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Artist Amiri Farris Creates the 2013 Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival Commemorative Poster

Posted on September 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

In celebration of The 2013 Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival Bluffton resident and well known artist designed a unique commemorative artwork and poster.

Amiri Farris Arts seafood festival pic1
“I wanted to create a poster that was fun , unique, visually interesting and that captured the festive atmosphere of the Arts and Seafood Festival. The crab, oysters and shrimp encompass the theme of the festival and I tried to illustrate that in my own unique style,” stated Farris.

He will be signing posters as well as working on an oversized painting at the
Friends of Bluffton Artists 2nd Annual Invitational Showcase of Local Art  October 13 from 11 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in Old Town on Calhoun & Boundary and  October 19 and 20 on the festival strip Calhoun Street.

He will also be releasing his new series called Bluffton dreams.This series of paintings and prints is a layered interpretation of elements found in old town Bluffton.“Bluffton is a unique town and I wanted to create a series of artwork illustrating the different elements found in old town in my own style.”

About the Festival

The ninth annual Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival will be  in the charming and eclectic historic district of Bluffton SC, well known for its quirky art community and natural river beauty. The festival is a week long event offering a myriad of activities, showcasing the locally harvested seafood, delicious lowcountry cuisine, rich history, culture and art of the area.

The highlight of the festival is the Streetfest which includes a juried fine art show featuring more than 100 artists from 10 different states displaying and selling their art, delicious food provided by the area’s premier restaurants and caterers and great music and entertainment on October 19 and 20.

 

 

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Art Museum Opens ‘Passionate Collectors’ Exhibit September 22

Posted on September 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment
Jonathan Green

Festival Time by Jonathan Green

Four years ago, the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum received one of the largest and most significant gifts in its then-12-year history: the 53-piece collection of husband and wife Barbara Burgess and John Dinkelspiel. The collection included works in a wide range of styles, subjects and media all focused on Southern art.  Represented in the collection are 21 pieces from South Carolinian JonathanGreen, along with works by noted African-American artists William H.Clarke, James Denmark, Cassandra Gillens and others.

Jumpin' and Jivin' by James Denmark

Jumpin’ and Jivin’ by James Denmark

A selection of works from this exceptional collection, along with a new Jonathan Green painting, will comprise an exhibit titled Passionate Collectors and 25 Years of Jonathan Green, on display at the museum beginning  Sept. 22.

It's Delovely by Jonathan Green

It’s Delovely by Jonathan Green

In recognition of Jonathan Green’s efforts highlighting Gullah culture, the exhibit’s opening coincides with the Art Museum’s annual Gullah Culture Celebration, a day of entertainment and activities taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 22.  Regular gallery hours for Passionate Collectors continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, through Dec. 29.Former Bostonians, Ms. Burgess and the late Dr. Dinkelspiel (who passed away in March 2013), relocated to the Lowcountry and fell in love with its art and culture. Their art collection quickly grew to encompass numerous works by  Green along with pieces by nearly a dozen other Southern artists, as they became not only collectors but advocates for Southern art and artists.

Through  Green, the couple was introduced to the outreach projects of the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum, in particular, its work with children and school groups. At the museum, they felt their collection would find a permanent home and would also be the basis for a host of activities that would enlighten and inspire future generations of art lovers and artists.

The Burgess-Dinkelspiel collection of Jonathan Green paintings were created over three decades and feature familiar images drawn from his own personal experiences, steeped in the traditions of family, community and life in the Lowcountry.  They have drawn national and international attention to the wonderfully unique Gullah culture that has enriched the coastal regions of the Southeast for centuries. Green’s art, which has been featured in several previous exhibits at the Art Museum, captures the essence of simple acts of joy, whether dancing, fishing or walking on the beach.

An avid historian as well as artist and arts advocate, Green recently launched an initiative called Project RICE, an acronym that stands for Race, Ingenuity/Injustice, Culture and Economy.  The Lowcountry RICE Culture Forum, an organization whose aim is to discover and revive the significance of rice cultivation and its legacies and use this history as a launching pad for broad discussions of race, class, art, trade, history and economics in the Southeast, will meet this year in Charleston, September 12-14.  Green talks passionately about how the cultivation of rice led to prosperity in the Lowcountry, yet this part of slave history isn’t taught in schools.  The artist would like to see history texts give credit to his ancestors’ economic contributions to the region from their work in the rice fields. For his part, Green is currently developing artworks that incorporate the subject of rice culture. One of these works, an oil painting titled Lowcountry Rice Culture, is featured in Passionate Collectors.  The work depicts a woman flaying sustenance rice in a technique used by her African ancestors.

Harmonic Progression by Aaron Henderson

Harmonic Progression by Aaron Henderson

Also appearing in the exhibition is a recent acquisition of art collector Barbara Burgess, a work painted in coffee by Cuban artist Reynier Llanes.  Llanes, who now calls Charleston home,is a former artist in residence of Jonathan Green Studios, and his work in coffee was exhibited at the Art Museum in 2011.

Admission to the Museum is free. Donations are welcomed. For further information, call 843-238-2510 or visit www.MyrtleBeachArtMuseum.org. 

 

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She’s a HOT SHOT! …and Her Datil Peppers Have a Pedigree

Posted on August 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

For 30+ years, Sherry Stoppelbein has been feeding St. Augustine, Florida ~ with three restaurants, a bakery and an award-winning hot sauce company. They’re all in one HOT  location situated in the center of the historic district of America’s oldest city. Hot Shot Bakery & Café  isn’t really about Stoppelbein (according to Stoppelbein)  but about the made-from-scratch food she whips up for breakfast, lunch, catering, signature themed cakes; she’s all about pleasing her patrons who have a hankering for ‘unique’.

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Winning culinary competitions by entering a wide variety of her signature datil pepper dishes over the years, Hot Shot Bakery & Café  has a following that includes all ages. Kids adore her baked goodies from cupcakes to cookies. College kids crave her hearty soups, wraps and paninis. Foodies die for anything she’s concocting, especially the new little chocolate covered datil pepper!image002

How about Stoppelbein’s ‘WALL OF FLAME’ featuring photos of patrons who are eating their first datil pepper treat or competing to eat the most? After months of wannabe winners, the current champion has only eaten FOUR chocolate covered datils!image003

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DATIL PEPPER HISTORY:

The history of St. Augustine’s prized pepper is that it was probably born in Peru, coursing a path to its cousin the Habanera (Havana) and then finding its home in St. Augustine. Stoppelbein and her husband Bubba grow the plants at their home in Elkton, Florida. A good year could bring 50-100 healthy plants yielding 2 bushels of peppers from each plant (22 pounds) which equals approximately 400-500 tiny bright green peppers. As they mature from June through the summer, they turn bright golden yellow.

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In addition to dipping the datils into semi-sweet Hershey chocolate, Stoppelbein manufactures her line of datil sauces, jams and condiments as ‘Datil B Good’. The line includes datil pepper BBQ sauce, citrus jam, four escalating degrees of hot sauce, datil mustard and her famous chocolate sauce ~ all with a kick!

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Spring Events in Wilmington, N.C. & Island Beaches

Posted on March 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

image002Spring is the ideal time for an active vacation in Wilmington, North Carolina’s historic river district and the island beaches of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. Fitness trails from the river to the sea make it easy to stay fit while enjoying a coastal vacation. More than 54 parks and gardens include the 1.75-mile Wilmington Riverwalk in the historic river district and Wilmington’s new Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, an off-road, multi-use trail with bicycle and pedestrian access to numerous recreational and cultural sites. On the island of Wrightsville Beach, visitors and locals walk and jog along The Loop, a fitness trail that circles the town’s park. Two North Carolina state parks are located on Pleasure Island: Carolina Beach State Park and Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, both of which offer hiking and cycling along trails, as well as fishing and other recreational activities. Kure Beach boasts a new oceanfront park and the area’s only disc golf course. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape Fear River, and numerous marshes and channels, there are abundant recreational opportunities for fishing, boating, and paddling.

Wilmington is a Bicycle Friendly Community, as designated by the League of American Bicyclists. Bike routes and maps can be found online at www.wmpo.org/WMBPC/index.html. For cyclists, Blue Clay Trail offers an intermediate level mountain bike trail: http://sirbikesalot.com/entry.php?fid=56. Cape Fear Cyclists post ride calendars on their website at www.capefearcyclists.org. Runners can find information on races and weekly runs by connecting with the Wilmington Roadrunners www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org. Surfers can find daily surf reports and competition information online at www.surfchex.com, www.wblivesurf.com, and www.hotwaxsurfshop.com.

With all this activity it’s easy to see why Wilmington is a “North Carolina Fit Community” (www.fitcommunitync.com) and ranks on RelocateAmerica.com’s Top 10 Recreation Cities list (2010). Wilmington and the destination’s fitness-oriented beach towns of Carolina, Kure, and Wrightsville also host sports events throughout the year.

Following is a roundup of sports events:
March 9: Azalea Triathlon. 8am. UNCW Natatorium and campus. http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=2184

March 15: SAO Midnight 5k for Ovarian Cancer. 11:59pm. UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington. http://www.active.com/running/wilmington-nc/sao-midnight-5k-for-ovarian-cancer-2013

March 16: 9th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo-Tide Run. 8am. Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach. http://www.lotiderun.org/

March 16: Quintiles Wrightsville Beach 5k. 5pm. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington. http://its-go-time.com/wrightsville-beach-marathon-5k-march-16

March 17: Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon & Marathon. 6:15am. Wrightsville Beach. http://www.wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com/

March 23: Blue Ribbon Run 5k. 4pm. Autumn Hall, Wilmington. http://its-go-time.com/event-registration?ee=52

March 23: Wrightsville Beach Biathlon. 9am. Stand-up Paddleboard and Run. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach. http://wbb.eventbrite.com/#

March 24: Poplar Grove Plantation Peanut 5k. 8am. Abbey Nature Preserve, Poplar Grove Plantation. http://www.poplargrove.com/5k_run.htm

March 30: Bunny Hop 5k/10k. 8am. Pine Valley, Wilmington. http://wilmingtonroadrunners.org/events/cat.listevents/2013/02/21/-?offset=1&category_fv=3

April 4: 2nd Annual Donut Dash. 6pm. UNC-Wilmington, Wilmington. http://its-go-time.com/event-registration?ee=66

April 6: Azalea-Big Buddy 5k/10k/Fun Walk. 8am. Mayfaire Town Centre, Wilmington. 910-392-8180; http://www.ncazaleafestival.org/events/azalea-5k10kfun-walk-2013

April 7: Paws4People 5k/10k. 9am. UNCW University Station, Wilmington. www.p4pwilmington5k.com

April 13: Son Run 5k. 8:30am. Wrightsville Beach Park. http://wilmingtonroadrunners.org/events

April 21: 5k Race for the Planet. 7am register; 8am race. Earth Day event. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-7468; http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher/5k-race-for-the-planet-2

April 27: Coastal NC Run for Autism. 8am. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington. http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1052901

April 27: The Great Glow Run 5k. 8pm. Hugh MacRae Park, Wilmington. http://www.greatglowrun.com/

April 27: Step Up For Soldiers Combat Mud Run. 8am. National Guard Armory, Wilmington.

http://its-go-time.com/event-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=67

June 13: NewBridge Bank Bridge to Bridge. 6pm. CFCC Schwartz Center, Downtown Wilmington.

http://its-go-time.com/event-registration?regevent_action=register&event_id=68

May 18: 2013 Patriot Rush 5k & 1-mile walk/run. 8am. Grace Baptist Church & Wilmington Christian Academy, Wilmington. http://its-go-time.com/event-registration?ee=58

May 25: Flashback 5k & 10k. 8am. Mayfaire Town Center, Wilmington. http://wilmingtonroadrunners.org/events/icalevent.detail/2013/02/21/132/-

May 30: Wilma Dash. 6pm. A women’s only walk/run through Wilmington’s historic district. Begins at Coastline Event & Conference Center, Wilmington. http://www.wilmaontheweb.com/Wilma-Dash.

SURF COMPETITIONS

May 18-19: 11th Annual Kona Waterman’s Classic. Longboard surf competition (day 1) & standup paddleboard race (day 2). Crystal Pier at The Oceanic, Wrightsville Beach. http://wblasurf.org/2013/02/20/2013-kona-waterman-classic

April 25-28: Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddleboard Event. A national qualifier race for the World SUP Championships. Blockade Runner Resort, Wrightsville Beach.http://wrightsvillebeachpaddleclub.com/about-the-carolina-cup

August 17-18: Wrightsville Beach Wahine Classic. Women’s surf competition. South end of Wrightsville Beach. http://wblasurf.org/category/events/

SPECATOR SPORTS

April 9-August 17: Wilmington Hammerheads Soccer Season Begins! April 9-August 17. Home games at Legion Stadium, Wilmington. www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com

May 18-19: Seaside Soccer Classic. Cape Fear Regional Soccer Park & others, Wilmington. 910-392-0306; www.capefearsoccer.com

May 28-August 5: Wilmington Sharks Baseball Season Begins! May 28-August 5. Home games at Legion Stadium, Wilmington. www.wilmingtonsharks.com

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St. Francis Inn Wins National Geographic Award

Posted on December 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment


Historic St. Francis Inn “the oldest Inn in America’s Oldest City” (circa 1791) is the featured notable bed & breakfast in National Geographic’s current award to St. Augustine, Florida, making the Top 20 Places to See in National Geographic Traveler’s World.

Inn owners Joe and Margaret Finnegan commented on the honor, “Our guests have known for many years that they were staying in a very special inn and location on Spanish Colonial St. George Street. We’re proud that this highly respected publication recognizes our place in history too.”

St. Augustine is acclaimed as one of only four locations in the U.S. included on the international list. National Geographic editors praised the city for maintaining the genuine Old Florida culture and charm and preserving its nearly 450-year-old historic assets. Specifically recommended by editors are the 17th century Castillo de San Marcos, the Lightner Museum built by Henry Flagler in 1887, St. Augustine Lighthouse (Florida’s first) and the pedestrian-friendly St. George Street.

St. Francis Inn

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Meet Bon Appétit Chef de Cuisine Mary Nolan

Posted on March 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Bradenton, FL Welcomes Bon Appétit Chef de Cuisine Mary Nolan  June 9 for an exclusive Cooking Demonstration and Luncheon.

On her Food Network program “Chic & Easy,” Chef Nolan showcases simple meals and tips to impress guests without breaking the bank, making the process seem effortless even for those without formal cooking training.

Exclusive VIP packages are being offered to guests staying the weekend at one of four hotel partners – Holiday Inn Lakewood Ranch, Comfort Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Wingate by Wyndham – who are offering rates starting at just $89. The Food Lovers Package can be added to the hotel stay for $175 or The Culinary Delight Package for $125.

The Food Lovers Package includes:
• VIP Meet & Greet with Chef Nolan held on Friday, June 8
• Cooking demonstration and luncheon
• VIP Champagne Brunch held on Sunday, June 10
• A copy of Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook ($50 value)

The Culinary Delight Package includes:
• Audience view of the cooking demonstration and luncheon
• VIP Champagne Brunch held on Sunday, June 10
• A copy of Bon Appétit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook ($50 value)

To book your hotel and reserve your spot in the kitchen, call (941) 729-9177 by April 30. For more information visit www.AMILBK.com

It’s sometimes called “Forgotten Florida” between St. Petersburg and Sarasota on Florida’s west coast including Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch, which are treasured for their authentic Old Florida charm, breath-taking scenery, funky dining and shopping districts, and 16 miles of sugar-white sands. See this earlier post for more area info: Finding Forgotten Florida

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In A Stew

Posted on March 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

What do you get when you put chicken, pork, beef, squirrel, rabbit, tomatoes, lima beans, corn, okra and a few more vegetables to cook in a big pot for a few hours over an outdoor open fire? It’s Brunswick Stew!

Well, not all of these items are needed. Maybe you don’t have any squirrel or rabbit, and maybe not all of those other ingredients either. The outdoor fire is not even required.

Brunswick stew has more unique recipes and special ingredients than can be counted. The main secrets to this famed dish are the lengthy cooking time and the thickness of the rich stew, which differentiates it from soup.

Brunswick, GA and Brunswick County, VA both claim to have originated this stew, but anyone can claim it really, and there are as many different recipes as there are chefs creating it.

Brunswick County, NC celebrates this stew with its fourth annual Brunswick Stew Cook-off on April 21 in Shallotte. Arts, crafts, entertainment and kids’ activities are included with this popular event.

Here’s more info. Will we see you at the sampling table?

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More than the Tango!

Posted on March 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Thought I knew quite a lot about the best beef in the world and a few bottles of Malbec! Also knew something about the tango! Now I find much more that I can enjoy in a visit to Buenos Aires. The new app Buenos Aires Essential Guide, co-authored by Shafik Meghji and Sioned Jones and published by Sutro in their extensive collection of travel apps, is highly recommended for planning a trip and locating everything on arrival. 

It’s a beautiful app, well written and comprehensive, especially useful translations of key phrases so that an English-speaking tourist will not be completely overwhelmed by ignorance of the local language. It’s easy and affordable to download from iTunes for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.

The photographs are stunning too!

These authors are experienced writers with major publishing credentials. Shafik has co-authored Rough Guides to Nepal, India, Chile and Bolivia and contributed to several others as well as writing for travel anthologies, newspapers, magazines and websites. Sioned relocated from her home in London to Buenos Aires. She is a linguist and photographer and now works in the language industry.

Check out this guide. It’s top notch!

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Wilmington Announces Garden Show

Posted on February 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment


The 19th annual Wilmington Garden Show Feb. 4 & 5 will feature dozens of vendors selling hundreds of plants, products, services and gift items for plant and flower enthusiasts at every level of expertise. Demonstrations and lectures will be on the show floor. More than 50 gardening and landscaping vendors will offer displays, plants, decorative items, helpful tips and more.

Both days feature a full schedule of guest speakers who will provide demonstrations and lectures on a variety of topics. All events take place at the Schwartz Center (601 N. Front Street, Wilmington) on Cape Fear Community College’s downtown campus. Garden Show hours are Saturday, 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.

General admission is $7; children under 12 are free. For more details, please call 910-798-7670. Print out a discount coupon and for more information. Visitors who attend the Wilmington Garden Show and the Wilmington Wine & Chocolate Festival are eligible to receive a $3 discount coupon, available at both events the day of the show.

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Tasting Wine and Chocolate

Posted on January 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Toni Incorvaia, owner of Noni Bacca Winery

Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival welcomes tasters to NC Feb. 3-5 at the Coastline Event Center.

Connoisseurs can sip, nibble and sigh as they sample delectable delights from more than 60 superb regional wineries, chocolatiers and artisans. A Friday night Grand Tasting gala kicks off the event with live music and heavy hors d’oeuvres by Lawler Catering. Charlotte-based recording artists The Brubakers will entertain with contemporary jazz while wine and chocolate purveyors tantalize with tastings and samples.

On Saturday and Sunday, the wine and chocolate showcase features fine vintners, chocolatiers and artists in a casual atmosphere. Products will be available for sampling and for sale.

Demonstrations by food and drink experts will educate as roaming musicians entertain in a marketplace setting.

Festival proceeds benefit the New Hanover County Senior Center’s programs.

Showcase admission is $12 in advance/$15 at the door (tickets good for one-day admission). Grand Tasting tickets cost $40 in advance/$45 at the door, based on availability. For festival details and ticket information, visit www.wilmingtonwineandchocolatefestival.com, email wineandchocfest@gmail.com, or call 910-742.0120. Tickets are also available at Wilmington-area Harris Teeter stores. Discount coupons for visitors attending the Wilmington Wine & Chocolate Festival and the Wilmington Garden Show will be available at both events.

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