CALENDAR: Animal Society’s virtual chili cook-off to be Nov. 21

Staff reports  |  Emmy Award-winning celebrity dog trainer Brandon McMillan will roll up his sleeves Nov. 21 to help shelter animals in the 20th anniversary presentation of the Charleston Animal Society’s annual Chili Cook-off.  

“Charleston Animal Society’s biggest fundraiser of the year, their annual chili cook-off, would normally involve upwards of 10,000 people,”McMillan said in a press release.  “I helped them re-imagine their event by working with dogs in their shelter to create interesting content and moving the program to a Facebook Live stream which has created opportunities for anyone anywhere in the United States to get involved and help.

“Like most guys, I have no idea how to make chili.  I reached out to my friends at Home & Family [on the Hallmark Channel] to create a recipe and show everyone how easy making chili can be.  I could not lead the pack for the chili cook-off and not know how to make chili!”

This year, the event has been reimagined as an online experience to allow anyone to participate.  The two-hour event will be streamed on Facebook Live on Nov. 21.  Learn more and register a team.

Also on the calendar:

Bourbon talk: 6 p.m., Nov. 17.  The Charleston Library Society will host a discussion certain to enthrall bourbon drinkers. Julian Van Winkle and Wright Thompson will meet via Zoom to discuss Thompson’s book, Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last. Free, but RSVP required to receive the Zoom invitation. 

Virtual book launch. 5 p.m. Nov. 19, Buxton Books, Charleston.  Poet Eugene Platt will do a virtual reading from his new book of poems, “Nudas Veritas,” from the bookshop, hosted by owner Polly Buxton.  To RSVP, please email Monica at Monica@buxtonbooks.com.  More info.

Antigone at CofC:  Livestream performances at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19 and Nov. 20.  The College of Charleston’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present Sophocle’s classic Greek tragedy, “Antigone,” with a modern twist in an adaptation by Peabody Award-winning playwright Emily Mann.  Theatre students comprise the cast.  Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and the military and $8 for students.  Show and ticket information is available at showtix4u.com/events/cofcstages.

New Safe Sounds show on Nov. 21:  Doors open 6 p.m; Show begins 7 p.m. on Nov. 21, Firefly Distillery, North Charleston.  The distillery’s socially-distanced concerts are back with its fall Safe Sounds series.  The next show features Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses. Tickets are $175 for four and can be purchased in advance at citypapertickets.com. 

Redux art auction:  Through Nov. 21.   Redux Contemporary Art Center’s 18th Annual Art Auction will be held in-person and virtually with more than 150 pieces are available for purchase. The auction is the organization’s primary fundraising method each year.  Visitors can see the artwork in the Redux gallery art space at 1056 King Street and in these partnering businesses throughout Charleston:  Haegur (1102 King Street); Harbinger Café (1107 King Street); Monarch Wine Merchants (1107 King Street, Suite B); J. Stark (498 King Street, Suite 100); Ted’s Butcher Block (334 E Bay St); and Haven’s Fine Framing (1070 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mount Pleasant). All of the auction artwork will be up for bid online via Bidr. The virtual auction will go live on the Redux website on Nov. 9 and remain open through Nov. 21. During the auction, Redux will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. 

Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls exhibition.  Through Nov. 22, City Gallery, Prioleau Street, Charleston.  The gallery will offer free viewing of The Freedom Ship of Robert Small, an exhibition of large format reproductions of artist Jonathan Green’s illustrations for Louise Meriweather’s children’s book of the same name.  A new edition of the 1971 was published in 2018 with Lowcountry artist Greens pictures.  Gallery hours are limited due to coronavirus.  Tickets are free, but must be reserved online.  More info.

From Etchings to Pastels:  Through Nov. 29, Lowcountry Image Gallery, The Charleston Museum. The museum has partnered with the Pastel Society of South Carolina to present new interpretations of etchings stemming from the Charleston Renaissance Movement about 100 years ago.  Learn more.

Holiday Festival of Lights: Through Dec. 31, 2020.  The annual event, now in its 31st year, opens Nov. 13 and will offer a dazzling array of displays and about 2 million lights at James Island County Park.  The festival will be open every evening nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.   You can take a heartwarming cruise along the three-mile display of glimmering lights with your closest companions. The driving tour features over 700 light displays, most of which were created in-house by park staff. For details, visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com.

• If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line.  Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.