Finding parking can be a headache in Columbia, but what if you could reimagine those parking spaces as shared spaces? What if locals could gather, eat a quick snack, join a friend for coffee, or plan a meet-cute?
Tomorrow from 10 a.m.-4 p.m, Columbia will explode with art, and tiny, urban parks will pop up around the city to celebrate PARK(ing) Day.
What is PARK(ing) Day?
PARK(ing) Day is an annual, global event that motivates communities to creatively transform 8x20 parking spaces into parklets that:
- Are accessible to all.
- Cultivate your sense of civic pride.
- Encourage you to consider the role you play in creating, building, and improving your local urban environment.
A little history lesson:
The very first PARK(ing) Day took place in San Francisco, California in 2005 as a public art project. The goal was to reimagine a parking space as a mini park — not just for a day, but to create something that would permanently transform your city’s landscape.
Columbia’s first and only public parklet by artist, Frankie Zombie | @frankie.zombie_
Did you know Washington Street — between Main + Sumter streets — hosts the city's first public parklet? The space was created by artist Frankie Zombie, and made possible by local organizations like One Columbia, City Center Partnership + Southern Vistas, and a grant from the AARP Community Challenge Program.
What to expect:
We suggest walking or biking around town instead of driving to check out all of the ~40 meter transformed parklets on Main, Lady, Hampton, Washington, and Park Streets. Don’t forget to go by the Saluda + Santee avenues too.
So, peruse around town like it's 1 huge gallery tomorrow, take pics, tag @COLAtoday, and stop at each parklet to have a chat with someone in your community. You never know where 1 conversation with a stranger may lead you.
Use the buttons below to share this story with your BFFs, your neighbors, and anyone you know who would enjoy walking or biking around the city to see these creative parklets tomorrow.
Today
Friday
- Riverbanks ZOOfari | Fri., Sept. 17 | 7 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo | $80+ | Enjoy food, cocktails + silent auctions while supporting wildlife conservation. 🐘
Saturday
- Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture | Sat., Sept. 18 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site, 1403 Richland St. | Free | The festival will bring together musicians, artists + storytellers to create a vibrant celebration of SC’s black history + culture. 🎶
-
Grand Opening: Freeway Music NE + Doko Station Pub & Eatery | Sat., Sept. 18 | 1-4 p.m. | Freeway Music NE, 11 Samuel Bookhart Ln., Blythewood | Free | Check out the joining music school + restaurant, while enjoying live music, activities, and more. 🎸
-
Cookies & Crafts DIY Workshop | Sat., Sept. 18 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | AR Workshop Lexington | $57+ | Decorate your own cookies + create a wooden or canvas piece to bring home. 🍪
-
Lakeside Litter Sweep | Sat., Sept. 18 | 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Lake Murray | Free | Join Keep the Midlands Beautiful for this clean-up. ♻️
Sunday
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.
Photo provided by WiseBread
Have good credit and looking for better bonuses? Here are some of the easiest credit card bonuses we’ve seen — plus perks like high, ongoing cash back rates, like 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases, or up to 3% cash back on online shopping, home improvement, dining, or other categories. Plus no annual fee and 0% interest for 15 months. Ⓟ
Weather
- 81º | Isolated thunderstorms | 30% chance of rain 🌩️
Sports
- UofSC announced face masks will be mandatory for the next 2 football games at Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks will play the next home game on Sept. 25 versus the University of Kentucky and will play against Troy University on Oct. 2. The mask ordinance will be in effect until Oct. 8. 😷 (The Post and Courier)
Coronavirus
- Parents now have access to the number of COVID-19 cases in their child’s school and the number of children + staff also in quarantine. The dashboard will be updated weekly for K-12 public, private, and charter schools. (ABC Columbia)
Concert
- The Gov’t Mule with Trombone Shorty concert at Columbia Speedway Amphitheater has been postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases. The concert was originally scheduled for today but will be rescheduled for Spring 2022. 🎶
UofSC
- UofSC’s College of Information and Communications produced a children’s book — Dot Buys a Bike — to educate elementary students about news literacy. The goal is to develop lesson plans + resource guides in the future, but the book serves as a kickstart in introducing a complex topic to children. 📖
Number
Development
- UofSC officials met yesterday with potential contractors about building the $300 million medical facility project that will give them a new 16-20 acre Health Sciences Campus on Harden Street in the BullStreet District. Check out all the details of the project here. 🏥 (The State)
Watch
- Beyond Your Backyard will feature Lake Murray, which will premiere on PBS this Sun., Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. It will be on season 4 of the program and will feature the Capital City's outdoor recreation activities that visitors + locals can experience. 🌊
Feel Good
- Grab some tissues. Christian Erichsen was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base — approx. an hour away from downtown. Daily, his daughter would switch a pebble from 1 jar to another, counting down the days until his return. She found the jar empty, and received a surprise. 🥲(WLTX)
Correction
- In yesterday’s newsletter, we stated that it was the first day of Yom Kippur — that was incorrect. Yom Kippur is 1 holy day that began at sunset yesterday, Sept. 15 and ends at sundown tonight. The candle that is lit is called a Yahrzeit candle, not a shabbat candle.
Job
- Want to write this newsletter (or know someone who should)? We’re looking for a COLAtoday City Editor with strong writing skills, social media savvy, passion for all things local, and plenty of curiosity about what’s happening in Soda City. See details and apply.
Today Is
- National Guacamole Day. You could whip up your own, but if you avo-ca-don’t have the time, you can snag a freshly made batch from Lowes Foods. 🥑 Ⓟ
Shop
Stat
- 55%. The discount that language learning app Babbel is offering for a limited time, so subscribers can discover new worlds through language in as little as 3 weeks. Learn more + snag the deal. 🌏 Ⓟ
For 1 week in September, Negroni week celebrates mixing classic Negronis or Negroni variations to raise money for a cause. This year, Negroni week will end on Sun., Sept. 19, and Jake Smith created a new menu with 10 cocktails to try at Motor Supply. A portion of each cocktail sold will be donated to Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands.
Seen above is the Coffee Bird. It incorporates bitter sweet coffee paired with pineapple, rum + Campari.🍹
#DYK that your photos and quotes could be featured in our newsletter?
Just use #COLAtoday on social media.
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
✏️️ Want to write an article for us? Find out how here.
👀 Want your business featured in our newsletter? Learn more about advertising opportunities here.
📖 Check out our Editorial Ethics Policy here.
Did a friend forward this to you?
It can be in your inbox tomorrow a.m.
|
