Chhchchhhhhh..changes!

King & Wentworth St., Charleston, S.C.

Every time I walk downtown I spot a change so here is an update from my walk this morning. There is a lot of activity at King and Wentworth. I was confused because the business is Vineyard Vines so I assumed we were going to have a new wine shop but apparently it is a preppy style clothing store. Check them out here: Vineyard Vines.

 

Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar, Charleston, S.C.

New mural spotted on Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar just off East Bay St.

Minero, Charleston, S.C.

Chef Sean Brock's new casual Mexican Restaurant Minero opened on East Bay St. yesterday. Check out the website and menu here. It looks affordable and yummy.

How about a picture of the picture?

Hopsewee Plantation, Georgetown, S.C.

I was enjoying my tomato pie and tater salad in the Hopsewee Plantation Tea Room last weekend when I spotted the painting below on the wall. I'm not sure what year it was done but I walked around to the river side to try to get the view the artist had in mind when he/she painted it. I'd need to be on a boat to get the matching view but it is pretty close. They have changed the roof color and trimmed the azaleas but it has been beautifully maintained.

Hopsewee Plantation: The house, still a private residence, is a typical low country rice plantation dwelling of the early eighteenth century with four rooms opening into a wide center hall on each floor, a full brick cellar and attic rooms. The house has a lovely staircase and there is hand carved molding in each room and random width heart pine floors are almost one and one half inches thick. Constructed on a brick foundation which is covered by scored tabby, the house is built of black cypress, which probably accounts for the fact that it is basically the same house the Lynches built 40 years before the Revolutionary War. It is furnished in eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture.

 

4th Annual Autumn Affair

The Spice & Tea Exchange, Charleston

The Les Dames d'Escoffier held their 4th annual Autumn Affair at Lowndes Grove at sunset on the banks of the Ashley River and they couldn't have chosen a more beautiful evening. Charleston weather is perfect right now and we are almost giddy with the sunshine and low humidity after a month of rain. Add delicious food, wine and music.

I can't pronounce the group's name so here is the official description: 

Les Dames d’Escoffier is the only organization of its kind: a world wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership, composed of 29 individual chapters across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality.

The look I got right before I crashed my wine glass on the ground. Ooops!

Holly Herrick of the Permanent Tourist and busiest cookbook write in the county.

Wes & Devany Vickey (Sassy Spoon) Davidson

Two of our gracious hostesses

Meet me at the Bacon Candy table!

Lowcountry essentials

Hopsewee Plantation, S.C.

What a nice way to present the necessities after all the rain we've had in the lowcountry lately. They breed mosquitoes that can be mistaken for attack hummingbirds at Hopsewee Plantation. Ouchie!

Y'all enjoy some butter tarts, eh!

Butter tarts, Charleston, S.C.

My friend Eugene became an American citizen today. Congrats Eugene! He invited some of his friends to stop by Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ  this evening for a celebratory drink. The only really Canadian thing I could think to take him were some Butter Tarts so I cheated with frozen tart shells and whipped up a batch.

Eugene works in the medical field, was an early Charleston blogger, is a member of photography and ham radio clubs and groups so it was an interesting mix of people and I was pleased to finally meet his wife Connie. I gave Eugene my quick trip on being bilingual - all he has to do is say "eh" and "y'all" in the same sentence. I do it myself all the time! 

French Cafe in Mt. Pleasant

Saveurs du Monde Cafe. Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I don't spend much time exploring the nooks and crannies of Mt. Pleasant but I was invited out to a French Cafe by the name of Saveurs du Monde for lunch on Friday and stood there in a bewildering area of shops, apartments and future wine bars thinking "when did this happen"? I tell ya, if you blink around Charleston lately everything changes. The shopping and dining area was in the same neighborhood as Franke at Seaside retirement complex and I thought how nice it would be for seniors to be able to walk out of their apartment and have attractive shops at their doorstep. Disclaimer - I may have been super impressed because it was a late lunch and I was very hungry.

We had a delicious light lunch but I drooled all over the pastry case so take a napkin if you go. Check out the pictures on their web site and bring me back something delicious.

Ninety four years and counting!

94 years young, Charleston, S.C.

I stopped by Publix to pick up a coconut cake for Mr. Heath on Friday. In my mind when you are 94 years old and volunteer two full days a week driving a golf cart shuttle in the hospital parking lot you deserve some festivities. Each year I try to drill a little deeper to find out what his secret is. He grew up in West Virginia, joined the military, was very athletic himself and then coached sports. He still has a ready smile. Twice a year he takes off on a solitary road trip to Maryland and West Virginia to visit his family members.

He is really quite amazing. Maybe it is the coconut cake which is a stand out favorite! I could do that.

Lowcountry Heart Walk - 2014

ABC News Channel 4, Charleston, S.C.

Adorable children, cute dogs and heart disease survivors and their loved ones, I couldn't really go wrong with photo ops. I was up bright and early to join the Lowcountry Heart Walk at Liberty Square. It was grand to see so many familiar faces gathered together to raise money for the cause. More photos uploading here: Lowcountry Heart Walk 2014

Floating hearts for a cause

Charleston, S.C.

Each and every heart is fluttering in the breeze in honor or in memory of someone who has/had heart disease. Some of them even have a loved one's name tucked inside. I've had crafty volunteers sewing them to hang on one of the trees at the hospital raising money for the Lowcounty Heart Walk tomorrow morning. It looks so pretty I will have a hard time taking them down! Many thanks to all the sponsors and my model above, Amber Defago from the American Heart Association.

I believe that research into heart disease has certainly paid off. For the most part we know what we need to be doing to prevent heart disease and procedures have been developed to treat so many heart conditions. It's good to be on a successful team! Additional donations won't offend me at all: Lowcountry Heart Walk - Team Walk this Way.

David, I love you!

King St., Charleston, S.C.

David, I love you!

Whoever you are.

Not sure where the cartoon characters fit in but someone loves David and timed their design to be visible last Saturday during the Farmer's Market. In case David slept in and missed it, I am the go between. Someone loves ya David!

I just went to the Gathering Cafe for dinner and had the most delicious bowl of Panang Chicken Curry. I am a very happy lady.

Darwin's Secret

Darwin's Secret, Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

The Darwin's Secret mural by Sean Williams has been one of my favorites tucked in behind the shops at Avondale. The back alley is a mural wonder world and one of my frequent shortcuts. Darwin doesn't look the same anymore because he has been defaced with random red spray paint and graffiti tags. Sad, isn't it? The original artwork was commissioned and listed as one of "100 Most Beloved Street Arts".

Apparently the vandal was clearly identified on security video and his identity is public. I am glad. I have always been disgusted by deliberate vandalism and the destruction of property. It is proper that someone has to face the music even if it is just that of public opinion and shame. Read the West Of article here. The original artist has already been promised donations to repair the damage. I might offer to chip in myself.

Is this my good side?

Baby gator, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

I stopped by the Autumn Craft Fair at Magnolia Plantation Gardens on Sunday and met this little fella. There were booths set up with handmade pottery and jewelry, art work and photography. The parking lot was full so I hope they had a good day. I caught my friend Leah Sparks grinning as she was holding cold hard cash earned from photography sales. Congrats!

What would your pose be?

The Garden, Summerville, S.C.

She has been rocking away peacefully for years now as she oversees the activities in downtown Summerville and it got me wondering. If someone was to design a sculpture of you in your most recognizable pose what would you be doing?

Ridin' along, singin' a song....

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Too bad they couldn't do a royal wave! They were enjoying the ride down King St. and attracted a lot of attention. I understand from a friend that they are named Jodi and Junior.

Today was a glorious day but buckle your seatbelts kids! We are about to get hit by a Monday. 

Charleston Farmer's Market

Fields Farms, Charleston, S.C.

I believe that a good tomato can improve almost any dish and I get a little panicky towards the end of tomato season. There is nothing like a fresh Johns Island tomato, is there? Devonne Hammond from Field's Farms has been my personal tomato dealer. He drives out and sets up a booth in the parking lot at my hospital every Wednesday to get me through the week.

I need to make at least one more summer dinner soon ....tomato pie, crab cakes, black bean and corn salad.

Today was music appreciation day at the market at Marion Square and as well as performing, musicians were letting people handle and try different instruments. It was fun to watch the kids.

Stay dry, folks! It's been a drippy day.

Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile

Lonestar BBQ & Mercantile, Santee, S.C.

It is still cloudy and raining in Charleston but I haven't yet featured these shots from my day trip to Santee last weekend. After wandering through Elloree, S.C. we headed to Santee to treat ourselves to some BBQ at Lone Star. The Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile is a series of old buildings moved to the property and joined together to host a restaurant and store. I wasn't too impressed a few years ago when I ate there but was encouraged to give it another try. It certainly is an interesting spot with old buildings salvaged and gathered on the property. There was a family reunion going on while I was there but we got through the buffet line before they said grace so we were cool. The setting is almost like a museum with shelves full of vintage items.Behind the buildings is the tiny little cottage in the last picture.

Apparently, the entire property is for sale so if any of you are inclined to run a restaurant in rural South Carolina near a state park this is your chance!

Pink House - large scale version

Charleston, S.C.

It isn't raining at this very moment in time so let's celebrate with another bright sunny photo of one of the fine mansions on the battery. I imagine this one is in many tourist albums.I recently featured the little pink house on Chalmers St. so we will call this the larger version of beautiful pink homes.

The Post & Courier has been inviting readers to submit photos featuring a different topic each week. This week's album is on Spanish moss. Can't go wrong there. You have to answer an annoying question to view the gallery but there are some pretty lowcountry scenes: Post & Courier Reader Gallery. My friend Larry's is #9 and in my happily biased opinion one of the best shots.

I missed restaurant week in Charleston but luckily West Ashley continues on through this week. I walked down and joined a friend at Al Di La. On the other hand, scratch that link. Their web site is too annoying to bother with.

Sunny picture for a rainy day

King St., Charleston, S.C.

This is the brightest picture we've seen for a few days. I went for another walk in the rain because if I waited for it to stop I wouldn't be doing any walking this week. It looks like Sunday is out only hope for a clear day. In better news, it is a wee bit cooler.

Here is a fun and tasty event to put on your calendar. I've been before and it always seems like a perfect fall evening outside on the waterfront grounds at Lowndes Grove.Tickets here. 

October 3, 2013

6:00-9:00pm

Lowndes Grove Plantation

Charleston’s top local food artisans paired with an extraordinary wine tasting experience combine for a delightful evening on the banks of the Ashley River. Proceeds and silent auction benefit local food charities and scholarships for women in the hospitality industry.

Silent Auction will benefit LDEI scholarships!

Lowndes Grove Plantation is located at 266 Saint Margaret St., Charleston