Farmer's Market Season Begins

Charleston Farmer's Market

Oh yum. They even had peaches out already. Happy day! The only thing I bought was a perfect tomato and I can already taste it. The scene at Marion Square is different now with the Bennett Hotel open but that does offer outside seating with service. It all feels very bustling and festive. 

Hotel Bennett progress

Hotel Bennett progress, Charleston, SC 

This spot used to be my two story library when I lived in the neighborhood. I've watched the progress through demolition to almost completion of this luxury hotel right at Marion Square. When I am in the area I climb to the upper level of the Francis Marion hotel parking deck to get the view. What a change! Follow the link for details: Hotel Bennett.

Flying break dancers

Break dancers at Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Flying break dancers at Marion Square! They are regular performers during Saturday Farmer's Markets and I always stop in amazement and to drop a few bucks in their bucket.  #thebreakcircuit

Dramatic skies

Marion Square, Charleston, SC  

There were dramatic skies for the family fun Piccolo Spoleto day on Saturday and we had some impressive rain since then. I worry for the artists and crafters who prepared all year to set up outside. Swim over and buy something!

PS: I spell check Piccolo every single time I use the word. Piccolo, piccolo, piccolo.

Old Citadel, Charleston

Old Citadel, Charleston, SC  

Isn't this a lovely, moody shot of Marion Square and the old Citadel building? It is dated 1941 and was being sold on eBay for $5. Now it is mine, mine, mine. 

Charleston Farmer's Market - Holiday Style!

Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, SC    

You missed it! The market is over for the season but I had a few photos from one of the last ones. It was a festive holiday version with Santa and the Mrs., winter veggies and holiday music.

Ho, ho, ho!

Holiday Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC 

Ho, ho, ho! Gotta love the diversity of the Clause couple at the holiday market at Marion Square. Go Charleston! It is a chilly day and Mrs. Clause looked a bit cold this morning.

I knocked but no one answered

Marion Square, Charleston, SC  

This shot is a little late. I took it at the recent Piccolo Art Festival at Marion Square. The festival finale was this past weekend so the doors may be gone by now but they were a colorful addition.

I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Al Di La with friends this evening. It was the perfect weather for outside dining and I was able to walk to dinner (that deletes any possible calories) and get a ride home. 

Before & Almost After - Bennett Hotel at Marion Square

Hotel at Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

I've followed the progress of the construction of this hotel by going to the upper deck of the parking building across the street. When I moved to Charleston and lived a few blocks from this spot I was delighted to learn I was within easy walking distance of the main library (pictured below). It was a two story building designed with pink marble. It was dated and a grand new library was built leaving it abandoned for many years. The Bennett Hotel is quite a change for the area and is right on King St. next to Marion Square. Here are some details from the Moultrie News:

Hotel Bennett, the South’s grandest new hotel, will open in fall 2017 overlooking Charleston’s iconic and historic Marion Square.Years in the making and located on King Street – Charleston’s most prominent address – the hotel perfectly blends unparalleled luxury with an unmatched setting. Hotel Bennett, which is under construction, will be among the most significant lodging developments ever built in the Holy City and the State of South Carolina.It will feature 179 luxurious guestrooms and suites, a signature restaurant with stunning views of Charleston's famed park, and a stylish bar and lounge. The hotel will also include a spectacular rooftop pool with cabanas and bar, a luxury spa, a French patisserie, and a variety of grand event and flexible meeting spaces.

Before shot of the old library, King St., Charleston, SC   

Street view of the new hotel, King St., Charleston, SC     

Will it build good will and better friendships?

Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

It was a shock to walk down King St. and see the red of the Confederate flag flying high over King St. It has become such a symbol of a painful past that it was a relief in recent years to have had it removed from our statehouse property.

We haven't seen the last of it yet and today folks from out of town placed it high on top of their vehicles and parked on the top deck of our public parking building. Protesters were already on site as crowds are thronged at the Southeastern Wildlife Festival at Marion Square wondering what is going on. Hopefully it will be resolved peacefully and soon.

It was the writing on the fountain sponsored by the Rotary Club that caught my eye, "Will it build good will and better friendship?" No. No, it won't.

What are you grateful for?

Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

What are you grateful for? That was the question answered on the decorations on one of the trees at Marion Square. Note: I did NOT add that second one ;)

The square is a winter wonderland at this time of year with colored lights in the palm trees. We walked King St. and enjoyed the bright lights and holiday decorations and had a delicious dinner at Fish Restaurant. A perfect way to end a busy day at Christmas.

John C. Calhoun framed

John C. Calhoun, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Framed! By the window that is. I caught this view from the parking deck across from Marion Square. Yep. That is how I get my exercise - climbing to the upper floors of parking buildings to see what I can see. I've treated our subject more kindly here than I usually do.

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   

Charleston Farmer's Market

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Marion Square is a bustling and vibrant place these days as the Piccolo Spoleto Art show is set up at the same time as the regular Farmer's Market. Singers were singing, dancers were dancing, I bought a white hydrangea and John C. Calhoun took an art walk. I like to take an annual stroll through and drool on all the lovely paintings. It is all timed nicely to coincide with the perfect storm of deliciousness with SC peach season and silver queen corn.

John C. Calhoun goes for an art walk

Before and almost after - Marion Square

Marion Square, Charleston, SC    

When I am in town I often go to the top of the parking deck across from Marion Square and check on the progress of the hotel being built where the old library was. Things are happening!

Push Up & Up

Push Up Challenge, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Thanks to everyone who did my exercise for me this morning! There were so many participants in the Push Up & Up challenge this morning I believe they took care of the strenuous exercise for all of us. I was impressed. It was a Communities In Schools benefit.

Lots of fun for a good cause. Wonder why I didn't have it on my agenda? Hmm.