A Chapel and a School

  April 8, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   The Historic Sweet Easy Smith Chapel found me Sunday. Though it’s on Smith Chapel Road and sounds like a no brainer, directions for my first attempt…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Historic Columbia and Wideman Davis Dance present Migratuse Ataraxia

  April 6, 2021

Performances April 15-18 will interpret the Black experience at historic locations  Historic Columbia will host nationally renowned Wideman Davis Dance (WDD) to present a reimagined “Migratuse Ataraxia,” a performative art installation that centers Black experience and embodiment in…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

The Clothesline

  April 1, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland     The Gentle Cycle A neighbor suggested I join a community website where people post about restaurant openings and closings, shady repairmen, and snakes. “What kind…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Jazz icon Wynton Marsalis comes to Columbia

  March 30, 2021

A monumental moment for arts and culture in the Midlands is here! A #supportlocal themed night of the 2021 ColaJazz Fest showcases Columbia’s best in jazz and artists who have…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

The Flower World’s Beautiful Blonds

  March 25, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Daffodils. They’re the beautiful blonds of the flower world and if it’s possible for a flower to smile, daffodils do. They bring to mind young women…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Could’ve danced all night!

  March 24, 2021

The delightful lifelong recital of South Carolina’s Kerri Grimsley Roberts By W. Thomas Smith Jr. KERRI GRIMSLEY ROBERTS’ FACEBOOK PAGE DESCRIPTOR simply says: “I love Jesus! I love my family!…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, on-the-move, the-arts

Winter’s Lush Green Carpet

  March 17, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   It’s an unusual plant. No flowers. No roots, but what a green velvety plant. Green moss mystifies me. When I come across it I stare. Always.…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

A painting as part of a journey

  March 8, 2021

A review of artist Dawn Buskard Faber’s “Love Lifted Me” By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Art is a journey. Sounds vague, even cliché. But it’s true. And like music and…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: churches, life, on-the-move, the-arts

A Natural Motown Mystery-Miracle

  March 4, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   If you think this story is about Berry Gordy’s 1960’s record label that gave us “Baby Love,” “My Girl,” and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” you’re…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Harbinger.

  March 4, 2021

By Cathy Monetti ABOUT MARCH, I HAVE ALWAYS felt ambivalent. This admission comes as a surprise, even to me, for March is the month that relieves us from the coldest…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

The Stoves Of My Life

  February 26, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland     Early on, my grandmothers cooked on wood-burning stoves and, later, electric ranges. Cooking with electricity. That must have seemed a marvel to them. I never,…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Gallery test

  February 23, 2021

Here are the sample photos for the gallery.  

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: the-arts

Richland Library spotlights the power of reggae music

  February 19, 2021

Richland Library continues our celebration of Black History Month with a virtual performance from an incredible Roots Reggae band. Join us for Evening Arts: Mystic Vibrations from 7 – 8…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

The Badwell Trilogy

  February 17, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Faint, yet menacing, came the sound. I stood as still as the stones around me and listened. From woods northeast it came again. Coyotes. Well, it…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Announcing the 2021 S.C. Governor’s Awards for the Arts recipients

  February 15, 2021

The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is announcing seven qualified recipients of South Carolina’s highest award for high achievement in practicing or supporting the arts. The South Carolina Governor’s Awards…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

Art of Conversation: Mentally Stimulating Game Night

  February 14, 2021

Prime & Prim Studio of the Arts will be hosting a mind-stimulating game night on March 20, 2021 at the Landing Event Center. Festivities begin at 7:30 PM and conclude…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, retail, the-arts

Tough Guy, Soft Heart

  February 11, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Jack Palance—A City Slicker The book world brings interesting people my way. Some are nobodies. Some are famous. Jack Palance was famous, a Hollywood tough guy,…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

See Life In An Old Way

  January 28, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Along A Back Road My sister, Brenda, gave me a cool shirt for Christmas, “Take The Back Roads,” one of those Life Is Good shirts. That…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

A Mess of Collards

  January 21, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Last week an email from my friend, Pat Branning, known for her gorgeous Shrimp, Collards, & Grits cookbooks, sent me on a quest. Pat and I…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

The Illusion—Looking Young Forever

  January 13, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   Late, late afternoon it was. She walked into the restaurant and lit it up. A beautiful woman will do that, light up a place, but she…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Artist Minute – Adrian Rhodes, Visual Artist

  January 11, 2021

The Who’s on the Move Artist Minute is a quick, two-minute interview in support of the undeniable impact that the arts and local artists have on our communities. One of…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: podcast, the-arts

Insignificant Treasures

  January 6, 2021
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   The things we collect. When I am gone my daughters will think their dad was a bit touched. Just why did he hang onto a rusty…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

SC Philharmonic 2021 Live Series at the Koger Center

  January 4, 2021

We are excited to announce our upcoming “Philharmonic Live Series” virtual subscription. This series consists of five streaming concerts from the Koger Center for you to enjoy from the comfort…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

Smut or Soot?  Either Way It’s Dirty

  December 21, 2020

By Tammy Davis     This dirty little Christmas story happened to a friend of mine, a single mother named Dee. Her kids were young and still believed in Santa.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, the-arts

Winter Is Upon Us

  December 21, 2020
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   As I write it’s 38 degrees and rain is falling. We always seem to be just a few degrees away from snow. This winter a light…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts

Newberry Opera House 2021 updated schedule

  December 21, 2020

The Newberry Opera House would like to thank you for your flexibility and understanding with the many date changes they’ve had during this season of living with COVID-19. Please check…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

Richland Library guides families through winter break

  December 17, 2020

Winter break is right around the corner for tens of thousands of students in Richland County, but learning doesn’t have to stop. Richland Library has some suggestions for staying engaged…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts

Six emerging artists to receive inaugural S.C. Arts Commission grant

  December 17, 2020

Visual artists working in ceramics, sculpture, and photography and performing artists working in dance and music are inaugural recipients of the South Carolina Arts Commission’s new Emerging Artist Grant. For…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: on-the-move, the-arts

My Favorite Christmas Books

  December 16, 2020

  By Tammy Davis   Angela and the Baby Jesus, by Frank McCourt, author of best seller Angela’s Ashes Angela and the Baby Jesus is based on the true story…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: life, the-arts

If Another Earth Exists

  December 16, 2020
Tom Poland

By Tom Poland   There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: life, the-arts