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Issue 2.31 | Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 | Good time for birdwatching


READ ACROSS AMERICA:
Jack Hurley, owner of local hot dog emporium Jack's Cosmic Dogs, donned a distinctive hat during Read Across America Day at the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry last year. The event, sponsored by the National Education Association, will be held this year on March 2, and the museum will again offer hourly Dr. Seuss storytimes starting at 9 a.m., with free admission for kids who dress as their favorite literary character. Find out more at http://www.explorecml.org.


TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Looking for a social media policy?

CURRENTS

:: Get outdoors to temper spring fever

FEEDBACK
:: Send us your opinions, letters

THE LIST
:: RiverDogs' auction ahead

GOOD NEWS
:: Academies, ice cream contest, more

ALSO INSIDE

___:: CALENDAR: This week ... and next

___:: REVIEW: Send us your recommendations

___:: HISTORY: Punches

___:: QUOTE: Davis on improving

___:: SPOTLIGHT: Meet an underwriter


UNDERWRITERS AND PARTNERS




ABOUT US

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TODAY'S FOCUS
Does your company have a policy on use of social media?

By LYN METTLER
Step Ahead Inc.
Reprinted with permission

Editor's note: Lyn Mettler, founder of Step Ahead Inc., a Lowcountry public relations and social media campaign firm, recently wrote a blog post on a topic of interest to employers and employees alike: Does your company - should your company - have a policy on the use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter? We thank Lyn for letting us reprint it today.

FEB. 25, 2010 -- As we develop social media campaigns for our clients, we often ask them to encourage their employees to support the campaign by sharing it with their friends, adding comments and just generally getting involved.


Mettler

But sometimes that brings up a hairy question: Do we want our employees on social media saying they work for us? What if Sally's wild night out reflects badly on the company? What if she publicly says something negative about a client on Facebook or Twitter?

So we sometimes help companies draft an internal social media policy. But before I go into the meat of those policies, let me first and foremost say I am a big proponent of the more people participating in social media on your behalf, the better. I believe in openness in social media, and that means taking a risk sometimes that someone will do or say something negative. And believe me, they will! But to me, the positives of being on social media and the goodwill and customer service and awareness it fosters are way worth the couple of negatives.

Now, that being said, I still can't convince some companies of my views, soooo … we help them craft a policy to help them feel more secure that they're protected in the event that negative post happens.

What should you put in an employee social media policy?

What information shouldn't an employee share on social media? Company financial data, trade information, internal documents?

Can your employees mention that they are employed by you? If they do mention that, do they need to share that account with you?

If they do mention an affiliation, provide some guidelines for good social media etiquette. They might include:

  • Remember that whatever you do or say is in some way representing your company for good or bad.

  • Never post any information about the company unless you have seen it released publicly by the PR/marketing department or on the company Twitter account or company blog.

  • Follow ChasCurrents on Twitter

    We've launched a new Twitter account and suspended our old blogfeed so we could provide fun information in between publication dates. We encourage you to follow us through Twitter @chascurrents.

    If you've been keeping up with us through RSS, we suggest you change your settings to get info through our Twitter RSS.

    Post the following disclaimer: "The opinions listed here don't reflect those of my employer."

  • Speak in first person to indicate you are speaking your opinions and not those of the company.

  • Avoid insults or inappropriate language.

  • Remember that everything you post is publicly indexed online; don't post anything you wouldn't want the world, including your boss, your clients and your mom, to see.

  • Contribute intelligent, thoughtful material and be professional!

  • Be authentic, transparent and truthful.

  • Social media, unless it is furthering your work, should not interfere with your work time and should be done on personal time.

I think we can find a happy medium here to satisfy employers without majorly restricting employees, and then you can give your employees the chance to support the company's social media efforts. And if they support you, by gosh, reward them!

Lyn Mettler is the mother of two young boys, a self-described "social media nerd" and the founder of Step Ahead Inc., a company which combines traditional public relations with social media campaigns to maximize visibility for clients both online and off. She is the social media-featured blogger for TwitterMoms.com and also blogs regularly on her company Web site. Follow her on Twitter at @webprgirl.

CURRENTS
Spring fever? Feed it with programs that get you outdoors
By ANN THRASH, editor

FEB. 25, 2010 -- This past Monday was the second Monday in a row that the previous weekend's weather was a main topic of conversation. Last Monday it was the rare snowfall that had people talking.


Thrash

But on Monday this week, everyone seemed to have his or her sights fully set on spring. Everywhere we went, we heard people saying, "Wasn't the weather great over the weekend," usually followed by details on how they'd gotten outside for some yard work, made a trip to a local park or just enjoyed rolling down the car windows for a breath of fresh not-too-cold air.

We've got spring fever, too, and it has us interested in a couple of interesting programs that offer a chance to learn something more about Lowcountry wildlife and natural resources. Here are two you might want to check out.

Coastal Explorations Series: The S.C. Department of Natural Resources offers the Coastal Exploration Series each spring, and it's great - and free - way to learn more about issues involving our marine resources and the importance of conservation in the Lowcountry. The series runs from March through May, with events up and down the coast ranging from seminars and lectures to field trips. You can see a full, detailed list here -- but here are two going on in our backyard.

  • "Building a Rain Garden in Your Own Backyard": This hands-on program, led by David Joyner of Clemson Extension, takes place from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 25 at DNR's Fort Johnson Marine Center on James Island. The focus is on full-sun rain gardens that serve as habitats for butterflies and other wildlife while also improving local water quality by decreasing runoff into nearby waterways. The gardens this program will emphasize are attractively crafted with native plants that can survive both very dry and very wet conditions. After two indoor presentations - one on rain garden construction and the other on planting for butterflies - the group will head outdoors for a hands-on demonstration of the building process. By the end of the event, the group will have built a rain garden for the Fort Johnson DNR campus. You'll go home with your own rain garden manual from Clemson Extension, as well as plenty of good ideas. Class participants should bring gloves and wear appropriate clothes and shoes for working outdoors.

  • "Birding in The Beidler, Headwaters of the ACE Basin": Jeff Mollenhauer of the South Carolina Audubon Society will lead this walk along the boardwalk at Four Holes Swamp. It's from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at the Francis Beidler National Forest (registration won't begin until 30 days before the event). The forest is really an extraordinary setting where you'll get a chance to see some of the oldest, biggest cypress trees in the South. Audubon experts will look at some of the misconceptions about swampy areas as well as the benefits these areas have for the Lowcountry. Birds that you might see along the boardwalk include prothonotary warblers, yellow crowned night herons, barred owls, and pileated woodpeckers, to name just a few. You can also learn about a new citizen-science project, Project PROTHO, which takes a closer look at the use of forested wetlands by prothonotary warblers.

Become a Master Naturalist: The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission is offering the Certified South Carolina Master Naturalist Program beginning in March. A weekly course involves meetings that last all day on consecutive Tuesdays, but there is also a one-Saturday-a-month version of the course.

The program's goal is to create "volunteer citizen scientists" who can positively affect the state's natural resources. "Master Naturalists strive to improve the quality of our native ecosystems through 'reading' the landscape: understanding its underlying geology, specific inhabitants (i.e., plants, animals), ecology and the impacts of humans on the landscape," according to the PRC.

Becoming a Master Naturalist involves extensive field training and, similar to the popular Master Gardener program, requires that participants give back to the community by volunteering for a certain number of service hours after certification. For Master Naturalists, the 30 service hours can include assisting in nature outreach programs at parks, museums or schools, assisting scientists with data collection, and a variety of other options.

The Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel is home to the course, and field trips will take participants to sites such as Congaree National Park, Francis Marion National Forest, Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and undeveloped marsh islands near the Ashepoo River.

The program is a serious commitment, but a worthwhile one. Since 2008, about 65 people have taken the course locally, recording 2,161 hours of volunteer service - an estimated $43,760 value based on a popular calculator of the worth of volunteer work. The program costs $600 for Charleston County residents, $625 for nonresidents. Call 889-8898 or visit www.ccprc.com to learn more or register.

Ann Thrash, editor of CharlestonCurrents.com, can be reached at: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. You can follow her on Twitter @annmthrash.

FEEDBACK
Send us your letters, opinions

Have a comment or want to vent? If you have something to say about leadership in South Carolina, the state of baseball today, good barbecue or something about your community's government, drop us a line to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. Please send no more than 200 words and include contact information (phone number, hometown) so we can get in touch with you.

SPOTLIGHT
West Of

The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring CharlestonCurrents to you at no cost. In this issue, we turn the spotlight on West Of newspaper, the West Ashley's community newspaper that highlights community news, opinions, schools, dining, arts and more for the 62,000+ people who live west of Charleston's Ashley River. West Of also publishes the James Island Messenger for people who live on James Island. Visit West Of online or via Twitter.

GOOD NEWS
Local business, education execs visit Fla. career academies

Fifty business leaders and educators from the Charleston area took a field trip last week to St. Johns County, Fla., to see how career academies are successfully implemented and to learn how National Career Academy Coalition standards are used to create quality and consistency in the schools. The Education Foundation, an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, organized the trip.

The Lowcountry group learned how the Florida school district uses an evaluation rubric for career academies, and how it engages the business community and creates partnerships and return on investment for businesses. Many businesses not only get positive community exposure for their involvement but can also educate their future workforce about the jobs available and skill sets needed.

In St. Johns County, Lowcountry leaders saw four career academies, including aerospace, future teacher, biotechnology and medical research, and international business and marketing, and learned how the business community plays a part. In a visit to St. Augustine High School, for example, executives learned that the school is graduating its first aerospace class, with many students going on to college already having 10-20 college credits from the program. Northrop Grumman is a business partner for the Aerospace Academy and loans an executive to teach aviation maintenance. Students learn firsthand about the equipment and training by building model planes and flight simulators, learning air traffic control and conducting a mock engineering symposium. They are then prepared to start a high-skills job with an average annual salary of $46,000.

"With so many career academies burgeoning in our tri-county school districts, this trip was an important step as we seek to strengthen what is already in place and gain new ideas and colleagues to help us advance career academies in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties," said Allen Wutzdorff, executive director of the Education Foundation.

"The fact that 25 business executives gave up a day to make this trip and fully funded the costs is strong testimony to the degree of business support for education in this region," said Deb Campeau, the foundation's chairperson.

Since 2007, the Education Foundation has worked closely with the Ford Motor Company Fund as one of 14 communities across the nation to develop career academy networks that meet national standards. Career academies are "schools within schools" that draw on career themes to bring real-world relevance to academic learning.

Trident United Way names Community Builders of the Year

A local insurance company and an executive from AstenJohnson have been named Community Builders of the Year by Trident United Way, the agency announced this week.

Johnson & Johnson, a Charleston-based insurance company, is the United Way's Corporate Community Builder of the Year. The company's 130 employees contributed $190,000 to Trident United Way and participated in large numbers in the Day of Caring in September. They also donate to the Ride for Hope, Darkness to Light, the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center and Families Helping Families. Company employees participate in the Race for the Cure, do blood drives for the Red Cross and help with the Lowcountry Food Bank's Backpack Buddies program.

"Johnson & Johnson may not be a global giant or even widely known by the general public, but they are a giant of philanthropy," said David Dunlap, CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare and board chairman at Trident United Way.

The individual honored as Community Builder of the Year was Bill Finn, chairman of the board at AstenJohnson, a Charleston-based manufacturer of paper machine clothing, specialty fabrics, filaments and drainage equipment. Finn has served in a variety of volunteer leadership capacity at Trident United Way, including board chairman and campaign chairman, and he and his wife are longtime members of the national Tocqueville Society for annual United Way contributions of $10,000 or more. He has served on the board of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, Santee Cooper and the College of Charleston School of Business.

"Every time Bill chaired something at Trident United Way, we had record results," said Chris Kerrigan, the agency's president and CEO. "Bill's business acumen, dedication to our community and personal warmth have made him indispensible to our work, and to the work of numerous other organizations in the Lowcountry."

Family Circle Cup, Wholly Cow launch ice cream contest

The Family Circle Cup and Charleston-based Wholly Cow Ice Cream have whipped up an ice cream flavor design contest that promises some neat prizes and offers local ice cream buffs a chance to have their flavor ideas judged by some of the top female tennis players in the world.

Members of the public can submit personally designed ice cream flavors for consideration via the tournament's Web site. The top three entries will receive prizes including tickets to the tournament, with the winner performing an on-court pre-match coin toss in Family Circle Stadium. Family Circle Cup fans and players will judge submissions, with player votes constituting a large portion of the winning decision.

Fans 21 and older are eligible. Each entry should include the flavor's name, base flavor of ice cream and up to two additional ingredients (for example, "Bananarama" might be banana ice cream with chocolate chips and marshmallows). Specific ingredient proportions or assembly instructions are not required, and multiple entries per person will be accepted.

The deadline to submit an idea is midnight March 12. There will be two rounds of judging. In the first, Wholly Cow will review the submitted flavors and a panel of judges will select three finalists based on the ice cream's look (10 percent) and taste (90 percent). The three finalists will be notified March 31 and given two tickets to the Family Circle Cup matches at 7 p.m. April 13.

In the second round of judging, Wholly Cow will offer the three finalists' flavors as free samples April 10-12 at the Wholly Cow booth at the tennis tournament. Fans and players will vote on their favorite. The grand-prize winner will be announced on stadium court on April 13, and the winning flavor will be sold by Wholly Cow Ice Cream for the duration of the tournament. The grand prize winner will have the opportunity to toss the coin prior to that night's match and will receive one pint of their ice cream creation.

County offers free one-day Citizens' Academy to residents

Charleston County government is inviting residents into the classroom, and the subject is local government and where our tax dollars go.

The Charleston County Citizens' Academy will offer free quarterly sessions beginning March 9 to offer residents insight on how county government works. The one-day sessions will feature topics such as the county budgeting process, garbage and recycling, law enforcement, the court system, emergency services, planning and zoning, and more.

The March 9 program will have morning and afternoon sessions, and residents may attend one or both. Sessions will meet in Charleston County Council chambers in the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston. County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor and County Administrator Allen O'Neal will introduce the program, and participants will be able to meet several elected officials.

The 9 a.m. to noon session, titled "Charleston County 101," includes "Intro to Home Rule," "Who's Who in County Government," "The Board of Elections and Voter Registration Office" and "Navigating the County's Web Site." The 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. session, "County Finance, Follow the Money," will look at the county budget, property assessment, taxes, and the roles of the register of mesne conveyance (RMC), assessor and treasurer.

Previously, the Citizens' Academy was a series of 12 classes taught by county officials. "Funding for the program was cut due to a declining county budget. However, officials wanted to make sure the popular program continued in some format, so it's been modified," said Evelyn DeLaine-Hart, who is overseeing the program.

Formal registration isn't required, but county officials would like to have a general idea of how many people to expect, so those who are interested are asked to contact Mai Green at maigreen@charlestoncounty.org or 958-4000.

RECOMMENDED
Send us your reviews

HAVE A REVIEW? If you have a review or recommendation of a book, movie, restaurant or local arts endeavor, please send no more than 150 words to editor Ann Thrash. Make sure to include your name and full contact information.

SC ENCYCLOPEDIA
Punches

Punches have been prominent at South Carolina social gatherings from the state's beginnings. When Eliza Lucas Pinckney recorded her favorite recipes in 1756 at her plantation north of Charleston, she included one for the Duke of Norfolk Punch, made with twelve pounds of sugar, thirty oranges plus five and one-half quarts of juice, thirty lemons plus three and one-half quarts of juice, and a gallon of rum.

Though men often drank rum, "slings," "flipps," "toddies," beer, and claret at home, they also enjoyed drinking in the rowdy atmosphere of the city's many taverns. Women also drank socially at the parties and balls that were frequent in Charleston town houses, on the neighboring plantations, and in the elegant buildings that were built by the numerous private "societies." Women drank imported wines, including fortified sherry, Madeira, and port, but they also made their own liqueurs, such as ratafia from peach kernels, brandy, and sugar.

Punches, which were favored throughout the colonies, were made to serve a crowd, and individual recipes were named for particular social clubs, such as the St. Cecilia Society or the Cotillion Club. The tradition continued for three hundred years. When the Junior League of Charleston published its fund-raiser cookbook Charleston Receipts in 1950, it began with sixteen pages of recipes for beverages, many of them for punches that serve hundreds. The book has been the most successful of its kind and has remained in print after more than fifty years. Some of the recipes begin with a base of tea, long a favorite in the Lowcountry, and most include tropical fruit such as citrus or pineapple. Some are variations of eggnog, such as "Flip," which was popular in seventeenth-century England. With changes in both social structure and liquor laws in South Carolina, punches have fallen out of favor.

-- Excerpted from the entry by John Martin Taylor. To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.) To read more about this or 2,000 other entries about South Carolina, check out The South Carolina Encyclopedia by USC Press. (Information used by permission.)

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THE LIST
RiverDogs auction

The Charleston RiverDogs always come up with great stuff for their auctions, and the new season-long online auction to benefit MUSC's Storm Eye Institute is no exception. New items will be posted each Friday through the end of September. Here are four cool items to look for -- the first two can be bid on now online -- and the others will go on the auction block in the weeks to come, so keep checking back.

  • Dale Murphy Autographed Baseball -- Bidding ends at 11 a.m. Feb. 26. Murphy, a former outfielder and first baseman, most notably with the Atlanta Braves, won two consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards, the National League's Silver Slugger Award four straight years, and the National League's Golden Glove Award five consecutive years.

  • Be in a RiverDogs TV Commercial -- Bidding ends at 11 a.m. March 5. Get ready for your closeup: Here's your chance for some lights, cameras, action. The winner will be featured in a commercial for the RiverDogs.

  • Reggie Jackson Autographed Baseball -- Throughout his career, Jackson played for the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and California Angels. The outfielder won three consecutive World Series titles as a member of the Oakland A's and two consecutive titles with the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mr. October," he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

  • Dale Murphy Autographed Jersey -- If you're the winning bidder on the Dale Murphy autographed baseball, this would be a nice companion piece, wouldn't it? Then again, if you don't win the baseball, this would be another chance to own some great Dale Murphy memorabilia.

QUOTE
On getting better

"Attempt the impossible in order to improve your work."

-- Bette Davis, American actress (1908-1989)

CALENDAR: THIS WEEK

Amuse Bouche: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 26, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, College of Charleston, 161 Calhoun St. The event, the unofficial kickoff of the BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, benefits the Lowcountry Food Bank's Kids Café and Backpack Buddies Programs and the Halsey Institute. Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q will "Pork from Around the World" tastings, and Whole Foods will offer an open wine bar. Cost: $20 per person at the door; RSVP no later than Feb. 24 to 747-8146 or mcoombes@lcfbank.org.

Park Angel Get-Together: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 28, grassy area near Maritime Center, 10 Wharfside St., downtown. The Charleston Parks Conservancy will host a social for old and new members to get acquainted and learn more about the group. Food, games and prizes along with opportunity to learn about upcoming events and volunteer needs. The organization works to support local public parks by planting and maintaining green spaces and promoting the history and beauty of local gardens. For more info or to register as a Park Angel (it's free), visit this Web site.

CALENDAR: ONGOING AND SOON

(NEW) "Lowcountry Boil": Various dates and times, March 4 through March 27, PURE Theatre, Upper Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., downtown (on the grounds of the Circular Congregational Church). Writer/director R.W. Smith describes "Lowcountry Boil" as "part 'Pulp Fiction,' part 'Clerks' and all Charleston." It's a sequel to "Horse Tranqs & Carriage People," but PURE says you don't have to have seen that show to enjoy this one. The March 4 show is a Pay What You Can Preview; March 5 show includes a complimentary beer tasting with Charleston Beer Exchange. Tickets range in price from $20-$30 and are available online or by calling 811-4111.

Southern Politics: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 3 and 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 5, The Citadel. Author and former Alabama congressman Glen Browder will speak on race and Southern politics. The March 3 event is an author presentation and book signing; Browder is the author of "Stealth Reconstruction: An Untold Story of Racial Politics in Recent Southern History" and "The South's New Racial Politics." The March 5 event is a panel discussion during the Symposium on Southern Politics, an examination of the 2008 elections. More info.

(NEW) Yuriy Bekker and Friends: 7 p.m. March 5, Christ Episcopal Church, Mount Pleasant, and 4 p.m. March 7, St. John the Beloved, Summerville. "Orchestral Section Highlights" is an intimate, musician-led performance that takes the audience through each section of the orchestra. The program will showcase the wind, brass and string sections individually, as the entire orchestra as well. Tickets: $15 adults, $5 students. Purchase online, at the Gaillard Auditorium Box Office, or any Ticketmaster outlet.

Dogmore Stew Festival: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. March 7, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Lowcountry Animal Rescue sponsors the festival, which includes a silent auction, prizes, a pet fashion show, dog training and grooming demos and more. Tickets include hors d'oeuvres, Frogmore stew and desserts along with admission to the plantation and gardens. Cost: adults $17 ($20 at the gate); $10 for ages 6-12; $5 for ages 3-5; free for age 3 and under. Well-behaved, leashed pets get in free. Buy tickets at local All is Well locations (Summerville, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, James Island) or by calling 343-8063.

(NEW) Lee Brothers Book Signing: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 7, Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St., downtown. Celebrated Southern food pros Matt and Ted Lee will sign copies of their latest book, "Simple Fresh Southern," which features recipes with Deep South flavor and healthy, everyday ingredients (easy ambrosia; cherry tomato and soybean salad; Caesar salad with catfish "croutons," etc.). Peanuts will be boiled and beer will be served. Free and open to the public. More info: 722-2666.

"Whistler's Women": 3 p.m. March 7, Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St., downtown. The Charleston Chamber Opera and the Gibbes will present an afternoon of opera in the rotunda, the setting for the "Whistler's Travels" special exhibition. Soprano Patrice Tiedemann, mezzo soprano Lara Wilson and baritone Paul Soper will explore the life and loves of artist James McNeill Whistler (who was married but had several lovers, one of whom bore him several children and another of whom raised his son by yet another woman). The clever mix of art song, opera and theatrical flair will include the music of Debussy, Saint-Saens, Mahler, Gilbert & Sullivan and others. Tickets: $10 museum members and students; $20 nonmembers. Buy online, at the museum store or by calling 722-2706, ext. 18.

Stiletto Stampede: 10 a.m. March 13, Houston Northcutt Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. An offbeat 100-yard dash in which contestants must wear 3-inch heels (both male and female). The top male and female finishers get $5,000 from Gwynn's of Mount Pleasant, and Charleston Magazine will give $1,000 to the runner with the best costume. Post-race food and entertainment offered in the Whole Foods parking lot. Proceeds from the run benefit MUSC Children's Hospital. Race fee: $30. Entry form/more info.

Party for the Parks: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 13, Ashley Avenue overlooking Colonial Lake, downtown. "Amusement on the Avenue," sponsored by the Charleston Parks Conservancy, will feature live music from the Flatt City bluegrass band, the Plainfield Project and DJ Trailmix along with roller skaters, breakdancers, jugglers and hip hop dancers. Food provided by Oak, Muse, the Bagel Shop, Queen Street Grocery, Taco Boy, Closed for Business and La Fourchette; there will also be a cappuccino bar by Royal Cup and a tasting for a new vodka from Firefly. Event is open only to those age 21 or older. Tickets: $55 in advance, $75 at the event. More info.

Museum House Furniture Tours: 4 p.m. March 18 and March 19, and 10 a.m. March 20, Heyward-Washington House, 87 Church St. downtown. The Charleston Museum's Heyward-Washington House will host furniture-focused tours with special information on the significant 18th-century English and Charleston-made furniture collection housed there. Visitors can learn about Charleston cabinetmakers, locally harvested and imported wood, and the influence of Thomas Chippendale. Reservations not required. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children (free for museum members). More info: 722-2996, ext. 235, or visit online.

Economic Outlook Conference: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 24, Charleston Area Convention Center. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's annual Economic Outlook Conference will feature an 18- to 24-month look ahead at the region's key economic sectors. Keynote speaker is Matt Martin, senior vice president and Charlotte regional executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Cost: $95 chamber members, $150 nonmembers. Registration/more info.

Dock Street Reopening: 6 p.m. April 1, Dock Street Theatre. Gala concert planned by Spoleto Festival USA for the reopening of the theatre after three years of renovations. Performances include a sneak peek of the Spoleto opera "Flora," which was first performed at the Dock Street in 1736. Events include champagne reception, performance and seated dinner. Tickets range from $250 to $1,000. Call 579-3100 or buy online.

Hat Ladies Easter Promenade: 11 a.m. April 3, Meeting Street between Broad and South Battery, downtown. Members of the Hat Ladies and their families will take their annual elegant stroll down one of the city's most recognizable streets in honor of hat-wearing traditions. Free. More info online or call 762-6679.

Kiawah Art and House Tour: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 9, Kiawah Island. The 10th annual tour, sponsored by the volunteer group Gibbes, etc., benefits the Gibbes Museum of Art. Tour features six homes that have distinctive art collections and dramatic views of the salt marsh, creeks, ocean and woodlands. Tickets: $55 per person (includes tour, light refreshments throughout the afternoon at the Cassique clubhouse, and an admission pass to the Gibbes Museum of Art valid through Dec. 30. Buy at the Gibbes Museum Store, online, or by calling 722-2706, ext. 21.

(NEW) House & Garden Tours: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 9 and April 10, downtown Charleston. The Garden Club of Charleston offers its 75th annual walking tour of private homes and gardens in the Historic District. Homes also feature flowers arranged by garden club members, and refreshments will be served in one of the gardens. All proceeds benefit the garden club's year-round maintenance of several public gardens, including those at the Manigault House, the Heyward-Washington House, the Gateway Walk and the Healing Garden at MUSC. Tickets: $35. Details: Online or 530-5164.

(NEW) Talk by Christo: 5:30 p.m. April 13, Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St., downtown. Internationally known artist Christo will visit talk about his work in a slide presentation and lecture sponsored by the Gibbes Museum of Art. Christo and his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, have collaborated throughout the world on large-scale art projects using fabric, including wrapping the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris, the 24½-mile-long Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties in California, and The Gates in New York's Central Park. Tickets (in advance only): $25 for museum members, $35 for nonmembers, and $15 for students (with ID); available at the Gibbes Museum Store, by calling 722-2706, ext. 22, or online through April 6.

FOCUS ARCHIVES

7/1: Shaffer: Picky Eaters Group
6/28: Bender: Fishy Fourth
6/24: Belden: Society 1858
6/21: Stevenson: Summer reading
6/17: Handel: On Jim Fisher
6/14: Reeves: Summer dress
6/10:Martin: Garden tips
6/7: Dubrofsky: Green homes
6/3: McCutcheon: Young pros
5/31:
McFaddlin: Health benefits
5/27: Ledbetter: Senior riders
5/24: Myers: Microloan's impact
5/20:
Gadson: Rural Mission's needs
5/17: Bender: Bocce bashing
5/13:
DeMarco: Homeless help
5/10:
Spencer: Ending violence
5/6: Westmeyer: Fish to buy
5/3:
Maas: Spoleto tips

THRASH ARCHIVES

3/4: Green mowers
2/25:
Get outdoors
2/18:
Local guide book for kids
2/11:
Reviewing Jenny's book
2/4:
MSNBC looks at success
1/21:
Tell Mt. Pleasant
1/14:
Winter plant tips
1/7:
New books

BRACK ARCHIVES

3/1: Cut all of the cuts
2/22:
A look at summer camps
2/15:
School district Einsteins
2/8:
About mules
2/1:
Bauer should get out
1/28:
Gibbs at White House
1/25:
Friend's new show
1/18:
Rockwell painting
1/11:
Palmetto Priorities
1/4/10:
Piggly Wiggly visit

BUSINESS INDIGO

2/4: Advice on working with Boeing
1/21: Co-working group
1/7: Free library text questions

LIST ARCHIVES

3/4: Tickets still left
3/1:
Eat & Run
2/25:
RiverDogs' auction
2/22:
Recycling bins
2/18:
Designer data
2/15:
SC Olympians
2/11:
Prohibition cocktails
2/8:
Tops for Charleston
2/4:
Sweet treats
2/1:
Free at SEWE
1/28:
Artists' gift
1/25:
Sharks at Aquarium
1/21:
Church turns 100
1/18:
3 helping Haiti
1/14:
Civil War lectures
1/11:
5 for King Day
1/7:
New at SEWE
1/4/10:
Staying warm

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