Happy New Year! It’s another busy, albeit chilly, weekend out on the Sea Islands:

TODAY (FRIDAY)

Tonight, Clemson plays Ohio State in the Discover Card Orange Bowl. The game starts at 8:30pm and airs on ESPN. Anticipate seeing this game on many screens in the bars and restaurants tonight, and expect it to get loud. Many Tigers work in the Lowcountry, a lot of Buckeyes have transplanted here in the last 15 years. 

On James, The Lowdown Oven and Bar has a Lowcountry Crab Boil this afternoon. It’s all you can eat for just $12. They will be airing THE game.

Also on James, Smoky Oak Taproom has end of the season bowling starting at 7:30pm. This a great spot for craft beer, and they will be airing THE game.

On Johns, at Seanachai, Dallas Baker and Fuller Condon start playing at 8pm. Don’t forget, you can order The Southern General‘s food when you stop for a pint. Seanachai is a live music and conversation pub, there are no TVs. The Southern General has a large TV behind the bar.

On Main Rd. and Savannah Highway, Southside 17 will be airing THE game. As an official Ohio State bar in this area, you can probably guess who they’re rooting for. Southside 17 recently opened a second location in North Charleston near Tanger Outlets.

On James, at the Charleston Pour House, Treehouse and Jahman Brahman play the main stage starting at 7pm. Tickets are $7, $5 in advance. I see no deck shows listed, and my guess is, it’s too darn cold out.

On James, all weekend long, the Terrace Theater is showing Saving Mr. Banks (the backstory to Mary Poppins the film), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Nebraska, and American Hustle. The Terrace has the fifth Charleston Film festival coming in March.

SATURDAY

On Johns, at Seanachai, Ed Porkchop Meyer starts playing at 8pm.

On James, the Brick House Kitchen has a Christmas tree burning party, so bring your natural, undecorated, and by now very dry tree if you still have it. And watch the fires from a safe distance, I’m not kidding when I say these things are fully ablaze in a flash.

On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Firetag’s Annual Birthday Bash, featuring acts like the Quasiphonics, Lost Highway, Cattle In The Cane, Jordan Igoe, Skwirl Grinda, and special guests. Doors open at 7, and the cover is $4.

Irvin-House Vineyards takes January off, so there will not be Sippin’ Saturdays for the next 4 weekends. They are getting geared up for Cork-Shuckin’ Festival happening February 8th. See link for details.

SUNDAY

On James, at the Charleston Pour House, the We are the World project starts playing the main stage at 8:30pm, doors open an hour before. Cover charge is $10. This is a gathering of 21 local artists covering the 80s supergroup hit “We Are the World“, representing 80s artists Lionel Ritchie, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, and others who sang the original. Then each local act will cover another song by their famous 80s counterpart. For example, whoever is singing Michael Jackson’s part of WATW will then cover “Billie Jean”, “Thriller”, “Got to Be Startin’ Somethin'”, “Man in the Mirror”, or another Jackson classic.

AND BEYOND:

On Johns, at Seanachai, there’s a Celtic Jam on Wednesday from 7-9pm.

On James, Brick House Kitchen features a Food, Beverage, and Entertainer Appreciation night every Monday night. Bar opens at 6pm, there’s dinner specials and live music.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON NEXT WEEK AND THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND:

All over town, Charleston Restaurant Week-Winter Edition starts Wednesday, January 8th. Sea Island participating restaurants on Johns, Kiawah, Seabrook, and James (coming soon to the Dining Guide) include: Angel Oak Restaurant, Tomasso, La Tabella, Cherrywood BBQ and Ale House, Gilligans on Main Rd., J. Paulz James Island, How Art Thou Cafe, Red’s Icehouse Bohicket, Jasmine Porch at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Atlantic Room at the Ocean Course, The Ocean Room at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Fat Hen, Rosebank Farms Cafe, and Sweeneys.

On Johns, near Main and Maybank intersection, a Johns Island Farmers Market is springing up, starting Saturday, January 11th. It runs from 10am-2pm. See link for details.

In West Ashley (not far from Main Road and Savannah Highway intersection), Creekside Pizza is holding a benefit for Mighty Mack (a young boy fighting leukemia) from 11-5pm on January 12. See link for details. Creekside Pizza, Southside 17, and 3 Matadors are all locally created restaurants. [Restaurateurs Doug Allison and Travis Glen are very committed to giving back to their community.]

On Bowens, (on the right, on the way to Folly), the Bowen’s Island Restaurant is holding its annual Save The Light Oyster Roast, a benefit for the Morris Island Lighthouse preservation. See link for details.

Whatever you get into this weekend, be safe and have fun!