This November, you packed away your #SpookySzn gear and prepared your forks to feast with family + friends. You gobbled up turkey + shopped til’ you dropped. Now, it’s time to prepare for a month of celebrations ...and maybe even some snow? (Okay, maybe this is asking too much.) We’ve got a list (of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa + Christmas stories), and we’re checking it twice – but in the meantime, we’ve got a roundup of your 5 favorite November stories.

#Answered: 10 small businesses in Columbia you’d cry over if they closed [4,150 website views]

We’re not over Delaney’s closing this past week (and apparently neither are you). Our most-viewed story this month focused on Cola’s most-loved local businesses.

On Nov. 24, we celebrated Small Business Saturday – a day dedicated to visiting + supporting locally-owned businesses. But before you hit up your Cola favorites, we asked you to tell us which small businesses you would miss the most if they closed. From Cafe Strudel to The Whig, you showed a lot of love for your favorite Cola spots (particularly those involving food).

We’re doing a happy dance for all of our local, small businesses that keep Columbia such a unique place to live.

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Your guide to Cola's Amtrak line [2,599 website views]

Some of you were surprised to find out that Columbia has passenger trains. Cola’s Amtrak station (850 Pulaski St.) includes direct + connecting trains that run anywhere from Miami to NYC, meaning Amtrak just might be the answer to your holiday travel needs. We put together a guide to help you navigate your track travels.

This guide should be in your December train of thought.

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Vote on which logo Main St.'s new restaurant Hendrix will use [3,602 website views]

We have a lot of opinions at COLAtoday – luckily, so do you. We teamed up with Hendrix Columbia – which opens at 1649 Main St. next week 😆– to help the new rooftop bar/restaurant decide on their official logo. We asked you to choose 1 of 4 Hendrix logos designed by local graphic designer Joseph Lemmons. 2,000+ people voted for their favorite. Check out the winning logo + find out more about Hendrix Columbia here.

The new logo is lighting up our holiday season.

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COLAtoday's sneak peek of Steel Hands Brewing [747 likes, 77 comments]

Steel Hands Brewing is about to be the largest on the growing list of Midlands breweries. The brewery – which sits on 4 acres in Cayce – opens the first week of December. We got the chance to tour the 10,000-sqft. brewery + 2,500-sqft. taproom. Y’all were beyond excited about the sneak peek (and so were we – cheers).

We’re wishing you Hoppy Holidays.

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Craft Axe Throwing is coming to Columbia [561 likes, 108 comments]

A lot of you were surprised by the pairing of axe-throwing + craft beer, but most of you were excited. Craft Axe Throwing is planning to open in Columbia sometime this December. Complete with giant dartboards + trained instructors, we are counting down the day ‘til they open in the Vista (by Tsunami).

We have a feeling this December will be axe-cellent.

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December will bring chilli(er) weather, local holiday shopping markets + festive events to keep us busi(er) throughout the holiday season. Take a look at our December PlanAhead and get your merry on, Columbia.

–Gray + the COLAtoday team