Where to make spring cleaning donations | If the new season has put you in the mood to spruce up your space, you can donate like-new and gently used clothing, furniture, appliances, and media at these local spots.
Events
Events
Saturday, March 22
2025 Midlands Spring Arts + Crafts Market | Saturday, March 22-Sunday, March 23 | Times vary | SC State Farmers Market, West Columbia | Free | Spruce up your home decor with the Midlands’ largest handmade vendor event showcasing over 160 artists and creators.
Mac & Cheese Festival | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Segra Park | $10+ | Have a gouda time by exploring pasta-tively delicious dishes and drinks as live music plays.
Soiree on State | 2-8 p.m. | State Street from Poplar Avenue to Railroad Street, Cayce | Free entry | Celebrate art and community with live music, food vendors, artists, and kid’s activities.
“Giselle” | 5:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $42+ | The South Carolina Ballet transports you back to 19th-century England with this romantic show set to Adolphe Adam’s score.
Sunday, March 23
Hops + Shops | 12-5 p.m. | Columbia Craft | Free entry | Support small businesses at this alternative upscale market with 30+ vendors, drinks, and food for sale by Parabellum Mobile.
2025 Walk, Run & Roll for Brain Injury Awareness Kickoff | 2:30-6 p.m. | Bierkeller Columbia | $25+ | Kick off the week dedicated to brain injury survivors and their families with a walk along the Columbia Canal, a DJ, family-friendly fun, and a reception with food.
Monday, March 24
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.
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
“Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue” | 7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $36+ | Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia are back and taking on their next adventure live on the Columbia stage.
Wednesday, April 23
Art Charleston 2025 | Wednesday, April 23-Sunday, April 27 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston | $10+ | Enjoy a five-day celebration of art, fashion, and food featuring a street festival, designer luncheon, fashion show, panels, film screening, and tours in Charleston, SC.*
Did you know that the NCAA women’s final had a record-breaking 18.9 million viewers last year? Let’s see if that many eyes will watch the Gamecocks as they advance after yesterday’s first round win. Here are the details on the upcoming game schedule. (AP News)
Seasonal
This Thursday marked the beginning of spring, when the sun set at 7:36 p.m., but there are sunnier days ahead in Columbia. Sunsets will happen a little later each day this season, and when summer starts on Friday, June 20 the sun will go down at 8:38 p.m.
Tech
TikTok is introducing new ways to encourage kids to log off, like a meditation feature if users under 16 are using the app after 10 p.m. If it works it works, but have you tried touching grass?
Number
47%. That’s the percentage of US adults who say that people are behaving more rudely now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps that’s a sign to make someone’s day with one of these random acts of kindness. (Pew Research Center)
Watch
Happy Gilmore is swinging back nearly three decades after the release of his original film. Netflix released the trailer for “Happy Gilmore 2,” and while we can’t all be pro golfers like Happy, we can enjoy the sport by scheduling tee time at one of Columbia’s courses.
Sports
The Panthers focused on defense during free agency while working to retain their offense — will this work out in their favor? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
City Guide
City Guide
🍕 This is how we cut carbs
Il Focolare Pizzeria is owned by the City Grit Hospitality group — the James Beard Award Nominee | Photo by @ilfocolarepizzeria
Columbia’s pizza scene really gets us fired up. If you’re a fan of brick oven pizza, Soda City is bubbling with options like these local favorites.
By The Fire Pizza, Columbia
Originally a food truck, By The Fire Pizza opened a brick-and-mortar on St. Andrews Road. Try its house-made, slow-cooked sauce, and locally sourced ingredients on its brick oven pizzas.
Il Focolare Pizzeria, Columbia
City Grit Hospitality Group owns this James Beard Award nominee that’s known for its 13-inch, made-to-order pizzas in a wood-fired oven.
Tazza, Columbia
Located in Trenholm Plaza, Tazza’s wood-fired oven ensures a crispy crust. Try the freestyle pizza and choose your favorite three toppings for a personalized experience.
Terra, West Columbia
This popular date night spot serves wood-fired pizzas including the Pimento Cheeseburger pizza, an ode to the local favorite spread.
Olay Super Cream with sunscreen. The tried-and-true cream boasts better hydrating power than the no. 1 luxury moisturizer on the market — plus, it plumps, firms, and protects skin, making it a great daytime moisturizer to wear alone or under makeup.
Spring is here, and I am so excited for the warmer weather because it means I can go out and get ice cream. I see some of the local scoop shops are embracing the season; Sweet Cream Co. has some flavors that definitely put me in a spring mood.
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