Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend

Happy Friday, you crazy kids.

Should be a nice weekend, weather-wise. The Five Points St. Patrick's Day Festival will be in full swing, but you'll have to pay again if you leave and want to come back. Seems like a reasonable way to cut down on people drinking off site. 

If paying $15.00 to go drinking in Five Points isn't your scene, you can go watch the USC Baseball team put their 16-0 record on the line as they step into conference play for the first time this weekend against the Ole Miss Rebels. I'm predicting the Gamecocks take two out of three.

Other than that, it's business as usual around here.

Enjoy your weekend.

Devine Night Out is Tonight!

The 2013 Devine Night Out is tonight. About 50 different stores and restaurants will be open late for an evening of shopping, and festive cheer. There will be food, drinks, and an oyster roast at Home Advantage Realty. You can find more details here.

Devine Street is one of the few retail locations in Columbia where pretty much every business is locally owned. If you want to support local business in Columbia while having a great time, come on out and enjoy a Devine evening. It's also a great way to get your Christmas shopping done. Last year, I knocked out about 80% of my shopping in one night.

Mrs. Permanent Press and I will likely take Permanent Press, Jr. out for this event, since he's enchanted by Christmas lights. Also, I believe that Fig Columbia will be there as well.

Hope to see you there!

Need a Local Adventure near Columbia?

Try the Congaree National Park.

It's the largest intact expanse of old growth, bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States - and it's about a 25 minute drive from downtown Columbia.

First, it's totally free. No fees for anything. The park is open 24/7, every day of the year, but Saturday is the best day to go. Pretty much every Saturday there's a guided tour of some sort. And yeah, the tours are free, too. Some require reservations, others don't.

If you're not into planning or reservations, you can just show up and walk the boardwalk loop, which is a (roughly) two-mile loop comprised of a raised boardwalk through the swamp that starts and ends at the Visitor's Center. It's great for families, as the boardwalk keeps the children focused on going one direction, rather than wandering off.

During famously hot days in Columbia, you can go on a paddling trip from one part of the Congaree river to another through the National Park. Toss a cooler in the canoe and you've got yourself a whole day on the river. If you're in a Boy Scout troop in Columbia, this is a must do.

If you want to see what South Carolina looked like a couple hundred years ago, go check it out. It's like stepping into a time machine. It's free and it's closer than you think.

Whiskey Reminder

The Great American Whiskey Fair is tonight!

This is your two-minute warning. Make sure you hydrate.

Come Celebrate Oktoberfest on Devine Street!

Happy Friday.

After work today, check out the Oktoberfest at Incarnation Lutheran Church, which will run all weekend. If you're into local beer, you should definitely come on out, as they'll have local Columbia beers on tap from Conquest Brewing, among others. Yes, even though it's hosted by a church, there will be beer. Food will be traditional German fare.

Opening ceremony is at 4:30PM today. See you there!

The Great American Whiskey Fair is Coming to Columbia

Do you like whiskey? Stop. That was a trick question. Of course you like whiskey.

The good news for midlands residents is that Columbia is starting to be a great place for those of us who like distilled corn. We've got Bourbon Columbia opening up soon on Main Street, and as kind of a warm-up for that, the Great American Whiskey Fair will be hosting a tasting party of sorts at 701 Whaley on October 17, 2013, from 6:00PM - 10:00PM.

On the evening of October 17th, a host of distilling luminaries, small producers, bartenders and enthusiasts will descend on the Grand Hall at 701 Whaley St. for an evening of festive appreciation dedicated to America’s native spirit and its culture, from cask to glass.

Their website isn't big on details, but here are a few things I can tell you, from what is available:

Firstly, Bourbon Columbia is a sponsor, and it's owned/run by the same person responsible for Mr. Friendly's, Gervais & Vine, Solstice, and Rosso. Obviously, those are some of the best restaurants here in Columbia, so having Bourbon Columbia as a sponsor gives the event instant credibility, in my opinion. I would go based on this factor alone.

Secondly, Belle Meade bourbon will be available. It's not as well known as some of the larger brands, but it's good. I was fortunate enough to sample some Belle Meade at a Garden & Gun sponsored event earlier this summer.

Thirdly, it's brown liquor and a party specifically to celebrate brown liquor. By definition, it's going to be good. I mean, really.

It already looks like the VIP tickets are sold out, so if you're looking to go, the only thing left is the standard admission tickets, which run $75/each.

17th Annual SC Oyster Festival

Cool weather is here, y'all. You know what that means: time to get some oysters. The 17th Annual South Carolina Oyster Festival will be at the Robert Mills House in Columbia this Sunday.

 

I guarrantee you that it will be more efficiently run than the Richland County election process.

Zac Brown Band Coming to Columbia

I rarely go see live music, unless it's a festival and there's more going on, but the Zac Brown Band is a group that I might actually go see when they come to Columbia, SC on March 23.

At least we can be confident they won't cancel due to health issues like Merle Haggard did.