Experience Columbia

Columbia's Famously Hot Initiative Recognized with Prestigious Award at SC Governor's Conference on Tourism & Travel

Feb32010

Members from the brand team accepted the award on Tuesday at the awards luncheon during the conference. (L to R) Back: Bill Ellen, Lora Prill, Chad Prosser, John Durst, Libby Gober, Miriam Atria; Front: Douglas OFlaherty, Mandi Engram, Kelly Barbrey, Ric Luber, Tommy Stringfellow

The Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism is a private, not-for-profit corporation funded primarily by revenue generated by visitors through accommodations taxes and is the parent organization of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, and the Columbia Regional Sports Council. The mission of the Midlands Authority is to strengthen the area’s economy by marketing and selling Columbia, its accommodations, restaurants, facilities and attractions as a destination for meetings, conventions, tradeshows, special events and leisure travel. For more information, please visit columbiacvb.com.

Here's video from the awards luncheon -- sorry it's a little shaky -- I was trying to take pictures and video at the same time!

Social Media Release
http://pitch.pe/44998

Meet Riverbanks Zoo's Newest Addition, Baby Oliver the Koala

Jan212010

Koala Knockabout Has a New Addition
Riverbanks Zoo Introduces New Joey

Celebrate 2010 with Free Fridays at the Zoo through February

Jan52010

Winter Fest Comes to the State Museum

Dec12009

Parents wondering what to do with the kids when school is out for the winter holidays need look no further than Winter Fest, the South Carolina State Museum’s annual holiday tradition.

Now in its third year, Winter Fest, a two-week long celebration of the winter season, kicks off Saturday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and runs until Sunday, Jan. 3. “On Dec. 19 at noon, our guests will enjoy musical selections from Tchaikovsky’s immortal ‘Nutcracker Suite’ played by the Lake Murray Chamber Orchestra,” said State Museum Director of Programs and Education Meika Samuel. “Plus, we’ll have seasonal crafts and Winter Star Lab portable planetarium shows for exploring the winter sky.”

Also dropping by on Dec. 19 will be Santa, the “right jolly old elf” himself, who will make the first of four appearances at Winter Fest that day. He’ll be back to spread holiday cheer on Dec. 21, 22 and 23.

Winter Fest continues Sunday, Dec. 20 with a special holiday concert by gospel singers Levitical Praise at 3 p.m.

Other highlights of Winter Fest include “Shortest Day, Longest Night,” a day of programs on the winter solstice, Monday, Dec. 21, said Samuel. The day’s activities include winter solstice crafts, winter Star Labs and a musical performance by Generation of Darlington High School.

On Tuesday, Dec. 22, museum guests will learn more about winter holidays around the world with multicultural displays and performances.

Wednesday, Dec. 23, children and their parents can celebrate the winter school break with Dinosaur Day at the State Museum. Families can enjoy dinosaur crafts and two showings of the popular hit movie “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Additional showings of “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” can be seen on Saturday, Dec. 26 and Thursday, Dec. 31.

“Also during Winter Fest, amateur photographers whose Christmas wish is to learn how to take photos like a professional can learn the basic rules that accomplished photographers follow to produce beautiful photos,” Samuel said. “Five star Canon master photographer Manuel Gaetan will lead a photo seminar Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m.”

The Museum will present winter Star Lab programs all during Winter Fest. These 30- minute portable planetarium shows ($3 per person) focus on seasons, constellations and moon phases. Star Labs will be presented Dec. 19, 21-23, 26, 28-31, and Jan. 1-2.

In addition, local potter Paul Moore will give pottery-making demonstrations on a treadle potter’s wheel on Wednesday, Dec. 23, Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday,

Dec. 31.

“Seasonal crafts and special holiday movies will be offered every day from

Dec. 19 through Jan. 3,” said Samuel. “Plus, we’ll offer a selection of short seasonal films every day at 2 p.m. with a marathon of four movies on Wednesday, Dec. 30. It’s a sleigh full of activities that we hope people will want to return to several times.”

Unless otherwise noted, events are free with membership or admission. Winter Fest continues through Sunday, Jan. 3. For more information and a full schedule of events, call (803) 898-4952 or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

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Five Points Holiday Party

Dec12009

Holiday Happenings with Historic Columbia

Dec12009

Candlelight and Carriage Tours

Friday, December 4

5:30 p.m. -8:30 p.m.

Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding Street

The Robert Mills House will be open for lantern tours for one evening only. Costumed guides will lead tours and provide engaging stories of 19^th- century holiday preparations for guests. After the lantern tour, visitors can tour the Robert Mills Historic Garden District on a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage ride will provide riders with views of decorated homes and information about the architecture and history of the neighborhood. Lantern Tours are $10, $5 for children and free for members. Carriage rides are $5 per person. Call 803.252.1770, ext. 24 for reservations or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org. Visit www.HistoricColumbia.org for more information.

Scout Day: Historic Holiday

Saturday, December 5

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts are invited to tour three house museums and learn how families in Columbia celebrated the holidays during the 19^th century. Participants will make a holiday craft, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and visit with a Victorian Santa. Call 803.252.1770, ext. 24 for reservations or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org. Admission is $8 per child, $5 per adult.

Choir Showcase and Free Tours

Saturday, December 5

Noon – 4 p.m.

Local elementary schools will perform holiday music live at the Robert Mills House. As a gift to the community, Historic Columbia Foundation will offer complimentary tours of historic houses. For more information, call 803.252.1770, ext. 33 or visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

Historic Columbia Foundation Brings Classic Holidays to Visitors

Dec12009

Decorated Houses, Lantern Tours, and Programs Provide Economical Family Entertainment through the Holidays

November 20, 2009 – January 3, 2010

Columbia’s Historic House Museums

COLUMBIA, SC – Families and tourists can enjoy affordable holiday activities with the Historic Columbia Foundation from now through January 3 as the organization hosts a classic holiday experience with decorated house tours, carriage rides, a Victorian Santa, hands-on crafts, and live music.

Visitors can participate in a variety of holiday events in an historic setting, which includes three of Columbia’s historic house museums decorated for 19^th-and 20^th-century holiday entertaining.

Tours of Decorated Historic Houses

now– January 3, 2010

Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

1616 Blanding Street

Visitors can take guided tours of decorated house museums including the Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion, and Mann-Simons Cottage. All tours offer a glimpse into the lives of three different families and what it may have been like to entertain and prepare for the holidays in late 19^th -and early 20^th -century Columbia. Visitors can view detailed greenery and faux food throughout each house.

Admission is $6 (single adult admission), $3 (ages 6-17), and free (5 and under). Reservations are required for group tours or to take a special 90-minute, three-house tour. Call 803.252.1770, ext. 24. Visit www.HistoricColumbia.org for more information.

Meet me at Crafty Feast December 12

Nov302009

Celebrate the season at the sixth annual Harborside Lights

Nov302009

Jingle All the Way to Columbia

Nov292009

Columbia Attractions and Restaurants Honor Veterans with FREE Admission & FREE Meals

Nov92009

Pumpkin Smash at Riverbanks Zoo | Saturday, November 7, 2009

Nov32009

Second Annual Italian Festival: One-Day Passport to Italy | November 7, 2009

Nov32009

Evolution: 21st Century Songbook presents the next Great American Songbook at the Columbia Museum of Art

Nov32009

Columbia has been selected as 1 of only 43 cities to host Torch Relay. Have you registered?

Oct212009

Spend a “Spooky Sleepover” Night at the State Museum

Oct122009

Sleepovers are always fun, but kids ages 5 to 12 and their parents will get a special thrill spending the night at the South Carolina State Museum at its “Spooky Sleepover” Friday, Oct. 23 to Saturday morning, Oct. 24.

Beginning with the 6:30 check-in, family fun thrills will begin as campers enjoy snacks. At 7 p.m., the museum will show the fun film “Night at the Museum II: Battle of the Smithsonian,” starring Ben Stiller. Next up is a special treat being presented for the first time: campers will go on a “mystery” scavenger hunt, in which a new artifact has been stolen and must be recovered.

“The hunt will cover three of the museum’s floors and will be conducted by flashlight to add to the fun,” said Volunteer Manager Jennifer Lee. “At some of the stops, characters from our exhibits will ‘come alive’ to help hunters with the clues to their searches.”

Exhibit characters, or “residents,” will include a paleontologist, an astronomer, a paleo Indian, a Revolutionary War soldier and more, said Lee.

Prizes will be awarded to all those solving the mystery.

“Not only that,” said Lee, “but we’ll also have a special appearance by the museum’s resident ghost, Bubba.”

As an added option, “Boo Bags” packed with ghoulish delights will be available for purchase.

Cost of the evening, which includes snacks both Friday night and Saturday morning, is $25 per child, $20 per adult. Cost for State Museum members is $20 per child, $15 per adult.

Families may register through Oct. 19 by calling (803) 898-4999 or e-mailing campin@scmuseum.org. More information can be found on the museum’s Web site, www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

Riverbanks Annual Halloween Spook-tacular Serves up a Surprisingly Cool Treat

Oct122009

Famously Hot Riverbanks ZOOfari Giveaway

Oct22009

South Carolina vs. SC State | Famously Hot Facebook Giveaway

Oct22009

Scarecrows in the Garden Exhibit Showcases Local Talent

Sep292009

October 1 - October 31

Robert Mills House & Garden

1616, Blanding Street

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Historic Columbia Foundation will host its second annual Scarecrows in the Garden Exhibit, October 1 – 31 at the historic Robert Mills House & Garden, 1616 Blanding Street. The exhibit will showcase local talent from schools, businesses, families, and organizations.

Visitors can stroll through the gardens on the grounds of the historic Robert Mills House to find Sneaky Steve, Historic Columbia Foundation’s missing scarecrow; participate in a scavenger hunt; and select their favorite scarecrow. The free exhibit is open to the public on Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

For information on entering a scarecrow, please email aposner@historiccolumbia.org or call 803.252.1770, ext. 24. For more information on the exhibit and activities, visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

Other Scarecrows in the Garden activities include:

Scarecrows in the Garden Open House and Member Event

Thursday, October 1, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Robert Mills House & Garden

Visitors can enjoy appetizers, beverages, and brews while viewing a variety of creative scarecrows in our garden. The reception will feature Halloween activities, shopping, and local celebrities who will cast their votes for the best scarecrow display. Admission is $10. Free for children 12 and under. Members are free. Become a member or bring a friend to join and enter drawing for prizes. Reservations are required. Admission is free for contest participants.

FREE Admission to Columbia Museum of Art, Lexington County Museum or SC State Museum Tomorrow

Sep252009

South Carolina vs. Ole Miss | Famously Hot Facebook Football Ticket Giveaway

Sep232009

City of Columbia Breaks Ground on Skateboard Park Today at 4:30 pm

Aug312009

City of Columbia
Department of Parks and Recreation
1932 Calhoun Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29203
(803) 545-3100
www.columbiasc.net

For Immediate Release
August 25, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ray Borders Gray
803.545.3779 or 803.413.2572

City of Columbia Breaks Ground on First Custom Concrete Skateboard Park in South Carolina

Who: Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, City Councilmember Belinda Gergel; former Councilmember Anne Sinclair, Ryan Cockrell, Executive director of Pour It Now; Wally Holliday, thirty-year veteran Skateboard Park builder; S. Allison Baker, Director of Parks and Recreation; Damon McDuffie, Deputy Director of Operations for Parks and Recreation; skateboarders and skaters

When: 4:30 p.m. Monday, August 31, 2009

Where: Owens Field near the Richland One Track and Field and former skate park area

What: Councilmember Belinda Gergel will join representatives of Pour It Now, a nonprofit that assisted with fundraising efforts to celebrate the beginning stages of construction for a long awaited skateboard park at Owens Field on Monday afternoon.

Construction is now underway for a 15,000 square foot state of the art concrete skate park facility at Owens Field a hot spot for skateboarders and skaters to test their skills. The community and skating enthusiasts through Pour It Now had input into the design process since the demolition of the old skate park in April 2007.

The skate park is another way Parks and Recreation hopes to help keep youth off of the streets and involved in a recreational activity.

POUR IT NOW received the highly competitive Tony Hawk Grant in the amount of $25,000 towards construction of the skate park. For grant information contact Ryan Cockrell at 310.927.5515 or email pouritnow@gmail.com or visit www.pouritnow.com.


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Family Day: Victorian Tea Time

Aug282009

Saturday, August 29

Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1615 Blanding Street

Noon – 2 p.m.

Children can join Historic Columbia Foundation for an afternoon of socializing with sweet southern tea, hot tea, and freshly baked scones during Family Day: Victorian Tea Time on Saturday, August 29 at the Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1615 Blanding Street. The event will be held from noon until 2 p.m. and feature Victorian lawn games and hands-on activities which include crafting tea-time hats and learning the secret language of the fan. Participants also will learn about 19^th- century tea parties, review proper tea etiquette, and take a brief tour of the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Admission is $6 per child, $3 for each additional child (accompanying adult, no charge), and free for members. Reservations are required. Call 803.252.1770, ext. 33 or email sblackwell@historiccolumbia.org. For more information, visit www.HistoricColumbia.org.

Riverbanks ZOOfari: A Toast to the Coast

Aug212009

Don’t Miss the Wildest Fundraiser in Town!

Experience the wild side of the Zoo on Saturday, October 3, at Riverbanks ZOOfari, the Zoo’s annual fundraising event. Beginning at 7pm, guests can take an evening stroll through the Zoo, catch a glimpse of some wild creatures, savor coastal cuisine and bid on one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items.

The event’s theme, A Toast to the Coast, will be tied into four areas of the park, with each dedicated to a different region. The Palmetto Plaza will represent the Low Country by channeling all things Carolina, including beach music performed by the Fabulous Kays. Things are bound to heat up at Safari Camp where guests will experience a Mexican flair one might find on the Baja peninsula. Add a little Cajun flavor and the laid back, island-style of the Florida Keys, and you will be right at home in the Gulf Coast of Riverbanks, also known as Carousel Plaza. Lastly, the scenic Pacific Northwest will be brought to life on the Zoo’s Saluda River Bridge.

Each area will feature delectable coastal cuisine and a signature specialty cocktail. To help support Riverbanks’ conservation-focused mission all seafood dishes will be created using only sustainable seafood options. Of course, seafood is not the only thing on the menu. The chef at Riverbanks has planned a mouth-watering menu for palates of all types.

The highlight of the event is always the live auction. Guests have the opportunity to bid on rare and unusual auction items that can’t be found anywhere else in town. Items on the auction block this year include a behind-the-scenes African safari at Riverbanks coupled with an African-themed dinner party overlooking the elephants, an after-hours birthday party for your child with an up-close and personal penguin encounter, a five-course dinner and wine tasting in the Botanical Garden and much, much more. If the fast-paced live auction isn’t your speed, there will be plenty of enticing options to place bids on at the silent auction, too.

Tickets for Riverbanks ZOOfari are on sale now and available at www.riverbanks.org. Regular admission tickets are $85 and tickets for Riverbanks members are $75.

Riverbanks ZOOfari is a fundraiser hosted by Riverbanks Society, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the needs of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. All proceeds from the event help care for the animals that call Riverbanks home. A portion of the ticket price is tax-deductible