Join us in I’On on September 4 from 5:30 to 7:30pm for a Lowcountry Boil and tour of 6 beautiful I’On homes.  You’ll enjoy a progressive dinner with appetizers, the boil, and desserts at different homes as you move through the tour.  The builder of two of the homes will be on site to answer questions about construction or design.  For more information, call 843-884-3080.

Filed under: I'On Group, I'On Real Estate, I'On Village on August 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

You read that right - bike-sharing is finally off the ground in America!  Washington D.C. launched the program, called SmartBike D.C., on Aug. 13, 2008 with 120 bikes at 10 different sites in the downtown area.  It’s a conservative beginning for sure, compared to Paris’ Velib program, which began with 10,000 bikes at 750 locations - but then, even though we’re on the right path to absorbing more of Europe’s attitude toward public and alternative transportation, the bicycle is not yet enjoying the popularity here that it does across the pond.  But with this program and more like it, in combination with gas prices, that’s sure to change.

Here’s how the program works: people buy a $40 yearly membership, which then allows them to pick up a bike from any of the stations for up to three hours.  To use it longer, you have to pedal yourself back to a station to check it out again (kind of like a library…).  One nice thing about this in comparison with Paris is that it’s a cheaper system - in Paris, the first half-hour of riding is free, but it’s 1 euro for the next half-hour, 2 euros for the next, and 4 euros for the next.  However, while Parisians and tourists still need a membership, much like DC, the Velib program offers 1-day and 1-week passes in addition to annual ones.  DC’s not there yet, but it will probably come soon enough.  And in a way, it’s better that the target audience is locals instead of tourists; locals walk or drive the streets every day, and if they go by on bikes rather than automobiles, tourists will quickly follow suit.

According to Streetsblog, Clear Channel Outdoor (the company sponsoring the bike program) says they’ve been getting inquiries all around the country about how to make this work in other cities.  Let’s hope this is the beginning of something huge in American transportation!

Filed under: I'On Group, Urban Sustainability on August 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

It’s incredible how much you can find on the Internet by typing in “space-saving furniture.”  Some of it, granted, is the size equivalent of greenwashing - big companies put out a sofa that’s 6 inches shorter than the norm, and it’s suddenly a space saver.  But most of what one finds is truly innovative, and usually pretty easy on the eyes, too.  A friend pointed me toward Resource Furniture, a company out of NYC that has some great space-saving furniture, like this sofabed:

And this very cool Murphy bed:

Granted, the dramatic change is probably effected as much by the lighting as by the sofa-to-bed transformation, but still - it makes you realize how versatile one room can be, if you’re willing to break out of the conventional.  Of course, you’d never have to use just one room for everything at Mixson, but something like this could be great for an extra bedroom.  It could go from study or playroom to guest room in a minute or two.

If you’ve seen Mixson’s staged home, you’ll know that our designer used her small-space know-how and found us a couple of nice transforming pieces too, like the daybed that folds out into a double, and a desk that can be folded up when not in use:

Finally, Crate and Barrel has some great “leaning” bamboo furniture here.

Filed under: I'On Group, Mixson, Urban Sustainability on August 28th, 2008 | No Comments »

We just got the latest schedule for the N. Chas. Play Fest (Mixson’s a sponsor), from Mary Gould of South of Broadway - and whether you’re a dedicated writer, avid spectator, fervent reader, or even a lover of fun food and drink (check out the Oscar Wilde martini bar at The Chart!) there is something eclectic and interesting waiting for your participation.

COME PLAY!!!

Greater Park Circle Play Fest

Saturdays, September 13, 20 & 27, 5-11 pm

South of Broadway Theatre Company, in collaboration with the Olde North Charleston Merchants Association will host the first annual playwrights’ festival in North Charleston.

5:00 PM, Activities at the Greater Park Circle Ply Fest include:

-Don’t Want To Do It Alone? Discovering your Inner Playwright” Interactive writing

experience at Park Circle’s Live Music Venue, “The Mill”, 1026 E Montague. $20 free

bar tab for WINNING story/play of the evening. www.myspace.com/theMillLounge

-Ann Caldwell performs her own short stories punctuated with her inimitable jazz song

stylings. Locations TBA

-Oscar Wilde Martini Bar at “The Chart”, 1078D E. Montague. Come and meet your muse at The Chart! www.myspace.com/CharlestonChart

-Write your own play the olde fashioned way; on a typewriter while munching the best pizza in town at “Evo’s Wood Fired Pizzeria.” 1075 E. Montague. Winning, one-page, two-person plays will be performed at South of Broadway Theatre Co. Studios on September 27^th. First prize winner takes home a $30 gift certificate from Evo’s! www.EvoPizza.com

7:00 PM, Five plays will be presented in staged readings at South of Broadway Theatre Co. Studios, at 1080 E. Montague. Tickets are $7.50 for a Saturday play or $18 for the entire three Saturday season.

Saturday, September 13 at 7PM: “Planet Fall” Directed by Nick Smith

“Spin Alley” Directed by JC Conway

Saturday, September 20 at 7PM: “Sans Merci” Directed by Joseph Baldino

Saturday, September 28 at 7PM: “Red Cross” Directed by James Patterson

“Cha, Cha,Cha” Directed by James Patterson

“Winning Typewriter Plays”

Brochures with festival details will be available at South of Broadway Theatre Company on September 13^th. For ticketing, more in-depth information and to keep up to date with new activities as they are added visit: www.MyParkCircle.com/ArtEvents or WWW.SouthOfBroadway.com

Those attending the festival are asked to bring either a canned food item (for the local Food Bank) or school supplies (for public schools in the Greater Park Circle area). Participating merchants will have drop off bins.

Merchants participating in the Greater Park Circle Play Fest will also donate a percentage of their revenue from those evenings to help a qualified student from North Charleston High School or Morningside participate in the New York City summer program offered by South of Broadway Theatre Co.

Filed under: Events, I'On Group, Mixson, Press releases on August 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

So the lack of a handrail might not be a good thing for homes with babies and young kids, but one has to admit that these are incredibly cool. I would take the bookshelf staircase in a second. Pictures came from Purple Area - you can see more on her site.

Filed under: I'On Group, Mixson, Urban Sustainability on August 27th, 2008 | No Comments »

Play as in theater, that is - for the last three Saturdays in September, South of Broadway Theatre Company, together with the Old North Charleston Merchants’ Association, will host the first annual North Charleston Playwrights Festival. Mary Gould, who heads up South of Broadway (which also has an amazing program called Summer in the City, in which promising local students study at Juilliard), has great events planned for each day of the celebration: poetry readings, play slams (and if poetry slams are cool - and they are - this should be amazing), typewriter plays (very intriguing), and themed menus at area restaurants. In addition, there will be 5 plays presented in staged readings at South of Broadway, 1080 E. Montague Ave.

For info and tickets, call South of Broadway at 814-4451.

Filed under: Events, I'On Group, Mixson on August 21st, 2008 | No Comments »

8 Marbel Lane, the last townhome in the acclaimed Upper King St. neighborhood of Morris Square, is still available at the reduced price of $689,000! With 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a garage, this is downtown living at its best and most convenient. 8 Marbel Lane overlooks Simonton Park, and is just steps away from Morris Square’s piazza. To see a full sales sheet, visit morris-square.com and click “View Sales Sheet.” For more information, please contact Carey Burnett at cburnett@iongroup.com, or 843-884-3080.

Filed under: I'On Group, Morris Square on August 19th, 2008 | No Comments »

So the Post and Courier reported today in the cover article of the Business Review.  As the numbers show, despite the overall market slump, I’On’s home sales are down only slightly from last year, compared to the Charleston region as a whole, which has endured declines of 30-50% from the real estate boom peak.  For the whole story, click here.

Filed under: I'On Group, I'On Real Estate, I'On Village on August 18th, 2008 | No Comments »

Andy Gilbert was kind enough to spend some time with Warren Wise of the Post and Courier last week, to talk about his new Mixson home, downsizing, the E. Montague community, and the planning philosophy that makes Mixson so workable.  Read the article here!

Filed under: Charleston SC Green Living, I'On Group, Mixson on August 18th, 2008 | No Comments »

For all you E. Montague - North Charleston - Park Circle residents and enthusiasts, there is now a website dedicated to keeping you all in the loop!  It’s www.myparkcircle.com, and it was started by Jim Sears of Johns Island.  The site keeps on growing, adding photos, links to local groups and businesses, events, you name it.  Read the Post and Courier article to learn more, and next time you’re surfing online, head over to myparkcircle.com!

Filed under: Charleston SC Green Living, I'On Group, Mixson, Urban Sustainability on August 15th, 2008 | No Comments »