Josephine's Wine Bar with Josephine

Josephine's Wine Bar, Spring St., Charleston, SC 

How often to you get to dine at your namesake? If there was a Joan's restaurant it would likely be a country dinner or truck stop. I had my eye on Josephine's Wine Bar opening on Spring St. and we gathered a group of friends to try it with our friend Josephine.

We were treated like royalty and since their logo shows Josephine wearing her tiara I brought one along for a quick photo op and Jill, the manager took our picture. Everything was very stylish and the food was delicious. What a fun night!

Mural puzzle

Coming St. Grocery, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

What is going on with the faded old mural on this building, kids? Any idea? Small patch left but it is brightly painted. Are they refreshening the entire building? The bottom photo is from a few years ago.

(Shots below are from earlier views)

Back alley color

Charleston, SC  

Mural Monday! This was a colorful find. I used to live in a historic Charleston single house and often felt it was the thick layers of paint that held everything together. Happy Monday, kids.

Walk with me - Spring St., Charleston, SC

Spring St., Charleston, SC    

To keep up with the fast pace of changes in Charleston lately, I've been taking my weekend walks down and back one street at a time and grabbing shots. This morning I walked Spring St. capturing it's vibrant and colorful self. Spring St. has a Veggie Bin now, coffee shops and restaurants.

Sadly the only things that didn't attract my camera were the recent buildings as I crossed King St. heading east. While I am sure they are comfortable and modern we need to figure out a way to squeeze some of Charleston's famous charm and character into the newer buildings. Awning, colorful shutters - they need something. Welcome to Spring St. folks. Join me on my walk today.

A cheery top hat

Spring & St. Philip St., Charleston, SC  

I smile in anticipation and look up when I pass this cheery red roof top on the house on the corner of St. Philip and Spring St. Who lives in that room? Can I come visit?

In other news, I bought an Instant Pot pressure cooker in a black Friday sale after winning a $100 Amazon gift certificate in a webinar. When I joined the Instant Pot facebook group of over 300,000 members talking about their successes and failures it was so overwhelming I didn't open the box for three weeks. I decided I needed to either return it or break into it so last night I invited a couple of friends over for an entire pressure cooked meal (except for the salad) capping it off with a pressure cooker cheesecake. Yep. It is smaller than it looks - just 6 inch round but it sure was creamy and delicious. Does this make me a cult member?

Before & After Spring St. Hold me while I cry.

Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Before and after Spring St. Hold my hand while I cry. This colorful decorated and quaint barber shop is now a white box. I hope the owners are happy.

This, is now. Sob.

1st Class Cuts, Spring St. Charleston - before

Whatever, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Remuddled corner

Rutledge & Spring St., Charleston, SC

This Old House magazine used to have a page dedicated to a "remuddled" rather than a remodeled building and this one at Rutledge and Spring St. should win a prize. What the heck? There might be an attractive building or two under this hodge-podge mess.

Remuddle: (architecture, pejorative) To remodel a building or room in a way that obscures or destroys key aspects of the original design

Hmmm...I googled This Old House Remuddled feature and it may still exist. Perhaps I should submit this image for a chance at $100. 

I imagine it is pretty clear I took the image during the drizzle yesterday. 

Tucked away - tiny houses of Charleston

Spring St., Charleston, SC  

It was chilly and drizzly this morning and I carried a pocket camera to walk the Bogard, Line, Ashe, Rose, Percy and Spring street area. There are a lot of changes happening in that part of town but you can still homes waiting for some love.

Sometimes just coming at a house from a different angle makes you see it in a fresh way and walking down Rose Lane I was reminded how this tiny house is snuggled in between two much larger residences on Spring St. Maybe the close quarters will keep it warm tonight!

I brought in as many plants as I could and protected some of the rest. We have so few freezing nights it is worth trying to coax them through! Stay safe and warm everyone.

Re-purposed gas stations

Tiger Lily Florist, 131 Spring St., Charleston, SC 

We have been doing quite well re-purposing vacant gas stations in Charleston lately. This one has been the Tiger Lily florist shop for years. There are articles on new uses for gas stations and lots of google images.

I am taking a break from the sadness of watching television news after this terrible shooting in Orlando. I am so sad for the victims and their families.

Blank canvas

1st Class Cuts, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Quick, someone who lives downtown needs to drive/walk down Spring St., take a picture 

and show me what has been done to this tiny barber shop. The murals always made it a 

favorite but the last time I was there it was painted over and a blank canvas. 

I need to know what has been done! 

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston - Spring St.

Spring St., Charleston, SC   

I had to resist the urge to straighten out this image because this tiny old house on Spring St. isn't straight to begin with. What a fun little cottage.

The rain from tropical storm Bonnie continued today enough to throw off any major long weekend plans. Blah. I actually did some chores, changed my air filter, hung a picture and bought groceries. How boring is that? Luckily the evening ended on a high note with a home cooked Italian dinner with lots of laughter and good friends. 

Before & After - Spring St. Cannon Green

Cannon Green, 103 Spring St., Charleston, SC  

I've been wandering the streets of Charleston long enough to have watching current businesses through a series of previous reincarnations. I used to take pictures of the worn hand-painted signs of River's Auto Repair until it was painted over with a eye-catching Shepard Fairey mural.  After a complete renovation the building is now an upscale restaurant and event space called Cannon Green. I haven't had the chance to get inside yet since I tend to walk at odd times of the day but it looks very striking.

Before & After Sadness - Spring St.

1st Class Cuts, Spring St., Charleston

Oh boo hiss. This was one of my favorite little buildings. I want my own Board of Quirky review board so I have to give permission before this kind of destruction is allowed.

Hand-painted signs

D & D Restaurant, Spring St., Charleston, SC  

I am a sucker for hand-painted signs. I love any place that has hired a sign painter rather than using computer generated signs. Thank you D & D Restaurant.

I'd never been in but googling for information I came up with this referral from Chef Joshua Walker:

Favorite under-the-radar spot: D&D Restaurant & Catering (114 Spring St, 843-722-2205)Walker says: “It’s an old-school, traditional neighborhood hangout, with nice folks drinking beer and listening to good music. Get the fried shrimp or ask for the ribs.”

Before & After - Spring St.

Seafood Alley, Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

I need to stay alert. Every time I walk in Charleston I notice something that has changed. Check out the new Seafood Alley at 35 Spring St.  Below are the previous re-incarnations of the little building. Interestingly, although I can't find a web site for it, every one of the Yelp reviews is ravingly positive. Sounds like it is worth a visit.

Before & After - Spring St.

Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

The little hat shop has gone through quite a transformation since I walked up wondering if it was the building I should buy and live in happily every after. At that time I wrote this entry.  Internet branding company Fuzzco turned the building into a stylish office space featured in remodelista here.

Noodles!

Xiao Boa Biscuit, Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

When Eater asked foodies to describe 2012 food scene in Charleston in one word, the word Asian came up a couple of times. This restored gas station at Rutledge and Spring St. might be part of the reason for that. This is the mural on the Xiao Boa Biscuit

Check the Eater website to see the rest of the words describing the food scene in the lowcountry: charleston.eater and for more foodie interests in Charleston.

I have a "before" picture of the gas station but I went out for a bite to eat to celebrate my Friday and had two glasses of wine and I can't find it anywhere. Ooops. Here it is in the current but still rustic condition.

Free money!

Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

I bet someone watches from a window laughing as people try to pick up the dollar bill. It is set in a puddle of clear acrylic. Heheh.

Good food keeps coming to me

The Remedy Market, Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

Changes in the hood! I walked the Bee, Rutledge, Spring St. route this morning and spotted lots of changes going on. Seems like tasty food places are springing up all over in this neighborhood. I've been a slacker and haven't even been inside the Remedy Market yet. Any recommendations? Next time I'll try to walk by when it is open.

Save the Crabs!

Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

I left work early to go to a funeral (sniff) at Pinecrest Baptist Church and then had to find chocolate gold coins for a Leprechaun to hand out tomorrow. I tracked them down at World Market along with a little tiny marzipan treat that didn't last until I got to the car.

Today's picture used to be on the side of the building at King and Spring St. Oddly, although the building is in the same state of disrepair and remains the faded pink color, someone painted a big blank square over the crab mural. Why, huh? Why? Inquiring minds want to know. Save the crabs!

I am home early enough to walk while it is still light which is a treat. Would it be so terrible to end an exercise walk at Five Loaves Cafe?