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Southeast’s Largest Country Music Fest, Myrtle Beach, SC, June 5-7
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Grab a cowboy hat and a pair of flip-flops, as country music meets the scenic shores of Myrtle Beach when the boardwalk becomes home to the Carolina Country Music Festival (CCMF), June 5-7. 

Full House Productions (FHP), Charlotte, N.C.’s premiere entertainment and production company, in conjunction with Visit Myrtle Beach, announce today the site and lineup of artists scheduled to perform at the inaugural CCMF – an outdoor country music festival at the beach.

“FHP is proud to announce that after thorough review and consideration of potential sites, Myrtle Beach is the natural fit for the Carolina Country Music Festival,” said Bob Durkin, President of FHP. “The city, mayor and Visit Myrtle Beach are the perfect combination for the longevity and success of this new festival. With a unique balance of headliners and up-and-comers, this will be the Southeast’s largest country music festival.”

The three-day event will host 35 of the industry’s biggest stars, including national recording artists: Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Big Rich, Sam Hunt and Hunter Hayes. New artists are being added daily.

“The Myrtle Beach area is excited that Full House Productions chose our beautiful beach destination to bring the Southeast’s premier country music festival this June, which will be a perfect kick off to our summer season,” said John Rhodes, Mayor of the City of Myrtle Beach. “Country music is a natural fit with our 16 million visitors each year, and this event will give them yet another reason to make vacation plans to visit our area.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.CarolinaCountryMusicFest.com, with discounted three-day general admission and VIP options available.  

For accommodations or more information about Myrtle Beach, go to www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com.  

Full House Productions is a premiere entertainment and production company specializing in the restaurant, nightlife, entertainment and hospitality industries. From producing concerts with the music industry’s biggest stars to partnering with restaurants and bars to achieve their marketing goals. Full House Concerts, a division of Full House Productions, is a full service event production company experienced in planning, marketing and executing concerts, festivals and special events. Since 1998, FHP has produced over 500 events in over a dozen cities around the United States with a leadership team comprised of experienced, innovative, unique and talented individuals.

www.CarolinaCountryMusicFest.com
Facebook: CarolinaCountryMusicFest
Twitter: CCMFLive 
Instagram: CCMFLive

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SOURCE Full House Productions

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In 1st Senate speech, Tillis calls for offshore drilling

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WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., delivered his first speech on the Senate floor Thursday on offshore drilling, which he says would be a boon for North Carolina.

Tillis, elected last November to replace former Sen. Kay Hagan, teamed up with U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican. They offered an amendment to the controversial Keystone XL pipeline legislation that would allow drilling for oil and natural gas off Mid-Atlantic and South-Atlantic states.

President Barack Obama had planned to allow drilling off the East Coast, starting in Virginia, but changed course after the massive 2010 British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Interior Department then excluded any petroleum leasing in the Atlantic waters through 2017.

The Tillis-Burr amendment directs the secretary of the interior to work out a 5-year lease program to allow drilling along the Outer Continental Shelf, from Florida to Delaware. The amendment, though, is likely to be more of a political statement because Obama has promised to veto the underlying Keystone pipeline bill.

Obama, meanwhile, has already approved seismic exploration for oil and gas in the Atlantic. He is considering whether to open the Atlantic waters to drilling and is expected to make an announcement soon.

Offshore energy exploration is a controversial subject in North Carolina. Critics charge that it poses a serious threat to coastal environments and the tourism industry. They warn of ugly drilling platforms off the coast.

Tillis said the proposal is about creating opportunities for Americans. He said the proposal would create jobs, reduce the cost of utilities for families, and move the nation closer to energy independence.

One study, Tillis said, found the proposal could generate $4 billion in state revenue and support more than 55,000 jobs in North Carolina.

“Keep in mind, ladies and gentlemen, the drilling that we’re talking about in North Carolina is greater than 30 miles off the coast – far beyond the site horizon of our beautiful beaches of North Carolina,” Tillis said from the Senate floor.

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Wash Legos, and other tips for 2015

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News Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)

It’s a new year, so here are some ways to make life easier and solve the little problems that crop up around your home and garden.

1. Install a new light over your garage door: Choose a bigger, brighter model. Garage lighting is often undersized because builders spend lighting dollars elsewhere. You’ll appreciate the added illumination, especially during winter’s long nights.

2. Visit consignment antique stores: You find great used stuff that’s cheaper and better than many new products.

3. Beat bugs: Have an ant problem? This Old House magazine suggests spreading cinnamon across the path where they’re entering the room. They’ll avoid it like the plague.

4. Show, don’t tell: Have a small repair job that’s hard to describe to staff at home stores? Snap a photo with your phone, and show it to them. A picture is worth, well, you know … .

5. Shop museum stores: From books to jewelry to one-of-a-kind art and crafts, unusual decor and gift items aplenty are to be found in museum shops — and sometimes shopping is tax-free! Www.1000Museums.com is a good starting place, with links to merchandise from museums around the world.

6. Create an outbox, and use it: Find a spot where you can stash stuff you might want to get rid of, suggests Apartment Therapy’s Maxwell Ryan in Good Housekeeping magazine. Then ask yourself: Do I love it? Do I use it? Does my home need it? If any answer is “no,” place the item in the outbox for a week. After that, decide whether to keep it or get rid of it. Still unsure? Wait one more week. Once your separation anxiety has passed, it’s easy to clear out a space, Ryan says.

7. Add pops of color: Fabric baskets, like throw pillows, are a quick way to add splashes of color to any room. They’re affordable and easy to replace when you want a change. And they’re handy, too, for stashing everything from magazines to the kids’ toys. See an amazing array at http://nando.com/q3.

8. Keep toothpicks on hand: Use them to pierce a clogged nozzle on a glue bottle, apply touch-up paint to tiny nicks on furniture and to clean between the buttons of your remote control (dip the toothpick in rubbing alcohol first). This Old House has more clever uses for toothpicks at http://nando.com/q4.

9. Foil password thieves: Use an accented letter in your password.

10. Upholster a door: Gray Walker, a designer in Charlotte, North Carolina, tells Southern Living magazine that doors decked out in fabric and trim — say leather and rivets, for instance — are making a comeback. “Upholstery upgrades doors to a furniture-like status that’s really beautiful,” she says.

11. Get discounts on meat: Many supermarkets discount their meat late in the evening, says www.womansday.com. Ask at the meat counter what time the manager makes markdowns.

12. Save the box: If you’re updating lighting or your bath hardware, save the box and use a section to create a cardboard template. When mounting an overhead fluorescent light fixture, for instance, cut a piece of cardboard the size of the fixture, then poke holes through the cardboard that line up with the mounting holes on the fixture. Use painter’s tape to mount the cardboard to the ceiling. Then you’ll know exactly where to mark the spots for drilling holes.

13. Make a foolproof art wall: Use painter’s tape on a wall to simulate your planned arrangement of art and objects, Domino magazine suggests. You’ll see right away whether you have enough pieces to fill the space. For balance and variety, include both vertical and horizontal works.

14. Keep Legos clean: Put Lego pieces in a mesh laundry bag, zip it closed and toss into the washing machine full of hot water and a bit of soap, says the toddler-mom who blogs at http://gettinby.wordpress.com. When the cycle is over, spread Legos on a towel to dry.

15. Get handier: If you’re semi-handy and want to get better, buy one new power tool a year. This year, we got a great hammer drill for $50. If you own a home, you’ll find it useful for drilling into brick or concrete.

16. Use an outdoor rug inside: Many designs are a good fit for today’s casual decor, and they have the look and softness of cloth. Best of all, you can just wipe — or hose — stains away, making them ideal for a playroom or breakfast nook.

17. Wash those “tiger stripe” aluminum gutters: The gutters are probably the dirtiest, dingiest surface on your home’s exterior. So, if you wash just the gutters, your whole house will look better! Krud Kutter makes a gutter wash that gets decent reviews, at about $12 for 32 ounces. Be sure to read and follow directions. Some homeowners swear by whitewall tire cleaner, too.

18. Use a trouser hanger as a recipe holder: Attach a recipe to the clips and put the hanger on an upper-cabinet knob so cooking directions are at eye level when you need them.

19. Get home improvement advice: Thinking about tackling an intimidating home repair? Start Googling videos, and you will likely learn a lot. Still need advice? On a slow weekday, go to a home improvement store. You’ll find many people working the floor who are former contractors and know how to get the job done. They may offer a solution that’s easier than the one you had in mind.

20. Create a magnetic wall: A roll of printed, cut-to-fit magnetic wallpaper makes it easy to turn an odd niche or a closet door into a useful spot to display reminders and kids’ school projects; www.houzz.com shows thousands of ways to use it.

21. Use a deck box: These storage units are affordable and easy to assemble. Use them to keep outdoor cushions dry or for storing gardening and grilling supplies or the kids’ outdoor toys.

22. Organize cleaning products: Shoe organizers that hang on doors make great storage for cleaning supplies, too.

23. Clean a splattered, stained cook top: As soon as the stove has cooled enough to touch, wipe away the mess. Cover dried-on spills with a wet, soapy dish cloth and let it sit, suggests Real Simple magazine. Then use the cloth to wipe up the softened spill. For stubborn, neglected messes, make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Apply to the spill, leave on for 10 minutes and wipe away with a damp paper towel. You can also use a nonabrasive cleanser.

24. Keep switches clean: Real estate agents say dirty, smudged light switch covers are a real turnoff for buyers. Clean them and/or receptacle covers. Experiment with a different color; crisp white adds a contemporary touch.

25. Collect lidded boxes: Decorative boxes make perfect risers for displaying mementos on a book shelf and provide interest and storage on a side table or night stand.

26. Add new curtain rods: Especially, says www.houzz.com, if you’re updating other hardware such as door and cabinet knobs. Replace simple brass rods with, say, bronze or brushed nickel. Choose something sculptural.

27. Fight pet hair: Always shake clothing (preferably outdoors) before tossing it in the wash, www.familycircle.com recommends.

28. Spray it: If you can spray paint something, instead of using a can and brush, do it. It’s faster and easier. If you don’t have a can of stain-blocking primer, get one.

29. Update a light fixture: Transform an old brass light fixture or table lamp with Krylon spray paint in oil-rubbed bronze (or hammered metal or stone texture). Just clean the metal well, and follow instructions on the can.

30. Get kids’ toys out of the bathtub: Position a tension-type shower rod about 12 inches above the tub, next to the wall. Use hooks or ties to attach ventilated plastic baskets or bags to the rod to stash bath toys. Rubber duckies, tub crayons and other toys will drip-dry between baths and be out of the way.

Compiled by staff writers Carole Tanzer Miller, Brooke Cain and Roland Wilkerson and correspondents Allen Norwood and Joyce Clark Hicks.

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Infinisource’s NXG series sets new time clock standard

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Infinisource has launched its new NXG series of time clocks with the introduction of the G2 model. The G2 sets a higher standard for collecting attendance and labor data and complements the company’s iSolved human capital management solution. With plug-and-play installation, touch screen interface and seamless connection to cloud-based iSolved, the NXG G2 time clock provides a robust time collection solution for the small to mid-size employer.

The G2 offers a fresh approach in flexibility and power for tracking time and labor in the workforce. Its sophisticated, built-in biometric finger scanner delivers quick and secure identification. Employees appreciate the efficiency and usability of the engaging, full color touch screen and numeric keypad. Dual external USB ports allow the attachment of an optional barcode scanner or full-size keyboard. The G2 also automatically downloads configuration profiles, employee tables and validation lists through iSolved’s OnDemand communication technology, ensuring up-to-date information without scheduled imports or exports.

“It’s critical for today’s small to midsize employers to use biometric options for time and attendance,” said Todd LaFever, President Employer Services Product and Technology at Infinisource. “Today’s employers face challenges from all fronts. By using biometric technology, they’re easily able to review accurate data and reports for staffing and budgets.”

The NXG G2 supports attendance and scheduling operations (in, out, meal and breaks) as well as a variety of labor allocation and costing functions. Schedule restrictions can be utilized to prevent employees from clocking in outside of scheduled times, and minimum meal break restrictions ensure compliance with company policies or state laws.

Designed exclusively to integrate with iSolved, including iSolved TimeForce, the NXG G2 is assembled in the United States and is delivered through the iSolved Network of Certified Partners and direct from Infinisource. Look for the G4 model of the NXG series to be released later in 2015.

Visit www.infinisource.com to learn more about how iSolved is transforming the way organizations manage their most important asset — their people.

About Infinisource, Inc.
Founded in 1986, Infinisource is a nationally recognized leader of SaaS-based Human Capital Management technology solutions and expert services. Infinisource offers iSolved (a single platform for HR, Payroll, Time and Attendance and Benefits Enrollment) as well as administration for COBRA, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. With more than 4,000 broker relationships and 63,000 employer customers, Infinisource delivers transformational human capital management technology.

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new Economic Development Partnership leader arrives amid incentives debate

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UNC-Chapel Hill faces new class-action lawsuit over fake classes

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Lake Sequoyah Lowered

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c 2014, WLOS ABC 13 | Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.

WLOS News 13 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Asheville, NC and nearby towns and communities in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina, including the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Transylvania, McDowell, Mitchell, Madison, Yancey, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, Union, Pickens, Oconee, Laurens, Greenwood, Abbeville and also Biltmore Forest, Woodfin, Leicester, Black Mountain, Montreat, Arden, Weaverville, Hendersonville, Etowah, Flat Rock, Mills River, Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Franklin, Cullowhee, Sylva, Cherokee, Marion, Old Fort, Forest City, Lake Lure, Bat Cave, Spindale, Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Burnsville, Tryon, Columbus, Marshall, Mars Hill, Brevard, Bryson City, Cashiers, Greer, Landrum, Clemson, Gaffney, and Easley.

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Macau ranks No. 1 in economic performance among world cities

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By PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) – Macau, the Chinese territory known for casino gambling, outperformed the rest of the world’s major cities economically last year, according to a report out Thursday.

Cities in the developing world, especially China, dominated the top of the annual economic rankings of 300 cities worldwide by the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. One exception: Bangkok, Thailand, came in last, its economy wrecked by political strife.

Macau has enjoyed a tourism boom, with gamblers coming to bet at more than 30 casinos, including the Venetian Macau, the world’s largest.

Cities in wealthy, developed countries tended to lag behind. Though most of the cities surveyed around the world have recovered from the Great Recession, 65 percent of European and 57 percent of North American cities have not, according to the study, which ranks cities by growth in employment and in economic output per person. Some highlights:

BIG DIFFERENCES

Joseph Parilla, a Brookings research analyst who co-wrote the report, said he was surprised by the “incredible differentiation within what are considered monolithic economic blocs.” Latin American cities, for instance, mostly sputtered. But Medellin, Colombia, and Lima, Peru, both broke into the top 50.

Cities in wealthy countries tended to perform poorly. But U.S. and British cities showed improvement. Three U.S. cities – Austin and Houston, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina – cracked the top 50. In the United Kingdom, London came in No. 26, Manchester No. 60.

The United States and Britain have begun to pick up economic momentum 5½ years after the recession ended.

“In developed economies like North America and Western Europe, cities like London and Houston are flying high, while others like Rotterdam and Montreal are struggling,” Parilla said.

INSIDE CHINA

Twenty-seven of the 50 top-performing cities were Chinese. Increasingly, strong growth occurred in the traditionally underdeveloped cities of China’s interior, rather than its booming coastal cities. Land-locked Changsha, for instance, enjoyed economic growth per person of 8.6 percent last year and wound up No. 15 in the overall rankings.

The coastal manufacturing powerhouse of Dongguan, next door to Hong Kong, registered per-capita economic growth of just 5.2 percent (unimpressive by Chinese standards) and finished No. 70. Companies have begun to move inland as the cost of labor and land rises on the Chinese coast. And the Chinese government has invested heavily on infrastructure in the interior.

COMMODITIES BOOM

The 18 cities worldwide that specialized in producing commodities such as oil registered the highest rates of growth in economic output per person (2.6 percent) and employment (1.9 percent).

“The recent rise in oil and gas production in North America partly explains the success of metropolitan areas like Calgary, Denver, Houston, and Tulsa, which are epicenters of the region’s shale revolution,” the report said.

Next year’s rankings may be different. Oil prices have plunged to less than $48 a barrel from $107 a barrel last June, jeopardizing the prospects of cities that had been riding the energy boom.

TURKISH DELIGHT

Four Turkish cities made the top 10: Izmir, Istanbul, Bursa and Ankara. Turkish cities boomed last year despite political unrest. “If you look at world headlines, Turkey is not in the news for its economic success, but it probably should be,” Brookings’ Parilla says. “It has pretty solid macroeconomic policies.”

Turkey benefits from its location at the boundary between Europe and Asia and from heavy investment in roads and other infrastructure projects, which creates jobs over the short term and is likely to make the economy more efficient over the long term.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Examines Impact of Tourism on Queen City

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CHARLOTTE—The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority is recognizing some of the organizations that impact tourism in Charlotte.

 

The organization handed out the visit Charlotte Partner of the Year awards on Wednesday to people who strive to make Charlotte a tourist destination.

The head of the CRVA said the billions of dollars a year in visitor spending have helped improve the city.

 

“Business spending has done so much for our community when you think about how it assisted in getting the Westin Hotel built, how it caused the convention center to be built, Time Warner Cable Arena, NASCAR Hall of Fame, helped getting the BBT ballpark built. So lots of support from visitors spending that has made our community a better place to live,” said CRVA CEO Tom Murray.

 

Some of this year’s winners included professionals from Silver Fox Chauffeured Transportation and Aloft Hotel’s Ballantyne location.

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Rachael Ray, Sunny Anderson and Extended Stay America Hotels Team Up To …

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Extended Stay America hotels – the largest owner operated hotel chain in the U.S. – donated 100,000 meals to support Rachael Ray’s “9 Million Meals” campaign, benefitting Feeding America and No Kid Hungry. Sunny Anderson – Food Network host and frequent guest of Extended Stay America hotels – announced the donation on The Rachael Ray Show, which aired on January 21, 2015.

“I’m so proud of what my friends at Extended Stay America hotels and my girl Rachael Ray are doing to help end hunger in this country,” said Sunny Anderson. “As a cook and Food Bank of New York City board member, fighting hunger is a cause close to my heart and I know first hand what a difference 100,000 meals makes.”

Extended Stay America hotels’ $10,000 donation to “9 Million Meals” will be divided equally between Feeding America and No Kid Hungry, with every dollar donated helping to provide 10 meals to people struggling with hunger across the country. As the largest hotel chain with kitchens in every room and the first hotel chain to partner with a Food Network personality, Sunny Anderson, to create a hotel room cookbook, Extended Stay America has a passion for food.  

“One of Extended Stay America hotel’s core values is caring for the communities in which we live and serve. Even a basic necessity like food is something so many of us take for granted; it’s important to remember those in need and do everything we can to help,” said Terry Atkins, senior director of marketing communications for Extended Stay America.

To join Extended Stay America in supporting Rachael Ray’s “9 Million Meals” initiative, visit: www.rachaelrayshow.com/9millionmeals/19561_a_surprise_from_sunny_and_extended_stay_america/ and share with your friends on Facebook and Twitter using #cookwithESA and #9MillionMeals.

For more information on Extended Stay America visit www.extendedstayamerica.com and to learn more about 9 Million Meals go to www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/18545_learn_all_about_9_million_meals/

About Extended Stay America
Extended Stay America, Inc., the largest owner/operator of company-branded hotels in North America, owns and operates 682 hotels in the U.S. and Canada comprising approximately 76,200 rooms and employs approximately 10,000 employees in its hotel properties and headquarters. The Company owns and operates hotels under the core brand Extended Stay America®, which serves the mid-priced extended stay segment, and other brands. Visit www.extendedstay.com for more information about the Company and its services.

About The Rachael Ray Show
RACHAEL RAY, the 2008 and 2009 Emmy® Award-winning Outstanding Talk Show, is distributed and produced by CBS Television Distribution in association with Harpo Productions, Scripps Networks and Watch Entertainment. Janet Annino is the Executive Producer. CBS Television Distribution is a unit of CBS Corp.

 

Video – http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/170624-Rachael_Ray_Show_Extended_Stay_America_9_Million_Meals_Donation.mp4
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150121/170602 
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140512/86799

Media Contacts:
Erin Vogt – Kathryn Wolter
The Zimmerman Agency
(850) 668-2222 – ESA@zimmerman.com

SOURCE Extended Stay America

RELATED LINKS
http://www.extendedstay.com

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Looking to ice skate, Asheville? Head south – Asheville Citizen

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Kevin Stiens grew up in the South, without much snow or ice, or cold weather.

But he also grew up, like most Americans, with the TV images of the classic outdoor ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City, and all the holiday magic that rink engenders, framed by a giant Christmas tree and millions of twinkling city lights.

That was the guiding vision for United Community Bank Ice On Main, the outdoor ice skating rink on Main Street in downtown Greenville, now in its fourth season.

The seasonal ice rink sits among the city holiday lights and the glow of the Marriott Courtyard Hotel and other downtown businesses, in a smaller version of the famed Rockefeller rink. But Stiens, business administrator for the Greenville Parks and Recreation Department, said it’s the perfect amount of wintertime sport in the South.

It’s also now the closest ice skating rink to Asheville, since the ice once run by the city at what is now the U.S. Cellular Center ceased operation in 2009.

Poll: Does Asheville need a public ice rink?

“It can be a challenge to keep the ice frozen,” Stiens said. “The biggest issue this year is rain, when we have to close. Typically as long as weather stays in 60s and doesn’t get into the 70s, we’re able to maintain the ice. In addition to the temperature, the humidity, direct sunlight and wind impacts us being able to stay.”

Ironically, during the extreme cold snap that spread through the Carolinas last week, the rink closed temporarily because it was too cold for skaters.

But Greenville is going to be one of the best bets for ice skating since there does not appear to be any movement on the ice-making front in Asheville.

Chris Corl, U.S. Cellular Center general manager, said the city sold its ice rink equipment to the Asheville Hockey League with an agreement that the group had until May 2014 to have an ice rink in operation. The small nonprofit league had worked briefly with the Crowne Plaza Resort in West Asheville to start an operation there, but ultimately could not move ahead with skating rink plans, said league president Hutch Kerns, of North Asheville.

“We found lots of interest and energy, with not only ice hockey but with figure skating, and we thought Asheville needed to have a rink,” Kerns said. “We had the opportunity to purchase an ice rink, but we just couldn’t find the funding. The city is invoking their reversion clause to take it back.”

Kerns said now the hockey league, which has about 200 members, is an inline hockey league, but many members do travel to Greenville to play in leagues there or to practice on the ice.

“We’re not giving up. Our plan is to take the long view. We think Asheville needs a rink, so we’re going to do our part to get one here and promote the sport of hockey and ice skating. It’s a good thing to expose kids to, and hockey is a good team sport, not unlike soccer.”

Asheville now has the right to take back the ice rink equipment, which includes a Zamboni machine, dashers and glass, a chiller unit, and ice cover, valued at about $100,000. Corl said the city is in the process of retrieving that equipment.

“We still have no future plans for an ice rink at the U.S. Cellular Center,” Corl said. “We do intend to resell the equipment. We’ve put out some feelers to companies that build ice rinks but haven’t had any responses yet.”

Plenty of skating south of the border

The Greenville Ice on Main rink is 40-feet-by-80-feet, for an intimate, cozy feel. It’s open daily through Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“We had talks of putting up a tent, which would allow us to stay open longer, but one of the draws of Ice on Main is having it as pretty as possible — the dasher boards are clear, we have lights and natural wreaths,” Stiens said.

The city has many partners, including United Community Bank, Courtyard Marriott, Greenville Health System and GSP International Airport, to run the seasonal rink. It opens the Friday before Thanksgiving and closes Jan. 19. It costs between $220,000-$250,000 to operate, Stiens said. The popularity keeps growing, he said, with visitors coming from as far as Asheville and Hendersonville. He said so far this year they have had more than 15,000 skaters.

While the rink is too small and not open long enough for skating lessons or hockey, there are other options in the Greenville area. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena, where the city’s minor league hockey team, the Road Warriors, play, is also open for public skating on occasion.

The Greenville County Recreation District also has a large, year-round, indoor rink in Taylors, with lessons and youth and adult hockey leagues, and also offers after-school programs and birthday parties, said Jimmy Crockett, manager and skate school director.

Known as the Pavilion, the rink has been around since 1990 but has been upgraded and refurbished many times since, Crockett said. The rink is 185-feet-by-80-feet, still not as large as an Olympic-sized rink. But the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, helped boost the profile of figure skating and ice hockey, and the rink is always busy.

The rink has a U.S. Figure Skating program for students as young as 4. They start at 6 a.m., go to school, and come back to skate after school. In between are public sessions. The ice is used 18 hours a day, Crockett said.

“We really do have a great following across the Upstate, all the way from Anderson. We’re the only rink in the Upstate open all year. We’ve also had a lot of hockey league interest from Asheville.”

For those who just want to try out the sport, the Pavilion has plastic “walkers” for small children to test out the ice with more confidence, and there are always staff available to help people when they fall. He offers these tips for first-time skaters:

“Always keep arms in front of you, rather than over your head. It lowers your center of gravity. If you feel yourself off balance, bend your knees to lower your center of gravity,” Crockett said. “Try to walk first, taking small steps, then bigger steps and glide. If you do fall, just roll over and get up on all fours like a puppy.”

There are skating rinks in Western North Carolina, at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, Beech Mountain and Appalachian Ski Mountain, but those are all about a 1 1/2 to two hours drive from Asheville.

“What I’ve noticed, when you have a seasonal outdoor rink, it’s not about skating, it’s about something else to do that people link to the holidays,” Stiens said. “The majority of people can’t skate any better than I can, but they come to spend time with family and friends. People see it and they want to try it.”

Want to skate?

•UCB Ice on Main, 208 S. Main St., Greenville, South Carolina. Hours are 2-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Monday, Jan. 19. Cost is $10 per adult, $8 for ages 12 and younger. Get a wrist band, which is good for the entire day. www.iceonmain.com.

•The Pavilion, 400 Scottswood Road, Taylors, South Carolina. Open year-round for public skating. Cost is $7 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 12 and younger, skate rental additional fee. Ice hockey, skating lessons, birthday parties. Call 864-288-6470 or visit www.Greenvillerec.com.

•The Bon Secours Wellness Center, 650 North Academy St., Greenville, South Carolina. Home of the Greenville Road Warriors minor league hockey team. Cost is $7 for ages 7 and older, $5 for ages 6 and younger, additional rental fee. Call 864-241-3800 or visit https://bonsecoursarena.com for schedule.

Western North Carolina ice skating:

•Appalachian Ski Mountain, 940 Ski Mountain Road, Blowing Rock. Ice skating, skiing and snowboarding. Call 800-322-2373 or visit http://appskimtn.com.

•Beech Mountain Resort, 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain in Avery County. Skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor ice skating rink. Call 800-438-2093 or visit www.beechmountainresort.com.

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort, 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive, Sugar Mountain, Avery County. Outdoor ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoe tours. For more information, visit www.skisugar.com.

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