Hootie and the Blowfish return to DI!

Well, Friday night was Hootie night at the Family Circle Cup Stadium. It's an annual event and always lots of fun for island residents as well as the whole town. The show was packed, hot, but the beer was cold! A real fun night and it's a nice fundraiser for the local schools as the band fills up a school bus with donated school supplies.

It's great to see and dance with all of your neighbors. It feels like one large cocktail party with tailgating and all the pre-parties. Can't wait for next year!

My visit to my mother-in-law in Upstate NY

Well every once in a while we get "island fever" and leave Daniel Island and this time we headed to one of my favorite getaways - Hammondsport, NY located in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. It's near Steve's hometown and also where he proposed and where we got married. It's absolutely beautiful there and a great wine region. It was also a great chance to visit Steve's Mom. She is a wonderful woman and always a pleasure to visit.

One of our mandatory stops is the Heron Hill Winery. It's located with a wonderful view of Keuka Lake and they make some fantastic wine. It is where we held our reception and the views are gorgeous. I encourage everyone to take a trip to this little slice of paradise. And if you see Mary Latour around, tell her "Hi!" and ask her for one of her chocolate chip cookies. They're delicious!

The Senior PGA Championship at the Ocean Course

Steve went out to Kiawah to watch the seniors play in the Senior PGA at Kiawah. Here is a picture of Tom Kite that he took. The Ocean Course was hosting the tournament and he said the course is both brutal and beautiful. The wind comes in right off the ocean and these guys had tough times shooting low scores. Golf Digest called it "the toughest course in America" and it shows!

So for you golf sadists and masochists out there, make sure you take a trip out there. It's only a short drive from Daniel Island and the trip down to Kiawah is gorgeous.

Quite a getaway!

Here is one of my favorite getaways in the world, and it's right down the road. The Sanctuary Hotel on Kiawah Island is only about 45 minutes from Daniel Island but it feels like a world away! What a beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting. Right on the beach, it's a resort hotel but accesible for locals. We had our anniversary dinner at the Ocean Room last year and we still talk about it!

Graceful, casual, charming, and delicious are four words that describe the Sanctuary experience. Here are a couple of photos of their main lawn looking towards the ocean. Sitting in one of the rockers listening to and looking at the ocean is a surefire way to beat the stress out of you. I heartily suggest taking a road trip to Kiawah and experiencing a Sanctuary moment, you'll be glad you did!

McCaffrey's is open!

A new Irish pub has finally opened on Daniel Island. The place is located downtown on Seven Farms Drive and is called McCaffrey's. It is right near Arlaana's. It will be a great addition to the island and sure to be a popular meeting spot for friends and families. If you enjoy your Guinness in an authentic looking Irish pub, you now have a place to go to on Daniel Island.

Daniel Island wins Urban Land Institute award!

I am very pleased to announce that Daniel Island has been named one of
the eleven winners of the Urban Land Institute's 2007 Awards for
Excellence.

This is the real estate industry's most prestigious award
and we share this honor with great company. The award is presented to
just a handful of development projects each year that demonstrate
excellence in design, marketing, economic viability and management.

We are the only planned community to be recognized by the organization
this year. This is a real jewel in our crown and the credit goes to everyone. For more information on the awards, check out www.uli.org.

The Garden and Art Tour begins!

One of my favorite Daniel Island events begins today. I encourage you to come out and tour these wonderful homes and gardens.

A street of newly constructed upscale custom homes in Smythe Park will serve as a canvas to showcase modern day interpretations of the lifestyle and cultural aspects for which historic Charleston is renowned.

Artwork from six local art galleries, selected with the help of the Gibbes Museum of Art, will be on display in each of the newly-constructed homes. Also on display during the Tour will be innovative landscape and garden designs, coupled with exciting exterior architectural concepts. And on May 19th, come on out for the finale where fireworks and the Charlston Symphony will be featured. It's a blast!

Two of my favorite Daniel Island restaurant dishes

Dining out on Daniel Island is always a fun excursion. One is almost always going to see a neighbor or a friend as everyone supports the local restaurants. Two of my favorite restaurants are Dragon Palace and Sienna. Quality and consistency are the hallmarks of these two very different establishments.

The treviso salad at Sienna is a favorite of mine and I order it everytime I go there. It has fried grapes and a gorgonzola gelato that melts over the greens. It sounds odd but I absolutely love it! It's perfect to share but my husband can finish one with ease all by himself. Try it and let me know what you think!

And when you go to Dragon Palace, try the scallops with fruit and sizzling rice. The flavors of this dish pair very well with a Gewurztraminer and makes for a great spring dish. This Chinese restaurant is a real treat to have on the island and pays attention to detail and is always busy. It's great for take out but treat yourself to the dining experience too. It's a beautiful restaurant.

Did you know?

Lots of people don't realize it but we are part of the city of Charleston and as a result, we have police, fire, and emergency service protection provided by the city of Charleston.

And right in the middle of downtown we have a fire station staffed by some of the friendliest firefighters around. So the next time you are strolling around down near the station, poke your head in and say "Hi" and "Thanks" to the brave people who help keep Daniel Island safe. It's great to know they are so close if disaster strikes!

Free Beer on Daniel Island!

Just a quick reminder that there is free beer on Daniel Island on Thursday April 26th at the Pierce Park Pavilion. Free hot dogs too! It's all to highlight a good cause, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Low Country.

Steve is on the board and is helping organize a mixer/kegger to help raise awareness about the organization. He has been involved with Big Bros/Big Sisters for many years and has the cutest little brother named Ford who lives in Mt. Pleasant. Ford is 7 years old and they hang out together, ride bikes, hit golf balls, do guy stuff.

So if you're interested in learning more about the organization or want to become a "Big", please come out to Pierce Park Pavilion between 6 and 8 and ask for Steve. He'll be more than happy to get you a beer and a dog too!

One of my favorite homes for sale on the island

In driving my clients around the island, I see almost every property that is for sale. This is one of my favorites for a number of reasons. It has a beautiful wrap around porch, a stately big tree in front of the property that is gorgeous, and the interior is even nicer than the outside. It was even featured in the New York Times recently when they did a nice piece on Daniel Island. Contact me and I'll be more than happy to send you a copy of the article.

I also like this house because of its inhabitants. Kim and Arthur are wonderful. I am fortunate to call them friends and neighbors. In a way, I would hate to see this house sold as we might not see them as much. I'm sure they would disagree but drive by 62 Woodford St. and wave to them on their porch. And if you want to know more about Daniel Island, there are no better ambassadors than Arthur and Kim. Call me if you would like to see this wonderful home. 843-475-6007

Mother Nature's beauty on Daniel Island

I was just walking to the store today and was so taken by this array of flowers that I ran back home to get my camera. There are a number of flower beds around the island but this was just so beautiful that I felt I had to share it with you. Mother Nature is a beauty isn't she?

A Look Forward

In a small island town like ours, you hear a lot of different rumors flying around. Some of course are fact, some are fiction. These are pretty sure bets - An Irish themed pub is soon to open on Daniel Island. Tentative plans are underway to build a sizable marina near the sales office. A 4 star hotel is planned for the island. A new pool is soon to be added to the Daniel Island Park Club complex. There may be a movie theater coming to DI.

Now don't hold me to any of this as things change but I will try to always keep you updated. Just thought you might want to know . . .

Venus loses in the semis!

Well, another top name from the Daniel Island Family Circle Cup Tennis tourney is out. All week long the tournament has had big names withdraw due to injury or being beaten. Add Venus Williams to that list.

What an exciting match though. 3 sets with the final set a tiebreaker. It was on ESPN and it was cool to see the Daniel Island ads. Even my family called to say they saw it on TV today. It was a gorgeous day and lots of people turned out. It really is quite the social event in Charleston. And everyone (except Venus) seemed to enjoy the day. I brought my camera and took some photos of Venus and of course Steve insisted on being photographed.

Next year make a commitment to yourself and come out and see the ladies hit the balls around. It's a great event and a great way to see world class talent up close. They really do play a different game than the rest of us!

Jack is gone!

Daniel Island lost one of its biggest fans today.
My nephew Jack flew back to Carson City, Nevada today after spending the week with us. Like MacArthur and swans to Capristrano, he vows to return. And he will. He is even talking about going to the College of Charleston and he is only 11 years old!

Here is a shot of Jack and his older brother Jordan and Steve on the 18th green of the Rees Jones Ralston Creek course. Jack's favorite course of the two by the way. He had two pars (playing from the ladies tees) today and is still talking about them. He says his sand game needs a little work and promises upon his return to be better. I think our ambassador is slowly going golf crazy. We miss him and his family already.

Jack is back!

My youngest nephew, Jack Malone, arrived yesterday to revisit one of his favorite spots, Daniel Island. Jack is 11 years old and lives in Carson City, Nevada. He is in the 5th grade and told his Mom and Dad that for spring break he wanted to come back to Daniel Island to visit his Aunt Meg and Uncle Steve. Needless to say we were delighted to hear of his spring break request.

Understand that Jack is a well traveled youngster who has been to Costa Rica, San Francisco, Puerto Rico, and New York. But this time Jack wanted to come by himself. Unfortunately for Jack, his mother, brother and sister also wanted to come along. But when it comes to ambassadors for Daniel Island, I can think of no one better than Jack.

When I asked him what he likes best about Daniel Island, he said "everything." He especially enjoys the golf, the tennis, dinners at Sienna, the birds, and now has even began taking the 8 am yoga classes at the health club. He hopes to one day spend the whole summer with us and we would love that! Here is a picture of young Jack Malone and if you see him hanging around the area, make sure to say "Hi" and c'mon back soon!

May looks to be fun on Daniel Island

We received information recently on some upcoming May events and they should be fun as always. We’re pleased to announce that the upcoming Garden and Art Tour in Smythe Park is scheduled to take place May 10-13 and 17-20 to benefit East Cooper Habitat for Humanity and the Gibbes Museum of Art. At this unique event, six brand-new, lake-front custom homes will serve as gallery space to showcase artwork from some of Charleston's top galleries and artists.

Also in May, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra will return to Daniel Island for a free Concert in the Park and Fireworks Display on Saturday, May 19th. This year’s concert will take place in Smythe Park and will again include a picnic judging contest. It's always a blast to walk around and view some of the elaborate picnic spreads. Come on out and join us!

$30 million dollar weekend

The results are in! Our lot release last weekend brought in over $20 million dollars with over 30 lots sold. It was a busy time getting ready for it and now we get a little breather. But very little. Family Circle Cup is beginning and we have a booth at the event so no rest for the weary. Too bad Sharapova had to withdraw but it looks like Venus, Serena and Martina Hingis are still scheduled.

Steve is still talking about his trip to the Masters on Tuesday. Here is a photo of him near the 18th green. He was able to scalp a ticket to the practice round with a buddy of his and I guess they had a grand old time. He even caught a glimpse of Arnie Palmer. The only disappointing part of the day for him was how easy it was for him to obtain a ticket. He was looking for more wheeling and dealing. Anyway he vows to take me next year and says I will marvel at the beauty of the course. I think his favorite part was the $2 beers. They certainly don't gouge the customer he said.

Grass court tennis comes to Daniel Island!

I had a lovely day yesterday and played some tennis with Steve. He asked Ann, the assistant pro, about the nearby construction and she said that is where the new grass tennis court is going to be built. How exciting! Now we have clay, hard court and grass to play on. Steve said it will be just like Wimbledon and now he can dive for balls! Apparently it will be similar to the croquet court as far as how it is groomed. It will be great to be able to talk about this development with tennis centered clients.

Steve is headed to Augusta tomorrow to try to attend the practice round of the Masters. He plans on scalping a ticket outside the main gate. Good luck to him. He does enjoy the scalping process and is pretty good at it. He was able to attend the USA/USSR Olympic hockey game in Lake Placid in 1980 so he's pretty confident he can get into the Masters.

Me, I have a number of clients to contact and a lot of follow up on last weekend's lot releases. It is busy this time of year and the Family Circle Cup starts next week so we are going to be ready for the crowds. I'll keep you posted on Steve's attempt to attend the fun in Augusta!

Dirt Movers Win!

Quite a day yesterday on Daniel Island and in Charleston. First, our sales team group at Daniel Island won the battle of the new releases. We split the sales team into two sides and our team, The Daniel Island Dirt Movers triumphed over the Daniel Island Lot Lovers. We sold more of the new releases than they did so we all won a weekend trip. (Hopefully with spouses says Steve.) It was a successful day with almost 40 lots sold and around $15 million raised.

All the events (helicopter rides, schooner rides, golf and tennis lessons, etc.) went off smoothly and the evening oyster roast was great! It was a beautiful day and it was very exciting to watch people win their choice of lots. It was a long day but a fun one! The upside is that not all the lots were sold so we still have some inventory to sell in the upcoming months.

Steve got up early and headed downtown yesterday to watch friends run the 30th annual Cooper River Bridge Run. After running the marathon last week, he decided to take it easy, enjoy a bloody mary and watch other people suffer. He said it was a great race to watch and very well organized considering it had over 40,000 participants. He said the town was rocking as bars and restaurants were teeming with people drinking beer at 10 am. Next year we both plan on doing the bridge run as it really is a worthy community event.

Steve is also very excited this week because not only is it Masters week, but he is driving over to Augusta on Tuesday for the practice round. He has never been to the Masters and is a golf nut so he plans on walking the entire course. Everyone says it is an absolutely beautiful course and it's great that is is only 3 hours away.

An old friend visits

Yesterday a very dear friend of mine visited us on Daniel Island and stayed overnight. Not only was it great to see Michelle and to catch up, it was also great to see Daniel Island through her eyes. After living here for some time, one becomes used to the flowers, the pace, and the general feel of the island.

We had a lovely dinner at Sienna, a top quality modern Italian restaurant right here on the island. Sienna was rated one of the top restaurants in America by Esquire magazine in 2004 and it maintains its high quality to this day. It's stylish but comfortable and we are blessed to have it in the neighborhood. Michelle's remarks on Daniel Island were illuminating and it is always nice to get a fresh perspective.

Charleston is a great food town and my husband works at one of the best at Charleston Grill. There are countless fine restaurants in town but if you really want to treat yourself, head on down to "the Grille" and ask for Steve. He'll be more than happy to take care of you.

The big release of the golf course lots happens this weekend and we are very excited here in the sales office. We are having a number of events surrounding the release such as helicopter rides, golf lessons, kayaking, shopping trips, you name it, we have something planned for it.

It's a big weekend in Charleston this weekend. First we have the Cooper River Bridge Run, then the Flowertown Festival in nearby Summerville, and a Cajun festival on James Island. Charleston is really kicking off the spring season and I just read a report in today's business section of the newspaper which stated a positive outlook for the future of the lowcountry area. People are moving here, visiting here and talking about our area. And soon Airtran Airways is going to be flying out of Charleston which will really help the area. We can't wait! One downside to the area has been high priced airfares but hopefully the arrival of Airtran will bring those prices down. We want you to visit!

Some of my favorite things

Another glorious day arrived here in South Carolina. I'm starting to believe the license plate -- beautiful places, smiling faces.

The weather struck a chord with me today and reminded me of some of my favorite things about living here. The flowers, the people sitting on their porches watching their kids play in the local parks, the idea that I can go hop in the ocean for a quick dip in 15 minutes, shrimp and grits, my bike rides and how I use them to go pick up my groceries at the local Publix, the minor league ballpark and their team the Riverdogs, the list goes on and on and I'm grateful for every one.

We moved here from Washington, DC almost two years ago and while I do miss my friends and the attractions of a major city, I still marvel at the attractions of Charleston and the people. I feel like I left one fine city and relocated to another fine city. Now if I can just convince all my pals to move here . . .

Spring has sprung!

Spring is certainly here on Daniel Island! It's absolutely perfect here today as it's sunny and 75. There is also excitement in the air as the Family Circle Cup tennis event is right around the corner. Maria Sharapova, Venus and Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Justine Henin-Hardenne are all scheduled to be on Daniel Island starting next week competing for the Family Circle Cup. Check out http://www.familycirclecup.com/ for more info.

When the ladies professional tennis tour comes to town, all of Charleston heads out to our island and it really creates a scene. There are plenty of events surrounding the tournament and it's always neat to see the tops women pros up close. They are amazing athletes and I only wish I had 5% of their talent.

Saturday March 31st is also a great day to be in Charleston as it is the 30th Cooper River Bridge Run. http://www.cooperriverbridgerun.com/ is the official website for this event and what a run it is! Over 34,000 runners and walkers are scheduled to take part in this annual party. I would run in it but we are have a big weekend surrounding our new lot releases on the Daniel Island Park Side. We are having a number of activities for this release, helicopter rides, shopping trips, golf and tennis lessons, massages, schooner rides, kayaking trips, etc. All of these are designed to showcase the island and all it has to offer. We are hoping for a big turnout and if you know anyone interested in real estate on DI, please contact me and I'll do all I can for them.

While the bridge run would be fun, to be honest, I'm kind of still recovering from the Atlanta marathon two days ago. My husband, Steve, ran it and I ended up tagging along for over 15 miles. I didn't expect to run that much as I never had run that long but it was fun. But to run another 6.2 miles this Sunday? Nah, I'll take a break thanks.

Steve and I got off Daniel Island yesterday (sometimes you just have to leave our little town to appreciate it) and went over to the Park Circle neighborhood in North Charleston. What a funky little area! Had some great fish and chips at Madra Rua, a cute little Irish pub on Montague Street. Charleston is chockful of interesting neighborhoods and although we have lived here almost 2 years, I feel we still have so much to explore.

Welcome to my blog

Hello and welcome to my Daniel Island blog. My name is Meg and I am a member of the Daniel Island real estate sales team. Daniel Island is located just outside the beautiful city of Charleston, SC and is a unique development I am proud to talk about. On my blog I will keep you updated on real estate offerings on the island as well as happenings on our island and in the Charleston area.

Hopefully you will come back to visit often and I always invite you to contact me if you have any questions about the area. Better yet, please pay me a visit on Daniel Island and I would love to help you or any of your friends learn more about our island community. I'll do my best to keep my blog interesting for you and if you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know!

Again, welcome and I hope you visit again soon. Have a great day!

Meg
www.danielisland.com
meg.latour@danielisland.com