The Colors Of Childhood
February 2, 2023
By Tom Poland I haven’t seen the old homeplace in a while. Not my homeplace, mind you, my childhood friend’s. That would be Sweetie Boy, he of the sweet…
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Peace Center economic impact estimated at $1.1 billion statewide
January 30, 2023
An economic impact study conducted by the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business reveals that the Peace Center in Greenville has had an astounding economic impact of just…
Read MorePosted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc Category: on-the-move, the-arts
The Bygone Era Of Refinement
January 27, 2023
By Tom Poland Previous eras impress me. When I tour historic homes, for instance, the refined lifestyle their owners enjoyed stands in marked contrast to lifestyles today. The presence…
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Greenville Jewish Film Festival reveals 2023 lineup
January 24, 2023
The Greenville Jewish Film Festival announces its lineup of films for its 3rd annual SpringFest event – March 9, 11 and 12 – at the Greenville ONE Center in downtown Greenville.…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: on-the-move, the-arts
Fear Of Flying
January 19, 2023
By Tom Poland It’s a good thing titles cannot be copyrighted. With apologies to Erica Jong, I title this self-confessional column, “Far of Flying.” I cannot say I fear…
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The Dignified Mule
January 12, 2023
By Tom Poland Like Halley’s Comet, I’m predictable. I come around to the same subject matter every so often. When I do, it’s because something triggered memories. A few…
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The Lost Art Of Making Do
January 5, 2023
By Tom Poland He was twenty-six when the Great Depression arrived, thirty-six when it ended. A decade of doing without taught him something about survival. “Keep something seven years…
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An Effigy Of Rock
December 8, 2022
By Tom Poland Something like sixty years had passed since I saw it. This time, however, I saw it from above. The WPA built a beautiful tower of stone…
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Greenville Center for Creative Arts names new Operations Manager
November 30, 2022
The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) has named Alicia Mizuno as its next Operations Manager. As the newest member of the GCCA team, Alicia brings extensive experience in facilities…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts
Amazon Books editors announce 2022’s Best Books of the Year
November 30, 2022
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow named best book of 2022 The Amazon Books Editors announced their selections for the Best Books of 2022, naming Gabrielle Zevin’s novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and…
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Upcountry History Museum receives SC Humanities grant
November 21, 2022
The Upcountry History Museum – Greenville County, a Smithsonian Affiliate, announced that it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the South Carolina Humanities. Selected as one of 16 cultural…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: economic-development, entertainment, marketing-and-communications, media, non-profit, on-the-move, the-arts
Pancho Villa’s Fighting South Carolina Gamecocks
November 21, 2022
By Tom Poland I’ll file this column under the category, Fowl History. Did Mexican Revolutionary War General, Pancho Villa, ride a train to Calhoun Falls, South Carolina to buy fighting…
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Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities now accepting applications for summer programs and residential high school
November 17, 2022
The SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, a public, residential high school for artistically talented students, is now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year and arts-immersive, overnight…
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First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Wealth Management invest in South Carolina’s young artists
November 17, 2022
First Citizens Bank and First Citizens Wealth Management are donating $20,000 in support of the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities over the next two years. This multi-year…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: education, on-the-move, the-arts
The Relentless Grind
November 17, 2022
By Tom Poland Football’s Hidden Injuries Winter Haven Florida, February 1996—I covered Cypress Gardens’ 60th anniversary for Ski World magazine. It was Florida’s oldest theme park, one where Southern…
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New twist on traditional holiday classic making Greenville debut at Upcountry History Museum
November 15, 2022
On Saturday, November 19, 2022, the doors of the Upcountry History Museum will open to an ever-familiar story but the Greenville debut of an exclusive holiday favorite, “Nutcracker: The Exhibition.”…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: churches, day-care, education, entertainment, hotels, marketing-and-communications, media, non-profit, on-the-move, social-scene, the-arts
Mud, Crushed Granite, And Memories
November 10, 2022
By Tom Poland Nostalgia pulled at me hard. On the second Sunday in September, I decided to see three things that were no more. And so I drove up…
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New mural at Pillar Holistic Living adds to Greenville public art collection
November 8, 2022Mural designed by artist Lacey Hennessey brings new inspiration to the Poinsett Corridor Pillar Holistic Living, a new holistic wellness concept, recently unveiled the newest public work of art for…
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Proud Mary Theatre Company surprised with grant from Spartanburg County Foundation
November 8, 2022Proud Mary Theatre Company was surprised and overwhelmed when an informal tour of our facilities at Artists Collective Spartanburg turned into a media “ambush” with reporters from WYFF and the Post…
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Aluminum, Glass, Rum, War, & Hemingway
November 3, 2022
By Tom Poland When Timelines Cross The vessels resemble, cousins of a sort, my worn canteen and its shiny glass companion. The two came to me by dissimilar routes.…
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South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation elects new members to its Board of Directors
November 1, 2022The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation announced four new members elected to its board of directors. These new members will assist the foundation to achieve…
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Greenville Center for Creative Arts promotes Ben Tarcson to Gallery Director
October 28, 2022
The Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) has promoted Ben Tarcson to the position of Gallery Director. As one of the longest-serving staff members at GCCA, Tarcson has played an…
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Drowning The Past
October 27, 2022
By Tom Poland What We’ve Lost I spent a lot of time on Clarks Hill Lake (Strom Thurmond Lake), during my teenage and college years. I camped, boated, and…
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Teamwork – effective and fun!
October 27, 2022
By Jeff Becraft One of the most epic moments in my life happened in a grocery store. It was on an alumni trip back in the Youth Corps days. There…
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Greenville Theatre presents The Play That Goes Wrong – Oct 21 – Nov 13
October 24, 2022
Greenville Theatre is thrilled to present the regional premiere of the longest running play in Broadway history, The Play That Goes Wrong! Come see the Cornley Drama Society as they “attempt”…
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Old Island Haunts
October 20, 2022
By Tom Poland Add Hazel’s Café to the List Old island haunts. The fever to develop islands didn’t destroy all of them. In a few instances, someone decided, “Not…
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Wild Rumpus of Sendak’s ‘Wild Things’ comes to Upcountry History Museum
October 17, 2022
Stomping into Greenville in its only South Carolina stop, “Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak” will open at the Upcountry History Museum-Furman University, a Smithsonian Affiliate, on Saturday, October…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: chamber, churches, education, entertainment, hospitality, marketing-and-communications, media, non-profit, on-the-move, social-scene, the-arts
The Feared Invader
October 13, 2022
By Tom Poland Let’s talk invasive species. One will bite you. You can bite the other. You can eat it, but given time it will entomb all you possess. Fire…
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Solid gold: 50 years of the S.C. Arts Foundation
October 9, 2022
October is National Arts and Humanities month, and this commemoration of the arts’ importance to our nation is an opportunity to recognize a milestone that the South Carolina Arts Foundation…
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The CCC
October 6, 2022
By Tom Poland FDR’s Tree Army If my mother didn’t like something, she’d tell you. If she liked something, you knew that too, and she liked the Civilian Conservation…
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The Pull Of The Macon Music Scene
September 29, 2022
By Tom Poland I find my mind drifting back to Macon, and then I find myself driving kudzu-bordered roads. Macon, Georgia sits in the middle of Georgia. It’s not…
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Tevis wins second Pushcart Prize for personal essay on hazing rituals, consequences
September 23, 2022
Joni Tevis, the Bennette E. Geer Professor of English at Furman University, has won her second Pushcart Prize, this time for an essay published in The Georgia Review titled “If…
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Book Event Season Is Upon Us
September 21, 2022
By Tom Poland She asked, and I told her. “What’s the writing life like?” “It’s a sentence to solitary confinement. You work in isolation for long periods, and that’s…
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The Power Of Moonlit Imagery
September 15, 2022
By Tom Poland Herman Melville created Moby Dick, the great white sperm whale that bit off Ahab’s leg. James Dickey had a 12-point white buck that swam from island…
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Original Fine Art Print Fair at GCCA on Oct 14-15
September 15, 2022Original Fine Arts Print Fair at Greenville Center for Creative Arts on October 14-15, 2022 Don’t miss the Printmaking Fair where you can chat with artists, watch printmakers demonstrate making…
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Peace Center announces two new music venues and more
September 13, 2022Major renovations underway for live music club, listening room, and more! The Peace Center announced a major renovation project designed to diversify Greenville’s live music scene like never before. Dubbed…
Read MorePosted in: upstatebizsc Category: headlines, on-the-move, the-arts
The National Park Nearest You
September 8, 2022
By Tom Poland Here in the classic South, we have two choices when it comes to national parks. We have the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and…
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Greenville Theatre is thrilled to open season 97 with Broadway’s newest comedy smash, Something Rotten!
September 8, 2022
This 2015 musical takes audiences back to the Renaissance time, where everything is new! With a book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick and Music and lyrics by Karey and…
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South Carolina State Fair discount tickets are now available
September 7, 2022
Discount admission and ride tickets for the 153rd annual South Carolina State Fair are on sale now through Tuesday, Oct. 11. Patrons can save up to 50% by purchasing S.C.…
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Botanical Beauty—For Women Only
August 31, 2022
By Tom Poland What’s behind a name? Lots most of the time. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s a mystery, but often it’s botanical. I’ve not met a woman named…
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S.C. Arts Commission doubles grantmaking record with $11.9 million investment
August 30, 2022
FY22 grants for arts and arts learning impacted 43 counties The South Carolina Arts Commission is announcing that it more than doubled its previous grant-making record by investing $11.9 million…
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S.C. Arts Commission expands team of arts professionals
August 26, 2022
The South Carolina Arts Commission is announcing that four skilled professionals joined its team so far in 2022, creating two departments, expanding another, and providing critical support for a growing…
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The Gospel. Sunday Piano Memories
August 25, 2022
By Tom Poland The old book and instrument of wood and ivory need each other. In fact, they share what biologists call a symbiotic relationship. In my recall of…
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Ferns, Nature’s Colonists
August 18, 2022
By Tom Poland Ferns bless us with classic Southern settings but doing so isn’t always easy. Random winds pick up fern spores and scatter them, their destiny determined by…
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Chapman Cultural Center announces expansion of its grants and funding opportunities
August 17, 2022Chapman Cultural Center announced the expansion of its various grant programs as of July 1, 2022, including changes to its General Operating Support Grant application process. In order to better…
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Contemporary Print Collective’s “Unmasked” to open at GCCA’s Community Gallery
August 17, 2022
Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) in association with the Contemporary Print Collective is excited to announce the opening of the new Community Gallery exhibition, Unmasked. The exhibition features the…
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Vintage Enamelware
August 10, 2022
By Tom Poland I was visiting the past at the Lincoln County History Park when I spied a graceful blue enamelware pot sitting among fire logs. Warm memories came…
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Greenville Center for Creative Arts names recipients of 2022-23 Brandon Fellowship
August 10, 2022
Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA) revealed the incoming class of the Brandon Fellowship at its Annual Showcase on August 5. The Fellowship is a 12-month program that aims to…
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Thistles, A Prickly Subject
August 4, 2022
By Tom Poland We’d be walking to a farm pond in quest of bream when Grandmom Poland would spot a thistle. “Watch out for that nettle.” She’d hardly break…
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Alchemy Comedy announces Ninth Annual Greenville Comedy Marathon
July 20, 2022
Twelve Straight Hours of Comedy Alchemy Comedy Theater announces their 9th Annual Greenville Comedy Marathon. The shows will take place at Alchemy Comedy Theater located at 1 E Coffee St,…
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