BEAST OF THE BEACH | Myrtle Beach Sun News

This ain’t your daddy’s Best of the Beach. Or yo mama’s for that matter.

No, it’s your Surge-i-fied Best of the Beach. Or a Beast of a Beyatch, if you will.

As the bastard cousin of The Sun News family, we were allowed to play in the sanbox this year and participate in the beach’s longest-running, biggest, baddest best-of contest, and they even let us have our own categories. It was dubbed the “Best of the Rest,” so here’s the rest of the story.

Voted on by readers earlier this year, the various categories were revealed in Sunday’s special section in The Sun News (and repeated here again for shiz and giggles or in case you missed them), but we’ve gone above and beyond those tallies. We’ve also added our own best, ass-kickingest, perhaps even worst, weird, warped and sometimes-off-the-beaten path takes about the non-tourist life here along the Grand Strand compiled by our band of merry contributors we like to call the Bullpen. There’s even some spooky intrigue as we’re in the midst of Halloween.

And you can only read it right here (or online at www.weeklysurge.com).

So, let’s get crackin’, shall we?

Best Place to Channel Your Inner Homer Simpson

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Fractured Prune Doughnuts

“Mmmmm...doughnut.”- Homer J. Simpson, everyday American.

The recently opened Fractured Prune Doughnuts shop in Carolina Forest takes the humble doughnut to new levels. Their tagline, “Doughnuts…Hot-All-Ways” says it all, well almost. The house- made classic cake doughnuts are always made to order and served hot with a variety of decadent glazes and toppings. A franchise based out of Ocean City, Md. comprised of 23 stores, this is the first in our area, owned and operated by long-time local John Tew.

Fractured Prune features 15 specialty doughnuts including the “OC Sand” (honey glaze and cinnamon sugar), the “Salted Caramel” (caramel glaze and sea salt) and the “Strawberry Shortcake” ( strawberry glaze, graham crackers and powdered sugar). Guests may also design their own gourmet doughnut; with 15 glaze options and 15 delicious toppings the possibilities are endless. The glazes offered include Maple, Mocha and Raspberry and can be topped off with cookie crumbs, vanilla wafers or even crumbled bacon...mmmmm bacon.

Located in the Lowe’s Foods Shopping Center in Carolina Forest, just off International Drive, Fractured Prune Myrtle Beach is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9p.m. These freshly made wonders also make a great after dinner treat. The doughnuts are $1.69/single or $12.99/dozen, call ahead and carry out orders can be made as well (742-5460). Fractured Prune proudly carries the domestically roasted Gilley’s Coffee from New York in three sizes, all for less than $2 per cup. Assorted juices, bottled water, milk and even Red Bull are also available for an equally modest price.

Follow Fractured Prune Myrtle Beach on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fracturedprunemb for up-to-date specials and seasonal favorites.

- Jeff Thomas, for Weekly Surge

Best Local Hangover Cure

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iNoodles Vietnamese Cuisine

The best way to cure the aching head, dehydration and fuzzy teeth of a long night out is to eat. You can’t just eat anything. You will have to eat something that operates on all cylinders and attacks the barroom leftovers head on. You have to eat pho.

Pho is a Vietnamese street food dish that combines savory broth, noodles, herbs, spices and meat into one bowl. It is not meant to be a sexy dish as much as it is meant to be a heart-warming, soul-hugging bowl of goodness. The broth should glisten with melted fat, which is excellent for a hangover. The meat should be on the rare side and finish cooking in the broth with the noodles and onion. You should receive lime, basil, bean sprouts, jalapeño, hoisin sauce and sriracha to put into the soup. Make it spicy, you will not regret it. The polite thing to do is to put your head down and slurp away until you feel better.

The best pho on the beach is at iNoodles Vietnamese Cuisine (1486 U.S. 17 N.) in Little River. The secret to good pho is in the broth. It takes a long time to meld the flavors into a bold and flavorful mix. They cook it all day at iNoodles and serve it in three different sizes, depending on your appetite and how much you need to shake off the events of the night before.

In the proper style and idea of pho, iNoodles is simple, clean and friendly. It takes this Vietnamese comfort food and brings it to all of your senses. Refereed to as “noodle soup on steroids,” pho has been promoted by Anthony Bourdain for years. Shows of him hunkered over a bowl of steaming pho with the evidence of last night’s episode on his face is exactly why this dish is great. A few places make it, but only one makes it with the true taste and purpose for which it was intended. iNoodles in Little River is the place with the best hangover cure and a really great meal.

For more information, contact iNoodles Vietnamese Cuisine at 280-0679.

- Kevin Hoover, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Find a Piece of Ass

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Broadway at the Beach

Whether you're a local or a tourist, single or taken, a night out on the town can start and/or land you at Broadway at the Beach.

Looking for a late night companion? You can land that there, too. Broadway at the Beach certainly tops the charts when it comes to some of the most happening bars in a Myrtle Beach city square block. Not only that, the nightlife hub Celebrity Square houses a handful of nightclubs within very close proximity of one another, enough so that you can easily saunter (or stumble) from club to club without much effort.

This makes things especially easy for those on the prowl. If the pickin's aren't looking too good at Rodeo Bar & Grill, well you can just mosey on over to Revolutions. Better yet, head inside Celebrations, which has three clubs in one. Malibu's Surf Bar, Froggy Bottomz and Club Boca are all connected, tripling your potential selection for late-night booty.

Now, perhaps you don't have the best luck when it comes to actually sealing the deal with your late-night prospect. Being at Broadway at the Beach can up your success rate just because of the sheer number of people. The more party-seekers who are out drinking and being merry means the more likely you won't be going home alone.

Broadway at the Beach is also a saving grace for those who are not good at smalltalk. In fact, you may never have to talk to a person at all. Just shake your booty up next to someone at one of the loud clubs. If you last next to them for more than one song, chances are you can ride them for the rest of the night. And then there's alcohol, the inhibition-lifting goodness that has been helping people get laid since time began. It tends to flow freely at Broadway at the Beach, whether it's for a bachelorette party, guys’ golf trip, or just a random Tuesday night. If you rely on the spirits more than your wits when picking up someone to romp with, wait until later in the evening, giving your potential pick time to get their blood alcohol level closer to lighter fluid then a bodily fluid.

Perhaps the best thing about Broadway at the Beach for those on the prowl is the varying crowd. Between vacationers and scattered work schedules of locals, patrons are bound to be different each evening, not only upping the chance that you will NOT run into your previous rendezvous, but practically ensuring a new selection night after night. For more information, visit www.broadwayatthebeach.com ;or check it out yourself at 1325 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach.

- Mandy Rodgers, for Weekly Surge

Best Place To Play Trivia Without Having to Deal with Assholes

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Murphy’s Law, Carolina Forest

My dad, who knows tons of obscure details about things like Big Band jazz, Pittsburgh sports teams and World War II battles, likes to say he is a “fountain of useless information.”

I take after him. So much so that I have made the pursuit and knowledge of said information the basis of my social life. I know the answers to questions like “Which U.S. president had a pet mockingbird named Dick?” Answer: Thomas Jefferson.

Hello, my name is Christina and I’m a competitive bar trivia-aholic.

Over the years I have played team trivia in bars and restaurants in four states, and the one thing I’ve come to notice is that these trivia games attract their own special breed of assholes. The people who shout out answers, brazenly cheat, and/or argue every question ad infinitum. (A character I came to call Little Mr. Hostile once made a game hostess at a venue in Columbia cry).

Imagine my joy, then as a trivia-holic, when I discovered an oasis where the assholes are not allowed to run free.

It is Murphy’s Law at 4204 Carolina Exchange Drive in Carolina Forest.

There, on Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m., a Team Trivia game goes on where no asshole survives.

The game is hosted by Michael Oether, a man who apparently is a teacher in the daytime world but, on Tuesday nights, he runs a completely awesome trivia game.

Shout out an answer? You’re done. Turn in your score sheet and pencils. Get caught cheating? You’re done. Same thing. Out of the game. Act like an idiot and argue? You get the picture.

This particular Murphy’s Law is ordinarily a friendly, laid-back place where customers and staff alike don’t take much to people with lousy attitudes, and this is doubly true on trivia nights. Oether and the staff help trivia nuts like my friends and me have a good time without having to deal with people who want to turn the answer to a simple baseball question into the equivalent of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Two other good things about this place for trivia: 1) Oether plays awesome music during the song breaks, mostly classic rock that runs the gamut from Queen and Heart to Journey, the Who and the occasional Ramones or Ozzy Osbourne tune thrown in for fun. 2) The competition is great. Scores that would ordinarily win you games at other venues put you in only fourth or fifth place at Murphy’s Law.

It’s a great place to be on Tuesday nights if, like me, you’re the kind of person who knows which president owned Dick the Mockingbird.

- Christina Knauss, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Get Terrified

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Old Gunn Church, Georgetown County

Looming like Dracula’s Castle out of the woods on Plantersville Road, Old Gunn Church is an architectural treasure and really creepy place.

The Gothic-style church, which is now just a partial shell of a building, is surrounded by gravestones and a large, iron fence.

Looters have hit the building in the past, so the crumbling church is not open for visitors.

Or, at least not ones that are still alive.

The outside of the structure is enough to see the decayed walls and gaping windows that seem to be out of a movie set.

The church history says that it was started in 1859, as a new church for Prince Frederick Parish.

The architect, Mr. Gunn, reportedly fell from the tower when he was working on the building.

Construction then crawled to a halt, due to the lack of materials during the Civil War.

The church was finally completed in 1876, according to local history.

Interest in the church fell, as the economy of Georgetown County also took a fall.

Only the bell tower remains, since the rest of the building was demolished in the 1960s.

Now, it’s rumored that screaming and singing can be heard coming from the building.

Although the screams of the fallen Mr. Gunn might be rare, locals have reported bricks and other objects being thrown.

Lights have also been seen in parts of the building that are really off limits to the public.

At night, with the wind moving through the open windows, it’s hard to tell exactly where the noise is coming from.

Even during the day, the church and silent graveyard gives off a very dark vibe.

Going inside the fence is strictly prohibited, but Old Gunn Church can be photographed and seen in all its ancient glory from the edge of Plantersville Road.

- Kelly Fuller, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Rent a Flick and Pick Up Weird Movie-Related Shit

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Movie Shack

Now serving move buffs in two locations, Socastee and Surfside Beach, Movie Shack has been building momentum and turning back the clock to the days when brick-and-mortar video stores existed. And these strip-mall members are everything video stores should be.

There are racks and racks of new and old movies for rent. All movie rentals are $1.50 for new releases and 50 cents for older titles. A well-worn dry erase board informs customers of the week’s new releases. The employees know their customers, and they know their inventory. They’ve actually watched the movies and can tell you whether they suck or not.

It’s one of those places where everything is for sale. There are bins of movies for sale. You can buy movies as cheap as $2 or three for $5. There are deals like that on Blu-ray as well. They also sell games for virtually every game system. “We can also order random and obscure movies and sometimes collectibles,” says Matt Lamb, Movie Shack co-owner.

Movie-related toys dangle from nails in the walls – “Star Wars” figures galore and superheroes. But other collectables such as “Gremlins” toys and “Walking Dead” human head aquariums and original Ewok animation line the walls beside movie posters.

Movie Shack also sells used music, including box sets. And handmade jewelry and oddities. They’ll sell you a DVD player if you need one. The staff can also fix up your old DVDs and games by resurfacing them.

This is the only place in town renting 3D Blu-ray. And anything you rent and want, you can buy for a decent price. The prices vary per item.

“We love to make deals,” says Lamb. “I love negotiations when everyone feels like they were dealt with fairly, and everyone comes out happy.”

Movie Shack is open every day, from noon until 9 p.m. To check out Movie Shack, stop by the Socastee location at 4959 Socastee Blvd, Myrtle Beach or the Surfside location at 1702 U.S. 17 North, Surfside Beach. To find out more, give them a call at 293-1840 (Socastee location) or 232-7025 (Surfside Beach location).

- Derrick Bracey, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Shop for Jewelry Without Breaking the Bank

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Handpicked

For chic and stylish women who don't like the price tags found at high-end jewelry stores, but still want to bedeck themselves with trendy pieces of jewelry made with quality materials, then Handpicked, at The Market Common, is the place to shop.

Along with friendly customer service, this adorable boutique, located next to Pottery Barn, offers a specialized selection of handcrafted jewelry pieces. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, watches, and rings in an array of trendy and classic styles round out the store’s collection.

The boutique offers a large collection of pieces made with sterling silver, as well as a great line of genuine stone pieces including jade, onyx, pearl, and turquoise. Handpicked also offers gold metal styles and jewelry styles made with feathers, tassels, and leather.

The designs range from standard pieces, such as simple chain necklaces and small stud earrings, to trendy pieces including statement necklaces, chandelier earrings, and colorful cocktail rings. They infuse global inspirations with basic materials, allowing for an eclectic mix of everyday designs that can dress up a simple outfit or add a touch of glamour for an evening out.

If you like personalized gifts or jewelry, Handpicked also offers a large collection of monogrammed items, including pendants, rings, bracelets, and even small gifts that you can have your initials engraved with. Along with jewelry, Handpicked also has a small selection of accessories to round out an outfit including handbags, wallets, wristlets, and scarves.

Best part: the prices won't make you do a double take, and the store runs sales and promotions often. If you sign up for the Preferred Customer Card program, you'll receive free gift wrap with a purchase, as well as discounts on certain days.

Handpicked is located at 3324 Reed Street, The Market Common, Myrtle Beach. For more information, call 839-1321, or visit www.handpicked.net

- Rebecca S. Robertson, for Weekly Surge

Best Place for a Cup of Java

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Second Cup

We’re a nation of coffee fanatics. In the U.S. coffee represents an $18 billion annual industry. There are approximately 24,000 coffee shops in the U.S., and that number is expected to double in the next decade. Those of us who drink coffee regularly, some 140 million Americans, drink an average of 3.1 cups per day. So where, oh where, in a sea of corporate coffee house chains, mom-and-pop bistros serving a gourmet brew, and even doughnut shops and fast food drive-thrus getting in on the act, are we to find the best cup of coffee on the Grand Strand?

This was a tough assignment as I have a few favorites. I drink at home, at my bank, which has installed a Kuerig coffee maker (who doesn’t love the little pods?), at my neighborhood Starbucks, and at Dunkin Donuts. But rising to the top of my list is Second Cup, opened late in the summer in the Northwood Plaza as one of only four franchises in the U.S. (Second Cup is huge in Canada).

Different from other coffee houses, Second Cup is large; here you’ll find plenty of space to be alone with your brew and your laptop, or entertaining a large group. Comfy seating, well lit with natural light (the building sits on a corner), outdoor café style tables and seats, and really, really, good coffee helped narrow down my pick.

Of course you’ll find the fancy drink menus with a dizzying array of concoctions, hot or cold, that are all quite delicious, but after a little trial and error, my standing order is a small cup of Paradiso Dark, at $2 bucks a pop. The rich dark roast is full-bodied, flavorful, but not very bitter, which can be the case with dark roasts. Another Second Cup difference (even Starbucks doesn’t do this) is that each cup is made to order from fresh grounds in a device similar to an espresso machine. No air pots with old coffee hanging around, or God forbid, glass carafes on electric burners; each cup is made fresh, and made to order, and it takes a minute or two, especially if the staff is busy.

Additionally, all manor of locally-prepared goodies and heartier fare (breakfast sandwiches and paninis) along with sweets, fruit tarts and snacks make this as much a restaurant as a coffee house. But make no mistake; here it’s about the coffee first and foremost. Family-owned and operated, the management and baristas are accommodating and knowledgeable. It’s my new favorite, among many very good options.

Visit www.secondcupatthebeach.com, call 855-5464, or visit at 7819 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.

- Paul Grimshaw, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Learn About Brewing Beer

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The Homebrewer’s Pantry

Craft beer culture has grown exponentially nationwide. The Grand Strand area, despite its reputation as a Bud Light town, has a dedicated subculture of beer enthusiasts, brewpubs and beer festivals that rival any similarly-sized community. Active members of the area beer scene and office holding members of M.A.S.H. ( Myrtle Beach Area Society of Homebrewers), the husband and wife team of Thomas Lucas and Melissa Lucas, opened Homebrewer’s Pantry earlier this year in historic downtown Conway.

Located at 1015 4th Avenue, in the same area as the excellent destination restaurant Rivertown Bistro and the seriously dedicated draft house The Crafty Rooster, Homebrewer’s Pantry is the only brewing supply shop between Charleston and Wilmington, N.C. Both beginning and experienced brewers will be able to find the equipment and ingredients to make a wide range of ales, lagers, stouts and even more esoteric Belgian styles, which have gained popularity in recent years.

No mention of beer education in our area would be complete without citing the wonderful crew at New South Brewing in Myrtle Beach, who give brewery tours on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3 p.m. I would recommend the tour to anyone who has ever had a beer; it is a very informative and informal primer of the brewing process. However, New South does not sell the yeasts, grains or hops needed to brew up your own unique creation. This is where Homebrewer’s Pantry specializes. The locally owned brew shop provides a well informed personal experience that will counsel you through the variables of recipes, temperature, fermentation, etc.

A great place for holiday gift-giving ideas, The Homebrewer’s Pantry has everything from starter beer kits to more advanced equipment for experienced brewers. Adventurous wine lovers can also find everything they need to transform grapes into happiness. Amid the hops and grain departments one can find a variety of locally sourced art, crafts and gift ideas. And yes, gift cards are absolutely available and would make a great addition to any Christmas shopping list for the beer lovers close to you.

- Jeff Thomas, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Get a Mixed Drink in a Plastic Cup, Fish and Sing Karaoke

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Garden City Pier

The Garden City Pier extends 668 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

The pier, on South Waccamaw Drive, is a veritable wonderland of opportunity for getting a little (or a lot) drunk, wetting a hook and singing a really good Reba song on a Sunday afternoon.

The pier has everything that anybody could want.

There is a restaurant that serves great fries and burgers, with plenty of napkins to sop up the grease and condiments.

Bars are located on both ends of the pier, with bands playing during the summer.

Karaoke by the ocean, on the deck, takes me to my happy place.

Or maybe it’s just the alcohol.

The real entertainment is watching people drink, smoke cigarettes and sing, then wander down for a swim in the ocean.

Children can enjoy the fun of watching Mom or Dad belt out the latest country song on the deck.

During the summer, Karaoke is an entertainment staple on the pier.

Later at night, the front deck turns into a full bar, for adults.

The pier also has an ice cream parlor and arcade.

Fishing is a group activity, with lines dangling over the sides all summer long.

How much better could it get?

The Garden City Pier is a place to hold hands, find lusty romance, spend time with the kids and sip fruity drinks with a little salt on the rim.

Who could want more than that?

- Kelly Fuller, for Weekly Surge

Best Place For the ADHD Drinker

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Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

No one wants to have to concentrate when they're out for a night of fun, especially those with ADHD, when just concentrating in general can be a chore. Whether you actually have ADHD or fall victim to alcohol-induced ADHD, the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet may be your new favorite stomping grounds.

Let's face it, any happening bar can be a heyday for someone with ADD. "Hey, look at the bartender...Hey, look at that neon beer sign...Hey, look at that girl trying to twerk in the corner..."

And considering the fact that the Marshwalk has seven bars (plus the Mullet Hut), that's seven (plus one) times the scatterbrained sightings. From Wahoo's down to the Wicked Tuna, each bar has its own flair and people watching potential.

Not only does the Marshwalk’s wooden boardwalk conveniently connect all these waterfront bars, you can actually hop from one to the next with your drink in hand. This provides the ultimate experience for those with an attention deficit, those who are hyperactive, and those who are on a sugar high from one-too-many mojitos.

Since you don't have to finish your beverage or leave your drink behind before scampering to another bar, you can quickly and frequently change location, atmosphere and mindset. "Look at all these TVs at Dead Dog Saloon... Let's get a drink at Creek Ratz... I love this band at Bubba's Love Shak!"

And if the live music, TVs, countless people and more aren't enough for your active mind, there are plenty of things to catch your attention outside the bars, too. "Why are there goats on that island? Is that a big party boat?" "Look at the moon!"

So whether you arrive by boat, cab or car, the easily distracted can have a good time at the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet, because the only thing you will have to concentrate on is having fun.

For more information visit marshwalk.com. Waterfront from 3979 to 4123 U.S. 17 Business South, Murrells Inlet.

- Mandy Rodgers, for Weekly Surge

Best Ways to Contact the Dead

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Phasma Paranormal

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Horry County Paranormal Investigations

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Paranormal Alley

‘Tis the scary season, with Halloween finally happening Friday. And what says Halloween more than a good ghost story?

If you’re looking for one of those, you’ve landed on one of the best slices of the planet. Horry and Georgetown county lore is teeming with tales of dead folks who, well, just don’t want to stay dead. Well-known area spirits include Alice, the victim of the ultimate bad romance who used to haunt the former Hermitage in Murrells Inlet; the Gray Man, a guy dressed in, you guessed it, gray, that shows up to warn people about hurricanes on Pawleys Island, and all the well-known and various ghosts rumored to haunt the site of the Old Gunn Church in Plantersville in Georgetown County (see blurb on that site above).

But what if you want to go beyond these well-known ghost tales and see who (or what) else might be haunting area beaches, backroads and byways? Or what if things start flying around your apartment for no good reason or you start seeing apparitions in your house (without the aid of substances legal or illegal)? Who you gonna call?

You might want to get in touch with two local entities (get it, entities? Never mind.) that specialize in reaching out to those from the great beyond.

Phasma Paranormal is the name for the investigation group run by husband-and-wife team Mike Brosky and Kelly Brosky in Conway. Founded in 2011, Phasma offers free, confidential investigations of private homes, businesses and other locations around the area. The Broskys use a variety of equipment to investigate supposed hauntings and help people find a resolution if they want one. So far they’ve responded to more than 200 calls in the area. Contact them at 465-9013, phasmaparanormal@gmail.com or www.phasmaparanormal.com.

If you want to try your own hand at ghost-hunting, join one of the Wednesday night ghost hunts offered by Horry County Paranormal Investigations, a newer group led by Conway resident Gary Conlogue. This outfit offers private investigations, but each Wednesday offers both veterans and newbies a chance to visit a new presumably “haunted” site around the area to take photos, EVP readings and do other tests to see if there are any otherworldly visitors. The Wednesday hunts meet at Paranormal Alley, a store dedicated to all things paranormal at 315 Main St., Unit 4 in Conway, and depart between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes a T-shirt. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/groups/horrycountyparamormal/

--Christina Knauss, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Decorate Your Crib on a Budget

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HomeGoods

Whether you're looking to outfit an apartment kitchen with basic gadgets and gizmos or decorate a new home without bursting your wallet, HomeGoods, located on at the corner of Seaboard Street and U.S. 501 in Myrtle Beach, is the best one0-stop shop for exactly what it's named for- home goods.

This retail chain is a subsidiary of the TJX Corporation, whose sister's stores include TJ Maxx and Marshalls, which specialize in department brand merchandise at a reduced price. Some items can run up to 60 percent discount on the suggested retail price.

HomeGoods houses a large collection of everyday, specialty, and holiday items. Within its doors, one can shop a selection of furniture pieces, rugs, lamps, dog and cat supplies, bath linens and décor, stationary, kitchen dishes, serving ware, and basics, wall art, sheet sets, specialty food items, gift sets, and much more.

Want to redo your bathroom? Shop for a new shower curtain, towels and a toiletry set. Learning to bake? Stock up cookie sheets and sprinkles. Have an ugly hole in your wall that you want to cover with something not so ugly? Peruse through the numerous prints, framed pieces, and canvas paintings. Does your dog need a designer doggie dish and play toy? They've got it. Often longed for a large metal statue of a bird about to take off in flight? Yeah, they've had that in stock, too.

The supply of goods often revolves and, with each season and holiday, the store offers décor and specialty items that will add expression or feel of comfort to your humble abode, while not draining your bank account at the same time.

You can shop HomeGoods at 558 Seaboard Street, Myrtle Beach. For more information, call 916-1437, or visit www.homegoods.com

- Rebecca S. Robertson, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Buy Vinyl Albums, Tube Socks and Baking Pans

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Hudson’s Flea Market

Hudson’s Flea Market, on U.S. 17 Business in Surfside Beach, is in the shadow of a nearby water park.

Buildings full of stuff you will probably never wear, or use, are strung out like a drunk on Ocean Boulevard.

The trip through Hudson’s Flea Market is like being spun in a ceiling fan.

There are vendors who sell sugary, delicious snacks, and cook them right there in front of you.

The vinyl album selection is superb, if you’re in the market for vintage Elvis, Alabama or ZZ Top.

The selection of T-shirts include tiny tops for babies, which declare Grandma and Grandpa gets them whatever they want. Every baby needs that message early, you know.

A visit to Hudson’s would not be complete if you didn’t buy something tacky and multi-colored to decorate your car, or clothes.

You know, like that dog you left back home. Go ahead, get a license tag with his face on it.

Get a T-shirt that says you’re a crazy cat lady while you’re at it.

Tie-dye T-shirts and bathing suit covers might be all you’ve ever wanted to wear. If so, they have plenty of them at Hudson's Flea Market.

Big plastic jewelry, wrinkled paperbacks, tube socks, beach sandals, Avon cosmetics, baking sheets….you want that stuff, you can find it at Hudson’s Flea Market.

- Kelly Fuller, for Weekly Surge

Best Place to Camp

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Huntington Beach State Park

Along the Grand Strand we bitch about the heat in summer, and the cold in the winter, leaving the messy, rainy spring, or pretty nice Fall weather, as the perfect time to go camping.

Sure, you can hightail it up to Boone, N.C., or any of the Smoky Mountain hot spots for a wilderness experience relatively close to home, if you call a five-hour drive “close to home,” but how about something a little more local? Myrtle Beach State Park is very local for many of us, but it also sits under the flight path of the Myrtle Beach International Airport, and is just a bit too close to all the city lights and temptations, so, nah… That leaves Huntington Beach State Park south of Murrells Inlet, as the perfect spot to hire a rental RV and camp in luxury, trailer in your own pop-up rig, or rough it in a tent.

But why Huntington Beach?

Located on property donated by the Huntingtons (of Brookgreen Gardens fame), the park boasts unspoiled and undeveloped beaches, light crowds in the fall, miles of hiking and biking trails, the Atalaya Castle ruins, and the rejuvenating peace and quiet found only in the great outdoors. The moment you turn in off U.S. 17 into the park, you’ll enter an enchanted world. A two-lane causeway separates the marsh and its brackish (salty) water, and the pond, less brackish, which is home to most of the gators. These inland bodies of water provide hours of exploration and nature viewing. See rare and exotic sea birds, fiddler crabs, and everything in between. The park’s main parking lot sits just west of the giant sand dunes that hide the mighty Atlantic, a few steps beyond. Guided walking tours, and even guided (seasonal) kayak trips lead by park staff, will further enhance your understanding and appreciation of this often overlooked gem along the Grand Strand.

But why camp?

Instead of visiting the park for a few hours, thinking you’ve seen it all, and then driving home, consider an overnighter (or two). Getting back to nature may just be the inspiration you’ve been needing for a long time. The camping part, by the way, need not be a wilderness, so called “roughing it” experience away from your own comfy bed; you can camp next to hot showers, electricity and running water in an RV site ($41 per night, bring your own RV), or pick a primitive tent site away from the larger groups and families ($24 per night). Once settled, and the dinner dishes are cleaned and stowed, the real magic happens late at night. When the fire has burned down to embers, head out on a midnight beach walk, or spooky forest trail hike. It’s unlikely you’ll see another soul (dead or alive), but the maritime forest sings with the evensong of the critters, and even the trees themselves.

Visit www.scparks.com, call 237-4440, or just drive on down, 16148 Ocean Highway (U.S. 17), Murrells Inlet.

- Paul Grimshaw, for Weekly Surge

And here are the results voted on by you, the readers.

Best 24-hour Restaurant

• 

First, Waffle House

• Finalist, Denny’s

• Finalist, Sam’s Corner

Best Art Gallery

• 

First, Collectors Café

• Finalist, Burroughs-Chapin Art Museum

• Finalist, Seacoast Artists Gallery

Best Bargain Shopping

• 

First, Tanger Outlets

• Finalist, Goodwill Industries

• Finalist, Old Time Pottery

Best Beach Bar

• 

First, Ocean Annie’s

• Finalist, Bummz

• Finalist, Bandito’s

Best Beer List

• 

First, Mellow Mushroom

• Finalist, Bumstead’s Pub

• Finalist, Atlas Tap House

Best Locally Brewed Beer

• 

First, New South Brewery

• Finalist, Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery

• Finalist, Quigley’s Pint and Plate

Best Biker bar

• 

First, The Beaver Bar

• Finalist, Suck, Bang, Blow

• Finalist, Knuckleheads

Best Daytime Drinking Spot

• 

First, Bummz

• Finalist, Dead Dog Saloon

• Finalist, Ocean Annie’s

Best First Date Destination

• 

First, Collectors Café

•  Finalist, Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

•  Finalist, Conway Riverwalk

Best Grocery Store Deli

• 

First, Lowes Foods

• Finalist, Fresh Market

• Finalist, BiLo

Best Happy Hour

• 

First, Dead Dog Saloon

• Finalist, Flying Fish

• Finalist, Island Bar – Surfside Beach

Best Karaoke Venue

• 

First, Broadway Louie’s

• Finalist, Garden City Pier

• Finalist, Danny Lee’s Place

Best Ladies Night Location

• 

First, Collectors Café

• Finalist, Wine and Design

• Finalist, Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

Best Liquor Store

• 

First, Green’s Beverages

• Finalist, Owens Liquors

• Finalist, Pavilion Discount Beverages

Best Local Band

• 

First, Tru Sol

• Finalist, Corn Bread

• Finalist, Fin City

Best Local Car Wash

• 

First, Detrick’s

• Finalist, Clearwater

• Finalist, Typhoon

Best Local Gay-friendly Business

• 

First, Pulse Ultraclub

• Finalist, Kilgor Trouts

• Finalist, Theatre of the Republic

Best Local Radio Personality

• 

First, Tommy and Abbi

• Finalist, Dave and Liz

• Finalist, Jim Morgan

Best Local Strip Club

• 

First, Masters Gentleman’s Club

• Finalist, Thee Dollhouse

• Finalist, Derriere’s

Best Local TV personality

• 

First, Ed Piotrowski

• Finalist, Rusty Ray

• Finalist, Allison Floyd

Best Location for People Watching

• 

First, Broadway at the Beach

• Finalist, Myrtle Beach Boardwalk

• Finalist, Murrells Inlet Marshwalk

Best Movie Theater Concession Stand

• 

First, Grand 14 at The Market Common

• Finalist, Cinebowl – Inlet Square mall

• Finalist, Cinemark – Coastal Grand mall

Best Outdoor Dining Spot

• 

First, Dead Dog Saloon

• Finalist, Conch Café

• Finalist, Creek Ratz

Best Piercing Studio

• 

First, Elite Body Piercing

• Finalist, Professional Body Piercing by Jackie

• Finalist, Dr. Piercing

Best Place for a Martini

• 

First, Collectors Café

• Finalist, Travinia Italian Kitchen

• Finalist, Divine Prime

Best Place for a Salad

• 

First, California Dreaming

•  Finalist, Carolina Roadhouse

•  Finalist, King Street Grille

Best Place for Bagels

• 

First, Big Apple Bagels

• Finalist, Bagel Factory

•  Finalist, Jersey Bagels and Subs

Best Place for Brunch

• 

First, Sea Captain’s House

•  Finalist, Chestnut Hill

• Finalist, Salt Water Creek Café

Best Place for Drinks on a Budget

• 

First, Crooked Floor Tavern

• Finalist, Carlos and Charlies

• Finalist, Boathouse Waterway Bar and Grill

Best Place for French Fries

• 

First, Five Guys Burgers and Fries

• Finalist, McDonald’s

• Finalist, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar – Surfside Beach

Best Place for Hot Wings

• 

First, Fat Jacks Wings and Things

• Finalist, Buffalo Wild Wings

• Finalist, Wild Wing Café

Best Place for Live Music

• 

First, Dead Dog Saloon

• Finalist, House of Blues

• Finalist, Boathouse Waterway Bar and Grill

Best Place for Nachos

• 

First, Nacho Hippo

• Finalist, Margaritaville

• Finalist, Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy

Best Place for Vegan Dining

• 

First, Bay Naturals

• Finalist, Collectors Café

• Finalist, Kind Belly

Best Place to get breakfast at midnight

• 

First, Waffle House

• Finalist, Denny’s

• Finalist, IHOP

Best Place to Shake Your Money Maker

• 

First, Revolutions

• Finalist, Rodeo

• Finalist, Froggy Bottomz

Best Place to Shoot Pool

• 

First, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar – Surfside Beach

• Finalist, Waterway House

• Finalist, Murphy’s Law

Best Place to watch a UFC Fight

• 

First, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar – Surfside Beach

• Finalist, Overtime Sports Café

• Finalist, Island Bar - Surfside Beach

Best Sports Bar

• 

First, Dagwoods Deli and Sports Bar – Surfside Beach

• Finalist, King Street Grille

• Finalist, Oscar’s

Best Surf Shop

• 

First, Village Surf Shoppe

• Finalist, Ron Jon’s Surf Shop

• Finalist, Surf City

Best Tanning Salon

• 

First, Ultra Tan

• Finalist, Tantalizing Tan

• Finalist, Sky Tanning

Best Tattoo Artist

• 

First, Shey Hafded – Elite Ink

• Best Tattoo Artist, Finalist, Bob Seprish – Myrtle Beach Ink

• Best Tattoo Artist, Finalist, Lenny Denson – Myrtle Beach Ink

Best Tattoo Parlor

• 

First, Elite Ink Tattoos

•  Finalist, Myrtle Beach Ink

• Finalist, Hero Tattoos

Best Thrift/Re-sale Store

• 

First, Goodwill Industries

• Finalist, Twice as Nice

• Finalist, Salvation Army

Best Tobacco Store

• 

First, Nick’s Cigar World

• Finalist, Purple Haze

• Finalist, Tinder Box

Best Trendy Boutique

• 

First, Breathe

• Finalist, Studio 77

• Finalist, Socialite

Best Wine List

• 

First, Collectors Café

• Finalist, Bistro 90

• Finalist, Ruth’s Chris

Best Yoga Studio

• 

First, Exhale Yoga of Myrtle Beach

• Finalist, Yoga in Common

• Finalist, Inlet Yoga