4th of July Blowout... Your Explosive Holiday Checklist

4th of July Blowout! Your Grit Guide to Independence Day in the Holy City 

MONDAY: How NOT to Ruin the Big Beachside Holiday 

TUESDAY: Your Explosive Holiday Checklist

It's two days to the big rough and rowdy holiday. Do you have....

1. THE RIGHT BATHING SUIT?

Left to right: Boutique to You, eBay, & Amazon

Or the wrong one...

Just not QUITE sure that's where the stars and stripes were intended to be, ahem, perched. But if you're into it, go here. 

Here we go. Swim cap + spandex briefs + no water in sight? Well-played.

Here's the takeaway: There's going to be crowds, traffic, heat, assholes, drunk assholes, cops, bouncers, and more crowds. Also, sand in your shorts. But it's one of the happiest holidays we've got. Don't blow it. (See Monday's post about massive July 4th fails.) Just be as blissfully thrilled at our independence as this guy. 

3. A SWEET RIDE FOR OUR KINDS OF WAVES?

We asked McKevlin's Surf Shop on Folly Beach what they recommend for this summer's must-have board. They recommended the "Couch Potato" by ...Lost Enterprises. They say it's perfect for our waves around here. More: "... this board was Designed specifically as a small wave surfboard. With less entry rocker and a fuller forward foil, combined with a slightly wider tail, The Couch Potato outline and rocker combine for a board that is crazy fast, yet still controllable and maneuverable in gutless surf." Starts at $650

4. THE RIGHT EXPLOSIVES (and preferably one with a Charleston name like Megabanger Garden in Spring. Doesn't that sound like a South-of-Broad based heavy metal band?)?

Rodney's Rockets—the Ladson-based folks who have a stand at Trader Joe's in Mount Pleasant, plus nearly two dozen more stands around town—suggest this "Liberty" firework set  ($85). It includes at least 100 different "shots" with names like "Festival Balls," "Dramatic Fantasy," "Megabanger Garden in Spring," (our fave) and "Twitter Glitter." For real.

In more explosives news, file these next ones under the heading "Only in Charleston..." 

Ashley Gartz 

Explosive art! We discovered these booming collages at the Michael Mitchell Gallery by artist Timothy Packron. ($325 apiece) Mitchell does, however, offer this word of caution: "If you hang these on your wall and your house catches on fire... run. Fast."

5. THE RIGHT SPOT TO WATCH THE SHOWS.

Downtown's fireworks start around 9 p.m. See the show from Patriot's Point (info here—the flight deck is booked, but plenty of room on terra firma), downtown near the Pineapple Fountain or Battery, or the top of most any parking garage. 

Examiner

Folly's fireworks don't kick off until 10:30 p.m. due to high tide, but the pier is our prime pick for seeing the show. Get there early (info here) though. 

Isle of Palms fireworks will likely start around 9:30. Beach bars are prime viewing galleries out on IOP, or plop down right on the beach.

TUNE IN TOMORROW FOR FABULOUS 4TH RECIPES AND COOL COCKTAILS!