Columbia SC Weekend Activities 8-19-2010

Rivalry season Gear up for the upcoming kickoff of college football season with a preseason tailgate party and Clemson vs. Carolina food drive. It's from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Seacoast Church on St. Andrews Road. Enjoy tailgating, games and more. Wear your team colors and donate nonperishable food items. The team with the most donations gets bragging rights, and Harvest Hope food bank gets the spoils. Call 803-798-5463 for information.

Summertime gala Head to the University of South Carolina’s McKissick Museum on Friday for the 16th annual gala fundraiser, Summertime…and the art is good lookin’, taking place from 7:30-10 p.m. The gala features more than 60 artists who are native South Carolinians or have strong ties to the state and provides an opportunity for the public to meet them. Attending is also a good way to support Columbia's only museum offering regular admission at no charge. Tickets for the celebration are $60 and can be purchased at the museum office.

 

Get you Sommore She's sassy. She's sarcastic. And Friday, she is performing at the Comedy House Theater on Decker Boulevard. For $23, watch one of the original Queens of Comedy, Sommore, perform fresh material in her only local appearance of the year. Call 803-798-9898 for tickets and information.

 

Blues benefit Come out to 701 Whaley on Friday starting at 6 p.m. for an evening of blues-inspired music, art, and film to benefit the Nickelodeon Theatre. Enjoy a cash bar, food, films, music videos and a silent auction. Cost is $9 plus a donation (recommended $10). Call 803-254-3433 for more information.

Escapism Spend some time this weekend checking out a film that nabbed Grand Jury honors at the Sundance Film Festival. Winter's Bone is showing from Friday through Sunday at 3, 6 and 8 p.m. at the Nickelodeon Theatre. Watch as 17-year-old Ree Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence) sets out to track down her father, who put their house up for his bail bond and then disappeared. Ree hacks through the lies, evasions and threats offered up by her relatives and begins to piece together the truth. It’s based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell, and it's rated R, so leave the kids with the sitter.

 

Fun run The Kiwanis Club of Lexington would like for you to join in on the 5K fun this Saturday morning. At 7:30 a.m., push yourself to the limit by running the full 5 kilometers. If that sounds a little too intense, bring the kids for the 8 a.m. fun walk. Admission is $25 for the run and $5 for the kids fun walk. Call 803-359-7644 for registration and information.

The Sweet Abyss This weekend, Trustus Theatre is ending its run of The Sweet Abyss, playing on the main stage. Follow the main character, who has just lost her pet cat, as she journeys through her grief using wit and candor. The curtain rises at 7:30 tonight, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 4 p.m. Sunday.

 

Remember that song?

 

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., music lovers from all over the East Coast will be at the third annual Greater Columbia Record Fair at the Columbia Museum of Art. A variety of records, including LPs, 45s, and CDs, plus audio equipment, will be available. New and old, rare and common records will be represented. DJs from the Greater Columbia Society for the Preservation of Soul provide some tunes. A cash bar will be available. There is no charge to attend.

Tastings at Tombo From 5:30-7 p.m. this afternoon, indulge in the sensuous aromas and elegant finishes of wines from the Ben Arnold Beverage Co. It's taking place at Tombo Grille, located at 4517 Forest Drive, and there's no charge to attend. Call 803-782-9665 for reservations.

 

Be Edventurous Want your child to be interested in learning? Engage in EdVenture's Giggle Science exhibit on Friday and Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. Programs for the kids include hands-on educational activities, such as making snow. Kids can experiment with items that will get them engaged in science and learning. Classes are $8 for nonmembers and $5 for members.

 

Coming soon: Gamecocks' home opener: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks open their season against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Greek festival: Sept 16-19 at the corner of Sumter and Calhoun streets. Enjoy Columbia's 24th annual Greek Festival. Columbia Blues Festival: Oct. 1-2. The 16th annual festival will be held at Martin Luther King Memorial Park in Five Points. The event begins at noon each day. 3rd Annual Italian Festival: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 2. Celebrate with the Sons of Italy Lodge 2808 at a fun-filled festival.

 

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