Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Back2School Beach Fest in St. Augustine

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There is no better way to celebrate Back to school than with a day at the beach – and in St Augustine, that’s exactly what’s happening this weekend.  School-aged children and their families are invited to the free inaugural Back2School Beach Fest on Saturday, August 20th, on St. Augustine Beach and at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. This Saturday is packed with fun activities for the whole family.

 

Spend a Day at the Beach

This community event will promote clean beaches, healthy lifestyles and a fun day at the beach before kids head back to school.The Back2School Beach Fest kicks off from 11am until 3pm on the beach between the Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street beach access ramps, where events will include a beach clean-up, one-mile fun run and free surf lessons. The festivities continue at 3pm with an Oceans Expo at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre with live music, environmental education booths, local arts and crafts vendors, a bounce house and interactive kids activities.

 

Movies at the Amphitheatre

The all-day event will conclude in the evening at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre with a series of movie screenings, including short surfing films at 6:30, followed at 7:30 by the feature film “Turtle: The Incredible Journey.

BEACH ACTIVITIES between Matanzas Avenue and Mary Street 11:00-3:00
St Augustine Amphitheater, St. Augustine 3:00-9:00

The inaugural Back2School Beach Fest will be presented by the Friends of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and the St. Johns County Cultural Events and Beach Services Divisions, in partnership with Keepers of the Coast, N’Play, Sweetwater Brewing Company, PCI and Volcom.
Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 11:00 am. to 9:00 p.m.

Call 904.209.0549 or visit the website www.sjcfl.us for more information.

day at the beach

Restaurant Week in Jacksonville

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One of our favorite things — or guilty pleasure — is to go out and eat.  We always enjoy trying a new type of cuisine or a new restaurant. Unfortunately, these days everyone has had to cut down to save money, and eating out is one of those things we don’t get to do as often as we would like.

That’s why I always keep my eyes open for Restaurant Weeks and other deals. Instead of Restaurant Week, Jacksonville, Florida, has its own variation called “Eat Up Downtown”.

In August every year the downtown area of Jacksonville participates in an event called Eat Up Downtown. It’s a great deal for foodies. You get a three course meal at participating restaurants for only 25 dollars per person.

So make plans to take advantage of this event. Maybe you can find your new favorite restaurant this way. For more information and the list of participating restaurants, visit our special events page for

Eat Up Downtown in Jacksonville

Charleston International Film Festival Announces Best of Shorts Screening on June 29th

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Charleston, SC, June 20, 2011 – The Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF), South Carolina’s premiere event for independent filmmakers and film enthusiasts, would like to announce the Best of Shorts Screening on June 29th at the Cinebarre in Mt. Pleasant.

If you missed the Charleston International Film Festival main event, you have the chance on Wednesday to catch festival short film award winners and audience favorites at both 7PM and 9PM.

The programs will feature different films, but both include at least 7-8 shorts films of all genres in under two hours, making for a fun and unique film night out. Tickets are available at the Cinebarre box office for $8 day of or $7 in advance online at www.CharlestonIFF.com

7PM Short Block

Rooftop – Music video with local musician Emily Hearn with an appearance by Bill Murray. (Re)Discovering Don ZanFagna – Internationally acclaimed local artist, whose work has been featured in Charleston Magazine, this short documentary displays his work that is being rediscovered and appreciated after 30 years. Kenzie nude mature women

The Tub – Frannie (Dedee Pfeiffer) reluctantly relives her life and her lovers, guided by a mysterious woman whom she thinks she knows.

God and Vodka -The story of a writer’s final attempt to capture the words and memories, both touching and comedic, of a relationship that ended all too soon.

November – From Norway, this story is to remember and to forget the loss of loved ones. A visual and symbolic journey.

The Buck Johnson Story – A comedic short about a struggling writer, Dave, who feels the only way out of his Pork Pen job is this story about a wild redneck character, Buck F*@$in Johnson.

Place Stamp Here – The world disassembles us, and then puts us back together. This process repeats & repeats & we are never quite the same as when we started. Then again, neither is the world. Animation by twins Joy Vaccese and Noelle Melody.

How Tourette’s Saved My Life – Short comedy from local Art Institute student, this is a slice of life from a man who copes with Tourette’s Syndrome, and finds his outbursts saving his life.

9PM Shorts Block

Theatre Marvelosa presents “Zee Hat!!” – Local group revels, set in a French Bistro, Ravello sings to Zee Hat!! His prize possession, as Tanti Bacci tries to prove her love for him by vowing to retrieve Zee Hat when it is stolen by Ze Fox.

Saying Goodbye – SC filmmakers present this story about a woman who has lost everything moves into a southern nursing home where a cat with the ability to predict death and a spunky fellow resident inspire her to enjoy living again.

The Perfect Hurl – An innocent 14-year-old wanders moonlit suburbia with his daredevil classmates. His first taste of trouble is one to savor.

Jeremy – When his incarcerated father is transferred to a distant prison, fourteen year-old Jeremy must face life alone with his game-show addicted brother and two violent older half-brothers.

The Story of Us – The Story of Us is about a guy who finds himself blinded by his past love. Atroz – This comedy from Spain is about ‘Awful’ a singular teddy bear, a worn and curmudgeon one, whose owner is Luna, a little girl who has taken him as her best friend.

Sexting – People are not who they seem to be when a misdirected text message leads a young woman to meet with the wife of her boyfriend and ask what is really going on in their relationship.

Visit our special events page for Charleston International Film Festival

About CIFF Charleston International Film Festival

(CIFF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to educate, entertain, and inspire through the art and science of film. Co-founded in 2007, by film producer Summer Spooner Peacher and Charleston native Brian Peacher, the festival showcases over 70 short films, features and documentaries from around the world. Attendees gather for five days every Spring to attend premieres, panels, special events and the Annual Awards Gala.

Other pages:

Annual Events & Festivals in Charleston, SC

Charleston Farmer’s Market

Fourth of July Weekend in Georgia

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Fourth of July Weekend in Coastal Georgia 2011

There are lots of fun things to do in coastal Georgia for the Fourth of July weekend. Many cities start their celebration of Independence Day already on Saturday July 2  this year.  So if you really enjoy fireworks, you  can actually enjoy several fireworks and celebrations and make the weekend an extraordinary birthday bash for our country.

 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Savannah celebrates Fourth of July in style. The Great American Weekend takes place on River Street July 2 – 4, 2011, with lots of fun things for the whole family. On Monday July 4th, there is of course fireworks over the river as usual.

In the Savannah area you can watch fireworks twice. Start already on Sunday July 3rd, with Tybee Island Fireworks at dusk. Just be prepared to come early and stay late.

Read more about Savannah & Tybee Island’s  Fourth of July Events here.

 

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA

"state of georgia flag"St. Simons Island has a great Arts & Crafts Festival every Fourth of July called the Sunshine Festival.  The festival takes place July 2 – 4, 2011.  As usual, there is also Fourth of July fireworks over the water. The fireworks  on St. Simons Island are scheduled for 9 pm on July 4, 2011.

 


BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA

In downtown Brunswick, Georgia, head to Mary Ross Park for an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration with music, food and fun for the whole family.

 

DARIEN, GEORGIA

The concert Red, White and Blue on the Bluff takes place on Saturday July 2, 2011 at the waterfront park. The concert is followed by fireworks.  Another great family event in Darien is the Cannons Across the Marsh at Fort King George.

Read more about Fourth of July events in St Simons, Brunswick and Darien here.

 

ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

In St. Marys, Georgia, Fourth of July this year is celebrated on Monday July4, 2011, with a customary 4th of July Festival followed by fireworks.

Read all about the St. Marys Fourth of July here.

 

Father’s Day in Savannah, GA

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If you haven’t made plans for Father’s Day yet – don’t worry. Here are a few ideas for what you can do if you are in Savannah for the big day from fun things for the  outdoors type, the history buff, or gourmet. sophie rain spiderman video tutorial

 

Have a Blast with Dad!

Most boys, young and old, loves anything that goes “boom”.  So why not take Dad to a good  old cannon firing? This time of year there are cannon firings at Old Fort Jackson! For history buffs, a visit to the National Historic Landmark Old Fort Jackson is a special treat – especially when the visit includes cannon firings. The cannon firings take place at 10am and 2pm all throughout the spring and summer.

For more information, contact us at 912.232.3945 or visit www.chsgeorgia.org for more.

 

The Big Engine

Blasting cannons might not interest your Dad, but how about another type of noisy machinery – a diesel train ride. Sunday rides take place at 1pm and 2 pm, but please check the schedule since it’s subject to change. A visit to the GA State Railroad Museum includes a tour of the passenger car and the depot and you will learn all about the railroad. General admission is $10. The museum is open on Sunday from 9 am – 5 pm.

Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W. Harris St. Savannah, GA 31401
912.651.6823

 

For the Country Cowboy

Is Dad a big fan of good old country music? The Country Star Revue at Savannah Theatre is going to be the perfect choice for your music lover.  The performance is a two hour long tribute to the wonderful music of the great country stars of the past 50 years. You will hear music from Patsy Cline to Taylor Swift and Johnny Cash to The Rascal Flatts performed to a live country band by seven talented vocalists. The Country Star Revue takes place on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm.

Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St., Savannah 912.233.7764

 

Jazz It Up


If your dad enjoys jazz, this is a great idea for a fun event to attend..

Jazz – Just Across The River presents the Annual Fathers’ day Concert, featuring a concert with guitarist Howard Paul and organist Scott Giddens. The concert takes place on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at  5 pm at the Westin Harbor Resort on Hutchinson Island.

The concert is free for Coastal Jazz Association members and $10 for non-members. Attendees who join CJA while at the concert will also be admitted for free.

For more info call: 912.920.1317 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org

 

Tybee Turtle Walks

On Sundays you can visit Tybee Island Marine Science Center to learn more about the amazing loggerhead sea turtles who visit our beaches to nest every year. The program takes 90 minutes and includes a walk on the beach.  The fee is $10. Call 866.557.9172 for more information.

Tybee Island Marine Science Center, 1510 Strand Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328

 

I Scream, You Scream…


The heat and the humidity, and lately the smoke from the fires, can wear anyone out. A good way to relax and cool off is with a trip to Leopolds Icecream Parlor.  What Dad turn down a delicious cool treat?

Leopold’s has been around forever, and there is a special flavor for everyone. The pink grapefruit sherbert is so refreshing, especially in the summer.  But I know from experience suggesting something “fruity” and “pink” would meet with what we in the family refer to as “the look” from my Dad. He would have opted for the more appropriate “real man” flavor of Peanut Butter Chippy or Rum Bisque.

Leopold’s Ice Cream, 212 E. Broughton St., Savannah
912.234.4442 or visit Leopolds Icecream


Other stories to read:

Fourth of July in Savannah

Festivals & Events in Savannah, GA

The History of Fort Pulaski

Savannah Westin Hotel, Georgia