Spoleto Festival Showcases The Best Of Charleston-Plus A Block Party

Charleston, and its surrounding locales, have endured a persistent, ongoing northern invasion of a sort over recent years, perplexing locals and straining the infrastructure. Some locals had become so perplexed by the incursion, comparing it to the "War of Northern Aggression", they created a web site called GoBackToOhio.com, but must have finally accepted the unavoidable fact we are not just happy tourists, but here to stay. The website has fallen into near olivian as a result.

After lounging around the pool this past weekend, talking to fellow residents, it's apparent the incursion includes not just Ohioans, but also Pennsylvanians, Michiganers and New Yorkers. The common thread that binds us together as a group is the sheer fact we love the Charleston area.

Take myself for an example. I vacationed here for a few years before deciding to make the difficult move. Where I am from, fondly referred to as "The Northcoast", there are beaches on which to cool your heels, but also plenty of the white stuff during the off season. Hacking ice off your car on a daily basis can become an exasperating routine and unless you have experienced frostbite you can't appreciate what I am talking about when it comes to stinging pain.

None the less, snow wasn't the deciding factor in the move, I just like the sun more. The sun shines in the Lowcountry twice as much, presenting greater opportunity for outdoor activity throughout the year. Activity like boating, fishing, swimming, and golf. Charleston is a city rich with the kind of history I enjoy, reminiscent of a more genteel and eloquent time. It is also centrally located between Myrtle Beach to the north, Hilton Head to the south, and Florida not far beyond with all the amenities it has to offer. Charleston, for an added bonus, is also a cruise port.

I do miss the broadway shows at Cleveland Playhouse Square, fellow crazy fans in the Dawg Pound of Cleveland Browns Stadium, and living not too far from "The Roller Coaster Capital of the World", Cedar Point. But it is typical of life, you sacrifice some things to attain others. But the sacrifice is small.

When it comes to theater, Charleston abounds with a variety, even carrying the distinction of being home to the first theater building designed solely for theatrical performances in America, the Dock Street Theater. Charleston was even selected above all other cities in the U.S. to be the sister city of Spoleto, Italy and host to the American version of the Spoleto Festival, which is in progess as I write. And why was it selected? Its organizers saw in Charleston the same charm charateristic of Spoleto, Italy, and for its wealth of theaters, churches, and other performance spaces needed to host the operas, plays, dance, and music ranging from classical to jazz.

Charleston is artsy and a photographer's paradise. It also has a healthy nightlife. This Saturday, June 4, you can join in the fun for free. The Piccolo Spoleto Block Party: The Summer Frenzy! will take place at Marion Square, Calhoun St. & King St. A night full of music, dancing, and good eats. Entertainment ranges from local bands battling it out, dance performances by Dancefx and Mufuka Works Dance Company and a DJ mixin’ up tunes from the 60’s to today’s hottest hits. Possibly and painfully, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers might just come up in the mix. Its a long shot, but stranger things have happened. And if need be, you can down a drink to make it more tolerable. Its all in the name of fun. Time is 7pm to 11pm.

After the party is over, you can go to the Market Pavilion Hotel's rooftop bar for a night cap and enjoy the breeze coming off the bay.

Charleston's Memorial Day Weekend-Beaches Packed And Spoleto Festival Underway

There was a great start to the Memorial Day weekend activities on the beaches. The Isle of Palms was packed with bathers and spectators alike for the sand sculpting contest. Although storms were in the area, Front Beach was sunny and hot for the affair. Not a huge event compared to other sand sculpting contests on other beaches, but everyone involved had fun, adults and kids alike.

I don't know which entry won, I had other arrangements at 12:00 when the contest was to be completed and the winner chosen. These are some of my picks gathered as I strolled the beach while they were under construction.

One of the entries, a castle like structure, was created by Mitch of Emblers Jewelers, accompanied by Josh and Marc. Mitch informed me that a smaller completed version was at his shop located on Coleman Blvd. So, if you would like to view it you will have to pay his store a visit. Other entries were a copy of Mona Lisa, a bic shaver amidst stubble, ninja turtle, and a portion of a chain. Rachel Mahaffey and Marc Brumbaugh were working on a sculpture of what looked to be a swan, but were not going to be done with it until 3:00 pm.

If today was a precursor of what to expect on the beach front, the next two days will mean packed beaches. If you have beach plans get there early if you want a decent parking spot and an ideal location to plant your beach towel or chair. The weather looks to be good. Rain is no longer in the forecast.

Then, when you are done with the sun, there is plenty to do in Charleston with the Spoleto Festival underway. Exhibits, shows, concerts, and more. You won't have to walk five hundred miles for anything. There is something around every corner to keep you busy, and search as you may, there will be no Proclaimers to be found. Thank Goodness. Just upscale entertainment on tap with some homegrown talent from the Lowcountry.

Spoleto Festival Kicks Off Friday And Displays A Wide Range Of Music Venues

When it comes to music I have always said, "If it sounds good, I'll listen to it". Now, I know that statement is rather subjective, because what sounds good to me may not necessarily sound good to you, but I do have a wide range of interest when it comes to music. I never really followed any particular group or singer. They all had their good ones and their not so good ones. There again, my criticism may be subjective.

One song that sticks in my memory and I find myself randomly thinking of from time to time, and this is for no apparent reason, is "Mellow Yellow" by Donovan. Another favored oldie "when I get drunk"(I just thought I would throw that in there because it is part of the lyics, I never get drunk-honest) from a Scottish group "I Would Walk Five Hundred Miles" called the Proclaimers. But I will have to stop there because there just is not enough space for me to list out everything I recall by such groups as Genesis, Moody Blues, Who, Eagles, Billy Joel, John Cougar became Mellencamp, Queen, and so on and so on. I have to interject that Country music was not a favorite of mine until it emerged out of the twangy stage. Oh, when I am on a cruise or the beach somewhere and there is something in the blender, Jimmy Buffet.

From May 27-June 12 Spoleto Festival and Piccolo Spoleto will be featuring music of various genres both international and local such as classical, jazz, and grass roots. So, there is plenty to choose from depending on your tastes or you just might want to broaden your range of interest. The festival is a great place to test the waters out.

Sarah Jarosz will be performing at College of Charleston Cistern Yard Thursday, June 2 at 9:00 pm. I personally haven't heard much of her music until I saw her name on the events list and checked her out. One of her releases that caught my attention was "Long Journey". She is billed as having a "haunting voice whose purity recalls Alison Krauss, mandolin and banjo skills worthy of a Grammy nomination, and songwriting abilities the envy of anyone twice her age." Tickets are $30-$40.

The Del McCoury Band will perform at Middleton Place Sunday, June 12 at 8:30 pm. Del McCoury is considered a bluegrass icon. The evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display. Alot of foot stomping here. Tickets ar $30. Want to listen to a sample click here.

Karrin Allyson will perform at College of Charleston Cistern Yard Friday, May 27 9:00 pm and Saturday, May 28 9:00 pm. She is not a newcomer to the festival. She is a celebrated Jazz vocalist. Tickets are $30-$45. Here is an example of her singing.

Early Bird Blues: Juke Joint Johnny & Drew Baldwin “The Harmonica Beast of the Southeast” will be at Mad River Bar and Grill, 32 N. Market St. Tickets: $11. May 27 at 5-7pm.

The Piccolo Spoleto Block Party: The Summer Frenzy! A night full of music, dancing, and good eats. Entertainment ranges from local bands battling it out, dance performances by Dancefx and Mufuka Works Dance Company and a DJ mixin’ up tunes from the 60’s to today’s hottest hits. It is all free. Marion Square, Calhoun St. and King St. June 4 from 7-11pm.

This is only a samlping. For all the music venues offered go to Piccolo Spoleto and Spoleto Fesival. See you at opening ceremonies May 27.

Piccolo Spoleto Festival Fun-Sand Sculpting Competition On Isle Of Palms

Everytime I vacation on the beach somewhere I can't help myself. I have an irresistable urge to dig around in the sand and sculpt something, usually hammerheads or sea turtles. One time, when I was staying at the quaint oceanside condo resort called the Lahaina Inn Resort on Fort Meyers Beach, I sculpted a human head with its hands sticking out of the sand. I added seaweed for hair and etched in the sand the words, "Help me." A couple walking along the shore stopped and asked me if I did it for a living and whether I worked for the resort as a sand sculptor. I slyly smiled and said no. Another time I made Mount Rushmore with Disney characters instead of presidents. I am also a Disney enthusiast on top of it.

The Piccolo Spoleto Festival begins May 27 and there are plenty of things to see and do, including a sand sculpting competition to encourage appreciation for art and the environment. It will take place on the Isle of Palms at Front Beach on May 28 from 9am to noon. Admission is free. Bring your shovels, buckets and sand utensils. Fun for the whole family. Cameras are encouraged. Hopefully the weather will cooperate because sand mixed with  large volumes of water don't adhere together well. Map location.

Other ways to enjoy the celebration of art are the exibits, both painting and photography. Piccolo Spoleto 27th Annual Juried Art Exhibition will showcase works of South Carolina artists. This year’s jurors are Alex Powers (painting/ 2D) and Rick Rhodes (photography). Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting St. Admission: free. May 27-June 10; Daily, 8:30am-5pm. Map location.

Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition will showcase the works of award-winning South Carolina artists at Marion Square, with free demonstrations each day. King and Calhoun Streets. Admission: free. May 27-June 11; 10am-5pm. Map location.

Jack Alterman Invitational Exhibition: Allende! will debut his documentary film featuring two Charleston artists and a longtime expatriate educator who have made San Miguel their home. Jack Alterman Gallery, 36 George St. Admission:  Free.  May 25-June 12; Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., noon-5pm. Map location.

Looking for tips on sand sculping click here.

It's Near Spoleto Time In Charleston-Join In The Fun

It's Spoleto Festival USA time and it's Piccolo Spoleto Festival time. Wait a minute, which is it? Is it Spoleto Festival or is it Piccolo Spoleto Festival? Both festivals conspicuously take place May 27 thru June 12. The question is: Are they one in the same or two separate festivals occurring simultaneously? To answer that question, we need to investigate its history.

The name Spoleto comes from an ancient city located in Italy situated in the province of Perugia in east central Umbria on a foothill of the Apennines. To put it in perspective, it is centrally located some 131 miles southeast of Florence and 78 miles north of Rome. Spoleto is home to the "Festival dei Due Mondi" also known as the "Festival of the Two Worlds" first organized and founded by Gian Carlo Menotti. The festival has developed into one of the most important cultural manifestations in Italy, with a three-week schedule of music, theater and dance performances.

Gian Carlo Menotti wanted to establish a counterpart of the festival in the USA. So, the organizers searched the US for a city that would offer the same charm and hospitality of Spoleto, Italy, and also its wealth of theaters, churches, and other performance spaces. Charleston was rightly selected and the first festival was held in 1977. Spoleto Festival USA produces its own operas, which are rarely performed masterpieces by well-known composers and also presents theater, dance and music ranging from classical to jazz. It is now one of the world's major performing arts festivals.

While Spoleto Festival USA features artists and performers of national and international renown, the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs wanted to highlight outstanding local and regional artists. Thus, Piccolo Spoleto was established and became the official companion festival, the perfect complement.

Each festival has its own official poster. The poster of the Spoleto Festival is often not well received by the native masses and this years choice is no exception. The official poster is a red, white, and black abstraction of the interior, architectural schematic of London's famed opera house Covent Garden, home of the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet. The Piccolo Spoleto poster tends to favor local artistic tastes. Both posters are the featured images of this article. You decide for youself?

So, Charleston, for 17 days, will be full of the performing arts. Its theaters and streets will be filled with visitors and locals alike. There is scheduled something for everyone and anybody, a spattering of the diverse artistic expressions in our culture. It is by far the most popular festivals of the year. You can purchase Spoleto tickets and events and Piccolo Spoleto tickets and events. Charleston hotels and accommodations.

A couple of interesting scheduled performances:
Circa-Australia’s most innovative circus company debuts with its newest show, hailed by The Herald (UK) as “truly a circus, but with a poetic, life-affirming modern twist.” Combining heart-stopping acrobatics with contemporary choreography and cheeky humor. Memminger Auditorium June 7-12. Times and tickets. Prices $30-$45. Map location.
The Gentleman Pirate-Great fun, splendidly performed and exhaustively researched. “Grade A,” Charleston City Paper. A one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical event that brings to life the notorious Stede Bonnet. Pure Theatre, Powder Magazine, 79 Cumberland Street. Tickets: $16. Complete list of dates and times. Map location.
Award-winning South Carolina artists display their works at Marion Square, with free demonstrations each day. Marion Square, King and Calhoun Sts. Admission: free. May 27-June 11; 10am-5pm King St. at Calhoun St.

Charleston Is Both Fascinating and Entertaining-Come And Live The Story

Charleston is amalgamated with stories brimming full of mystery, intrigue, and historical importance. Whether fact or fiction, they are an intregal part of Charleston's persona. They breath life into every brick, plank, cobblestone, and iron gate that have been fused together into the mass of buildings and homes that form today's Holy City. They are spouted from every corner and doorstep. They are inescapable.

It wasn't always like this. There was a period of time when the life spark was close to being extinguished. Charleston, like the Planters Hotel, had fallen into near ruin. The stories were there, but the bricks, planks, and cobblestones had become infested with disinterest, dangling from a noose like Stede Bonnet at White Point. Although, the fate of Charleston turned out differently then the "gentleman pirate's" fate thanks to a modern day renaissance, an awakening into everything historical.

You will be warmed by the story of Poogan, a once homeless dog that found his way onto the porch of a home being renovated into a restaurant now known as Poogan's Porch. Maybe, while you are there enjoying some upscale Lowcountry cuisine, you might hear a ruckus in the kitchen, pots and pans banging around. That would be Zoe St. Amand making her presence known, a native Charlestonian who lived in the house at one time. Yes, lived, as in the past tense.

One of Charleston's most infamous characters, Lavinia Fisher, is the climax of Charleston's scariest tours at the Old City Jail. Lavinia, along with her husband, poisoned guests at their inn with oleander tea, robbed them, and hacked up their bodies and stashed them in the cellar. She was put on trial and executed by hanging at the Old City Jail where she is said to make appearances from time to time. Supposedly, her final words before the rope snapped were, "If anyone has a message for hell, give it to me-I'll deliver it." She maybe somewhat ticked-off because a recent investigation into the legend shows she may have been innocent. Something to do with corrupt politicians. Now, that I can believe.

Another quaint story you will hear on a carriage ride in the French Quarter pertains to three houses at 23, 25, and 27 Meeting Street. The guide speaks of how they were built by a wealthy Charleston father for his three daughters, who were so ugly that he figured they would never marry and have a home of their own. That's the narrative. The simple truth may point to a different explanation. Their similar architectural styles may have something to do with the title, Three Sisters. Which account is more intrtiguing to you?

If you are a bit squeamish or easily frightened by such stories of ghosts and things that go bump in the night, there are plenty of iron gated mansions with gardens to tour that are filled with real life artifacts, not to leave out the beautiful plantations, each with a documented history of its own. Fort Sumter guards its harbor and greets the passing cruise ships. The South Carolina Aquarium gives you a quick peak at its topography and wildlife.

The fact of the matter, Charleston is both facsinating and entertaining. Its hotels are a testimony to its hospitality and grace. Its restaurants are a declaration to its unique blend of Lowcountry cuisine. Its numerous tours and historical carriage rides will familiarize you to what is the beating heart of the South.

Come, step into the antebellum past for a day or a week. As an added bonus, immerse yourself into everything the present has to offer in the way of sandy beaches, boating, fishing, golfing, and shopping. Click on Charleston Attractions for a complete list of things to do.  

Swinging On A Hammock At Pawleys Island, SC-That's My Story And I'm Sticking To It

Looking for an unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual place where you can stick you toes into some soft sand or stretch out in the sun and take in some tanning rays? A place where a shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style swinging in a rope hammock is the norm? Look no further than the small, non-commercial resort island situated on the coast of South Carolina. It is 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach and twelve miles north of historic Georgetown. Pawleys Island is known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast and carries a reputation for being "arrogantly shabby".

The four miles long and a quarter of a mile wide island was first inhabited by the Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. In time the area became populated with rice plantations on the creeks and backwaters during the colonial era. To escape the mosquitoe infestation and malaria common in the salt marshes, the planters sought refuge on this little breezy island. A man named George Pawley owned it during that time and sold portions of it to those rice planters.

It was the Cypress sided cottages built on the island that gave the community one of its monikers: arrogantly shabby. The island has stayed unpretentious with a ban on commercial and industrial buildings, allowing only a condominium complex and a few inns to be built. Some of the oldest, most classic homes have stayed, such as Beachaven, owned by William Brigham Sr., and the PCJ Weston
House, which is now the Pelican Inn. One for the record, Pawleys is the birthplace of the rope hammock, which was invented by Joshua John Ward in the late 1800s

The accommodations on Pawleys vary greatly, some brand new and modern, others simple and rustic. The list include the Sea View Inn, a 20-room Inn serving three meals a day, the Pelican Inn, an 8-room bed and breakfast and Pawleys Pier Village, a 42 unit Condominium Complex and many residential homes for weekly rental. All cater to the family experience. Other accommodations for Pawleys Island.

There is crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, surfing, and stories of ghosts. Just ask any local about the "Gray Man". If you are looking for nightlife action, Myrtle Beach isn't that far away and Charleston is only a little over an hour south. The spring and fall seasons are magnificent and offer uncrowded beaches and nature at its best. So, take the plunge and swing on down, or up, whichever applies.-Vacation Rick Travel