Charleston Currents #13.32 | June 21, 2021
WATERING THE GARDEN. Air Force Reserve Major Ed Sutton, a West Ashley Realtor, snapped this stunning shot of a big rain storm on a June 15 approach to Charleston International Airport aboard a C-17 Globemaster. At the right bottom, you can see the peninsula. (At right top, you can see heat sensors that keep windows clear.) What a photo! Thanks, Ed! See something you think our readers would enjoy? Snap a shot and send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
FOCUS: Grad students revel in everything Charleston
COMMENTARY, Brack: State is awash in big spending
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SCIWAY
NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston Forum to kick off 2021 series on June 22
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Take a walk in these shoes
CALENDAR: From Coffee with the Mayor to concerts
Grad students revel in everything Charleston
Dome inside the refurbished Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, S.C.
Staff reports | Looking at Charleston through the eyes of outsiders is revealing.
During Spoleto Festival USA and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, seven graduate arts journalism students from Syracuse University wrote more than three dozen previews, reviews and stories to connect enthusiasts with the city’s bubbling art scene.
Along the way, they noticed things about the Holy City. You might know some of them; others may be novel. Regardless, their observations highlight the depth and breadth of what it is to be in Charleston — for visitors and residents.
The many shades of Charleston green
The color “Charleston Green” has a storied past, one that now makes me wonder about the history of other iconic colors. Whether the murky, dark shade came from mold on dark shutters, degrading paint or color-loving locals fighting against government-issued black paint by mixing it with yellow and blue, it has its place in the city. Spotting the shade became a fun scavenger hunt during my weeks here.
Amongst the humid haze of the Holy City, this shade of green recalls an international icon — Lady Liberty. The muted green perfectly complements the city’s peninsula position and works with the brighter pops of pinks and yellows. Throughout Charleston, on shutters and patio chairs, the pops of verdigris green are light and breezy. These touches seem to beckon back to summer days of the past. — Samantha Savery
Charleston’s slow, laid-back nature
As a northerner who is all too familiar with New York City’s hustle and bustle, I found the pace of Charleston to be admirable and definitely something to get used to. Whether it’s the incredibly humid weather or the number of beautifully preserved buildings, something about this city makes people move slower than molasses.
On one hand, this is great. I feel too many cities have a hustling quality that takes away from what the city has to offer. At the same time, it can be frustrating when you are on King Street and stuck behind a group of inebriated 30-somethings who fill a narrow sidewalk. That being said, I appreciate Charleston’s laid-back atmosphere. It gives visitors a better chance of experiencing the city as a whole and not getting lost in a desire to be quick and passive with what comes your way. — Patrick Henkels
Cheerwine
Oh, Carolina, Cheerwine is you in soda pop form: Sweet, but not sickly so;dark like a storm cloud cola in the bottle, but revealing a deep maroon of an invitation as you pour over ice that melts in the early summer heat. Up north, we have Loganberry. The Midwest loves its Green River. Yet there’s something classy, almost soothing, about your Southern Cheerwine. I bought a two-liter bottle from Harris Teeter, and the cashier wished me a fine afternoon. If I smile as I walk down King Street, my teeth stained a Cheerwine red, tell me, Charleston: Will you smile back? — Matthew Nerber
The preservation of classic architecture
One of my favorite things about Charleston is seeing the gorgeous historical buildings. I wish more cities would preserve older architecture. In Syracuse, a lot of buildings have not been taken care of. The historical buildings that have clearly been maintained seem to be museums. In Charleston, the houses are especially well-kept. Despite obviously being older buildings, most look practically brand new. Perhaps the use of the vibrant pastels — such as the soft pink on a handful of the buildings — helps make it that way. Another striking difference is the stunning iron fences that surround the houses. During a tour ==, I learned that Philip Simmons worked about 78 years as a blacksmith in Charleston, and that he created more than 500 separate pieces during his career. Each fence I walked by looked one-of-a-kind. — Emily Johnson
Not-so-sweet tea
I have a massive sweet tooth. If I could eat desserts all the time without it being unhealthy, then I would. I also love tea. So I was naturally excited to indulge in some Southern sweet tea.
I didn’t do research on the best sweet tea spots before coming here, but I’m realizing I should have. I just assumed it would be good everywhere. I ordered sweet tea with a few of my meals, and each was less than sweet. Obviously my tastebuds are used to sugar, so I understand that what’s not-so-sweet to me may be sweet to someone else. But I’m confident that if I were to ask anyone to drink the “sweet” teas I had down here, they would agree .While this disappointed me, I won’t write Charleston off for sweet tea just yet. I only tried a few places. If I ventured out more, I’m sure I would find the right spot with the perfect sweet tea for my palate. — Cydney Lee
Extraordinary dining in the Holy City
The past two weeks have been filled with some of the best meals of my life. With no fast food chains in sight and the three main food groups of meat, carbs and pimento cheese covered on seemingly every menu, I feel like I’ve arrived in my personal food heaven. However, beyond the two salad places I frequented for lunches, vegan or vegetarian options seem to be few and far between.
There is a weight to the food here — tangible in the way it settles in your stomach and leaves you wanting to sit for a couple of more minutes after eating, abstract in the history that is interwoven with restaurant decor and the dishes themselves. Flexibility has been key while attempting to find dinner here. Being able to snag a reservation for the next night is a pipe dream, and many restaurants had walk-up wait lists that were hours long, even on a rainy Tuesday. — Mackenzie Snell
The Uber fiasco
One Tuesday, a group took a day trip to Folly Beach. Though we’re all from different areas of the country and Canada, none of us live near the ocean, so being able to take a 25-minute Uber to a beach was exhilarating. I had not been to a beach in nearly two years, due to pandemic travel restrictions set by Syracuse University. And being from Pittsburgh, the nearest “beach” is Lake Erie.
The five of us easily hopped in an Uber XL from our hotel to Folly Beach, where we spent a few hours walking, swimming, tanning and shopping. It was the perfect day for a bunch of northerners. We finally got to smell the salty sea breeze and see the sun reflect off the ocean. However when it was time to head back to the hotel, we encountered a slight problem. Uber said, “NO CARS AVAILABLE.” Lyft said, “Very few cars available.” So we waited. Surely, something would open up soon. That did not happen. After a solid hour of trying to get Uber to work, we finally worked out something with a local cab company. For a moment, I thought I might be stuck at the pier at Folly Beach forever. And that’s how I learned that Uber in Charleston is not the move. — Sarah Connor
These writers are the next generation of arts critics and writers. They soon will be graduates of the prestigious Goldring Arts Journalism and Communications program at Syracuse University.
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
State is awash in big spending
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | A righteous cynic might say the state of South Carolina is about to turn on a spigot of spending that would make a drunken sailor proud.
But perhaps the state is finally starting to catch up on investments that it didn’t make for years in education, employee salaries and neglected infrastructure.
Members of the House and Senate will return to Columbia next week to consider an $11 billion budget compromise hammered out this week by legislative negotiators.
“This is a great budget that focuses on teachers and education, workforce training, infrastructure and law enforcement,” House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, said Thursday. “There’s a real concentration on the core functions of government and there are tremendous investments in these areas.”
Lawmakers this year have about $2 billion more than they normally have to spend. First, they have a big pot of unspent money from reserves that accumulated because they didn’t pass a regular budget last year due to the pandemic. Second, the pandemic didn’t cause tax collections to be off as much as first feared. Third, there’s more money coming in thanks to federal largesse.
The state’s new budget calls for millions of spending for state employees — a $1,000 pay raise for each teacher plus a 2.5 percent pay hike for all employees. There’s $114 million for instructional materials at schools and more millions for public charter schools as well as money to keep public colleges from increasing tuition.
Then there’s infrastructure spending. The budget steers about $500 million for colleges and technical schools, including $176 million from 2020-21 reserves, for long-deferred maintenance and renovations, such as stopping water intrusion at one college or adding a lab at another.
More tax dollars at work are at the state Department of Transportation, which has $1.9 billion in revenue from a blend of federal and state sources, including an extra $68 million from two additional cents of gas taxes at the pump. This will be the fifth of six years of two-cent gas tax increases, incremental additions to state coffers that will generate about $287 million this year in revenues for better roads.
Before the gas tax increases started, the state put in about $300 million a year to pave roads. Now it’s projected to spend $642 million this year. Since 2017, it’s spent $2 billion on paving projects, Transportation Secretary Christy Hall said.
On top of increases in the budget and through gas taxes, there’s more infrastructure spending coordinated by other agencies, such as $200 million for the S.C. State Ports Authority and money at the State Fiscal Accountability Authority for land and buildings and Rural Infrastructure Authority for better rural schools.
Even more spending is coming. In the fall, lawmakers will meet again to consider how to use more than $500 million in settlement funds received from the federal government for a decades-long fracas over the Savannah River Site. Then there will be debate on what to do with the state’s $2 billion share of recovery funds from a recent federal stimulus package.
With all of this money floating around, you can see why some might bring up drunken sailors.
What’s missing in all of this spending, particularly the infrastructure spending, is clear accountability. It’s almost impossible to get a clear picture of exactly what the state is doing to build for South Carolina’s future. Perhaps the state should build a holistic transparency tool to publish all of the data in one place so that it’s easy to see what’s happening — and then gauge later whether it is working.
And you know a great place for that? The internet. With more big spending ahead, lawmakers should insist on more transparency so taxpayers can figure out everything that’s going on.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
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Charleston Forum to kick off 2021 series on June 22
Staff reports | The Charleston Forum will hold the first discussion of its 2021 event series on June 22, a virtual panel addressing challenges and possible improvements in public education.
According to this story in the Charleston City Paper, results from the group’s new annual survey shows overwhelming support exists for dramatic reforms to improve quality of life in Charleston’s tri-county area, according to results from a survey published by The Charleston Forum. But intense disparities between local Black and white residents show diverging outlooks on the prospect for improved race relations in the community.
“In our survey last year, The Charleston Forum demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of tri-county residents share the same goals in our topic areas, including education, policing and criminal justice,” said Charleston Forum CEO Brian Duffy. “With the new survey results and discussion this year, we will demonstrate which policies the community thinks will help us best achieve those goals.”
The Forum was created in 2016, a year after the Emanuel AME Church mass shooting, when a white supremacist targeted the historic Black church’s congregation, attempting to start a race war. Today, the group convenes political, business, religious and education leaders in various forms to discuss race and issues related to systemic inequality.
The virtual event starts at 11:30 a.m. June 22, and is free and open to the public. Registration is open at thecharlestonforum.com.
In other recent news:
Littering creates more than trashiness in S.C. The state has a growing trash problem, in part, because volunteers stayed inside during the pandemic. But booming development is causing more trash that is causing even more problems and costs. Read how.
Legislators to vote on big state budget. House and Senate negotiators last week put finishing touches on an $11 billion state budget for 2021-22 that legislators will consider this week in Columbia. The new fiscal year starts July 1. Included in the whopping budget is a 2.5 percent pay raise for all state employees. It will cost about $60 million. The state also will spend $72 million on a $1,000-per-teacher pay hike. More: The State | The Post and Courier
2 S.C. executions halted until firing squad formed. The S.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the planned executions of two inmates by electrocution, saying they cannot be put to death until they truly have the choice of a firing squad option as set out in the state’s newly revised capital punishment law. More: AP News.
McMaster picks businessman to lead S.C. commerce. Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday nominated business executive Harry M. Lightsey III to serve as the next state commerce secretary, putting forth the first new name to lead the agency in more than a decade. mMore: AP News | Columbia Business Report.
McMaster signs Santee Cooper bill, pushes for sale of utility. McMaster says he still wants to sell state-owned utility Santee Cooper after signing into law a bill to overhaul the company. More: WCBD TV.
Cunningham announces plan to curb gun violence. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham released a plan to curb gun violence in the Palmetto State as Charleston gears up to mark the sixth anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church shooting. More: The Post and Courier | WCBD TV.
Sanford pens book on post-Trump Republican Party. Former S.C. governor and congressman — and one-time Donald Trump Republican presidential primary adversary — Mark Sanford has written “Two Roads Diverged: A Second Chance for the Republican Party, the Conservative Movement, the Nation and Ourselves.” Sanford, who is now working for the lobbying firm Shumaker Advisors in Charleston, told The Post and Courier that he wanted to not only reflect on what post-Trump America looks like but also wants to lay out a political path for making the country successful again. More: The Post and Courier.
Juneteenth becomes federal holiday. President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a measure into law making Juneteenth, an annual celebration of the end of slavery in the U.S., take effect immediately. That means today is considered the first Juneteenth federal holiday despite the occasion formally being on Saturday, June 19. More: The New York Times | The Washington Post.
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Take a walk in these shoes
Take a guess about whose shoes are captured in this bronze statue, which is located in South Carolina somewhere. Who and where is it? Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live. And if you’ve got a clever mystery photo for our readers, send it to the same address (Try to stump us!)
Our previous Mystery Photo
Last week’s mystery, “Cool bridge,” was a picture sent in Summerville reader Frank Bouknight when he was floating on the Ashley River. It showed the CSX rail bridge near Drayton Hall.
Congratulations to those who identified it: Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas;; Jay Altman of Columbia; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Marnie Huger of Richmond, Va.; and Kristina Wheeler of Charleston.
Peel shared that the bridge crosses the Ashley River in Charleston near Brevard Road and the Seagate Village condominium complex. “The bridge was built in 1927 and is a bascule deck-girder bridge is a railroad bridge over Ashley River. When closed, there is a limited 3-foot vertical clearance under the bridge. When opened, it affords a 60-foot horizontal clearance for passing boats. Under normal operation the bridge will open on signal and as required (i.e., ‘on signal’) between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., a request to open the drawbridge can be made, but only if at least three hours notice is given.”
- Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
From Coffee with the Mayor to concerts
Coffee with the mayor: 7:30 a.m., June 23, Park Cafe, 730 Rutledge Ave., Charleston. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg will talk about local issues that matter during this informal gathering.
Safe Sounds: Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now. Doors open 6 p.m. for shows that begin an hour later. (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which is run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.) Check out some of the shows that are on the way:
- June 25: Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience
- June 26: The Midnight City
- July 15: Sevendust with Austin Meade and Kirra
Art of Jazz Series: 6 p.m., June 23, July 1, Aug. 25, Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., Charleston. The 2021 Art of Jazz Series of original music inspired by art at the museum will feature Peter Kfoury + Sully Martinez on June 23, Matt White and the Super Villain Jazz Band on July 21 and the Geoffrey Dean Trio on Aug. 25. Tickets are $40.
Monroe, May in Summerville: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 26, Hutchinson Square, Summerville. Main Street Reads will host bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe and co-author Angela May at a free event celebrating summer reading and the debut of their middle-grade novel, The Islanders. There also will be an open mic for middle graders to share their own writing. More info.
Party at The Point: 6 p.m., Fridays in July, Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, Mount Pleasant. The long-beloved Happy Hour concert series returns July 2 with live music and plenty of food and drinks. Each event is limited to 600 general admission ticket holders. Tickets are available at citypapertickets.com. All shows are $10, with children 12 and under are free. Gates open at 5 p.m. The lineup:
- July 2: The Dubplates.
- July 9: New Ghost Town.
- July 16: The Red Dog Ramblers.
- July 23: Mr Holland’s Oats: A Tribute to Hall and Oates.
- July 30: Rock the 90s: The Ultimate 90s Tribute Band.
Johns Island concert: July 10, Johns Island County Park. Enjoy the Motown sounds of The Legacy on July 10. Gates open at 6 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. Shows end by 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 per 10×10 square, not per person. Squares are limited to four people max. Guests must arrive together, as each vehicle must have a ticket for entry. Squares will be available on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Each show will also offer food vendors; no outside food, alcohol or coolers will be permitted. Alcohol will be available for purchase. Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs, blankets, tables, etc. to be used at their space. Masks are required, except when eating.
Ongoing
Now free: Weekend beach bus. The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority is operating a new Beach Reach Shuttle with hourly weekend service to provide a new connection between Mount Pleasant and Isle of Palms. Landside Beach Reach parking is located along Market Center Boulevard in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. The on-island Beach Reach stop is located at 9th Avenue and Ocean Boulevard, adjacent to public beach access. Open through Sept. 6 from 9:15 a.m. through final departure from Isle of Palms at 5:35 p.m. Cost: free.
The Lawn Party exhibition: Through Sept. 19, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street, Charleston. The Charleston Museum is pleased to present The Lawn Party: From Satin to Seersucker, the latest offering in its Historic Textiles Gallery. In an “unprecedented” era when large gatherings have been discouraged and fashion has trended towards leisurewear, this exhibition is a celebration of getting dressed up for an outdoor party. Bringing a hint of glamour to a trying time, the garments on display were selected with the grand idea of “after” in mind. This is a perfect opportunity to come see what to wear for your next outdoor event as we head toward the new “normal.”
Reviving photos. Through Oct. 31, Charleston Museum, Meeting Street. The museum is exhibiting The Lowcountry in Living Color: Making Historical Photographs Come to Life as the latest offering in its Lowcountry Image Gallery. Colorizing black and white pictures allows viewers to see components that otherwise might be overlooked. Buy tickets.
Holy City Farmers Market: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., every Wednesday, Holy City Brewing, North Charleston. vendors rotate weekly to provide shoppers with a tiny but mighty shopping experience. vendors will be selling a range of products from specialty foods, home and body care to arts and crafts. More info.
Birds of Prey flight demonstrations: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, Center for Birds of Prey, 4719 Highway 17. Awendaw. The center has reopened its doors to visitors after closing due to the COvID-19 pandemic, inviting people to once again come and explore the world of raptors through an outdoor program and flight demonstration. Tickets: . $20/adult; $15/children age 3-17.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors. More info.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- 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.
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