Meeting Street and US-1 corridor beautification

Enhancing safety

Infrastructure

Triangle City revitalization

Community engagement

• Winter Solstice Lantern Parade | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 5 p.m. | Riverfront Park South, 312 Laurel St., Columbia | Free | Rangers and volunteers will provide poles for your lights and lanterns, and the parade will move into the park around dark.
• Levvy performing as Manchester Orchestra | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $10 | Local rock act Levvy covers Manchester Orchestra to say goodbye to New Brookland Tavern before the venue’s move to Five Points.
• Home for the Holidays | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $5-$40 | The SC Philharmonic is bringing you a merry and warm evening of holiday fare that the whole family will enjoy.

• NBT CHRISTMAS PARTY W/ Mel Washington, Joseph Hunter Duncan, David Adedokun | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7-11:30 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia | $10 | No more than $20 value encouraged for guests who bring a gift.

• Winter Wonderland | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 31 | 6-9 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.
• Santa Saturdays | Saturday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 23 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $6.95-$8.95 | Meet Santa at the South Carolina State Museum, see holiday shows, explore four floors of exhibitions and shop in the museum store every Saturday leading up to Christmas.
• The Color Purple Private Advanced Screening | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 4-6:30 p.m. | Spotlight Cinemas Capital 8, 201 Columbia Mall Blvd., #Ste 211, Columbia | $25-$35 | Tickets come with VIP seating and gift bags.

• USC Board of Trustees approved the purchase of two state-owned office buildings for $2.2 million each. The acquisition includes the Rutledge Building and 1430 Senate Street. Both buildings are located a block north of the Horseshoe, and approval from the state is pending. (The Post and Courier)

• The Gamecocks men’s basketball team earned their 10th win of the season Tuesday night with a 72-62 victory over Winthrop. Next up, the Gamecocks take on Elon at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Colonial Life Arena. (Gamecocks Online)

• The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) has announced the selection of four Midlands-based artists — Anthony Lewis, Brandi Roberts, Ozon Wilson, and Brenda Peake — for its 2024-2025 Art in the Airport program. The exhibits showcase local talent for folks leaving and arriving in Cola.

• A new access point on the Saluda Riverwalk, located near the Mill Race Rapids on Candi Lane, is now open, expanding river accessibility. Ideal for canoes, kayaks, and other non-motorized boats, it offers a safe entry to the river.

• Local artists in Richland and Lexington Counties have until Thursday, Jan. 18, to register for the Columbia Open Studios tour. Scheduled for March 23-24, this self-guided tour allows artists to display their work and connect with the community.

• The sun may set at 5:18 p.m. today, but good news is on the horizon... literally. Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the North Pole is tilted the furthest from the sun, resulting in the shortest day of the year — which means the days will start getting longer.

• Craving some Asian flavors? Yes, chef. We recently prepared a new dish of Doctors’ Orders, the series in which Midlands doctors share what they like to eat at local restaurants. Dine with us at the latest installment — The Dragon Room.*

• With only a few days left in the holiday season, we’re breaking out every excuse we can to whip up a festive dish. On the menu this week, we’re making eggnog french toast, a winter wonderland coconut cake + a cranberry ginger mocktail.*