Plus, USC's record attendance.
 
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City of West Columbia

Today’s Forecast

86º | 60% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:58 a.m. | Sunset 7:47 p.m.
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A Message From Our Team

We crunched the numbers and compiled your official COLAtoday’s Best nominees. Now comes the fun part: Voting. Now through Friday, September 20 you can vote for your favorites in each category. Winners will be announced Friday, October 4.
 

History

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Hey Google, what was Columbia like in 1999? | Graphic via Google
Do you remember 1999? Ricky Martin’s “Livin La Vida Loca” topped the charts, we were scared of the Blair Witch, and Google officially launched.

To celebrate, Google Trends opened its time capsule to see which fads were titanic in 1999. According to the report, adults were watching “The Matrix” and “The Sopranos” while kids were into “Toy Story 2” and “Teletubbies.” People also used the search engine to learn about David Beckham or evaluate their Pokémon cards, and searches for hot sauce set the web ablaze.

Livin La Vida Local

Want to know what life was like in the Soda City? We dug up some data to help us remember the final year of the 20th century — thanks to some help from a 25-year-old search engine.
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This area is now home to Riverfront Park and Bierkeller.

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Photo via Newspapers.com via The State

Local headlines

  • The Gamecocks hired legendary Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz to help revive the program. In his first year, Holtz went 0-11, a season many Columbians are still trying to forget.
  • The South Carolina Penitentiary along the Congaree River, originally constructed in 1867, was razed to construct the CanalSide Development.
  • Columbia’s City Center Master Plan laid out the future of Columbia including plans for the Three River Greenway and the Columbia Convention Center.

Who was performing

  • The Beach Boys played at the SC State Fair.
  • Death Cab for Cutie played at New Brookland Tavern.
  • When Rod Stewart performed at the Carolina Coliseum ticket prices ranged from $25-$50.
  • WARQ’s Fall Out concert at Capital City Stadium included performances from Bush, Train, Cowboy Mouth, and Sponge.
 
Asked
 

Were you around Columbia in 1999?

Share your end-of-the-century memories with us, and we may feature them in a future newsletter.
 
 
Events
 
Monday, Sept. 2
  • Chapin Labor Day Parade and Festival | Monday, Sept. 2 | 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Chapin | Free | Watch the parade and enjoy live music, food options, a children’s carnival area, a train museum, and vendors from all over.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
  • Sip and Plant Workshop: Carnivorous Plants | Tuesday, Sept. 3 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | $45 | Learn about the various types of carnivorous plants, including Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, sundews, and more.
Wednesday, Sept. 4
  • Trivia Night | Wednesday, Sept. 4 | 8:30 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza | Free | Invite your friends and show off your book smarts.
Thursday, Sept. 5
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Charleston RiverDogs | Thursday, Sept. 5 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | It’s USC Night: The Gamecocks take over Segra Park, with the first 1,000 fans in attendance receiving a special co-branded Fireflies Rally Towel.
Friday, Sept. 6
  • Meeting Street Music Fest | Friday, Sept. 6 | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia | Free | Enjoy a lineup of multiple genres of music, including nationally and regionally renowned artists on multiple stages throughout the River District.
Saturday, Sept. 7
Sunday, Sep. 8
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
SPONSORED
Eat
 

3 senior-friendly restaurants that are fun for the whole fam

Two older adults doings a cheers with glasses of wine.
From casual to traditional dining, Still Hopes has an eatery for every taste.  | Photo by Forrest Clonts
If you have special seniors in your life, you’ve likely asked yourself the sometimes challenging question, “Where should I take them out to eat?”

Luckily, Soda City has plenty of older adult-friendly restaurants to choose from. Here are some of our favorites, all of which have dedicated parking and are single-story:
  • Basil | Ideal for the travel bugs, this Thai restaurant will appeal to anyone’s adventurous side in an approachable (and tasty) way.
  • California Dreaming | Located in the historic Union Station, this eatery serves classic American fare in an inviting atmosphere, perfect for stories that start with “back in my day...”
  • Lizard’s Thicket | This local staple boasts a classic Southern vibe with its nostalgic cooking.
Sometimes, it’s nice to dine at home. If your loved one lives in a community like Still Hopes, why not let them take you to dinner at one of their five dining venues?
 
News Notes
 
Sports
  • The Gamecock football team won their season opener against Old Dominion 23-19. Next up, the team travels to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on the SEC Network.
Number
  • 38,300 — that’s the record enrollment number of the USC’s Columbia campus for the 2024-25 academic year, up from 36,538 in 2023. The freshman class grew by 280 students, with 52% being SC residents. (The Post and Courier)
State
  • Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — will invest $800 million to establish its first SC data center in Aiken County, creating 100 new jobs. The 715,000 sqft facility will support Meta’s AI workloads and operate with 100% renewable energy, opening in spring 2027.
Biz
  • The Columbia Chamber is accepting applications for the Midlands Minority Business Accelerator Class of 2025. Minority-owned businesses can apply by Thursday, Oct. 31, for a 12-month development program offering mentorship, and networking.
History
  • Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill creating the Robert Smalls Commission to design a monument honoring Robert Smalls on the SC State House grounds. The monument’s design and location will be finalized by 2025, with completion by 2028.
Read
  • Award-winning author and Loose Lucy’s owner James D. McCallister is set to release his new story collection, “The Night I Prayed to Elvis,” inspired by his rural SC childhood. The book launch event will be Wednesday, Sept. 18, at All Good Books.
Sports
  • The Panthers will surprise in 2024. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Panthers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Home
    • Cooler weather is approaching — time to replace drafty windows with beautiful, energy-efficient Renewal by Andersen® windows. For a limited time, enjoy 20% off your entire order.*
     
     
    Development
     

    🔨 A groundbreaking year

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    Local leaders break ground on the new Lake Murray Country Visitor Center in Irmo. | Photo by CCLMC
    The Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board (CCLMC) held its annual meeting, highlighting a strong year for tourism and economic development in the region.

    2023-24 successes

    • Bassmaster Elite Series: Hosted at Dreher Island State Park, the event brought over $1 million in direct economic impact through 3,800 room nights and reached 958,000 viewers on Fox Sports.
    • Southeastern BBQ Showdown: This new event attracted chef teams from across the U.S. and Japan, and will be featured on Bally Sports TV.

    Looking ahead

    Lake Murray was also recognized as the second-best lake for water sports by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024.
     
    The Buy
     
    A sleek bathroom organizer. This piece adds a decorative touch while providing space-saving organization. Bonus: It’s on sale for a limited time.
     
     
    The Wrap
     
    David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

    Today’s edition by:
    David

    From the editor
    Another recent highlight for Lake Murray Country has been the Explore Lake Murray Country Podcast hosted by their Marketing and Communications Manager Kelly Hughes. Tune into the latest episode with Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours.
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