While you wait for your table, order some crafted cocktails at the bar. | Photo provided via Smoked SC
Restaurant Week South Carolina begins today and will run through Sunday, Jan. 19. The 11-day foodie event is the perfect chance to snag great deals at some local favorites — or soon-to-be favorites.
If you’ve never experienced Restaurant Week before, different restaurants offer special deals (think three courses for $35, $40 per couple, 50% deals... etc.) during this time to encourage people to try new restaurants + eat local.
Three local deals we have our appetites set on:
Bourbon | Three courses for $39 | Cajun/Creole cuisine
First course choices — cornmeal-fried chicken livers, crawfish bisque, or burrata
1600 Main Street Restaurant Week | Thursday, Jan. 9-Sunday, Jan. 19 | 11 a.m. | The Grand on Main | From gourmet delicacies to comfort food favorites, LTC Hospitality’s venues have exclusive lineups of featured menus for South Carolina Restaurant Week.*
Friday, Jan. 10
Winter Jam 2025 Tour | 7-10 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $15+ | The Winter Jam 2025 tour kicks off in Cola + will hit a total of 38 cities and arenas across the country.
City of Columbia Food Truck Fridays | Friday, Jan. 3-Friday, April 11 | Times vary | REI Co-Op Parking Lot | Grab lunch from a variety of local food trucks lined up at the REI Co-op parking lot.
Gallery Opening Reception — HELENE: photography by Sean Rayford | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Richland Library Main | Free | Helene is a collection of photographs made in Western North Carolina in the immediate aftermath of the 2024 hurricane and during return trips to Bat Cave, along the Broad River.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Accessibility Morning - Clifford the Big Red Dog | 9-11 a.m. | South Carolina State Museum | Free | Accessibility Morning 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.
Book Donation Day | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Irmo Branch Library | Free | Books may be dropped off curbside at the side entrance to the library, where Friends volunteers will assist in unloading.
Lunar New Year | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Richland Library Northeast | Free | Learn about Lunar New Year through stories, Chinese zodiac, songs, and Hong Bao with special guest Lin Ko.
Hello 2025, hello fresh finances. | Photo provided by AllSouth Federal Credit Union
The new year is here, so it’s the perfect time to refresh your finances and set yourself up for success. Here are three tips courtesy of AllSouth Federal Credit Union to kick off your fruitful year:
Revisit your budget: Annually reviewing your budget helps identify unnecessary expenses and allows for the reallocation of funds towards more important financial goals.
Build an emergency fund: Start small and set up automatic transfers to a savings or high-yield account, enabling your money to grow through compounding interest.
Review your debt: Take stock of what you owe and create a realistic payment plan to tackle your debt using popular approaches like the avalanche or snowball method.
Bad news, Gamecock fans — two USC basketball players will be out the rest of the season; forward Ashlyn Watkins from the women’s team + guard Myles Stute from the men’s team. Stute is out indefinitely with a lower leg blood clot and Watkins is out for the season with an ACL tear. (Gamecocks Online)
Number
~50 — that’s the number of table tennis players from across the Southeast that will compete in the SC State Table Tennis Championships on Saturday, Feb. 8, hosted by Carolina Pong. The tournament will feature 12 events for all skill levels and age groups. Register as a player.
Edu
Columbia College announced it will be launching a Lacrosse Program, set to debut for men and women in February 2026. Columbia College hired two head coaches; Tom Kinney for the men’s team + Mallory Bahr for the women’s.
Biz
Luck Companies, a provider of crushed stone aggregates + environmental performance products, is growing across SC, investing a $450 million and creating 70 new jobs. Plans include new sites in Chester, Edgefield, Saluda, and Spartanburg counties + expanding its existing sites in Fairfield and Kershaw counties.
Coming Soon
Guests can soon expect to see Tahini, Riverbanks Zoo’s new 2-year-old giraffe born at Zoo Miami. Tahini has taken well to 12-year-old giraffe Winston, who is helping her acclimate to her new home. Watch Tahini’s arrival + interaction with Winston.
Sports
This may be the most important offseason in Carolina Panthers history. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Health
Weight Loss by Hims & Hers offers a personalized, science-backed approach to weight management. Combining medication, expert support, and digital tools, the program helps individuals reach their weight loss goals. With personalized weight loss treatment plans, simple online access, and no hidden fees, it’s a flexible, affordable solution for lasting results. Learn more.*
Eat
Start 2025 with Thrive Market: organic groceries delivered right to your door. (They ban over 1,000 harmful ingredients.) Join here to get 30% off your order plus a free $60 gift.*
Category
Festival
🗓️ Mark your calendars
Tartan Day South Festival in Columbia | Photo by @gocola
It’s never too early to start planning ahead. Here are six upcoming annual festivals in the Midlands that have shared their 2025 date.
The day starts with a parade before the soapbox racing down Meeting Street begins.
The Buy
The Buy
The best two-piece sweatsuit for running errands, work-from-home days, or cozy weekends. We love the knit fabric and the roomy turtleneck design for extra comfort.
Pro tip: I love when Restaurant Week is in January because it’s the perfect opportunity to scope out the best spots for a Valentine’s Day dinner — and don’t sleep on breakfast deals too. The Original Pancake House is offering a pancake special for $4.79.
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