Who’s in the running

• City Limits BBQ and True BBQ | Two heavy hitters face off in the first round: the beloved West Columbia restaurant, True BBQ, against the recently James Beard award-nominated City Limits BBQ.
• Railroad BBQ and Palmetto Pig | Downtown favorite Railroad BBQ, known for its smoke-stacked plates and sides, goes against Palmetto Pig, with its communal tables and barbecue-focused buffet in the shadow of Colonial Life Arena.
• Midwood Smokehouse and Big Baby’s BBQ | Midwood Smokehouse’s popular location at Cross Hill Market faces off against Big Baby’s mobile setup, known to sell out quickly.
• Scott’s A1 Southern BBQ and Little Pigs | Little Pigs, a longtime favorite Columbia BBQ buffet, faces off against Scott’s A1, known for its specialties in brisket, pulled pork, and smoked oxtails.

• Bridge Club at Busby Street | Monday, March 4 | 11 a.m. | Busby Community Center, 1735 Busby St., Columbia | Free | Join the Aces Bridge Club for their weekly games.

• Gamecock Baseball vs. The Citadel Bulldogs | Tuesday, March 5 | 6:30 p.m. | Founders Park, 431 Williams St., Columbia | $12-$15 | Spend an evening at Founders Park and watch the Gamecocks in their midweek matchup.

• 1 Million Cups | Wednesday, March 6 | 9-10 a.m. | Richland Library Main, 1431 Assembly St., Columbia | Free | Join this event for local entrepreneurs to meet and present their startups to the thriving peer network of founders in Columbia.
• Junior League of Columbia’s Centennial Milestone Luncheon | Wednesday, March 6 | 11:30 a.m. | Central Energy, 2030 Gregg St., Columbia | $50 | The Milestone Luncheon will feature a panel of Sustaining Junior League Members who have made an impact on the nonprofit’s mission of creating positive change across Columbia communities.

• Public Tour: Darrel Ellis and Interior Lives | Thursday, March 7, Sunday, March 10 | Times vary | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free with admission | Take a guided tour of two featured exhibitions that explore identity, domesticity, and family through various lenses.

• Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo | Friday, March 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $20-$77 | Established in 1979, the come watch this rodeo with its indoor Bulls and Broncs format.
• Ashes & Arrows | Friday, March 8 | 8 p.m. | Newberry Opera House, 1201 McKibben St., Newberry | $25 | From the mountains of Asheville, NC to the peaks of Arrowtown, New Zealand, Ashes & Arrows captivate audiences around the country with their strong vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and onstage charisma. 🎸*

• The Gamecocks women’s basketball team clinched a perfect regular season with a 76-68 victory over Tennessee, marking their second undefeated season. The No. 18 men’s team rallied for an 82-76 win over No. 24 Florida, marking their third straight victory and 24th win of the season. (Gamecocks Online)

• Barnes & Noble is set to reopen at The Shoppes at Woodhill on Wednesday, March 6, following its departure from Richland Mall. The new store, located at 6090 Garners Ferry Rd., features a B&N Café, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by local author B.B. Alston. (Columbia Business Report)

• Columbia is revitalizing its downtown streets, focusing on making Sumter Street more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly by proposing a “road diet” to reduce lanes and add bike paths. The city, leveraging a $80,000 Safe Streets grant, hopes to improve safety. (The Post and Courier)

• Eau Claire High School’s No Half Steppin’ Marching Band is set to showcase their talents at the 2025 National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. The performance on the national stage will mark some students’ first time traveling out of state.

• The SC Philharmonic’s “Music in My Neighborhood” program brings a week of free performances and educational events to Irmo, from April 8-13, culminating in a full-orchestra concert at the Irmo Amphitheater. This initiative brings accessible symphonic music to a wider community.

• Which wide receiver prospects are the Panthers eyeing ahead of this year’s NFL draft? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

• Elevate your brunch experience with delish dishes, mimosa flights, live music, and bowling at The Grand on Main. The Grand blends brunch classics with entertainment, creating the perfect spot for a chill weekend. Book a table.*

• Visiting another city and looking for a brunch as good as Cafe Strudle? Check a map. Having trouble picking a credit card? Check The Ascent. They recommend this card for its incredible perks (like 0% interest on balance transfers for almost two years + 2% cash back).*

• University Hill Walking Tour | Sunday, March 10 | A journey through one of Columbia’s oldest neighborhoods, showcasing diverse architectural styles.
• Birdwatching in the Gardens | Thursday, March 14 | A guided exploration of over 100 bird species in the Hampton-Preston Gardens.
• Concert in the Gardens | Thursday, March 14 | An evening with the SC Philharmonic at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era, blending light classics and garden ambiance.
• Wavering Place Tours | Saturday, March 16 | Discover the deep history and evolving stories of Wavering Place, from the 1830s through the 1940s.
• Free Sunday at Mann-Simons Site | Sunday, March 17 | Experience the legacy of an African American family’s commercial and domestic endeavors.
• Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Ave. | Thursday, March 21 | Peek into the transformation of a mid-century modern commercial property.
• SC’s Jewish Merchants Webinar | Sunday, March 24 | Delve into the contributions of Jewish merchants across South Carolina.