Best Bets for the Myrtle Beach area July 31-Aug. 6

Tours resume at SC-CARES

Tours of S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary, better known as SC-CARES and based at 236 Abbeville Drive, off U.S. 701, north of Georgetown, are available again as of Saturday, after the host family has dealt with a medical issue.

Call 546-7893 to schedule a tour; a suggested minimum donation is $15 for adults, otherwise $10.

The animal haven also has two fundraisers booked for August:

▪ “BarkAid 2015,” 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 15, with haircuts by Patrick Lomantini, a master hairstylist and his team, on his “50 States Tour,” at Beautiful Salon, 11983 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island. Appointments at 237-2333. More details at www.barkaid.org.

▪ Fish fry, 1-6 p.m. Aug. 29 at On the 1/2 Shell, 4500 U.S. 17 Bypass S., Murrells Inlet (651-1296).

More information at www.sc-cares.org, or email cindy@sc-cares.org.

Two deals on cruises in August

The addition of a second ship in its Grand Strand fleet has prompted the Big “M” Casino in Little River to celebrate with two special promotions for August, both with free boarding, normally $25, but a $15 savings, with the $10 port fee that still applies:

▪ On “Senior Day Sunday,” every week in August on the new, seasonal ship, on a nonsmoking cruise from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., departing from 4495 Mineola Ave., everyone ages 55 and older will have free boarding.

▪ For Teacher Appreciation Month, for August on both ships, departing from Mineola Avenue and the year-round vessel based at 4491 Waterfront Ave., teachers who show their teacher/school ID also will receive free boarding daily on both ships.

For scheduling and other details: 249-9811, ext. 307; 877-250-5825 (LUCK); or www.bigmcasino.com/myrtle-beach/.

‘Stories of Our Region’ shared in gallery

Readings, presentations and a reception will rule the afternoon on Saturday in “Stories of Our Region,” with Coastal Carolina University’s Athenaeum Press. The public’s invited to learn in depth about projects set in Horry County and the Lowcountry, at Seacoast Artists Gallery, 3032 Nevers St., Myrtle Beach, in The Market Common, across from the city’s Valor Memorial Garden. Admission is free:

▪ 1-2 p.m. – Jane Spillane of Murrells Inlet, widow of novelist Mickey Spillane, sharing memories from her book and audio CD, “My Life with Mickey,” published in 2014.

▪ 2-3 p.m. – Eldred “Wink” Prince Jr., a longtime CCU history professor, discussing “Chasing the Paper Canoe” (2013), a photography book about the Waccamaw River with a 19th-century account of the river by Nathaniel Bishop, and the newly released “The Wealth of Nothing,” with photographs and poetry by William Van Auken Greene, an Aynor-area resident in the 1930s and ’40s.

▪ 3-4 p.m. – Eric Crawford, a CCU music professor, talking about “Gullah: the Voice of an Island,” a CD box set released in 2014 and highlighting music and culture of Gullah praise houses on St. Helena Island.

Details on the Athenaeum Press at 349-5099 or theathenaeumpress.com. Reach the gallery – which already is preparing for its Fall Arts and Crafts Festival, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 26-27 in Myrtle Beach’s Valor Memorial Garden – at 232-7009 or www.seacoastartistsguild.com.

‘Save the Coconuts’ to rock Murrells Inlet

Music will rock the “Save the Coconuts” benefit, 4 p.m. Sunday at Rockin’ Hard Saloon, 3140 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet.

Scheduled performers for this fundraiser for Caring in Our Lifetime – which helps residents of Horry and Georgetown counties deal with medical expenses from battling breast cancer – are Liz Blackstone, Dormitory Effect, Drea, Jesica Leigh, Liquid Courage, and Lara Maraqua, along with games, prizes, raffles, and a silent auction.

Admission is a $5 donation at the door. The coordinator of this benefit has a mother and grandmother who have survived breast cancer, which is in remission for both.

More details at 631-918-2641, and on the beneficiary at caringinourlifetime.com.

‘Music in the Park’ in Georgetown

The Georgetown Business Association has five free concerts in the “Music in the Park” series left to give summer a long kiss goodbye, slowly into autumn.

All are 6-9 p.m. on select Thursdays at Georgetown’s Francis Marion Park, at Front and Broad streets:

▪ Aug. 6 – The Foreclosures.

▪ Aug. 20 – Sharon Cumbee and Carol Brown.

▪ Sept. 3 – Bruce Tereo.

▪ Sept. 17 – After 5 Band.

▪ Sept. 24 – Party Favor band and Carolinas Midnight.

Also, catch a free movie, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” at sunset Aug. 21 in Georgetown’s Rainey Park, at Front and King streets.

Details at www.historicgeorgetownsc.com.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Best Bets for the Myrtle Beach area July 31-Aug. 6."