10 AM-2:30 PM - Children's Activity Days at Brookgreen Gardens' Lowcountry Center. Families will enjoy a fun-filled event that brings literacy into the science lab. From making slime to exploring bird beak adaptations, learners of all ages will read, engage, and prepare make-and-take crafts. Join us in the Enchanted Storybook Forest at 11 AM or 1 PM for a read aloud by a beloved children's book character. From Snow White to the Cat in The Hat, we are sure you won't want to miss that! Children must be accompanied by adults. Also offered Aug. 8-10.   F ree with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or www.Brookgreen.org.

 

Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 1-4 

8 PM - Swamp Fox Players presents "A Bench in the Sun" at the Strand Theater (Front Street, Georgetown) directed by Tracy Crane. In Ron Clark's comedy two childhood buddies, Burt and Harold are reunited after thirty years and pick up their grudge right where they left it. As they trade barbs daily on "their bench," a new sexy resident moves in, interrupting Burt and Harold's routine. Other writings by Clark include No Hard Feelings, Wally's Cafe and the screenplays to "High Anxiety," "Silent Movie" and "Life Stinks." Also offered Aug. 8-11. Thurs., Fri., Sat., 8 PM, and Sun., 2:30 PM, $19, 843.527.2924.

 

Friday, Aug. 2

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Fiona Davis ( The Chelsea Girls) at Inlet Affairs. From the nationally bestselling author of The Dollhouse and The Address, the bright lights of the theater district, the glamour and danger of 1950s New York, and the wild scene at the iconic Chelsea Hotel come together in a dazzling new novel about the twenty-year friendship that will irrevocably change two women's lives. From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home - a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom. Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel. $30, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

6-9 PM - Music In The Park Concert Series presents Blackwater Band (R&B and Beach Music) at Francis Marion Park (750 Front St., Georgetown). Sponsored by Georgetown Business Association, bring a chair, no coolers. Fri., 6-9 PM, free and open to the public, www.GeorgetownSeaport.com.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 6

5:30 PM - 1st Tuesday Lecture Series at Georgetown County Museum presents Revolutionary War historian J.D. Lewis on "Revolutionary War in Georgetown." Free and open to the public (donations welcome), 843.545.7020.

 

Wednesday, Aug. 7

1:30-2:30 PM - Storytime at Hobcaw Discovery Center. Discover a world of imagination while we read books written by children's author Kevin Kurtz. Recommended for children 7 and under. Free, 843.904.9017.

 

Thursday, Aug. 8

9 AM-1 PM - North Inlet Paddle.  NERR and Surf the Earth lead a naturalist-guided tour of North Inlet estuary.Includes all equipment and instruction in basic kayaking, a natural history overview, and educational and research highlights of the North Inlet ecosystem. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, snack, and camera/binoculars (if desired). Registration required, limited to 10, weather permitting.  Also offered Aug. 26, Sept. 9.  $60/person, 843.904.9017.

 

Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 8-10

10 AM-2:30 PM - Children's Activity Days at Brookgreen Gardens' Lowcountry Center. See Aug. 1-3 entry for details. Children must be accompanied by adults. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or www.Brookgreen.org.

 

Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 8-11

8 PM - Swamp Fox Players presents "A Bench in the Sun" at the Strand Theater (Front Street, Georgetown). See Aug. 1-4 entry for details.Thurs., Fri., Sat., 8 PM, and Sun., 2:30 PM, $19, 843.527.2924.

 

Friday, Aug.  9

11 AM-1 PM -The Moveable Feast: Kristan Higgins (Life and Other Inconveniences) at Pastaria 811. A new novel from the NYT best-selling author of Good Luck with That about a blue-blood grandmother and her black-sheep granddaughter who discover they are truly two sides of the same coin. Emma London never thought she had anything in common with her grandmother Genevieve London. The regal old woman came from wealthy and bluest-blood New England stock, but that didn't protect her from life's cruelest blows: the disappearance of Genevieve's young son, followed by the premature death of her husband. But Genevieve rose from those ashes of grief and built a fashion empire that was respected the world over, even when it meant neglecting her other son. When Emma's own mother died, her father abandoned her on his mother's doorstep. Genevieve took Emma in and reluctantly raised her-until Emma got pregnant her senior year of high school. Genevieve kicked her out with nothing but the clothes on her back...but Emma took with her the most important London possession: the strength not just to survive but to thrive. And indeed, Emma has built a wonderful life for herself and her teenage daughter, Riley. So what is Emma to do when Genevieve does the one thing Emma never expected of her and, after not speaking to her for nearly two decades, calls and asks for help?  $30, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

August 10-Oct. 28

Daily 9:30 AM-5 PM - The National Sculpture Society's 86th Annual Awards Exhibition displayed in both the Jenniwein and Noble Galleries in the Rainey Sculpture Pavilion at Brookgreen Gardens.The annual juried exhibition of the National Sculpture Society, the oldest professional organization of sculptors in America, presents the work of masters alongside rising stars in American sculpture. Brookgreen Gardens is the only venue for this exhibit. Fifteen awards are presented by the Society along with the popular People's Choice Award, determined by votes of visitors to Brookgreen Gardens. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or www.Brookgreen.org.

 

Saturday, Aug. 10

9-11 AM - The Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, along with our partners Sierra Club Winyah Group and Black River Outdoors, host the 2019 Wake Up Paddle Series on the Waccamaw River Blue Trail. The goal of these paddles is to highlight the Waccamaw River Blue Trail and discuss issues faced by the Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER® in the effort to protect clean water. $15 members, $20 nonmembers, 843.349.4007 or

www.WinyahRivers.org     

10 AM-5 PM - Paint-in with Danny McLaughlin  at the Litchfield Exchange (14363 Ocean Highway, behind Applewood House of Pancakes). Join this day-long opportunity to paint with one of the region's finest. Bring finished/unfinished works in any medium, any subject matter, any skill level for review, suggestions and instruction in color theory and composition by one of the area's local art treasures. Tables and chairs provided; bring art supplies and easel if needed. Offered alternate weeks, space is limited. Also offered Aug. 24, Sept. 7 & 21, Oct. 5 & 19. Sat., 10 AM-5 PM, $45, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

Noon-1 PM - Feeding Frenzy . Watch the NERR staff feed the native animals in the Discovery Center and learn about their unique characteristics. Free, 843.904.9017.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 13

10 AM - Medicare & Retirement Information Session at the Waccamaw Library. Certified agent Tony Carlton will explain how to maximize your Medicare benefits through supplement, advantage, and step therapy programs, in connection to your retirement planning. Q&A. Free and open to the public, [email protected].

Noon-1 PM - Dirt N' Details at Brookgreen Gardens presents Jack Houston sharing his knowledge on aquatics in water gardens. At these monthly meetings, members of the horticulture staff, volunteers, as well as outside experts in the field of horticulture and gardening, will provide lectures and/or demonstrations. Bring your lunch and enjoy good information on gardening topics. Additional topic offered Sept. 10. Free with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or www.Brookgreen.org.

 

6 PM - Surf The Earth Sunset/Full Moon Kayak Tour. This naturalist guided two-hour tour takes place from dusk through the rising moon. Enjoy a leisurely paddle through the beautiful salt marsh system, and watch the sun set and give way to the moon's rise. If you have a camera, there are a lot of opportunities to capture our spectacular wild life (turtles, dolphins, and shore birds), beautiful sunsets, and spectacular moon rise over the ocean. Bring your favorite beverage and be prepared to kick back and enjoy the spectacular view. All gear is top of the line (11' & 13' Hobie kayaks, fiberglass paddles, and high back comfortable seats). $75 (single), $120 (tandem), www.Surf-the-Earth.com or 843.235.3500.

 

Wednesday, Aug. 14

2:30-4 PM - Wild Wednesday: Snakes Birthday . Even our snakes have birthdays!  Come to the Hobcaw Barony Discovery Center to learn all about them and celebrate with cupcakes, juice and a take home craft. Children under 7 must be accompanied by an adult (free of charge). (Exertion level: Low impact, sitting, crafting.) Reservations required, limited to 20. $10, www.HobcawBarony.org. 

 

Thursday, Aug. 15

1 PM - Brookgreen 101 presents "The National Sculpture Society Annual Awards Exhibition," an hour-long public information program sponsored by the Campbell Center for American Sculpture and held in the Welcome Center Conference Room. Additional topics offered Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 21. Free for members and included with garden admission, 843.235.6000 or www.Brookgreen.org.

Friday, Aug. 16

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Dana Ridenour ( Below the Radar) at Pawleys Plantation. FBI Special Agent Lexie Montgomery has been handed the most dangerous undercover assignment of her career: infiltrate a terrorist cell in a foreign country to locate and rescue a missing Dutch undercover operative. During the mission, a charismatic American extremist develops romantic feelings for Lexie. Believing they are of the same mind-set, he takes her to a remote terrorist training camp for indoctrination. While the Dutch Police and the FBI futilely search for her, events spiral out of control when the cell leader reveals his ruthless and brutal nature. With all ties to the outside world cut, Lexie realizes she must rely on her undercover training and skills in order to survive. Ridenour, herself a 20-year veteran of the FBI now retired in Murrells Inlet, was a proud member of the FBI's Evidence Response Team for the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, followed by undercover certification that sent her on a series of long-term, deep-cover cases focusing on domestic terrorism. Her first novel Behind the Mask swept the 2016 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, winning Best Novel by a First Time Author, Best Fiction Novel, and the overall Grand Prize. Her second, Beyond the Cabin, won the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Thriller! $30, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

Sunday, Aug. 18

3-5 PM - Love Notes for Litchfield, hosted by the Litchfield Plantation House Restoration Committee, will treat participants to a "sip and see under the oaks at Litchfield Plantation." Visit the long-inaccessible plantation house for a glimpse of its past and future glory with light refreshments, followed by a stroll to the Abbey for an afternoon serenade by the joyous operatic voices of Joseph R. Kaz and Melissa Jean Chávez. The talented duo will perform selections from Puccini's La Boheme and Verdi's La Traviata, as well as from the Lowcountry's own Alice Flagg, in the acoustic treasure of the Abbey. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of the plantation house for future use as an elegant event venue. $30, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 20

3 PM - Summer Crafternoon at the Waccamaw Library, sponsored by the Friends of the Waccamaw Library (FOWL). Mallary Allen will demonstrate how to deconstruct old books into new craft items. Learn how to repurpose used books into fresh home décor, including banners, flower pots, and super-cute critters. Free and open to the public, all ages are welcome, though we ask that children under ten be accompanied by an adult.  [email protected].

 

Wednesday, Aug. 21

1:30-2:30 PM - Shell ID and Craft. The beaches are vibrant with an ever-changing collection of shells. Join NERR staff to learn how to identify common shells found on South Carolina's coast. Free, 843.904.9017.

Thursday, Aug. 22

10-11:15 AM - Being Ray Bradbury: 99th Birthday Celebration

 at Waccamaw Library. Ninety-nine years to the day after the birth of Bradbury, Emmy-winner Bill Oberst Jr., a highly accomplished stage, film, and television actor who divides time between his native Georgetown County and Hollywood, will give dramatic readings of passages from the famed sci-fi/fantasy author's works and discuss what inspired him to create a one-man show around this major figure in American literature. Q&A following. Free with ticket (available in the Friends Center at the library entrance), [email protected].

 

5:30-7 PM - FOWL Musicians Series: The Gibbonses: Live Americana! 

at the Waccamaw Library. This must-see duo plays soulful acoustic Americana/country/folk! Free and open to the public, [email protected].

Friday, Aug. 23

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Lisa Howorth ( The Summerlings) at Inlet Provision Company. Written with humor and poignancy,  Summerlings is a powerful testament to love and friendship amid uncertain times -  a Cold War coming-of-age story in which three best friends confront their fears of the Bomb, Russian spies, bullies, and their role in the tragic event that ushers them into adulthood. It's the summer of 1959. For the families who live on Connors Lane in Washington DC, life is still defined by what one did during WWII. Behind each door lives a possible spy or Nazi sympathizer, the family of a foreign diplomat, or someone who escaped the conflagration in Europe just in time. But it is also the summer of an inexplicable spider infestation- surely evidence of "insect warfare" by the Russians, thinks our young narrator John, and his best friends, Ivan and Max. When a rare, scorpion-like vinegaroon is discovered and sequestered for museum study, the boys, along with their tomboy accomplice, Beatriz, hatch a risky midnight plan to steal the poisonous creature for their own devious purposes. At the same time, under the tutelage of Iva's glamorous aunt Elena, they plan to forge a spirit of bonhomie in the neighborhood by throwing a party in John's grandparents' backyard. Fueled by punch the boys doctor with a jug of Brazilian rum, the adults let down their defenses until Elena, already a lightning rod for her Ukrainian birth, swinging social life, and outspokenness on behalf of refugees, roars off with a stranger on his motorcycle. What happens next will change John's life forever. $30, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

Saturday, Aug. 24

10 AM-5 PM - Paint-in with Danny McLaughlin at the Litchfield Exchange (14363 Ocean Highway, behind Applewood House of Pancakes). See Aug. 10 entry for details. Also offered Sept. 7 & 21, Oct. 5 & 19. $45, 843.235.9600 or www.ClassAtPawleys.com.

 

11 AM-3 PM - Create your own Pawleys Island Seashell and Trunk Show at Pawleys Island Art Gallery. Drop in jewelry workshop with Brenda Branson. Free, www.PawleysIslandArt.com.

 

Monday, Aug. 26

9 AM-1 PM - North Inlet Paddle. See Aug. 8 entry for details. Also offered Sept. 9. $60/person, 843.904.9017.

 

Friday, Aug. 30

11 AM-1 PM - The Moveable Feast: Kathryn Smith (Gertie: The Fabulous Life of Gertrude Sanford Legendre: Heiress, Hunter, Socialite, Spy) at Kimbel's, Wachesaw. The author of The Gatekeeper, a fascinating biography of our nation's first female chief of staff and FDR's right hand for two decades, turns her journalistic skills to a Lowcountry legend. This remarkable South Carolinian's life spanned the twentieth century, beginning in Aiken, S.C. in 1902 and ending at her plantation outside Charleston in 2000. She was a daring and fearless woman whose adventures included being the first American woman in uniform held as a POW by the Germans during World War II. She also partied on the Riviera with the Murphys, the Fitzgeralds and Harpo Marx in the 1920s, undertook numerous challenging expeditions for natural history museums (and lead four), and befriended some of the greatest personalities of the 20th century, including Dr. Albert Schweitzer, General George S. Patton, Lilly Pulitzer, and Bing Crosby. In her later years, she became an ardent conservationist, fighting for habitat preservation on the South Carolina coast and leaving her 7,000-acre Medway Plantation in a conservation easement, a place where "the beasts can grow old and die." $30, 843.235.9600.

Saturday, Aug.  31 & Sunday, Sept. 1

The Litchfield Beautification Foundation will have a display of 80 American flags along the Litchfield corridor Hwy 17 medians from Sandy Island Road to Baskerville Road to celebrate Labor Day Weekend. This display can also be seen on Patriots Day - Sept. 11 and Veterans Day - Nov. 11. For more information or to make a donation, LBF29585.com.