Show it some Love - Day 31

Time for me to bust out that old Wilson tennis racquet that my dad gave me when I was a kid, and show the new Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center some love.

Boasting 24 Hard Courts and 6 Hydro Clay courts, the Dr. Eddie Floyd Florence Tennis Center is one of South Carolina's Premier Tennis facilities. And we're so happy that it's located right here in Florence! The best part about the Tennis Center is that everyone in the community can take advantage of the regular courts for FREE. It's something the whole family can do together.

The Dr. Eddie Floyd Tennis Center is located at 1060 N. Cashua Dr. in Florence, and is open Mon-Fri, 8:30am to 9:30pm; Saturday, 8:30am to 6pm; and Sunday 12 noon to 8pm. Call 843.665.3106 for more info.

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Find more things to do at www.visitflo.com/regional_calendar/ ... and enjoy!

Back when I was in school... - Day 30

How any times have we heard our "elders" talking about how different life was when they were in school? Having to walk 3 miles to get there, having to share one pencil between three other students... Stop by Timrod Park to see the one-room schoolhouse to gain a better perspective. Henry Timrod, the Poet Laureate of the Confederacy taught school in the little house that is now located at the park.


While he wasn't busy with his students he wrote our State Song "Carolina." You can find the lyrics here.


365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Find more things to do at www.visitflo.com/regional_calendar/ ... and enjoy! 

Enlightenment via the resident artist - Day 29

In a quick stop in the downtown this weekend, it became clear to me - Florence's downtown will be flourishing within the next few years. We all know about the big keystones to rebuilding the area - the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundatdion Library, Florence Little Theatre, FMU Performing Arts Center, and the upcoming Florence Museum.  Here are some of the smaller clues that we are well on our way:

• Hapi Balance started from a pop-up shop and has become a permanent storefront, offering yoga and other invigorating soul-seeking activities.
• Railroad Junction, also starting from a pop-up shop, has developed into a strong artist co-op which offers  the newest in arts / craft classes, activities for kids, live music, artist lock-ins, and reasonably priced original artwork.
• Ella's Boutique is nestled between these two, and her storefront looks fabulous with the newest styles in business, church, and formal wear.
• Harvest Moon Soapworks has relocated across the street from these three shops. Harvest Moon offers a wide range of hand-crafted soaps and aromatherapy herbs.
• Peggy Brown will be opening her pottery shop and eatery on Dargan Street.
• Alchemy has built up its base of "regulars" with lots of new faces on promotional evenings. Seeing how cool the place is, these new faces soon become regulars, introducing Alchemy to their friends.
• A boutique hotel is in the works, with a high-end restaurant.

But most impressive of all, the Art Trail Gallery which started out as a temporary exhibit of art in storefront windows has become a permanent fixture of the downtown. Jane Madden keeps the momentum going with new exhibits each month, while Alex Palkovich continues to enthrall passers-by with his sculptures. 


Can you name another downtown that has a resident Russian sculptor to settle in after retiring  from designing and manufacturing MRI machines? One that has found his niche in making monumental pieces focused on Revolutionary War figures and commemorating our veterans? The best part is, Alex is in the downtown, welcoming visitors to his studio as he creates a new artistic heritage for Florence and the Pee Dee. 


more info about Alex Palkovich...   and about the Art Trail Gallery...

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy! 

Mad Scientist on site - Day 28

For days now, we've been watching cool things move in to prepare for Kids Jamboree - bright displays, rainforest-y looking trees, carnival rides, and even big snakes and lizards.  Everything looked fun and exciting, and recognizable... until ScienceSouth showed up to unload.  Their stuff also looked fun and exciting, but not like anything we'd seen before!  Those contraptions made from PVC pipe and styrofoam balls make me want to head to their booth first to see what they're up to. I wonder if the Mad Scientist will be there, too...


Kids Jamboree will be entertaining thousands of kids this weekend at the Florence Civic Center. Kids play with magicians and stiltwalkers and reptiles and inflatables and friends - all day for just $6. more info...


365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy! 

I wish you bluebirds in the spring - Day 27

Expecting spring? Make sure you're ready for the harbinger of the season - those cute, fluffy bluebirds!  Lynches River County Park will be doing a workshop to build bluebird houses (the natural Habitat House) on the first weekend in February.


While you're at Lynches River Park, be sure to take your smartphone out to the far end of the boardwalk to record birds in the canopy.  Those people at the Environmental Discovery Center are so acquainted with the natural surroundings, they may even be able to interpret the birds' messages for you.    more info...

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy! 

Hey, that's mime! - Day 26

Feb 2-4... Savannah Grove Baptist Church has a great weekend in store for Florence - from genealogy research techniques, to gospel singer Norris Turner, to a quilting workshop with Marlene O'Bryant Seabrook of Charleston and artistic metalworking by Bruce Graves.


One of the many highlights will be TDK Mime group performing late Friday evening. 
more info...

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy!

Marion in Marion - Day 25

What better place to discover more about Francis Marion than in Marion?  The Documentary Premiere & Round Table Discussion of General Francis Marion's Exploits in Marion will be held on the evening of January 31st. Location? The newly renovated Opera House on W. Court Street in Marion.  843-423-3561 or for more info...

The painting above was done by Peggy McGill and prints are available through the Francis Marion Trail Commission.

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy!

Masterpiece Delivery - Day 24

"Nature and the Grand American Vision: Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Painters"

Amazing artwork, like the Thomas Hill piece above, are on display in Columbia through April 1, 2012.  What's even greater, Columbia Museum of Art is bringing some of the pieces for us Florentines to enjoy at the Florence Library on January 26th at 5:30pm - 

The Columbia Museum of Art will be presenting highlights from their newest visiting exhibition, "Nature and the Grand American Vision: Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Painters" on January 26, 2012 at 5:30PM. The lecture will combine art, history, and literature and will be presented by the Columbia Museum of Art's Executive Director, Karen Brosius.  The lecture will be held in the Joe Stukes Meeting Room at the Doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation Library on Dargan Street and admission is FREE.

This is the first time the paintings have ever left New York as a collection and they will only travel to four venues nationwide.  The Columbia Museum of Art is the only stop in the Southeast on this exhibition's grand tour.  The paintings are from 19th Century American artists who created the pieces as views of the American Landscape.  These works give visitors a rare look into the nature, culture, and history of the 19th Century New York art movement. 

More info - 

365 Days Around Florence is a blog written by the Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau. At the Visitor Center near the Florence Civic Center, we spend a great deal of our time in letting guests know how much is happening in Florence. We decided to share (blog-style) 365 days' worth of things to do. Enjoy!

Kreative Kids - Day 23

One of the best parts about Railroad Junction's being in the downtown is that they're offering kids' art classes every Tuesday at 6:30.  The classes are affordable (only $10), in a laid-back artsy co-op atmosphere, hosted by some great artists. 


I have a feeling that this experience will have a long-lasting effect on the students.  


More info -  

Camelot in Lake City - Day 22

Lake City Community Theatre always does the greatest productions.  Starting March 1st, King Arthur and Lancelot will be hitting the stage. A few of my favorite lines -

King Arthur: We must arrange for your knighthood. 
Lancelot Du Lac: No, sire! Invest me because of deeds, not words! Give me an order! 
King Arthur: Now? 
Lancelot Du Lac: This moment! Is there some wrong I can right, some peril I can face, some quest I can undertake? 
King Arthur: Well... actually... there's not much going on today. The Queen and some of her court have gone a-maying. 
Lancelot Du Lac: Gone... a-maying? 
King Arthur: Well, it's a sort of... um... picnic? They pick flowers and chase young... 
Lancelot Du Lac: Picnic? 
King Arthur: It's a custom we have here. This is England, you know. And this is the season for gathering flowers. 
Lancelot Du Lac: Knights? Gathering FLOWERS? 
King Arthur: Well, SOMEONE has to do it! 




Chances are Julie Andrews won't be playing Guinevere, but with Lake City's quality performances, you never know!  (One time, we were quietly eating lunch and Julie Andrews came diving in Peter-Pan style and landed on our neighbor's table.  We'd been wondering why their table had been missing a centerpiece... but that's another story, in another town...)


Contact Lake City Chamber of Commerce for more info on Camelot - 843.374.8611

Naturally High Tech - Day 21

The number of geocaches in the region has been growing tremendously.  What had been 600 sites that we were so proud of in 2010, has become 7100 sites.  Let's do the math - if we geocached every day for a year,  we'd need to find at least 20 per day - and that's only if there are no new sites added.


What is geocaching? Here is an explanation from www.geocaching.com: Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.


Our favorite place to geocache? Lynches River County Park. The Environmental Discovery Center even provides loaner gps units if your group doesn't have one.

Palmetto Hands - Day 20

The Florence Museum will be the presenting venue for the 2011 - 2012 Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibition, January 10 through March 4, 2012. "Palmetto Hands" is offered by the SC State Museum's Traveling Exhibits Program. It's truly inspiring - seeing what hands from our state have shaped, carved, woven, welded, and created.


Works in wood, fiber, glass, metal, clay and 3D mixed media are represented. More info

Mr. Okra - Day 19

From the Bee Keeper's Daughter to the funeral band to the drive-in movie operator, Mary Whyte has a way of bringing ordinary working people to life. Looking at her paintings, you can almost sense what the subjects would say about how their day went, what they like (and don't like so much) about the work they do, and how they learned their skills.  Mary Whyte met Mr. Okra in Louisiana, but I feel like I've met him before... 


Mary Whyte will be having a book signing of her artbook Working South at the Florence library on Sunday, January 29th. More info...

Kids Jam - Day 18

If have kids, you probably already know that the Kids Jamboree is greatest, fun-filled $6 event around.  On January 28-29th, the Florence Civic Center will be filled with clowns, 100-ft slide, snakes, Wipe-Out style inflatables, puppy dogs,  popcorn, carnival rides, karaoke, stilt walkers, video games, craft activities, and laughter. Lots of laughter.


More info

Happy "Paw"metto Dogs - Day 17

I like it when dogs are happy.  It just makes me feel good.  And I have a secret - I've found the exact place and time that dogs in Florence are happiest.  February 18th - 19th at the Eastern Carolina Fairgrounds. That's when the Pawmetto Pack Flyball Team will be hosting the Cool Runnings Tournament.

It's a relay race - 4 dogs to each team, jumping hurdles, hitting a box that throws out a tennis ball for them to catch and race back over the hurdles to their teammates... but that's only half of the entertainment - the best part is watching the dogs on the sidelines that are anxious to have their turn.

More info

Come Together - Day 16

The Return will be performing at Cheraw's Theatre on the Green on  January 20th.  These guys headlined the 40th anniversary celebration of the Beatles visit to Tokyo, and they've performed in Abbey Road Studios in London and the Cavern in Liverpool. 


But the British Invasion has already hit Cheraw - the Burr Gallery has a collection of Beatles memorabilia on exhibit through January 27th. And to top it all off, the Oyster Bar Restaurant will have Beatles Trivia Night on January 17th. Your team of up to 6 people can register for $10.


More info

Techno Art - Day 15

One of my favorite quotes:

"Once a technology rolls over you, if you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road." - Stewart Brand

Jackie Wukela is not one to be rolled over.  Her work is so diverse, and ranges from watercolor to pastel to oil, each capturing attention through the style and emotion emanating from the piece.  THEN, she says, add some techno... use your iPad, projectors, cameras, laptop, whatever you have at your disposal, to add another dimension to your work...


Jackie will offer a workshop in Techno Art on January 18th.  More info

By the way, the Jammin' oil image above was done without techno art - imagine it with. 

Railroad Crossing - Day 14

Into a city built around and dependent upon the rails system comes the Underground Railroad.  The performance which will be held on January 31st at the FMU Performing Arts Center is suitable for students grade 3-12.


Harriet Tubman, aka Grandma Moses, ran 13 missions by way of the Underground Railroad to save 70 slaves.  This exciting play tells her story, and the story of those she saved.  More info.


"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

I'm hungry. Let's try something new! - Day 13

The best time of the year to try some new dining experiences - SC Restaurant Week will be held January 12-22, 2012.  Restaurants across the state will be featuring special menus and great promo prices, meant to bring in the regulars and entice guests to try something new.
Here are the menus from three participating restaurants in Florence - Red Bone Alley, Great American Grill at Hilton Garden Inn, and Victor's Bistro and Garden Room - 

Red Bone Alley

$20 per person

Starters (Choose One)

Wedge of Iceberg Lettuce, Crisp Pancetta Bacon, Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese, Grape Tomatoes
and Buttermilk Bleu Cheese Dressing
or 

Smoked Ham, Garden Bean Gumbo

Main Course (Choose One)

Braised Beef Short Ribs, Mepkin Abbey Mushroom Risotto, Local Succotash and Pan Drippins'
or 

16 Spice Spit Roasted Chicken, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Crisp Fried Long Beans and Good Juice

Dessert (Choose One)

Heirloom Pound Cake Panini
or 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Great American Grill at Hilton Garden Inn

$19.95 per person

Appetizer

Garlic Shrimp Bruschetta 
basil, dusted with Parmesan

Or
Parmesan Potato Chips Served with a spicy Aioli sauce

Entree

Grilled Double-Cut Pork Chop 
with Glazed Baby Carrots and apples and Apple Cider Reduction

Or
 Rosemary Grilled Jumbo Shrimp
Spicy Pineapple Salsa, creamy polenta, lemon broth 

Dessert

Warm Bread Pudding
Ice Cream, Caramel, Toasted Pepitas 
Or
Crème Brûlée with a Blueberry Reduction sauce and Whipped Cream

Victor's Bistro and Garden Room

$20 per person

1st Course

House salad

2nd Course

Chicken Moutarde

 -Grilled Breast of Chicken with garlic whipped potatoes, sauteed vegetables and 

a creamy whole grain mustard and caper sauce.

3rd Course

Chocolate Brownie with ganache and vanilla ice cream

Don't Hide the Cookie Jar - Day 12

On January 21st, at the Florence County library, we'll have a chance to meet Chris Rock's mamma.  Yes, really - Chris Rock's mamma. She'll be sharing with us all of Mama Rock's Rules: Ten Lessons for Raising a Houseful of Successful Children - one of them being, "Don't hide the cookie jar."

Mamma Rock will be one of the seventeen local authors featured on that day from 2-4pm.  Admission is free, so get on out there to meet  mamma and the other talented writers of the Pee Dee!


For more info, check the events calendar.

Who's afraid of Bigfoot? - Day 11

When I was growing up, I was terrified that I'd meet Bigfoot while I was out walking with my beagle, Jitters, on our family's wooded property.  I eventually grew out of that, I'd thought.  But then I read that Bigfoot is coming to the Florence Civic Center January 20-21. My heart stopped for a moment... then I realized that Bigfoot was only just a motor-screaming, ground-shaking Monster Truck. Besides, Vorian the 30-feet tall, rocket-firing, jet-powered robot will be there to protect us all.


For more information, check out the online calendar listing. 

You WISH you could hit like a girl - Day 10

Check out the Winter Bump Volleyball Tournament at the Florence Civic Center where 56 teams of 13-15 year old girls will be showing what it really means to hit like a girl! The top junior volleyball teams are coming from SC, NC, GA, MD, VA, and WV January 14th - 16th to compete for the tournament title. 


Check out The Florence CVB event calendar on visitflo.com for more info.

Living in a log cabin - Day 9

Sounds so romantic, doesn't it? Living in a log cabin on a big piece of land, returning home from work each day to spend time with your family and tend to your organic garden...

Stop by the hand-hewn log cabins at Francis Marion University on January 10th at 2:30 for Karl McAlister's more realistic description of life for the families that called these cabins home in the 1800s. Built and occupied by enslaved African Americans and later housing emancipated slaves as they worked the area farms, these cabins have stories to tell.  After you've had a chance to peek inside, you'll be able to visualize Ms. Tena pasting newspaper to the interior walls to stop drafts, and Ms. Catherine using a handmade broom to sweep the yards free of grass and leaves. 


There are nine African-American Sites at Mars Bluff that make up the self-guided tour developed by Amelia Vernon Wallace.  You can pick up a copy of the brochure at the Florence CVB or download it.  The full book is also available for purchase at the CVB.


For more info about the tour of the cabins, visit our events calendar. 

Every Job I've Ever Had - Day 8

The FMU Performing Arts Center has pulled together an incredible mix of performances to be held this spring - from "The Color Purple" and "Harriet Tubman & the Underground Railroad"  to "100 Years of Broadway" and Barry Smith's comedy routine "Every Job I've Ever Had". The PAC is quickly becoming the spot to gather up friends and family to enjoy quality entertainment at an extraordinary venue.


"Every Job I've Ever Had" which started out as a portion of the Barry Smith Comedy Project Experiment Thing is a multimedia comedy routine that follows Barry's life from Mississippi to California to Colorado, entwined with bizarre employment experiences.  You can catch Barry downtown on January 27th.


Check out the Florence CVB event listing for more info. 

Time for an Epiphany - Day 7

Every year, St. John's Episcopal Church has a wonderful concert series at 6pm on Sundays during the period of the Epiphany - this year between January 6th and February 22nd.


The word epiphany means "manifestation" and is also used in describing innovation as insight from the divine, (think of Sir Isaac Newton chomping on his gravity-delivered apple.)  What a perfect theme for a concert by Wilson High School senior William Douglas who studied piano from age 5 and organ since 2010 - not only will he be amazing the audience with his musical skills on January 8th, he'll be showcasing pieces of organ and vocal music he himself composed.


Check out our event calendar for the full list of concerts and for more background on William.  Something tells me that much more will be manifested in him in the years to come. 

Because he had dreams - Day 6

Become a peaceful revolutionary in modern times. Two upcoming events celebrate the life and continuing progress made by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 


The first is the annual MLK Celebration held at Francis Marion University. On January 12th at 6:30pm,  Jesse Washington, Jr., Former Executive Director of the SC Human Affairs Commission will be speaking about  "Celebrating the Legacy, Living the Dream". This celebration, sure to be very thought-provoking, is free and open to the public.  (The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, FMU, and Hope Health make this possible.)


The second is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Interfaith Prayer Breakfast to be held at Savannah Grove Baptist Church at 7:30am on January 13th.  It will be a time to reflect on the Dream of Dr. King and honor 15 local citizens with the  “Rev. Dr. William P. Diggs Community Service Award” presented by The Community Times in their 25th anniversary year. Tickets for this award breakfast may be purchased through DBS Communications, with net proceeds benefiting two local shelters.


"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."
- MLK


For more info, check www.visitflo.com/regional_calendar.html

How well can you spell? - Day 5

With a mix of wacky words, unstable spelling contestants, and a bit of music by Queen, the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be hitting the Florence Little Theatre starting January 20th. 


This is one of those "can't miss" productions that will have you roaring with laughter as you try to connect with each of the character's quirky backgrounds - from Barfee's (pronounced Bar-fay's) magic spelling foot to Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere's fear of disappointing her ultra-competitive gay dads. And just wait to hear what words the audience volunteers are asked to spell!  


The show is never the same, so my bet is that you'll be singing in your head as you wait to buy tickets to the following night's performance, if there are any left to be had - 

"I see a little silhouetto of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?"


For more info - visitflo.com's calendar

“Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?” - Day 4

There is limited space available for the kids to join in the Star Wars Party at Burry Bookstore in Hartsville.  The party which will be held on Friday, January 13th at 4pm will include making the folded flyers from the new book you see pictured, doing some Star Wars stenciling and drawing, Star Wars mad libs, learning and sharing Star Wars trivia, and enjoying some Star Wars snacks.  To reserve a spot for your child aged 8-12, call 843.332.2511.

If the kids can't get enough of The Force, all the Star Wars merchandise will be on sale, too.

For more info, http://bit.ly/rvyAdI