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Lowcountry

Where My Love Rests in Magnolia Gardens – Original Poem

March 26, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Still, on a bridge of crimson red, frozen in a moment so sweet, I feel your breath softly caressing my neck

Skin so soft, words so gentle

Surrounded by the echoes of historic elegance and the winds of Southern kisses our lips meet for one compassionate kiss

Magnolia scents

A garden of Eden illuminated by the light of Heaven

A symphony of azaleas, daffodils and camellias blossom all around

A classical harmony of birds whistling the songs of ancestors dining and dancing under the stars

The nature trail, a moving canvas with colors of the rainbow painted all around

I take your hand as the alligators lie still, the heron and egrets stand at attention and the turtles slowly find a place to rest their weary bodies

Tender fingers lock with mine, a simple Southern smile

With a gust of wind I feel us rising high above the majestic trees, floating to the clouds

Gardens below blossoming in the spring air

A home so quiet now, at peace from hundreds of years of harvest

The swamp so green like a carnival of Irish delight

So perfect, this plantation

A symbol of the love between heart and nature

Looking in your eyes, I feel safe

As we glide down to the bosom of this Magnolia estate, I see a blanket embroidered with the word “home”

Come with me my angel, walk through history, lay homage to the sculptures and smell the flowers tickling our legs as we find our place

Let us rest, my love under this enchanted tree as the nectar of the gardens allure keep us warm

Lowcountry

Keys To Workplace Happiness – Are you satisfied with your career Charleston?

March 24, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Do you wake up on Monday morning dreading the week ahead or do you pop out of bed with a feeling of zest and vigor? Do you have the same sense of pride about your company that you do with your dog or children? Can you walk away at the end of the work day on Friday and know you made a difference?

These are all vital questions to ask yourself when you evaluate your current company, and the role you play in its success. Your job and your company should be a direct extension of yourself and your personality.

Ask yourself this, what type of personality do you have? What type of culture do you thrive in? What type of workforce are you compatible with?

Some have a start-up mentality while others thrive in a conservative structured environment.

Here is where we stand, when we look back at our lives while we sit on the rocking chair, sipping tea and watching the grass grow, we are going to come to the realization that over 40 years of our lives were spent working. Hopefully, those will be fond memories. Do you really want to look back in regret? I think not.

Finding Workplace Happiness – The Quiz

That is easy. If you can look at yourself in the mirror and see what brings you personal happiness, then you can easily translate that into the workplace.

Let us start with a self evaluation quiz.

Get your number two pencil and a piece of paper…..

1. Do you play well with others in a teaming environment or run as a well oiled individual contributor?
2. Are you an innovator or a status quo provider?
3. Do you thrive in a small family oriented setting or a large global entity?
4. Do you like to create or be told what to do?
5. Are you passionate about your company’s mission, products and services and vision for the future?
6. Do you feel your are maximizing your strengths in your current role?
7. Do you have room to breath and grow?
8. Can you walk away each day with a feeling of fulfillment?
9. Do you feel your company is an extension of yourself?
10. Do you feel like you will look back at your time spent and smile?

Each of these questions take a critical look at yourself and your perceptions of your relationship with your company. Based on the responses you will begin to understand your feelings about your company and its impact on you emotionally. You are in a marriage or a binding contract to be with your company through “better or worse, richer or poorer.” With any marriage there will of course be compromise, but in the end, it is about personal happiness, enrichment and fulfillment.

How do I ensure I am finding happiness in the workplace?

I know this is difficult to say during a recession that will have a sustained lasting affect for a number of years to come, but one should never stay with a company that is making them feel discouraged, emotionally drained or upset. Those negative feelings carry past the workplace into the home and the social setting. Continuous flow of negative energy could have a detrimental affect on physical and mental health. None of us want that. If you are truly unhappy, actively find a home that will turn that frown upside down.

Surround yourself with people that share the same positive energy as you. That includes personality, demeanor, passion, drive, ambition and challenge. As human beings we are bread with the pursuit of making a difference in the world. Your job should be no different. You need to know that you are making a significant contribution to your own development and to the success of the company. That is vital.

Treat each day like a new adventure. Keeping it fresh, spontaneous and zesty will make any career experience worthwhile.

Be expressive. The culture of a company is built on the brand, the products and service, the infrastructure but most importantly the human capital; You!

You are the ultimate foundation of everything your company stands for. You can look at yourself in the mirror and smile. Can you look at your company in the mirror and do the same? I hope the answer is yes. It is a part of you.

Never stop learning! Work is like school, a platform of learning. As we continue to grow, we continue to learn. Each day, each week, each month should be filled with moments of learning and growing.

Be true to yourself. Don’t hide behind a paycheck or a false sense of responsibility. If you are not having all your needs met, don’t stay with company. Remember earlier, we made the metaphor that you and your company are a marriage. Would you stay in an unhealthy marriage? I hope not.

There you have it, some of the keys to workplace happiness.

Find a company that makes you feel alive and cherishes each and every moment. That will be the one that will bring you the greatest personal happiness and sense of achievement.

Lowcountry

Threshold Repertory Theatre’s Presentation of Bent shares a message of love

March 23, 2016

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

Max, played exquisitely by Patrick Arnheim described, “I kissed her soft dead lips, her breasts just beginning” as he proved to a group of drunk SS soldiers he wasn’t “queer” on a train to the concentration camp of Dachau. Bent is a story of transformation and emotional connection in a period of time deemed so horrific that survivors have spent their lives hiding behind the nightmares, trying desperately to forget the moral compromises needed to stay alive. This two act play tells stories which culminate into an enlightened moment of love in a place where souls are lost and the choice between life and death is clouded by insanity.

With a delicate use of lighting and shadows, a psychedelic cinematic themes and music, 1930’s Berlin was recreated to set the mood for an incredible story of survival and love. To many, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the unspeakable acts of torture, mass genocide, humiliation, emotional isolation and sacrifice of the human spirit by the Nazi Party is a period of history we can never forget and one so difficult to re-create. With a flash of courage, Director Jay Danner, brought the words of Martin Sherman’s Bent, to life.

Bent centers around Max, played by exquisitely by Patrick Arnheim. Max is a carefree playboy, whose dependance on alcohol and drugs, loose men and living by the seat of his pants attitude is all he ever knew until the day his world changed. With two shots fired and years on the run, Max and his partner Rudy fought every day for survival. In an evolutionary transformation, Max’s life and everyone he knows change drastically over the course of the following three years. From a tiny one bedroom apartment to the isolation of a dirt floor and electrified fence, Max lost everyone and everything, including his will to live.

What he discovered after is the story of Bent.

Breaching such difficult subject matter was a challenge for this production. During strategically placed moments throughout, subtle lines of humor were unleashed to provide emotional relief to the audience. These penetrating innuendos and jokes helped bring a sane balance to the actors and comfort to the crowd.

Much like Max, the other characters of Bent were flawed. Rudy, played by Brandon Martin, Uncle Freddy, played by Nat Jones and Horst played with riveting emotion by Randy Risher, showed imperfections shaping their unique personalities. Ultimately, they were all transformed.

People of Jewish faith and culture and those who identify with the gay community were pertinent and polarizing parts of the historic make-up of the period, and 75 years later, these two groups remain marginalized. Today, we fight racial and religious injustice and moral objection to certain lifestyles. We continue to fight prejudice and hate. It is a war that will not end, but we must keep fighting.

Therein lies the message of Bent that the audience will take away. Love sees no color, no creed, no gender, no religion. Love is an objective experience we cannot escape. Once it grabs a hold, we are taken to places we cannot control. . . places of happiness. . .places of security.

In one very poignant moment, Max finds serenity in the gentle but worn arms of Horst. Surrounded by guns, torture and hatred, he found love.

Ticket Information for Bent

Lowcountry

Just South of Heaven™ Company appropriately launches in Charleston, South Carolina

March 21, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Media Release: Just South of Heaven™ Company appropriately launches in Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina March 21, 2016: Just South of Heaven Co. – For much of the world, Charleston truly is Just South of Heaven so, fittingly, it has become home to a new company of the same name.

The Just South of Heaven company has just launched their online business with a Kickstarter campaign.

Just South of Heaven Co. is an apparel and accessories company that produces products that allow you to show off the places that inspire you. Their first offering is devoted to their love of Charleston and will be followed by designs highlighting the places that inspire others.

About Just South of Heaven Company

Just South Of Heaven Co. is what some might call a “lifestyle” brand that provides people with awesome Apparel & Accessories. We prefer to think of it as a movement. You see, JSOH Co. was created so that you and I could share with the world what we love and what inspires us. Whether it’s your “home” or not, everyone has their own Just South Of Heaven and we want you to be able to share yours with the world

Contact:
Jim Lowery, CEO
Just South of Heaven Co.

jim@justsouthofheaven.co
justsouthofheaven.co

Lowcountry

Must Do’s When Visiting Charleston, SC for the First Time

March 18, 2016

by Charleston Daily 2 Comments

With Charleston appearing on many “Best Of” lists over the past few years, it’s no secret just how great of a city it is. Locals and visitors alike will be quick to tell you just how much they love the city and give you unsolicited recommendations of what to do while you visit. Charleston has a lot to offer, so how do you narrow it down if you only have a weekend here? We have put together a list of “Must Do’s” for you first time visitors. These things won’t take up very much of your time and you won’t find these in any brochure at the Visitor Center.

Must Do’s When Visiting Charleston for the First Time:

Buy a Palmetto rose. Scattered throughout downtown, local children will sell roses freshly made from palm leaves. You can also find them for sale at the market. They are even beautiful after they have dried out.

Pet a horse on the market. If not on a tour, you will find the carriages lined up along Anson Street on the market. They are super friendly and the tour guides are happy to have people stop by and say hi.

Taste honey at Savannah Bee Company. Located on King Street, this store is wall to wall honey and honey products.

Wander down a downtown alley. We have several throughout the peninsula. They are quaint, most are cobblestone, and all are full of beautiful history. (Stoll’s Alley)

Eat at The Marina Variety Store Restaurant. It is one of the only restaurants on the water in Charleston, and absolutely delicious.

Watch a sweetgrass basket being made at The City Market.

Cheers to your vacation with a Bacon Bloody Mary at Eli’s Table. You won’t be disappointed!

Relax on the swings at Waterfront Park. You may have to wait for one to open up on the busy days, but the wait is well worth it.

Take a selfie in front of the Pineapple Fountain. This iconic fountain is a great spot to dip your toes and the kids enjoy splashing in the base.

Catch a sunrise at The Battery. Aside from the sunsets you’ll see here, there are few lovelier sights.

There you have it. The “Must Do’s” during your first time visiting the Holy City. If you have been here and have missed something on the list, come back! If you haven’t been here yet, what are you waiting for?!

Lowcountry

Champagne with Friends: Thomas Champagne shares his Charleston music experience

March 17, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Sat barefoot in jeans and a loose shirt in the corner of Mt Pleasant’s Dog and Duck, local musician Thomas Champagne could easily trick you into thinking you were somewhere else. His unique acoustic style and unusual syncopation fuses a myriad of genres, from his country and Cajun roots to reggae and Caribbean influences.

At times there is a pendulous sense Champagne’s innovative renditions of familiar songs will trip and fall. But while you’re not sure where you’re being led, there’s bearing and assurance the journey is somewhere positive and fun.

“The number one thing I want to convey is a positive message, but it’s the ability to catch people off guard I think that is the biggest present I can give to any audience – because that’s how you amaze somebody.”

Champagne achieves this with ease so when he segues into an original song it’s often overlooked because his sets flow seamlessly together. However, this didn’t come naturally to Champagne when he first arrived in Charleston from Austin, Texas. It was a challenge he says he had to grow into and work hard at developing.

“The biggest difference coming to Charleston is it’s primarily a tourist capital. While the thriving tourist scene here is awesome for the economy it can take over a musician’s directive by having to play more cover songs than one would normally like, or have to do.”

Champagne says he embraced the twist to what he was used to because he found ways to present cover songs in his own style. Being patient with this change has seen him over the past summer receive a great deal of encouragement and positive feedback.

The result is a breezy and soulful marriage of sunburnt earth, salt and the sea which could have you convinced you were in some surf shack on the Californian coast. However, this is just one side to the constantly evolving and innovative artist, which began to emerge when Champagne relocated from Austin to Charleston.

“I’ve always been Champagne with Friends and I’ve had over 100 different friends on stage. But when I left Austin I stepped away from having a band back me up and I now play all these solo shows, which I wasn’t doing before. It definitely made me stronger as a musician and as a person by having to say, ‘Hey guys, I love you – I miss you, but I got to go and step into this by myself.’ And I think here in Charleston is the first time Thomas Champagne came out – with friends as my audience.”

Born and raised in Beaumont, Texas from strong Louisiana ancestry, Champagne is proud of his heritage. He also appreciates the truth and irony that comes with journeying into the unfamiliar, admitting with a chuckle that he became more of a Texan by leaving Texas. Champagnes sees the move to Charleston as another chapter, both as a solo artist and his recent full-time commitment to his profession.

Two weeks prior to the Dog and Duck I first saw Champagne with Friends by accident when I entered the Blind Tiger on Broad Street on a Friday night to catch up with my own friends. With two local musicians in support they belted out an infectious breed of classic rock tunes, and made the old floorboards at the Blind Tiger pay the price as everyone got caught in the rhythm and groove.

For me it evoked the great Aussie legacy of pub rock offered any weekend night in a beachside bar on the Indian Ocean in Perth, or a St Kilda pub in Melbourne. Continuing this prominent theme of evolution is the rotation of local musicians Champagne uses at every show.

“When you see Champagne with Friends it’s always different players so while you may have seen the show before it’ll be different every time.”

Champagne cites the generosity of Charleston’s music community as being invaluable in helping him gather new musicians to play with when he first arrived.

“The openness of the musical community here is awesome first of all. It’s nowhere near as competitive as it is in Austin, Texas which has advantages and disadvantages. Competition is a primary way to motivate an artist and make them grow, but it can also hurt you in the end.”

Not that Thomas Champagne is leaving Charleston anytime soon, but as someone not prone to taking time off he’s looking forward to opening up a new chapter in his artistic journey. After recording his last album with producer and former Hootie and the Blowfish guitarist, Mark Bryan, Champagne is due to head back to Austin to record another album at the end of the year. He then plans to tour the ski resorts in the Rockies before heading home to Charleston.

*Originally written in 2015

Lifestyle

Runway Shines: Visual Look at Day One of the 10th Annual Charleston Fashion Week

March 16, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Last evening, amongst the tents and lights and models, Marion Square converted into a mini mecca of the fashion industry with the kick off of the 10th annual Charleston Fashion Week. With a week of events guaranteed to outshine previous years from March 15-19, fans, designers, models, make up artists, musicians, dancers and even a hedgehog are in for a week of incredible memories and a future of great fashion talents.

Day one introduced the audience to emerging designers Destani Hoffman, JD Noble, Storm Dorris and Elias Gurrola who each brought a unique flavor to the runway. Donning from Alabama, Georgia and New York, this years emerging designers have stretched the limits of the East Coast.

The evening festivities sparkled with local business showcases from Bits of Lace Fine Lingerie, Shoes on King, Taxidermy, tres Carmen Boutique and 7Gypsy. With show stopping musical choreography from ritual chant to the iconic Whitney Houston, the first evening was deemed a tremendous success.

We invite you to experience the memories of the first of many incredible nights of Charleston Fashion Week with some visual memories of last evening.

Kick-ass dance number to open the night on the runway

Spectacular lighting to compliment the dance number

Elegant attire was in full gear

Creative designs on display.

Sometimes you got to hit the beat.

Class and style

Professionalism to the tee

Passion and focus

Designs of Elias Gurrola

Representing the head gear

All eyes on the models

Full line up of beauty

Overall, the staff, models, volunteers, caterers, bar staff, vendors and city officials created an atmosphere of energy. The showcase of talent in the Charleston community came prepared and showed once again how passion, creativity, motivation and a little dreaming can make any fantasy a reality.

None of this would not be possible were it not for the visual of founder and MC Ayoka Lucas who has brought now a decade long tradition to Charleston.

If you would like to be part of Charleston Fashion Week, tickets are still available – Click Here

Lowcountry

Take a Video Journey Through Charleston – For the Love of Charleston

March 10, 2016

by Charleston Daily 1 Comment

Take a journey with us, accompanied by some of the most beautiful videos of our home. Through the magic of cinematic creativity, these artists have given us the serenity of the harbor, the laughter of children, a community unified, the challenge of the surf and the value of family on America Street.

Through these acts of love, we and others can now step into the world of Southern living and see why so many find refuge and solace in our Charleston home.

As you smell harbor, let sand get between your toes on the beach, lay on the square falling asleep under the warm sun, smile at a stranger, listen to the sounds of street performers and enjoy a cocktail and great dinner, remember all that are blessed with and soak it in.

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

“There is no city on Earth quite like Charleston. From the time I first came there in 1961, it’s held me in its enchanter’s power, the wordless articulation of its singularity, its withheld and magical beauty. Wandering through its streets can be dreamlike and otherworldly, its alleyways and shortcuts both fragrant and mysterious, yet as haunted as time turned in on itself.” – Pat Conroy

Lowcountry

Charleston Southern Football welcomes Evan Cruz to their family

March 9, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon - Photography by Craig Bailey / Florida Today — By Mark A. Leon – Photography by Craig Bailey / Florida Today

On November 14, 2015, Evan Cruz, a sought after recruit for Charleston Southern University Football, was invited to attend the Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon game against Liberty and visit the campus. On the way to the game from Viera, Florida his father, cousin and Evan made a brief stop outside of Savannah, GA. On the way back to the highway, they were T-boned and sent spinning off the road.

Evan’s father was rushed to the local hospital for a possible rib injury while Evan and his cousin were examined for precautionary measures and spent the majority of that Saturday in the ER. Evan and his family did not complete that trip, but something happened that remained with Evan and his family long after that day. After contacting the coaching staff regarding his accident, they showed genuine concern for Evan and his family by checking in on them even well after the Liberty game. The idea of family and values that embodies the Charleston Southern Football team never left Evan.

The week before signing day Evan remained in Florida and had still not made it to Charleston Southern University. He had yet to commit to where he would play the following year though Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Florida Institute of Technology were actively pursuing him. A visit Photograhy by Ernie Cruz from Charleston Southern Buccaneer Quarterback Coach and Florida Recruiter, Mark Tucker to Viera High School, made the decision easier for the future physical therapist. Coach Tucker along with the rest of the staff knew that Evan was the right “fit” for the university. With a strong faith system, solid academic focus (carrying a 3.8 GPA), a balance of mental and physical health and a future career plan in place, Evan symbolized the player the coaching staff knew would be an integral part of the winning team he wants to build.

After a few days of deep family discussions, Evan committed to the Charleston Southern team. Coach Tucker cautioned Evan about making his decision without even seeing the campus however weighing all the factors and remembering the incredible outreach after his accident, Evan knew this was the right move.

Just two days after seeing the campus for the first time and three weeks after committing to Charleston Southern, Charleston Daily sat down with Evan, and his parent’s, Ernie and April, at Carmella’s on East Bay Street on a sunny Friday afternoon to discuss the past, present and future of one of the newest Buccaneers.

Evan’s Childhood

Evan’s football career began when he was 5 years old, in a town known more for soccer than football. With his father Ernie Cruz coaching his little league youth football team, Evan and five of his closest friends developed leadership skills, strength, discipline and a lifelong commitment to the game.

At age five, Evan didn’t know that someday, he would step onto the field as a member of two remaining teams playing in the state championship. That became a reality for him and 27 other graduating seniors on December 11, 2015, the last football game Evan played before making a life changing move to Charleston this fall.

Photography by Ernie Cruz Entering the Viera High School football program as high-school freshmen, Evan’s class, led by Coach Kevin Mays, carried on its back a team that was 12 – 30 the previous four years and when the final whistle blew at the end of the 2012 season, the Hawks managed only one victory. How does one recover from such losses and rebuild? Possibly by remembering their youth football coach’s words that he instilled – follow your heart, believe in yourself and never stop fighting.

That year, 2013, Evan’s high school team went from a one win season to 8 – 2. The 2014 and 2015 seasons, they were also victorious with 9-1 and 10-5 records, respectively.

The dramatic turnaround for the team led by Coach Mays and staff brought hope and rejuvenation to the town of Viera. Fan support began to stretch outside of Viera to neighboring counties and even from Allen, TX ( Viera played an out of state match-up against national ranked Allen Eagles earlier in the season)following this string of wins with rally cries all the way to the state championship.

Viera Hawks Football stands behind the mission: Unity defines our willingness to work as a team to put forth the effort to win the battle. These are strong words that will only lead to success with unwavering leadership, confidence and fight. What Ernie Cruz embedded in his little league youth football team ten years earlier was equally enforced during their time representing Viera Hawks Football.

Today, Evan enters into a program that has lived a similar storyline. From 2007 through 2012, Charleston Southern went 26 – 41; since then they have been 28 – 10 with big match-ups against Florida and Florida State slated for the next two seasons. With so many similarities in the programs and a coaching staff that feels like family, Evan’s decision to join Charleston Southern continues to be reinforced internally.

Evan has now visited his future campus, and is due to attend classes and start practice in the summer semester. He is settling in with his teammates and knows they are growing into one big family that truly cares about one another. Ernie and April Cruz feel comfortable with the Christian fellowship available at Charleston Southern as well as the comfortable hospitality offered by the city of Charleston. A warm genuineness permeated our interview with April, Ernie and Evan. They were very generous with their stories and enthusiastic about the future. An adage emerged several times during our conversation; everything happens for a reason. Faith and goodwill brought together Evan Cruz and Charleston Southern University. The partnership of a young student athlete and a growing football program will lead to a bright future for both.

Photography by Cathy Heinz / Viera Vision

Lowcountry

Lift your Brush and Glass – Time for Wine and Art in Charleston

February 24, 2016

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

How often are you sitting with your best friends, that special someone, or your most awesome family over a bottle of wine thinking “Hey, we should paint something”. I mean Charleston one of the most scenic subjects in all the land. Its majestic sunsets, historic architecture, beautiful colors and unique Southern appeal make it the perfect subject to transfer to canvas.

You are in luck. There are a number of creative businesses that marry the idea of wine and art into a memorable night where you walk away with the prize; your own personal creation.

Here are a few options to tame your creative side and your palate:

Wine and Design – 1331 Ashley River Road, West Ashley, SC

Wine and Canvas Charleston – Traveling Art and Wine