Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Beach, Boogie and Barbecue in Myrtle Beach 2009

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The fourth annual Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival kicks off on Friday, Sept. 4, from 5-9 p.m.and  continues on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Grand Park, The Market Common from  10 a.m.-9 p.m.
This is the second time the family-friendly festival is held at Grand Park.

This festival will feature free live entertainment, wake board demonstrations and the Wheels at the Beach car show.

But for most festival-goers, the main attraction is the finger-lickin, lip-smackin’ food .

Two cooking events promise to attract the nation’s finest competitors: Anything Goes contest and tasting on Friday and the Official S.C. Barbeque Championship and Kansas City Barbeque Society Cook-off on Saturday.

“We are excited about this year’s lineup of events and are delighted to partner with the Omar Shriners again on the barbeque competitions,” said Amie Lee, MBACC director of festivals and special events. “The chamber is pleased to continue providing a free, family-friendly event for locals and visitors to celebrate Labor Day weekend, which concludes the 58th annual Sun Fun Celebration of Summer.”

For $5, festival participants can buy five tickets for sampling Anything Goes competition goodies on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, barbeque sandwich combos will be sold for $6. Beer will be sold both days. Proceeds from these food and beer sales will benefit Omar Shriner charities.

Car Show in Myrtle Beach, SC
Car Show in Myrtle Beach, SC

The Myrtle Beach Car Club, organizer of Wheels at the Beach car show, will donate 50/50 raffle, silent auction and competition funds to Special Olympics of Horry County.
Here are some of the highlights of exciting events:

Friday, Sept. 4

Food and Arts/Craft Vendors, open at 5 p.m. – Food vendors will be selling a variety of eats, both sides of the lake. Select arts/crafts vendors will be selling jewelry, children’s clothing and other unique items, north side of the lake near the main stage. Most vendors accept cash only.
BBQ, BBQ, BBQ, 6 p.m. until supplies last – Barbeque championship competitors will sell their tasty offerings. A $6 combo includes barbeque sandwich, chips and soft drink. New this year: Tickets are no longer needed with cash only accepted. Proceeds benefit Omar Shriner charities. Both sides of the lake.

Anything Goes Contest and Tasting, 6:30 p.m. until supplies last – Sample dishes from shrimp creole to homemade ice cream and anything in between—anything goes! $5 for five sampling tickets. All proceeds benefit Omar Shriner charities. Football field, south side of the lake.

The Tams, 7 p.m. – Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets (no coolers allowed) and enjoy the legendary Tams, entertaining audiences for more than 40 years with a variety of music including the hits “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” “What Kind of Fool” and “I’ve Been Hurt.” Main stage, north side of the lake. Free. TheOriginalTams.com.

Announcement of Anything Goes Contest Winners: Anything Goes, Best Booth, Best Dessert and Best Sauce, around 10 p.m. – Come cheer for your favorite team as the winners are announced. South stage, south side of the lake.

Saturday, Sept. 5
Official S.C. Barbeque Championship and Kansas City Barbeque Society Cook-off, 8-10 a.m. – Look on as the teams prepare their barbeque for judging of ribs, chicken and whole hog/butt. Football field, south side of the lake. Free.

4th Annual Wheels at the Beach Car Show, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Car enthusiasts can view more than 200 classic and antique cars and trucks organized by the Myrtle Beach Car Club. Vote for your favorite. Along Farrow Parkway. Free to spectators.

Food and Arts/Craft Vendors, open at 10 a.m. – Food vendors will be selling a variety of eats, both sides of the lake. Select arts/crafts vendors will be selling jewelry, children’s clothing and other unique items, north side of the lake near the main stage. Most vendors accept cash only.

Wake Board Demonstrations by Carolina Wake Sports, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m. – Witness thrilling stunts on Grand Park Lake. The free shows last about 30 minutes each. Visit the Carolina Wake Sports booth to learn about wake board lessons. CarolinaWakeSports.com.

BBQ, BBQ, BBQ, 11 a.m. until supplies last – Barbeque championship competitors will sell their tasty offerings. A $6 combo includes barbeque sandwich, chips and soft drink. New this year: Tickets are no longer needed with cash only accepted. Proceeds benefit Omar Shriner charities. Both sides of the lake.

Live Music, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Main stage, north side of the lake. Free.

Sea Cruz, 2-3:15 p.m. – Main stage, north side of the lake. SeaCruz.com. Free.

Wheels at the Beach Awards Presentation, 3 p.m. – Did your favorite car or truck win an award? Who won the 50/50 raffle? Get answers to these questions and more. All proceeds raised from the raffle, silent auction and competition will benefit Special Olympics of Horry County. Car show stage, north side of the lake.

S.C Education Lottery Grand Prize Giveaway, 4 p.m. – Visit their booth to buy a ticket and a chance to win the grand prize. Grand prize winner announced 4 p.m. Main stage, north side of the lake. SCEducationLottery.com.

Announcement of Official S.C. Barbeque Championship and Kansas City Barbeque Society Cook-off Winners, 5 p.m. – Learn which competitor will

earn the Grand Champion title and which competitors will receive prize money. Main stage, north side of the lake.

Sun Fun Celebration of Summer Closing Ceremony, 7 p.m. – Main stage, north side of the lake. Free.

Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs, 7:30 p.m. – Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets (no coolers allowed) and enjoy Beach Music’s Hall of Famer Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs. Their hits include “Stay,” which sold more than 8 million copies and was featured on the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack, “Little Darlin’” and “May I.” Main stage, north side of the lake. Free. MauriceWilliams-Stay.com.

For more information, visit BeachBoogieBarbequeFestival.com or call (843) 626-7444/(800) 356-3016.

This is also Joe’s pick of the week, click here to watch the video now about Events for Labor Day Weekend, South Carolina

Beach, Boogie, Barbecue in Myrtle Beach

Experience the Okefenokee Swamp by Kayak

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Okefenokee Swamp near Waycross, Georgia, is just fascinating. The landscape itself is fascinating with the black water and the reflections of the trees in the surface. You can see  birds everywhere; herons, egrets, ibis, and more depending on the time of year.

You can  paddled through the canals, and there are trails meandering through prairies filled with aquatic plants and bordered by islands of grasses, shrubs and trees. The swamp is basically a large basin filled almost entirely by rainwater. The still water retards

Okeefenokee Swamp
Tom Monahan, Up The Creek Trips

organic decay and creates a peat layer on the bottom supposedly several feet thick. This peat layer has accumulated over thousands of years. When the peat dislodges, rises to the surface and forms floating islands. Grasses come  first , then shrubs and then eventually trees such as the Cypress. “Okefenokee” is an indian word that means “Land of the Trembling Earth”.

Suwanee canal
Long canals in the swamp

Periodic fires rage the landscape and return areas to prairies, but the swamp always bounces back. It’s the never-ending circle of life for the swamp.
It’s very still, and very quiet, except for the occasional splash in the water from a fish, turtle or maybe alligator, or the birds. This landscape has looked the same for a very long time. You can’t hear traffic, it’s just peaceful and quiet. But then of course, a plane will fly by and remind you that you’re actually living in the 21th century after all.

Our favorite outfitter is Up the Creek Xpeditions from St Marys. They run a guided kayak tour through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and sometimes they even go out at night. For more information visit www.upthecreektrips.com or call 912.882.0911

Alligator babies are hatching in August, and fall migration starts in September. So make your plans to visit this beautiful area!









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Click here to view the brochure for the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, it has some beautiful photos in it!

Photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development

First Wednesday Art walk in Jacksonville

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First Wednesday Art Walk has become one of the most popular recurring events in Jacksonville, and no wonder. It is a free, self-guided tour of Downtown Jacksonville’s galleries and museums and more. The Artwalk is held every month from 5-9 p.m. – rain or shine.

Download the Art Walk in Jacksonville Aug 5th, 2009 Map

It takes place in about 15-block radius in the Downtown area with Hemming Plaza as the focal point. It’s a great opportunity to see some of the creative talent Jacksonville has the offer.

Hemming Plaza
Give your own creativity a chance. Add your own mark with chalk to the spontaneous urban expression, “Earth Mandala.” Then it’s time to let your hair down and shake loose with drum and dance along with the EarthDrum Community Rhythms Circle, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Also visit:

* The City Kids Art Factory table
* The Friends of Jacksonville Animals, Inc.
* The Landing’s Yappy Hour table
* The Child Guidance Center’s Turtle Trail table
* Over 50 local artists

Pet Walk August 5th
Read more in our events calendar about the Pet Walk in Jacksonville

Parking
Street parking is FREE after 6 p.m. and the Downtown Garage on the corner of Adams and Clay offers FREE parking Art Walk night.

For more information call 904.634.0303 ext. 230 or visit the events calendar listing for First Wednesday Artwalk Jacksonville
Jax-skyline

Restaurant Week Returns to Jacksonville, August 17 – 23, 2009

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Eat Up Downtown is the best deal in town.  We love eating out – and very much so when it costs less.  Mark your calendar and don’t miss the Restaurant Week event in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.

For a whole week you get the chance to experience exquisite cuisine at an unbeatable price of $25 per person at participating restaurants. There’s a wide variety of restaurants to choose from on the list, from cafés to elegant steak houses, all in the downtown area.

Each restaurant offers a special, three-course dinner menu for $25 per person. So this is a great deal! Make sure to take Mom out for dinner, your family or your friends. Try a new restaurant, or visit an old favorite.

Check out the list of participating restaurants.