Good news…we live in a walker’s paradise! Check out this website we stumbled upon…walkscore.com. Just plug in your address, and it will calculate the “walkability” of your neighborhood based on how close you are to restaurants, grocery stores, bars, coffee shops, schools, libraries, movie theaters, etc. Charleston overall scored a 94 out of 100. While that calculation was mostly based on the downtown area, check out your own neighborhood’s walkability. If it doesn’t score so high, do something to change it! You’ll help create or enhance the overall sense of community, collaboration and inspiration.

It’s always exciting when someone else sees the greatness of our area! In the latest issue of Homestyles Magazine, author Lisa Rogak gives her input on the best places to eat, drink, shop, and stay, and her taste is impeccable! Noting our 11^th win of the “Most Mannerly City” award, Rogak hits all the hot spots. From the elegant and historic Wentworth Mansion, to the always cozy Vendue Inn. Dining at fabulous locations downtown and in Mount Pleasant, then on to shopping and exploring the city.

Rogak’s opinion is highly regarded, as she is a member of International Association of Culinary Professionals and the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, and has written over 40 books, including A Boy Named Shel, The Life and Times of Shel Silverstein, and edited the book Barack Obama, In His Own Words.

The inspiration is catching on! North Charleston’s Noisette community was featured in Cottage Living magazine’s annual list of “Top 10 Cottage Communities.” Each neighborhood is chosen based on homes and architecture, walkability of streets and sidewalks, people with a vision for their neighborhood, innovative thinking, and those that have a unique aspect or approach to them.

Check out the video for a virtual tour the neighborhood, and meet some of the friendly faces who are inspired by their community more and more each day.

Photo courtesy of cottageliving.com

Well this time I don’t have to say much as Budget Travel does it for me. Need more reasons to love Charleston? Look no further… this magazine articulates the beauty and intrigue of Charleston with 25 great ways to enjoy the Holy City. Everything from green spaces to hospitality is covered in this piece…

Check it out: Budget Travel

Just a quick note to say how inspiring it was Monday to watch community leaders meet under one roof to help establish a framework for the region’s future. I’m talking elected officials, developers, conservationists and business executives… more than 150 participated in Charleston’s Reality Check, which was put on by the Urban Land Institute.

The goal of the game was to use legos to plot growth in the tri-county area, focusing on infrastructure, population/household growth, commute times and affordable housing. So many of the participants with their own formulated opinions, yet by the end of the day all were committed to core values:

“the desire to maintain green space; the need for sustainable communities where people can work, live and play without long commutes; the demand for a public transportation system like a light rail to connect outlying areas to Charleston; and the high-priority need to redevelop blighted urban areas and establish affordable housing.”

Charleston is in good hands… and if these leaders hold up to even a small portion of their commitment to the cause, Charleston will only continue to thrive and prosper.

Alright, I didn’t get to make the first Kulture Klash, but I heard it was a rock’n good time. Here’s some pics to get you excited about the next one (scheduled for Spring ‘08):

Ever heard of Socci before? With a collective mix of skills found mostly in soccer, basketball and hackysack, Socci is now played as an individual fitness activity, social game and a competitive sport.

Without going into major details regarding how to play it (one can find that on their website, http://socci.net/), what’s interesting is that this game was created right here in the lowcountry. It’s inventor, Yani Dilling, attended Wando High School in Mount Pleasant. Now the sport is receiving national recognition and is used by Olympic Soccer Development Programs and YMCA’s across America as an ultimate soccer training game. I’m thinking if instructors picked this game up more broadly in K-12 schools across the country then students would not only gain mental and physical skills but they would also be able to compete more globally in sports like soccer… the world’s most popular sport.

Local residents and Charleston Battery players can be found playing in Marion Square downtown and on area beaches. Check it out and jump in if you ever catch them in the act. Here’s a sneak peak at the game:

I read this really cool article today about the importance of Gullah traditions, history and — probably most importantly — contributions to the Charleston community and lifestyle. From the art of sweetgrass basketmaking (which has been passed down from generation to generation) to its impact on southern cuisine with Gullah rice.

Tourists and researchers frequently visit Charleston to learn more about Gullah heritage through interactive tours. Personally, I am in awe of the beautiful iron gates that were made by blacksmith Philip Simmons, who grew up in the rice-growing culture of Daniel Island. The intricacies and shapes of his work are admired from artisans nationwide, including the likes of the Smithsonian Institute.

Now Mount Pleasant officials are taking steps to protect the town’s Gullah history by celebrating the culture through festivals and educational camps and educating members of the community — including developers — of the importance of preserving our heritage.

Read the full article in StarNewsOnline.com

This Friday ends with a wonderful new development from the city of Charleston — a new bicycle and pedestrian path in West Ashley! Now residents along Hwy 61 will be able to bike to school and work. To top it all off, because of the city’s planning efforts, no trees were cut down to create this new path. I’m sure members of Charleston Moves are thrilled about this one.

Personally, some of my best ideas come from my time on my bike… so, I challenge those residents to use their commute time to breath the fresh air and get inspired by the beautiful city that surrounds them.

Then, tell us about it.

Charleston was recently named a favorite gourmet destination by Travelocity.Ca. According to a recent Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) study, 58 percent of all U.S. leisure travellers say they are somewhat/very interested in taking a trip to engage in culinary or wine-related activities in the next year. And, it looks like they may be heading our way for some tasty treats!

Travelocity’s editors went around the world looking for new and old destinations that had something yummy to offer their taste buds. Chosen for its “soul food”, Charleston was one of ten cities worldwide to carry this year’s honor. Here’s what the judges had to say about our grub:

“Some may call it soul food, but in Charleston they call it Low Country cuisine. Prevailing as the undisputed local favourite, this culinary specialty infuses restaurant menus with dishes such as Frogmore Stew, She-Crab Soup and Hoppin’ John. Rice, grits and fresh, local produce play an integral role in the creation of these truly Southern meals, and the waters that surround South Carolina’s Low Country inspire local cooks more often than not with seafood dishes found on just about every menu”