A Walk In The Park...
The predicted rain showers did not appear this Saturday morning so I went to my first
Tai Chi In The Park session.
This local MeetUp group meets monthly in, well, in a park.
Last month it was in Azalea Park in Summerville.
The January outdoor training event will be at the Battery, in White Point Gardens, next to the gazebo.
With benefits including movement, balance and healing. Tai Chi is a good way to stay active I have been told.
Turns out I was the only first-timer there today.
One lady had attended once before but the rest were very agile and much smoother in their movements than I.
I saw a squirrel in Park Circle that outperformed my efforts.
It was much more activity than I anticipated.
It was NOT just a Slo-Mo type of line dance, these people broke a sweat as they performed the ritual steps, dips, twists and hand movements.
Later Saturday, North Charleston would have a celebration at Park Circle, officially opening the festive holiday season lights.
Cars will slowly drive around the circle as riders ooh and aah at the annual Christmas spectacle.
As the Tai Chi session ended, the leader had added leg kicks. I was using muscles "in my core" that I had not really thought about before.
He encouraged us to "float" with the motions as we "went with the flow" or "pushed away."
My muscles are feeling the effects now. In a good way.
It was suggested that I get some books about Tai Chi to be better informed and I will. I also have found some DVDs online that demonstrate the "first four positions."
Another mentions the "first eight steps" so I don't see this as a fast education. It seems like a healthy discipline worth learning.
I'll leave all the technical and background explanations to people who have studied this internal martial art that is practiced for both defense training and for its health benefits.
When I was in San Francisco, I saw groups like this outdoors and admired the slow movements and feeling of calm and mental clarity.
We all can use some of that.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
Thanks for stopping by.
It was a nice day in the Park (Circle).
Drive by at night to see the lights.
Stay limber.
Labels: calmness, Christmas lights, go with the flow, meditation, North Charleston, Park Circle, Tai Chi In The Park, well being, Yin and Yang
Graffiti Aerosol Artistry
In my grueling, ongoing quest to check out ALL the area bars, clubs and music venues, I was wandering pretty close to home on Friday.
The Sparrow had announced it was opening the next day, just off Montague in the Park Circle Community.
When I walked in they were sweeping up, putting out tables and chairs and two young men were still painting the stage black, using a brush and a short-handle roller.
The smell of new paint was in the air.
Then I noticed some familiar faces painted on walls all around the new club.
Well, not people I actually hang out with, but at least some I knew about.
Famous people. movie stars, and tv personalities.
Edgar Allan Poe ....Gandhi ....Ray Charles.... and Bill Murray.
Well-known local artist and graffiti muralist
Douglas Panzone was still creating "Caddyshack's" Carl Spackler.
I was smelling spray paint because I didn't have on a breathing mask.
As Doug's site shows, you've seen his work outside at
Bert's Grocery on Folly Beach, and inside the
Tin Roof in West Ashley and
HoM, on upper King Street as well as
Mellow Mushroom.
Welcome to legal graffiti in North Charleston!
He has a colorful palette but I doubt that Doug gets his art supplies from Lowe's or Home Depot.
(Please click on the photos for more details of Doug's work.)
Obviously, these are not posted yet on his site.
Well, maybe by now they are.
I plan to go back, have a beer or two and listen to the music.
The owner came in as I was leaving, beaming and saying
"Hey, all the paperwork is done.
We're officially gonna open tomorrow!"And they did.
Labels: Bill Murray, Caddyshack, Carl Speckler, Edgar Allan Poe, Gandhi, legal graffiti, Lowe's. Home Depot, Mellow Mushroom, Montague, palette, Park Circle, Ray Charles, spray cans, The Sparrow
Holiday Season Lighting.....
This actually was taken LAST Christmas. I saw this colorful scene while visiting my Mom.
I don't put up a tree at home.
My brothers and I still remember the year Dad brought home a bright shiny aluminium tree.
And set up a floodlight with a color wheel that slowly revolved.
My family quickly realized that blue and orange are NOT Christmas colors.
And, neither is pink.
Some downtown restaurants show the traditional seasonal colors.
This one does all year long.
I note the City puts up an annual
"Holiday Tree Of Lights" in Marion Square each year.
Guess it would not be prudent to call it a
"Christmas" tree.
Too bad.
When I lived in Tallahassee, Florida, I used colored lights to outline several wooden "reindeer" I made and set up in my front yard.
Now I get nervous driving back from Myrtle Beach at night.
I don't like seeing REAL deer eyes shining alongside the road. Yikes.
Sesame Burgers and Beer in North Charleston near Park Circle presents an unusual sight.
From the inside, the beer signs reflect in the window and they appear to be hanging on trees.
Well, not quite as dramatic as this.
Photoshop helped me "flip" the signs so they read correctly.
Then I copied some - and added more - to decorate the tree.
Look back. I'm sure you noticed the
red bicycle on top of the green Basil sign.
'Tis the season.
(Click on the pictures to see more details.)
The other patrons at Sesame thought I was crazy, snapping pictures looking though the front window.
They didn't see what I could see.
Labels: Basil Thai Restaurant, Holiday Tree of Lights, Park Circle, Sesame Burgers and Beer
In Pursuit Of Trivia....
So, it's official... I am now the LAST person in Charleston to finally go to a
Trivia Night.Sesame, in North Charleston near Park Circle, has Trivia Q&A on Wednesdays and my buddy and I were lucky to get the last two seats at the bar.
Many regulars filled the room - large competing teams - gathered around the tables.
Bill Davis, a 5-year veteran leader of such nights, explained the rules for the 2-hour entertainment/competition. The teams tried to answer the questions but his comments were hilarious and had the crowd laughing out loud all evening.
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(Yes, I HAVE altered the faces because I didn't ask everyone there if they wanted to be on my blog. I hope this
"protects the innocent.")Mr. Davis explained he was doing another Trivia Event downtown after his 2-hours here. He also does 2 clubs on Tuesdays, one on Thursday and one on Friday.
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Smart and VERY humorous, he admitted he does have a day job.
Here's the best part: even though we were only two pitted against much larger teams, we tied for
2nd place. My partner won the instant death face-off with the other team's rep by correctly guessing the birth year for Sean Penn. It was 1960. Glad he took the challenge as I would have pegged Mr. Penn a bit older.
Hey, the certificate paid for the Boddingtons we drank that night.
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Labels: Bill Davis, Park Circle, pursuit, Sesame, Team Trivia Newton-John, trivia
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