– ARTicles – June & July (scroll below). People to see, places to go… Sparking Charleston and the World.

- “DoTheCharleston.com TOURs” private, premium, personalized, satisfaction guaranteed…so you’ll come back (and we give back to preservation…so you’re kids and kids’ kids will come back).

– Spoleto Festival <- check back, more REVIEWS, HiArtFilms -> Piccolo Spoleto.

– ARTicles – June & July (check back, more updates, Theatre,  REVIEWs):

– June 26,  Fashion for a cause “A HAT TO REMEMBER” modeling & selling 19th century styles & also modern “chapeaus.” Enjoy wine & hors d’oeuvres & pARTy for a purpose at the cool Old City Jail. Net proceeds benefit Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding & the American College of the Building Arts.

– June 28, Bike to the Road Show, “Dinner and Bikes” at Tivoli Charleston ART Gallery. REVIEW: “This pARTy for a purpose had something for everyone. All walks of life and bikes of life were seen and heard. Parents eliminating their SUV for a life of bikes was one of the many eye-opening urban bike documentary film clips that tickled our fancy (along with the local COLD beer from COAST Brewing and Palmetto Brewing - served by COOL Blue Collar Bandits). The cornucopia of vegan dishes also included local fruits and veggies. Insightful healthy people, lifestyles, nonprofits, advocates, activists, filmmakers, fashionistas, and urban planners show vegans and bike commuters sparking Portland, Oregon, Charleston, and the world. Speakers and event planners were more like pARTy hosts. These contemporary figure heads were not talking heads but pied pipers singing their tune and we were more than following – we’re charging ahead. We mean business, too, and everyone bought and wore the fashions for a cause that were for sale – more cool t-shirts and hats online are for sale – event pictures here. Net proceeds to benefit Charleston Moves.

– July 7,  Memorial Service for Young Music Renaissance Man Brad Cooper – plus – Reception for friends and family. Listen to a Brad Cooper Tribute by Mike Bills about Brad, KineticHiFi.com, TheFix.FM, and more. Here is a HiArtFilms music video we enjoyed making (see end credits, “Brad Cooper – 2nd Camera, Sound Engineer, Editor”) 

– July 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19 What If? Productions:   “Accepting Applications for a Muse” world premier. Now! Limited offer! $10 tickets, code MUSE, “in the spirit of creative freedom.” This play’s premier is the winner of the 2013 Playwrights’ Festival voted by What If? Productions’ audience.

– July 12 , 4:30 What If? Productions’ 2014 Playwrights’ Festival includes the 24 hour Competition with 3 plays/finalists. Actors, directors and playwrights meet, then in turn write a script, direct, rehearse all in 24 hours – culminating in the play’s performance/reading at 4:30pm. The finale is free (plus free wine) and the audience will judge and pick the winner (plus more).

– July 11 – Aug 2, Pure Theatre’s new play “Folly Beach.”

– July 10 – Aug 5, The new 34 West Theatre Company’s first play in Charleston, “Doo Wops and Beauty Shops.”

– July 12, 5:45 – 8pm  Yoga and Paddleboard with Dolphins at the “Full Moon Fundraiser Sunset Paddle” on Shem Creek. Net Proceeds goto protect Dolphins (NOAA). Reservations with Yoga Instructor Wendy Wilson: YogaBareHeart@hotmail.com or call 843-469-4323.

– July 12, 6-9pm, Dalai Lama Birthday pARTy for a purpose…for peace…in Charleston and around the world. Live music, food, Tibetan nomad songs, and items for sale at Gage Hall, downtown, 4 Archdale St.

Bastille Day © 2012

- July 14, 5 -10pm French Bastille Day at Fish Restaurant, King St. Dress-up in costumes & march-up from Marion Square with the French Flag & parade of performers from What If? Productions & Can-Can dancers from DanceFX.

Vive la France…living French history in historical Charleston. C’est la vie…”life imitates art” © 2014

– July 20, The inaugural NutritionHeals Garden Party, Wine, healthy hors d’oeuvres, live music, silent auction, beautiful historic home and garden. Another pARTy for a purpose – join the “food is medicine” movement in Charleston and around the world. Net proceeds benefit the Crohns & Colitis Nutrition Foundation (reversing the symptoms of autoimmune diseases)

– July 26, 9am RIDEdwin 5th Annual ride to honor the memory of Edwin Gardner, who loved bicycling around Charleston for transportation, adventure, and to enjoy the wonderful downtown community. Start at Cannon park.

–  Check back for more Updates.

DoTheCharleston.com

presents

HiArtFilms’

“Kookoo at the Voodoo”

Showcasing Gino Castillo’s Cuban Jazz Band (Dancing at the Voodoo Tiki Bar in Charleston, SC)

Merrick Teichman – Writer, Producer, Director
Stephen Massar – Cinematographer
Brad Cooper – 2nd Camera, Sound Engineer, Editor

Gino Castillo’s Cuban Jazz Band:
Gino Castillo percussion, vocals
Trey Cooper piano
William Moore upright
Zandrina Dunning back vocals, percussion
Alan Schmitt cuban tres
Chuck Dalton trumpet
Zac Taylor trombon
Michael Quinn sax, shekere

La Quinn – Salsa Dance Instructor
Abigail Marie – Special Guest Dancer

Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge, Charleston, SC

DoTheCharleston.comHiArtFilms and Merrick Teichman copyright 2013 2014

Win Free Tours at our Facebook(s) <– Like & Share!!  “DoTheCharleston.com Tours” cultural, ARTsy, personalized for you. 5 star Service day or night. Call last minute – better to reserve in advance. Mark Jones – the Most Knowledgeable, Experienced, Licensed Full Time Guide, & Prolific Author (Mark Jones wrote “Doin’ The Charleston”). Details, numbers to Call, Text, Rates. 

Jan 14 “The Art & Heart of Philanthropy” at the 5 star Sanctuary at Kiawah (Missed it? Then support DoTheCharleston.com to far better Preview, REVIEW (stay tuned), and fuel our HiArtFilms to broadcast & fire-up all walks of life to join with your Arts, your Hearts, and your Philanthropy – today, tomorrow, and forever!

– Jan 31, 7pm,  Spoleto Festival USA’s Gala & Auction. World Class Party for a Purpose! Come join us on the dance floor with Cuban Salsa dancing to cuban jazz artist Gino Castillo and the Charleston Jazz Collective. Get in on the action during the live auction – bid on unmissable events, exclusive dinners, travel tours around the world, more. Join us at the beautifully restored Memminger Auditorium. (Click here for an extra wonderful online auction) $1500 tables or $150 Tickets –> SpoletoUSA.org or (843) 579-3100

(Glimpse Gino Castillo’s Cuban Jazz Band on DoTheCharleston.com HiArtFilms dance music  video, “Kookoo at the Voodoo” at the Voodoo Tiki Lounge in Charleston)

– Feb 1, 7pm, Charleston Music Hall’s Anniversary Benefit for The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art – The concert by Charleston’s nationally acclaimed mix of musicians is fitting to honor the Halsey’s 30th Anniversary (on Groundhog Day)! The exclusive and rare combination of headline musicians include Bill Carson, Charlton Singleton, Ron Wiltrout, and many more! VIPs’ get an after-party cast-party with the musician. Tickets $15 to $50VIPs.  

– Feb 14 – 16   SEWE – South Eastern Wildlife Exposition – Party Animals pARTy for a purpose!

 

– Check back for Updates + PLUS Exclusive PREVIEWS & REVIEWS! Follow our Twitter and Facebook.

– Dec 1, 7-10pm, Falling Whistles’ Party for a Purpose presented by Rhett’s Rogue Wave Surf Shop & fueled by Billy’s Remedy Market’s Costa Rican beer, and Roti Rolls. Located at 69 Spring, it shares the avant-garde artsy space of Rebekah Kiser’s BlueNess Studios including originals by local artists, like Vordai’s Art Spaces’ modern abstracts . Overheard at the party: “…passionate Falling Whistle Necklaces…pioneers just back from the jungles…educating local schools about Invisible Children… Merrick’s surfboards…great art…pirate jokes, arrrrghhh…”

Rebekah Kiser BlueNess Studios. Copyright  DoTheCharleston.com

– Dec 2,3,4,9,10,11 Sprouts Musical Theatre Company presents, “Princess and the Pea” Very clever lyrics and chase scenes fun for young and old alike. (Watch our last Trailer & review of Pinnochio). Since coming to Charleston 2 years ago, Stan Gill has been on a roll with a continuous string of creative theater that he writes, produces, directs, and acts. He has cultivated a dedicated company of professional actors, young & old, to form a chemistry that is magical. Need 2&9 @7pm; Dec3&10 @ 1pm; and Dec4&11 @ 3pm. At Creative Spark, Long Pt. Rd, Mt.Pleasant $10-$12. 843-881-3780

– Dec 2, –  Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club – Stephen Duane, ”The New South Jazzmen are absolutely amazing…play a timeless style of Jazz music in our very own timeless and historic city. We are more than just fortunate to be able to experience this kind of music and dancing almost a hundred years after it was created!” (start with 2 lessons 7:15 and 8, then swing dance to 11)” $10

copyright2011 Roaring 20s Hot Jazz Dance Club

– Dec 3 Charleston Swing Dance Assoc Lindy Workshop and Christmas Swing Dance and Late Nite Blues Dance The premier Lindy Hop lessons go from 11am – 4 pm at Hazel Parker Center, 70 East Bay St. The Big Fancy Christmas Swing Party is from 7:30-11 at Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul, 126 Coming St. The swing band is the Joe Clarke Trio, featuring the School of the Arts Little Big Band. $5 – $30

The Holy City Blues Holiday Late Nite Dance is 12:30 – 2:30am at Spirit Moves, 445 Savannah Hwy. $3

copyright 2011 Holy City Blues

– Dec 8 Wide Angle Lunch Shannon Smith gives the presentation, “Why Climate Change is not a Left-Wing Issue.” Charleston Library Society, 163 King St, 12:30-1:30pm. $20-25

– Dec 8, 5:30, Free: SlowFoodCharleston.org Film Series; food culture; and personal, community and global action items… “Nourish,” Narrated by actress Cameron Diaz. MUSC Auditorium in Psychiatry Building.

– Dec 10 & 11 Charleston Farmers Market, Marion Square.

– Dec 10 Charleston Swing Dance Association Weekly Dance & Workshop Come at 6pm and 7pm to learn how to do the Charleston and the Lindy Hop, then social dance until 11pm at Hazel Parker Center, 70 East Bay St. No partner required. $3-5

– Dec 11, noon-6pm, every 2nd Sunday, Charleston’s King Street is opened up to street fair and entertainment and outdoor cafes for pedestrians only. Car traffic is prohibited! Yeah, clean air and no threat of getting run over!

– Dec 11 LOVE FEST for Dell is a “FUNdraiser!” at Torch on King St. Dell is a Charleston Gem – she normally shares the love making tasty healthy wraps in her box at Dellz Deli. She is out of the hospital, but still struggling to recover from a multiple stab wound attack.

– Dec 12, 6-10 Leah Suarez’s Charleston Jazz, Yazz, and Portuguese Bossa Nova at Mercato Italian Restaurant Bar on Market St. Try to be tastefully inventive and find a spot to softly swing/blues dance – it’s worth it.

– Dec 12 Play it again, Sam, we’re addicted to Blues! The Holy City Blues Monthly Dance at Barbara Jeans Upstairs, 99 S.Market. Lesson 7pm. Dance till 10pm. $5

copyright 2011 Holy City Blues

– Dec 14 – Pecha Kucha 12 features short personal presentations by avante-garde Charleston Creatives who are spearheading the professional artistic multiplyer effect on the bottom line economy. $5 tickets sell out. Venue secret is unveiled the day of.

– Dec 16, –  Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club Come to Stephen Duane’s holiday castle and swing dance to our local favorites, the stylistic V-Tones!” (start with 2 lessons 7:15 and 8, then swing dance to 11)” $10

Copyright 2011 Roaring 20s Hot Jazz Dance Club

– Dec 17 & 18 Charleston Farmers Market, Marion Square.

– Dec 17 Charleston Swing Dance Association Weekly Dance & Workshop Come at 6pm and 7pm to learn how to do the Charleston and the Lindy Hop, then social dance until 11pm at Hazel Parker Center, 70 East Bay St. No partner required. $3-5

– Dec 20, 4-6pm Chanukah in the Square celebration for everyone! Free food, drinks, entertainment, etc.

-Dec 20, 5:30-7:30, Tech After Five cool networking with Hi-Tech entrepreneurs. Free including the first beer! South End Brewery, East Bay at Queen St.

– Dec 21, 4-8pm Happy Hour Art Tent Event

– Dec 23, –  Roaring Twenties Hot Jazz Dance Club Stephen Duane says, “The New South Jazzmen are local and have been keeping the great American art form alive and well in Charleston. This authentic and legendary Dixieland band “swings” as hard as any band anywhere! This is not something that you are going to want to miss. So, come out and celebrate the sweetness that is Jazz music, Jazz dancing, Jazz musicians that swing, and the beauty of Swing dancing in Charleston! At 7:15pm, learn intermediate Lindy Hop, vernacular Jazz combos, and “Charleston style” swingouts. At 8pm, learn beginner fundamentals of Swing dance. The band plays 8:45 – 11pm. $10

-Dec 24, 10pm-12 YAD’s 5th Annual Matzah Ball It’s a giant schmoozing party – better than the usual “going to a Chinese restaurant & maybe a movie.” Much better than a boring lonely nite at home (or worse, actually going to a Xmas party and getting stuck under mistletoe with a shiksa, or not). YAD is the Young Adult Division of the Charleston Jewish Federation. Molly Darcy’s Irish Pub 235 East Bay St. $25-35 open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

– more to come…

…

– Check back for Updates + PLUS Exclusive PREVIEWS & REVIEWS! Follow our Twitter and Facebook.

– Oct 31, 7-11, Nightmare on the Harbour, Patriot’s Point. Charleston is voted #1 in America and #3 in the World as the best place to visit…well…yeh…we know, we know: Halloween Dance Party with Sky Blu of LMFAO, Shwayze & Cisco Adler, Ben G, and Klipart – Dance, Hip Hop, & Reggae. Produced by Brightsound Entertainment and also benefiting Conscious Alliance, so bring canned food and PARTY FOR A PURPOSE! After Party at Suede.

– Oct 31 Dirty Bourbon River Show at The Tin Roof. Their New Orleans Circus Jazz jumps, jives, & swings; and the tubas & horns make for a honking good time. See our previous Aug16 Review, “blew out the doors…did it in the road…”. Opening up, Megan Jean and the KFB are putting on an Addams Family Halloween Dance Party & cash prize costume contest. $8-$10

– Oct 29, 6:30, The FUR Ball – a disco inFURno – Pet Helpers annual FUNdraiser “red carpet…PUParazzi…The Fur Ball is going to the dogs…disco dog park walkers…black tie optional?!?!” Marriott on Lockwood $150/person and $75/dog :b

– Oct 29, Charleston Swing Dance Halloween! Lessons 6-8pm, then Dance until 11pm.  Charleston Swing Dance Assoc.  Hazel Parker Center at 70 East Bay St. $3-$5 

– Oct 29 – Holy City Blues – Late Night Dancing 11pm until…Sultry Halloween Dancing at it’s best Spirit Moves $3

copyright 2011 Holy City Blues

– Oct 28 Danse Macabre! A Halloween Costume Party till 11pm. Roaring 20s Hot Jazz Dance Club’s Stephen Duane: “Have no fear, for the dance of death welcomes everyone! Spirit Moves will be a ghostly paradise for the lost souls of a Jazz Age gone by. With no bones, dead spirits can dance circles around you, so…you won’t be alone! 7:15 lesson…ghosts of Shorty George and Suzy Q…magical steps…Lindy Hop. 8pm class (with the) spirit of MJ…learn the “Thriller” then perform it…If you’re dead, you get in free! $10 for everyone living, but feel free to disguise yourself so as to fit in. This is a seriously all ages party and you definitely won’t need a partner for this one! See you there, or not.” Spirit Moves.

– Oct 27, @ 5:30 SlowFoodCharleston.org and Whole Foods shows us great clean sustainable food with the Documentary, “Truck Farm!” on urban farming in New York City (even roof tops). MUSC Psychiatry Physicians’ Auditorium, 67 President St.

– Oct 27, 7-11pm, RED PARTY bene for ACBA American College of the Building Arts The famous City Jail will be transformed into a fabulous 1920s circus with red clowns and more. Swing Dancers & Flappers can dance to Charleston’s unique swinging band, The V-Tones with Noodle, Eden, Jeff, Darby, & more. Expect The greatest auction & silent auction in the world. $80/door, $150/Big Top Tickets.

– Oct 25 5:30 – 6:30. Talmud: The Jewish Kama Sutra” Ok, ok, ok. College of Charleston’s Jewish Studies Center on Wentworth: “Judaism on One Foot.” Every other Tuesday, “We want to reach out to young professionals, graduate students, and college seniors…different young teachers…offering a taste of what’s out there…interactive…open to learners of all background and skill levels…plus pizza!”

– Oct 24, Happy National Food Day! Local food, music, leaders, organizations, and new documentary “Ingredients.” Local experts and groups include, Lowcountry Local First, College of Charleston Urban Ag, Cougar Activities Board, Green CofC, Fields to Families, Slow Food, Alliance for Planet Earth…and more. At College of Charleston Cistern.

– Oct 23 and Nov 9 The legends live on: Charleston Jazz Band Jams; swing & blues dancers; sublime marsh sunsets; and steamed oysters all at RAW Bowens Island. Oh, and the best patrons to mingle with and dance with (and even fix your car in the parking lot – thanks). Produced by The Charleston Jazz Club, Dennis Fassuliotis, in collaboration with Smoky Weiner, Steve Simon Presents and Dr. Eddie White. $10

– Oct 22 @ 8pm – 4am (whoa this ain’t chopped liver) $50-100. It’s The 11th Annual 2011 Skinful Halloween. RIP for VIPs who ride limos there, or taxis, or shuttle bus for the rest of us. It’s at The Brick House Kitchen on Folly Rd. Charleston’s known as a melting pot, but this is the real deal or sureal deal, “Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble.” Presented by Big Hair Productions, “6 LIVE MUSIC STAGES, GODDESS STUDIO…DANCING…URBAN WAKEBOARDING…CIRCUS ACTS…DOME TENT, VIDEO WALLS, LASERS.” Review #1 At & After Event: HA – another DoTheCharleston challenge: “Go to Skinful Halloween for the music & culture & CREATIVES…and…not a drop to drink; nor drop of acid; no rain drops; no tear drops; all fun; and no groping. Whoa, wait wait can’t be…oh behave…its true, it can be done…till 4am…” Well one very active animated party goer has emerged victorious! SEE PIC! “High fiving; high kicking; high on life; high on endorphins from swing dancing frenetically (and there are others – kissing cousins – driving home safe – all for one & one for all). Boing, awake at 8am; refreshed & writing/working; carpooling sunday school; smoozing at big KKBE community outreach meeting. Thanks Skinful, our batteries are charged, stories to tell, ready to giddy-up and go friend new Facebook friends to see their glorious pics.” Review #2, read FULL STORY by GG Good Girl Gwen Gill (Excerpt: “Upon the entrance of the forest…changing colors, the pounding rhythms, the wailing instrumentals…acres of roaming trails, great food, interactive…A great deal of skin (real and animated)…attractions go above and beyond the bare and buzzed…the community comes together and acts freely…dancing in the electric forest, being splashed by the flipping wake boarders, nourishing myself with a delicious Roti Roll…but forget the substances, liquids, powders, or pills. One could be just as easily enchanted, amazed, and…”)
Last Year’s 2010 Skinful Halloween video by The Cut Company:

– Oct 18 @ 6-9pm, 1920’s Dr. Sketchy’s Etchers sketching Burlesque’s Evelyn Devere and Plume de Paname; Ragtime swing by Flat Foot Floozies and Accordionist Matt Lohan. have your limo drop you at…shhhh…213 East Bay…the secret “Speakeasy,” tell them “DoTheCharleston.com sent you” to get past (or better, Olivia at ArtMag) $15

– Oct 14 @ 8pm, Flappers & Dappers’ Ragtime Ball, a 1920’s Soiree at The American Theatre. It’s presented by The Red Shoe Society, a young professionals group supporting charities. Proceeds benefit critically ill children at Charleston’s Ronald McDonald House. Do the Charleston with live entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and beer & wine. Costumes and red shoes, encouraged – cocktail attire/back tie optional.

Watch this for inspiration:

- Oct 13 “Beats Antique” brings their Intl electronica dub step Balcan club music & belly dancing to The Music Farm, downtown Charleston.

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