Ken Walker sharing the pizza with his followers at The Wild Honey Pie party at The Graduate by Hilton. | Photo by COLAtoday
Could a Midlands restaurant see the Keith Lee effect? With so many new dining spots opening across Columbia, it’s tough to know where to start. Luckily, fellow Soda Citizens and traveling food influencers are sharing their favorite bites online, racking up likes + views. Here’s a quick look at local foodies shaping our dining scene.
David_mcnamara | Over the past seven years, David McNamara has uploaded ~4,000 photos to Google, garnering 250+ million views. He was the first customer at The Golden Spur, the new spot we shared with you last week in our News Notes. If a new restaurant opens, David McNamara is likely already there.
Hangrygamecock2.0 | Drew Thompson’s HangryGamecock account was hacked at 10.5 thousand followers, and like a great pizza, he’s building it back up from scratch. This account is a go-to when you’re looking for a local sweet treat + a hot slice of pizza.
Kenwalkertherealtor | This is Ken Walker realtor and here he’s over at Village at Sandhill trying Yu Noodles. With 59+ thousand followers, each video shines a light on both new and established restaurants, including a few dishes in each video.
Career Ready: Resumé Help | 3-4 p.m. | Richland Library Main | Free | Career coaches will be available in-person to answer your questions on a first-come, first-served basis.
Music Bingo | 7 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza | Free | Join Village Idiot Pizza at its Olympia location for music bingo + pizza every Wednesday.
Thursday, Dec. 12
Sparkle On Main | Thursday, Dec. 12-Saturday, Dec. 14 | 5 p.m. | The Pastor’s Study | $40 | Get ready to light up the town with Sparkle On Main — a dazzling event filled with music, lights, and good vibes.
Colter Wall and Friends | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $50+ | The Canadian singer-songwriter, known for his deep baritone vocals and storytelling lyrics, brings his signature blend of folk and country.
Friday, Dec. 13
Greater CWC Parade Day and Holiday Parade of Lights | Friday, Dec. 13-Saturday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Greater Cayce-West Columbia, Cayce | Free | This longtime community event is perfect for supporting our local small business community and seeing holiday lights.
Dick Goodwin - A Holiday Big Band Night | 7:30 p.m. | Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, Camden | $25 | This 12-piece ensemble, with its vibrant brass section, will bring a festive mix of beloved Christmas classics.
Saturday, Dec. 14
Accessibility Morning - Meet Santa + The Grinch | 9-11 a.m. | South Carolina State Museum | Free | This program provides free access for families of children, teenagers, young adults, and adults who would benefit from a quieter, sensory-friendly, and disability-adapted experience at the museum.
Just breathe. Faith Hill, a 69-unit townhome development, is planned for a 10-acre site in West Columbia. Construction for the recently approved project begins soon, aiming for move-in-ready homes by late 2025. (The State)
Coming Soon
JPMorgan Chase is planning its first Lexington County branch at near Lowes Foods on Sunset Boulevard, pending town approval. This would join four existing Columbia-area branches. Nearby, new businesses like Whataburger + Guthrie’s Fried Chicken are also under construction. (The Post and Courier)
Sports
Gamecock baseball announced its 2025 non-conference schedule, starting with a Valentine’s Day opener on Friday, Feb. 14, vs. Sacred Heart. Highlights include the Clemson series + neutral-site games vs. College of Charleston and North Carolina. SEC play begins Friday, March 14 against Oklahoma.
Real Estate
3.04% — that’s the current retail vacancy rate in Columbia according to Colliers’ latest report. Trends include redevelopments of older malls and conversions of outdated office properties, while the downtown area benefits from student spending and emerging entertainment retail.
Holiday
Bluey and the Winter Sisters will join Fireflies Holiday Lights at Segra Park after Christmas. The Winter Sisters appear Friday, Dec. 27, and Bluey visits Friday, Jan. 3. Santa returns Friday, Dec. 27, through Monday, Dec. 30, in his Hawaiian shirt.
Listen
Locked On talks the Hornets’ path to .500 + Mark Williams’ comeback. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Wellness
Did you know? Chronic pain doesn’t have to take over your life. There are steps you can take to reduce your discomfort without medication that can still have a significant effect. Hint: Some simple lifestyle changes can make a big impact. Learn more.*
Shop
Thinning hair doesn’t stand a chance with KilgourMD’s dermatologist-developed serums. Increase follicle growth by 200% when you get the bundle for $150, featuring 15% + free shipping.*
Announced
Meet Jobs, our virtual job board for all industries that can connect you with top local talent. Post your first listing for free and watch those applications roll in.
Category
Shop
🎁 7 holiday presents $20 or less
Including a chic bedside carafe and a winter-friendly lip balm. | Graphic by 6AM City
Shop some of our favorite finds that will brighten up anyone’s holiday, all available for $20 or less.
Local pick:Vinyl record | Prices vary | The perfect gift for easy listening or rocking out for your funky music friend.
Bedside carafe + tumbler | $15.99 | Gift a pretty amber tumbler and glass perfect for adorning any bedside table.
Eucalyptus shower steamers | $19.99 | They’ll love aromatherapy shower steamers that smell like peppermint, menthol, and eucalyptus.
Local pick:Clarity Tea Blend | $18 | The African Violet Tea Company has several mixes to choose from, but this one will help you relax in during the holiday season.
A great gift for a significant other or someone you love — a personalized song plaque you can customize with their favorite song + a photo of you together.
City Limits Q gets plenty of hype — and always delivers. On Sunday, we stopped in before picking up a Christmas tree at the State Farmers Market and tried the hot dogs, “Sandy’s style.” The dogs were great, but the true star was the pulled pork with the crispy pork skins chopped in.
}})
