Bennett Hotel at Marion Square

Bennett Hotel, Marion Square, Charleston, SC  

Once and awhile when I am marching down King St. I climb the steps to the Francis Marion parking garage and look down to see the progress of the hotel being built in the spot of our old library. After a long period where it didn't seem like much was happening it certainly is now. The hotel is to be nine stories high with a planned opening date of fall 2017.

The article in the Post & Courier does answer one question for me. The old library was built of pink marble and I had wondered where that might show up. It turns out they plan to built the hotel bar out of it.

Post & Courier: “There have been a few delays, so it might be a little bit behind schedule,” he said Thursday. “But when you’re taking a 100-year view, what’s a few months’ difference?”
At the groundbreaking about 18 months ago, he said he was building a structure that would be memorable a century later. The materials include limestone, copper and cypress. The bar being built off the lobby incorporates pink marble that was in the old library.
“This will be the five-star luxury hotel in downtown Charleston,” Bennett said Thursday. “I believe it will be finest hotel ever built in our city, certainly ever built in my lifetime.”

Before view of former library at Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

King St. blues

Quarters on King, King St., Charleston, SC  

I have a blue issue. I wear it, eat off it, sit on it. If I am not dressed in blue you know I've exercised very deliberate self control. I can't find a thing in my closet because it is all either blue or black. Naturally this pretty new shade of blue on King St. caught my eye. Hello there! That renovation woke up the corner in a very fine way.

It is the Quarters on King newish boutique hotel. Browse their rooms. Lovely. I expect it costs an arm and a leg but it certainly is attractive and convenient.

I love me some Friday's off, I do

Francis Marion Hotel, Charleston, SC

Up and at 'em kids! I took the day off to celebrate my adopted country and the fact that if I was Queen, three days weekends would be mandatory. Hip hip hurray!

I pretended that yesterday was a technical Friday and made it to the Terrace Theater in time for a matinee, sat in the dark alone with my cuppa tea letting the work week seep out of me. It is my theater/therapist/spa. Mike the owner let me know he had discovered the blog - hey Mike! Isn't it time I rated my own large tea mug?

Today's photo is of the renovated Francis Marion Hotel. It is one of our few tall buildings in Charleston and over looks Marion Square. You can walk out the door and have breakfast at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Here are a million reviews. I pass it almost every day of my life on my walking route and will do so again in about ten minutes.