In-N-Out Burger menu items — including two burgers and a fry basket. | Photo by @ilovecupcakesnomnomnom
Ever feel like Columbia gets skipped when big-name chains pick their next spot? We asked readers which restaurants they’d be most excited to see open here in the Capital City — and the list is full of favorites locals are craving.
Chicken fingers, Texas toast, and Cane’s sauce were the runaway winners. Last year, Raising Cane’s brought its food truck to town for a popular event at the State Fairgrounds with Gamecock women’s basketball players. For now, you’ll need to drive to Summerville.
Readers have “animal-style fries” on the mind. The California-born burger chain has 424 locations, and the good news is it’s moving east. The closest location will open soon in Murfreesboro, TN, not far from its new HQ in nearby Franklin.
Reader Madison T. sums it up: “Had it a few times in Arizona and I can confirm that we NEED IT.”
Friday Yoga Class at Saluda Riverwalk | 9-10 a.m. | Saluda Riverwalk | Free | Join instructors from the Drew Wellness Center for calming Friday morning yoga sessions in nature’s beauty.
Food Truck Friday | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | REI Co-op parking lot | Price of purchase | This week’s lineup features Granny’s Caribbean Cuisine & Catering, Relaxin Heifer, Purposely Made Sweets, Manjal’s Filipino, and Spicy Voodoo.
Outdoor Movie Night - Dogman | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Crooked Creek Park, Chapin | Free | Bring a blanket and/or lawn chair for this animated film.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Play on the Plaza | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Every Saturday this September, the Boyd Plaza will be filled with colorful building materials for family-friendly play.
Pups & Pints Adoption Event and Donation Drive | 12-3 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, Cayce | Free | Adoption fees are waived for all animals at the event and animals come spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
Leon Everette’s Fried Green Tomato Festival | 12-6 p.m. | Leon Everette Music & Convention Center, Aiken | Free | Enjoy the Southern classic with a side of live music, food and craft vendors, games, and giveaways.
Love Lies: Urban Stage Play | Through Sunday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | Harbison Theatre, Irmo | $42+ | This play is sultry, suspenseful, scandalous, and laugh-out-loud funny.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Mac Powell Live in Concert | 7 p.m. | Maxwell Farms, Greenwood | $15+ | Listen to live music while enjoying food + drink from local vendors — all proceeds benefit children and families at Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries.*
Discover community living reimagined. | Photo provided by Brookland Commons
Brookland Commons is reimagining senior living in West Columbia with a focus on value, flexibility, and well-being. Residents enjoy a lifestyle designed around choice and community, including:
Smarter finances: Lower monthly service fees and the freedom to add only what you want — stretching your dollar while keeping everything conveniently available.
Resident-led living: Programming shaped by residents’ interests, with flexible spaces that make it easy to start activities that spark joy.
Proactive health: A wellness-first approach that helps residents stay healthy and independent, shifting the focus away from institutional care.
The City of Cayce has secured over $4.5 million in grants for public safety, infrastructure, parks, and environmental efforts. Funded projects include new sewer upgrades, Riverwalk improvements, and cybersecurity. The city also received $10 million separately for stormwater work in the Avenues.
Trending
Before his show at Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday, Adam Sandler played pickup with the USC men’s basketball team at Carolina Coliseum. The comedian shouted out the Gamecocks mid-show, joking that the team “didn’t swat all of my shots.” (The State)
Concert
Bach and biscuits, anyone?Chamber Crawl hits The War Mouth on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. — sip, snack, and settle in for live tunes from Wendy Cohen (flute) and Jeremy Cohen (clarinet).
Arts
The SC State Museum will debut “From the Vault: South Carolina Art from the Museum’s Collection” on Friday, Sept. 26, featuring 75+ rarely seen works. The free reopening reception for the renovated Lipscomb Art Gallery is Thursday, Sept. 25 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Feel Good
The Junior League of Columbia will celebrate “International Find the Good Day” on Thursday, Sept. 18, encouraging kindness, community service, and positivity across the Midlands. Locals are invited to join in and share their good deeds using #FindTheGoodDay on Instagram.
Tech
Columbia jazz musician Ben Eidson created ORhythmic, an iOS app for practicing complex rhythms. Designed for post-classical and experimental music, it’s an innovative type of metronome.
Need to hire? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re staffing up for the season or filling a key full-time role, our Job Board is your one-stop hiring solution. Post your open positions for free and start connecting with qualified candidates.
Try This
Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
Finance
Gold is as hot as ever, with its price per ounce crossing $3,400 in August. A gold IRA can be a smart way to own gold and add stability to your retirement portfolio — but with added tax benefits, plus $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases. See one of Money’s top picks.†*
This Ring doorbell and outdoor camera bundle that’s $20 off today only. Our favorite features? Crisp video and smart alerts sent straight to our phone, so we know who’s at the door without leaving the couch.
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.
Harvest Hope is teaming up with Sweetwater Coffee and Tea in the Vista on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. to collect canned goods and answer questions about volunteering. It’s a chance to grab an afternoon pick-me-up while you’re giving back to the community.
}})
