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My Charleston Weekend: May 16-22
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Photos
Water Ball
Charleston Waterkeeper, a local nonprofit that is dedicated to protecting Lowcountry waterways, again hosted its popular Water Ball on Friday to raise funds for its initiatives. The event, held at the S.C. Aquarium, featured some of the area’s most sustainably focused chefs, who came together to showcase the connection between the local water quality and local seafood. Participating chefs included Mike Lata of The Ordinary and FIG, Jason Stanhope of FIG, Graham Dailey of Peninsula Grill, Drew Hedlund of Fleet Landing, Jeremiah Bacon of Indigo Road Group, Nico Romo of Fish, Stuart Tracy of Butcher & Bee, Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan of Home Team BBQ, Brian Parkhurst of Ted’s Butcherblock and Kevin Johnson of The Grocery. Ben Bridwell and Creighton Barrett of the rock band Band of Horses added to the evening with a special performance.
Third Thursday
May’s Third Thursday event in downtown Summerville was all about birds and bluegrass. Bluegrass bands, including Eagle Creek, 17-S Bluegrass, the Harrmonators and Busker, were scattered around the event area performing live music. And a number of people got in on the action, brining an instrument and a chair to play in the Blue Grass Jam in Town Square. In conjunction with the weekend’s Sculpture in the South in Azalea Square, the nonprofit teamed up with the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest and Summerville Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management for BIRDS, an acronym for Birds in Residence Downtown Summerville. BIRDS is a project that will see 19 life-size bird sculptures scattered throughout town; the first was unveiled Thursday.
Spring Invitational Polo Match
Folks enjoyed a day of fun at Hyde Park Farm on Sunday at the Spring Invitational Polo Match. With two matches, live music, food and beverages from local vendors, and more, it was an ideal Sunday Funday. Some attendees packed a picnic to enjoy while others brought their canine companions. And with McDaniels Audi of Charleston on-site with some of the new models on display, there was a little something for everyone. The match benefitted Rein & Shine, an equine-therapy facility for children and adults with special needs.
Winestock Music Festival
Billed as “Woodstock with a wine twist,” the inaugural Winestock Music Festival was all about embracing the Age of Aquarius and your inner hippie. Attendees were encouraged to dress in their hippie best and they certainly didn’t disappoint, as the costume contest was a huge draw. Folks also enjoyed live music from The Sweetgrass Girls, The Bullgrapes and The Tarlatans. Farm on Fire, Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, Stono Cafe, Diggity Donuts and King of Pops were on hand serving food while Firefly Vodka and Irvin-House Vineyards were offering tasings.
Charleston Greek Festival
Celebrating its 43rd year, the three-day Charleston Greek Festival offered attendees the chance to take part in a decades-old tradition of culture and entertainment. Featuring two bands performing Greek music, folk dance performances, cultural exhibits and shops, the festival offered something for the whole family. Attendees also dug into dishes of authentic fare, including mousaka, gyro and kebob, as they sipped on Greek wines and beverages.
Firefighter Calendar Contest
Charleston area firefighters turned up the heat Thursday as the competed for one of the 12 slots in the 2014 Charleston Firefighter Calendar. In what was likely the spring's "hottest" party, the guys worked to impress a group of judges and the crowd for a coveted spot in a charity calendar that benefits the Charleston Animal Society.
Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival
Billed as “South Carolina’s largest” Cinco de Mayo event, the eighth annual Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival packed the people in to enjoy Hispanic food, dance and music. Held Saturday at the Visitor Center Bus Shed, revelers of all ages enjoyed live music performed by the Atlanta Show Band and Playboy Cash, a salsa dance exhibition and a Zumba exhibition. A motor show by Street Revoluzion just added to the atmosphere. The event promised “plenty of tequila to go around” and didn’t disappoint. In addition to tequila, the event also featured craft beers and food trucks and vendors, including Pollo Tropical, Vallarta Grill, EL Sabor Latino and El Centroamericano.
Alley Fest: Kentucky Derby Party
The folks who brought bowling back to the Charleston peninsula threw a weekend event called Alley Fest that touted “three days of music, six bands, a whole lot of awesome,” and they didn’t disappoint. Friday’s kickoff featured live music from Atlas Road Crew and The Tarlatans. Saturday’s event really amped things up with a Kentucky Derby Party, which featured mint juleps, fried chicken and bourbon, as well as music by Junkyard Angel, Dash Rip Rock and Guilt Ridden Troubadour. And, of course, the Kentucky Derby on the big screen. Sunday brought the Cinco de Mayo Celebration, which featured specials on tequila, margaritas and Dos Equis, and live music by Bio Ritmo.
Charleston Dragon Boat Festival
The sixth annual Charleston Dragon Boat Festival at Brittlebank Park drew quite the crowd on Saturday. While a fierce competition, the event was held in good fun with the purpose of celebrating cancer survivors. Those who watched the race from the banks of the Ashley River enjoyed the creative costumes, colorful tents and the competition.
Gibbes on the Street Party
For the fourth year, the Gibbes Museum of Art hosted a street party in front of the building with food from some of Charleston’s top chefs, an open bar, dancing, art and more. Guests at Thursday night’s event had the opportunity to enjoy a blend of visual and culinary arts with food provided by Bon Bahn Mi, Caviar & Bananas, Charleston Grill, Circa 1886, Cypress, FIG, The Glass Onion, Hank’s, The Grocery, The Macintosh, McCrady’s, Oak, Palmetto Cafe, Red Drum, Slightly North of Broad, Sugar Bakeshop, Wild Olive and WildFlour Pastry. An open bar for the 21 and over crowd featured Ciroc Ultra Premium, Bulleit Bourbon and Canyon Road Winery. During the party, the museum unveiled the top selections chosen for the People’s Choice exhibit, and, as promised, performers breathed “life into portraits, landscapes and abstract paintings, diminishing the barriers between the community and art.” All proceeds went to the Gibbes Museum of Art.
Celebration for a Cause
To celebrate receiving her honorary doctoral degree from The Citadel, decorated combat photographer and author Stacy Pearsall hosted a fundraising party to support the Lt. Dan Weekend Retreat, which benefits severely wounded soldiers and their families. Recently named a “Champion of Change” by President Barack Obama, Pearsall shared her story of heroism under fire as well as the continuing challenges of survival and recovery. The event included heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, door prizes, an auction and entertainment, and served as a precursor to a September visit and performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.
Today Show
Photos from Today Show at CofC
Blessing of the Fleet
Started in 1987 to support and honor the local shrimping and fishing industry, the town of Mount Pleasant Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival celebrated its 26th year on Sunday. Held at the Memorial Waterfront Park and Pier in Mount Pleasant, the event featured live music, local crafts, kids’ activities, a boat parade, a ceremonial blessing of the shrimp and fishing fleet and more. The family-friendly event was a seafood lover’s heaven as numerous local restaurants were serving up a variety of options, including Gilligan’s Seafood Restaurant, Red’s Ice House, A.W. Shucks and Zeus Grill & Seafood. Other options included Wild Wings, Sticky Fingers, Graze, The Shelter, among others. Live music was performed by Southwood and East Coast Party Band. A shag contest and shrimp-eating contest rounded out the festival. Funds raised this year went to the Charleston Port and Seafarers’ Society.
Lowcountry Festa Italiana
Attendees of the inaugural Lowcountry Festa Italiana, an event that touted being “the first Italian cultural festival in the Lowcountry,” ate and drank like Italians. Held Saturday at Azalea Park in Summerville, the event featured Italian food, drinks, music and dancing. The family-friendly event also had bocce ball, grape stomping, lessons on dancing the tarantella, kids’ games, face-painting and more. Roman soldiers roamed the grounds as folks sipped on offerings from wine vendors and browsed what local crafters had to offer.
Jail Break 5
Folks here in Charleston just love going to jail, and the fifth Jail Break at the Old City Jail just proved that once again on Saturday. The biannual arts festival hosted a full day of multimedia fun. Visual art and performance art was scattered throughout the jail, even inside some of the old cells, as well as outside. In the courtyard, local artisans were selling their wares. An impressive line-up of musicians and comics performed throughout the day. Musical performances included Brave Baby, The Luke Cunningham Band, The Royal Tinfoil and Steven Fiore, while the comedians included Andy Rider, Jason Groce, Sam Jackel, Vince Fabra, Myles Armstrong Hutto and Dusty Slay. The Charleston Dance Alliance also had multiple performances at different intervals throughout the festival. New this year was a fashion design component.
