Living In Charleston

The
26th National Championship Catfish Tournament will take place on the 27th and 28th departing from and returning to Randolph's Landing. The 15th Annual Yemassee Shrimp Festival will be held the 18th through the 21st. The 2008 State Singles and
Doubles Horseshoe Pitching contest will be held on the 12th-14th. The Palmetto Tatters will host
Tat Days 2008 in Winnsboro on the 5th and 6th. And don't forget
the Apple Festival in Westminster the 2nd through the 6th.

Waves and Wishes 5K Run /Walk will take off from the Folly Beach Pier on the 27th. The IOP Race for the Child will hit the Connector on October
4th. The SC Half 2008 will take place at Lake Greenwood, SC on the 28th. The 1.2 mile swim,
56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run is event #12 of the SC Triathlon series.
The 2008 Bike MS Ride is the27-28th. The 150 mile ride across
the upstate will end in Greenville. Fun events in the state this month include the Albino Skunk Bluegrass Festival
in Blue Ridge, SC on the 26 and 27th. The Irmo Okra Strut includes lots of okra eating contests, the Okra Strut Parade and don't
forget the Dam Run to Irmo beginning at the Lake Murray Dam.

Trident is planning a new 3 story, 50 bed hospital in Monks Corner,
while the VA Hospital has been ranked number 10 among the nation's
155 VA hospitals. Lots of runs happening this month. The American Lung Association will host its 6th Annual Asthma Run/Walk at Brittlebank Park on the 13th. The MUSC 2 Mile Wellness Run and Walk on the 20th will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the
MUSC Harper Student Center. It will start at the facility on the
corner of Bee and Courtenay.

Inc.com has highlighted Charleston, Summerville and North Charleston.
The three city metropolitan area ranked 6 of 30 midsized cities climbing
on the list of best cities in which to do business from 15th last year. Charleston based Noel Corp has optioned 8 acres in Colleton county to build
a 15K sft facility. They will make and distribute automotive sealants
but hope to move into the green product and services market in the future.

Charleston Development Academy, a charter school in one of the city's oldest housing project will have its 5 year success chronicled in a documentary. Vharleston's Green Fair will kick off with a “green tie” gala at the Aquarium on the 25th featuring local urban developer, Vince Graham, discussing Urbanism: Past and Present. Marion Square will be the site of the Green Fair showcasing many green echnologies, green building roundtables, making your own cleaning products, eating locally and of sustainable products. It's all happening on Sunday afternoon, the 28th. The SC Swamp Sweep will be only one of the many events taking place across the state's rivers, creeks and beaches on the 20th. Help keep our state beautiful.

Charleston Development Academy, a charter school in one of the city's
oldest housing project will have its 5 year success chronicled in a
documentary. Charleston's Green Fair will kick off with a “green tie” gala
at the Aquarium on the 25th featuring local urban developer, Vince Graham,
discussing Urbanism: Past and Present. Marion Square will be the
site of the Green Fair showcasing many green technologies, green
building roundtables, making your own cleaning products, eating locally
and of sustainable products. It's all happening on Sunday afternoon,
the 28th. The SC Swamp Sweep will be only one of the many events taking place across the state's
rivers, creeks and beaches on the 20th. Help keep our state beautiful.

Here's a great way to capitalize on the area. Atlas Worldwide Syndication
and Distribution's film and TV production studio in Hollywood (SC)
is complete. The 4 stage, three acre site will include a 20,000sft soundstage
making it the largest studio in SC.

The secret is out. The national geographic has named us one of the “50 next great adventure towns.” One of five southern cities, the magazine refers to us as the “jock in the Southern Belle set” and compliments the metro area on the many ways to enjoy the outdoors here. Others in the South making the cut were Chattanooga, Islamorada, charlottesville, Lenoir and Mobile.

The secret is out. The national geographic has named us one of the
“50 next great adventure towns.” One of five southern cities, the
magazine refers to us as the “jock in the Southern Belle set” and
compliments the metro area on the many ways to enjoy the outdoors here.
Others in the South making the cut were Chattanooga, Islamorada, Charlottesville,
Lenoir and Mobile.

Quilts
are in Bloom at the Charleston Museum. The exhibit spans 150 years
of Charleston quilting and each offers a unique interpretation of a
floral theme.
What
becomes a garden best? How about the 32nd Annual Fall Tour of Homes
and Gardens Sept 25-Oct 26th. Sponsored by the Preservation Society,
this five week event is always a winner.

There's
not much better in Charleston than our gardens. No one knows this better
than our gardeners. The Charleston Horticultural Society's eighth annual
“Gardens for Gardeners Fall Tour” will present an opportunity
on the 5th of October to visit gardens in West Ashley and James Island
on a self guided walking/ driving tour. So mark your calendar. It's
Rain or Shine.

The
Town of Kiawah will present the American Music Celebration on
the afternoon of Oct 5th at Freshfields Village Green. The same weekend,
the 20th Anniversary of the French Quarter
will be marked by what organizers are saying will become Charleston's
most comprehensive visual arts festival.

The
MOJA Arts Festival scheduled September 25th -Oct. 5 at many venues
downtown has often been one of the SE Tourism Society's Top 20 events.
The celebration of African-American and Caribbean arts is in its 25th
year and highlights include classical, jazz, dance, gospel and R&B
plus poetry, visual arts and storytelling.

If
Chamber Music is more to your taste, don't feel left out this month.
The Calhoun Mansion hosts a soiree on the 12th. Then Chamber
Music Charleston presents a weekend of Classic Concerts on the 19th
and 20th. You'll also enjoy The Signature House Concert series
held in homes on the Battery on the 28th and 29th.

The 12th
Annual Lions Club BBQ Cook-off
will be held at the Berkeley Museum on the 26th. There'll be plenty
of good food and bluegrass. If that's not enough head over to Old Santee
Canal Park for their 9th Annual Pickin' in the Park...that's
bluegrass, not pig.

The tartans will be swirling as the Highland Games once again come
to Charleston on the 20th. Boone Hall will host the athletics, fiddling,
dancing and Border collie demonstrations. The Charleston Scottish
Dancers will hold a free dance social on the 19th and a Country Dancers
Ball on the 20th.

This is something
different. The Berkeley Museum Antique Tractor and Engine Show
will crank up for two days beginning on the 13th. Blacksmithing, basket
weaving, caning, grist milling, sawmilling, caning and furniture making
will be demonstrated also.

It's the end of the season at IOP and what better way to mark it
than a party. The community party will be on the 13th at 6 pm at the
Rec Center.

Rice was an integral part of life
in Charleston and this month is Harvest Time at Middleton Plantation.
Watch as you learn how Carolina Gold was harvested and processed from
the field to the table on the 13th, 16th and 25th.

To commemorate the 225th anniversary
of the signing of the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War,
the Museum will present a lecture on the 9th entitled “Where It Happened
Downtown” on the effects of the war on Charleston.

On
the 7th The Park will host a “Meet the Artists” reception
from 5:30-7:30. They'll announce the winners of their juried art show
and also announce the people's choice awards.

Fall is a spectacular time of the year to get out and about in the
Lowcountry. Old Santee Canal Park is holding a Yellow Ribbon
Camp on the 6th. It's a fun day at the park for children in grades
1-5 with a parent, grandparent or sibling serving overseas. Pictures
will be taken throughout the day then posted online to share with your
favorite soldier. A prepaid mailing box will be included to send crafts
and pictures overseas also.