Between the pillars

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Election results are coming in and oddly some folks are winning even though I didn't put a check mark by their name. Go figure.

I had such a lovely dinner with good friends at Chez Nouz this evening.  It was perfect really.

Pssst: don't tell everyone but you can get into Magnolia Plantation for free this weekend if you are a local resident. Bring proof of residency and bingo, you are in one of my favorite places in the world.

Market St.

Meeting & Beaufain St., Charleston, S.C.

Check out the neato new web site welcoming visitors to the market area. This view is of the entrance. You can walk right in and continue on through to East Bay St. through the different market buildings. The upstairs in this building is actually the Confederate Museum. I have walked by for years but recently finally paid my $5 and went through and was happily surprised. Do it. They have some very cool stuff.

Unfortunately it is a Friday evening after a really tough week and the two mojitos I earned have made me forget how to spell and I need to move along. Have a good weekend kids! I know I've earned it.

Burwell's Stone Fire Grill - Before & After

Cedar Planked Crab Cake

Before and after shot of my giant cedar planked crab cake at Burwell's Stone Fire Grill on Market St. last night. I cleaned that plate up. That is what I call a seriously good crab cake with large pieces of solid crab meat.

Going, going, gone!

This little miniature quail egg was the surprise "gift from the chef." How cute is that?

Quail Egg

When I was invited to a media dinner Burwell's Stone Fire Grill I invited fellow blogger Chuck along for the evening. They might as well have double bloggers at the table! We split a delicious scallop and pork belly appetizer.

Pork belly & scallops

Chuck ordered the steak on the signature stone fire grill. Hot! The steak came out sitting on the hot stone and he cut it up in portions and let the 700 degree heated stone sear and cook it exactly the way he (we) wanted. I gotta tell ya, I never order a big steak in a restaurant but ate as much of this one as I could reasonably sneak off his plate. I could get the pieces of meat well cooked but still tender just the way I like it.

Warming up at the Stone Fire Grill

Our dessert of panacotta was a light and tasty way to end the meal.

Since it was a media dinner, we were comfortable taking pictures of our dinner and snooping around. We had a lovely evening and enjoyed everything we ordered. It is hard to recognize the attractive modern building as the old Gilligan's restaurant.

Kenneth Emery, owner/operator

Lounge area

Dueling cameras on the panacotta

Chef Eric Huff busy in the open kitchen

Cruising Charleston

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Most cruise ship visits seem to happen during the week when I am at work and I've barely noticed the impact. It is a startling sight to see the huge Carnival Fantasy pulled up right at the end of Market St. Usually I can tell when a ship is in town by the huddle of people clustered on the sidewalks around places that have free wifi. I don't what the arrival and departure times are but the streets were packed and restaurants were full today. Was something else big going on in town?

I had to reward myself for my morning of hard labor cleaning out my attic so I walked down and enjoyed a chicken pita pocket at Tabbuli Grill's new outdoor patio. By the time I left every table was full. 

You are Beautiful!

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone following the Operation Beautiful site must have posted this little sticky on a news stand on Market St. across from Charleston Place Hotel. Of course, I had no idea until I downloaded the shot and googled it to see that this was what it was about:

Women all over the world leave Operation Beautiful notes in public places — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. We scribble down whatever comes to mind — “You are beautiful!” or “You are amazing just the way you are!” Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger. To learn more, visit Operation Beautiful.

It would mean more to me if it was personalized with my name on it but I hope it made someone feel beautiful today.

City Market Murals

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

I featured the mural on the other end of Market and recently spotted this gentleman. Nice! I imagine it is more of the talented David Boatwright's work. The market buildings are gradually getting spruced up.

It has been a day of end of the year reports and counting numbers. One of my volunteers was at loose ends today and started cleaning MY office. Shock and awe! Brave lady.

Pedal Power

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Years ago in Hong Kong I took a picture of an ornately decorated rickshaw. They laughed when it was suggested that they might actually be used for transportation. They were purely for photo ops and expected a nice tip for being in a picture.

Fast forward to Charleston where bicycle rickshaws are all over. Amazing. I rode in one for the first time this summer when I had friends visiting. I felt kinda sheepish being transported around town where I walk daily but I did arrive without being soaked with sweat. Go rickshaw drivers!