It’s like that eight-year-old pair of Birkenstocks you’ll wear with just about anything in your closet. Doesn’t matter that they’re a little beat up, or that you might have a different pair or 10 on the shelf that would go better with those new khakis. Those shoes just feel right.

And that’s probably the best analogy I can use to describe my first up-close experience with The Market Common.

Except it’s not worn-out. It’s brand-spanking-new.

It’s already popular, as evidenced by the crowds that defied the rainy weather and flocked there the first few days after last week’s soft opening.

It’s unfamiliar, and unlike anything else you’ve seen along Ocean Boulevard or throughout Myrtle Beach.

But you know what? Like that pair of your most comfortable shoes, it just feels right.

To me, it doesn’t scream commercialism. It just says, “Hey, you can hang here any time … (more pics after the jump)

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The Cultural Council of Georgetown County boasts an impressive lineup of activities for April. Whether you’re living in the Pawleys Island-Murrells Inlet area, visiting on vacation or taking the short drive south from Myrtle Beach, you’ll see exactly why Georgetown County has become a go-to destination for the best in cultural celebrations and the arts:

• The final performance of the 1st Sundays at 4 Chamber Music Series will be held on Sunday, April 6, 4 p.m. at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Church. Previous performances with members of the Long Bay Symphony and other local talents have been a tremendous success; tickets for Sunday’s performance are $20 each. Click here for more information.
• The Seacoast Artist Guild of SC, Inc. will hold its 2nd Spring Arts Show on April 11-13 at Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church. Guild members and non-members alike will be exhibiting 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and photographic works. All works will be for sale. People's Choice Awards will be given at the reception on April 13, 2-4 p.m.: viewing the exhibit is free and open to the public. Check out the event page for details.
• Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Treasures of the Tidelands Festival, kicking off on Friday, April 25 with the opening of the Gullah Rice Celebration in Pawleys Island. This is an exciting year as the festival partners with the Gullah Rice Celebration, drawing attention to the importance of the Gullah culture and its historical impact. Other events will showcase many talented youths in the area with dance and musical performances, as well as poetry and photography. The festival concludes May 3 with the Long Bay Symphony playing on the waterfront in downtown Georgetown. Many events are free, and showcase the rich arts and culture along the South Strand. Visit the Treasures of the Tidelands home page for more information.

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Its U.S. tour has taken it from Alaska to Avery Fisher Hall, and this Saturday an internationally acclaimed ensemble makes a special appearance on the Grand Strand.

Chamber Orchestra Kremlin performs this Saturday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. at Coastal Carolina University’s Wheelwright Auditorium. The concert is a highlight of CCU’s 2007-2008 cultural season, and will feature a sonata by Gioacchino Rossini, the Symphony for Strings by Dmitri Shostakovich and the Serenade for Springs by Antonin Dvorák.

Under the direction of founder Misha Rachlevsky, the group was formed in 1991 for an extensive recording project in Moscow. Crowds and critics alike were enthralled by their initial performances, and as they clamored for more Chamber Orchestra Kremlin was established as a full-time entity.

Their performances have earned the “Critic’s Choice” distinction from The New York Times, and as music critic Rick Justice of the Charleston Daily Mail recalled after a “stunning” October 2006 performance, “When they appeared here several years ago in the same venue … I remembered being overwhelmed by the precision in their music making. I'm happy to report that on Sunday afternoon, it was deja vu.”

Here’s a sampling of the ensemble in a recent concert, performing a seven-movement suite (“Adoracion al Ritmo”) with percussionist Frank Colon:

For more information and tickets, contact the Wheelwright Box Office at (843) 349-2502.

If you’re either not from the South or unfamiliar with entertainment culture south of the Mason-Dixon line, we’re not talking about “shagging” in the Austin Powers movie context.

We’re referring to the “Carolina shag,” and if you hang around these parts long enough you start to realize it’s got quite a loyal following.

So … what is shagging? First, here’s a look-see:

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Situated in the southern part of the Grand Strand, Georgetown, S.C. has many amenities often taken for granted in larger cities, mixed with a charm and hospitality that is often absent from those cities. Gerald Sweitzer and Kathy Fields, authors of The 50 Best Small Southern Towns, 2nd Ed. (Peachtree Publishers, Oct. 2007), wholeheartedly agree.

Six years ago, Sweitzer and Fields set out to produce a guide that provided detailed information on the best places to find an alternative to the bustle of city living. They thoroughly researched and visited 150 Southeastern towns and selected Georgetown for inclusion in this definitive guide.

The second edition of The 50 Best Small Southern Towns is an updated reference guide for each of the 50 cities in nine Southeastern states that were represented in the first edition of this book. The guide takes into account overall increases in the cost of living, recent changes in the housing market, and the effects of Hurricane Katrina on one coastal town in Mississippi.

As in the first edition, Georgetown met stringent criteria regarding environment, recreation, culture, economics, health care and education. The guide captures important aspects of Georgetown such as its rivers and water-related recreation, as well as some of its best-kept secrets like its art galleries and restaurants.

For more information about The 50 Best Small Southern Towns, 2nd Ed., a copy of the book or to speak with the authors, contact Mimi Schroeder APR at mimi@maxbookpr.com.

Source: Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce

There's something simple, direct and authentic in Bluegrass Music. In a time and place that values novelty, experimentation and change for change's sake, Bluegrass at its purest remains a truly original American concoction.

And it’s the reason why legions of fans will make their way to Myrtle Beach next week for the South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival, to be held Nov. 22-24 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Originating in southern Appalachia, Bluegrass is a blend of Scottish-Irish and traditional American folk music that has remained true to its roots through several generations of inspired performers.

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Looking for an explosion of acrobatics, eye catching outfits, amazing human contortions, and trained poodles? Well does Myrtle Beach have a show for you. Initially one may see the name and associate Le Cirque Grand with something as mundane and elementary as a circus…but one would definitely be underestimating the wonder of this particular show. The Palace Theatre hosts Le Cirque Grand which is guaranteed to inspire wonder, awe, and appreciation of the strength, beauty and nimble bodies of those onstage. Check out these pictures and of course, check it out for yourself as well! Let me know what you think! 

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