Anyone trying to make a dinner reservation for their sweetheart has learned in the last few years that you better not delay. The Southeastern Wildlife Expo is usually right around the same time and with over 40,000 outdoor enthusiasts hitting town, it can cause quite a logjam. It’s back for the 30th year, fair warning.

    The weather has been so warm that tulip trees are blooming around town. Let’s just hope there’s no repeat of the late snow from last year. We want to be looking good when all our visitors start to show up.  Fodor’s, famous for its guide books, is predicting a banner travel year. “From worldwide spectacles like the London Olympics to buzzy destinations like foodie-focused Charleston…” we are on the GO List-21 Places to Go in 2012. We are one of only two US locations, joining Oahu on the list.

     The travelers linked with Trip Advisors have decided on their picks for the Top Hotels in the US. We have three of the top 25 here in our town. The French Quarter Inn came in at number seven and The Restoration on King debuted at number 19. The Wentworth Mansion was on the list at 24.

      Not only do we have Valentine’s Day this month, but President’s Day is celebrated on the third Monday of the month.  February 20th is the date this year. It is a federal and state holiday. It’s fitting that we should celebrate it between the Republican Primary and the statewide Democratic Primary which will be held on the 28th.

     February is Black History Month. Since 1976, it has been celebrated in the US and Canada. The Avery Institute is showcasing the Smithsonian exhibit Word, Shout, Song: Lorenzo Dow Turner.  Dr. Turner cracked the linguistic code of the Gullah language bringing international attention to the Sea Islands. The exhibit opens the 12th.

     Each Saturday during February and March at 2pm the Charles Pinckney Historical Site on Mt Pleasant will host the 2012 Gullah Cultural Series. The programs are different each week and free of charge.

     There’s lots of music to choose from this month, a little something for everyone.  The Welcome to Fin Land Tour 2012 with Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band will hit the Coliseum on the 2nd at 8pm.

     The N.Chas Performing Arts Center will be the place for the family favorite Mary Poppins from the Best of Broadway Series on the 1st and 2nd.

     On the 3rd, Gallery Row celebrates Blues on Broad: from Memphis to Mardi Gras. Each gallery will provide “a gumbo of live music and fine art.”

     The CSO Spiritual Ensemble performs its 4th Anniversary Performance,  Moses: Let my People Go-A Tribute to Moses Hogan, at Trinity United Methodist Church on Meeting St on the 4th.

     Another anniversary on tap this month:  82 Queen celebrates 30 years of serving fresh, local food and delivering a true Charleston experience. They are honoring their past by re-creating some old favorites in the kitchen and coming up with special surprises the 6th-11th.

     On the 8th, ease yourself into the Lowcountry Blues Bash. 14 days, 24 venues, 60 acts and 98 shows all over town, it runs til the 21st.

     Or take a wacky walk down the street of life with Avenue Q, a Musical by the Charleston Stage Company at the Dock Street the 10th-26th.

     Darius Rucker will romance us with the Songs of Frank Sinatra at the North Charleston Center for the Performing Arts on the 13th paving the way for a romantic Valentine’s Day.

     What began in 1993 as a ‘small winter diversion’ with 100 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees has grown into its own as the largest annual event held in SC. It’s the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the largest event of its kind in the country. The three day show now attracts over 500 artists and exhibitors and 40,000 visitors and will run from Feb 17th-19th.

     It’s another Brewvival in North Charleston on the 25th. New Belgium Brewmaster Peter Boukaert will be a distinguished presenter. Shuttles  available.

     Leave room for Chef’s Fest on the 26th at 6pm at Embassy Suites North Charleston Convention Center. Thirty exceptional chefs from some of the best restaurants in the area led by local Chef Robert Carter, the program raises funds for the Lowcountry Food Bank children’s programs serving 3,000 children weekly. 

     Aggie Zed has opened an exhibit of her work at the Halsey Gallery. Aggie went to Bishop England with me so tell her hi if she’s at the gallery. Zed grew up on Sullivan’s Island at a time when animals were allowed to roam your property.  Animal images recur in her unique artistry in Keeper’s Keep til March 10.  

    Power from animal waste? That idea tops our Business Watch. It’s one direction Santee-Cooper is exploring. They have contracted with Green Energy Systems to purchase 25 megawatts of green power. The first anaerobic digester plant will open near Manning in 2013.

      Local businesses Deytens Shipyard, Marinex and Construction Services Group have been awarded major contracts from the Dept. of Defense and the Army Corps of Engineers. In another win, Marinex also got the nod to restore the beach at St Augustine.

     Greenville-Spartanburg won the number one spot for the largest decrease in airfare nationally last year, clocking an impressive 14.3% drop in prices while Charleston came in second. We apparently saw a 7.2% drop in our prices.

     BMW will be hiring. The upscale automobile manufacturer located in Greer has announced they are adding the new X4 sports activity vehicle to its roster. The plant is currently home to the X3, X5 and X6 manufacture.

     Michelin recently unveiled its new 90,000 mile tread all season passenger tire. The Defender will be manufactured, among other locations, at it’s North American headquarters in Greenville.

     General Dynamics is bringing work for their new Stryker to the Force Protection plant in Ladson. There’s another new bank besides TD making its entry into South Carolina. Cincinnati-based Third Fifth Bank is debuting in the upstate.

     The Charleston-area homes sales market posted a 6% increase in the number of closing in 2011 over 2010.  These numbers came in just after we experienced the strongest December sales since 2006. That’s good news to everyone.

     Charleston Girl, a new fragrance inspired by Charleston and the women who  make it their home, has made its debut.  Former journalist, Kelly Gaskins, joined with Alpha Aromatics to create the scent.

     From the Chef’s Table comes the news that Brett McKee has joined Charleston Hospitality Group and recently opened Eli’s Table next to the Gibbes Art Gallery on Meeting Street. If you go, say hello to my friend Raymond in the front of the house.

     The Boulevard Diner was the setting for John King’s show on CNN. The Republican primary had reporters everywhere.

     Cypress was featured on the Cooking Channel. Unique Eats visited Chef  Craig Deihl’s kitchen to highlight some of the menu items there and to check out some of Chef’s favorite dishes

     Ben Arnold has begun distribution of Virgil Kaine’s Bourbon and Ginger, a hand crafted concoction using all natural ginger. Here’s to another local product taking off!

Time for sports in February.

There’s a Tennis Tournament going on at The Legends in Summerville. The Championship at Legends Oaks Plantation will run the 2nd through the 5th.

Schools get into the competition zone on the 4th. The Nativity School Flapjack 5K will be held at the Stono Shelter at the James Island County Park beginning at 8:30.  Ashley Ridge High School will have
their annual Fox Trot 5K the same morning at 8am on the school grounds.

The Go Red Heart 5K Run and Walk will begin and end at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina at Patriots Point on the 11th . If you’d like a weekend away with your half marathon, try the Hilton
Head Island Half Marathon on the 11th. The scenic run/race will take you through Jarvis Park, Crossing Park and over Broad Creek.

The Soccer Six Memorial Tournament will be on HHI on the 18th. The 2nd Annual Eagle Endurance Almost Nine Miler Trail Run is at the Buck Hall Recreation Center in McClellanville on the
18th also. The Family Circle Junior Cup Tennis Tournament (formerly the SMASH Jr. Cup) will be that weekend. The 19th is the Capers ECOrun 5K and 10K. Boat leaves the IOP Marina at 11 for the island.

The 10th Messa 8K for H2O will start at the Folly Pier at 9am on the 25th. The Master of Environmental Studies Student Assn. is all about improving water quality in Charleston area. The 7th
Annual Life Point Gift of Life 5K at the James Island County Park begins at 9am on the 25th to raise awareness of organ donation.

On the 25th and 26th is the Grand Prix Swim Championship at the W.L. Stephens Pool in St Andrews.   Don’t Miss the Race and Roast at Oakland Plantation on the 26th. The 5K trail run and oyster roast benefits the Land Conservancy. Do one or both.  It all fun!

For your well-heeled friends coming into town for the PGA in August, Wild Dunes Resort has proposed a VVIP package. Luxury round trip airport transportation, complete with champagne and Cohiba Robusto cigars, penthouse accommodations for six at their AAA 4 Diamond Village at Wild Dunes, one private chef’s table dinner and a round of golf. The piece de resistance? All six will travel back and forth to the
tournament daily by private helicopter.

Price tag for the package?
$15,000 and you must book by June 25th.

Enjoy the month, Happy Valentine’s Day and Happy President’s Day.

Lilla

    The Folly Beach Boat says it all!!

      Hope your New Year celebration was a safe and happy one. No matter if you took advantage of the family style event arranged by the City of Charleston or something a little more raucous , I do hope your menu plans included some greens for folding green and some hoppin’ john for good luck. The economy can use a little injection of Lowcountry luck.

      The non-partisan Milliken Group has just released their annual rankings of the economic health of metropolitan areas around the country. The Charleston-North Charleston market moved up to 11th place nationwide, up from 19th last year and 30th in 2009. Praised not only for our move into aerospace, the report also highlighted the stable military and high level technology industry already in place and growing.

      Move over LA, the votes are in. The most attractive people live in …drum roll please, Charleston? Yes, the hottest of the hots are in Charleston followed by San Diego, San Juan, Denver, Austin, Miami, Savannah, Honolulu, Phoenix and last, but not least, Nashville.

      Of course, right on the heels of this news comes the US News and World Report Health Page that states Charleston is the fifth (no pun intended) booziest city in the country. The ranking further explained that 8.7% of our residents drink heavily. This put us just behind Austin, Boulder, Melbourne and Reno.

      But the Travel Section of the same magazine named King Street one of the country’s top ten places to shop.  They state that while Atlanta has always been thought of as the shopping Mecca of the southeast, “Charleston is more appealing. …Buckhead’s mega-malls can’t compete with the charms of King Street…” The article applauds our Southern hospitality and the mix of big names with family-owned boutiques and clothiers. Mentioned in particular were the third generation landmarks like Bob Ellis and M. Dumas.

      While the collards are cooking on the first, head down to Dunleavy’s Pub, on Sullivan’s Island, hosts of the Polar Bear Plunge. Freezin’ for a Reason benefits Special Olympics and has to be one of the wildest around.

      The Dock Street Theatre will host “Time Machine-Mozart in Prague” on the 7th at 7:30 pm with the Charleston Symphony performing.

      If you’ve wanted to try different restaurants but your pockets weren’t deep enough, you are in luck. Charleston Restaurant Week is back. January 12-22. Enjoy prix-fixe 3 course menus for $20, $30 and $40.

      On the 12th, follow up that great meal with an evening of music. The Charleston Symphony will present Scheherazade at the Gaillard at 7:30 pm

      Blasted: Assorted Projectiles and Explosives of the Civil War is a unique exhibit opening on the 13th at the Charleston Museum. Shown are the varied, sometimes revolutionary and downright rare shells and small arms projectiles used in the conflict.

      The Museum celebrates its 239th birthday with an oyster roast at the Dill Sanctuary on the 14th from 2-5. Oysters, bluegrass and curator-led tours, all on the banks of the Stono River make for an enjoyable day.

      Locked and Loaded, the 2012 Comedy Festival is set to go. Hosted by Theatre 99 and the Charleston City Paper, the four day festival has booked some big names to fill our grey winter days with lots of laughs. The festival venues are spread across town and the fun starts on the 18th.

      The art scene has a new exhibit heading our way. The Art of Alfred Hutty: Woodstock to Charleston, sixty evocative pieces, landscapes and life studies will open on the 20th.  Lectures on Rebirth, Refinement and Rivalry: A Charleston Renaissance Symposium will accompany the opening… A curator-led tour will be held February 2nd and March 1st.

      Don’t forget the 7th Annual Music and Oysters for Wildlife January 21st at the Seewee Outpost   2-4 PM.

      The new year means it’s time to be thinking of a new healthier you. So, head over to the Total Health Fair at Omar Shrine Convention Center in Mt P on the 21st and 22nd.  Antoine Dove from the Biggest Loser will be the guest speaker. If he doesn’t motivate you…..well….

      Winter is the best time to enjoy your home. If you’re like most folks you also start looking closely and see things that need some work. Just in time, it’s the 9th Annual Charleston Home + Design Show on the 27th-28h at the Gaillard. (psst…on Friday Jan 27th, admission is free from 11-6).

      The 32nd Charleston Boat Show is at the Charleston Area Convention Center on the 27th-28th with boats, accessories and fishing classes. 

      A Night in the Valley, a black tie wine dinner event with a Spanish theme will be held at the College Center at Trident Tech at 6:30 on the 27th. The dinner /auction will support scholarships & academic programs.

      The Charleston Jazz Orchestra presents Symphonic Swing at the Charleston Jazz house 185 B St Philip St on the 28th. 

      Music of a different sort on the 28th and 29th when Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day tickles your funny bone at the Dock Street Theatre.

      The world’s largest Oyster Festival is back on the 29th with its shucking contest, oyster eating contest and all round good time at Boone Hall.

      Not too much in sports in January. On the 7th is the Bulldog Breakaway New Year’s 5 K at the Citadel.

      The Charleston Marathon for Youth Endowment for the Arts covers the weekend of the 13th. The Youth Marathon is at 3:30 on the 13th. Saturday has the Marathon and Half Marathon starting downtown. Sunday at 8am is the start to the 30 and 60 mile bike ride. All events are at the Navy Yard at Noisette unless otherwise noted.

       Tryouts for the Lowcountry Elite basketball teams will be on the 12, 14th and 15th at the Salvation Army Gym on Ashley River Road.

      Women’s Tennis Weekends at Kiawah will be held the 20th-22nd and the 27-29th,

      On the 28th is the Charlie Post Classic. Named for Dr. Post, an avid endurance athlete, he died from injuries from a bicycle accident in 1984.  The 15K and the 5K are run on Sullivan’s Island beginning at the Fire House at 8:30.

      Dancing is big in Myrtle Beach in January. There’s a 4 day event called the 12th SOS Mid Winter Break. Learn all you ever wanted to know about the shag on the 28th and the SC Square & Round Dance Convention. in Myrtle Beach on the 27th.

     28th is the Hilton Head Snow day, make a snow angel or a snow man.

     The PGA Championships will be played on the Ocean Course at Kiawah August 6-12th. The Pete Dye course was named by Golf Magazine as the toughest in America in its January 2012 issue.

     Martin Luther King Day is the 16th, both a federal and state holiday.

 In business news, we have some good news to talk about.

     Sportsman Boats is planning a new facility in Dorchester County. The $2 million facility will create 30 jobs. Sportsman Boats build salt water boats 20 to 25 feet in length with deep v hulls and center consoles.

     The first SC-built Dreamliner is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2012. Boeing also opened its Interiors Responsibility Group. The plant began with undeveloped land in Ladson and the project was finished on schedule and under budget. The plant will employ 150 people chosen from a pool of 50,000 applicants.

     SCE&G has just finished the largest single rooftop solar installation in the southeast.  Made up of more than 18,000 thin-film solar laminates, the 2.6 megawatt system covers 10 acres on the roof of Boeing’s 14 acre final assembly plant. This makes the plant the only one in the world able to assemble commercial aircraft with 100% green power.

     MUSC has been busy collecting grants.  The NIH has awarded the Hollings Cancer Center an $800 K grant to study the disparities in cancer.  African Americans from the Sea Islands are deal subjects for this study because they are the most homogeneous black population in the country.

      Also, MUSC has been awarded a $10.5 million research grant from the NIH to fund a biomedical research center. The inter-college grant is the first of its kind  at MUSC. It is a joint effort by the Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine.

        TWL, a maker of precision automotive parts will expand its location here. The $5million investment will create 35 jobs bringing the total of 90 workers.

     Cargo Composites, a maker of air cargo containers, has announced the creation of its new headquarters and assembly facility in Berkeley County. The $700,000 investment will generate 40.jobs.

     Keep your fingers crossed this is the wave of the future for the Lowcountry.

     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. It 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 as 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 internationally-acclaimed “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.

      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 extant today. 

     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 on 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 season-ending 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! Be safe!

     June is a big month as families plan vacations and some down time. It’s also a month when we honor our country and those who serve it. Following Memorial Day, we remember D Day on the 6th, Flag Day on the 14th, leading us up to Independence Day on the 4th of July. Don’t forget dad on Father’s Day the 19th. Celebrate the longest day of the year on the 21st, the Summer Solstice.

     Remember that National Doughnut Day is always the first Friday in June, this year following National Bubba Day on the 2nd. I’ll keep track at my blog at www.TheLowcountryToday.com . I’d hate for you to miss a reason to get a good doughnut!!

     We got plenty of pats on the back this month. Style, a Baltimore magazine sent a correspondent here to find as many good eats in a weekend as possible. Maryland now has a meal by meal guide of the town.

    Smithsonian devoted 17 pages and the cover to the Beginning of the Civil War 150 years ago. The Wine Enthusiast showcased  a city with a “crop of wine-centric bars and cutting edge restaurants.”

     Southern Living highlighted 5 great finds at the Farmers Market (which is superb this year). Plus they had an article about Chef Craig Deihl of Cypress and the SC Black Guinea Hogs, reportedly some of the world’s best pork.

     High end Saveur magazine praised our soul food cafes thriving away from the tourist-trodden track. They raise the humble lima bean or sivva bean as it has always been know here to its rightful spot on a culinary pedestal.    

      In keeping with the food theme, you can enjoy, The Real Taste of Gullah, an evening at the Mt P Visitors Center on the 3rd. A sweetgrass fashion show and speaker Jonathon Green add to the fun. 

     Following on the 4th is the Sweetgrass Cultural Festival from 10-8 at the Mt Pleasant Waterfront Park. The event will feature unique handmade arts, paintings, live performances and documentaries. Enjoy gospel songs and praise dance, storytelling demonstrations and the Adande African Dancers and Drummers.

    While everyone knows that Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto are in town this month with hundreds of options, there are some interesting offerings to complement them. The Charleston Library Society will welcome six speakers. The 2nd will have cartoonist Bunny Hoest and author Jay Parini; the 3rd, theatre critic Ed Wilson and economic writer Alfred Malabre; and wrapping things up on the 4th, journalist and author Joshua Kendall and author and raconteur Pat Conroy.

     Also on the 4th, a one act debut of  The Ordeal of Edgar Allan Poe as a rehearsed stage reading, 2 pm at the Footlight Players. It will be followed by a discussion by Poe scholars.

     If you start to wilt during your Spoleto ramblings, stop at St Matthews Lutheran Church through the 5h for a spot of Afternoon Tea perfectly located across from Marion Square.

     The Charleston Museum will celebrate Worldwide Knit in Public Day with special lessons, a curator’s tour of the knit and crochet collection and knitting social in the courtyard on the 11th.

     Outdoor movies in the “cool” of the evening have become a big hit in the Lowcountry.  Freshfields Village is offering a family movie each Wednesday during June, as is the Mt Pleasant Pier on the 22nd and 24th. Both venues are free.

     Scouts are being honored at the 10th Annual Scouts Day at Whirling Waters Adventure Park on the 18th. Have fun and earn a water safety merit badge.

     Carifest– Caribbean Carnival 2011 will take place the 16th-18th downtown. Among other events you may want to celebrate Carnival Day at the 3pm Street Parade starting on King St. at the Visitors Center and ending at the Grand Finale at Brittlebank Park.

      Here’s another historical footnote to the month of June. With all of the festivals and entertainment, don’t miss Carolina Day celebrated on June 28th. It honors the American victory at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, June 28, 1776. Col. William Moultrie commanded Ft. Sullivan when, despite being outnumbered, he and the Second South Carolina Regiment repelled assaults by the Royal Navy and the British Army. The first Carolina Day was celebrated in 1777.

     A procession will form at Washington Park on Broad Street next to City Hall and proceed to White Point Gardens at 11 am where a wreath will be laid. The Charleston Community Band will perform and Douglas Bostick will speak.

     We live in a vital and exciting area. It’s only to be expected that others will find us and bring jobs and opportunity to our area. In fact, New Geography has upped the placement of Charleston, North Charleston and Summerville to 8th from 25th last year in their study, Best Cities for Job Growth. They looked at current, trending and past job growth rates as far back as 1999 in mid-sized cities. 

     The Port is showing similar signs of a strengthening economy. Container volume is up 10%. Breakbulk (non-container including BMW) volume in Chas. and Georgetown is up 40% over the previous year.

     Michelin has partnered with the School of Business at the College of Charleston for a new project. The College will develop a North American Logistics Professional Development online course for Michelin employees.

     We’ve all heard the lament that with all of the development of farmland, how will we feed our nation? The EPA has funded Clemson and the City of Charleston to come up with an answer. Exploring vertical farming in dense urban areas may hold the key. The feasibility study will use an existing site and solar and wind power with computerized environmental controls.

     What would job growth be without the best in health care for our families? MUSC Children’s Hospital was just been ranked 17th nationally by US News and World Report for Cardiology and Heart Surgery. They are one of only a handful of SE facilities to offer Pediatric ICU. Congratulations to all the nurses and doctors there.    

      The month opens with some runs to tell you about. The 4th will see 3: there’s the Green and Lean 5K at 8am at Brittlebank Park and the Floppin’ Flounder 5K held by the Charleston Running Club on Sullivan’s Island also at 8am. Catch your breath and head over to the 11th Annual ALS H.O.P.E. 5K Run and Walk on the Beach, 5:30 pm, at Isle of Palms.

     The 6th-9th are the dates for the Sertoma Football camp this year.

     The Bulldog Breakaway Twilight Series #3 5K begins and ends at Willson Track on campus at 6:30pm on the 9th. Series#4 will be held on the 23rd.

     The Run for the Nine– a Memorial 5K for the Charleston Firefighters will be held at Joe Riley Stadium on the 11th at 8am.

     Get off the Pavement and onto the trails at Wannamaker Park during the Summer Fun Trails 5K Series on the 15th at 6:30pm.

     If you want sun and sand, head to Folly Beach for the Wahine (Wah-hee’-nee) all female surf contest on the 18th and 19th at the Washout.

     The Sprint Triathlon will be held at James Island County Park on the 19th. And finally, the Lowcountry Race for Logan will be held at the Ponds in Summerville on the 25th at 8 am.

     Celebrate National Fishing Week at the Youth Fishing Rodeo at Sewee Center near Awendaw. It’s free, but you have to sign up and it’s limited to 85 anglers, ages 6-16. Fish in Sewee pond, design a Fish Art t-shirt from 8-noon on the 11th.

     On the 4th, it’s time for the Mt Pleasant Pier Fishing Tournament. Ages 3 and older, if you can hold a rod, you can compete in the Cooper River Challenge. Prizes for the largest game fish, it all ends at 4pm.   

    The Folly Pier Fishing Tournament will answer the challenge from 6am-4pm on the 18th. Sewee Pond will be open 9am-6pm for fishing on the 18th also. It’s a great way to spend a day with Dad the day before Father’s Day.

Enjoy June in the Lowcountry.

Lilla

     If you are caught unawares by the holiday season, you haven’t been out and about since Halloween. While most folks are scaling down their celebrations this year, there’s always a need for holiday trivia during those empty pauses at dinner. 

     Shopping can be dangerous. Statistics show that you’ll catch an average of three elbows while in the fray. You will log an average of five miles of walking between the car and stores. While that may sound virtuous, you will probably gain more than you lose with all the holiday trimmings on your plate. Speaking of holiday fare, spoiled leftovers account for 400,000 cases of post Christmas illness. Be careful!

     In early England, no table was complete without a pig’s head in mustard! In medieval England, a 9 foot in diameter, 165 pound pie was served. Ingredients included 2 bushels of flour, 20 pounds of butter, 4 geese, 2 rabbits, 4 wild ducks, 2 woodcocks, 6 snipes, 4 partridges…you get the idea. 

     Americans average 28 holiday cards both giving and receiving. Hallmark began selling Christmas cards in 1915. More than three million cards are sent annually in the U.S. We will use approximately 3000 tons of aluminum foil for wrapping birds, etc. That’s a lot!!

     Charles Dickens had a tough time penning A Christmas Carol, but was finally inspired to choose Tiny Tim over Puny Pete, Little Larry and Small Sam. He also scratched Bah Christmas for Bah Humbug, thank goodness.

     Congratulations! More diamonds are purchased at Christmas time (31%) than during other holiday occasions.

      During the Christmas/Hanukkah season, more than 1.76 billion candy canes will be made. Originally, the canes were white and made to decorate trees. Shaped like shepherd’s crooks, they got their stripes in the early 1900s.

     I think that all 4 million Lowcountry visitors last year must have given us a thumbs up in Conde Nast’s Travel+Leisure survey. Charleston was voted the Friendliest Town and got the #1 spot for attractive people, noteworthy neighborhoods, stylish boutique hotels, B&Bs, inns and antique stores. Among other categories where we landed in the Top 5 were: family vacations, relaxing retreat, romantic escape, cultural getaway, farmers markets, most stylish, cleanest, peace and quiet, weather, safety, vintage shops, home décor shops and independent boutiques.

     GQ magazine also gave a nod to our fair town in their Coolest Small Towns in America. They particularly mentioned Shrimp and Grits, the Wentworth Mansion, Folly Beach, McKevlin’s Surf Shop, Hominy Grill, Taco Boy and Fig. By the way, they also mentioned Portland, ME /Santa Fe, NM /Providence RI and Raleigh, NC.

     The 2010 Miliken Institute Rankings are out. They rate the best performing cities by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. Charleston-North Charleston ranked #19, up from #30 last year.

     Did you know that 56% of Americans sing to their pets? If you want to do something special for your pet this season, the James Island County Park will have a Santa Paws celebration. Get your pet’s picture with Santa on the 1st, 8th and 15th.

     Let’s start the month with the Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Concert. That should get you in the mood! 7pm on the 1st at the Gaillard.

     Join Pure Theatre and Fort Moultrie for an evening performance of  In the Name of Liberty. On the 4th at 7:30. Actors, musicians and even some audience members will recreate the times, 150 years ago, when the state voted to secede from the Union.

     If you’re looking for free entertainment on the 4th, look no further than the Parade of Boats. Opening the holiday parade circuit, it begins on the Mt Pleasant side at 5pm and 6:30 on the Charleston side. Plenty of time to watch the lighting of the tree beforehand. There will be fireworks midway through the run.

     Since you’ll be in the neighborhood, the 11th Annual Celebrity Chili Cook Off and Oyster Roast will be at the Aquarium; all washed down with local beers from Palmetto Brewery. Family friendly.

      Holiday On the Air with the Charleston Barbershop Chorus and the Sweet Adeline Sisters from the Southern Harmony Chorus will present their holiday performances in a radio broadcast format at 2 and at 7 on Saturday the 4th at Physicians Auditorium at College of Charleston.

     How about a Sunday afternoon sipping wine and sampling gourmet treats? Add in a lawn with sweeping oaks? The Charleston Wine + Food Festival and BB&T bring you Wine under the Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation on the 5th from 1-5pm.

     Local designers will show off their wreath making talents at the Charleston Place Festival of the Wreaths. Beginning Black Friday, the wreaths will be on display and auctioned from 6-9pm on the 9th.

     Christmas 1860 , a candlelight tour will be at the Edmonston Alston House on the 3rd and the 10th, 5:30 and 8:30 pm. Wine and Dine Focused Tours at the Heyward-Washington House will be on the2nd, 9th and16th at 4pm.

     Pedestrians Rule King Street on the 12th as the street is closed to vehicles from 1-6 from Broad to Calhoun.

     The original Ordinance of Secession will be on display at the Charleston Museum on the 20th in observance of the sesquicentennial of the signing.

     Charleston Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Gaillard on the 11, 12, 17 and 18th and the Moscow Ballet will perform the holiday favorite at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on the 23rd.

     The Charleston Mens Chorus will present their popular Christmas performance at the Sottile Theatre on the 12th at 3pm. The Singing Christmas Tree will perform the 10-13th at Summerville Baptist.

     Parades are a big part of the holiday season, but with them comes the inevitable road closures and traffic delays. This is a list of some of the parades happening in our area. Remember, the Folly Parade will eliminate all access on or off the island, so plan accordingly.

North Charleston 12/4 from 4:30-9pm                                           Folly Beach 12/11 1pm

City of Charleston 12/5 2-5pm                                                                  Mt. Pleasant 12/12

Summerville 12/12 2 pm

      The JI County Park Festival of Lights will include outdoor holiday classic films on the 2nd, 9th and 16th. Free with park admission.

      Don’t forget the family oriented New Years Eve alternative celebration beginning at 4:30 at Marion Square, a city-wide, free admission event.

Some sports info for the month:            

      The Reindeer Run is back! Runners head out at 9am on the 4th from the Southend Brewery, walkers at 9:15. There’s a party at the finish line at Southend, the official race headquarters and it’s free with a race number.                                      

     On the 11th, Myrtle Beach High School will host the SCADA North-South All-Star Football Game.

     The last of four installments of the CBC Cyclocross Series will be on the 5th at Wannamaker County Park and Yes! They have a hill, a steep hill.

     The FestiVELO de Charleston, one of Bicycling magazine’s picks, will take place from the 2nd-6th.The holiday festival of bicycles for families is a fully supported 1-4 days cycling trip with short or long days, your choice.

     The Bulldog Breakaway5K at the Citadel will begin at 8am on the 11th.

     The 33rd Kiawah Island Marathon will also be on the 11th.

     The Hilton Head Island Regional Medical Center Jingle Jingle 5K will take place on the island on the 18th. 8am start.

     The Charleston Triathlon Club opens its membership on the 31st www.CharlestonTriathlonClub.com   Support your sport.

     The National Underclassmen Combine presents its first NUC All World Gridiron Classic Game at the Citadel on Dec 31st. Top notch high school athletes from around the world will compete throughout 5 days of trials before the game. 

More Holiday Trivia via the Internet:

   Christmas tree facts:  Did you know… one acre of trees supply 18 people with their daily oxygen…artificial trees last about six years in the home and centuries in a landfill…in the US in 2007, 30 million real trees were purchased…we have over 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs…over 76 million new trees will be planted this year. 

Christmas trees have been sold in the US since the mid 1800s…Nova Scotia is the top exporter of wild blueberries, lobster and, you guessed it, Christmas trees. Down the street from our house in Nova Scotia there’s a sign that claims it as the Christmas Tree Capitol of the World

Have a great holiday season and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Election Day is around the corner. Please take a moment to look over the candidates and vote with your head.  The opportunity to vote is a right to be thankful for, use it. Veterans Day is on the 11th. Why not take a moment to thank them.

‘Tis the season and with the economy in the shape it is, scammers are coming out of the woodwork. Here are a few:

Smishing is similar to phishing, but the trickster uses text messaging to try to get your account info.  If you get a text alert about an account, call the institution to check.  If they leave a number don’t call that one, it’s probably fake.

Skimmers, pop ups and gift cards: don’t use any gas pump or ATM if there is anything suspicious around the card slot. If you use a pump, don’t go debit. If there’s a card skimmer attached, it will steal your number and cameras can broadcast your pin wirelessly.

If purchasing online and an ad pops up as you are finishing, do not respond. You could be agreeing to a membership that will charge that card after 30 days. This has nothing to do with what you are buying.

Gift cards that are out on racks can be targeted by thieves. Make sure any gift card is fully intact and the magnetic strip has not been tampered with. Getting them from a controlled access area is usually safer. Keep your receipt too.

State holidays are on Veterans Day,  Thanksgiving and the day after (Black Friday).  Be safe, let’s share with friends and neighbors and those less fortunate, not some scruffy weasel in a country you can’t pronounce. Remember, be thankful for what you have.

Charleston has been voted in the Top Ten travel destinations in the US by Conde Nast Travel magazine for the 18th consecutive year. Coming in second only to San Francisco, we maintain our top east coast designation.

In the Top 40 Small Hotels were the John Rutledge House and the Wentworth Mansion..The Top 100 Hotels included the Charleston Place, French Quarter Inn, Planters Inn and Market Pavilion.

The Coastal Carolina Fair is going strong in Ladson til the 6th and the James Island County Park Festival of Lights opens on the 12th.

In keeping with the farming tradition of a Harvest Festival to celebrate a good year,  Mullet Hall will hold the Bluegrass Celebration on the 6th from 11am-6pm

Sixty authors, poets and children’s writers will hold a one day free event, the Capitol Bookfest Charleston at Marion Square, the Library and Gaillard Auditorium on the 6th.

Art on the Beach, Chefs in the Kitchen, a Sullivan’s Island fundraiser will be held on the 7th. Tour cottages and mansions, view artwork and meet the artists and eat some good food.

Seven time Grammy winner, Jazz guitarist Earl Klugh, will bring his Weekend of Jazz event to the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island on the 11th-13th.

Join the Garden Club of Charleston in their 80th birthday celebration. A  Cooper River Plantation Tour is scheduled on the 13th with a reception on the 12th. Mepkin Abbey is included.

Irvin House Vineyards will open its 48 acre grounds for the 8th Annual Blessing of the Vines on the 13th.

The 2010 ESPN Charleston Classic will be played at the Carolina First Arena downtown on the 18, 19 and 21st. Competing will be Georgetown, George Mason, NC State, East Carolina, Wofford, UNC Charlotte, USC-Upstate and Coastal Carolina.

The Little Gobblers Golf Clinic will be at the Wild Dunes Driving Range from 2-3:30 on the 27th. Ages 5-15 welcome.

Looking Ahead to December……………………….Don’t let the pets feel left out. Take them to James Island County Park for Pet Photos with Santa on the 1st 8th and 15th of DEC.

The Vienna Boys Choir will present a holiday concert at the Gaillard Auditorium on the first of December. Heads up!

And be sure to make your plans for the Parade of Boats on December 4th. Lots of places to watch the fun and it’s free.

Elsewhere around the state:

Nov 1-7: Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival – Hilton Head – vintage automobiles show & races

Nov 5-6: Gaston Collard Festival – Entertainment, food, pageant, and of course, collards! Balloons Over Anderson – Hot-air balloon event – balloon rides, music, games, skydiving show

Nov 6: Daufuskie Autumn Festival – Daufuskie Island – and :   Fish & Grits Festival – Loris

Nov 6-7: Revolutionary War Field Days – Camden – reenactment,                                                                                         

Nov 7: Taste of the Town – Summerville – honoring all veterans

Nov 10-14: Carolina Beach Music Awards – Myrtle Beach

Nov 10-15: Castra Romana – Givhans – Dorchester County – Roman Imperial Army encampment – public displays Saturday only

Nov 11-13: Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration  St Helena Island—explore the Gullah tradition

Nov 13: Moonshiners’ Ball – Greenville – bbq, bluegrass

Nov 14: Wine & Art Under the Pines – Summerville – wine & food tastings, music, silent auction – fundraiser for developing local civic center

Nov 17: InnoVision Technology Awards Gala – Greenville – recognizing Upstate technology leaders

Nov 25-27: South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival – Myrtle Beach – many live performances

Nov 26-28: Columbia Gem & Mineral Society’s Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show – Columbia -

Nov 25 – Nov  27: Chitlin’ Strut – Salley – parade, Chitlin’ Queens, rides plus hawg-calling, strut & chitlin’ eating contests Who could possibly turn down the chance to enter a chittlin eating contest and meet the Chittlin Queen???????

But how does one strut a chittlin??? I may stick with the collard fest!

November must be the month to be outdoors in SC!!

Nov 6: James Island Connector Run – 10K run, 5K walk on certified course – benefits students with special needs & their families;  King’s Tree Trials Horse Race – Kingstree – plus elegant tailgate parties reminiscent of earlier times; Pecan Festival – Florence – “Run Like A Nut” races, half-marathon & fun walk

Nov 7: Free to Breathe® 5K Walk – West Columbia – plus health expo, silent auction, entertainment – for National Lung Cancer Partnership

Nov 9: Captain’s Cup Golf Tournament – Daniel Island – $1000 per foursome – benefits SC Maritime Foundation’s education programs

Nov 13: Colonial Cup – Camden – steeplechase horse racing at Springdale; Governor’s Cup Road Race – Columbia – half marathon, 8K, 4-mile walk: HOPE Relay – Greenville – 42 mile relay for teams of five runners – benefits Project HOPE Foundation’s autism program; Memory Walk – Myrtle Beach – less than 2 mile walk for the Alzheimer’s Association SC Chapter

Nov 14: Midlands Area CROP Walk Against Hunger – Columbia – 5K

Nov 20: Hills 4 Meals Fun Run/Walk – Inman – 1-mile, 5K, or children’s run plus canned good drive -

Nov 22 Children’s Garden Christmas & Kids’ Walk – Orangeburg – drive plus walk lights

Nov 25: Trees Greenville Turkey Day 8K – Greenville – 8K run, ¼ mile Toddler Trot – benefits Trees Greenville

Nov 25: Turkey Day Run and Gobble Wobble – Charleston – 5K, children’s fun run – benefits local charities

by Lilla Folsom

      I don’t know if it’s true, but it seems that the Lowcountry has been hibernating through the record breaking heat of the summer. And now, if our September calendar is any indication, we are ready to come out and enjoy ourselves. Right off the bat, we have the Second Annual Lowcountry Jazz Festival on the 3rd-5th. The major stage will be the N.Chas Performing Arts Center, but plenty of smaller, more personal venues will be scattered throughout the area. More Info http://LowcountryJazz.com

     To help you celebrate the culinary traditions of the area, 50 local restaurants from high end to casual have joined forces for Charleston Restaurant Week. These great dining spots will offer either 3 courses for $20 or 3 courses for $30, September 8-19th. More info at  http://CharlestonRestaurantWeek.com

     Local hotels are teaming up with the 2011 BB&T Wine and Food Festival to create culinary hotel packages. The festival runs March 3-6 and packages will become available on 9/2.More at http://foodandwinepackages.com

    Remember to leave room on your plate for the Taste of Charleston at Boone Hall, October 8-10th, featuring an Iron Chef Competition. Also, these optimists will be trying to assemble the worlds largest snow cone for the Guinness Book of Records. www.CharlestonRestaurantAssociation.com

    Bon Voyage! The Sea Breeze Marina is the venue for a very special celebration on the 2nd. Brad Van Liew and his crew will be taking off for the VELUX 5 Oceans 2010-2011 Race in the La Pingouin, the only US entry in this 30,000 mile epic race. The big send off will feature live music, food, sign-asail and most importantly a chance to see the boat and visit with the crew. www.OceanRacing.org

     If this hot weather has made you thirsty, there’s the 4th Annual Festival of Wine and Beer heading your way on the 5th. Freshfields Village will be the venue and it’s all to aid the Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic. www.FreshfieldsVillage.com    Some folks say that beer and baseball are a match made in heaven. The Charleston River Dogs will test this theory at their 7th Annual Beer Fest on the 25th. www.Riverdogs.com

     Music will be in the air beginning this Labor Day. There’s shaggin’ going on at The Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina on the evening of the 3rd, on the Folly Pier on the 3rd and the 17th and Mt Pleasant Pier on the 11th. On a more serious note, the Chamber Music Charleston is gearing up for a big season. The Mozart in the South Festival kicks off the Fine Arts season with many interludes in locations throughout the area from the 9th-12th.  They will also start their House Concert Series. Building on historic tradition, they will present small concerts at some of the area’s most beautiful homes beginning on the 19th. Check out details at www.charlestonChamberMusic.org

     If you’re looking for a fun musical, the Charleston Stage Company will present Hairspray at the Dock Street Theatre on the 3rd- 19th. www.CharlestonStage.com The Black Crowes will bring their “Say Goodnight to the Bad Boys” 2010 Tour to the Family Circle Cup on the evening of the 10th. The concert will have an hour and a half set of acoustic music followed by an hour and a half of electric. Reggae Nights Summer Concerts continue at James Island and Wannamaker county parks evening of the 18th,

    There’s some fun coming up for our four legged friends. It’s the 2nd Dog Days Afternoon when Wannamaker Park goes to the dogs on the 12th from 12-5. The big pools are open, so if your dog has felt left out this summer, here’s the chance to show a little love. Then, there’s the Paws and Claws Pet Expo at Ladson Park on the 18th hosted by the Post Courier. And not to be missed, Yappy Hour at the James Island County Park Dog Park with live music will be held on the 23rd.

     The Moja Festival will celebrate African and Caribbean culture from the 23rd through October 3rd. Don’t miss Patti La Belle and Boys II Men on the 2nd. www.mojafestival.com

The 34th Annual Preservation Society’s Fall Tour of Homes and Gardens begins on the 23rd and runs throughout October. www.preservationsociety.org

     A single pass will get you in to 13 museums on the Museum Mile on the weekend of the 25th. What a great deal! But if you’d prefer an outdoor history lesson, hop the boat over to Morris Island on the 18th for the Morris Island/ North and South History Tour. www.SandlapperTours.com

     The 3rd Annual Charleston Green Fair will be held at Marion Square on the 26th. www.CharlestonGreenFair.com

     Here’s some good news. Inc Magazine has named five local companies to their fastest growing private company list. In all, 25 companies in the state made the list. Business Facilities Magazine has been giving SC some good business environment rankings lately. We were named #1 for economic growth potential, #3 nationally for auto manufacturing and #4 for the best business climate.

     Did you know that SC actually out ranks Georgia (the Peach State) in the production of peaches? During a normal year, we usually produce about 60,000 tons of the fruit.

     Remember Labor Day, the 6th, is a state and federal holiday and that the Autumnal Equinox is on Thursday, the 23rd at 11:09 pm.

     Looking for some extra excitement around the state? How about the Apple Festival in Westminster the 7-11th/ the SC Tobacco Festival in Lake City the 16th-19th/ the Yemassee Shrimp Festival also on the 16th-19th/ the Lee County Cotton Festival the 17th and 18th and the McCormick Gold Rush Festival and the Lexington Oktoberfest the same days/ the 19th brings the Aynor Harvest Hoe Down/ Don’t miss the Okra Strut in Irmo on the 24th and 25th/ Raylrode Daze Festivul (yes, it’s spelled correctly) will be in Branchville 24th-26th/Ridgeland’s Gopher Hill Fest is slated for the 30th-Oct 2nd. Don’t say there’s nothing to do!

     Here’s a great way to honor the memory of our beloved chef, Brett Maynard. Join the fun! The 2nd Annual Brett Maynard Foundation Fishing Tournament on the 25th will benefit the Foundation’s Trident Tech Scholarship. Based out of the Sunset Marina, Folly Beach

    Tune up at the Folly Pier Fishing Tournament on the 11th. 6am-4pm. Ages 3 and up. www.ccprc.com

   Golf anyone?

 The Wando Band Annual Fund Raising Golf Tournament is at River Towne Country Club course on the 11th

The Rally for the Cure Golf Event will be held at the Stono Ferry Golf Course on the 16th.

The 15th Annual Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Golf Benefit will be held at the Cassique Course on Kiawah Island on the 19th.

 Need to flex those muscles? The Caber Toss at the Scottish Games might be just the thing on the 18th at Boone Hall.

 The 2nd Annual Fit for Families 5K Run/Walk to benefit Hollings Cancer Center will be at Tanger Mall starting at 8:30 on the 18th.

Waves and Wishes, a 5K event will be on the 25th, starting and ending at the Folly Pier to benefit Make a Wish.

Also on the 25th is the Marine Corps Ultimate Challenge Mud Run in Sandy Run, four person teams and a kid’s course.

 On September 19th, the Goodwill Undy 500 Motorcycle Charity Ride will take place. 100% of the proceeds of this event will go towards Operation Stand Down and Operation Independence, two programs aimed at helping homeless veterans. Stand Down is a two day resource event and Independence is a skill training program for jobs.

There’s always something outstanding to do in the Lowcountry, so get out and be a Local!

School is back in session and the crowds at the College of Charleston this morning were something, so was the line of cars heading to Folly. I did see a great bumper sticker, I’d love to have one…it said “Only idiots litter”. Now I dare someone to put the matter more succinctly.

I was at the Framers Market with my friend, Bev, from the Half Moon Cafe days. We loaded up on heirloom tomatoes from Fields Farm, grass fed hot dogs from the Meathouse and beautiful brown eggs from Chucktown Chicken. Then, it was off to the Glass Onion for grilled pimento cheese and tomato sandwiches with iced tea and mint syrup. Then…that was it for me…siesta time. 

      On the whole, we live in a pretty special place.  According to CNN.com, Mount Pleasant is in the Top 100 Best Places to live in the US, coming in at number 100.

     Charleston has made it to the Top Three Best Tennis Towns, the winner will be announced at the US Open.  At stake is a cash prize to add to tennis programs in the area.

     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. Kind of puts what’s happening in perspective, huh?

    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.

     Congratulations to all of our fine towns!