Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Is Honored With ConventionSouth’s Annual Readers’ Choice Award
GULF SHORES, Ala. (Oct. 12, 2020)— It is with honor that the publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, present Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center with a 2020 Readers’ Choice Award.
“ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said ConventionSouth Associate Publisher Ashleigh Osborne. “The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require.”
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center is among 380 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this year’s Readers’ Choice Award. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated sites are then compiled onto an online ballot where meeting professionals and fans are asked to vote for the best of the best.
With over 8,000 voters participating in the selection process and the highest social media interaction to date, this has been the most successful and engaging year yet!
Since creation in 2001, this is the fourth time that Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center has received the award making it an even greater honor to present it with a 2020 Readers’ Choice Award.
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center will be featured as an award recipient in the December 2020 Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine. This exciting issue will also showcase some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation as ConventionSouth also presents planners with its annual “Meeting Professionals To Watch” designation.
“Featuring peer advice and trade secrets from our Meeting Professionals to Watch in 2021, our Awards Issue is one of the most popular must-read resources within the meetings industry,” Osborne said.
Celebrating almost 40 years as a leading meeting planning resource, ConventionSouth magazine is based in Gulf Shores, Ala., and is distributed to more than 18,000 meeting professionals located across the country who book meetings held within the South, according to Osborne.
A complete list of award winners can be found online at:
“When you see a mural, you know something is happening in the city,” Jody, Folklore Music Exchange, Elk City.
The City of Charleston’s Office of Public Art recently released a virtual map showcasing hundreds of pieces of public art and where to find them. The map is broken down by neighborhoods, including Downtown, the East End, South of the River and the West Side. We’ve singled out one from each area to give you an idea of what you can discover along Charleston’s Public Art Tours.
The “Untitled Mural” on Dickinson Street in Downtown is so realistic, you’ll do a double take to see if the colorful buildings are real. Created in 1985 by Bart Davies, this paint-on-brick creation fits perfectly into Charleston’s cityscape.
“IN PLACE – Bob Ross” is a tribute to the man who won our hearts with catchphrases like “happy little trees.” Located at 1429 Washington Street East on Charleston’s East End, this paint-on-metal piece was installed in 2019 by artist Jeff Pierson.
Outside Building 1 on the State Capitol Complex is a bronze statue celebrating the life of Booker T. Washington. Erected in 1979, this tribute was created by W.D. Hopen and sits on the north side of the building.
Street Works is a mile-long outdoor gallery on the city’s East End. The signs, which are printed vinyl on metal, feature the work of artists like Devin Fields and Don Brogan who created “Gentleman/Riverfront,” located on the north side of Washington Street East between Maxwell and Nancy streets.
South of the River you’ll find a variety of murals and sculptures, including “New Life.” Created by Johnathan Cox, this stainless steel and marble piece was installed in 2015 at CAMC Cancer Center in Kanawha City.
“Let the Good Times Roll” is one of several colorful murals on Charleston’s West Side. This paint-on-concrete creation by Kayleigh Phillips can be discovered in the Washington Street Alley in the Elk City Historic District.
Gallery 64 is one of the city’s most unique and overlooked art hotspots. Colorful artwork is painted directly on concrete piers beneath the I-64 bridge. Among the piers, you’ll find tributes to the legendary steel-driving man, John Henry (by Reaford Walker), and longtime local educator Mary C. Snow (by Rebecca Recco).
Explore Charleston’s public art tour first online, and when the time is right, explore it in person – following all social distancing guidelines, of course!
The City of Charleston has launched a vlog series called SEE 33, which showcases the capital city’s arts, history and people. The name, SEE 33, refers to the city being 33 square miles.
“We live in an amazing city with amazing people who create amazing things. I’m excited to be able to share just a small part of this with you,” Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin said when launching the series in May 2020.
At the end of the series, and when it is safe to do so, the first 33 vlogs will be transformed into a scavenger hunt so that people can explore Charleston and see these places firsthand.
Episodes feature:
SEE 33 Episode 12 highlights the West Virginia Veterans Memorial and our State’s rich history of service.
SEE 33 Episode 11 highlights Power Mural by Rebecca Recco and Isaac Emrick.
Episode 10 highlights Lincoln Walks at Midnight, a rare depiction of Lincoln in a contemplative pose without the iconic hat or formal attire.
Episode 9 highlights Cabriole, a sculpture depicting an advanced ballet jump–not three men diving into water like many think.
Episode 8 highlights Bike Man, a piece of functional art that is a bike rack.
SEE 33 Episode 7 highlights the river industry and the Sternwheelers that kept the Kanawha River moving.
SEE 33 Episode 6 highlights the large scale wind driven kinetic sculpture, Deep Roots Long Reach, the first of its kind in Charleston.
SEE 33 Episode 5 highlights the monument honoring astronaut Christa McAuliffe, the first American civilian to go into space and who died aboard the Challenger space shuttle in 1986.
SEE 33 Episode 4 highlights the Henry Gassaway Davis sculpture, located in Davis Park.
SEE 33 Episode 3 highlights the Wonder Mural, located near the intersection of Washington Street, West and Tennessee Avenue.
SEE 33 Episode 2 highlights Charleston’s historic Spring Hill Cemetery Park
SEE 33 Episode 1 highlights Charleston’s smallest piece of public art–Mortar Man.
As a cultural hub of West Virginia, public art is a pillar of the Charleston community. Viewing it is a perfect social distancing activity, and you don’t even have to leave your car if you decide on a driving tour. But if you do want to freshen up your social media feed for spring, a striking mural makes the perfect inspirational backdrop (just be sure to wait your turn and maintain distance if others are already there enjoying).
This public art map of Charleston will guide you to nearly all the locations in the city. You’ll find the “West Side Wonder Mural” by artist Charly Jupiter Hamilton, which weaves historical figures, famous Charlestonian faces, and cheeky nods to the city’s history throughout the work. And if you’ve never taken the time to admire it, be sure to check out “Deep Roots, Long Reach,” the kinetic sculpture in front of the Coliseum & Convention Center by artist Harry McDaniel. It moves beautifully in the wind!
Note that the map doesn’t include some recent projects like “The Dreamer” mural on the West Side, an awe-inspiring piece that unveiled this past fall. See how many on the list you can check off: bonus points if you hunt down more.
Downtown Charleston rings to life with live music and local art that reverberate through the streets
Story & Photos by Josh “The Kentucky Gent” Johnson
I love any excuse to load up my car, hit the open road and head out on an adventure to explore a new place, which is why I jumped at the chance to experience a town that I’ve driven through many times but never had the chance to immerse myself in.
From the moment I crossed the bridge into Charleston, West Virginia, there was a feeling I had a fun-filled weekend ahead, and boy was I right. Everywhere I turned there was a smiling face, or two, to welcome me, with live music and cold beers not far behind. And when I realized that my hotel sat smack dab in the middle of the action, I was ready to jump into the city headfirst.
ArtWalk
My first night in Charleston was arguably one of my favorites. You really can’t go wrong with cold beer and local art. The night began at Big Joe’s, a bar not far from my hotel, for a couple of beers with the locals before heading down the street for ArtWalk. The Downtown Charleston ArtWalk is a constantly evolving, free, self-guided walking tour of shops, galleries and businesses featuring regional art and performances—a perfect introduction to the city.I made my way through local shops down Quarrier, Capitol and Lee streets in downtown, picking up things for my new apartment along the way, including prints from a local artist for my office and framed artwork from a vintage shop for my bedroom. I stopped at Rock City Cake Company for the best cookie sandwich I’ve ever had. It’s safe to say that I frequented this bakeshop several times throughout my long weekend in Charleston.
Hallelujah by Albert Paley
Once my arms were loaded with bags and my belly full, I made my way to the Clay Center for Arts & Sciences for “Art After Dark”—a free event directly following ArtWalk with after-hours access to current exhibitions as well as live music, family activities and a cash bar. In other words, it was the perfect way to round out an already impressive night.
Live on the Levee
When your second day in a new city begins with barbecue at a region staple like Dem 2 Brothers and A Grill, you know your day is bound to be one for the books. After eating my fill of brisket slathered in their hottest sauce, I made my way down the block to explore the area now referred to as “Elk City,” where murals dotted the streetscape and smiling faces passed me on the street. I instantly felt at home, especially after stumbling into Kin Ship Goods. There was an odd sense of familiarity as soon as I stepped foot inside the store, and for good reason. The owners recently moved back to Charleston from Louisville. The same place that I’m lucky enough to call home. We chatted about the rise of local businesses in the area such as Elk City Records and Base Camp Printing, among others.
Next up, I headed to Capitol Market, the perfect marriage of an outdoor farmers market and indoor shops full of local wares. I fueled up at Mea Cupa with a delicious lemonade and iced coffee mix that was the perfect treat on a warm summer day. I sat back and took in the market’s various walks of life.
By the time I made it back to my hotel, it was time for Live on the Levee—a concert series that takes place every Friday evening from May until September. The music was a mix of a local and national talent with opener, Qiet, followed by multi-platinum alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. Groups of locals locked arms and swayed to the jams of the bands while the rest of us kicked back on our blankets enjoying the river view and the tunes.
Once the music wrapped, my stomach was growling and my throat parched. I set out in search of dinner and liquid libations. I wanted to go back for seconds and thirds at Black Sheep Burrito & Brews. Order a Baaa’d Ass burrito (filled with everything from black beans to a lime-sriracha crema and their housemade Baa’d Ass Habanero Death Sauce) and a beer flight (packed with in-house brews)—thank me later.
Streetfest
Determined to try every coffee shop in Charleston, I set off to try the next on my list, Starlings. Why? Because all their pastry items are made in-house every day, and I’m a sucker for anything baked fresh daily. Ended up enjoying a cup or two of coffee alongside a breakfast sandwich with a housemade English muffin.
Kick back and catch the game, or dine alfresco at Adelphia
Afterwards, I headed back to my hotel to recharge before heading to Streetfest, a block party for friends and family to meet up and enjoy live music, food and drinks, kid’s activities, pop-up shops and much more. Several incredible local restaurants also participated in Streetfest and offered great vantage points to experience all the fun. I enjoyed the live music making it’s way down the street while chowing down on Greek nachos and fried feta at Adelphia. Live music seems to be a part of Charleston’s heartbeat, as each street hummed with its own melody from the restaurants, bars and sidewalks—day and night.Next, I checked out Taylor Books for another coffee and I wandered through the aisles upon aisles of books. After I perused the local-book selection, I went outside again, and enjoyed a local band and the cool breeze making its way through the tree-lined streets of downtown.
Get lost in Taylor Books’ literary world
Mountain Stage
You know what they say about saving the best for last, right? Bluegrass Kitchen was the last “must try” restaurant on my list, and their biscuits and gravy reminded me of the ones my grandma used to make. Soft biscuits with a creamy, peppered gravy may just be the way to my heart.I closed out my long weekend by listening to a performance at Mountain Stage. It was the most sublime way to round out my Charleston experience. The team at Mountain Stage, led by Larry Groce, welcomed me with open arms and made the night one to remember. Each performance is a two-hour episode of live music that is also broadcasted on more than 150 public radio stations across America. Impressive on its own, but my favorite part of the night was the eclectic mix of musical acts that took stage that night—from Afro-fusion sounds of Mokoomba to singer-songwriters like Curtis McMurty and Joe Pug. There was a beat for everyone in the crowd and each group was welcomed with thunderous applause and reverence.
Please be aware that not all businesses in the Charleston area have reopened. Those that have opened may have adjusted hours or may be offering appointments for in-store shopping. If you have questions about a specific business, please call ahead to that business or check the business’s social media accounts for the most up-to-date info. And don’t forget your PPE!
