d ring in the most festive month of the year appropriately — with holiday gift guides featuring our editors’ top present picks.

Scroll to shop, get inspired, and maybe even snag a locally made gift or two, courtesy of Sam’s and David’s exquisite taste.

City Editor Sam’s picks

Loveland Coffee’s Soda City Sunrise, $16+ | “What’s a better way to wake up local? Soda City Sunrise is a local coffee shop’s signature house blend with tasting notes of Smooth mild flavors of Caramel and chocolate with a lemon citric finish. I would gift this to a distant relative who misses the taste of home or bring it with me on a trip to have a homey staple on hand.”

Kindle, $119.99 | “I was gifted a Kindle for my birthday two years ago and it stands as one of the best gifts I’ve ever received because I still use it all the time. This is an especially good gift for the traveler in your life who wants to pack light but also have some portable entertainment.”

City Editor David’s picks

“Kugels and Collards: Stories of Food, Family, and Tradition in Jewish South Carolina” by Rachel Gordin Barnett, Lyssa Kligman Harvey, et al., $33.49 | “Historic Columbia helped publish this book from Rachel Gordin Barnett and Lyssa Kligman Harvey to preserve stories and recipes of Jewish families in South Carolina. More than just a cookbook, it offers essays and stories detailing the past.”

Columbia Skyline Cocktail Glasses, $39.99 | “If you’re like me and trying to build the perfect bar cart, these Cola skyline glasses are a perfect edition. Whether you’re having an afternoon sip of bourbon on the rocks, or serving a cocktail to guests, you can raise this glass in the air, cheers, and name the skyline places you recognize.”
More holiday gift ideas
The Buy

The Buy 12.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
The go-to gift for people who have everything: a scented candle.
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The Wrap
 
Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam
From the editor
Last week, I asked: “What has been the best local experience gift you have either received or given?” Here’s what a few of you said:
  • “A gift certificate for Eudora Farms in Salley, SC.” — Julie H.
  • “Riverbanks Zoo Family Membership” — Sarah O.
  • “A gift certificate to Let’s Cook” — Lisa G.
  • “Lead tour of Columbia Art Museum” — Ann H.
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