Mural Monday - Faces of Avondale

Murals of Avondale, Charleston, SC

I love these faces in the murals behind the shops at Avondale

even more now that the vegetation has overgrown them. 

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. 

Colorful wheels in Avondale

Colorful wheels, Avondale, Charleston, SC     

This looks like one of Patch Whisky's murals behind the Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Avondale. It was a bright splash of color only improved by the scooter parked in front of it.

I only caught the shot because I went out marching the very minute I got home from work to get my walk in before dark. I'm not a fan of this daylight saving time. 

Avondale mural update

Avondale Murals, Charleston, SC    

This morning's walk took me behind the shops at Avondale so I was able to update my mural collection. Carry on folks! You delight me. 

Italian - Al Di La!

Al Di La, Magnolia Rd., Charleston, SC 

Double restaurant week treat! Avondale Restaurant week follows Charleston Restaurant Week.

It was a perfect evening to sit outside - until it started raining. Heheh. 

We had a great time and the food was delicious. 

Herding up the cattle!

Westie Awards 2016, Charleston, SC  

The part of town I live in is called West Ashley - for west of the Ashley river. One of our landmarks is an old dairy sign that includes a rotating cow on a pedestal. It's quirky, it's cool, it's us! So when the West Of newspaper wanted to come up with an neighborhood award, what made more sense than winning a cow? We love it! It's our local version of the Oscars. I won one a few years ago and it still tickles me.

This evening the 2016 Westie Awards were held at Gala Desserts in Avondale and a group of worthy individuals were honored. Congratulations to all our honorees! Pick up this week's newspaper to learn all about them. We were delighted to have our new mayor John Tecklenburg and his wife Sandy come by to receive his award.

Free Little Libraries - Avondale

Mini Library, West Ashley - Charleston, SC   

I love these free little libraries with loaned books and discovered two in my own neighborhood this morning on my drizzly walk. I won't be putting 10,000 on the step counter today. It is wet and windy out there.

Watch your head on Magnolia Rd. The low branch is going to wallop someone in the head in the dark.

Running in the Hood

Avondale 5K, Charleston, S.C.

I am not a runner but I do have a habit of walking to runs and back. Surely that counts for something? I see the winner start, I watch the winner win, I walk through the murals behind the shops at Avondale, pick up the ingredients to make Holly Herrick's French Onion Soup at Harris Teeter and cram them in my back pack and I am home before the festivities end.The Avondale 5 K raised money for the Charles Webb Center.

Congratulations to the winners and participants!

Darwin's Secret

Darwin's Secret, Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

The Darwin's Secret mural by Sean Williams has been one of my favorites tucked in behind the shops at Avondale. The back alley is a mural wonder world and one of my frequent shortcuts. Darwin doesn't look the same anymore because he has been defaced with random red spray paint and graffiti tags. Sad, isn't it? The original artwork was commissioned and listed as one of "100 Most Beloved Street Arts".

Apparently the vandal was clearly identified on security video and his identity is public. I am glad. I have always been disgusted by deliberate vandalism and the destruction of property. It is proper that someone has to face the music even if it is just that of public opinion and shame. Read the West Of article here. The original artist has already been promised donations to repair the damage. I might offer to chip in myself.

Hood Updates - West Ashley

Magnolia Rd., Charleston, S.C.

Now that I live West Ashley I get unreasonably excited about new businesses popping up in my walking area. Here are a couple of things I spotted on my after Christmas dinner walk yesterday afternoon. The first is a structure on Magnolia Road. I saw folks working on it recently and they said it was the beginning of a community garden. Oh yay! Their website says it is a Charleston Parks Conservancy project.

The bottom photo is a new coffee shop opening at 27 Magnolia Road next to Al Di La in Avondale. Their facebook page says they expect to open in January. Yipee! Who wants to meet me for coffee in 2014?

All the best with your new businesses and welcome to the neighborhood!

Walk west young woman, walk west

Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

This is my walking neighborhood now. I can't tell you how many people have seen me walking, assumed my car had broken down and stopped to offer me a ride. Heheh. Folks at work stop me bewildered saying, "Was that you I saw walking on Highway 17?" Yep!

I do my best to wind my way between neighborhoods but sooner or later I have to dash across a highway even to get over to the greenway. I can walk to South Windermere shops if I have time and I can hike to a good number of grocery stores and restaurants. It ain't the peninsula but I do pretty good.

Burrell & Flynn is the new little coffee shop that tempts me with ice coffee after a long hot walk. I have avoided their pastry so far but they do make yummy pimento cheese. 

Burrell & Flynn, Charleston, S.C.

The Glass Onion at the far  end of this last shot is delicious of course but there is also some action at the old #1 Car Wash. It was suggested that it might be renovated for a restaurant as well. If I just stay here long enough perhaps all the good stuff will come to me.

Sailing down Savannah Highway

Savannah Highway, Charleston, S.C.

I've actually been looking at model ships lately but this wasn't quite what I had in mind. I spotted this crew in the window of a closed store front in the Avondale area of Savannah Highway. Sail on gentlemen!