June is here. The mimosa trees are in bloom with their unique peachy-pink feather flowers. And it’s another busy weekend out on the Sea Islands and around Charleston.
This writer had the privilege of talking to Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine, a new spot that opened up in West Ashley in a former car wash about two blocks from the Coburg cow, and next door to another food hotspot, the Glass Onion. That story should run in next week’s West Of Newspaper.
Yes, Spoleto wraps up this weekend at Middleton Place. Out here it’s live music, indie film, farmers markets, and family fun.
On with this weekend’s events:
FRIDAY (the 6th)
For the Terrace Theater’s newest offerings, scroll down to ALL WEEKEND LONG.
9am: On Wadmalaw, Ambrose Family Farm it’s “you-pick blackberries and blueberries” time. Click the link to see the freshest picks, check out their booth at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday (and Sunday mornings during Spoleto), or call 843.559.0988 if you want to go to the farm and pick something up.
10am: **Hey Parents** On Edisto, the Serpentarium is open until 4pm. This is an indoor zoo dedicated to all the Lowcountry’s cold-blooded natives like snakes, alligators, and turtles. Demonstrations allow kids to “pet” these creatures safely as they held by trained handlers.
10am: In Mount Pleasant, today through Sunday, it’s the Bi-Annual Knife Sharpening for Charity at the Coastal Cupboard. It’s just $1 a knife. There’s also food samples, free coffee, and Big Green Egg demos. This is one my fave spots to add to my endless cookie cutter collection. I had the privilege to talk to Brad Pitner, owner, a few years ago.
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. They are plants for sale (bedding, hanging, tropicals) but the produce is rolling in, including peaches, tomatoes, and other produce on the way as we speak. MRFM’s regular inventory includes fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, frozen prepared food (like yummy Bertolini pasta and pasta dishes), natural compost fertilizer, muscadine wreaths, tropical plants, local grits, local honey, Amish jams, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and homemade boiled peanuts. Please bring cash or check to make purchases. I had the privilege to talk to the owners Chris DeStefano and Lindsay Dickson recently, and the story appeared in the West Of Newspaper.
12pm: In Mount Pleasant, at Memorial Waterfront Park, it’s the Sweetgrass Festival until 8pm today and Saturday. Click link for details.
4pm: On Johns, at Freshfields Village, Leggadario Women’s boutique is serving wine and cheese while customers preview new additions to their collection. Other stores have June specials for Dad, B1G1F deals, and champagne and viewing parties, see Freshfields for details.
4pm: On James, Charleston Pour House, it’s BYOG on the deck. This is a free show. If you haven’t already, check out the Lot’s new deck menu.
5:30-7:30pm: On Folly, the Wahine Surf Classic registration party at Sunset Cay Yacht Club. The official event is a ladies surf weekend happening at the Washout Saturday and Sunday, starting at 8am. at the Washout. It benefits Surfers’ Healing.
6pm: On Johns, at Freshfields Village, it’s Shelly Waters, a guitarist playing swamp pop and Cajun country from her southern Louisiana roots. Bring beach chairs, blankets, and bugspray. If it rains, this event will not happen. Carolina Clay Gallery, just across the green with lots of cute frog sculptures, has a wine tasting and “meet the artists” session every Friday starting at 6 as well.
6pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, Soulfish Duo is playing until 9pm. Check out the expanded deck and new VW bus bar!
7:30pm: On James, at the County Park, it’s the first Reggae Nights concert of the summer, featuring De Lions of Jah. Admission is $8 for ages 13+, free for ages 12 and under, and free for Gold Pass Members.
8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, Red Top Ramblers are 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 the Isle of Palms, at the Windjammer, it’s Skye Paige’s Double CD “What You Want” release party. Paige is a local slide guitarist who plays blues and rockabilly.
9:30pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Turkuaz with Jubee and the Morning After. This show is $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Doors open at 9. See website for tickets and more information. Check out the Lot’s new deck menu!
10pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, the Weigh Station band is playing. Check out the expanded deck and new VW bus bar!
SATURDAY (the 7th)
8am: On Folly, it’s the Wahine Surf Classic benefitting Surfers’ Healing starts now. Parking at the Washout is $7 a day.
8:15am: **Hey Parents!**On James Island, Splash Zone at the James Island County Park is open today until 6pm. General admission is $20, Seniors 60 and up $9.99, under 48″ $14.99 a person, children 2 and under free. If you anticipate multiple visits all summer long, check out the splash pass. [NOTE: the 48″ height is required for several large slides, see the splash pass link for details.] In North Charleston, at Wannamaker County Park, Whirlin’ Waters is open today until 6pm, and in Mount Pleasant, at Palmetto Islands County Park, Splash Island is open today until 6pm.
9am: On Wadmalaw, at Ambrose Family Farm it’s “you-pick blackberries and blueberries” time. Click the link to see the freshest picks, check out their booth at the Downtown Farmers Market on Saturday (and Sunday mornings during Spoleto), or call 843.559.0988 if you want to go to the farm and pick something up.
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 owners Chris DeStefano and Lindsay Dickson recently, here’s the link.
9am: On the Isle of Palms, it’s a Piccolo Spoleto Sand Sculpting Contest until 12 noon.
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 40+ vendors, including local farms, artisans, and specialty food products. There are also food trucks and live music. **Starting next week this market will be held 9am-1pm.**
10am: **Hey Parents**On Edisto, the Serpentarium is open until 4pm. This is an indoor zoo dedicated to all the Lowcountry’s cold-blooded natives like snakes, alligators, and turtles. Demonstrations allow kids to “pet” these creatures safely as they held by trained handlers.
10am: In West Ashley, at Old Towne Creek County Park, it’s the Be Fit Charleston Fitness and Farmers Market. There’s bootcamp and yoga classes for adults, recycle relays and nature walks for kids, bring a bike and running shoes for DIY a tour of the new park. There will be produce for sale from Ambrose Farms and an opportunity to join the Be Fit CSA starting with fall produce, with pickup spots at James Island and Palmetto Islands County Parks. There will also be door prizes from Stono Market, Black Bean Co., Orange Theory, and the Charleston Riverdogs. Admission for ages 13 and up is $10, ages 3-12 is $5, and under 3 are free.
10am: In Mount Pleasant, today through Sunday, it’s the Bi-Annual Knife Sharpening for Charity at the Coastal Cupboard. It’s just $1 a knife. There’s also food samples, free coffee, and Big Green Egg demos. This is one my fave spots to add to my endless cookie cutter collection. I had the privilege to talk to Brad Pitner, owner, a few years ago.
12pm: On Wadmalaw, at Irvin-House Vineyards, it’s Sippin’ Saturday with live music by the Bullgrapes and food by Roti Rolls. Bring beachchairs and blankets, but please no coolers.
12pm: In Mount Pleasant, at Memorial Waterfront Park, it’s the Sweetgrass Festival until 8pm today and Saturday. Click link for details.
1pm: Downtown, at the Alley, it’s a CofC Baseball and Belmont Stakes Viewing Party. (The horse race isn’t until 6:52pm, so scroll down for island options.)
6pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, Kevin Church is playing. Check out the expanded deck and new VW bus bar!
6pm: In 52 minutes, it’s time for the Belmont Stakes in New York on NBC. Sports bars to catch the race include James Island’s Max & Henrys, Smoky Oak Taproom, and the Lowdown; Johns Island’s New Moon Pizzeria, the Southern General, and King Street Grill at Freshfields; and West Ashley’s Southside 17 Bar & Grill and Manny’s Greek.
7pm: On Folly, it’s the Wahine Surf Classic after-party at Rita’s Seaside Grill. This party is free for competitors and $5 for family and friends. Please tip servers. Music is by DJ Sponge Barb. Food is barbecue with vegetarian options also available.
8pm: On Johns, at Seanachai, J.A.N.E. are 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, the Brickhouse Kitchen has Jordan Igoe playing until 11pm.
9:45pm: On James, at the Charleston Pour House, it’s Archnemesis, Intermixture and BlkMrkt. Show is $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 9. See website for tickets and more information. Check out the Lot’s new deck menu!
10pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, Philly’s Bong Hits for Jesus band is playing. Check out the expanded deck and new VW bus bar!
10pm: On James, the Bohemian Bull has live music. PS-Don’t forget, the Bohemian Bull serves food late into the evening.
10pm: On Folly, at Surf Bar, Funkness Monster is playing.
SUNDAY (the 8th)
8am: On Folly, it’s the Wahine Surf Classic benefitting Surfers’ Healing starts now. Parking at the Washout is $7 a day.
Charleston County Public Library kicked off its 2014 summer reading programs for all ages this month. Fizz Boom Read is for babies through age 11, Spark a Reaction is for teens, and Reading Wave and Book On Downtown are for adults 18 and up. Click the links for details. Please sign up at any location or online.
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.
9am: In West Ashley, at the Black Bean Co. (Savannah Hwy.) it’s a Brunch Extravaganza until 9pm.
10am: In Mount Pleasant, today through Sunday, it’s the Bi-Annual Knife Sharpening for Charity at the Coastal Cupboard. It’s just $1 a knife. There’s also food samples, free coffee, and Big Green Egg demos. This is one my fave spots to add to my endless cookie cutter collection. I had the privilege to talk to Brad Pitner, owner, a few years ago.
10am: **Hey Parents!**On James Island, Splash Zone at the James Island County Park is open today until 6pm. General admission is $20, Seniors 60 and up $9.99, under 48″ $14.99 a person, children 2 and under free. If you anticipate multiple visits all summer long, check out the splash pass. [NOTE: the 48″ height is required for several large slides, see the splash pass link for details.] In North Charleston, at Wannamaker County Park, Whirlin’ Waters is open today until 6pm, and in Mount Pleasant, at Palmetto Islands County Park, Splash Island is open today until 6pm.
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.
3pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, the Yellowknife band is playing.
3pm: In West Ashley, at Middleton Place, it’s the Spoleto Finale with live music by Megan Jean and the Klay Family Band and Shovels and Rope. Tickets for sale here.
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 Lot’s new deck menu! There is no later act scheduled at this time.
6pm: On Folly, at Loggerheads, One Kool Blow band is playing.
6pm: On Folly, at the Grill and Island Bar, it’s Jazz on the Edge, featuring food specials and a jazz jam.
10pm: On Folly, at Surf Bar, it’s the Yellowknife band.
ALL WEEKEND LONG
On James, at the Terrace Theater, the following film opens today: the teen romantic drama based on John Green’s novel, The Fault in Our Stars (Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort). Other movies currently playing are the modern humor meets the Old West comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West (Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron, and film creator Seth MacFarlane), Belle, an autobiographical account of Dido Elizabeth Belle who worked to end slavery in England (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emily Watson, Matthew Goode), The Immigrant a drama about a Polish immigrant sold into prostitution (Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix), and Chef, a film about a chef who leaves his glamorous restaurant post in search of something new (Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau). Click titles for the trailers.
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.
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 (like we had just this week) 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.
For events coming up this week and future weekends, watch for Monday’s post!
Sea Islands Dining Guide 