Area Attractions, Festivals and Special Events

May 09 2013

It’s like Golf….. with a Shotgun

Gun enthusiasts are coming from all over the place to take part in the 2013 US Open Sporting Clays Championships being held at the Back Woods Quail Club in Georgetown, South Carolina, just south of DeBordieu, from May13-19th, 2013.

Me….? I’ve never shot a gun. But for those who take their sport seriously, this is a huge event!

“Sporting clays is a form of clay pigeon shooting, often described as “golf with a shotgun” because a typical course includes from 10 to 15 different shooting stations laid out over natural terrain.

Unlike trap and skeet, which are games of repeatable target presentations, Sporting Clays simulates the unpredictability of live-quarry shooting, offering a great variety of trajectories, angles, speeds, elevations, distances, and target sizes.”

The Back Woods Quail Club has a great website with all the events, vendors, and even a page where you can keep up with the results. Click here to link to the site.

The DeBordieu Rental Office has quite a few sportsmen who have already made lodging arrangements at DeBordieu, but we do have room for more, so if you’ve not made plans, give them a call at 843-527-9894.

DeBordieu Colony is an oceanfront community located just south of Pawleys Island, South Carolina that features private golf and tennis, saltwater creek access to the ocean, a manned security gate, and luxury homes and villas surrounded by thousands of acres of wildlife and nature preserves.

May 08 2013

Let’s Dance!

In Pawleys Island, it seems the whole world is aquiver with excitement about the 2013 Pawleys -Pavilion Reunion – organized and produced for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity Georgetown. This annual event – Saturday, May 11, 2013 – is steeped in a tradition too rich and wonderful to share in one blog post. (Maybe I’ll report a bit more of the history in a subsequent post!) Suffice it to say memories of the old Pavilion are branded on those fortunate enough to have shared summer evenings at the Pawleys hotspot of yesteryear.

The Pawleys Pavilion Reunion was founded in 1998 by Molly Mercer. Molly remembers, “In my letter to the Town Council, I asked that the Pavilion Reunion be held where it had been on the Island, where the ghosts are. It just wouldn’t be the same elsewhere.” Molly realized no one (who had been there) had forgotten the Pavilion, and – for the unfortunate who had never been – this new celebration would give them the opportunity to add their memories to those gone before.

The Pawleys Pavilion Reunion will be held from 6:30 PM until midnight at the Pawleys Nature Park on the North Causeway. One and all will be shagging beneath a perfect Pawleys Island moon (that moon is on order) to the sounds of The Mark Roberts Band. They will perform Beach Music and lots of popular hits from the 70s and 80s. It has a reputation for being a fun night for young, old and everyone in between. There will be local food vendors, a huge dance floor and shuttle service from the mainland. Group rates, children and advance tickets available.

There is still time to get your $30 advance tickets for Saturday night. Children tickets are $10. Group tickets also available in the following increments: 10 tickets $22 each, 20 tickets $20 each, 50 tickets $18 each, 100 tickets $15 each. Take advantage of these great rates for family get-togethers or to gather friends for a great time! To order call 843.546.5685 ext. 6 and pick them up at the“will call” table or visit Pawleys Island Supplies, GKCU in Pawleys Island and in Georgetown, the Habitat office and/or Reflections Nostalgia Grill on Front Street.

Come! Dance! Make new memories. Our Lowcountry specializes in memory-making, after all.

DeBordieu Colony is a very private community on the coast of South Carolina, between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, just south of Pawleys Island. In addition to miles of secluded beach, boat landing access to North Inlet, and a 24-hour manned security gate, the private, equity DeBordieu Club offers Pete Dye golf, a tennis center and an ocean front Beach Club with fine dining, a gazebo bar, two pools, and a playground. There is truly no place like DeBordieu. Come see for yourself.

May 03 2013

See Ya Saturday!

Pawleys Island and DeBordieu residents have two great events coming up this weekend!

The 17th Annual “Blessing of the Inlet” is all set for May 4, 2013 at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church – overlooking the greening marsh in Murrells Inlet. Belin (pronounced “blane like plane”) was established in 1925 and named for Reverend James L. Belin, a Methodist minister and generous area benefactor.

More than eight decades later, the idea for the annual Blessing was conceived in a Sunday school class as a way to give back to the one of the South’s most beloved fishing communities. From the start, the Blessing was intended to deliver fun, food and fellowship, and they’ve accomplished that mission and more. Dozens of vendors will be on hand – many of which will be serving mouthwatering local fare. There will be fun for kids of all ages. Hours are 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

A smidge south in another of the Carolinas’ quaint fishing villages, the 37th Annual Lowcountry Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet (presented by the Roper St. Francis Mt. Pleasant Hospital) is being held on the same day, May 4, at the McClellanville Boat Landing. No kidding, this beautiful little town feels like a plunge into the past.

They have a full day of entertainment planned for the whole family … live music from two bands, the work of area artists on display, a special area devoted to kids and plenty of good eatin’ to keep hunger at bay. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. One hundred percent of proceeds benefit the Archibald Rutledge Academy and the new Cape Romain Environmental Education Charter School.

Invite a few friends and bring the family to either or both of these spring-has-sprung events. There is no admission or parking fee and fun will be had come rain or shine. Both events share the goal of acknowledging fine fellowship and the blessings our Lord continues to pour out on our communities.

For more information about these great events, visit www.BlessingoftheInlet.com or www.LowcountryShrimpFestival.com.

For more information about real estate in DeBordieu, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet or McClellanville, contact Troi Kaz, 843-455-4523.

Apr 18 2013

Why ARTfields will be EPIC!

There’s been nothing like it “in these parts” before, and every indication is that ArtFields, a Southern art fest coming to Lake City, SC from April 19-28, 2013, is going to be an epic event – and an epic success. Brainchild of Darla Moore, a powerhouse business woman born in Lake City, this event is equal parts grassroots and sheer vision.

Artfields Crutches Cathedral - Chris Thomas — Chris Thomas – “Crutches Cathedral”

Amateur and established artists are competing for an impressive $100,000 in cash prizes! Between eight and nine hundred artists submitted two- and three-dimensional artwork for inclusion; roughly half were actually chosen. In and of itself, that detail means attendees will be treated to a smorgasbord of compelling talent.

Local businesses, municipal buildings, parks and other sites in the quaint, albeit largely agricultural, town of Lake City, SC will serve as venues for artists hailing from no less than a dozen Southeastern states –Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, both Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Some of the artists are from ’round here…. Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, and Myrtle Beach. Their work is featured on this page. Winning entries will be determined by votes from ArtFields attendees and a juried panel.

In addition to the art competition itself, the ten-day event will feature a Portrait Battle, live music concerts, dancing, delicious Southern food and a whole lot more than there is space to share. An exciting variety of workshops are available to the public – plein air clinics, artists’ lectures, open-mic’ conversations and a Farmer’s Market.

My friend, Chris Thomas, a Pawleys Island artist who was accepted for his fantastic birdhouse creation “Crutches Cathedral” – made from found and cast-off materials – said: “I am proud to be a part of an event that celebrates the importance of art. Art cultivates creativity and creativity fuels the innovation that plays a vital role in community growth.” Check out more of Chris’s work at his “PLUNDERWARE” booth at Harvest Commons or on his website: www.PlunderWare.com

Another Grand Strand artist, Catherine Kresken from North Myrtle Beach, expressed her excitement by saying: “When I understood the details, I knew this first year would be the beginning of one the biggest shows in the Southeast in the future. Now I can always say I am part of Artfields…”

The ArtFields Art Competition will award one Top Prize of $50,000, a People’s Choice prize

of $25,000 and a Juried Panel prize of $25,000. Everyone who’s ever been – or loved – a proverbial

“starving artist” knows that’s not peanuts! These are the largest cash prizes of any Southeastern art contest. All Artfest attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorite artist so as

to help them win a share of th

at $100,000.

I wish I could go to Lake City every day this week and vote for Chris’s masterpiece, but

alas, someone has to sell some real estate around here.

Check out the website www.ArtfieldsSC.org to learn how to vote and for up-to-the-minute announcements! Do make plans to attend; you’ll suffer no regret. Remember the word “epic,” because it’s the perfect word for this one-of-a-kind event.

From DeBordieu and Pawleys Island, there are three easy ways to get to Lake City, which is about 24 miles south of Florence.

Once in Georgetown, (1) Take Hwy 51 North, (2) take Hwy 521 to Hwy 527,

or (3) take 521 North which will add about 10 minutes, but will probably be the easiest way to get there. Each way takes about an hour.

We’re planning on taking a caravan of Chris Thomas fans to vote for “Crutches Cathedral” Saturday, April 27. I hope to see you there!

Apr 04 2013

Brookgreen Gardens in TripAdvisors Top Ten

Photos of Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet — This photo of Brookgreen Gardens is courtesy of TripAdvisor

April is National Garden Month, so TripAdvisor rounded up the 10 best public gardens in the U.S., according to traveler reviews and opinions. Brookgreen Gardens, just north of DeBordieu and Pawleys Island, SC, made into their TOP TEN places to see flowers in bloom this spring! Below

Here is the traveler article about Brookgreen Gardens on the TripAdvisor site:

Brookgreen Gardens is a true gem that far too many visitors to the Grand Strand area miss. The name, “Gardens”, is a misnomer. Brookgreen is so much more than just beautiful outdoor gardens (spread over approximately 10 acres). Brookgreen Gardens are located right on Highway 17, south of Murrells Inlet, and just north of the Litchfield area of Pawleys Island.

Brookgreen Gardens Admission tickets are for 7 consecutive days, which allows you to return on either a better-weather day, or to see some of the many attractions or tours that you missed on your first visit. Reduced prices for Seniors and children under 12, free under age 5. There is a wonderful restaurant for lunch (11:30-3:00), the Pavilion, which has a wait staff. In addition, there are two locations for casual meals that you pick up at the counter, either the Low Country cafe, or the Old Kitchen. Both have casual seating nearby.

Brookgreen is also the largest outdoor sculpture garden in the nation, with nearly 300 scultpures on display outdoors, and hundreds of others – mostly smaller – displayed indoors in various galleries. This was the first public outdoor sculpture garden or park to open in America, in 1932. Now public sculpture gardens can be found in almost every state! Brookgreen is set amongst some 9,000 acres of woodlands, which are protected from ever becoming developed. This is also a National Historic Trust Site, based on the fact that its co-founder, Anna Hyatt Huntington, was the foremost female American sculptor in the early 20th century.

One of the enclosed galleries is a favorite of all visitors – the “Brown” indoor/outdoor sculpture court. Two galleries here are connected to each other (one built in the 1930’s, the other added in the 1990’s), and both have sculptures arranged down the left and right sides, with central water features open to the sky. One of the galleries has a whole open area towards the back area, and that leads you to another outdoor garden area known asThe Dogwood Garden.

In addition to gardens and sculpture, there are a number of short nature and hostoric trails, several of which travel through historic rice plantation areas. Yes, Brookgreen Gardens is set on a historic rice plantation dating to the 1760’s, whose name was – of course – Brookgreen Plantation. It is one of many that were built along the Waccamaw River, which is also now part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Complete hour-long Garden tours are given several times daily, which include information on the best-loved sulptures, the extremely old Live Oak trees, horticulture, and the history of the plantation as well as of the building of the Gardens in 1931. In addition to the historic aspect of Brookgreen, there is an education center at the Low Country Center, where there is an indoor exhibit, and an afternoon “Meet the Animals” program, during which 3 different types of local animals are introduced and explained. There is usually a mammal, a reptile, or perhaps a snake or turtle. This is a popular program for families, with lots of opportunities for getting your questions answered. Also in that area is the new Childrens’ Discovery Room, with a number of craft and interactive programs for younger children (and their parents!).

Besides the Garden and Low Country Center area, one of the most popular areas is the Zoo. Set along a woodland trail, visitors can view various animals and birds of prey that are all native to South Carolina’s Low Country. Here is another area where visitors may take several tours daily. If your take the trail on your own, however, there are always one or two “Zoo strollers” on hand to answer questions or give information. The newest attraction here is the River Otter exhibit, where visitors can watch these lovable animals both above and below water behind huge acrylic windows. In addition,there is a large cypress swamp bird aviary, where you can spy several types of herons, ducks, ibis, and more. As you move along the path, you can see the alligator habitat, the red and gray fox habitat, and then birds of prey. These birds have all been injured, and would not be able to live out in the wild. There are bald eagles, red tailed hawks, and three distinctively different breeds of owls. You can also see wild turkeys, trumpeter swans, and a flock of deer.

Two extremely popular tours with visitors are by boat or Brookgreen’s specially built 4×4 “Trekker”. For a small additional fee, the 48-passenger boat cruises down former rice field canals, all manmade. Your tour guide will fill you in on stories of life on these plantations, how rice was grown, and some of the families that once lived there. You will also have the opportunity to spot a lot of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and various kinds of birds, which the tour guide will stop and tell you about.

Tours on the Trekker, also an additional charge and running 4 times daily, take you to several of the three other former plantations that make up all 9,000 acres of Brookgreen’s property. You will see the ruins of the plantation manors, a beautifully intact rice mill chimney, stunning overlook of the Waccamaw River, slave cemeteries, plantation owners’ above-ground cemetaries, and learn much about the plant and tree life unique to the “low country”.

Throughout the year, Brookgreen Gardens hosts many special events or weekends. you can learn about these on the website, http://www.brookgreen.org/. The most popular are throughout December, when three weekends celebrate the beauty of the Gardens at night, resplendant with luminary candles, white & colored twinkling lights, special effects, and a whole range of Christmas entertainment. These are known as The Nights of a Thousand Candles, though the amount of candles lit is now closer to 3,500! This is an extremely popular annual event for Myrtle Beach locals, and for first-time visitors, it can literally take your breath away!

There is much more that you can see at the Gardens, but that would make this page even longer! Just read the many Trip Advisor reviews, and you will see how wonderful and worthwhile the drive is to visit this magical place.

Area Attractions, Festivals and Special Events

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