In case you missed it, this week is National Small Business Week. In typical COLA fashion, we’re spotlighting 15+ small businesses you asked us to highlight in the Columbia area. |
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Bundle and Bliss loading a dishwasher for a new mom. | Photo by @laurenfaithphoto for @bundleandblisscola |
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🍼 Bundle and Bliss Cola | Contact for inquiries -
Bundle and Bliss is locally owned and offers sleep consulting, postpartum doula recovery, infant care, and lifestyle support. Don't forget — Mother's Day is this weekend, wink wink. New moms can definitely use an extra pair of specialized helping hands.
👡 The Collective | 3128 Carlisle St. -
The Collective is a small business boutique that represents over a dozen locally-owned Columbia businesses. It sells anything from candles, rugs, shoes, and jewelry to glassware, soaps, baby items, and more. Basically, if you’re trying to shop locally, stop here.
🥤 Midtown Market | 337 Taylor St. -
Midtown Market is a southern bodega-style market for live work communities that opened in March. It offers fruits, vegetables, snacks, drinks, and other local assorted items. It’s the perfect grab-and-go stop in Cola.
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The produce section of Rosewood Market | Photo by COLAtoday team |
🍓 Rosewood Market | 2803 Rosewood Dr. -
Rosewood Market is Columbia's original health food market that takes a hands-on approach to wellness through it’s deli, coffee, organic food, and local + regional produce. Check out its list of local suppliers, and community events.
🍞 Sakhar | Contact for inquiries -
Sakhar jams are made from SC produce, fruits, teas, flowers, and high-end liquors. Each 8oz jar is $12 and is sold via gift boxes, small pop-up events, or you can custom order jams through email inquiries.
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The many flavors of Sakhar Jams | Photo by @sakhar_jams |
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Don’t forget — year-round from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. — Soda City market is a collection of local entrepreneurs who bring unique pieces, hand-crafted items, and Southeast produce to the heart of downtown on Main Street. So along with these 18 businesses, check out 140+ ways you can shop small every Saturday.
Click the link below to see 13 more small businesses in Cola. |
Use the buttons below to share this story with anyone who loves to shop + love local in Columbia. |
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Click HERE to have your event featured |
Today - Flower Pedals: A Botanical Bike Parade | Fri., May 6 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | $40 | Participants can bring their own bicycle or borrow one from Blue Bike SC to decorate it for a floral parade. 🌸
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Columbia Fireflies vs. Delmarva Shorebirds | Fri., May 6 | Segra Park | 7:05 p.m. | $5+ | Fireflies fans are invited to the Firefly Games (a play on the popular Netflix series Squid Game), presented by South University — don’t forget to grab a free t-shirt. ⚾*
Saturday -
2nd Annual Mad Hatter’s Art Party | Sat., May 7 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1616 Blanding St. | Free | Activities for this event include live poetry, wandering minstrels, musicians, performers, costumed characters, jugglers, and contests. 🎈
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Rosewood Crawfish Festival | Sat., May 7 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | SC State Fairgrounds | $10+ | Nosh on 10,000 lbs of Louisiana Crawfish as you enjoy kids rides, live music, food vendors, and a large selection of craft beer. 🦞
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Lovely in Lavender Make + Take Workshop | Sat., May 7 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Gardeners Outpost, 1211 Franklin St. | $10 | Make a lavender sachet + flower petal-infused gift tag for yourself or someone else.
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Rockaway's 5th Annual Hat Contest | Sat., May 7 | 6:15-7 p.m. | Rockaway Athletic Club, 2719 Rosewood Dr.| Free | Baseball hats are highly discouraged. 🎩
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Star Wars Night, presented by Lowes Foods | Sat., May 7 | Segra Park | 6:05 p.m. | $5+ | Enjoy a Star Wars-themed night at the ballpark as the Fireflies take on the Shorebirds. ⭐*
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. |
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Popcorn lovers, meet Opopop's Flavor Wrapped Popcorn Kernels: A completely new take on microwave popcorn where each kernel is individually coated in flavor.
Try the Discovery Kit to sample seven different flavors, including Maui Heat, Cinnalicious, Salted Umami, and Vanilla Cake Pop. Bonus: Kits include a reusable microwave popper (and we know Soda Citizens love sustainability).
Use code 6AMCITY for 20% off. You may never go back to regular popcorn again.*
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Weather - 88º | Scattered thunderstorms | 70% chance of rain
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The Art on State event originally scheduled for this evening in West Columbia has been postponed due to predicted inclement weather. The event has been rescheduled to Fri., May 13 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. ☔️
Festival -
Steel Hands Brewing announced it will host a free, Woodstock-inspired event later this month. On Sat., May 28, the brewery will be filled with peace + love, along with live music, tie-dying, local artists, and cold beer. ☮️
Open -
The second Publico location is now open in the BullStreet District, right next to Founders Federal Credit Union. The Latin-Asian-inspired restaurant held a soft opening on Wednesday + welcomed guests to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. 🎉
Civic -
Liquor can now be sold at city-permitted events after the Columbia City Council amended the city code on Tuesday. Permits from the state revenue department will still be mandatory, but prior to this decision, only beer + wine were authorized for purchase. 🍹 (WLTX)
Community -
South Carolina Women in Leadership is hosting the third annual SpringBoard Conference at the Columbia Museum of Art on Tues., May 17 from 1-5 p.m. The nonprofit will walk through a series of skill-building mini-sessions + panel discussions so attendees can identify the right board or commission for them and apply. 💼
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Former Gamecock offensive lineman Cory Helms is the new head coach of Cardinal Newman High School’s football program. Helms spent the past three seasons at Gray Collegiate as the offensive line + strength conditioning coach. He replaces Doug Dutton who will be taking a year off from coaching. 🏈 (The State)
Listen -
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann just released the first episode of his new podcast, Around Town with @ColaMayor. Mayor Rickenmann plans to feature and tell the stories of Columbia locals, ranging from small business owners to seasoned politicians. 🎙️
Traffic Eat -
Attention, backyard grilling fanatics: Before you fire up that propane and break out the tongs, save yourself prep time by stocking up on Lowes Foods Pick and Prep veggies (so you can focus on the fun part). 🍔*
Health
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Content marked with a * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free. |
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The Five Points Association and the City of Columbia hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting for Botánica de Santee on Wednesday. The new cultural gift store is located at 724 Santee Ave. in Five Points and offers Latin-inspired clothing, jewelry + all kinds of accessories. |
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Editor's pick: This was so serendipitous I just had to share with y'all. The other day I posted on my Instagram story about a Five Minute Journal I've been using to set my intentions for the day, reflect, and create a space for gratitude.
The next day, As Well As posted about the same journal. I took that as a good omen for myself. Definitely go grab one — your inner-self will thank you. In fact, you can write that down in the daily gratitude section.
Missed yesterday's newsletter? See 10 unique places around Columbia to take graduation photos. |
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