It’s a busy Mother’s Day weekend out on the Sea Islands.
I am excited to see the new issue of Dirt from the City Paper has arrived. Why? Because it highlights Lowcountry agriculture, and many local farms are located right here on the sea islands south of Charleston, like Johns, James, Wadmalaw and Yonges. [To be fair, parts of Daniel Island and Mount Pleasant, north of Charleston, have some farms, too.]
Now how about the new fresh crop of events happening this weekend?
FRIDAY (the 9th)
For the Terrace Theater’s newest offerings, scroll down to ALL WEEKEND LONG.
9am: On Wadmalaw, Ambrose Family Farm is open for u-pick strawberries until 5pm.
9am: In North Charleston, at multiple locations, the 2014 North Charleston Arts Festival is underway. The NCAF has lots of free and very affordable events, like Spoleto pre-1989. This festival continues through May 10th.
11am: On Johns (Main Road heading to Savannah Highway), the Main Road Farmers Market, brought to you by Charleston Petal Pushers, is open until 6pm. Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen prepared food (like yummy Bertolini pasta and pasta dishes), natural compost fertilizer, muscadine wreaths, bedding plants, tropical plants, local grits, local honey, Amish jams, and homemade boiled peanuts are just some of the goodies you will find here. Please bring cash or check to make purchases. I had the privilege to talk to the owners Chris DeStefano and Lindsay Dickson recently, I will be sure to post the link when the story runs in the West Of Newspaper.
4pm: On James, Charleston Pour House, it’s Jimmy Landry and Friends on the deck. This is a free show.
8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, the Travelin’ Kline is playing. This bar doesn’t serve food, but you can order Southern General food from your barstool. The General also has two happy hours: one you might expect from 4-7pm, and a second one at 10.
8pm: On James, at the Brickhouse Kitchen, it’s local favorite the Louie D Project performing funk, jazz, hip-hop, and rock.
8pm: On James, at Midtown Productions, a new show has opened: Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, a play by Mitch Albom. You may know Albom’s work from books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Albom was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning in the last couple weeks, click the link to see it.
10pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, live music is a Widespread Panic tribute band, Machine Funk. Show is $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors open at 9. See website for tickets and more information.
10pm: On James, the Bohemian Bull has Yellowknife playing. PS-Don’t forget, the Bohemian Bull serves food late into the evening.
SATURDAY (the 10th)
8am: On James and Folly, it’s the sixth annual Leslie McCravy 5k Run and Walk benefitting James Island’s Pet Helpers. McCravy was a victim of domestic violence in 2007. Friends and family teamed up to create this event to honor her memory and help an organization that was really important to her.
8am: In West Ashley, at Middleton Place, it’s the Run to Momma 5-15k, benefitting Palmetto House, a shelter for women and children. You can register before the race if you have not already.
8:30am: On Daniel Island, it’s the 2014 Mom’s Run, a 5k at Blackbaud Stadium to benefit postpartum depression support efforts in Charleston. Register between 7 and 8am before the race if you haven’t done so already.
9am: On Wadmalaw, Ambrose Family Farm is open for u-pick strawberries until 5pm.
9am: On Johns (Main Road heading to Savannah Highway), the Main Road Farmers Market brought to you by Charleston Petal Pushers is open until 6pm. Fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen pasta and pasta meals, Amish roll butter, amish bacon, natural compost fertilizer, Dirt in a Sock (for small gardens), wreaths, bedding plants, tropical plants, local grits, local honey, Amish jams, and homemade boiled peanuts are just some of the goodies you will find here. I had the privilege to talk to the owner Chris DeStefano recently, I will be sure to post the link when the story runs in the West Of Newspaper.
10am: In Red Top which is up Savannah Hwy. past the Main Road intersection, Lowcountry Marsh Sweepers are doing a litter pickup. Meet at the Red Top Welcome Center. If you are driving through this area, please exercise caution for pedestrians.
10am: On Johns, The Homegrown Johns Island Farmers Market is held near the Main and Maybank intersection next to Dr. Anthony Ross’ Island Chiropractic. It has 50 vendors, including local farms, artisans, and specialty food products. There are also food trucks and live music.
12pm: On James, Tradesman Brewing Co.’s tasting room is open until 8pm.
12pm: On Wadmalaw, at Irvin-House Vineyards, it’s Sippin’ Saturday with music by gutter-country act Whiskey Diablo and food by Chucktown Mobile Seafood. Please bring cash, lawn chairs, blankets, and bug spray. But please, no coolers.
1pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, live bands are Cane Creek bluegrass string band and Grant Farm. This is a kid-friendly event.
8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, blues and soul piano man Ed Porkchop Meyer is playing. This bar doesn’t serve food, but you can order Southern General food from your barstool. The General also has two happy hours: one you might expect from 4-7 pm, and a second one at 10.
8pm: On James, at Midtown Productions, it’s the final performance of Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, a play by Mitch Albom. You may know Albom’s work from his sports journalism career, or novels like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Albom was interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning recently, click the link to see the interview.
9:30pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, Sierra Leone Refugee AllStars are playing. Show is $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Doors open at 8:30pm.
10pm: On James, the Bohemian Bull has Ryan Bonner playing. PS-Don’t forget, the Bohemian Bull serves food late into the evening. The Charleston City Paper made this late night menu a Critics Pick in the most recent Best Of Charleston issue.
10pm: On Folly, at Surf Bar, bluegrass act Cattle in the Cane is playing.
SUNDAY (the 11th)
8-11am: On James, the Coastal Cyclists will be cycling from James, to Kiawah and back, about 40 miles total. Please drive and pass carefully.
11am: On James, the Sunday Brunch Farmers Market features food trucks, local farmers, and local vendors. Live music is also on site. Now open until 2pm.
4pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Sunday Phunday with Runaway Gin playing Phish covers on the deck. Roti Rolls food truck will be in attendance. This show is free. Check out the new deck bar. There is no later act scheduled at this time.
6pm: On Folly, at the Grill and Island Bar, it’s Jazz on the Edge. Food and drink specials, and an open jazz jam by over 22 local jazz talents. Click link for details.
9:30pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s kiwi-reggae! Katchafire with Maoli Treehouse. It’s $13 in advance and $15 at the door. Doors open at 8:30.
10pm: On Folly, at Surf Bar, it’s gutter country act Whiskey Diablo.
ALL WEEKEND LONG AND BEYOND
On James, at the Terrace Theater, the following films open today: Dancing in Jaffa (Israeli and Palestinian children learning to ballroom dance) and Fading Gigolo (John Turturro, Woody Allen, Liev Schrieber, Vanessa Paradis, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara). Also playing are the post-WWII drama The Railway Man (Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman), the unlikely female friends comedy The Other Woman (Leslie Mann, Cameron Diaz, and Kate Upton).
For a bite to eat before or after, Zia Taqueria, Crust WoodFired Pizza (check out my interview here), and How Art Thou Café are just steps away. If you take a quick sprint across the street, you’ll find Charleston’s best indie music spot, The Pour House, and its excellent farm to table restaurant, The Lot.
May 11th: It’s Mother’s Day weekend. Downtown, the College of Charleston and the Citadel are holding their graduations. At the Greek Orthodox Church Downtown, the Charleston Greek festival happens all weekend long, offering church tours, jump castles for this kids, delicious gyros and other Greek food, Greek dancing, and arts and crafts sales.
WEEKLY: On James, the Brick House Kitchen has Food, Beverage, and Entertainer Discount Mondays. Tuesdays are a Drum Circle Night followed by a Graham Whorley show and an artists’ market. Wednesday evenings, it’s just $25 for a bottle of wine, and a fruit and cheese plate.
WEEKLY: On James, ChaCha’s Bar and Grill holds Get Weird Wednesdays, feat. $2 Vodka, trivia, then DJ United mixing it up until late night. Every week they give away a $50 gift certificate to Roses & Ruins Tattoo Shop.
WEEKLY: On James, at Smoky Oak Taproom, Mexi-Mondays mean margarita pitchers and steak and shrimp fajitas. If you “Like” their Facebook page, there are budget-friendly dinner specials announced all week long.
WEEKLY: In West Ashley, at Middleton Place, there’s a Weekly Wine Stroll every Wednesday through June 25th. It’s $25 at the gate, $20 online in advance, and just $15 for Foundation members.
WEEKLY: On Johns, Red’s Ice House at Bohicket has all you can eat crab legs on Mondays for $29, Happy hour 4-7pm, and Dave Landeo Band performing live. Every Tuesday is food and beverage (F&B) workers night, with late night appetizer specials, happy hour 4-7pm, $2 vodkas, and Hank Futch & Friends (cover band) playing live acoustic music. Oyster roasts are on Thursdays, it’s just $12 for a bucket of oysters and two Buds.
WEEKLY: Melvin’s Barbeque on James Island has half-price burgers on Tuesdays. One free kids meal per purchased adult meal on Wednesdays.
WEEKLY: On James, Heart Woodfire Kitchen has $6 burger Wednesdays. Heart Woodfire was way ahead of the farm to table and organic food trends.
WEEKLY: In West Ashley, at Hometeam BBQ, every Wednesday is the Lowcountry Blues Club jam. Bring your instrument and make new friends.
If I see more happenings I will update this post.
MORE OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN MAY AND JUNE…
May 13th: On James, at the Terrace, there is a special screening of the acclaimed documentary Dancing in Jaffa. Click link for more information.
May 15th: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in West Ashley is giving away a Sharing the Romance wedding package. Today is the deadline to enter your 3-5 minute video to be in the running for a wedding in February 2015.
May 17th: In Downtown Charleston, its the Charleston Beer Garden at Brittlebank Park. Benefitting James Island’s Pet Helpers, this event has 30+ beers, a Beer Olympics, a Charleston City Paper VIP Grove, an Earth Fare beer school, and live music all day long. Click link for ticket information.
May 17th: On Johns, at Freshfields Village, it’s Cars and Coffee at Java Java starting at 8am.
May 18th: On James, at ChaCha’s Tequila Bar, it’s a Sip and Slide party starting at 2pm. Bikini contest. Giant slides. Drink specials.
May 18th: In Mt. Pleasant, at Patriots Point, it’s Open Cockpit Sunday.
May 23rd-25th: On Johns, at Freshfields Village, it’s a Memorial Day Weekend concert series. All concerts start at 6pm. Friday is Java Band, Saturday is 1960s-present cover/party band Suckerpunch, and Sunday is Gracious Day.
May 24th: The Charleston Tea Plantation will be holding its First Flush Festeaval. The Avett Bros. are headlining, other acts include Stoplight Observations, The Luke Cunningham Band, Atlas Road Crew, Uncle Mingo, Tyler Boone Band, Ben Fagan and the Holy City Hooligans, and The Executives. Tickets are $37.50 in advance and $45 day of show. VIP tickets are $100.
May 24th: Downtown, the March Against Monsanto starts at 11am on Ann and Meeting Streets.
May 31st: Keep Charleston Beautiful’s Green and Lean 5k is happening at Brittlebank Park. Right now they are reaching out for auction donations. Click the link for more info. Keep Charleston Beautiful is an anti-litter organization, hosting cleanups all over town, all year long.
May 31st: On Johns, at Legare Farms, it’s a Electric Foam 5k from 7-10pm. This is a fun run that’s not timed. Come in costume if you wish. It is followed by a dance party.
May 31st: On Wadmalaw, at Irvin House Vineyards, it’s Winestock from 12-5 with an Age of Aquarius theme. Dress in your best hippie costumes because there is a contest. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. There is live music, food, and tastings of wine and vodka. Admission is $5 for adults, children are free.
Just a PSA, the kids will be out of school the first week of June. College students are already out in May. This means more all-day traffic on the roads with newer drivers, not to mention teens in golf carts, younger kids out playing on foot, and kids on bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Please drive extra carefully from now until they return to school in mid-August.
June 5th, June 12th, July 10-11th: In West Ashley, Charlestowne Landing is holding 5ks throughout June and into July. There are kids 5ks and there’s food and beer available afterwards. Click the link for more information.
June 11th: The Terrace Theater , Lowcountry Parent, and the Post and Courier present the eighth Family Film Series. Kids $10 and under are free, everyone else is $4.
June 21st: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Solstice Muffin to ring in the first official day of summer & the longest day of the year. Live music includes Dangermuffin, Mama’s Love, Les Racquet, Dallas Baker and Friends, Wallace Mullinax, Bobby Hogg, and the Deer Creek Sharp Shooters.
If spring tends to aggravate your allergies, don’t forget the tissues, allergy meds, and eye drops. For dawn and dusk hours, bring bug spray as the “no-see-ums” (a.k.a sand flies, midgies) are already back and spring rains mean the mosquitos aren’t far behind.
As always, whatever you get into, have fun and please be safe. If I see other happenings I will update this post.
Sea Islands Dining Guide 
