#MUSTDO

Today

• Columbia City Mayoral Candidate Forum on Arts and Culture | Wed., Sept. 8 | 7 p.m. | Koger Center of the Arts | Free | There will be a livestream for those who are not attending in-person. 🎨
• Screen and Discuss: Disgraced Monuments | Wed., Sept. 8 | 7-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $10 | Pro Tip — If you enjoy going to these CMA events, many of them are free with a membership. 🗿

Thursday

• The Root Doctors | Thurs., Sept. 10 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Icehouse Amphitheater | Free | Beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages + food will be available for purchase from various vendors.  
• Songwriters in the Round | Thurs., Sept. 10 | 7:30 p.m. | NoMa Warehouse | $15 | Enjoy an intimate concert with 3 local musicians. 🎤

Friday

• Arts & Draughts | Fri., Sept. 11 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $5+ | The popular event is back with live music, a scavenger hunt, gallery tours, food trucks + more. 🖼️
• 2021 Tunnel to Towers 5K | Fri., Sept. 11 | 7 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | $15+ | Participate to honor Stephen Siller, a New York City firefighter + all the other brave people who lost their lives on 9/11. 

Saturday

• 20th Anniversary of 9/11 | Sat., Sept. 12 | 8 a.m. | Columbia Metro Convention Center | Free | Honor the hometown heroes who lost their lives in this remembrance ceremony program. 🇺🇸
• 2021 End of Summer Spectacular | Sat., Sept. 12 | 9 a.m. | SC State Farmers Market | Free | Explore a large selection of crafters, vendors + food trucks. 
• SC State Museum Marks 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11 | Sat., Sept. 11-Sun. Sept. 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St. | Free | To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack, the museum will offer free general admission to first responders, active military + veterans from Sept. 11–12. Ⓟ

Sunday

• Midlands Food Truck Fest | Sun., Sept. 12 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | Free | Enjoy local food trucks, along with bounce houses, crafts, painting classes + more. 🍔

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.

#ANNOUNCED

The SC State Fair is coming back in-person this fall, Oct. 13-24 🎡

Start practicing your ring toss now because The South Carolina State Fair will return in-person this fall from Oct. 13-24 — and as of today, tickets are officially on sale. 🎉

NEWS NOTES

Weather

• 86º | Scattered thunderstorms | 60% chance of rain ⛈️

Ranked

• No. 11. Columbia’s ranking, according to WalletHub, as 1 of the top 15 cities to retire in. WalletHub looked at factors like cost of living, weather, leisure activities, retired taxpayer-friendliness, and state's health infrastructure. With a quick drive, you can visit a sister city that is ranked No. 2, Charleston, SC. (WLTX)

Drink

• The Booze Pops Cola food truck made their debut last week in Chapin offering a wide variety of alcoholic popsicles for adults, and ~10 kid friendly options so the whole family can enjoy popsicles + ice cream. Check out their Facebook page for all the details. 🍦(Cola Daily)

Number

• 4. The number of development proposals seeking approval to build in Lexington. Of the 4 proposals, 2 have gained some traction. A development by Columbia-based LandTech, is planning to start building in early May 2022 on 52 new single family homes + 30 townhomes near Old Mill Pond. 🏗️ (The Post and Courier)

• 250. That’s how many jobs are expected to be generated by the opening of Nephron Nitrile in West Columbia. Ⓟ

Development

• The City of Columbia is reviewing plans for a new housing development to build 7 single-story homes on Hayward Street, right across the street from Olympia and Granby Mills apartments. The Design/Development Review Commission will review the proposal at the upcoming meeting on Thurs., Sept. 9. 🏘️ (The State)

Eat

• The local wine parlour, Lula Drake, has been featured in a New York Times article, “How Eating Out Has Changed, From the Menu to the Tip.” The article juxtaposes the food scene pre and post pandemic, and the changes it ensued. 🍷
• If you haven’t yet, try Taqueria el Primo, a Latin American cuisine restaurant that recently opened a storefront located at 646 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia. Taqueria El Primo has a wide range of menu items, including burritos, tostadas, huaraches, and tortas. 🌯 (The Post and Courier)

Edu

• A Richland School District 2 African Studies teacher, Saudah Collins, was named a finalist for the 2021 National History Teacher of the Year Award. She teaches at Jackson Creek Elementary School, and was previously awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics + Science Teaching in 2004. 🏆 (Cola Daily)

Community 

• The State Museum is commemorating the anniversary of Sept. 11 by displaying a steel girder from the World Trade Center in the main lobby. General admission will be free for first responders + military personnel, and veterans Sept. 11-12. 🇺🇸

Sports

• UofSC freshman, Debo Williams, is the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week for blocking 2 punts in Carolina's 46-0 victory over Eastern Illinois this past weekend. 🏈 (ABC Columbia)

Arts

• Trustus Theatre's "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" is coming Oct. 1, and will run through Sat., Oct. 23. Tickets will go on sale next week, and the show will reflect modern trials + tribulations of love. 🎭

Health

• Pregnant women who get COVID-19 are becoming more seriously ill, resulting in complications like preterm birth and even death. Prisma Health’s Kacey Eichelberger, MD, explains how women can protect themselves and their babies from the delta variant. Ⓟ

Stat

• 3 in 4. The number of Americans who are willing to wait a year to find their dream home, according to Opendoor’s new report, Achieving the American Dream. Explore more insights (and how to make your own offer stand out) in the report. 🏡 Ⓟ

Wellness 

• Everyone deserves to feel like they can confidently express themselves — but for millions of people, their teeth are in the way. Candid ensures that everyone has access to the safe, healthy, brilliant smiles they deserve through advanced telemedicine and orthodontist-directed treatment. Ⓟ

#COLATODAY

THE WRAP

Answered: Out of almost 400 responses, 167 people voted mustard based as their favorite BBQ sauce and 142 voted for vinegar based. 

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