Charleston magazine Society blog

Saturday’s weather was perfect for the third annual Charleston Cinco de Mayo Festival Latin American explosion. A warm breeze flowed through The Visitors Center Bus Terminal that was decked out in Mexican flags, piñatas, and sombreros.
 
Mariachi music got the celebration started on the right note as did the loaded buffets provided by local Mexican, Tex-Mex and Brazilian food vendors. To work off nachos and the Cuervo margaritas that everyone seemed to enjoy, partygoers danced to the old school funky salsa style of Bio Ritmo. The high energy of the piano and Latin congas really got the crowd moving. I even hit the dance floor for a spin.
 

The “Dancing with the Local Stars” dance competition was the highlight of the evening that featured Brooke Ryan, host of 95SX Two Girls and a Guy Morning Show; Tessa Spencer, host of Z93 Jamz Da Breakfuss Club; and Live 5 News reporters Hatzel Vela and Sheldon Dutes. All four contestants prepared throughout the month of April and brought their “A” game.  The most impressive of the night was Tessa Spencer whose technique was almost flawless with the help of her handsome partner Luis Boria. The audience applause decided the winner and Tess and Luis walked (danced) away with the title “Charleston’s Best Salsa Couple.”

CDC, an up-and-coming Latin band based in Charleston, made their debut and closed the show. They reminded me of the group 98 Degrees, but the Latin version. The guys were all attractive and had amazing voices, and really knew how to the work the crowd. I saw a few groupies at the front of the stage singing along to every single song, which by the way were in Spanish.  A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Trident Literacy Association. The executive director of the Trident Literacy Association, Eileen Chepenik stated, “The Charleston Cinco De Mayo Festival brings important attention to the fact that Charleston is a very diverse city and this is a great opportunity to celebrate the vibrant Hispanic culture.”

 
Vea ya el año próximo.
See ya next year.

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The Dining with Friends finale party was held Saturday night at Charleston Maritime Center.  The red carpet was rolled out literally, with torches aligning the sidewalks making for a grand entrance.  As I walked into the first tent, I felt like one of the kids in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  There were desserts everywhere.  Tables were overflowing with cupcakes, chocolate-covered strawberries, cookies; the list goes on and on. The champagne tent was a huge hit and always packed (but never a line).  The power went out in this tent for a few seconds and you would have thought the tent had been struck by lighting with the loud gasp that filled the air. Power was resumed and all was well in dessert land.
 

The crowd was growing by the hour with people coming in from more than 80 parties with themes ranging from black tie to backyard barbecues that were hosted all over town. Guests brought donations for Lowcountry AIDS Services and enjoyed a great dinner with friends.

  
By George Events principal George Hill, who I call the hardest working women in Charleston, put on this spectacular event.  When I bumped into to her, she was gracious as always, but had little time to chat as she worked to ensure that every detail was perfect.  
 
Dining with Friends is the longest running fundraiser in the Lowcountry. It supports the non-profit Lowcountry Aids Services, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS and providing prevention resources and programs for Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties in South Carolina.

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The inaugural Charleston Dragon Boat Festival breathed fire on the water at Brittlebank Park, Saturday, May 3rd. Forty-eight corporate and community teams, including Piggly Wiggly, The US Coast Guard, and the South Carolina Port Authority, paddled 250 meters down the Ashley River in 41-foot-long dragon boat canoes competing for the Grand Champion title and other great prizes.
 

If you were a spectator, there was a lot to do on shore including a traditional Lion dance and dotting of the eye ceremony, and a kids’ area that consisted of a moon walk, temporary tattoos, and balloon animals. The athlete’s village was the place to be for paddlers to refuel and to just hang out and bond (and not talk about work).
 

All of the teams seemed really enthusiastic and wanted to win.  I spoke with Charleston Dragon Boat veteran Joyce Raspberry, who said “It is a great opportunity to learn how to work as a team and to see what part you played in its success.”
 

It was a long day of paddling and team building.  Free massages were on hand to relieve those aching muscles.   
 

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