The Post and Courier Greenville

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Winners of the fifth annual Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta have been announced.
This annual part of the event challenges chefs and mixologists to see who can come up with the best and most creative tacos, sides, and tequila-inspired drinks. The winners were:
• Best Overall Taco: Woodside Bistro, “Korean BBQ Street Taco”
• Best Overall Cocktail: Woodside Bistro, “Fresa Spritz Cocktail”
• Best Sidekick: Willy Taco, “Corn Chowder Sidekick”
• People’s Choice – Best Taco: Mission Grill, “Southern Smoked Carnitas Taco”
• People’s Choice – Best Cocktail: White Duck Taco Shop, “Razarita Cocktail”
• Most Creative Taco: Willy Taco, “Lobster Roll Taco”
• Most Creative Cocktail: White Duck Taco Shop, “Razarita Cocktail”
• Social Media Star: Mission Grill
The Best Overall winners were awarded a $500 cash prize while those recognized for Most Creative or the People’s Choice each received a $100 cash prize in addition to plaques.

The contest was judged by a panel of local judges to score the Best Overall, Most Creative and Best Sidekick. Judges included Chef Wilbert Sauceda from West End Events at Fluor Field & Greenville Drive, Alexandra Herrera from Euphoria Greenville, and Ariel Turner from Ferebee Lane and Off the Grid Greenville.

“This year’s event was everything we hoped for and more,” said Tammy Johnson, CEO of High Spirits Hospitality, the company that produced the event, “We’re grateful for all the people who worked behind the scenes to make our fifth Tacos ‘n Tequila one of the best yet.”
About Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta and High Spirits Events:
High Spirits Events, a division of High Spirits Hospitality, is proud to bring you Greenville’s favorite one-day foodie festival. They’ve brought in the area’s best restaurants and bars to bring you the best tacos and handcrafted Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila cocktails. Tickets include exclusive access to all you-can-eat tacos and tequila cocktails, entertainment, and more. Learn more at www.tacotequilafiesta.com.

About The Old Cigar Warehouse:
Located at 912 S. Main Street across from Fluor Field in the West End, The Old Cigar Warehouse features more than 7,000 square feet of event space, an open catering policy and full event support, allowing the venue to deliver a seamless event. The Old Cigar Warehouse was built in 1882 and historically used as a warehouse for cigars and cotton. With 30-foot-high ceilings, exposed brick and stained floors, the warehouse is sure to inspire the most creative of events. It is a division of High Spirits Hospitality. www.oldcigarwarehouse.com.

Greenville, S.C. – Summertime is just around the corner and that means the Upcountry History Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is gearing up to offer three weeks of uniquely themed summer camp opportunities for children ages 6 through 12! Campers will be introduced to a distinctive topic one week during each of the summer months taking them on a fun-filled journey of exploration, history, and excitement.

Camps will be held Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Drop-off in the morning begins at 8:45 inside the front entrance of the Museum at the front desk. Pick up is at noon at the front desk area of the Museum. Cost for each week is $150.00 for UHM members; $170.00 for non-members. A discount is available for families with more than one child in the same household attending camp.

This year’s dates and camp themes are:
• June 14-18: We Built This City!
• July 12-16: Myths and Legends
• August 9-13: S.T.E.A.M. Week

Don’t wait, sign up your child for plenty of hands-on learning opportunities, creative activities and projects, as well as the chance to explore our past through experiences that a traditional visit to the Museum would not include! Each week of camp is open to only 16 campers, so register today!

For more information or to register, go to www.upcountryhistory.org. You can also register by calling 864-467-3100 on Tuesday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Payment is required with registration. Additional details about this year’s summer camps can be found on the Museum website. If you have any questions, contact Education and Program Manager Kristen Pace at kristen@upcountryhistory.org.

Ensuring the health and safety of visitors and staff remains a top priority for the Museum. Adherence to the highest public health standards as set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and city officials, and peer institutions across the nation continues to guide our protocols. As such, the Museum observes a mandatory mask requirement for visitors ages 10 years and older.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; and beginning June 6, 2021, Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Topside Pool Club has started a program aimed at empowering women’s leadership.

Working Women’s Wednesday is a networking event that will be held every second Wednesday of the month, starting next week on May 12. Along with the opportunity to socialize, the club will host a female speaker and offer $4 wine selections to sip while overlooking Falls Park. The monthly event requires no reservation and is open to non-members.

Attendees interested in the first event on May 12th can look forward to hearing from Beth Messick, the Executive Director of Jasmine Road — South Carolina’s first two-year residential program for adult women survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.

Located on the top floor of a seven-story building and with stunning views of Falls Park, this membership-only club offers a rooftop pool club directly on Main Street. Members have access to full bar service, private members-only events and the pool.

“With the absence of networking events last summer, we’re so excited for the chance to reconnect people in the community,” said Tammy Johnson, owner of High Spirits Hospitality, the parent company of Topside Pool Club.

Non-members can email team@topsidepoolclub.com to RSVP or for more information on this event.

About Topside Pool Club:
Offering stunning views of downtown Greenville and Falls Park, Topside Pool Club is a private membership club located on the top of Falls Park Place building downtown. Members enjoy full access to the pool during normal business hours along with the opportunities for special events. More information can be found at www.topsidepool.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – With more than 250 hours of volunteer work in 2020 alone, Rebuild Upstate recently awarded Stephan Hamel the Golden Hammer Award, the highest honor given to a volunteer.
Hamel began serving with Rebuild Upstate in 2019. In 2020, Hamel logged volunteer hours 2-3 days a week by serving as a Handyman Club member on sites, doing inventory on supplies and installing shelving for storage.
“He always has a mindset for improvement,” said Nick Kulick, Rebuild Upstate’s operations director. “He is always asking how can we do this better or that better, and then he is willing to do it and lead the charge.”
Rebuild Upstate helps low-income homeowners with home repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods. Home repairs can range from small plumbing fixes to roof and floor replacements. Accessibility improvements range from installing grab bars and railings for vulnerable populations to building wheelchair ramps for those with disabilities.
“Finding Rebuild Upstate to volunteer for has been a blessing for me,” said Hamel. “I feel I have received way more than I have given, and I feel blessed for the opportunity to share my skills and love of building with a great group of people.”

About Rebuild Upstate:
Rebuild Upstate serves low-income homeowners with repairs and accessibility improvements to create safe, livable housing in existing homes and neighborhoods in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties. Its team envisions a community where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity in a safe home environment in order to maintain and foster strong, sustainable communities. Learn more at www.rebuildupstate.org.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Leading software developer Kopis has earned a spot as one of the Top Workplaces in South Carolina for 2021.

To earn this honor, workplaces are evaluated by their employees using a short 24-question survey. Energage, the Pennsylvania-based research partner for the project, conducts Top Workplaces surveys for more than 50 major metro markets and surveyed more than two million employees at more than 7,000 organizations in the past year. Any organization with 35 or more employees in South Carolina was eligible for consideration, whether public, private, non-profit, government, even schools.

Founded in 1999, Kopis was ranked fourth best place to work in the small business category, as well as being honored with the New Ideas Award for being the best employer in the state that seeks out and listens to new ideas from employees. Kopis has deep roots in the South Carolina technology community. With senior experience specializing in database administration and application development for healthcare and automotive manufacturing, they have a track record of success in critical areas.

“We put a lot of effort and thought in creating a workplace environment where people can feel they are part of something bigger,” said Andrew Kurtz, president and CEO of Kopis. “This award is a reflection on a lot of work by our entire team in creating a great business culture.”

About Kopis:
Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 40 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year and was named to one of Inc.’s 5,000 List in 2019. To learn more visit, www.kopisusa.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The highly anticipated fiesta has announced the restaurants that will be responsible for satiating your tastebuds on May 2nd.

Local bartenders and chefs will go head-to-head in a battle for the best cocktail, taco, or “taco sidekick”. Bartenders will create a signature cocktail using Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila. Each restaurant chef will create a unique and delicious taco recipe, and/or side item with ingredients of their choice. Local judges will taste the food and drink submissions and decide the winner within each category.

The following restaurants and bars have been added to the competition:
Bacon Bros
Bar Margaret
Good Life Catering
Mission Grill
Papi’s Tacos
Southernside Brewing Co.
Restaurant 17
Topside Pool Club
Up on the Roof
White Duck Taco
Willy Taco
Woodside Bistro

$2,000 in cash prizes will be given to the winning bartender and chef in each category, including; Best Overall, People’s Choice, Most Creative, and more.

Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta will be held on Sunday, May 2, at the Old Cigar Warehouse in downtown Greenville. The fiesta will be held in two sessions, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., with 30 minute early starts for VIP tickets holders in order to limit the capacity and allow for social distancing.

All attendees must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid ID on them to enter the fiesta. All tickets include all the tacos you can handle along with all the Lunazul Tequila cocktails & Sierra Nevada beer you can responsibly drink. In addition, there will be outdoor games, live music from DJ Santi and the Erica Berg Collective, and more.

VIP: Reserved seating in our VIP area with VIP Tequila Tasting, VIP Bar, VIP swag bag, chips, salsa and guacamole for the table. Admission for this ticket level starts at 12:30 p.m. or 4:00 p.m., depending on your session. VIP tickets are sold out.
Priority: Reserved table for your group – sold in tables of four, six, or eight. Admission for this ticket level is at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m., depending on your session. Priority tickets are sold out.
General Admission: This ticket is for those who want to hang out with other taco fans. We’ll have a general admission area where you can take your mask off to eat and drink, and mingle with others at communal seating. Admission is at 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.tacotequilafiesta.com/tickets.html.

About Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta and High Spirits Events:
High Spirits Events, a division of High Spirits Hospitality, is proud to bring you Greenville’s favorite one-day foodie festival. They’ve brought in the area’s best restaurants and bars to bring you the best tacos and handcrafted Lunazul 100% Agave Tequila cocktails. Tickets include exclusive access to all you-can-eat tacos and tequila cocktails, entertainment, and more. Learn more at www.tacotequilafiesta.com.

About The Old Cigar Warehouse:
Located at 912 S. Main Street across from Fluor Field in the West End, The Old Cigar Warehouse features more than 7,000 square feet of event space, an open catering policy and full event support, allowing the venue to deliver a seamless event. The Old Cigar Warehouse was built in 1882 and historically used as a warehouse for cigars and cotton. With 30-foot-high ceilings, exposed brick and stained floors, the warehouse is sure to inspire the most creative of events. It is a division of High Spirits Hospitality. www.oldcigarwarehouse.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. –South Carolina’s leading tech company, Kopis, partnered with Engenius, a local web design and digital marketing company, to launch a new website.

“Kopis is such an amazing company and we are honored to have worked with them on this successful project,” said Chris Manley, Engenius’ president.

Highlights of the new website include: updated visual design and consistent user experience across all devices. The website better showcases Kopis’ services and is a better digital representation of the Kopis experience. It is also better optimized for search engines and is built on a platform that will scale with Kopis as they expand their offerings.

As one of the most well-established software development firms in the Southeast, Kopis’ legacy and recognitions are among the best in the industry. Kopis has achieved Microsoft’s Gold Competency in Application Development and DevOps along with Silver Competency in Cloud Platform and ERP. It was named one of the INC 5000’s fastest-growing companies in 2019 and 2020, one of the fastest-growing companies in South Carolina, and one of the best places to work in the state for several years running.

“As a company that works to help people streamline their workflows and business, we felt it was time to redevelop our own website to show those abilities,” said Andrew Kurtz, president and CEO of Kopis. “We felt Engenius was the perfect partner for this work.”

About Kopis:
Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 40 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year and was named to one of Inc.’s 5,000 List in 2019. To learn more visit, www.kopisusa.com.

Greenville, S.C. – A picture is worth a thousand words, or so the saying goes, and the 24 images on display in Masters of American Photography, the newest exhibition opening at the Upcountry History Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, on Saturday, May 1, 2021, take visitors on a pictorial journey that traces the history of photography from the mid-19th century to the 20th century.

From Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans to Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand and Margaret Bourke-White, the range of these notable photographers underscores the influence each had on the Pictorialism movement which sought to elevate the status of photography to a fine art. Themes such as portraiture, landscape, cityscape, still life, motion capture, and cultural history are explored in an impressive array of works by these most important artists in the chronicles of photography.

Examining the advent of photography from the 1880s through the 1980s, Masters focuses on the extraordinary fervor that surrounded the innovation of this newest medium of visual representation. Emphasizing the experimental nature and evolution of photographic techniques through this time period, this unique exhibition showcases some of the photographs made during the Great Depression to call attention to the challenges of rural poverty, as well as the impact on the people whose lives were now documented as part of the collective record of the artform and its noted accounts of those moments.

On display through August 8, 2021, Masters of American Photography is filled with opportunities for visitors to explore an extraordinary time in the early history of what has not only become a profession and hobby, but a passion and art form for so many.

This definitive collection, comprised of many vintage prints, was organized by the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Upcountry History Museum is located at 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, S.C. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Beginning June 6, 2021, the Museum will reopen on Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Please note, too, the Museum adheres to a mandatory mask requirement for visitors ages 10 years and older. For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit www.upcountryhistory.org.