2009 Urban Tour

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Main Street, Columbia, SC

Urban Tour is a free event for the whole family, showcasing all that Columbia’s downtown has to offer. The self-guided walking tour includes special offers and giveaways from retailers, live entertainment, a glimpse into downtown living and the stories behind some of our historic buildings as well as plenty of FREE food and drinks including beer with valid ID.

62nd Annual St. Katherine’s Philoptochos Society Bake Sale and Luncheon – April 9

Turner to Cézanne Art Exhibit

Main Street Marketplace Returns

The Main Street Marketplace is an open-air market featuring fresh produce, baked goods, specialty gifts, art, handmade crafts, and much more every Friday beginning May 1 through June 26, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market will be held on Boyd Plaza in front of the Columbia Museum of Art at the corner of Main and Hampton Streets in downtown Columbia.

Viva La Vista

Viva La Vista will feature food from more than two dozen Vista dining establishments on Lincoln Street between 2-7pm on Saturday, October 4. Come sample appetizers for no more than $4 each all afternoon.

For additional information, check out: http://www.vistacolumbia.com/vivalavista

Concert Series for Homeless Transition Center

Marina Lomazov, internationally known pianist and USC School of Music artist-in-residence, will present the opening performance in a series of musical concerts designed to raise funds for the new Homeless Transition Center. Plans were announced in June for the proposed new Center to be built on the present Salvation Army property on the corner of Main and Elmwood streets. The Lomazov concert begins at 7:30 pm on Friday, Sept. 26, at Washington Street United Methodist Church, 1401 Washington Street. The concert series is sponsored by the Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council (MIHAC) and Light The Way With Music & Art, a group of musicians and artists who are contributing their talents and time to raise funds to match the Knight Foundation’s $5 million challenge grant for the proposed new center.

The Sept. 26 event will also feature a special exhibit during intermission of original photographs taken by Columbia homeless photo artists who volunteered to tell their stories through pictures. The photos were exhibited recently at the Columbia Museum of Art. All concerts are open to the public for a suggested minimum donation of $20 per concert – all of which will be donated to the Center.

For more information about the concert series and the Homeless Transition Center, visit MIHAC’s website.

Greek Festival 2008

Personal Safety and Crime Prevention Meeting at Tapp’s

Columbia City Council member EW Cromartie invites all downtown residents, employees, property and business owners to attend a meeting to discuss and learn about personal safety, crime prevention and what the City Center Partnership offers through its Hospitality Team (yellow shirts).

Columbia City Officials and others will meet on Monday, September 15 at 6:45pm at the Factory Gym at 1644 Main Street (the Tapp’s Building). The meeting will take place downstairs in the Fountain Room.

This meeting is being sponsored by Capitol Places.

Downtown Library Roof Replacement

The roof of the Main Library in Downtown Columbia must be replaced. Work began September 8 and is expected to take three months, ending in December. Unfortunately, parking in the upper lot at the Hampton Street entrance is not available. The lower lot, accessible from Washington and Park streets, is available, and foot traffic in the stairwell and under covered areas near the Hampton Street entrance is allowed. Handicapped parking is relocated to the first four spaces on Hampton Street near the front entrance of the library. However, these spaces are not limited to library users.

For questions, please contact RCPL’s Public Relations Department at 803-929-3440 or check out the RCPL website.

Freedom Walk 2008

This event is to pay homage to the families, survivors, and victims of the September 11, 2001 tragedies. It also recognizes all branches of our military for their dedication to supporting and defending our country.

For more information, visit the City of Columbia Public Relations, Marketing and Media Office.