Lifestyle

Lowcountry

AutoNation USA Opens Its First Charleston, SC Store

February 26, 2022 by 0 Comments
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~ City of Charleston Councilmember Brady Welcomes AutoNation USA to Charleston  

AutoNation USA store brings Charleston consumers easy way to shop for pre-owned cars CUTLINES: 

CHARLESTON, S.C., February 25, 2022 –AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:AN), America’s largest and most admired automotive retailer, announced the opening of AutoNation USA Charleston, the first in the state and one of several locations the company expects to open across the U.S. in 2022. The 31,500 square-foot Charleston store brings nearly 30 new jobs to the region.  

AutoNation USA Charleston is the 11th AutoNation USA store in the country. The company plans to have over 130 AutoNation USA stores in operation from coast to coast by the end of 2026. In South Carolina, AutoNation owns and operates 13 new vehicle dealerships and one collision repair center. 

 Offering pre-owned vehicles at competitive prices and a stress-free Customer experience, AutoNation USA redefines the pre-owned car-buying experience with a focus on the Customer, including easy-to-use digital tools for searching pre-owned vehicle inventory online to find the car they are looking for at a guaranteed low price. 

 “We are looking forward to serving the Charleston market and introducing our seamless car shopping experience that makes it easy for Customers to find the pre-owned car they are looking for at a competitive price,” said Jason Muncy, AutoNation Market President. “We prioritize giving back to the communities we serve through job creation and our Drive Pink initiative, which has raised more than $30 million in the fight against cancer. With our expansion into the Charleston region, we look forward to establishing local philanthropic partnerships.”  

AutoNation USA is known for its 1Price Pre-Owned experience which is designed to make buying a pre-owned vehicle easy, with competitive, haggle-free pricing. The company’s We’ll Buy Your Car program offers Customers a competitive cash offer to sell their vehicles directly to AutoNation, with no purchase necessary, and get paid the same day. 

The AutoNation USA store is located at 2250 Savannah Highway, Charleston, S.C. 29414. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed on Sunday. Visit AutoNationUSA.com or call  AutoNation USA in Charleston at (854) 222-6600. 

About AutoNation, Inc.  

AutoNation, a provider of personalized transportation services, is driven by innovation and transformation. As one of America’s most admired companies, AutoNation delivers a peerless customer experience  recognized by data-driven consumer insight leaders, Reputation and J.D. Power. Through its bold leadership and brand affinity, the AutoNation Brand is synonymous with “DRVPNK” and “What Drives You, Drives Us.” AutoNation has a singular focus on personalized transportation services that are easy, transparent, and customer-centric.  

Please visit www.autonation.com, investors.autonation.com, and www.twitter.com/AutoNation, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Please also visit www.autonationdrive.com, AutoNation’s automotive blog, for information regarding the AutoNation community, the automotive industry, and current automotive news and trends. 

Photos:

AutoNation, Inc. marked the opening of its AutoNation USA Charleston store with a ribbon-cutting celebration. (photo credit: AutoNation, Inc.)

City of Charleston Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tempore Karl Brady Jr. (fourth from left) joins AutoNation USA Charleston General Manager Kevin Houston (second from left), Market President Jason Muncy (center), and sales associates JaRon Godbolt (far left) and Thomas Greene (far right). (photo credit: AutoNation, Inc.)


Lowcountry - Mount Pleasant, SC

Have you tried one of Mount Pleasant’s newest sensations: The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar

February 24, 2022 by 0 Comments
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What is The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar?

Though the first The Crazy Mason Milkshake bar just opened in June 2020 — in the midst of a global pandemic — the minds behind this quirky concept have been working as a team for quite some time. The husband-and-wife team Bo and Sherri Steele have built a life and a family together with dreams of doing something big and just a little crazy.

Bo brings years of experience in business, working in the food industry, and as a distributor to the table, while Sherri’s marketing background, creativity, and design skills help put a unique touch on everything they do together.

As locals in the tourist-friendly town of Myrtle Beach, S.C., the idea for The Crazy Mason came out of a desire to start something new the area has never seen before.

Sparked by a love of all things sweet and a flair for creating unique, picture-worthy treats the Steeles developed a concept that has become an immediate hit with locals and visitors alike. Using more than 100 ingredients, including locally grown produce and toppings sourced from partnerships with local bakeries and businesses, the family remains focused on keeping things local and giving back to their communities even as they expand into new markets like Charleston and Gatlinburg, Tenn.

With an ever-expanding lineup of signature shakes, desserts and over-the-top treats, The Crazy Mason team is always looking for new and exciting ways to innovate and plans to do its best to wow customers for years to come.

Hours:

  • SUNDAY 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • MONDAY 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • TUESDAY 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • WEDNESDAY 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • THURSDAY 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • FRIDAY 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  • SATURDAY 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Lowcountry

Mother-Daughter Duo Opens Grayce Yoga in Charleston, SC

February 23, 2022 by 0 Comments
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Charleston is thrilled to welcome GRAYCE BODY & BREATH, a yoga studio, to the community of health and wellness renegades that are transforming our city’s culture. Founded by dedicated and deep-souled mother-daughter duo Erin Gray and Daisy Gray Moses, GRAYCE offers locals and travelers “Strong”, “Soft” and “Still” yoga practices that are focused on conscious movement and connection to breath. 

Erin and Daisy recognized the community’s craving for holistic wellness and decided to meet that need with GRAYCE, a natural-light, fresh-air-filled yoga studio located in the heart of Charleston at 359 King Street, above Williams-Sonoma. 

“The GRAYCE method is based on our mission – strong body, still mind, soft heart,” shares Founder and Head Yoga Teacher Erin. Our goal is to teach our students how to create strength and stillness within, and how to move in a sustainable, biomechanically thoughtful way while doing it. Yoga is an embodied experience, so it’s hard to describe in words, but the one I hear over and over again from students about our practice is ‘beautiful’. That’s a good word.”

“Building strength, flexibility, and stability in the present to sustain a stable foundation in the future is what we are all about at GRAYCE,” shares Yoga Conditioning Coach Daisy. “We want your practice to leave you feeling stronger in your body, spacious in your mind, and more deeply connected to self and others.”

For more information and to book classes (offered seven days a week), visit grayceyoga.com. On the fourth Friday of every month at 4 p.m. (starting this Friday, Feb. 25), GRAYCE will be hosting “Soul,” a free community class for residents of Charleston County. Space is limited, so be sure to register online before space is full.

Photo credit- Maggie Witmer


Lowcountry

Middleton Place Foundation Announces the Release of “American Landmark: Charles Duell and the Rebirth of Middleton Place”

February 23, 2022 by 1 Comment
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CHARLESTON, S.C., February 23, 2022 – Middleton Place Foundation (MPF), the non-profit educational trust is pleased to announce the launch of “American Landmark: Charles Duell and the Rebirth of Middleton Place” on March 8, 2022. Charles Duell inherited Middleton Place in 1969 when he was 31 years old and acted as the president and CEO for nearly 50 years before stepping down in 2018. “American Landmark,” written by Virginia Christian Beach, brilliantly chronicles the evolution of the man, the place and the vital mission of the Foundation.

“It is certainly fitting that the publication of this important story coincides with the 50th anniversary of Middleton Place being designated a National Historic Landmark,” says Tracey Todd, president and CEO of Middleton Place Foundation. “The culture that Charles established at Middleton Place has allowed it to evolve into a national hub for historical research, education and interpretation with a mission to inspire and enact positive change through an understanding of American history.”

A graduate of Yale, Charles Duell had begun a career in finance on Wall Street before inheriting Middleton Place. The circumstances of his sudden inheritance compelled him to leave New York City and move his family to South Carolina. The former rice plantation was languishing and his challenge was to figure out how to preserve an important landmark with vital connections to the understanding of our nation― while at the same time making it sustainable and accessible for future generations.

Middleton Place is the birthplace of a Declaration of Independence signer and the home of a First Continental Congress president. It was also home to hundreds of men, women and children enslaved by the Middletons. Understanding the weight of the history at this site, Duell enlisted countless relatives and friends, along with some of the nation’s foremost preservationists and scholars to pursue a full, truthful narrative of our shared American history. Together they transformed his inheritance into a leading center for learning and a legacy for all Americans.

“At an early age, Charles Duell dedicated himself to preserving his ancestral home of Middleton Place,” says Author of “American Landmark: Charles Duell and the Rebirth of Middleton Place,” Virginia Christian Beach. “That alignment would subsequently define his life and open a window into the legacy of what is one of our nation’s most important foundational sites. It has been my privilege to chronicle Middleton Place’s story of stewardship, restoration and reinterpretation, especially at this seminal moment in American history.”

“American Landmark: Charles Duell and the Rebirth of Middleton Place”weaves together myriad biographical stories, introducing us to an array of protagonists – both white and Black – who have been associated with Middleton Place for the last three centuries. The book affirms historian Alex Moore’s assertion that “…as long as there is a southern geography and the opportunity for conversation, the Middleton family and Middleton Place will do much to shape our region’s and nation’s fates.”

Written by Virginia Christian Beach and published by Evening Post Books (EPB) in collaboration with Middleton Place Foundation (MPF), “American Landmark”contains more than 140 archival images and is available in hardcover for $34.95 at MPF and online at shop.middletonplace.org; as well as Buxton Books at 160 King St. and the EPB store at 90 Alexander St., Charleston. Net proceeds benefit MPF.

Editor’s Note: For images, visit https://bit.ly/3rNFruS.

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About Middleton Place Foundation

Middleton Place Foundation, a public, non-profit educational trust, is responsible for the effective operation and preservation of Middleton Place National Historic Landmark and of the Edmondston-Alston House. The foundation upholds the highest levels of historic preservation, research, education, and inclusive interpretation by sharing the stories of the Africans, African Americans, and Europeans who lived and worked on these historic properties. Middleton Place Foundation connects people with the past, inspiring a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other through American history.

Lowcountry

Charleston’s e-Coast Systems Launches New Referral Program

February 22, 2022 by 0 Comments
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e-Coast Systems, Charleston’s premier integrated IT service for bars and restaurants, is offering $1,000 to anyone who introduces the company to its next happy customer. The new Referral Program aims to connect local food and beverage professionals with the resources they need to upgrade their POS systems. 

Locally owned and operated, e-Coast Systems provides top-notch IT solutions allowing owners and managers to turn to one streamlined team for their POS systems, credit card processing, voice, data, backup services, and more.

More information on the Referral Program can be found HERE (stipulations apply). 

Lowcountry

Know your Charleston Heritage: Gullah Geechee Food Traditions (Video)

February 18, 2022 by 0 Comments
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A “Homecoming” is a special Southern gathering that brings together friends and family who have dispersed across the globe and reconnects them over a special meal.

For this episode of “Nourish,” the Gullah Geechee food traditions and culture of low-country, South Carolina take center stage.

Make sure you come hungry!

Welcome to NOURISH with rocket scientist and whole hog barbecue pit master, Dr. Howard Conyers!

Think of this show as food for your mind, body and soul.

  • Host and Co-Producer: Dr. Howard Conyers
  • Writer and Co-Producer: Christina Melton
  • Director and Post Production Supervisor: Donald “D.Ray!” Washington
  • Videographer: Bennie Robertson
  • Graphics: Ryan Golden
  • Colorist: Chris Miranda

Original Music:

Kyndra Joi, featuring DJ Black Pearl

The Brass-a-holics from New Orleans, LA

The Michael Foster Project from Baton Rouge, LA

Photographs: B.J. Dennis and Ashley Lorraine with stylist Tiffani Shariff

Special Thanks:

  • Joseph Fields Family Farm, Johns Island, SC
  • Tank Jackson and Holy City Hogs
  • Dillard University
  • Ray Charles Program in African-American Material Culture, New Orleans, LA

Produced by PBS Digital Studios and Louisiana Public Broadcasting Made possible with funding from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Lowcountry - Mount Pleasant, SC

Live music returns to the Mount Pleasant Pier with Cheers on the Pier!

February 16, 2022 by 1 Comment
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(CHARLESTON COUNTY) – Charleston County Parks is excited to announce the return of the Cheers on The Pier series from March through May! Cheers on The Pier is a great way to enjoy live music outdoors this spring while taking in the beautiful views of Charleston Harbor from the Mount Pleasant Pier.

On select Thursday evenings this spring, join us in the plaza or the small lawn outside the River Watch Cafe for free live music and cool harbor breezes. You might even catch a signature Lowcountry sunset!

The pier’s River Watch Cafe offers made-to-order sandwiches, ice cream, fruit smoothies, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and more. It is open year-round and seating is available outside.

The events run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and are free of charge. 

Chairs and blankets are encouraged. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited.

Dates and performers:

  • March 10:  Chris Boone
  • March 24: Mia Bowersox
  • April 21: Dallas Baker
  • May 5: Jamie Coan & Friends

The Mount Pleasant Pier is located at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge and is adjacent to the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. It stretches 1,250 feet into Charleston Harbor. For details on Cheers on the Pier or the Mount Pleasant Pier, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.CharlestonCountyParks.com.

Operated by the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC), the Mount Pleasant Pier is located at 71 Harry Hallman Blvd. at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge. The mission of CCPRC is to improve the quality of life in Charleston County by offering a diverse system of park facilities, programs and services. The large park system features over 11,000 acres of property and includes six land parks, three beach parks, three dog parks, a skate park, two landmark fishing piers, three waterparks, 19 boat landings, a climbing wall, a challenge course, a historic plantation site, an interpretive center, an equestrian center, cottages, a campground, a marina, as well as wedding, meeting and event facilities. The park system also offers a wide variety of recreational services – festivals, camps, classes, programs, volunteer opportunities, and more.

For more information, call 843-795-4386 or visit www.charlestoncountyparks.com.