Romeo & Juliet: Columbia City Ballet: Koger Center for the Arts

Friday February 3, 2012 & Saturday February 4, 2012

The world’s most famous lovers will take the stage when Columbia City Ballet presents the timeless love story of Romeo & Juliet. Based on William Shakespeare’s 400-year-old play, Columbia City Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet uses composer Sergei Prokofiev’s genius to tell the tale of two young lovers caught in the middle of their feuding families. This modern classic intertwines dramatic sword fights with exquisite love duets and comic interludes to create a production that captures the passion and beauty of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The Columbia City Ballet, under the direction of William Starrett, dance to what many believe is the greatest ballet score ever written.

REEL Black Pix: Global Afrikan Film Series

February 3-5, 2012

HeTePu Productions provides year round arts & cultural education programming in Columbia and surrounding areas of the state; however, the main vehicle by which they do arts outreach programming is their REEL Black Pix: Global Afrikan Film Series, a Pan-African film festival held in honor of Black History Month on the first weekend of February in Columbia, South Carolina. This film & arts festival offers a view of African and African Descendant people from throughout the Diaspora, including Africans in such places as Brazil; Mali; Cuba; France & Ecuador, to name a few of the countries represented in films/videos that screen at REEL Black Pix (RBP). RBP is a true cultural experience attempting to show the full spectrum of Black Life, not just focusing on pop-culture in America, but these films show the diverse beauty & passion of black life from across the globe. Visit the REEL Black Pix website for more information and various venues for the event.

Arts & Draughts: Columbia Museum of Art

Friday, February 3, 2012

Arts & Draughts is not just another boring museum meet-and-greet. It’s an interactive party at the Columbia Museum of Art highlighting some of the best and brightest aspects of Columbia. Enjoy a unique perspective tour led by The Free Time’s new Food & Drink editor; create a do-it-yourself valentine or anti-valentine; partake in a beer tasting provided by The Whig; listen to Andy Friedman, Those Lavendar Whales, The Get Wets; enjoy fare from Bone-In: Artisan Barbecue on Wheels and Earth Fare; and see new installations by local artists! Visit the Arts & Draughts webpage for info!

7th Annual Statewide Ethnic History Parade and Festival: Karamu! Celebrate! Parade and Gospel Soiree

Saturday, February 4, 2012

South Carolina’s Ethnic History Parade and Festival (formerly the Black History Parade and Festival) was so renamed to honor the role of all our state’s ethnic groups. "Karamu," a Swahili term, is defined as a "celebration or feast.” In the Swahili culture, festivals and feasts are celebrations of significant events in the lives of the people. The celebration of Ethnic History in the United States provides an opportunity to recognize the many significant contributions of those of African descent to America and the global village. Through the Karamu! Celebrate! Parade and Gospel Soiree', we seek to educate, entertain, and celebrate those achievements. Hence our motto:"Education through Entertainment.” Visit the Ethnic History Parade website.

Dixieland Jazz Concert: Carolina Jazz Society

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Special guest pianist John Royen has performed, toured and recorded with many contemporary jazz greats, including: Pete Fountain, The Dukes of Dixieland, The Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble, Duke Heitger's Steamboat Stompers, and Independence Hall Jazz Band. John has been playing for over twenty years with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and has performed at the Kennedy Center, the U.S. State Department, the National Press Club, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New Orleans Historical Jazz Park. Admission is $10 for adults, free to students 18 and younger. Details on hugerstreet.com calendar.

Capitol Senrior Center
1650 Park Circle
803-432-1504

Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots”: Township Auditorium

February 9-11, 2012

The story opens very early in the morning at the home of Grandma, Hattie Mae. She’s allowed her daughter, Rose and husband, Frank to move in with her along with their son. The family, who has fallen on hard times, is alarmed by an early morning phone call. It’s the local bank giving the family three days to pay the mortgage or be evicted. Frank, the man of the house, has been out of a job for months and his wife Rose has been supporting the family as a maid for a wealthy real estate giant. Frank finally gets a break when a job is offered as a handyman at the Willis estate. But longtime butler, Floyd, boldly expresses that it won’t be long before wealthy wife, Diane, will scheme to get her married paws into Frank. Back at grandma Hattie’s, things are slowly falling apart as she’s consumed with the thought of losing the house she’s been in for thirty years. On top of that, she’s worried about her grandson Wally whose running the streets at odd hours of the night. Tyler Perry’s, “The Haves and The Have Nots” is told with love, honor, and brutal truth. It will leave you crying, laughing, and wanting a better life for you and for those who may be less fortunate. Visit The Township's website for more info.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Town Theatre!

LAST WEEK

Based on the popular 1988 film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels focuses on two con men residing on the French Riviera. Meet Lawrence – a suave and sophisticated type who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Then there is Freddy – a small-time crook, who more humbly swindles women by earning their compassion through his fictitious fables about his grandmother’s failing health. Lawrence and Freddy soon discover that their small French town is only big enough for one of them. With neither swindler willing to depart without a fight, they agree to a contest. The first con man to extort $50,000 from Christine Colgate, a young female heiress, wins the right to keep hustling the residents of the Riviera. The loser must leave town. You'll be laughing out loud at this hilarious romp with an interesting twist at the end!
For tickets or more information, please visit the Town Theatre website

6th Annual Red Nose Run

Saturday January 28, 2011
Run With All Your Heart For Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia, SC!

Lace up your big floppy clown sneakers, grab your red nose and meet us at Colonial Life Arena for the Sixth Annual Red Nose Run. The Palmetto Grand Prix 10k begins at 8:00 a.m. with the 5k beginning at 8:15 a.m. Runners will enjoy complimentary massages from the Southeastern School of Neuromuscular
Massage, food, drinks and more!

Pre-register at www.strictlyrunning.com! Pre-registered packet pick-up will take place at Strictly Running on January 25-27 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Race day registration and packet pick-up will be at the Colonial Life Arena from 6:45 a.m. -7:30 a.m. All runners and walkers are welcome to join! Only pre-registered participants are guaranteed a packet. We hope to see you and your friends join our over 750 expected runners on January 28th
for some Red Nose Fun to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia,SC! Please contact Alex Nicyper at 803-254-0118 or alex@rmhcofcolumbia.org for questions or additional information.

World Beer Festival

Saturday January 28, 2012

All About Beer Magazine has presented 26 festivals in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia since 1996. World Beer Festivals are public events in which participants have the chance to sample an amazing range of beers from around the world, served by brewer representatives, for one entry price. Seminars, live music, and great food are also included. Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Afternoon and evening sessions. Get your tickets in advance - one session is already sold out. Ticket info here.

Religion In The Civil War Symposium Coming to Columbia

Saturday January 28, 2012
The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the South Carolina Historical Society will host a one-day symposium exploring the topic of Religion in the Civil War.

This event invites the public to join historians and scholars in an in-depth discussion regarding how faith and religion impacted both sides of the conflict. Participants will examine the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths from both the Northern and Southern viewpoints and explore the extent to which soldiers and chaplains leaned on their faith during the Civil War. The day’s events will feature a Keynote presentation from Dr. George Rable, professor at the University of Alabama and author of God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History of the American Civil War
Lectures will also be given by W. Eric Emerson & Karen Stokes authors of Faith, Valor, and Devotion: The Civil War Letters of William Porcher DuBose, and John Brinsfield author of Faith in the Fight. A guided tour of Columbia’s most significant Civil War era churches, Elmwood Cemetery and of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum’s newest exhibit, Through Fiery Trials: Religion in the Civil War will also be a part of the day’s program. The day’s program will begin at 8:30am and conclude at 4:00pm. Registration is $30 in advance and $35 the day of. Lunch is included.

To register, visit www.crr.sc.gov or contact Kaela Harmon at 803-737-8094 or

Put On Your Dancing Shoes! Shandon Presbyterian Church

Saturday January 28, 2012

The next Arts at Shandon event is an evening of dancing for the whole family at 7 p.m.. Nelson Jarvis, a nationally known caller, will be featured for traditional square dancing, line dancing and the Texas two-step. Join us for lessons, contests and family fun for all ages. Childcare is available for a reasonable fee; reservations are required by Jan. 20 by calling (803) 771-4408. Refreshments will be available. Entrance fee is $5 per person. Visit the Shandon Presbyterian Church website.

May I Recommend?

Mini Warehouses

Remember the days when you had to store your stuff in your Mom's garage or you bought one of those awful metal sheds and stuck it out in the backyard to keep your bins and boxes of treasures and tools from getting wet? Then you started seeing a new phenomenon pop up along the highways and bi-ways - self storage facilities. That business venture was the new thing back 30 years ago. Well, 30 years ago, one of those new-fangled storage facilities was built in just about the most convenient location in town... off US Hwy 378 near I-20 (behind Southeastern Trucking) and it has served the area's commercial and residential storage needs. Currently under a complete renovation and modernization , Mini Warehouses' new owner, Rick Riley, is excited about the property's future. He's added a brick veneer to the buildings, fresh paint, he's installing new security cameras, he's installing brand new red Janus Commercial Roll Up Doors... making everything sparkly new in the same location that for 30 years has kept customers satisfied for its unparalleled convenience. Need storage space? I don't think you could find a nicer guy or a better place than Mini Warehouses! Twenty free boxes and free lock when you rent a unit!
Phone: 803-356-0634
View Map: 129 Cromer Road