Here are a few pictures from some events this month that I never got around to posting, including a pizza-making extravaganza at Social, the MOJA Finale at Hampton Park, Makeover for a Difference at Stella Nova, and Taste of Charleston. Bon appetit.
Do you like to attend parties and events around Charleston? Can you write? Can you take a decent picture? We’re looking to expand City Paper’s Scene team. Contact me (erica@charlestoncitypaper.com) if you think you can handle the funnest job at the City Paper. Yeah, we said funnest.
Friday night bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolinist Chris Thile played a show at Charleston Music Hall. The classically-inspired bluegrass (or bluegrass-inspired classical) was a bit hard to follow at times, and extremely quiet at others — at a few points the folks next door at Coast were louder than the musicians. But when I started to feel a little sleepy, Meyer’s facial expressions and Thile’s spasmodic movements (and uncanny resemblance to Jude Law) kept me alert. There’s no doubt these two are masters of their instruments. It’s too bad more people didn’t show up to the concert.
Horse Tranqs and Carriage People is a new dark comedy involving sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, presented by the reliably cutting-edge folks at PURE Theatre. Written by R.W. Smith, the play was actually produced during a PURE Lab writing workshop. Smith is featured in the cast, along with Brian De Costa, Nat Jones, and Jenny Pringle, big players in both the local theater scene and improv circuit. When writing the play, Smith says he was attempting to blend the violence of Resevoir Dogs with the quirky humor of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The heavily anticipated play is already on schedule for a sequel, expected next fall — keep your eyes open for Cole Slaw and French Fries. Opening night is already sold out, and these cheap tickets are sure to continue selling out, so get yours now. —Mark Glenn Oct. 16-18, 23-25. 8 p.m. $10, (843) 723-4444, www.puretheatre.org. Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., (Downtown), (843) 577-6400
EVENT | Life’s a garden … Dig it!
To fill us in on the upcoming Charleston Garden Festival, organizers sent a pamphlet about the size of a small paperback chock full of schedules of events, demonstrations, lectures, escapes, and more. There’s no way to fit all of the weekend’s events in this small space, but here are some highlights. The weekend’s theme is “metamorphosis”: celebrating the life cycle of the natural world. Middleton Place is the perfect setting for this annual event, because of their dedication to ecologically-friendly gardening practices. Stroll among exhibit gardens created by landscape designers, connected by a 200-foot stream and koi pond. Listen to lectures from Dr. Allan Armitage, “the Indiana Jones of Horticulture”; Jack Philips on “The Soul of an Oak”; and Urvashi Rangan, on “Where Science Meets Sustainability.” Free demonstrations focus on bonsai trees, honeybees, recycling with mushrooms, and more. But don’t start thinking it’s all learning and no play — plant people know how to party. Throughout the weekend there are a number of dinners and wine tastings, as well as a food and wine market available all day. And for the kids, activities include Dr. Seuss World and the Barnyard Olympics. Alright, that’s all we’ve got space for here. Check the website for the full schedule of events. —Erica Jackson Oct. 17-19. $25, www.charlestongardenfestival.org. Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Road, West Ashley, (843) 556-0500
EVENT | Fill ‘er up
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Fuel is hosting their second block party on Saturday. All ages are welcome, and bring your little dog too! The proceeds from the party will benefit the Charleston Humane Society. Another bonus is that your first beer is on the house. If you’re not thirsty, then you can always get delicious Caribbean-influenced dishes; specialties include black bean burgers and grilled tuna tacos. The tropical setting of Fuel provides large porches and patios, a full bar, and plenty of outdoor room for your furry companions. Bring your friends and enjoy a long afternoon of drinks and live music — if it’s anything like Fuel’s first party, it’s sure to be a good time. Come early though, because the popularity of Fuel might leave some waiting at the pump. —Mark Glenn SATURDAY Oct. 18, 2-10 p.m. $4. Fuel, 211 Rutledge Ave., (Downtown), (843) 737-5959, www.fuelcharleston.com.
EVENT | Prost!
The Charleston Battery is set to turn Blackbaud Stadium into a Bavarian beer hall. Though Daniel Island is halfway across the world from Germany, Oktoberfest proves that love can cross oceans. That love of course is the love of good beers. While Halloween tries to sugarcoat and dress up its intentions with candy and costumes, Oktoberfest gets straight to the point. It’s all about getting jolly on booze. In addition to good beer, this year’s celebration offers local teams the opportunity to compete in the German Cup, a series of contests including tug-o-war, barrel races, and bratwurst eating competitions. You don’t have to leave the kids at home either. There will be plenty of fun for the whole family like mini-soccer games, a mountain slide, and inflatable jump castles. Caution: Jump castles and beer do not mix. There will also be German dancers and an Oompah band. Parking is free and proceeds will go to benefit the Salvation Army and Live 5 News’ Debi’s Kids. Move over Halloween. It’s time for a real party. —Myles HuttoSUNDAY Oct. 19, 12-5 p.m. $5/advance, $7/day of, (843) 971-4625, www.charlestonbattery.com. Blackbaud Stadium, 1990 Daniel Island Dr., (Daniel Island).
Next week: Charleston Home Market, Rocky Horror Show Live, Clefs & Chefs, Skinful Halloween, Mend, Saw’s Scream Farm
Last night saw the Charleston premiere of local author Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees. Mayor Joe Riley declared the day “Sue Monk Kidd Day.” A select few watched the movie, based on the best-selling novel, at the Terrace Theater Thursday night, then headed to the Harbour Club downtown for the reception. I wasn’t able to snag tickets to the showing (I’ll see it this weekend), but I made it out to the reception… after learning that the Harbour Club is not the same as the Yacht Club (sorry for crashing your 35th bday party, MaryAnn). The party was dead when I showed up soon after it started, but soon enough the movie let out, and the room filled. It was a diverse crowd, with Charleston’s upper crust hobnobbing with kids from Burke High School, people in cocktail dresses and people in jeans. And of course, everyone was trying to get close to the evening’s star, Mrs. Kidd. Cool jazz played while guests sipped on the evening’s specialty drink, the “Purple Honey,” a soothing mix of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, Tazo tea, passionfruit (?), and honey. The party benefitted LILA, the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts. Following, a few party pics.
It was a dark and drizzly night. Violent gusts of sea air thrashed a fiery torch outside of Mugdock castle, as a quiet woman in black greeted guests. Snacks and libations from Poe’s Tavern were quietly consumed as costumed performers worked the crowd, chatting and even performing magic tricks (!). A quick walk in the rain brought us to a red-lit Fort Moultrie, where creepy characters led us through the underground bunker and outside, performing various scenes from Edgar Allen Poe’s works. The scenes were intimate, as the Creative Spark actors crept among us, causing some to chuckle nervously. But alas, the thing which made the night so perfectly spooky — the rain — nearly ruined everything. As the storm grew, outside scenes had to be moved inside, resulting in chaos that lasted about 15 minutes. Guests and actors alike wandered around in confusion, and the show never quite recovered. The creepy vibe was gone, scenes overlapped distractedly, and no one seemed to know what the hell was going on. Despite everything though, I left that night with a delightfully dark feeling. I can only imagine how successful it would have been had they actually prepared for rain. Click the photos to see a larger image.
Last night I headed to the Gaillard for a little preview of That Big Book Sale, hosted by The Friends of the Charleston County Public Library. With $13 in my pocket (well, my boyfriend’s pocket, but what’s the diff?) I walked away with eight books, all in great condition, and a movie! Some highlights:
* Tiny French book of stories, from 1850ish.
* David Sedaris’ Holidays on Ice
* Illustrated Aesop’s Fables from the 1940s, still in original cover
* Mary Alice Monroe’s Sweetgrass (this is the place to go if you like local women authors)
* VHS copy of Goonies (the boyfriend’s one purchase)
I will definitely be going back this weekend with more cash. Here’s the City Pick from this past edition of City Paper.
BOOKS | Book it!
Bookshelves looking a little bare? Or maybe just boring? Spruce things up with a whole new collection ranging from glossy art books to novels to kid’s books to whatever you fancy - you’ll find it at the Big Book Sale this weekend. The Friends of the Charleston County Public Library hosts the sale of over 60,000 items whose sale benefits all 16 branches of the Charleston County Library System. If your bookshelves are already bursting, the sale also features gently used DVDs and VHS tapes, CDs, maps, sheet music, and more. The best part? Prices start at fiddy cent. The sale itself is free, and it opens to the public on Friday morning at 10 a.m. If you’re the gambling type, wait ’til Sunday when books are half-priced. -EJ Fri., Oct. 10, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat., Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun., Oct. 12, 12-3 p.m. (843) 805-6978, www.thatbigbooksale.com. Gaillard Municipal Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St., Downtown, (843) 577-7400
The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition draws tens of thousands of outdoorsy types to Charleston each February, but their notorious parties are equal-opportunity events (no fishing vest required). Friday night’s soiree will give people a taste of next year’s Expo (just four months away!) with an unveiling of the 2009 SEWE poster and a silent auction from Ducks Unlimited. The Entertainers will provide … entertainment, and Tidewater Catering will bring a Lowcountry feast of oysters, barbecue, chili, and sides. A fully-stocked open bar will also be available, making this a 21-and-up event. If it’s anything like last year’s party, you won’t want to miss it. -Erica Jackson Fri., Oct. 10. $40/advance, $50/door, (843) 723-1748, www.sewe.com.
FOOD | A little taste
The 28th annual Taste of Charleston food festival is bigger than ever this year with three separate days of culinary displays. On Friday, the “The Taste Iron Chef Competition” includes a cocktail hour, competition, and reception. The theme is old school vs. new with Charles Arena from the Boathouse and Frank Lee from SNOB taking on Aaron Deal from Tristan and Craig Deihl from Cypress. The event will mark the unveiling of Trident Tech’s new culinary facilities on the downtown Palmer Campus. On Saturday, the Taste of the Arts ambles through downtown art galleries with food at every stop. The final hurrah is the familiar main event at Boone Hall on Sunday. Enjoy food and wine pairings, the famous “Waiter’s Race,” cooking demonstrations, and music. There is no tailgating, but they’ll be offering specialty beers to wash down that yummy food for the first time. A bigger festival means more philanthropy. All proceeds from Taste of Charleston go to local charities. -Alison Sher Fri., Oct. 10, 6-9 p.m. $10, (843) 577-4030, www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com/taste_of_charleston.php.
EVENT | A bountiful amount of fun
Thousands of people visit Charleston every year, and it’s consistently ranked as a favorite American city. You know why? Because we’ve got it all. Charleston has the natural beauty, cuisine, arts, music, and more to keep visitors coming and residents happy. Celebrate the region’s bounty this weekend out on Seabrook Island at the first annual Lowcountry Bounty Festival. The weekend kicks off on Friday at 5 p.m. with a concert on the lawn by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, featuring vocalist Dee Daniels. Throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, there will be classes and demonstrations from local figures like Charleston Grill Chef Bob Waggoner, sommelier Rick Rubel, College of Charleston professor and author Chris Lamb, and others. Drumrunner Charter will give fly-fishing clinics. Local businesses will have activity tents set up, and entertainment includes music from Dem Suite Rythym & Blues, Ashley Hall Violin Ensemble, Calvin Taylor, and Ann Caldwell with Roger Bellow. CofC’s Robert Ivey Ballet will perform on Saturday at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Outreach Learning Center, which provides job and life skills training. Tickets are good for one day. -EJ Oct. 11-12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $20/advance, $25/gate, $10/students, free/under 8, www.connectinghands.org/festival
EVENT | Full moon party
Avondale’s kitchsy tiki bar is looking to start a new tradition: the full moon party. Staffers say their first party was “insane.” The anything-goes bash attracted a crowd of revelers in plainclothes, costumes, and “almost nothing” last time. This month’s event features live body painting, hula hoopers, Capoeira dancers, and music from house DJ D Rock, all under funky black lights. It’s sponsored by American Honey, so expect tastings and honey drink specials, as well as other full moon-related libations. Keep your eye out for next month’s party, which will have a sexy erotica/bondage theme. Rarr. -EJ Tues., Oct. 14. www.voodootikibar.com. Voodoo Tiki Bar and Lounge, 15 Magnolia Road, (West Ashley), (843) 769-0228
Next week: Horse Tranqs and Carriage People, Blume, Garden Festival, Fuel Block Party, Oktoberfest, Raw
Yesterday Stella Nova hosted a little press party in anticipation of their Makeover for a Difference event this weekend (Oct. 10-11). While sipping on champagne, we were given free makeovers and samples of goodies from yummy brands like Stila, Bare Escentuals, Kevyn Aucoin, Nars, and Blinc. Jealous? You don’t have to be. Stop in either the King Street or Mt. P (Towne Centre) locations from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for complimentary makeup applications from expert makeup artists. Browse their extensive selection and learn about the latest trends. And don’t feel bad about spending $30 on that eyeshadow, because a portion of the proceeds benefit Skirt Magazine’s College Scholarship Fund and the Eagle Harbor Boys Ranch.
Friday night I checked out the French Quarter Art Walk, and tried my hand at videographing (is that a word?) for the first time! It was overall a good time with an increasingly fun crowd as the night wore on, but the focus definitely seemed more on the free wine than the art. I mean, it’s hard not to go into a frenzy when free wine and food is involved, but it’s a little frustrating when you can barely walk or check out the art without being shoved out of the way. And I’m not all about standing in line for 15 minutes for half a cup of warm gallery wine. My advice: the city should embrace what a popular, lucrative event they have going on and go ahead and close down a couple of the back streets in the French Quarter. Then get a few cheap food and drink vendors out there. Yeah, it wouldn’t be totally free anymore, but then the art walk could be about more than waiting in line. Instead, we could go back to enjoying it as a social event centered around … art! Do you have thoughts on how to make the art walks better? Feel free to comment if you do. And/or just watch my sweet (and shaky) video.
Last night saw the Charleston premiere of local author Sue Monk Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees. Mayor Joe Riley declared the day “Sue Monk Kidd Day.” A select few watched the movie, based on the best-selling novel, at the Terrace Theater Thursday night, then headed to the Harbour Club downtown for the reception. I wasn’t able to snag tickets to the showing (I’ll see it this weekend), but I made it out to the reception… after learning that the Harbour Club is not the same as the Yacht Club (sorry for crashing your 35th bday party, MaryAnn). The party was dead when I showed up soon after it started, but soon enough the movie let out, and the room filled. It was a diverse crowd, with Charleston’s upper crust hobnobbing with kids from Burke High School, people in cocktail dresses and people in jeans. And of course, everyone was trying to get close to the evening’s star, Mrs. Kidd. Cool jazz played while guests sipped on the evening’s specialty drink, the “Purple Honey,” a soothing mix of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, Tazo tea, passionfruit (?), and honey. The party benefitted LILA, the Lowcountry Initiative for the Literary Arts. Following, a few party pics.
