USA Cycling National Championships

In addition to the Highland Scottish Games and Freedom Weekend Aloft, the USA Cycling National Championships will be taking place in Greenville this weekend as well. 

Official Time Trial and Road Race Championships

Saturday, May 28, 2011

• Individual Time Trial Championships presented by Duke Energy
• Defending Champion: Taylor Phinney, Team BMC
• Distance: 20.7 miles
• Start Time: 11:30 am
• Location: CU-ICAR
• Estimated Finish Time: 1:30pm (awards immediately following)

Ancillary Events

• US Handcycling Series, Individual Time Trial: 8:30 am
• Stars and Stripes Challenge, 'Ride Like the Pros' (top fundraisers): 9:30 am

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Stars and Stripes Challenge

• Fundraising Ride (various distances, including century ride)
• Benefits Greenville Hospital System Cancer Center
• Start Time: 8:00 am
• Location: Greenville County
• More Information: www.p3ride.org

Monday, May 30, 2011 (Memorial Day)

• Road Race Championships presented by TD Bank
• Defending Champion: Ben King, Team RadioShack
• Distance: 115 miles
• Start Time: 11:00 am
• Location: Downtown Greenville
• Estimated Finish Time: 3:30 pm (awards immediately following)

Ancillary Events

• Stars and Stripes Challenge, 'Ride Like The Pros' (top fundraisers): 7:30 am
• Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital US Handcycling National Criterium Championship: 11:30 am
• Duke Energy Kid's Races: 12:30 pm | Download Registration Form
• Greenville Hospital System Health & Wellness Expo: 10:00 am to 3:30 pm

Race Maps

2011 Time Trial Map
2011 Road Race Map

Freedom Weekend Aloft

Freedom Weekend Aloft comes back to Heritage Park in Simpsonville this weekend.  


Schedule 


Distance from downtown Greenville: 17 miles

Greater Greenville Scottish Games is back

The Greater Greenville Scottish Games, will begin Friday evening at 6:00 PM with a parade down Main Street, followed by a Ceilidh at the Peace Center amphitheater, then will continue the following day at Furman University.

Location: 34°54'12.56"N 82°25'6.61"W
Distance from downtown Greenville: 5 miles


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Art Bomb 10th Anniversary Spring Show

If you didn't get enough art last weekend at Artisphere, you have a chance to meet some of the finest artists in Greenville this weekend at the Art Bomb's 10th Anniversary Spring Show.

When: May 21st from 6-10 PM.

In addition to great art you can enjoy some free wine, beer and music from the Fine Art Ramblers, one of the hootenanniest bands around.


Facebook Page




Distance from downtown Greenville: 1 mile



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The Slow Food Market at McDunn Gallery

This looks like a great new addition to Greenville. Starting tomorrow, every third Thursday the Michael McDunn Gallery on Rutherford Rd. will host an organic farmers market with produce provided by local farmers.  It's located just up the street from the SC Farmers Market. 

Opening Thursday May 19, 2011, from 2-6pm on the front lawn of the McDunn Studio & Gallery, North Main Street and Rutherford Road, Greenville SC.

"Food as Art/Art for Food" 

---Greenville SC, USA. McDunn Gallery is working with Slow Food Upstate to establish a Slow Food "Earth Market" on our large front lawn at the intersection of North Main Street and Rutherford Road. Thank you to everyone who turned out for the Slow Food Market presentation. We had a great crowd and enjoyed the conversation. The market will be an ongoing process of discovery and learning, from the farmers to the consumer. Thanks again, to Janette Wesley, Renato Vicario, the Slow Food board, Whole Foods, and so many more who give such extensive effort to make good food available!

More info. 

Distance from downtown Greenville: 2 miles

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Top of the Hops Beer Festival this weekend

Greenville had a small beer festival a few years ago but it fizzled out after a couple years.   Last year Tom Davis of Thomas Creek Brewery brought in back, bigger and better than ever. The 2nd annual Top of the Hops Beerfest is back this weekend.

Top of the Hops Greenville Beer Festival will showcase the growing popularity of craft beers from around the country and the world in a relaxed and friendly environment. Patrons will receive a commemorative sampling mug and have access to unlimited, two-ounce sampling of over 150 craft beers in the Green's Discount Beverages Beer Garden, the Abita Beer Garden, the Yuengling Beer Garden, and the Blue Moon Beer Garden. The festival will also feature the Samuel Adams Brew University Education Area where patrons will enjoy beer seminars such as Cooking with Beer, Food Pairings, How to Brew Beer and other beer education sessions. Come enjoy the mass of craft beers with live music and fun games like cornhole.

Date:  May 21st
Time:  2-6 PM
Location: Carolina First Center


Distance from downtown Greenville:  3 miles

Artisphere

This may be the best Artisphere to date for the following reasons:

1. Despite the stormy forecast, the weather has been great.
2. The ratio of real art to kitschy "booth art," is leaning far more towards the real art side.
3. The live music is better than ever. There are far more artistes with original music as opposed to the old R&B, country and beach music cover bands of the past.  I caught three bands today who were all excellent. (Elonzo, The New Familiars, and Cory Chisel.)
4. Most importantly, NO MORE STUPID TICKETS! Now you can buy food, beer and wine with cash. And get this...you can now buy wristbands and beer at the same booth at the same time. No more standing in line for a wristband and then a second line for booze.  Wonder if the rest of the downtown events will follow suit? 

Kudos to executive director Kerry Murphy!

Foothills Trail

The Foothills Trail is one of South Carolina's long distance trails, meaning that it takes more than one day to walk from one end to the other. The trail is 76 miles long, starting at Oconee State Park and ending at Table Rock State Park.

Several miles of the trail hug the north side of Lake Jocassee. It also follows several rivers and streams including the Whitewater and Chatooga Rivers.  The Toxaway river dumps into Lake Jocassee at one junction and both Whitewater Falls (the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi) and Laurel Fork Falls (as well as several smaller waterfalls) can be reached via the trail. 

Maps and guidebook can be found here. 

These folks have a nice trail journal of their through hike of the trip. 

Bridge over Whitewater River.

Virginia Hawkins Falls

Suspension bridge over Toxaway River

Toxaway River just before it meets
 Lake Jocassee

View of Lake Jocassee.

Lower Whitewater Falls

Laure Fork Fal

Urban Farm Tour

This looks interesting:


Greenville Urban Farm Tour
Saturday May 7, 9 am - 5 pm

Hosted by Greenville Organic Foods Organization

Come see fantastic examples of how city residents are practicing sustainability by growing their own food and implementing energy efficiency.

The self-guided tour will showcase urban farms, edible gardens and energy efficiency located within 10 miles from downtown Greenville.

Rain or Shine!

Over 25 sites to visit and learn about:

• vegetable and herb gardens
• water catchment
• backyard chickens
• beekeeping
• composting
• alternative energy
•  vermiculture
• community and school gardens
   

Plus Complimentary Workshops 

Interested?

Buy tickets in advance!

Redeem your ticket and tour map, select your route, start and end time and visit as many sites as you wish.

 See you on the tour!

Greenville Development

Now that the economy is picking up, it's nice to see a lot of new things developing around town. New side walks are being installed as part of the city's promise to have a sidewalk on every street. The city has recently added a new foot bridge in Cleveland Park so that it's no longer necessary to cross McDaniel to get from Falls Park to Cleveland. They've widened the walking paths, fortified the river banks and upgraded fences and landscaping.

Downtown there are three lots that have been empty for years that now have major construction occurring. Here, here and here.

The Kroc Center is well underway, here.

A 10 million dollar project has been approved for the Piazzo Bergamo Plaza and adjacent lot.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail continues to expand, the latest proposal being an extension to run through Pleasant Ridge Park, where it has just been announced that a new zip line will be installed. Swamp Rabbit Master Plan

Church Street in the future?

It also appears that the city has finally started construction of the Haynie-Sirrine master plan, which is a long overdue update to one of the entrances to the city.

A couple of new sports bars have opened downtown. One, that I can't remember the name of is located across the street from The Corner Pocket. The other, The Carolina Ale House, located on Main, has a really nice upstairs section with large glass windows and a ceiling that is removed when the whether is nice so the dining area becomes roof top seating. The Nose Dive, a gastropub, has just opened across from The Ale House.

One block north, there is a sign for a new place called The Art Bar which is to open soon. On the back side of that building The Beer Exchange recently opened which offers every beer imaginable for take out. What I'm most excited about though is the opening of The Trappe Door, a Belgian bar and restaurant opening in the basement of the Barley's building, which should be opened any day now.

Next I think Smiley's Acoustic Cafe needs to expand into the empty building beside it and install a large deck out back where they offer live music daily throughout the warmer months. Smiley's if you're reading this, if you build it we will come.