Cannonborough Elliotborough

Author/Artist at Blue Bicycle Books for SEWE King Street Stroll

It's only appropriate at Pat Conroy's favorite Charleston bookstore, Blue Bicycle Books, that a wildlife artist, who is also an author/illustrator, make a live appearance during the SEWE King Street Stroll. So, on Friday Feb.12 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wayne Caldwell Simmons will not only show off his art, and his book at Blue Bicycle Books. Simmons wrote and illustrated The Story of Jules Verne, A Watch Pocket Dog.

Simmons has been an artist most of his life. Sporting art, portraits of people, people and their pets, wildlife and landscapes all have their place in his work, but it's his dogs and their antics afield that offer recurring themes throughout his work.

Simmons wrote and illustrated The Story of Jules Verne, A Watch Pocket Dog, a medium-sized, coffee table book laced with colorful paintings of gun dogs, horses, wildlife and outdoor scenes.

Everyone is always welcome at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King Street near the corner of King and John, in the Upper King Design District in historic downtown Charleston.

Editor Nancy Perry Graham to speak on Blue Zones at Shine

On Friday, February 5, Nancy Perry Graham, Editor of AARP, the country's largest circulation magazine, will speak about "Blue Zones," areas in the U.S. where people live to 100 and beyond. This is a project sponsored by AARP to identify communities in the U.S. where people live significantly longer and try and export some of those practices across the country.

The luncheon will be held at Shine Restaurant, 630 King Street at 11:30, and is sponsored by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League. There is free parking on site. The $25 ticket price benefits the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Click this link to watch a CBS interview with Dan Buettner, author of The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest. With National Geographic Magazine, Buettner geographically defines and demographically confirms these areas where people live on average a decade longer than the rest of the worlds populations. The results are surprising, and the factors involved are things we can all apply to our lives.

To make reservations for the luncheon, click here, or call Betsey Carter at 843-270-8691.
 
To order Blue Zones, Dan Buettner's book, call Blue Bicycle Books at 843.722.2666, or email Jonathan Sanchez at jonathansanchez@aya.yale.edu.

Serena Williams Headlines Family Circle Cup Player Field

Current World No. 1 and 2008 Family Circle Cup Champion Serena Williams has officially entered the 2010 Charleston event. Williams joins former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova, current World No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki, World No. 7 Victoria Azarenka, and 18-year-old American standout Melanie Oudin as a world class player field continues to assemble on Daniel Island to mark the tournament’s 38th consecutive year and 10th year in Charleston.

The Family Circle Cup, a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event, is scheduled April 10-18, 2010 at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island in historic Charleston. Click here for ticket information.

Mac & Murphy Supporting Spoleto Auctions

Mac & Murphy, the Charleston paper company that specializes in laugh-out-loud greeting cards and stylized stationery, is supporting two Spoleto auctions that take place online this Friday, Jan. 29 from 7:00 – 10:00 PM. The two exciting auction items are: A film, travel and sweets outing for 20 or a private, solo recital for 30 guests by Andrew von Oeyen, in a private South of Broad home.

An afternoon of film and sweets for the young at heart
Invitations provided by Mac & Murphy and will set the tone for a fun-filled afternoon. You and your guests will travel in style on a classic Charleston trolley from Absolutely Charleston. Start the party at Cinebarre in Mount Pleasant with 20 passes to the movie of your choice. After the movie, travel downtown to Sugar Bakeshop. There, you and your guests will enjoy sweet treats in the courtyard of this delightfully retro bakery. (BID NOW!)

Andrew von Oeyen Recital
Lovely personalized invitations from Mac & Murphy will be sent to 30 guests of your choice to join Andrew von Oeyen, the astonishingly gifted young American pianist and Spoleto favorite, for a private, solo recital in Susu and Pug Ravenel's charming South of Broad home.One of the most captivating pianists of his generation, Andrew will thrill and inspire s with his extensive and diverse repertoire. (BID NOW!)

Andrew will not perform at this year's festival, so this is your only chance to hear him perform. Following the recital, enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres, wine and champagne from Catering by Caroline

Halls Chophouse Hosting SEWE'S Gourmet Wild Game Dinner

Halls Chophouse will host a Gourmet Wild Game Dinner to kick of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston. Enjoy a delicious and unique meal with wine pairings in the Lamond Room, Halls’ private upstairs dining room, Wednesday, February 10 at 7:30 PM. Cost: $115/person

Advance tickets may be ordered by visiting www.sewe.com or calling the SEWE office at
(843) 723-1748.

Halls Chophouse is a local, family owned "Classic American Steakhouse" located in the Upper King Design District at 434 King Street in historic downtown Charleston. It is one of the best new family restaurants in Charleston, known for their fine food and attentive service. The Hall family values hospitality, superior American cuisine and a dining experience that guests revere. Halls Chophouse is a fine dining restaurant that features live music, happy hour and late night dining.

GOURMET WILD GAME DINNER MENU:

• 1st Course: Wild Local Carolina Cup Oyster Rockefeller paired with an Edna Valley Chardonnay
• 2nd Course: Candied Striped Beet Salad with Montrachet Cheese, Spiced Cashews, Apple Compote paired with a MacMurray Pinot Noir
• 3rd Course: Manchester Farm Broiled Quail, Sweet and Sour Collard Greens and Pepperjack Grits paired with a Sawbuck Malbec
• 4th Course: Bison Ribeye, Pearl Onions, Sweet Potato SpoonBread and Candied Ruhbarb paired with a Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon
• 5th Course: Almond Tuille Basket Key Lime Curd, White Chocolate Pearls, Raspberry Port Coulis paired with a Mirabelle Brut

Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show at maddison row

 maddison row will host a Monique Lhuillier Trunk Show January 29 - 30. In six short years Monique Lhuillier has taken the fashion industry by storm. The bridal line has been extremely well received and is available in Charleston exclusively at maddison row. 

Monique Lhuillier has established herself as one of the nation’s leading bridal designers and one of the leading fashion houses in terms of design, quality and brand image. Make it a point to take advantage of 10% off any order placed during the trunk show.

maddison row is open Monday - Saturday by appointment only or by chance during the week. maddison row is at 171 Spring Street in the Cannonborough - Elliotbourough neighborhood just off King Street in historic downtown Charleston. Closed Sunday (exceptions can be made). Complimentary customer parking rear of the store.

171 Spring Street 
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720.7979
www.maddisonrow.com

Chanel Fashions at Butterfly

Chanel clothing and accessories are a true investment in good taste and quality and can now be found at  Butterfly Women's Consignment Boutique on King Street in downtown Charleston and Butterfly and Victoria's Consignment stores in Mt. Pleasant.

Chanel has a wonderful reputation as one of the driving forces towards comfort and sensibility in women's fashion. There are tons of designer clothing options out there, but Chanel has been around for a while and can be considered a trusted source in the fashion world.

All of your favorite brands at a fraction of retail. Shoes, Jewels and Purses and they are all beautiful.

Hurry in soon! Butterfly Women's Consignment Boutique is at 482 King Street in the Upper King Design District. Or visit their website at www.butterflyconsignments.com.

Wedding Expert Tara Guerard Signing her New Book at maddison row

Join us at maddison row for the first Charleston book signing by author Tara Guerard. Be one of the first to browse the pages of a signed copy of Weddings by Tara Guerard, her latest, Saturday, January 9 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Beautifully designed pages and vibrant photography bring each wedding to life with hours of inspiration and pleasure.

With impeccable style and taste, Tara takes you on a guided tour through 12 dream weddings. From a formal Southern soiree to an ocean island affair, she shares the tools and tricks of the trade learned from over a decade of working in the industry. Every chapter imparts fresh information using specific weddings as examples and inspiration.

Since opening Soiree by Tara Guerard on Chapel Street in Charleston over a decade ago, she has been noted as a leading arbiter of entertaining and style. In 2005, she was selected as a Top 25 Trendsetter by Modern Bride Magazine. Soiree's work has also been featured by a wide range of media, including Elegant Bride, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Signed copies will be available after the signing as well. maddison row is open Monday - Saturday by appointment only or by chance during the week. Closed Sunday (exceptions can be made). Complimentary customer parking rear of the store.

171 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 720.7979
www.maddisonrow.com

Best Selling Young Adult Authors at Blue Bicycle Books

Blue Bicycle Books welcomes Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the authors of the Young Adult novel Beautiful Creatures signing books Thursday, Jan. 21 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Set in a fictional small town near Summerville, the book opened at #3 on the NY Times bestseller list. 

On their only book tour stop in the Lowcountry, the two writers will meet a diverse range of area teens visiting Ashley Hall and Burke High Schools, perhaps gathering material for the next novel in this five-book series?

They wrote Beautiful Creatures on a dare from some teenage friends, students of Kami’s who kept urging the new authors for more chapters. “Looking back, we wrote it sort of like the serialized fiction of Charles Dickens,” Garcia says. “Turning in pages to our teen readers every week. When we were getting texts in the middle of the night from teens demanding more pages, we knew we had to finish.” 

Their story of Ethan Wate and his mysterious, beautiful new friend Lena is number 5 on Amazon’s Editors’ List of the 100 books of 2009, and it was the top young adult book on the list. Warner Bros. has acquired the screen rights and Richard LaGravanese (P.S., I Love You) reportedly will write the script and direct.

Everyone is always welcome at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King Street near the corner of King and John, in the Upper King Design District in historic downtown Charleston.

Rent Comes to Charleston

Lawson Roberts' White Tuxedo Productions presents Rent at the Charleston Music Hall January 21-February 14. The extremely popular Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical tells the story of one year in the life of a group of bohemians struggling in modern day East Village New York.

Rent cast members have been seen around town, notably in Halls Chophouse where they sang Seasons of Love with Halls Jazz pianist Anthony Owens. A great group of fantastic performers.

Tickets to the performance and Opening Night Bohemian Ball are available at Etix. Click here to download the RENT press release and performance schedule. Hurry, you don't have 525,600 minutes left to purchase tickets!