HOLIDAYS | Give in to holiday cheer
Get ready people: this Saturday is going to be a spectacularly over-the-top holiday blow-out. Seriously. There are so many events going on, we couldn’t choose just one: check out our highlights. Half-Moon Outfitters presents their 18th annual Reindeer Run this Saturday at 9 a.m. and invites everyone with some holiday enthusiasm to join them in front of Southend Brewery downtown to run (or walk) around Charleston’s lower peninsula. Eighty percent of the proceeds from the run will benefit the MUSC Children’ Hospital, and the remaining twenty percent will go toward the Charitable Society of Charleston’s endowment. Consider it a shining opportunity to break up those holiday feasts. Get more info at www.reindeerrun.org.
At 4:30 p.m., head to Marion Square and join Mayor Joe and Santa Claus for the official lighting of the 60-foot Tree of Lights.
Next up: the Parade of Boats. The 29th annual event beats all those animated Christmas lawn decorations by taking them out on the water. Boat owners of Charleston are invited to dress their boats up in all their glory for everyone to enjoy both on sea and on land. The parade will begin in Mt. Pleasant around 5:30 p.m. and proceed through Charleston Harbor, with a lot of merry-making in between and on into the night. And of course, viewing the parade is a totally free event. Fireworks begin at 6:45 p.m. Call (843) 724-4141 for more info.
To top off a great day with some rowdy holiday spirit, the Chucktown Santa Pub Crawl goes from 5-10 p.m. (after which you are probably going to skip to your own tune anyway). All proceeds will benefit the Carolina Children’s Charity, a local nonprofit that supports children with birth defects and childhood diseases. Participating bars include Mad River Grille, Moe’s Downtown, The Griffon, Blind Tiger, Johnson’s Pub, Henry’s, and Light. Oh, and don’t think about joining the group unless you are donning your best Christmas or Santa costume, because they are mandatory. See www.chucktownsantapubcrawl.com for more info. And don’t forget the parade downtown on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. —Hadley Lyman Sat., Dec. 6.
EVENT | Baby, it’s chilly outside
The weather is getting cold. Cabin fever at the workplace will soon set in. The Charleston Animal Society wants you and some local celebrities to funnel any pending energy into a cause both beneficial and delicious: a chili cook-off! All proceeds will benefit the humane programs at the CAS. Local news anchors, weather forecasters, city council people, radio DJs and news columnists (a.k.a. Lowcountry celebrities) are turning on the heat and taking the competition to a different level for the ninth year. The winners earn the title “Charleston Chili King & Queen,” and your tummies get to reap the benefits. Aside from chili, there will be beer, wine, oysters, and hot dogs (and oh yes, autographs). And don’t worry if you get so deep into conversation with sportscaster Brendan Clark about his award-winning chili last year that you realize you haven’t seen your 7-year-old nephew in a good 15 minutes. He’ll probably be burning off energy running around the new Kid’s Fun Zone, or giving one of the local celebrity judges some tips. —Hadley Lyman Sat. Dec. 6, 1-5 p.m. $25, $10/children 10+, free/children under 10. Charleston Maritime Center. 10 Wharf St. Downtown. (843) 329-1546. www.charlestonanimalsociety.org
THEATRE | A Dickens of a time
We all love The Nutcracker, A Christmas Story, and yes, A Christmas Carol, but it’s always fun to shake up the holiday season with some fresh offerings. The Footlight Players present Inspecting Carol, a comedic twist on Dickens’ classic tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge et al. Written by Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan, the show was originally produced by the Seattle Repertory Theatre in 1992. This everything-that-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong comedy follows a regional theater company’s production of A Christmas Carol. The Soapbox Theatre Company, as they’re called, is struggling for cash, and their only hope is to convince a government inspector that they deserve funding. Of course, things don’t go as planned, resulting in “horrifying and hilarious results.” You’ll be laughing, but you’ll also appreciate the commentary on issues surrounding government funding of the arts and the pressures affecting programming at regional theaters … sound familiar? If you bring some canned food to the performance, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win season tickets to the remainder of Footlight’s 77th season and the entire 78th. Food will be donated to the Lowcountry Food Bank. —Erica Jackson Fri., Dec. 5, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Sun., Dec. 7, 3 p.m., Thu., Dec. 11, 8 p.m., Fri., Dec. 12, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 13, 8 p.m., Thu., Dec. 18, 8 p.m., Fri., Dec. 19, 8 p.m., Sat., Dec. 20, 8 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 21, 3 p.m. $25/adults, $22/seniors, $15/students, (843) 722-7521, www.footlightplayers.net. Footlight Players Theatre, 20 Queen St. (843) 722-4487
MUSIC | Rucker goes country
Who could have predicted that Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker’s new solo country album Learn to Live would become such a smash success? The Hootie guy … as a bona fide country star? As one of S.C.’s most popular vocal artists, Rucker practically reinvented himself as a crooning solo artist with enough twang and heart behind him to land a choice spot at the most recent CMAs. Born and raised in Charleston, Rucker, 42, studied and performed music before and during his years at the University of South Carolina, where he met Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, and Jim Sonefeld, soon to become Hootie & the Blowfish. Throughout its career, the band has sold over 25 million records and earned two Grammys. Rucker previously dabbled in musical projects far away from the strummy alternative pop of Hootie. In 2002, he released a mildly successful R&B/soul album titled Back to Then. In 2005, he showed up on the small screen in a rhinestone cowboy suit for an unusual Burger King commercial. Earlier this year, he performed a program of Frank Sinatra tunes with the full support of a big band at the Charleston Music Hall. Free of gimmick and pretense, Learn to Live landed solidly in May, quickly racing up Billboard’s country and albums charts and country singles with the single “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” On first listen, many of the 12 tunes on the new album resemble typical “Hootie music” but with the addition of mandolin, fiddle, and pedal steel. Repeated spins, however, reveal bright spots, both in Rucker’s vocal performance (his fast oscillating vibrato and deep baritone are front-and-center) and in the rich production quality and instrumentation behind his singing — thanks to a great rhythm section and producer Frank Rogers (a S.C. native known for his work with Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley, and Josh Turner). The Performing Arts Center has billed Friday’s event as a “special homecoming show … Rucker’s only Charleston show this year.” It’ll certainly be a highlight for local fans — new and old. —T. Ballard Lesemann Fri., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. $45, $35, www.dariusrucker.com
Amanda Stripling is a senior at the Charleston County Academic Magnet High School, and as part of her senior thesis, she’s organizing a fund-raiser fashion show to benefit homeless teens at the Carolina Youth Development Center. Wink, Copper Penny, Lula Kate, and I Heart will be showing clothes from their local shops. The event will take place at 10 Storehouse Row (2120 Noisette Boulevard, Navy Yard at Noisette, North Charleston) on Sat. Dec. 6, 7-10 p.m. Call (843) 864-6775 for more info.
Thursday night (Dec. 4, 9 p.m.) the College of Charleston Surf Team is hosting a party at the Music Farm. Check out the premiere of Beyond the Barrier, a surf movie about East Coast surfers filmed this past year (one of the best years the East Coast has seen in recent memory). General Southern and Hank ‘the Pirate’ Marley will provide live music. Also look for lots of free Billabong giveaways.
Former Charleston resident Carlos Salinas will give a free lecture on his journey to the Colombian Amazon as well as his interaction with shamans and various indigenous communities. This is in conjunction with the exhibition Smoke and Mirrors at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park. From the press release:
“Carlos will show samples of his videowork and describe the grueling and often-frightening personal journey he has had to undertake to win the confidence of these communities, who survive against all odds. Carlos has presented his research to a variety of audiences, including the National Museum of the American Indian, Amnesty International- Washington, the Institute for Policy Studies, Columbia University, Fordham University, and Hofstra University.”
Lecture is Thurs. Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. at the City Gallery.
Never heard of him? I didn’t think I had either, ’til I found out he’s been on Flight of the Conchords (the racist street vendor who hates New Zealanders) and MTV’s Human Giant. He’s also a cast member on NBC’s spin-off of The Office, and he’s performed in Charleston at Piccolo Fringe. The S.C. native might not be a household name now, but he will be soon enough. Special guest Nick Kroll’s credits include Best Week Ever, ABC’s Cavemen, and HBO’s The Adventures of Tim. Performances are Dec. 12 and 13 at 10 p.m. at Theatre 99. Tickets are $15. Call (843) 853-6687 or visit www.thehavenots.com for reservations.
Also, check out this video of Aziz on Flight of the Conchords (from mega-fan and CP music editor Ballard.)
EVENT | Tally ho
The Middleton Place Hounds is a local fox-hunting group, and they kick off their 35th season this Sunday at Middleton Place Greensward, their home base. Travel Channel star Samantha Brown recently hung out with the group while filming an upcoming show on Charleston, and now you can too. (And by that, we mean hanging out with the Hounds, not the whole shooting a show thing.) Witness the blessing of some 50 foxhounds, then follow the horses, their riders in traditional gear, and the pack of braying dogs around the plantation grounds — no horse required. You can ride on the hayride, or even in your car. After the hunt, indulge in the Joint Masters’ Hunt Tea for $35. Sun., Nov. 30. $35, (843) 722-0479, www.middletonplacehounds.com, Middleton Place Hounds Opening Meet. Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston (West Ashley), (843) 556-0500, www.theinnatmiddletonplace.com.
EVENT | Locavores Delight
Heading to the mall to knock out your holiday shopping might be the easiest option, but not necessarily the best. If City Paper readers spent just $100 at locally-owned stores, we could have a potential $23 million impact on the Charleston community. Plus, it’s a lot more festive and fun to walk down a decked-out King Street browsing the shops — not to mention you’ll score some unique and fashionable gifts you wouldn’t find at the Mega-lo-Mart. Buy Local Week, Dec. 1-7, is a national awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of local businesses on our economy, every day of the year. The celebrations kick off with a Give Local Holiday Bazaar on Tues. Dec. 2 from 3-8 p.m. at 10 Storehouse Row in North Charleston. The free event will allow guests to browse gifts from local artisans, learn about local charities, and sample homemade cuisine, all while enjoying music. Wed. Dec. 3 is Eat Local Night — all you have to do to participate is go to a locally-owned eatery and stuff your face. On Thurs. Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m., head to the Terrace Theatre for a screening of Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop ($10/adv., $15/door). The after-party at Zia Taqueria will include appetizers and beer. The week wraps up on Sun. Dec. 7 from 6-10 p.m. at Lowndes Grove Plantation with the Buy Local, Be Local Bash. For $30 you’ll get live entertainment, local beer and wine, and food from some of the best restaurants in town including Fish, Monza, The Fat Hen, FIG, Tristan, and more. But don’t let your locavorism stop there — resolve to take it through 2009 and beyond! Sun., Dec. 7, 6-10 p.m. $40, $30/LLF members, www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org, Buy Local, Be Local Bash. Lowndes Grove Plantation, 266 St. Margaret St., (Downtown), 843-853-1810, www.lowndesgrove.com.
Back in September, the John M. Dunnan Gallery closed its King Street location and set to work carefully renovating a three-story building on Church Street in Charleston’s historic French Quarter. The renovations have been extensive, with a keen eye toward preservation and chic interior design, and on Black Friday the gallery will have its grand opening to the public. Take a break from the chaos of holiday shopping to have a glass of champagne and browse three floors of the artist’s paintings and sculptures, including new nude charcoal gesture drawings and abstract and figurative paintings on paper. Dunnan, a native of Washington, D.C., is a local philanthropist and nationally-recognized artist. He’s known for his vibrant abstract and figurative paintings, life-size sculptures, and charcoal drawings. The works will be on view through the New Year. Nov. 28-Jan. 1, 3-7 p.m. www.johndunnan.com. John M. Dunnan Galleries, 121 Church St., (Downtown), (843) 720-7425
Over the last year, the Jazz Artists of Charleston (JAC) organized several independent and Piccolo Spoleto-related concerts and elegantly presented some of the sharpest talent in town. In similar fashion to last March’s fantastic South Carolina Hit Parade concert (with a touch of winter holiday flair), JAC will showcase many of Charleston’s top jazz musicians this Wednesday with a program produced by Jack McCray called Holiday Swing. The event marks the official debut of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra. Trumpeter and bandleader Charlton Singleton (pictured) leads the ensemble through a variety of seasonal hits as well as selections from the great jazz composer and pianist Duke Ellington’s reworking of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Arranged with the help of Billy Strayhorn in 1960, Ellington’s big band adaptation features the Overture, “Toot Toot Tootsie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Flutes),” “Peanut Brittle Brigade (March),” “Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy),” “Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Coffee),” and more. Proceeds benefit the Charleston Jazz Initiative and Jazz Artists of Charleston. —T. Ballard Lesemann Wed., Nov. 26, 7 p.m. $30/advance, $40/door, $15/student rush, (843) 564-5154, www.jazzartistsofcharleston.org. Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St., (Downtown), (843) 853-2252, www.charlestonmusichall.com.
Thanksgiving is a time for roasting birds, barbaric football, and boozed up relatives. If the usual traditions of this cherished holiday have you looking for an alternative, then get ready for the 31st Annual Turkey Day Run. Held bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, the Turkey Day Run is a 5K race with over 4,500 participants jogging for charities. The run raises money for local nonprofit organizations, like the Heroes Fund. This year’s race is bigger and better because for the first time costumes are encouraged — we know you’ve got a turkey costume laying around somewhere. Of course, they must be tasteful, but the best outfit will receive an award. On top of the costume award, cash prizes will be given out to the top three female and male runners. Bring the kiddies because the event also has a Children’s Fun Run. The run has been routinely organized by the Knights of Columbus, who will be dedicating this year’s race to Freddie W. McMahon, the original director of the Turkey Day Run. A little advice: get your carb-loading on Wednesday night from the free spaghetti dinner at the Knights of Columbus building on 143 Calhoun St. The meal will be dished out from 5:30-7:30 p.m. —Mark Glenn. Thurs. Nov. 27. 9 a.m. $17/advance, $20/day of. Downtown. (843) 723-9934. www.turkeydayrun.com
HOLIDAYS | Give in to holiday cheer
EVENT | Baby, it’s chilly outside
