Warm but not hot "at the beach"

     The weather has been very nice so far, only one day above 90 and most of the temps have been in the mid to low 80's with an ocean breeze.  We have also had some rain so everything is green and lush. The tourist are back in town and all the business people are happy again. Since we live here, we know when to go, how to go, and where not to go. Actually, I enjoy meeting all of the people from out of town.
     Palmetto Greens golf course closed last week and will re-open under new management in a few weeks. The name has been changed back to Colonial Charters Golf Club.
     New flights and more seating capacity led to a double digit increase in the number of arriving passengers at Myrtle Beach International Airport in May, the fourth consecutive month for growth. Almost 91,479 passengers flew into Myrtle Beach last month, a 23% increase over the same month last year.
     Buzz on the real estate scene is that a total of 473 single family homes closed in May. That was just 27 fewer homes than closed along the Grand Strand in May 2006 and just 127 fewer than on September 2005, the highest monthly closing tally ever for the area.  The May closings were 18.3% higher than May 2012 and 47.3% higher than May 2011.  Prices are holding steady for now but before long it will be a seller's market again. Y'all come on down and get the deals before they are all gone.
     On the book scene, I have been very busy doing book signings for my first book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE which is good, but it doesn't leave much time to work on the second book, COUGARS AT THE BEACH .  Website www.stevenmcmillen.com
     See ya, Steve & Bev

                                                               Book signing Avista Resort

                                                   Book signing Freedom Boat Club

                                                          The Inland Waterway

                                                               Cherry Grove beach

     
    
    

Cool But Nice "at the beach"

     The weather here in Myrtle Beach has been more like Fall weather than almost the first of June. I think the temp has only been above 80 twice so far this Spring. Great golf weather. The Harley Motorcycle Rally is over, and I am happy to report that there were no fatalities this year, and the Atlantic Beach Bike Rally will be over tomorrow. Next will be the tourists and from all predictions, it is going to be a busy summer. But, hey, that's fine with me, more people here to purchase my book.
     Sorry we didn't get back to Ohio, but my lovely bride had a back problem which did not allow her to ride in the car for that long trip. She is better now, so maybe we'll try again.
     Ten new shops have opened at Barefoot Landing as the complex prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversay this summer under new ownership. B & C which owns Broadway at the Beach, bought Barefoot Landing for $43 million last month. Everyone says they are happy with the new owners, and that they are sprucing-up the complex.
     The real estate market is picking-up and prices are starting to inch their way back up. There is a lot more traffic now and people are beginning to relalize now is the time to buy. Prices are going up not down.  Come on down, there are still plenty of good deals to be found. Let me know what you're looking for and I'll find it for you. smcmillen@sc.rr.com
     We've been busy doing book signings for my book Murder on the Front Nine. We've been to Murrells Inlet twice, Socastee and Southport yesterday.  Everywhere we go, we meet a lot of nice people and usually do well selling books.
     Hope y'all are having a great holiday weekend. See ya, Steve and Bev

Freedom Boat Club, Murrells Inlet

 

Freedom Boat Club, Southport, NC

 

Sunset Beach, NC 

 

Sunset Beach, NC

 

 

 

    

North Myrtle Beach Museum "at the beach"

North Myrtle Beach had its grand opening of the North Myrtle Beach Museum located in the old North Myrtle Beach Library. I attended because they have my book for sale in the gift shop. I wonder if that means they think I am old and should be in a museum? Oh well, it was a fun day. All of the local politicians were on hand for the ribbon cutting. The museum is very nicely furnished and it is very interesting to look at old photos from years past before the high rise condos and resorts took over the beach.
     Alabama was in town to kick off its "Back to the Bowery" tour with an invitation only show at The Bowery. The band started at the Myrtle Beach Bowery Bar in the early 70's. They served as the house band at the Bowery from 1973 to 1980.
     Brookgreen Gardens recieved a local award when it was voted one of the top ten public gardens in the U.S. by TripAdvisor. If you have never visited Brookgreen, you should add it to your vacation schedule and plan to spend the entire day. Another nature attraction nearby also recieved an award. Campers voted Huntington State Park their favorite U.S. State Park in About.com's 2013 Readers Choice Awards.
   Real estate is picking up every week. More and more people are looking and making offers. Everyone down here feels the market has hit bottom and is heading up. Come on down while there are still some outstanding deals available. If any of you are interested in looking at some listings, just e-mail me at smcmillen@sc.rr.com and I will e-mail you listing with no obligation on your part.
     On the book scene, I had one author presentation and two book signings this past week.  I have another one scheduled next week for my book Murder on the Front Nine. I am gearing up for a busy tourist season this year. www.stevenmcmillen.com.
     We are planning to be back in Ohio the first week of May, so maybe we will see some of you then. See ya, Steve & Bev

My book at the museum

 

An old "Woody" at the museum

 

Key Lime cupcakes with "Peeps" on top, Easter dinner

 

Old "Juke Box" at the museum

 

 

 

Sunrise Service & Wedding "at the beach"

     Just got back from Sunrise Service on the beach in North Myrtle Beach. We went with our friends from Ohio. This will be their last day "at the beach". They spent the Winter here and are heading back home tomorrow.  It wasn't that cold on the beach, but it was breezy and the clouds hid the sunrise.
     Yesterday we drove to Charleston to go to the wedding of a girl who Bev used to work with at the American Heart Association. It was held at the Charleston Harbor Resort at Patriots Point. It was a small wedding and they held the ceremony at the end of the pier with an outside reception. The weather was great, in the low 70's. We also made our regular stop at Trader Joe's on the way back to Myrtle Beach. Bev had to have her "Chocolately Cat Cookies".
     When the new terminal at Myrtle Beach International Airport opens on April 2, which will bring the number of gates from 7 to 13, a new bus shuttle service will begin as well. Two buses will take visitors to and from the airport. No exact routes have been designated as yet.
     International World Tour Golf Links will close 9 of their 27 holes for housing in 2014. A total of 21.5 Grand Strand golf courses have closed between 1999 and 2007 with plans for redevolopment that have largely been unrealized at least partially because of a recession and housing slump after 2007.
     In other golf news, The Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach will host the 2014 PGA Professional Championsip.  The tourney for club professionals will be held June 22-25. The Dunes Club along with the Grand Dunes Resort Club will host playes in the 1st 2 rounds of the 313 player tourney with the Dunes Club hosting the final 2 rounds. The players will be competing for a purse of $555,000 plus 20 spots in the 96th PGA Championsip at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
     Myrtle Beach is getting it's first new hotel since construction abruptly stopped amid the housing and economy crunch. A 14 story Homewood Suites Ocean Front Resort and Conference Center is in the works for the vacent ocean-front spot at 1805 S. Ocean Blvd. on the former site of the Robbie Shyan Motel.  The 25 million dollar hotel aims to open in June 2014.
     If you're been waiting for the ideal time to purchase a retirement home, 2nd home or condo, or investment property "at the beach", now is the time. Prices have nowhere to go but up, so come on down, we're dealin!
     The 2nd edition of my Amazon and Kindle book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE is now complete and available. www.stevenmcmillen.com. We are planning to be back in Lancaster the first week of May. If anyone would like me do a book signing at their business or organization,  please let me know. Contact me at smcmillen@sc.rr.com or 843.399.9745.

Sunrise service "at the beach"

 

Bev and the bride

 

The bride and groom

 

The beach in Cherry Grove

 

 

    
    

Warm and then cold "at the beach"

     January was a very warm month down here, I played golf at least once a week. Highs in mid 60's to low 70's and then February got cold, only into low to mid 50's. You just never know.
     Since we have friends in town, we have being hitting the "show" scene recently. We saw "Good Vibrations" and "The Carolina Opry".  Both shows were bery good and highly entertaining.  We read in the Preview Bio Book that the drummer, Lynn Brown, was from Lancaster, Ohio, but he had already left and moved on to Nashville. The male dancers in the shows were stars on NBC's America's Got Talent. They are, I think, the hit of both shows. They provide a whole lot of energy. When you're in town, be sure and take in a show or two. You will not be dissapointed.
     A new "Reality" show will be hitting your TV tonight. "Welcome to Myrtle Manor" airs on the TLC channel at 10:00 p.m.  The show was filmed at Patrick's Mobile Home Park off of Highway 15 in Myrtle Beach. There are a lot of pros and cons going around the Myrtle Beach area. Stay tuned.
     Another old hotel along Ocean Blvd. in Myrtle Beach has bit the dust. Late last week, crews started taking down the Beverly Motel (no relation) at 703 N. Ocean Blvd., the latest in a wave of old buildings that have been demolished to make way for new devolopment along the beaches main drag. Plans for the new site have not been released as yet.
     New owners are still trying to revive the old Waccamaw Pottery Shopping Center off of Highway 501. There are some physical changes - no more weeds, the parking lots are lit up, a new roof - but there is only a splattering of action in a couple of store spaces. Things are moving a lot slower than some officials had hoped, in part because of the still sputtering economy.
     In real estate news, sales showed  a continued upward trend in January, with a 10.3% boost versus a year earlier in sales of single-family homes and a 11.9% increase for condos. The median sales price for condos climbed 4.8% to $98,000 compared to the same period last year but single-family homes fell 3.1% to $155,000.  Business is picking-up so y'all come on down, we're dealin!
     My book Murder on the Front Nine has gone into a second edition. The publisher is now working on the Kindle version. I have several book signings planned and speaking engagements booked. I am actually spending more time on writing the second one Cougars at the Beach, which I hope to have completed by this fall. www.stevenmcmillen.com.
     See ya, Steve & Bev

Dancers at Carolina Opry

Opry singers and dancers

Anniversay dinner at Chuck's before Opry

Prime-rib roast after cooking, yum, yum

 

 

 

    
    

Dusting of snow "at the beach"

     Well, we just received our annual dusting of snow and it is not very warm, about 28. The only neat thing about this is that it snowed last night and I will probably play golf on Wednesday. It doesn't get any better than this.
     We have two couples in town from Ohio and they are coming over for dinner tonight after the Ohio State game.  We are having a prime-rib roast thanks to my lovely bride Beverly and Boulineau's. She entered one of those in-store contest at Boulineau's in Cherry Grove, and she won a 7 pound boneless prime-rib roast.
     The Myrtle Beach Marathon was run yesterday and there were over 2,250 runners in town with their families for the long holiday weekend. The occupency rate in town was supposed to be almost 80%. Funny thing is that in 2010 it snowed this same weekend and they had to cancel the race. Thank goodness this year it snowed the day after the race.
     A new mini-golf course (Shark Attack) and seafood-inspired restaurant (Hammer Head Grill) is rising from the oceanfront spot where the historic Chesterfield Inn once stood and are on track for the spring tourist season. The new development at the corner of Ocean Blvd, and 7th Ave. N in Myrtle Beach is amoung a flurry of new offerings along the city's main drag that are expected to be ready this spring. To the north, a 6,000 square-foot candy and ice cream shop named "I Love Sugar" is under construction.
     A golf themed restaurant is planning to open this spring in Carolina Forest. Sam Snead's Tavern plans to open in the former Max & Erma's restaurant in the Forest Square Shopping Center at the intersection of U.S. 501 and Carolina Forest Blvd. This will be a return of a Sam Snead's restaurant to the Grand Strand. Sam Snead's Grille opened in the mid-1990's along restaurant row but closed in the early 2000's. On a side-note, I have been in the original Sam Snead's Taven in Virginia next to The  Homestead.
     On the real estate scene, single family homes jumped in 2012 by the highest % since 2005. The medium price for those homes declined 1% from 2011. Prices crept up-ward in December, the highest December to December since 2006. Sales of condo's also rose during 2012, but at a smaller %. Prices of condo's fell 3% during 2012, but were up 6% in December.
     On my book scene, I did a presentation and book signing for my book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE for the Conway Book Club at Coastal Carolina University this past week. It was a lot of fun and I had a great audience. My book is available on amazon.com and kindle. My website is www.stevenmcmillen.com. My next book COUGARS AT THE BEACH, which is the second in a series of Mickke D mystery/thrillers, is coming along but rather slowly. I seem to spend more time marketing my first book and less time writing the second.
     See ya, Steve & Bev

Book signing

President Conway Book Club

Bev at Boulineau's

Our dusting of snow

 

 

 

    
    
    

75 Years old "at the beach"

     No, not me! Myrtle Beach will be 75 years old on March 12, 2013. My lovely bride and I had dinner at a real estate function the other night in Murrells Inlet.  We ended up sitting with a lady who was born and raised in Myrtle Beach. It was a joy listening to hear talk about the old days in Myrtle Beach.
     I was a guest of the Tidewater Men's Book Club this past week.  It was an interesting evening listening to what someone else thought about my book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE, and how they read different things into what I was trying to say. It was a very enjoyable and enlightening evening.  I look forward to more of them.
     North Myrtle Beach is on the way to getting a new fishing pier at the end of Sea Mountain Highway. It would be the first new pier along the Grand Strand in 20 years and officials say it will help tourism. The new pier proposed by North Myrtle Beach businessman Frank Boulineau, would also have a four-story building that would likely house a restaurant.
     National real estate statistics for November showed South Carolina as having the 5th highest foreclosure rate in the U.S.. In November, 1 in every 455 homes in the state was in foreclosure, a total of 4,700 homes. Those numbers represented a 17% increase over November 2011. Short sales totaled 29% of all Horry County home sales in November. Short sales rose 22% in the 3rd quarter from the year before.  What does all this mean for you?  Now is the time to come on down to the beach and pruchase a nice home or condo at a reasonable price. We're dealin!
     A wax museum that opened in Hollywood in the 1960's is planning to branch out to Myrtle Beach. Hollywood Wax Museum is working to move into the former NASCAR Cafe building off US 17 Bypass and 21st Ave. N. This wouold be their 4th location in the U.S. They have museums in Hollywood, Pigion Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo.  See ya, Steve & Bev  www.stevenmcmillen.com