Tupelo Honey is located near the Babcock Building and its restored cupola. | Photo by COLAtoday
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen and Bar is opening its first Columbia location in the BullStreet District with a ribbon cutting set for Thursday, Feb. 13. The celebration kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with free entrees for the first 50 guests and free biscuits all day.
A few Columbians had the chance to sample a select menu, and we asked them to share their favorite dishes. Here are a few tips on what to order when you make your reservations.
An interior view of the BullStreet District’s newest restaurant.
Columbia-area realtor Sarah Bennett said her favorite had to be the fried green tomatoes. Tupelo Honey’s version is panko-crusted and served with basil, roasted red pepper coulis, and stone-ground goat cheese grits.
Local food enthusiast David McNamara said his picks were the Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Waffles + the Heavenly Banana Pudding. The sriracha-infused honey gives the fried chicken an extra kick.
Gather and Grow | 8-9 a.m. | Segra Park | $15 | This month’s theme is headshots and handshakes: Get a professional headshot while you network, grow your small business, and eat hot breakfast.
Mary J. Blige: The For My Fans Tour with NE-YO and Mario | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $59+ | Make this concert a family affair and purchase tickets to see the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, actress, and producer on tour.
Thursday, Feb. 6
Startup Sprint | Thursday, Feb. 6-Friday, Feb. 7 | Times vary | Boyd Innovation Center | Free | This is a unique opportunity to pitch your ideas, collaborate in energetic teams, and develop prototypes to launch your startup — all within 24 hours.
First Thursday | 6-9 p.m. | Hotel Trundle | Free | Love is in the air at this social night with jazz by Mark Rapp and the ColaJazz Foundation, drinks, and pop-up shops with Valentine’s gifts for sale.
USC Symphony Orchestra Rising Stars | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center | $16+ | Winners of the 2024-2025 Concerto-aria Competition show off their talents by performing pieces by classic composers.
It’s almost Super Bowl Sunday. If you’re not wearing your favorite team’s merch, shop five comfy tees + sweatshirts that say “I’m just here for the snacks” ... literally.
Williams-Brice Stadium renovations are moving forward after receiving state approvals. USC has selected Populous, a globally recognized design firm behind projects for the Yankees, Chiefs, and Olympic Games, to lead the redesign. The university will seek final approval on the project’s full scope and cost later this year.
Coming Soon
Lexington, your Whataburger is almost here. The Texas-based burger chain opens its first Lexington location at 888 S. Lake Dr. on Thursday Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Early birds can score free Whataburger for a year, honey butter chicken biscuits, or swag. The spot will be open 24/7, closed only on Christmas.
Civic
The City of Columbia is accepting applications for vacancies on several boards and commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals, Climate Protection Action Committee, and Hospitality Tax Advisory Committee. Interested residents can apply by Sunday, March 2. (WLTX)
Theater
USC’s Longstreet Theatre unveils new seating, fresh carpeting, and improved lighting with its first production post-renovation, “Mauritius,” a comic thriller about high-stakes stamp collecting. The show will run Friday Feb. 21-Saturday, March 1, with tickets available online starting at $15.
Try This
Mahjong lovers, this one’s for you. Pink Sorbet on Devine Street is hosting a Galentine’s Mahjong night on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 5:30 p.m., open to players familiar with the game. Enjoy private shopping, sips, and light snacks while you play. Tickets are on sale now.
Sports
Is Shane Beamer the new transfer portal king? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of Gamecock footballwith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Health
When was the last time you checked in on your blood pressure? Even if you feel fine, high blood pressure often shows no symptoms — and it could be putting you at risk. Here’s what you need to know + how to take back control.*
Featured Deal
Ready to wake up and savor the midweek? Every Wednesday at 1624 Bistro, enjoy half off all lattes. Whether you’re starting your day or need an afternoon pick-me-up, treat yourself — Wednesdays deserve a little extra love.*
Health
Discover unparalleled speech clarity with this advanced, state-of-the-art hearing aid. Featuring a sleek, discreet German design, it ensures crystal-clear speech + sound with minimal background noise. Try the 45-day, no-risk trial.*
Shop
If your favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday is watching the commercials, we’ve got just the thing for you: commercial bingo cards. Bonus: This is the perfect prize for the winner.*
Category
Biz
👟 A’One and only
A’ja Wilson’s Nike A’One features pearl details inspired by her grandmother’s necklace, a symbol of strength. | Photo via Nike
A’ja Wilson’s impact on the game of basketball just got even bigger. Last Sunday, Feb. 2 (read: 2/2), USC retired her No. 22 jersey, cementing her legacy in the rafters at Colonial Life Arena. Days later, Wilson is making history again — this time with her first Nike signature shoe, the A’One, set to drop in May 2025.
The three-time WNBA MVP and two-time champion is only the 13th player in WNBA history to get a signature shoe. It’s designed for performance and style, as you can see on Coach Dawn Staley. The A’One features personalized touches like:
Pearl motifs inspired by her grandmother’s necklace
Celtic symbols representing her parents
A pink A’ura colorway (her favorite hue) reflecting the confidence and energy she brings to the court
“From the beginning, we designed the shoe to both support my game and to provide young hoopers a tool to help them level up.” Wilson said.
The Buy
The Buy
A great date night look to wear on Valentine’s Day. Shop five options, ordered from most casual to dressiest:
The stars were out last Sunday when they retired A’ja Wilson’s jersey at Colonial Life Arena. I think the whole arena noticed when Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo sat on the front row with the Wilson family, but the biggest cheer came when they showed comedian Wanda Sykes on the jumbotron.
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