CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Craig Casto might finally get to sit down and enjoy the Taste of Charleston the way thousands of other visitors do instead of spending much of the two-day event scurrying around the Charleston Civic Center.
Mike Henshall, left, is poised to take over the apron strings from longtime Taste of Charleston chairman Craig Casto. For this weekend’s Taste, Henshall and Casto will work as a team. Next year, Henshall will step up as chairman of the volunteer committee for the event, which draws dozens of area restaurants and caterers — and thousands of hungry tasters.
He's earned a roll of 50-cent tickets, that's for sure.
Casto was just 30 when he agreed back in 1982 to be part of a longtime Charleston Regatta tradition - an event that invites dozens of area restaurants and caterers to serve up tastes of their specialties. At the time, Casto already was a veteran of the Regatta, having served as its vice president of land activities and on the Distance Run committee.
This year, Casto turns 56, a good a time as any to turn the proverbial apron strings over to someone else. Saturday and Sunday, he'll be joined by his co-chairman, Mike Henshall. Next year, Henshall will take over as head of the Taste of Charleston committee, which is served as all Regatta committees are - by volunteers.
Henshall, 30, owns a pool and spa and a marketing business in Putnam County and already, Casto said he's infused some fresh ideas into the event.
Henshall comes to an event that has two consistent things going for it, Casto said.
"People in this area like to eat. And we offer climate control."
He's visited taste-type events in other cities over the years and said that's Charleston's biggest advantage - its event serves up food in air-conditioned comfort. No worries about rain here.
Still, the Taste of Charleston would like to see people stay longer and try more samples. That's where Henshall had an idea.
"A lot of people eat and leave," he said. "We had to think what we could do to keep them longer. I toyed around with different social events."
And he came up with two ways to keep people entertained besides the regular musical entertainment offered every year.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Craig Casto might finally get to sit down and enjoy the Taste of Charleston the way thousands of other visitors do instead of spending much of the two-day event scurrying around the Charleston Civic Center.
He's earned a roll of 50-cent tickets, that's for sure.
Casto was just 30 when he agreed back in 1982 to be part of a longtime Charleston Regatta tradition - an event that invites dozens of area restaurants and caterers to serve up tastes of their specialties. At the time, Casto already was a veteran of the Regatta, having served as its vice president of land activities and on the Distance Run committee.
This year, Casto turns 56, a good a time as any to turn the proverbial apron strings over to someone else. Saturday and Sunday, he'll be joined by his co-chairman, Mike Henshall. Next year, Henshall will take over as head of the Taste of Charleston committee, which is served as all Regatta committees are - by volunteers.
Henshall, 30, owns a pool and spa and a marketing business in Putnam County and already, Casto said he's infused some fresh ideas into the event.
Henshall comes to an event that has two consistent things going for it, Casto said.
"People in this area like to eat. And we offer climate control."
He's visited taste-type events in other cities over the years and said that's Charleston's biggest advantage - its event serves up food in air-conditioned comfort. No worries about rain here.
Still, the Taste of Charleston would like to see people stay longer and try more samples. That's where Henshall had an idea.
"A lot of people eat and leave," he said. "We had to think what we could do to keep them longer. I toyed around with different social events."
And he came up with two ways to keep people entertained besides the regular musical entertainment offered every year.
In the main hall, there will be a children's area with a Jupiter Jump, an inflatable obstacle course and other games. Henshall figures kids, who typically eat fast, can go off to play and leave parents more time to linger.
For all ages, there will be a Guitar Hero tournament set up in the lobby of the Civic Center. (Guitar Hero is a music video game that allows participants to "play" in a rock band.)
Three youth age brackets and an adult category have been set up and prize packages donated by Best Buy include an X-Box 360 game system, a copy of Guitar Hero and an iPod Nano mp3 player.
For football fans aware of the Marshall University and West Virginia University home openers, Casto added that high-definition TV screens will be set up in the Civic Center.
Football was one reason the Taste of Charleston last year moved from the Regatta's main weekend to the weekend before and Casto said that switch just didn't work as well.
It's one of the lessons he's passed along to Henshall as he prepares to step aside and take on other volunteer activities.
Henshall, for his part, isn't worried.
"I'm excited," he said. "This is an established event, yet there's still opportunity for growth."
The Taste of Charleston is scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Charleston Civic Center. Food tickets are 50 cents each; no food item goes for more than $3.
Another article said there are no prizes for entrants in the tournament above the age of 18, is that accurate?
V egetarian(2:04pm 08-28-2008)
Report Abuse
More veggie dish choices at taste of Charleston, Please!!
Chairman(1:41pm 08-28-2008)
Report Abuse
The Guitar Hero Tournament will be from 12:00 - 5:30 each day at the Taste of Charleston. The Tournament will be set up in the back of the Grand Hall, and age brackets will be 6 - 10, 11 - 14, and 15 - 18, followed by an adult division. Children under 18 are required to have a parent sign a waiver before they are allowed to participate.
