If you’re passionate about sustainability in the Upstate, then clear your schedule and be sure to head over to the City of Greenville’s drop-in style open house this evening. The city is looking for people to share ideas about how Greenville and the surrounding community can be more sustainable and environmentally friendly — aka meeting the city’s current needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

The event is in partnership with the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University + will take place at Roper Mountain Science Center in the sustainability building (the green one on the right-hand side) from 6-8 p.m.

This event is just one part of the city’s effort to make a new, long-term sustainability plan: SustainableGVL.

SustainableGVL first kicked off this past summer at the Greenville Convention Center. If you missed it, you can view the presentation and video from the presentation. The next step of this plan starts tonight — getting input and ideas from community members like you.

The city is then expected to have a plan drafted by October, which they will then present to the City Council and the Green Ribbon Advisory Committee. A final plan is expected to be finalized and presented to the council for adoption by early 2022.

Can’t make it in person? You can still share their thoughts in their survey in the button below.

#MUSTDO

Today

Paint Night | Wed., Sept. 8 | 6-9 p.m. | Tetrad Brewing Co., 603 E. Stone Ave. | $40 | Paint great things with DIYably + enjoy 2 drink tickets. 🎨
Biz Fuel Networking | Wed., Sept. 8 | 5:30 p.m. | 13 Stripes Brewery, 250 Mill St., Taylors | Free | Network with other like-minded business individuals in the area.

Thursday

Dan and Shay | Thurs., Sept. 9 | 7p.m. | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | $32+ | This rescheduled event will host country music stars Dan + Shay for a night of ballads and top hits. 🎤
Godspell | Thurs., Sept. 9-Sun., Sept. 26 | 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun | Centre Stage, 501 River St. | $25+ | This 21st century twist on the classic 1970s musical is based on the Gospel according to St. Matthew, including dramatized versions of several well-known parables.

Friday

Deep Dish Pizza Making | Fri., Sept. 10 | 6-8 p.m. | The Cook’s Station | $60 | Learn how to make fresh pizza dough and create a delicious Chicago style pizza. 🍕
Salsa at Sunset | Fri., Sept. 10 | 6:15-10 p.m. | Camperdown Plaza | Free | The 3rd and final Salsa at Sunset includes a free Salsa lesson at 6:15 and a live Latin band from 7-10, plus a cash bar. 💃 Ⓟ

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE OF THIS WEEK'S EVENTS HERE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

86º | Scattered thunderstorms | 50% chance of rain

Open

In downtown Greer, a new Hampton Inn by Hilton has opened at 112 N. Main St. The hotel is 4 stories and features 108 guest rooms. (Upstate Business Journal)

Arts

The Wings of the City exhibit is scheduled to relocate to Raleigh next month, but Greenville may get to keep a piece of the exhibit in the city permanently. The city and the Hispanic Alliance could potentially be commissioning a replica of one of the more popular statues, named “Wings of Mexico.” (The Post and Courier Greenville)
Applications are now open for the Indie Craft Parade’s Pop Up Shop and Mini Markets. Applications close Sept. 10 — learn more + apply here. 🎨

Ranked

The US News & World Report recently ranked Bon Secours St. Francis Health System as a “Best Hospital” — ranked second in SC and first overall for the Greenville area. 🩺

Number

$12.5 million. That’s how much money Simpsonville is getting from the American Rescue Plan. The city plans to use the money on landscape architecture, ventilation + HVAC systems for new municipal buildings, improvements to several of their fire stations, and more. 💰 (The Post and Courier Greenville)

Eat

The Upstate could soon be home to Vitality Bowls — a California-based health food restaurant, mainly focused on veggie, grain, and açaí bowls. The restaurant chain currently has 80 locations and is expected to begin franchising in SC before the end of the year, starting with the Upstate. 🥬 (Greenville News)

DYK

Did you know — you can enjoy the views from Sassafras Mountain without having to make the hike? There’s a new observation tower on the mountain where you can see views of North Carolina, Georgia, and even Tennessee. 🏔 (Kidding Around Greenville)

Active

Registration is open for YMCA of Greenville’s Beast Mode Games 2021, Sat., Oct. 23, 12-5 p.m. Teams of 2 (male/male or female/female) must be 15+ years old to register ($175-195/team). The best way to train for Beast Mode Games? Beast Mode classes at the Y. 🏋 Ⓟ

Health

Pregnant women who get COVID-19 are becoming more seriously ill, resulting in complications like preterm birth and even death. Prisma Health’s Kacey Eichelberger, MD, explains how women can protect themselves and their babies from the delta variant. Ⓟ

Stat

3 in 4. The number of Americans who are willing to wait a year to find their dream home, according to Opendoor’s new report, Achieving the American Dream. Explore more insights (and how to make your own offer stand out) in the report. 🏡 Ⓟ

Correction

Coming soon to 515 Pendleton St. is a new coffee shop. We had originally gotten a tip that the new coffee spot would be a Starbucks, but now it looks like the new digs will be Bridge City Coffee’s second location. ☕️ (Greenville News)