During a sales meeting, we decided to taste the iced carrot cake latte with oatmilk and highly recommend it. | Photo by COLAtoday team
Your morning cup of joe is on Scout Motors today. To celebrate the 4,000 future employees at its Blythewood production center, the automaker is covering 4,000 free coffees at these local coffee shops.
Koger Center Presents Live Outside: LongTooth | 5-7 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | Free | Kick off your weekend with Live Outside! every Friday at 5 p.m. — this week, catch LongTooth, bringing their signature sound straight from the “dirty south.”
Season 41 Kickoff Party | 6-9 p.m. | Trustus Theatre | Free | Stop by for an evening of live jazz, performances, and a special set by improv troupe, The Mothers.
End of Summer Hog Roast | 7-10 p.m. | Smoked | $50 | A ticket to this end-of-summer block party includes a hog roast with sides, live music, and outdoor games.
HOUSE OF BEY: A Beyoncé Celebration | 9 p.m. | The Senate | $28 | It’s time to celebrate one of the music industry’s greatest to ever do it with a night of Queen Bey’s best hits.
Fall for Hops & Shops | 12-5 p.m. | Columbia Craft Brewing Company | Price of purchase | Kick off the season with a market of oddities, handmade art, vintage finds, live music, and cold beer — come for the hops, stay for the shops.
$10.3 million — that’s how much FEMA approved to help the Midlands recover from the 2015 flood. Columbia will use $8.2 million to restore a water and power source serving half the city + Sumter will receive $2.1 million for nature center repairs. (WIS)
Coming Soon
United Airlines will add new nonstop service from Columbia Metropolitan Airportto Newark beginning Wednesday, Jan. 7. Flights will run five days a week, offering more options to reach the New York metro area.
Travel
More in the air — Spirit Airlines will stop flying out of Columbia Metropolitan Airport on Saturday, Oct. 4, ending routes to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Newark. The cuts are part of Spirit’s exit from 12 US cities as the airline restructures in bankruptcy. Allegiant continues to serve flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. (CNBC)
Open
The Bojangles on Elmwood is back open in time to grab a Bo Box for tailgating at Saturday’s Gamecocks football game vs. SC State. The fried chicken chain was closed for about two weeks for renovations, including new paint and dining hall touch-ups. (The Post and Courier)
Closed
Both Columbia Blaze Pizza shops — in Harbison and Village at Sandhill — have closed. Signs thanked customers after nine years of serving “fast-fired” pies. (The State)
Arts
One Columbia is moving into the historic Keenan House and hosting a free community open house on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Guests can tour the space, view local art, and enjoy refreshments while learning about the group’s cultural initiatives.
Job
The YMCA Mudcats swim team is looking for an energetic Assistant Coach to help lead practices, motivate swimmers, and make a splash. See details and apply.*
Community
Hey COLA, love local businesses as much as we do? Nominations for our COLAtoday’s Best competition open on Sept. 15. Help us gather who is the best of the best in each of our categories. Stay tuned for more details.
Shop
Score this cap sleeve tee for an effortless transition from summer to autumn wardrobing. It features a chic V-neck design and is available in 12+ colors. Bonus: It’s under $17.*
What’s the buzz around town? Columbia is now officially designated as a Bee City USA affiliate after City Council’s unanimous vote. The program, led by the Xerces Society, encourages communities to plant more natives, reduce pesticides, and protect pollinator habitats. With bees and other pollinators supporting most flowering plants and two-thirds of crops, it’s something to bee proud of.
The Buy
The chance to learn a new language during Babbel’s Best Sale of the Year. Turn your morning read into a new daily habit — with Babbel, 10 minutes a day builds real conversation skills you can use on your next trip or at the international festival downtown. Get lifetime access for $199 across all 14 languages.*
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.
Godspeed Coffee will host a pop-up porch party in front of its new Five Points location from 12 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7. Stop by and grab a specialty drink and peek through the window at the progress before it opens later this year.
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