adventure this town: south carolina state museum

I'll admit that I am a bit of a history nerd. I love to poke around museums, and I've been to many, including a few of the Smithsonians. We happen to have a lovely museum right in our backyard - Columbia is home to the South Carolina State Museum. The museum is housed in the former Columbia Mill building, a textile mill built in 1893. This mill was the first textile mill in the nation to be operated by electricity. Today, the building is home to many, many interesting exhibits, from natural history, science & technology, to South Carolina history.

Mom was in town this weekend, and we celebrated a belated Mother's Day on Sunday by visiting the South Carolina State Museum. It was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon together. If you've not been, make sure you add the museum to your rainy day list - or any day list! It's definitely worth a visit!


For information on hours, admission and special exhibits, be sure to visit the South Carolina State Museum's official website.

adventure this town: five after five, first thursdays on main & the crawfish festival

Spring is SUCH a busy season in the Soda City! There are three more exciting events happening in Columbia this week:

1. Five After Five Concert Series
The Five After Five Concert series is every Thursday from April 17th - May 22nd in Five Points. Admission is free, and there is live music, beer and activities for kids. This week the band Atlas Road Crew will be performing. For more information, check out the Five After Five official website here.

2. First Thursdays on Main Street
First Thursdays on Main is a collaboration among the local business owners on Main Street. Come out, explore Main Street, and support the local cause! For more information, visit their official site here.

3. Rosewood Crawfish Festival
The Rosewood Crawfish Festival is an annual event that happens every May on Rosewood Drive. There will be all types of food, beer, music, and of course, CRAWFISH. Here are the music line ups by stage:
Maple Street Stage
11-11:30 Tonya Tyner
11:45-12:45 Mustache Brothers
1:00-2:00 Pharaohs in Space
2:20 - 3:20 - Jackaroe
3:40-4:40 Stillhouse
5:00-6:00 Dr. Roundhouse

First Citizens Stage
12:00 - 12:40 - American Gun
1:00 - 1:40 - Dear Blanca
2:00 - 2:40 - Chris Compton and the Ruby Brunettes
3:00 - 3:40 - Tom Hall and the Plowboys
4:00 - 4:40 - Rick Hack and the Tin Benders
5:00 - 6:00 - John Wesley Satterfield and Damn Fine Company

Bud Light Stage
12:00 - 1:00 - Youth Model
1:30 - 2:30 - The Restoration
3:00 - 4:00 - Danielle Howle and Fireworks Show
4:30 - 5:30 - Lefty at the Washout
6:00 - 7:30 - Everclear

You can purchase a ticket at the gate or in advance here.

Dell and I, however, will be missing out on the Crawfish Festival this weekend because we are packing up and heading to ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA! We are both super excited as neither one of us have been there before. It's only about a two and half to three hour drive from Columbia, so we figured it would be the perfect little weekend getaway to celebrate our three year anniversary. If you don't know much about Asheville, its a small little town tucked away at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and is booming with culture, music, delicious food and craft beer. I'll be sure to share our pictures and adventures from the trip next week!

adventure this town: record fair + arts & draughts

The Columbia Museum of Art is a happening place and are always holding fun events. Last weekend it was the Greater Columbia Record Fair, and on Friday, May 2nd, they will be holding another Arts & Draughts event. The gallery be open from 7-11 PM, with live music, beer from the Goose Island Brewery courtesy of The Whig and food from the Wurst Wagon and Bone In Artisan Barbecue food trucks. Tickets are $8.00 ($5.00 if you're a museum member), and you can purchase tickets through their official site. Unfortunately, Dell and I are going out of town this weekend to celebrate our anniversary, but if you're going to be in Columbia, you do not want to miss this!

Luckily, we were in town this past weekend and had the opportunity to stop by the Greater Columbia Record Fair. HOLY VINYL. As a first timer to the fair, it was a little overwhelming. So many bins of records to scour, so little time.
Every single solitary time I set out to purchase an album, I make a pact with myself that I will NOT buy another Beatles album, instead I will buy something different and broaden my collection. And every time, I come home with a Beatles album. I just can't resist. I blaming my lack of self control on my parents since they're the ones that had me listening to The Beatles before I could even speak.

adventure this town: 7th annual greater columbia record fair

There's nothing I love more than listening to music on vinyl. I know buying vinyl albums has been sort of a fad lately, but for me, the love of listening to records goes back to childhood. One of my favorite past times as a kid was going over to my grandparent's house and listening to their old albums on their record player with them. And even now today, there is just something so novel and charming about listening to music, whether new or old, on vinyl.


Pictured with my most prized possession: Mom's original Abbey Road album
This Sunday (April 27), the 7th Annual Greater Columbia Record Fair is being held from 12:00-5:00 pm at the Columbia Museum of Art (1515 Main Street). HEAVEN. Not only will there be a variety of LP's & 45's, but The Whig will serve beer & KC's Hotdog will serve food. Score.

*Visit the Greater Columbia Record Fair's official website here.

indie grits & some beach essentials

Anybody made it to Indie Grits yet?! Indie Grits is a week-long independent film festival held here in Columbia once a year. Each night has a different event, from food, live music and screenings of independent films by local artists. For more information, check out the official website here.

Unfortunately, I'll be missing the festivities this weekend because I'm packing up the boyfriend & the pup and heading home to the beach for the weekend to visit my parents & attend a dear friend's wedding.

I was born and raised at the beach, so I know a thing or two about spending a day in the sun & sand. Here are some of my beach day essentials:


beach towel • bathing suit • sandals • jean cut-offs • sunglasses • sunscreen
Currently reading: State of Wonder by Anne Patchett
I'm guilty of enjoying a cold beer on the beach. But don't forget to bring lots of water, too!

adventure this town: live music + outdoors

Via we heart it. This makes me want to add learning to play the banjo to my bucket list!

April is one of my favorite months of the year. The weather is warming up, flowers are blooming, and after being cooped up in the house all winter, I just can't seem to get enough of being outdoors. That's why I'm getting super excited for two upcoming outdoor music events happening in Columbia this weekend:

River Rocks 2014, April 12th
This is an all-day music affair happening at the Riverfront Park. The line-up includes Keller Williams, The Ben Miller Band, Sirius.B, Stagbriar, and The Post-Timey String Band. Live music, at the river AND beer?! Plus, all proceeds fund the Congaree Riverkeeper's work protecting the local rivers. I'M THERE!
For more information, check out the River Rocks 2014 official site.

Bluegrass on the Lawn & BBQ, April 12th
The Blue Iguanas bluegrass band will be playing from 6:30-8:30 PM on the lawn of Shandon Presbyterian Church. Admission comes with BBQ dinner from Little Pigs BBQ (I'm a pescatarian, but I hear their BBQ is UHHmazing). Bluegrass + BBQ = WIN.

It's unfortunate that both events are happening on the same day, but regardless of which event sounds more up your alley, get out there and support the local cause!