Hello Columbia! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Monster magic show, fireworks with the Phil, and historic home makeover + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New care model debuts: MUSC opened South Carolina's first ER and urgent care hybrid in Lower Richland, featuring CT scans and a trauma bay, aiming to cut costs and confusion for patients -- see what’s coming next.
Breakfast chain expands locally: A new Waffle House opened near Columbia, currently serving 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with its 24-hour schedule expected soon and plenty of hash browns, omelets, and burgers -- check out the new Waffle House.
Historic home gets new life: Officials celebrated the grand opening of Pickens Street Cottages, adapting the W.B. Smith Whaley House in downtown Columbia for short and long stays, with Mayor Daniel Rickenmann issuing a proclamation -- see the home makeover.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Inclusive playtime, sorted: Carraway Park at the Riverwalk delivers all-abilities play on cushy surfaces, handy shade and real-deal family restrooms, plus covered picnic spots. Let the kids climb it out, then wander the Riverwalk and call it a win for everyone.
Green-Thumb Pit Stop: When your porch or beds need a glow-up, Mill Creek Greenhouses delivers with colorful annuals like begonias and lantana, cheerful zinnias, and sturdy shrubs for the long game. It’s a friendly, low-stress browse that somehow ends with a greener weekend and zero regrets.
Pins, bites, and vibes: Need a low-planning night? Rally the crew for boutique lanes, live music, and a menu that does the classics right, then sneak downstairs to Urban Tiki for islandy sips. The Grand on Main is the kind of one-stop, no-fuss fun that turns a casual hang into a whole evening.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📚 Summer Reading: Monster Magic Show @ Lexington Main Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 2:00 PM – Think the kids or grandkids have seen it all? Professor Whizzpop’s monster magic show hatches a baby dino, dodges monsters, and mixes laughs, magic, and fossilized fun for grades K-5. It is summer reading season, and yes, the AC counts as enrichment.
🧘 Summer Reading: Fossil Flow Yoga @ Irmo Branch Library | Thursday (6/25) at 4:30 PM – If your tween's joints sound like bubble wrap, this Summer Reading Fossil Flow Yoga class gets grades 6 to 8 stretching, breathing, and moving with LogieYogi, an experienced local instructor. Dress for exercise, bring a towel or mat, and let them uncrumple like yesterday's homework.
🐝 Celebrate National Pollinator Week with Riverbanks Zoo & Garden @ Mast General Store | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – National Pollinator Week calls for a downtown detour to Mast Store, where the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden crew is dishing bee wisdom and sending folks home with native plants. Think butterflies, bats, and birds doing the yardwork. Your blueberries, and your azaleas, will thank you.
💃 Junior Salsa @ Heathwood Park | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Take the kiddos to Heathwood Park for Junior Salsa, a free, indoor class and social where parents can hop in, and yes, there is pizza. Consider it cardio, culture, and AC, prying phones from hands, building confidence, and actually meeting other Columbia humans.
🍰 Slices & Smiles- Dessert Tour @ Finlay Park | Saturday (6/27) at 5:30 PM – Picnic weather calls for dessert and live sax at Columbia’s Finlay Park. Bring a dessert from the approved list, then trade bites, swap stories, and let the music handle small talk. Low stress, high flavor, and a locals-only vibe.
🎆 Fireworks with the Phil @ Segra Park | Saturday (6/27) at 8:00 PM – Columbia’s favorite patriotic tradition returns to Segra Park, with the Phil syncing fireworks to the 1812 Overture. Expect blankets, neighbors, and that pleasant thump in your chest, plus just enough piccolo to feel fancy, and enough boom to rattle your civic pride.
🏛 Crafting a New Nation @ South Carolina Military Museum | Monday (6/29) at 8:30 AM – Give the kids a break from Wi-Fi with a hands-on dive into Revolutionary-era craftsmanship. They will try historic crafts and essential trades, from smithing to weaving, seeing how a new nation was built, created, and improvised. Basically shop class, 1776 edition.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Columbia report Weather forecastToday — High: 91°F — Low: 69°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 91. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. East wind around 2 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 94°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 1%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. This house is wildThis newly renovated contemporary on Lake Katherine was taken down to the studs in 2020, then reimagined with fresh mechanicals, windows, doors, and a standing seam metal roof. An open interior and marble-topped eat-in kitchen set the stage, while the breezeway garage, guest suite, covered porch, outdoor fireplace, and heated and cooled pool add serious standout appeal.
Take a peek inside → |
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