🐓 Recent USC news recap | Last week, USC’s Board of Trustees approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an architecture firm to focus on Phase One of reimagining Williams-Brice Stadium + a $350 million, specialized hospital focused on neurology-related illnesses.
📚 Bookmark the date | Richland Library will host the inaugural Read Freely Fest from Friday to Sunday, March 28-30, at its Main location in downtown Cola. This free event celebrates storytelling, offering a mix of author talks, panels, book signings, and live performances. Read all about it.
🛻 Made in the Midlands | Scout Motors hosted an unveiling of its newest SUV prototypes set to be built in its manufacturing plant in Columbia. Take a look.
Events
Events
Saturday, Nov. 2
Day of the Dead 1M, 5K, 10K, 13.1, 26.2 | Friday, Nov. 1-Friday, Nov. 15 | Times vary | Columbia | $18 | This Mexican holiday is a time for families to remember and honor their departed loved ones, and to commemorate the meaningful occasion, Virtual Run Events is hosting the fourth annual Day of the Dead run event.
Native American Heritage Month Storytime | 10:30-11 a.m. | Richland Library Sandhills | Free | Gather together for a storytime featuring books by Native and Indigenous authors and illustrators with stories, songs, and more.
Sunday, Nov. 3
Yoga, then Mimosas | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works, West Columbia | $30 | Start your morning with some zen + end it with a toast.
Woofstock — HSPCA Fundraiser | 12-4 p.m. | Lexington Icehouse Amphitheater, Lexington | $10+ | Dress up your pet for a costume contest and maybe even find your new furry friend among the adoptable dogs available on-site.
Riverbanks Zoo welcomes a baby Toco toucan — something it’s been waiting for for over a decade. The new toucan chick is currently behind the scenes in the Bird Conservation Center as it learns to fly and eat on its own. Look for this special bird on exhibit next spring.
Sports
Welcome home. USC women’s basketball landed its first 2025 commitment from five-star Ayla McDowell, ranked 20th nationally by ESPN. The 6-foot-2 forward from Cypress Hill High, Texas, chose USC over Georgia Tech, Florida, and others. (Sports Illustrated)
Wellness
Posture check — this is your weekly reminder to straighten your back. If that felt good, imagine how nice a stretch at Current Wellness would feel. Find your flow at these Cola yoga studios.
Travel
Want to make sure your next vacation takes off without a hitch? Check out our guide to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) for a full food rundown and to know just how early you should arrive to get through security. Bon voyage.
Number
$2.83. That’s how much a gallon of gas costs in SC right now. Read more about the cost of living in Cola, including the median household income, and average cost of healthcare and groceries.
Listen
Is Texas A&M overrated or is South Carolina getting too much hype for the upset? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecockswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
City Guide
City Guide
🍕 Late night bites
Try the cheesesteak special on Monday night with mushrooms. | Photo by Transmission Arcade
We’ve all been there. You’re leaving a late-night show or wrapping up a night on the town, and the midnight munchies hit. But it seems like the lights are off and the grills are cold at all your favorite restaurants.
Well, that’s not quite true — because there are definitely joints that cater to nighttime eaters with late-night meals of everything from pizza to burgers to falafel. Save this list for the next time you’ve got an after-hours craving.
Eclectic eats
The Dragon Room | Tuesday-Thursday until 12 a.m. + Friday and Saturday 2 a.m.
A stylish lounge known for its creative cocktails, this Vista spot offers a cool space for late-night gatherings with shareable dishes to keep you fueled.
Bar food
Transmission Arcade | Open until 12 a.m. Sunday-Tuesday + 2 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday
This downtown arcade is a great spot to bring a group of friends for a late dinner or pick it up to-go.
A tiny label maker that’s a bestseller and on deal for a limited time. Organize pantry items, office supplies, cables, and anything you can stick a label on (stay still, kids).
It may look like fall, but (as we all know) the temperatures haven’t really been giving... crisp. Next week, you can expect more of the same. It looks like Cola will be in the high 70s and 80s until next weekend when temperatures drop to the low 70s.
