October 2011 edition
October is here and those quick snatches of cool air will begin to be
more and more frequent. Surely the crisp days of autumn are just around
the corner with reports on the news of the leaves turning in the mountains
and Halloween decorations sprouting throughout
the neighborhood. The farmer’s market in
Hendersonville, NC always displays huge mounds
of apples fresh from their orchards and the displays
in our markets mirror the change in seasons. The
stores are hawking costumes and candy by the
bushel and have been for months.
There have been a few mentions of our fair town
in the big city papers and magazines. Of course, we all know that HUSK
was named the Best New Restaurant in Bon Appétit last month. It’s
quite an accolade for Sean Brock.
Sophisticated Living, a high end Louisville, KY magazine similar to
our Charleston Magazine, had a tasty feature on the Holy City. It began
saying that it had been months, but Charleston was still with the author...
in pounds! She raved about the food at Charleston Place, Magnolias,
Carolinas, Cypress, Tristan, Charleston Grill, HUSK and Dixie Supply.
After reading about each meal in detail, it’s no wonder the memories
are lingering. She signed off with a nod to Taste of Charleston, Spoleto
and Fashion Week.
The New York Times travel section came out with an article on the
new City Market, “Charleston’s (Now) Great Hall.” The 18 month renovation
was touted as a move to bring locals to the once tourist spot. It
said we locals were obvious in our muted, non-cruise ship apparel. Hank
Holliday, one of the developers who has the lease, spent a year traveling
to famous locals markets around the world to see what tied them to the
community. He was quoted as saying that the primary goal was to bring
Charlestonians back. There are 4 buildings within the market. The Great
Hall is the air conditioned, sky-lit new home to Historic Charleston’s
Shop, Chuma Gullah Gallery, old favorite Gita’s Gourmet, two dining
establishments and micro boutiques, all in an open floor plan. Sounds
like it’s worth stopping, not just sending your visitors from off. The photography
in both pieces was really startling in the richness of the images.
Let’s move on to MOJA. Yes, the 10 day Caribbean festival is back in town til
the 9th celebrating jazz, reggae, dance storytelling and visual arts.
Here’s something new. The Charleston Museum is offering a beginners weaving
class for adults and mature children on the morning of the 1st.
Music is all around town this month. Rockers 4 Knockers, the first annual
breast cancer fete to honor Bette Griffith, will be held on the 1st at the Bus Shed at
375 Meeting St beginning at 6pm. A good cause in memory of a beautiful woman.
Spending time outdoors is never so beautiful as on the Charleston Horticultural
Society’s 2011 Gardens for Gardeners Tour. Based around Hampton Park, site of
the Charleston Exposition in 1901, the tour will be on the 2nd from 1-4:30pm.
If you’re a fan of small bouquets, learn the art of hand-tied stems at Charleston
Stems on Coming Street on the 5th.
More music, this time on the 2nd. North Charleston’s Wannamaker Park will
host the 20th Annual Latin American Festival from noon to 6. A high energy mix
of music, food, and family fun. Also on the 2nd, Rain, the internationallyacclaimed
“Beatles” concert, returns to the North Chas. Performing Arts Center.
It’ll take a few days to recover from all the festivities and paint is the theme for
the next group of outings. DAYGLOW, the World’s Largest Paint Party began
on college campuses in Florida in 2006 and has exploded around the country. It
fuses high energy music, art, dance and paint into one show on the 6th at the North
Charleston Performing Arts Center at 8pm.
On the 7th, celebrate First Fridays on Broad Street. Enjoy the artwork on
display and the refreshments as you stroll the historic shops. The Wells Gallery
opens Lotto Icons, a show by Earl Lewis on the 7th also. And The City Gallery is
hosting a MOJA exhibit, Special Moments: works from the Collection of Dr
Harold Rhodes til the 19th.
Here’s a week long event combining the art of food with art. It the 2011 Southern
Living Taste of Charleston. On the 7th is the Taste: Iron Chef Competition
to be held at the Culinary Institute’s Palmer Campus from 6-9pm. On the 8th is
Taste of the Arts on Gallery Row. From 6-8pm the art galleries on Broad Street
will combine Lowcountry art with culinary art. Taste: The Main Event will take
place the 9th and 10th at Boone Hall Plantation where 50 of the area’s top restaurants
will serve sample portions of their signature dishes. Entertainment, the legendary
Waiter Race and a beer garden with 40+ craft and specialty beers. The Southern
Living area will have demonstrations, editor appearances and giveaways.
For something a little closer to nature, the Women’s Outdoor Wildlife Retreat
will be at the Sewee Center in Awendaw the 7th-9th. Speaking of Sewee Center, on
the 1st is the Blue Crab Festival, the 2nd is the Cape Romain Lighthouse Tour.
On the 9th Rudy Mancke will lead a nature walk on Bulls Island. On the 15th learn
about the Indian shell rings and on the 22nd is a lecture on the Refuge.
www.CharlestonHoLmes.com
What’s on stage? How about Theatre 99’s opening on the 6th-8th of What if?
Durang, Durang & Durang. Comedy for the Cure is at the Hippodrome for
two shows on the 8th. The 6th Annual American Music Celebration at Freshfields
Village is a free open-air roots music festival from 2-7pm.
In keeping with the season, beginning the 16th, Charleston Stage presents the
original true blood bad boy, Dracula at the Dock Street Theatre through the
28th.
The Columbia City Ballet will present Off the Wall and onto the Stage:
Dancing the Art of Jonathan Green at the Gaillard on the 14th and 15th. If
you’d rather a movie under the stars, go the James Island County Park on the
14th for Billy Madison or the 28th for Beetlejuice. 8-10pm.
The 15th is the College for the Day: Marine Biology program by the College
of Charleston and Grice Marine Lab. A harbor trawl begins your “school”
day. Not feeling adventurous? How about knitting dolls from a 19th century
pattern at the Museum instead?
House hunting? The Preservation Society is hosting its 35th Annual Fall
Tours of Homes and Gardens through the 23rd of this month.
For a different kind of visit to a plantation, here are two options. Kiawah is
hosting a tour of Vanderhorst Plantation, circa 1801, now privately owned. A
very rare treat on the 2nd.
Then it’s a paddle down the Lower Wambaw to Hampton Island and the rice
fields of Hampton Plantation on October 29th and on Nov. 26th. You can also
visit the plantation house. Pack a lunch and enjoy from 9:30-2pm. Easy Paddling.
Five exhibits and events for the Civil War historian in the family. With a nod
to the Sesquicentennial anniversary of the Civil War and in conjunction with the
new textile hall, the Charleston Museum is showcasing Threads of War: Clothing
and Textiles of the Civil War Era til the end of the month. An exhibit also
at the Museum explores life in Charleston from secession to 1865.
Secessionists, Soldiers and Slaves: The Alston Family’s Civil War. The
Edmondston Alston House showcases one family’s war experience with exhibits
changing to follow family and slaves during the progression of the war.
The Middleton Family’s experiences during the Civil War are also chronicled
at Middleton Place. The exhibit not only follows the war but the rice culture
during the war, the building of the City’s defenses, experimental “seegar boats”
and the underground railway.
On the 28th, the Curator of History of the Charleston Museum will lead a
walk through Battery Pringle, one of four Confederate fortifications located on
the Dill Sanctuary on James Island. Located on the Stono River, it was the cornerstone
of Beauregard’s New Lines and proved a formidable defense. Battery
Pringle is one of the best preserved examples of Confederate Earthworks . Doug Holmes 843-475-1722
Doug Holmes
Carolina One Real Estate
873 Orleans Rd Suite 102
Charleston., SC 29407
Cell 843-475-1722
dholmes@CarolinaOne.com
www.CharlestonHoLmes.com
We open the month with the 19th IOP Connector Run for the Child on the 1st.
The Charleston Pro Tennis League, a Davis Cup style team tennis league focusing on creating
a competitive environment for high level local players will finish its program this month.
On the 7th, play will be at the Family Circle Center, the match on the 14th will be at Wild
Dunes Resort. On the 21st, The Championships will be at the Charleston Tennis Center. Free.
The Fleming will once again be held at the Seabrook Island Tennis Club on the 7th-9th. In
its 21st year, the event raises money for Hospice of Charleston.
The 16th TREK Breast Cancer Awareness Ride will be in Awendaw on the 8th.On the
22nd, there’s the Crowfield Plantation 5K in Goose Creek and the Avondale 5K West Ashley.
The K Swiss Jr. Clay Court Championships will be held at Kiawah the 14-17th.
The SC Lowcountry Bicycle Tour takes off on the 23rd with 25-50 mile a day rides to tour
the Lowcountry, it runs til the 28th. Speaking of another kind of riding, on the 22nd the Ride of
Valor comes to the area. Departing Mt. Pleasant at around 1pm, 40 riders will front the motorcycle-
cade to honor the 40 passengers and crew of Flight 93. It will travel 93 miles from Patriots
Point to Pine Ridge Fire Department in Summerville. Anyone can ride after the group of 40
and the law enforcement riders with them.
Also on the 22nd is the Folly Beach Challenge, a non traditional triathlon featuring a 3 mile
paddle, an 8.5 mile bike and a 3 mile run.
Here’s a new way to look at the historic area. How about the 1st Annual Swim Around
Charleston. The event is being used to introduce marathon swimming to the area. On the 23rd
at 10:30 am swimmers will enter the water at Remley’s Point, cross the harbor, proceed around
the peninsula and up the Ashley River. The event ends at the boat landing at 526. Wow! The
race is open to all over 14 yrs of age and solo, 2 and 4 man relay teams are invited.
The Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island the 24th-30th is the Tour’s seasonending
event. The top 60 money winners will compete for 25 PGA TOUR cards and a spot on
the 2012 PGA Tour. There will also be a concert featuring Mark Bryan of Hootie fame and a
Special Pro Am with 23 celebrities.
The Fight for Air 5K will be on Folly on the 29th and the Jerry Zucker Charleston Ride
for Hope will be in Mt Pleasant on the 30th. Don’t forget Halloween, get lots of candy!