Sons of Anarchy: The Final Ride

The S.O.A. Logo

 "Sons of Anarchy", Kurt Sutter's rendition of the life and times of a motorcycle club (MC), has begun its seventh and final season.  The final ride began on Sept. 9, 2014 on FX, and, based on the premiere, this final ride will be full of suspense and slick with blood.

The premiere episode resumed almost exactly where season six ended. Tara, Jax Teller's (Charlie Hunnam) wife, is dead, Jax is in jail, Gemma (Katey Sagal), Jax's mother, is taking care of his children, and The Sons are continuing business as usual. First order of business, find Tara's killer. Spoiler Alert: we all know from season six that Gemma killed Tara, however, she finds a scapegoat in a Lin Triad member.

Jax is released from jail and resumes his place as president at the table of the Redwood Sons of Anarchy.   It is at this club meeting where the members, along with the viewers, feel back to normal. “I already lost the woman I love, I'm not going to lose my club,” Jax said as The Sons sat around the reaper table.  Jax schedules a peace negotiation with the Lin Triad at a “welcome home party” hosted by Redwoody inc., the MC's legitimate pornography production company.  This is where Gemma points out the Lin Triad member as Tara's alleged killer.

After trading favors with a friendly MC, the Lin Triad member is delivered to The Sons.  The kill is so drawn out and brutal that it's understandable how Gemma would think it would be enough closure for Jax.  I love this show because the characters change so much throughout the seasons, especially Jax.  This season viewers will most likely see Jax become much darker and ruthless, and, with 12 episodes left, true "Sons of Anarchy" fans know that there is much more drama, violence, and blood to come.  

Students Comment on C of C's Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

On July 1, 2014, The College of Charleston implemented the Tobacco-Free Campus Policy to promote a safe, clean, and healthy environment for College of Charleston employees, students, visitors, and guests. The policy will also promote the existence of a tobacco-free environment for the campus community, so that the negative effects of tobacco use are minimized for community members.

The policy is a step in the right direction; however, it is surrounded by slight controversy. Some College of Charleston students commented on the policy and its stipulations.

Devon Schmolk, Senior, Communication Major
Cape May, N.J.

Devon Schmolk believes that the tobacco-free policy has excellent intentions, but it's a little too early to tell if it will be effective. She believes that the student body will most likely follow the policy, and hopefully the staff and maintenance crews will too.

"Nothing is worse than walking behind somebody smoking a cigarette . . . It's just dirty," Devon stated.

Shaylin King, Junior, Psychology Major
Ajax, Ontario, Canada

As a parent, Shaylin King highly supports the tobacco-free policy. Shaylin occasionally has to take her child around campus, and with he new policy the campus is a much cleaner environment now.

However, Shaylin does not think that the student body will adhere tot he policy: "I have already seen people smoking on campus, but they are on the border kind of testing the boundaries."

Dustin Shaw, Senior, Communication Major
Charleston, S.C.

Dustin Shaw, another supporter of the policy, believes that: "The policy is a good thing because it heightens the school's image for promoting health."

Although there has been a significant improvement, Dustin feels that the student body will probably not adhere to the policy 100 percent. He commented that he has already seen people smoking on campus. 

Colin Grier, Senior, Communication Major
Greenville, S.C.

Colin Grier believes that the tobacco-free policy has been a good change for those that do not smoke and do not like the smell of cigarette smoke around campus.

He stated: "I know a lot of people who smoke who have adapted to the changes of the campus and haven't complained so I'm not under the impression that the new policy is that hard for many of the smokers to abide by."

Colin feels that enough smokers will abide by the policy to be able to notice an improvement on campus.

Sienna Badura, Senior, Communication Major
Norfolk, V.A.

Sienna Badura, another supporter of the policy, states that: "The tobacco-free policy allows students who have made the decision not to smoke to not be burdened by students who do."

However, she believes that in order to make the policy fair to everybody there should be designated smoking sections available around campus.

According to the policy, students, staff, and maintenance crews all must abide by the policy. Any guests and visitors that refuse to adhere to the policy can be asked to leave the campus, and any exceptions have to be approved by C of C's president, Glenn McConnell.

Employees of The College who violate the policy can be punished through provisions of College Policy 9.1.2. Students who violate the policy can be punished through the Student Code of Conduct.

The e-College will provide cessation programs for all members of the C of C community who wish to end their use of tobacco products. Information on these tobacco cessation programs is available from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, (803) 545 - 4467.

My Favorite Place in Charleston

Movies, restaurants, and bars are three of the biggest businesses in the world.  My favorite place in Charleston has combined all three.  Cinebarre, located at 963 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 29464, is a full service bar, restaurant, and movie theater.

Now playing

Cinebarre offers the same variety of movies as a regular movie theater, including two 3D theaters.  Check out what movies are playing or call (843) 216 - 2690 for showtimes and tickets.

Cinebarre entrance

Cinebarre has a very welcoming and open feeling as you find your way to the entrance of the theater.  They even offer a Drive-In Movie screening a couple of times a month.  Guests can view a movie that is projected onto the wall of the theater from the comfort of their own cars.

Now playing movie posters

Now playing movie posters

Cinebarre captures the classic movie theater look with multiple movie advertisements on either side of the entrance.

Happy Hour

Cinebarre is a full service bar with Happy Hour food and drink specials.  These specials also apply to movie goers while they are in the movie.  Each seat in the theater has a table, full menu, and condiments while a server goes to every guest and provides them concentrated service in a very hospitable manner.

The Cinebarre Bar

As you walk into Cinebarre, you are overwhelmed with a sense of relaxation, hospitality, and overall enjoyment.  Cinebarre's bar captures a very old fashioned appeal with beer and wine lists written in chalk and black and white movies playing on the bar t.v.'s.

Old fashioned phone booth

The Cinebarre drum-set

Cinebarre goes the extra mile in providing a relaxing environment to eat, drink, relax, and view a movie.  This old fashioned phone booth and drum-set on display add character to the theater that regular movie theaters just do not have.  

All in all, if you are an avid movie goer, Cinebarre provides an experience other theaters simply cannot provide.

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12th Annual Ballpark Festival of Beers

     Beer and baseball are two of America's greatest past times, and on Saturday, Aug. 23, event goers were able to get the best of both worlds by attending the Ballpark Festival of Beers at The Joe in Charleston.

    The 12th Annual Ballpark Festival of Beers brought more than 30 breweries to Charleston to give guests samples of their craft brews. These breweries included Abita, Doghead, Oskar Blues, Frothy Beard, nano-brewery Tradesman Brewing Company and Palmetto.

Ballpark Festival of Beers Flyer

   This year's Ballpark Festival of Beers also included a beer shake competition.  The contestants posted their beer shake recipes on to the RiverDogs' Facebook page, and the top three were selected. The three finalists duked it out at the festival, with the winning prize being to have his or her beer shake served at the last three home games of the season.

 
     If you were worried about drinking on an empty stomach, worry no longer! There were plenty of food vendors, all from the local Charleston community, at the festival including Hello My Name Is . . . BBQ, Kickin' Chicken, Roti Rolls, Creole Truck, and Cast Iron.

The Charleston RiverDogs Logo

    

  
     If you had as much as fun as I did, you cant wait until next year!  Support your local breweries, and go RiverDogs!

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