Reflections

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 

I parked and walked to a meeting at Gaillard Auditorium this morning and spotted this reflection of Mother Emmanuel Church on Calhoun St. and grabbed a quick cell phone shot. This afternoon I walked passed a group trying to get a good shot of the church and I said, "turn around, here is your best shot," and they squealed with delight and thanked me. 

Spring on Calhoun St.

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 

 Charleston is at it's most picturesque at this time of year. The city is a garden. 

Florist Shop

The Greenery, Charleston, SC

What a pretty store front. I've never been inside but enjoy the view every time I walk by. 

It is The Greenery on Calhoun St. 

It is a scene waiting for a Hallmark movie.

Calhoun St. beauty

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 

This beautiful Charleston home on Calhoun St. is part of the MUSC campus and actually the current office of their general council. I googled to discover it is the Daniel Cannon House and the link shows images of the interior rooms. 

Garden at Gaillard

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC   

I spotted these pretties in the Gaillard Auditorium garden. Who needs to exercise when you walk with a camera? I stoop, bend, crawl on my belly to get the angle I want.

Happy to come home to find that my heat & air gentleman fixed my dripping overflow hose while I was at work so I can use my air-conditioning this evening. It was a little toasty last night. It is nice to be a long term customer and get prompt service. Thanks Carolina Climate Masters.

Cutest little cuppa in town

Starbucks, Calhoun St., Charleston, SC   

It is surely one of the cutest little Starbucks coffee shops but most remembered fondly in 

Charleston as the former Goodie House known for hamburgers, chili and pie and I suspect

 nursed many a college hangover,

96 degrees again tomorrow kids. Seems awfully hot for this early in the year. 

My new air-conditioner is earning it's keep!

On the Prowl

College of Charleston, SC 

On the Prowl 

College of Charleston Cougars

Sculpted by John Michel

Professor of Studio Art 

Gift of the Class of 1996

Unity Walk - Emmanuel AME

Unity Walk for Emmanuel AME, Calhoun St., Charleston, SC   

It's been an emotional time in Charleston. 

A unity walk was held this morning honoring the Emmanuel victims and 

focusing on conquering hate with love.  

Meet your new Mayor

Charleston Christmas Parade, Charleston, SC   

I happened to be in town for brunch and finished up just as the Christmas parade was starting and spotted our newly elected mayor John Tecklenburg and his wife Sandy. Behind them I was pleased to see the bagpipe band with my friend Karen playing.

Mother Emanuel

Mother Emanuel AME, Calhoun St., Charleston, SC  

I still find myself steering my downtown walks past Mother Emanuel and I read the notes left in front of the church where the terrible shooting was. Flowers are still being laid on the sidewalk and messages left on banners. People pause quietly and parents put their arms around children trying to find words to explain what happened. We can't.

Parking garage views

Jonathan Lucas House, Charleston, S.C. 

I had midday meetings at Roper Hospital today and ended up on the top floor of the parking building on a gray and overcast day. I just had my cell phone with me but grabbed a few shots of some important buildings for today's entry. 

Jonathan Lucas House is at 286 Calhoun St. Jonathan Lucas, Jr., the builder of the house, was born in England and developed milling machines for rice, which led to a boom in rice planting in South Carolina. 

From another angle I could see the back view of the Governor Thomas Bennett House. The Bennett House has a lovely garden and is a popular wedding location.We don't have many high buildings in Charleston so rooftop views are a treat. This is just from the parking deck. I need to see if I can get up on the roof at Roper Hospital in a clear day. 

I am just back from a lovely and lively dinner at a friends house were we enjoyed home made pasta. What a difference there is between homemade and store bought pasta. They shouldn't even be called by the same name. Needless to say, I am very full and grateful for good friends.

Stay connected, my friends

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

We haven't seen bright skies like this since, well, Saturday. It's been a gray and drippy week so far but there wasn't a cloud in sight on my weekend walk. These are unusually tall palm trees for Charleston and passing this corner always makes me feel like I am briefly on a tropical vacation. 

I am grouchy as a snake about computer problems. Knology issues are allowing me to watch limited tv channels and sporadic internet access and it is ruining my good mood. I can't leave it alone. I have to keep checking endlessly to see if it is working yet, rebooting over and over. So, here I am to say "Hello, Goodbye" all at once. I've scheduled a service call for tomorrow evening so hopefully things will improve. Stay connected my friends.

Gaillard Performance Hall progress

Gaillard Performance Hall, George St., Charleston, S.C.

It won't be ready in time for the spring Spoleto Festival and I am sure it has been a huge inconvenience to residents in the immediate neighborhood but look at it! Wow. I haven't been walking in that part of town for awhile and this looks grand. You can check interior progress on the Construction Diary blog. I can't wait to attend a performance in the new venue.

George & Anson St. corner

George & Alexander St. corner

If you like it then you gotta put a dollar on it - living local

My ice coffee at Persimmon Cafe, Calhoun St., Charleston,S.C.

If you like it then you gotta put a dollar on it! Support local business.

I liked the idea that a coffee shop had opened inside of the College Laundry on Calhoun St. so much that I looped my Saturday morning walk in that direction and ordered an ice coffee. Perfecto! Thanks Robert.

Eater Charleston: Charleston's newest coffee shop is tucked inside one of downtown's most visible laundromats. Owned by Robert Cassi, who recently helped open Mount Pleasant's Sesame Burger, Persimmon Café is located in the corner of the facility that once housed a soda machine.
Instead of vending Coke products, a press release announced the space is now "a walk-up counter service café that specializes in local ingredients & an ever changing menu. We offer Charleston Coffee Roasters coffee with organic choices." They are also serving a variety of sandwiches on bread by Charleston carb hotspot Brown's Court Bakery, soups, bagels, gourmet popcorn and non-coffee drinks, like basil lemonade.

 

Politics on the Pavement

Ron Paul, Calhoun St, Charleston, S.C.

Long Live The American Reivolution

I'm a little slow. I wasn't quite sure this was Ron Paul and couldn't quite make out the words until I googled for images and this popped up. I took it during the S.C. primary period so it makes sense. Still - Ron Paul has sidewalk artists working on his campaign? Cool!

In other news, holy traffic confusion kids! It is a mess West Ashley. I soon realized the crawling traffic jam I had entered and slipped into the mall to hang out for a while hoping things would clear up. Drive carefully out there.

Blue skies & palmetto trees

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

I am just back from my late walk-about town and thinking of the 100 year old gentleman who ran the marathon in Toronto.

TORONTO, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A 100-year-old man ran a marathon in Toronto Sunday, apparently becoming the oldest person to complete the long-distance running achievement.
CTV reported Indian-born Fauja Singh came close to quitting about 6 hours into the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon but persevered and finished the 26-mile race in about 8 hours, 25 minutes. Singh, who didn't take up running until he turned 80, will likely be named the Guinness World Record holder for the world's oldest marathoner, the TV network said.

That is quite amazing. He ran 26 miles during what would equal my work day. What a guy!  I know some feisty seniors but this takes the cake.

Reclaiming the Home for Nurses

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

Recognize this? It is the building to the right of Roper Hospital facing Calhoun St. This sign has always interested me. A home for nurses! We need one. Quick. Let's reclaim it. Install a bar, masseuse, a spa and restaurant. It's our house and we want it back. I am always looking for a place for parties and fundraisers.

I found this snippet in an old journal and had to correct their typo of Charlton to Charleston:

The Trained Nurse & Hospital Review: The R. A. Kinloch Home for Nurses has been completed in connection with the Roper Hospital, Charleston, S.C. Before the earthquake funds had been collected and set aside for this purpose, but the earthquake wrought such damage to the hospital property that it was removed to another site. The matter of the home for nurses was dropped for years, though the little fund in the bank kept slowly adding to itself. The present building is complete and well equipped, and is an altogether happy ending to a long delayed project.

Who is our hero, Dr. Kinloch? Dr. Robert Alexander Kinloch was born in Charleston on February 20, 1826. He was graduated from the College of Charleston in 1845 with distinction. After one “course” at the Medical College of the State of South Carolina he took his Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1848), then spent two years in the hospitals of Paris, London and Edinburgh. Returning home, he began to practice in his native city, but when the War broke out, he entered the Confederate army as a surgeon (July, 1861). During his military career he served at various times upon the staffs of Generals Lee, Pemberton, and Beauregard and was also detailed as a member of the medical examining board at Norfolk, at Richmond, and at Charleston. Subsequently, he held the position of inspector of hospitals for South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Upon the close of the War he resumed practice in Charleston and in 1866 was elected to the chair of materia medica in the Medical College of the State of South Carolina. He was First Surgeon at Roper Hospital and also attended in City Hospital, and later in St. Francis Infirmary.

Very impressive, Dr. K. I hope he approves of my plan.

The kids are back in town

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

What a difference a week makes. Everywhere you look there are students on bikes, skateboards and this evening trying to cover their heads and dashing to get out of the rain. The "towels over the banister" look is one of my favorites.

I've been doing a little kayaking lately and was amazed to come across this site: Richard Bernabe's South Carolina Riverventure. In 2007 the nature photographer chose a route that took him 270 miles through the state’s rivers, lakes, swamps and canals, as well as negotiating around eight dams in a canoe. He began on the Broad River at the foothills of the North Carolina Mountains and finished at Battery Park in the Charleston Harbor.

Holy cow! The story is in three parts but each page leads to the next. He is amazing but does not make it sounds like a tempting escapade. I think I will stick to my hiking holidays.

John C. walking in the garden

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

John C. Calhoun walking in the garden that is Marion Square in the summer. Slightly more flattering that most pictures I take of him.

Ding Dong the School is Gone

Memminger Elementary, Charleston, S.C.

Going, going, almost gone. I heard that Memminger Elementary and Buist Academy were two of the schools on the peninsula that were being demolished after studies showed they wouldn't be safe in an earthquake. My kids went to both the schools so I thought I'd grab a few pictures before they were gone but I was almost too late.

We moved to Charleston when my children were ready for kindergarten and grade one and were immediately told there was no public school on the peninsula that they should go to. I'd lived where there were good and bad teachers but had never lived anywhere where I was told that a whole school was bad. There was only one other white family at Memminger at that time and to this day people call out recognizing me as the mother of the only white kid in their class.

Years later one after the other, they were each accepted at Buist Academy on Calhoun St. which was not only the closest neighborhood school but also an academic magnet school. How odd to see bulldozers tearing down the auditorium and cafeteria they went to every day. It looks like they might leave the main street front building in place. I remember trying to speak very clearly when I mentioned that my kid was "a Buist kid" because people tended to think I said they were "abused kids".



Buist Academy, Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.