LOWCOUNTRY
NOTES
August 2010
Jackie Parker & Doug Holmes
843-509-3811 843-475-1722
It’s hard to believe it’s as hot as it is and we’re only at
the beginning of August. But with August comes the inevitable...
first day of school. Students can take solace in the
fact that some Georgia schools reopened in July.
We are scheduled in the Lowcountry to return on the
16th in Dorchester County, the 17th in Berkeley County
and on the 18th in Charleston County.
To help us with the burden of purchasing items needed
for the school year, we’re having another Tax-Free Weekend.
Beginning at 12:01 am on the 6th and ending at
midnight on Sunday, the 8th, clothing, shoes, school supplies,
computers and some bed and bath items will be
sold without tax. This doesn’t apply if you are using layaway
or planning to resell the items.
According to CNN.com, Mount Pleasant is in the Top
100 Best Places to live in the US.
Charleston has moved up from number 18 to number
4 in the Most Vibrant Metro Areas for businesses with
99 employees or less, according to online magazine Portfolio.
com. Columbia at #12 is up from 59, Greenville #16
up from 28. To compare, Atlanta dropped from 31 to 60.
When looking at the density and growth of the 65+
population, Hilton Head /Beaufort is in the Top Ten of
the Retirement sector. I guess Sun City helped that figure
along. This was a Portfolio.com statistic also.
I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Mt Pleasant has
scored the Top Ten All American Cities honor. The other
nine named are: Chandler, AZ; Lynwood,CA; Rancho
Cordova, CA; North Miami, FL; Acworth, GA; Des
Moines,IA; Salisbury, MD; Gastonia, NC; and El Paso, Tx.
Our hats are off to all of these fine towns!
There are still things going on in the Lowcountry this month.
Votes are in for the Best Tennis Towns in the US competition. As
of press time, no announcements have been made but Charleston
is hoping for a top berth. Winners will be announced at this year’s
US Open.
On the 7th, the Family Circle Tennis Center will host a Tennis
Block Party from 9-1pm, highlighting all available tennis programs.
Just when you thought it was safe! Shark Week at the Aquarium
runs til the 8th with kid-themed activities. Don’t miss the free
movie on the lawn at 7pm on the 5th...what else? Jaws!
Hootie and the Blowfish will host their 8th Homegrown Concert
on the 11th of August at the Family Circle venue. The musicians
take this opportunity each year to host the event and ask
that you bring some school supplies to donate. These will be distributed
throughout the area.
On the 15th, First Day Festival will be held at Liberty Park
across from the Aquarium from 1-4pm to celebrate education and
the first day of school. Free boat rides, Aquarium visits and school
supplies (while they last) are available to those attending.
Free Movies are the best kind, especially when they’re outdoors
and the whole family can be there. On the 14th, the movie
will be City Slickers on the Great Lawn at the Mt Pleasant Waterfront
Park. Parking is only 50 cents an hour during the event.
Have a relaxing day kayaking Hampton Plantation waters
with a naturalist on the 14th. Enjoy the water tour in the morning
starting at 10 then a tour of the plantation house.
If the heat is making you crave the open seas, you might want
to mix some blues with your cruise. Each Thursday in August the
Carolina Belle sails with BBQ and Blues from the Maritime Center
at 6:30 pm for a 2 hour cruise.
If beach and shag music is more to your liking, on the 11th and
25th the Carolina Belle will change things up and give you what
you want. 6:30 boarding, BBQ and 2 hrs of beach music fun.
Heads up Jazz lovers...Earl Klugh’s Weekend of Jazz has
been announced at Kiawah Island November 11-13.
www.CharlestonHoLmes.com
Looking for something a little different? How about the 7th
Annual Grape Stomping Festival at the Irvin House Vineyard on
Wadmalaw Island? Allow your inner Lucy to come out and enjoy
herself on the 28th from 2-6. There will be stomping, picking, picnicking,
BBQ, music and, of course, a Lucy Look-Alike Contest.
That should get you in the mood for the Wine on the Water
event at the Aquarium on the 31st. Local chefs whip up sustainable
seafood delights for you and the views are beautiful.7-9pm
Local farms are gearing up for the Fall CSA: 12 Weeks of
farm fresh produce with pickup locations around the area.
Remember to Shop Local-Eat Local-Be Local.
Still have an empty calendar? Let’s see what else is up:
8/6-8 Lowcountry Coin Show, Exchange Park, Ladson FREE
8/ 7 Foothills Feline Cat Show in Simpsonville
Fried Green Tomato Festival in Beech island
8/14 South Carolina Peanut Party in Pelion,(includes a peanut
butter sandwich eating contest and lots of boiled peanuts)
Southeastern Toy Soldier Show in Columbia, military
miniatures from various eras, living history reenactments
8/19-21 Spitoono The Red Neck Performing Arts Association of
Clemson in its version of a famous Charleston event.
8/26 Battle of the Bands-Professional division*,The Music Farm
(*Professional People Pickin’ Part Time)
8/27-29 Harry Hampton Hunting and Fishing Expo, a kidfriendly
event in Spartanburg
8/28 Main Street Latin Festival Columbia
Michael Jackson’s Earth and Arts Festival North
Charleston’s Waterfront Park collecting toys for MUSC
Children’s Hospital
The Cookie Cup a 5K in Bennetsville to benefit the Girl
Scouts. The winner gets lots and lots of cookies.
Wild Summer’s Nite Auction and Wild Game Feast
benefitting the SC Wildlife Federation, Columbia
8/27-30 5th Annual Original Charleston Beach Music and
Shag Festival held at the Citadel Alumni House
www.LowcountryNative.com
Doug Holmes
Cell 843-475-1722
dholmes@CarolinaOne.com
www.CharlestonHoLmes.com
873 Orleans Rd Suite 102
Charleston., SC 29407
Jackie Parker
Cell 843-509-3811
jparker@CarolinaOne.com
www.LowcountryNative.com
Hard to believe the level of sports being held in the Lowcountry during this
heat wave. The Sprint Series has their final 2 triathlons on the 1st and 15th
at James Island County Park. //Daniel Island has 2 remaining in their Twilight
Run Series, the 5th and the 19th at BEHS.
2010 Kiawah Jr Open is at the Charleston Squash Club the 7th & 8th. 5pm
The 2010 Charleston Open for Figure Skating has been postponed. You
can work on Basic Skills at the Carolina Ice Palace on the 7th
The last in the Breakaway Run Series at the Citadel is on the 10th.
Think you know yourself? Join the Prediction Run by the Charleston Running
Club starting at the Windjammer on the 14th and see if you can predict
your 3 mile beach run time. Top 3 guesses win.
Junior golfers are in the spotlight this month. The Beth Daniel Junior
Azalea Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Chas. runs the 10th-12th
and the Tommy Cuthbert All Stars Championship will be on the Ocean
Wind Course at Seabrook Country Club the 14th and 15th.
The Big Kahuna Fishing Tournament at the Folly Pier is on the 14th.
The 21st brings a Half Rubber Tournament at IOP 9am, 16+ ages, the SC
Golfers Middle Am at Yeaman’s Hall in Hanahan and the Excaliber Body
Building Contest Finals at 6:30 pm in the Sottile Theater, C of C.
The 26th-28th is the USSSA World Series of Baseball 8-18 at the
Gahagan Sports Complex in Summerville
The SC Governor’s Cup of Surfing will run for 2 full days at the Washout
on Folly Beach on the 28th and 29th. The 28th will be the Run for ARK 5K
and 1 mile walk beginning at St Luke’s Lutheran in Summerville to support
Alzheimer’s Adult Care.
Look for the Half Rubber World Series Sept 4 and 6 at Park West in Mt P