I was thrilled, to say the least, when I received the invitation to attend Mount Pleasant Magazine’s “Best Of ” Oyster Roast. After all, in the Lowcountry, oysters bring people together.
I immediately texted my wife to mark the date on our calendar. Who wouldn’t want to spend a cool, March evening at a top venue, shucking and eating oysters, listening to live music by local band Sol Food and rubbing elbows with some of the Mount Pleasant business community’s celebrated “movers and shakers,” or “Besties?”
The evening proved to be far more than just an ordinary oyster roast: It was indeed magical.
According to Mount Pleasant Magazine’s Bill Macchio, “The ‘Best Of ’ party has clearly become an extension of Mount Pleasant Magazine. That’s one of the reasons everyone at the magazine works hard to give a party that reflects our community and the quality of our magazine.”
Macchio and his team delivered the goods. The venue, layout, food, beverages, entertainment, decorations and support staff left nothing to be desired. Ethan Lane, local branch manager at Mortgage Network, Inc. and event guest, said, “Bill Macchio knows how to throw a party! It exceeded all expectations.”
Lane’s sentiments were well founded. The aroma of southern BBQ from Sticky Fingers filled the grand upstairs hall as guests mingled, dined and enjoyed each other’s company. Copies of Mount Pleasant Magazine were atop every table, along with Koozies bearing the “Best Of ” gold-and-red logo. A green screen occupied one corner of the hall, along with a Magic Mirror photo booth provided by Wayne Lee of Complete Weddings + Events. Each guest had the opportunity to claim a spot on the front cover of their own Mount Pleasant Magazine, thanks to Lee and his magical mirror.
“Our Magic Mirror booth provided guests with an instant feeling of ‘celebrity’ and recognition when seeing picture strips of them on the Mount Pleasant Magazine cover,” said Lee.
The event flowed down to the lower level, to a quieter, more casual and intimate setting, complete with soft lighting, hors d’oeuvres, beverages and another style of photo booth.
Kristin Villa of Ziggy’s Dog Parlor said, “I loved that there were different areas, each presenting a different ambiance: casual downstairs and a little more formal upstairs.”
Laughter, lively conversation, live music and the salty smell of steamed oysters then drew guests outside. Kyle Anderson and his staff at Rappahannock Oyster Bar were hard at work steaming and serving world-class oysters to a lively crowd. Veteran oyster shuckers and novices alike feasted on bushel after bushel of bivalve goodness, as Sol Food played just a few steps away. Anderson and team stood vigilant by their cookers, replenishing the tables as guests shucked their way through the night.
The event was a celebration of the accomplishments of Mount Pleasant’s business community. Businesses of all sectors, sizes and specialties were represented and honored in grand style. These honorees had been voted upon by their friends, neighbors and peers as being the best of the best in their respective fields.
As 2020 fast approaches, another class of the “Best of Mount Pleasant” is waiting in the wings to be recognized by the Mount Pleasant community. Who will earn your respect, trust and vote? What will team Macchio do next year to best this year’s event? Stay tuned, and remember to cast your vote for your best community business leaders.
View all pictures at: www.BestOfMP.com/Pics.
By Michael Cochran
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