So sayeth the folks at Apartment Guide. They based their assessment on the per capita number of artistic entities and galleries in the city. Charleston comes in at one for every 1,775 residents, which is the highest concentration in America. They referenced 56 Charleston art galleries/dealers, special events like Spoleto, Piccolo Spoleto, MOJA, and institutions like the Gibbes Museum of Art and the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. This is what they had to say about the Holy City:
“In addition to the yearly offerings, dozens of galleries and exhibition spaces have sprung up across Charleston… But the heart of the city’s art community lies in the studios of Gallery Row on historic Broad Street and along the avenues of the nearby French Quarter… If you take a tour of the Lowcountry’s historic antebellum homes, you’ll be privy to some of the finest private art collections in the South.”
It’s yet another reason to come stay in the Lowcountry, not that you really needed it.
SEWE means Charleston and Art go hand in hand all weekend long
Speaking of art, one of those special art events is going on this weekend, and it’s a biggie. As I blogged recently, you can see some of the very best wildlife artists on earth, here in the Holy City. It’s SEWE, and it’s taking place in five main venues on the Charleston peninsula. They include:
- Marion Square (tents, exhibitors, cooking demos, Birds of Prey, etc.);
- Charleston Place (wildlife art central);
- Gaillard Center (vendor central and wildlife shows/presentations);
- The Marriott on Lockwood (duck decoy central);
- Brittlebank Park (larger than ever, with DockDogs, border collie sheep and duck herding, search and rescue dog demos, marine village, kids zone, petting zoo, pony and camel rides, etc. etc.).
They’re convenient to all our vacation rentals. Figure about a 30 minute drive or so, factoring in traffic.
Check out Charleston and art.. or Party with a Purpose this weekend
Mardi Gras is still a couple weeks away (March 5th), but the celebrating’s already cranking up in these parts. This Saturday (February 16th) is the Parrothead Mardi Crawl. It’s the 15th annual one, to be exact. This movable, Jimmy-Buffet themed party takes place in various venues around Shem Creek. Shem Creek is where the shrimp boats (and several other boats) dock. There’re plenty of restaurants and bars with outdoor seating, great views, pretty people, dogs, dolphins, SUPers, pelicans, you name it. From the Isle of Palms, just head over to Sullivan’s, then cross over to Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant and go about halfway to the Ravenel Bridge. You can’t miss it. The Parrothead Mardi Crawl is sponsored by the Lowcountry Parrot Head Club, which encourages you to come “party with a purpose.” If you sign up for the event, you’ll play various games like trivia, enjoy food and drink specials, festive beads and prizes, and migrate from one place to the next at your own pace. You can either walk, take a limo or even a water taxi among the venues. Participating restaurants/locales include: Red’s Ice House, The Mill Street Tavern, Saltwater Cowboys, RB’s, Vickery’s, and The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene. It’s all for a good cause - several, actually. They include the Alzheimer’s Association of South Carolina, the Ronald McDonald House, Pet Helpers and others.
There will be plenty of live music. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on:
- Registration at noon Saturday at Red’s, 98 Church Street in Mount Pleasant;
- Live music starts there at noon, with The Three Sheets Island Band;
- Throughout the afternoon, live music aboard the Palmetto Breeze by Taco Donkey, Tyler Boone, and the Dave Landeo Band;
- Afterparty at Red’s starting at 7:00p.m. with music by Saluda Shoals;
- $25 advance at $30 at the event;
- More info on their FB page.
It’s always a raucous good time, with Buffet beachy tunes and libations that pair perfectly together, like Charleston and art. So check out some greatCharleston and art happenings. And when you are looking for beach rentals Charleston, be sure to call EP for the very best. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger