Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

First Friday’s on Gallery Row on Historic Broad in April – Charleston, SC

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“First Fridays on Broad” returns to Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday, April 2nd, from 5pm – 8pm. This event is hosted by The Broad Street Merchants Association who invites you to come out to “Celebrating Spring” by enjoying fine art and refreshments in the boutiques, fine art galleries, and bodegas on Gallery Row – Historic Broad Street.

Here’s what’s happening in April 2,  2010:

Hamlet Fine Art Gallery will be featuring a new series of non objective mixed media abstracts entitled “A New Life” by Stephanie Shuler Hamlet.

Ella Walton Richardson Gallery will be presenting “ Venetian Light” an upcoming exhibit by Evgeny and Lydia Baranov.

SCOOP is having a photography show, “Elements” with Stewart Young, Sandy Logan and Cyle Suesz.

COCO VIVO Fine Art and Interior Design will present new jewelry collections by two artists: Jennifer Mathews and Christine Peters Hamilton.

Edward Dare Gallery will feature a sneak preview of bronze and stone sculpture by Tom Player.   He is just as comfortable in bronze and iron as in terra cotta and stone.

Although he admits, “Bronze is my favorite medium, maybe because of its antiquity.   It intrigues me that the process has basically not changed since Michelangelo.” Player continues working with masters of his field, most recently with John Sisko at Brookgreen Gardens in SC. “Clients tell us this is one of their favorite monthly events,” and “Customers can relax while receiving individual and personalized attention as they browse the vast array of fine art, sculpture, jewelry, gifts, pottery, home accessories, and unique fashions on “Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street.”

Participating merchants include: Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art, Edward Dare Gallery, COCO VIVO, Mary Martin Fine Art, UTOPIA, Atmah Ja’s, Spencer Galleries, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Martin Gallery, SCOOP Studios, Bernie Horton Gallery, Jake’s, Blind Tiger and the Oak Steak House.

For information visit  www.Charlestongalleryrow.com or call Stephanie Hamlet at 843-722-1944.

Blessing of the Fleet Downtown Jacksonville

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Have your boat blessed in time for the beginning of the season. On Saturday, March 27, 2010, the event “The Blessing of the Fleet” takes place in downtown Jacksonville.

Watch the boats parade by! The event starts at 2 p.m at the Hogan Street Gazebo, North Riverbank, Jacksonville.

If you want to register your boat to participate, or for more information, click here to go to the website.

Rythm and Ribs Festival in St. Augustine, Fl – 2010

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As you know, spring is one of my favorite times of the year. Festival season is in full swing, the weather is beautiful and it’s a great time to spend time outdoors. If you watched my videos in the past, or followed my posts, you probably already know that I love good food – and I also enjoy good music. The Rythm and Ribs Festival in St Augustine, Florida, has a little bit of both.

The event has been voted St Augustine’s Best festival nine years in a row, so I’m not the only who thinks food and music go together like love and marriage….or maybe I should say burger and fries, wine and cheese or in this case ribs and music.

You never go wrong combining great barbeque with great live music, and last year 20,000 people agreed with me and showed up for the festival weekend.

Rythm and Ribs takes place on March 26th, 27th and 28th at Francis Field in St Augustine. This year rock n roll hall of famer Dave Mason is performing.

For more information about the festival, visit www.rythmandribs.net

Cooper River Bridge Run – Charleston, SC – 2010

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Cooper River Bridge Run is not your ordinary 10K foot race. This one Running across the bridge must be an extraordinary experience, and this is exactly what you can do if you participate in the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston on March 27th, 2010.

More than 38,000+ runners have registered to the race. The start is scheduled for 8:00 am, so expect to see a lot of runners in Charleston that day. There’s also an expo going on at Marion Square downtown.

(For a map of the race course, click here!)
This is definitely one of the big sporting events in Charleston during the year.

YMCA Flowertown Festival in Summerville, SC – 2010

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A fun thing to do in spring is to visit the small town of Summerville, South Carolina, to enjoy blooming azaleas and southern hospitality during the popular Flowertown Festival. The 38th Annual flowertown Festival takes place on March 26 – 28. Every year Summerville celebrates the passing of winter with over 250,000 of its closest friends.

Flowertown Festival Summerville South CarolinaLots and lots of Art!
The popular Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival has been a South Carolina tradition since 1971. More than 200 artisans from across the country come to the Festival to show their skills and sell their art. You’ll find a wide variety of arts and crafts from painting, pottery, glassworking, woodworking, needlework and much, much more!

Taste of the Town
But the three-day event is not only about art. You can also enjoy delicious foods from local restaurants at the Taste of the Town,there is also fun activities and rides for children at the Children’s Jubilee. Now if that isn’t enough to convince you there is also free admission and parking. This festival has consistently ranked one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

The festival is open on Friday and Saturday from 9-5 and on Sunday from 9-4 for more information visit the Flowertown Festival website