Ghostly presence in Charleston

Broad St., Charleston, SC 

The reflection in the window across from the Cathedral on Broad St. confirmed all 

suspicions of ghostly presence in the Holy City. Boo! 

Bright on Broad

140 Broad St., Charleston, SC 

Bright red! It is eye catching. Thanks to google street view I can see that the previous owner had a traditional wooden door. When it changed hands the new owner must have decided to brighten it up. 

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.

Rub a dub, dub...

Broad St., Charleston, SC    

Rub a dub, dub. This is a decent size tree in a tub.

I like that I spotted the scene on Broad St.

I have so much free time in the evening. I keep waiting for it to cool down so I can go for my walk and it never does.

Broad St. colors

Broad St., Charleston, SC

Fun new satire site poking fun at the Lowcountry: Fauxcountry News.

I am just the messenger. :)

Fogscape Charleston

Broad St., Charleston, SC 

Fog does funny things to camera buffs. I was tortured by the choice of places to go in this morning's mist. Magnolia Cemetery, beach, downtown? I settled on the peninsula because I've been tardy this year in capturing Charleston's Christmas festive wear. I made the right decision. Each corner I turned I got more excited with the scene.  What a beautiful city we live in.

Home to a refrigerator full of tasty holiday left-overs just the way I like it. I settled in with Moroccan chicken, roasted cauliflower and the Call the Midwife Holiday special.

John Rutledge House Inn

John Rutledge House, Broad St., Charleston, SC   

The John Rutledge House Inn is so beautiful I take a picture almost every time I walk by. Wow. If you are feeling flush, I recommend staying here when you come to Charleston and invite me over to snoop around. 

This has been one of the most beautiful days of the year. Low humidity, fresh air. I am in love with this weather. Long may it last. 

Pony up to the Hat Man

Hat Man at Broad & Church St., Charleston, SC  

The blinders might keep the horse from being startled by the Hat Man mural at Church and Broad St. Boo! 
The Hat Man mural was painted around 1892 and is made up of 16 different hats in 12 different styles. It probably promoted a hat store but happily for us it remained to become a favorite landmark and is freshened up periodically. 

It's been a big day in South Carolina. May tomorrow be a good and peaceful day. 

Now we are three - leopard tripletts

People's Building, Broad St., Charleston, SC  

I always stop to say hello to the leopard statues in front of the People's building on Broad St. if I am in the area. I was heart broken when vandals destroyed one of them and pleased when the talented folks at the American College of the Building Arts built a new one to keep the twin company. Yesterday I learned on facebook that both of the leopards outside are new replicas and the original is safely protected inside the building.

Wikipedia: Mullaly installed the two white marble leopards at the main entrance. Carved from Italian marble by an unknown 18th-century artist, the leopards were brought to Charleston from an estate near Boston, Mass. In 1990, a plan was approved by the Board of Architectural Review which would have replaced the leopards with gas lamps, but the plan was not executed. The leopards were removed for repair in 2003 and reinstalled the following year. In June 2011, the leopard on the right of the entrance was destroyed by vandalism. The remaining statue was moved indoors, and both were reproduced in 2013 by Kevin McLean, an art student at the College of Charleston.

Facebook: Professor Simeon Warren with help from incoming freshman Josiah Vice installed the People's Building lion statue in their lobby today. Simeon created the base to house the one surviving statue safely in the lobby. (photo below from their facebook site)
 

Our Nation's Mayor

Spencer Art Gallery, Broad St., Charleston, SC 

At recent public events I've twice heard Mayor Riley being introduced as Our Nation's Mayor. He is Charleston's mayor but since we've been fortunate to have him in office for almost forty years I think we can generously share him now.

This New York Times article asks Is Joe Riley is the Most Loved Politician in American? We may not all agree with everything he has done but most of us were comforted by the fact he was still in office to help steer Charleston through the recent violence. Thank you Mayor Riley. He has been the mayor since I have lived in the city and I have felt very fortunate. It is still hard to believe we will need to consider new candidates for the role. Big shoes to fill!

Broad St. blossoms

Broad St., Charleston, S.C.  

Seriously? Are there gardeners in Charleston who specialize in window boxes? There must be. That is the only way to explain the fact that we have beautiful window boxes in every season of the year. This is lovely.

Meanwhile, in other news, blossoms are popping out all over. Charleston is turning into a spring garden. I skipped out of work early today and treated all of my volunteers to an afternoon at the movies. We went to see the Second Best Marigold Hotel at the Terrace Theater. I got out early enough to stop at Home Depot and the pop-up garden shop on Wappoo Road to replace my hibiscus plants. Lovely!

Art Walk - Blog Style

Spencer Art Gallery, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

I friend mentioned at dinner that she had spotted me walking down Broad St. True. I walked past the series of galleries on Broad Street's Gallery Row and enjoyed capturing snippets of paintings in the windows - some with reflections, some with real flowers in the shots.

I am not sure I can do the art galleries justice by matching up the names and artists but I will go back through my camera card and see what I can do. Meanwhile, enjoy my quirky little art walk!

Cecil Byrne Gallery, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

Edward Dare Gallery, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

Coco Vovo Art for Living, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

John Rutledge House

John Rutledge House, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

Aaack! I had to stand on my tiptoes and snuggle up to the house across the street to try to squeeze this house in my shot. This grand building is the John Rutledge House Bed & Breakfast on Broad St. near the Cathedral. I saw a similar shot, I believe in Charleston Magazine and was trying to see if I could pull it off. You can check out their web site for a look inside. It is listed as one of the top 100 hotels in America so you won't be camping.

I took today off work and am heading on a field trip to Daufuskie Island. I am ready to go! Heading down to Hilton Head shortly to take a ferry over to the island.

Travel & Leisure Best Cities List

Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

It's always nice to win a high place on a list. According to this Travel & Leisure article Charleston is ranked 2nd place overall internationally and 1st Place in North America. As sweet as it is to boast I am always hesitant to share these things. When I arrived we were close to the tipping point of almost enough new people to change the flavor. Luckily I squeaked in. ;) Seems I forgot to shut the door, didn't I?

Cities ranked by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Charleston rated best destination in U.S. and Canada, No. 2 destination in world by Travel + Leisure. http://www.postandcourier.com/article/2014140709886

 

What do you think? Are we #2 in the world?

 

Top 10 Overall

Rank 2014	Rank 2013	Name	Score
1	5	Kyoto, Japan	90.21
2	7	Charleston, South Carolina	90.18
3	3	Florence	89.99
4	-	Siem Reap, Cambodia	89.82
5	6	Rome	89.61
6	2	Istanbul	89.58
7	-	Seville, Spain	89.28
8	8	Barcelona	89.18
9	-	Mexico City	89.07
10	-	New Orleans	88.74

Marsh Art

Coco Vivo Art Gallery, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

We can't help it. We are suckers for marsh art. I used to joke that I'd like to be a Marsh Artist as opposed to learning Martial Art. This painting caught my eye at the Coco Vivo Art Gallery on Broad St. Flipping through their web site it looks like the artist is Mitch Billis who appears to divide some of his time between the lowcountry and Tuscany. Not. Too. Bad. Here is his website.

While we are on the subject of art, go ahead and bookmark Barbara Stroud's blog. Barbara is my "lazy girl's art walk" as she introduces new artists each week and I can enjoy learning about them without the crowds of the evening art walks. 

I just finished the last episode of True Detective so my regular life may now resume. It's been a week of gluttony TV watching.

Things are looking up in Charleston

Charleston, S.C.

I tend to take a lot of pictures of the sidewalks and ground but it's worth raising up your eyes for the details in the skies. This was from yesterday's walk along the Broad, Trumbo, Tradd St. and Battery route.

Lazy morning so far so I'll need to leap into action shortly to make up for it. I've been catching up on old Sunday editions of the New York Times and watching recorded Daily Show and Stephen Colbert programs with my tea and toast. Have a good weekend kids!

 

  

Hurrah for short work weeks!

King & Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

This evening's photos are a couple that I grabbed on a recent walk downtown in between rain showers. I looked back at a dark threatening cloud and made it West Ashley just in time. It rained again most of the morning today but I had bright skies for my quick march around the hood just now. You wouldn't think I grew up in the rainiest place in the world, would you? But I did.

Bad news, kids. My air-conditioner is struggling. We never plan ahead for that, do we? It is cooler than outside but not by much. Do you think a stern talking to will make a difference? I've been talking to the thermostat but I may need to go outside and cuss at the unit.

Can't hurt my mood though as we head into a long weekend. Enjoy!

Superstorm Sandy Donation Sites

Broad St., Charleston, S.C

We still have flowers blooming in our window boxes while the north east has been whipped to shreds. The Post & Courier passed on these donation sites accepting contributions for victims of the superstorm. Let's do it. 

The Red Cross: If you would like to give to the Red Cross, which has opened more than 190 shelters along the East Coast and has hundreds of disaster relief workers on standby, you can donate online, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10. The Red Cross is also seeking blood and platelet donations. To learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org.

The Salvation Army: You can donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 80888. If you are already volunteer-certified, you can sign up to help out with disaster relief.

AmeriCares: You can donate to AmeriCares’ relief fund to help the organization, which is distributing supplies to 130 clinics in the 13 states affected by Sandy.

World Vision: Despite flooding at its Bronx, N.Y. warehouse, World Vision is organizing relief efforts. You can text “GIVEUSA” to 777444 to make a $10 donation, or donate online to help.

Operation USA: If you would like your donations to go to efforts abroad, Operation USA is helping victims in Haiti and Cuba, who were also deeply affected by the storm. In addition to donating online, you can text “AID” to 50555 to give $10.

International Medical Corps: Another option for donating abroad is the International Medical Corp, who are coordinating efforts in Haiti.

New York Blood Center: You can donate blood, which will be used to help injured people, as well as hospital blood banks affected by the storm.

Enjoying the weather

King & Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

It's been that kind of weather. Motorcycles everywhere, cars with tops down, dogs hanging their heads out of open windows enjoying the breeze. I am restless in September until the risk of hurricanes passes but we have had some lovely days lately.

Funny, I didn't notice the different shades of paint on the building until I looked at the photo. 

If you aren't cooped up in an office tomorrow there will be a turtle release on Kiawah according to the Holy City Sinner. I'd like to see that some day. Hmmmm....it is at 4:30 pm. I wonder.....

Shades of Green

Burbage's Grocery Store, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

Shades of green! Burbage's Grocery Store on Broad St. consistently wins the Best Corner Store award from the Charleston City Paper. I did a series on Charleston's corner stores a few years ago. It's probably time to visit them all again. Any favorites I should feature?

I got to town in time to drop off donations at the American Heart Association on Kings St. so put on my walking shoes and just kept on going. It's lovely outside. What a relief after months of heat.