Turkey Trot, MUSC Children’s Hospital golf tournament, Food + Wine Festival poster unveiling, and Fete d’Artisans
On Thanksgiving morning, I Gobble Wobble-d through the streets of downtown Charleston with pals Ryan Bush and Halle and Jan Lipov— and more than 4,000 of our closest friends! Although the forecast had threatened rain, the holiday turned out to be delightfully dry, and last-minute participants flocked the late registration tables in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Calhoun Street minutes prior to the race. A few costumed runners dotted Marion Square, mostly pilgrims and Indians, but the strollers far outnumbered those intrepid Halloween remnants in running shoes. (Take note: the Reindeer Run is on the horizon, and it is known for its costumes— it even holds a contest! So if you like your Mrs. Clause to be a sprinting drag queen, get down to the Gaillard and register for tomorrow’s Reindeer Run!).
On Tuesday, I made my way to Bull’s Bay for a post golf tournament dinner in honor of MUSC’s Children’s Hospital. Last year’s affair turned into one of the year’s most memorable live auctions thanks to a bidding war between Paul Hulsey and Joe Rice for a private concert featuring both Edwin McCain and Darius Rucker. This year was just as exciting as the bids escalated for items like a cruise for two about the luxe cruise ship, The World. The evening wound down with Darius singing several of his most recognizable Hootie and the Blowfish songs along with a few songs that will appear on his upcoming album (to be released next spring). One song in particular, an ode to drunk dialing as a result of a wild night at the Windjammer, had the crowd in fits of laughter. At the end of the song, my table-mate turned to me and said, “Make sure they play that at my funeral.”
This is a popular time of year for the Children’s Hospital fundraising efforts, with the golf tournament, this week’s wreath auction at Charleston Place, and tomorrow’s Reindeer Run. Those of us at the dinner were introduced to an amazing five-year-old boy, Joseph Greenwood from Florence, who made medical history by being the first child in South Carolina to receive a Berlin heart ventricular assist device. Read more about his remarkable story of recovery here.
Thursday night was a double-header. Tis the season! I started at the new Art Institute of Charleston for the Charleston Food + Wine Festival poster unveiling. Mickey Bakst (Charleston Grill) was greeting guests in the entryway, where several coffee carafes and decorative mounds of sugar cubes gave the appearance that the party was taking place in the vestibule. It wasn’t until festival chairwoman Laura Hewitt led me to the elevator that I realized the action was taking place inside this incredible state-of-the-art school.
Throngs of people were packed, quite literally, “in the kitchen” as both students and noted local chefs prepared a slew of mouthwatering appetizers in full view of the guests. My favorite spot was hosted by Angelfish Redo, and it featured a buffet of cookies that were being iced to order. I smuggled a lone gingerbread man in my handbag for late-night noshing.
I found poster design winner Jason Fletcher in an alcove to the right of kitchen #2, where he was holding court with a stack of posters and a sharpie. This year’s design is pretty snazzy, and you can see it for yourself at www.charlestonfoodandwine.com.
From this epicurean overload, I ventured to the old Navy Base, to the temporary home of the American College of the Building Arts. Having never visited ACBA’s North Charleston outpost prior to last night, I was unprepared for what I discovered: a tremendous teaching facility with soaring ceilings and filled with fascinating marble, wood, and plaster projects, the sight of which mentally transported me to what I imaged to be an old world craftsman storehouse.
The veil of night made it difficult to tell when I was inside one of the school’s voluminous warehouse classrooms and when I’d wandered into the steel trussed roofless alleyway that had been transformed into a French-inspired street fair for its Fete d’Artisans party.
The aroma of crepes and stinky cheese was the first thing I noticed, but the incredible array of people representing all ages and pockets of Charleston social strata quickly assuaged the ripe fromage. This party truly boasted one of the most eclectic mixes of guests that I’ve encountered in quite some time. From Susu and Pug Ravenel to Terry Sweeney and Lanier Laney, two transplants from L.A. who’ve made Beaufort their home in recent years, the people-watching was by far the most entertaining aspect of the party.
See you at the Reindeer Run!
