Charleston Currents – 2016

CALENDAR, May 30+: Nunsense, Tea Room, grand opening, more

Ahead for the week of May 30, 2016: Nunsense by the Footlight Players; Grace Tea Room is open; Reggae with Black Lion on June 3; Colonial Lake has grand reopening on June 4; much more.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · calendar

FEEDBACK: Better transportation connectivity needed

Tom Brown, James Island: While expanding ferry service could help traffic congestion, there is another piece to the puzzle. To be truly effective, ferries must connect with other forms of public transportation.

Folks need to get to the ferries and then get to their ultimate destination. In New York this means train, subway and bus service. In Charleston this probably means reliable bus service. 00_icon_feedback

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Feedback

REVIEW: Lighthouse

Lighthouse, by P.D. James, reviewed by Elliott Brack: “Starting to read a newly-purchased book, immediately the writing wasn’t interesting. The author didn’t keep me alert after a few pages. So I turned to a book I had for years, by the English mystery writer P.D. James. Immediately I was hooked with her ‘Lighthouse.’ “

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Features, Reviews

FOCUS: RiverDogs to add $3 million event space by next year

Staff reports | Almost as soon as the last batter is called out to end the 2016 season of the Charleston RiverDogs, the team’s owners will start a $3 million project to add an event space for “The Joe,” the ballpark that opened in 1997 and was named after former Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.

The space, which will overlook the marsh on the Ashley River, will modernize the park for games and allow it to accommodate events throughout the year.

“It will be fully utilized during games for an upgraded experience for fans as it will be exclusive area with upscale menu,” said President and General Manager Dave Echols. “But it will also be heavily used on non-game days for corporate and social events.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

BRACK: “Conservative” doesn’t mean much anymore

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | You don’t see political yard signs in South Carolina that say, “Vote John Smith, liberal.” All over the state, however, it is common for candidates to tout they are “conservative.”

In today’s media-saturated world of buzzwords, does the word “conservative” actually mean anything? Hasn’t the word lost its meaning, just like the words “liberal” or “progressive” are relatively simplistic frames of reference that do little to outline a candidate’s full perspective?

by Andy Brack · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

MORRIS: Spoleto is at home here — and part of our edge

By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | 1977 – the beginning of Charleston’s emergence as a world destination city– was also the first year of Spoleto Festival USA. Is this a coincidence, or is there a correlation?

Gian Carlo Menotti, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning composer, sought to establish a sister festival to the Festival dei Due Mondi of Spoleto, Italy. After a comprehensive search for the right place, he chose Charleston. It met his expectations for old world charm, historical architecture, and abundance of theatres and other performance spaces, including the variety of beautifully-maintained churches that reminded him of those in Italy.

by Kyra Morris · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Money, Views

PHOTO ESSAY: Around town with Spoleto

PHOTO ESSAY: Nancy Sommer poses for a photo by husband Blane Sommer in front of a black-and-white photo that’s part of renowned photographer Jack Alterman’s outdoor exhibit that illustrates people who work along the 500 block of King Street. Other Spoleto photos by Leigh Sabine, Michael Kaynard and Andy Brack.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Photos

GOOD NEWS: Experience Nighttime at the Museum June 3

Grab your flashlight and get ready for The Charleston Museum’s Nighttime at the Museum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 3. It’s an event that will tickle your brains, hearts and imaginations through an evening of exploring, learning, discovery and surprises for the young and older at heart. Also in Good News: Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve is open for $1; Charleston Carifest street parade to be June 25; Jason Kronsberg named new city parks’ director.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

SPOTLIGHT: Memorial Day

Memorial Day: In place of our regular spotlight on the underwriters that make Charleston Currents possible and free, we want to shine our spotlight today on the brave men and women who died while serving the country in its armed forces.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Photos

MYSTERY: Where is this fountain?

Charleston fountain: Have you seen this scene before in Charleston? Could be new, but where? Send your best guess to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com — and make sure to include the name of the town in which you live. Third correct guess gets a pair of vouchers to a RiverDogs’ game.

by Charleston Currents · 05/30/2016 · Comments are Disabled · Mystery Photo, Photos