Posts Tagged ‘South Carolina’
Lunch Money at RCPL
Last weekend, I joined the groupies of the coolest kids’ rock band around at one of the hippest locations in town. I’m talkin’ about Lunch Money, and I’m talkin’ about the Richland County Public Library. Seriously, how many single locations can you think of where your kid can (1) get story and sing-a-long time, (2) watch a play put on by local actors, and (3) hear an indie-rock concert all in one morning before you pick up your favorite brain candy on the way out? Oh yeah – and all of this is essentially for free, not to mention the bonus of a child ready for nap time once the excitement has come to an end. J.P. and I don’t have kids yet, but I’m taking notes.
Here’s Lunch Money. They will rock your socks off!
Gyrotonic Columbia at Lululemon
Lululemon Athletica has opened a new store in Columbia on Divine Street, and on Saturday, they invited Rosemary from Gyrotonic Columbia to come out and do a demo class on the front lawn.
Now, Wendy loves Gyrotonic and is also a big fan of Lululemon’s athletic wear. Me, I’m self-aware enough to know that I get weird looks at the gym if I wear cargo shorts, which I really don’t think is fair. Still, I recognize how energized Wendy is after a class with Rosey and how much better she feels generally when she’s working out with her.
Listening to Rosey and Wendy talk about Lululemon’s clothes, it’s clear that they’re high quality and designed for working out. Even as something of an outsider to the whole stretchy-fitness-scene, I’d heard the name Lululemon referenced as a great company with a quality product. They even have clothes for guys, though I don’t get the impression that I’m their target market. (Krispy Kreme, however, has me in their sights.) No, these are workout clothes and, as you can see on Rosey and Wendy, they’re well suited to the task.
Here’s Wendy doing one of the few things that I felt I could comfortably follow along with.
Pretty sure I can’t do this.
Can’t do that.
No, definitely can’t do this!
Oh. My. Gosh.
And she’s smiling! Why is she smiling?!?!
Finally, a pose I can handle.
Here’s a group shot of the girls from the Gyrokinesis class.
If you’d like to see some more of our photos from Gyrotonic Columbia you can click here, and be sure to swing by Lululemon Athletica to gear up before heading to your Gyrotonic, yoga, or CrossFit class. You’ll feel great during your workout and I guarantee you’ll be better dressed than me.
Wedding at St. Thomas More: Andrea and Chavous
We have a great couple for you today!
Chavous and Andrea were married at St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel at the University of South Carolina. Chavous and I have known each other for quite a while and our overlapping passions for computers, college radio, photography, and philosophy mean that when we get together we usually wind up talking for quite a while. Not on the wedding day, though–he had more pressing matters to attend to.
(If you were marrying her you’d be focused on that, too.)
Unfortunately, Chavous was in such a hurry to marry Andrea that he sliced the crap out of himself shaving. He was literally holding a handkerchief to his lip between every formal photo we did leading up to the ceremony. Of course, you can’t see the wound here because I’m such an amazing photographer. (*Cough* * Cough* Photoshop *Cough*)
Injuries aside, the wedding was lovely, with beautiful details as you can see in Wendy’s photo of Andrea’s garter.
…and the lovely bride herself.
After the ceremony, the party moved over to the Chickawa Outdoor Center at Saluda River Club where there was eating…
…dancing…
…kissing… 
(Okay, mostly by the bride and groom.)
There was even time for a little spinning, and some lovingly looking into one another’s eyes.
(…’cause that’s what you do.)
Bridal Portraits at Woodcreek Farms: Felina
This post is slightly delayed. Okay, significantly delayed. Okay, horribly delayed. Felina and Patrick were married two years ago today at Woodcreek Farms Country Club. Their wedding was absolutely beautiful, and, as you can see, so was the bride.
To celebrate their anniversary, here are a few of Felina’s bridals. Enjoy!
Brandon Reese – Illustrator
Brandon Reese is a Charlotte-based artist who puts the “ill” in “illustrator”. (No, no, really, hold your applause!)
I first became aware of Brandon’s work when he created the art for Lunch Money’s CD Dizzy.
Since then, he’s created gorgeous illustrations for Original Friend and Spicy Kid, as well as the Grammy-Award-winning Can You Canoe? by The Okee Dokiee Brothers. If you primarily get your music via download or streaming, Brandon’s illustrations for Original Friend should make you seriously rethink that.
Brandon’s art is filled with the kinds of characters who you want to take by the hand to go on an adventure, even if that adventure is just lying in the grass looking up at the clouds. I think the thing about his work that most resonates with me is his sense of playfulness. Without stripping the world of its complexity and difficulties, Brandon reminds his viewer to not take life too seriously.
Anyway, at the end of last year and the beginning of this Richland County Public Library put on an exhibition of Brandon’s works called “Laughter and Raindrops”. I decided to recruit a few kids and photograph them with the illustrations (which look great large, by the way). Yes, I probably should have posted these when you could still go see the exhibit–mea culpa. To see more of his work, though, you really ought to visit his website. If you’d like to dig a little deeper into his portfolio (and maybe even discover his subversive side), I suggest a tour through his blog. In the meantime, feel free to whet your appetite with these:
What’s that? You’re in love with Brandon’s work and want to exchange money for the opportunity to own some of it? I can’t say I blame you. Here are a few places you can do just that:
You could get a CD he’s illustrated like: Dizzy, Original Friend, Spicy Kid, or Can You Canoe?
You could buy a book he’s illustrated such as Print Writing: A Creepy-Crawly Alphabet, or one he’s written and illustrated, like Draw Me Healthy: A Sticky Book, which also lets you (or your kids) illustrate and re-illustrate the story through the magic of Post-It notes.
Finally, if you want to grace your walls with his art, you can visit his gallery at Thumbtack Press where you can purchase his prints. The should look great hanging next to your photos by Lumos Studio.
Carolina Crossfit’s Famously Hot Showdown
More CrossFit!
Saturday morning Wendy and I went out to the first half of Carolina CrossFit’s Famously Hot Showdown at the Field House in Columbia, SC. Two hundred athletes competed in CrossFit games, including a sandbag run, kettlebell swings, farmers carries, back extensions, burpees, pullups, something called an “angry root hog”… Yes, these people chose to get up before the sun to come out and do this on a Saturday. Look at ’em, they’re so happy!
You know how CrossFitters sometimes say “Our warmup is your workout”? They’re not kidding. The guy below is just getting ready for the first event.
And this was the first event: the sandbag run. (It’s pretty much what it sounds like. Grab a sandbag and run.)
I appreciate that it’s apparently this guy’s idea of a great time.
This dude? He’s just won the second event of his division…and I asked him to pose for a portrait.
I suspect he would have rather been posing like this:
It was really impressive watching the athletes push themselves to their absolute limits. One thing I love about the ethos of CrossFit is that even when folks are competing against others, they’re still primarily competing with themselves.
Big thanks to Paul and Dorothy and the rest of the folks at Carolina CrossFit for inviting us to photograph this great event! Everybody was friendly, upbeat, and just generally a blast to hang around.
