Be a Part of The Hunger Games in North Carolina

 Jennifer Lawrence stars as 'Katniss Everdeen' in THE HUNGER GAMES.
Photo credit: Lionsgate/Murray Close

There has been so much hoo-hah on The Hunger Games (and well-deserved if we do say so ourselves) and we couldn't be prouder here in North Carolina on the coverage that our state has received for the filming locations. And our friends at VisitNC.com have put together exhaustive ways that you can explore The Hunger Games on your own.

The first is 12 Places to Experience 'The Hunger Games' which outlines some of the scenic backdrops of the film and some of the stars' favorite off-duty spots and attractions that fans of the movie will love. They have also put together a series of 'Hunger Games' Fan Tours which are organized tours that give visitors the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the movie. And, lastly, they have come up with detailed 'Hunger Games' 4-Day Itinerary that you can do on your own.

Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!

Wine & Food Festivalooza Continues with Coastal Uncorked

From the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend this past weekend to Coastal Uncorked in Myrtle Beach this week and weekend, the culinary festivalooza in the Carolinas continues!

Coastal Uncorked Food, Wine & Spirits Festival runs all week with the culmination at a host of weekend events along the Grand Strand. Begun in 2009, Coastal Uncorked highlights the culinary greatness that abounds in Myrtle Beach and along the entire Grand Strand. And with more restaurants per capita than any other city in the state (more than 1,500 at last count), there is plenty to enjoy.

Highlights of the week-long event feature:
*Three-course tasting menus for $20.12 at over a dozen participating restaurants during Restaurant Week.
*Limited-engagement culinary extravaganzas at varied Beer, Wine and Spirits Dinners at area restaurants throughout the week.
*Shop 'til you drop while sampling participating area restaurants' food and beverage tastings at Sip, Savor & Stroll at Market Common
*Coastal Uncorked's main event, the Oceanfront Grand Tasting Pavilion, on Friday and Saturday at the site of the former Pavilion Amusement Park along the oceanfront. Enjoy a festival atmosphere with wine tastings, beer gardens, food samplings, live music, grape stomping and more.
*Uncork your inner shopper at Myrtle Beach's finest boutiques at Sip and Shop.
*The excitement of a live Iron Chef-style cooking competition at the Chef's Challenge presented by SCE&G. Hosted by southern culinary legends, The Lee Brothers, the Chef's Challenge will pit local chefs, along with  area farmers and fishermen, to create on-the-spot dishes using a mystery ingredient revealed at the last minute. Enjoy live music, a silent auction and varied culinary tastings while cheering on your favorite chef.


So let out the pants, buy your tickets, and head out to Coastal Uncorked this week!

The Poop on Riverbanks Zoo & Garden in Columbia, South Carolina

Who knew that Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia was one of the top tourism attractions in the state of South Carolina? But it's no surprise. On our recent visit, we were blown away by the more than 2,000 animals in natural habitats with limited use of bars and cages. Things like moats and water and rocks created natural barriers and gave the space such an open and  airy feel. And with lions, and tigers, and bears (oh my!) and giraffes and elephants and zebras, we were never at a loss for something amazing to see.

And the varied and plentiful programs left us feeling all warm and fuzzy as well. Whether penguin feedings or sea mammal diving demos or personal animal encounters and keeper talks, there was plenty to do at the zoo. And that doesn't even begin to talk about the other activities such as carousel rides, rock climbing, pony rides, 3D Adventure shows, and their new Sky-High Safari vertical "ropes" course high up in the trees that's been a huge hit for the kids (and kids at heart).

With so much to do at the zoo, we didn't have time to get over to the Botanical Gardens side of Riverbanks Zoo & Garden but we can't wait to check out the varied gardens, woodlands and historic ruins on our next visit.

And to top off our visit, we were able to take home one of the best souvenirs we've ever seen in our travels. A container of Riverbanks Compoost....100% all-natural composted zoo poo compliments of all our new furry friends from the day. Now that's a heavy doodie party favor!

Gearing up for Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend

If you know anything about us, you know we love Wine & Food Festivals (who doesn't?). And we've been to our share in the Carolinas. But this weekend, we'll be checking out the Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend for the first time.....and we can't wait.

Begun in 1989 as a way to raise money for local charities, this biennial event has become a highly regarded social extravaganza that has donated more than $3.2 million dollars to the community. And wined and dined festival goers along the way with tasty treats and award-winning wine and wineries.

The weekend actually kicks off Wednesday night with a sold-out Tequila Dinner (okay....so there is a little license with the whole wine angle). Thursday night features Vintner Dinners where area restaurants are paired up with national wineries to present a perfect food and wine paired evening. We'll be heading to King's Kitchen, beloved area chef Jim Noble's not-for-profit restaurant concept that gives back and helps the community by hiring troubled youths, graduates of rehabilitation programs and the unemployed.

Big Bottles & Blues is Friday 's highlight and the largest event of the weekend--a celebration of the Charlotte good life with winery guests, live music and local cuisine at The Urban Garden at The Ritz Carlton. The Live and Silent auctions will be huge moneymakers for this years deserving charities and will feature rare large format bottles of wine, trips, jewelry and wine dinners.

Saturday is filled with spectacular wine tastings and culminates with the black-tie Grand Gala and Live Auction also at The Ritz Carlton. And the weekend winds down on Sunday with the Burgers, Bloodys and Brews Brunch Celebration at The Green on Tryon.

Tickets are still available for several events and we'll be sure to leave some wine.

Titanic Ties to North Carolina

Although the Titanic saga happened miles and miles from the Carolinas, there is one interesting tie that the Titanic had with North Carolina. The alarming message "Have struck an iceberg" was sent from the R.M.S. Titanic on the night of April 14, 1912 and was received and recorded by the Weather Bureau Station located on Hatteras Island, North Carolina (see above).

And to commemorate that tie, the log page from that date at the Hatteras Weather Bureau Station will be on public display at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras for the first time ever April 14-May 31.

According to the National Park Service, the Hatteras Weather Bureau Station received one of the first telegraph messages from the Titanic at 11:25pm which said "C.Q.D" which means "Come Quickly Distressed". The telegraph was also received by Cape Race Marconi Station in Newfoundland, Canada. The next telegraph gave the ship's coordinates and the reason for distress..."have struck iceberg".

The log pages of the Hatteras Weather Bureau Station were rolled and stuffed into plaster walls to provide insulation, as was custom in the early 20th century, and it wasn't until 2005 when the National Park Service was restoring the weather station (see above) that the log page was discovered. Hatteras has the only remaining original station log from that telegraph. After years of restoration by the National Park Service, the log page will be on display with various related items.

The Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is part of the North Carolina Maritime Museum System and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and is dedicated to the the preservation , advancement and presentation of the maritime history and shipwrecks of the North Carolina Outer Banks. They are located in Hatteras and are open Monday through Saturday April through October and Monday through Friday November through March and admission is free.

Celebrate Ramp Month in Asheville, North Carolina

What Southerner doesn't love ramps? Basically a perennial wild onion with a strong garlic-like odor and a pronounced onion flavor, ramps, or spring onions to many, are found across the U.S and are quite popular in rural Southern cuisines. Especially in the the spring. And our friends at Early Girl Eatery in Asheville, North Carolina love them so much, that they've decided to have a celebration of ramps.

In conjunction with Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's (ASAP) Get Local campaign, Early Girl Eatery has invited two Carolina James Beard Award winning chefs at a special In Celebration of Ramps event Sunday, April 22. Chef Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill in Charleston, South Carolina and Chef Andrea Reusing of Lantern in Chapel Hill, North Carolina will each prepare original recipes featuring the beloved spring vegetable. Both chefs will also talk about their love of ramps and Western North Carolina's local food movement.

Tickets are $75 and include wine and Hominy Grill's famous chocolate pudding for dessert (wine and chocolate pudding.....need we say more). All proceeds benefit ASAP and their Get Local campaign which highlights a local ingredient each month that reflects our region's seasonal harvest.

Southport, North Carolina Vying for Top State Honor

The charming river town of Southport, North Carolina is among six finalists in a main street 'throwdown' for the NC Chapter of American Planning Association's "Great Places in North Carolina." In addition to Southport, the other finalists (chosen from over 40 nominees) include Mount Airy, Waynesville, Davidson, Salisbury and Roseboro.

Make your voice be heard by voting online for your favorite North Carolina Main Street before April 30.

From the River to the Sea: Wilmington, North Carolina Sweepstakes

Win a family vacation or girlfriend getaway to Wilmington, North Carolina with the Belles, Blooms and Beaches Sweepstakes sponsored by VisitNC.com. Whether to get a dose of Southern hospitality with horse-drawn carriage rides, brick-lined streets, rows of blooming azaleas and antebellum mansions, or enjoy the water on the scenic two-mile Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River, or frolic in the surf along the island beaches, Wilmington is a great combination of cosmopolitan culture, southern graciousness, and relaxed island lifestyle.

The sweepstakes include:
*Three night stay for four at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, located on the Riverwalk in the heart of  historic downtown Wilmington
*Four tickets aboard the Battleship North Carolina
*A narrated sightseeing cruise aboard the Henrietta III Riverboat on the scenic Cape Fear River, followed by lunch from the Riverboat Deli Buffet
*Dinner for four at Front Street Brewery
*Plus a $500 VISA gift card to help get you there

Entry deadline is April 30, 2012 and you can register to win here.

Charleston Chef Named Finalist for James Beard Award

The short list is out and one of our own is on it. That would be Executive Chef Craig Deihl of Cypress in Charleston, South Carolina for Best Chef Southeast in the Oscars of the culinary world....the James Beard Awards. And we couldn't think of anyone more worthy.

His second nomination (he was nominated for the same category in 2010), Deihl is no stranger to Charleston. After graduating from Johnson & Wales in Charleston, he spent nearly five years mentoring under culinary legends Donald Drake and Donald Barickman at Magnolias. Then he flew the nest and opened Cypress in 2001 and hasn't looked back since.

He has his own cookbook, Cypress, which features many of the restaurant's signature dishes.  And as a long-time steward of local sourcing and sustainable food practices, Deihl was asked be a contributor to the Smithsonian Institute's One Fish, Two Fish, Crawfish, Bluefish, a cookbook and guide to sustainable seafood.

Deihl's competition in the Southeast is quite formidable, however, including five-time nominee Hugh Acheson of Five and Ten in Athens, GA, three-time nominee Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta, Season 13 Top Cheftestant Edward Lee from Louisville, KY and Joseph Lenn of The Barn at Blackberry Farm fame. But we'll put our money on the South Carolinian!

Winners will be announced May 7 at the Alton Brown-hosted James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception in New York City.

Stop the Presses....New News on Indie Grits

If you saw our post about Indie Grits last week, we wanted to be the first to let you know that they've totally uped the ante for the 6th Annual Indie Grits Festival!

Our friends at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau have put together a VIP Indie Weekend sweepstakes that's to die for. Here's what you and a guest can win if you enter now:

• Two (2) nights at the Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel April 20 and 21, 2012
• $100 certificate for Motor Supply Company Bistro
• $50 certificate to The Whig Pub
• Personal Phone Concierge Service for 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios tour of 69 artists’ studios across the Columbia region
• 1-year family membership for 701 Center for Contemporary Art
• 1-year membership for two (2) at The Nickelodeon Theatre
• Two (2) tickets to international indie headliner band, The Olivia Tremor Control at Indie Grits, at New Brookland Tavern – Friday, April 20, 2012
• Two (2) tickets to the Spork in Hand Puppet Slam at Indie Grits – Friday, April 20 or Saturday, April 21, 2012
• Two (2) priority seats next to Indie Grits filmmaker Chris White at the screening of his film ‘Taken In’ at The Nickelodeon – Saturday, April 21, 5:30 pm
• Two (2) tickets to your choice of Indie Grits film screenings – Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Two (2) tickets to the Slow Food at Indie Grits sustainable chefs’ showcase – Sunday, April 22, 2012
• Two (2) Famously Hot t-shirts
• Airfare or Gas expenses*

*Airfare or gas will be provided in the form of two (2) certificates for air travel not to exceed $350 per person with the airline of choice, so long as the airline offers certificates and flights into Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) – or one (1) $300 gift card for gas.


Well what are you waiting for?!

Golf Course is the Star in Hollywood, South Carolina

As the Masters have gotten underway, we turn our attention to one of our own spectacular golf courses at the Links at Stono Ferry in Hollywood, South Carolina. Located less than 30 minutes away from Charleston and voted South Carolina's 2011 Golf Course of the Year, the Links at Stono Ferry will undoubtedly be the place to see and be seen for spectators and golfers attending the final PGA Championship this August at the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island.

The Links at Stono Ferry traces its roots back before the Revolutionary War when the actual Stono Ferry site was used by plantations to ferry their goods across the Stono River and as a battery site during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Several battlefield remnants still exist along the course including a cannon pointing at the old ferry landing, a bunker, and memories of the old railway line from Charleston to Savannah along the 13th hole.

These historical elements have been preserved and are presented along with the spectacular setting of the Intracoastal  waterways and salt marshes that define the South Carolina Lowcountry.

So if golf is your game and you've got plans to attend the PGA Championship in August, be sure to include a round of golf at The Links at Stono Ferry.

What's Great About I-95 in the Carolinas?

An interesting book came across our desk this week that we thought we'd share. It's called What's Great About....I-95 and it's filled with quirky facts and unusual trivia about places that you pass as you drive along I-95. It covers the route from Maine to Florida but we were fascinated by some of the North and South Carolina travel trivia.

For example, did you know that Norma Rae was based on a true story about a single mother who worked at the J.P. Stevens textile plant in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and battled for the Union single-handedly. Sally Fields won an Academy Award for her searing portrayal.

Or that Spivey's Corner, North Carolina is the Hollerin' Capital of the Universe? Or that the Poinsettia is named after Joel Poinsett, the United States' ambassador to Mexico in 1826 who found the specimen on one of his trips to Mexico and is responsible for bringing it to South Carolina and the U.S. Or that author Peggy Parrish, of the childhood stories of Amelia Bedelia, was born in Manning, South Carolina.

These, and lots of other tidbits and trivia, can help to pass the time on long road trips, educate and entertain children, and spur lively conversation among passengers. And, in this age of technology and mobile electronics, isn't it nice to share some family time while watching the world go by?

Nicholas Sparks to Host Weekend in New Bern, North Carolina

You've read his novels and seen his movies (often with the constant companion of tissue). Now you have a chance to see his hometown of New Bern, North Carolina through his eyes. Nicholas Sparks, author of best-selling romance novels such as The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and many others will host the first annual Celebrity Family Weekend April 20-22 in New Bern to raise awareness and funds for the Nicholas Sparks Foundation.

Weekend events will include a celebrity golf tournament, a 5K run, boat tours, a film festival featuring all of the movies based on Sparks's novels, and a family fun night. You can even dine with the author at a luncheon or at a private brunch held at the Spark residence. And then the highlight of the weekend will be the exclusive screening of Sparks's latest novel and upcoming Warner Brothers movie, The Lucky One, starring Zac Efron.

Sparks and his family have invited celebrities from the world of sports, music, movies and television to help celebrate the star-studded weekend. Proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, which supports global education initiatives for youth (Epiphany School), wounded warriors (Hope for the Warriors) and assistance dogs (Paws With a Cause).

Grab your tissue and make your plans now to rub elbows with Nicholas Sparks and friends in New Bern.