The Laundry is located at 2046 Talley St., just behind the Babcock Building in BullStreet. | Photo by COLAtoday
When you walk into The Laundry — a new event venue tucked behind the Babcock Building in the BullStreet District — you’re greeted by a vintage industrial dryer: a conversation piece and a reminder of the building’s original role as the State Hospital’s laundry facility.
This original dryer now greets guests as a preserved piece of the building’s past. | Photo by COLAtoday
Loads of character
Built in 1883, The Laundry once processed over 30,000 pieces of clothing per week for the South Carolina State Hospital. It’s now the oldest remaining service building on the 181-acre BullStreet campus.
Preservation meets purpose
Its transformation was led by Avant Holdings and Hughes Development Corporation, with architecture by Studio 2LR.
Which of the following did not happen at or near Columbia’s historic Laundry Building?
A. A 3,500-pound barbecue was held during the Civil War B. Kevin Bacon filmed scenes for a movie inside C. The building was once used as a steam plant D. It was a secret speakeasy during Prohibition
USC Symphonic Winds “Sound and Smoke” | 7:30-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | Celebrate the USC School of Music’s centennial with this season finale concert.
April Harvest Dinner | 6:30 p.m. | City Roots | $95 | Chef Fred Neuville joins Kristian Niemi for a fire-cooked farm-to-table dinner.
Tuesday, April 15
The Book of Mormon | Tuesday, April 15-Thursday, April 17 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $56+ | This nine-time Tony winner brings laughs and Broadway buzz.
Mission Grape Spring Wine Tasting | 5-7:30 p.m. | Weco Bottle and Biergarten, West Columbia | $10 | Sip 20+ spring wines and enjoy food from Brown Bag Deli.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit | 7:30 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $49.50+ | The Grammy-winning songwriter delivers powerful, Southern-rooted rock with lyrical depth and a tight band behind him.
Thursday, April 17
In the Dark | Live Music in the Planetarium | 6-7:30 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum | $10 general public and $8 museum member | Experience Haas’ String Quartet No. 3 performed in total darkness.
The SEC Men’s Tennis Championship hits the Carolina Tennis Center this Wednesday through Sunday, April 16-20. USC’s squad, ranked No. 15 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC, enters with an 11-1 home record.
Open
Alabama-based fried chicken chain Guthrie’s is opening its first SC location on Monday, April 22, near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Mineral Springs Road in Lexington. There will be a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. and a chicken finger eating contest between local students. (The State)
Health
MUSC Health opened a hybrid OR and 16-bed cardiac ICU at its downtown Columbia campus (Taylor and Marion Streets, formerly Providence Health). The new spaces allow complex heart procedures and continuous monitoring in one location, improving safety and speed of care. (Columbia Business Report)
Kids
Spring Break fun is coming to the SC State Museum this Tuesday–Friday, April 15-18, with half-off admission for kids 12 and under. Explore four floors of exhibits, enjoy the 4D Coastal Predators experience, and catch Superpower Dogs in the planetarium.
Edu
Tony-nominated actress and Columbia College alumna Jenn Colella returns for a special conversation on Wednesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in the Spears Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20. She’ll also deliver the Friday, May 2 commencement address.
Mansion Monday
This brick estate in Arcadia Lakes features 783 ft of lakefront property, five bedrooms, cedar closets, and a sunroom with water views. Set on three acres, the property also includes a guest cottage and a detached workshop for extra space and flexibility.
Sports
Here’s how the Gamecocks can help the SEC dominate in college basketball. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of USC with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Coming Soon
Village Church recently broke ground on its new Worship Center on Rimer Pond Road in Blythewood. The church worked closely with local firms Garvin Design Group and Contract Construction to design the 1,200-seat space, which will serve as a dynamic spiritual center + event venue for the growing congregation. Learn more.*
Did you know? The odds of winning the SC Lottery are different for every game, so review the specifics before picking a ticket. Psst... You’re more likely to win a smaller prize than a larger one. Check out this helpful video if you still have questions.*
Biz
Our Parents’ Gift Guide is almost complete, but we have a few spots left to feature your business’s product or service. Secure your spot just in time for Mother’s Day + Father’s Day.
Seasonal
It’s social event season — outsmart the noise of rumbling crowds and hear conversations more clearly. Most hearing aids have one processor, but these bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. That’s why 540,000+ customers swear by them.*
Category
Cause
Training for good use
Nonprofits across SC gathered in Columbia for Discovery Day, launching AI training efforts funded by Google.org. | Photo via Central Carolina Community Fund
One million — that’s the amount Google.org announced in funding to the Central Carolina Community Foundation to help equip over 20 SC nonprofits, including several in the Midlands, with artificial intelligence skills.
The donation supports the AI Opportunity Fund’s goal to train over one million Americans in AI technology. Local organizations like Harvest Hope, Turn90, The Therapy Place, and Senior Resources will benefit from tailored programming that includes in-person workshops, coaching, and peer-learning networks.
The initiative kicked off with last week’s Discovery Day event and is powered by Project Evident, a nonprofit helping local groups put AI to work. “This support will allow nonprofits to harness the power of AI to improve their efficiency, focus on their missions, and impact even more people in our community,” said Rep. Seth Rose, who represents part of Richland County.
The Buy
LED under cabinet lights, so you can finally have light in dark closets, above kitchen counters, or beneath shelves. The wireless lights turn on with a motion sensor and can be adjusted between five different brightness levels.
There’s some new public aren’t on display in the Vista. A permanent installation honoring Columbia abstract artist Laura Spong was unveiled on Park Street during Artista Vista. Take a look.
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