You just can’t beat a Soda City brunch. | Photo by @mirandafen
If kicking off the weekend with brunch is wrong, then we don’t want to be right. Check out these menu recs for your next COLA brunch outing.
Ruby Sunshine | Start out with the seasonal beignets, order a mimosa flight, and choose between the Eggs Blackstone “The O.G.” or the Migas.
Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles | If you’re not really a chicken and waffles kinda person, the Kiki’s Soul Food Plate is a great substitute. It wasn’t James Beard award nominated for nothin’.
The Retreat | Try the Redneck Benedict with pimento cheese and sausage gravy or the Day Boat Shrimp and Grits with Anson Mills grits.
Bubba’s Biscuits | If you’re more of a lunch bruncher, order The Boss — Bubba’s Biscuits’ take on a Philly Cheese Steak served over a biscuit.
3rd Annual Summer Splash Family Weekend | Saturday, Aug. 16-Sunday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | Carolina Adventure World, Winnsboro | $25 | Celebrate the end of summer with bounce houses, slip‑n‑slides, yard games, ice cream socials, and a free youth park pass with every adult admission.
Book Talk: A Conversation with Author William S. Walker | 10-11:30 a.m. | South Carolina State Museum | Free | Commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a talk from the author behind “Dearest Mama: The Lost Letters of a Fallen Soldier and the Stories of Those He Left Behind.”
“Becoming” | 7:30-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $35 | Watch as Cola Rep Dance Co. explores the themes of personal identity and discovery through movement.
Sunday, Aug. 17
Sensory Sunday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Surge Adventure Park | $8+ | Those young and young at heart can experience the adventure park with quieter music, no flashing lights, and smaller crowds.
Arboretum Open House | 1-4 p.m. | W. Gordon Belser Arboretum | Free | Walk through 10 South Carolina biomes along a 1/3 mile trail and lead from faculty-led presentations.
Pour Decisions: Sake Tasting | 5-9:30 p.m. | Park Place Venue | $44+ | Don your best white and gold for a Japanese-themed dinner featuring sushi, hibachi, and sake pairings, then stick around for music and photo ops.
Phew, mugginess is on the rise across parts of the US. In Columbia, 95% of the days in June + July were considered muggy due to their high humidity. If you’re looking for ways to cool off, we recommend taking a dip at a local swimming spot.
Pets
Talk about a golden opportunity — auditions are now open for “Air Bud Returns,” the latest installment in the beloved movie series. If you want to sign up your golden retriever, you’ll need to submit a video of their best skills. For the camera-shy dogs, these pup-friendly businesses await in Columbia.
What’s that sound? Dial-up’s final rings. AOL announced it will discontinue its dial-up services on Tuesday, Sept. 30, after three decades. Help bring any users up to speed by connecting them to COLAtoday when they get a new provider. (NPR)
Sports
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young impressed in a joint practice with the Houston Texans. Is the signal-caller ready to lead a resurgence in Charlotte? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcast.
Category
Plan Ahead
🎶 Whoa, we’re halfway there
A masked luchador hypes up the crowd at Segra Park’s Taco & Margarita Festival. | Photo via Columbia Fireflies
And with this heat, we’re for sure living on a prayer — but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop.
Check out these can’t miss events coming up in Soda City.
Third Thursday Art Night: Lori Isom | Thursday, Aug. 21 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | Meet the artist and explore new works in this relaxed after-hours gallery gathering.
Soda City Comic Convention | Saturday, Aug. 23 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | $5.50+ | Artists, cosplayers, and special guests gather for a full day of comics, collectibles, and pop culture fandom.
Stevie Nicks | Wednesday, Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $172+ | The legendary singer-songwriter takes the stage for a night of ethereal rock magic, performing hits like “Edge of Seventeen,” “Landslide,” and “Stand Back.”
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Save the date, pumpkin spice latte people — the beloved beverage will return to Starbucks on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Need something to sip in the meantime? Try a seasonal drink at one of Columbia’s local coffee shops. An afternoon latte in All Good Books sounds pretty perfect if you ask me.
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