The Beautiful College Of Charleston Hosted BarcampCHS And After Party At the Mynt

This was my first detailed walk around the campus of the beautiful College of Charleston. The historic aspects of the city of Charleston and its charm flow onto the campus naturally like a wave to a beach and never misses a beat. It is an elegant blend of the old with the new. I was on the campus for the annual Barcamp.

The College of Charleston was founded in 1770. It is the oldest educational institution south of Virginia, and the 13th oldest in the United States. Three of its founders were signers of the Declaration of Independence and another three were framers of the U.S. Constitution. It offers learning experiences in business, science, teaching, the humanities, languages and the arts.

When you enter the stone archways of Porter's Lodge from George Street you are treated with the grand spectacle of the College's oldest building, the Randolph Hall. It is a humbling experience when you exit the archway and the grand hall comes into view. Stately live oak trees, draped with Spanish moss, shade the brick walkways of Randolf Hall and throughout the main campus. You can see the history. You can feel the history. Its at every corner you turn, it is in every alley you walk, and every iron gate you pass through.

The college has an interesting tradition that sets it apart from other learning institutions. Students, upon completing their undergraduate degrees at the College of Charleston do not wear robes or caps for the spring commencement ceremony. Instead, women students wear white dresses and men wear white dinner jackets each spring at graduation.

BarcampCHS is all about participation. It is all about opportunity. An opportunity for local area techies, developers, designers, and entrepreneurs to share ideas. When I arrived in Charleston, the streets around the campus were crowded. Since I was not familiar with the campus, I had to solicit some directions from various students. Thank goodness for students with smart phones. I immediately began to take pictures. I registered at the Physicians Auditorium and received a bag of swag containing a t-shirt, stickers from sponsors, writing tablets, and ear jacks for plug-ins. I hit the jackpot. I got two t-shirts.

Then, there was the opportunity for attendees to pitch their ideas and we all voted on what sessions we would be interested in attending. A schedule was posted of the winning sessions with the building, room number, and time. Pizza, snacks, and an assortment of refreshments were available to grab as you went from building to building, room to room. The pizza tasted like cheese and sauce on cardboard, but what the heck, it was free. Coastal Coffee Roasters of Summerville, one of the sponsors of the event, provided the coffee, hands down the best in the Lowcountry.


In between sessions, I walked around the campus and took more pictures. There was a robot shooting baskets in front of the Honors College building. An old, black clock nearby caught my attention. It is living relic of the college's glorious history. I walked to the entrance on George Street, admired the huge iron gate used to secure the grounds. A horse carriage loaded with tourists sauntered past. The live oaks along the walkways were huge and their canopy of leaves only allowed the suns rays to penetrate in select places. The final session I attended demonstrated how to get free stuff on the Internet. College students are very creative when it comes to finding ways to earn extra money, especially those in the computer sciences.

The after party was at the Mynt, a fairly new bar/nightclub on Calhoun Street. The Mynt's interior is dominated by the richness of wood and a ceiling accented with colorful lighting and symmetrical shapes. The seating is spacious and the bar area covers a good portion of one wall decorated with ceiling high shelving framed in squares with soft blue lighting. It features appetizers with sandwiches and wraps. The party was on their outside patio. If you were a sponsored attendee you received a free Holy City glass and unlimited Holy City beer. I was not, so no freebies for me. Still, the atmosphere was great, the nighttime weather on the patio pleasant, and it was fun. If you are in town, check out the Mynt for some late night entertainment and refreshment.

Charleston Is Charming, Hospitable And Dog-Friendly-Places And Events To Take Your Dog

Jasper

The movie called "Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World" is about a man who is abandoned by his wife after the two of them hear the world is coming to an end in twenty-one days. I have not seen the movie as of today, so I cannot comment about what could have triggered the wife's sudden change of heart or whether the movie even gives you a hint. One may be left to speculate. It is a tragedy of enormous proportions to be confronted with such an inescapable causatum, but even a greater calamity of epic magnitude when your closest, dearest friend deserts you at such a hermetic moment. Such a thing would not happen if that closest friend were a dog.

The profound loyalty of a canine friend is well documented. Likewise, the attachment people have to their dogs. Considering another scenario of dire prospects, in a study by the American Animal Hospital Association, over half of the respondents said if they were stranded on a desert island, they would prefer the company of their pet to a human companion. That is, more people would rather find themselves in a "Pooch Lagoon" situation than a "Blue Lagoon." In my opinion, I am thinking the majority of respondents were female and obviously animal owners. Men tend to be more superficial about who they would want to be stranded with and only a animal owner would answer in such a dogmatic fashion. Woof. Woof.

Following are some more interesting facts about people and dogs. Many believe (I'm not one of them) we owe our survival as the superior species to our dog companions or else the world would be ruled by Neanderthals. I'm guessing Neanderthals were not pet-friendly. On an average, at least 70 per cent of the people polled around the world always sign their dog's name on a greeting card along with the rest of the family names. When it comes to travel, more than 20 percent of vacationing dog owners take their pet with them in the car when they travel. These owners take their dog on an average of five car trips per year. In a TripAdvisor survey, more than half of the 1,100 pet owners surveyed said they would only stay at accommodations that were animal-friendly when traveling with their pets. Americans are increasingly making provisions for their pets in their wills, placing their pet’s medical needs over their own, and planning vacations around their pets.

There is only one obvious question that needs to be readdressed as far as I am concerned; Who really is the master in this symbiotic relationship? Humans leave their home everyday to eke out a living while the dog stays home and waits for them to return to cater to their every need. When the two accompany each other on shopping excursions, the dog is pushed around in a cart seated on a pillow provided by the human for their comfort. Like slaves to royalty of ancient Egypt, the human baths them, feeds them, manicures them, massages them, and showers them with gifts. And that is only the tip of the iceberg. The whole "I am the master thing" just doesn't make the cut.

So, 63 percent of all U.S. households own a pet. Thirty-nine percent of those U.S. households own at least one dog. With those figures in mind, the tourist industry has become more pet-friendly conscious. Whether you are a person planning on traveling with your dog to Charleston or a local, there are accommodations and restaurants available to cater to your particular needs. One of Charleston's finest restaurants was named after an abandoned dog that took up residents on its porch and greeted its patrons. The dog's name was Poogan and the restaurant is Poogan's Porch. Poogan is no longer present, but he is remembered fondly.

The Lost Dog Cafe on Folly Beach was likewise inspired by a dog, whose name is Hocus. Hocus had a bad habit of just "taking off" when he felt like it. It was from these stints of disappearing that his owners came up with the name for their beach cafe. As cafes go, it really isn't that unusual. The most unusual thing about the café is pooches are welcomed.

Lost Dog Cafe features an all day breakfast menu with burritos, bagel sandwiches, and good coffee. It is advertised as a place where locals and tourists can eat, meet, and mingle, a gathering place. If you like it simple, Lost Dog Cafe is located on W. Huron Ave. Out of 146 reviews, 92 percent give it a high rating.

Two other pet-friendly restaurants are 39 Rue de Jean in Charleston and Red's Ice House on Shem Creek. The Rue has outside seating available; dogs are allowed at the outer tables. They must be leashed and under their owner's control at all times. Red's allows dogs on the outside decks where the views of Shem Creek are beautiful.

There are specific events scheduled through the summer months with the dog owner in mind as well. Once a month the James Island County Park Dog Park has a "Yappy Hour" for Charleston's dog lovers where they can reward themselves and their pooch after a long day at the office with live music and beverages. The next "Yappy Hour" is September 17 starting at 4:00pm and going until sunset. Dallas Baker and Friends will provide the music. Dog Day Afternoon on September 13, 2015 affords you the unique opportunity to take your dog with you to Whirlin' Waters Adventure Waterpark. Large dogs will have a blast in the wave pool, while smaller dogs can take a dip in Otter Bay to cool off from the summer heat. The time is Noon to 5:00pm. Cost will be $15 for your dog and free for you. Click on dog-friendly attractions for the complete list.

Following are some pet-friendly accommodations. John Rutledge House and Wentworth Mansion have similar policies. Wentworth Mansion has Garden Rooms with easy access to the courtyard and lawn. If traveling with your dog, reservations need to be made by calling the hotel directly as there are limited rooms. A $25 per night fee also applies. The Inn at Middleton Place accepts pets under 50 lbs (exceptions may be made) and ask that while on property your pet remains leashed or crated while left alone. The Inn has miles of scenic pathways where you and your pet can explore the surroundings. A $75 per pet fee is required with a complimentary "pet bag" of treats and toys upon arrival. Kiawah Island Golf Resort allows dogs in the villas only for an additional pet fee of $10 per night per unit. Dogs must be kept leashed and picked up after. They are allowed at the picnic table seating of the Night Heron Grill. Tides Folly Beach has an $85 per stay pet fee.

Here are some pet-friendly tours. Tour Charleston Ghost Tours welcomes dogs on their ghost tours. They have dogs of their own who may be joining the tour from time to time. Carolina Polo and Carriage Company allows dogs on the carriage tours for no additional fee if they are small enough not to take up a seat; otherwise for a medium to large dog, the fee is the child's fee of $12. Dogs must be well mannered, leashed and under their owner's control at all times.

There are two off-leash city dog parks in Charleston. Hampton Park Dog Run is located at the corner of Rutledge Ave. and Grove St. near College Park ballfield, this park provides a great and convenient location for dogs to play around. Hazel Parker Park Dog Run is located just behind Hazel Parker Playground at 70 E. Bay St., which provides green space for downtown and visiting pooch's. For a complete list go to dog parks.

Summerville Ghost Stories And The Blue Bottle Tree Along with A Festival At The Ponds

blue bottle tree at W. Carolina and Tupper

In Summerville, there is an area where three roads converge unto South Main Street to make a single intersection of five points. The roads are W. Carolina Ave, E. Carolina Ave, and Tupper Lane. I have driven through this intersection many times and have often wondered about the significance of the strange potted ornament placed at the point where W. Carolina Ave and Tupper Lane come together. It was always just a brief curiosity because I never made any real effort to find out what the strange looking tree-like structure with blue bottles stuck on its branches was. Until recently, and only by accident, I stumbled upon the answer. I was researching ghost stories in the Summerville area. Not surprsing, it's called a blue bottle tree and quite common throughout the South.

Today, it is mainly nothing more than a decoration people put in their gardens and on their lawns, but in history the blue bottle tree is steeped in superstitions brought here by African slaves. The color blue was believed to ward off spirits, more specifically, the evil kind. The bottles on the bottle tree are thought to entice the evil spirits into climbing inside during the evening hours where they become trapped. Then, the morning sun comes up and the sunlight kills the spirits. Quite an ingenious idea, if you believe in such things. Also, a nifty way of making good use of empty wine bottles, if you like the idea of a blue bottle tree in your yard.

Old City Jail

Charleston is rich with a diverse collection of varying cultures each laced with their own blend of superstitions and beliefs, necessary ingredients for inventing interesting ornaments and compiling ghost stories to entertain the many tourists who come here to experience history at its best. Poogan's Porch tells stories of encounters with a ghost named Zoe St. Armand, a woman who once lived there. She is sometimes heard banging things around in the kitchen. Battery Carriage House Inn is known as “Charleston’s most haunted inn." It is home to the “gentleman ghost” and the headless torso. Want to reserve a room for the scare of it? The Dockstreet Theater has two ghosts wandering within its walls, a male ghost dressed in formal attire, thought to be Junious Brutus Booth, and an alleged prostitute. You will need tickets for this show. No tickets needed on Church Street, which is lined with plenty of graveyards, but a tour guide would be helpful. Last but not least, Lavinia Fisher awaits your presence at the Old City Jail. The stories are many and the tours are plenty. Check out Bulldog Tours.

Summerville has its share of ghost stories as well. One notable story is associated with The Ponds, a community located on Highway 17A where Dorchester Rd ends. The entrance is marked by a tower. The Ponds has a history dating back to 1682. Plenty of time for human activity and interaction needed to create stories of mystery tainted by an active imagination. The first owner of the land built a plantation called Westin Hall. His name was Andrew Percival. From 1723 to 1765, the Donning family of England had controlling interest in the plantation until they sold it.

Several families from that point in time owned it and for over a hundrerd years it was a rice plantation. John Shultz took ownership in 1818 and later his son. After returning from the Civil War, having served in the First South Carolina Mounted Militia, Frederick Schultz eventually sold it to Edward Lotz in 1881. Edward Lotz became a lumber dealer and made shingles out of the numerous cypress trees growing on the land. Edward Lotz is where the ghost story begins. Today, it seems he makes a nightly visit to the old farmhouse to make sure everything is well. Sorry, nothing ghastly or gruesome to report. It seems the lands history has been one of tranquility.

The Ponds is also a center for local area events and community activities. World-renowned arts shows, outdoor music festivals, and sporting events have unfolded on this one-time plantation. There is an outdoor amphitheater on the property located next to the lake. This Saturday, April 21st, the Southern Flame - The Southern Food Festival Under the Oaks kicks-off. The time is 11 am to 8 pm. It is $10 to park all day with food and berverage tickets available. There will be a BBQ Competition and a People’s Choice Southern Foods Competition. Live bluegrass and rock music will keep you dancing. Eddie Bush and The Mayhem are the featured group. Join the fun and stick around after dark to see if Edward Lotz likes what he sees.