BOOKS

The 2007 SC Book Festival will be Feb. 23–25 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Friday the festival kicks off with an evening keynote address, heavy hors d’oeurves by Dorothea Benton Frank at the Thomas Cooper Library on the campus of USC. Admission is free Saturday & Sunday. www.scbookfestival.org.

Friends of The Richland County Public Library will host the Winter Book Sale Sat., Jan. 20, 9 am–3 pm. A preview sale for Friends’ members will be Fri., Jan. 19, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. 929-3475.

The Happy Bookseller, 4525 Forest Dr., will host Kwame Dawes, who will be reading from his debut novel, She’s Gone, Fri., Jan. 26, 5 pm.

CHURCH/charity

First Presbyterian Church continues its Wednesdays at noon lunch service in Jackson Hall. Lunch begins at 11:30 am followed by a speaker from 12:25 to 12:50. A hot meal is $5. Soup and salad is $4. The Thursdays at noon lunch service also continues. 799-9062.

HOLIDAYS

Historic Camden will hold a Holiday Toy Train Exhibit, Dec. 21–23, 27, 29, & 30, 6–8 pm at the Kershaw-Cornwallis House Basement. 432-9841 or www.historic-camden.net.

MEETINGS

A women’s business leads group is forming. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm. Categories will be protected. 261-0006.

Horrell Hill Family and Community Leaders Club meets the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 am. Contact Alice Williams, 776-7888, for the next meeting location.

Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Toastmasters Club meets at noon on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at The Charles R. Drew Wellness Center, 2102 Walker Solomon Way. Contact Larry S. Thompson, 545-3095.

The Business Association of Columbia meets every Wednesday at the Summit Club for breakfast to share sales leads. Contact Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Kiwanis Club of Richland meets the 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month at the Lizard’s Thicket on Beltline. Call Ken Connor, 256-2354.

The Downtown Columbia Lions Club meets the first and third Mondays for lunch. Contact Lloyd Pitts, 798-8256.

The African–American Breastfeeding Alliance, Inc., Columbia Chapter will meet Jan. 6, 1–3 pm at the Palmetto Health Richland Hospital Nine Medical Park Room 250. Contact Sonya Daniels, 920-2729.

MUSEUMS

EdVenture Children’s Museum will host its annual winter exhibit, Snowville, through Feb. 25. 779-3100 or www.edventure.org

MUSIC/entertainment

Columbia Harmonizers male chorus/ensemble meets Thursdays, 7:30 pm at Shandon United Methodist Church, 3407 Devine St. 798-1538 or wstewart@sc.rr.com.

Historic Columbia Foundation will offer daily Holiday Tours of Historic Homes through Sat., Dec. 30. Tours will be Tues., Sat., 10 am, 2 pm & Sun., 3 pm. 252-1770, ext. 24 or www.historiccolumbia.org

Columbia's AMSA Studios, 3135 Forest Dr., will present world–renowned Yogi, Manju Jois, to teach four Yoga sessions. Mon., Jan. 22, 9 am–noon & 5–8 pm; Tues., Jan. 23, 9 am–noon & 5–8 pm.

The Capital Senior Center will host a New Year’s Eve Dance Dec. 31,8:30 pm–12:30 pm. The cost is $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Ice and mixing beverages will be available; BYOB. Dress is semi–formal. Contact Jeanette Smith, 786-2049.

A gala in support of the Rev. Dr. Ronnie Elijah Brailsford Sr., 2008 candidacy for bishop will be Jan. 6, 6 pm at Seawells, 1125 Rosewood Dr. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 819 Woodrow St. 779-0138.

TRAINING/education

The Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals will offer a Safe Sitter class Thurs., Dec. 21, 9 am–3 pm & Fri., Dec. 22, 9 am–3:30 pm for kids 11–13 years old. The cost is $50 or $40 for Providence Hospital employees. Classes are held in the Providence Health Education Center, 2701 Laurel St. 256-5965.