HyperLocal News for West Columbia, South Carolina

Barnyard Flea Market Dallas: 'Join the Fun'The Dallas Barnyard Flea Market has more than 600 vendors selling everything from antique collectibles to fresh produce.

Charlotte & Mecklenberg County Main Public Library: The heart of Uptown CharlotteThe Main Library, in the absolute heart of Uptown, is the crowning jewel of the Public Library System of the city of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County.

Concord Mills Mall: 1.4 million-square-feet of shopping blissConcord Mills Mall is one of the most visited attractions in the entire state of North Carolina, and the 1.4 million-square-foot facility has something for every age — as there are more than 200 retail stores

ImaginOn: A library, children's theatre and much moreImaginOn is a collaborative venture of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, and the 102,000-square-foot “learning center” opened in 2005.

Tremont Music Hall: Local, regional and national actsTremont Music Hall holds a special place in the hearts of many in the independent and upcoming music scene. The small music venue — which features two separate stages — has been hosting live music since 1995 and has seen a number of huge musical acts like Green Day and My Chemical Romance perform at the early stages of their careers.

zMAX Dragway: 'The Bellagio of drag strips'The self-declared “Bellagio of Drag Strips” is the only four-lane, all concrete drag strip in the world. The zMAX Dragway opened in 2008 and has quickly become a popular destination for race fans and amateur drag racers.

Charlotte Motor Speedway: 'The Beast of the Southeast'The Charlotte Motor Speedway, known as "The Beast of the Southeast," is a 1.5-mile racetrack that hosts a number of NASCAR events each year in Concord, N.C.

Morris Museum of Art: See the South in a whole new way!When you think of the South art may not immediately jump to your mind, but maybe it should. One visit to the Morris Museum of Art is all it should take to be convinced that artists of the American South are a very talented bunch.

NASCAR SpeedPark: Racing rides for all agesNASCAR SpeedPark offers up speedy go-karts, Laser Tag, mini-golf, video games and more for those near the Charlotte Speedway in Concord, NC.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: One of the nation's must-visit gardensDaniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful areas of the Charlotte region, and thousands of residents and tourists visit the grounds every year to participate in one of numerous amounts of events it holds. Whether it’s attending a wedding, an educational field trip, or taking in the natural gorgeousness of the botanical gardens themselves, everyone should take at least one visit to this area landmark.

JAX Backstreet Tavern: 'Pizza and Ice Cold Beer'JAX Backstreet Tavern on Glenway Street opened in August 2010 with 24 different draft beers, 18 different kinds of pizzas, 18 different types of chicken wings, and eight different types of French fries and tater-tot combinations.

Fox and Hound Smokehouse/Tavern: 'The Best Party in Town'Fox and Hound Smokehouse/Tavern is the self-titled “Best Party in Town — Seven Nights a Week,” and plenty of Charlotte residents must agree since the three locations are continually packed with patrons.

Whiskey Warehouse: 'Home of Charlotte's best whiskey list'Whiskey Warehouse, which touts itself as the “Home of the $4 Jack Daniels and Charlotte’s Best Whiskey List, opened in late 2009 in the hip Charlotte area of Plaza Midwood. Whether you’re looking for a place to watch Carolina Panthers Games, or looking to work up a sweat at their Wednesday night’s “Party on the Plaza” with a live DJ, Whiskey Warehouse is more than just a giant whiskey list.

The Flying Saucer: A "beerknurd's" paradiseIf you like beer — not Budweiser or Miller Lite but ales, stouts, porters, or bocks — then you will love The Flying Saucer in the University area of Charlotte.

Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern: Europe meets America in Southwest CharlotteThe Red Lion Restaurant & Tavern tries to replicate the European “Gastronomy Pub” with traditional pub décor, large pints of imported beer, and classic European dishes like Bangers and Mash, Shepherd’s Pie and Fish & Chips. But the establishment doesn’t just try and copy the European style; it re-imagines it with an Americanized twist.

Whiskey River: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s signature bar -- and home away from homeDale Earnhardt Jr., who lives just a few miles north of Charlotte in Kannapolis, opened the bar in 2008 as a place that he could hang out. He chose the colors, the name, the theme and several of the drinks. His influence hits you as soon as you walk in the door, and “Junior” himself can be found at the establishment many nights during the offseason.

Tavern On the Tracks: The definitive sports barWith a square, four-sided bar at the center of the tavern — with dozens of flat screen televisions showing sports all the time — Tavern on the Tracks is the place to be for fans with big appetites ready to watch the big game.

Connolly's on 5th: Erin go Braugh in Uptown Charlotte!Connolly’s on 5th is one of those bars that just seem to have recreated, in perfect detail, the feeling of being in a real Irish pub. It’s as if the bar was uprooted out of Dublin, put on a ship, and brought oversees to Uptown Charlotte.

Central Coffee Co.: Home of the 'Central Shorty'Central Coffee Co. opened up in 2009 in a building that has stood at the location since the 1930s. The shop has 20 seats for people, along with free Wi-Fi and some comfortable seating in the back by a fireplace.

Joel Saperstein: An invitation to discover your artistic soulJoel Saperstein isn’t in the art business for the money. He isn’t really in the art business at all. Saperstein creates art simply because he loves to do it. Now, he wants to share that love with people in the Queen City.

Yiasou Greek Festival: 'A time of year when everyone can be Greek'The Yiasou Greek Festival each September hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 600 East Boulevard is an annual celebration that allows “Everyone to be Greek.”

Tom Watson Watermelon Festival: Do the watermelon crawl!If you drink, don't drive, do the watermelon crawl takes on a whole new meaning when you're in Thomson, Georgia at the end of summer, where the lyrics to Tracy Byrd's hit song could almost be the anthem for the local Tom Watson Watermelon Festival.

The Quail Hollow Championship: One of the PGA Tour's finest tournamentsThe PGA Tour makes a stop every year in the Queen City for the annual Quail Hollow Championship, formerly known as The Wachovia Championship. One of the most popular golf tournaments — for both players and spectators — each year, the Quail Hollow Championship has quickly become one of the biggest PGA tournaments that is not on of the four Majors.

Green's Lunch: Serving inexpensive food in Uptown since 1926Green's Lunch, which specializes in hot dogs, has been located at 309 West 4th Street in Uptown Charlotte for 84 years — and not much has changed on the menu since first opening the doors in 1926.

Boardwalk Billy's Raw Bar & Ribs: a 'one hour vacation'Boardwalk Billy’s Raw Bar and Ribs has taken the beach atmosphere and relocated it to the Charlotte region — and even had an actual boardwalk porch overlooking a man-made pond in the Shoppes at University Place.

Fuel Pizza Café: With nine locations, one is never too far awayAlthough Fuel has plenty of food items to choose off of their “Wings & Things” menu, like salads, buffalo wings and calzones — for $4 to $8 — most people head to the restaurant for their pizza. Fuel has won several awards for “Best Pizza” in local media competitions, and was awarded “Best Pizza” in 2010 by readers of Creative Loafing.

H & M Deli and Market: Fine food and drink, locally owned and operatedH & M Deli and Market is a “fast food healthy option” in downtown Cramerton. The restaurant is a perfect combination of fresh ingredients with little to no preservatives and trans fat and a market filled with local and organic food items.

Which Wich Superior Sandwiches: 'Edgy, yet inviting'The concept for Which Wich Superior Sandwiches is very simple. “No soups. No salads. Just one focus: the best possible ‘wiches,’ served in an edgy yet inviting environment.”

Bull & Barrister: Sports Bar mixed with English PubBull & Barrister Draft House and Grille offers Northwest Charlotte and one-of-a-kind sport’s-themed pub with 33 televisions, pool tables, an outdoor patio and a cigar lounge.

Ru San's: Sushi for newbies or connoisseursRu San’s is a small Japanese restaurant off Park Road that has received plenty of awards from local media outlets for the best sushi in Charlotte.

Mac's Speed Shop: 'Beer, Bikes, BBQ'. Enough said.Mac’s Speed Shop has a simple and short motto. “Beer, Bikes, BBQ.” That’s about as much information many people will need in order to try out the iconic establishment, but Mac’s offers a cool environment with some of the best food and drinks Charlotte has to offer.

Sammy's Deli & Neighborhood Pub: Main Street America at its bestSammy’s Deli & Neighborhood Pub is one of those small establishments on “Main Street America” that is really hard not to love. Sammy’s has great food, friendly servers, and an endless supply of drinks.

The String Bean Fresh Market & Deli: High quality food and drinks in Historic Downtown BelmontThe String Bean Fresh Market & Deli is providing a niche service to residents in and near Historic Belmont by combining a market with fresh local produce, meats, cheeses, wine and beer with a restaurant helmed by a local culinary instructor.