One of the outstanding tourist destinations in the country, this is an excellent opportunity to visit this fascinating, historic city and the surrounding unique "Low Country" of the South Carolina coast while at the same time enjoying the camaraderie of fellowship with your '61 classmates. If shrimp and grits get your attention, then set aside this fall weekend and y'all come on down to sunny, civil, satisfying Charleston.
Thursday: 6:30pm: wine and dinner in a private room at Bocci's Italian restaurant, 158 Church Street. Dress is dressy casual. Lots of orange and black.
Friday: touring and sightseeing (see suggestions below*)
[University-sponsored activities: 9am golf at Yeaman's Hall Club Noon: Charleston horse-drawn carriage rides in historic district 6:30 pm: Alumni reception at Gibbs museum (ignore this since it conflicts with our plans)]
6 - 8 pm: Jim Kellogg will host a cocktail party at the Roper House, a magnificent private mansion atThe Battery. 9 East Battery St.
8 pm: Dinner at Tristan's Restaurant, 55 South Market Street. Dress is dressy casual, different orange and black clothing.
Saturday:
10:15 AM: - Bus departs Ansonborough Inn (21 Hasell St.) to The Citadel campus. Wear 45th Reunion black T shirt if possible, otherwise anything orange and black. "1961" caps are a must. Extras available - $20 apiece.
11 AM Tailgate party at The Citadel hosted by the Princeton Football Association and the Varsity Club, featuring southern style buffet with beer and soft drinks. $40 per head. Pay at the tailgate entrance.
1 PM kickoff - order tickets yourself per below instructions.
Post game - The bus returns to the Historic District, or attend post-game reception on the Citadel campus to meet the team and the coaches, hosted by the Football Association/Varsity Club.
6:30 PM - Final cocktail and dinner party at McCrady's Restaurant, 2 Unity Alley. (This replaces the Charleston harbor dinner cruise since our attendees exceed the boat's capacity.) Dress is sport coat for the gents, reunion blazer preferred; wear class tie if so moved.
Sunday:
No official events scheduled for this travel day. Bon voyage and travel safely.
You are invited, of course, to all or any of the events as your travel plans will permit.
*Things to do:
As you venture out into the historic district, a good starting point would be one of the horse-drawn carriage tours which run about an hour and provide excellent tips on points that you may want to come back to and spend additional time.
Visit one, two or three of the Plantations located on Ashley Road (Rt. #61) about 30 minutes northwest of the city. These include Magnolia Plantation, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place Plantation. Plan about four hours to see all three.
If you prefer historic city manors, many homes have tours every 30 minutes, The Aiken-Rett and Joseph Manigault Houses are especially worthwhile and very near the visitor center. You might also like the Nathaniel Russell and Hayward Washington houses. If military history turns you on, this is your town.
The famous Ft. Sumter is a 2 hour round trip boat ride from the harbor front near the Aquarium.
Other suggestions: the Military Museum, the Patriots Point Naval Maritime Museum, and the historic World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown (of Midway fame).
History seeps out of every corner of Charleston --go see the City Market (very unusual), the Slave Market, and the Gibbs Art Museum; and there is more great shopping in the historic district than your credit card can stand.
For more suggestions visit the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau atwww.charlestoncvb.com .
To go to the Alumni Association's web page for more information, click here.
Accommodations
On your own; but we suggest you consider one of the many fine establishments in the old historic district. You might try any of these hotels which should satisfy your needs from opulent to frugal.
Charleston Place Hotel, 205 Meeting Street, 843-722-4900
Doubletree, 181 Church Street, 843-577-2697
Holiday Inn - Mills House Hotel, 115 Meeting Street, 877-863-4780
Market Pavilion Hotel, 225 E. Bay Street, 843-723-0500
Days Inn Historic District, 115 Meeting Street, 843-722-8411
Ansonborough Inn, 21 Hasell Street, 843-725-1655 Note: some of us are staying at this centrally located Inn, www.ansonboroughinn.com ,
B & B's (J. Blair: "there are many wonderful B&B's there")
This weekend is the start of the fall "high season" in Charleston, so book your reservation soon.
Tickets
Order directly from the Princeton University ticket office now at 609-258-3539 - press 1 then 7. Hours are M-Th 9-4, Fr 9-2. Please specify that you want the Class of 1961 section. Tix are $25 each + a $5 processing fee per order. They will be mailed 2 weeks prior to the game.
Transportation
Bus transportation will be provided between events where the walking distance is more than a few blocks. You must have paid your transportation fee to participate.
George & Ellen Brakeley Mike & Judy Burton Patrick & Diane Davidson Ron Goldman Ruth Gray Jon & Norma Hagstrom Andy & Louise Higgins Mike & Joan Iseman Dan & Carol Jackson Jim & Gail Kellogg Cookie Krongard Stephen Kurtin Gary & Kay Loftus Ed Lucchesi John & Patricia Marino Joe & Maureen McGinity VJ & Lorraine Menna Joe Messina & Janet Freed Wilson and Linda Fisk Morris Ed & Neville Mulock Pinckney & Elizabeth Roberts McKamy & Martha Smith Don Swan and Brenda Harahan Rick & Kathy Wall Dick & Lois Williams
Joe McGinity's Report on the Weekend
Hi Guys, I just want to pass along our thanks to Dan Jackson, John Graham, Pat Davidson and Jim Kellogg for making the Charleston weekend a really memorable experience. They did a wonderful job setting up receptions, dinners, buses to and from the game and all events - it was terrific, and even the weather cooperated, with moderate temps and gentle breezes. We had about 40 in attendance at the tailgate on Saturday, the most of any class but '64, who also brought 40. (Everyone on our "who's coming" list came except Cookie and the Grahams.)
The football game began well, and we took a lead into halftime. However, the atmosphere changed when our band took the field to a prolonged barrage of boos from the Citadel corps of cadets. You couldn't hear much of the band's "performance" - though it wasn't much to look at. We later learned that the band had marched through Citadel's campus before the game, antagonizing the cadets. (click here for the band's version of the story.) The second half was all Citadel, and we lost 37 - 24.
Charleston is an historic and wonderful town. We toured much of it during the weekend, some going to the plantations, some to Ft. Sumter, others to city tours. But the highlight for Maureen and me was the cocktail party Friday night at the Roper house, hosted by Jim and Gail Kellogg. Jim and Gail are friends of the owner, Richard Jenrette. It's a magnificent Greek Revival mansion overlooking Charleston's battery park and the harbor, with Ft. Sumter in the distance. It dates back to the 1840's and is distinguished by massive Ionic columns, a broad piazza overlooking the water, and a circular stairway straight out of Gone with the Wind. From the rooftop balcony we had a panoramic view of sunset over the city and the harbor surrounding the battery. An open bar and the terrific company of classmates made for a great evening!
Thanks to Len Berton and George Brakeley for publicity and logistics, and to Dan, John, Pat and Jim for orchestrating the events! A good time was had by all, and it was well worth the trip.
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