Tourist souvenir?

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, SC 

Uhoh. Did someone drop their Charleston tourist souvenir on the pavement? What will they give mom when they get home? Sorry about that.

Just kidding. These are what they drop to mark horse urine spots that need to be hosed and sanitized. 

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston - F Street

26 F St., Charleston, SC

Here is a wee one for our collection of teeny, tiny houses in Charleston. This is on "F" street off upper King St. and behind the Pancito & Lefty restaurant. It looks like a complete renovation and now for rent for $2,000 a month. Gulp.

The sun in shining and what a treat that is after the daily rain we've been having. I walked the West Ashley Bikeway this morning, ran errands and baked cookies already. Have fun out there kids!

The Recovery Room

The Recovery Room, King St., Charleston, SC 

The Recovery Room is a popular bar on upper King St. Maybe this is why we changed the name of our hospital version to PACU: Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit. Cheers kids!

This Charleston bar can proudly claim be the number one seller of PBR in the world: 

Charleston City Paper: The Recovery Room is now the No. 1 seller of PBR in the world. At least that was the word from the dive bar's Facebook page last week. Now we're not calling Chris "Boston" DiMattia a fabricator, but we wanted to vet this lofty claim before reporting the news. So we tracked down Jay Toxey, Rec Room's former Pabst Blue Ribbon contact (now the Pabst rep for Georgia). Toxey couldn't share any internal data, but here's what he did have to say:
"It's true. For 12-oz. cans, The Recovery Room is the biggest on-premise retailer of PBR in the world," says Toxey. "No one sells more of that size can."

Blue on blue at Bluestein's Menswear

King St., Charleston, SC 

This blue sweetie is one of my favorite buildings. I happened to catch a good clear view of the entire building against a blue sky.

I am having trouble cracking the 10,000 steps lately but I am close. It was a warm and humid walk around the neighborhood at dusk for 9,540. 

Hello Yellow!

Hed Hi Media, 654 King St., Charleston, SC 

Not your typical Charleston shutters and window box scene! Hello yellow! The artist appears to be Jason Woodside for this bright wall on Hed Hi Media building at 654 King St. up near The Daily restaurant.

Mural Monday

Mural - Pancito & Lefy, Charleston, SC 

 I keep my eye out for new murals around town and was pleased to spot this one. No wonder I liked it - it is another one by mural artist David Boatwright who has been such a creative and colorful gift to Charleston. The restaurant is Pancito & Lefty on upper King St. Worth a visit for the food as well as the ambiance!

Resting in the shade

Byron - King St., Charleston, SC 

When I lived on the peninsula I got to know most of the usual street folk and Byron was my King St. toll. I always turned over a couple of bucks and on occasion bought him a meal. I am not in town as much and had worried about him lately and hoped all was well. 

My walk this morning steered me to upper King St. and I was pleased to find him enjoying the shade under the highway overpass. A quick hug, a couple of bucks exchanged. On my way back down the same route I watching him offering his trademark chiropractic adjustments to a couple of young men and he caught my eye and grinned. 

Georgetown day trip

Georgetown, SC

After all the rain and sogginess it was nice to have a drive up the coast for a late lunch in Georgetown. Blue skies! White clouds! The vintage movie theater has current movies showing and visitors were enjoying the boardwalk. 

It was a quick trip but a happy break while my little car was left drying out with an elaborate system of extension cords and dehumidifiers and carpets propped up. Thankfully it seems to drive without any trouble. I saw city workers finally out clearing out our neglected drainage system yesterday and hope that continues. 

Enjoy your Sunday, kids!

 

It's a rainy day in the neighborhood

Keats & Oak Forest, Charleston, SC

I slept like a baby through the downpour and was bopping out to my car when I discovered exactly  how much rain we had had during the night. Good grief. This is from later in the morning when I walked down through my West Ashley neighborhood. No water in my home thank goodness. I believe a lot of people will be getting new cars. Hope y'all made it through okay.

Got my eye on you:

Murals of Avondale, Charleston, SC 

I like the way the eyes looked out under the window. There are a few new murals behind the shops in Avondale. I walk through periodically to see what is new. 

Putting in the miles

Charleston, SC 

It's been a busy stretch at work with many of our electronic systems down and everyone scrambling to do what needed to be done. I served as runner around the building delivering results and logging 10 miles on Monday, 8.5 on Tuesday and a measly 5 miles today as things started coming back online. What a great group of people I work with. Everyone's dedication was impressive to see as we rallied to make sure everyone was taken care of old style.

Needless to say I haven't had to go for my usual evening walk and come home ready to crash instead!

Old #3 Hot Red

Blenheim Ginger Ale

Watch for the bite under the pink cap - Old #3 Hot Red. South Carolina's own Blenheim bottled Ginger Ale now available at Harris Teeter. Cheers! 

Bee City - Cottageville, SC

Bee City, Cottageville, SC 

Funky but quirkily charming (in my memory), Bee City near Cottageville has cleaned up it's act and is now a popular petting zoo. The bees are a very small part of the operation in the back of the property. 

The parking lot was full of happy kids, every one encouraged to buy food for the birds and monkeys. How can animals eat all day long? I am not a big zoo fan but everything was clean and the kids were having a great time. Some of the animals were injured rescues. Some of the vintage decor was still visible in the cafe but everything else has been expanded and renovated. 

Smiley toes!

Wentworth St., Charleston, SC  

I went to a work related farewell party at the Watch restaurant in the Restoration Hotel this afternoon. This is the second rooftop bar/restaurant I have been in recently and it is a treat to see new views of the peninsula. On my way back to my car my tootsies stopped for a smile. 

Home again, home again...

Sycamore St., Charleston, SC  

I made it home in time to walk down to meet friends at the West Ashley Farmer's Market and caught this sweet scene on my way home. It was just a quick cell phone shot but the light was hitting the trees in a lovely way.  They are the gates to the Synagogue Emanu-El Cemetery.

Jenkins Orphanage building - Franklin St.

Jenkins Orphanage building, Franklin St., Charleston, SC

Jenkins OrphanageThe Rev. Daniel J. Jenkins established the Jenkins Orphanage in 1891 for African-American children following an encounter with four youngsters living on the streets of Charleston. The original site of this orphanage was at 20 Franklin St. in the Old Marine Hospital. This National Historic Landmark, designed by Robert Mills, served as home of the orphanage from 1895 to 1939. Then it moved to a farm outside Charleston. To raise funds for the orphanage, the Jenkins Orphanage Band was organized. The Jenkins Orphanage Band, wearing discarded Citadel uniforms, performed throughout the United States and even toured England raising money for the support of the orphanage. William “Cat” Anderson, Jabbo Smith and Freddie Green are but a few of the alumni from the band who made it to the big time. 

Click here to hear the Jenkins Orphanage Band in a 1928 news reel!

More great background information on the SCIWay site.  

Walk with me - Charlestowne Landing

The Adventure, Charlestowne Landing, Charleston, SC

I wonder what time of year the early settlers set foot on Charlestowne Landing. Their first impressions would depend completely on the season. The heat, humidity, mosquitoes, alligators could be an uncomfortable surprise if they arrived in July.

From the travel files - Freda Kahlo

Happy birthday Frida Kahlo! I remembered these photos from a visit to a fabric artist's studio in Cuba. Sadly I am scratching my head trying to remember the artist's name. Hopefully I will remember it and pop back to add it.

Happy weekend, kids!

Tilt Shift Charleston

Tilt shift Broad St., Charleston, SC  

 It's been a long time since I've played with the tilt shift feature. It narrows the focus so much that if give the effect of a miniature world. Try it yourself here: Tilt Shift

Tilt shift Charleston, SC 

Orange you pretty?

Broad St., Charleston, SC  

The owners of this property keep it so nicely it is always eye catching. I quietly thank them every time I walk by.

Anyone else confused by the midweek holiday? It is Monday, is it Thursday? I have no idea but tomorrow is Friday so yay! We can do one more day.

After the rain

Magnolia Plantation Garden, Charleston, SC 

We had a downpour this morning. When I finally got out for a walk the water made for a different view at Magnolia Plantation. I've never seen a reflection view!

I walked out to climb the Observation Tower and enjoyed the dramatic skies while trying to thump and walk as loudly as possible on the trails to signal the creep crawlies that I was coming through. I've been seeing too many pictures of snakes lately.

Happy July 4th!

Belvedere, Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC  

I went on a patriotic flag search walk last time I was in town and the Belvedere Bed & Breakfast on Rutledge never lets me down. 

Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! Thanks for welcoming this poor immigrant many years ago. You've given me a home, family, rewarding work and countless friendships.

PS: Making me go to Pittsburgh for a welcoming syphilis test was a little weird but happily I passed.

Mini lending library on State St.

Mini library, State St., Charleston, SC 

Cute little pink mini library on State St. I love this idea and hope it works as well as I imagine. I never use them myself since I have completely switched to downloaded kindle reading. I never would have guessed how much I love it. I don't buy books anymore at all which is fortunate since I've downsized to a small home with little storage.

Short walk again this evening due to the heat. I waited so late it was dark when I came back in. Stay cool, kids!

Reading of the Declaration of Independence - July 4th

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, Charleston, SC

Heads up, kids! There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the front steps of the Exchange on July 4th at 9:30 a.m. As there was and as there should be.