Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Sustainable Seafood Initiative Dinner – Charleston, SC

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This time of the year is known for oysters in our area. The Sustainable Seafood Initiative is arranging a special dinner event on Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The South Carolina Aquarium and the Restaurant at Middleton Place Plantation has paired up for a Sustainable Seafood Initiative Social which includes ‘Fish for the Future’ education, six sustainable seafood courses, and live acoustic music.

The evening will begin with Megan Westmeyer, the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Coordinator, who will provide information on fisheries, seafood sustainability, as well as useful tips on how to buy fresh fish.

This is not your traditional seated dinner, instead there are  six sustainable seafood stations, and food can be paired with an organic and sustainable wine. To set the right atmosphere there will be roaring fires inside and out, and music by Charleston-based singer and blues rock guitarist Graham Whorley.

Dinner reservations are $45 per person in advance (all inclusive) or $50 per person at the door (based on availability), and this is really not a bad deal if you consider what you get for the money. Just take a look at the menu below.

At the six stations, you can enjoy:

  • Station 1: seared scallops with coined fingerling potatoes, caramelized onions, crispy lardons  and a balsamic-cherry glaze paired with a Mommessin Pinot Noir
  • Station 2: oysters on the half with Boursin cheese, teardrop tomatoes and micro arugula paired with a Chateau Recougne Blanc
  • Station 3: benne seared yellowfin tuna with pineapple-basil chutney over wild rice paired with a Bishop’s Peak Pinot Noir ’07
  • Station 4: Prince Edward Island mussels with country ham cracklin’s and scallions in a coconut-saffron broth paired with a Chateau de la Muscadet ’07
  • Station 5: buttery local shrimp with southern succotash and white truffle corn puree paired with a Villa Wolf Gris ’07
  • Station 6: yellowfin tuna tartar with wasabi aioli, crisp taro root and a citrus soy drizzle paired with a L.D. Petit Chablis


A portion of the proceeds from the dinner will benefit the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative. Space for the event is limited. For reservations, contact Middleton Place Plantation at (843) 266-7477 or purchase online at MiddletonPlace.org.

South Carolina Aquarium Sustainable Seafood Initiative Dinner

Saturday, February 20, 2010; 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Middleton Place Plantation, 4300 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 29414

To make a reservation, call Middleton Place Plantation at (843) 266-7477 or online at www.MiddletonPlace.org

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Tickets for Charleston Fashion Week 2010 Available

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More than 30 Runway Shows, Live Entertainment, Celebrity Designers, & Rock The Runway Modeling Competition…
GLAM ROCKS for 2010 Charleston Fashion Week!

After months of anticipation and planning, Charleston Fashion Week® proudly announces the schedule of events and runway show participants for the fourth annual event “Glam Rocks!” March 16-20, 2010. Hailed by industry leaders as the next Bryant Park, Charleston magazine has confirmed that among the list of this year’s highlights, Project Runway’s finalist Carol Hannah Whitfield and Mychael Knight will both be debuting collections. Other CFW alum, featured designers, and celebrity judges to return to the tents in Marion Square this spring include: designer Cynthia Rowley, ELLE magazine’s Fashion News Director, Anne Slowey, Project Runway’s Gordana Gehlhausen, and 2009 Emerging Designer Competition winner Marysia Reeves, whose Spring/Summer 2010 line has been picked up by Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

The premier fashion event tucked in historic Charleston, SC, will also include the 1st annual Rock the Runway competition in which the top models will strut their stuff to win a fashion spread, modeling contract, and the opportunity to appear before the top modeling scouts in the country. With a cast of celebrity designers in attendance, live entertainment, chic after parties, on-site shopping in the Style Lounge, more than 30 retail runway shows, plus an afternoon of Bridal Couture, Charleston Fashion Week® is ready to prove why “Glam Rocks!” for 2010. Charitable partners for the week long fashion extravaganza proudly include: MUSC Children’s Hospital, The Center for Women, and Lowcountry AIDS Services. To catch all the action and drama of the 2010 Emerging Designer Competition LIVE and check out the latest looks in stores for spring 2010, visit www.charlestonfashionweek.com and purchase your tickets soon. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, a guaranteed seat at this event could possibly be one of the hottest tickets of the year!


Southeastern Wildlife Exposition 2010

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Every year in February, the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition takes over Charleston. This year SEWE is returning for its 28th year. It is the largest wildlife art and nature event in the nation, so this is an event you don’t want to miss.

The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition is traditionally held in the weekend before President’s Day. The popular event attracts over 35,000 attendees to Charleston, South Carolina. During the event attendees get the opportunity to enjoy world-class original art, a wide variety exhibits and presentations.

For more information, tickets and detailed schedule, visit www.sewe.com or call 843-723-1748.

Charleston Comedy Festival 2010

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You can get all your comedy in one city during this festival in Charleston on January 20 – 23, 2010, where you have the opportunity to watch some of the country’s hottest improv, sketch, and stand-up artists perform with 38 shows in nine different venues in just four nights.

This festival is produced by Theatre 99 and the Charleston City Paper.
Several artists are slated to perform in this year’s festival, including Cook County Social Club, an improv and sketch comedy group from Chicago that played to packed houses in 2009. Cook County will team up with The Dangerous Strangers of Cabaret Kiki, the band behind Charleston’s favorite burlesque show who will reunite for a one-night only performance.

Another Comedy festival favorite is Elephant Larry, an NYC sketch comedy troupe who debuted at the Comedy Fest in 2006 and returned for that year’s Piccolo Fringe Festival in May. The Uprights Citizen Brigade Touring Company makes its semi-annual performance with Pangea 3000, a four-man sketch comedy group comprised of writers and contributors to The Onion, and Sidecar, a group that will perform a compilation of their greatest sketches.

Many stand-up comedians will be taking the stage during the festival. Kenny Zimlinghaus, a former 96Wave deejay who is now on Cosmo Radio on XM and Sirius, will return to perform and emcee the annual Charleston Stand-Up Competition.

Venues for the festival this year include Theatre 99 (280 Meeting St. above the Bicycle Shoppe), The American Theater and Stars Bar (446 King St.), Charleston Ballet Theatre (477 King St.), Trio Club
(139 Calhoun St.), the Music Farm (32 Ann St.), and Eye Level Art 103 Gallery (103 Spring St.). The festival has expanded to the suburbs with two new venues: the Charleston Pour House on James Island (1977 Maybank Hwy.) and Centre Pointe Bar & Grill in North Charleston (4950 Centre Pointe Dr.)

Ticket prices range from $5 – $20 and are available at www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com or by calling Etix at 1-800-514-ETIX. Tickets will be sold at Theatre 99 (280 Meeting St.) the week of the festival.

The Lowcountry Oyster Festival 2010 in Charleston, SC

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The Oyster Festival has been the highlight of the month of January for the past 25 years. The Lowcountry Oyster Festival has been named one of the “top 20 events in the southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society for 20 consecutive years.

The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association is hosting the Lowcountry Oyster Festival’s on the grounds of historic Boone Hall Plantation on Sunday, January 31st. This festival is an oyster-lover’s dream. About 65,000 pounds of oysters will arrive at Boone Hall Plantation to be served at the festival. Highlights of Sunday’s “rain or shine” event include the famous “Oyster Shucking & Eating Contest”, live bands on the Main Stage and a Kids Corner complete with pony rides and jump castles.