The Omar Shrine Auditorium hosts 100 or more events every year, from wedding and bar mitzvah receptions to home shows, community expos and even gatherings for Civil War buffs and reptile lovers. The 18,000-square-foot facility, the third largest venue in the Lowcountry, is located on Patriots Point Road near the Ravenel Bridge and therefore easily accessible from Mount … [Read more...]
Hamlin: A Distinct Sense of Community
Decades ago, Hamlin, located on both sides of Rifle Range Road north of Mount Pleasant, was a rural farming community. Though its mostly black residents lacked paved roads, city water and sewer and convenient places to buy groceries, they enjoyed a close-knit relationship with their neighbors and a long-term attachment to the land – some of them able to claim lineage that … [Read more...]
Beauty from the Ashes: St. Andrew’s Finds Strength in Community
It’ll take more than a fire to crush the indomitable spirit of St. Andrew’s Church in Mount Pleasant. In fact, the tragedy seems to have done just the opposite. The Rev. Steve Wood, bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, has been the rector of St. Andrew’s in the Old Village for 18 years. He takes the paraphrased words of the prophet Isaiah 61:3 to heart: God brings beauty … [Read more...]
The Art of Business
American author, monk and mystic Thomas Merton once proclaimed, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Without intricate portraits, oil paintings of captivating cityscapes and funky abstracts, where would we be? Mediums of creative expression have the ability to transform a space and create a mood. We chose a variety of Mount Pleasant businesses … [Read more...]
The Thieves Market’s Days Are Numbered: Turning the Page
It took five years for Carl Page to find a permanent home for his business, a primitive building in an old lumber yard on a dusty, two-lane road along the route to a couple of small, quiet beach towns. More than half a century later, Page’s Thieves Market is still a Mount Pleasant icon, a place where locals and visitors – and, now, online shoppers – can browse for everything … [Read more...]
Pitt Street Bridge: A Connection To the Past
The narrow strip of land that extends into the marsh at the end of Pitt Street in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant provides breathtaking views of the beauty of the Lowcountry and gives locals and visitors the opportunity to engage in a variety of outdoor activities, from walking and running to fishing and bird-watching. But beyond its current use as a recreation … [Read more...]
Visit Our Community Parks this Summer: Engage With Nature
Surrounded by serene marshlands, unique barrier islands and enchanting forests, it’s no surprise that Charleston County is home to dozens of public parks and nature centers. Come summertime, everyone from toddlers and young adults to parents and seniors frequent these versatile outdoor spaces. East of the Cooper, two major organizations are tasked with maintaining parks in … [Read more...]
Sharing Love for IOP: Creating Family Memories
As the beachfront begins to shimmer in the summer sunlight, warm memories of vacation, ice cold treats, and the joy of relaxation return to many minds. The enjoyment of this season inspires many families to pack up and head for the Carolina coast. In this article, we meet a few families who spend part of their year at Isle Of Palms. They share some of their favorite experiences … [Read more...]
An Amusing Story: The Coney Island of the South
Once upon a time it was Hunter Island. Then its name changed to Long Island. In the early 1900s, it earned the nickname “the Coney Island of the South.” Today, you know this 5.4-square-mile barrier island as Isle of Palms. Home to just over 4,000 souls, according to the most recent census, Isle of Palms boasts a popular beach, numerous restaurants and shops, an elegant … [Read more...]
Old School Knowledge for New School Families: A Refresher Course
Recently, the Charleston County School District sold the old Laing Middle School and its site, located here in Mount Pleasant, to corporate giant Home Depot. The building is still there as I write this article, as Home Depot has yet to tear it down, but I know it’ll soon be gone, and I’m trying not to be unhappy about it. While I never actually went inside the building, its … [Read more...]