Ahh, the smell of fresh paint. Today we’re excited to share some updates to our newsletter design. We hope these changes will help us deliver an even better reader experience — but as with most remodels, we may experience a few hiccups along the way. If your email doesn’t look quite right or if you have feedback on ways we can continue to improve, please drop us a line. Bonus points for including the type of device and software/platform you’re reading our newsletter on.
Top Stories
👻 The horrors of dating| Gather ‘round, Soda Citizens. Turn off the lights and cue the perfectly timed lightning — it’s time to share your top horror date night stories that took place around Columbia; just in time for Halloween.
🏳️🌈 Show your pride | In case you missed it, South Carolina Pride Movement’s Pride Week kicked off on Sunday, Oct. 13, with the 2024 theme, “Yeehaw Y’all! A Celebration for All.” The week of events lasts through tomorrow. Don’t miss the annual Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Festival today. Here’s a rundown of the remaining festivities.
🍻 Peruse these brews | Our team was invited to an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Peak Drift Brewing Company’s production facility + received an update on Peak Drift’s taproom. Read the need-to-know info.
Answered
Answered
Are you a classic French fry and funnel cake kind of fairgoer or an I’ll try anything once sort of attendee?
Today + tomorrow are the last days you can get your corn dogs, Friske fries, funnel cakes, and other classic favorites until next year. Still curious about the new foods like Korean Corn Dogs? Read through 10+ new foods introduced this year at the button below.
Loire Valley Wine Tasting | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard | $33 | Enjoy wines from the jardin de France! These wines offer elegance and freshness and are excellent value with six wines from the Loire Valley during our hour-long event.
Free Sundays | 1 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | Free | The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for free.
Those Lavender Whales Concert Film | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Nickelodeon Theatre | $12 | In the summer of 2023, the surviving members of Those Lavender Whales, joined by family, friends, and special guests, gathered in Columbia to pay tribute to the music and memory of Aaron Graves.
Plan Ahead
Tiny Taste- a sensory food experience for children ages 3-5 | 11-11:30 a.m. | Richland Library Main | Free | See How We Grow is a sensory taste-testing experience designed to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables among preschoolers.
Music Bingo | 7 p.m. | Hazelwood Brewing, Lexington | Free | Test your musical knowledge at music bingo.
Today from 10-11 a.m. Good Company Yoga Events is hosting free yoga at the State House for World Mental Health Day. Enjoy a free, outdoor yoga session on the grass — don’t forget your own mat.Registration is required.
Announced
The War and Treaty — a Grammy-nominated husband-and-wife duo who sing a blend of roots rock, Americana, and country — is coming to Harbison Theatre on Friday, Nov. 1 for one night only. The opening act will be The Kentucky Gentlemen.
Traffic
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, SCDOT announced a temporary, single-lane closure on Clemson Road. The closure is expected to last until December. See a map of the impacted area.
Open
In case you missed it — Steel Hands Brewing expanded to the Vista where Twisted Spur used to be and is now open. This location will offer curated cocktails, experimental craft beers, a restaurant, and indoor or outdoor seating. Check here for this location’s hours.
Travel
Want to make sure your next vacation takes off without a hitch? Check out our guide to Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) + for a full food rundown and to know just how early you should arrive to get through security. Bon voyage.
Regional
If you’re a Columbian, you know that some residents know how to get to Williams Brice without crossing a railroad track. Here are all the unwritten rules locals should know about the city, according to COLAtoday readers.
Plan Ahead
It’s finally fall, meaning our calendars are packed with activities like corn mazes + pumpkin patches. Find more fun near you this season with our ultimate guide to Cola’s top happenings. We’ll see you there.
Sports
The wrong team is favored in Oklahoma vs. South Carolina. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecockswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
City Guide
City Guide
Columbia’s most iconic landmarks
The revolving restaurant on the top and a part of the mechanical system is from the 1964-1965 World’s Fair. | Photo by COLAtoday
We’ve all been there: Someone’s trying to give you directions by describing 10 lefts, 20 rights, and a jumble of cardinal directions. Isn’t it easier to just point out a landmark?
That’s exactly what we’re doing. We have a list of 15 of the most recognizable Soda City landmarks — from the AT&T microwave tower to USC’s Horseshoe. Not only are these local icons easy to remember, but they’ll also get you where you need to go in a jiffy.
Address: 804 Gervais St.
Nearby: The Vista, Gervais Street Bridge
Adluh Flour Mill has been a staple of Cola’s skyline since it was completed in 1920. This operational, historic mill is a unique feature of downtown Columbia and is famed for its Southern breakfast staples.
Address: 898 Barnwell St.
Nearby: Five Points, USC Campus
Capstone is a landmark building on the USC campus, often lighting up garnet to signal Gamecock victories. It serves as a beacon for freshmen learning their way around campus.
