Sometimes the most relaxing thing you can do is unwind (and unplug!) with a good book. Here’s how you can get swept up in a story in Columbia SC.
Shop
Pop into a local bookstore and stock your shelves with page-turners.
At Ed’s Editions in West Columbia, you’ll find rows upon rows of gently used books, as well as some rare collectible finds.
Over in Five Points, All Good Books offers a quality selection of new releases of all kinds, plus a robust schedule of author discussions and community programming.
Tucked into the Arcade Building on Main Street lies Queer Haven Books, the state’s only independent, queer bookstore.
Keep your collection fresh with a trip to The Book Dispensary, where you can trade in your books for something different at a deep discount.
Only open the last week of each month, The Used Bookshop at Baan Sawan is a bookstore experience like no other. Housed inside a family-owned and operated Thai restaurant, they reduced the number of tables to make room for the bookshop and record lounge, bringing in new selections of each on a near-weekly basis and inviting book lovers to relax and enjoy a glass of wine while perusing the stacks.
Get ready to welcome Liberation is Lit, currently operating as an online bookstore and through participation in local events, as they open a brick-and-mortar storefront in Forest Acres this spring. The business aims to build community and amplify intersectional voices.
Borrow
We’re extremely fortunate to have a national award-winning library in our community. The main branch of the Richland County Public Library system is acclaimed for being a hub for art, creativity and exploration. Children, teens and adults alike will enjoy not only browsing the books, but also the special programming, art displays and murals. (DYK – this is the only place in the world where author Maurice Sendak has allowed his illustrations to be used as public art? Here, you’ll find a 46 ft. Where the Wild Things Are mural and two free-standing scenes from the beloved children’s book.)
Forgot to pack a book? No worries – Columbia is chock full of Little Free Libraries! Feel free to take one and get your read on or leave one to share with someone else. Not only are these stations adorable, but they increase book access and forge community connections, too. Access the map here.
Gather
Who said reading isn’t a social activity? Engaging with storytellers and fellow readers is all part of the experience.
Richland Library’s inaugural Read Freely Fest makes its debut later this month with three days of shopping, author appearances, discussions, themed panels and more.
In addition to the aforementioned author discussions, All Good Books also hosts a weekly Children’s Storytime every Saturday at 10 a.m., providing a wholesome and educational start to the weekend.
It’s not hard to see why Silent Book Clubs became so trendy over the past couple years. Getting together at local establishments, everyone reading something different, but still feeling a sense of community. Columbia’s Silent Book Club meets monthly at Graduate by Hilton, plus a couple special pop-ups happening at Read Freely Fest, too. There’s also the Soda City Silent Book Club, whose dates and changing locations are shared on Instagram.
Sip
How can you even resist reading a book without having a steaming mug of coffee or tea handy? Cozy up in a coffee shop like Drip, Piecewise, Azalea Coffee Bar, Indah, Curiosity Coffee Bar, Second Wave Coffee & More, smallSUGAR, Loveland and (many) more for optimal reading conditions. Plus, get the best of both at Chapin-based The Coffee Shelf, which not only doubles as a bookstore, but also names its signature lattes after literary characters.
Personally, I’m also a big fan of getting lost in a chapter or two with an ice-cold pint within reach. Order up a brew and settle in at the bar or on one of the sun-filled window seats at the Irmo or Devine Street locations of Craft and Draft or outside in the fresh air at WECO Bottle & Biergarten. Or, spend a few hours sipping on something local, book and beverage in hand, at one of our area’s breweries like Steel Hands, Savage Craft, Bierkeller, Hunter-Gatherer at The Hangar, Hazelwood, or Columbia Craft, among others.
Backdrop
Simply looking for a change of scenery? Get away from it all with only the stunning views of the Congaree River and downtown Columbia skyline to distract you (and let’s be real – they probably will). Stroll along the Three Rivers Greenway before settling in on a park bench or at a picnic table. Bask in the warmth and your book while enjoying an idyllic afternoon.
A beach read just hits different and you don’t need to escape to the coast to get your fix. With toes in the sand and your nose in a book, listen to the waves gently lapping against the shore at the two Lake Murray Public Park locations.
The grounds of the South Carolina State House are not only beautiful, but are also a rather popular picnic spot. Spread out a blanket in the sun, pick up where you left off in your current read and stay a while.
Take in the academia around you and find a perfectly shady spot under a tree on the sprawling lawn of The Horseshoe on the University of South Carolina campus.
