Carriage Tours In Columbia, SC

Columbia’s arts, food and cultural scenes have always thrived — and that’s thanks to the locals who dedicate their lives to make creativity integral to the fabric of the capital city.

And they always know the best spots in town.

Every so often, Locals Lately — which is inspired by our sister publication Charleston Scene’s column of the same name — will spend some time with a creative leader. They’ll tell us what they’ve been up to lately — recent events they've loved, movies they've adored, meals they've devoured, concerts they've jammed out at and more entertainment-related fun they've had.

This week, we hear from Cat Galán, a songwriter and musician. Known for Boomtown Trio, Stankface and solo work, Galán’s smooth, neo-soul roots make her music a must listen.

What’s your favorite local concert or show you’ve attended? I recently saw Mids and Homemade Haircuts perform at Transmission Arcade. It was an awesome show at a great venue!

Where have you had the best meal or cocktail, and what was it? My family always loves to have a celebratory dinner at Terra or Bourbon — both spots have amazing takes on Mac ’n Cheese.

What’s the best festival you’ve attended? Honestly, it’s not exactly a festival, but the Soda City Market never disappoints!

What’s the best movie you’ve seen lately? I’m actually terrible at picking favorites, but two I recently rewatched and LOVE are “Parasite” and “The Princess Bride.”

What album or albums have you been into lately? My recently played is very all over the place. Honorable mentions from the last week include but are far from limited to “Mood Valiant” by Hiatus Kaiyote; “Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande; “The Dude” by Quincy Jones; and Tchaikovsky’s 6th Symphony. I also recently found a cool record at Papa Jazz — Oscar Peterson Trio covering music from “West Side Story.” Fantastic.

Something new is officially brewing in Columbia’s BullStreet District.

Methodical Coffee, which has gained popularity in the last decade in the Greenville area, has opened a new cafe at 2149 Pickens St. at the BullStreet development. The coffee shop is located on the northeast corner of the ground floor of the WestLawn office building.

The new cafe formally debuted on Monday, though Methodical co-founder and CEO Marco Suarez noted it is in a soft opening phase. The bakery portion of the shop is not yet operating, but the shop is offering a full menu of drinks including filter and pour-over style coffee, cold brews, espresso, cappuccino, Americano, various teas and more.

Methodical started in Greenville in 2015, and the company has three locations in the Upstate area, as well as a coffee roasting and operations facility in Travelers Rest.

Suarez said there is a mix of excitement and relief in getting the doors open at BullStreet’s Methodical. The project has been in the works for a couple of years, and was initially announced to the public in April 2024.

“This one has been a very longtime coming,” Suarez told The State. “The moment I’ve been working toward for two years is to be able to walk in, the space is completely set up, everything is in its right place, the sound of the coffee grinders is going, you hear the chatter of people. ... I was very, very happy [on Monday] to experience that.”

Suarez noted that he has long been familiar with Hughes Development — the master developer of the overall project at the sprawling 181-acre site on Bull Street — and its president, Robert Hughes. He noted that Hughes was Methodical’s landlord at its first shop in Greenville a decade ago.

The Methodical CEO noted that, through the years, Hughes would make overtures about the possibility of the coffee shop having a location at BullStreet. Roughly two years ago, those talks got more serious. When Suarez and the Methodical crew came and visited the burgeoning BullStreet site shortly thereafter, they began to see the possibility of how a Columbia outpost could become a reality.

“The thing that really got me was how much it reminded me of Greenville back when we first opened,” Suarez said. “The city was just on this trajectory of growth, with tons of new retail and developments improving the standard of life for the people of the city. And in Columbia it felt that way, too. In Columbia there is all this new development and new things happening. We want to be a part of it.”

Methodical has debuted in a portion of the BullStreet District that will soon be a serious food and drink hub. It is right next door to the under-development Gather COLA food hall, which is planning to open later this year and will bring 10 food vendors, two bars and retail spaces to the district. And, just to the east of the coffee shop, a large community lawn space and venue is under construction which is set to include a Coastal Crust pizza shop.

While there is lots of construction currently going on adjacent to the new Methodical, Suarez said, once completed, the immediate area will be a great spot for food, entertainment and mingling.

“There will be retail, a lot of food, and it will kind of be the center area [of the district] where people will come congregate and meet,” he said. “I think it will be mutually beneficial for all of those tenants that will be right there. And it will have nice amenities.”

Columbia comes alive in the fall. The weather cools down just enough, fall events like Famously Hot Pride, Jam Room Music Festival, the S.C. State Fair and West Columbia’s Fall Back Festival fill up Midlands residents’ social calendars.

But for most of us, football is king. For seven Saturdays a year, Columbia transforms into a garnet and black hub of school spirit, Gamecock camaraderie and good ole fashioned fun.

Here’s how to make the most of a football weekend in Columbia, from Friday to Sunday:

Friday

Depending on when kick-off is scheduled at Williams-Brice Stadium, you might want to take it easy Friday night.

I recommend staying in The Vista, where plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife options await within walking distance.

For happy hour, Pearlz Oyster Bar and COA offer craft-made cocktails and nice atmospheres. Both restaurants offer happy hour deals on food and drink.

For dinner, head to The Hollow, where the game-forward restaurant serves up innovative bites like Elk Bolognese and Bison Short Rib. A whimsical cocktail menu offers alcoholic, THC-infused and non-alcoholic options. If you’re looking for something not as wild, try their pumpkin ravioli.

The Dragon Room is a great place for an after-dinner cocktail or snack. The late-night bar is popular with food and beverage industry folks, and the Asian fusion joint always offers something fun to try — the Temaki Crunchwrap takes a Taco Bell classic and gives it a poke twist.

For those looking to keep the night going, Art Bar is a locals haunt with eclectic decor and a reliable music lineup. Or, you can head up the hill to Main Street for a bit of dancing at Prohibition or live music at The Joint.

Saturday

The big day. Whether you’re tailgating or just going to watch the Gamecocks, it’s always best to have a plan. A shuttle bus picks up passengers on Sumter Street near the University of South Carolina’s Horseshoe, offering frequent transportation between the heart of downtown and the hub of USC tailgating: the Fairgrounds.

If you’re bringing your own car, lots like Gamecock Park and the Fairgrounds allow you to book your spot in advance, but there are plenty of private lots you can drive up to day of, including the former State Newspaper building and Lyon’s General Store on Rosewood Drive.

Don’t feel like making your own party? Head to J’s Corner, a storied pump station turned gameday hub at the corner of Rosewood and Bluff roads. The restaurant and bar has lots of outdoor space — including cornhole and space for kids to play — while being a 10 minute walk to the stadium. Peeble’s Sports Pub on Rosewood Drive is also a short walk from Williams-Brice Stadium.

Gamecocks playing away? The best spot to watch an away game is at Market on Main, an elevated sports bar with a huge outdoor patio and mammoth projector screen. In between plays and commercials, a DJ or musician is typically playing tunes to keep the atmosphere lively.

Other spots to watch football in Columbia include Five Points favorites Jake’s Sports Bar and Grill and Home Team BBQ, Cayce’s Steel Hands Brewing, Devine Street’s Publick House and West Columbia’s D’s Wings.

If the game is over and you’re craving a bit of late-night eats, head to Bar None in Five Points, Beezer’s near USC’s Horseshoe or Main Street’s The Grand, where you can also take on your friends in a bowling match.

Sunday

While football is the main event, there’s still lots to explore in Columbia.

Sundays are a great time to check out the outdoor and cultural attractions in Soda City, including the Columbia Museum of Art, the Five Points shopping district and the riverwalk trails that offer free access to the three rivers that converge in the heart of the Midlands.

For breakfast, head to smallSUGAR in the Vista for delectable pastries and coffee drinks, or wait for brunch and head to one of the city’s many offerings. My picks are usually DiPrato’s near the USC campus or the Gourmet Shop in Five Points.

Walk brunch off with a stroll on the city’s Riverwalk, where you can cap your jaunt off with a crisp lager from Bierkeller, an authentic German brewery at the neighboring CanalSide apartment community.

If you’re willing to drive a bit, my favorite riverside walking path is in Cayce on Fort Congaree Trail.

If nature isn’t your thing, head to the Columbia Museum of Art, where a mix of local history, South Carolina art and nationally renowned artists fill the recently renovated walls. While on Main Street, you can also check out the Statehouse grounds, where the monuments and gorgeous landscaping are free to explore.

And that should fill up your weekend! There’s plenty more to fill your time, so don’t feel cheated if you can’t get it all in during one weekend. There’s always basketball season…

Embattled former South Carolina elections director Howard Knapp and his former chief deputy have been arrested.

Knapp, 40, and former elections commission deputy director Paige Salonich, 41, were booked in at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County. Court records indicate that they were arrested Friday morning.

Warrants released by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division 11 charges against the former elections director include misconduct while in office, embezzlement and ethics violations. Salonich was charged with wiretapping — allegedly hiding a recorder inside of the meeting room where members of the election commission’s board would make the decision to fire Knapp.

Knapp’s charges focus on his alleged misuse of state vehicles and gas cards, which prompted an investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division over a year ago.

Knapp is accused of misappropriating $5,482.74 in public funds by allegedly making unauthorized gas purchases for two state vehicles over an eight-month period from June 2023 to January 2024. Knapp and his wife allegedly made personal use of the vehicles, according to warrants.

The State Media Co. earlier revealed details of the investigation and the subsequent report submitted to the Attorney General’s Office.

Sources told The State that when Knapp was informed he was not in compliance with state law, he returned the vehicles and was allowed to repay the money.

Knapp was fired following a tumultuous, hours long executive session at the state elections commission Sept. 17. The day after his firing, SLED agents were seen at the election commission’s Columbia office.

At an election committee meeting on Oct. 15, Commission Chairman Dennis Shedd said that three state agencies – the Attorney General’s office, the Office of Inspector General and the State Law Enforcement Division — were reviewing Knapp’s conduct during his time in office.

Knapp misused agency funds for personal reasons and conspired with other management-level staff to falsify documentation, Shedd told the public. Under Knapp’s leadership, the commission office had also become a “toxic and perhaps hostile work environment,” Shedd said.

Salonich, who Shedd described as Knapp’s “very close friend and fellow employee,” was fired five days later. This followed allegations made in internal documents of an aggressive confrontation with her superiors and other staff, as well as claims, that she planted a voice-activated digital recording device inside the room where board members debated whether to fire Knapp on Sept. 17.

Knapp was also charged with being accessory to a felony for calling employees that night and the next day asking them to remove the recorder.

Shedd also accused Knapp of providing misleading information to the board on a contract for new machines ahead of the November 2024 election.

The Election Commission board insisted that Knapp said the over 3,000 new machines would cost $28 million, but the cost swelled to over $33 million after accounting for sales tax and interest on the loan, records show. But current interim director Jenny Wooten and general counsel Thomas Nicholson knew about the total cost, according to emails obtained by The State.

Knapp received a $75,000 bond. Salonich’s bond was set at $25,000. The case will be prosecuted by the attorney general’s office.

This is a breaking news story. Check back here for updates.

Reporter Chris Trainor contributed to this report

A Fresh Chapter for American Electric Vehicles in the Palmetto State

The ambitious new Scout Motors electric vehicle plant in Columbia, South Carolina, is generating significant buzz, but recent industry reports suggest the road ahead may not be as smooth as initially projected. The facility—backed by Volkswagen Group—aims to revive the storied Scout name with modern all-electric SUVs and pickups, tapping into the spirit of American adventure for a new generation.

Announced in early 2023, the plant will cover 1,600 acres and could bring more than 4,000 jobs to the region, with a long-term goal of building up to 200,000 vehicles annually. Construction is well underway, and Scout Motors is touting the project’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing, leveraging renewable energy and resource conservation.

However, Scout’s timetable and sales projections are facing new uncertainties. Federal policy changes and a shift in consumer sentiment have cast a shadow over the EV industry’s once-rapid trajectory. The current administration’s adjustment of tax credits and stricter eligibility requirements for EV buyers have made it harder for some consumers to benefit from incentives, slowing adoption. As a result, Scout—like several other automakers—is recalibrating expectations, keeping a close eye on market response.

Despite these challenges, Scout remains committed to its brand relaunch, banking on nostalgia, robust design, and the growing demand for American-made vehicles. Yet, there’s no denying that headwinds—ranging from supply chain issues to evolving regulatory landscapes—are forcing manufacturers nationwide to rethink strategies.

As the first new Scouts are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2027, all eyes will be on Columbia. Success here could signal a fresh wave of American EV innovation—or serve as a case study in how policy and market forces shape the future of the industry.

Still, optimism remains strong across South Carolina’s growing EV corridor. Local leaders see the Scout Motors project as more than a single investment—it’s a catalyst for a statewide transformation. Suppliers, battery innovators, and tech startups are already eyeing the Midlands region for expansion, hoping to ride the momentum of this high-profile venture. State universities are also partnering with Scout to develop training programs, ensuring a skilled workforce for the next generation of auto manufacturing. If the company can navigate the shifting market and deliver on its promises, Columbia could become a centerpiece of America’s electric future—where heritage, technology, and southern industry meet to redefine mobility.