Thursday, Feb. 09, 2012

Don’t break the bank this Valentine’s Day

Strand offers plenty of affordable ways to celebrate your love

cslate@thesunnews.com

Charleston Cafe in Surfside Beach has wonderful ambiance and a selection of romantic foods and wines for a Valentine celebration like this Red Velvet Cake. 02/02/12 Photo by Charles Slate

 

If you go

A sampling of area Valentine’s events:

• “Cupid’s Comedy Capers” by the Carolina Improv Company, for ages 18 and older, at 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Uptown in Myrtle Beach mall, at U.S. 17 and S.C. 22, near Briarcliffe Acres. $12. Also: “Improv Comedy Buffet” 8:30 p.m. Saturday; $10. 272-4242, www.carolinaimprov.com or www.uptownmb.com.

 

• “Chocolate & Champagne for the Creatures” for SC-CARES Animal Sanctuary of Georgetown County, 5-9 p.m. Saturday at The Cooper House, 6011 Dick Pond Road, Socastee, south of the swing bridge, between Forestbrook Road and S.C. 707. Advance: $30 ages 12 and older, $50 couples, and $10 ages 11 and younger; add $5 per ticket at the door. 546-7893 or www.sc-cares.org. Tickets also available at Sweeties, 707 Front St., Georgetown.

 

• “Family Date Night,” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Chick-fil-A, 85 Rodeo Drive, Carolina Forest, with full table service, music, a family craft and activities for all ages. Reservations at 903-3322.

 

• “Hearts of Passion III: A Gospel Feast” by the Carolina Master Chorale with Mason Temple Church of God in Christ of Conway, at 8 p.m. Friday at Seaside United Methodist Church, 1300 Seaside Road, Sunset Beach, N.C.; 4 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3000 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach; and 4 p.m. Sunday at Mason Temple Church of God of Christ, 1501 Seventh Ave., Conway. $20 advance, $25 at door, or $5 students with ID. 444-5774 or www.carolinamaster chorale.com.

 

•  “How Sweet It Is” Valentine art showcase, 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Lakes at Litchfield, 120 Lakes at Litchfield Drive, Pawleys Island, with a new collection of works from gallery artists who will be on hand for discussion. Champagne and desserts will be served. RSVP by Friday by calling 235-9393 or emailing concierge@lakes-litchfield.com.

 

• “Love & Laughter Sweetheart Package,” 8 p.m. Tuesday at Comedy Cabana, 9588 N. Kings Highway, just north of Myrtle Beach, with three comics, a long-stemmed rose for women, and a box of chocolates. $20. 449-4242 or www.comedycabana.com.

 

•  Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, off U.S. 501 and George Bishop Parkway, just west of Myrtle Beach. Special events: $99 couples package, including dinner, a Valentine scroll and two cheering flags, 6 p.m. Friday-Tuesday, including the “Royal Renewal Celebration” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday only, before the dinner show. Regular prices: $50.95 ages 13 and older, $30.95 ages 12 and younger. 236-8080, 800-436-4386 or www.medievaltimes.com.

 

•  “Movies on Main Street,” with Theatre of the Republic, “Roman Holiday” 7 p.m. Tuesday at Main Street Theatre, 337 Main St., Conway; $5. 488-0821 or www.theatreoftherepublic.com.

 

• Ripley’s Aquarium, at Broadway at the Beach, on 29th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach (www.ripleysaquarium.com), with reservations required:

– “Tunnel of Love” Valentine’s Dinner on Saturday; $79.99 per couple, including meal, rose and tax and gratuity. Call 916-0888, ext. 3221.

– “Father Daughter Dance,” 6-9 p.m. Sunday, for all ages with fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or anyone with a special girl, for a semi-formal evening including music, dancing and photos; $29.99 per couple and $12.99 for additional daughters. Call 916-0888, ext. 3226.

 

• “Romantic Dinner for Two by You” cooking demonstration, 3 p.m. Sunday at Brookgreen Gardens, on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach. $35 single, $60 couple. Reservations required at 235-6016. More details at www.brookgreen.org.

 

• “Singing Valentines” annual fundraiser by the Sweet Adelines Hallelujah quartet, delivered Friday-Tuesday with three songs each. $30, with proceeds helping offset expenses such as for coaching, costumes and seminars. 650-0625, www.hallelujahquartet.com or hallelujahbass@yahoo.com.

 

•  “Smooch A Pooch & Kiss A Kitty” gala by the Grand Strand Humane Society, 7-10 p.m. Saturday at Burroughs & Chapin Company Inc’s Grand Dunes Members Club in Myrtle Beach. $150 donation per couple, including Kibbles & Bits band, dancing, a reverse raffle and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Reservations at 918-4913 or email Amy DuPre at amydupre@sc.rr.com. More details at www.grandstrand humanesociety.com.

 

•  “Sweetheart Dance” by the Grand Strand Senior Beach Ballroom Dancers, 7-10 p.m. Feb. 18 at Grand Strand Senior Center, 1268 21st Ave. N., Myrtle Beach. $7; bring snacks for your table only; maximum eight people per table. 903-3765 or 445-7604.

 

• Valentine’s Dance with the Stardusters big band, 7-11 p.m. Saturday in North Myrtle Beach’s J. Bryan Floyd Community Center, 1030 Possum Trot Road, 1030 Possum Trot Road, north of U.S. 17, opposite 14th and 15th avenues South. $5 donation. 910-575-4620.

 

•  Valentine’s Dance, a social ballroom event with Grand Strand USA Dance, Chapter 6024, 7-10 p.m. Saturday with music and pre-dance salsa lesson by DJ Dancin’ Jim Sterner, at Myrtle Beach’s Base Recreation Center, 800 Gabreski Lane; $7 members, otherwise $10. Bring a dish to share; beverages supplied; singles welcome. 449-3399 or www.usadancegrandstrand.org.

 

•  Valentine’s Day pet adoption event, for Castaway Paws Rescue, with Two by Two Rescue and Coastal Animal Rescue, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Pets Inn Paradise Island, 12137 Ocean Highway (U.S. 17), Pawleys Island, with live music by The Big Lie band. $8 meals (barbecue sandwich, cole slaw and beans) by Hog Heaven BBQ. 314-3849 or email castawaypawsrescue @gmail.com.

Hearts are already aflutter this weekend in the days leading to Valentine’s Day, which falls on Tuesday this year.

Lots of folks may want to splurge on their honeys this year, but with the economy being touch-and-go, they may not have the dough to spoil their significant other.

There are ways, however, to celebrate your relationship without breaking the bank while also either helping a good cause, enjoying a delicious meal or giving your sense of humor a good workout.

Various local groups, causes, entertainers, eateries and businesses are getting a jump-start on the lovers’ holiday this weekend. Some extend that love to other beings that brighten people’s lives, but others offer good deals and good food year round.

Like Charleston Cafe in Surfside Beach.

Owned by Brayer Cheezem, originally from Mullins, Charleston Cafe is a triple threat of good food, ambience and average prices, which makes it a spot worthy of romantics’ consideration for Valentine’s Day.

The cafe offers five different menus sure to please anyone’s palate: Lunch, Dinner, Sunset, Dessert and Lounge. The lunch menu prices vary from $3.50 for a cup of soup to $9 for a French dip sandwich, which is served with a choice of side (sweet potato fries, french fries, potato salad or fruit salad.)

Appetizers on the dinner menu are $4-$10 while entrees range from $16-$29. Sides for dinner include pepper biscuits and white cheddar grits, among others.

The Sunset Menu, a winter special served nights Monday-Thursday in February and March, offers orange-glazed ham with white cheddar mac & cheese for $12 or fish and chips with french fries for $11, among other choices.

Charleston Cafe’s desserts are all made in house and include cheesecake with fresh raspberries, and red velvet cake.

If this sounds like the romantic restaurant you’ve been searching for, call 238-2200. It’s located at 815 Surfside Drive, Surfside Beach. Visit www.charleston-cafe.com.

Animals need love too

The SC-CARES Animal Sanctuary of Georgetown County will have its second “Chocolate & Champagne for the Creatures” Saturday evening at The Cooper House by the Socastee Swing Bridge in Myrtle Beach.

Skip Yeager, co-founder and executive director of SC-CARES, said the nonprofit, which specializes in helping homeless “exotic and domestic animals,” first held this kind of benefit bash in 2010.

The 2012 event marks the first in this part of Horry County, Yeager said, so grateful that the owners of The Cooper House donated use of their room, with decorations and food preparations for the gala.

Yeager said admission, $50 per couple, includes “two flutes of champagne, and all the chocolate you can eat, from Sweeties in Georgetown,” such as chocolate-covered strawberries.

While the $50 fee may seem like a lot, not only does that pay for a special night a couple can share together while enjoying delicious sweet treats, they can also find satisfaction in helping out a good cause.

The need for SC-CARES, which continues working on building partnerships with other rescue groups across the state, remains high, Yeager said, explaining that officials have had to turn away 400 animals since the shelter’s founding in 2006, including 100 last year, “because as we get more known, we get more calls.”

More than 160 animals were under its care as of this week, Yeager said, and large parrots make up the majority, including macaws, cockatoos and African greys, with social natures that require heavy attention and a bond in a household.

Having this fundraiser marks the first time SC-CARES scheduled one so close to Valentine’s Day, Yeager said, quoting co-founder Cindy Hedrick’s words: “It’s sharing the love.”

Unexpected romance

The Carolina Improv Company, based at Uptown in Myrtle Beach mall, near Briarcliffe Acres,” will do a double dose of “Cupid’s Comedy Capers” Friday and Saturday evenings.

Gina Trimarco Cligrow, the troupe’s director of training and entertainment, said the subject of romance commands an extra spotlight for Valentine’s Day, for outings for couple’s or a girls’ night out, but dates are not required for attendance.

She said the theater has fun with the occasion every Valentine’s Day, with fare suitable for ages 18 and older.

“It’s as usual, audience suggestions that’ll be about relationships and Valentine’s Day,” Trimarco Cligrow said, “and whether do they do like or do not like it, with all the usual shenanigans. ... We typically see it as a date-night crowd that weekend.”

Trimarco Cligrow said also after the Saturday show, guests can buy tickets for another performance, “Improv Comedy Buffet,” in which audiences choose from a menu of comedy topics to consume and see developed on stage, for “a double feature night.”

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament will have $99 “Couples Packages” for its shows nightly from Friday through Feb. 14.

These patrons for the show on Saturday can take part in Medieval Times’ first-ever “Royal Renewal Ceremony,” at 5:30 p.m., and that price also includes dinner, two banners and a Valentine’s Day scroll.

Jennifer Willard, marketing and sales manager, said officials in the “castle” wanted to inaugurate this kind of event for Valentine’s Day this year and are excited to see how it goes.

“It’ll be in the fashion of a mass ceremony,” she said, “an opportunity for married couples to come and basically enjoy a Valentine’s Day night and renew their vows in royal style.”

Willard said participants are welcome to have friends and family purchase tickets for the dinner and show to celebrate this “brief mass knighting” ceremony with them.

“We do knighting ceremonies every day,” Willard said. “This is just a big one.”

Contact STEVE PALISIN at 444-1764 or CAROLINE EVANS at 626-0244.