Palmetto trees line the walkway of the current Columbia College Campus. | Photo via @columbiacollegesc
March is Women’s History Month, and Cola has some history to share on the topic. Columbia was home to one of the oldest female-exclusive college campuses in the US, until 1947, when the first men were admitted to attend night and graduate classes.
Columbia College, formerly known as Columbia Female College, was originally near what we know today as Hampton Street. It was purchased in 1854 by the SC Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church + chartered on Dec. 21, 1854.
The Columbia Female College building was used for many purposes, according to the Columbia City Directory in 1885, including the Nickerson Hotel dating back to when Woodrow Wilson lived in Columbia, Colonial Hotel, and Columbia Bible College. The building was demolished for the parking deck + Baker Building in 1964, according to Historic Columbia.
The newly renovated space will serve as the home for the college’s Division of Education. | Photo provided by Columbia College
Carrying that legacy forward, Columbia College celebrated the grand opening of College Place last Friday. The historic United Methodist Church has been renovated to support growing enrollment.
Weatherproof featuring Wycliffe Gordon | 7-9 p.m. | The Pastor’s Study | $25+ | Local trumpeter Mark Rouse plays with his funky jazz group accompanied by the great jazz singer Wycliffe Gordon.
Sales Tax Workshop | 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | South Carolina Department of Revenue | Free | Learn about filing + administrative requirements, plus get a walkthrough on how to complete a sample return.
Thursday, March 27
Taste of Lake Murray 2025 | 6 p.m. | Doubletree by Hilton | $125 | Sip, savor, and sample local flavors, then vote for your favorite chef — funds raised will support fireworks for Lake Murray’s Fourth of July celebration.
Friday, March 28
USC School of Music: Women in Music Conference | Friday, March 28-Saturday, March 29 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | High school and college students are invited to learn how to navigate and build sustainable careers in the music industry.
Sunday, March 30
The Big Nosh | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Tree of Life Congregation | Free | Join this Jewish food festival featuring a variety of traditional dishes, from challah to pastrami sandwiches
The concept by Still Hopes is designed to give residents greater control of their lifestyles. During the community’s development, residents will be empowered to help in the decision-making process. Think: Designing your ideal future neighborhood.
The site’s existing building will be renovated to be the “commons” area, and new apartments and cottages will be built on the property.
Brookland Commons will also leverage partnerships with Midlands organizations to bring innovative programming and benefits to residents, creating a multidimensional wellness setting. The goal is to help retirees live healthier and more purposeful lives by focusing on eight facets of well-being: physical, emotional, occupational, spiritual, environmental, financial, intellectual, and social.
The Gamecocks Women’s Basketball team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 after defeating Indiana on Sunday. Next up, USC will travel to Birmingham, AL to face the winner of Monday’s game between Maryland and Alabama. (Gamecocks Online)
Open
Canal Coffee Co. opened its fourth SC location on Friday near downtown Lexington. The family-owned drive-thru coffee shop offers specialty drinks, seasonal creations, and breakfast items. (Cola Daily)
Development
Columbia Metropolitan Airport begins a 60-day reconfiguration of its baggage claim loading zone today, introducing a temporary traffic pattern and closing access to Lot A. The project aims to ease congestion ahead of expected summer travel spikes.
Legacy
Carmella Tronco Martin, 100, matriarch of Villa Tronco Italian Ristorante, has died. Martin helped carry on her mother’s legacy at the historic downtown eatery, which introduced locals to pizza in 1940 and celebrates 85 years this August.
Family
The Fireflies’ Kids Club is back for the 2025 season with more perks and a lower $25 membership. Kids 12 and under get Sunday tickets, swag, exclusive events, and prizes for attending every game.
Listen
Clemson’s worst first half in program history ends tourney run. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Clemson Tigerswith 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.*
Looking to save on groceries? Through March 31, new Sam’s Club Members can join for $25 — half off the regular price — plus get a free 16” pizza on their first visit.*
Category
Wellness
5 trending products to ‘add to cart’
Presented by Thrive Market
Never wait in line at a supermarket again with a Thrive Market membership. | Photo by Thrive Market
With spring comes five buzzworthy products from Thrive Market — the online one-stop-shop “like Costco for whole foods/goods,” according to fans:
A set of really good kitchen shears. Cut meat, fish, vegetables, and more with these scissors designed with a heavy-duty blade, built-in fish scraper, steel compression spring, and non-slip handle.
Bibimbox Korean Kitchen & Wings, a new restaurant serving a variety of Korean bites, is opening this spring in the Harbison area. We’ll let you know soon about an exact opening date and give you a little preview of the new spot.
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