The experts inside the Columbia Museum of Art share their pro tips
FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP
GLENNA BARLOW: I’m a sucker for a used bookstore and Ed’s Editions is a great one. Besides the usual literature and history sections they have a great selection of older, collectible volumes, a nice array of art books and catalogs, campy retro paperbacks, and even some vintage postcards.
WILSON BAME: Columbia’s Five-Points District has really stepped it up when it comes to shopping. Pannerpete Vintage and All Good Books are excellent places to stop for a quick afternoon jaunt.
FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
GB: There are so many great places for cocktails and food in this town—The Dragon Room, Transmission Arcade, and Kao Thai all come to mind. But as for a true hidden gem that only a local is likely to tell you about, it has to be Baan Sawan. Because they have a small staff it’s only open Fridays and Saturdays, but the selective listing of Thai dishes on offer is always fantastic. Other days they open their doors for you to enjoy their excellent wine list or peruse their shelves of used books—both of which are rather small but always thoughtfully selected.
WB: We’ve got some excellent eateries in downtown Columbia including lunch spots like Sound Bites and The Gourmet Shop, and if you’re looking for a night of elevated Mexican dishes, Coa Agaveria y Cocina is your place. For amazing sushi, you can’t go wrong with either chef Sato’s Inakaya Japanese Restaurant or chef Watanabe’s Inakaya Watanabe—they’re both amazing!
GET OUTSIDE
GB: We’re so lucky to have not one but three amazing rivers in Columbia. In the summer there is no activity cooler or more refreshing than paddling or tubing down the Saluda.
My favorite thing to do is to canoe or kayak out to see the spider lilies that bloom here (and just a handful of other places!) in May. You’ll see these iconic white flowers popping up in the Broad River and into the Congaree right at the confluence.
WB: When it’s not 105 degrees outside, or even if it is and you still need to walk the dog, Saluda Riverwalk is a great place to go for scenic walks or shady river rock hangs.
The Second Annual Palmetto Party
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Tickets on sale now!
Embark on a sensational journey through the heart of South Carolina as local chefs showcase the distinct flavors, culture, and charm of each of the state’s regions—the Mountains, Midlands, and Coast.
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The Palmetto Party: An Insider’s Taste of South Carolina
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Tate Jacaruso
Tate Jacaruso loves celebrating Southern food, travel, and culture as associate editor at the Local Palate. She is based in Charleston and is currently making her way through every bowl of pasta and oyster on the half shell in town. Her work has appeared in Charleston Living Magazine and CHStoday.