It’s July, the second official month of summer, and the Lowcountry is heating up in every which way it can (yes, that was a nod to our 100-degree temps). We’ve got a vibrant issue devoted to helping you make the most of the month, whether you’re a visitor on vacation or a local who forgot to book their cabin in the mountains.
Our issue kicks off with a nod to our local bike ambassadors, whom you might have seen in their day-glo vests traversing the island’s bike paths. These volunteers spend their free time helping you stay safe on our pathways, while assisting lost visitors with maps and other bits of info like where to enjoy the best seafood with a view.
They are on a mission to share Hilton Head Island’s new Bike Safety Etiquette guidelines, which you can find on page 26. In an effort to assist the cause, Heather Rath and the Coligny Plaza crew commissioned our in-house famous local musician, Jevon Daly, to write a song about bike safety. We’ll be debuting this fun video on our social media channels sometime this month, starring a few of our friends at the Bluffton Boys & Girls Club.
Also in these pages is an article about the Breeze Trolley, Hilton Head Island’s very own complimentary trolley service, which operates seasonally. Check out page 30 for more info on how this came to be, and head to breezetrolley.com to find the list of areas it services.
When I go on vacation, I like to shop. I know you all probably find this shocking. 😉 Don’t you just love perusing local boutiques and stores that have unique things you can’t find anywhere else? Any items purchased on vacation now have a story that lives on when you return home, whether it’s a sexy new sundress, a colorful piece of art, or an album purchased in a cool eclectic record store. To this end, we thought we’d feature local shops that were born in the Lowcountry – and highlight the people that started them. The section starts on page 34 of this issue – and we hope it encourages you to Shop Local.
Our Neighborhood Stroll returns this month, with a feature on peaceful Callawassie Island. The Tiki Hut recently got a remodel and we’ve got photos of the stunning transformation and the grand opening festivities on page 74. Courtney and Barry take on the Man vs. Bear debate that’s been breaking the internet for a few months now, and we spend an evening at HarbourFest, now in its 35th year, eating Top Dawg pizza and listening to Shannon Tanner rile up the crowd.
If you’re looking to escape the heat, we’ve got features on two fantastic theatre productions, Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute’s Gypsy and Sea Glass Stage Company’s rendition of The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Coligny Theatre. Chicago is also at the Arts Center this summer – so if you’re looking for culture, we’ve got it!
Last but not least – Happy Birthday, America!