The Wild Honey Pie’s pizza party’s feature live music performances. | Photo provided by The Wild Honey Pie
Food and music — they go together like a perfect melody. On Thursday, Oct. 31 at The Graduate by Hilton at USC, The Wild Honey Pie, a New York-based creative agency that started as a music blog, is hosting a one-of-a-kind party with pizza from Paulie Gee’s pizza + live music from rising star Annie DiRusso.
We caught up with Eric Weiner, the founder of the agency and the creative force behind the traveling pop-up events, to learn more about what the party will be like.
We’re lucky to have the Halloween show here in Columbia at The Graduate. The lobby is actually a 100+ year old home that they preserved. What do you imagine the vibe and do you have a costume in mind?
“I chose my costume months ago. It’s a pizza party and no one loves pizza more than a Ninja Turtle. I’ll be dressed as Mikey cause he’s the most fun of the bunch. Vibe is going to be immaculate — only 150 people getting a truly VIP experience with amazing food from Paulie Gee’s made locally by Vita Da Pizza, performance by Nashville’s Annie DiRusso, fresh off her performance at the All Things Go festival, and lots of fun surprises for everyone.”
Tell us about Annie DiRusso and the energy she’ll be to the night.
“We love Annie DiRusso. She’s on a roll, working with the same management team as Cage the Elephant and some other great artists, recently played one of our ‘Dinner Parties’ in NYC which sold out super fast, and is just such a good human. We love working with her and if things go our way, we’ll be working with her a bunch more in the future. She has a stripped down set planned for this party that will really allow her songwriting and vocals to shine through.”
Here’s your chance to grab New York pizza in Cola.
Photo provided by The Wild Honey Pie
What question do you have for our readers about your upcoming visit to Cola aka Soda City aka The Capital City?
“I want to know where I can get some good vegan food in Columbia. What are the best local bands? Where should we have our after party?” Let Eric know.
Click the button below for two more questions + to learn how the collaboration with Paulie Gee’s, Against the Grain, and Cosmic Bliss came together.
Stargazing at the Melton Observatory | 9-11 p.m. | USC campus | Free | Observe through the 16-inch Cassegrain telescope in the dome and other small telescopes on the observatory deck.
Meditation Monday | 6-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Begin your week with a restorative yoga and meditation session on Boyd Plaza.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
Tiny Taste | 11:30 a.m.-12 p.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.
Halloween Carnival | 6-8 p.m. | Joseph F. Rice School of Law Courtyard | Free | RSVP and join the Women in Law and Children’s Advocacy Law Society for a night of family-friendly fun featuring games, treats, crafts, and prizes.
Music Bingo | 8:30 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza - five points | Free | Join Village Idiot for music bingo, pizza, and great vibes every Tuesday.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
USC Visitor Center Ghost Tours | 7-9 p.m. | McKissick Museum | Free | Join in for a spine-tingling journey and discover eerie tales and haunted secrets that linger around USC’s campus.
USC’s Board of Trustees approved a Request for Proposal (RFP) + is now looking for an architecture firm to focus on Phase One of reimagining Williams-Brice Stadium. This announcement comes a few months after the board of trustees approved a new master plan outlining several proposed improvements that could change campus + Columbia’s landscape — upgrades to Willy B. included.
Sports
Welcome home. USC women’s basketball landed its first 2025 commitment from five-star Ayla McDowell, ranked 20th nationally by ESPN. The 6’2” forward from Cypress Hill High, Texas, chose USC over Georgia Tech, Florida, and others. (Sports Illustrated)
Number
9,000+ — that’s how many Richland County residents have voted early for the national election so far. Early voting runs daily through Nov. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. SC saw record turnout on day one. (The Post and Courier)
State
The USDA awarded SC $603,000 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to boost local farming. Projects include an online flower marketplace, chickpea research, Clemson University crop studies, and AI-based tools for crop management.
Asked
Last call. We all have those dating stories that still haunt us to this day. It’s time to share your top horror date night stories that took place around Columbia (totally anonymous + just in time for Halloween.)
Sports
Is the injury bug back? LaMelo Ball and the Hornets’ depth is being tested early this season. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Try This
Looking for a last-minute Halloween-themed treat? It’s easy (and fun) to put together these Reese’s Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spiders, and it makes for a great kid-friendly activity. Bonus: No cooking is required. Snag the supplies.*
These THC gummies tap into the body’s endocannabinoid system and get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off with code FIRST20.*†
Job
We’re looking for a rising star media seller to be our Sales Executive in charge of National Brand Partnerships. Want to lead sales efforts for new products, identify and secure partnerships, and grow existing client relationships, all with a lucrative compensation plan? Apply to join.
Category
Biz
🛻 Made in the Midlands
Scout Motors unveiled the new Scout Traveler SUV + the Scout Terra truck. | Photo via Scout Motors
The Volkswagon Group announced it would revive the legendary Scout vehicle — originally produced from 1960 to 1980 as the world’s first family-friendly utility vehicle equipped for an off-road adventure — and build a $2 billion plant in Blythewood. In February, we posted about the groundbreaking ceremony of the plant.
What the $2 billion investment meant for the Midlands
The production of ~200,000 vehicles annually when the facility is at full production capacity
The creation of ~4,000 jobs
Then, vehicle production was targeted to begin by the end of 2026.
The unveiling
Things are coming along — get your first look at the new Scout Traveler SUV + the Scout Terra truck prototypes. The website shares that entry models will start at ~$50,000 and retail prices will start ~$60,000. Initial production is now targeted for 2027, but folks can reserve their vehicles now.
The Buy
The Buy
The cowboy hat you’ve been looking for to complete this year’s costume, just in time for Halloween (it should ship fast for Prime members).
If you’re like Eric and looking for some vegan recommendations around our city, check out our vegan and vegetarian City Guide. I recommend The Hoot’s Veg-fil-A.
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