For Immediate Release, October 2011
What's New in the Charleston Area: Fall 2011 - Winter 2012
WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHARLESTON, SC AREA: FALL 2011• CACVB Initiatives
• New Attractions, Retail, Restaurants, Specialty Products and Tours
• Honors and Awards
• Special Events and Festivals
NEW CACVB INITIATIVES
The mission of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is to unify and lead the local travel industry in marketing the Charleston area as an individual, meeting, incentive and group destination to both the domestic and international markets. The Charleston area welcomes four million annual visitors.
Charlestonly
A nod to the term coined by the Charleston Area CVB to describe the one-of-a-kind characteristics that define the Charleston experience, Charlestonly.com includes highlights of recent national media coverage, a video featuring local personalities saying thank you and a listing of special packages offered by the Charleston area’s eight Condé Nast Traveler 2011 Readers’ Choice Award winning hotels. Charlestonly.com
Christmas Charleston
The Lowcountry’s holiday traditions come to life with Christmasincharleston.com, a new website that tells the story of Christmas in Charleston and includes a gift guide of locally made products, list of seasonal events and round up of lodging packages. ChristmasInCharleston.com
Charleston Family Fun and Charleston Explorers Club
To help families make the most of vacation, the Charleston Area CVB recently launched CharlestonFamilyFun.com, a comprehensive trip-planning resource that offers tips on age-appropriate activities at area attractions and itineraries customized to a family’s preferred vacation style: adventure, encounter, imagine or unplug. The site also serves as a portal to the new Charleston Explorers Club, a creative program that combines a tangible passport and inked stamps with social media-style check-ins. CharlestonFamilyFun.com
NEW ATTRACTIONS, RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, SPECIALTY PRODUCTS AND TOURS
ATTRACTIONS
The City Market
The Charleston City Market, one of the nation’s oldest public markets, completed an intensive three-year, $5.5 million renovation in June 2011. In addition to restoring the architectural integrity of the sprawling four-block retail venue, which dates to 1804 and currently houses more than 140 permanent merchants, new construction transformed one building into a corridor of locally owned micro-boutiques. Dubbed the “Great Hall,” the air-conditioned market shed is home to a variety of well-known Lowcountry business names including, Historic Charleston Foundation, Food for the Southern Soul, Caviar and Bananas, Wonder Works and the Charleston Angler. Thecharlestoncitymarket.com
RETAIL
New Stores at Tanger Outlets
Newly opened stores include J. Crew, BCBG Final Cut, Ralph Lauren and Off 5th at the Tanger Outlets in North Charleston. Outlet stores offer fashion at a fraction of the original retail price. Tangeroutlet.com
RESTAURANTS
The Macintosh
Home of Chef Jeremiah Bacon’s signature bacon happy hour, this upper King Street restaurant opened in the summer of 2011 and bills its cuisine as “rooted in the spirit of the Southern palate.” Themacintoshcharleston.com
The Cocktail Club
This new speakeasy-inspired bar, located on the second floor of a building that dates to 1881, serves farm-to-shaker beverages that feature fresh squeezed juices and seasonal garnishes. A rooftop terrace is divided between seating and the garnish garden. For people wishing to improve their home bartending skills, cocktail classes are offered on the first Saturday of every month. Thecocktailclubcharleston.com
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
Sea Island South Carolina Rum
Firefly Distillery, makers of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, recently launched a line of handcrafted Sea Island South Carolina Rum. The three flavors—Gold Rum, Java Rum and Spice Rum—are distilled on Wadmalaw Island, one of 12 barrier islands located in Charleston County. Fireflyvodka.com
Fat and Juicy
Founded in Charleston by Joe Good and John Glenn, Fat and Juicy is a high grade Bloody Mary mix that promises “vine- ripened goodness in every sip.” Fatandjuicymix.com
TOURS
Thriller Charleston
This high-flying boat tour that takes guests past historic forts, lighthouses and bridges now offers a post-ride oyster roast or Lowcountry boil. Thrillercharleston.com
Charleston Brews Cruise
Experience a taste of Charleston’s flourishing beer scene with an exclusive guided tour of local craft breweries. Discover what happens behind-the-scenes to perfect the art, science and passion brewed into every glass of great beer. Must be 21 years of age. Brewscruise.com
HONORS AND AWARDS
Condé Nast Traveler
Charleston was named Top U.S. City by the magazine’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards (November issue). This is the first time Charleston has topped the list. The previous ranking was No. 2.
Outside
Charleston was named No. 6 Best Town Ever (October issue).
Bon Appétit
Husk was named Best New Restaurant in America for 2011 (September issue).
Travel + Leisure
Charleston was named No. 2 on the 2011 World’s Best Awards list of Top Cities in the U.S. and Canada (August issue). This is the destination’s highest ranking to date. The previous ranking was No. 3.
SPECIAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
Boone Hall Plantation Corn Maze
October 1 – 31, 2011
Boone Hall recently opened an eight-acre corn maze in the shape of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the model being manufactured at the Boeing factory in Charleston. The maze is the largest of its kind in the Southeastern United States and features 16 interactive text messaging displays inside the maze with questions about the 787 Dreamliner and Boeing's South Carolina operations. Boonehallpumpkinpatch.com
Charleston Museum’s Botanical Quilts: Chintz Appliqué in the 19th Century
November 5, 2011 - April 22, 2012
Charleston has a long and venerable quilt making history. One of the most stunning techniques, broderie perse or chintz appliqué, consisted of fabulous floral and botanical printed fabrics imported from India, England and Europe. The quilt was made by cutting up these luxurious textiles and then reapplying the motifs to a larger fabric, carefully stitching around each element. Quiltmakers could create a stunning tree of life, a graceful floral basket or an album quilt of many different designs. Botanical Quilts examines the many different botanically inspired quilts that graced the beds of Lowcountry residents throughout the 19th century. Charlestonmuseum.org
Middleton Place Plantation Days
November 12 – 13, 2011
Middleton Place recently brought back Sea Island cotton and sugar cane crops for education and interpretive purposes in the Plantation Stableyards. Guests are invited to participate by picking and/or ginning the cotton. Visitors will be able to assist with sugar cane pressing during Plantation Days on November 12th and 13th. Middletonplace.org
Holiday Festival of Lights
November 10, 2011- January 1, 2012
More than a million twinkling lights adorn the three miles of interactive holiday scenes on display throughout James Island County Park. Guests may drive themselves or hop aboard a 54-passenger train that stops at Santa’s Village, where Christmas cookies, a carousel and photo opportunities are available. Ccprc.com
28th Annual Spirituals Concert at Drayton Hall
December 3 and 4, 2011
Stand in the shadow of Drayton Hall, the meticulously preserved 270-year-old plantation house perched on the Ashley River, as candlelight winks at the weatherworn bricks and Gullah spirituals soar through the night air. The melodies are as old as the grove of stately oak trees, and the entire evening is rooted in living history. This is one of the longest-running performances of its kind in the Lowcountry. Draytonhall.org
Holiday Boat Parade
December 3, 2011
Boats of all shapes and sizes motor (or sail or row!) from the Cooper River to the Ashley River with their mast and bow lights bobbing across the water. The parade culminates in a brilliant fireworks display over the harbor. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the festivities. Charlestonarts.sc
29th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival
January 29, 2012
Two tractor trailers full of the salty mollusks are hauled onto the grounds of Boone Hall Plantation, and the fragrant fog of oysters steamed in wet burlap hangs above the shuck ‘em-and-slurp ‘em crowd. charlestonrestaurantassociation.com
30th Annual Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
February 17 - 19, 2012
The call of the wild rings loud and true every year when the nation’s largest wildlife art and nature event blows into town with 35,000+ attendees. From Jack Hanna’s Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Show and birds of prey flight demonstrations to a black tie gala and art auction, this expo offers something for everyone. Sewe.com
Charleston Wine + Food
March 1 - 4, 2012
Praised by Forbes Traveler as one of the top five food and wine festivals in the U.S., this three-day extravaganza celebrates the Charleston area’s nationally recognized culinary scene with its award-winning chefs, noted cookbook authors, artisanal product purveyors and distinctively local events, like a gospel brunch and locavore luncheon. Charlestonwineandfood.com
Historic Charleston Foundation’s 65th Festival of Houses and Gardens
March 22 - April 21, 2012
Visitors and locals alike are invited to take a peak behind garden gates and piazza doors during this venerable annual tour of 150 privately owned homes sponsored by Historic Charleston Foundation. Historiccharleston.org
Cooper River Bridge Run
March 31, 2011
One of the nation's most popular foot races, this 10K charges across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, one of the world's longest cable stay bridges. Bridgerun.com
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