Wedding & Event Venue Near Bluffton, SC.

These upcoming arts and cultural events in Beaufort County deserve a spot on your calendar. Here’s the info you need for dates, locations and tickets.

“In the Heights” musical

“¡Que Rico!”

The multiple award-winning musical, “In the Heights,” with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, opened last Friday night in the Elizabeth Wallace Theater of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. In a triumph of understatement, we in the opening night audience enthusiastically absorbed every element so richly offered by the astonishing cast members, those in front of the curtain, those in back of the curtain, the musicians and the director/choreographer Patdro Harris.

The storyline offers a closeup look at a superb cast of the most amazing characters as they encounter, endure and experience romance, friendships, loyalties, losses, sadness, disappointment, delight and resolution. The phenomenal script was confined to three days. It was the hottest days of summer in this New York barrio during a power outage, though softened slightly by a lottery ticket! We all experienced a kind of group glee, in the unfolding of the story and the side trips which were offered as we looked forward to the perfect closure to the challenges and distractions faced by all of the most incredibly appealing characters.

This musical and the winning performances by everyone involved in the singing, the Spanish lessons and especially the dancing — hip hop, merengue, a little rap and a lot of salsa — moved the entire audience to our collective feet as we continued to respond to the compelling rhythms of the astonishing evening.

“Annie, Jr.” musical

“Annie, Jr.” is playing for one weekend only! It’s based on the comic strip adapted from the Tony-Award-winning musical by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin.

“Annie, Jr.” tells of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents who abandoned her on a New York City orphanage doorstep run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. In adventure after adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil ways, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt, and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Tickets are $22 adults, $18 seniors and $14 students. Tickets are available in advance or at the door one hour prior to showtime.

Two Hilton Head Choral Society concerts

Everyone is invited to join in a celebration of the Hilton Head Choral Society’s 45th anniversary and 20 years with Artistic Director, Tim Reynolds with full chorus and orchestra with “For We Wish You Music” at 7 p.m. May 13.

Celebrate Memorial Day! “America Sings” is a celebration of the American spirit at 7 p.m. May 29. Join the chorus, the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet, and a special guest speaker in an all-American musical program.

Listen on the Lawn concert series

R&B/Soul singer and songwriter Gwen Yvette will perform at the Listen on the Lawn concert series at the USCB Center for the Arts. Bring chairs, blankets, a picnic and beverages. Admission is $10 per person, and children under 12 enter free.

Hilton Head for Ukraine benefit

The Town of Hilton Head Island, the Hilton Head Island Rec Center, Hilton Head Island Music and Arts Coalition, and many amazing volunteers, are rallying for this humanitarian cause.

The event starts at noon with classical music, choirs, a dance performance and special speakers followed by Taylor Kent and Sara Burns, Cornbred and White Liquor (a Rolling Stones cover band).

Proceeds will be donated to the Ukraine Relief Fund administered by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to support organizations assisting with relief efforts in Ukraine. Admission is free.

Spoleto Festival

It’s almost time for the historic Spoleto Festival in Charleston with more than two weeks of music, dance, theater and cultural events.

Create Warhol-inspired shoreline and sea prints

The Coastal Discovery Museum will host Alana Adams for a fun program as part of their Discovery Night at the Museum. Learn how to create a series of two or more relief prints in the style of American pop artist Andy Warhol. No prior art experience is necessary. The program is designed for adults and upper elementary school-aged children and older. The fee is $18 per person. Reservations are required.

Architectural Accents II exhibit

Don’t miss the new exhibition Architectural Accents II at USCB Center for the Arts with 29 paintings by award-winning watercolor artist Robert Steinmetz. It’s free and open to the public.

Husson’s Lowcountry Visions exhibit

See Letty Husson’s peaceful landscapes of the South Carolina Lowcountry at the Society of Bluffton Artist’s Gallery in Old Town Bluffton.

Nancy Wellard may be reached at coastalartnews@gmail.com.

More than a dozen property owners in one of Bluffton’s luxury communities alleges the developer devised a plan to “carry out a deceptive and costly hoax” on them, according to an 83-page civil action lawsuit filed last week in Beaufort County.

At its core, the plaintiffs’ main frustrations are overcrowded amenities, forced paid-membership in the Palmetto Bluff Club, and an attack on short-term rentals, according to the suit.

“The lawsuit is about the illegal actions of the developer of Palmetto Bluff, which is working with the other Defendants to carry out a deceptive and costly hoax on Palmetto Bluff property owners,” the suit says.

It alleges the Palmetto Bluff Development, LLC “constructed a house of cards, buttressed by deceptive and illegal governing documents — intending to exit before the cards collapsed.”

Crescent Communities, a Charlotte-based development company, purchased Palmetto Bluff in 2000, and it has since grown to become the town of Bluffton’s largest tract, with space for 4,000 residential dwelling units and 180 acres of commercial development.

The gated waterfront community features residential properties, including a number of multimillion-dollar homes, with amenities including swimming pools, fitness facilities, dining venues, clubhouses and courts for racket sports.

The master plan for the community calls for about 4,000 homes, of which “at least 800” lots have already been constructed and 400 more are underway, the suit says.

It’s also the location of five-star hotel and spa Montage Palmetto Bluff, which made national headlines in 2019 when Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin had their wedding there and again when No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Trevor Lawrence and his longtime girlfriend tied the knot there last year. Palmetto Bluff has never lacked for celebrity visitors.

Residents, who pay for the amenities, “frequently” find they are “overwhelmed” by hotel guests and events, who receive “preferential treatment” according to the lawsuit, adding owners no longer have access to the amenities that influenced them to purchase within Palmetto Bluff.

“There is no room in the dining venues; there is no room by the pools; there is no room on the courts; there is no room in the fitness areas,” the suit says.

The plaintiffs allege Palmetto Bluff passed the costs of the amenities onto the homeowners but kept the benefits for itself by prioritizing the resort guests.

The suit names 12 defendants — Palmetto Bluff Development, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Preservation Trust, Inc.; Palmetto Bluff Club, LLC; PBLH, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, LLC; Montage Palmetto Bluff, LLC; Palmetto Bluff Preservation Trust Board of Stewards and four of its officers, and South Street Partners, LLC — and 25 “John Does,” which are “unidentified corporations, entities and/or individuals” who potentially will be added to the suit as it progresses.

The main defendant appears to be the Palmetto Bluff Development, but the lawsuit accuses the others of acting “in concert with one another” as Palmetto Bluff “orchestrated its fraudulent scheme,” the suit alleges.

A “catalyst” for the legal action was a change in ownership of the development in June 2021, according to the suit, where South Street Partners, LLC is now “making the day-to-day decisions” therefore “directly responsible for the current situation.”

South Street Partners is a private equity firm out of Charleston, which is a co-investor with London private equity firm Henderson Park. The suit alleges the companies “have a business plan to flip Palmetto Bluff within eight years ... after bringing from it as much profit as they can manufacture.”

“These profit-focused private equity executives see Palmetto Bluff as a lucrative short-term transaction on a manipulated spreadsheet,” the suit says.

It also alleges that homeowners being required to join the for-profit Palmetto Bluff Club, which requires a joining fee and dues, is unlawful because it is not a homeowners’ association. However, the suit says homeowners have no stake in the club.

Lastly, the lawsuit says although the developer originally allowed some designated homes to be rented out short term, it “later realized, to its irritation, that these rentals directly compete with its hotel business” and diluting the resort’s profits. Now, the developer is “weaponizing the community’s governing documents to propel business away from” these homes.

An internal document included in the suit states the firm’s goal is to “do away with” neighborhood amenities and short-term rentals besides their own.

No other actions or response from either the plaintiffs or the defendants have yet been publicly filed, but a Palmetto Bluff spokesperson released a statement Tuesday evening saying “the planned changes ... are designed to be in the best long-term interested of our residents.”

“We regret that a small handful of our existing property owners, who have elected to use their homes as short term rental properties, are dissatisfied with these planned modifications,” the statement said. “They do not impact the Bluffton resident access to visit and enjoy Palmetto Bluff, rather only impact a renter’s access to the private club component of the community and are in keeping with the governing documents. South Street Partners has a long term commitment to the Palmetto Bluff community, our members and the town of Bluffton.”

This story was originally published April 19, 2022 5:38 PM.

Here are some upcoming arts and cultural events in Beaufort County to enjoy.

“In the Heights,” the Tony-winning best musical

When a winning lottery ticket, a power outage, and romantic tension shake up the neighborhood, the long-time friends and neighbors make discoveries about each other and themselves.

Featuring an exhilarating score by Lin Manuel-Miranda, this fresh and revolutionary musical combines Latin rhythms and dance to tell a captivating story about what it means to chase your dreams as you cling to your roots and to celebrate the community from which you grew.

Bluffton Village Festival, known as “Mayfest”

This is one of the area’s favorite festivals because it has something for everyone, such as food, arts and crafts, music, and entertainment.

Two stages — the main stage in Martin Family Park and a second on Bridge Street — will provide a variety of entertainment. Admission is free.

Look forward to the Derby Hat parade, the Country Project, the Pie-Eating Contest at Dubois Park and the infamous Ugliest Dog Contest starting at 1 p.m. at Heyward House.

Terpsichore by Hilton Head Dance Theatre

Don’t miss Hilton Head Dance Theatre’s annual production of both classical and contemporary dance. It’s always an audience favorite!

“The Versatile Jazz Band,” by the Lowcountry Jazz Band

The 17-member Lowcountry Jazz Band will present jazz favorites about love, standards arranged by the gifted composer Wally Menard and newer arrangements of jazz classics, all with engaging introductions.

The Jazz Band with vocalist Robin Lind is a subgroup of the Lowcountry Community Concert Band under the auspices of the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute and is directed by Mary Woodmansee Green. The concert is free; an offering will be taken to support the band’s purchase of music and equipment.

Swing into Summer concert

Hilton Head Big Band, under the direction of Pete Stephenson, will premiere “Where is Freedom?” by musical theater writers Luanne and Kristen Rosenfeld. The new song, arranged by Richard Orr and performed by Amber Thornburg, will be featured at the Swing Into Summer concert benefiting the Junior Jazz Foundation. The foundation helps ensure young music students get the instruments, lessons and opportunities they need to keep music alive on Hilton Head for the next generation.

“America Sings!” by the Hilton Head Choral Society

A celebration of the American spirit! Join the chorus, the Atlanta Symphony Brass Quintet, and a special guest speaker in an all-American musical program including a tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, current and past. Celebrate the Memorial Day weekend with the HHCS.

Artists of HOPE works on display

Artwork produced by The Artists of HOPE, a group of local cancer patients and survivors, is on display on Hilton Head. Many of the paintings are available as part of a silent auction to raise funds for the H.O.P.E. Life Cancer Recovery Fund which provided the art therapy to this group.

Looking ahead to summer

Ben Wolfe and his Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute have two amazing musicals planned at the Seahawk Cultural Center on Hilton Head. For more info, go to HHISummerMusicals.com or call 866-749-2228.

Nancy Wellard may be reached at coastalartnews@gmail.com.

The seed for Ryan Clark's love of gardening was planted with his grandmother when he was a kid. "My earliest memories of childhood are about gardening with her," says Clark. Fast-forward to 2016, when he was ready to cultivate the plot he built with his dad in his parents' Bluffton, South Carolina, backyard. "When I planted my first vegetables there, my grandmother was with me," he says. "It was a special moment, kind of a role reversal, and now I'm carrying on her tradition." His year-round efforts yield a bounty of organic produce, herbs, and flowers. He also collects fresh eggs from his brood of 12 hens and honey from two hives of bees. Clark describes gardening as a "total creative expression," while his background with a degree in biology helps with the plant-growing process. "I jokingly tell people that this is my full-time job outside of my real one," says Clark, who has a career in marketing. "My favorite part of the day is when I slip off my work shoes and put on my boots." Here, he takes us inside his Lowcountry oasis to share his gardening tips.

"One of the themes of the garden is duality. I put interesting companion plants together to serve different roles and help one another out," says Clark. In the front beds, for example, he pairs daffodils with society garlic, which deer don't browse. After the daffodils bloom during winter and early spring, the society garlic flowers in late spring and summer. "The leaves look very similar and take up the same amount of real estate, but you still get two kinds of blooms. Then as the daffodil foliage is regrowing for the next season, it blends into the society garlic," he says. Clark also likes to incorporate plants that can serve multiple purposes. The cypress trees and boxwood hedges placed along the border act as a screen for the garden, and he uses fresh clippings for holiday greenery.

"I didn't want people to see the whole garden right from the get-go. There's a sense of adventure as they walk through the yard because I let things reveal themselves," says Clark. The flowy flower borders in front balance out the tidier, formal raised beds inside the fence. He adds a mixture of annuals, perennials, and evergreen shrubs so the beds will be in bloom year-round. Gaura, snapdragon, butterfly bush, chaste tree, and Mexican bush sage welcome bees and butterflies. Inside, the garden is divided into quadrants with beds devoted to fruits, vegetables, and cutting flowers. Wander along the pea gravel walkway to discover the chicken coop and the potting shed.

Clark leverages plants to his advantage around the chicken coop. Wisteria grows on the south-facing front side, so during the winter (when all its leaves fall off), the chickens can warm themselves in the sun. During spring and summer, the wisteria foliage comes back, providing shade and cooler temperatures. The jasmine growing on the coop adds fragrance to help mask the smell of the flock. When it comes down to it, Clark advises, "Just allow nature to do its thing, and don't try to fight it too much."

Clark's 12 hens inspired the garden's name, The Daily Dozen. Follow along with his harvests on Instagram, @the_daily_dozen.

When Clark had no luck growing alliums, he conceded to the climate and invested in plants that would thrive in his area. "Focus on what does well, and celebrate that. Not everyone is going to have the same success with everything. That's the beauty of it too," he says. Citrus trees love the Lowcountry conditions, so Clark went all in. Planting them along the border creates a screen for deer, squirrels, armadillos, and other bothersome animals. He harvests 'Meyer' lemons, 'Persian' limes, 'Key' limes, 'Valencia' oranges, blood oranges, and clementines, just to name a few fruits.

None of the produce goes to waste because Clark shares his bounty with friends and family. He makes tomato-basil soup and pickles with some of his bumper crop and gives lemons to his grandmother, who uses them in her water every day. Clark juices the excess citrus, freezes the liquid in ice trays, and defrosts the cubes as needed. He has also experimented with homemade limoncello and clemencello.

He loves to share his happy place with others. "The garden has been home to big life moments and also provides elements of tradition," he says. It's where a friend held their wedding and where Clark picked the flowers for his brother's nuptials. He also grows the sweet potatoes for his family's Thanksgiving meal, and his grandmother uses the oranges for her Christmas salad.

Bluffton, SC – Weniger Plastic Surgery is a leading plastic surgery clinic in Bluffton, SC. They have been open for years and have helped many clients regain control of their lives by boosting their self-esteem and confidence through plastic surgery procedures. Having earned several accolades from past and present clients, the plastic surgery clinic has announced the redesign of its website.

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Those looking to learn more about the plastic surgery clinic and the lead surgeon can visit the “About” section, where information on the lead plastic surgeon, Frederick G. Weniger M.D., can be found. The section also offers visitors a sneak peek into the world of satisfied clients who have chosen the clinic for their various procedures. Those who wish to take a virtual tour of the clinic’s state-of-the-art facility can also do that by clicking the “State of the Art Facility” tab.

Weniger Plastic Surgery is transparent about the services and procedures provided. Under the “Our Services” section, visitors will be able to browse the numerous procedures offered by the clinic, including expert facial plastic surgery in Bluffton SC. Some of the facial procedures offered include ear surgery, endoscopic brow lift, mini brow lift, eyelid surgery, facelift, face fat grafting, lip lift, mid facelift, mini facelift, facial implants, rhinoplasty, and Kybella. Visitors interested in any of these facial surgery options can click through to read more about them and contact the plastic surgeon to schedule an appointment.

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Men and women are welcome to visit the plastic surgery facility to discuss their specific enhancement needs. The surgeon also provides additional services like Platelet Rich Plasma therapy, LUX medical spa services, NeoGrafts, and more. Visitors can call the plastic surgery clinic directly from the website using the “call us” button or alternatively via their phone line at 843-757-0123. For more information, visit them at 350 Fording Island Rd #200, Bluffton, SC, 29910, United States.

Media Contact

Company Name Weniger Plastic Surgery Contact Name Dr. Fredrick Weniger Phone 843-757-0123 Address 350 Fording Island Rd #200 City Bluffton State SC Postal Code 29910 Country United States Website https://www.wenigerplasticsurgery.com/

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