Cheer on the Cocks to a win under a Carolina sky. | Photo by Market on Main
Go, Gamecocks, go. Tomorrow, Aug. 31, the Cocks will play their first home football game against Virginia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Can’t make it to the game in person? You can still get in on the fun with Market on Main’s watch party. Here’s what you need to know:
The game will kick off at 3 p.m. on Market on Main’s 23-ft outdoor screen, but doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Seating day-of is first come, first served, but call-ahead reservations are available now for a holding fee.
Expect to enjoy bar specials all day long, including $8 frozen dragon berry margaritas made with Casamigos Blanco and $8 Jameson Irish mules, plus swag giveaways and a live DJ during commercial breaks.
Asked
Asked
Which of the following musical artists has not played at Williams-Brice Stadium?
A. Beyoncé B. *NSYNC C. Metallica D. Paul McCartney
Soda City Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Price of purchase | Browse this lively downtown market to find local artisans, businesses, and food vendors — rain or shine.
Labor Day Dance and Potluck | 6-10 p.m. | Bill’s Music Shop, West Columbia | $10 | Don your best Western garb, bring a dish or dessert to share, and dance the night away to close out the summer.
Adventures in Jazz | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | The Joint | Keep it cool as trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader Mark Rapp performs two sets of jazz tunes.
Sunday, Aug. 31
Cookin’ Up Wellness: A Plant-Based Cooking Experience with Chef Chew | 1-3 p.m. | 7709 Wilson Blvd., Columbia | $28+ | Celebrity Chef Chew will teach guests how to make plant-based fare with a soulful twist — we’re talking fried chicken, scrambled eggs, and 3-cheese mac and cheese.
Axe Throws for Rhinos | 6-8 p.m. | Craft Axe Throwing | Price of purchase | Throw your support behind Riverbanks Zoo’s rhino conservation efforts at this annual fundraiser that will also feature a raffle and silent auction.
Silent Book Club | 6-8 p.m. | Graduate Hotel | Price of purchase | Join likeminded literary lovers for this book club where you actually read in comfortable, silent bliss.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, aka the most popular ice cream brand in South Carolina. While we’d never pass up a pint of Brambleberry Crisp, Soda City’s local ice cream shops serve our favorite scoops.
Quoted
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” That’s how Taylor Swift announced her engagement to Travis Kelce via Instagram earlier this week. While we raise a glass to the happy couple, consider this Columbia’s bid to host what will undoubtedly be the wedding of the century.
Tech
Google has launched Preferred Sources in the US, a feature that allows your favorite sources to appear more frequently in search results. This is great news if you love COLAtoday — you can follow Google’s instructions to see even more of our hyperlocal content.
Feel Good
A Hot Wheels Car Library has popped up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia after a father and his son built it together, allowing other kiddos to take a car or leave a car. Sound familiar? This system is also how local Little Free Libraries work — grab or trade a book.
Sports
The Carolina Panthers are shaking up their roster — is its youth movement the right decision? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Live
City Guide
🥪 Low-cost lunches, coming right up
The inside walls of Andy’s Deli are like a museum of Columbia and Gamecock history. | Photo by COLAtoday
In case you missed it, Chipotle recently launched “Build-Your-Own Chipotle,” a new, digital-only offering that allows you to order key ingredients in bulk for small groups — or meal prepping, perhaps?
Not a Chipotle fan? No worries. Check out one of these local spots the next time you’re looking to switch up your lunch routine. Spoiler alert: Each one allows you to get a meal for less than $10.
Bernie’s Chicken | Many locals will tell you Bernie’s is the best fried chicken in town. Try the three piece dinner for $8.25 or a cheeseburger basket for $8.50.
Village Idiot | Just looking for a bite for lunch? Village Idiot Pizza serves some of its za’s by the slice for $2-$3.
Andy’s Deli | A staple of Cola’s sandwich shops my dear, you can build your own creation starting at $6.99, or order a signature salad for as little as $5.25.
A 3-in-1 wireless charging station, currently 31% off for Labor Day. This best-selling charger can take on your smartphone, smartwatch, and earbuds all at one time using rapid charging power.
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.
It hit me today that there are just about three months left in 2025. Anyone else feel like this year has flown by?
One of my goals for this year was to try at least six recipes from two new cookbooks I bought at the beginning of the year. If you’re in the same boat and have cooking-related goals, consider making it a group activity with one of these upcoming cooking classes at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio.
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