Plus, new Mexican restaurant on Devine Street.
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Gift ideas for parents

Presented by The Buy
A few gifts overlaid on a patchwork background, including a Carharrt lunch box and a jewelry dish.
Find the perfect gift to express gratitude and love for the role models in your life. | Graphic by 6AM City
Shopping for a loved one? With Mother’s Day falling on Sunday, May 11, it’s a great time to give to parents, grandparents, neighbors, mentors, and life-long friends. Browse the gifts we think will do the trick:

Custom initial jewelry dish | $16.99 | A sweet, delicate ceramic jewelry tray you can customize with their initial.

Local pick: Fresh flower bundle from Fern | $35+ | These seasonal, designer-selected blooms make a thoughtful, ready-to-arrange gift.

Mom’s/Grandma’s/Husband’s last nerve candle | $9.99 | Make them laugh with a candle that lights their last nerve on fire.

Weighted silk lavender eye pillow | $19.99 | A silk sleep mask and a cooling gel eye mask are included in this spa set named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2023.

Golf practice net | $99.99 | Golfers can perfect their swing before stepping out on the course with this golf net great for backyards, basements, or even the living room.

Kendra Scott triple strand necklace | $80 | Gift them this chic layered necklace that comes in silver, gold, or gold and teal.

Barefoot Dreams lounge top | $99 | There may be no better gift than something luxuriously soft, cuddly, and cozy.

Mom’s story book and Dad’s story book | $24.95 | Prompt them to write down memories, advice, and stories in these guided journals.

Neck + shoulders heating pad | $39.99 | This electric heat wrap helps with back pain, muscle aches, and de-stressing.

Local pick: Locally inspired bar soaps from Penny’s Naturals | $8 | Scents like Wadmalaw, Palmetto Rain, and Carolina Coast make these handcrafted soaps a fragrant nod to South Carolina.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey | $25 | You don’t have to worry about this lipstick flattering them — Black Honey is designed to look incredible (and different) on everyone.
Shop more top gifts for parents
Hawthorne Pharmacy & Medical Equipment

Events

Thursday, May 1

South Carolina Gamecocks Softball vs. Alabama Crimson Tide | 6 p.m. | Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field | $12 | Root, root, root for the Gamecocks in their final home series of the year.

Columbia Fireflies vs. Hickory Crawdads | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $8+ | Food Fight Night: Cheer on the Carolina Grits as they take on an opposing food identity in a flavorful face-off.*

Friday, May 2

The World Goes Round | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Broad River Arts Center | $18+ | Hear an eclectic collection of love songs and humorous tunes.

The Soft Girl Era | Friday, May 2-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | 1220 Knox Abbott Dr., Cayce | $50 | Participate in an event celebrating all things soft and feminine, embracing pastel colors, cute aesthetics, and gentle vibes.

Saturday, May 3

Kite Festival | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Patriot Park, Sumter | Free | Get ready for a day full of colorful kites, fun competitions, and family-friendly activities.

BirdFest Music Festival | 10 a.m.-10 p.m. | Wildlife Education Center, Pinewood | $65+ | Lounge back for an afternoon of bluegrass headlined by Ricky Skaggs.

Book signing: “The Southern Awakening” | 6 p.m. | All Good Books | Free | Head to All Good Books to hear from and have your book signed by award-winning author Barnard “the Barber” Sims.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
Rosewood Crawfish Festival c/o Solid Entertainment

News Notes

Open

Que! Bueno Mexican Bar & Grill opened its newest location this week in the former Barrio Tacos spot on Devine Street. This marks the Midlands-based chain’s third full-service restaurant. (The State)

Community

Nominations are open for the 2026 Columbia SC Ambassador Program, spotlighting locals who celebrate and elevate the region. Nominees must be 18+ and live in Columbia, Richland, or Lexington counties.

Number

$30 billion — that’s the annual economic impact of SC’s tourism industry, supporting 200,000+ jobs. Travel and Tourism Week runs Sunday, May 4, through Saturday, May 10, with statewide events raising awareness of the industry.

Civic

The City of Columbia will host two drop-in workshops to shape the future of land near the planned Vista Greenway extension. Join Monday, May 12, or Wednesday, May 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eau Claire Print Building.

Traffic

Starting Monday, May 5, Community Road in Blythewood will close through April 2026 for the I-77 Exit 26 Interchange Project. A traffic shift on Blythewood Road begins May 7, and will last six months. (WLTX)

Sports

South Carolina finds a diamond in the rough in the transfer portal. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Gamecocks with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Seasonal

In case you missed it, free admission for SC residents is back May 24-August 31 at the Columbia Museum of Art. From this summer’s featured exhibition to a stacked schedule of events, you’ll want to plan your (free) visit.*

Stat

$5,000. That’s how much you may have to drop if your dog or cat tears their ACL — a surprisingly common knee injury in pets. To the rescue: pet insurance. With this plan, 90% of that cost could be reimbursed.*

Biz

Last chance to invest in the “Uber of mobile phones.” Mode Mobile grew 32,481% from 2019-2022, and just secured their Nasdaq ticker with plans for a potential IPO. The opportunity to invest at $0.26/share closes today.*

Number

540,000+. That’s how many customers choose this hearing aid when it comes time to make that decision for their loved ones. See why.*

Biz

Did you miss the chance to feature your business’s product or service in today’s feature of the 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide? Don’t worry — you can still secure your spot in time for Father’s Day. Bonus: Use code PGG2025 for 20% at checkout.

Try This

🚲 Bike and learn

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Riverfront Park is one of Columbia’s most scenic places to ride. | Photo by COLAtoday
May is both National Historic Preservation Month + National Bike Month, and Columbia is celebrating with rides, talks, and tours that explore the city’s past and pedal into its future.

Here are a few of the highlight events:
  • Sunday, May 4: Cola Town Bike Tour (nine-mile group ride)
  • Monday, May 5: Tour de Taco casual ride (Register by email)
  • Tuesday, May 6: Mabel Payne Award + City Council proclamations
  • Wednesday, May 7:
     • Bike + Roll to School Day
     • Lunch + Learn: House History at Richland Library (register)
  • Wednesday, May 14: Bike Month Pub Tour (RSVP)
  • Sunday, May 18: Preservation Bike Tour through Cottontown, Earlewood + Elmwood (Register)
Want to dig deeper into why preservation matters? Explore the economic impact here.

The Buy

Swim trunks with pockets. These quick-drying swimsuit trunks have a hidden pocket built into an anti-chafe compression liner — perfect for keeping phones, keys, and cash safe on beach days.
More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by: David

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Dawn Staley is set to release her new autobiography, “Uncommon Favor,” on May 20. | Photo by COLAtoday
Hundreds gathered in the shadow of the State House on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the unveiling of the new Dawn Staley statue. When Sam and I walked up, we realized former Gamecock football coach Steve Spurrier and his wife, Jerri, were in front of us — just a few of the legends in attendance. Stay tuned to tomorrow’s newsletter for more on the star-studded ceremony.
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