Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Can-Am Days in Myrtle Beach 2009

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In Myrtle Beach this weekend, the big Can-Am Days Event kicks off. This festival is basically “Snow Bird Spring Break” in South Carolina and comes with a huge line-up of fun events for the family.

The event usually draws about 100,000 Canadian visitors and snowbirds from northern states to South Carolina. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce introduced Canada Days back in 1961 to attract Canadians during their spring break. The name was later changed to Canadian-American Days. This festival is considered to be the first international festival organized in the state of South Carolina.

From March 14-22, 2009, the Myrtle Beach area rolls out the red carpet to welcome Canadian and American visitors with a line-up of fun events, giveaways, discounts and concerts taking place throughout the Grand Strand.

“Can-Am Days celebrates our snowbird visitors, who escape the cold and snow for the beautiful climate and wealth of attractions of the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, MBACC president and CEO. “Many of these visitors have been traveling to our destination for decades, and we strive to create new memories for each generation through our festivals.”

“This year we welcome RBC Bank as presenting sponsor,” said Amie Lee, MBACC director of festivals and special events. “RBC Bank has added excitement to Can-Am Days by introducing the Battle at the Beach golf tournament. The timing of the tournament coincides perfectly with the much-anticipated unveiling of the new Pine Lakes golf course.” The Pine Lakes golf course has been closed for nearly two years for renovation and redesign and will reopen March 14.

The 48th Annual Canadian-American Days will offer a variety of events. Highlights include:

* 26th Annual National Shag Dance Championships, March 12-14 – This competition is especially fitting for the Myrtle Beach area, where the shag dance originated. The event showcases amateur and professional division dancers with more than 50 couples are expected to compete for the national title. Studebaker’s, Myrtle Beach. Admission $15-$25.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and Seaforth All Girls Marching Band Concert, March 14 – The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. The Seaforth All Girls Marching Band of Ontario has been delighting audiences near and far with popular show tunes and other nontraditional marching music for more than 60 years. The band, a group of 50 to 60 young women, range in age from 11 to 19. Surfside United Methodist Church, Surfside Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 25 at the Surfside Beach Town Hall.
* 2009 RBC Bank Presents the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, March 15 –The Royal Canadian Artillery Band, one of six Canadian Forces brass and reed bands, is a unit of 35 professional musicians. Formed more than 100 years ago, the Royal Canadian Artillery Band represents the Canadian Forces at home and abroad. Myrtle Beach Community Church, Myrtle Beach. Free but tickets are required. Tickets available Feb. 26 at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.
* 2009 RBC Bank Canadian-American Days Kickoff Celebration Expo, March 16 – This expo officially kicks off Can-Am Days and features exhibitors, musical entertainment, prizes, giveaways and refreshments. Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach. Free to the public.
* Out of Winter Into Spring: The Courage to Live Undivided, March 17-19 – Presented by Still Learning Inc., this retreat at the beach will renew the heart and spirit. Sea View Inn, Pawleys Island. Space is limited. $889 per person. Canadian currency accepted.
* 15th Annual South Strand Wildlife and History Day, March 18 – Enjoy family-friendly entertainment, exhibits and activities including birds of prey and reptile demonstrations and sea turtle and beachcombing programs. The Taste of Murrells Inlet, a culinary extension of the event, will boast specialties from some of the finest restaurants in the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina.” Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. Event and park admission are free. Cost for food.
* 2009 Battle at the Beach, March 19 – Golfers are invited to participate in the first annual Canada vs. U.S.A. Friendly Competition for the RBC Cup, four-person scramble format. The tournament will take place at the just-renovated Pine Lakes golf course, known as “the Granddaddy.” Prizes will be awarded. All tournament profits will be donated to Myrtle Beach Haven. Presented by RBC Bank and sponsored by Damon’s Grill, Scatori’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant and Divine Dining Group. Pine Lakes Country Club, Myrtle Beach. Fee $100 per person, $350 per foursome.
* For more information, call (800) 356-3016 or visit CanAmDays.com for the most current information and event times.

Celebrate St Patricks Day Savannah Style!

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The 2009 St Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Tuesday, March 17th. It will be the 185th time the parade takes place in the city of Savannah.

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in honor of St. Patrick’s dedication to Christianity. In Savannah, the the day begins with the celebration of Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and is followed by the parade which begins at 10:15 am.

This year, more than 400,000 people are expected to come to Savannah to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The Savannah St Patrick’s Day celebration is the oldest, and one of the largest, in the nation.
Every fountain within in the city is dyed green and the party happens all over the city. The parade itself is the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States.

click here to view the event calendar post about St Patrick’s Day Parade

SCAD Hosts Annual Sidewalk Arts and Sand Arts Festivals, Savannah, GA

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SAVANNAH Ga. ­­– The Savannah College of Art and Design presents two popular annual arts festivals—the Sidewalk Arts Festival in Forsyth Park and the Sand Arts Festival on Tybee Island, Ga.

On Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., the Sidewalk Arts Festival will draw thousands of visitors to view temporary chalk masterpieces created on the sidewalks of the historic Forsyth Park, Savannah, Ga. First, second and third place monetary prizes are awarded in three categories: students, alumni and prospective students. Sidewalk Arts Festival participants represent SCAD’s many areas of study; different artistic styles are inspired by different cultures, interests and disciplines.

This year marks the university’s 30th anniversary, and to celebrate that milestone the Sidewalk Arts Festival will include the outdoor exhibition “30 Objects,” for which students and alumni submitted proposals for temporary interactive performance and/or sculptural exhibitions. All entries must incorporate 30 objects of the artist’s choosing and fit on a 48” round platform. Selected proposals receive a $2,000 prize and will be exhibited during the Sidewalk Art Festival.

On Friday, May 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Sand Arts Festival will feature competitions in sand castle design, sand sculpture, sand relief and wind sculpture on Tybee Island, Ga. Contestants may work individually or in teams. Entries in the sand castle, sand sculpture and sand relief competitions are judged for creativity of concept and design, as well as excellence of craft and detail. Entries in the wind sculpture competition are evaluated according to structural development, surface decoration and ability to fly. SCAD faculty members judge all competitions.

Both events are free and open to the public. Press inquiries should be directed to Emily Belford at 912.525.5210 or ebelford@scad.edu.

Alyssa Couturier (B.F.A., fashion, 2008) and senior painting student Jesse Herndon won first place in the Gray’s Reef Sea Creature Contest with their “Octopus” creation.
Image courtesy of SCAD

Kaleidoscope Film, Food and Fine Art Festival in Beaufort, SC

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The patrick schwarzenegger nude Baby Blu3 Beaufort Kaleidoscope Film Festival is now in its third year, is scheduled for March 5-8, 2009.

Film screenings will be Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, at Lady’s Island Cinema in Beaufort.  Animation will be shown at ArtWorks in Beaufort.  Winners in all categories will be announced at the Awards Evening March 7. An All Film pass for $20 is available for admission to the two full days of showings.

Beaufort Film Site Tours
Local film expert Ginnie Kozak will guide Film Site tours of downtown movie sites in Beaufort where famous films like “The Big Chill” and “Prince of Tides” have been shot among others.

Tour hours include:
Saturday, March 7 – 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Sunday March 8 – 11:30 a.m.

All tours originate at the front of the Beaufort Performing Arts Center ( 801 Carteret Street ) and will take approximately 45 minutes. Tickets are $10 per person and must be purchased in advance here or by calling 843-525-8500.

Guild of the Beaufort Galleries
Featuring 12 downtown galleries, Enjoy the original work of more than 500 artists, all within walking distance of historic Beaufort.

Hours open include:
Thursday, March 5 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, March 6 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 7 – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday March 8 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A special Open House presentation of ARTwalk is scheduled on Saturday, March 7 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The event features special openings and exhibits, artists’ talks, street performers, and more. This is free of charge.

Animation Screening and Workshop with Larry Lauria
Larry Lauria brings his expertise to one of the most delightful area of the film industry – animation. Lauria has had a career in animation and direction spanning more than 24 years and includes features, commercial television, industrial and interactive projects. Lauria has garnered over 40 national and international awards.

The workshop will take place at ARTworks ( 2117 Boundary Street ). Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling 843-379-2787

Tickets are available online www.BeaufortKaleidoscope.com.

Collard Green Festival in Port Wentworth 2009

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On Saturday March 7th you can visit a festival devoted to the collard green. This typical southern food obviously deserves its own festival. The Collard Green Festival takes place in Port Wentworth outside Savannah.

If you haven’t tried collard greens before, this is your chance to get to know this leafy green vegetable up close and personal. The festival offers a “Collards and Cornbread Cook Off” but there’s also BBQ and other foods available.

Collard greens are an excellent sources of vitamin C and soluble fiber. It is a staple vegetable of southern U.S. cuisine and soul food, often prepared with other green leaf vegetables, such as kale, turnip greens, spinach, and mustard greens in “mixed greens”. Traditional seasonings is smoked and salted meats, diced onions, vinegar, salt, and pepper (black, white, or crushed red) and often collards are served with cornbread.

Collard greens were grown by the Greeks and Romans and also in Africa before the leafy green vegetable made its way to North America.

Today, collards — along with mustard and turnip greens – are a staple at African-American meals and celebrations. And they’re being discovered at trendy restaurants and by American families of many cultures.

On March 7th the Collard Green is celebrated at Promised Land Farm in the historic African-American community of Monteith, GA near Port Wentworth.

For more information about the event call Willie Johnson at 912-964-0418 or visit Port Wentworth Visitor Center website