Lowcountry Local First's Fourth Annual Chef's Potluck at Middleton Place

Middleton Place

Have you made any plans for next weekend yet? Are you planning to attend the Chef’s Potluck, taking place at Middleton Place next Sunday? You will definitely want to stop by this fun-filled event, especially if you’re looking for the best Lowcountry meal in Charleston!

Hosted by Lowcountry Local First, the Fourth Annual Chef’s Potluck will be held at Middleton Place (located at 4300 Ashley River Road in Charleston) in the Pavilion on Sunday, April 17, 2011, beginning at 4:00 pm and ending at 7:00 pm.

Lowcountry producers and growers will provide local seafood, meats, and produce to be used in the dishes served at the Fourth Annual Chef’s Potluck. These dishes will be prepared by top chefs representing restaurants in the Charleston area.

Advance tickets to the Chef’s Potluck are $55 for Lowcountry Local First Members and $60 for nonmembers. Tickets purchased at the door the day of the event are $65 each. For more information about the Chef’s Potluck or other happenings at Middleton Place, call 843-556-6020.

Image courtesy of RobBole via Flickr

 

Pet Fest 2011 at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park

Are you making your plans for the weekend yet? Have you heard about Pet Fest 2011, taking place at the Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park (located at 444 Needlerush Parkway in Mount Pleasant) this weekend?

If you’re looking for a fun-filled event for both you and your furry friend to check out this weekend, you’ll definitely want to check out Charleston’s premiere pet festival. Here’s a list of just a few of the many festivities and attractions happening at Pet Fest this Saturday and Sunday:

Saturday, April 10, 2011
•    Dolittle’s “Chow Down Like Your Hound”
•    The Charleston Kennel Club’s “Meet the Breed Dog Show” – You can enter your own purebred or mixed breed dog in this exciting event!
•    Announcement of the Top Dog 2011 mascot
Sunday, April 11, 2011
•    Live musical entertainment provided by Uncle Funkle
Both Saturday & Sunday
•    “K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs & Dock Diving”
•    A variety of pet contests, including “Owner Pet Look-alike”, “Best Trick”, and a Dog Costume Contest
•    Lowcountry Dog Magazine’s Cover Model Contest – You can enter your pooch to be the new dog on the cover of Lowcountry Dog Magazine!
•    Adoptable animals will be at this special event, courtesy of local adoption centers and animal rescue groups.
•    There will also be kid-friendly activities, food & beverages available for purchase (including treats for your furry friends), and plenty of chances to win great prizes!

Pet Fest 2011 will be open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on both Saturday & Sunday. Tickets are $5 per person, although Gold Pass Members, kids (ages 12 and under), and leashed pets will be admitted for free. If you’d like more information about Pet Fest, call 843-795-4386.

Image courtesy of benjgibbs via Flickr

 

Lowcountry Oyster Roast at Drayton Hall

Drayton Hall

Have you made any plans for next weekend yet? Have you visited Drayton Hall recently? Located at 3380 Ashley River Road in Charleston, Drayton Hall is one of America’s finest surviving colonial houses, as it has remained in near-perfect condition since it was constructed by John Drayton in 1738. In fact, it is the only plantation house on the Ashley River that has survived completely intact to this day.

On Sunday, April 10, 2011, Drayton Hall will host the Lowcountry Oyster Roast, beginning at 4:30 pm and ending at 7:00 pm. The Lowcountry Oyster Roast, held in conjunction with the Historic Charleston Foundation’s Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens, will include an oyster roast and picnic of local steamed oysters, a Lowcountry buffet supper, and beverages (wine, beer, soft drinks, etc), in addition to a guided tour of the main house at Drayton Hall.

Tickets to the Lowcountry Oyster Roast can be purchased by calling the Historic Charleston Foundation’s events office (843-722-3405) or online at historiccharleston.org. Tickets are $20 for children (ages 6 through 12) and $45 for adults. Kids under the age of 6 will be admitted for free. If you’d like more information about the Lowcountry Oyster Roast or other happenings at Drayton Hall, call 843-769-2600.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Lowcountry Cajun Festival at James Island County Park

Have you made any plans for the weekend yet? Have you heard about the Lowcountry Cajun Festival? Are you planning on attending? If not, you definitely should—this local festival has something that everyone will enjoy!

Presented by Piggly Wiggly, the Lowcountry Cajun Festival will take place at James Island County Park (located at 871 Riverland Drive in Charleston) on Sunday, April 3, 2011, beginning at noon and ending at 6:00 pm.

At the Lowcountry Cajun Festival, you’ll have the opportunity to savor the best Cajun dishes from Louisiana and the best Lowcountry dishes from right here in Charleston.

Local, as well as regional, chefs will cook up delicious foods, including jambalaya, etouffe, alligator, andouille, sausage, Lowcountry favorites like Southern barbeque & seafood, and of course, the dish that the Lowcountry Cajun Festival is famous for—crawfish! Carnival foods (funnel cakes, hot dogs, sno cones, etc) will also be available for purchase.

In addition to an abundance of delectable food, there will also be plenty of entertainment like live Zydeco music, children’s activities, mechanical rides, a crafter market, and a crawfish eating contest (starting at 2:30 pm).

Admission to the Lowcountry Cajun Festival is $10 for adults & students and free for kids (age 12 and under). Gold Pass Members will also be admitted for free. For more information about this event, visit the official website of Charleston County Parks & Recreation.

Image courtesy of Lori L. Stalteri via Flickr

 

Lowcountry Tea Rooms in the Charleston Area this Spring

Lowcountry tea rooms are a spring tradition in Charleston that dates back to the “high teas” sponsored by the churches of Colonial Charles Towne, according to The Post and Courier. The tea rooms are set up at Lowcountry churches all over the Charleston area, in an effort to raise funds for local charities and ministries.

A variety of homemade sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts will be served at these tea rooms, and they will remain open anywhere from two days to two weeks. Here are a list of the local tea rooms taking place in March:

•    St. Paul’s Church – Located at 316 West Carolina Avenue in Summerville, the tea room at St. Paul’s Church will be open through Friday, April 1, 2011 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. To make a reservation, call 873-1991.

•    Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church – Old St. Andrew’s Parish church is located at 2604 Ashley River Road in West Ashley. The tea room is open through Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. If you’d like to make a reservation, call 766-1541.

•    St. Johannes Lutheran Church – The tea room at St. Johannes Lutheran Church (48 Hassell Street in downtown Charleston) is open from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm today, March 26, 2011 and Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Contact Kay Winnette at 571-1666 to make a reservation.

To find out more information about the many other Lowcountry tea rooms happening in the Charleston area, visit postandcourier.com. Make sure you stop by one of these tea rooms this spring for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or just a light snack, and do your part to support local charities and ministries right here in Charleston!

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Customer Appreciation Day at Charleston County Parks

Folly Beach

Have you made any big plans for this weekend yet? Our residents here at Haddon Hall don’t have to look very far to find something fun-filled and entertaining to do right here in Charleston–in fact, the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission is holding a special community event that you should definitely take advantage of this weekend!

Make your plans to spend your Sunday in Charleston at one of the many Charleston County Parks! As a “thank you”, the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission will host Customer Appreciation Day with “no admission fees” at all Charleston County Parks from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 20, 2011!  In addition, visitors at the park can register for the chance to win a Gold Pass membership, fishing passes, and waterpark passes.

You’ll receive free gate admission OR free parking at the following Charleston County Parks:

• Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center — free gate admission
• North Charleston Wannamaker County Park — free gate admission
• Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park — free gate admission
• James Island County Park — free gate admission
• Kiawah Beachwalker Park — free parking
• Folly Beach County Park — free parking
• Isle of Palms County Park — free parking
• Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier — free parking

For more information about Customer Appreciation Day at Charleston County Parks, or to find out about the free activities you can take part in at each of these parks, visit the Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission’s Official Website.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia