The winner will be announced at the State House on Wednesday, March 26. | Photo by COLAtoday team
Did you know that 30% of jobs in SC are tied to manufacturing? That’s over 300,000 jobs statewide, with an average salary of $71,769. Now, the SC Manufacturing Alliance is letting the public decide which product takes the title of “The Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina.”
The contest has now been narrowed to the Top 8, and one of the finalists is made in the Midlands.
Dial in your sleep with this Sleep Numbers mattress. | Photo via Sleep Number
Meet Columbia’s contender
With Columbia’s famously hot summers, a mattress designed to regulate temperature makes sense. The ClimateCool Smartbed, manufactured by Sleep Number in Irmo, uses an airflow system to pull heat away from the body, while cooling layers infused with ceramic gel help maintain a comfortable temperature.
How to Vote
Top 8 voting: Monday, March 10 – Thursday, March 13
Sip & Plant Workshop: Roots + Wraps | 6:30-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | $40 | Sip wine and learn the natural art technique of wrapping and mounting plants for decorating and gifts.
Arnold Aging Lecture | Wednesday, March 12, Thursday, March 13 | 10-11 a.m. | USC | Free | Learn the steps of healthy aging from current research guided by experts.
Thursday, March 13
Speaker at the Center | 6 p.m. | South Carolina State Library | Free | Author and podcast co-host Michael G. Williams will discuss his book “Arcane Carolinas Volume 2.”
Friday, March 14
Gamecock Softball vs. Georgia Bulldogs | Friday, March 14, Sunday, March 16 | Times vary | Carolina Softball Stadium At Beckham Field | $12 | The Gamecocks are off to one of the best starts in program history.
Friday, May 2
Lovin’ Life Music Fest | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | 1-11 p.m. | Lovin’ Life Music Fest, Charlotte, NC | $345+ | The East Coast’s largest Summer Kick-Off Party in Charlotte, NC, with Dave Matthews Band, Gwen Stefani, Weezer, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Pitbull, and 50+ other artists.*
Come for the melt-in-your-mouth ribs, stay for the fun. | Photos by Bain Stewart Media
Good food for a great cause? Count us in.
The fourth annual Southern Roots BBQ Reunion returns Saturday, April 12 at Trailblazer Park in Travelers Rest, SC — just a 2-hour drive from Columbia.
Feast on all-you-can-eatbarbecue from 35+ pitmasters (think: Roy’s Grille, Henry’s Smokehouse, and more), enjoy live music, shop the artisan market, and savor a selection of beer, wine, and spirits.
Plus, every ticket supports IDefine, a nonprofit supporting kids with Kleefstra Syndrome.
Renderings for an eight-story, 288-unit apartment complex at Bull Street and Elmwood Avenue — which could potentially displace No Name Deli — will be reviewed by Columbia’s Planning Commission. The property originally hit the auction block in 2021. (The State)
Coming Soon
Parker’s Kitchen, a popular gas station and convenience store chain, is opening its first Columbia-area location at Spears Creek Church Road + Earth Road in Elgin. The store is the first of 15 planned locations in the Midlands. No opening date has been announced. (The Post and Courier)
Outdoors
Riverfront Park’s North Parking Lot at 4122 River Dr. will close Monday, March 17, to Monday, May 5, for preconstruction work. Access to the lot and Columbia Canal Headgates will be restricted, but you can still hit the levee trail via Riverfront South.
Arts
Shop handcrafted ceramics at the Midlands Clay Arts Society Spring Sale, Thursday, May 1, to Saturday, May 3, at Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton St. Admission and parking are free. Swing by Thursday night’s artists’ reception for a special meet-and-greet.
Miles Bridges had a monster weekend with 46 points against the Cavs. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornets, with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Learn
Next Tuesday, March 20, the Columbia Design League will host the fourth annual DesignHER panel at the CMA. This Women’s History Month event spotlights designers in the Midlands community, including Liza Brockman (Garvin Design Group), Gretchen Lambert (Studio 2LR Architects), Flavia Lovatelli (sustainable artist), Savannah Taylor (Cyberwoven), and Nora Williams (Nora Williams Photography). See details and snag tickets.*
Community
Winner, winner, Vegas dinner. This SC Lottery player recently won a trip to Las Vegas during the Gold Rush second-chance promotion. Psst… You could win big, too (if you’re 18 or older). See more prizes up for grabs.*
Festival
Curious about the secret behind your neighbors’ gorgeous gardens? Columbia Green’s 32nd annual Festival of Gardens is back on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, featuring eight private gardens in King’s Grant, a nature trail, a gardening presentation, and more. Snag tickets.*
Tech
HP Instant Ink smart printers automatically monitor ink levels and send new cartridges directly to your door before you run out. Get a $10 welcome credit.*
Announced
We’re excited to introduce a new way to reach our readers — a limited-time digital display bundle + branded content bundle. Each bundle saves you 20% and includes at least three newsletter placements.
Category
Sports
SC-ing double
The Gamecock Women’s Basketball team celebrate their national championship win with a parade down Main Street. | Photo by COLAtoday team
The NCAA Championship is just beginning, but the Gamecock women’s basketball program is already planning ahead. Two of women’s college basketball’s most dominant programs — South Carolina and Southern Cal — will face off in a two-year, bicoastal series called “The Real SC.”
The first matchup takes place Saturday, Nov. 15, at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles, with the rematch on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville. The series is organized by Complete Sports Management and highlights both programs’ winning histories.
The Gamecocks have won three national championships and appeared in four consecutive Final Fours, while Southern Cal has two NCAA titles and a legacy dating back to its 1980s dominance.
Tickets for the 2025 game go on sale Friday, March 14 at 1 p.m., with additional premium seating options available later this spring.
The Buy
The Buy
Introducing: Nordstrom Rack best-sellers you wish you bought sooner. Thank us later.
The original plans for the new apartments at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Bull Street appeared to show No Name Deli maintaining its location, but according to The Post and Courier, the longtime restaurant’s plot of land was sold in September last year.
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