The end of an era...

Life has its way of surprising even the most assuming adventurers...who would have ever imagined my path would lead me out of the Holy City? Certainly not I...

As luck (and life) would have it, opportunities have presented themselves and the sails are now headed "West". This blog will no longer be updated regularly.

Photo by Flickr

It's been a joy exploring Charleston...See you at the next port!

V

Hipsters:
Here, Here!

Kulture Klash has returned.
Over 50 artists, live painting collaborations, improv, photo repository depot, live music, libations, culinary treats...

Photo by badjon Photography

Photo by badjon Photography
Just one more reason to bring the posse to North Charleston...see you there.

Go ye merry revelers and enjoy this autumn glow!

October is fading fast and it's a favorite time of year here in the Holy City. Leaves are changing and gracefully falling from branches, the skies are brilliant blue, and holiday spirit is beginning to make its way into our souls...let's cherish this autumn moment...

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.

~Carol Bishop Hipps

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.

~Stanley Horowitz

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne

Besides the autumn poets sing,
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the haze.
~Emily Dickinson

October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter.

~Nova Bair

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot

For all the lowcountry mothers...

Don't miss this rare opportunity to capture the beauty of childhood with a cut personal silhouette by renowned folk artist and "Lowcountry treasure", Clay Rice.

Rice will be signing and snipping at the gloriously quaint Blue Bicycle Books, nestled in the heart of the Upper King Design District, Thursday, October 22, 3-6p.m.

Space is limited, so call right away to reserve a spot!

Get more info here.

Too bad, sold out!

But keep checking in...this first-of-its-kind, ad-hoc, user generated unconference sounds veeeeeeery interesting!

Three Things to do this Thursday

It's October, which means there's plenty filling up the social calendar this month. Let's hope the rain goes away for that brief, rewarding moment known as happy hour...

And, speaking of happy hour, aren't we glad we're here in Chawwleston, where the "happy" hour begins at 4p.m. (as opposed to 5p.m.) and typically draws to a close around 8p.m. (rather than 7p.m.). In the Holy City, we do business over cocktails at sunset. That's just way life is here in this 300-year old port city.

First up - go straight from work (and maybe let work pay for it) - Red's Icehouse at Shem Creek. Shrimp boats, October sunset, dolphins, cold beer...all good things and all reason to join the Charleston Metro Chamber's Business After Hours from 5:30 - 7p.m. Membership not required.
Next hit - Upper King Street for Design Walk, Fall Style. From 5-8p.m., stroll up and down this gem of the peninsula...that upper part of the royal straight road of shopping that is second to none (in my opinion) in the Southeast. Visit shops like Blue Bicycle Books, Sig Supply, Mac & Murphy...just park, start walking and keep sipping. Won't disappoint, I promise.
Neander away from all the fabulous foot traffic on King Street and over one block (via John Street) to the Charleston Museum for the opening reception to introduce their newest installation. Aisle Style: 150 Years of Wedding Fashion, is an original exhibition on display from October 16, 2009 through June 30, 2010. This little celebratory soiree will feature favorite local wedding vendors, such as Social Design Event & Planning, Tiger Lily Florist and Ashley Bakery. Make an appearance before 8p.m. and rub elbows will the eventsters of this white satin-laced destination city.

If I still haven't twisted your arm into letting your leather soles out on the town, refer to THE social calendar for Charleston here - CHARLIE.

There's really no excuse to stay in this Thursday...plenty of opportunity to mix and mingle...no matter what your "agenda".

See you out there...

Shine On...

Something very cool to do this weekend.
Music. Good music. Click here to see band lineup.
@ The Joe.
Benefiting Charleston County School District and Citadel Foundation.
All Day, Saturday.
10.17

A Taste...in black & white...

This weekend's field trip took us east of the Cooper...
We wanted to find a good time, good wine, good food...

Found: 29th Annual Taste of Charleston...Boone Hall Plantation.

It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday...the wine and beer were plentiful (although water was hard to find)...For less than a Jackson we scored a wristband (that allowed us into the village o' lowcountry observance), a few refreshing sips, and a sampling of what local chefs are offering...

The lines weren't long (not even to the "ladies room")...even the entry process was quite easy...
...Voila...a well-oiled machine and something every self-respecting Charleston resident should experience in their tenure here...

There were chefs a' plenty and you could take your pick from the "plastic fork" to the "silver spoon with charger" variety...all packed together in a field under the blazing Southern sun...we had no judgments either way and just started "tasting"
Middleton Place was a favorite...moist shrimp over the last-of-summer succotash...
Maverick Southern Kitchens hit a soft spot, too...
Like I said, the place was swarming with epicurean opportunities...we just had to shove this map in our back pocket and move....
Ice Age made an appearance and, given the broiled-to-a-nice-bubbling-mess weather conditions, this was one of the coolest sights of the afternoon (pun intended)...All in all, good day...good time. Charleston lives on...

Field Trip!

What a lovely evening this will be!

Marc & Annie Filion will host a special tour and seated dinner this Sunday evening at their farm, Keegan-Filion. Be one of the lucky ones to join Chef Mike Lata, FIG, for an evening of local, free-range meats, seasonal ingredients, organic wines, Single Barrel libations...is your appetite whetted yet?!

I can assure you, this evening will be one to remember - there's quite a group putting the "field trip" together and includes local favorites Heather Barrie, Gathering Floral & Event Design, Annie Byrd Hamnett, Byrdhouse Public Relations, Amy Pastre, Stitch Design Co. Courtney Rowson, Stitch Design Co., and Gail Sumners, Soif Wine & Cheese...to name a few...

What makes this a perfect evening out? The event benefits Lowcountry Local First. How delicious is that?!

Only a few spots left...reserve your seat here.

Savor the flavor...The Taste of The Lowcoutnry

This year it's all about "The Taste"...grab a fork and come hungry for this three-day lowcountry institution...the weekend will be full of events from Iron Chef competition to art strolls to cooking demos...a great amuse bouche, if you will, to the upcoming Charleston Wine+Food Festival next March!

Get your tickets NOW for the 29th Annual Taste of Charleston!


October 9-11, 2009