Lowcountry

Lowcountry

Is this the future of pricing in Charleston? Fixed Pricing

August 30, 2017 by 0 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

Have you been to Normandy Farms Artisan Bakery, Jack of Cups or Baguette Magic recently? Besides having wonderful reputations for quality and customer service, all three businesses have incorporated the European style of fixed pricing.  This method also rings true at local area farmers markets with most vendors.

In a nutshell, the price you see on the menu, is the price you pay.

If an item is 91 cents and sales tax is 9 cents, the cost is $1.00. That is the price you see.

Last week, I had a memorable meal at Jack of Cups on Folly Beach.  Our meal for two consisted of:  Spring Rolls $9.00, Indian Thai Mexican Fusion Nachos $9.00, Basil Rice Bowl $10.00, Cocktails $9.00 each (2) and glass of wine $4.00.  Our bill was $50.00.

Why is this method of building in the tax to the final cost so efficient for all parties involved?

  • Perception: If there is no tax found on the bill, it creates a perception to the consumer that they got a deal and are apt to tip their servers more.
  • Ease of table sharing management. How many go out with friends or co-workers and they split the bill.  This makes it so much easier to determine who owes what.
  • Tight Budgets: If you are on a tight budget and trying to determine cost of a meal, this solves all your issues.
  • Even number obsessives: There are a few of you out there that needs all charges on your credit card to end in a complete number (no cents).  This makes your lives so much easier.
  • An overall simple dining experience

 

I initially got comfortable with this form of pricing when I lived in Florence, Italy.  Not being able to speak the native tongue, made it a challenge for me to go to the grocer or farmers market, but having the fixed pricing helped me know exactly how many Euros my items were and thus eliminating the awkward language barrier.

That saved me during my Summer in Italy and I am so thankful.

We hope this trend continues with more restaurants in the Lowcountry and spreads even further to grocers and retail stores.

 

Lowcountry

A Dark Cloud Over Charleston: Cultural Ideology of a City I Once Loved

August 1, 2017 by 40 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

We live and breathe under a cultural ideology and it is this ecosystem that surrounds us all that shapes who we are and how we live.  Shortly after completion of my graduate studies on the East Coast, where I was born and raised, I begin my formal employment career in Minnesota.  Battling the elements of culture shock was my biggest challenge.  After an awkward Hoedown on my first day of employment, I found myself questioning my ability to “fit in”.  Then it happened on a Tuesday afternoon on a warm Summer day.

Just outside my office I saw our Communications Director, Affirmative Action Manager and Health and Safety Manager gazing outside the front window of the facility.  This was my opportunity to bond with my new Midwest co-workers.  As I quietly joined in on their conversation, I walked over and listened closely.  The conversation was centered around a beautiful deer in the parking lot.  I looked and found no deer.  They raved and referred to it with intimate detail.  Still, no deer.

Finally, I resisted my fear of being embarrassed, and finally spoke up asking, ‘what deer?”.  All three looked to their left at me and pointed straight ahead.  Still, no sign of a deer, but within seconds I came to the realization, that beautiful fawn was none other than a large green John Deere tracker.

I was a stranger in a strange land.

Having moved often within the states and abroad, I found a home in Charleston and once again had to adjust to a new culture.  Now nine years in and I am still learning the culture.  Most often enlightened, but still very concerned.

After only spending one weekend in Charleston, escaping the crowds of my temporary Myrtle Beach home, I fell in love.  First, with the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.  Then as I penetrated deeper, the Colonial architecture and cobble stone roads of historic downtown, embracing the kindness of strangers, the seamless transition of city and residential living and the embrace of local business.  Finally, I absorbed the celebratory nature of the festival and events and the selfless support of human interest efforts on land and water.  This was truly a place I could call home.

It was a place where I could walk the streets in jeans, t-shirt and flip flops, go into my local bar on King Street and be greeted by my favorite bar tender as live trivia roared the crowds all around.  On a cool winter evening, I could put on a light jacket and head to a local theatre where some of the most talented actors in the South resided.

Charleston was a place where Jimmy Buffett or Warren Buffett could feel at home.  Celebrities were just like you and I and the taste of Southern cuisine made you want to come back over and over.

Elegant, yet unassuming, warm and inviting, but still personal in its connection to nature.  This was Charleston.

There was something so truly magical that all the Instagram’s in the world could not capture the cinematic beauty of a Charleston sunset over the harbor.  Every morning was a gift and every evening a blessing.

Church bells rang reminding us that faith is as strong as blood.

Going to a high-end steakhouse for a burger and a glass of Pinot Noir was just as acceptable as dressing to the nines.

Charleston’s idea of Tinder, was sitting outside a downtown restaurant, exchanging a smile with passing stranger and then spending the next few hours learning about each other’s dreams.

Charleston “was” a magical place.  A place historians, dreamers and visionaries could co-exist as one. 

Times have changed.  A cloud has stricken this city paralyzed.  Instead of a wheelchair or crutches, we are restricted by cranes, bulldozers and detours.

Our enemies are not the northerners as so many claim, but expansion and the greed hungry mongers in government and institutional investment.

Housing/apartment/condo prices and dining and hospitality costs all have hit record highs, but at what cost?

What is the new Charleston Experience?

  • Potholes and broken up uneven sidewalks
  • Constant construction that shows no signs of ending with the approval of two new hotels and continued development throughout the city
  • Traffic clusters throughout the metro and beyond
  • A rotating door of store and restaurant closures
  • Growth of common chain brands and reduction of local business owners
  • Rise of the homeless on the streets once again
  • Infrastructure on the East Side and West Side ignored
  • Rise in highway fatalities, home fires and violent crime
  • More restrictive parking laws and increased cost of parking
  • Urban and residential flooding still without resolution
  • Rumors of political greed and corruption
  • A separatist movement between the left and right, north and south
  • Disrespecting the beaches

This is not the Charleston I fell in love with nine years ago.   The look, the attitude, the culture and the warmth are hiding somewhere, hoping this dark cloud moves offshore.

Lowcountry

Things in Charleston Seem Alarming: Headlines Across the Lowcountry

July 21, 2017 by 0 Comments
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After spending a little time in the social stratosphere, I got an alarming feeling that things are not as good as some recent rankings and praise have led others to believe.

Maybe it is up to you to decide.

Here are some of the latest headlines hitting us hard in the last few days in the Lowountry:

  • Charleston councilman Mike Seekings finds a noose hanging outside his downtown home – Post and Courier
  • South Carolina Secessionist Party paints Folly Boat with the Confederate battle flag again – Post and Courier
  • It’s all about clean water – Making sure it is safe to drink – Moultrie News
  • Hank Williams Jr. is irritated with me – Charleston City Paper
  • North Charleston Police seize guns, drugs, in 2 separate incidents – Live5News
  • 911 caller warned about loose tarp on Don Holt Bridge days before it and the netting fell – Post and Courier
  • Another hotel in Charleston’s City Market gets a green light – Post and Courier
  • Charleston Police investigating reported indecent exposure inside store – live5news
  • Woman charged in Goose Creek robbery tried to rob Ladson restaurant – live5news
  • Federal officials offering reward for info after bald eagle nest destroyed in Goose Creek – live5news
  • North Charleston police investigate suspicious death – counton2
  • Coastal flooding advisory for Charleston and Colleton counties – counton2

That is a handful for just the last 24 – 36 hours of news.

 

 

Lowcountry

Erin Brockovich’s Response on Facebook to Mount Pleasant/Charleston Water Quality Concerns

July 10, 2017 by 34 Comments
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Posted on Erin Brockovich Facebook 1 Hour Ago:

“There are more unanswered questions about Mount Pleasant and Charleston, South Carolina’s water quality than there are answers.

First, consumers in Mount Pleasant need to understand… most of the year your drinking water is supplied from the City of Charleston. At peak demands… as much as 50% “can be” produced locally… but  many of you get 100% Charleston water everyday of the year. The attached press conference is more than just misleading, its crap… and constantly bragging about pristine ancient water that requires reverse osmosis is just bizarre. Further, the City of Mount Pleasant buys so much water from Charleston… several months out of the year they actually inject the severely contaminated excess surface water into Aquifer Storage and Recapture (ASR) wells.

Charleston claims to do thousands of water quality tests but doesn’t really report very much to you the consumer… the USEPA “suggests” they customize the report for the local source water conditions… Charleston DOES NOT.

Your drinking water system uses chloramine as a disinfectant… a poor choice. In fact your drinking water has confirmed toxic chloramine byproducts in it called nitrosamines (NDMA) as a result of the use of ammonia.

Your source water has many pesticides (Dieldren), herbicides (Atrazine), pfoa/pfos (scotch-guard/Teflon), pharmaceuticals (estrogen/Viagra) and other “unregulated” contaminants in it TODAY. These should have been reported to you… some have health advisories, some have maximum contaminant levels (MCL), like atrazine.  The herbicide atrazine… if detected, even below the MCL must be reported… it is not.

The citizens of Mount Pleasant and greater Charleston are entitled to more respect and full disclosure… What have they got to hide? If there are contaminants in your drinking water you have the right to make a choice of what your family consumes and what it does not.”

ABC Article: Mount Pleasant Waterworks responds to concerns about water quality

Lowcountry - Photography

GALLERY: Discover Georgetown, South Carolina: America’s Coastal Small Town

July 10, 2017 by 7 Comments
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By Mark A. Leon

Just a stone’s throw away from Charleston, one hour north on Highway 17, is Georgetown, South Carolina, one of the many beautiful reminders of small town America.  This marina based town is rich in tradition, history and family values.  At its core, it is a proud town built on manufacturing and coastal commerce.  Over the years, this family rich culture has maintained the simplicity and wholesomeness of its founding days nearly 200 years ago.

Over the course of the day, we were greeted with open arms as the locals charmed us with an inviting atmosphere.  During the mid afternoon, I was walking on the marina boardwalk and I heard an acoustic guitarist singing “Let Her In” by Hootie and the Blowfish.  As he concluded, he shared an anecdote about playing guitar on King Street in Charleston when Mark Bryan, stopped and offered to play his second guitar and jam together.  This was one of the many warm feelings we had throughout the day, but none more enriching then breakfast at the Coffee Break Cafe among the locals over a fresh cup of hot coffee and a croissant sandwich.

The pride of Americana and the warm Southern charm of a traditional small town is alive and well in Georgetown, South Carolina.  We invite you to make an outing and discover Georgetown.  If you have the time, take Cap’t Rods Lowcountry Boat Tour’s 4 hour excursion which includes a boat ride to the old lighthouse, Shell Island, rice fields and so much more for only $35.00 a person (Monday – Saturday).  Of course, stop in to the local sweets shop for a mint OREO or homemade praline or the ice cream parlor for a cup of Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Ice Cream.

Come with us as we share our gallery of life in Georgetown, South Carolina

 

Coastal Carolina Research Boat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Break Cafe

 

 

 

 

Mural Street Front

 

 

Are you ready to your next South Carolina discovery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lowcountry

Top Reasons Charleston Is Choosing Tourism over Basic Resident Livability

July 8, 2017 by 31 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

In a destination  city environment, the municipality walks a fine line between catering to the tourists and the local community.  It is a challenge to balance the needs of one without neglecting the other.  A number of factors play into the decisions around how each group is treated.  Often times, perception plays a part in people’s reactions to some decisions that may affect one group adversely.  We have looked at perception and reality and determined that is there a strong sentiment that local residents are losing the battle to tourism.

The separation point of perception and reality is data.  Data will always provide substantiated evidence.

We have looked at some data points, daily observation and chatter to compile a list of the reasons we feel the city is choosing tourism over resident livability.

  • Multi-million dollar investment firms from out of state and locally are monopolizing on an opportunity to reduce the historic footprint and create a new hospitality center focused on boutique hotels, luxury stay experiences and high end shopping and dining.  These investments range from small to large, including a group of New York investors that purchased the building housing Blind Tiger on Broad Street and the new $100M complex that is being planned for Spring and King.  In between, we are showered by the Dewberry, Spectator, Grand Bohemian, Zero George, Hyatt, Holiday Inn Suites and Hotel Bennett that are changing the face of historic Charleston.  When you have a hotel that can charge $600 a night while you still have issues around waste management and homelessness, it is time to re-think strategy.
  • Generation old local business are being forced out or into retirement due to urban pressures and rising rents.  2016 saw the end of Hughes Lumber, Bob Ellis Shoes, King Street Grille and Morris Sokol.   Those four foundations closing their doors speak volumes.  Even this past week, we heard that Fish will be closing on Upper King Street.
  • Limited improvements in roadway infrastructure.  A recent article in the Post and Courier indicated that Charleston residents are paying $1850 annually on average for car repairs due to the poor road systems as a result of the increased traffic in the surrounding counties.  In the cross town we added an aesthetically pleasing divider, yet there are cones, cranes and construction throughout the entire span with some projects taking us through 2020 and beyond.
  • Cost of dining and entertainment have forced many locals to reduce the amount of leisure activity.  With a 10.5% dining food tax and 15% alcohol and increased base prices across the board, the dining experience is shifting from a locals experience to a tourist luxury.
  • Increases in the price of parking garages and more opportunistic valet options.
  • Corporate transition of downtown Charleston – Hyatt, Vans, Forever 21, West Elm, 3 Starbucks on King Street alone (8 total downtown), Panera, Walgreens, Carolina Ale House, Chipotle, Five Guys Burgers, Chik-fil-a, Subway, Williams-Sonoma, Urban Outfitters and Earthbound.  The local names and generational families businesses are losing out to corporate brands.
  • Removing the only neighborhood grocery store in the Northern central part of the peninsula where most of the East Side would shop and masking the concern by funding short term busing options for the residents to get groceries out of the city limits.
  • A poorly managed parking meter system and mass transit service.  There are a few groups that are working hard to change the culture and promote a change in thinking around mass transit, but that isn’t enough.  When cities like Beaufort and Asheville have credit card meters and apps where you can pay, we are lagging far behind.
  • No monthly or annual subsidized parking for employees who work in downtown Charleston.
  • Limited enforcement of jaywalking laws and thus increasing risk of injury.  Limited proposals and implementations around increased biking options for residents.

These are a few of the major reasons, the emphasis is on the tourist and local residents are faced with daily challenges that will continue to mount over the upcoming years.

Lowcountry

Charleston, SC based Timesheet Panda Announces Launch of New Site for Employee Management

June 30, 2017 by 0 Comments
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TimesheetPanda.com provides free online timesheet software for managing employee time and schedules

Charleston, SC – June 30, 2017 /MarketersMedia/ —

Efficient and accurate employee scheduling is an essential part of a company’s success in today’s extremely competitive environment. Unfortunately, many company HR departments struggle with this process week after week. Traditional, manual methods of scheduling multiple employees are no longer efficient and can be impacted significantly by human error.

In an effort to help reduce the occurrence of scheduling mistakes and issues, Timesheet Panda has launched a new website at www.timesheetpanda.com.

“Our new site is designed to help companies see how our services can help them save both time and money,” stated Timesheet Panda representative Tom Cross. “No longer do businesses and employees have to deal with trying to read sloppy handwriting or try to figure out if employees are engaging in “time stealing.” Our process helps to automate everything, allowing a company’s HR department to focus on more pressing tasks.”

Timesheet Panda is designed to handle an array of tasks when it comes to employee’s schedules and the scheduling process. This includes tracking employees from any smartphone, tablet or computer, to provide instant alerts for early departures or late starts and provide managers the authority to edit worker’s timesheets.

“We want to make the entire process of creating timesheets easier and more efficient,” continued Cross. “It allows our clients to easily and quickly create schedules for a month, week or day, customize a shift according to title, pay rate and location and enables employees to facilitate their own shift switches with other works.”

Simplifying the scheduling process allows companies to improve employee satisfaction and ensure fewer mistakes are made. The innovative software solutions offered by https://www.timesheetpanda.com/, the recently launched website of Timesheet Panda, provides superior solutions that many companies are searching for, reducing wasted time, mistakes and unhappy workers.

ABOUT TIMESHEET PANDA

Timesheet Panda, which is a company that has been providing affordable and advanced employee time management solutions for 20 years, has recently launched a website explaining the services offered and making the more accessible by local companies. Dedicated to customer satisfaction, the company is continually searching for new ways to enhance the services they offer while ensuring time management is a top priority. The staff is committed to offering the highest quality products and guarantee their clients the lowest prices in this industry today. The company loves to help their clients grow and achieve successes they only dreamed were possible.

Contact Info:
Name: Tom Cross
Organization: Timesheet Panda
Phone: (866) 549-3101

Source URL: http://marketersmedia.com/timesheet-panda-announces-launch-of-new-site-for-employee-management/212968

For more information, please visit https://www.timesheetpanda.com/features

Source: MarketersMedia

Lowcountry

Crimson Screen Fest Horror Film Festival 2017: A Retrospective Look Back

June 12, 2017 by 0 Comments
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By Carla Adams

One may think that audience members at the Crimson Fest wear clown hair with fake blood drooling from their mouths as well as open wound makeup all over their arms, yet nothing could be further from the truth. For the past two years, I have attended the Crimson Fest Horror Film Festival in North Charleston and each time I have either laughed until it hurt, squished my eyes tightly shut while covering my ears, grabbed my neighbors arm or yelled out “can’t look yet” multiple times.

Besides the gore films at the Crimson Fest, there are also films of suspense, plain frightening ones or just silly ones like the “Scream” movies. The diverse range include full length features, shorts, animated and Claymation.

What truly sets the film fest aside from others I have attended is that these directors, producers and actors are having a blast doing what they love.

Along with the showings, many of the creative minds behind the films do the festival circuit attending and speaking with the guests about their films, process and inspiration. They are so enthusiastic about their craft. You are just as drawn into their process as the films themselves. Seeing them so excited about wanting to share this with their audience is totally cool and has made my experience better for it.

They openly shared their ideas from concept to reality, how they raised funding/backing, photography and filming tricks and writing process during the panel discussions. In fact, many took notes on what other filmmakers were saying. It really showed the collaborative mindset of the film industry.

So, if you are interested in spending a hot or rainy day inside a very dark theater in May 2018, attend the Crimson Screen Fest Horror Festival. It is affordable, entertaining and with the setting being in Park Circle, you can take part in the rich culture of the area with ample dining, bars and coffee shops.

Now if you will excuse me, I must try on some temporary scab tattoos I picked up for free at the festival.

Lowcountry

Charleston, SC Is Officially The Largest City in South Carolina: 4 of top 7 in Lowcountry

May 31, 2017 by 1 Comment
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The new census data reveals that Charleston now has 76 more people than Columbia making them the largest city in South Carolina.  Our area has 4 cities in the top 7:  Charleston #1, North Charleston #3, Mount Pleasant #4 and Summerville #7.

South Carolina’s largest cities

1. Charleston – 134,385

2. Columbia – 134,309

3. North Charleston – 109,298

4. Mount Pleasant – 84,170

5. Rock Hill – 72,937

6. Greenville – 67,453

7. Summerville – 49,323

8. Goose Creek – 42,039

9. Sumter – 40,723

10. Hilton Head – 40,500

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2016 population estimates

Also, Greenville is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States between 2015 and 2016.

Lowcountry

Beautiful Musical Tributes to Chris Cornell

May 28, 2017 by 0 Comments
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We lost a legend in the music industry. Chris Cornell was one of the pioneers of the early 90’s grunge sound that catapulted out of Seattle and took the music world by storm. His entrancing voice and poetic soul blessed us with Soundgarden, Audioslave and perhaps one of the most perfect partnerships, Temple of the Dog with Eddie Vedder.

His deeply penetrating lyrics and raw sound made him a visionary that will carry on for generations.

Over the last few days, artists around the world have paid tribute with comments, renditions and tears.

We have compiled some of the most amazing versions of Chris’ songs covered with poignancy and respect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPD8xQHbNDk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwL0i9BECb0

Rest Well Chris Cornell

Your music and poetry live on