–  Dec 31, NEW YEARS EVE! 3rd Annual Platinum Ball, “Where Music, Fashion & Film Merge.” <– Buy Tickets before they sell out. Join Jesse & Lamar, among the hosts & toasts, among the film models & champagne bottles, among the leaders & teachers (net proceeds go to Youth Power Initiative). Charleston & the world’s jet set touch down here, in between NY City & Miami South Beach, into VIP cabanas that are anything but cabanas. Think bigger, think cosmic: fly in under the wide starry skies of the Charleston Harbor Waterfront into The Hippodrome (former IMAX theater screen for wrap-around NASA space spectacles). Get a feast for the eyes; music & dancing for the feet, and treats for the taste buds! Teeth, get ready to sink into Charleston’s one & only Gullah Geechee hors d’oeuvres by Chef Benjamin Dennis.  Hip & happy and tasty & spacey – hello 2013!

– Dec 21 Join the #Unify #AroundTheWorld Event. This is a facet of the mission of DoTheCharleston. Make an impact now: don’t wait on a yoga mat, or yoga clothes, or yoga class in Charleston or France…just do it…go out and unify the world!

copyright 2012 DoTheCharleston.com

 – Happy Hanukkah & Merry Christmas Charleston (and the World) – same as it ever was! Christmas in July – 70degree bikini weather. Christmas in fall with fall leaves next to palm trees.

Like Pommery Louise, a joy to have anytime of the year.

–  Dec, first 3 weekends,  “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”  Threshold Repertory Theatre, 84 1/2 Society St.  (REVIEW: Home for the Holidays? Maybe not 😮 Go for a campy hammy comic adventure with twists & turns & skip ropes & hop scotch & (uhhemm) martinis & coke & pills & chills & thrills & nectars & vectors & rockets & hangars & hangers…from Mars to the North Pole…and back…?!?! A holiday play for families; for off-off-broadway theater Junkies; and more, “All Eden (playing Betty) wants for Christmas is Hanukkah gelt.“ Share Facebook Event

copyright 2012 RJD Timeless Photography by Rebecca Dersch

- Nov 30, 7-10pm, readCharlie’s 2012 YearBook Signing Party for it’s year-end special issue launch. It’s the scene to see and be scene, dance & smooze, and toast & nosh with progressives and creatives at GrowFood Carolina at 990 Morrison Dr. $20-$25.

- Nov 17, 4-11 Jail Break 4 at The Infamous Old City Jail, home of  ACBA(American College of the Building Arts). This is a bizarre Bazar of local indie arts, music, dance, jewelry, food…expect the best (the Old City Jail is full of bars, but the bar was raised pretty high last year by Jenny & Chloe with DanceFX ;) 

– Nov 12 – 16  Philanthropy Week in the Lowcountry

– Nov 16, 2012 Charleston Magazine’s Giving Back Awards (Tickets):  Celebrate with philanthropists, businesses, individuals, and nonprofits, with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra at the Charleston Music Hall. Red Carpet at 7pm and Awards at 8pm. After-Party at Rue de Jean. Details & Tickets

– Nov 16, 2012 Annual Donor Celebration: Coastal Community Foundation Exec. Dir. George Stevens, “…if we let it…by giving thanks to those who inspire us, we can inspire ourselves…[but remember]…Rule No. 1: Be specific…the easy way out, the shotgun approach, leads us towards thoughtlessly thin thank you’s. Rule No. 2: Thank the right people…One poorly targeted “thanks” and all your other “thank yous” suffer from deflation, forever.” 

– Nov 15  Darkness To Light’s  “Circle of Light GALA…a world-class charity evening of fine dining, spectacular entertainment, an edge-of-your seat auction, and a lively after-party…” The GALA raises $500,000 annually to further protecting children from sexual abuse! The GALA’s 450 benefactors include Charleston-area & national business leaders.

– Nov 15  National Philanthropy Day! Annual Luncheon of The Association of Fundraising Professionals’ (AFP) awards outstanding individual, foundation, and corporate contributions of philanthropy to enrich us locally and globally.

– Nov 8 -12  They’re coming from all over the land for the 3rd Annual Holy City Blues Xchg - DANCING ALL WEEK, day & night & dance until dawn!! No partner, no problem, come one, come all! Schedule and more Links. Blues Dance Lessons are also easy & available - post here, too.

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– Nov 2- 4, The 14th Annual Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Association (CFADA) galleries, plein air painting in Washington Park, Art on Paper Fair at the Gibbes Museum, Gala & Silent Auction, and lectures. Proceeds benefit Charleston County High Schools’ fine arts. Sales of paintings to CFADA patrons has raised > $250,000 for schools since 2004. See DoTheCharleston.com HiArtFilms RAW video below, Copyright 2012.

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– Thur,  Nov 1 “…must attend for collectors and painters…Star Studded Art Extravaganza Demo…benefit for Charleston Library Society…jazz trio for dancing….ornately costumed & propped with Chinese and French Antiques…These Intl painters impart tremendous knowledge…part instruction, part art history….”

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– Sun Oct 28  Awesome Musician and inspirational poet, MATISYAHU, “SPARKS” in Charleston! Acoustic Set at 1pm at Half-Moon Outfitters. Tonite 8pm CONCERT at The Music Farm downtown!

copyright 2012 DoTheCharleston.com

Matisyahu brought us “Sunshine,” when he passed thru Charleston. Super Storm Sandy brought us Moonshine, when it passed by Charleston.

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- Oct 27  The 12th Annual Skinful Halloween. What to expect?? Read last year’s TWO Reviews (Excerpt: “…fire burn and cauldron bubble …Big Hair Productions …DoTheCharleston.com Challenge: “Go …for the music & culture …not a drop to drink; nor drop of acid…no groping…oh behave…high on life; high on endorphins …beyond the bare and buzzed…”) 

copyright 2011 2012 DoTheCharleston.com

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– Oct 9  7:30 -10:30  Party for a Purpose 100% Donations goto SC Special Olympics! What’s Camille got brewing? Not beer, and not her witches brew, because it’s too early for Halloween “weeks.” Not fish stew – it’s at the SC Aquarium for visual stimulation, but there will be light hors d’oeuvres. It’s the Van Gogh Drink Challenge: a taste of 15 of the best Charleston Bartenders. See DoTheCharleston.com HiArtFilms video below, Copyright 2012.

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– 2012 Charleston Fashion Week official After Party – RAIN by Charleston After Dark.  (You know Christmas in July is at most a reminder of what was or what will be…well, behold Fashion Week in October: A look back at what was (and what will come again)… by Merrick Teichman (and guest co-writer, Wendy Wilson, YogaBareHeart Founder, Teacher, & Fashion Designer): “The Mar 24th evening was full of flare, fashionistas, fun, and fish!  Guests caught the fisheye lens of the paparazzi along with designers & celebrities; Chicken Turtles & Slippery D__s (fish); starlets sporting sparkling sea shell swimwear; and even retired world class pros flaming & passing the torch.  Nigel Williams, now in Charleston with Record Quest, attended this soiree to keep up with his love for fashion. Nigel was born in Guyana South America, and he spent the 70s in New York working with icon Willi Smith. Nigel doesn’t keep his wisdom & savoir faire close to the vest, he wears it on his collar (we love his hi-fashion tie clip jewelry). It was easy mining (fishing) for gem stones: studs like Nigel; jewels like Camille and Hilda; and hard rockers like Mark Bryan – all lured by a passion for fashion! The Aquarium was a perfect lure, too, the beauty was inside and out! (Special thanks to Sherrie Mills, Old South Barber Spa. Her Hair Cuts turn an everyday pauper into a Fashion Week Prince! Check out her Fashion For A Cause, too: Sidewalk Chalk) 

Femme Fatale #1: “Ooo la la, parlez-vous français? Allez-vous à Paris Haute Couture ainsi que la Semaine de la mode Charleston? …Femme Fatale #2: “Mais bien sûr, nous sommes à la fois incroyable! N’est-ce pas? …Femme Fatale #1: Voila! Bon Vivant! Copyright 2012 DoTheCharleston.com

Nigel Williams passes his international savoir-faire fashion wisdom to Charleston. Copyright 2012 DoTheCharleston.com

Video Shot and edited by Michael Kadlubkiewicz, CharlestonMultimedia, Music by Armin van Buuren 

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– Sept 21 – Oct 13  (Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun) REVIEW: (Special Guest Review by Wendy Wilson) LADIES, dont wait for another Sunday to pass, without seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Tell Me on a Sunday!”  YOU WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD, watching “Emma” sing her heart out, while she travels through her career path trying to strike it rich.  Immanuel Houston, adds his musical flair and pazazz! Cheers to Sheri Grace Wenger, for Directing Midtown Productions‘ enchanting musical along with an intimate theater experience at The Charleston Acting Studio, 915 Folly Rd.

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Sept 10 -16, 2012  The Inaugural Charleston Dance Festival Video by Rogue Wave//Creative Development, Music by Ben Jacobs:

– 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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