Plus, reserve your parking for the Manchester United vs. Liverpool game
 
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From our friends at WLTX

 
🌳 Finding your third place
busker-Soda-City-Columbia-SC-Shell-Suber
Soda City Market is an example of a third place around Columbia. | Photo by Shell Suber
Do you have a third place around Columbia? Take a moment to reflect. Besides your home (first place) and workplace (second place), where do you go throughout the week? Whose faces do you see and who do you talk to when you go there? Is the vibe at this space easy, non-pressuring, and potentially playful? Do you look forward to going and feel welcome?

If you could easily picture faces in this space + answered “yes” to the ease of the gathering, congratulations, you have found a third place in your local community. If you couldn’t, that’s okay. We’ll give you some ideas for finding one.

Third places?

Ray Oldenburg, a sociologist who wrote about third places in his book, “The Great Good Place” shares that third places — public, informal gathering spaces that you frequent in your community (think: coffee shops, parks, libraries, churches, breweries, bookstores, salons... etc.) — are important for many reasons, but particularly for promoting social vitality + a sense of community.

New Brookland Tavern

City Editor David recommends New Brookland Tavern as a third place for those who love music and local art. | Photo by COLAtoday team

Third places in Columbia: editors pick

City Editor Sam here — a third place I’ve found in Columbia is All Good Books. When I imagine the local, independent bookstore in Five Points, I picture friendly faces I catch up with weekly. I sip on Brickhouse Coffee, browse books, or work on COLAtoday’s newsletter. It hosts book clubs + offers a slew of community events, often partnering with local authors, universities, and Richland Library — another great third place.

Pro tip: Putting yourself out there in your local community is hard, but sometimes it just takes a few moments of courage to show up and be the first to say hello.

City Editor David here. When I think of Cola’s third places I think about our coffee shops, breweries, people’s church communities, and even somewhere like Papa Jazz Record Shoppe where people browse for records and talk about music.
 
Asked
 
Where have you found third places in Columbia?
We’re asking the experts. Where do you suggest other Columbians expand their horizons and build local community?
 
 
Events
 
Friday, July 19
  • Friday Night Laser Lights | Friday, July 19 | 6-10 p.m. | SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $10-$12 | Enjoy special shows featuring lasers choreographed to iconic music inside the museum’s 55ft digital dome.
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Friday, July 19 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | It’s Dino Weekend: The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Dinosaur Bobblehead courtesy of SAFE Federal Credit Union.*
Saturday, July 20
  • 2024 Tasty Tomato Festival | Saturday, July 20 | Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | $20-$30 | Taste many different kinds of tomatoes, enjoy live music, join competitions, and more.
  • Steel Hands x EQ Fitness & Physical Therapy | Saturday, July 20 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St., Cayce | $20 | Join in on this local business collab for a traditional EQ full-body workout finished with mat Pilates.
  • Stroller Tour: (Un)Settled | Saturday, July 20 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | Fussy, crying, or wiggly babies are welcome and baby-wearing is encouraged.
  • Northern Italy Wine Tasting | Saturday, July 20 | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St., Columbia | $33 | Taste six wines unique Northern Italian wines and nibble on small bites.
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Saturday, July 20 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | It’s Jurassic World Night: Take a trip back to the Jurassic Period as the Fireflies celebrate Dino Weekend.*
Sunday, July 21
  • Free Sunday| Sunday, July 21 | 1-4 p.m. | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era, 1705 Hampton St., Columbia | Free | On the third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
  • Yoga with Baby Goats | Sunday, July 21 | 4-5 p.m. | Fit Columbia, 2121 College St., Columbia | $27 | Practice your downward-facing dog pose alongside a baby goat.
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Sunday, July 21 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | $6-$18 | Let’s get prehistoric: Fans of all ages can enjoy an interactive dinosaur experience during the game, featuring Ed’s Dinosaurs Live.*
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Festival
 
Big names are coming to Anderson next weekend
Singer wearing black jeans, white tank top, and black cowboy hat sings into a microphone on a festival stage
Headliner Kid Rock performing at the tour’s recent stop in Poplar Bluff, MO. | Photo provided by Rock the Country
Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Travis Tritt, and more are making their way to Anderson next weekend, July 26-27, for two nights of great music at Rock the Country.

Two-day general admission tickets to the festival start at $189.99, and several camping options are available. (We personally love these folks’ style.)

Pro tip: VIP tickets ($399) include front-row views, access to the “Comfy Chill Zone,” and a private bar + exclusive restrooms.
 
News Notes
 
Sports
  • Heading to the Manchester United vs. Liverpool game on Saturday, Aug. 3? Reserve your parking spot. The SC State Fair is offering reserved spots in the fairgrounds, starting at $40 per car.
Number
  • $2.6 million — that’s the amount West Columbia was allocated out of the state budget. $2 million will go toward installing fire hydrants + water mains in the Mill Village and $650,000 will go toward riverwalk maintenance. (WIS TV)
Biz
Arts
  • New mural alert. The Five Points Association unveiled a new mural by Shelby LeBlanc, titled “A Splash of Color” and located at 745 Saluda Ave. The mural that spills from the wall to the ground took over 600+ hours. Take a look.
Drink Up
  • Clink, clink — we’d like to make a toast. Drink Up Week is coming Monday, July 22-Friday, July 26. To celebrate Cola’s buzzy beverage culture, local businesses are offering fun drink deals throughout the week. Map your route and raise a glass.
Job
  • Ever considered becoming a Dairy farm supervisor? What about a Bass Fishing Head Coach? The State rounded up six unusual State jobs that are currently open with expected salaries.
Listen
  • Listen to USC Player Interviews from SEC Media Days. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecocks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Finance
    • Have outstanding credit card debt? A new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. Credit card experts identified this top credit card for anyone looking to pay down debt. (Plus, earn up to 20,000 miles after spending $500 in three months.)*
     
     
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    Community
     
    📚 Broaden your bookshelf + meet a NYT bestselling author
    An image of a person holding the book "The Last Ballad" by author Wiley Cash and a Richland Library #BroaderBookshelf tote bag.
    This challenge is perfect for anyone eager to explore new genres. | Photo provided by Richland Library
    Looking to shake up your reading list but not sure where to begin? Richland Library’s Broader Bookshelf Reading Challenge will push you beyond your usual picks. Think: Traveling back to the 1980s with Wiley Cash’s “When Ghosts Come Home.”

    Here’s how this novel idea works:
    • Use guided prompts to discover new authors and genres
    • Track your progress using the Broader Bookshelf tracker, available online or at your library
    • Complete all 14 prompts by Dec. 31 to receive a Broader Bookshelf tote bag + a shot at winning an e-Reader
    Bonus: Head to Richland Library Main on Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. for a special event featuring New York Times bestselling author Wiley Cash.

    Cash will share about his acclaimed works, including “The Last Ballad” and “When Ghosts Come Home,” as part of the Broader Bookshelf program. Stick around afterward for a reception, book sale, meet-and-greet, and book signing.
     
    The Buy
     
    These men’s lightweight cotton-blend undershirts, which are moisture-wicking, tag-free, and on sale in color white.
     
     
    The Wrap
     
    Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest Today’s edition by:
    Sam
    From the editor
    If you are in a show hole and getting excited about football season, I recommend watching the show “Quarterback” on Netflix. The show follows and interviews major players in the NFL during the 2023 season. Locals may be especially interested in season two, “Receiver.” Deebo Samuel — former Gamecock football standout who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers — is one of the main interviewees this season. In season two, episode four (around minute 17), Deebo returns to USC. I can’t lie, it was pretty cool seeing Willy B. in a Netflix documentary.
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