Food & Drink
Picnic Season Starts Here
A memorable picnic is about more than what’s in the basket. From stylish picnic essentials to local treats, here’s how to build the perfect picnic in Columbia.
An enthusiast’s guide to local dining, shopping, arts, and community in Columbia, South Carolina
Things to Do
Summer Fun Has Just Begun
Summer is officially underway and there is plenty of fun to be had. Spend your days exploring the arts, culture, and history of Columbia.
Things to Do
Date Night by Design
Not every date night looks the same. Whether the evening calls for dinner and drinks, live music, a little friendly competition or something sweet to share, Columbia offers plenty of ways to design a night that feels just right.
Community Interest
Authentic: Erin Curtis
For the Common Ground issue of Fig Columbia, we’re celebrating the small businesses, cuisines, and public spaces that bind us, weaving shared experiences and connections throughout our community. And there’s no event or initiative in Columbia that embodies the mission of this issue more than Soda City Market.
Food & Drink
Family-Friendly Eats in Columbia
A successful family dinner requires more than just a good meal. These local spots offer the food, atmosphere, and entertainment that keep both kids and parents coming back.
Food & Drink
All About the Ambiance
Outdoor dining season has arrived, and with so many great options to choose from, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. Whether you’re looking for the perfect setting for an intimate dinner, a slow morning with coffee, or scenic views, you’ll find it all in Columbia.
Community Interest
Social Mission: Good Samaritan Clinic
Summer is here, and with the season comes new initiatives for our 2026 Social Mission partner, Good Samaritan Clinic.
Summer 2026
The Common Ground Issue
In this issue, you’ll discover how Columbia comes alive through its vibrant restaurants, local caterers, and gathering places that make summer in the Midlands unforgettable. From patio dinners and seasonal menus to handcrafted cocktails, fresh local flavors, and celebrations shared around the table, there are countless ways to savor the season while supporting the culinary creatives and hospitality teams that bring our community together.
Food & Drink
Fresh Face: Stacked Sandwich Shop
Introducing Columbia’s newest casual dining spot for bagels, wraps, and salads.
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.
Experience Columbia: Capital City Bites & Sips
The Columbia food scene is buzzing with new and exciting restaurants popping up all the time, while seasoned chefs continue to marvel diners with their culinary creations.
Community Interest
Authentic: Zora Capers
Columbia has a way of inspiring its determined dreamers, and for Zora Capers, Columbia is the perfect backdrop for helping others grow—both in fitness and in life.
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.
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
A Season for Supporting Local
We caught up with City Manager, Teresa Wilson, who shares the importance of shopping local and uplifting the small businesses here in Columbia.
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.
