Nelson's Neighborhood

As we say farewell to 2014, Firefly Distillery and Irvin~House Vineyards are proud to announce that for the first time ever, they will remain open the month of January in 2015. Since their inception, the vineyard and distillery closed every January for annual maintenance but due to popular demand, they will continue pouring their local spirits and wines. They will be closed January 1 for the New Year’s Holiday but will reopen Friday, January 2, 2015.  Regular hours at the vineyard are Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Regular hours at the Firefly Distillery are Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to relax on the expansive lawn. Tastings in the Firefly Distillery and Irvin~House Vineyard winery are only $6.00 to taste 6 of 25 flavors of Firefly Spirits and $5.00 to taste 5 wines. Patrons will receive complimentary glasses during both tastings. Pets are allowed but must be leashed, and no coolers please. ...

Thanksgiving is a holiday to spend time with family and feel grateful for all of our blessings - including our bodies. To help cleanse your body after the Thanksgiving holiday, The Blue Barn Juice Company is taking pre-orders for their Pick Up Community Cleanse happening Monday through Wednesday after Thanksgiving, December 1 - 3, 2014. All orders must be placed via online ordering by Saturday, November 28 or by calling the Blue Barn headquarters located at 1537 Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant at 843-471-0627. Delivery is available for an additional charge. The Community Cleanse (#Communitycleanse) was recently completed by the staff of South Carolina Federal Credit Union and is a great way to jumpstart your body after any holiday. According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American consumes more than 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day alone. Whether you’re a beginner or avid cleanser, a cleanse gives your body a break from all the sugars, toxins and carbs ...

All of the excitement and stress of the holiday season is here. With many scurrying about fulfilling Christmas shopping lists, they’re also planning ways to entertain family and friends. Instead of shopping the “big box” chain stores, escape to Charleston’s only winery,  Irvin-House Vineyards  and Charleston’s first and largest distillery,  Firefly Distillery , for their annual  Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 13 from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m .    Food, hot mulled wine, local crafts and live music will get you into the Christmas spirit. This annual festive event will have local vendors selling delightful seasonal gifts, and shoppers over the age of 21 will receive a complimentary glass of our homemade, hot mulled wine. While shopping, guests can enjoy the musical sounds of  The Plantation Singers , enjoy the tastes of Stono Café and enjoy a picture with Santa under the oaks starting at 3:30 p.m. If you’re in need of th...

Thanksgiving is a holiday where people come together to give thanks and celebrate, but often the stress that comes with preparing the Thanksgiving meal can be overwhelming. Send that stress packing and enjoy a relaxing holiday with Cru Catering’s Thanksgiving Dinner Pick Up Menu .  The full menu is $35.00 per person plus tax. Orders are a four person minimum and must be placed by 12:00 p.m. on Saturday November 22 . All orders can be placed by calling (843) 534-2433 or emailing Jill Christy at Jill@CruCatering.com . Delivery and a la carte options are available.   It’s as easy as placing an order, picking it up the day before Thanksgiving - Wednesday, November 26 before 3:00 p.m. -  and heating the dishes when you’re ready to eat. Heating instructions will be included providing you a fool-proof, delicious meal without the hassle.  Cru Catering’s Thanksgiving dinner will include: Sweet Tea Brined Turkey (dark and light meat), Southern Cornbread St...

Praying for a bountiful harvest for more than a decade, Irvin~House Vineyards invites the public to the 12th Annual Blessing of the Vines Festival on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m, located at 6775 Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island. Guests can witness the blessing of the muscadine grapevines by Father Greg Snyder. This centuries-old tradition is used by vineyards from around the world to celebrate the new harvest, robust vines and savory grapes. The event is open to the public, admission is $10.00 per car and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Frierson Elementary After School Program and The Center for Women. Enjoy live music from One Kool Blow and food by Food by Hello! My Name is BBQ, Rollin' South, Stono Cafe' and King of Pops. This year, local Johns Island restaurants will compete in the ”Souper Bowl” to benefit Frierson Elementary School. By purchasing a ticket, visitors can vote for their favorite soup created by chefs from Fat...

Join EcoHealth Wellness Center & Detox Spa for “Breasts and Brunch Open House” on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at 1051 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Suite B in Mt. Pleasant. Learn about Breast Ther mography and how it differs from mammography, the benefits of detoxification, infrared sauna therapy, skin brushing, Kangen water and the nutritional supplements for optimal breast health. Also, learn lymphatic massage techniques using Healthy Girls® Breast Oil.  Tiffany Jackson, ND and Ariane Cometa, MD Guests will received free samples of Eminence Organic Skin Care Products, a healthy light brunch and meet the EcoHealth Team including Tiffany Jackson, ND and Ariane Cometa, MD. All EcoHealth services and products purchased between 11:00 am - 1:00 p.m. receive 15% off. The first 25 guests will receive a gift bag.  Admission is free. Call for more information 843-884-4466 or visit www.ecohealthwellness.com .  What: Breasts and Brunch O...

The Blue Barn Juice Company invites the public to their Grand Opening Launch Party on Sunday, October 19 from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. at their Blue Barn headquarters and kitchen at 1537 Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. The event is free and will offer food from Coastal Crust, music, activities for children and more.  This event will also give people a chance to see how Blue Barn Juices are pressed  fresh daily. Creating 10 different raw blends and cleanses at, Blue Barn offers daily delivery to your doorstep through online ordering, walk-up purchasing at their kitchen and “Blue Barn Boxes” . Think of it as a "Red Box" for juice, “Blue Barn Boxes” are strategically placed at premier studios through the Lowcountry. All you have to do is swipe your credit card and go.  The concept of cold-pressed is well-known throughout the nation, however, Blue Barn does not use High Pressure Pascalization (HPP) like juices you see on store shelves. HPP denatures the delicate s...

Blue Barn Juice Company is changing the way you think of cold-pressed organic vegetable and fruit juices and making it easier to add them to your routine. Creating 10 different raw blends and cleanses at their Blue Barn headquarters and kitchen at  1537 Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant , they are proud to offer daily delivery to your doorstep through  online ordering , walk-up purchasing at their kitchen and “Blue Barn Boxes” - think of them as a "Red Box" for juice, “Blue Barn Boxes” are strategically placed at premier studios through the Lowcountry. All you have to do is swipe your credit card and go. Their “delivery-to-your door” business concept was built around the idea of the modern milkman, which is difficult to find in today’s hurried world.  The concept of cold-pressed is well-known throughout the nation, however, Blue Barn does not use High Pressure Pascalization (HPP) like juices you see on store shelves. HPP denatures the delicate structures of ...

It’s going to be a “grape” time at the 11th Annual Grape Stomping Festival on Saturday, August 23, from 12:00 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Irvin~House Vineyards.  Visitors can stomp local muscadines for the Grape Stomping Contest, compete in the annual Lucy Look-Alike Contest and enjoy a fun-filled day under the oaks at Charleston’s only vineyard and winery. Admission is only $10.00 per car, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Frierson Elementary School.  To fuel the visitors who want to stomp to victory, local food vendors will be on-site including: Coastal Crust, Home Team BBQ, Stono Cafe, Dulce Truck, King of Pops and Ben & Jerry’s. Music will be provided by The Southern Belles.  Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to picnic on the expansive lawn, but no coolers please.  Along with live music and local craft vendors, there will be a jump castle, face painting, and hula hoops for the little stompers.  Tastings in th...

The 2014 44th Annual C.T. Lowndes and Company Sertoma Football Classic match-ups include: Thursday, August 21, 2014  Porter Gaud vs. Lincoln  Baptist Hill vs. Cane Bay  Hanahan vs. Summerville  Stratford vs. Timberland (2 Qtrs)  James Island vs. St. Johns  Goose Creek vs. West Ashley (2 Qtrs)  Friday, August 22, 2014  Academic Magnet vs. Stall  Palmetto Christian vs. Garrett  Burke vs. First Baptist  Pinewood vs. North Charleston  Northwood vs. Military Magnet (2 Qtrs)  Wando vs. Bishop England (2 Qtrs)  Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.  Kick Off: 5:00 p.m.  Tickets are $12 and can be purchase from local participating high cheerleading teams and at the gates the day of the event. Windwood Family Services, Eagle Harbor Ranch, Trinitas Foundation, Camp Happy Days, Boys Scouts of America, Ronald McDonald House, Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, West Ashley JROTC, SCHSL, participating schools and o...

For the past 43 years, high schools from around the Lowcountry have come together to kick off football season at the Sertoma Football Classic. This year’s event, once again sponsored by C.T. Lowndes and Company, will be Thursday, August 21st and Friday, August 22nd at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium.  This annual tradition not only signals the beginning of high school football in the Lowcountry, but also assists local nonprofits to continue their missions with 100% of the proceeds going to local charities and schools.  Windwood Family Services, Eagle Harbor Ranch, Trinitas Foundation, Camp Happy Days, Boy Scouts of America, Ronald McDonald House, Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding, West Ashley JROTC, SCHSL, participating schools and other charities were all recipients of last year’s Sertoma Football Classic. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased from participating high school cheerleading teams or at the games. Gates open at 4:00 p.m., with the program starting...