Watch Carolina basketball under a Carolina sky. | Photo by Market on Main
It’s that time of year when Cinderella stories unfold, brackets get busted, and you sneak out for a long lunch to watch mid-day games. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to post up, grab some wings, and watch the madness unfold, we’ve got you covered. From courtside-worthy patios to bars with slam-dunk snacks, here are 10 spots to catch every buzzer-beater in Columbia.
D’s Wings | Settle into a booth with a dozen “Gamecock” wings and watch multiple games at once with TVs in every line of sight.
J’s Corner | Located near Williams-Brice Stadium, you can watch the game from the patio or propped up at the bar at this longtime local favorite.
Market on Main | Grab an outdoor seat in front of the jumbo screen in the shadow of the State House while you chow down on truffle fries and the signature M.O.M. burger.
Wild Heart Brewing Tap Takeover | 6-8 p.m. | Craft And Draft, Devine Street | Price of purchase | Try one of the Hartsville brewery’s beers, like its Southie stout or Storybook American IPA.
Tuesday, March 18
Historically Speaking: Yamasee War | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Lexington Main, Lexington | Free | Dive into the local history of Lexington County’s involvement in the 18th century conflict.
Arboretum Open House | 1-4 p.m. | USC Horshoe | Free | Visit the botanic garden horseshoe + pollinator display gardens and walk through 10 biomes of South Carolina along a 1/3 mile trail.
Book Talk | 5-7 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum | Free with registration | Beryl Dakers and Dr. Alexandria Russell will discuss Dr. Russell’s new book, “Black Women Legacies: Public History Sites Seen and Unseen.”
Wednesday, March 19
Ask the Gardener Happy Hour | 4-6 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost | Free | Learn why incorporating native plants and native cultivars into landscapes is crucial for supporting local ecosystems.
Thursday, March 20
Free seed packets and lemonade | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Columbia Visitors Center | Free | This will help get your garden started, plus there will be some little surprises for just the kids.
Tuesday, March 25
Seafood Series at Smoked | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Smoked | $85 | Indulge in a one-of-a-kind dining experience featuring a five-course, chef-inspired dinner expertly paired with wine to elevate the flavors of the freshest seafood.*
The Gamecock women’s basketball team earned the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and will host the first two rounds at Colonial Life Arena, beginning Friday. The Gamecocks face No. 16 Tennessee Tech, with a potential second-round matchup against Utah or Indiana. (Rivals)
Today Is
St. Patrick’s Day. Join in locally and head to Ohara’s Public House in Lexington for a bowl of Guinness Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, and an Irish Coffee.
Development
A four-story, 111-room Courtyard by Marriott is closer to construction in downtown Lexington. The board of appearance approved design changes, including a canopy expansion. Pending permits, construction could begin within six months and take a year to complete. (The State)
Number
14. That’s the record-breaking number of SEC teams that made this year’s NCAA Men’s Tournament. Sorry, Carolina fans — the Gamecocks weren’t one of them this year. In fact, USC declined an invitation to the NIT, and head coach Lamont Paris will get a head start on the transfer portal, which opens Monday, March 24. (CBS Sports + On3)
Ranked
Carolina Pong, the table tennis club we told you about last year, just landed in the USA Table Tennis Club Leaderboard’s top 10 after only nine months. You can catch them at Saint Andrews Park + Lexington Leisure Center, fresh off hosting SC’s first state championships in 30+ years.
Small Biz
Good things come in small packages. We’ll be celebrating Small Business Week, an initiative to highlight our city’s local enterprises, from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. If you own a local small business, join us by filling out a form about your business.
Mansion Monday
Lake life, but make it luxury. This 7-bed, 5-bath Lake Murray stunner sits on nearly an acre with a pool, guest house, gym, and a private dock with a boat lift. Oh, and the primary suite? It has its own balcony.
Listen
Did the Hornets miss out on a superstar in Stephen Castle? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Festival
Have the best bookish time at Read Freely Fest, happening Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30 at Richland Library Main. Enjoy talks with NYT bestselling authors, a unique audiobook silent disco, and the chance to connect with fellow literature lovers. See the full lineup.*
Eat
If you’re like us, you’re preparing to dust off your grills for another season of delicious outdoor cooking. Need inspo? These grilled marinated shrimp and salmon with avocado bruschetta recipeshave us fired up.*
Finance
Car insurance premiums are projected to hit $2,101 annually by 2025 — a record high. Switching providers might save you over $1,300 each year. Why leave money on the table? Get matched with a more affordable plan.*
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
Correction
Turns out, Columbia’s economy is a bit bigger than we said on Friday — by about $58.4 billion. The metro’s 2023 GDP was $58.5 billion, not $58 million.
Category
Outdoors
The deadly Bradford pear tree
This tree is beautiful, but the smell doesn’t match. | Photo by David Ohmer from wikimedia.
We hate to be the pearer of bad news, but sales of your favorite springtime tree were banned on begin Oct. 1, 2024.
Bradford pear trees, a cultivar of the Callery pear native to Asia, were introduced to the US in the early 20th century for their ornamental, symmetrical beauty. But don’t let their looks fool you — these trees are structurally weak + are quick to shed branches during heavy wind and rain.
But don’t dis-pear — Clemson University has plenty of guidance on how to remove + replace your Bradford pear trees.
We’re not here to burst your beautiful springtime buds, here are four native trees Clemson recommends planting instead.
Pagoda dogwood | This gorgeous multi-stemmed tree has showy white blossoms not dissimilar to the Bradford pear tree.
American basswood | A large native tree with fragrant yellow blossoms in late spring.
American beautyberry | Aptly named for its striking pink fruit + arching branches.
Ashe magnolia | A smaller, deciduous magnolia with white, saucer-shaped flowers.
The Buy
The Buy
Really cute palazzo pants on sale at Nordstrom Rack. The lightweight, flowy pants can be dressed up or down for spring events and come in fun prints.
A few years ago, I spent my birthday in Ireland, and during a quick round of golf, a double rainbow appeared out of nowhere. Luckily, my wife caught the moment — one I still can’t believe happened. Read more about Ireland’s influence on Columbia in this article from USC.
}})
