January 14, 2022 - MLK day events + new UofSC presidential candidate

Monday, Jan. 17 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. So, we thought we’d share the history of his presence in Columbia + what you can do around town to honor his life and legacy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Columbia connections:

On September 28, 1959, Dr. King, among other local leaders, attended an honorary banquet at the Township Auditorium. He continued his stay in Columbia and while in town delivered an address at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference at the Township.
On April 3, 1968, Dr. King was scheduled to appear at a rally at Zion Baptist Church on Washington Street in Columbia. While he wasn’t expected to make a formal address, he was expected to speak. This appearance was canceled and he stayed in Memphis, Tennessee for further work there. On April 4, King was tragically assassinated at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis at the age of 39.

State House | Photo by @the5and2project

How can I honor Dr. King?

King Day at the Dome | Mon., Jan. 17 at 10 a.m.

The annual King Day at the Dome, usually held at the State House, will move to a virtual format again this year. The event will feature Leon Russell, chairman of the NAACP’s National Board of Directors, as keynote speaker.

34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration | Mon., Jan. 17 at 4 p.m.

Congressman James E. Clyburn will be this year’s keynote speaker at the virtual event hosted by the City of Columbia + Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation.

Keep the Midlands Beautiful Volunteer Cleanup | Sat., Jan. 15 at 9 a.m.

Tomorrow’s Spotless Service Saturday honors Dr. King and the nationally recognized Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday. This is an opportunity to make a difference in the health and appearance of our community.

Use the buttons below to share this story with your friends looking for ways to celebrate MLK Day.

EVENTS

Today

MLK Freedom Fest | Fri., Jan. 14 | 7 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $73+ | Line up featuring Rod Wave, Moneybagg Yo, Latto, and Young Bleu. 🎶
Festival of Laughs | Fri., Jan. 14 | 8 p.m. | The Township Auditorium | $59+ | Laugh at a lineup of 5 comedians.
Emo Night Columbia | Fri., Jan. 14 | 8 p.m. | The Senate | $10+ | It’s Columbia’s meetup for ages 18+ that never really left the Black Parade once they were welcomed into it.
Moss Wall Workshop | Fri., Jan. 14 | 6:30-8 p.m. | PlantHouse Cola, 702 Cross Hill Rd. | The PlantHouse crew will walk you through how to attach moss to an in-set frame, then choose from an array of accessories to make your moss wall uniquely yours.

Saturday

Beethoven and Blue Jeans | Sat., Jan. 15 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $22+ | Wear your favorite pair of blue jeans for a comfortable experience with world-class music. 🎶
UofSC Men’s Basketball vs. Florida | Sat., Jan. 15 | 1 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $15+ 🏀
More Than Rhythm: A Black Music Series With Dr. Tony McNeill | Sat., Jan. 15 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $10+ | An aggregation of choral music educators, enthusiasts, and vocal artists from the Carolinas and Georgia
Bang Back Winter High Stakes Tournament | Sat., Jan. 15 | 1-10 p.m. | Bang Back Pinball Lounge, 741 Saluda Ave. | $50
Yoga at Indah Coffee | Sat., Jan. 15 | 7-7:45 a.m. | Indah Coffee, 2238 Sumter St. | $20

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE JANUARY EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

58º | Sunny | 6% chance of rain
SCDOT is encouraging South Carolinians to stay off the roads in preparation for winter weather this weekend. Workers are prepared to work ’round-the-clock to keep the roads clear. (Cola Daily)

Edu

UofSC is inviting all members of the University system community to observe and engage in three opportunities today to meet a new candidate for President of the University. The virtual panels will take place at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. where observers may submit questions for the candidate. 🏫

Number

$50,000. The amount awarded to the USC Columbia Technology Incubator by the Small Business Administration to better serve underrepresented entrepreneurs in South Carolina. The goal, to mentor 12 women-owned businesses focused on healthcare and pharma supply.

Cause

The Lake Carolina: Polar Bear Plunge is happening this Saturday at noon for those daring enough to take a chilly dip. Last year was its largest fundraiser yet, raising $55,000 for Children’s Charities of the Midlands. This year its anticipating an even bigger event. 🐻❄️

Arts

The Cottontown Art Crawl will return for its fourth year on March 12, featuring 115 artists to show and sell their original work in the downtown Columbia neighborhood. This year will be the biggest yet, with the addition of live music outdoors at Indah Coffee along with food vendors. 🎨

Tech

Land Intelligence, a rating agency for land, was rated the best tech startup in Columbia in this recent top five list. The company provides reports, analysis + advisory services to those involved in land development and acquisition. (The Tech Tribune)

Job

Goodwill Industries of the Midlands South Carolina is enrolling those ages 55+ in its free job training and employment program. The initiative helps those looking for a job learn new skills while receiving paid training.

Seasonal

The Snowville exhibit is returning to Edventure Saturday and will stay open through the end of February. The wintery exhibit features interactive fun like snowball fights, hockey rink, sledding, and learning opportunities like the complexity of snowflake formations. 🌨️ (Cola Daily)

Sports

The Gamecocks women’s basketball team defeated Texas A&M 65-45 last night at Colonial Life Arena. Next up, the team will travel to Arkansas for a Sunday afternoon game against the Razorbacks. 🏀
The Battle at BullStreet will return to Segra Park on Sat., March 5, 2022 as the Gamecocks take on the Clemson Tigers. Tickets ($8+) go on sale today at 10 a.m. via the Columbia Fireflies box office. ⚾*

Eat

Calling all Soda Citizens with a sweet tooth. Have you tried Cola’s newest dessert + cocktail lounge, The Robinson Room? Located in the hidden lower level of The Grand on Main, the menu features elevated dessert dishes and pairings like a Smoked Old Fashioned and Chocolate Orange. Reservations + walk-ins welcome.*
Looking for a light, easy breakfast hack? We suggest taking two Apple Cinnamon Quaker Rice Cakes from Lowes Foods and topping them with natural peanut butter + banana slices. Pair with a giant cold brew to complete the meal. 🍏*

Listen

In this episode of the Health Focus podcast from MUSC Health, host Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Habib Rizk, Director of MUSC’s Vestibular Program, about dietary restrictions for the treatment of Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder that can cause dizziness and hearing loss. 🎧*

Featured Job

Trinity Partners is looking for a Brokerage Coordinator. The perfect person for the job: a team player that thrives in a fast-paced work environment. Learn more and apply.*

Clarification

Credit where credit is due. The information used to create a breakdown of yesterday’s conversation on the historic Capital City Stadium included reporting from Morgan Hughes’ article that was posted on The State Newspaper’s website.

*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.

POST OF THE DAY

Get to know your precipitation

📸 @SCPublicRadio

We’ll believe it when we see it when it comes to snow in the Soda City, but the chance of freezing rain and sleet are looking likely. This weekend we’ll keep an eye on that temperature to see what will be falling from the sky. A little Sunday snow and some sledding around town would be nice.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s pick: Each and every year without fail my Mom texts me a link to “Shed a Little Light” by James Taylor on Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day. I encourage you to give it a listen, and reflect on yourself. Seeing JT at the Carolina Coliseum growing up was a seminal memory of my musical journey.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Capital City Stadium is coming down.