12.21.2023

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Today’s Forecast

59º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:33 a.m. | Sunset 5:22 p.m.

Hey, Hallmark. It’s us again.

A Greenville Hallmark movie plot inspired by Dan and Bran of the “Deck the Hallmark” podcast

Name something merrier, we’ll wait. | Photo by James Simpson Photography

Last year, we wrote an open letter to Hallmark, imploring them to film one of their cult-classic holiday movies in our city. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work, so we’re calling in some reinforcements.

We sat down with Dan and Bran from “Deck the Hallmark,” a Christmas movie podcast created and recorded right here in our city by two proud Greenvillians.

We asked them to help us draft a synopsis for a Greenville Hallmark movie, and here’s what we came up with (using their ideas as our foundation).

Yeah, That Christmas (Dan’s title)

Molly McIntyre is visiting Greenville for the holiday season. Her grandfather was a Christmas tree farmer at McIntyre Farms that once provided the City of Greenville’s official tree, but it’s been replaced with the current faux tree that stands in front of M. Judson Booksellers.

She’s determined to help Jack Holliday, the Scrooge-y city official who bought the fake tree to save money in the long run, see that the magic of Christmas — and a real tree — is important to Greenville’s holiday traditions.

One morning, Molly grabs a cup of coffee from Spill the Beans and is crossing the Liberty Bridge when she bumps into Jack. He’s hurrying to an event in Falls Park, and she’s annoyed he didn’t see that he knocked her coffee down her coat in his flurry. She realizes who he is, and it makes her even more angry.

The two of them have a few more chance encounters along Main Street before she barges into City Hall to confront him. As he’s giving her the cold shoulder, she gets an idea.

“Why don’t we just go ice skating?” The Ice on Main rink is, literally, right there. He claims to be too busy, but her persistence pays off. The two hit the ice rink and, as will come as a shock to no one, they fall in love over hot cocoa and a ride down Main Street in Santa’s Sleigh. Jack’s cold heart melts, and the holiday magic transforms the tree into a massive fir.

To see Dan + Bran’s brainstorming session that inspired our plot, plus the other questions we asked some of the holliest and jolliest Greenvillians we’ve ever interviewed, read our Q+A by clicking the button.

Meet Dan + Bran

Events

Thursday, Dec. 21

Skating on the Big Ice | Thursday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 30 | Times vary | Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville | $15 | Lace up your skates and hit the big ice with your friends and family.
Holidays at the Zoo | Thursday, Dec. 21-Saturday, Dec. 30 | 4-8 p.m. | Greenville Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Dr., Greenville | $10-$12 | Explore the zoo at night with thousands of holiday lights.

Friday, Dec. 22

Indie Craft Parade Holiday Pop Up Shop | Friday, Dec. 22-Sunday, Dec. 24 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Makers Collective, 2909 Old Buncombe Rd., Greenville | Free entry | Shop last-minute local gifts.
Swamp Rabbits vs Orlando Solar Bears | Friday, Dec. 22 | 7:05 p.m. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N. Academy St., Greenville | $20-$54 | Catch some action on the ice heading into the holiday weekend.

Saturday, Dec. 23

Miracle at Southernside Holiday Bash | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Southernside Brewing Co., 25 Delano Dr., Greenville | Free entry | Get in the holiday spirit with an all-day-long, family-friendly party featuring Miracle cocktails, craft beer, and Santa Claus.
Chocolate Truffle + BonBon Class | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Lumineux Chocolate, 999 Geer Hwy., Ste. 200, Travelers Rest | $70 | Craft your own box of 12 gourmet chocolate truffles and bonbons.

Calendar of events here

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Events

Snag 50% off this iconic brand through the end of December

Presented by a GVLtoday Partner

a group of people pose wearing adidas clothing and accessories

Holiday shoppers can enjoy 50% at the adidas Employee Store through the end of December. | Photo provided by adidas

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum... and get 50% off gifts for everyone on your list this month at the adidas Employee Store.

Shopping at the adidas Employee Store is normally invite-only, but not during this Holiday Open House. Happening now through Dec. 31, the public is invited to shop and score major savings on shoes, hats, loungewear + more. Bonus: With new items added daily, Greenvillians can find something fresh with every visit.

Find the nearest adidas Employee Storee

News Notes

Closing

Growler Haus is closing its doors after ~6 years in the Village of West Greenville. Stop by for a pint until Saturday, Dec. 30.

Traffic

There’s a new, faster route around downtown: the Academy Street bypass. The City of Greenville added a second right-turn lane from East North Street to North Academy, removed a traffic signal at Elford and Academy Streets + re-timed the other signals along Academy.

Opening

Cheers. BridgeWay Station’s first food and beverage tenant — BridgeWay Brewing Co. — opens its doors tomorrow, Dec. 22. Sneak a peek at the space, the duck pin bowling + the food and drink offerings.

Drink

The Tour de Hot Chocolate is taking over Camperdown Plaza today, Dec. 21, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sip specialty hot cocoas from Larkins, Paloma, Jeni’s, Group Therapy Pub & Playground, Southern Tide, and The Cocktail Company — alcoholic + non-alcoholic options available.

Eat

Sum Bar is hosting a Christmas Eve brunch on Sunday, Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dine on potatoes and caviar, pan-fried pork buns, blue crab fried rice, and Asian pear bread + sip holiday cocktails, mocktails, and mimosas.

Outdoors

Vote for your favorite parks in the 2023 Best of SC State Parks Awards now until Sunday, Dec. 31. Upstate parks — including Paris Mountain — are nominated in several categories.

Plan Ahead

Speaking of Paris Mountain, registration is now open for the Paris Plunge, an annual New Year’s Day tradition where you can run into the cold waters of Lake Placid to ring in 2024. The park will also host its annual First Day Hikes, if that’s more your style.

Today Is

The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It occurs when the North Pole is tilted the furthest from the sun, resulting in the shortest day of the year — which means the days will start getting longer.

Seasonal

With only a few days left in the holiday season, we’re breaking out every excuse we can to whip up a festive dish. On the menu this week, we’re making eggnog french toast, a winter wonderland coconut cake + a cranberry ginger mocktail.*

Arts

Looking for a recurring date night tradition to start in the new year? Step out to see the new local artists who have joined First Fridays on Friday, Jan. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. See the highlights from December’s event.*

Travel

Hit the Road: Holiday edition

Hit the road: Here are 6 Carolina cities with festive holiday celebrations

CHS_Charleston_Place_Hotel_Christmas_DEC2023

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. | Photo by The Charleston Place

We all know the feeling: You’re entertaining guests leading up to the holidays, or maybe it’s between Christmas and New Year’s and no one knows what day it is. The cabin fever is real + you’re looking for festive holiday activities to keep your family entertained.

We partnered up with our City Editor friends across the Carolinas — who are also experts in their cities — to bring you the ultimate guide to last-minute holiday day trips.

Columbia, SC

City Editors Sam + David here. Catch the Winter Wonderland on Main Street’s 1600 block every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December, featuring snowfall and holiday lights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Charleston, SC

City Editors Erika + Callie here. We think you should drive ~20 minutes from downtown and end your trip by visiting James Island for the Holiday Festival of Lights. This year, there’s a new addition: lights on a dragon boat.

Three more destinations

The Buy

The Buy 12.20.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

An Apple Watch Series 9 — because the smartwatch is about to get much harder to find. Starting today at 3 p.m., Apple will pull this smartwatch version from its website due to a patent dispute, with in-store purchases ending Sunday, Dec. 24. Other retailers may continue to sell the model until a final decision is made on an import ban. (Forbes)

Answered

We asked you to help pick GVLtoday’s Choice from the Greenville Gingerbread Exhibit, and the winner is...

The Greenville Gingerbread Exhibit returns this holiday season

How many Greenville Easter eggs can you spot? | Photo by GVLtoday

Explore the exhibit

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Danielle

From the editor

It’s hard to believe this is the last newsletter I’m writing for you all in 2023. This year was full of growth and opportunities, and I can’t wait to see what 2024 has in store. As always, I am so thankful to each and every one of you for reading my newsletters — I have a lot of fun writing them. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday.

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