Walk with me - Cannon St.

Cannon St., Charleston, SC  

I am taking you along on my weekend morning walk today, walking Cannon St. from one end to the other and back. There is a lot of renovation and action going on so I thought I would capture some of the buildings in their current state. At this rate, by next month everything will be different.

The area around President St. is all torn up so I am hoping the city is working on improving drainage issues. That would be nice, wouldn't it? That is certainly where there is a log jam when the streets flood. I noticed that a Ladles restaurant has opened and Goulette has in business in the former Lana's spot. It is a colorful part of town and renovation interest has created lots of change.

Cannonborough received its name from Daniel Cannon, house carpenter and "mechanick," who between 1762 and 1800 acquired the large, low and marshy tract, generally north of Boundary Street (now Calhoun) and west of Coming's Creek. Cannon built lumber mills on the Ashley River side of his acquisitions. His Upper Mill was in the vicinity of Cannon Street.; his Lower Mill was in the vicinity of Boundary Street.
There were many pieces of marshland and small creeks which split up Cannon's holdings and which were later filled, but by early in the 19th century several good houses were erected, chiefly along Pinckney Street (now Rutledge Avenue), which was the highest ground in the area.

New Vegan Cafe - Gnome Cafe

Gnome Cafe, Charleston, SC 

I finally made it to Charleston's new vegan cafe - Gnome Cafe. I had my eye on the restaurant because my friend Saramel is one of owner/managers and I pass it every time I drive into town on Cannon St. It is painted black with a white gnome logo design but inside everything is fresh and white and green.

I made a quick connection with my facebook friend Jo who owns the Bead store just down the street and we found Saramel on duty bright and early in the cafe and it was filling up quickly. I am not vegan but found plenty of items I'd be happy to try. I ordered the breakfast burrito with tofu scramble, guacamole, potatoes and mango salsa. It was tasty and delicious and we shared a cinnamon roll.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I just made pralines (to give as gifts, naturally) and left a generous amount in the pot to scrape and lick so I am off to put myself into a sugar coma. Yum!

New sidewalks on Cannon St.

Cannon St., Charleston, SC 

Cannon St. is a mess at the moment. The sidewalks are all torn up and blocked causing a traffic mess. It's part of the new two way traffic plan for Cannon and Spring St. and includes new curbs, street lights and landscaping. I have to say I've enjoyed the character of that part of town on my frequent walks but this will definitely be an improvement. No one knows how the two way traffic pattern will work out but the landscaping is long overdue.

Fortunately I documented most of the sidewalk graffiti before it was destroyed.

Never Forget

Canon St., Charleston, S.C.

Before & After - Cannon St. mural

What was Eye Level Art with the mural by Shepard Fairey is now Cannon Green. It isn't open until spring but already has a web site billing at as Charlestons' permier venue site:

Located in the Cannonborough neighborhood, Cannon Green
is Charleston's premier venue for celebrated occasions.
A sophisticated urban concept with the classic elegance of the
South, Cannon Green features three distinct offerings:

• A chic cafe & wine bar
• An artfully landscaped courtyard capable of
  hosting a wedding ceremony or private party
• An elegant & unique event venue for up to 250 guests

Greetings from Cannon St.

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

When I pointed at my camera giving her the international sign requesting permission to photographer her, she waved and said, "I am Minnie Mouse!" And on close up, she is dressed in Minnie Mouse pants and hat and cheerfully waving at people passing by. I got back in my car smiling.

In other news, I am getting bogged down in randomly spam comments lately. Sigh. Here is a stupid example:

I think what you typed made a ton of sense. However, what about this? suppose you were to write a awesome title? I am not suggesting your content isn't solid., but suppose you added a title that makes people desire more? I mean "Water Bottle Fountain" is kinda plain. You ought to glance at Yahoo's front page and watch how they create article headlines to get people interested. You might try adding a video or a pic or two to grab people excited about what you've written. In my opinion, it might make your blog a little livelier.

So, there ya go. If I add a photo or two it might make my blog a little livelier. I've held back from putting a spam screener on the comments because I hate having to do that. We shall see.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend! It is slipping by too fast for me.

Mushrooms Everywhere!

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

They are everywhere!


Mushrooms
Overnight, very
Whitely, discreetly,
Very quietly

Our toes, our noses
Take hold on the loam,
Acquire the air.

Nobody sees us,
Stops us, betrays us;
The small grains make room.

Soft fists insist on
Heaving the needles,
The leafy bedding,

Even the paving.
Our hammers, our rams,
Earless and eyeless,

Perfectly voiceless,
Widen the crannies,
Shoulder through holes. We

Diet on water,
On crumbs of shadow,
Bland-mannered, asking

Little or nothing.
So many of us!
So many of us!

We are shelves, we are
Tables, we are meek,
We are edible,

Nudgers and shovers
In spite of ourselves.
Our kind multiplies:

We shall by morning
Inherit the earth.
Our foot's in the door.

Sylvia Plath

Home for Funerals

Dorothy's Home for Funerals, Cannon St., Charleston

There is something warm and friendly about the name "Home for Funerals" especially when the funeral home is this historic Charleston home on Cannon St. This is Dorothy's Home for Funerals. I've walked past it for years but this is the first time I clicked on the web site. 

Our mother Dorothy Moultrie Richardson founded Dorothy's Home for Funerals in July 1973. Her career started at the age of 13, working with her father and mother at the family owned J.B. Moultrie Funeral Home, which was founded in 1923. To serve the communities west of Charleston, she opened the Hollywood Chapel in 1983. She was one of the oldest African American female funeral directors and was active until her death July 7, 2001. Service to the community was a basic principle by which our mother and grandparents, Jacob Benjamin Moultrie and Lelia Hertz Moultrie lived. We continue to keep service as our objective and focal point.

Dorothy's Home for Funerals is a family owned and operated funeral home. The Moultrie family has served the Charleston area communitys since 1923 and are here to help families in their time of need. Our family will help your family celebrate the life of your loved one. We will help you plan a celebration of your loved one that reflects their and your family's wishes.

Okay kids, I hope everyone has a good weekend. My handyman is coming shortly to start hiding my ghastly popcorn ceiling with new sheet rock. I am covering things up to protect them from the dust and running away. Run away, run away!

The Grocery - Oh Yum!

Pimento Cheese Bites, The Grocery - Charleston, S.C.

How cute are these little Pimento Cheese Bites on a melted Coke bottle platter? Pretty damn cute I say, and tasty! I went to the brand spanking new restaurant called The Grocery on Cannon St. last night with my friend Jo and we had a finger licking good time. Hallie had recommended the Crispy Pimento Cheese bite snacks so we started with them.


Everything was delicious but I could eat a plate of the sausage in this next image. It was so darn different and good. I loved it.  The sizes of the servings on the menu had to be explained. These generous servings were the "snacks", "bites" and "tastes". None of these were even the main entree sized portion or the larger platter to share for the table. Truthfully we were completely satisfied and couldn't manage dessert although we made our server recite them just for fantasy material.

We had a lovely evening. Thanks folks!

Boudin Blanc, Sweet-Sour Cabbage, Apple, Bacon wrapped Prune

Swordfish Crudo, Grapefruit, Avocado, Citrus Vinaigrette

Beef Short Ribs, Roasted Bone Marrow, Grilled Bread, Gremolata

Lamb Shoulder, Roasted Chick Peas, Sautéed Greens

Dining Reflections

The Grocery, Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

I had heard that something called The Grocery was going into the old Altman Furniture store on Cannon St. and assumed it would be another one of the gourmet grocery store/restaurants that I am growing so fond of.

Apparently not. The description still sounds like that but through the window it looks like an upscale restaurant. The menu looks delicious but yikes, pricey. "Tastes" are $18 and "Plates" are "$30". Sorry kids. I won't be taking you all out to dinner there anytime soon.

I am sure it will be wonderful food. Let me know! The floor to ceiling window to this dining room part was right at sidewalk level so it will be fun to see dinner parties in action.

LOVE

LOVE, Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

There are some benefits to living amongst the college student chaos - creativity! I don't think you'd spot this driving by but I can peek in driveways when I am on foot.

Lot's of action around town. The Farmer's Market is packed so tight I walk the outskirts and just dash in for my tomatoes and there is an October Fest tent set up on upper King St. Y'all have a good weekend!

Upcoming action shot

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

Uhoh. This doesn't look good, does it? Next major rain storm and some innocent person walking by is going to wonder what hit them. The building is abandoned and for sale so I sent a quick email to the real estate agent contact email in case no one knows how bad it is. For the time being, walk on the north side of Cannon St.!

Monday Hodge Podge

Dell's Deli, Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

Dell's Deli makes a colorful scene on Cannon St. I walked too late for photos this evening but stocked up on my weekend marches.

We have Monday whipped, kids, and a long weekend to look forward to. Friday of course is Canada Day (y'all knew that, right?) and Monday, July 4th so I am recommending a four day weekend. If any other countries would like to toss in a bonus celebration I'll be happy to consider the offer and make a package deal.

An Evening with Stephen Colbert is on Friday night at Gaillard Auditorium. Can't wait!

In Their Eyes: Joshua Curry from the Charleston City Paper is heading to Haiti to teach what he does best - teach photojournalism, to street kids. More info here. I can't wait to see what he comes back with. He is accepting donations.

Woohoo...Caviar & Bananas is one of the shops open in the renovated Market Building. How can they open on a day when I am at work? The paper said it closed at 6 p.m. so I knew I wouldn't make it but their web site says 7 p.m. Maybe I could make it down there for coffee and dessert one of these nights. Have you tried their Duck Confit sandwich? Yummers. They are my new picnic packing pick up spot.

Local blogger and writer Andra Watkins has written a book and has it ready for publication. If you are on Facebook, click "like" on Andra's page and support her efforts. Go Andra!

A friend came by to visit me at work today after years in Iraq. He brought an album of the most incredible and frightening pictures and I kept staring at him and thinking, YOU, you are alive and safe. Thank God.

Time to settle in for the night. Y'all turn the lights out. Don't stay up too late.

Sugar, sugar!

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

This colorful scene on the side of Sugar Bakeshop on Cannon St. caught my attention on my walk this evening. Sad things is, I haven't even been to the new bakery shops around town. When you are trying to behave and eat healthy it's hard to think of what I'd get to eat at a bakery, so I haven't even gone inside yet. What a shame. It's not like I don't have a sweet tooth. I do need to give them a try. Any recommendations?

Going camping this summer? How about a VW camper tent! Funny :)

Dr. Homeboy. My Hero

Dr. Alonzo McClennan, Charleston, S.C.

He isn't exactly my homeboy but he is my hero and he lived and practiced medicine in my home. I spotted a notice in the paper that Dr. Alonzo McClennan was to be remembered with a new plaque in front of the address that used to house the hospital he founded on Cannon St. Besides the mayor and assorted Medical University dignitaries I was one of the few white faces in attendance. I was tempted to claim to be a great, great, great niece but was honored enough to be able to say, "I live in his house."

Alonzo Clifton McClennan, MD was born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1855. He attended public school there, and in 1873 was appointed to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. After four months he resigned from the academy and studied at Wilberham Academy in Massachusetts and the University of South Carolina. He graduated with honors from Howard University in Washington, DC, receiving degrees both from the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine. Dr. McClennan moved to Charleston in 1884 and established the first Negro drug store. In 1897 he spearheaded the drive to fund and staff the Hospital and Training School for Nurses, which he served as medical director,instructor of surgical nursing, and surgeon in charge until his death in 1912. His son, Ridley U. McClennan, MD, also served as a medical director of the Hospital.

Known as a severe disciplinarian and occasional dictator, Dr. Alonzo McClennan posessed admirable surgical skill and unquestioned devotion to his hospital staff and his community. The good he accomplished for both earned their loyalty and respect.

In those days, of course he wouldn't have been able to admit his patients to a hospital so used the basement of the house as his clinic. At that time it had an entrance from the street.

I have a letter from his great great grand daughter who remembered the house having mahogany staircases before it was chopped up into apartments. Then because of this blog, I was contacted by young descendants of his in New York who were delighted to know there was still a Charleston connection. I wish I had known about the event early enough to invite them down. They would have been the guests of honor.

After the speeches and official photo ops people who had worked at the Cannon St. Hospital and folks who had been born there posed for pictures.

My evening walk

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

I took the wide angle lens out to stretch it's legs and did the Bee, President, Cannon, King St. loop. I had to walk past Roper Hospital to get a picture of the reflection garden that the volunteers funded while it is in bloom.

Check out the steam punk trunk Mental Meatloaf created, say hello and make friends. She wins the coolest commenter award each year.

Ummm....guess I'll need to come up with an award now. How can I top the Absinthe Chocolates folks send her from Scotland? What's good from the Lowcountry?

Before & After, The Distinguished Gentleman

11 Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

I hope we never stop having hand painted signs. The bottom one is the older shot. This is a little barber shop and now beauty salon on Cannon St. just off King. Absolutely charming.

Wonder if there is any work for sign painters. I bet I could learn to do it as long as other folks considered imperfections part of the charm like I do.