Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

St Vincent’s Tour & Tea in Savannah 2009

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St. Vincent’s Academy will once again host the popular St Vincent’s Tour & Tea in Savannah on Saturday October 17, 2009. This is a popular self-guided tour of the original 1845 Convent building and eight private homes in the historic district.

This year’s tour of homes promises to be a look inside nine beautiful homes in Savannah’s Historic District. Some of the residences reflect their 19th century origin in architectural style, interiors and furnishings, while others offer an exciting contemporary approach to Savannah downtown living.

The centerpiece of the fall tour of homes is the elegant tea which will be served on the grounds of the Convent. Academy students will serve tea with delicious homemade confections and traditional tea sandwiches.

St. Vincent’s has enjoyed an enduring relationship with St. Joseph’s since 1875, when the Sisters of Mercy established St. Joseph’s Hospital in downtown Savannah. Proceeds from the Tour & Tea benefit the preservation and restoration of the historic Convent.

Discover why native this annual event has been called “the best tour in Savannah.”

Saturday, October 17, 2009 only

Tour Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Tickets on sale now!
Tickets: $40 per person (includes Tea at the Convent) plus handling charge for online and phone orders. Buy your tickets early and save $5.00! Tickets purchased by October 7 are just $35.

1. Purchase tickets online until noon on Friday, October 16.
2. Call (912) 819-7880 until noon on Friday, October 16 to purchase tickets by phone.
3. Purchase tickets at any of the following Savannah businesses. Click here for a link to the list.
4. Purchase tickets on the day of the tour: On October 17, go to the tour ticket office (Walsh Hall at St. Vincent’s, located at the corner of Lincoln and Harris Streets in downtown Savannah) between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.
For more information, visit the website.

ironworks_savannah

Fall Tour of Homes and Gardens – Charleston, SC

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The 33rd Annual Fall Tours of Homes & Gardens in Charleston, SC, feature beautiful gardens and architecturally significant homes, churches and public buildings. The tours highlights the very best of American architecture from the early Georgian Period up to and including the 21st century. Each tour features a unique neighborhood representing Charleston’s culture from the Colonial era to the present. The tours take place from September 24- October 25, 2009.

Most of the properties are privately owned and are open to the public exclusively for the Annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens. Volunteer guides will interpret the history, architecture and decorative arts of each property.

The tours take place on Thursday and Friday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. All tours are self-paced walking tours held on the peninsula of Charleston within the city’s various historic neighborhoods.

The Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens is the Preservation Society’s annual fund raising event. Tickets are $45.00 per person, per tour and may be purchased only through the Preservation Society of Charleston online at www.preservationsociety.org or by calling (843)722-4630.

Fall Tour of Homes & Gardens Charleston

4th of July Blast at Patriots Point in Charleston, South Carolina

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The stories of glory and triumph that shaped our country really come to life at Patriots Point in Charleston. This is even more so on the 4th of July.

Every year the 4th of July Blast draws a huge crowd to Patriots Point on the Mount Pleasant side of Charleston Harbor. Last year 27,500 people attended the event, and this year the organizers hope to break that record.

The 13th Annual Fourth of July Blast is hosted by Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum and the Town of Mount Pleasant and the event is the ultimate 4th of July celebration.

USS YORKTOWN
patriotspoint-thThe festivities include a fireworks display launched from the flight deck of the USS YORKTOWN, a World War II-era aircraft carrier. The USS YORKTOWN saw action in the battles of the Philippine Sea and Iwo Jima, now it is an attraction belonging to the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.

During the event, make sure to visit the USS YORKTOWN. Tickets are only $5 after 5 PM (for those over the age of 5). On board the ship you’ll meet veterans from the WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq Wars who will share their stories.

The festival on the landside at Patriots Point takes place from 4 PM to Midnight with lots of activities for the whole family. There will be live music on two stages; a ‘Kidz Zone’ play area featuring eight attractions, including an 83-foot inflatable replica of an aircraft carrier.

Fireworks & Music
An Independence Day celebration would not be complete without fireworks, and the 4th of July Blast has an absolutely spectacular firework show. Fireworks begin at 10:05 PM. The fireworks show is set to patriotic music and has been named “Top 5 Independence Day Celebrations” by the New York Times. Fireworks are launched from the deck of the
U.S.S. Yorktown with the Charleston Harbor as a backdrop. It’s hard to top that.

Patriots Point -- Fourth of July
Patriots Point -- Fourth of July

This year’s event will also honor a very special Unit stationed in Taji, Iraq. Three of Charleston’s own belong to the Unit and they are scheduled to remain in Iraq until September. Festival attendees can record a personal message that will be sent over to the 856th Engineer Company in a special Independence Day care package.

There is free admission to the festival, and free parking. Festival goers can bring lawn chairs and blankets but personal coolers and pets are not allowed. Click here for more information about the 4th of July Blast at Patriots Point in South Carolina

Spring Garden Tour at Jacksonville Zoo in April

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Spring is in the air and at Jacksonville Zoo there will be a new Garden Tour on Saturday April 4th to explore new flowers and plants. During the tour visitors will stroll through the gardens with Jacksonville Zoo’s expert horticulture staff to see what’s blooming.

Pre-register is required and you can register online at www.jacksonvillezoo.org for the event. The cost is $20/person ($10 for zoo members) and admission to the zoo is included in the price.

First Garden Tour in 2009 – Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Florida

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For those interested in gardening, here’s an interesting event. The first Garden Tour of the year is taking place at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in February.

This is an opportunity to learn about evergreen plants. Participants need to register in advance on the website www.Jacksonvillezoo.org. Saturday February 7th at 9.00 am.

Ticket to the event are $10 per person for Zoo members and $20 per person for nonmembers. Admission to the Zoo itself is included in the cost.

hosta leaf
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