With a logo like that, you know this is no kegger.

If you don't allready know about the Renaissance Weekend that began in Charleston on Monday, December 28, you probably won't care too much that you're missing the five-day meeting of the minds that runs through New Year's.

But you'll likely be curious about why there's suddenly a surge of smart folk in town (the event is centered on the Charleston Place hotel.) If so, know that 1,000 participants are coming down for some 500 lectures for topics on subjects spanning "finance, education, religion, law and medicine, government, the media, science and technology, sports, non-profits and the arts," according to a press release.

"For 29 years," Ambassador Lader said, "Renaissance Weekend has continued to be a cross-generational conversation among accomplished individuals with widely divergent perspectives. Civility prevails; partisanship is frowned upon; and commercialism is banned."
"Though strikingly different views of religion, politics, and every other field are represented, there is more light than heat," Lader added.

"Renaissance Weekend [is] a cross-generational conversation among accomplished individuals with widely divergent perspectives. Civility prevails; partisanship is frowned upon; and commercialism is banned. Though strikingly different views of religion, politics, and every other field are represented, there is more light than heat," said Philip Lader, chairman of WPP plc, a large advertising and media services company.

If you curiosity is piqued, check out this quick intro at The Post and Courier and this press release for gory detail.