Downtown Rocks Your Heart & Soul This Holiday…

The Holidays seem to bring out the best in most folks. Whether you are dropping a few dollars into a Red Kettle, providing gifts for children who are less fortunate or gathering canned goods for our local food pantries, this time of year makes many of us dig a little deeper to help our fellow humans. Combine that sense of charitable giving with some of our great local music, and the combination would make even the “Grinchiest” heart grow three sizes!

The Handlebar has long donated its Listening Room for some of the best fundraising concerts in town, and December is no exception! This Friday, December 14^th, join the guys from Outshyne as they throw a Dixie-Fried Country Christmas Bash to benefit the Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots. Joined by friends and fellow do-gooders, The Smith Outfit, Josh Owens & Anna Leigh, this rockin’ Holiday happening is sure to get your toes to tappin’ & your rump to shakin’! Tickets are $11 in advance and $13 the day of the show (a $2 surcharge is added for those under 21) and the music is set to start at 9PM. Collection bins for toy donations will also be positioned throughout the venue.

For more than a decade, Greenville’s favorite jam band (and all-around nice guys), The Work, has been hosting their annual concert to benefit local charities. This year’s event, The Work’s 11^th Annual Christmas Jam, will take place on Friday, December 21^st at The Handlebar. Joined by such local talent as Acoustic Syndicate, Yo’ Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Millifungus, The Bad Popes, Doug Jones & more, many consider this event to be THE Holiday Party of the year! The guys will be onstage at 7PM and play in a big ‘ol jam session until they decide it’s time to stop. This year, the American Red Cross will benefit from proceeds of this concert, to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy and other disasters. Tickets are on sale now for $15 and will be $18 the day of the show. For more information on this and other concerts at The Handlebar, visit www.handlebar-online.com.

On Wednesday, December 19th, local acoustic artist, Kylie Hinze will be performing her annual concert to benefit The Ellen Hines Smith Girls Home. Taking place at The Channel, this evening of Holiday music will also feature a silent auction & a visit from Santa.  With special musical guests, 4^th Shade Avenue (from Simpsonville), Kylie will take the stage at 7PM until 9PM. A donation of $5 is requested as admission at the door. For more information, visit www.thechannelonline.org.

Downtown Greenville comes alive with music and good will every Holiday season! Take time to enjoy these and other wonderful events that take place in our fair city. I’d be willing to bet you will come away from these celebrations with the “strength of 10 Grinches…plus two!” Happy Holidays, Y’all!

More Downtown Businesses That Are Giving Back in Unique Ways…

• Traveling Chic Boutique – Collects in-store donations for such local charities as Safe Harbor, Cancer Society of Greenville County, Greenville Humane Society, Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels & Loaves & Fishes.
• 864toGo.com – Donating a portion of their December food sales to The Special Olympics.
• Subway – Participating restaurants are hosting Salvation Army Angel Trees to collect toys & clothing for children who would not otherwise receive gifts.
• Red Ribbon ReSale Shop – With an eclectic assortment of items, this resale store benefits the many programs of AID Upstate, which offers support and information for those battling HIV/AIDS.
• Safe Harbor ReSale Store – Featuring mostly gently used, upscale clothing, proceeds from this resale shop supports programs that aid victims of domestic violence.
• Soby’s – Their Thursday Guest Bartender Happy Hour, from 5-7PM weekly, donates 20% of proceeds to area charities.
• The Barkery Bistro – Supports local animal shelters and rescue groups with their monthly Yappy Hour events.
• Coffee Underground – This cornerstone of Downtown’s caffeinated community supports several local charities through donations and fundraisers.

The Holidays Take To The Stage in Downtown Greenville

I remember how excited I would get when the local TV stations would start adding such Holiday classics as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34^th Street” to their December programming schedule. I loved it when George Bailey ran through the town of Bedford Falls, yelling “Merry Christmas” or when the postal carriers brought bags of mail addressed to Santa Claus to be delivered to Kris Kringle, during his sanity trial. But, as beloved as these moments are on the small screen, they are truly memorable when you get the opportunity to see them performed live onstage by some of Greenville’s most talented actors!

Perhaps no story signals the start of the Holiday season as much as “It’s a Wonderful Life”. On everyone’s list of Holiday favorites, this time-honored story of George Bailey and his journey of self-realization will be performed at the Greenville Little Theatre starting December 7 and run through December 16. Performances take place at 8PM every Thursday through Saturday evening, with Sunday matinee performances at 3PM.  Tickets range from $20 to $30. For more information, visit www.greenvillelittletheatre.org.

Running a close second on the list of Holiday family favorites, in my opinion anyway, has to be “Miracle on 34^th Street”. This tale of a little girl’s disbelief in Santa has been retold several times on the big screen and is enjoying a creative revival onstage. Currently performed every Thursday through Sunday at Centre Stage, this production will run until December 22. Performances are at 8PM, with the exception of Sunday performances, which are at 3PM. Tickets range from $15 to $30 and can be purchased through http://centrestage.org.

The South Carolina Children’s Theatre is offering its own version of a childhood twist on a popular Christmas carol. Junie B. and her first grade classmates are back again in “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”.  With weekend performances at the Peace Center Gunter Theatre (from now until December 16), this hilarious sing-a-long will delight kids and kids at heart! Performances are at 7PM on Fridays, 1:30PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $26 for adults and $17 for children under 18.  For more information, see http://scchildrenstheatre.org.

The Warehouse Theatre is offering a “plethora” of Holiday stories, certain to become classics. The first is the kid-friendly, “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t”. This delightful musical, adapted from Odgen Nash’s poem of the same name, will be performed starting December 7 at 6:30PM on Thursdays and Fridays and 3PM on Saturdays and Sundays.  Performances run through December 29 and tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under the age of 15. Adults needn’t feel left out of the Holiday fun…WHT has something for you too! Two short plays by David Sedaris, “Santaland Diaries” and “Season’s Greetings” offer a cheeky, and definitely adult, look at the Holiday season and are based on Sedaris’ own experiences with his family and as one of Santa’s Elves at Macy’s in NYC. Performances of these two “tongue definitely in cheek” comedies begin December 7 and run until the 29^th. Thursday & Friday performances will take place at 8:30PM with Saturday and Sunday performances taking place at 8PM. Tickets are $30 and these performances are for adults only. For more information on these and other performances, visit www.warehousetheatre.com.

Café & Then Some can always be counted on for tickling our satirical funny bone and the Holidays are no exception! Norma Jean invites you to join her and her “over-extended” family as they stumble through the real meaning of Christmas in “Merry Christmas, Y’all”.  Performances of this dinner theatre take place every Wednesday through Saturday, with the CATS crew taking the stage around 8PM-ish. Come early for dinner, which is served from 6:30-7:30PM. Tickets are $18 (for the show only) and reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, to purchase tickets or make reservations, visit www.cafeats.com.

So there you have it…A little something for everyone! Why wait for TBS or TCM to run these Holidays favorites on TV, when you can see them performed live. Holiday entertainment from the family-friendly to the not-so-family friendly…and from the classic to the future cult classics. Whatever you are in the mood for this Holiday season, chances are, it’s on a stage near you in Downtown Greenville. Happy Holidays, Y’all!

It’s Christmastime in the City…

Well Downtownies…the Thanksgiving dinner has been consumed, Black Friday deals have been had & you’ve gotten carpel tunnel syndrome from all the online shopping during Cyber Monday…so, what’s next? If you are a parent, keeping the little ones (& not-so-little ones) entertained can be a bit daunting – especially with the 2-week long Holiday break looming in the near future. But not to fret, my fellow DTGVL parental units, Downtown Greenville offers many excellent events for kids of all ages, sure to keep you & your family on Santa’s NICE list!

Ask any Downtownie & they will tell you nothing kicks off the Holiday season like the Greenville Poinsettia Parade & the Christmas Tree Lighting. This year’s city Tree Lighting takes place 5:30PM on Saturday, December 1 at City Hall before the parade. Then the floats and marching bands roll out at 6PM, starting at River Street & continuing down Main, ending at  E. North Street. A favorite for all ages, families often make a day of it – taking in the sights and sounds of Downtown Greenville, before settling in at a spot along the parade route, hot chocolate or apple cider in hand.  For more information and a map of the parade route, visit www.greenvillesc.gov.

Speaking of kid-friendly fun, The Children’s Museum plans several Holiday craft projects for little creative hands and minds to keep busy during the month of December.  From designing Christmas Ornaments, to crafting Tissue Holiday Trees and mixing up Reindeer Food, there will be so much going on that you may actually make it through the Holiday season without hearing “I’m bored” even once!  The Children’s Museum’s Holiday celebration culminates with their “Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus” event on Saturday, December 15. Visit www.tcmupstate.org for more information.

Not to outdone on the Holiday fun, the Hughes Main Library has its own calendar of Holiday happenings for kids. From the craft projects at Kindercraft & InBetween classes, to  the Holiday Open House Party for kids 5 & under (Thursday, November 29 at 10:30AM) and  Santa’s Christmas Party with the Columbia Marionettes  for ages 4 & up (Friday, December 7, 10-11AM), there are tons of fun for the kids. They can even explore Holiday traditions from other countries through the Library’s “Explore Your World” program on December 4. For more information on this and other Library events,  call 527-9248.

Are your kids into music, theatre & dance? Then these events will certainly jingle their bells! The Greenville Museum of Art will be hosting the Greenville Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Lollipops Concert for Kids on Saturday, December 8. The concert begins at 11AM and is followed by a Holiday Party at 2PM. This event is free to the public. For more info, see www.greenvillemuseum.org. The South Carolina Children’s Theatre is hosting its own Holiday Pajama Party on Wednesday, December 19 from 6:30-7:30PM. This Milk & Cookies themed event will feature a Holiday story time served up with…you guessed it …Santa’s favorite snack –  milk & cookies. The cost is $10 per child (adults are free) with pre-registration required at http://scchildrenstheatre.org. Ballet fans will have two opportunities to see “The Nutcracker” performed by two amazing ballet troupes at the Peace Center. The Carolina Ballet will be performing this time-honored favorite on November 30 – December 2 and the International Ballet will be performing it December 7-9. If your family prefers to see a theatrical performance of a Holiday classic, then catch “Miracle on 34^th Street” performed at Centre Stage (http://centrestage.org)November 22 – December 22, “It’s a Wonderful Life” at The Greenville Little Theatre (www.greenvillelittletheatre.org) December 7-16, “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t” at The Warehouse Theatre (www.warehousetheatre.com) December 7-29, and a play inspired by that favorite childhood twist on the classic Christmas carol – “Junie B in Jingle Bells Batman Smells” with the South Carolina Children’s Theatre (http://scchildrenstheatre.org) at the Peace Center , November 30-December 16.

The Holiday season in Downtown Greenville offers even more opportunities for families to catch the Holiday Spirit. From Horse Drawn Carriage Rides from Whispering Winds (www.downtowncarriage.com), to ice Skating at Ice on Main in the Village Green (www.iceonmain.com) and the St Francis Festival of Trees at various hotels downtown, there is something for everyone throughout December. So, whatever you celebrate this Holiday season, spend some of it in our lovely, festive Downtown. Happy Holidays, Y’all!

For a list of Holiday Happenings taking place in Downtown Greenville, visit http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=427455850642353&id=371197456807

Chilly Days Downtown, Lead To Chili This Saturday At The Handlebar

I don’t know about you, but when the temps turn chilly, my thoughts turn TO chili…the kind with lots of meat & beans! Every region thinks they have the best chili cooks in the country. Now, I may be biased, but I think it’s hard to beat the chili-making talent found right here in lil ‘ol G’Vegas! This Saturday, The Handlebar (304 E. Stone Avenue) will showcase the very best Greenville has to offer in its 5^th Sometimes Annual Chili Cook-Off.

This most beloved of Downtown’s music venues has long been bringing the heat in the form of blazing guitar riffs, heated drum solos & steamy vocals. But, this Saturday, November 17^th, they will be bringing the heat of the culinary kind…full of cayenne, curry and a few other ingredients I’m not allowed to disclose at this time. Starting at 4PM, some of the best chili chefs in the area will be going head-to-head in a gastronomical cage match (okay, so there’s ACTUALLY no cage, but the competition still pretty heated). And there will be no culinary school trained judges for THIS event of the people!!! No sir…The Handlebar invites YOU to be the judge of who is the BEST chili chef in Greenville. For $10, guests will receive a ballot, a bowl to sample all the meaty, beanie, chili goodness AND a beer to wash it all down with. Be one of the first 100 to sign up & you get to keep your pint glass…how cool is that!

But wait…there’s more! Not only will you get to make your taste buds sing (or cry for mercy) with all this delectable chili excellence, but The Handlebar will be providing the amazing live, local music they are famous for! Feed your inner music lover with tunes by Wasted Wine, Tim TV, Our World Festival, Darby Wilcox & Zumba! Best of all…it’s FREE!

For those who wish to get a little Christmas shopping done while they fill their senses & stomachs with musical & culinary goodness…well, The Handlebar can help you there too! Starting at 11AM (until 4PM), Outside Arts SC will exhibit works by some of the area’s coolest and most innovative artisans in the 2012 Holiday Market. Benefitting the Greenville chapter of Meals on Wheels, this event allows you to meet these talented artists in an intimate setting, enjoy a unique shopping experience and take home some special one of a kind gifts for everyone  on your list.

So come on out to The Handlebar this Saturday for some tasty food, hot tunes & one-of-a-kind crafts…you’ll be glad you did!

For more information, visit:

The Handlebar: www.handlebar-online.com

Outside Arts SC: http://www.outsideartssc.com

Jamming with the Holiday Spirit

It started out as a simple idea, a decade ago – a group of musicians getting together and performing an informal, spirited concert to encourage community involvement, foster a stronger music scene and raise money for deserving charities. Now, The Work’s Annual Christmas Jam has become one of the most popular events at The Handlebar…and for good reason! The past nine concerts have raised over $40,000 to benefit seven area charities.

For those wanting to hear great homegrown music, this year’s Christmas Jam will not disappoint.  This  10^th Annual Event will, of course, feature the hosts of this concert, The Work. But, as usual, they are bringing along a treasure trove of the Southeast’s musical elite, including local favorites, Lionz of Zion, Cravin’ Melon’s Doug Jones, Brad Jepson, The Mosier Brothers (Rev. Jeff and Johnny Mosier with David Blackmon), Asheville steel drum virtuoso, Jonathon Scales Fourchestra, Strawberry Flats (featuring Athens, GA legend, John Keane)and Cherry Royale (the Atlanta-based funk band that includes members of Dubconscious and Entropy).  And if that don’t jingle your bells, the proceeds will benefit The Ronald McDonald House, which offers the comforts of home away from home for the families of hospitalized children. Great music for a great cause – now THAT’S what I call Holiday Spirit!

Festivities kick off at 8PM tonight (Saturday, December 17^th) at The Handlebar. Tickets are $15 and are available through www.handlebar-online.com or at the door. Stop by to catch some righteous tunes and bid on items in their ever-popular Silent Auction. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/theworksxmasjam. See you there!

The Work's Annual Christmas Jam, Saturday December 17th (8PM) at The Handlebar

Making A Difference – Downtown Businesses That Are Giving Back

Christmas trees, sparkling lights, candy canes & hot chocolate…this time of year can be truly magical. But for some people in our area, holiday cheer is in short supply due to illness, unemployment and other hardships. SomeGreenvillebusinesses and non-profits are working to change that, even if just for a little while. So, when you are shopping for that perfect gift or celebrating with friends, make your purchase a donation to help others. Several Downtown businesses are donating a portion of their sales to help our neighbors in need, collecting items for Toys for Tots or are ReSale shops that fund area non-profits.

Want your purchase to not only benefit a worthy cause, but be eco-friendly as well. Then shop at ReSale stores, which are the ultimate in recycling! Red Ribbon ReSale Store is located on Pendleton Street, near the SC Unemployment offices. With an eclectic array of items that range from vintage Holiday decorations to sequined designer gowns, this store has a little something for everyone. Staffed by volunteers, this store funds the many HIV/AIDS awareness and support programs for AidUpstate. On the other side of Downtown, on Pleasantburg Drive near Big Lots, is the Safe Harbor ReSale Store. With an impressive selection of shoes, handbags and clothing – especially evening attire, you will certainly find the perfect outfit and accessories for all thoseHoliday parties! This wonderful ReSale store supports the programs that aid victims of domestic violence.

While you’re at SafeHarbor, pop over next door to Play It Again Sports. This sporting goods store not only offers great deals on new and used sporting equipment, but is a huge supporter of the Meyers Center for Children with Special Needs (their neighborhood down the street). For every customer mentioning that they also support this wonderful center, Play It Again Sports will make a donation to the Meyers Center. Head down Main Street into the heart of Downtown and you’ll find even more businesses who are giving back. TimesTwo, located on Stone Avenue, has long been a supporter of such area charities as Greer Relief, Safe Kids Upstate, Building Dreams Mentoring Program, The Family Effect and & Safe Families. The Barkery Bistro, a favorite among canines and their people, supports animal shelters and animal rescue groups with the monthly Yappy Hour events. A newcomer to Downtown, CityStory, has recently moved into the Westin Poinsett. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the book, “Greenville: Imprints of a City” are donated to area children’s charities through its ChildStory Charity.

Not to be left out, Downtown restaurants and bars are finding creative ways to give back. Liquid Highway, located on Main Street, is the little coffee house with a big heart. A generous portion of their proceeds benefits their Touch The Ground Foundation, a non-profit that aids medical clinics, orphanages, schools and families around the world lead healthier and fulfilling lives. A cornerstone of Downtown Greenville’s culinary scene, Soby’s is also a leader in giving back. Stop by on Thursday nights from 5-7PM for their Guest Bartender Happy Hour. 20% of the proceeds benefit area charities.

There are many more opportunities to be a Holiday Angel and help make a difference in the lives of others here in the Upstate & elsewhere. For a list of businesses giving back, volunteer opportunities and “Wish Lists” for area charities, visit the Downtown Greenville, SC Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/DowntownGreenville,SC. Happy Holidays!

Jingle Your Bells in Downtown Greenville

Tis the Season…when adults become kids again and kids do their very best to stay on Santa’s “Good” List. With the Christmas lights in the trees (that stay up all year) and Main Street all decked out in red and green, silver and gold – who can resist the festive lure of Downtown Greenville.  So, come all ye faithful to DTGVL and join the merrymaking!

Ask any Greenvillian which event heralds the start of the Holiday Season and most will say the Poinsettia Christmas Parade. For over 20 years, this family friendly event has been a cherished tradition here in Downtown Greenville. Starting at Augusta Street, a wonderful collection of bands, floats, dancers and marchers will parade down Main Street to Elford this Saturday December 3^rd. Parade goers will want to show up well before the 6PM start time to get the best spot. Temps will drop to the 30’s once the sun sets, so dress warmly – blankets and hot chocolate are definitely recommended! For more information and a map of the parade route, visit: http://www.greenvillesc.gov/PublicInfo_Events/ChristmasParade.aspx

Running a close second to the Parade for Greenville’s most beloved Holiday event is the St. Francis Festival of Trees. Every Thanksgiving, several Downtown hotels come alive with the Christmas spirit through a display of beautifully decorated trees.  This year, exhibits can be viewed at the Marriott Greenville, Courtyard Greenville Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites – RiverPlace and throughout Downtown Greenville. The trees will remain on display until December 31^st.

This year, a little bit of Rockerfeller Center has been brought to Greenville. No, not The Rockettes – but an outdoor ice skating rink in the heart of Downtown, modeled after the famous NYC rink.  Ice On Main invites you to bring your friends and family for a spin around this open-air rink – the only one of its kind in South Carolina! The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and under – this includes the cost of skate rental and is good for one full day of skating.  Located at Village Green, in front of the Courtyard Marriott, Ice On Main is open from 11AM to 9PM and boasts plenty of places to purchase hot chocolate and other goodies, as well as spectator spots to watch the fun. For more information and a calendar of special events, visit: www.iceonmain.com.

What would the Holiday Season be without a performance of “The Nutcracker”? The Peace Center will be offering performances of this beloved ballet, not once but twice.  From Friday, December 2 through Sunday, December 4, The Carolina Ballet will be performing the holiday classic. Tickets for evening and matinee performances are available. Starting Friday, December 9 through Sunday, December 11, The International Ballet will put their own spin (or should I say “pirouette”) on the story of Clara and her adventure through the “Land of Sweets”.  For performance times, tickets and more information, visit: www.peacecenter.org.

Is theatre more your thing? From the traditional to the musical to the slightly irreverent, the many theatres of Downtown Greenville are only too happy to entertain you! Starting with the traditional, the Greenville Little Theatre will be performing  “A Christmas Carol” December 9 – 11 and again December 15 – 18. For more information, visit: www.greenvillelittletheatre.org. The South Carolina Children’s Theatre offers its own musical version of Scrooge’s tale with “Ebenezer – A Musical Christmas Carol”. Performances will take place at The Gunter Theatre- Peace Center,  December 2 – 11. For more information, visit: www.scchildrenstheatre.org.  Centre Stage adds a little rock to  holiday musical theatre with “Rock N’ Roll Yule”.  Performances take place  Thursday through Saturday, December 1 – 17, with Sunday afternoon matinees and special Wednesday performances. For ticket and showtime information, visit: www.centrestage.org. Café & Then Some brings its own satirical twist to the Holiday Season with “Christmas Re-Gifted”. Dinner performances are every Wednesday through Saturday until the end of December. For more information, visit www.cafeats.com.

Many revelers can’t imagine the holidays without music and Downtown Greenville is happy to oblige! Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be offering their unique blend of rock and traditional  holiday tunes at the BILO Center for 2 shows on Saturday, December 3rd (visit www.bilocenter.com for tickets). The following day, the Greenville County Museum of Art (www.greenvillemuseum.org) invites you to join the Carolina Bronze Handbell Choir for “Holiday Music in the Galleries”. Want more? The Peace Center will play host to “Holiday at Peace” December 16 – 18. The Greenville Symphony Orchestra will perform holiday favorites for 2 evening performances and a Sunday matinee.

There are so many Holiday Happenings going on in Downtown Greenville, even old Scrooge would kick up his heels. So gather up your friends and family and join us for some festive fun! You may even feel the urge to go “wassailing”. For a list of Holiday events in Downtown Greenville, visit: www.facebook.com/DowntownGreenvilleSC. Happy Holidays!

Keeping It Local This Holiday Season

Saturday, November 26 was “Small Business Saturday.” The brainchild of American Express, this campaign encourages shoppers to do at least some of their holiday shopping at those small, locally-owned establishments that are the lifeblood of a community. Forget the Mall – Main Street is where it’s at!

The eclectic mix of local businesses is what gives Downtown Greenville its unique character. I mean, where else but Dark Corner Distillery could you purchase a bottle of moonshine, made of local ingredients and distilled right here on Main Street. Where else but at Palmetto Drum Company would you be able to meet Freddie, a true craftsman who custom makes drum kits for some of the best musicians in the South? And art lovers can not only view some incredible local art at the Matthew Campbell Gallery, but they can meet the artist too.

But don’t limit yourself to only the 26th for frequenting small businesses – make shopping local part of your holiday mantra. Need a sweet treat for a family gathering? Get a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes at Chocolate Moose on Main or a gorgeous cake at Coffee to a Tea. Looking for some holiday music? Instead of going to one of those huge “super-stores” with their limited selection, go by Horizon Records and buy some classic tunes on vinyl. Got a funky fashionista on your gift list? You could go to one of those designer chain stores and shell out hundreds for a purse that will be on everyone’s arm next season, or opt for a uniquely beautiful vintage handbag from the 1950’s at Clothing Wearhouse.

So, whether you visit the Saturday Market in the summer, the SLAM Local Art Market in the Fall or any of the wonderfully diverse businesses located in our beautiful Downtown, shop local and enjoy the charm of Main Street all year long.