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As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is.
Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.
Media Release: Trulia ranked the cities most likely to party hard on New Year’s Eve and start off 2017 with a nasty hangover!
Charleton, SC ranks 5th behind San Francisco, San Diego, Austin and Bellingham.
Everybody pop a bottle and let’s say goodbye and good riddance to 2016. While some people may look at New Year’s Eve as a time to reflect and get ready for a fresh start, for others, the holiday is all about ringing in the new year with a champagne toast (or two). So where are these party people?
To find out, Trulia refreshed its Hangover Index to see where you’ll likely find the most people nursing a killer hangover on January 1. First, we ranked 150 large American cities based on the number of drinking establishments, firecracker stores, party supply stores and party equipment rental stores per household. We then looked at the share of young adults, aged 18-34, and the share of adults who say they’ve had at least 1 binge drinking incident within a month of the survey. To calculate the index, each city was then ranked on each of these categories. The city with the most party suppliers, young people and binge drinkers scored higher as a place to party.
You might think New York City is the center for New Year’s Eve celebrations, but the home of the ball drop doesn’t even make the top 10! Instead, if you are looking for a good time (and a headache to follow) to start 2017 off right, head West! San Francisco and San Diego top the list at #1 and #2 spot respectively, while New York City is ranked #34 on our list. Check out which cities ranked highest on our Hangover Index below.
Last week, Masterkey USA put an ad on Charleston Craigslist for freelance writers/bloggers.
The ad said:
You do not have to be a good writer
We will provide the keywords for you to use
You will be helping our hotel clients grow their business
We wrote to Vishal and inquired about opportunities to write for Masterkey. We did not get a response and the ad has since been taken down and removed.
Masterkey USA is a hotel marketing agency that increases hotel clients sales performance and helps their online presence. Masterkey Hotels is a chain of hotels out of the same region as the marketing firm. We cannot confirm a direct connection, but location, name and industry indicate a potential partnership.
So, what was this ad looking for? Very simple: They were looking for people to write false online hotel reviews to boost their client’s reservations and occupancy rates through unethical business practices.
As a consumer seeking a place of lodging, we typically look for three key elements:
Affordability – Based on the region and value added (attractions, dining), what hotels offer the best rates.
Volume Reviews – If more people stay at a hotel, the better it must be.
Quality of Reviews/ Ratings – What hotels have the highest average ratings.
Quite simply, if a hotel has 500 reviews averaging 4.5 / 5.0 stars, they will have a higher conversion rate of new customers than a hotel with 50 reviews and an average 3.0 / 5.0 star rating. The filters of online review sites such as TripAdvisor, Hotwire and Kayak allow you to sort by rating, cost and number of reviews making it very easy to make a quick booking decision.
When companies like Masterkey USA hire people to fill in the blanks and write five star reviews, it only hurts the consumer.
How can you avoid making a poor decision when choosing a hotel?
Look for longer more thorough reviews. Don’t just read the first few reviews. Scroll down and look for the longer reviews that provide very specific detail on their stays (room quality, customer service, location, dining, etc.)
Don’t let the number of reviews affect your decision. If a few hotels stand out with an enormous number of reviews, don’t let that be your only determining factor.
Look for reviews that match your personal needs. If you are a family of four, don’t read a review from a honeymoon couple. Look for family relevant reviews.
Thoroughly scroll through the visuals. Pictures paint a very strong story. Look at images of the lobby, rooms, food, parking lot and create a visual of what your stay may look like.
Focus on amenities. Does this hotel offer what you need? Some love free breakfast, while others prefer a gym that is open 24 hours. Factor in your habits and what amenities meet them to your final decision.
Distance to destinations/attractions – How close is your hotel to the attractions you want to see.
Make your vacation memorable starting with the right lodging decision. Good luck and make great memories.
North Charleston is an acquired taste. While the community is vibrant, its seedier counterparts steal the spotlight. Strippers, drug dealers, and gang violence hog the stage long enough to distract patrons from the gems in plain sight. A recent club, the Purple Buffalo, literally rests on the outskirts of Charleston. Near the King Street Cabaret and close to Spruill Avenue, the Purple Buffalo is easy to miss. Even though it lacks a sign, flashing violet lights signal herds to the watering hole. People can drink, dance, and attend concerts. Before their performance, the Moon Moths, a homegrown movement from Columbia, S.C., gab about celestial bodies, Jurassic Park, and Paris.
When I walk inside the building, I almost ignore the bouncer, Randolph, because my stomach’s knots are so tight. His scruffy appearance softens as he flashes a smile, marks my hand with a permanent X, and pleads verbatim: please don’t drink. No worries! My eyes screen the small room until I see a stage and VIP section. Online pictures of the band’s founder, Rupert Hudson (Prince Rupert), click into frame as I take a seat on the couch next to him. His aura and look refurnishes the counterculture of the seventies, but his message is clearer than a fifties crystal chandelier.
We talk about his YouTube video Flower Moon when Keenan (Moon Child) sits next to me, and details the backstory. Hudson and him “were lost in the woods,” but through the moon’s favor, they found their way home. Like an offering to the gods, this recorded taping of Prince Rupert, complete with his cape and crown, gives thanks. He sings, “Your light, it dazzles down. Gives me reason to keep on this ground…. Through the calamities, catastrophic disasters (ah), howling hurricanes, tides coming up faster (ah), shines the moon’s light. It makes it all feel ri-i-i-i-ight (oh).” Their ode is a tribute to Nature’s grace. Hudson and Keenan draw inspiration from the universe, and their trips shuttle between the literal and metaphorical.
I interrupt the conversation to ask Hudson a pressing question: Why do you wear a flower in your hair? He glances at Keenan before their laughter overrides the chatter. The floret in Prince Rupert’s mane “represent blooming… among other things.” Keenan adds, “Everyone blooms and goes through winter cycles.” Extraterrestrial and earthly environments play a considerable role in human survival. Moon stabilizes Earth’s rotation as plants release vital gasses (oxygen, obviously). Without their presence, people wouldn’t survive. Habits like tea in the morning, conference-calls during the afternoon, and cocktails by twilight are luxuries. The Moon Moths are just a group of superhero-ecologists in disguise, and their platform stems heightened awareness.
I look at my phone, and it reads 8:45 p.m. Other bandmates such as: Maddie (SK), Gabe (King Goof), and Pedro (Fresh Heaven) flock around the table. Pedro introduces himself, and lends his insight into the message behind the Moon Moths’ song Childhood: Memories are frozen and encased like Jurassic Park’s mosquito. Pedro explains that memories can “hurt you,” but they will never fade. Hudson nods in agreement before he asserts, “People want to change their memories, but you should focus on them.” Flashbulb experiences can either limit or unleash human potential. Meditation allows men and women to concentrate on their worries through exercised control. Before Hudson’s move to South Carolina, his time in New York compounds pressure and depression. His ten-days retreat in Georgia not only renews his mind but regenerates his soul. Vipassanā is an intense practice that Gautama Buddha utilizes for ailments, and for two years now, Hudson uses this technique to cope with stressors, sadness, and yes, memories.
When Amanda (Panda) takes a seat next to Hudson, I’m transfixed. Her percussion beats and dance routines are instrumental to the Moon Moths’ success. Her presence soothes the boozy atmosphere, and I swear my being transports into the jazzy lounge of nirvana. Background noise murmurs as Amanda enlightens me. As a former college student, she travels with her friends in pursuit of gauzy “good times.” The Moon Moths are a community, but they can only cocoon her spirit for so long. Her dream takes flight away from U.S. citizens to commune among Parisians in France. Connor (Mister B) joins our conversation along with Tristan (Vanilla Thunder). Thoughts about the movie Blue Is the Warmest Color (I cried!) and treks (worldwide?) tinge the ambience. The myriad of personalities pour across my notebook as I scribble everyone’s makeup. An hour of conversation strikes the clock midnight (well, 9:40 p.m.), and I need to leave. The overwhelming amount of information pounds at my head, and my fingers itch for my own set of keys. I didn’t experience the Moon Moths’ performance, but my connection spans past the set list. Their individuality butterflies from the shy and sweet (Tristan) to the outspoken and bold (Pedro). The members plan to release a mixtape of seven songs in 2017, and scheduled gigs are just another cycled stage. Their popularity has yet to reach mainstream audiences, but after the release of a single or two, these stargazers may land on the moon.
It was Christmas Eve in our little slice of Folly Under the Sea. This year things around me seemed more calm than usual. Everyfish seemed to be ahead of the typical hustle and bustle of the season. That is, every fish except for me. I like to live in the here and now, which means I am really good when it comes to what others view as procrastinating. I like to think of it more as I work well under pressure. That aside, I was bobbing from store to store as quickly as I could but a starfish can only go as fast as the current takes him and today the current was in no rush.
Somehow I managed to squeak in grocery shopping, picking up my famous last minute –but always perfect– gifts, visiting a few friends, and even getting a relaxing arm massage at Sacred Arm Massage & Healing Arts. Floating home, I looked around at all the happy fish. It was such a beautiful day. The sun was glistening brightly through the waves. There were even surfboards overhead, and not a shark sighting all day. The small fish were playing with each other and singing carols in anticipation of what tonight would bring. The bigger fish were holding hands and sneaking kisses, just as giddy as the little ones.
Finally making it home, I put on my favorite Michael Bubble Christmas album and started wrapping presents. Later that evening, I enjoyed the sunset in my back sand where I could see the human’s Folly Christmas tree off in the distance. Those humans are so creative! Who would think to put a Christmas tree on the beach anyway? After Christmas Eve dinner and appeasing carol singers who literally would not leave until I gave them figgy pudding –good thing I picked up dates at the store– I finally settled in to rest until Christmas day.
However, it was a restless sleep, and when I did drift off I had crazy dreams. One was of a psychedelic octopus. He just kind of joyfully floated in one spot, smiling and waving almost glowing in the surf. And then I woke up. Then there was the dream of a sandcastle Santa Claus. Had I seen the humans building one on the beach? Had Santa visited me and I sleepily caught him? Was Santa Claus really made out of sand? The psychedelic octopus seemed to make more sense than that! Maybe I was just as excited as every fish else that I had seen the day before. After all, Christmas is my most favorite of all the holidays. And even after all these years, I have never stopped believing. I gave into my excitement and floated out of bed, cranked up the Bubble, and got ready for the day.
As I put on my funny Santa attire, the smile that would remain ever present for the day crept across my face. How silly of me to think there would be sleep on the eve of today of all days! The doorbell rang. My friends and family had arrived. It was the beginning of another perfect Christmas Under the Folly Sea.
From our family to yours,
Happy Christmas, Merry Everything!
‘Twas the night before Christmas in Charleston and all through the streets, not a rickshaw was wheeling, not even an Uber beep
King Street was snoozing and Market Street a whisper
Not a skater was skating, not even a hipster sipping a PBR
The lights of the Marion Square Tree illuminated to the stars as the squirrels nestled under tree sharing acorns and glee
The pirate ghosts of White Point Garden hope this is the year Santa will be give them scissors so they may cut their noose and be free
The bells of St. Michaels guide the sleigh through the moonlight
St. Philips and Unitarian join in
The holy city, strong in spirit, sing in prayer and rejoice on another wonderful year
Oh Holy Night, from Cistern to East Bay, light our hearts with this Southern fire
From Sullivan’s to Folly, the waves dance to the music of the season
The angels perch high above the Cooper River Bridge waving and dancing to the sailboats ahead
Now we lay our heads to rest, but not without a special gift for St. Nick
A bowl of Shrimp and Grits and a craft pint or Chicken and waffles instead
In the deep silence of the night, we can hear the sounds of bells chime in our dreams while the deep rugged voice of Santa call out, “on Dasher, Prancer, Dewberry and Spector. On Fig, on Husk, On Oak, On Ordinary.”
Or perhaps our dreams play games in our heads as we visualize a year to be thankful
A Merry Christmas to you Charleston and to all a good night
Condé Nast Traveler just announced the 207 best restaurants in the world to dine at and one area restaurant made the list. Before we go there let us see how the rest of the United States faired (Then again the image at the top may have given it away for some).
19 – New York
14 – California
3 – Illinois
3 – Massachusetts
3 – Texas
2 – Washington State
2 – Louisiana
2 – Georgia
1 – Florida
1 – Hawaii
1 – Indiana
1 – Maryland
1 – Nevada
1 – Oregon
1 – Pennsylvania 1 – South Carolina
1 – Tennessee
1 – Virginia
1 – Vermont
On Tuesday, the US Census released its latest population numbers from July 1, 2015 to July 1, 2016. The fastest growing state by percentage was Utah and the state losing the highest percentage was Illinois. South Carolina did not make the top 10 in percentage growth, but we did crack the top ten at #10 raw growth with 66,285 new residents joining our state.
Now it is official, in raw population growth, South Carolina is the 10th fast growing state in the country in the last year.
Below are charts of the Top 10 Most Populous States, Raw Growth and Percentage Growth between the period of July 1, 2015 – July 1, 2016.
It is time for another installment of the way we were (minus the Barbara Streisand music). Let us walk together though this virtual time machine and see Charleston once again through the years. Through the good and bad, laughter and tears. This is our home and what changes we have seen.
Ashley Hall students 1939
McCrory’s Charleston 1980’s
Porter-Gaud cheerleaders 1969
Charleston, SC 1937
Old Charleston Restaurant Newspaper Ad
King Street 1902
Charleston City Railway Ticket
Charleston City Railway Car
The Charleston Hotel 1930’s
Old Cooper River Bridge Card – Mount Pleasant Side
“The greatest risk in life is taking the chance on life.”
“Let us praise famous men and our fathers that begat us. All these men were honoured in their generations and were a glory in their days. We are here today to give thanks for the life of Harold Abrahams. To honour the legend. Now there are just two of us – young Aubrey Montague and myself – who can close our eyes and remember those few young men with hope in our hearts and wings on our heels.” – Lord Andrew Lindsay – Chariots of Fire
On one sunny afternoon in the Bronx, Derek Jeter, right off the disabled list, danced his way into the history books acting out a script that could have been written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by James Cameron. It was a poetic journey as the Captain of the New York Yankees became the first player in pinstripes to strike 3000 hits in his career as he launched a home run decisively into the outfield bleachers. As 54,000 fans and millions of viewers stood to honor the man and the achievement for over five minutes, it was clear that this was not an isolated moment in sports history. This was a moment, drafted in the stars and played out as fairy dust fell from the heavens. Derek would go five for five including the game winning hit on this day, but as he hugged each one of his teammates and remembered those that were not there with him, he embraced a moment that will forever be in his and our hearts.
Derek danced.
Life is dictated by responsibility. Responsibility for the financial well-being of ourselves and our families. Responsibility for defining the morals that we bestow. Responsibility leading a life that our parents had set for us. Out of respect and admiration for our upbringing, many feel the need to “pay back” our parents with a life of moral solitude.
Yet, are we risk adverse because of the fear of harm or the perception that if we step into the unknown we become vulnerable and thus open the door for predators to take advantage of our weakness.
The human mind is a challenging foe whose very existence is our greatest challenge. It numbs the senses and imparts the lessons of routine, comfort, stability and patience.
If you collect all of these thoughts, they are nothing more than barriers to the Dance.
We are a civilization that for millions of years has thrived on innovation. The ability to create what does not exist has set the standards for everything from fire to space travel.
The most memorable successes occur when our backs are against the wall, the resources are limited and your only support is the will to know you can accomplish anything.
You are the will, compassion, fortitude, and strength to release the greatness within you. We are raised to dream; to reach for the stars and accomplish anything. Life shouldn’t interfere with the innocent notions you had as a child. If anything, life should strengthen the desire to want to meet and exceed those goals. All of us, whether wealthy or poor, receive an invitation to the dance. Some go, some don’t, some stand in the corner while the very few who know that it is an honor to stand alone on the center of that dance floor and shine will become greater than even their own imagination could visualize.
To be free to spin, jump and twirl and see things in this world that only you can see; what a thought. It is that perception that will carry over into the next generation and history will remember you, the shy boy or girl that dared to step on that shiny floor and let your soul be naked for all to see.
It is time to dance.
Reach into the pockets of that dress or suit and find that list you created that has you reaching into the unknown and let it out. Don’t give up, don’t let go…Just make the unthinkable happen and enjoy the ride.
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be” – George Sheehan
We lost a number of celebrities in 2016 that had an impact on my of our childhoods. Some were on the forefront of the news while others passed quietly. Here is a gallery of some of the key foundations of the 70’s and 80’s TV landscape that passed on in 2016.
Alan Thicke – Known for Growing Pains (69 Years Old)
Michu Meszaros – Played ALF (76 Years Old)
George Gaynes – Adopted Father of Punky Brewster (98 Years Old)
Ron Glass – Known for Barney Miller and Firefly (71 Years Old)
Steven Hill – Known for Law and Order (94 Years Old)
Pat Harrington Jr. – Known for One Day At A Time (86 Years Old)
Abe Vigoda – Known for Barney Miller (94 Years Old)
Garry Shandling – Known for Larry Sanders Show / Garry Shandling Show (66 Years Old)
Doris Roberts – Known for Everybody Loves Raymond (90 Years Old)
Morley Safer – Known for 60 Minutes (84 Years Old)
Theresa Saldana – Known for The Commish and Raging Bull (61 Years Old)
Garry Marshall – Known for Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley (81 Years Old)
Youree Dell Harris – Known as Miss Cleo – TV Psychic (53 Years Old)
Sagen Lewis – Known for St. Elsewhere (63 Years Old)
John Saunders – Known for ESPN (61 Years Old)
John McLaughlin – Known for The McLaughlin Group (89 Years Old)
Gwen Ifill – Known for PBS NewsHour (61 Years Old)
Florence Henderson – Known for The Brady Bunch (82 Years Old)
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