Why it matters

• High demand: Rising home prices + higher interest rates are driving more people to rent. Fun fact: average rent in Columbia is $1,114.
• Strong occupancy: The Standard, which opened last summer, was 91.3% occupied for the 2023-24 academic year and is 98.1% pre-leased for the upcoming year. The waitlist is currently open for The Haven at Palmer Pointe.
• Student housing pressures: Only about a third of USC’s 28,429 undergraduates live on campus spurring the development of private student apartments near campus.
• Spacious living: New apartments in Columbia average 1,019 sqft, ranking ninth largest in the nation. About 60% of new apartments have two or more bedrooms.

• Nashville Nights Concert Series | Friday, Aug. 9 | 6 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing | Free | Nashville Nights features talented singer/songwriters traveling from Nashville, TN for special live music performances.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | Friday, Aug. 9 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Fireflies x Carolina Hurricanes Hockey Jersey.*

• Columbia Sailing Club - Open House | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 1-2 p.m. | Columbia Sailing Club | Free | Learn about Columbia Sailing Club’s public programs: summer camps, private sailing lessons, and youth sailing.
• The Mountain Goats | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 8 p.m. | The Senate | $42.50 | In 2021, the NC folk band’s song “No Children” went viral on Tik Tok.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | Saturday, Aug. 10 | 6:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | Enjoy a post-game fireworks show at Segra Park.*

• (Un)Settled: A Bold Return to Giving a Damn | Sunday, Aug. 11 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free with admission or membership | Following the program, enjoy a tasting of small bites using food from South Carolina sustainable farms.
• Columbia Fireflies vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers | Sunday, Aug. 11 | 5:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | It’s Kids Club Takeover Night: Join the fun as members of the Fireflies Kids Club take over Segra Park.*

• “Anything Goes” | Sept. 6-22 | It doesn’t get much more classic than this tap-dancing-filled Cole Porter musical full of songs that later became standards (think: the title number and “I Get a Kick Out of You”).
• “Something’s Afoot” | Oct. 25-Nov. 10 | Calling all “Only Murders in the Building” fans for this murder mystery musical spoofing popular detective stories.
• “Home for the Holidays” | Dec. 6-15 | Get into the spirit of the season with a night out at the theatre — or a matinee with the family.
• “Steel Magnolias” | Feb. 7-16, 2025 | Fans of the film and newbies alike will love this female-centered, quintessential Southern comedy-drama.
• “She Loves Me” | March 21-April 6, 2025 | Fun fact: This cult-classic musical inspired the plot for “You’ve Got Mail.”
• “Spamalot” | May 16-June 1, 2025 | Based on “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” this heavily-awarded, hilarious musical has featured actors like Tim Curry, Hank Azaria, David Hyde Pierce, and Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”) in its Broadway and West End runs.

• Quincy Hall, a former USC track athlete, is now an Olympic gold medalist. Hall won the 400 meters with a time of 43.40, the fourth fastest ever. He is the first USC athlete to medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Gamecocks Online)

• The Picklr, a fast-growing pickleball franchise based out of Utah, is set to open a 46,000 sqft indoor facility in the former Dick’s Sporting Goods location. Opening this winter, the facility will feature 12 courts, a pro shop, and event space. (The State)

• Pho & Banh Mi restaurant will open Friday, Aug. 9 in West Columbia’s Westland Square. The new spot promises fresh ingredients, traditional recipes, and a cozy atmosphere.

• LMG DT Columbia Inc., led by Kunal Dave, CEO of Laxmi Hotels Group, purchased the former senior housing high-rise for ~$4.8 million. The 16-story building closed in 2021 due to high repair costs. (The Post and Courier)

• The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France wrap up this weekend. Today’s events include diving, men’s water polo, and men’s volleyball starting at 8:35 a.m. Keep up with Team USA and tune in for the closing ceremony on Sunday via WLTX.

• Chat GPT picks Clemson’s 2024 football season. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Clemson Tigers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

• Looking for convenient care? Enter: In-home doctor visits. Your Health House Calls offer personalized care plans, medication management, tests, labs, specialist referrals, follow-ups, remote monitoring, and more. Learn more + schedule.*

• At COLAtoday, we share hyper-local and need-to-know information about your Soda City faves. Now, it’s time for you to tell us the best biz in the city. Click on this form to start nominating in various categories.

• We’re beyond the halfway point of 2024 — aka a good time to make sure you’re maximizing your money. Personal finance experts have reviewed hundreds of credit cards to present you with the four very best bonus cards of the year.*

• We like our sound quality how we like our Toasty Hot Spot bacon — extra crispy. While most hearing aids have one processor, this device has two, which process speech + noise separately. The result: Clear, crisp, effortless listening and conversations. (Plus, it’s tiny.)*

• Caught the travel bug? Bookmark these essential tips for staying safe while enjoying your trips this season. Bonus: From Portugal to Japan, we’re feeling inspired by these local jet-setters.*