Shopping & Retail
Gift, Give, and Gather
This holiday season, consider shopping where the magic really happens: right here at home.
An enthusiast’s guide to local dining, shopping, arts, and community in Columbia, South Carolina
Community Interest
Authentic: Joel Lourie
To this issue’s Fig Authentic, Joel Lourie, philanthropy is simple. It’s about “seeing needs and taking action,” whether that’s through a monetary donation, volunteering, or civic leadership.
Community Interest
100 Years of United Way
This year, United Way of the Midlands is celebrating 100 years of giving back to the community—an incredible milestone made possible by every donor and volunteer over the past century.
Things to Do
Where to Be in Cola this Winter
Mark your calendars for these exciting events this winter in Columbia!
Community Interest
Social Mission:
Palmetto Place Children & Youth Services is an invaluable resource, providing everything from a warm bed, clothing, and school supplies to hot meals and a safe environment where unsheltered youth can feel at home.
Things to Do
Winter Weekends in Soda City
While we don’t get as much snow as the rest of the country, Columbia offers its own treasure trove of wintertime activities to fill every weekend with new delights.
Food & Drink
A Toast to Columbia
Inspired by iconic Columbia neighborhoods and the small businesses that make them thrive, these cocktails are a perfect, bubbly addition to cap off a fun, Cola-based gathering. Happy sipping!
Winter 2025
The Raise a Glass Issue
In this issue, you’ll find that Columbia’s local businesses encourage us to give, gift, and gather with joy. Whether it’s finding the perfect gift for a loved one, volunteering for a passionate cause, or simply spending intentional time with your family, there’s always a reason to raise a glass and celebrate Columbia.
Food & Drink
A Toast to Columbia
Inspired by iconic Columbia neighborhoods and the small businesses that make them thrive, these cocktails are a perfect, bubbly addition to cap off a fun, Cola-based gathering. Happy sipping!
Fresh Face: Methodical Coffee
Introducing the newest addition to Columbia’s coffee scene.
The Ultimate Guide to Game Days in Cola
As the autumn breeze ushers in the football season, Columbia transforms into a vibrant hub of sporting passion and community camaraderie. Whether you’re a visitor or a Soda Citizen, game days in Columbia are a quintessential Southern tradition.
Eat Local
In Columbia, food brings us together. It brings us together inside of restaurants, on Saturday mornings on Main Street, outside of breweries, at tailgates in the fall, in our homes with our family and friends, and even on the city’s most iconic bridge for a beautiful seated supper of over 1,400 people.
Community Interest
Authentic: Joel Lourie
To this issue’s Fig Authentic, Joel Lourie, philanthropy is simple. It’s about “seeing needs and taking action,” whether that’s through a monetary donation, volunteering, or civic leadership.
Authentic: Nora Williams
There’s an impressive power in Nora Williams’ photography—a stillness that invites viewers to pause, listen, and feel. A Midlands native and graduate student at the University of South Carolina, Williams has built a body of work that captures the heart and complexity of life in the South.
Authentic: Matt Catchpole
Local business owner aims to push the envelope for Columbia’s food and beverage offerings.
Authentic: Minh Le
From Vietnam to South Carolina: Minh Le makes her mark on Columbia and beyond.
Subscribe to Fig Magazine
Designed and produced four times a year, Fig Columbia magazine is filled with the latest in Columbia including local shopping, dining, arts, events, and community.
Arts & Culture
Art Abounds
Whether you aspire to See the Art, Be the Art, or Create the Art, there’s room for everyone on Columbia’s canvas.
The Left and Right Brains of Soda City
In this Arts & Culture issue, we’re shaking things up with a “left brain perspective.” Take a journey through eight iconic boroughs that perfectly encapsulate how care for the arts, thoughtful development, and architectural preservation play a role in Columbia’s unique cultural landscape.
City of Art
There are an abundance of theatre productions, live music performances, and art displays for all to enjoy. Dive into the variety of fantastic ways to appreciate the coming of autumn here in our Capital City!
Listen Closely…
Everybody’s got a story about the first concert that they ever went to, and around Columbia, you’ll often find that those stories include a local band or artist and a hidden hole-in-the-wall venue that you’d only know about if you were a local…
Local Services
Spruce Up Your Home for Fall
Sometime this season, pay a visit to any of these local businesses to see all they have in store for your home.
Selling made sweet
The Sweeten Group @ RE/MAX At The Lake has been making waves in the Columbia real estate community for the last 13 years.
Game, Set, Match
You are in good hands with The Sweeten Group.
Thank you to our Small Business Champion!
This book would not have been possible without our small business champion—BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.
