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EVENT | Crankin’ up the ol’ projector again
Movies in Marion Square
Thurs. April 19
Free
Marion Square
Corner of King and
Calhoun streets
577-5304 ext. 140
Gearing up the 2007 season of the City Paper’s Movies in Marion Square, this week’s cinematic treat is sure to channel the historians in kids and adults of all ages. Night at the Museum, a concoction of natural history and humor, tells the story of a newly recruited night security guard, played by the dependably hilarious Ben Stiller, who discovers an ancient curse at the Museum of Natural History that causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc. A genuine display of comedic talent spanning generations, this flick features an all-star cast of classic funny guys including Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney, with other recognizable faces as Ricky Gervais, from the British version of The Office, and Robin Williams as the conservationist President Teddy Roosevelt, as well as cameos by Attila the Hun, Octavius, and Sacajawea. Don’t forget to bring your appetite, as Lil Mama’s Pizza, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Häagen-Dazs, and Kettle Corn will set up shop to tantalize every movie-goer’s tastebuds. —Laura Zapp THURSDAY
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VISUAL ART EVENT | An art explosion
The Redux Art Factory Fund-raiser
Sat. April 21
12 p.m.-10 p.m.
Free
Redux Contemporary Art Center
136 St. Philip St.
722-0697
www.reduxstudios.org
If your idea of a marathon consists more of a day spent putting pencil to paper than pounding the pavement, set aside some time during this week’s jam-packed Saturday to check out the annual Redux Art Factory fund-raiser. From noon to 9 p.m., over 20 well-known local artists — including painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, jewelers, and print-makers — will rotate through the Contemporary Art Center’s work spaces, creating in real time as the audience watches, welcome to contribute their own input to the process (but only if they haven’t gone overboard on the beer and wine available for purchase). Then, from 9-10 p.m., the creators are freed from their workbenches to mingle with the audience as they bid on the newborn artworks, rather affordably priced between $10-$75. All proceeds from the Art Factory fund-raiser will benefit the numerous nonprofit programs available for artists of all ages at Redux; those curious about exactly who will be creating what and when can visit the Redux website for a list of artists and their respective time slots. SATURDAY
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NATURE & PETS | Gonna take a walk outside today
Forest Trails Day
Sat. April 21
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free
Sewee Visitor Center
5821 Hwy. 17-N
928-3368
www.fws.gov/seweecenter
Now that late April has graced the Lowcountry with a brief respite from mosquitoes and (let us pray) pollen, it’s the perfect time to take a hike — through the Francis Marion National Forest, that is. The Sewee Visitor Center hosts a day of free family- and earth-friendly outings, starting at 9 a.m. with the “early bird special,” an archaeologist-guided hike to the Sewee Shell Ring Trail. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the Center will be home to a bevy of information booths manned by naturalists, guides, and outfitters waiting, trail maps in hand, to teach visitors about the wide variety of activities the Forest offers — horse riding, hiking, biking, and more. You can even try out a canoe or kayak in the Sewee pond! Those who bring their own canoes and kayaks can join the 11 a.m. ranger-guided paddle on Awendaw Creek, which starts right after the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new National Forest Awendaw Creek canoe launch, located about 7 miles north of the Sewee Visitor Center. For more info about any of the events or directions, give the friendly folks at the Center a call. SATURDAY
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EVENTS | Make the best of what’s still around
Earth Day
Sun. April 22
(Celebrations all weekend)
Earth Day is always a busy time around our eco-friendly city, and this year the purposeful revelry starts early with Rock the Planet, a free, BYOB concert in the College of Charleston’s Stern Center Gardens featuring local rockers Bastian, Parker, and French Kiss Coma (Fri. April 20, 7-11 p.m., free). With the concert ending at 11 p.m., you can rest up before heading to North Charleston the next morning for the Sustainability Institute’s 5K Green Village Tour (Sat. April 21, race begins at 9 a.m., $20/advance, $25/day of race), which starts at the SI’s Green House on East Montague Avenue and showcases sustainable sites on the way to the finish line at 10 Storehouse Row, located in the Navy Yard at Noisette. To learn more, donate, or register, visit www.sustainabilityinstitutesc.org. Closer to downtown, Earth Fare at 74 Folly Road Blvd. hosts a tent fest in their parking lot (Sat. April 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., free), with raffles, free face painting and kids’ activities, samples, information galore, and a cookout to benefit the Lowcountry Food Bank, plus a SI energy conservation workshop on Sun. at 1 p.m. The South Carolina Aquarium’s in, too, with a “Celebrate the Seas” educational harbor trip (Sat. April 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., free w/Aquarium admission — preregistration suggested) and a Party for the Planet (Sun. April 22, 12-5 p.m., free w/Aquarium admission) that features plenty of crafty fun for kids, plus free distribution and installation of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRD’s) — which prevent turtles from being caught in crab pots — for any crabber willing to use them. friday-sunday
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SPORTS | Unless it kicks
Charleston Battery
Home Opener
Fri. April 20
6 p.m.
$8-$15
Blackbaud Stadium
1990 Daniel Island Dr.
971-GOAL (4625)
www.charlestonbattery.com
After warming up with the Carolina Challenge Cup and a few exhibition games, the men of the Charleston Battery are back in fighting form and ready to kick off their 15th season. There’s a few new (hat) tricks up those baggy sleeves this season, including a deal with the FOX Soccer Channel, which will broadcast select Friday night USL First Division matches and all USL championship games, and Friday’s game features the debut of the Charleston Battery dance team, the Bombshells. Hear that, fellas? No more jealous sulking as your gal drools over the fantastically fit soccer studs! Friday night’s first official home game of the season, against the Minnesota Thunder, is free schedule cup and magnet night, Military Appreciation Night, and ends with fireworks. (Thought we’d say “a bang,” didn’t you?) FRIDAY
SPORTS FESTIVAL| A weekend of putting in
East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival
April 20-22
$15/sampler pass, $50/full-day package, $105/full-weekend package
James Island
County Park
871 Riverland Dr.
795-4FUN (4386)
www.ccprc.com/ecckf
Whether you’re an in-water pro or haven’t gingerly set foot in a canoe since your scouting days, the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission-sponsored East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival (ECCKF) has something new to teach you. Held on and around the large lake situated in James Island County Park, the ECCKF unites enthusiasts, newbies, expert instructors, and equipment specialists for one big, wet weekend of classes, demonstrations, and social gatherings. While the first official event is Friday morning’s eye-opening 6 a.m. “sunrise marsh tour” with Coastal Expeditions, the party really begins later that evening with the social hour (from 5-6 p.m.) and barbecue dinner (6-8 p.m., preregistration required) at Edisto Hall, followed by a presentation by keynote speaker Wendy Killoran, who recently became the first female to circumnavigate the island of Newfoundland. Oodles of classes and workshops for every skill level will be offered throughout the fest; we highly suggest visiting the ECCKF website to help plan out your paddlin’ weekend. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen! FRIDAY-SUNDAY
EVENT | Kids be doin’ it for themselves … and others
Tricounty Youth
Service Day
Sat. April 21
Kick-off Rally: 9 a.m.
Free
North Charleston High School
1087 E. Montague Ave.
747-3007
www.tuw.org
www.myspace.com/tricountyyouthserviceday
Sure, Earth Day (see other City Pick) is a time when everyone thinks about the planet’s well-being in a literal sense, but on Saturday morning, some extraordinary Charleston youngsters will work to take care of Earth’s inhabitants, too. For the eighth year in a row, Trident United Way, the Mayor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, the College of Charleston’s Upward Bound program, and other community organizations celebrate Global Youth Service Day locally with Tricounty Youth Service Day. Over 1,000 kids will unite for a day that begins with a rally at 9 a.m., ends with a party in the afternoon, and manages to cram a whole lotta helpin’ in there. Anyone is welcome to join in, and any young person who participates gets breakfast, lunch, a T-shirt, a certificate of participation, and the best benefit of all — a helper’s high. SATURDAY
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