Charleston International Film Festival

Right on the heels of Charleston Fashion week - tourists and residents of the historic city of Charleston, SC can look forward to an International Film Festival. It seems Charleston has gained the international attention of both fashionistas and filmbuffs alike. Wonderful! Charleston's old world European ambiance, top cuisine, and ocean vistas make her a perfect backdrop. It's not 'All the World's a Stage'...it is 'Charleston's the Stage'. And, she has been for years with the city-wide Spoleto Festival. The 'new wrinkle' of a Film Festival is fun, however. The 3rd annual Charleston International Film Festival will be based at the American Theater (446 King St.) April 8-11, 2010. This landmark art-deco style building will be screening over 50 films. The films will showcase the very best work of veteran and emerging filmmakers, including shorts, features, documentaries and animations of all genre and subject matter. Films will hale from 6 different countries - mostly from the United States - and 14 will be from filmmakers in the southeast region and the Lowcountry.The official selection will represent the pinnacle of independent filmmaking talent from around the world. The full schedule and tickets will be online soon ($8 in advance online and $9 at the door). www.CharlestonIFF.com. The Charleston International Film Festival is the Reel Deal...enjoy and don't miss local filmmaker, Kevin Harrison's documentary "Haunted Charleston" - fun!

Fresh from the Farm Event

Freshfields Village is nestled between Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, South Carolina, about 30 minutes from historic Charleston. Freshfields Village is a welcoming daytrip from Charleston, or 'must-visit' site if staying on the Sea Islands. Freshfields welcomes browsers, diners, people-watchers and socializers where visitors will find the downhome friendliness of Mayberry and the downtown convenience of Main Street. A great upcoming reason to visit the Village will be on March 11th....

Freshfields Village has been asked to stage a Farmer's Market for a food segment on a Travel Channel show! The Farmers Market will be setup on the green in the Village on March 11th with Newton Farms, Java Java and the Lollipop Shop having agreed to be the food vendors. It will be fun to walk the Village, maybe appear in the crowd on the Travel Channel show, and get fresh vegetables - something for which the Lowcountry is quite famous.

The biggest difference between grocery store and fresh produce is taste. Food sold at a Farmers Market or through a CSA program has been grown for vibrant color and flavorful taste, rather than for shipping across the country. Children are a lot more likely to get excited about 'eating their vegetables' if they have great flavor. Locally produced products have not travelled thousands of bumpy miles before arriving at table.

Lowcountry residents have the ability to take advantage of farm fresh bounty often. Families cans start gardens of their own, visit a Farmers Market like what will be at Freshfields Village, or joining a CSA - Community Supported Agriculture program. These are a great option as they provide a direct connection between Farmer and Consumer. Seasonally, the vegetables can be picked up weekly and recipients receive in their bag the great surprise of what is most ripe for that given week! And, the cost is no more on average than what one would pay at a grocery store. What fun and the 'unknown' causes excitement within the family and more creative cooking coming to the tables. Mothers have often said their children have tried, and loved, vegetables they never knew existed before as a result of a CSA membership.

So if you are a resident of Kiawah, Seabrook or nearby Johns or James or Wadmalaw Islands, or visitors to the area - check out the Farmers Market at Freshfields Village on March 11, 2010 and maybe 'spot yourself' on the Travel Channel later!