Lowcountry

Lowcountry

Southwest presents Sights & Sounds: New Episode – Charleston, SC featuring Shovels & Rope

November 21, 2021 by 0 Comments
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For Sites & Sounds Episode 4, we join husband/wife duo Shovels & Rope as they bring their longtime friend and fellow musician Matthew Logan Vasquez along to their beloved hometown of Charleston.

The trio covers much of the picturesque southern town; from a traditional low country boil and waterfront adventure to a visit to America’s original theatre and a peek into what it’s like to jam at Cary Ann and Michael’s Johns Island home.

Watch Here

During this episode, you will see some familiar people and sites including Dock Street Theatre, Waterkeepers, Monster Music and Fast and French.

You also have a chance to enter an amazing sweepstakes

Click Here to Enter

Prize package includes:

  • Round trip air travel on Southwest Airlines® for winner and one (1) guest to Charleston International Airport (CHS), Nashville International Airport (BNA), or Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), subject to Air Travel Restrictions set forth in Official Rules, and
  • One (1) $500 Visa® gift card (subject to terms and conditions).


Lowcountry

City of Hanahan Seeks Public Input on Future Planning via Hanahan 2040 Public Meeting Series

November 20, 2021 by 0 Comments
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First Meeting Scheduled for November 22

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (November 18, 2021) – The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) and the City of Hanahan will launch a series of public meetings to garner public input on the Hanahan 2040: Pathway to the Future comprehensive plan, beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 22 at the Hanahan Senior Center. 

The Hanahan 2040: Pathway to the Future comprehensive plan will set the city’s direction for the next two decades. Because of this, the City of Hanahan is beginning the planning process by listening to its residents, businesses, and property owners to ensure the plan represents a shared community vision for the future.

The public meetings allow the City to gather critical information for the comprehensive plan by listening to its residents, both businesses and property owners. The meetings give the community an opportunity to share what it thinks are the City’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats — now and in the future. 

The public meeting schedule is as follows: 

  • Monday, November 22 at the Hanahan Senior Center from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. located at 3100 Mabeline Road, North Charleston, SC.
  • Monday, November 29 at the Yeamans Hall Gym from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. located at 1253 Yeamans Hall Road, Hanahan, SC.
  • Tuesday, November 30 at Fire Station #3 (Tanner Plantation) from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. located at 1101 Williams Lane, Hanahan, SC.

The City is also hosting a hybrid public meeting on Thursday, December 2 at Fire Station #2 on Otranto from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Those who are unable to attend in person will be able to participate in this session virtually using a link that will be posted on the Hanahan 2040 web page one week prior to the event.

“The comprehensive plan will help guide our city’s future for the coming years, so it is critical we hear from as many community members as possible to build a stronger Hanahan moving forward,” said Mayor Christie Rainwater. 

Developed by the City’s Planning Commission based on data trends and public input, the Hanahan 2040: Pathway to the Future comprehensive plan provides a framework of goals, along with policies and implementation strategies to achieve those goals.

During the plan’s development, the Planning Commission will evaluate how specific elements of life in Hanahan have changed over the past 10 years, compare recent demographic trends to historical data, anticipate growth and formulate a shared community vision for the City’s future.

Under the 1994 S.C. Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act, all counties and municipalities with land use regulations were required to have comprehensive plans in place by May 4, 1999.

These plans, which contain nine distinct elements — population, economics, natural resources, cultural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation, and priority investments — are aimed at managing future growth and preserving community identity. The BCDCOG has assisted with developing several of the initial comprehensive plans prior to 1999 and continues to support local governments with preparing updates and/or zoning and land development regulations to implement these plans.

ABOUT HANAHAN 2040

Hanahan 2040: Pathway to the Future is intended to represent a shared community vision and provide a roadmap for achieving the community’s goals in the future. A shared community vision can only be developed through meaningful public participation. Voicing your thoughts – virtually or in-person – during this community-wide conversation is a vital and valuable contribution to the City’s future.

ABOUT BCDCOG

The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG’s purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit BCDCOG.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @BCDCoG.

Lowcountry

Think Charleston has expensive hotels…Well, here are the 10 most expensive in the world

November 20, 2021 by 0 Comments
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From an underwater submarine hotel in St.Lucia to luxury hotels in Las Vegas, have you ever wondered which hotel is the most expensive in the world? Merchant Cash Advance has looked at seedlists of the most expensive hotels to reveal the top 10 most expensive hotels worldwide. Would you pay over $175,000 for one night?

Most Expensive Hotel Suites In The WORLD, Would You Pay $175,000 a night?

REVEALED: These Are The Most Expensive Hotels In The World

Revealed: The Hotels Costing Upwards Of 150K A Night

Key points of interest:

  • The most expensive hotel is ‘Lover’s Deep Luxury Submarine‘ in St Lucia, costing a whopping $175,000 a night
  • For $100,000 a night you can stay at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas with a view of the shimmering lights of the Las Vegas Strip 
  • The Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas charges $60,000 a night, complete with an upscale steakhouse and poolside cocktail bar

The full data can be found here.

The Top 10 Most Expensive Hotel Rooms In The World 

HotelsLocationPrice of room (per night)
Lover’s Deep Luxury SubmarineSt. Lucia$175,000.00
Palms Casino Resort Empathy SuiteLas Vegas, Nevada$100,000.00
Hotel President Wilson Royal Penthouse SuiteGenève, Switzerland$80,000.00
The Mark Penthouse – The Mark HotelManhattan, New York City$75,000.00
Laucala Island Resort Hilltop EstateFiji$61,142.00
Four Seasons HotelLas Vegas, USA$60,000.00
Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel MartinezCannes, France$53,000.00
The Muraka Suite – The ConradMaldives$50,000.00
The Hilltop VillaFiji$45,000.00
The PlazaNew York, USA$40,000.00

Lover’s Deep Luxury Submarine

At $175,000 a night, the Lover’s Deep Luxury Submarine Hotel, St Lucia, is the most expensive hotel in the world. The 5-star accommodation is beneath the waves where you will be staying in a submarine which includes a private captain, chef and butler. The Lover’s Deep Submarine is fully equipped with the ultimate in luxury, as well as helicopter transfers, beach landings and champagne-soaked breakfasts.

Palms Casino Resort Empathy Suite

The Empathy Suite at The Palms, Las Vegas, is the second most expensive hotel room in the world at $100,000 a night. With a two-night minimum stay the suite is located on the upper floors of the 40-story Palms Casino Resort, with a view of the shimmering lights of the Las Vegas Strip. 

Hotel President Wilson Royal Penthouse Suite

Hotel President Wilson Royal Penthouse Suite, Switzerland, is located on the entire top floor of the hotel and has a panoramic terrace with breathtaking views over Lake Geneva and charges $80,000 a night. The wraparound terrace comes complete with a telescope for stargazing on clear nights. The two master bedrooms have a vast walk-in dressing room and a marble bathroom with a jacuzzi facing the lake, as well as a separate shower, steam and mirror TV. There is also a private gym, chef and chauffeur available to you at all times.

Four Seasons Hotel

The Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas, attached to Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, charges $60,000 a night. This luxe, art deco style hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as mountain or street views. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, marble bathrooms, minibars and coffeemakers, as well as flat-screen TVs. There is also the choice of Italian restaurant/bar,  upscale steakhouse and a cocktail bar. If that wasn’t enough there is also an outdoor pool, waterside bar and spa!

Editors notes:

Data: The full data can be found here.

Methodology: Merchant Cash Advance took a seed list of expensive hotels around the world and then researched the average prices of hotels to reveal the most expensive hotel rooms around the world.

Seedlists: https://luxurycolumnist.com/the-most-luxurious-hotels-in-the-world/ https://traveltoplist.com/most-expensive-hotels-world/https://wealthygorilla.com/most-expensive-hotels/

Lowcountry - Mount Pleasant, SC

Everybody Wins When You Shop Where You Live – Shop Mount Pleasant this Holiday Season

November 15, 2021 by 0 Comments
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The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) and the Town of Mount Pleasant have joined forces to encourage residents to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season. The campaign begins on Black Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – and will continue through the end of the year.

Buying locally supports the businesses that are owned and operated by your friends, neighbors and family members and keeps dollars in our local economy. Every Friday in December, the Chamber will give away a $100 Visa Card to one lucky shopper who posts a photo of his or her purchase from a participating Mount Pleasant business on Instagram and follows the instructions on how to enter.

“The Town of Mount Pleasant is thrilled to partner with the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce for this holiday season’s Shop Where You Live campaign,” said Mayor Will Haynie. “We are thankful for all of the wonderful local businesses that call Mount Pleasant home, and we look forward to shopping local this holiday season.”

“The Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a part of this initiative to give local businesses a leg up during this year’s holiday shopping season. Our mission is to encourage business and community success in Mount Pleasant and I feel that Shop Where You Live does just that.” MPCC President Edward Phipps continued, “With shipping and supplies falling behind right now I invite everyone in the East Cooper community to shop locally starting Black Friday through December. You could have a chance to win extra money to purchase gifts for everyone on your holiday lists. Please have a safe and happy holiday.”

For more information and a list of participating businesses, visit the MPCC Facebook event page here. 

WHEN: Starts Black Friday (November 26) and goes through the end of December 2021

WHAT: Shop Where You Live

WHERE: Mount Pleasant, S.C. 

About MPCC: Since 1992, the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce has been bringing together business leaders throughout the Mount Pleasant community for mutually beneficial purposes. The membership is a mix of professions from various industries, including advertising and publishing, financial services, health care, retail, insurance, legal and service businesses of every description. The mission is to encourage business and community success East of the Cooper.  

For more information:

Lowcountry

Firefly Distillery and Holy City Brewery Collaborate on Limited Edition Whiskey and Ale

November 15, 2021 by 0 Comments
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eLocal brewery and distillery release whiskey and ale for the holidays dubbed Double Barrel Drive By

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (November 12, 2021) –  Firefly Distillery, South Carolina’s oldest working distillery, is partnering with local craft brewery, Holy City Brewing to release Double Barrel Drive By, a new limited edition malt mash whiskey and barleywine ale pairing on Friday, November 26.

An ode to the proximity of the brewery and distillery, Double Barrel Drive By brings together two of Charleston’s best craft alcohol makers.”We loved the idea of a collaboration with our neighbors,” says Jay Macmurphy, head distiller at Firefly Distillery. “The end result gave us a great depth of flavor in our malt mash whiskey by starting with Holy City’s beer, aging in brandy and bourbon barrels.” Double-Barrel Drive-By is a two-part collaboration between Holy City Brewing and Firefly Distillery. The beer is a barleywine-style ale aged in Firefly’s brandy barrels while the liquor is a malt-based whiskey distilled from this beer, aged in those same barrels for one year.

A truly Charleston collaboration for the beer and whiskey lover. “It started as an idea to use Firefly’s barrels to age our beer and turned into an even stronger partnership,” says Chris Brown, head brewer at Holy City Brewing. “The two products together offer a limited edition gift that’s perfect for the season.” Exclusively available at the respective brewery and distillery, this limited edition pairing makes for a unique, local holiday gift.

To celebrate the release of the new whiskey and ale, Firefly Distillery is hosting a Black Friday celebration on Friday, November 26 starting at 12:00pm with food trucks, music, and spirits tastings. Local food trucks will include P&S New Jersey Philly Cheesesteaks, Bits ‘n’ Bytes, Miss Katie’s Sweets, and Charleston Caribbean Creole with live music from local reggae band Urban Roots from 2 – 5pm. Holy City Brewing will also be hosting an oyster roast with tasting flights featuring the newest brew. For more information about the distillery, Firefly Spirits, events, tours and tastings, visit www.fireflydistillery.com.

About Firefly Distillery

Firefly Distillery is the birthplace of the world’s first sweet tea vodka and has grown into South Carolina’s largest distillery. Outgrowing its flagship location, Firefly Distillery expanded its operations with its new 25,000 square foot distillery in North Charleston, SC. A lively landmark just 15 minutes from downtown Charleston, the Distillery is a destination for locals and visitors alike with live music, food trucks, countless events and a gift shop. Visitors can experience the distillation process first hand with tastings and purchase Firefly Spirits including the new Bend & Steal American Whiskey and many other distillery specialties.

About Holy City Brewing

Established in 2011, Holy City Brewing is a craft brewery that creates handcrafted ales and lagers with a 15-barrel (bbl) system. Featuring a full taproom, kitchen and state-of-the-art brewing operation, Holy City has become a staple in the South Carolina craft brewing industry.

Lowcountry

Palmetto Community Care needs your support this holiday season

November 15, 2021 by 0 Comments
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First, I want to thank you for your past support of Palmetto Community Care. Whether you have chosen to donate through an event or in honor or memory of a loved one, please know that your support means a great deal for the important work that we do here each and every day.

Your support has helped a struggling client living with HIV find the mental health counseling he needed to process his anxiety so that he could secure employment and sustainable housing. That is really what your support provides more than anything – hope that is real and tangible and hope that helps to lift another human being out of pain and suffering. Our goal is to always help our clients find a path forward and to better manage this disease and eventually prosper and graduate beyond the need for our programs and services.

Click Here to Donate

We believe no person living with HIV/AIDS should go without medical care, everyday resources, and emotional support.
Your support helped us as we helped a client after they were released from a local detention center. During an initial meeting the client revealed being addicted to IV drugs and had been in and out of detention centers across the United States since he was 18 years old. “I am happy with the way life is going; it is what I know and what I do.” Fast forward to one week after release. Our Specialized Medical Case Manager received a call. He had found a sober living home but needed medication and assistance with food and some clothing. After meeting, PCC was able to provide him with medications, a clothing voucher, personal hygiene bag and a grocery gift card. He is still doing well, checks in with SMCM weekly and together they are working on obtain client’s social security card and birth certificate so the client can be more successful in finding employment. This is made possible because of your support.

Your support helped us as we worked with a sexual abuse survivor who discovered she was HIV positive after the assault. We were quickly able to get her medical care, counseling and stable housing away from her abuser. Your donations do so much more than just keep the lights on or paying a medical bill. Your support allows us to help with the whole spectrum of issues that can keep HIV-positive women and men from getting the life-saving medical care that they need. When someone is in pain and suffering within a sea of instability and grief, taking medication or seeing a doctor regularly are often more than a client can do.

We have a lot of success stories that we could share stories that are made possible by you. Behind every number or statistic is a name; behind every name is a story; and every story PCC is able to be a part of is directly because of supporters like you. Having HIV can often lead to feelings of isolation and despair – you wake up one day and you get this diagnosis and then your whole world changes – your dreams seem out of reach. Our staff is there to work with everyone. I hope you join me and consider contributing towards helping others with a donation to Palmetto
Community Care.
Lowcountry

Charleston Small Business Spotlight: Meet Finisha Bennett, owner of Stoney Landing Solutions, HR Consultancy

November 13, 2021 by 0 Comments
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Finisha I. Bennett took her passion for human resources while attending her academic studies at the University of South Carolina and transformed it into a commitment to provide guidance and compassion to small and individual business owners. We are so proud to feature Finisha and Stoney Landing Solutions.

MISSION: Provide helpful human resources consulting solutions for small businesses and individuals.

VISION: To educate, inspire, and motivate small businesses toward a legally compliant operation, and individuals toward their career goals. 

Stoney Landing Solutions provides human resources consulting for small businesses and start-ups by ensuring regulatory compliance as well as guidance to guarantee proper systems are in place to achieve strategic business goals.    We can provide training, assist with audits, payroll consulting, and policy/procedure creations. 

About Finisha

Hello! I am Finisha I. Bennett the founder of Stoney Landing Solutions. We are a consulting firm specializing in Human Resources and Career Coaching.

We strive to help small business owners avoid the pitfalls and legal risks by educating, training, and providing tools/resources.

As for me, I fell in love with the Human Resources profession my freshmen year at the University of South Carolina. Go Cocks! This love affair has been rewarding for the last two decades as I have continued to learn more and more in this ever-changing profession.

In 2019, I started working on my plans to open the firm as I finished my Masters of Jurisprudence from Tulane University School of Law. What I or no one else could have planned or prepared for is a pandemic!

During this incredibly difficult time of crisis, it is more important than ever to have a partner who is knowledgeable in the field of human resources with the ability to work with you and your team to complete your HR functions.

Testimonial

“Finisha, Thank you SO MUCH! That was a really great session with probably the best engagement by attendees I’ve seen to date! I truly appreciate your time to put the presentation together…” – AMANDA, Trident United Way

Lowcountry

Making a difference in North Charleston: Rep. Marvin Pendarvis Launches ‘The Pendarvis Promise’ Mini-Grant Program

November 12, 2021 by 0 Comments
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NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – November 12 – State Representative Marvin Pendarvis (D-North Charleston) is launching “The Pendarvis Promise,” a mini-grant program for organizations making a difference in the North Charleston area. 

“It is important to lift up good people and organizations that are making a difference in North Charleston,” Pendarvis said. “By providing these grants, we will empower these groups to continue to positively impact the community.”

Grants awarded under The Pendarvis Promise will range from $200-$2,000. To apply, email info@marvinpendarvis.com. The deadline is December 3 and grant recipients will be announced in January.

Lowcountry - Real Estate

The Amazing Race dynamic duo Haley and Kaylynn Williams are about to take Charleston Real Estate by storm

November 11, 2021 by 0 Comments
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Meet Sisters Haley and Kaylynn Williams, warm Southern business owners, realtors, adventurers, and new guiding forces in the competitive Lowcountry Real Estate market.

Haley and Kaylynn were born and raised in the Bluffton/Hilton Head Island, SC area. Now, they make their home in the holy city of Charleston, South Carolina and they are launching a new intimate relationship-driven real estate business.

For fans of The Amazing Race, this fall, a national audience will witness this dynamic duo in action as they are featured contestants on the CBS reality show. Watch as they unravel the adventure of a lifetime.

As their sense of adventure is shared in exotic locations around the world, Charleston is fortunate to reap the benefits of their expertise and personal journeys as they help home seekers find their own personal happiness.

If you would like to connect with Haley or Kaylynn, learn more about their stories or begin the process of a new home, you can connect directly or follow socially.

Haley Williams
843-415-2105
Haleywilliams965@gmail.com

Kaylynn Williams
843-338-7514
Kaylynnwilliams410@gmail.com
www.instagram.com/klyn410

Lowcountry

Charleston Spotlight: Charleston chef, author and culinary historian Kevin Mitchell has co-authored a wonderful new book ‘Taste the State: South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes and Their Stories’

November 10, 2021 by 0 Comments
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Charleston-based chef, author, and culinary historian Kevin Mitchell, along with his colleague David S. Shields have published a wonderful new book ‘Taste the State: South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories’. Help Kevin celebrate this wonderful achievement. Learn more and buy local today.

We are so proud of Chef Mitchell.

About the Book

From the influence of 1920s fashion on asparagus growers to an heirloom watermelon lost and found, Taste the State abounds with surprising stories from South Carolina’s singularly rich food tradition. Here, Kevin Mitchell and David S. Shields present engaging profiles of eighty-two of the state’s most distinctive ingredients, such as Carolina Gold rice, Sea Island White Flint corn, and the cone-shaped Charleston Wakefield cabbage, and signature dishes, such as shrimp and grits, chicken bog, okra soup, Frogmore stew, and crab rice. These portraits, illustrated with original photographs and historical drawings, provide origin stories and tales of kitchen creativity and agricultural innovation. Historical “receipts” and modern recipes, including Chef Mitchell’s distillation of traditions in Hoppin’ John fritters, okra and crab stew, are also provided.

Because Carolina cookery combines ingredients and cooking techniques of three greatly divergent cultural traditions, there is more than a little novelty and variety in the food. In Taste the State Mitchell and Shields celebrate the contributions of Native Americans (hominy grits, squashes, beans), the Gullah Geechee (field peas, okra, guinea squash, rice, sorghum), and European settlers (garden vegetables, grains, pigs, cattle) in the mixture of ingredients and techniques that would become Carolina cooking. They also explore the specialties of every region—the famous rice and seafood dishes of the Lowcountry; the Pee Dee’s catfish and pinebark stews; the smothered cabbage, pumpkin chips, and mustard-based barbecue of the Dutch Fork and Orangeburg; the red chicken stew of the midlands; and the chestnuts, chinquapins, and corn bread recipes of the mountainous Upstate.

Taste the State presents the cultural histories of native ingredients and showcases the evolution of the dishes and the variety of preparations that have emerged. This is true Carolina cooking in all of its cultural depth, historical vividness, and sumptuous splendor—from the simple home cooking of sweet potato pone to Lady Baltimore cake worthy of a Charleston society banquet.

About the Authors

Kevin Mitchell is the first African American chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston in South Carolina. He has culinary arts degrees in occupational studies and management from the Culinary Institute of America and a master’s degree in southern studies from the University of Mississippi, where he studied Southern foodways, the preservation of Southern ingredients, and the history of African Americans in the culinary arts. In 2020 Mitchell was named a South Carolina Chef Ambassador.

David S. Shields is Carolina Distinguished Professor of the English Language and Literature Department at the University of South Carolina and the chair of the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation. He is the author of numerous books, including Southern Provisions: The Creation and Revival of a Cuisine and The Culinarians: Lives and Careers from the First Age of American Fine Dining, and the recipient of the Southern Foodways Alliance’s Ruth Fertel Keeper of the Flame Award

Where to Buy
Purchase at USC Press