17th Annual Home Improvement Show: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Friday Aug. 19- Sunday Aug. 21, 2011

Whether you're just thinking about remodeling your home, or if you're in the middle of a project and looking for the latest in home improvement technology, you'll enjoy a one-stop shopping and learning experience with this show. Exhibitors will present in-depth seminars about remodeling your kitchen and bath and on a variety of home improvement products and services throughout the weekend. In addition to the many exhibitors, the show will have some Special Features throughout the weekend. Central SC Habitat For Humanity will once again present the Habitat For Humanity ReStore where attendees can find great bargains on a wide array of home improvement items. The ReStore will be held throughout the show. Attendees will also have the chance to win door prizes from exhibitors with drawings held every 20 minutes of the show. Prizes are donated from exhibitors in the show and include $25 cash, gift baskets, home décor items, tools and much more. Visit the Home Improvement Show website.

Missions Possible: Giant Garage Sale - Shandon United Methodist Church

Friday August 19 & Saturday August 20, 2011
Everything for women, men, girls and boys. Tools, dishes, linens, jewelry, furniture, toys, sporting goods, clothes and more.
All proceeds go to missions. Cash only. Visit Shandon UMC for more information.

Under an August Moon Gala Art Sale: McKissick Museum

Friday August 19, 2011
The Museum's annual art exhibition, Under an August Moon, features works by more than 50 local and regional artists including painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, basketry, and more. The exhibit culminates with the 17th annual gala and art sale on Friday, August 19 from 7:30 to 10 PM The gala provides an opportunity to meet the artists and purchase their works while celebrating with fun and food while supporting McKissick Museum. Cultures around the world commemorate the arrival of the August moon with merriment and festivities represented in the exhibit: Cherokee Fruit Moon, Choctaw Women's Moon, Chinese Harvest Moon and Nigerian Igbo New Yam Festival. Celebrate the August moon at McKissick Museum with tasty treats, tantalizing art, music and libations. Tickets are $50 for museum members and $60 for non-members. To purchase tickets and memberships, please call 777-7251, or download the invitation and reply card.

Music at Sandhill

Friday, August 19, 2011

If you haven't been out to the Village at Sandhill on a Friday evening this summer, you are missing some great music and fun! Starting at 5pm, attendees can enjoy everything from ring toss games to a bounce house for the kids.There are adult contests with prizes provided by the concert series sponsor, Michelob Ultra, as well as special Village merchant offerings. Then at 7pm, the music begins... this Friday Mason Jars will entertain with their unique blend of acoustic, blues, folk and Americana. . The event is free. Visit Village at Sandhill Town Center. This concert series runs through September 2.

Columbia Open Chess Tournament: Hilton Garden Inn

Friday August 19, 2011 - Sunday, August 21, 2011
Here's your chance to prove once and for all that you're a bonafide chess champ. Pay a $59 entry fee and play for $5000 in guaranteed prize money. The tourney takes place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Harbison. For details, visit the Columbia Open's website.

Only 4 Shows Left! Rave Reviews! Swing 39: Trustus

Now - Saturday August 20, 2011

A New Play By: Alessandro King | Directed By: Chad Henderson
Dreams die hard in Alessandro King's bright new drama of East Harlem at the height of the Swing Era. Adventurous Maggie DiNapoli wants out of the neighborhood, and Benny Goodman could show her that escape, but will she go? Plunge into the intoxicating world of 1930's New York in this timeless examination of the haves and have-nots. A world-premiere. Visit Trustus website.

My Gym Open House

Saturday August 20, 2011 (Lexington) and Sunday August 21, 2011 (Northeast)

Never been to My Gym? Our Fall Open House is a great time for the kids to see the facility, play and have fun. Open gym time, character appearances, raffle prizes, games, puppets, refreshments and more! Meet the friendly My Gym staff and learn about our gymnastics & fitness classes, birthday parties, Mother's Morning Out and enjoy fantastic enrollment specials going on all day - over $200 in savings towards My Gym programs! Open to all ages. For more information you can find us on the web - Lexington: or Northeast Columbia: , or find us on facebook

Weaving the Fate fka VILLANOVA: Township Auditorium

Saturday August 20, 2011

Weaving the Fate will play a hometown concert at the Township Auditorium with special guests The Casual Kings & Death of Paris! Villanova changed its name earlier this year when it signed a record deal with Universal Records (their legal department wouldn't clear usage of the name Villanova). Nothing else has changed - get ready to rock out with Weaving the Fate this Saturday!
Tickets are $12.50. Visit The Township website for info.

Parents' Night Out: The Little Gym

Friday August 19, 2011 (Columbia) and Friday August 26, 2011 (Lexington)
It's a total win-win. You want to spend some quality time alone or with your significant other or with friends and help your children to a great time too. Drop them off for 4 glorious evening hours. The Little Gym's Sports Spectacular Parents' Survival Night will be held on Friday, August 19th (Beltline) and Friday, August 26 (US 378) from 6-10 pm and will include games, music, pizza and a Sports craft! Members and Non-Members are welcome, so please don't let your child miss out on all the fun! Call the gym at 738-1115 to reserve your child's spot or click here to enroll online for Columbia or click here to enroll online for Lexington.

Free Kids Admission: South Carolina State Museum

Now Through September 5, 2011

Get down to the SC State Museum before September 5, and with this coupon, you'll receive one free kid's admission with each paid adult admission. Come and enjoy South Carolina art, cultural history, natural history and science and technology. Many of the museum’s displays are interconnected. You will find there is history in our art, artistic beauty in our natural history and science, and history behind our technology. All disciplines are also represented by objects in the hands-on Stringer Discovery Center. Although no museum can display its entire collection, we offer a varied sampling of the wonders found both within our state and around the world. Print coupon here.

Last of the Purple Martin Sunset Cruises! Spirit of Lake Murray

Tuesday August 23, 2011

Your last chance to enjoy a beautiful cruise around the lake, watching the flocks of purple martins dance through the sky as they return to their roost at Bomb Island, and dine on a delicious Beef Stroganoff, Shrimp Creole, Vegetable Medley, New Seasoned Potatoes, Tossed Salad and more. Visit the Spirit of Lake Murray website for details! Hurry - it will sell out quickly!

Recommended Shopping Destination: Our Hands Together

Open Tuesdays - Saturdays

Do you make plans every year to attend the Craftsmen's show at the Fairgrounds? Do you love handmade items from paintings to jewelry to pottery to furniture? Well, you no longer have to wait for the crafts fair to come to town! I recently discovered a hard-to-find but oh-so-worth-it gallery in Ballentine. It's called Our Hands Together, and as the name implies, many hands have made many wonderful things at this intriguing little shop. It's located at 101 Ballentine Park Road, which is off Highway 6 (Dreher Shoals Road) just before the intersection of Highway 76 (Dutch Fork Road) in Ballentine. Look for their colorful little signs out on Dreher Shoals. It's really a fun place to shop! Visit the Our Hands Together website for more.

Additional Events, Upcoming Events, News and Special Offers!

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse: Now Open

After a major renovation, the old Kress store on Main Street emerges as Columbia's newest downtown dining experience. And what an experience! Currently open for dinner beginning at 4pm (noon on Sunday), the restaurant offers a fabulous cold bar with antipasti offerings including a cheese assortment, fresh shrimp, smoked salmon, gourmet olive assortment, wonderful salads, fresh breads and much more. Bring your appetite as this is an "all-you-can-eat" extravaganza! Grilled meats prepared to perfection over open flames and brought to your table - beef steak (various cuts including filet mignon), lamb chops, leg of lamb, lamb loin, pork ribs, pork loin, pork parmesan, chicken and the house specialty, Picanha. For reservations, call 803-728-0887. View the menu here.

Save the Date: Open House at The Little Gym

Lexington Gym - Sat, August 27th 1:00-4:30pm Columbia Gym - Sun, August 28th
2:00-6:00 pm

Since 1976, The Little Gym has fostered experiential learning through physical programs that provide opportunities for kids to explore their own potential and to better understand and enjoy the world around them. Since the beginning, we have emphasized Serious Fun through a progressive curriculum, in which each success builds off the last. All of our programs are divided into themed, multi-week Learning Units that lead to a natural progression of skills throughout our Core Season, into our Summer Session and from one year to the next. The coordination and confidence that enable your baby to first crawl across the mat, lay the foundation to master a somersault at age three, try a handspring at age six, and assert leadership skills both in the gym and throughout the community. Our open houses help parents to assess our facilities, our instructors and our programs. Please stop by one of our gyms during Open House and we'll show you around! The Little Gym website.

EXCITING NEWS FOR COLUMBIA and LEXINGTON

New daily deal business is about ready to start up. Register today for a $25 cash voucher and a chance for a $1000 shopping spree. Be ready to shop at 50 – 90% off – register TODAY. Register at: community cash.com, select Columbia or Lexington, fill form and then submit it. Confirm your registration on follow-up e-mail to receive the cash voucher and announcements of our upcoming opening. MANY EXCITING THINGS ARE COMING. BE READY!

Create A Backyard Escape: Graceland Portable Buildings

Remember back when you were a kid and how much fun you had in your very own treehouse, or refrigerator box or tent? It was your own little escape, wasn't it? Create a grown-up space for quality alone-time right in your own backyard with a high-quality, Menonnite constructed, Graceland Portable Building! A wide variety of attractive shapes and sizes is available and are built and open for your inspection on Two Notch Road at I-77! And with this Weekday Therapy offer, you can save $75 on any new building! Print coupon here.