It’s about that time to start planning what you’ll be doing for Halloween!

Charleston has a reputation for having more ghosts than any other city in America, and ghost stories abound. It is a favorite haunt for ghost hunters, and Charleston’s rich and bloody history seems to have created an amazing number of lost spirits. From the days before Columbus through today, many deaths have taken place in Charleston—but not all of the dead have departed the city.

In particular, Dock Street Theatre and the Battery Carriage House Inn have been the setting for many ghost sightings. The ghost of Junius Brutus Booth, John Wilkes Booth’s father, has been seen wandering around the theater, as has the apparition of an unknown prostitute called Nettie. According to legend, Nettie was struck by lightning and killed in the 1800s when the Theatre was a hotel. The Battery Carriage House Inn has a ghost that tries to get into bed with women guests and put his arm around them.

And of course, as Charleston was a major site of the Civil War, residents and tourists regularly report seeing the ghosts of Civil War soldiers. The ghosts of Blackbeard the Pirate and scores of Civil War soldiers have also been seen on Folly Island.

Charleston’s ghost tours are some of the best in the nation, and Bulldog Tours and Tour Charleston, LLC have the most impressive tours in the city. You can take a ghost tour most months of the year, and tour guides take you through back alleys, jails, churches, and cemeteries with tales of voodoo, haunting, chilling deaths, and local legends and superstitions. Bulldog Tours’ Ghost and Dungeon Walking Tour takes you to the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, while Tour Charleston, LLC’s Ghosts of Charleston Tour leads you through the Unitarian Church Graveyard.

Charleston’s residents love Halloween. In addition to ghost tours, you can join in on Boone Hall Fright Nights at Boone Hall Plantation, another haunted Charleston landmark. Fright Night events include Bloodstone Manor, a vampires’ lair; Fright Stalkers Corn Field, haunted land sure to scare anyone who dares enter; the Body Farm Haunted Hayride; and Psycho Clowns Side Show.

Other Halloween parties and events for all ages include:

• Halloween Howler Bar Crawl starting at Moe’s Downtown Tavern.
• Premiere of the play Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde at The Footlight Players.
• Scary’um Aquarium at the South Carolina Aquarium.
• Car, Bike, and Truck Show at Hooters.
• Monster Mash at Charleston Ballet Theatre.

As Charleston DUI attorneys, of course we caution you that police will have enhanced enforcement around Halloween, so please don’t drink and drive.

What other Halloween activities can we add to this list?

Image above taken from the ABATE of SC website.

Sponsored by HOGWYLD and Lake Murray ABATE, the 11^th Annual Freedom Ride takes place Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 11 a.m.

At noon, the group will leave the parking lot of Chaplin Bi-Lo off Highway 76, and there will be a police escort to the South Carolina State House to listen to special speakers on the Statehouse steps. After the speeches, the group will ride to Ray’s in Ballentine, SC for food and entertainment. Participants are requested to wear their red, white, and blue, and to bring any old cell phones and accessories to benefit Cell Phones for Soldiers.

ABATE of South Carolina, Inc. is the organization that protects motorcyclist’s rights in South Carolina. In June of 1980, ABATE members succeeded in protecting bikers’ freedom of choice when South Carolina’s mandatory helmet law was amended to allow adults to decide for themselves whether to wear helmets.

ABATE stands for A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments, and it defends liberty. It does not oppose safety devices, but it does oppose laws that mandate using these devices. According to its constitution, “the purpose of ABATE of South Carolina is to form a not-for-profit association at the state level to protect the rights and liberties of motorcyclists, and promote motorcycle awareness and voluntary motorcycle rider training.”

For more information, email HogWyld@yahoo.com, or call 803.351.2987. ABATE SC’s website is www.abatesc.com.

The biker community is one of kinship, camaraderie, and fun. We can attest to the fact that being a social biker adds a new dimension to the riding experience and benefits everyone involved.

In fact, anyone who rides is a member of the motorcycle club; the subgroups differentiate themselves in many ways. Ninety-nine percent of motorcycle club members conduct themselves with the utmost in dignity and respect. The motorcycle riders often portrayed on television are what bikers call the one-percenters—the 1% who give everyone else a bad name. These groups are not gangs, and prefer not to be addressed as such.

Security.

Joining a club or biker’s group gives you safety in numbers. When you’re traveling, you have people there to lend a hand in case of breakdown. If you need help with a personal issue or a legal issue such as running from blue lights, you have a safe place to talk and many minds to help you come up with a solution.

Brotherhood or sisterhood.

A biker club is like any other club: it’s a group of friends you can trust. They’ll help you and your family any time you need it (and keep it quiet), make sure you’re all right, and do what they can. The words “brotherhood” and “sisterhood” describe perfectly what bikers consider their club to be.

Many, if not most, biker’s groups do good works for charity, and those organizations will tell you that the bikers are the most generous and dependable donors and volunteers they have. Typically, bikers are generous with their time and money and consider it their mission to help those who are less fortunate.

Companionship.

The bonds of friendship fostered in a biker’s group are long-lasting and deep. These are true friends and great companions who are dedicated to each other and consider themselves brothers and sisters—friends for life.

The latest information about legislation.

In every club, there are a few who stay abreast of the latest laws and regulations pertaining to motorcycles. Also, with so many people involved, the club stays informed about the biker’s life in general and relays that information to the rest of the group.

Are you in a club, and what’s your favorite part of belonging to the group?

The SPCA relies entirely on grants, donations, and fundraisers, and 100% of the proceeds go to the organization. Last year, this run raised $14,000 for the SPCA and had almost 600 bikers in attendance. This year, the estimated number of bikers is 650, and the fundraising goal is $17,000. Previous PAW-ker Runs have helped over 4,000 lost, abandoned, and abused animals in Dorchester County, and the need continues to grow.

The entry fee is $20 per person, and includes a t-shirt, meal, koozie, and goody bag. For each extra hand played, the cost is $5. All major credit cards are accepted. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, third, and worst hands. A DJ will provide music, and Dorchester Shrine Club and Junior Service League of Summerville will provide a BBQ meal with dessert. Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the ride.

The Dorchester Shrine Club is located at 2150 Beech Hill Road in Summerville, and in addition to the Shrine Club and the SPCA, the stops include:

• Main Street Bar & Grill
• Fat Boys
• Sapphires Bar & Grill
• Happy Ours Bar & Grill
• Skynyrds Grill & Sports Bar
• Minky’s Social Club
• Market Street Saloon
• Shooter’s

Sponsors and support are always needed and are greatly appreciated. The SPCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization, and if you have questions or would like to help, contact Bob Jones by phone at 843-871-3820, extension 205, or by email at frwspcagrants@hotmail.com. The SPCA website is www.summervillespca.com.

Let’s Ride for the PAWS!

Independence Day events happening in and around Charleston:

Patriot’s Point 4^th of July Celebration: America’s National Carrier Aviation Museum draws tens of thousands every July 4 to listen to live bands, eat plenty of good food, and of course, watch the incredible fireworks display launched from the deck of the Yorktown. For 2011, Patriots Point has spent more than ever before on fireworks, so this year’s celebration will top them all. Admission is free for the fireworks, entertainment, and much-loved Kidz Zone.

Directions: Take I-26 to downtown Charleston, turn on Highway 17 North, go across the Cooper River Bridge, and follow the signs to Patriots Point.

Summerville’s Red, White, and Blue on the Green: Downtown Summerville comes alive with its Red, White, and Blue on the Green on Saturday, July 3. Hosted by Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement, and Management), the festival includes a dunk tank, face painting, crafts, and for $3, unlimited games. Bad Moon Band will play, and all the usual food vendors will be selling their delicious dishes.

The highlight of the festival is the much-anticipated Uncle Sam and Miss Liberty Costume Contest and non-motorized parade around Hutchinson Square. Everyone joins in with their wagons, bicycles, carriages, kids, animals . . . all decorated to celebrate the 4^th of July. Prizes include Best in Show, Uncle Sam, Miss Liberty, and Best Decorated Pet.

For more information, please call the Summerville D.R.E.A.M. office at 843-821-7260.

Directions: Take 1-26 West to Highway 17 South for about 4.5 miles to Hutchinson Square, the center of town.

Folly Beach 4^th of July Celebration: Enjoy an amazing fireworks display at Folly Beach at dark. Make it an all-day celebration and fish off the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier, swim or stroll along the beach, or enjoy a delicious meal in one of our restaurants.

Directions: Take I-26 to downtown Charleston and turn on Highway 17 South to Highway 161 (Folly Road). Go to the end of Folly Road (about 15 minutes) to the beach.

What will you be doing for the Fourth of July?

Motorcycle associations give bikers a chance to connect with other enthusiasts and share information, discuss their travels, or simply show off photos of their bikes. We looked for the top three organizations and found that all of them offer incredible benefits to their members.

American Motorcyclist Association: http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/

The AMA is the world’s largest motorcycle organization, and its mission is to promote and protect the motorcycling lifestyle, from weekend riding to crossing the world by bike. The Association was founded in 1924 and currently has over 225,000 members, most of them long-time riders with over 1 billion miles ridden collectively. The AMA employs a full-time staff to defend bikers’ rights and is influential in guiding legislation that affects bikers.

The lengthy list of members’ benefits and discounts includes . . .

• Email newsletters, magazines, and an exclusive members’ area on its website.
• Sponsorship of racing and riding events.
• Over 1,200 AMA-chartered clubs.
• Medical and insurance coverage while participating in AMA events.
• Organized motorcycle tours.
• AMA Roadside Assistance program.
• Discounts on products and services such as garage floor coverings, rain chaps, insurance, motorcycle lifts and transport, and lodging.

Motorcycle Riders Club of America: http://www.motorcycleridersclubofamerica.com/

Part of the North American Membership group of clubs, the MRCA focuses on helping its members build, customize, and ride. With more than 80,000 members, the Club caters to motorcycle enthusiasts and offers them a way to communicate, network, and learn from each other.

Membership offers plenty of benefits:

• Click and Win sweepstakes.
• The ability to test, review, and keep new products, such as boots and toolkits.
• An active online forum for members to share their expertise and accomplishments.
• Exclusive Club newsletter, Compression Ratio.
• Yearly subscription to Rider Magazine.
• Facebook page to comment and share information.
• Gasoline rebates.

The Antique Motorcycle Club of America: http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/

Founded in 1954, the AMCA has over 11,000 members and 54 affiliate chapters worldwide dedicated to the “preservation, restoration, and operation of old-time motorcycles.” Antique or vintage motorcycles are at least 35 years old, and membership is open to anyone with an interest in vintage motorcycles, including those who don’t own one.

AMCA benefits include . . .

• Local chapter-sponsored meetings, shows, and road runs.
• National swap meets and road runs, seminars, shows, and races.
• AMCA Virtual Motorcycle Library with historic documents.
• Online discussion forum.
• The Antique Motorcycle quarterly magazine with expert information and advertising.
• Discounts at U.S. motorcycle museums.

Which organization is your favorite and why?

I’m excited to announce to my readers that Bikers Helping Bikers will be holding an excellent benefit event in Summerville, SC. The event takes place on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Shooters in Summerville, with the first bike riding out at 11 a.m. The even ends at 3 p.m. at Market Street Saloon in North Charleston.Upon arrival to the Market Street Saloon, bikers will receive chicken wings, provided by the Saloon.

The benefit costs $15.00 per rider and $5.00 per passenger. This registration fee will be split equally among One Lucky Rider and Bikers Helping Bikers.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bikers Helping Bikers, they are “a non profit organization created to assist bikers injured in motorcycle related accidents.  It was created and formed by a local group of friends and fellow riders that felt driven to give back to the motorcycling community that we are a part of.”

I’ll be riding in the event, so I hope to see you there!

Contact Bikers Helping Bikers for more information about the event and how to register.

It’s that time of year to roll out the barbecues and start cooking up some summer favorites with friends and family. So what better time to host a biker-style barbecue than this weekend?

Below are a few ways to make sure that your biker barbecue is one that your friends will be talking about for years:

Food

Wings: One of my all-time favorite chefs is Guy Fieri of The Food Network. I like his style and I love his recipes! In fact, one of my favorite recipes from Guy is his Carolina Wings recipe, which combines spicy, tangy, and sweet. You’ll want to make a lot of these since they’ll go fast.

Sliders: For some tasty sliders, I suggest Emeril Lagasse’s recipe for Sirloin Sliders with Crispy Bacon and Creamy Horseradish Mayo. You’ve never tasted anything so good and neither have your guests.

Corn on the Cob: Chef Bobby Flay can teach you a thing or two about awesome barbecue. In my opinion, one of his best recipes is his Grilled Corn on the Cob with Barbeque Butter. It is truly the best compliment to any barbecue.

Potato Salad: With ingredients that include fresh lime juice, ancho chilies, beefsteak tomato, garlic, and jalapenos, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Potato Salad is an absolute must for a biker barbecue. It’s creamy and fresh and will knock your socks off with zing and spice.

Sandwiches: When it comes to real southern barbecue, just look to The Neely’s of The Food Network for their expert tips. With their recipe for Pulled Pork Sandwiches, you’ll never be able to find another sandwich quite like it.

Decorations

Spice up your barbecue even more with some biker-style decorations.

Some items might include . . .

• A biker cooking apron.
• Metal biker signs.
• Biker invitations.
• A Skull and crossbones tablecloth and plates.

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Show your support and remembrance for those who died while serving this great nation, on Memorial Day by decorating your bicycle or golf cart! Whether you plan on attending a yummy barbecue at a neighbor’s house, partaking in a neighborhood block party, or listening to a Memorial Day community concert, you’ll probably have to travel some distance. So why not show your pride and support for our nation’s armed forces while en route?

Below are a few ways to decorate your bicycle or golf cart:

• Purchase an American flag on a stick and add it to the back of your bike.
• Decorate your golf cart hub caps with mini American flags. *DO NOT decorate your bicycle wheels. Materials could get caught in your chain and cause you to fall.
• Add streamers or mini American flag lights to the roof of your golf cart.
• If you’re riding a bicycle, decorate your helmet with an America-related decal.
• Play our national anthem from a portable stereo in your golf cart.
• Tie red, white, and blue balloons to the back of your golf cart or bicycle.
• Take a tip from the presidential motorbrigade by placing two American flags on both sides of the hood of your golf cart.
• Buy an American flag windsock and let it dangle from the roof of your golf cart.
• Find a plastic bald eagle statue and securely mount it to the front of your vehicle.
• If you’re transporting your dog in your golf cart, dress him or her up in an American flag bandanna.

**If you choose to decorate your bicycle or golf cart, be sure that all of your decorations are securely fastened to your mode of transportation and that none of the decorative pieces could impair your driving  /riding or the driving / riding of others.

**And, if you decide to decorate your motor vehicle or motorcycle, be sure to securely fasten any items down and ensure that they do not obscure your vision or the vision of other drivers. You do not want to cause any motor vehicle accidents or personal injuries due to loose decorations.

If you’re in the Charleston, SC, area for Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget to attend the Piccolo Spoleto Memorial Day Concert happening in Marion Square Park, Monday, May 30 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. During this concert, you’ll witness local bands play and march in honor of those who’ve died for our country. For more information, please visit www.piccolospoleto.com.

What are you doing for Memorial Day?

If you’ve never been to Charleston, this is definitely the perfect time to come visit. The weather is absolutely perfect for rides—it’s my favorite time of year since there’s still a breeze and the temperature is in the high 70s / low 80s. When you partake in some of the rides through Charleston, you’ll enjoy historical and cultural insight into the area and pass through picturesque scenery with canopying live oaks, drizzled with Spanish moss. You’ll also have the opportunity to mingle with other bikers from across the country—one of the best perks about events such as this one.

When you’re not riding or partaking in festivities, enjoy some of Charleston’s attractions, including Sullivan’s Island beaches, Belle Hall Plantation, Fort Sumter, and more. At nighttime, enjoy great southern food, drinks, and music around downtown Charleston and visit some of the Charleston Bike Fest vendors that will be around the entire area.

For more information about the event, contact 843.514.4433.