Friday, Jun. 24, 2011

Best Bets for the Myrtle Beach Area

TODAY | 06.24

The Fab II at Brookgreen

Beatles music will fill the air at 7 p.m. today as part of Brookgreen Gardens' "Cool Summer Evenings," with extended hours 5-9 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays through Aug. 12.

The Fab II - identical twins Bruce and Brian McElroy, longtime residents of the Grand Strand - will perform hits from the Beatles' catalog and the British Invasion.

All Friday concerts are on the lawn, near the Pavilion Restaurant. Other scheduled acts are the Jordan Gravel Jazz Combo July 1, Big Bang Boom (family pop/rock) July 8, Elise Testone and Friends (jazz, soul, blues) July 15, Blue Plantation (bluegrass) July 22, Grupo Kachimbo (Latin/salsa) July 29, Tru Sol (Motown, soul, hip-hop) Aug. 5, and Mystic Vibrations (reggae) Aug. 12.

All shows area free with garden admission, which lasts for seven days: $12 ages 13-64, $10 ages 65 and older, $6 ages 4-12, free ages 3 and younger.

The gardens, on U.S. 17, between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach, across from Huntington Beach State Park, open at 9:30 a.m. daily.

Details at 235-6000 or 800-849-1931, or www.brookgreen.org.

SATURDAY | 06.25

Elvis contest at Legends

More than one Elvis will be in the building for Legends in Concert's fourth annual Myrtle Beach Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Preliminary Contest, 7-10 p.m. Saturday at Legends' new venue at Broadway at the Beach, 29th Avenue North and U.S. 17 Bypass.

Thirteen tribute artists will vie for a $1,000 grand prize and a chance to compete in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest finals in August in Memphis, Tenn.

Diane DeVaughn Stokes of WEZV-FM 105.9 and WGTN-FM 100.7 will be the master of ceremonies, and radio personalities Banana Jack Murphy and Lou Krieger, as well as Janice Duffy from Hard Rock Cafe, are the judges. Leo Days, the current Elvis tribute artist at Legends, also will make a special appearance.

Tickets to the contest are the same as any Legends show: $37.95 regular and $42.95 preferred/VIP for ages 17 and older; and $14.95 and $19.95 respectively, for ages 3-16; and VIP table booth seats are $52.95 all ages

Details at 238-7827 or 800-960-7469, or www.legendsinconcert.com.

TODAY, THURSDAY | 06.24, 06.30

CCU hosting 3 art shows

Coastal Carolina University in Conway is hosting three art shows in the next week.

The Summer Arts Academy Exhibit, from a two-week CCU Department of Visual Arts program for area students in grades 7-12, is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today in the Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery, in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

A Duct Tape Fashion Show, of costumes made from brightly colored rolls of duct tape, the culmination of a children's art camp, is also 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today in the arts building courtyard.

The final CCU summer art show is "Dionaea Muscipula: The Work of Theresa Hackett," opening Thursday in the Bryan Art Gallery and continuing through Aug. 26. It showcases a New York contemporary artist's hybrid, abstract landscapes and juxtaposed, mixed-media sculptures. A closing reception and gallery talk with the artist at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fridays, and admission is free.

Details at 349-6454 or www.coastal.edu/bryanartgallery.

OPENS MONDAY | 06.27

Gallery opens annual show

The Franklin Square Gallery in Southport, N.C., opens its 31st annual Summer Regional Show on Monday, a juried exhibit that lasts through July 23.

N.C. painter Kate Legally is the judge for all the two-dimensional artwork, and she reviews all the paintings and selects what will actually be part of the show. Don Johns will judge the three-dimensional work, the pottery and the sculpture, and choose the entries. Each judge selects winners in his or her category, and then they collaborate in awarding the Best of Show.

Entries include "Abandoned," a watercolor by Ginny Wagner of Kure Beach, N.C.; "Ballerinas," a painting in watercolor and gouache by Claire Sallenger Martin of Supply, N.C.; and watercolor "Mediterranean Harbor" by Marianne Fischer of St. James, N.C. (pictured). All the artists are vying for more than $2,000 in prizes and awards, given at a reception 6-8 p.m. Tuesday.

Another traditional part of the show is the July 4 Raffle, which gives ticketholders the chance to own local art for $1. A collection of prints, pottery, original paintings and gift items will be raffled at 5 p.m. July 4. This artwork is contributed by members of The Associated Artists of Southport, the organization that manages this community gallery and plays host to the regional show. The proceeds are dedicated to maintaining the historic building, the former Southport school and town hall.

The gallery, at 130 East West St., two blocks from Southport's waterfront, is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, and admission is free. Details at 910-253-6458 or www.franklinsquaregallery.com.

TUESDAY | 06.28

Adelines present 'Freedom Sings' concert

The Grand Strand Harmony Chorus/Sweet Adelines International present a "Freedom Sings" Guest Night at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Surfside United Methodist Church, 800 13th Ave. N., Surfside Beach, at U.S. 17 Business.

Twenty-eight women are scheduled to perform, and the community is welcome to see the concert. Admission is free.

The chorus performs regularly across the area in places such as hospitals and rest homes, and new members are welcome to join the group through such guest nights. The chorus rehearses 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Details at 650-0625 or 650-7323.