– ARTicles – Jan – Feb: Scroll below for special Charleston things to do, places to go, and people to see that are sparking Charleston and the World!

– Weekly/Daily Events (ongoing, including Swing Jazz & Blues Dancing Wed, Fri, Sun, & more).

– DoTheCharleston.com TOURs: private, premium, personalized, satisfaction guaranteed…so you’ll come back (and we give back to preservation…so your kids and kids’ kids will come back).

– Jan 12 – June 14 exhibition, “Fashion Flashback, 1920s-1960s: Five Decades of Style that Changed America” at The Charleston Museum. The history of women and men’s fashions starting when they were doin’ The Charleston in the Roaring 20s; thru the swinging 30s, 40s and 50s; and into the hippie 60s. 

– Jan 15 – Feb 8 at 8pm (Sun 3pm), “Don’t Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell,” by Charlotte writers V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger. REVIEW: Run (don’t fumble or pass) downtown to Threshold Theatre to score the last tickets. This live play acts out the real life of writers & producers. It’s a business, but it’s nuts, it’s bananas, and it’s the game of life. They pop pills, pop blood vessels, dare to dunk donuts, then fall asleep on the job. The fast action dives into the huddle of the play-by-play, minute-by-minute, last minute, come-from-behind, behind the screens, writing of the screenplay for the sliver screen’s “Gone With The Wind.” Margaret Mitchell’s book is played-out by the formidable actor Brendan Kelly along side fun actors Jay Danner, Nat Jones, and Sarah Coe. While portraying Scarlett and Mammy, the teammates go in the trenches, block & tackle, tie up, cut loose, and make up plays off-the-cuff. Cufflink and costume designer, Kristen Bushey, shows-off her jazzy flair. Mike Kordek brings in his multitalented leadership and set design. Versatile veteran, Robin Burke, directs and coaches another winner to standing ovations. 
Jan 23 – Feb14 at 7:30pm (some 3pm), Pure Theatre’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,” the Pulitzer Prize drama by David Mamet, is about a real estate sales force scamming for sales leads to close the deal, to win the Cadillac, to keep their jobs, and to save their lives. REVIEW: This is must-see acting for the purest of enthusiasts. You’ll walk away wanting more from Pure’s core ensemble and director Erin Wilson. It’s hard to steal the show with so many star performances – even the actors with fewer lines focused and filled out the frame with their powerful posturing. Pure Theatre gets you close-up to the penetrating actors with their deep, cutting, razor sharp dialogue that slashes back and forth. Fighting to win and desperate to survive at all costs, the scary acting is so true, it makes the story line too real-world. I was squirming, “get me out of this kind of world,” and then, “get me more of this kind of theatre.” (Note, join us below at Pure Theatre’s FUNdraiser on Feb 8, “The Pure Experience”) 
– Jan 29 from 6 – 9:30pm, “Dare to Dream” Gala Dance Scholarship Benefit for the Community Education Foundation of the Charleston Dance Institute. Dinner, Silent Auction, plus “a Bob Fosse inspired Charleston Broadway Dance Ensemble performance of “Gotta Dance!” At the Woolfe Street Playhouse. 

– Jan 31…ongoing, Photo Doggies for Anthony. <– Cute & sweet, go see or post your cute doggie pics/videos to cheer up Anthony and millions of others.

– Feb 6 at 7pm inside Memminger Auditorium: Spoleto Festival USA’s Preseason Gala Fundraiser. “A Night at the Charleston Club,” is a Roaring-20s pARTy for a purpose. Join us and Do The Charleston with the Joe Clarke Big Band, wine and dine, and bid on silent and live auction items. Also, the online auction runs thru Feb. 9.

– Feb 7 from 10am – 3pm, Charleston STEM Festival is a high profile engaging celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) for K-12 students and their families, teachers, and leaders. It will “feature ~50 exhibitors who will provide hands-on activities, live performances, interactive demonstrations, and entertainment.” It is outdoors at Brittlebank Park downtown. Remember to go ask for more STEAM (adding A for Arts). STEAM powers more creativity! 

– Feb 8 from 1- 5pm, Second Sundays on King Street (south of Calhoun Street down to Queen St – the cars are blocked off). Free promenade for pedestrians: it’s safe to walk and enjoy fresh air; meet & greet locals and visitors; hear street musicians; shop; wine & dine al fresco at the pop-up sidewalk cafés, and more!

– Feb 8 from 3 – 6:30pm,  “The Pure Experience” FUNdraisier pARTy for a purpose for Pure Theatre on King St. Wine & Dine with catering from Oak, Indaco, O-ku, and special chef, Macintosh’s Jeremiah Bacon (James Beard nominee). See David Boatwright’s band Minimum Wage; a cabaret show by Laura Ball & Friends; a short play by PURE’s Playwright in Residence, David Lee Nelson; and join in Scene Karaoke with PURE’ actors. The Live Auction includes a role in PURE’s play “Marie Antoinette.” (Note above, our REVIEW of their play “Glengarry Glen Ross” running thru Feb 14)

– Feb 13 – 15, The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) is the largest pARTy for a purpose of it’s kind in the US. About 40,000 nature loving pARTy animals will come to Charleston to be immersed in nature & wildlife preservation, fine art, conservation education, sporting demos, wining & dining, and more. Come see 500 international artists, exhibitors, and wildlife professionals; enjoy the edutainment; and learn more to protect nature for us, our kids, and our kids’ kids.

– Feb 14  Happy Valentines Day! Kiss someone you love!

– Feb 17  Happy Mardi Gras! The Voodoo Tiki Bar always has great food, bands, and dancing (although expect New Orleans jazz instead of Gino Castillo’s Cuban Jazz Band in our HiArtFilms below). 

– Feb 19 – 28 at 7:30pm, “Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story” by What If Productions is a musical, but expect the unexpected at Threshold Theatre. Directed by Charleston’s groundbreaking Kyle Barnette (search our great past REVIEWs!), this famous true story is about “thrill killers” in the Roaring 20s who dare to “lure a young boy to his death just to prove they could get away with it…But was it so careless?” Drama Desk nominee for Best Musical and Best Score. REVIEW: Wow, what an ending, what a set up! The stage was set with cold shades of gray: cold lovers, murdering in cold blood, with cold coal eyes, cold ghostly skin, and cold comic relief. The eeriness was chilling while subversively warm, too. Warm vocal chords and warm piano chords floated the memories of the manipulated melodrama. The musical had a melancholy melody that never missed a beat (praise to pianist, Kevin Thorn). The sultry singers fueled the flames of fire & brimstone and singed the passions of desire & deceit. The dirty devils (starring Brian Porter & Brannen Daugherty) raised hell as hot shots wielding cold crow bars and cold prison bars. (The bar was raised high again by challenging director Kyle Barnette and the crew of What If? Productions). The Nietzche supermen flew high with their hot heads in the clouds and their cold noses in the air, then crashed & burned through the dust & death down in a drainpipe ditch. As it dripped back in time, behind the crime scenes, behind the headlines, and behind the veils of the master minds…the cold love story unfolded…what a hot ending. Get Tickets (hurry, limited discount code “CHICAGO”)

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– SPOLETO FESTIVAL:  Scroll Below!

– ARTicles – May: other things to do & people to see.

- Piccolo Spoleto: click here.

– DoTheCharleston.com Tours: private, premium, personalized, satisfaction guaranteed…so you”ll come back (and we give back net proceeds to preservation…so you’ll come back)

– Dinner and a Show– try both – Dinner & Dancing: Tapas style, of course, to stay light as a feather. Wine pairings & spirits give you wings to float like a butterfly, responsibly. Meet Chefs at haute cuisine restaurants; dance with top instructors; and join us as at the shows:

– SPOLETO FESTIVAL <– Tickets and times, May 23 – June 8. Check back below for updates in DoTheCharleston.com ARTicles, Previews, REVIEWs,  HiArtFilms, and special HiArtPromotions!

– Join us (of course there are many more events and shows here). Below are just some of the best of the best events -oye- mostly on their opening night performances. Join us, so you can be the first “in the know;” talk all about the events;  check back below for REVIEWs; and Like, Share, and add your comments on Facebook:
– Theatre, dance, music, and oh, so much more;
– Society & Scene Patrons’ social events, teas, cocktail parties, Artist receptions…more;
– Historical venues like The Cistern, City Hall, Dock Street Theatre, Sotille, Memminger; Spoleto HQ, CofC President’s Opening Night Fête, Homes & Gardens, Middleton Place…more!

– Join us (venue code & address list are at the bottom of page):

– Fri May 23:

“Opening Ceremonies”

– Opening Ceremonies City Hall.  The Four Corners of Law (Hail, Mail, Bail, or Jail). We’ve been blessed with perfect whether. So thank the heavens; give a bow to the Holy City’s church spires; and listen to the angelic voices of the temple choirs…their singing to you, “join us…”

A Simple Space

– 3:30 – A Simple Space, ROB. Joyous leaping feats of topsy-turvy acrobatics to flip your wig, blow your mind, and take your breath away with eye-poping intimacy and live music. Take a date and your palms should get sweaty.

– 7:00 – Hubbard Street Dance, TDA. Chic elite stylistic dance company choreographing memorable muscular movements that move beyond contemporary dance. REVIEW:  “These penetrating urban dancers are black and white – no grey - you will love them! Don’t miss “walking into the opening,” because in a blink of the eye, they swoop into a natural graceful enchanting herd of gazelles. Intuitively and seamlessly darting here & there, then dividing at their pleasure at perhaps a wonton leopard. Fleet of foot with decorative arms like antlers, they mirrored the earthy acoustics of the resonating wooden flute amongst rolling african drums. This Spoleto show is the best ever for dance aficionados – it’s 3 shows in 1! Flip the switch on and add some color: Act 2 is a haunting mix of near & far spaces in a metropolis of individuals that are universally the same yet a world apart. The myriad of advancing choreography showed each unique dancer’s passions and longing while wrestling overwhelming questions about love and fear of their own being -and- of their relationship with their partner. Singing from the beginning emerged from a woodsy soulful singer backed by more acoustical wooden flutes. A wall of music similar to Ravel’s “Bolero” only in that it’s progression never gets old: like a blissful night of broken clouds passing through the moonlight. Switch off to Act 3 with shadows lighting up the harmonious shapely arms of rhythmic female dancers – what a finale! Hurry, last chance to get tickets!“  

Opening Night Fête

– 9:00 – Opening Night Fête at the College of Charleston President’s Home & Gardens, 6 Glebe St. Don’t miss the Society Event of the Year with Artists and patrons from Charleston & around the world. Dance & wine & dine after the show, and pARTy for a purpose, for SpoletoUSA.org.

– Sat May 24

– 9:00 – Charenée Wade, CIS. Come be visually transported and immersed under the Cistern Yard’s pastel orange, green, and purple romantic lights against the ghostly grey Spanish Moss. Watch and listen to crisp full vocal ranges and exciting jazz scat singing and more, “…woo woo woo dee dee ba ba bee dee deep, Them There Eyes” Watch a past music video of her’s, below. REVIEW: “Charenée’s vocals dished-up more than jazz on the menu. From the first driving song, the drums and bass wet our taste buds with a whisky shooter. Later, the piano man plucked our feathers and tickled our fancy. Like in a restaurant lounge, she was hanging out with the piano man, and having a sing song conversation. Her music speaks to you. Her jazzy jokes enveloped us in her warm arms. So at-ease, it has to be her way of life. And she shared it with us with giggles & joyful music. More than a few of us got it, and we walked away singing to others about her character and her scatting, le pièce de résistance, of course.”

– Thur May 29

– Bank of America Chamber Music, DST:  REVIEW Program V: “THE EXQUISITE SMORGASBORD OF QUINTESSENTIAL CHAMBER MUSIC – Once again, the beloved emcee Geoff Nuttall has artificed a veritable cornucopia of chamber pieces. Three pieces mesmerized an audience swooning under the hypnotic sway of professionalism, expertise, and remarkable compositions by three (3) diverse composers. The first piece by the vibrant Renaissance man, Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), “Caprice sur des aires danois et russes”, op. 79, was indeed a magical tapestry of interwoven harmonic threads that defied analysis, but heralded joy.  Electric violin, guitar, and keyboards were magnificent and balanced  St. Saint-Saëns’ intricate complementary melodies, resulting in a sum greater than its constituent parts. The second piece musically delved, then dove, to express the depths of depression, despair, despondency, dejection, and defeat.  The non-diva-like diva, Charlotte Hellekant (mezzo-soprano) sang as she felt -and- felt as she sang “Priva son d’ogni conforto” and “Deh, piangete, o mesti lumi” of George Frideric Handel’s (1685-1759) Julius Ceasar. The third piece left us just shy of breathlessness, like a marathon – Viola Quintet in B-flat Major, op. 87, Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47). Congratulations to such an outstanding retinue of seasoned, gifted musicians! Tara Helen O’Connor, flute.  James Austin Smith, oboe. Todd Palmer, clarinet. Inon Barnatan, piano. Geoff Nuttall, Mark Fewer, Gabriela Díaz, Daniel Phillips, violins. Masumi Rostad, viola. David Ying, cello. Anthony Manzo, double bass. Pedja Muzijevic, harpsichord.” – Guest Writer, Dr. George Gatgounis, Esq.

– 9:00 Kat Edmonson, CIS  Don’t miss getting tickets. Watch her past Austin music video below. REVIEW: “Kat Edmonson is a dazzling discovery – a damsel in 8 Dimensions: (D1) She’s a breath of fresh air, a spirit to breath-in…relax… and (D2) “dream…lucky you, lucky lucky me.” (D3,4,5) She’s a head-turner and catches your eye, head to toe and all around her chic pixie hair cut. She sprinkles pixie dust which lights up her fairyland, the spanish moss, and Spoleto’s Cistern Yard. (D6) The moment she starts to sing, she catches your ear. You have to catch her live performance, because, this is like catching (D7) “the end of a rainbow.” (D8) Time with her is more than precious, it unfolds into an unforgettable memory, catching time, so it lasting forever. Walking into a Spoleto show is often like walking into a gold mine. Kat is like a diamond in a diamond mine, only there’s no digging, she sparkles right on the surface. Even so, you will dig her. She’s a natural gem – a pure and natural talent. She can “sit in front of a producer and sing unpolished tunes and lyrics…and hook him, and catch him.” Her lyrics hooked us and we hope Spoleto catches this shooting star, again. She’s a bright bluesy blue belle, a country chandelier, a soft sweet starlet, and a majestic melody maker. She sings her soothing, looping, crooning, drooping, and dripping feelings – the bait on her hook which makes you hang on her every word. She catches and holds Charleston…and the world… in the palm of her hand.”  

– Fri May 30

– 9:00 – Aca Seca Trio, CIS. Smooth Latin Jazz Trio who all play and sing with the passions from their South American popular musical heritage.  REVIEW: This was more than a musical magic carpet ride. It started with the wizardry of Spoleto’s lighting fantasia. Walking under the College of Charleston Cistern Yard’s canopy of spanish moss – all lit up in hues of aqua blue – was like swimming into a sexy underwater grotto. The moss looked like billowing strands of seaweed and kelp. After the illusion of discovering Atlantis, the lighting hues then metamorphosed into a mauve sunset, and the musical magic carpet ride whisked away up into the enchantment of a cool jazzy castle in the sky…above South America…the Latin latitudes, attitudes, and interludes cooked up by these hot musicians. Their mesmerizing songs lift and loft the senses, transcending plateaus, soft landing on plush pillowy clouds. Their vocals floated over like a soft blowing breeze. Each of the three musicians’ charms cast a spell: their music, their voices, their passions, their stories, their jokes, their mannerisms, their beings…they were gorgeous. Last chance to come trip the light fantastic, tonight, May 31, at 8pm 

– Sat May 31

– 2:00 - Keigwin + Company, This stylish fashionable dance company will be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. With a cutesy catty cat walk and driving sounds, the dancers will pounce.  propel, and push the envelope down the runway.  TDA

– 8:00 – Dorrance Dance/SOUNDspace, MEM

– Mon Jun 2

– 8:00 – Dorrance Dance/Delta to Dusk, MEM

– Tue Jun 3

– 8:00 – Ilona Jäntti, ROB

– Thur Jun 5

– 8:30 – Gregory Maqoma, ROB

– Fri Jun 6

“My Cousin Rachel”

– 3:30 – My Cousin Rachel, DST. The Gate Theatre from Dublin always brings it. They always have that it factor. Classy & distinguished; rich in traditions, wealth, and blue bloods; and dripping with mystery, suspense, and jocular melodrama. They’ll make a bloody good show of it. A wealthy guardian angel’s life suspiciously gets cut short. Is love lost or love gained? Whatever you deduce, you’ll love it.

– 7:00 – HÃ¥kon Kornstad, REC

– Sun Jun 8

“Festival Finale”at Middleton Place Plantation

– 3:30 “Festival Finale” at Middleton Place Plantation, with the hot duo “Shovels & Rope,” MID. Historic plantation; magnificent home & gardens; world class picnic and and micro brew beer garden; and fireworks to top it all off.

– – Venue Codes & addresses:

CIS = Cistern Yard at College of Charleston. 66 George St

DST = Dock Street Theatre. 135 Church St

MEM = Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St.

MID = Middleton Place Plantation, 4300 Ashley River Rd
City Hall = 80 Broad St

SOT = Sottile Theatre, 44 George St
TDA = TD Arena, 301 Meeting St.

ROB = Emmett Robinson Theatre CofC, 54 St. Philip Stt.

– PICCOLO SPOLETO FESTIVAL  -  Scroll Below

- ARTicles – May: other things to do & people to see.

–  Spoleto: click here.

- DoTheCharleston.com Tours: private, premium, personalized, satisfaction guaranteed…so you”ll come back (and we give back net proceeds to preservation…so you’ll come back..and our kids’ kids will learn too)

– Edible Arts Tours: Dinner and a Show, or Spirits Tour, or Dinner & Dancing: Tapas, wine, craft beer, & spirits flowing. Meet Chefs at haute cuisine restaurants; dance with top instructors; and join us as we REVIEW the Shows:

- PICCOLO SPOLETO FESTIVAL <– Tickets, details, & times, May 23 – June 8. Check back below for updates in DoTheCharleston.com ARTicles, Previews, REVIEWs, HiArtFilms, and special HiArtPromotions.

Join us (there are so many more events and showings here – you’ll want to clone yourself). Below are just some of the best of the best events. Join us, mostly on their opening night performance. Then be the first to tell everyone the latest scoop; Like, Share, and add your comments on Facebook; and check back below for REVIEWs.

– Come see Dancers & Prancers; watch Painters & Poets; hear Mac Daddies & JAC Jazzies; tell Play Actors to break a leg; and let Improv Actors pull your leg…
– Come to homes & gardens with tours & teas; Artist receptions with wine & cheese; dinner & dancing at speakeasies; and after-parties with VIPs…
– Come to special venues like The Four Corners of Law (Hail, Mail, Bail, or Jail); the Holy City’s church spires and temple choirs; Marion Square & Waterfront Park; City Gallery & The US Custom’s House…

– Join us for Theatre:

“Kate & Sam Are Not Breaking Up”

– May 24 – June 7, “Kate & Sam Are Not Breaking Up” by What If? Productions. A new play premiering at Piccolo: Rumors about the breakup of a movie star couple disenchant their fanatic fans. One crazy kidnaps them, of course…what…no. Yes. Then an internet “friend” flames the fires of hell. (Hope for a happy ending in the Garden of Eden). What if? is harsh adult content that’s laughable. Threshold Theatre. REVIEW: “You could never imagine that dreams of internet and Hollywood heroes could turn into a nightmarish, eye-popping, jaw-dropping, ear-screeching, and side-splitting comedy. Never google, never tweet, and never lie, when an “internet friend” comes over to play house. This house of cards is really shuffled up. Playwright Joel Kim Booster and director Kyle Barnette load the deck with wild cards, and then unload an arsenal on the audience. Throwing knives can even be seen in the countless evil-eye glares. Evil so sick, it is wicked fun. The four funny fanatics are rangy actors who play off each other and build-up their characters, in more roles than one. These multiple personality posers push their acting over the edge…to their dramatic destiny. Giulia Marie Dalbec (Kate) and Michael David Wilson (Sam) are on roofies. They are drippy druggy drama-queen sex symbols (yes Sam props-up his boobs). Andre Hinds (Bill) is on downers. He’s Internet Junkie Thing 1. He doesn’t smooth-over his hair and ruffled feathers, so his shy shuffle step trips-up the audience. This mad man isn’t mad, he’s a glad man who wants to cozy-up between the glam man and glam girl. He’s crazy in love and lovable in the craziest way. Eden Teichman (Becky) is on uppers and downers, but definitely a speed demon. She’s Internet Junkie Thing 2. She rips out her heart and gives you a piece of her mind, which is mind blowing, like a thousand Charleston hurricanes. Like the Tasmanian Devil cartoon busting out of the box and bursting onto the scene, this whirly girl is very cute like the others, but different, dark, daring, and dangerous. All hell lets loose when this psycho dynamo hop-scotches over the edge of this edgy cliff hanger. It’s a must see play, again & again, to catch the clever caveats (Becky and Sam go off behind closed doors…hmm…). Spoleto and Piccolo have great players and What If” Productions comes to the table dealing wild cards, so…we all win and want to play more!”

May 24 - June 1 “EVITA” Latin musical about the nostalgic provocative, Eva Peron. She scratched-out of poverty to be a young starlet in Buenos Aires and then the First Lady. Gossiped by all, morned too soon, and a coup stole her body! Footlight Players Theatre.

– May 25 – June 7, Threshold Theatre’s Play “1963” Directed by Pamela Galle. “1963” is about an overwhelming nation, a small community in NC, and a family dealing with the turning points in racial tensions. A teenage girl (at a high school for whites only), learns what it takes to change…more…to boldly go and find a friendship with a young African American male. (Like all great theatre, there are compelling empowering analogies that resonate forever: Can a student “teach us” the way to come together in a polarizing world…can a young actress “show us” the way? How is this possible? Why is this imperative? Buy your tickets and come find out). May 18th is a Q&A with Judy Simpson Cook, the playwright from NC who has had many award winning plays performed nation wide. May 1st-May 18th Thur – Sat at 8pm. Last two Sundays at 3pm. REVIEW: The casting is right on, because the actors love their roles. Each has sharp moments, and this drama cuts too deep to be dull. This isn’t play acting, and it is more than culturally enriching. They get to educate -and- entertain the audience. (I call it edutainment. The drama moves true theatre lovers -and- converts new theatre lovers to broaden their horizons. Pamela Galle, the director, agrees, “I love it.” The standing ovations love it, too. This drama stands out among thousands of racial dramas. In the lazy summer south: this privileged, young, sheltered, white, and pretty teenage girl “stereotype” means anything but that, means everything but that, and means everything to the world. “How can I make a difference,” says a High School Principle!! One teenager, one person, “any person, can make a difference”…just reach out to join another person; better, the polar opposite person; and best “holding their hand” (and be their wingman, as we say it today). The takeaways: (1) Share and Invite your friends…free. (2) One ticket…$10-$20. (3) See a student teach us how to change a polarizing world (in Charleston)…priceless.

Charleston actress Saluda Camp

– May 25 – June 7, STELLE DI DOMANI SERIES: Mrs. John Marsh: The World Knew Her as Margaret Mitchell,  by Melita Easters. One-woman play about the “Gone With the Wind” writer staring Charleston’s Saluda Camp (who now acts in NY). Theatre 220, 54 St. Philip St. REVIEW “Who knew that Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With The Wind,” was as coquettish and tenacious as Scarlet O’Hara herself? With her masterful performance, local actress, Saluda Camp, gives life and insight into the author of one of America’s most beloved epic novels. Coupled with Easter’s delightfully humorous script was a backdrop of photographs & films from Mitchell’s childhood in 1900 to her death in 1949. This play was entertaining as well as fascinating. This was my first Piccolo Spoleto event, and I look forward to many more” – Guest writer, Tula Holmes, Seattle Washington. (Editors note: Check back after HiArtFilms interviews Camp & Easters – they are delightful. Infact, join us filming the interview at our “Dinner and a Show!”)

– PICCOLO FRINGE at Theatre 99: “The Pit” Fast-paced laugher, wrestling with married life  and a bottomless bedroom pit. Heady, musical, sing song, and striking script. Praised all over America.  May 27, June 4 at 7pm, June 1 at 5pm. 280 Meeting St (stairs behind the Bicycle Shoppe).

“Tonight A Clown Will Travel Time”

– June 4 – 5, “Tonight A Clown Will Travel Time” a Miniature Curiosa drama. Clowns, puppets, time machines – it’s a lot of creativity. But is it visionary enough to plant the seeds for the future by going back in the past? 7 & 9pm June 4, and 5pm June 5. PURE Theatre

Join us for Dance & Music:

–  The Blues Cruises: May 24: Shrimp City Slim plays classic blues which we blues dance & shag dance to here in the Lowcountry. May 25: Shelly Waters “Swamp Pop Princess”— Louisiana Cajun. May 26: Juke Joint Johnny & The Hurricanes, The “Harmonica High Priest of the Southeast” will be a blues bopping hopping rocking juke joint on a boat. Jun 2: Steve & The Stilettos rolling blues & dancing (like the legendary Delbert McClinton). The Charleston Harbor Tours’ Carolina Queen boards at 6:30pm and cruises from 7-9pm. City Marina, 17 Lockwood Dr. REVIEW:  Juke Joint Johnny backed by roaring blues musicians led by Shrimp City Slim, was the only rail road floating on a boat -and- cruising on the Charleston Harbor. The choo choo rolled over the crowd –  leaving us flat-out dazed in the sunset. Yet we were tapping our toes, kicking up our heels, grooving, blues dancing, and shag dancing. The best old timey blues harp jig in Charleston & the world. Still alive & kicking after the festival – Contact us for CDs & their next gigs.

–  EARLY MUSIC SERIES: THE GRAND TOUR, May 27. The classical Chatham Baroque ayres & sonatas by Vivaldi, Telemann, Corelli. Erika Cutler plays the Baroque Violin. The Huguenot Church is a wondrous beautiful venue for a sterling Piccolo performance, 136 Church St. REVIEW: “Chatham Baroque, Pittsburgh’s treasured ensemble, ensconced by the Muses, enchanted yet another enraptured audience. Climaxing with a consummate, even crashing close, was the Siren-like encapsulation of strumming in sync, by Gaspar Sanz’s “Espanoleta & Canarios.” The audience even swayed, ever so slightly, to the engaging rhythm, like gently bobbing daisies in a field before a minuscule breeze. The ascending crescendo of choice pieces culminated in the sprightly “Scotch Humour” by Nicola Matteis; the striking sonata by Vivaldi, Opus 1, no. 8; as well as several other charming baroque numbers.” – Guest Writer, Dr. George Gatgounis, Esq.

–  JAZZ CRUISES: Duke’s Men, with special guest, San Francisco trumpeter Jon Thornton-(120min) present a musical history of jazz, from New Orleans, to Kansas City to Chicago to New York and endiing with the cool school in LA. A cruise you won’t forget. With brand new commentary from pianist and author, Franklin Ashley. Joining Franklin will be Don Nordquist on clarinet and tenor sax, Brian Reed on bass, Rich Robinson on drums, with sparkling vocals from Becca Hodges and Whitney Hanna…in the spirit of Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella James and Billie Holiday….Don’t miss this unique program! Spirit of Lowcountry. Mau 27: boards 7:30pm; cruise from 8-10pmountain Walk Dock (at Aquarium @ Concord St & Charlestte St.)

“The Charleston Dance & Jazz Show”

– May 29 – June 1, “The Charleston Dance & Jazz Show” from the Roaring 20s. Performers from Broadway & Charleston kick-up their heels. Jon us at this Piccolo Pop-Up Speakeasy, Marion’s of Charleston, 159 East Bay St

– May 30 – June 1, Piccolo’s 7th Annual JAC Jazz Series with JAC (Jazz Artists of Charleston), CJO (19 piece Charleston Jazz Orchestra), and also CJO’s 10 piece Chamber Ensemble – all at The Charleston Music Hall.

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Sparking Charleston and the World (check back for more updates)

–  ARTicles – April: things to do, people to see

–  ARTicles – May: things to do – people to see. Scroll below!

–  “DoTheCharleston.com Tours” private, premium, personalized, satisfaction guaranteed…so you’ll come back (and we give back to preservation…so you’ll come back).

–  Spoleto Festival <– Links. our ARTicles, Updates, Previews, REVIEWs, etc

–  Piccolo Spoleto! <– Links, our ARTicles, Updates, Previews, REVIEWs, etc

Piccolo’s Play “1963” at Threshold Theatre

Piccolo at Threshold Theatre: What If? Productions’ “Kate & Sam Are Not Breaking Up”

– May 1, Gibbes on the Street—East Meets West Gala benefit for the Gibbes Museum of Art. Their parties for a purpose in front of the Museum at 135 Meeting St are always world class. This promises to be a “multi-cultural bazaar,” and they always deliver. Haute cuisine from the best Chefs in town, like Charleston Grill, Cypress, FIG, The Grocery, Halls, The Macintosh/Oak, SNOBs. Open bar with Crown Royal XO and Canyon Road.

– May 8, 7pm, Preservation Society of Charleston 3rd Annual Gala to benefit their SEVEN TO SAVE FUND (raise awareness & financial support for preservation in Charleston & the region). Expect the same as last year’s Gala (we “attracted” some newbies and converted them into “passionate” preservation enthusiasts) This year is themed with Dancing to a 1940’s Big Jazz Band. Hors d’Oeuvres, spirits, and silent auction, included. Enston Memorial Hall, 900 King Street.

– May 9 The Oxygen Ball “Lowcountry Dancing With The Stars” benefit for The American Lung Association. It’s their annual Gala – a pARTy for a purpose, of course, for everyone and Kings & Queens, too. It’s their glorious Dancing Party, with a Gatsby theme, naturally - everyone wants to Do The Charleston – but oh, watch their Celebrities. It’s their lavish Gala with Haute Cuisine and spirits, as expected, by Charleston foodies and world travelers, too. It’s their Silent & Live Auctions, the more you give the more you receive (something for everyone, too).

– May 22 The Water Ball, 5th annual Gala benefit for The Charleston Waterkeeper. Cyrus Buffum is the spark here in Charleston and he engages the world, most definitely. Join us locals along with the jet set that fly in for this pARTy for a purpose – for the right to clean water. The food, spirits, music & dancing, all have innovative water themes for the purist of palates. It’s all in good taste, and the eye candy is mouth watering, too. Purists who protect our pure water are attractive, and they attract other attractive purists – just saying – it’s catchy. Come contract our attractive syndrome – there’s something in the water…in a good way. This pARTy is always at the SC Aquarium, 7-11pm.

Sparking Charleston & the World (check back for many more updates)

–  (Other April Things To Do — here)

–  Stars, Filmmakers, and Social Entrepreneurs Everywhere! SEE below Previews and REVIEWS: “Everyone Should Come!” join us now at these events (don’t wait for Reviews to see what you missed)!!

–  Apr 3 from 4-5pm Join Envision SC at Coastal Community Foundation, first Thursday each month (contact me for info or to attend).

– Apr 3 from 4-6 Join Power Networking with The Lowcountry Business Network, The Harbor Accelerator Team and Mount Pleasant Business at Triangle Char & Bar Mt. Pleasant. Happy Hour Drink Specials & Free appetizers.

– Apr 8  TEDxCharleston:  Visionary Social Entrepreneurs create ripple effects from here and beyond (hey this is just like DoTheCharleston.com sparks Charleston and the world. See our Mission/Purpose for the last 3 years. Our call to action to join us is working!). The pie is growing for all. Business, Science, and ART that’s engaging and transforming.

– Apr 9, from 6 – 7:30 Will Marre Lecture: “Start with Nothing, Save the World, and Make a Fortune.” An exciting lecture at College of Charleston Business School. REVIEW: Will can explain brain science to the common person, woahhh! Use your brain, duh. Ahhhh, but “after” you meditate for 5 min when you wake up, at lunch, and right before you go in a stressful situation. Also, play after work, do the Charleston, walk, yoga, surf, or whatever makes you happy. Eureka, an epiphany, it’s brain science and now you know. So transcend, join all of us, and save the world (make it better – and Charleston, too)! Everyone’s doin it, just sayin.”

– Apr 9-13 Dig South - See presentations, interactive events, pitches, and a lot of networking. Plenty of Social Entrepreneurs(they’re everywhere), geniuses(yep), Investors (I hope I get touched by an Angel), 650 companies, and 5000 attendees. The President of College of Charleston hosts Happy Hour (the Bailey’s Irish Cream rises to the top). Like, Comment, and Share Updates on Facebook. (Free passes to Finale at The Alley, 4-6pm. Party & games go till midnight Saturday night.)

REVIEWS: “Dig South, Everyone Should Come!”  Join us now at these events (don’t wait for Reviews to see what you missed). I invited a friend, Travis, and bam, he was awe-struck : “after talking to startup Pitchman at @EataBit (Text Restaurant Orders), and social entrepreneur, Debbie Mohr, my mind was racing. I have talk some more, I have to come Friday & Saturday.”  See Will Marre’s Review above! DuMore Improv’s session interacted with all attendees to “Tell Their Story” especially in your pitch (15 to 30 seconds or 2 minutes…and…the story’s more memorable & sticks! Frame it (what’s in it for the listener, investor) and call-them-to action. Done. I tried it, and it works!

–  April 9 – 13  Charleston International Film Festival Including Documentary Filmmakers, who showcase Social Entrepreneurs!! 2014 is as exciting as ever, stay tuned for Reviews (Like, Comment, and Share Updates on HiArtFilms Facebook.  (Also go Look Back at 2013 Full Reviews - Excerpt “Around the world in 5 days…brilliant, as in illuminating…Peachers showed us where there’s a world there’s a way…got down to earth with filmmakers, producers…more than just Film…shine like a star…” Free! Say “DoTheCharleston Dinner Party” to get FREE Tickets to Sat 8pm Short FIlms Block at Charleston Music Hall -plus- FREE Tickets to Afterparty!

REVIEWS: “CIFF, Everyone Should Come!”  Join us now at these events (don’t wait for Reviews to see what you missed). I invited many friends, and of course received many, “Thanks, we want to come again.” And, of course made new friends…big surprise, not.  The Opening Street Party and Red Carpet, and “Draft Day” screening were on a Grand scale.

Films: “Stop Light Observations: Smilers of the Night” This music video created flickering beams of fire in the dark shadows throughout the set. The dark shadows in the characters then locked eyes with us all in the theatre. Bursts of fire made other characters wear shades. Some lit-up their chest and some damsels in distress hung suspended in the light of the moon. The cinematography brought them, the props, and the sets, out of the screen and blended with the cool music to light up the dark theater. The best part of CIFF so far? The Q&A, when LA Director, Lloyd, and Charleston Producer, Gorlitsky answered the question the same way,”nailing the design, so everything after falls in place…because…the collaboration was bonding.” LA + Charleston = world class = 5 Stars. Of course we went to the after party with them till…

Audiences eager for Q&A with Filmmakers. Photo by Timothy Burnham.

Films: “White Shoe” had textured props & sets with crisp yet soothing color spectrums. Lighting hues, camera swoops, and depth of field “looked like” 3-D. It was a 5-star lush story-book musical peek (no words). “The Hero” was apropos with a very young girl’s cute cute yoga indoctrination of her back-woods daddy (that’s our Mission! So of course, 5-star). “Me + Her” was the epitome of out of the box. Literally, go to the dictionary, look up “out of the box film,” and this is the definition. A story (no words needed) that used the international language of visuals and music. See the film? $10. See the whole block (included in the $10). Film steals the genre? More than 5-star…priceless.

2014 Red Carpet

2013 Gala photo copyright Valerie Photography

– Apr 23, Free, RSVP: Special screening, “MisLEAD”, a passionate Documentary Movie with a call-to-action to curb the epidemic poisoning 1 in 3 US children. ADD/ADHD/Autism – wonder why? Test your children and school/home renovations especially with the preservation in Charleston. Charleston Music Hall, 7-10pm, including Q&A after with Director & world leading advocate, Tamara Rubin. She’s a sharp spearhead piercing overwhelming problems to incorporate a myriad of solutions. REVIEW: “An overwhelming film filled with passion from all walks of life: children, parents, teachers, experts, politicians, on and on. So many appalling facts, and yet so little action to help educate, urge, and enforce the prevention and the unfortunate aftermath of lead poisoning. The interactive Q&A kept everyone glued to their seats – thanks to the panel: Director, Tamara Rubin; Special Family Resource Exec Dir Mindy Allen; as well as health care and legal experts, too.” Share it on Facebook.

Sparking Charleston & the World (check back for many more updates)

– March ARTicles  – click here

- April ARTicles  – Scroll Below

Win Free 5Star Tours at our Facebook(s) <– Like & Share!!  “DoTheCharleston.com Tours” cultural, ARTsy, personalized for you, day or night. Call last minute or in advance. The Most Knowledgeable, Experienced, Licensed Guides, Authors. Details, numbers to Call, Text, Rates. 

– April VOTE “Kick-Up Your Heels with Pommery, Best Friend 13yr old Golden Retriever.” Net proceeds goto PetHelpers.
VOTE—> follow links and instructions 1-6 here Help spread the word so Pom Wins! Then join us when Pom goes to donate net proceeds to Pet Helpers (You & Pom will meet cute dogs in cages desperate for love & a home! You’ll want to volunteer or fundraise like Pom is trying to do. Join us! WATCH Video Here.

- April is Jazz Appreciation Month - Embracing Jazz at Jenkins Institute

–  Mar 29 – Apr 6  Family Circle Cup TENNIS (Past Review: 2011″Best Tennis Town” USTA  Award. Plus, “Tennis in the City,”  outreach clinic for urban youth with Venus & Serena Williams – fostering urban tennis for a lifetime.

– Apr 3 – 13   Social Entrepreneurs Everywhere (SEE) <– details & links. Excepts:

- Apr 3  Envision SC <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “…at Coastal Community Foundation…”

– Apr 3  Power Networking <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “…Lowcountry Business Network, The Harbor Accelerator …Happy Hour Drink Specials & Free appetizers.

Apr  5  Cooper River Bridge RUN - They raise worldwide awareness for their sponsored Non-Profits, as well as FUNdraising.

– Apr 2014  Roots of Jazz Festival  – Celebrating Jazz Legends, Past & Present: Honor Visionary Rev Daniel Jenkins, Founder of Jenkins Orphanage, inventor of Jazz, & first to Do The Charleston

– Apr 8  TEDxCharleston <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “…Visionaries…ripple…here & beyond…(DoTheCharleston.com sparks Charleston and the world….call to action…transforming.

– Apr 9  Will Marre Lecture <– SEE details & Links (Excerpt: “…Start with Nothing, Save the World, and Make a Fortune…”

– Apr 9-13 Dig South <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “…geniuses…touched by an Angel…President…hosts Happy Hour…Cream rises to the top…”

– Apr 9-13 Charleston International Film Fest  <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “ 2014 is as exciting as ever. Tune in for REVIEWS (2013 Look Back Full Reviews…Around the world in 5 days…illuminating…Peachers showed us where there’s a world there’s a way…down to earth…more than just Film…a star…” Photo copyright Valerie Photography

 – Apr 10 – 13 Charleston Race Week – the largest sailboat racing event in America.

–  Apr 11 – 13  East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival. Charleston is a world class destination for vast diverse year-round kayaking.

– Apr 17, 6-9pm Take Back The Night Gala benefiting People Against Rape. Click picture to zoom in details:

– Apr 22  Happy Earth Day – 1 Billion People around the world come together to make an impact now and further the action started by the first Earth Day in 1970 (when 20 million Americans began modern environmentalism).

– Apr 23 Free, RSVP: Special screening, “MisLEAD”, a passionate Documentary Movie with a call-to-action to curb the epidemic poisoning 1 in 3 US children. ADD/ADHD/Autism – wonder why? Test your children, toys, jewelry, make-up, and especially school/home renovations with all the preservation in Charleston. Charleston Music Hall, 7-10pm, including Q&A after with Director & world leading advocate, Tamara Rubin. She’s a spearhead piercing overwhelming problems to incorporate a myriad of solutions. REVIEW: An overwhelming film filled with passion from all walks of life: children, parents, teachers, experts, politicians, on and on. So many appalling facts, and yet so little action to help educate, urge, and enforce the prevention and the unfortunate aftermath of lead poisoning. The interactive Q&A kept everyone glued to their seats – thanks to the panel: Director, Tamara Rubin; Special Family Resource Exec Dir Mindy Allen; as well as health care and legal experts, too.

– Apr 24 – 27  The 2nd Annual Charleston Food Film Festival shows progressive Short Films (including 3 world premiers) at the same time as serving progressive food and spirits in a lively, engaging, “mind-blowing,” party atmosphere. Both Local and national chefs are serving their specialities.

– Apr 26, 11am – 4pm Earth Day Festival

– Apr 26 from 4 – 11pm JAIL BREAK: Optical Delusions This is the 7th bi-annual super-cool local artisan festival with mixed media, performances (don’t miss DanceFX!, and also Tyler Boone’s new single “Take Aim”), illusions, interactions, and…exotic food trucks. It’s always held at the bizarre Old City Jail (think ghosts, the American College of the Building Arts, and preservation unique to Charleston). REVIEW: As cool as ever, it just gets better, like all the culture in Charleston. Coming to see the Old City Jail, the artisans, and the musicians never gets old (especially DanceFX – get their DVD)  – so come & watch again and again.

Mark this down: (1) Check back here for updates farther below, (2) Give us your comments on Facebook, (3) Share, (4) Repeat.

(Scroll to bottom: Flash Back 2013 and 2012)

– Mar 18 – 22, 2014, It’s Charleston Fashion Week! (Daily Updates farther below) Sit & stay, sip Sambuca, and share stories: sights & sounds, slender styles, short skirts, sexy stilettos, sultry salsa, shocking shenanigans, suave sophistication, superstardom & sadness, sanctuary & salvation, and sweet sweaty success! Plenty of blood, sweat, and tears to go around, to scratch your way to the top, to make it to Fashion Week, to discover & be discovered: emerging designers, and much more…mega models, musicians, movie moguls… HiArtFilms  and HiArtPromotions bring DoTheCharleston.com‘s “Fashion for a Cause” to you, Charleston, and the world.

-  FASHION  WEEK  Charity Partners (DoThe Charleston.com focuses on “Fashion For A Cause,” click on pics below for links):

 

Mar 22: The Finale delivered what we all came for, Fashion For A Cause. The VIP Tent and the Style Lounge were the epitome of why Sponsors relish to host Fash Week’s elite pillars (and emerging) players and creators from Charleston and the world. David Leonard & Jim Smith (Atlantic Coast Advisory Group) and many other sponsors successfully collaborated to spearhead the pARTies for a purpose covered in our ARTicles (let us know if you want to see the documentary). Our HiArtFilms is following up with these and many more movers & shakers – all of our common goals are to engage, solidify, and make plans to see new and old friends and business fostered at Fash Week. Stay tuned as we update how the follow-ups go (especially our HiArtPromotions diamond jewelry, as we search for designer brand names to go around the world). Net proceeds to benefit your causes, of course.  Pic 1: Step up to the plate and hit a home-run, from start to finish(photographer Konate’ Hendricks).  Pic 2: Fashion Week’s Music Director every year, DJ Arthur Bros., styles the tunes & tracks to transform a front row or last row seat to view an eye-popping runway show into a toe-tapping dance party that grooves every seat in the house!  Pic 3: Tess models this year’s men’s line, OberimaAfriyie, from last year’s Emerging Designer winner, Alfriyie Poku. The VIP Tent insured access to squeeze in models & designers for very personable interviews without stepping on anyone’s toes. Mamie Ruth by Emily Bargeron and MLiz Designs by Mary Liz Pulk were excited to talk about fashion for a cause and giving back with our HiArtPromotions(photo Konate’ Hendricks).  Pic 4: The last after parties, the last interview shoots, and the last hurrahs…but not the last time we kick up our heels with designers Julie Wheat(Cavortress), and Alfriyie. We Do The Charleston everyday and night – join us! 

Mar 21: Pic 1: Styling in the Style Lounge, luxury under the big top, with the big silver screen, and the big top shelf spirits & fine wines (he best in SC – Sponsor James Farra, Ben Arnold Beverage (a major charity sponsor, too). Pic 2: More than excited to learn up close & personal from Charleston Fash Week big top Judge, Fern Mallis, Founder of NY Fash Week, spearhead in LA, Moscow, Berlin! Pic 3: Father & Daughter (Peter & model Alyson Antinopoulos) and many more new friends working at CFW. 

Mar 20: Welcome to the premier of our guest spokesmodel, Taylor Louise, co-writing with us:“Another night to meet & greet so many movers & shakers with incredible ambition, drive, and of course, fabulous flair for fashion! Pics 1,2,3: One of our faves is gorgeous, from India, and reinventing herself in Charleston: Sheuli McKee empowers women to tap into their ever-present inner source and to project out as beautiful and confident. She’ll soon debut her inspirational new blog, “Reinventing Rani,” creating beauty out of the classics. This is a vintage fashionista to watch out for…and wait for…Mary Norton (Charleston’s national iconic designer) shared the limelight as always, and then we got our hands on her! The Baker Motors crew sure brings a good time to the VIP Tent! Explaining their motor car styles, their work styles, and their animal styles…the sharks, the koalas, the Lion King(guess who)…you get the picture (or ask if you need us to paint a picture for you – finger paint will do). This wolfpack has personality coming out the ears (along with a few wild hairs)! We told you the fashion was all over the map. Join us, we’ll navigate you through it all with a Baker Motors GPS. Pic 4: In the top VIP tent with one of the top VIP hosts, Jim Smith, with Atlantic Coast Advisory Group. Pic 5: Luscious textures, contrasts, and sophistication with a punch…a real knockout on the real runway. Pic 6: Oh, the interviewing never gets old with the young (established yet always reinventing) model, designer, and Charleston socialite, Chelsie Ravenell. Rising model, Madison Slate, also shared her dreams, and we can’t wait to paint that picture for you (after we wine & dine at Halls Chophouse.”

Mar 19: Golden Girls & Boys: we picked some real gems to showcase in our ARTicles (show us, if you want to see our HiArtFilms). Need to wet your appetite? See our sneak peaks & pics below. Pic 1: Our Spokesmodel, Taylor Louise, in the limelight wearing Fashion Weeks newest “Barbara Graham Hattitudes” – both are world class. Pic 2: Head-turners can show off their smiles – and – hide their eyes for that mysterious allure. Pic 3: Daniel D steals the show every year! Pic 4: Wait till you hear Taylor’s reports on the latest fashion trends in Charleston – and – around the world… Pic 5: Wait till you hear who’s the next star Spokesmodel and the next star Designer… Pic 6: And the stars line up for us, one by one, like the next star Runway Supermodel <– come find out who’s who at Fashion Week, or check here for more Updates.

Thanks to our close friend and our Special Guest Photographer Austin Walker (leader on Fashion Week’s BODs)

– Mar 18: It started…with a home run. Just step up to the plate, and…pop! Carolina Gribble Bryan pops up. Of course she’s at Charleston Fashion Week, bidding at MUSC Children’s Hospital charity auction, “and the bidding went up, up, and away! Yay!” Just step up to plate, and Carolina will touch your heART, pull your heART strings, and lead you to the promised land. Not just to fundraisers, but to the dance floor, to pARTies for a purpose, to fashions for a cause…today, tomorrow…it’s an everyday way of life. “We’re always looking at our calendar so we can give back…and travel around the world!” Bon voyage and bon vivant! She’s got “it,” she’s an “it” girl. Everyone can aspire to emulate her zest for life…her zest for giving back. I hear it from her friends, “I want to live like Carolina.” You all can, just join us. Just step up to the plate. Play ball with the belle of the ball, Carolina, at Charleston Fashion Week. Beautiful, inside & out, n’est pas?

Thanks to close friend and our Special Guest Photographer Austin Walker (leader on Fashion Week’s BODs)

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- 2013 Charleston Fashion Week  –  Flash Back:

[It’s all about The Cause. Oh yeah, thanks to Fashion Week. Fashion For A Cause. Copyright 2013 DoTheCharleston.com interviews Tracy & Stefanie @11thGorgeous: “Epic…young & old, everybody loves coming together for a greater good” [Tears of joy, obviously]

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2012 Charleston Fashion Week – Flash Back <– Read Full REVIEW (Excerpt: Guest Co-writer: Wendy Wilson, YogaBareHeart Founder, Teacher, & Fashion Designer: “…flare, fashionistas, fun …the fisheye lens of the paparazzi …designers…Chicken Turtles…Guyana South America…New York …jewels like Camille and Hilda…rockers like Mark Bryan…Special thanks to Sherrie Mills Hair Cuts: turn an everyday pauper into a Fashion Week Prince…“

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!

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- 2011 Fashion Week – Flash Back: Watch HiArtFilms concept clips <– Read Full REVIEW (Excerpt “..with Emily Hearn & Mark Bryan, Ayoka, Mother-Daughters(Jen Snyder-Maddy Parnall)…RAW Video Interviews shot by Charleston…9th grader, Chloe Teichman, in her first video shoot ever. Chloe threw her lack of credentials and caution to the wind, because Fashion Week’s wonder & spectacle bombarded all the senses and had to be investigated…she helped make a movie with a message…”

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!

 

Angela Mack, Exec Director, Gibbes Museum. Leonard Lauder, Charman of BOD, Whitney Museum of America. DoTheCharleston.com copyright 2013

– Dec 31 New REVIEW: “Greatness!” That’s what I call, last but not least. Dec 31 is the last day to do something, better, to give back in 2013. Easy: join us, we spark hearts; simply click a mouse; Like and Share it; light and fuel it; and let’s set Charleston and the world on fire today, throughout 2014, and on and on. “Greatness,” is the last word, the crescendo, the take away, the “if you remember only one thing remember this: Greatness!” It’s inspiring and rings true today, tomorrow, and on and on. Greatness was the last word emblazoned from the inspirational Philanthropy Week Nov 2013. It was joyously announced by Leonard Lauder, Estée Lauder haute couture Tycoon (thanks to his wife, married 52 years, who fled the Holocaust). That’s what I call, fashion for a cause, for Greatness! He is a steadfast Mogul, better, a proven visionary, collaborator, inspirer, motivator, fundraiser, philanthropist, art preserver, BOD (The Whitney Museum of America), spearhead, and more – that’s what I call a mensch, better, Greatness! Such Great fortune (thanks to Lasley Stever) to get a ticket to the standing-room only nonprofit Gibbes Museum Distinguished Lecture Series, to hear his formula, his wisdom, and to rub elbows with him and others that will lead to Greatness (that’s what I call a photo-op, thanks to Gibbes Executive Director, Angela Mack). He says he’s not an art collector, he doesn’t enjoy owning art for just him. He coins the term, “art preserver,” to pass the baton to nonprofit museums to preserve, for all of us to enjoy. Better, he shares his formula, so we all will be a part of the formula, the process, and the result. We all can be a mensch, better, Greatness! He inspires us all to “share the wealth with others.” From a $250 nonprofit donation, to corporate sponsorships, to his $1billon+ gifts of Picasso and Braque paintings to other nonprofit museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NewYork, MoMA, and the world. Better, this goes on and on. Everyone is inspired to do their part and relish in taking ownership, so we all share in the wealth, the art preservation, Greatness! Past visionaries proved to preserve the past for us to enjoy. Now it’s your turn to toast the New Year and joyously give back and preserve what you love for our kids’ kids to enjoy, and on and on. That’s what I call, parties for a purpose, for Greatness!  Better, for our kids to see our example, to party for a purpose (since they aren’t 21, that’s what I call Edutainment, Greatness! Our kids will thrive through edutainment and show their kids to preserve, and on  and on). His lecture showed how Greatness has already been proven and how you will follow his formula for Charleston, for Greatness! Voilà! You will bring and preserve Great Art, and you will put the Gibbes Museum on the world map. Now that’s what I call preservation, Greatness! But his formula works for donors and corporate sponsors to spark and preserve all your arts, nonprofits, and edutainment. Join DoTheCharleston.com with your spark and fuel and HiArtFilms will light-up your fire and spread it to Charleston and the World. Charleston is “Conde Nast Travelers” Readers’ pick for Best City In The World. In what way? In every way. Now it’s your turn to put Charleston on the world map in your way, in every way, for us, for Dec 31, 2013, for 2014, and on and on for our kids’ kids, for Greatness!

New Year’s Eve, L’Chaim, To Life! Where to go, where to go. At least you don’t have to fly out of town, all the jet setters are coming here to celebrate with you.  If you’ve ever been to Republic Garden & Lounge on King St, well…enough said. If you haven’t been, oye, don’t miss New Years! Hurry, it will sell out. L’Chaim, To Life!

– Dec 13 – Jan 18, “Penelope” at Pure Theatre on King St <- Tickets. A Greek comedy and tragedy about lovely Penelope awaiting her husband, Odysseus (away fighting the last 20 years in the Trojan wars). Beneath her window, she is wooed by 4 men, sans clothes (except speedos)…in a swimming pool, sans water. Let the funny zaniness unfold, Pure Theatre is sure to deliver. (Last spring, Pure produced a striking, moving play, “Clybourne Park.” It had a remarkable ensemble executing diverse double-take roles. They switched the railroad tracks, confused which side to stay on, laid more than a few souls right on the tracks, and then the train came! If you missed it (double darn), then do not miss Pure Theatre’s Season 11.

Dec 19, The 90th Anniversary of The Charleston: come celebrate at Prohibition Restaurant, Bar, Dance, Bandstand, Patio, and Speakeasy (tell them DoTheCharleston.com sent you - No Cover - RSVP (843) 793-2964). Hello, you’re in Charleston, you can’t miss this! Burlesque flappers DoTheCharleston, drink specials, and The River City Dixieland Band starts at 8:30pm at Prohibition, 547 King St.

– Dec 5-21 “Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche,” by What If Productions. The consistency of their plays are consistently fresh, and consistently inconsistent – that’s great to see the envelope pushed in Charleston. That’s the same with Threshold Theater, downtown Society St off King St. Tickets $15-20. REVIEW: “5 Lesbians Eat Quiche Had The Whole Experience”  “Walking into the theatre you could tell the director, Kyle Barnette, had the whole experience for the audience planned out. We were festively greeted very nicely outside the door and given name tags and new identities for our short time during the play. Things got better once we walked into the blackbox and were awed by the set design. There were red and green lights, wreaths, a christmas tree, presents, and holly. The only Christmas decoration I could not find was any mistletoe.. which after the play started, we realized wasn’t even needed for the characters to have a bit of fun! Once the characters were introduced, the whole theatre recognized how extremely talented this cast was. The singing was beautiful. The personalities of every character were thought through and exciting. The actors kept us entertained throughout the whole show. The experience of it all was one of the best yet witnessed in Charleston. It had amazing stage blocking, dialect, technical lights and sounds, and above all, a whole lot of humor. The show included great audience participation which made everyone feel included. I left the theatre with a great sense of having well spent my Friday evening out.”  – Written by anonymous for DoTheCharleston.com (copyright 2013)

(photo – copyright 2013 Threshold Theater & What If Productions)

– Dec 5, GALA benefit for Be A Mentor <– Tickets. The 1st Anniversary Going Places Gala celebrates the best mentors that make a positive impact on our local students. Over 1000 mentors since 2001 makes this the leading mentor nonprofit in Charleston.  Starts at 7pm at The Aquarium downtown. Join the Facebook Event. Open Bar, Heavy Hors d’oeuvre, silent auction. Remember their benefit at The Alley’s Disco Party? Oh what fun.

– Oct 24 – Nov 17, Thu Fri Sat 8pm, Sun Matinee “Fiddler On The Roof” Threshold Repertory Theatre – Tickets.

“Fiddler On The Roof” photo credit & copyright – Mystic Productions”

REVIEW: “Fiddler Play, Is A Toast To Life (for all ages): Congratulations, Mazel Tov(“To Life, L’chaim…like Solomon-the-wiseman…if I were a rich man…I’d CROSS a RABBI’S EYYYESSS”). Like the “Fiddler On The Roof”(pulling our heart strings, Darbie Keck); the three sisters(touching our hearts, Andrea Krider, Christina Leidel, & Sarah Callahan); the wife’s love after 25 years(a heart of gold, Pamela Galle); the Red Party’s pauper(a powerful heart, Brendan Kelly); the Russian Soloist(steals your heart, Dru Ryan); and the poor tailor(giving his heart, Robert Culbreth Jr) — we all “deserve some happiness”(some tears of joy); and some tickets(before it sells out). Come see what the multitalented star, Stan Gill(Tevya the tough father & unsung hero) most of all prays for(produces, directs, & acts for). TRADITION (finger pointing to the ONE above). Their peasants’ play “balances on a roof top without breaking their neck; in a little corner of the world”(a closed-minded Russian shtetl); dreaming of the holy land(dreaming of Jerusalem); in an off off far-off Broadway black-box beauty(Threshold Repertory Theatre); in a block near the oldest ongoing Synagogue in the US(since 1749, take a tour); in downtown Charleston(the Paris of the United States)…”Right? Of course right.” Ha ha ha. Don’t just laugh at this review; go laugh at the matchmaker(Kathy Summer); laugh at Lazar Wolf the butcher(Robin Burke); and laugh at Charleston’s surprise Halloween zombies (oops…surprissse). From the made-from scratch Russian costumes(Lana Pasko & GrayMorris); to the kick-up-their-heels hootch(wvodka); to the maestro’s(Inga Agrest) fiddler & live band; to the backbone of the villagers’ ensemble (including Stan’s protégé, Eden Teichman). This play is one-for-all and all-for-one. “Fiddler On The Roof” lovers will love this; new-comers will come to this; spread-out families will gather for this; world class jet-setters will settle down for this; and Condé Nast Traveler’s readers who picked Charleston #1 in US – they should read this review). Right? Of course right.

Pic from The Red Party. Copyright DoTheCharleston.com

– Oct 25, 7- 11pm  The 5th Annual RED PARTY benefiting The American College of the Building Arts! The Old City Jail will be…wait for it…GORGEOUS (unique ambiance, red people, the Great Gatsby, the College. the swing jazz bands & dancing (check their video) - OYE!  Online Tickets, $70, $90 at the door – tit’s worth it! Go viral on their Facebook.

– Nov 7-10 The 4th Annual Holy City Blues Dance XCHG Festival. Four days -and- nights of the coolest high art blues dancing that Charleston hasn’t seen since the golden age of jazz & blues. Nine Dances with Live Bands & DJs from around the US (and great local ones, too). This throwback to nostalgic blues brings great dancers from across the region, the east coast, some nationally, and of course our great Charleston dancers. The venues rotate each dance around historic downtown Charleston. Join the Facebook Events and invite your coolest friends!

– Nov 13, HAPPY NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY! Come and lunch with the Association of Fundraising Professionals SC Lowcountry Chapter  and schmooze with trendsetters! Trident Technical College, Complex for Economic Development, 7000 Rivers Ave. Tickets $45

– Nov 13  Wild Women Party – whoa – Annual Benefit for women’s critical services for abused children and their families at The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center (DNLCC). Hair styling by Article 5; makeup makeovers by Pink Dot; fashion by Hampden Clothing; and Wine & Food by Charleston Grill’s Michelle Weaver. At The Spa at Charleston Place. $100 tickets. REVIEW: “Fashionistas Benefit DNLCC:” The Spa at Charleston Place provided an elegant setting, libations, and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres for the Wild Women Blue Party fundraiser for The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center (DNLCC). It was an event not to be missed! Beautiful, savvy, empathetic women, dressed in cobalt blue, toasted Veuve Cliqot Champagne (ooh la la), socialized, and donated their dollars for a well deserved non-profit, like DNLCC. A captivated audience learned the severity of child abuse, not only here in Charleston, but world wide. Elizabeth Cole, DNLCC’s Development Associate, perfected their message, “DNLCC provides assessment, treatment, and support services for children and their families where there is a concern of abuse. The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center’s mission is to keep children safe from abuse, and when abuse occurs, to work with our community to bring healing to these children and their families. It costs approximately $1,400 to provide services for one child at DNLCC.” The soirée continued on a lighthearted theme with a fashion show drawing the audiences attention to wonderful clothes, current hair trends, and secrets to applying make up. Again, special thanks to all the outstanding organizers for attracting all the fashionistas for the well needed Benefit for DNLCC. Everyone, don’t miss any upcoming events for DNLCC! <– Review by DoTheCharleston.com Guest Writers, Wendy Wilson & Erin McCarrick (Editor’s Note: We attracted Wendy and Erin from Rochester, NY, to come party with a purpose with us, and to write with us, so DoTheCharleston.com can attract more birds of a feather to flock together in Charleston, Rochester, and around the world. Success!) 

– Nov 15, 7-11pm, Meminger Auditorium, 2013 Giving Back Awards: Charitable Organizations and individuals are celebrated for their above & beyond leadership & giving in 2013. Spotlighting their exciting achievements with awards – we get to see the gleam in their eyes & the sparks that ignited their inspiring stories and Tikkun Olam!. The audience always gets tears in their eyes – tears of joy – as they watch and vote/text to pick the Nonprofit of the Year. Live Music, Dancing, Open bar, Cru Catering. Presented by TD Bank, and produced by Charleston Magazine with the Coastal Community Foundation. Tickets $75ea or 2 for $130; VIP $95ea or 2 for $160.

REVIEW: “Philanthropy WEEK Was Pretty…”:

– Pretty smart, comprehensive, overwhelming, convenient, easy, and simple.
– Pretty friendly, happy, fun, jovial, positive, and inspiring.
– Pretty engaging, helpful, educational, healthy, sustainable, green, enriching, and empowering.
– Pretty galas, venues, hotels, swimming pools, and cars.
– Pretty classy, trendy, cobalt blue, and fashionable.
– Pretty smiles, teeth, tears of joy, wide eyed, and bushy tailed.
– Pretty bandwagon, band, singer, saxophonist, DoTheCharleston dancers, food, and bubbly French champaign – ooh la la. 
– Pretty successful strategy, marketing, Charleston Magazine, videographers, social media, sweet press pass givers, Charleston writers, and Rochester/Africa/international guest writers.
– Pretty wingmen/women, schmoozers, networkers, SC-Israel-Seattle collaborators, hosts, menschs, and social entrepreneurs. 
– Pretty friends, singles, matchmakers, dates, spouses, significant others, and partners.
– Pretty heroes, angels, wise men/women, visionaries, early adopters, leaders, philanthropists, donors, benefactors, government grants, banking & corporate sponsors, and more menschs, and award winners.
– Pretty unsung heroes, foundations, listeners, relationship builders, non-profits, Exec. Directors, teachers, team leaders, teams, grass roots, emerging under & above the radar creatives, even more menschs, & award winners.
– Pretty beneficiaries, courageous kids, courageous adults, courageous underprivileged, retirees, dogs, horses, and knights on white horses coming to the rescue.
– Pretty good momentum , windows of opportunities, growth, goals, progress, low hanging fruit, harvest, seeds, untapped potential, niches, good solutions, good green jobs, prospects, big snowballs building & rolling down hill, coattails to ride, and a pretty good time to join us.
– pretty hopeful, lofty dreams come true, slam dunks, and Hail Marys.

– If you’ve read this far, you’re pretty smart, motivated, innovative, clever, openminded, out of the box, and thirsty to collaborate on all of the above. Quick to share on your Facebook, and bring some friends to join us (from Charleston, Rochester, and you know, from around the world). You’re part of our week, in our fold, all for one, and one for all. You as a person are a real mensch. Congratulations, Bravo, Mazol Tov, and Tikkun Olam.

– Nov 15 – 16  barcamp5 “fUNconference.”  Get it? Avant Garde Creatives, Techies, Hams, and well, fUNofthose. Get it? Friday 6 – 8pm Welcome Party  301B King. Saturday 7am – 6pm at College of Charleston – Presentations, Q&A, performances, demos, arts, schmoozing, etc. It will be what it will be, whatever the attendees decide it to be, ad-hoc. Oh, and lots of open sharing of fUNsecrets…now you get it? Broaden your horizons and play ball – make some slam dunks & Hail Marys - in a fUNlinear fUNway. Ahh-hah, oh wow, now you get it! After Party 6-10pm at Mynt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8yRyvI0XeE#t=70

– Nov 16, 4 – 11pm, Jail Break. Avant-garde local world class artists that can’t be describe in words – a cornucopia of food and a feast for the eyes & ears – live music, dancers, painters, artisans, theater, comedy…Oh there’s more, and it’s cool, way cool, at the Old City Jail, home of ACBA (American College of the Building Arts). Presented by Entropy Arts, ACBA, and Ear For Music. Tickets $15-20.

http://vimeo.com/74504931

– Nov 19, 2-6pm, Perfect Pitch at the American Theater . Five finalists will pitch their innovations to “experts businessmen” with the Presenting Sponsor SCRA. They pick the two best finalists, sponsor them with $2500 and extra free consulting. Angel Investors (will also be in audience). Finalists are maybe social entrepreneurs. Angel Investors are, well, angels. They are godsends sent to help (invest) in mere mortals on earth. Creatives are, well, creative. Creatives are mere mortals, but they live up in the clouds. Both are passionate & hopeful to find common ground. A creative wants to feed a deal to an angel. Angels are definitely hungry, but unsure if they’ll like the taste of the creative’s deal. Both are open minded because, well, they both want to pick each other’s brains. Both have high-risk & high-return excitement, and the courage to go where no man/women has gone before. To seek out new ventures… You can go along on their journey. All the creatives could hit it big now or later with angels. And anyone who falls on their face at least is intelligent and mature enough to learn from any mistakes.

– Nov 20 at 6pm, Distinguished Lecture Series by the Gibbs Museum with outstanding guest of honor Leonard Lauder of the Estée Lauder haute couture, you know Crème de la Mar (how about some swag!). Seriously, this will be the classiest lecture by a world leading benefactor of the arts!  Oh, he gave his incredible collection of Picasso and Braque paintings and more  to the Whitney Museum of American, beyond incredible. That’s where he has been the Chairman of the BOD, and a steadfast anchor. Well, its SOLD OUT, it’s at Memminger Auditorium. READ REVIEW!

– Nov 23, 8-midnite, The Alley’s 1st Anniversary Party “Studio300.”  The wildest first hand history lesson in Disco Fever. Hmm, you came to Charleston because it’s living history, right? Come live the clubbing, posing, dancing, a premium open bar, and…well, bowling. Featuring flashy performances, DJ Nate NattyHeavy Lopes, and disco balls (and balls of fire maybe?). You’re strongly encouraged to dress in the stylish 70’s (expect more than a few Hams – their wish has finally come true – disco is coming back – oye, punch to the gut). Benefit for Be A Mentor (BAM) non-profit. Tweet @TheAlleyChas & #Studio300. Follow their Facebook. Address & Tickets at Links above.