Pizza and Wine

What's not to like about that combination?  There are plenty of amazing local restaurants in Columbia that make this combination even more amazing by making it cheap!

In case you want an amazing pizza and wine deal more than once in a week, here's where you should go and when:

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Tuesday nights: Tombo Grille offers $5 pizzas and $15 bottles of wine every Tuesday.  Click here for other daily specials.

Rosso menu
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Wednesday nights: from 5- 6:30 PM, Rosso offers $7 brick-oven pizzas and $5 wine tasting.

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Thursday nights: Cellar on Greene offers 2 individual pizzas and a bottle of wine for $25.  Plus, Tuesdays are Champagne Tuesdays...half-priced bubblys!

And, just a quick run-down of my other favorite Columbia pizzas...Labrasca's (they have the best cheese salad too, and they'll let you buy uncooked pizzas to "take and bake" later); Pizza Man; and The Whig- $1 slices on Monday nights.  Also, the Village Idiot on Forest Drive has a Monday deal where you buy one pizza, get one free!

Can you tell I'm craving pizza and wine today?

What are your favorite pizza joints and dinner specials in Columbia?

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Thanksgiving Week Excitement

The week has already been busy--here's what has been going on with me:

Yesterday was my and James' 2nd wedding anniversary.  Two years has flown by--and it has been so fun.  I had to teach last night, so when I got home James had Village Idiot pizza waiting (yum-the Hurricane pizza is to die for)*, as well as a dozen red roses and a necklace he picked out from an antique store all on his own.

(He knows me well--I do love a vintage piece!)  He is amazing and thoughtful.  We're going out to dinner Friday night to really celebrate and he says I have another gift coming that night...I am a lucky girl.

This morning I went to the Doctor for my 28 week pre-natal check up.  I had to do the gestational diabetes test, and I passed with flying colors.  Blood pressure is good, fetal heart rate is normal, and all is well with me and Jones.  I am measuring a week ahead of schedule, so he will probably make his appearance well before the February 14th due date.

Over the weekend I made James get the Christmas decorations down from the attic and attempted to start decorating--he talked me into waiting until the day after Thanksgiving for most things though.

And I also attempted to make bread from my starter for the very first time.  The results were less than stellar.  The dough came together well, rose well the first time around, but then I just couldn't get it to rise as much as it should have the second time around, so it ended up very flat, hard and heavy after baking.  I am going to try again tomorrow afternoon.

Looks good here, but wait...

A bread brick.

I am working on the knitted baby blanket--see my progress below.  It's going to take me while, but so far, so good.

I am also going to attempt to make a Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart with a Pretzel Crust tomorrow to take to Thanksgiving at my grandmother's house--I'll let you know how that goes.

Happy Thanksgiving Week, everyone!  If you're in Columbia and looking to shop this weekend, keep your local retailers in mind and support Small Business Saturday!

And, just because-- pictures of some of my favorite boys: my nephews, Ben and Taylor, and James and our dingo, Peach.

XO, Becca

*Village Idiot on Forest Drive has an amazing Monday deal where you can buy any size/topping pizza and get one FREE of equal or lesser value!

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Tuesday Quickie

Hi loves--I am up to my eyeballs in grants right now, so this is gonna be quick. A few things going on this week:

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Wednesday: Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to benefit Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands. There will be men literally walking a mile in high-heels for this worthy cause, with an after-party at Village Idiot 5 Points. 6 pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Click here for a flyer with more info.

Thursday: Still undecided for the Mayoral Run-Off? Central Carolina Community Foundation is hosting 1 final debate between the final 2--Benjamin and Finlay. It is open to the public: 7 pm at SCETV; it will also be streamed live at www.BGTIME.org. See the Facebook invitation here.

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Saturday: Take your pick, there's lots to do...Bark to the Park to benefit Project Pet. Admission is $10 per person and dogs are welcome! 11 am- 4 pm, Finlay Park. Click here for a full schedule of events.

Or, go to the Friends of Richland County Public Library Spring Book Sale. 9 am -3 pm at the RCPL Operations center. Click here for a map.

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Check out the Indie GRITS Film festival, (there are events Wednesday- Sunday). at the Fox Theatre on Main Street as well as The Nickelodeon. Click here to see Saturday's schedule.

What else is going on in Columbia, and what are your plans?

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Do-Gooder Monday

Some chances to do good this week:


1) Register for the first ever Race for the Place 5K run/walk to be held this Saturday, February 6th at 8:30 am. All proceeds from this event will benefit St. Lawrence Place, a transitional housing program for homeless families in the Midlands. {I work at SLP and have been helping organize this event, so I'm a bit biased, but you should do it!}

Sponsors include: BlueCross BlueShield, Bank of America, 621 Athletes, Pupcakes Pet Boutique, Doc's Barbeque and Southern Buffet, Edisto Irrigation & Landscaping, Pinnacle Physical Therapy, Shandon-Wood Animal Clinic, Cottage & Vine, Ed Robinson Dry Cleaners, Chick-fil-A, Young Chef's Academy, Allegra Printing, Piggly Wiggly, Colonial Life, and Mad Platter!

There will be a Fun Run for kid's under age 12, and Chick-fil-A will be on-site with the cow and free food, as well as Young Chef's Academy with an activity for kids and Ed Robinson Cleaners with a raffle for free dry cleaning!

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2) Eat at Village Idiot in 5 Points tonight--100% of sales from 4-close today will be given to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund!

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3) Go to the Junior League's Clean Sweep event at the Fairgrounds this Saturday, (after the race of course!) 8am- 2 pm; $2 for parking and $2 admission; at 12:30-1 pm the sale closes and then from 1-2 pm you can pay $5 to fill up a bag as full as possible with donated items such as DVDs and music, linens, books, home and garden items, etc...a junk-finder's dream! And all the proceeds go to help the Junior League fund community projects for local non-profits.

Know of any other charitable events going on this week?

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New Fare in Columbia

(Or at least new to me...)

So, I am reading the latest Free Times, which includes an extensive Menu Guide. There are a number of restaurants with their menus printed that I have never even heard of...and I am excited and hungry!

Here's a few restaurants that I definitely want to try:

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@116 Espresso & Wine Bar: Yes, they serve coffee and wine, but in the evening they do a full dinner service including local produce, seafood and meats, prepared with a Spanish twist. Located at 116 State St, West Columbia.
What I want to eat: Cheese Plate- goat cheese truffles, marinated manchego, spiced almonds, roasted red onion cup stuffed with bleu cheese, and a toasted baguette. Yes, please.

Thirsty Fellow Pizzeria and Pub: Recently opened by the former owner of Durkin's along with the current owner of Publick House, this place is sure to have experience on it's side. I haven't seen a menu yet, but the Free Times ad boasts Live Trivia, Pint Night, and a Sunday Brunch. I love pizza, so I will definitely be trying this place out. Located at 621 Gadsden St. Click here to read an article The State did on Thirsty Fellow. MadPlatter has recently Twittered that One Eared Cow Glass is on display at the Thirsty Fellow--very cool.

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Garden Bistro: (This one's been around a while, but I've never tried it...) Located at 923 Gervais St in Columbia, this restaurant is located next to/behind one my favorite late night spots, Art Bar. The menu is as the restaurant title alludes, pretty healthy and fresh-sounding; salads and a good many vegetarian options. They also have Daily Specials listed on their website--nice.
What I want to eat: Garden Bounty Wrap- shredded zucchini, squash and carrots with pecans and strawberry vinaigrette wrapped in a spinach tortilla OR Smashed Three Cheese- combo of cheddar, Swiss and provolone on Texas toast. Or both.

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And, some more restaurant-related news: This coming Monday, February 1st, Village Idiot in 5 Points will donate 100% of its profits beginning at 4 pm to the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief Fund. A local band, Shallow Palace will play and there will be a raffle with prizes, (and VI pizza is some of my favorite in Columbia--try the Hurricane). Way to give back, Idiot!

Have you tried any of these restaurants?

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A Serious Man and Budget Food & Drink in Columbia

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week, I went to see A Serious Man on Tuesday at The Nickelodeon. It is a film by the Coen brothers about a man named Larry Gopnik trying to find balance in a personal world that seems to be crumbling all around him. His wife announces she's leaving him for a pompous-ass friend of theirs, one of his college students is trying to bribe him for a better grade or will sue him for defamation, his live-in brother has a nasty sebaceous-cyst problem and is not only malingering but also has a gambling problem, and his children are whiny little adolescent brats. He seeks out the help of 3 very different rabbis to try to help him sort out his problems.

I thought the film was quite entertaining and clever. Although, I appreciate the brothers' comedies like The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona a bit more than this one.

My favorite scene of the movie comes when Larry is on the phone with the Columbia Record Club--(you remember the one, where you sign up to receive some free albums, but then end up getting sent a lot of crap you don't want and have to send back or get charged for it)--trying to resolve a dispute over a membership his son set up unbeknownst to him. Larry keeps repeating the line, "But I did nothing," over and over...symbolic of how he has done nothing to "deserve" what is happening in his life, but conversely has done nothing to change it. A very clever scene indeed.

The movie is worth watching. It also reminds me of American Beauty--same basic plot--man gets screwed in his personal life; learns life has to be actively participated in to be enjoyed...

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While at The Nickelodeon, I picked up Volume 1, Issue 1 of Columbia's Super Budget newsletter. For those who may not know, Super Budget Columbia has a website and Facebook page as well, which give us poor Columbians lists of places to eat, drink and be entertained for cheap. I for one appreciate a deal, especially a sweet deal like eating good food or drinking alcoholic beverages on the cheap, so I decided I'd share some of my favorite most recent Super Budget finds with you:

Food First:

Mondays are Pizza Nights!
Free pizza at Kelly's Pub during Monday Night Football
$1 large slices at The Whig until midnight
$1 large slices and $.40 wings at Village Idiot* until 10 pm
(The Whig and Village Idiot pizza are 2 of my absolute favorites in Columbia)

Tuesdays are Taco Nights!
$.50 tacos at The Whig-see my precious post about this
$1 tacos at Utopia
or, if you want more pizza, $1.25 large slices at Pizza Man, (my 3rd favorite pizza in Columbia!)

Wednesdays
$1 large slices during Happy Hour only at The Whig

Saturdays
$1 Mean Bean Burritos after 6 pm at El Burrito

Drinks:
Mondays
$2 well liquor at The Whig

Tuesdays
$1 Bud and Bud Light bottles at Village Idiot*

Wednesdays
$2 drafts all night at The Whig
$2 drafts all night at Delaney's

Thursdays
$5 Wine Tasting at WineStyles, 5-7 pm ($5 refunded with purchase of 2 bottles of wine)

Fridays
FREE Wine Tasting 4:30-6:30 at Simply Savory

Saturdays
$1 Wine Tasting, 2-5 pm at The Gourmet Shop

Sundays
$2 import bottles all day and night at Village Idiot*

Entertainment:
FREE admission for Richland and Lexington county residents to the Riverbanks Zoo
every Friday through February 26, 2010!

*Offers good at the Village Idiot in 5 Points ONLY

Know of any other cheap or free food/drink/entertainment in Columbia? Please share!

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