Unity Park’s new view

Progress updates: Here’s what’s happening with Unity Park’s Honor Tower

Step by step, Honor Tower is taking shape. | Photos by the Greenville Journal

As you walk through Unity Park, you may notice a new tower in the center of the park. No, it’s not the Honor Tower quite yet, but it will give you some details about what’s to come.

Featuring the latest renderings, the new display gives Greenvillians a glimpse of the tower’s design in its location for the first time.

GVL_Tower_Renderings_Compressed_FEB2023 — Honor Tower’s newest renderings by endrestudio

The Thomas and Vivian A. Wong Honor Tower was designed by architect Paul Endres of California-based endrestudio. He says he hopes the design “unifies the city and helps bring people together.”

The full funding for the $11 million tower was secured in December 2022:

$5.5 million came from private donations
$3.5 million came from the local accommodations tax
The City collects a local 3% tax on hotel and motel charges within Greenville’s city limits, and state law says a portion of that revenue must be spent on tourism-related items.
$1 million came from the hospitality tax
The City collects a 2% tax on food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) sold in the city limits and the funds must be used for tourism-related activities and improvements.
$1 million came from Unity Park construction savings

The City will break ground on the tower this year, just south of the Reedy River between what used to be two segregated parks — Mayberry and Meadowbrook.

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Wednesday, Feb. 8

Understanding Bee Keeping | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 4-5 p.m. | Crossroads 4 Coffee and Tea, 112 E. Standing Springs Rd., Simpsonville | Free | In this introduction to beekeeping class, Miss Bee Haven teaches how you can help the bees.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Pop-Up Cheese Shop at The Community Tap | Thursday, Feb. 9 | 5-8 p.m. | The Community Tap, 217 Wade Hampton Blvd., Greenville | Free entry | Neil Winter, aka Cheese Boi, will curate a selection of rare, fun, and tasty cheeses for you to take home.
Valentine’s Chocolate and Wine Pairing | Thursday, Feb. 9-Sunday, Feb. 12 | Times vary | City Scape Winery, 589 Dunklin Bridge Rd., Pelzer | $24.95 | Enjoy a curated selection of fine wines paired with delicious homemade chocolates.

Friday, Feb. 10

Jurassic World Live Tour | Friday, Feb. 10-Sunday, Feb. 12 | Times vary | Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville | $20-$80 | Get up close and personal with some of your favorite Jurassic World dinosaurs and vehicles.
80s Dance Party | Friday, Feb. 10 | 7-11 p.m. | 13 Stripes Brewery, 250 Mill St., Ste PW3101, Taylors | Free entry | Bust out that teasing comb, hairspray, and crimper for this annual Valentine’s Day dance party.
An Evening with Will Downing | Friday, Feb. 10 | 8 p.m. | Peace Center, 300 S. Main St., Greenville | $45-$60 | Listen to R&B classics like “I Go Crazy,” “Wishing On A Star,” and “I Try” by “The Prince of Sophisticated Soul.”

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Plan your tennis getaway to the 2023 Credit One Charleston Open 🎾

New + improved: The state-of-the-art Credit One Stadium reopened in 2022 following a series of upgrades and enhancements. | Photo provided by Charleston Tennis LLC

Want to experience world-class tennis in a world-class city? Head to the Credit One Charleston Open (happening from Saturday, April 1-Sunday, April 9) and watch as top-ranked players like Ons Jabeur, Jessie Pegula, Belinda Bencic, and Madison Keys compete in the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America.

Off the court, the tournament will feature refined dining options, interactive activities, live music, and more. Tournament tickets and packages are now on sale.*

GAME, SET, MATCH

Weather

68º | Cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Number

$500,000. That’s how much Gower Park (24 Evelyn Ave.) will receive in federal Land and Water Conservation Funds to add pickleball courts and resurface its courts for basketball and racket-based sports. See what two other Upstate parks received funding and how they’ll use it. (Greenville News)

Opening

Bricks and Minifigs (1054 E. Butler Rd., Ste. C) — a store that buys, sells, and trades all things LEGO — will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, Feb. 11. The store carries rare and retired LEGO sets along with bins of bricks to sort through and buy in bulk.

List

The Grand Bohemian Lodge and AC Hotel helped Greenville land on Small Market Meetings’ list, “New and Now in the South.” The list rounded up “new and improved” meeting venues for business in 2023, lauding the hotels’ meeting and event spaces. 🏨

History

DYK Greenville was once home to the music studio where Grammy Award-winner Moses Dillard got his start? From 1961 to 1990, Mark V Studios (formerly located at 78 Mayberry St., near Unity Park today) produced hits like Dillard’s “I’ve Got to Find a Way.” 🎶 (Greenville News)

Plan Ahead

gvlMOD — an organization that celebrates mid-century modern style — will host its 2023 Home Tour on Sunday, April 23. The tour will feature six mid century, new construction, and remodeled homes. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 31. 🏠

Drink

Looking for Greenville’s best boba? Kidding Around Greenville lets us know what’s poppin’ at five local spots on this tea-riffic list. 🧋

Celebrate

Happy birthday, GVLtoday member Mary S. We hope your special day is filled with all of your favorite things in Greenville! Did you know when you become a GVLtoday member, you’ll get a birthday shoutout, too? Join today. 🎉

Eat

Want to do something good for your heart? Eat dessert. Yes, dessert can be good for you — but it requires these important ingredient swaps. ❤️ *

Wellness

Not feeling like yourself lately? Talkspace makes getting help easy and convenient. With live chat, video, and audio sessions, starting at $69/week, it’s affordable for everyone to fit therapy into their lifestyle, with or without insurance. Start feeling better today with Talkspace.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

This sale is gonna be lit 📚

Will you be checking out the sale? | Photo by @hurricanerumz

Calling all book lovers. Shop books, movies, and music at the upcoming Public Used Book Sales at Greenville Library branches.

Peruse and purchase from its collection of popular fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, plus vintage, collector, and antique books.

🗓️ Mark your calendars:

Five Forks Branch, 104 Sunnydale Dr. | Saturday, Feb. 18 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hughes Main Library, 25 Heritage Green Pl. | Saturday, March 18 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pro tip: Click the button below and bookmark the page to check for other participating branches in the future.

BOOK IT TO THE LIBRARY

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Danielle.

Editor’s pick: Between snagging a Sum Bar reservation and hearing Mak & Cheesecakes will launch even more flavors when it opens its storefront Saturday, Feb. 11, I’m daydreaming about the weekend and the new local businesses I’ll be trying.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Celebrate Mardi Gras, Greenville style.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Kyle Steadings, Danielle Johnson, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Anne Hazard | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

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