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🧌 Wood you look at that
Thomas Dambo’s trolls are meant to spark conversation about our relationship with the planet. | Photo by COLAtoday
We’re not trolling you — South Carolina is finally getting a Thomas Dambo troll. The City of Cayce has approved negotiations to bring one of the larger-than-life troll sculptures to the Cayce Riverwalk, about a 14-minute drive from downtown Columbia.
So, who’s Thomas Dambo? He’s a Danish artist and upcycling advocate known for building massive trolls out of recycled wood. Dambo has created more than 100 worldwide — and they’ve developed a serious cult following. There’s even a virtual map where fans track which trolls they’ve visited.
And these gentle giants don’t just charm locals — they bring in tourists, too. Communities similar in size to Cayce have reported that a new troll can lead to:
A 30–60% increase in park visitation
Tens of thousands of new visitors each year
An estimated economic impact of $1.5 million–$5 million over three to five years
A timeline for Cayce’s troll will be revealed in the coming months.
A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen will soon cease regular operations. The Main Street restaurant plans to scale back its hours through March while the team takes time to figure out what’s next, whether that’s a permanent closure or a move to a new location. (The State)
Biz
Queer Haven Books is starting a new chapter. The local bookstore will move from its current home in the Arcade Mall to a space two blocks away on Taylor Street in early March. (The State)
Eat
10. That’s how many food vendors Mardi Gras Columbia will have on deck at its 16th annual festival next Saturday, Feb. 14 at City Roots. Hint: You can get everything from crawfish étouffée, Chicago-style hotdogs, and Carolina barbecue to dirty sodas, boozy popsicles, and beignets.
Travel
See a trip to The Windy City in your future? American Airlines will resume nonstop flights from Columbia Metropolitan Airport to Chicago O’Hare this spring. The route launches Thursday, May 21, with two daily flights running seven days a week. (ABC Columbia)
Ranked
Soda Citizens are not the best at pinching their pennies, according to a new WalletHub ranking. Columbia ranks No. 172 out of 182 in the list of cities with the best budgeters. It’s easy to buck that trend with one of these lunch deals.
Seasonal
Winter isn’t done with us yet. Punxsutawney Phil spotted his shadow on Groundhog Day, forecasting six more weeks of cold weather. We’ll cope the best way we know how: bundling up and digging into a comforting bowl from a local soup spot. (The Weather Channel)
Read
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Category
History
Honoring Columbia’s Black history
The Ija Charles mural sits on the 1600 block of Main Street. | Photo by COLAtoday
Black History Month is a chance to celebrate the people, places, and stories that shaped Columbia. From murals honoring Black Wall Street to museum exhibits and self-guided tours, here are a few local ways to learn more about Columbia’s Black history.
🖼️ Museum experiences
Historic Columbia’s exhibit, “Heat & Hardship: The Hidden Labor of Enslaved Cooks,” opened last year at the Robert Mills House & Gardens. This immersive experience illuminates the lives of enslaved cooks who worked at the property in the 1820s, featuring first-person narratives and hands-on activities that explore the labor, ingredients, and challenges of their work.
🚙 Self-guided tours
Hit the road and explore 300+ historic African American landmarks across the state thanks to a resource called The Green Book of SC. Created by the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission, this was the first mobile travel guide for Black cultural sites across the state.
It’s almost time for the perfect holiday to tell your friends how you feel: Galentine’s Day. Treat the bestie in your life to a February 13 gift that says, I’m grateful for you.
Move over, Labubu, there’s a new trending toy in town. A crying horse with an upside-down snout — the result of a factory mix-up — is the latest plushie obsession in China and beyond. If the craze continues, expect to spot a few at Columbia’s kid-friendly spots.
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