The Stone of Hope fountain is engraved with Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotes inside of Martin Luther King Jr. Park. | Photo by COLAtoday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 20 — we’re remembering his presence in Columbia and highlighting what you can do to honor his life and legacy.
4 local MLK events
Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | Thursday, Jan. 16 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Joseph F. Rice School of Law | This year’s theme, “Why We Can’t Wait: Liberty, Equality, and the Fight for Justice,” will be explored during the event, followed by a community reception.
King Day at the Dome | Monday, Jan. 20 | 8 a.m. | Zion Baptist Church, 801 Washington St. | Hosted by the NAACP South Carolina State Conference, this event begins with a prayer service and includes a march to the State House, followed by a rally at 10 a.m.
Storytelling Celebration at the Columbia Museum of Art | Monday, Jan. 20 | 1-3 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art + Boyd Plaza | Enjoy free admission to the museum, with storytelling from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and line dancing on Boyd Plaza hosted by the Friends of African American Art and Culture.
Village Idiot Trivia | 7 p.m. | Village Idiot Pizza Five Points | Free | Test your knowledge over a slice of pizza at this weekly trivia gathering.
Restaurant Week | Through Sunday, Jan. 19 | Columbia | Price of purchase | From fine to casual dining, participating restaurants will feature new menu items and offer fan favorites.
Thursday, Jan. 16
Third Thursday Art Night: Jordan Sheridan | 5:30-7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | The center partnered with The Jasper Project to open a new rotating art space to showcase local artists.
Drag Bingo | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $28+ | Win prizes for bingo rounds + those dressed as their favorite CMA artwork all while enjoying a cash bar featuring art-forward cocktails and light snacks.
Friday, Jan. 17
Tom’s Elton Tribute: The Rocket Man Experience | Friday, Jan. 17 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $15+ | Hear this Elton John tribute band perform iconic hits like “Rocket Man” and “Your Song,” in a spectacular show featuring stunning costumes and the vocals of Tom Cridland.
Festival Of Laughs | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $59+ | Don’t miss the sassy headliner Sommore, along with Lavell Crawford, Tony Roberts, and Tony Rock, as they each bring their unique style to center stage.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Winter Oyster Roast | 5-9 p.m. | Blossom Plant and Produce | $20+ | Enjoy oysters, live music, plants, community, and more at the market’s inaugural Winter Oyster Roast event.
How to make a difference in COLA’s small business community
Presented by SCORE Midlands
SCORE Midlands connects small business owners within a nationwide network. | Photo provided by SCORE Midlands
Calling all entrepreneurs: SCORE Midlands is looking for local mentors — and you could be a great fit to join their nationwide network.
Through this free program, volunteer mentors connect with small business owners to help their ideas grow and thrive. They provide empowering guidance and educational opportunities, working directly with budding entrepreneurs to share knowledge and experience. Think: Your advice could help lay the groundwork for someone’s long-term success as they share something new and exciting with our city.
Participating can help you — and your network — grow too. SCORE keeps volunteers up-to-date on the latest business strategies with training and resources. You’ll also meet other accomplished professionals locally and nationally, and have plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas.
Ready to share your expertise, pay it forward, and maybe learn something new?
Godspeed Coffee is launching its new pop-up location today at 711 Saluda Ave. in Five Points next door to Loose Lucy’s. Don’t miss specialty drinks like the Neapolitan, featuring chocolate and strawberry milk topped with vanilla cold foam. Take a peek inside.
Award
USC will dedicate Ray Tanner Field at Founders Park on Saturday, Feb. 15, before the Gamecock baseball team faces Sacred Heart at 2 p.m. The first 2,500 fans will receive commemorative trading cards honoring Tanner who led the team to two national baseball championships.
Civic
SC lawmakers approved Atlanta-based artist Basil Watson’s design for a 12-ft monument honoring Robert Smalls. A Civil War hero and Reconstruction leader, Smalls is celebrated for advancing African American rights and serving in Congress. (Post and Courier)
Active
Stay active and social this spring with Everplay Sport and Social Club. Register by Wednesday, Feb. 19 for leagues including softball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, pickleball, bowling, and cornhole.
State
Gov. Henry McMaster has named the 2025 South Carolina Chef Ambassadors: Jeanne Koenigsberg (Swamp Rabbit Cafe, Greenville), Darren Smith (Rivertown Bistro, Conway), and Shuai Wang (Jackrabbit Filly, North Charleston). The program highlights local culinary talent and promotes Certified SC products through events statewide.
Sports
Locked On talks Brandon Miller’s year two struggles and dreams about the Hornets drafting Cooper Flagg. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Job
Ready to get connected with the best local talent in 2025? We created our community job board just for you. Give it a try by posting your first listing for free.
Category
Read
📖 Discover, read, win
This challenge is perfect for anyone eager to explore new genres. | Photo by COLAtoday
Richland Library’s Broader Bookshelf Reading Challenge is back, inviting you to expand your horizons with 14 creative reading prompts. This year, you can track your progress online. Explore magical realism, novels set in the American South, or books inspired by art, music, or dance.
How to participate
Discover: Explore books across print, eBooks, or audiobooks. Staff-curated lists and personalized recommendations are available to guide your selections.
Track: Log your progress online, in your library account, or with a printable sheet.
Win: Complete all prompts by December 31, 2025, to earn a tote bag, a pin, and a chance at an eReader.
Need some help getting started? Check out the staff-curated recommendations for each prompt, or try the personalized book suggestion service.
The Buy
The Buy
Bananagrams. The award-winning family game is travel-friendly + perfect for all ages. Bonus: Add a little chaos to family game night when you try the party edition features 14 new tiles with challenges and hijinks.
On Sunday, I got a sneak peek of the new Godspeed Coffee spot in Five Points, which opens today. Longtime Columbians might recognize this space as the former Delaney’s Speakeasy and later The White Mule music venue. Now beautifully repurposed with some cozy furniture, it’s perfect for a coffee hangout.
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