Icehouse Amphitheater Fun

The Icehouse Amphitheater is located in our hometown. A wide variety of events happen here each year so Jim and I make it a point to attend as many as we can.

We saw a performance of the musical Rock of Ages. Having been a teenager in the 1980s who loved hair bands, this show was totally up my alley.

After we found the movie streaming free with fun actors like Alex Baldwin, Tom Cruise and Russell Brand. Great entertainment for the 80s lover!

This clip is at the end of a Scorpions' song.

We saw the blue grass band, Coddle Creek.

These guys were fun!

The Embers have been around for decades. They knew how to put on a show!

These guys had a beach vibe. This tune was written and is sung by the drummer.

The Hitmen are a great local cover band. They played a super variety!

The musicians and singers were very talented. Here is this amazing voice singing Proud Mary.

Lastly is a completely different venue. Oktoberfest celebrations are big in our region since many German settlers ended up here. 

This was my first time seeing a live polka band. They are the Mountain Top Polka Band of Asheville, NC. The drinking songs are a blast!

Who doesn't love hearing their name in a song? I am used to hearing Amy Whinehouse's Valerie covered by local singers but I completely forgot about Valerie Valera and these guys covered it well!

I feel spoiled with the diversity of music and all the free opportunities to enjoy it in our area.

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Scarecrows of Lexington, SC

The first annual Downtown Scarecrow Contest of Lexington, SC is currently going on.

Below is scarecrow doing a keg stand by the Old Mill Brewpub. His name is Brewdy reading "his parents always said he should always stand for something."

I was impressed by the creativity of the local businesses and organizations who designed a display like this leprechaun for the local Irish Pub.

Some are impactful like this breast cancer awareness arrangement by the hospital.

One of my favorites was the Wizard of Oz theme by State Farm Insurance. Tornadoes happen here. Yes that is a tornado made with the black tinsel!

Below reads "Gary the Gas Geezer - always willing to drive an extra mile to save a penny." This is by a local funeral home. I'm not sure if I get a connection here but we all know someone like Gary which makes it fun!

Sorinex makes heavy duty gym equipment hence this scarecrow doing squats!

This glammed out one is for a local salon/boutique on Main Street.

A spa also go in on the action. This was my first time seeing a face mask on a pumpkin.

A local costume shop had fun with this below.

Another one of my favorites is by The Courage Center. There are many things we all struggle with and work on. These aspects are listed on the signs.

This one is for Charleston Southern University whose team is the Buccaneers.

This company does holiday lighting which explains Santa!

Another favorite is by local brewery, Hazelwood Brewing. These guys have live bluegrass at their place on Thursday nights so this is perfect marketing.

Michelin Tires has a local manufacturing plant here. This guy is sitting in a tire chair!

So it looks like the first annual contest is successful considering all the entries. There were more than I showed here. A fun way to kick off Fall.

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Angry Fish Brewing Co.

The Angry Fish Brewing Company is a young brewery in our town of Lexington, SC that was established in 2018 as the town's first commercial brewery.

Jim and I went sipped 2 flights of brews to get an excellent sampling. There is something for everyone here.

We were quite impressed. Our flights included the following.

Crescent Moon (American Wheat Beer with notes of citrus and banana) 

Wyse's Ferry Kolsch (light and crispy)

Main Vein Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout (milk stout that tastes and smells of                chocolate and peanut butter!)

Dutch Fork (Dunkel Weisse)

Murray Pineapple Kolsch

Top Sail Sour (black currant/banana)

Over the Yardarm BBA Chocolate Porter

Wessinger Island Wiesen Bock

We enjoyed them all which is rare for us! Their brews are only available here but can also be taken home in crowlers. I hope to see their offerings in local eateries some day!

The site is a hole in the wall. Completely non-pretentious and rustic. Quirky fishing theme decor is about the place like the suspended rowboat with skeletons.

A humorous nautical guide.

A simple bar where we sat with sports playing above.

There is no kitchen here however, they do have their own food truck outside. Food is available at different times so check their social media before you go! There is also live music certain nights as well.

The story behind the eccentric name goes as follows on their website:

"While fishing on Lake Murray, one of the brewers hooked a monster catfish with two red eyes. The catfish was put on a stringer (a line through the gills) and the fishing continued with a few more fish added to the stringer. The group decided to take a break and grab lunch, leaving all of the fish on the stringer tied to the dock.  Once they returned, the red-eyed catfish was gone!  One of the guys in the group said, “Wow, that was one angry fish,” and the name was born." 

If you go, the brewery is open:

Wednesday - Thursday 5pm - 10pm

Friday 5pm - 11pm

Saturday - noon - 11pm

Sunday 1pm -8pm

106 Fabrister Ln C, Lexington, SC 29072

website 

 

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Lexington County Museum

Here is a collection of photos from the Lexington County Museum during our Christmas visit in December.

The museum portrays life in the region during the colonial era to the Civil War.

It spans 8 acres with 36 historic buildings.

The only original structure on the site is the John Fox House below built in 1832. This was a plantation home.

The other historic structures were brought in from other areas so a museum could be created.

Cooking demonstrations were performed based on what would have been cooked and how in that time period. 

We also listened to an amazing story teller, James Brown, of Lowcountry Storytellers. I wish I videoed his piece which was a raw telling of escaping slavery, heading north and ultimately joining the union troops. This groups' stories are "Acceptable to the ear, Touching to the heart, Stirring to the soul".

Some wonderful quilts are on display.

The pigeon house below was used for breeding and housing domestic pigeons. These birds provided meat, eggs and fertilizer.

No vinyl shutters here!

Old fireplaces seem so cozy but must have been super dangerous and dirty.

Living in the modern age, I can't imagine what it felt like in the homes back then with no air conditioning and the temperatures 90 degrees and humid for three straight months each summer!

Some of the structures, like the storage shed and chicken coop, demonstrate what it was like to keep food.

There is a museum building with interesting artifacts to peruse.

It is always an interesting place for stepping back in time.

If you go, the museum is open

    Tuesday thru Saturday 10am - 4pm

    Sunday 1pm - 4pm

    Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children

    Website

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val