The Charleston Easter Egg Hunt

Wannamaker Park, North Charleston. April 7, 2007, 10 a.m.

This Saturday, grab your Easter basket and head over to Wannamaker Park for Charleston's annual egg hunt. There will be over 15,000 eggs filled with prizes and treats. The gates open at 8:30 a.m. and the hunt begins at 10.  This event is BYOB (bring your own basket).

Admission is only $1.00 per person.  For more information, call (843) 277-1251.

 Festival of Houses and Gardens

March 15 - April 14, 2007

It's not too late to check out the Festival of Houses and Gardens. Tour over 150 historic homes and gardens in 10 different neighborhoods. The festival also includes plantation and harbor tours, a luncheon lecture series, book singings by local authors, and daily walking tours through the historic district.

This event is extremely popular and most of the tours sell out quickly. Call (843) 722-3405 today for reservations. Tickets are $45.

Attending a Charleston Riverdogs baseball game offers more than a couple of hours of good baseball.  Visitors are sure to be entertained with giveaways, whacky stunts, and first-class fireworks displays.  Nothing less should be expected from a team in the heart of the Deep South ironically affiliated with the New York Yankees.  The 2007 season runs from April to September.

At some games, the team gives away magnets, t-shirts, beach towels, or baseball caps, and at others the entertainment revolves around a spectacular fireworks display - usually Friday nights.  Promotions include "The Great Easter Egg Hunt," (April 8, 4:05 p.m.), "Midget Wrestling Night," (April 10, 7:05 p.m.), "Play with My Potatoes Night," (May 30, 7:05 p.m.), "Bingo Night," (May 9, 7:05 p.m.), "It's Raining the Boss's Money Night," (May 19, 7:05 p.m.), "Karaoke Night," (April 26, 7:05 p.m.), "Military Appreciation Night," (May 16, 7:05 p.m.),"Teacher Appreciation Night," (May 10, 7:05 p.m.), "Christian Concert" (August 5, after the game, which starts at 4:o5 p.m.), and "Thirsty Thursdays," with special drinks for $1. 

Special events include "Ballpark Festival of Beers," on April 14 at 7 p.m., when guests 21 years old or older may sample more than 100 varieties of beer, and "Run Forrest Run 5K," on May 19 at 5 p.m. (registration opens at 2 p.m.), when visitors may run a 5K for charity.  

Joe Riley Stadium

The Charleston Riverdogs play at Joe Riley Stadium, "The Joe," at 360 Fishburne Street, Charleston.  The front office telephone is (843) 723-7241, the box office phone is (843) 577-3647, and the e-mail address is admin@Riverdogs.com.  

Home Schedule

The Charleston Riverdogs are home as follows:  April 5 (opening night) to April 12, April 21 to 24, and April 26 to 29.  Homestands in May include May 7 to 11, May 16 to 19, and May 29 to June 1.  In June, the team is home June 11 to 17 and June 28 to July 3.  July's home schedule includes July 7 to 9, 11 to 13, 17 to 20, and July 30 to August 6.  August sees the Riverdogs home from August 17 to 23 and from August 31 to September 3 (end of regular season).

That was until yesterday, when I tried Andolini's Pizza. Hands down, it's the best I've had in years. What could be better than a New York style pie made my New Yorkers?

They make their own dough and the sauce is fresh. You can order by the slice or order a 19" pie. Also on the menu: breadsticks, calzones, and Greek and Italian salads. The Italian salad was so delicious that I ordered a large salad to take home with me-that, and two slices of pie.

The Mount Pleasant location, where I dined, has the feel of a neighborhood hangout. Sit outside on the deck or dine inside. The staff is friendly and patient, especially with those of us who take ten minutes to decide on pizza toppings.

Next time you're in the mood for pizza, I highly suggest stopping by one of their four locations. You won't be disappointed.

Andolini's Pizza is open 7 Days a Week

Dine-in or carry out, 11am - 10 pm

www.andolinis.com

West Ashley: 843.225.4PIE

Downtown Charleston: 843.722.PIES

Mount Pleasant: 843.849.PIES

James Island: 843.576.PIES

An all-star cast of women tennis players will compete in the 2007 Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament in Charleston, SC, April 7 to April 15.  Two who have held the # 1 ranking in the world will participate, superstars Venus and Serena Williams. 

The clay-surface event will be held at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island (161 Seven Farms Drive, Charleston, SC 29492), its home since 2001.  Stadium capacity is 10,200.    

Prize money for the WTA Tour Tier 1 tournament will total $1.34 million.  Other World-Ranked players who will participate in the field of 56 include # 8 Nicole Vaidisova and # 13 Patty Schnyder.   

Past champions include familiar names such as Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, and Martina Hingis.

It is fitting that a city with as much charm and history as Charleston has a tantalizing array of restaurants to satisfy every taste and craving.  From steak to seafood and from old world comfort to twenty-first century, innovative design, the eateries here serve the finest, world-class cuisine in the most visitor-friendly environs in the country.

Creating a list of great restaurants in Charleston is not difficult.  Trimming such a list, however, becomes a daunting task when realizing that there are dozens of top-tier establishments in this incredible city -- just too many to include in this space.  

With that said, here are ten irresistible options for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner:

Dinner

High Cotton - 199 East Bay Street, 843-724-3815, Sunday Brunch from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Description highlights:  Extensive brunch menu - including but not limited to French Toast, Shrimp and Lobster Crepe, Eggs all styles, Trout, Steak, and more;  Southern comfort with heart pine floors, brick walls, high ceilings and wide-blade fans, large windows facing ever-busy East Bay Street.

1. Sunscreen: Bring lots of it. Whether walking around, sailing, or playing on the beaches, the sun is intense. Why ruin your vacation with a nasty burn when you can prevent it?
2. A hat: This is self-explanatory, but wearing a hat the best way to keep the sun off your face.
3. Your appetite: One thing Charleston isn't lacking is restaurants. You're sure to find the perfect dining spot for your taste and budget. Come hungry!
4. Extra cash for shopping: Antiques, clothes, handbags, shoes, chocolates, jewelry, rare books...it's impossible to walk along King Street and not have something catch your eye.
5. Your camera: Just bring it. You won't regret it.
6. Walking shoes: Comfortable walking shoes are essential. No one wants to wait on you while you doctor that blister for the third time.
7. Dancing shoes: You've seen the city by day, why not venture out after 10 p.m. and hit the clubs and bars? Come on, you're on vacation-live a little!
8. Patience: We operate a little slower here than most people are used to. Please don't complain when you have to wait five minutes for that latte. Take a seat and relish in the laid-back attitude. 
9. Manners: We pride ourselves on our manners. Men open doors for women. Shoppers talk to the grocery baggers. We smile and greet each other on the street. We're more than happy to give directions and help you out, just remember your manners when doing so, please.
10. Your sense of adventure: Just because a specific place isn't in the tourist brochure, doesn't mean you can't check it out. Ask locals where they go, what they like to do.  

The Flowertown Festival

    Summerville, South Carolina
March 30, 31, April 1, 2007

This is a big one, folks. South Carolina's largest Arts & Crafts festival is a family affair held every spring in Summerville's Azalea Park. The will be food, a tour of historic homes, events for the children, and live entertainment. Not to mention over 200 craft artisans and vendors selling their work.

The best part about it-it's free! For more information, call (843) 871-9622.

Cooper River Bridge Run

     March 31, 2007, 8:00 AM

You know spring is here in the Lowcountry when thousands of people gather in Mount Pleasant and run over the Cooper River into historic downtown. This 10-K run began in 1978 and attracts more than 30,000 participants each year.

The best part about it is watching the action-that and the festival afterward.

Of course, it wouldn't be the Charleston way if we didn't have a party after the run! The party begins in Marion Square begins on Saturday, March 31, at 9 a.m. and goes until noon. Come on out for some good music, drinks, and food.

For more information, call (843) 792-6611.

When: Saturday, March 24, 2007
Where: Mount Pleasant Towne Center
What time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Call 843-849-2061 or visit www.townofmountpleasant.com

Poe's offers indoor and outdoor seating and everything on the menu is worth trying-from the nachos to the chicken sandwiches. You won't be disappointed.     

For more information or to view their menu, visit http://www.poestavern.com/index.html.