The Stone of Hope fountain is engraved with Dr. King’s quote inside of Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
Photo by COLAtoday
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we’re reflecting on his presence in Columbia and sharing ways you can honor his life and legacy.
Monday, Jan. 19
King Day at the Dome | 8 a.m.-12 p.m. | Zion Baptist Church + SC State House grounds | Free | The march from 801 Washington St. to the State House begins at 9:45 a.m., followed by speakers at the capitol. MLK Day Celebration | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | EdVenture Children’s Museum | Free with admission | Try this day of engaging activities honoring Dr. King’s message of equality, kindness, and community. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 12-5 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Special programming from the Friends of African American Art & Culture will take place in Boyd Plaza.
The facade of the Williams Building was preserved during the development and will be home to Coastal Crust. | Photo via Google Maps
Trending
The latest nostalgic trend has people sharing photos from 2016 on social media. A lot has changed in Columbia since then. That photo above shows the Williams Building in the BullStreet District. Since then, many local favorites have shuttered their doors. (Vogue)
Mansion Monday
A new record-breaking condo recently sold for $21 million in Las Vegas, with skyline views of Sin City from within a prestigious country club. Here in Cola, the most expensive condo we could find on the market offers stadium views. (Realtor)
Sports
The countdown is on to the greatest tournament in golf. The Masters returns to Augusta National in 80 days, with the world’s best men’s golfers vying for the coveted Green Jacket. Get in the spirit, connect with friends, or practice your short game at a Columbia golf course.
Eat
Is it hot in here? Texas Pete is the most popular hot sauce in South Carolina, according to new data from Instacart. If you ask us, hot sauce pairs well with one of these fried chicken restaurants.
Watch
This 5-month-old viral avalanche rescue dog-in-training won’t quite be ready for the slopes in Northern Italy this time around, but could be a hero in four years’ time. The 2026 Winter Olympics start in 18 days — make sure you’re subscribed to keep up with all the Cola-relevant happenings. (ABC News)
The Word
Bongo. That was the Wordle answer that stumped the most players in 2025. Ready to redeem yourself this year? Fire up a fresh winning streak in COLAtoday’s Games portal. (TODAY)
On This Day
Today, January 19, is the day Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809. If it’s been a while since you read “The Raven,” spend the day in Poe-esque fashion and find a dark, quiet, brooding corner at the library.
Community
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Read
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Editor’s Pick
The front of the hotel will face the new Lawn area and be across the street from Gather COLA. | Renderings courtesy of Vulcan Real Estate Development / Architect: Stephen Berry
We’ve learned more about what we can expect from the new Grand Willow Hotel coming soon across from Gather COLA and Segra Park. The hotel has been added to Hilton’s Curio Collection, which allows independently branded hotels to operate within Hilton’s system.
The seven-story, 136-room hotel is expected to open late next year.
The Buy
Our favorite two-piece set featuring a knit sweater vest and pants. Pair it with your favorite cardigan for winter wardrobing, then wear it on its own as the weather warms for effortless, year-round style.
That 2016 Google trend has me feeling old and nostalgic for some of my favorite spots. A few were Yesterday’s, Blue Cactus, El Burrito, and The Whig, but I still love trying new restaurants to see what ends up becoming my next favorite.
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