Exploring Charleston

What's happening this weekend.

2010-07-22T06:26:00.003-04:00

Friday, July 23:

Music on the Green, 6-9 PM, Freshfield Village Green at the crossroad of Kiawah & Seabrook Island, free. Tex-rock band The Rum Punch Bandits will be performing. www.freshfieldsvillage.com

Saturday, July 24:

Latin-American Baseball Tribute, 5-10 PM, Riley Park, 360 Fishbure Stree, $5 admission. Focus will be on Latino baseball perspective with Latin music and food. www.riverdogs.com

Free Family Movie, 9 PM, Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, 99 Hallman Blvd, free. "E.T: The Extra Terrestrial." Food and beverages for sale. www.ccprc.com

Sunday, July 25:

Cloister-Garth Concert, 5 PM, Bethel United Methodist Church, 57 Pitt Street. A concert featuring music from the churches and cathedrals of England. www.bethelcharleston.com

Fun things to do and see this weekend

2010-07-16T06:21:00.004-04:00

Are you taking full advantage of the Farmers Markets? There are lots of them around - check out any Thursday's Charleston Scene section of the Post & Courier, or see our earlier blog with a listing of the larger ones. As you drive around, you may also see smaller vendors set up in various locations. It's a great way to find bargains on fresh fruits and vegetables, and also support your neighbors.

Here's a few things happening this weekend:

Friday, July 16th

Music on the Green, 6-9 PM, Freshfields Village Green at the crossroads of Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, free admission. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, shopping and blues by Shrimp City Slim. http://www.freshfieldsvillage.com/

Family Fun Night, 6:30-8:30 PM, R.L. Jones Center Pool, 391 Egypt Road, Mt. Pleasant, or 7-8:30 PM, Park West Pool, 1251 Park West Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, free admission. Floats and water toys welcome. http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/

Moonlight Mixer, 7-11 PM, Folly Beach Fishing Pier, 101 E. Arctic Ave., $10 admission. Dance to music by DJ Jim Bowers, food and beverages for sale. 795-4FUN

Saturday, July 17th

Princess Party, 9:30-11:30 AM, The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street, $10 admission. Girls can dress up as princesses and participate in a morning of arts, crafts, cupcakes and more. http://www.charlestonmuseum.org/

Belly Dance Workshop, 1-6 PM, Trudy's School of Dance, 830 Folly Road, James Island. A workshop catering to beginner and intermediate dancers. 795-8660

Reggae Concert Series, 8:30 PM, James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive, $8 for adults, children under 12 are free. Music by Da Gullah Rootz, food and beverages for sale. 795-4FUN

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND (AND BEYOND)

2010-06-10T13:02:00.003-04:00

Once again, lots of things going on for little or no money. Check out last week's post to see where all the many Farmer's Markets are. Also, volunteers are needed to help with the Organic Sustainable Community Children's Garden. For more information, call 810-0088.

June 12-13, 10 am - 4 pm - Hydrangea Festival at Rosebank Farms, 4425 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy, John's Island (just before the Kiawah/Seabook traffic circle). Admission is free, and a lunch of whole hog barbecue and Rosebank Farms vegetables will be available for $12. http://www.rosebankfarms.com/

June 11, 6-9 pm - Freshfields Village Concert, crossroad of Kiawah and Seabrook Island, Congdon and Company will perform. http://www.freshfieldsvillage/ .com

June 16, 9 pm, - Freshfields Village's Starlight Cinema, free admission, donations will be accepted for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity. This is every Wednesday through the month of June, and this week's movie is "Meet the Robinsons." Bring a blanket or chairs.

June 12, 9 am - 4 pm, 7th annual Pond and Water Garden Tour, a self-guided tour all over the tri-county area to 29 private gardens. A finale party at the Charleston Animal Society will follow from 5-7 pm http://www.charlestonshowakoiclub.org/

June 12, 2 pm - Air Force Wind Ensemble will perform a free concert at Edgar Allen Poe Library, 1921 I'On Ave, Sullivan's Island. 883-3914 for more information.

June 14, 2 pm - Betsy's Box of Puppets will present a free puppet show at Johns Island Regional Library

Fridays, 3-6 pm - Free Wine Tastings, Lowcountry Wine and Spirits, 3642 Savannah Hwy, Suite 140, John's Island

Mondays, 7:30 pm, Free Shag Lessons, Mojo's, Bacons Bridge Road, Summerville. For more information, 214-0242

Current things to check out

2010-06-03T12:28:00.003-04:00

Lots of farmer's markets open now with great fresh, local foods and crafts. Here is a listing of some of them:
Charleston Farmers Market, Marion Square downtown Charleston, 8 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays
Daniel Island Farmers Market, Family Circle Tennis Center, 161 Seven Farms Drive, 3 to 7 PM on Thursdays, http://www.danielislandfarmersmarket.com/
Market at Rosebank Farms, 4455 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, John Island, 9AM to 6 PM daily, http://www.rosebankfarms.com/
Mount Pleasant Farmer's Market, Moultrie Middle School, 645 Coleman Blvd, 3:30 PM to dusk on Tuesdays, http://www.townofmountpleasant.com/
North Charleston Farmers Market, Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Place E., noon to 7 PM on Thursdays, http://www.northcharleston.org/
Summerville Farmers Market, 218 S. Main Street, 8AM to 1PM on Saturdays

Some other great low cost or free activities to check out:

Friday:

Lowcountry Cherokee and Native American Art Showcase, free admission, 9 AM to 5PM, Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston
Piccolo Beach Music Bash, free and for all ages, U.S. Custom House on the corner of Concord and Market streets downtown, 7 - 11PM. This features beach and Lowcountry-themed entertainment by a variety of local musicians.
Moonlight Mixer, dance on the Folly Beach Fishing Pier, $10 admission, 7-11PM, June 4 and June 25. Best to purchase tickets in advance, http://www.ccprc.com/
Chopsticks, free, all ages, Charleston County Main Library, 68 Calhoun St., 3-5PM Fridays. Light classical music and favorite children's songs.

Saturday:

Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, $5 admission, 8:30-noon, preregistration encouraged but walk-ins welcome (every Saturday and Wednesday)

Art Discovery Walking Tours, $20, Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting Street, 10:30 on Saturdays. 90-minute walking tour of historic sights, http://www.charlestonwalks.com/

Arts & Crafts Shows, Tea Farm Cottage, 808 N. Cedar Street, Summerville, free admission, 11
AM to 4 PM on first Saturday of each month through October. Merchandise from 30-50 vendors as well as food and music. 871-1113

Okay, now there is no reason to sit home and be bored this weekend!

Brittle Bank Park- FREE entertainment

2010-05-17T12:00:00.005-04:00

FREE...this is the magical word for everybody now days! Especially parents! Michael and I found out very quickly that finding things to entertain the kids was not just a nice thing to do but was necessary LOL.

Located along the Ashley River next to the Joe Riley Stadium, Brittle Bank Park has a large amount of land with some really impressive views overlooking the Ashley River. There is a very large playground area with all sorts of stuff for all ages to do and a fishing pier with a boat dock where you can go crabbing or fishing.

Check out the pictures below for our day at the Brittle Bank Park and go explore it for yourself:

180 Lockwood Blvd., Charleston, SC, 29403
SC, 29403

Winner of the Zia Taqueria

2010-05-01T14:13:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Jessica Woolsey!! You are the winner of the Zia Taqueria's gift card for $40.00. You and a guest will enjoy a fabulous meal for two on Hobson Group Realty LLC. We thank you all for participating and hope you continue to view and spread the word out our company blog.

Remember this is the Charleston guide to all the exciting events.

Don't forget to stop in Zia's and tell Kevin Grant (owner) hello and try all those authentic Mexican dishes.

Below is my son Gabriel who is 3 yrs old drawling the name out of his car basket he got for Easter.

FIRST CSA DELIVERY!

2010-04-26T12:32:00.006-04:00

Hi, Mary here. We picked up our first bag of goodies from the CSA on Friday, and we are delighted with both the selection and the quality.

Yes, this is a picture of what was in the bag, and no, I didn't take the picture - I'm not that talented! My son-in-law is a professional photographer, and the credit for the picture goes to him. Included were asparagus, beets, green onions, sweet onions, two kinds of lettuce, and some absolutely scrumptious strawberries. Also included were several recipes with ideas for how to prepare the beets and sweet onions.

It is really exciting to know that we have twelve more weeks to look forward to.

What's happening this weekend (April 17-18)

2010-04-15T12:10:00.005-04:00

Lots of things going on here in Charleston this weekend, and the weather is supposed to be beautiful, so get out and do something!

THE BATTLE OF CHARLESTON - April 17 & 18, 2:00 pm. (Gates open at 9:00 am, tickets at $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-12, and free for children under 5.) Legare Farms hosts a re-enactment of the only time in naval history that forces on land captured a ship on Jan. 30, 1863. This event draws 300-400 re-enactors from as far away as Ohio and is held on Legare Farms, a 300-acre working family farm that has been in operation since 1725. There are lots of living history demonstrations, special events and vendors will sell various food. For more information, go to http://www.battleofchas.com/ , call 559-0788, or e-mail legarefarms@bellsouth.net (I will do another post later on Legare Farms as a wonderful place to buy great local food.)

BLUE ANGELS DEMONSTRATION - April 17 & 18, 2 pm over the Cooper River and Charleston Harbor, free. A great place to watch is anywhere with a view of the harbor. Today's Post and Courier has an extensive article in today's paper with suggestions on where to watch it, where to park (shuttle will be running), and information about the Blue Angels. The Ravenel bridge pedestrian walk way will be closed, so don't plan on watching it from there.

EARTH DAY FESTIVAL - April 17, 11 am - 3 pm, Park Circle in North Charleston, free admission. This is Charleston County's 11th annual Earth Day Festival, and it brings together more than 65 local exhibitors with family oriented activities and displays. Bring your own water bottle (to reduce waster), and vendors will have food for sale. For more information, go to http://www.charlestoncounty.org/ or call 843-720-7111.

Charleston's Mexican Hot Spot

2010-04-05T13:30:00.002-04:00

This maybe the best prize yet, something to make your tummy and your pocket happy at the same time. Growing up in Charleston all my life, I've always heard we have no clue about "real" Mexican food.

Michael's mother, sister, and brother lived in Mexico for several years, so when they heard about this place called Zia Taqueria, they had to go check it out for themselves. I don't think I've ever seen such a happy bunch of people come back from dinner. It was like someone had taken away their favorite food for years and at last they were just getting to experience it again. So, my family, Mike, Gabriel (3), and Devin (2) saw a perfect Blog opportunity!

When we got there, I noticed it was laid back and everyone was just as friendly as can be (and we all know you don't find that a lot of places anymore). The best thing on the menu (in our opinion) was their famous Baja fish taco. I had never associated "fish" with "taco" before, but it was just incredible. The Nachos were really cool. They weren't just a bunch of chips with stuff dumped all over it but instead were individually prepared corn tostada shells topped with black beans and cheese. The results were....my family and I have found the most authentic Mexican restaurant in Charleston and we will be going back, especially for the famous Zia Rita Margarita (all I can say is WOW)!

Meet the owner.....

Zia Taqueria is a locally owned Mexican restaurant that knows how to cook it up!

Kevin Grant, Owner, & Chef of Zia Taqueria, started this company with a passion for Mexican food. He grew up in Houston, Texas and has been in the Mexican food business for 10 years. Growing up in Texas, there was no place for still another Mexican restaurant so he ventured to Charleston, SC to pursue his dream of introducing a new market to the way authentic Mexican food should be prepared. This place is the type of place where you can come in and grab a taco to go or you can hang out with your family and eat, drink and be merry.

Kevin has combined three different types of Mexican flavors, - New Mexico, Tex Mex, and Regional Mexican - into one mouth-watering flavor! Let me tell you, this isn't your everyday restaurant. Kevin says, "This is a place people can go for quality food at a moderate price" . This guy actually knows how to do it right! From the moment you step inside and get in the self-order line, Kevin wants you to have a great experience. Zia uses all fresh ingredients and spices straight from Mexico to give it the flavors that make it so unique.

Kevin's purpose is to make you experience and fall in love with the true flavors of Mexico. You will never think of Mexican food the same way again. Don't take my word for it - try it for yourself. You are also helping our LOCAL market take control again. To help one lucky winner do just that, our contest prize this month is a free dinner for two at Zia's. (See contest rules on the right sidebar.) Zia Taqueria is located on Maybank right next to the Terrace Theater. For more information, visit their website at http://ziataco.com/

Charlestown Landing Winner is....

2010-04-01T09:00:00.004-04:00

The winner is .....doddlebug!!! Congratulations on winning TWO FREE tickets to the Charlestown Landing. You've got to love this blog! Next time your mouth will water for our next contest..umm...umm

Below is your first clue:

The Thorn at SeaCoast

2010-03-23T15:06:00.003-04:00

This epic encounter will leave you breathless. Come see this play of remarkable performances and great special effects. My family and I attended this last year for Easter and highly recommend it for your family as well! This is an event you will not forget. Check out the link below for more information. This is the greatest story ever told!

http://thethorn.net/story

What is a CSA?

2010-03-21T09:41:00.003-04:00

It is CSA sign up time again, and several area farms are taking applications. Click this link to go to a list of local CSA's. http://www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org/program/Community_Supported_Agriculture.php

CSA stands for "Community Supported Agriculture", and it is a concept rapidly growing in popularity across the nation. A farmer plants a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and sells shares of the harvest for a lump sum paid up front. The shareholder shares both the risks and the rewards - if it's a good season, their weekly boxes are fuller, and if it's a poor season, there is less. The advantage for the shareholder is a variety of extremely fresh produce delivered to a central pick-up point every week, and the advantage to the farmer is knowing their crops are sold and getting their money up front to help cover their costs when the majority of them occur.

It is important to be comfortable with the farm you select, and also with their growing methods - conventional, organic or somewhere in between. I will tell you about my personal experience with a CSA a couple of years ago. The grower wasn't certified organic, but was committed to using chemicals only when absolutely necessary, and then using the safest and smallest amount. During the time I was a shareholder, she only had to do so once, and immediately notified all the shareholders of what had been treated. I was very pleased with my experience, but unfortunately the grower moved to another farm out of the area.

My daughter and I went together to purchase one share, which entitled us to a box each week for 13 weeks with an assortment of fruits, vegetables, herbs and sometimes even flowers. There were some things that we had never heard of, much less eaten, but the grower had that covered - a recipe book was included with our first delivery. We were already fairly adventurous eaters, but this really pushed us out of our comfort zone and encouraged us to incorporate a larger variety of veggies in our meals. In the end, we ended up with some new favorites.

It can seem a bit pricey going in, but we definitely saw a difference in our weekly grocery bills, and ended up saving money in the end. A great way to test it out is to split the cost and the bounty with a friend or two. It can also be fun to take turns preparing different recipes and letting others sample them.

The downside to getting these weekly deliveries is when it is finished. Kayte and I had gotten so used to fresh-picked produce that we struggled to adjust back to supermarket groceries - it's just not the same! We have once again signed up for a CSA and are looking forward to getting our first delivery next month. I'll keep you posted on how it goes!

Celtic Harp at Muddy Waters Coffee Shop

2010-03-12T16:11:00.005-05:00

Hi guys,

As promised, if I hear of any cool events, I will let you know. Muddy Waters is a locally owned coffee shop located in West Ashley and James Island. This is the best spot to grab your latte and lap top and hang out. They have a special event called Palmetto Acoustic. This is where local artists come in and play their hearts out for the Lowcountry, and what's even better is that this event is FREE. So, bring all your friends and family because you don't want to miss this!

You get to sit back, relax and listen to great music while sippin' on your coffee. This is the ultimate cafe' experiment!

On Saturday, March 20th, the West Ashley location is featuring a Celtic Harp event from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Muddy Waters Coffee Bar
1331 Ashley River Road, West Ashley
(843) 225-3683

http://www.muddywaterscoffee.com/happenings.htm

Charles Towne Landing

2010-03-05T06:30:00.007-05:00

Now this is history at it's finest. Being a native from Charleston, some of my favorite memories come from Charles Towne Landing. As a little girl, my parents would load us kids up in the car and head to the park for a picnic and to go exploring. Once we got there we would lay out our large blanket in the big open field, spread out our food and dig in. After our bellies were full we would take off to see the animals, with my dad excitedly trailing behind. Secretly, seeing the bobcats was his favorite.

Just a little history for you; at Charles Towne Landing, a group of English settlers landed in 1670. This established what would become the birthplace of the Carolinas colony, the plantation system of the American South, and one of the continent’s first major port cities. Here at the park the story is still told. Opened in 1970 as Charles Towne Landing State Park, the peaceful park on a marshy point off the Ashley River was rebuilt in 2006 with a sharpened focus on the site’s remarkable past. This place is amazing and you will have so much to explore while you're there. There is the animal forest,Living History, Archaeology, crop garden (following instructions from 1670), 80 acres of gardens that includes an elegant live oak alle’ and the Legare-Waring House(one of Charleston’s favorite sites for weddings). One of my personal favorites is the Adventure ship (Charleston's only 17th century replica sailing ship).

(Me at age 7)

Attention all moms - this is one of the best places to take your kids. They can run and play and get all their energy out without you having to worry they might break something. Michael and I took Gabriel & Devin there awhile back and they had such a great time. Their favorite part was seeing the big bear in the animal forest and of course the open field (lol). I wasn't able to capture any of it on photos so whoever wins this contest, don't forget your camera because you will have some priceless pictures. As you can tell, Charles Towne Landing has made a big impression on my life that I still talk about from being a little girl, age 7, till . . . well, I won't get into current age, let's just say older. Ohh, the memories!! Now go and make your own memories!

Good luck with the contest!!

(Me at age 7)

Yorktown Winners!

2010-03-01T13:00:00.001-05:00

Ok!! Drum roll please.....The winner of the Yorktown tickets is Eugene!!

As always, thanks for playing our contest. It is such a pleasure to see everyone enjoying this blog. Keep in mind we are blogging on other events and topics during each month so check back often so you're not left out!

This next attraction will be displayed on the 5th and trust me you will not want to miss this one. Will be Blogging you soon! See below for your next clues:

Organic, Natural or . . . ?

2010-02-21T15:04:00.017-05:00

Everyone has heard that organic food is better, safer. . . and more expensive. Unfortunately, (in my opinion), it has also become a big business, and the bigger it gets, the further it is from the original meaning. One reason it costs more is because it is difficult and expensive for a producer to get the original certification, and then there is a substantial yearly fee to maintain it. This puts it out of reach of the average small family farmer.

Another term that has become popular is "Naturally Grown". This designation is rapidly accumulating the same baggage as "Organic" - legislation defining who can use it, ongoing costs, etc. Just as with the "Organic" label, when large agribusinesses adopt these terms, they also find loopholes to allow them to very narrowly apply the labels. For example, it is legal to describe eggs as "free range" if there is one small door that opens to the outside of the building, even if no chicken knows it is there or uses it.

The picture at the left shows what it really means for chickens to be "free range". They have total freedom to run around, eat grass, catch bugs and just live as nature meant them to live.

What I am interested in is how the food was raised. I don't care about labels, I just don't want any added chemicals or antibiotics, and I want the animals raised humanely, not in crates or feedlots. Cows, goats, sheep and pigs should have access to pasture and chickens need to be able to scratch, eat bugs and grass, and move around freely. I like meat and eat it regularly, but hate the thought that the animal that provided it lived a miserable life. What I want is to meet the farmer and even visit the farm. One term for this concept is "Transparent". Most farmers will welcome your visit, but remember that they are busy people. Always contact them and set up a time when it is convenient for you to come.

Have you ever hugged a goat?

The food from happy, healthy animals, be it milk, eggs or meat, is far superior in both taste and nutrition. Check out http://www.eatwild.com/ and click on "Benefits for your health" on the left hand side. That same website has lots of other interesting information, also.

The first and easiest step in becoming a "localvore" is to look for locally grown and produced items at your supermarket or restaurant. If you don't see anything marked "locally produced", ask the manager to carry it and mark it clearly.

We are fortunate here in Charleston in that there is a very active movement advocating that we all try to buy at least 10% of our purchases at locally owned stores. Go to http://www.lowcountrylocalfirst.com/ to learn more about it, and to find the local businesses.

Don't forget to enter the contest for free tickets to visit the Yorktown! See "contest rules" on the sidebar to see what you need to do.

Snow in Charleston SC

2010-02-14T14:16:00.015-05:00

What!! Snow in Charleston SC, this is something you hardly ever hear of. I think the last really good snow fall that stuck was right after Hurricane Hugo in 1989! This beautiful white blanket swept over the Charleston area Friday, Feb. 12th around 7pm and snowed till the wee hours of the night. The snow left faster than it came but for a few hours it was an awesome experience for me and my family. We had snowball fights and the kids made a snow man with Grandma. Leave a comment and let us know of of your experience with the snow. That also enters you in our contest to win tickets to visit the Yorktown. (See previous post for more information.)

Click play on the Blogger bar below to see video.

Come Aboard the USS Yorktown!

2010-02-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

As we head into our third featured attraction we have already discovered that Charleston has a lot of hidden jewels. This month's featured attraction is for all you history buffs. This is the well known USS Yorktown docked at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant.

If you’re like me, you have driven past this a million times without stopping, but this may motivate you to visit. This attraction called for the whole family to test it out to see if it was blog worthy for all our faithful readers. So, with my husband and two little boys in hand we set off to see what the big deal was. The day did not start off as planned it was rainy and cold but the boys had been talking about seeing the big ship and airplanes all day! Come rain or shine, this experience turned out to be a fun filled adventure.
The ship is huge and has all sorts of different tours you can take. Be prepared to spend at least two to three hours. Don't worry, though, there is a food stand in there in case you need fuel. There is a Congressional Medal of Honors where you can go and listen to different stories of the people who went above and beyond for our country, you can stand before actual WWII fighter & bomber aircraft, take a ride on a flight simulator, go down below deck and explore the ship and feel like one of the crew members, and much more.

Out of it all, though, Gabriel & Devin’s favorite was the “stage” - yes, you heard right. See picture below:

The end result was an awesome experience and I was able to have a peaceful car ride home!

Facts about the USS Yorktown:
The USS Yorktown (CV-10) was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve in the United States Navy. Under construction as Bon Homme Richard, this new Essex-class carrier was renamed "Yorktown" in honor of Yorktown (CV-5), sunk at the epic Battle of Midway (June 1942). Built in an amazing 16 ½ months at Newport News, Virginia, Yorktown was commissioned on April 15, 1943. Yorktown participated significantly in the Pacific Offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. Yorktown received the Presidential Unit Citation and earned 11 battle stars for service in World War II. Much of the Academy Award-winning (1944)documentary "The Fighting Lady" was filmed aboard. In the 1950’s, Yorktown was modified with the addition of an angled deck to better operate jet aircraft in her role as an attack carrier (CVA). In 1958, Yorktown was designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS), and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-1968). The ship also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule (December 1968). Yorktown was decommissioned in 1970 and placed in reserve. In 1975, Yorktown was towed from Bayonne, NJ to Charleston to become the centerpiece of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum. Another fun fact is you can actually camp out on the Yorktown! Come experience the patriotism, honor and character of Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum.

Thanks for Exploring Charleston with Hobson Group Realty. Remember, all you have to do is just leave a comment and you are automatically entered to win two tickets to explore the USS Yorktown for yourself.

Don’t forget - YOU will need to check back March 1st to claim your prize. You will have 15 days to claim your prize at info@hobsongrouprealty.com We don't have your contact information, so it will be up to you to contact us to let us know who you are.

IMAX Winners!!

2010-01-31T12:47:00.012-05:00

Congratulations Kacey Huff!!! You are the winner of our monthly contest. Kacey just won two free tickets to the awesome IMAX Theatre and a family special at the concession stand which includes a large popcorn and two large drinks. Way to go!!

Devin is our 22 month old son who drew the name! This picture is taken from our next featured event. Can you figure it out? Check back on February 5th for our next contest. You will not want to miss this!

See the world's tallest mule

2010-01-23T08:50:00.008-05:00

On Sunday, January 31st, Palmetto Carriage Works is holding their annual Free Carriage Tour Day and Shorty, the world's tallest mule, will be on display for that one day only. Shorty stands 19.2 hands (6 feet 6 inches) where an average mule is 15hands (5 feet).

Palmetto Carriage Works offers free tours and parking on this day for all residents of Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties (they will be checking ID). Staff will bring out animals for petting and answer questions about their care fron 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

We will be checking them out and will blog later with pictures and a report on our experiences.

For more information on Shorty, see the article in today's Post & Courier.

Building Communities

2010-01-15T17:43:00.002-05:00

Hi, my name is Mary Pendley and I am part of the team here at Hobson Group Realty. My passion is encouraging people of any age and from all walks of life to come together as a community.

First, a little background about me. I grew up as one of eight children on a small farm in Wyoming. As a child, I milked cows (by hand), slopped hogs, gathered eggs and plucked chickens. Nearly all the food we ate was grown on the farm - meat, milk, egg, vegetables.

When I married, I left the farm and have never again had the opportunity to live on a farm, although I have had a vegetable garden whenever possible. I have six children (all grown) and a whole passel of grandchildren. I have lived a lot of places including Germany and Mexico, and have been here in Charleston since 2002.

About three years ago, my daughter loaned me a book called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver, and it literally changed my life. Barbara Kingsolver is a well-known author of novels, and this is the true story of her family's commitment to grow as much of their own food as possible and buy only things that were produced locally for one year. It is a very entertaining book, and if you read it, you will never look at supermarket food the same again. I decided to make an effort to seek out local sources of food whenever possible. I found that the most difficult part was finding the producers. I frequented farmer's markets, bought a share in a CSA, and found where I could buy meat and eggs directly from the farmer. I've made some friends and eaten some truly delicious food in the process.

How does this relate to building communities? Locally produced and direct from the farm products can sometimes be more expensive than the chain stores, although often they are not. However, your dollars support your neighbors, and that in turn allows them to do the same. Your immediate reward is healthy food that is truly fresh and delicious, and you may also make some new friends in the process.

I will be blogging periodically about where to go and how to find these direct connections, as well as on related topics. There are many different producers to be found, but I will be talking primarily about those that I have personal experiences with. If you know of good sources, please leave a comment with that information. Any comments you leave will also enter you in the current contest - it's IMAX tickets this month!

Charleston IMAX

2010-01-05T01:00:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone and thanks for continuing to Explore the Charleston area with us. Each month we are going to be featuring different attractions in the Charleston area. All you have to do to win is just leave a comment and it will automatically enter you to win. There are no obligations just free tickets! Our featured attraction this month is the new Citadel Mall Stadium 16 with IMAX. The contest prize is a package of two tickets to the IMAX (including 3-D) and a family special order at the concession stand (large popcorn and two large drinks with unlimited refills).

My husband and I just went to the new IMax in West Ashley and had an incredible experience. This was my first 3D movie and let me tell you this is not your mom and pop’s movie theater. This was an in your face, breathtaking, nail biting event. We saw the movie "Avatar" and were absolutely blown away by how you felt like you were right in the movie. Between the enormous screen and the sound system you could not help but feel that way. I highly recommend the 3D effect when watching your next movie. “Avatar” is currently playing at the IMAX, and will be there until March. However, if you prefer a different movie, the tickets are good for any movie at any of the 16 theaters.

One common misconception is that the IMAX is simply a larger screen. However, it is much more. An IMAX theater is designed to meet very specific physical criteria. It is designed to make the viewer feel a part of the movie, not just a viewer. It provides an intense viewing experience partly because it has twice as many projectors (two instead of one) which make the picture much sharper and the colors brighter. The huge screen is perforated with thousands of tiny holes to allow sound to past through it, and it is coated with a proprietary high-gain silver coating to maximize picture brightness. Every morning before the theater opens, the screen is calibrated so that the light intensity is just right. Three-D technology comes into its own at the IMAX – the images not only appear to pop off the screen but truly seem to reach out and touch you. To give you an idea of just how large the screen is, see the picture below (that's me standing there - look close!).

Sound is just as important as the picture in an IMAX presentation. It is laser-aligned to envelope each audience member, making the smallest sound audible and allowing the listener to know which direction it is coming from. Before a new IMAX theater opens, a team of technicians check each individual seat to ensure that the sound is perfectly balanced. The sound track of each movie is specifically designed for the unique IMAX sound system.

To see what movies are playing, click here. http://www.southeastcinemas.com/charleston-imax.htm

Of course, no movie experience would be complete without refreshments. The picture above is of the theater's spacious lobby and concession stand.

Leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win this contest (you will need to have a google account to comment - if you have trouble, let us know and we'll help you through it)

Contest Winners!!!

2010-01-01T16:35:00.007-05:00

Happy New Years from Hobson Group Realty!

Dustin Crosby is the winner of our monthly contest. He just won two free tickets to the Miracle Worker at that Charleston Flootlight Theatre. Way to bring in the New Year Dustin!

Stay tuned for our next contest with two free tickets to the New I-Max theatre in West Ashley. You will not want to miss this!

Gabriel our three year old drew the name!

Exploring the Holy City with Jenn

2009-11-29T14:42:00.007-05:00

Hi All you Bloggers,

My name is Jennifer from the Lowcountry. First off I want to give you a quick background check on myself, I have lived all my life in Charleston SC and throughout my 31 years, I have come to have a lot of titles. I'm a daughter, sister, wife, Mommy, Realtor, business owner, homemaker and the list goes on and on (I'm sure many of you can relate to this). I met my husband Michael at church and got married in 2005. Since then I have been blessed with two beautiful boys, Gabriel and Devin. Don't ya think they are so cute?

You may be wondering why Charleston is considered the Holy City. Well, if you have ever visited here, I'm sure you have noticed all the beautiful old churchs, one on almost every street corner. I personly LOVE all the history this city has to offer and invite you to explore it for yourself!

Growing up in Charleston, I know of many places to go, but my favorite place when I need to clear my head is Folly Beach! It's so relaxing watching the waves crash into each other and watching the sunsets or sunrise. See for yourself below: Folly is nothing but flip flops year round as you walk the streets of this town, which fits me perfectly.

Michael and I opened our own real estate company in 2005, Hobson Group Realty LLC., offering Commission Free Services and shaking up the Real Estate industry by far! We offer people full service real estate and marketing services with the opportunity to sell without paying any commissions. Check it out for yourselves at http://www.hobsongrouprealty.com/

Hobson Group Realty will be sponsoring a contest each month. All you have to do is post a comment on the blog to be entered for a chance to win. For the month of December, the prize is two tickets to The Miracle Worker at the Footlight Theatre. The Miracle Worker is an inspiring production that explores the true story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller, For more information, please click on the following link. http://www.footlightplayers.net/content.asp?catID=13027 The drawing will be December 31, 2009. Entries will be limited to one per e-mail address. See contest rules on the sidebar.

We will not be posting every day or even every week, but will always have a new post on the 5th day of the month to announce a new contest. There will be random posts in between, sometimes real estate oriented, but mostly just talking about fun things to do and see. If you want to be notified by e-mail any time a new post is published, please subscribe.