The weather is behaving oddly.  It seems we are getting March winds along with the usual April showers, then some summer thrown in and back to chilly, chilly evenings. No wonder there’s sniffles all around!

May has finally arrived, much to the school children’s delight. Boaters are sprucing up their rides and the lines to the beach are growing on the weekends. We have a special day set aside in May to honor Moms, on the 13th, so be sure to remember.

Graduations will fill the town early in the month. Trident Tech starts us out at the college level on the 4th t the N. Charleston Coliseum. Then comes Charleston Southern filling the Coliseum on the 5th at 10am. A double whammy day, the Citadel will graduate the Corps at 9 am on the 5th and the Graduate School at 4pm. Watch out on Friday though, the “Long Gray Line” parade will begin at 3pm on the Citadel grounds. The College of Charleston makes its presence known on the 12th with a downtown service at 10am and 4pm lasting about 2 to 3 hours each.

We honor our Armed Forces on the 19th and remember those who fell on Memorial Day on the 28th. This marks the unofficial beginning of summer too and is a federal and state holiday.

From Afar magazine’s article “The New South,” we learn that “A colonial classic, Charleston may initially come off as ye olde…” but we redeem ourselves with Mike Latta’s Lowcountry fare at FIG and his favorite re-invented cocktails from around town. Also highlighted are the Heirloom Book Company, Planter’s Inn and the Peninsula Grill, Brett Carron’s Indigo and Cotton Men’s Shop and Spoleto. 

     Jennet Robinson Alterman, well-known Charleston presence and Executive Director of the Center for Women, was profiled in the April -May issue of Roots magazine. Bravo, Jennet.

South Carolina Aquarium officials were pleased by the announcement of their accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Only 10% of wildlife exhibitors in the country are given this honor.

North Charleston will open the month with their nine day Arts Festival. The main events will take place on the 4th and 5th, but continue at various venues throughout the City until the12th.

The French Quarter Art Walk will take place on the 4th downtown.

Don’t forget the Farmers Market on Marion Square is open. This is Eat Local Month and what better way than to meet the person who grew your dinner or raised the chickens that gave you your eggs?

The 5th is a big day at Marion Square. It’s the 9th Annual Charleston Dog Show from 9-2. Head over after your shopping.

The Robert Smalls Commemorative Weekend, beginning the 12th, has numerous events planned to honor this slave turned sea captain and politician. He was a member of the SC Legislature and the US House of Representatives. In SC, he authored the bill establishing a free, mandatory public school system, the first in the US. He also founded the SC Republican Party.

The Charleston Jazz Orchestra will wow you while celebrating its members’ own compositions in Local Opus on the 19th at the Charleston Music Hall. Their 5th Annual Jazz Series will return to Spoleto 2012 later in the month.

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will premiere a major traveling exhibition of new work by Japanese artist Motoi Yananoto called Salt Works on the 25th. The creation of the salt centerpiece of the exhibit during the two weeks prior to the exhibit’s opening is open to the public.

Which brings us to threshold of Spoleto USA and sister festival, Piccolo Spoleto. 17 days of theatre, ballet, dance, music, art, opera in just about every variation will fill the city with lovers of the arts from all over the world. A major highlight is the first fully staged presentation of Philip Glass’ opera, Kepler. There’s cabaret circus, K.D. Lang, Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Theatre, The Requiem by the Westminster Choir, Noel Coward’s Hay Fever, Joy Kills Sorrow as well as flamenco, gospel and Brazilian music. There’s even international ukulele sensation, Jake Shimbukuro. Ketch and Critter from the Old Crow Medicine Show will be there too. The famous Finale will feature Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole.

Marion Square will be full of entertainment from Piccolo Spoleto with many free family events including the Children’s Festival, “Once Upon a Time” on the 26th from 10-3. Porgy and Bess will come alive in concert form on the steps of the Custom House on the 25th from 8-9:30pm. The Finale of the Piccolo Festival will be at Hampton Park on the 9th from 5-10pm. The first half is reggae with Roots Music’s Osei Chandler on hand. Then, move on to Mowtown Madness for the second half of the show.

The next time you complain about traffic and the numbers of tourists around town, think about these numbers. According to the College of Charleston, 38,000 visitors attended SEWE this year and they spent big! Their daily spending jumped to $194 a day per. The Flowertown Festival came in at over 250,000 people with an estimated $22 million economic impact felt locally.

Both the Cooper River Bridge Run and Charleston Fashion Week broke attendance records. The BB&T Wine and Food Festival had over 20,000 folks sloshing through Marion Square and enjoying every minute of it, rain or shine. Then we have our two largest events coming up. As we know, this month is Spoleto USA and Piccolo Spoleto. In August, Kiawah will host the PGA Championship. It’s anybody’s guess how much of a financial boon these well-heeled events will generate in the Lowcountry.

Speaking of the Cooper River Bridge Run, I have to tip my hat to the Race Director and staff. They have put together an amazing experience for thousands and thousands of participants each year. Usually, it goes off without a hitch. It looks easy. This year there were some problems, yes. It is very easy to Monday morning quarterback a situation like this and point fingers. They should be ashamed of themselves.

One positive thing to come out of the Bridge Run is the “Ridiculously Photogenic Guy.” Native Charlestonian and current NYC resident, Zeddie Little’s photo was randomly taken by amateur photographer, Will King. After it went viral, the man with the perfect smile and perfect hair became an overnight sensation, over 1.5 million hits in just a couple of days! They were invited onto a morning network show and asked to tell the story. Anyone seeing his photo would have to smile too.

The Milliken Institute’s 25 Best Performing Cities list is out. It measures jobs, salaries and tech output over the previous 5 years. Although the list seemed heavy in Texan towns, Charleston-North Charleston was slotted 11, up from 19 last year and 30th in 2009. “The vibrant aerospace sector combined with a stable military presence contributed to an overall job growth of 1.2%” The report went on to say the Weapons Station and the Air Force Base contribute 18,000 jobs.

Aerospace and data processing (hosting) services boosted us to 16th overall in hi tech output. Noted was the ripple effect from Boeing, such as InterTech, moving into the area bringing 350 highly skills jobs. The steady influx of retirees will continue to boost health care and support services, the report stated.

Year-to-date sales in our market seem to agree. They are tracking up 7% from the same period last year and prices are up 4%.

Meanwhile outside……..

We start the month with Race the Landings, a best four of five runs happening at Charles Towne Landing. The first two will be this month on the 3rd and 10th, Thursday evenings at 6:30pm.

Time for some golf? How about the Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament “Drive Against Crime” at Coosaw Creek on the 4th.

The 12th is a busy day for runners. The 4th Annual Leslie McCreavy Memorial 5K to benefit Pet Helpers will be held at Folly Beach. Also, the 9th Annual Mom’s Run at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniels Island will be run to honor all Moms on Mother’s Day weekend. Another way to honor Mom is the 6th Hazel Gammons Run For Your Mother in Summerville. Also in Summerville on the 12th is the Steps to Stop Cancer Run.

Following on the 19th you can Run Forrest Run with the Riverdogs at the Joe. Or if you’re looking for a cool down, try the Lowcountry Splash. It’s a 2.4 mile open water swim starting at Hobcaw and finishing at the Patriot’s Point Naval Maritime Center.

The Swamp Fox Ranger Ride will be on the 19th: your choice of a 23, 45 or 75 mile cycle race through the Francis Marion National Forest  Of course, if your bike is the motorized variety, Murrels Inlet has your interests at heart. Their Bike Week will begin on the 11th.

The Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series begins its 2012 season on the 20th at James Island County Park.

If you want to combine your run with a day at the beach and a day in the boat, there’s the Capers Island ECO 10K and 5K Beach Run and Walk on the 20th Leaving from the IOP Marina.

The WFC Annual Memorial Day Fastpitch Classic, Remember our Troops, will be held in Summerville on the 25th-27th

And, I know is a stretch, but the sport of growing facial hair seems to have been left out the last few years. The Holy City Beard and Moustache Society is bringing its 4th Annual Southeastern Championship to the Music Farm on the 26th at 6pm.

     I’d like to welcome the Paretti’s and the Pitts’ to Charleston and thank them for letting me help them find their wonderful new homes.

Talk to you soon I hope,

Lilla

the contest resumed this morning with good waves

and a really good vibe.

Lots of people showed up for the day.

If you were in traffic on Folly Road and saw this house, you may be wondering what’s up?

This gentleman and his wife who own the house have turned it into a gallery. He’s a sculptor and is into helping kids enjoy sculpture, not to be intimidated. As he said, what child is  afraid of a number 2 pencil and eraser? The tree art is applied to the oak, not carved so the tree isn’t harmed. That’s the sculptor sitting on the eraser and  standing between Leo and Nardo.

It has happened again! Spring has sprung, the clocks have jumped forward, the flowers are blooming and all is right in our world! Remember there’s April Fool’s Day on the first. Be the first one in your house to pull a prank.

Have you driven downtown lately? Good thing we are used to the sights, it takes every bit of our concentration to avoid the tourists standing in the streets looking around.

Speaking of driving, this is the craziest month to try navigating the Lowcountry. Don’t forget to schedule around the Cooper River Bridge Run on the 31st of March. Most of the Mt Pleasant and downtown traffic arteries will be closed to car traffic. What’s open will be crowded. The Bridge Run is sold out except for some charity slots still available for a donation. Check the website for the route map, www.BridgeRun.com.

Good Friday is on the 6th, Passover begins on the next day, followed by Easter on the 8th. Easter always falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21st. Did you know that 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made each year?

Lots of people in town for the month and a lot is happening to keep them entertained. Other than the dreaded Tax Day, April seems like a pretty wonderful month. We honor the Earth on the 22nd and try to plant something on Arbor Day on the 27th.

Spend time in Marion Square? Now, you’ll be able to do more while you are there. The City has partnered with Google to launch the Charleston Free WiFi Network, free hi speed access for the Square. Four nodes are located there, each with a 200’ radius of signal.

Southern Living recently planned a day around food in Charleston. Beginning with the Big Nasty Biscuit at Hominy Grill, they proceeded to the Glass Onion for lunch. There, they dove into Shrimp and Grits. A  Gin and Basil Smash at the Gin Joint preceded a homegrown dinner at Husk. What’s a meal without dessert? How about the Ultimate Coconut Cake at the Peninsula Grill? In reality, you could plan that for months and not repeat yourself! There are that many good spots to eat in the Lowcountry

The first weekend of the month has us hopping! (no pun intended) There’s the Flowertown Festival in Summerville. Attracting over 200,000 people, it’s a full-family event benefitting the YMCA. The Family Circle Tennis Tournament begins this weekend. Billed as a festival with some world class tennis thrown in, it runs til the 8th on Daniel Island.

Where would we bee without the honey bee? Come to the Charleston Honey and Bee Expo on the first from 11-5 at the Cinebarre Theatre in Mt Pleasant for all things bee. There’s even a movie, Queen of the Sun.

Looking for some Cajun-style fun? Try the Cajun Festival at James Island County Park on the 1st. Plenty of Zydeco and etoufee to go around. Switching gears, the Sewee Outpost is hosting the Charleston Bluegrass Festival on the 6th (6pm-10) and the 7th (noon til 10pm). A full line up of music, it looks like alot of fun.

You’ll still have time to catch the 11th Annual Easter Promenade by the Charleston Hat Ladies. It starts at 11am on the 7th on Broad Street. If you decide to stay in town, don’t miss the opening day of the Charleston Farmer’s Market at Marion Square. Not only the freshest vegetables, but it’s a great place to meet up with friends for coffee and some good food. There’s a talented assortment of locals represented from silversmiths to wood carvers and kettle corn makers with their giant cauldron.

If you’re a fan of Dorothy, Toto and the Flying Monkeys, this is your month. The Charleston Stage is opening the Wiz on the 6th and it will run til the 28th at the Dock Street Theatre. If you want more…Wicked, the pre-Dorothy story of 2 girls who grow up to be the Wicked Witch and the Good Witch, will be at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on the 18th and the 19th. I’m melting………

Need more escape? The Charleston International Film Festival kicks off on the 11th. Cinebarre and other venues downtown will host the event through the 16th.

Magnolia Gardens has just been recognized by the International Camellia Society as a Camellia Garden of Excellence, one of 30 in the world. One of their historic camellias can be traced back to its original shipment from China to England in 1792!

You can learn about your own garden at the Charleston Horticultural Society’s Plantasia 2012 on the 13th and 14th at Wragg Square. Tours, workshops and the Real Yard Sale are the highlights.

There’s something special on tap for your most loyal companion on the 14th and 15th. The 2012 Pet Fest is open for owners and pets at the Palmetto Islands County Park on Mt Pleasant from 11-5 both days. There’s a lot going on to keep you and Fido happy.

If you want an adventure of a different sort, the 12th Annual Kiawah Island Art and House Tour will be on the 13th. Five homes will be open in the gated community 1-5pm.

Don’t forget the 64th Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens varies its tours daily so there’s always something new (old) to see. Until the end of April, seven to ten homes will be open in eleven neighborhoods, dating from the American colonial period, through the antebellum and Victorian eras to the early 20th century.

The Charleston Museum has a treat for archeology buffs. Find out what was learned about the original walled town of Charleston during a recent excavation of the redan near Tradd St. A redan, I have found out, is a V shaped protrusion on a walled fortification. The Curator of Historical Archeology will discuss the dig of the only walled city in the British Colonial North America at the Museum on the 17th.

If your bucket list would not be complete without a good roll in a vat of grits to see how much would stick, you are in luck the 13th- 15th at the St George 2012 World Grits Festival. All things grits, all weekend long.

      Chef Jeremiah Bacon recently sat down with GQ to dish on his favorite spots in his hometown. Starting with his own Upper King Street, to Folly, to McClellanville, there may be a few spots that you haven’t yet discovered. The Upper King Street Design District Walks on the third Thursday of April and October will give you some time to nose around and meet the people bringing this neighborhood to life after 5.

Kayaks have found an entirely new following in the past few years. The East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival at the James Island County Park will be the place to be on the 20th-22nd. A full weekend of history, technique, hands-on experience and fun is on tap.

Is your inner self craving something a little more relaxing? How about the Old Village of Mt Pleasant Home Tour? Ten homes, 2 gardens, 2 historical sites and an art show with chef’s samplings of food are on the program on the 22nd from 1-6.

We’re back on the water on the 29th. It’s the 25th Annual Town of Mt Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet. The festival, held at the Waterfront Park, is dedicated to a safe and prosperous shrimping season.

Don’t miss the Carolina Dirt Fair at Mullet Hall on the 29th. It’s all about local food, local farms and showcasing the South’s finest chefs in demos and competitions, info on CSAs, gardening and water conservation too. There’s something for everyone who loves food and local flavors.

A few business notes: Nexans, a high voltage cable manufacturer plans to bring as many as 200 jobs to the area. Headquartered in France, the Berkeley County facility should open in 2014.

Boeing has received a high honor from the National Aeronautic Assn. for the 787 Dreamliner. The award for excellence was for the air or space vehicle that represented the greatest aeronautic achievement in America.

Boeing also received certification of two new world records set by the Dreamliner. Late in 2011, the 787 broke the record for the longest flight for an airplane of its weight when it flew from Seattle to Bangladesh.

After re-fueling, the crew took the plane eastward, returning to Seattle 42 hours and 26 minutes after the initial departure. This set an around the world speed record of 470 knots.  No previous record was held for the 787 weight class.

The Spartanberg BMW plant has been recognized as the country’s leading auto exporter. The value of the vehicles exported through Charleston was announced at $7.4 billion in 2011. Exports increased 68% during that time period to more than 192,000 vehicles from the SC plant.

At present, the company makes 1,000 vehicles a day. They have announced they will hire an additional 300 workers to increase their output to 300,000 vehicles.  By 2014 they are planning to add an additional 700 workers and boost the output to 350,000 vehicles.

Michelin has put S.C. on the map as the top tire exported in the country. They ship industrial tires for mining operations through Charleston and Savannah. Bridgestone is planning a new automobile tire manufacturing plant in Aiken and expanding a light-tire manufacturing plant there. The German manufacturer Continental is poised to build a $500 million plant in Sumter aiming for a 2017 opening.

That’s all good news for us.  Did you know that except for the first week of the year, we’ve had over 200 homes go under contract every week?

      April always brings people outside and what better time to have some fun: We’ve already mentioned the Cooper River Bridge Run on the 31st of March. That starts our month out with a bang, literally, and that is just the beginning.

Coastal Cyclists’ After the Bridge Run Ride will launch from Awendaw Green at 8am on the 1st. No Foolin’! If you think you need to stretch your legs after the Run, they have 10, 25, 45, 63 and 100 mile routes to help you out.

Need a little more? The Santee Endurance Adventure Race on the 7th will be held in and around the waters, swamps, beaches and upland forests of the Lake Moultrie. Designed for both novice and veteran adventure racers, the course covers 35-45 miles of challenging landscape.

The 2012 Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters Celebrity Pro Am plays on the 9th at the Dye Club at the Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach. Don’t forget the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, building to a big finish at Harbor Towne on the15th.

The 14th is a big day. There’s the TRY Sports Mt. P Sprint Triathlon held in Park West, plus the 3rd Annual MPSC Kids Triathlon. Mark your calendar for the Urban Bike Adventure: 1 part road race +1 part obstacle course + 1 part scavenger hunt starting at noon downtown at the Blind Tiger on Broad St.

You could win the coveted Golden Doughnut on the 14th! It’s the 3rd Annual Most Delicious Doughnut 5K: run the West Ashley Greenway, stop halfway, eat a dozen, and then run back. Or, there’s a more rational version of the race available.

The Third Annual Bed Race, billed as the 2nd most fun you can have in a bed, will be at Hampton Park on the 15th at 1pm. It has also been called a “little bit of bedlam” by Charleston Magazine. There’s a Grand Parade of Beds with judging on Best Decorated, Most Outrageously Decorated, What Were You Thinking? And of course the race winner is crowned. Krispy Kreme will be there to defend their title.

A local favorite, the iFive K Run, Walk or Shuffle’s course is ‘5 K though 300 years of history.’ The streets downtown are clear for you to enjoy at 6pm on the 19th. The event starts and finishes at the Maritime Center.

The Bohicket Marina 5 and 10K at Seabrook and the Pinewood Back Nine 5K at the Legend Oaks Golf Course both take off early on the 21st.

Charleston Race Week fills out the month with offshore and inshore sailboat races and lots of on shore events for fun.

Enjoy the incredible days ahead, you can’t find better anywhere on Earth…

Ok maybe I am prejudiced. After all, this IS my hometown.

Remember we all lose an hour tonight!!!!

Spring forward with the rest of us and don’t be late tomorrow.

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• March begins with the Women’s Golf Getaway slated for the 8th-11th at Kiawah Golf Resort.
• Close by on the 10th, runners are encouraged to sport their real or borrowed hairstyles in the Mullet Haul, a 5 or 10 mile off road race on the equestrian trails of Mullet Hall. Both start at 10am.
• The largest outdoor climbing event in the SE will be held at James Island County Park on the 10th. 60 climbers will hit the 50’ wall. All ages and abilities are welcome to the 15th Annual Palmetto Pump and USA Climbing Competition.
• The 10th is also the date for the 2nd Annual SPE.ED Ride in Awendaw. 62 mile, 25 mile and  family 10 mile rides are available. Benefits the Wando High Special Education Dept
• The National Pro Am Golf Tournament at Kiawah will be held the 11th-15th. Three amateurs and one PGA professional compete in a 4 man best ball format.

 See you next Fridayfor the sweatiest news in town!

Lilla

 With an heirllom tomato sandwich and 76′ temperature in February,

you can rule the world!

     We don’t need the luck of the Irish or a handful of shamrocks to know we are a lucky bunch. Just take a look around you at one of the prettiest towns in America and some of the best winter temperatures on record. In fact, there was a study done called “Should I go or should I stay?” that measured inbound searches for homes as opposed to outbound. Charleston was in the top ten. It seems 2.4 times more folks wanted in than out.

     An entire Bon Appétit issue last month was dedicated to Southern food and let me tell you there were a lot of Lowcountry dishes in the issue with a good many local chefs. Speaking of food, there’s a new culinary magazine in town called “Palate” that showcases the food scene here in great detail and with some beautiful photography.

     Starting off the month of March is a foodie favorite, BB&T’s Food+Wine Festival. If superb local food is your thing, this is the place for you to be on the 1st through the 4th. The days and evenings are packed with internationally acclaimed chefs, incredible food and wine, book signings and demos.  There’s even a Taco Turf War going on, so you can’t say there’s not something for everybody.

     But that’s not all that’s going on the beginning of the month. There’s another circus in town…Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey will be at the Coliseum through the 4th. They’re bringing the Human Fuse, lots of clowns and, of course, all the wild animals to delight circus fans of all ages!

     The Terrace Theatre in Riverland Terrace is the site of the Third Annual Film Festival through the 4th. Lots of interesting Indie films with their directors and actors attending.

     Jasmine Porch at Kiawah is teaming up with the Wells Gallery every other Thursday in March and April for Art Uncorked.  Great food, wine and art are a perfect match.

    The award winning Breath of Spring Flower Show to honor the 80th anniversary of Berkeley’s Natural Gem-Cypress Gardens- will take place the 1st through the 4th.

      Spring Awakening with Joshua Roman, Cello and the Charleston Symphony will delight you at the Gaillard on 3rd. If you are looking for something with a louder beat, Elton John will rock the Coliseum on the 7th. Now if that’s just not it, maybe Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt will get your hand a-clapping on the 17th. That’s sure to cover most tastes!   

     What do Lt. Jack Kennedy, a Danish Blonde Bombshell and the Fate of the Western World have to do with the Ft Sumter Hotel? The highly speculative and imaginative comedy, Inga Binga, will be presented by Charleston Stage starting on the 9th at the Dock Street Theatre. As they say, “It’s more fun than a walk on the Appalachian Trail.” Shows run through the end of the month.

     Need more culture in your life? Opera Charleston debuts with Carmen at the Memminger Auditorium on the evening of the 9th and an afternoon matinee on the 11th.

     Yes, spring is in the air and it is being celebrated everywhere this month. Seasonal Fashions: Springtime in Charleston will celebrate with a look at garden party outfits from the early 1900s including the huge hats and parasols of the day. Silk botanical batiks by Anna Heyward Taylor will also be showcased until April 15th in the Textile Gallery of the Charleston Museum.

     Once the most important sources for the latest in fashion, fashion plates appeared in magazines on two continents after the French Revolution. Now they are a great resource for research. The Charleston Museum is opening an exhibit showing their collection. Fashion Plates: Illustrating History’s Latest Styles 1760-1920 running through May.

     Charleston Couture celebrates haute couture in Charleston whether brought from the Continent, made by local seamstresses or elegant ready to wear in shops locally. The exhibit shows over 50 dresses from 1770-1970 and opens on the 10th. Men’s wear is also included.

     And all this leads us to Fashion Week held the 20th-24th under the tents in Marion Square. The 5 night celebration will feature more than 30 runway shows with emerging designer and model talent, the Emerging Designer Competition: East, the Spring Bridal Show and the Rock the Runway Model Competition.

       Need some wide open spaces and clean air? March 18th is Customer Appreciation Day at the Charleston County Parks. That means free admission! That’s right; all play no pay at Caw Caw, Wannamaker, Palmetto Islands and James Island Parks. Free parking is your treat at Kiawah, IOP and Folly Pier (the fishing is free here too). Mt Pleasant parking fees apply.

     Inspired by the rich history of the Lowcountry, the 9th Annual Charleston International Antiques Show is designed for collectors and enthusiasts who love to learn about antiques and mix them into modern décor. Held the 22, 23 and 24th at Memminger Auditorium, its theme is “Classic Design, Timeless Style. “

     As part of the Art and Antiques Forum, the Charleston Horticultural Society has organized an exclusive tour of several private gardens and public spaces that make our landscape so special. On March 17th, guides will introduce visitors to some of the people, places and plants that make our gardens stand out around the world.

     Middleton Plantation has nurtured the camellias on its grounds since they were first brought to this country in the 1700s. Today over 3,500 plants grace the grounds, including one of the four original plants. Join guides on a Camellia Walk at 11 am Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays through the 24th highlighting many of the historical plants as well as hundreds that form the allees of the formal gardens.

          It’s not often that people line up to spend the day in jail, but the 8th Annual Masters of the Building Arts Festival is one of those days. On the 24th, at its Charleston Jail Campus on Magazine St, the school will celebrate the extraordinary skill of master craftspeople with free demonstrations in the school’s six areas of study: stone carving, masonry, ironwork, plasterwork, carpentry and timber framing. There’s even the Midwest Tool Collectors Tool Swap.

     Did you ever dream of creating a modern replica of an antique gem? Join master woodworker, Elia Bizzarri, for a weeklong Windsor Chair Workshop, the 17th-23nd. Students will learn to build a continuous arm Windsor chair with hand tools at the James Island campus, part of the American School of the Building Arts festival. Fee. 

     Two major house tours start the end of March. The 64th Annual Festival of Houses & Gardens varies its tours daily so there’s always something new (old) to see. From the 22nd to the end of April, seven to ten homes will be opened in eleven neighborhoods, dating from the American colonial period, through the antebellum and Victorian eras to the early 20th century.

     The 77th Annual House and Garden Tour by the Garden Clubs of Charleston will cover 2 days, the 23rd and 24th, from 2-5pm. The walking tours will cover some of Charleston’s finest homes.

     Need a little jazz to smooth out your day? Head over the Charleston Music Hall on the 24th for the Charleston Jazz Orchestra’s Swingin’ Soul—Golden Era of Rhythm and Blues. Two shows 7 and 10 pm.

     The Charleston Horticultural Society is joined by the American Boxwood Society for their 52nd Annual Symposium on the 25th-27th.

     And don’t miss the Flowertown Festival in Summerville on the 30th-April 1st.

  Now for some business notes across the Lowcountry:

     The Medical University of SC Trauma Department has received National Level 1 status, the highest rating that can be achieved. It is the only hospital in SC to receive the top national ranking by the American College of Surgeons.

     Roper St Francis has been recognized by the Commission on Cancer . They received top rankings in research, community outreach, leadership and quality improvements.

     Google is trying to help all SC small businesses get online. They are offering a domain name, 3 page website and 1 year’s hosting for free. After a year, the service is $4.99/month. You can get seen on the web by visiting GetOnlineAmerica,com/SouthCarolina.

    A local software-media company won the Publishing Innovation Award for its British Library 19th Century Historical Collection iPad app. BiblioLabs’ app allows access to over 45,000 historical works spanning 21 thematic collections.

    Local James Beard Award contenders include The MacIntosh,Best New Restaurant; Sean Brock, Nat’l Outstanding Chef and Craig Deihl, Ken Vedrinski and Jeremiah Bacon, Best Chef Southeast. Good Luck to you all.

      March begins with the Women’s Golf Getaway slated for the 8th-11th at Kiawah Golf Resort. Close by on the 10th, runners are encouraged to sport their real or borrowed hairstyles in the Mullet Haul, a 5 or 10 mile off road race on the equestrian trails of Mullet Hall. Both start at 10am.

     The largest outdoor climbing event in the SE will be held at James Island County Park on the 10th. 60 climbers will hit the 50’ wall. All ages and abilities are welcome to the 15th Annual Palmetto Pump and USA Climbing Competition.

     The 10th is also the date for the 2nd Annual SPE.ED Ride in Awendaw. 62 mile, 25 mile and family 10 mile rides are available. Benefits the Wando High Special Education Dept.

     The National Pro Am Golf Tournament at Kiawah will be held the 11th-15th. Three amateurs and one PGA professional compete in a 4 man best ball format.

     Catch the Leprechaun Run will be held at the Mt Pleasant Waterfront Park at 6:30pm the 15th.

     The Palmetto Swamp Fox Adventure Race on the 17th covers 55-60 miles in McClellanville. You must plot UTM coordinates to meet check in points as you kayak, mountain bike and trek the course. US Adventure Racing Assn certified.

          The 28th Annual Palmetto Sportsman Classic, the premiere hunting and fishing show, will be held at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia the 23rd-25th.

     The tradition of steeple chasing continues in Aiken with the 46th Renewal of Aiken Spring Steeplechase on the 24th. The Imperial Cup begins its first race at 1pm. 

     Closer to home there’s plenty to do on the 24th. The SC Chapter Walk to Defeat ALS will be held at North Charleston Riverfront Park. The 1 mile and 5Krun and walk begin at 10am.

     At 8 am the Race Judicata, a USA TF certified 5K run and walk, will start by the stables at Hampton Park.

     On the 24th and 25th the Folly Beach 22nd Annual Sea and Sand Festival will take over the small island with art ,food, music, a 5K and a one mile run/walk/skate.

     The Rugged Maniac 5k will be run on the 24th. 5K of some of the area’s most brutal terrain has been amped up for you with barbed wire, fire, tunnels, mud pits…you get the picture. Boone Hall.

     The Family Circle Cup will showcase some of the world’s top tennis players during its nine days at the Family Circle Tennis Stadium on Daniels Island the 31st through April 8th. 

     The 35th Cooper River Bridge Run, our own world class 10K foot race, will blast across Mt Pleasant, the Ravenel Bridge and through downtown on the 31st. For first timers, the only way on and off Mt Pleasant to town or N Chas will be 526. A lot of the city will be off limits also. So park the car and enjoy the race. It is one of the best organized and best conducted 10Ks in the world. With an international cast of runners, if you aren’t running, it’ll be great to cheer the runners on. 

                                                                                                                                              Enjoy, Lilla

     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.

     The buzz around the holiday season seems to be a little different this year. Instead of the mad dashing around from store to store, party to party, I’ve noticed friends scaling back and spending more time than money. Not to the Ebenezer Scrooge degree, of course, but slowing down enough to really enjoy time with friends and family. I guess it’s more of a quality over quantity decision. I’ve got to say I like it. Spending time with friends who are actually present in mind and body and not dashing around is the best gift there is.

     If you are trying hard to get in the spirit, there are plenty of holiday- themed events coming your way. Trees will be lit, carols sung and good cheer will be in the air as the holiday season kicks off.

     Looking for some sand with your Christmas? IOP will light their tree on the first at 6pm on the front beach. Downtown Charleston’s festivities center around Marion Square and kick off with the Tree Lighting on the 3rd from 4:30-6:30.

     The Parade of Boats begins along the Mt Pleasant waterfront at 5:30 and will be visible from downtown right about when the Marion Square festivities are ending. The CSO Gospel Choir will present their Christmas program at the Gaillard beginning at 7:30.  

     Fair Warning: the Reindeer Run will be held on the Lower Peninsula on the morning of the 3rd. Last year over 3,000 folks took part in the 5K Run and Walk. Beginning and ending at the Southend Brewery for a post race party, you might as well join in and not try to get around it!     

     The 4th will see the Charleston Parade from 2-4pm. A free Christmas Concert will be held afterwards at the Gaillard Auditorium at 7pm. The Arrival is presented by the East Cooper Baptist Church.

                  North Charleston is filling the weekend with lots of treats for the kids. A free pre-school program will be held at Amory Park from 10-noon on the 2nd and 3rd. The festivities continue on the 3rd from 4-9pm with the Christmas Parade beginning at 6pm at Mixon and Montague, proceeding around Park Circle and ending at the Armory where the Tree Lighting ceremony will take place.

     The Garden Club of Charleston will deck the halls of the Joseph Manigault House for the month of December beginning on the 3rd. Boone Hall will do the same. No plastic at either location!

     There are more festivities throughout the month. Dressed in all the trappings of the season, the Charleston Stage’s A Christmas Carol runs at the Dock Street Theatre from the 2nd to the 18th.

     If you need a break from your shopping, stop by Wine under the Oaks at Boone Hall on the afternoon of the 4th, noon to 5pm.

     A mother, a daughter and three possible dads…add a trip down the aisle and you have the favorite, Mama Mia! Part of the Best of Broadway series, the show runs the 6th and 7th at the N Chas Performing Arts.

     Back to holiday festivities, the 6th Annual Festival of Wreathes will be at Charleston Place on the 8th from 6-9. Bring a toy, receive a discount on admission.

     Family Yuletide at Middleton Place features storytelling around the campfire, wreath & ornament making on the 10th from 5:30-8pm.

     The Sanctuary at Kiawah has a few new twists on the season.  Saturdays are special at the Sanctuary. Mornings at 11 will be your chance to learn all about decorating Christmas cookies. Who wouldn’t love that project? Then at 2:30, enjoy some hot cocoa while Mr. Claus listens to your wish list during the Storybook Tea with Mrs. Claus.  On the 11th, enjoy the jazz brunch and an exhibition and “how to” seminar on historic holiday tablescapes with the “Charleston Silver Lady.”

     Also on the 11th, the Charleston Men’s Chorus will present their Christmas Concert at the Sottile Auditorium at the College of Charleston at 3 pm. A great way to take a break and get in the mood for the holidays.

     Mt. Pleasant will open their holiday season on the 11th with over 100 floats filling Coleman Blvd. The tree lighting and fireworks will follow at Moultrie Middle School.      

          The Citadel invites you to a free holiday musical concert at their Summerall Chapel on the 13th at 7pm. A hand bell choir and a flute choir, a bagpiper and soloists will be on hand to entertain you.

     If you’re on IOP on the 14th at 4pm and would like your youngster under 12 to learn to decorate cookies, the Rec Center is your place. The 19th will be a day to build Gingerbread Houses.

          Later that day, go back in time and experience the 10th Annual Dickens Dinner at Circa 1886 with a four course meal inspired by “A Christmas Carol” and a retelling of the story at 6:30pm.

     The season wouldn’t be complete without the magic of the Nutcracker. Charleston Ballet will present the seasonal favorite on the 10, 11, 16 and 17th at the Gaillard. Talk about smart! The CBT is joining with the Charleston Animal Society to help find homes for their dogs. Called Muttcracker, the scheme will add dogs needing homes to the Nutcracker’s opening scenes and possibly the party scene. You can meet the “stars” during intermission. The Animal Society will be on hand to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

     Join the Charleston Symphony Gospel Choir at the Gaillard on the 17th at 7:30pm for a wonderful evening of holiday music.

     The Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker will be at the N Chas Performing Arts Center on the 20th at 7:30. No dogs at this one!
     It’s Chanukah in the Square from 4-6pm at Marion Square on the 20th. Enjoy traditional foods, music and dance and witness the lighting of the nine foot tall menorah by Holocaust survivors.

     Find out exactly “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the IOP Rec Center at 1pm on the 21st. It’s free and so is the popcorn!

     It’s Back! Happy New Years Charleston!!! This high energy celebration is a non-alcoholic event featuring family oriented concerts and presentations to mark the beginning of a new year. Held at Marion Square, the free event runs from 4pm-10:30pm on the 31st.

     If you need a respite from the hustle and bustle, the City Gallery has the Watermedia exhibit, works of water by 62 award winning artists from across the state and the Corrigan Gallery has Kristi Ryba’s The Art and Science of Memory, an interesting reconstruction of reality.

      So what’s the world saying about Charleston lately? The CBS Early Show was here recently, touring the town to find out just what there is about us that makes Conde Nast Traveler readers select us as the best town around.

     New Yorker magazine had an interesting article on Husk. It centered on Chef Brock and his farm that preserves and reintroduces heirloom crops and pigs to new audiences.

     Departures, a deluxe American Express venture, did a full spread on “An Insiders Tour: A look at Charleston’s red-hot restaurants, boutiques and historic sites.

     If snow is a must to make your holiday complete and traveling just doesn’t fit your schedule, try the Blizzard at Blue Heron Trail in Ridgeland. According to CNN the Blizzard will hit on the 2nd from 6-9pm.

     Tennis anyone? The Annual Holiday Classic benefitting the Hollings Cancer Center is slated for the 2nd-4th at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Isl.   

     Don’t forget the Reindeer Run on the 3rd start and finish at the Southend Brewery with a big party at the finish.

     The Jingle Bell Run and Walk will be on the 10th in Mt Pleasant and the 34th Annual Kiawah Island Golf Club Marathon will also be held that day.

     The Citadel’s Bulldog Breakaway Christmas 5K will begin at 8 am at the track, move through a lap around the campus, Hampton Park and back.

     In business news….Streit USA Armoring is expanding its Lowcountry operations and adding about 51 jobs…General Dynamics will acquire Force Protection…Westinghouse will move parts weighing up to 700 tons each through the port here for the Fairfield nuclear plant expansion… and Cummins Technical Center will double its capacity at its Charleston County center and add 31 jobs. They design and make parts for diesel engines.

 Have a safe Holiday season and Be careful on the roads!