Hello Tuesday.
April 29 2025
A lot of changes have been happening in the Vista and The Congaree Vista Guild — a nonprofit, membership-based organization that ensures the Vista is a vibrant symbol of Columbia — shared updates on projects that will be completed in 2022.
City Grit Market | Photo by COLAtoday team
New businesses:
- Boku Kitchen and Saloon | 916 Gervais St. | This new taco + ramen restaurant — located where Sure Fire Taco used to be — will be dog-friendly and offer igloo dining outdoors for year-round seating. Want a sneak peek?
- Cambria Hotel | The corner of Park + Lady Streets | This 144-room hotel will be opening spring 2022.
- City Grit Market | 707 Gervais St. | Now open, this specialty market offers artisan goods, house-made dips, sweets, beer, wine and gifts. It also offers gourmet take-away + family meals.
- The Donut Guy | 1215 Lincoln St. | This Soda City food-truck-favorite will soon be offering hot mini donuts with a variety of toppings in its own building beginning in early 2022.
Park Street renovation project updated photos | Photos provided
Projects in the works:
- The Park Street beautification project | Almost complete | ADA compliant sidewalks, landscaping, outdoor seating for visitors + improved lighting are still to come.
- The Greene Street Phase two improvement project | Scheduled to be complete in January | Phase two is part of an overall plan to open downtown Columbia to the Congaree Riverfront.
- $21.2 million is currently being used for transportation projects | This project will offer visitors more pedestrian + bike access along Greene Street from Gadsden to Assembly Streets.
- Construction of a new two-lane bridge with a shade structure along the it with sidewalks + dedicated bike lanes. | Expected to be installed by June of 2022.
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Today
Friday
- Celestial Stars Presents “The Christmas Angel” | Fri., Dec. 17 + Sat., Dec. 18 | 7 p.m. | Harbison Theater at Midlands Technical College | $10+
- Columbia R&B Holiday Jam | Fri., Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena | $80+ | The lineup includes Xscape, Bell Biv DeVoe, Silk, H-Town + Jacquees. 🎤
- NoMa Warehouse Holiday Weekend Market | Fri., Dec. 17- Sat., Dec. 19 | Times vary | NoMa Warehouse | Free | Shop, sip, snack, socialize + see Santa.
- Radio Source | Fri., Dec. 17 | 7-11 p.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works | Free
- Rob Crosby & Friends | Fri., Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | The Main Course | $15+
- Noel & Maria: Together Again for the Holidays | Fri., Dec. 17 | 7-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. | $28+ | Celebrate togetherness this holiday season with jazz + four-person tables available for reservation (includes one bottle of wine).*
Plan Ahead
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 Wise Bread
Looking for more cash back these days? This high-paying cash back credit card allows users to pocket $200 after spending just $500. Bonus: Users can enjoy additional perks like high ongoing cash back rates, no annual fee, and 0% interest for 15 months on purchases. Go ahead, start racking up those cash back rewards.*
Weather
- 70º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain ⛅
Legacy
- The legend, George E. Glymph — South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame + South Carolina Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame inductee — died yesterday at 78-years-old. George was a Columbia-native, and attended Booker T. Washington High School before becoming a star basketball player at UofSC.
Development
- Renovations at the Richland County Tennis Center on Parklane Road have begun by the Richland County Recreation Commission. The commission was given more than $300,000 to update the courts, fencing, gates, handicap accessibility, security + outdoor restrooms. 🎾 (WLTX)
Number
- $131 million. The amount Westinghouse — a leading global supplier of safe and innovative nuclear technology company — announced it will invest to support + grow operations in Richland County over the next five years. It will focus on facility development and environmental safety improvements. 💰
Sports
History
- A Third Folio of Shakespeare’s plays, printed in 1664, now has a permanent home at the University of South Carolina Libraries. The book was gifted from Chicago attorney, Jeffery Leving. The university has copies of the Second + Fourth Folios, so acquiring the First Folio is at the top of its wish list.
Biz
- Three Columbia-based start up businesses: LokDon LLC — cybersecurity company, Rainwalk Technology Inc. — pet insurance company, and Xpress Group Inc. — a data protection company have been accepted as SCRA members.
Award
- Experience Columbia SC, has won three first place SC Best in Business 2021 Awards — Best Hospitality Business, Best Tourism Business, and Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center earned Best Meeting Venue. The awards recognize the best companies + individuals from around the state that bring success to SC’s businesses. 🏆
Soda Citizen
- Vitali — Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens’ Amur male tiger and honorary Soda Citizen — died after spending the past nine years in Columbia. One of his animal care supervisors said, “He had a grumpy, but sweet presence, often greeting Koshka — the female tiger — with low grumbles.” 🐅
Community
- Lexington Richland School District 5 is asking for donations to help ~13 students who lost their homes this week to a fire at Gleneagle Apartments. If you would like to donate, all donations will go directly to the affected families, and all donations are tax deductible. (ABC Columbia)
Seasonal
- Hello, perfect gift idea for Dad. On Fri., Dec. 17 from 3-6 p.m., Lowes Foods (4711 Forest Dr.) is offering a special deal: Buy a bottle of Woodford Reserve, Gentleman Jack, or Jack Daniels Single Barrel, and they’ll engrave it with a personal message. 🥃*
Wellness
- Registered nurse + stretch specialist Shannon Watson is launching her Total Body Reset Program ($280) publicly for the first time on Wed., Jan. 12. This 8-week program is designed to improve flexibility, mobility, and movement while decreasing stress and improving sleep quality.*
Drink
- Did you know? Some of Smoked’s libations are inspired by the rich history of its building. "The Burnline" pays homage to a pre-war Main Street, before Sherman's fires led to the destruction and then reconstruction of many of downtown’’s buildings.. Pull up a seat + enjoy a cool glass of history.🍹*
Listen
- In this episode of Advance with MUSC Health, Brett Gunter, MD — a Neurosurgery Specialist with MUSC Health — explains how surgical treatments may offer lasting relief for patients dealing with neck pain. 🎧*
*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.
A dream is as close as we’ll get to having a white Christmas in Cola, but thanks to artist, Bryan Koontz, it might be a little easier to picture. Instead of slushy ice, the picture shows The Mast General store + The Nickelodeon Theater blanketed in fluffy white snow. A dreamy scape indeed. ❄️
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Editor's Pick: Today, David and I are going to Loveland Coffee to try some of its holiday drinks. Anyone recommend anything in particular? I'll try one of the recommendations and share it on Instagram, so make sure to share your handle with me so I can tag you.
Missed yesterday's newsletter? Check out a sitar Christmas album created by a local musician here.
COLAtoday Team
Editorial: Samantha, David, Kaylee
Sales: Rachel
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