Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance: St. Matthew's Lutheran

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, King St., Charleston, SC 

We've featured this church scene before but the camelias in bloom caught my eye yesterday. This is St. Matthew's Lutheran on King St.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, founded in 1840 by a group of Germans who wished to worship in their native language, quickly outgrew its original building at Hasell and Anson Streets in Charleston. 

The congregation moved into its current building in 1872.  The small congregation could never have envisioned its growth to become South Carolina's largest Lutheran church at the beginning of the 21st century. 

From the beginning until today, St. Matthew's has reached out to meet and serve the needs of others in our local community and throughout the world, as ordained by God.
The congregation moved into its current building in 1872.  The small congregation could never have envisioned its growth to become South Carolina's largest Lutheran church at the beginning of the 21st century. From the beginning until today, St. Matthew's has reached out to meet and serve the needs of others in our local community and throughout the world, as ordained by God.

Blue Bicycle Books - In memory of Dorothea Benton Frank, King St., Charleston, SC

Blue Bicycle Books decorated their window in memory of beloved author Dorothea Benton Frank. RIP.

Cars, carriages & rickshaws

King St., Charleston, SC 

It was a quick cell phone shot but I caught carriages, cars and a rickshaw in the scene. There was a pedestrian as well but she was holding the camera. 

Colorful King St.

King St., Charleston, SC 

This is a colorful intersection on King St. with buildings of completely different styles yet each appealing in their own way. The curved one used to be Edwards 5 & dime store. The other one is now The Darling Oyster Bar. It looks so pretty it makes me want to give it a try.

On the Joggling Board trail

Parcel 32, King St., Charleston, SC 

I used to document all the joggling boards I came across in my wanderings but haven't posted one for awhile. This one is in front of the recently opened Parcel 32 restaurant on King St. They always tempt me to sit and joggle a bit!

Missed a spot!

King St., Charleston,SC 

Can you imagine going to all this trouble every time you needed to wash your windows or touch up the paint? The old Bluestein's Menswear store on King St. is one of my favorites and always catches my eye.

Only 7,000 steps today. Boo. It's already getting dark too early for me. I like to crash for awhile when I get home from work and by then it's too dark to walk. 

All dressed up on King St.

Dry Bar, 556 King St., Charleston, SC 

This snappy renovation stands out even more with the new brick buildings built on either side.

 I may be the only one not certain what a Dry Bar was but it is a hair blow out salon. 

Inscribed bricks

Inscribed bricks, King St., Charleston

With King St. closed to traffic for the parade yesterday we found familiar names inscribed on the bricks. Hey there Jimmy Buffet! 

Sadly I missed the opportunity and may need to take a black marker down and add myself someday!

Blue on blue at Bluestein's Menswear

King St., Charleston, SC 

This blue sweetie is one of my favorite buildings. I happened to catch a good clear view of the entire building against a blue sky.

I am having trouble cracking the 10,000 steps lately but I am close. It was a warm and humid walk around the neighborhood at dusk for 9,540. 

Hello Yellow!

Hed Hi Media, 654 King St., Charleston, SC 

Not your typical Charleston shutters and window box scene! Hello yellow! The artist appears to be Jason Woodside for this bright wall on Hed Hi Media building at 654 King St. up near The Daily restaurant.

Mural Monday

Mural - Pancito & Lefy, Charleston, SC 

 I keep my eye out for new murals around town and was pleased to spot this one. No wonder I liked it - it is another one by mural artist David Boatwright who has been such a creative and colorful gift to Charleston. The restaurant is Pancito & Lefty on upper King St. Worth a visit for the food as well as the ambiance!

Resting in the shade

Byron - King St., Charleston, SC 

When I lived on the peninsula I got to know most of the usual street folk and Byron was my King St. toll. I always turned over a couple of bucks and on occasion bought him a meal. I am not in town as much and had worried about him lately and hoped all was well. 

My walk this morning steered me to upper King St. and I was pleased to find him enjoying the shade under the highway overpass. A quick hug, a couple of bucks exchanged. On my way back down the same route I watching him offering his trademark chiropractic adjustments to a couple of young men and he caught my eye and grinned. 

Just chillin'

Booze Pops, Charleston, SC   

Well. I'm not sure this was an official part of the Wine & Food Festival but it's one way to get your alcohol.

From US News: His big sellers are watermelon, lemonade and strawberry daiquiris and he has non-alcoholic treats for children."We're trying to make it super-nice," Norris said. "Mom can get her Martini pop and little Jimmy can get a SpongeBob."By selling the treats as food, Norris can go anywhere. Recently, he parked his van in Folly Beach near a wedding party. Norris has kept his van mostly around Charleston, but wants to branch out to Columbia and Myrtle Beach.If the rules change and the Booze Pops van is regulated like an alcohol seller, Norris could only work special events and not wherever he thought he could make money."I'm sure I would have to get some different licensing," he said. "I could still do a lot of the things I do now. I would just have to do it differently."

Bottoms Up!

American Theater, King St., Charleston

Wine & Food Festival in progress! Oddly no one was on the street offering samples of either. 

Note: These buildings are this color but at the moment so is everything else in Charleston. There is a thick layer of pollen on everything. Green cars for everyone!

Dramatic blue!

The Quarters on King, King St., Charleston, SC   

Oh, I like this renovation! You may have guessed that I like blue. This is so pretty. Checking the link for The Quarters on King lets you see inside. Book a room! Invite me to check it out!

I deliberately bought a new dishwasher from Best Buy knowing that they were willing to do deliveries on weekends. I found the one I wanted, bought it, paid for it and was all ready to select my delivery date when the cashier said they don't do weekends anymore. Aaaargh. So today I had the dreaded 12 - 4 window to bring work home to do while I wait for my delivery. Doncha think that someone would care how difficult it is for most of us to leave work? Meanwhile - they were prompt and efficient and I have a pretty new dishwasher. Lets get some dishes dirty!

Feeling blue on King St.

Bluestein's Menswear, 494 King St., Charleston, SC   

Bluestein's Menswear is such a striking building standing out with it's signature blue brick design it stands out even on a dreary day like today. It is closing as a menswear store after 134 years in business. I hope it is reincarnated into something cool.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV): Another long-time Charleston business will soon hang up its hat. Bluestein's on King Street will close early next year after 134 years selling menswear. “It was started by my great-grandmother in 1883,” said Nicky Bluestein, who took over the family business in the 1960s. In 1987—a fire destroyed the building, along with old photos and keepsakes. Years later, Bluestein said a contractor found a handful of the original brick in the signature blue. “He said it’s got to belong to you and he brought me the four bricks,” he said. “I have four boys, I gave each of them a brick and I kept this one here.”

Teeny, tiny buildings of Charleston

King St., Charleston, SC    

I love these charming tiny buildings that grow up in between the larger structures. This is 193 King St. 

Turns out it is for sale! It may look small but is over 6,000 square feet and since it is in prime retail shopping district on King St. you may buy it for a cool $2,450,000. Invite me over. I'll help decorate. 

Prime high street location. Centered in King Street’s luxury retail district. The interior space is 6,418 square feet with an additional 784 square feet of exterior courtyard space. The stately facade has 30 linear feet fronting on King Street. The ground floor is ideal for retail or restaurant use. Previously it was occupied by a restaurant on the ground floor and offices above. The building is zoned General Business and is currently vacant. This offering is an excellent opportunity for an owner operator or a real estate investor.The William Bell building, circa 1840, is a three story building with many historical elements intact: featuring high ceilings, exposed brick walls and heart pine floors. Square footage breakdown: ground floor interior 2,509 square feet; ground floor courtyard 784 square feet; 2nd floor 2,509 square feet; 3rd floor 1,400 square feet.

Joyful noise

Street musicians, King St., Charleston, SC   

These kids were so good! They had an admiring crowd surrounding them yesterday on King St. Their youthful adorableness didn't hurt either. I always put a buck or two in the pile before I grab a picture. Hope you made a lot of money!

Pancito & Lefty guest chef dinner

My friend English and I were lucky participants in a dinner at a Pancito & Lefty - a relatively new restaurant on upper King St. last night. This was my first visit and it was for a dinner presented by a visiting chef from El Destilado in Oaxaca, Mexico. The temperature was perfect for outside dining, each dish was creative and delicious, our companions all clever and interesting people. What a fun treat. Put it on your list!

El Destilado's Head Chef Julio Aguilera and his team are coming directly from Oaxaca to collaborative with P+L's Robert Berry to present creative reinventions of classic Mexican dishes. The dinner will be preceded by a tasting of rare agave spirits not available in the U.S., hosted by El Destilado's co-founder and mezcal expert, Jason Cox.

Sadness in Charleston

Virginia's, King St., Charleston, SC    

It is a sad day in Charleston after a shooting at Virginia's, a popular local restaurant on King St. leading to the death of a young chef. My sympathy is with his family and friends.