Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Easter Eggstravaganza at Middleton Place, Charleston, SC

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Join the fun and come to an Easter Eggstravaganza at Middleton Place. This year the organizers are going green and have created an eco-friendly Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 3 Paper mache eggs have been chosen instead of plastic, and real hard-boiled eggs are standing by for decorating. There are also clay eggs made by the Stableyard’s potter and “prize” eggs filled with gift certificates redeemable at the Garden Market or Museum Shop. The fun begins at 11:00 am.

In the Plantation Stableyards, kids can learn how to color eggs by using vegetables, plants, flowers and other natural items. There is also a special an Easter Bunny meet and greet, story time station, and arts and crafts area. During the day games such as egg rolls on the parterre, egg tosses and more are available. Spring is also the time of year when kids and adults can enjoy seeing new baby lambs, chicks and bunnies.

Reservations are requested. Please call (843) 556-6020. Regular gate admission, $25 adults and $5 for children ages 7-15. Children 6 and under admitted free with paid adult.

Charleston Farmers Market Opens on April 3, 2010

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On April 3rd, 2010, Charleston Farmers Market will again open at Marion Square in the downtown area. The Farmers Market offers fresh locally grown produce as well as other foods, and arts and crafts. The market will continue during the season until December 19, 2010.

The 2010 Poster
The special 2010 poster, Peter Piper’s Peppers by Ginny Versteegen,  will be unveiled at 10:30 am by Charleston City Councilman Kathleen Wilson and Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.  The South Carolina Broadcasters, a local bluegrass band, will perform until 1:30 p.m.

Green Market
This year, the Charleston Farmers Market will organize a planning process to transition into a “Green Market.” Only a few farmers markets in the U.S. are officially recognized as “Green Markets.” This transition includes recycling and/or re-using all of the materials that are produced by the market as well as educating vendors and the public on the value of being green, including using recycled products, re-using products and composting.

New Additions
New farmers and vendors in the 2010 market include:

• Messy Apron will offer fresh hot and cold soups made with local produce for eat-in or take-out.
• Meat House, owned and operated by Jason Houser, will offer charcuterie products, including sausage, bacon and pâté.
• BJ’s Brats is a local food vendor from Seabrook Island that will offer locally made bratwurst and Italian sausage.
• Family Trees owned and operated by Kara Viacrusis, will sale jade house plants which are offspring of her grandmother’s 30-year-old jade tree.

Popular Vendors
Among the vendors who are returning to the market for another season and offering additional products are: Captain Hatt’s, a full-service fish market will also offer pickled shrimp and crab and shrimp dips; Chucktown Chicken has lemon grass as well as farm-raised chickens, River Run Farms will offer its grass-fed beef as well as kiwi fruit and other kiwi products and luffa sponges and compost products. Nelly’s Farm is expanding their organic produce selection by offering mixed greens, cucumbers, basil as well as arugula and flowers. Burden Creek Dairy will also supply goat milk as well as plain and flavored chèvre.

“Not only is the weekly Charleston Farmers Market a testimony to the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in here in Charleston, but Charleston farmers are becoming an integral part of the community, offering produce to many of the local restaurants and as a result are significant contributors to a thriving, sustainable local economy. We are so thrilled to welcome the market back to our Saturday routine April 3rd,” says Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

About Charleston Farmers Market

Founded by Mayor Joe Riley in 1989, the Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the City of Charleston Parks Department. Over the years, the Charleston Farmers Market has received numerous awards: In 2005, the Charleston Farmers Market, newly revitalized and relocated back in the renovated Marion Square, received the Three Sisters Award from the Charleston Save the City Committee. In 2008, the Market was ranked by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 best Farmers Markets in the nation. In the Charleston City Paper reader’s poll, “Best Of,” the Charleston Farmers Market was named 2009 Best Outdoor Event. Now permanently located in Marion Square, in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, S.C., the Farmers Market is open each Saturday, from April 3 to Dec., 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Farmers Market is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers and growers and offers a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans. The Charleston Farmers Market attracts citizens and visitors alike. It is the community connection every Saturday morning from April through December, bringing together people from all parts of the Lowcountry and beyond.

Spring Winefest at Middleton Place – Charleston, SC

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There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring but with a trip to the beautiful gardens of Middleton Place. There is a special Spring Wine Tasting at Middleton Place, where you get to sip wine while enjoying the beautiful view of thousand of azaleas, dogwood and wisteria. The colors of the blooming flowers are reflecting in the water of the Rice Mill Pond. The tasting takes place from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 31 and April 7. Reservations are required. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations, call 843-556-6020.

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.

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.