Eco Responsible Tree Removal in Charleston, SC

Your May concert countdown is here, looking ahead at some of the best shows coming to Charleston this month. We've got quite the mix, and now that the weather has warmed up the outdoor venues around town are in full swing as well.

And because outdoor venues are so tapped in this month, I'm including some clusters below for you to pick from all the stellar shows happening at particular venues, like The Windjammer and Credit One Stadium.

Don't forget to slather on that sunscreen when you head to an outdoor show (trust me, I've learned the hard way)!

Windjammer shows (including Mark Bryan)

What: May is a packed month at The Windjammer, with so many bands to highlight playing the NUTRL Beach Stage. I'll give a shout out to a few here: Yonder Mountain String Band, Brent Cobb, Everclear, Leftover Salmon, Vincent Mason, GoldFord, two nights of Corey Smith, two nights of Umphrey's McGee, two nights of Futurebirds and two nights of Stoplight Observations.

Among the stellar lineup is also Hootie & The Blowfish's own Mark Bryan, a Charleston local who has released three solo albums beyond his Hootie years. I'll include those details below, but check out the general website for all the details on the others.

When: Doors at 6 p.m. May 3

Where: The Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd., Isle of Palms

Price: $20 advance, $25 day of show

More Info: the-windjammer.com/event/mark-bryan

Credit One Stadium shows (including Sturgill Simpson)

What: It's a busy month at Credit One Stadium following a successful tennis tournament at the venue in April. This month, you can snag tickets to see the following artists there: Cody Johnson & Friends, Hank Williams Jr., two nights of Widespread Panic and Keith Urban.

Also on the list is Sturgill Simpson, known in the contemporary country music world for his traditional sound and introspective lyrics.

A West Ashley gym will power down for good next month, leaving customers crushed.

O2 Fitness at 1119 Wappoo Road sent an email to members at 2 p.m. April 18, stating, "our lease terminates at the end of May and we have been unable to find a path forward to maintain."

The final day is May 31 with the closure time scheduled for 7 p.m.

The gym anchors the Ashley Oaks Plaza, situated in the middle of a group of tenants that include West Ashley Hardware/TrueValue, Los Reyes Mexican Restaurant, Kings Sushi, Lavish Nail Salon, Ultratan and newly added Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids.

"As a local company born and raised in the Carolinas, with roots in Charleston going back 25 years, this is a disappointing situation," the email said.

The Raleigh-based fitness chain first opened the West Ashley location in January 2019.

The gym was one of three workout centers, including Daniel Island and Moncks Corner, to replace existing facilities O2 inherited after its purchase of the former East Shore Athletic Club's Charleston-area operations in 2013.

"These three upgrades, along with the addition of our beautiful James Island club late last year, help showcase our commitment to providing the Charleston-area with first-class fitness facilities,” O2 Fitness founder and CEO Michael Olander previously told The Post and Courier.

Memberships to the West Ashley location remain active at O2 Fitness on Folly Road, with no action required, the company said.

The chain operates 19 fitness centers, mostly in North Carolina.

A new restaurant run by a locally based celebrity chef is preparing to touch down at Charleston International.

When visitors to the airport's Kardea Brown's Southern Kitchen sit down for "contemporary Lowcountry cuisine," Food Network chef Kardea Brown wants them to feel like family.

A sign that reads "Hey cousins!" was installed above the bar in the space that previously housed Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Grill. Brown says fans of her shows or cookbooks will likely recognize the menu selections.

She's the host of "Delicious Miss Brown" and is known for known for her regional Gullah-inspired cuisine.

Brown was scheduled to hold a soft opening April 19 at CHS. A grand opening is planned for May 15.

The restaurant is part of a $6 million investment that airport concessionaire Delaware North plans to make in its latest shakeup of dining options.

Brown was onsite the week of April 14 to train staff and put the finishing touches on the space.

"As a Charleston girl born and raised, it's just a dream come true to have a restaurant named after me in the Charleston airport," she said.

Now on tour

A company that describes itself as the nation's largest operator of themed sightseeing vehicles has brought its Old Town Trolley Tours to Charleston.

Historic Tours of America Inc. launched operations in the Holy City earlier this month.

Old Town offers a 100-minute live narrated tour with two photo stops at the Battery and Hampton Park. The outings depart daily from the Charleston Visitor Center at 375 Meeting St. from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The itineraries covers points of interest, including Rainbow Row, The Citadel, the Old Exchange, Broad Street, Liberty Square, the Powder Magazine, the Old Slave Mart Museum and historic churches. Trips to the historic plantations at Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant and Magnolia in West Ashley also are available.

Ticket prices range from about $36 to $75, according to Historic Tours' website.

CEO Chris Belland said the Key West, Fla.-based company had wanted to expand for some time to Charleston, saying it's "a perfect destination with history, attractions, fascinating stories and fabulous people, which is what we look for when going into a city.”

The company also launched a Hometown pass program for Charleston County residents that offers a free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Old Town operates tours in eight other cities.

Reach Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postandcourier.com.

Bermuda's pink-sand beaches are just a nonstop flight away for Lowcountry residents, now that BermudAir has launched its newests nonstop route.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first Bermuda flight to Charleston has just landed. We will be boarding shortly," an airline gate agent said over the airport's intercom as the direct flight from Bermuda touched down on the CHS runway April 19.

It was followed by applause of passengers waiting to board.

The excitement drew onlookers from nearby gates to the window to watch the plane marked with a colorful bright tail pull into gate A1. The pilots, still in the cockpit, waved at the crowd.

Fran Tucker Griffiths was among the group, waiting with her ticket and passport in hand to board. She lived in Bermuda for 38 years and raised her children on the island. To her, it's still home even though she spends most of her time in South Carolina now.

"The day they announced this flight, I booked it," Tucker Griffiths said. "I'm so excited. I've been waiting since 1982 for a nonstop route. We've had to fly Delta through Atlanta and make a whole day of it, but this two-hour flight saves us a day of travel."

She already has tickets booked for May and June trips.

"Bermuda has amazing golf and the most beautiful beaches and people. It's just a special place," Tucker Griffiths said.

The resort island's carrier will serve Charleston year-round with a once-weekly Saturday flight to and from L.F. Wade International Airport in the historic town of St. George.

The weekly flight departs CHS at 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and arrives in St. George's about two hours and 10 minutes later. The return leg will land around 4:45 p.m. every Saturday.

BermudAir took to the skies slightly over a year ago, with two Embraer ER-170 jets to serve three U.S. cities. Before the carrier hit its first anniversary, it had entered seven markets in North America. BermudAir now flies to 10 destinations in the U.S. and three in Canada.

BermudAir is the first carrier to be headquartered on the island, which is about 900 miles nearly due east of the South Carolina coastline.

CEO Adam D. Scott said year-round service is key to its goal of making Bermuda a destination for business and leisure travelers beyond being a summer destination.

"We're really pleased with the interest from both directions," Scott said.

Scott was on the inaugural CHS flight, which was more than 60 percent full. He said it's sometimes hard to anticipate how balanced the outbound and inbound traffic will be. He said seeing the balance from day one is "indicative of the demand in both markets."

"Charleston a great historic city with a lot of unique character, and so is Bermuda," Scott said.

More than 40 passengers deplaned at CHS, and another 30 boarded shortly after.

Among those landing in Charleston was a Daniel Island family returning from a spring break trip. Frank Pete and wife Katy and two children chose Bermuda as their vacation destination because they could take the BermudAir flight home.

"It was nice clearing customs in Bermuda, because it made flying back a breeze as if we were flying domestic," he said. "The experience was great. We enjoyed the stalagmite caves, beaches and cliff jumping on the trip."

While the once-weekly route is not ideal for those staying longer or less than a week, Scott, the CEO, said the goal is to move to a twice-weekly flight in the future if interest remains strong. He doesn't see it as a weakness in the meantime, since passengers can fly back to the U.S. with the carrier and get back to Charleston via a domestic connection. Alternatively, they can fly through another carrier, which also requires a connecting flight.

Bermuda is known as a vibrant, tropical and cosmopolitan getaway with blush-colored sand, coral reefs, historic sites and an international finance sector.

Travelers from Bermuda shared their favorite sights to see beyond the pink sand beaches it's most known for — like crystal caves, the historic town of St. George, Royal Naval Dockyard and other spots.

Charleston International CEO Elliott Summey said the schedule between the Lowcountry and Bermuda "marks a significant milestone for both regions" and promotes business and leisure travel between the two areas.

“This new route enhances our international connectivity and strengthens economic and cultural ties between the Lowcountry and the island," Summey said.

Debi Ray-Rivers is an example of that business demand. She's a Bermudian who just recently moved to Hilton Head Island full-time. She was on her way to Bermuda to manage her nonprofit and she has a return ticket booked for next week.

"I will be flying back and forth regularly, so I am very excited to have this convenient option," Ray-Rivers said.

Before BermudAir, she'd fly out from Savannah-Hilton Head International to a connecting flight in Atlanta.

"I hope people come visit Bermuda because of this route. We have the most beautiful island and it's an absolute gem in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean," Ray-Rivers added.

Beverly Connell, a Bermudian that lives in the Beaufort area, said the route saves her from the usual long layover in Atlanta or Charlotte airports.

"I couldn't believe there would ever be a direct flight to Bermuda from Charleston. The less airports you have to go through the better," Connell said.

Connell said the two pairings share much in common, with historic sites, beaches and big tourism industries.

"Bermuda is very unique in terms of its beauty, its people and culture rooted in English and Bermudian traditions," she said.

Reach Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postandcourier.com.