CharCon - This weekend

This weekend gamers will gather at the Charleston Civic Center for two days. For more info go to charcon.org.

Jesco White at the Empty Glass tonight

Jesco White returns to the Empty Glass stage tonight for the first time in a long time. Some of you might remember Jesco from the documentary Dancing Outlaw.




Here's a sample from Dancing Outlaw:

Sorry about the audio.

If you go it's important to remember that Jesco is a real person. He isn't a character made up by an actor like Unknown Hinson. His jokes can be corny, but laugh anyway.

iPhone APP RjDj: A Soundtrack For Your Life

This iPhone application is hard to explain. Let just say I'm addicted to it now. I downloaded it last night, but it was a little too quiet to test. I used it on the way to work this morning and really enjoyed it.

I agree with TechCrunch , "The application is difficult to describe and on paper it sounds sort of silly." Check out the video below for more details.

Virgil's New Project

Charleston restaurateur Virgil Sadorra wants to help people live downtown. Virgil, owns and operates Cilantro's in the old Delish spot on McFarland Street and Delish Express on Washington Street East wants to add another title to his resume: loft developer.

Why is Sadorra's project different? First is the price point, he said. A move-in-ready, 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath loft will start at about $200,000, he said.

His price is based on what people are asking for, he said. He's targeting the young professional crowd, who, in some cases, are already paying $600 to $800 a month for apartment rents, he said.

A $200,000 mortgage wouldn't cost that much more - in the $1,000 to $1,200 range, he said.

"And you own it," he said.

His plans call for movable walls so residents can change the layout if they choose, he said.

There will be on-site parking and other amenities, including a rooftop pavilion and workout room. Also in the plans are a tenant grocery store and room service, he said.

The grocery store will feature carryout pastas and Sadorra's signature sauces once featured at the McFarland Street Delish.

Why do this project now?

Sadorra admits that downtown living isn't for everyone. With a wife and two small children it doesn't make sense for his family anymore.

But the want is there, he said.

He points out that the recent downtown loft walks by the Charleston Area Alliance's Generation Charleston, a young professional's organization, have had 100 attendees.

For now, Sadorra is finishing up details with a contractor and architect. He doesn't have a start date on the project, but he wants it done sooner rather than later.

I wish Virgil all the luck in the world hope he see results soon on this really cool project. I also look forward to seeing what he does with revamping the Vandalia Lounge on Hale Street.

www.visitappalachia.com

I get a few press releases. None have turned into posts until now. Today I received a email about www.visitappalachia.com.

Dear Mr. Gardner,

I'm working with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to get the word out about a new website devoted to travel in Appalachia, www.visitappalachia.com, and I think readers of "Oncee@Blogger" would appreciate a chance to see what this site has to offer.

Not only does www.visitappalachia.com provide information about the 13 states that make up Appalachia, it also includes access to the recently released Appalachian Driving Tours Map. Commissioned by the ARC, the map features 28 driving trails throughout the Appalachian region, each of which leads to a broad array of historical, archaeological, cultural, and scenic sites.

Autumn is the best time of the year to visit Appalachia, and taking one of the tours found on www.visitappalachia.com is a great way to catch the foliage and to learn more about the multitude of sights the region has to offer; the website is as useful whether you're journeying across the tree-lined roads of West Virginia or down along the river in Mississippi. What's more, visitors can search for drives by state as well as by theme. As a result, www.visitappalachia.com can just as easily help you plan a trip through Tennessee as through Pennsylvania, while pointing out sights of interest whether you love music or history.

In addition, www.visitappalachia.com has a Google maps feature to help travelers plan their next driving vacation to Appalachia, as well as links to the 13 Appalachian state tourism offices for additional information.

I noticed that your blog speaks about Appalachia so I thought your readers would be interested in www.visitappalachia.com. As such, I was wondering if you would be kind enough to post a link to the site. I can provide you with a button or banner to use for your link.

The Appalachian Region possesses a wealth of scenery and culture and the driving maps featured on www.visitappalachia.com are a great way to discover both. I hope you'll look around the site and pass the information along to your readers.

All the best,
Joe Killiany
Breakthrough Strategies
Joe@btsrategies.com