Charleston Real Estate Market

Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto have hit Charleston! Two friends from James Island arrived with guitars in hand for a couple of weeks in town. Rick Smith grew up next door to me in the Terrace. He and brother Steve were the nucleus of a rock and roll band, The Shoresmen. They’d practice in their garage and boy! was I the envy of teenage girls everywhere.  They went on to form the High Price Spread when music got a little more psychedelic. They were regulars at Alice’s Underground on Folly Beach where McKevlin’s Surf Shop is now. It was converted from a bowling alley. They left for California and did well in the music industry.

 Rick now lives in Hawaii and is the driving force behind the Honolulu Blues Project. He was with his sister, Candace, at Art’s Bar and Grill where he sat in with Jay Vane, a hot local drummer. Candace runs a major recording studio and lives in LA. I haven’t seen her since she was about 18 and I swear she looks the same. They’ll be around for another week if you want to track them down.

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 28th, 2010 | No Comments »

We’re certainly getting our share of rain this week. The gardens are getting greener by the minute. I found this funny picture ftom our friend, Chip. Thought you’d enjoy a bird of a different feather. 

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 25th, 2010 | No Comments »

Boy, trying to keep up with technology is a full time job. I’m looking for a new computer and if I wasn’t confused before I went shopping, I am now.  I have very specific requirements, or maybe I should call them desirements on my list and trying to get most of them in one package is beginning to look like a lost cause. But I’ll keep on hunting, I know the perfect unit is there somewhere! Wish me luck!

Around the state:

May 22  Green and Lean 5K Brittlebank Park

May 23-26  Veterans Golf Classic in Myrtle Beach

May 23   Charleston Sprint Triathlon at James Island County Park  Good Luck Jeff!!!!

May 27  Iris Festival in Sumter

May 29  USSSA Memorial Day Blast Softball Tournament Charleston

May 31  Memorial Day state and federal holiday

     Piccolo Spoleto will present 30-40 art, music, theatre and dance events daily for seventeen days beginning May 28th. Other events include Sand Sculpting, a Beach Music Bash, the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable. It’s terrific fun for the entire family. Check out the schedule for yourself at www.piccolospoleto.com

     At the same time, big sister, the Spoleto Festival USA, blasts into town with a great parade to City Hall. This opens a fantastic array of entertainment from the premiere of a new opera to the recreation of the first opera performed in America; punk to cello concerts; Noel Coward to new work having US premieres; the gentle ballet of Gisele to all Male “ballerinas” to combustive contemporary work; West African strings to chamber music; Westminster choirs to the Carolina Chocolate Drops to the Wachovia Jazz Series. Don’t forget the fantastic finale. Bring your blanket and your dinner for music and fireworks.

www.SpoletoUSA.org

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 21st, 2010 | No Comments »

In Memorium

Julian E. Smith, Jr.

September 21, 1926 – May 16, 2010

Filed under: Around Town, Business News, Lowcountry Today on May 20th, 2010 | No Comments »

Welcome to Monday in the Lowcountry. Our good friends visited from Nova Scotia yesterday on the way to golf in Hilton Head. It was so much fun to show off the Lowcountry and a great excuse to fire up at pot of Frogmore Stew. The weather was perfect and the cool breeze on the porch made the day even better.

Speaking of perfect weather, I heard that a  Holland America cruise ship stopped by the cruise ship terminal downtown yesterday for a day of shopping and sightseeing. Carnival Cruise Lines will set up housekeeping here tomorrow with the arrival of the first of their weekly dockings. If you’re looking for an easy getaway, look no farther than the end of Market Street.

Here’s a shot of another nautical visitor to Shelter Cove marina in HHI from our friend Chip. A beauty!

There’s alot of activity heating up this week in the area. Here’s a peek:

To honor those we have lost while serving their country, a Memorial Day Concert will be held as part of Piccolo Spoleto this year. 30-40 art, music, theatre and dance events will be held daily for seventeen days beginning May 28th. Other events include Sand Sculpting, a Beach Music Bash, the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable. It’s terrific fun for the entire family. Check out the schedule for yourself at www.piccolospoleto.com .

     At the same time, big sister, the Spoleto Festival USA, blasts into town with a great parade to City Hall. This opens a fantastic array of entertainment from the premiere of a new opera to the recreation of the first opera performed in America; punk to cello concerts; Noel Coward to new work having US premieres; the gentle ballet of Gisele to all Male “ballerinas” to combustive contemporary work; West African strings to chamber music; Westminster choirs to the Carolina Chocolate Drops to the Wachovia Jazz Series. Don’t forget the fantastic finale. Bring your blanket and your dinner for music and fireworks. Lots more information at www.SpoletoUSA.org

Enjoy your week!

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 17th, 2010 | No Comments »

Our friend Chip from Hilton Head sent some great photos of the marina wildlife. He said I could share them with you so here is one of my favorites. I call it the marina rooster.

Enjoy your Saturday, don’t forget the Farmers Markets in your part of the Lowcountry. 

Sculpture in the South, a premiere show set in Summerville’s Azalea Park, is fast becoming a nationally recognized opportunity to meet and mingle with sculptors as they present their works. Visit May 15th-16th.

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Here are some other events taking place around the area this month:

May 13-16  BMW Charity Pro Am Gold Tournament in Spartanburg

May 14  Charleston Doubles Open and Pro-Am

May 15  Windsor Hill Hawk Trot 5K Charleston

May 15  Angel Walk in Mt Pleasant

May 15 USA Baseball Mid Atlantic NTIS Charleston

May 22  Green and Lean 5K Brittlebank Park

May 23-26  Veterans Golf Classic in Myrtle Beach

May 23   Charleston Sprint Triathlon at James Island County Park

May 27  Iris Festival in Sumter

May 29  USSSA Memorial Day Blast Softball Tournament Charleston

May 31  Memorial Day state and federal holiday

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 15th, 2010 | No Comments »

Good news on the travel page today. Southwest Airlines is now going to visit us. We’ll be able to travel more reasonably and so will our bags! That’s always a plus.

Looking forward to the citrus crop in December. The trees flowered and our yard smelled heavenly. The trees are full of tiny fruit. I found this photo of the fruit at the end of the last year.

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 14th, 2010 | No Comments »

We can’t forget the Farmers Markets in the area. Bringing us not only fresh vegetables and local specialties, the artisans that sell from their booths are fascinating. Buy local, it’s the best.

     Every Saturday until close to Christmas, the Downtown Farmers Market opens at 8 am in Marion Square. They are beginning the transition to one of a handful of “GreenMarkets” across the US. “Get Fresh with the Locals” at the Mt Pleasant Farmers Market at the Pavilion on Coleman Blvd. next to Moultrie Middle School. North Charleston’s Farmers Market is held on Thursday from 1-7 at the Traffic Circle at Park Circle.

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Today on May 11th, 2010 | No Comments »

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 9th, 2010 | No Comments »

You can tell when summer hits the Folsom house…the Woodie backs out, gets tuned up and polished. Should hit 90 today and tomorrow and cool down for Mother’s Day to about 75. What a nice present. 

A few events to mention for the weekend:

The much acclaimed “Decadent Divas” a fashion, music and dance extravaganza, will be at the N Chas Coliseum tonight.

     If that puts you in a dancing mood, head over to the “Shaggin’ on the Cooper” party at the Mt. Pleasant Visitors Center on the 8th. More? You can be Shaggin’ on the Pier at Folly on the 14th.

     What to do for Mother’s Day? Don’t just buy roses, take Mom to the 18th Annual Charleston Rose Show on the 8th at Northwoods Mall from 1-5. Entries accepted 6:30-10am.

     Careful of the extra traffic in town on this weekend. The Citadel  Corps of Cadets will hold their commencement at 9:30 am on the 8th. The College of Charleston will hold their traditional white tie graduation a few hours later at the Cistern on George Streets at 4 pm. Lots of families in town, what a great Mother’s Day present!

     Ah, now to Mother’s Day. Honor your mother on the 9th. I saw a great bumper sticker that read Mothers are working women too. Mothers have such a more complicated role in life these days. It must be hard to balance all the needs of family, friends and spouse while still taking some time for self without guilt. So here’s to the Moms. No matter how well or poorly they do it, at least they are.

     Ever fantasize that you’re sipping cocktails and nibbling on fancy hors d’oeuvres on a spectacular yacht? On the 16th, the Charleston Yacht Affair will let you live the dream. The City Marina will host the yachts, cuisine from top local chefs, live entertainment and a chance to check out a line-up of floating elegance all to benefit the Cities in Schools program.  

Filed under: Around Town, Lowcountry Lifestyle, Lowcountry Today on May 7th, 2010 | No Comments »