Food Strolling

Marion Square, Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

I had every intention of photographing the AIDS Walk this morning and set my alarm (eeeew....alarms on the weekend) accordingly. I grabbed the camera and flash card I used last night only to discover the dreaded "unable to format card" message. Luckily there were other photographers to cover the event so I slipped home and did my walk-about town happily landing in Marion Square in time to be handed a warm bowl of the most delicious bread pudding.

Sarah O'Kelly from the Glass Onion and farmer Celeste Albers had just done a cooking demonstration as part of Les Dames d’Escoffier International and were ready to serve. Thanks ladies! It was amazing.

You can see why I have to walk so much. If I am going to have delicious treats handed to me as I march through town I'd better add another mile or two to my routine hike.

Walking on I saw this line up winding around the yard at Gaillard waiting to get in to the Whale of a Sale. I decided to pass on that event.

Mac-Off

MacPerry here, reporting on the first annual "Mac Off" the Macaroni & Cheese Bake-Off at the Visitors Shed. I came home weighing considerably more than I did when I left the house. Groan.

What an incredible success. I went with the expert, Notoriously Nice Mike whose son owns the Cheese-ology Restaurant in St. Louis. We didn't try every single one but each had a clear favorite. Melanie (above) served up Mike's favorite truffled Macaroni & Cheese from JPaulz while I voted for Crave's version. Scrumptious!

Help me. I am so full.

Event Website.

Charleston Garden Club Gift

West Ashley Cancer Center garden, Charleston, S.C.

I walked over to the opening of the West Ashley Cancer Center this morning just in time to catch the Charleston Garden Club dedicating the garden project they have been working on. Members of the Garden Clubs gathered and formally "gave" the garden over to the hospital. It was lovely. The idea is that patients receiving chemo could enjoy the garden while they are there for treatment. It appeared to be a project dear to many of their hearts. What a lovely gift.

Today the garden was blooming entirely in pink flowers and I believe this sculpture represents the shape of a petal.

Veteran's Day - Thanks Mum!

Miriam Cameron
Royal Canadian Air Force
Thanks Mum!

Hanging out with the creative folk

Music Farm, Charleston, S.C.

Just back from the eighth Pecha Kucha event at the Music Farm on Ann St. where we listened to creative types explain what makes them tick and what they are fired up about at the moment. It is exciting to see the people behind what is happening in this city.

I grabbed Mary Edna Fraser and Dr. Sperry for a photo op after she presented on the batik fabric art she creates after capturing the lowcountry with aerial photography. Wow. I love her husband just as much since he was my kids pediatrician many years ago. :)

Whoopsie. Two beers and I forgot how to spell "aerial". Thank you spell checker. Thank you Pecha Kucha coordinators.

Tuesday Blog Hopping

Charleston, S.C.

It's too dark already to be worth carrying a camera on my evening walks so I get to dip into existing albums for my pictures. I love these old doors. It is rare to catch them without a car parked in front. We need a sign asking that only photogenic vehicles area allowed to park in that spot.

We are used to being admired as a beautiful city but now Travel & Leisure Magazine has decided Charleston also has the most beautiful people. What an odd category. Now are polite and pretty. Hmmmm.

I am a sucker for a good "baby birthin'" story and Beach Bum's tale left me smiling.

Pamela visited the meditation garden at my hospital with her camera. No wonder I take so many pictures there! Thanks Pamela!

What do you do when your wedding invitation goes viral? Helen and Josh got creative with their wedding invitation and it got lots of attention. Congrats Fuzzco!

Pecha Kucha is sold out for tomorrow night! Happily I reserved my tickets early.

I may have been one of the oldest people in the audience at the Wolf Parade concert last night but I am so glad I had a chance to see them live. Dan Boeckner is married to my niece Alexei Perry. How exciting to have them here in Charleston at the Pour House. Thanks for the free passes Dan!

Macaroni and Cheese Cook Off on Friday and I am going with an expert! My friend Mike's son owns Cheese-ology in St. Louis.

This Saturday is the second annual AIDS Walk sponsored by the Ryan White Foundation so think of coming by Hampton Park that morning. Not that you enter these things for the prizes (ahem) but they have some great ones lined up for fund raising walkers.

G'night kids. Thanks for all the kind comments. They make my day!

Old tunes

My sister Shirley went over to the Khasi Hills where we grew up, to visit my brother Jim and was invited to sing in a folk festival. She hasn't been there for 33 years but tried her best to speak entirely in Khasi while she was there. Wow. I am impressed! I know I couldn't do it. Here she is giving a tv interview in the local language. My brother was born and lived there still so he had no trouble. Apparently Shirley was a big hit!

Painting in Washington Park

Rick Reinert, Plein Air Painting, Washington Park, Charleston, S.C.

My artist friend Gina Brown alerted me to the annual plein air painting event at Washington Park yesterday. Area artists set up their easels in the park and surrounding streets and let us all watch as they paint scenery, live models and still life scenes. The art work is framed and auctioned later in the evening benefiting the Charleston County High Schools' fine art programs. Cool, eh?!

In my next life perhaps I will be a gifted artist. Meanwhile I am an admirer of these talented folk and love watching them at work.

Wolf Parade comes to Charleston

Wolf Parade comes to Charleston, S.C.

You might not expect me to be promoting the Montreal based Indie rock band Wolf Parade coming to the Pour House on Monday night but in this case Dan Boeckner (on the left) is married to my also very talented niece Alexei Perry.

Here is the scoop from the City Paper. Looks like it's time for me to stay up past my bedtime again. These gentlemen can fill concert venues internationally so it is a treat to have them performing in the lowcountry. Link to their My Space site. Note: I did not take this photo but snitched it from the City Paper site.

Early dusk

Charleston, S.C.

It's getting dark so early I have a hard time taking a picture for you on my evening walk.

I am just getting back from all day meetings in Columbia late enough to have missed my matinee at the Terrace and it's been a crazy week. There is a lot going on in town this weekend and I just might not do any of it.

Fog in the Garden

Charleston, S.C.

John Prince asked in comments if I'd taken any fog pictures. He likely asked the question as I detoured through the hospital's meditation garden on my way in to work this morning. How lucky am I to work in a place like this?

Today is Volunteer Program Manager's Day. You didn't hear about it because we don't blow our own horns. We celebrated privately and took care of ourselves....volunteer managers from hospitals, aquariums, parks, outreach missions, food banks and senior centers...hundreds of thousands of hours of service flow through us in this town alone. So cheers to me and my hard working partners! Happy Volunteer Program Manager's Day!

Heart Walk Wrap Up

Heart Walk Captain's Thank You Party, Fiery Ron's, Charleston, S.C.

I hosted a little thank you shin dig at Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ last night as a heart walk wrap up. I am the company leader for Roper St. Francis Healthcare and I have the most incredible team this year.

We were more whackily creative than ever this year with projects from cupcake decorating contests, book sales, men in red dresses, wine tastings and zumba classes. We raised over $56,500 (our goal was $40,000), had at least 700 participants and I am proud as punch.

I hosted the event, did the certificates and awards but someone turned the camera on me at the end. Thanks kids! You are great, great, great! I've seen such advances in the care and understanding of heart disease in my lifetime it is a cause I am honored to be part of and I hope you can picture me blowing kisses to any of you, my readers who contributed to the cause.

The Morning After

Charleston, S.C.

My friend Scottie woke up to find herself a Congressman's mother. How must that feel? Tim Scott brought her flowers this morning as he does every Mother's Day. Congratulations Congressman!

Cocktail in Place of a Photo

Middleton Place, Charleston, S.C.

I frequently post a Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance so it made me smile to see Cocktails in Charleston post a Charleston Photo in Place of a Cocktail.

Check them out if you are looking for a drink recipe or review. Their tag line is: Working My Way Through 1000 Recipes, One Drink at a Time.

Textures - the lowcountry carpet

Charleston, S.C.

Is there anything more beautiful than nature? I've been on a texture kick this year. Still taking pictures of what I walk on. What a glorious lowcountry carpet!

Itsy, bitsy spider.....

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

Roaming the Holy City has the best of the peninsula's Halloween decorations. Go visit!

Part 1
Part 2

The Bloomin' Swamp

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

The swamp is in bloom, kids!

I had breakfast with a group of my hospital volunteers at the Sunflower on Hwy 61 this morning and since I was already heading in the right direction I walked through the garden at Magnolia Plantation. There is always something in bloom and it was heavenly to be there on such a bright and beautiful day.

Yesterday's Dr. Oz' column claims walking helps keep your brain from shrinking. They recommend 6 - 9 miles a week. With the amount I walk each day, my brain is soon going to be too big for my skull.

Today's Halloween Themed Image

Backroads, S.C.

Doesn't this just invite you to drive down a country lane? This is a small piece of the "bone art" decorated entry way into private property on McCords Ferry Rd. not too far from Elloree, S.C. I don't believe this property owner needs guard dogs. No one is going to casually enter the property. Check out this link to a larger view.

Happy Halloween, kids! I have had such a busy week I am pitifully grateful to welcome the weekend. I missed my Friday movie by working until after 6 p.m. Sigh. I did take a mid day break to dress up as Joan of Arc and pass out candy around the hospital with my merry band of scarecrows and clowns. Fun.

Come on in and slam the door shut.....

Old Charleston Jail, Magazine St., Charleston, S.C.

Let's continue our Halloween week features with another peak at the old Charleston jail. The jail is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in town and regularly featured on ghost walks. Boo! I would imagine it would be a pretty spooky place at night. Bulldog tours web site says:

This is quite possibly the scariest place you will ever go. The experience is NOT recommended for small children or men that cry easily.**

Gotta love it!

Meanwhile, today the jail houses the American College of Building Arts and they are throwing their annual Red Party tomorrow night and my friend Becca who actually works in the jail, asked me to invite YOU.

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) invites all who are brave enough to serve time at the most haunted building in Charleston, South Carolina. Mystery, intrigue and pure enchanting delight will meet a red theme at the Old City Jail on Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The historic building that houses the college will be transformed into a rich red decadence that only ACBA can produce. Come dressed in... red and mask your face.

The Red Party is the kind of party that people are dying to get in! But the main purpose is to raise awareness for our mission, and emphasize the need for educated artisans in America. All proceeds from the event will help support the education of ACBA’s students.

The event will host a silent auction including incredible luxury trips, fine art, exciting adventures and items crafted by the students of ACBA! DJ Arthur Brouthers will have the crowd dancing to beats while guests enjoy an open bar and a delicious repast sponsored and prepared by Good Food Catering.

Tickets are $55 in advance and $65 at the door. To purchase tickets please call 843-577-5245 or visit our website at www.buildingartscollege.us.

Come on back to the Slaughter Shack

Slaughter Shack, S.C.

I think I can come up with a trail of Halloween type photos. Boo! We can start the Slaughter Shack. I had to get this picture when I spotted the scene on a country road drive. This would work well for a haunted Halloween tour.