Author: Charleston Daily

Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.

Media Release: West Ashley Farmers Market Opens Wednesday, September 14

September 11, 2016 by 0 Comments

Media Release:  West Ashley Farmers Market Opens Wednesday

Opening day of the new West Ashley Farmers Market is Wednesday, September 14 from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. in Ackerman Park at 55 Sycamore Avenue. Mayor John Tecklenburg will speak at 6 p.m. to welcome all in attendance and kick off the new farmers market. Entertainment will be provided by a local band, The Lowhills.
The farmers market will recur each Wednesday at Ackerman Park from 3:30 – 7:30 p.m. through October 26. The evening market will offer residents the opportunity to stop on their way home to buy groceries, enjoy entertainment and connect with friends, family and neighbors.
―I am looking forward to celebrating the opening of the West Ashley Farmers Market. Citizens can come out, support local farmers, buy their fruits and vegetables and have fun! It is going to be a great community asset in West Ashley,‖ Mayor Tecklenburg said. ―We have been working hard to put together a farmers market that will reflect and enhance the West Ashley community. It is our hope that the farmers market will help enliven the surrounding area—much like the downtown farmers market helped with the revitalization of the area around Marion square.
The West Ashley Farmers Market—produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs in cooperation with the City of Charleston Parks Department—is dedicated to the support and advocacy of local farmers and growers. The market features fresh seasonal produce and prepared foods from area vendors who source ingredients from nearby farms. A full list of vendors is attached.
For more information, contact the Office of Cultural Affairs at (843) 724-7305 or visit http://www.charlestonfarmersmarket.com/westashley

 

West Ashley Farmers Market 2016 Vendors
Farmers & Growers
1. Blue Pearl Farms
2. Botany Bay Sea Salt
3. Gruber Farms
4. Lowland Farms
5. Oliver & Sandra Freeman Farm
6. Rita’s Roots Backyard Harvest
7. Rooting Down Farms
8. Spade & Clover Gardens
9. Wishbone Heritage Farms
Food Concessionaires
1. Butcher & Bee
2. Camino Coffee Roasters
3. Charleston Artisan Cheesehouse
4. Charleston Crepe Company
5. Charleston Spice Company
6. Fresh Pickles – Fresh Produce
7. Gelati Moto, LLC
8. Gourmet Bay To Go
9. King of Pops
10. Lowcountry Lemonade
11. Mitla Tortilleria
12. Normandy Farm Artisan Bakery
13. Olinda Olives & Olive Oil
14. Porch Rockin’
15. Porzio’s, LLC
16. Pure Fluff Company
17. Right on Que
18. Rio Bertolini’s Fresh Pasta Company
19. Root Baking Company
20. Roti Rolls
21. Sea Island Savory Pies
22. The Juice Joint
23. Vegetable Kingdom
24. Wich Cream
Community Groups & others:
1. Fields-to-Families – Collecting donated food at the end of the market to be distributed to the hungry and needy
2. Artisan & Craftsman – Providing craft corner

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cameron P. Wolfsen, Communications Coordinator
Media Relations/Public Information
Phone: (843) 724-3746 Fax: (843) 724-3734
Email: wolfsenc@charleston-sc.gov
50 BROAD STREET • CHARLESTON, S.C. 29401 • TELEPHONE (843) 724-3746• FAX (843) 724-3734

The Consequences of the Delta Outage on an Almost Charleston Love story

September 10, 2016 by 1 Comment

Actual Letter shared by Charleston based Delta Airlines Customer choosing to stay anonymous for publication.

August 31, 2016
Re: Lasting Consequences from Delta Outage

To Whom It May Concern,

Before I begin my letter, I’d just like to say that I LOVE Delta Airlines. You are the airline that helps me escape Charleston during one nervous breakdown caused by a boy or another. Therefore, in early August, when you had your outage, I really wasn’t bothered at the time with all the chaos, because I knew you were a dependable airline and that you were doing your best to take care of us.

HOWEVER!! YOUR OUTAGE HAS BASICALLY GUARANTEED I BECOME A CAT LADY!! Never will I find love…and all because of a missed flight, a lost luggage (don’t worry, it eventually made its way back home), and the man who moved on.  I bet you’re confused, so let me explain…it all started May 12, 2016 (yes, I know this was before the outage).

It was my birthday, and my friends had taken me out, gotten me properly drunk, and then decided we needed to spend the rest of the night dancing. Unfortunately, this 4’11, 100 pound girl in her 4 inch heels, couldn’t really “dance” much. So, I chilled at the bar…and there he was .THE MAN OF MY DREAMS. He was everything I wanted. There was just one problem, he lived in Virginia and was only in Charleston for a weekend vacation (he flew here via Delta by the way). Yet, despite knowing our love would be filled with woe, we had a lovely weekend together (no, I did not go all the way, mama raised me better than to give it up that easy…) .

We agreed when he left, that the next time we saw each other would be when I came to Virginia to visit him (because no one goes to Virginia just to tour Virginia). With the chaos of finals, scheduling my pharmacy rotation in Ohio, and then planning the CRAZIEST itinerary from Cincinnati to Paris, Paris to Beirut…then Beirut to Dubai, Dubai to Prague, Prague to Bulgaria, Bulgaria back to Prague, Prague to NYC, and then NYC to Cincinnati (nearly all flights through Delta…you made SO much money off of me)…our love was challenged.

So, as I was leaving Beirut on the return leg of my trip (in order to go to Bulgaria eventually for my friend’s wedding), I was informed of a plane crash in Dubai (thank goodness it wasn’t a Delta plane or my parents would have lost their marbles). As a result, there were delays in Dubai (i.e. the airport was basically closed for a day as everyone freaked out). My luggage was lost (taking its own vacation with the other 15,000 suitcases that were also lost). Eventually, I made it to Bulgaria – but damn that suitcase, it just didn’t want to come with me. So, I was such a BEAUTIFUL bridesmaid in my cotton dress, Nike Gym Shoes, and hair that was frizzier than Beyonce’s in a steam room. BUT! I was still happy…because I knew, that once I got back to the US, I would eventually get to see the man who captured my heart. You may be laughing and thinking that I’m crazy because we only saw each other once, but let me tell you this. HE KEPT TALKING TO ME AND FACETIMING ME EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT SUMMER! You don’t waste data on calling a girl halfway across the world if you don’t at least sorta/maybe love her.

Anyways, I digress…
I left Bulgaria – still without my suitcase and wearing underwear I bought in a flee market for 50 Bulgarian cents (I gave up on hopes of a bra). BUT! I was STILL HAPPY.

The happiness did not last.
Eventually, once I made it to NYC, my suitcase was with me once more (because you know, I needed that bridesmaid dress in JFK’s airport of course). Yet, because of the outage, my flight from Prague to JFK was delayed – which resulted in missing my flight from JFK back to Cincinnati. Still, things could have been worse at that point – I slept in an NYC hotel, looking out my window, thinking about me and “THE GUY” living the life like Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big (without the 10 seasons of drama preceding it…we would skip straight to the cute courthouse wedding).

However…while the suitcase was apparently with me in NYC, that stupid little thing decided it was not ready to go back to Cincinnati and was accidently rerouted elsewhere – it still hasn’t told me where it was. I think it found a Samsonite and fell in love. So, I sat in Cincinnati without any clothes (no, I was not naked in my parent’s house…I got to wear mom’s favorite pajamas which turned out to be dad’s old boxers – yes, I will bill you for the therapy session). As I sat and waited for my luggage, I learned many things. The first thing I learned was that my house, my couch cushions, and that nasty place under the fridge that no one wants to clean were hiding SO MANY PENNIES! Did you know that pennies minted before 1943 can be worth thousands of dollars? I didn’t either…I learned this while counting pennies in my dad’s boxers, wearing Bulgarian panties, no bra…and becoming very sad for what I will tell you happened next.

So, you probably notice that my address is in Charleston, but my last flight was to Cincinnati. That’s because I was planning on driving myself back (with a car full of homemade food, lots of pillows, and probably too many stuffed animals). The best part of my driving, though, was not going to be the winding roads of Tennessee that would make the most qualified astronaut get nauseous, but rather a “pit-stop” I was going to make in Virginia. FINALLY! After many long and lonely nights, he and I would be together once more.

Yeah…things did not happen that way. The delay in receiving my luggage (which was a result of the horrible domino effect caused by the Delta outage) made me super late (no, not that kind of late – I am not the next Holy Mary and I don’t think I’m worthy of immaculate conception). I could not afford to stop in Virginia, and as I told this wonderful man that I would not see him – after he had already called off work and planned so many romantic trips – I wanted to cry. In fact, I did cry. The entire freaking way back to Charleston (i.e. I had to continue straight to Charleston because I would have been late for my Pharmacy 3 courses (P3 is a horrible year…miss one day, you might as well drop out and save yourself money on Xanax)).

He said it would be okay, that we would see each other soon. Yeah. Let me tell you something, men lie. That weekend, he met a cute girl. He began flirting with this girl. He kissed this girl. Pretty sure this girl experienced the romantic trips that I was supposed to and SHE was the one who had breakfast in bed the next morning.

Fortunately, he had some decency and told me about her yesterday – only because I was about to use my Delta $200 voucher to fly up and see him on Labor Day weekend. He said, “I hope we can still be friends.”  The seven words that take a woman from sane to 2 bottles deep in $5 Pinot Noir (advice: if the wine is $5 and is from the corner liquor shop, don’t drink it).

My roommate wanted me to sue you for “psychological pain and emotional suffering.” However, I just really wanted to vent. She’s upstairs with HER cute boy and I’m down here drinking my sadness away. But talking to you helps…I just really hope you made it to the end of this letter.

I have no idea what I actually want in return from you…maybe you can find me another cute 5’10, Civil Engineer with a PhD in Architecture, from Spain (no, not Mexico – legit SPAIN) who speaks with the sexiest accent you’ve heard since Antonio Bandaras, who also wants to have 2 kids, a hamster, and 3 kittens – just like me.

Can you find this? Delta prides itself on customer satisfaction. Please. Help me.

Love (even though it doesn’t exist) always (even though it doesn’t last),

Puffs

Hairspray: A Whimsical Night at the Theatre with Important Life Lessons

September 9, 2016 by 0 Comments
By Mark A. Leon
By Mark A. Leon

Hairspray:  A Whimsical Night at the Theatre with an Important Life Lesson

Racial issues are as visible a concern today as they were in 1962, the setting year of the new Charleston Stage production of Hairspray.

The extreme nature of assembly, protest and action may have changed over the years, but the need for awareness and acceptance continues to ring true.  The Charleston Stage adaptation of Hairspray has successfully brought this to the forefront with color, musical celebration and a closing number that will have the entire audience standing in celebration.

The background of the Baltimore skyline married the styles of Escher and Picasso, bringing a feeling of animation and reality into one.  Costume design played a vital character in this production with rich colors creating a rainbow tapestry with each dance number.  Finally, a cast resembling young versions of Alan Freed, the Beach Boys and James Brown shined in this coming of age musical comedy.

The story is simple, girl loves to dance; girl meets boy; girl is white, boy is black; they inspire each other; girl fights the establishment and in the end, it doesn’t matter if you are black or white because love and passion see no color and life is a celebration of love.

The script, scenes and the acting are all conducted with a comical flare to release the pressure of the topic matter.  In the end, the audience is taken for a ride powered by music, comedy and compassion.

It was a site unlike most during the final musical performance when the entire audience and we mean not a butt to a chair danced in the aisle while rocketing a series of claps and screams.  Pure theatre admiration from the orchestra to the balcony.

The show stopper occurred in act two during one moving scene when Motormouth Maybelle, played by Letty Clay who stands no more than five foot nothing belted an emotional rendition of “I Know Where I’ve Been” outlining her plight as a black woman in America in the 20th century.  As she hit the high notes like a hundred canons firing at once, the entire audience roared in approval.

Under the direction of Marybeth Clark, her and her team chose a cast that complimented each other well in song, dance and dialogue.  In two beautiful debut performances, Lakeisha Gamble (Lil’ Inez), an 11th  grade student and attendee at the School of the Arts and T’voris Singleton (Stooie) a 23 year old in his first production both shined on stage like professional stars.

Pen Chance tackled the roll of Edna Turnblad, the mother of our lead heroine with the same charm and charisma as previous actors that have taken on this challenging role.

Lara Allred (Velma Von Tussle) as the former beauty queen turned producer whose narrow minded views on black and white culture transformed well.  Of course, Maggie Saunders took on the leading role of Tracy Turnblad, a complex teenager whose simplicity in a world of complexity taught us all that beauty is truly on the inside.

For two hours of explosive color, full stage choreographed dance and music and lyrics celebrating life, love and dreams, this is the production for you.   You will be taken to where pop and R&B come together as one with major life lessons.  Come out to see Hairspray at the Historic Dock Street Theatre.

Hairspray is playing September 7 – 25 at the Historic Dock Street Theatre

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina Opens Today on Sullivan’s Island, SC

September 8, 2016 by 0 Comments

Media Release Mex 1 Coastal Cantina Sullivan’s Island Now Open

WHO:     Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

WHAT:  Thursday, September 8, Mex 1 Coastal Cantina invites you to drop in and chill out as they officially opens on Sullivan’s Island

Beach-goers and foodies alike will be able to enjoy flavorful Baja Mexican food, fresh squeezed margaritas, and infused tequilas as popular West Ashley restaurant, Mex 1, opens its second location in the recently closed SALT at Station 22 building.

The Sullivan’s Island location will be open everyday starting at 11am.

For more information about Mex 1 new Sullivan’s Island location or West Ashley restaurant, visit Mex1Can.com or find them on Facebook at Mex 1 Coastal Cantina.

WHEN:                           

Thursday, September 8, 2016

WHERE:                        

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

2205 Middle Street

Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

Official Website

Do You Believe in Heaven? – Survey Results

September 8, 2016 by 0 Comments

Several weeks ago, we reached out and asked you to participate in a short two question survey entitled “Do You Believe In Heaven”.  We asked that question and as a follow up, what is your personal perception/believe in what Heaven is.  We are so thankful to all those that generously participated in this survey.

What is very interesting about the comments is that they range from faith to science and some in between.  Whether religion, faith, spirituality or science places into your personal beliefs, it is clear that believing in something is important in life’s journey.

We would like to present you with the results and some of the candid comments provided to us.

Do you believe in Heaven?

Yes – 61.90%

No – 38.10%

What do you believe Heaven is?

“I believe heaven is where all good people reside after death.”

“After you have lived the lives you were meant to live and your soul has learned the lessons that were needed to reach your highest self, Heaven is a place where your soul or essence of being continues on in another state of consciousness. Ideally what I would like to believe is that we are reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us and we no longer have feelings of fear, pain or anxiety.”

“We all all made of energy and energy does not die.  Heaven may be a metaphysical state that we cannot comprehend in our current place in life, but it is part of the continuation of energy.”

“I do not have a definitive answer. What I perceive is beyond description, except for poor analogies of life existence and experience. In one sense it is recognition of oneness and acceptance of the presence of the Source, in whatever form that may prove to be. In another it is manifestation of all one’s best imagined existences.”

“Union with God.”

“Place prepared by God for Christians.”

“I believe it’s way above the clouds. I believe the St. Peter has to approve ones entry. Once inside you can visit all generations of family and friends as you remember then. You can go back in time an see yourself at 14 years of age or 84. Ambrosia is not the only food available; there a fine dining rooms, excellent restaurants, fast food spots and bar-b-que joints. Elegant bars and lounges, beer & juke joints and bars with peanuts shells on the floor. Seasonal rains and temperatures that suit the one that you consider just right for the area you dwell in. And peace–personal and political–throughout the Earth.”

“A place that God dwells that is Holy and spiritual. It is a place that the righteous, those that follow Christ, will reside with God.”

“Peace of mind, no physical pain.”

“Eternity”

“A place of peace and happiness!”

“Spirited particles of energy surrounded by higher particles of engulfing sustaining energy that move beyond our comprehended physical dimension.”

“It is a real place of indescribably beauty.  Utopia realized.”

Charleston, SC Based Zubie debuts Teen App, offering peace of mind for parents, richer understanding of driving behavior for insurers

September 6, 2016 by 0 Comments

Media Release:  Zubie Teen App debuts, offering peace of mind for parents, richer understanding of driving behavior for insurers

CHARLESTON, S.C. September 6, 2016:  Zubie, a leading connected-car platform and telematics provider, has bolstered its suite of family-friendly consumer and usage-based insurance (UBI) solutions with the introduction of its Zubie Teen App. The Zubie Teen App helps keep young drivers safer on the road by proactively providing teens and their parents a personalized view of driving behavior insights combined with coaching tips, always-on location monitoring and a remote view of the operating health of the car.

For insurers, the new Teen App complements Zubie’s suite of rich consumer-facing apps, creating opportunities for them to better engage with their customers, whether through a usage-based insurance program or broader insurance retention strategies.

Zubie’s cellular-powered connected-car service has always resonated with parents who want peace of mind when it comes to their kids on the road. With the Zubie Teen App, parents “invite” their teen drivers into the app which then provides access to a driving scorecard and behavior trends, alerts about engine or battery problems, driving statistics and trip logs after each trip, and coaching with tips on how to be a safer and more efficient driver.

Because teens receive specific and relevant feedback after each trip, they can connect the dots between their driving behavior and the Zubie Score, which rates drivers on how safely and efficiently they are driving. Parents can view that and additional details so they are on the same page with their teen drivers.

The new Zubie Teen App – along with Zubie’s overall turnkey UBI solution – provides powerful and in-depth data for insurance underwriting and claims management purposes. Through the Zubie device inserted in the vehicle’s OBDII port, data is collected as frequently as every second, including various aspects of the car’s performance such as RPM, miles driven, battery voltage, engine diagnostics and other elements. Zubie aggregates this data and further augments it with information on location, speeding over the posted speed limit, harsh braking, and rapid accelerations. The combined data provides a more comprehensive understanding of teen driving behavior, and provides opportunities to proactively increase safety before there are incidents or accidents.

“Zubie and insurance providers share a commitment to family-centric apps that enhance safety and driving efficiency,” says Zubie vice president of business development, Craig Lozofsky. “We’re excited that our services resonate so well with Zubie families. Because the teens are ‘invited’ to access the data and it’s a simplified real-world picture of their car and driving detail, they’re more engaged and receptive to using the coaching tips and insights. Additionally it offers great insights to our insurance partners, helping them hone and enhance their family-centric UBI products.”

The Zubie Teen App comes free with Zubie service and is available for Android and iPhone.  Zubie can be purchased at zubie.com, Amazon.com, or Best Buy. Visit Zubie.com/get-zubie-teen to learn more.

About Zubie
Zubie is a connected-car service focused on making driving safer and worry-free for business enterprises including automotive, insurance and mobile/telecom operators, as well as consumers and small businesses. The company was formed in 2012, and is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Zubie was the winner of the “2015 Best Insurance Telematics Product” award from TU Automotive, and the 2016 Tech CARS award for “Best OBDII Device with Software and Services” from Auto Connected Car.

Visit Zubie.com for more information about Zubie.

zubie

 

Remembering South Carolina State Senator John Drummond (1919 – 2016)

September 5, 2016 by 0 Comments

Media Release:  With his death yesterday at age 96, we reflect on the remarkable life of former South Carolina Senator John Drummond. Senator Drummond lived a life of exemplary service to our state and to our nation.

A native of Ninety Six, John Drummond was born in 1919 to a family of mill workers, like so many other South Carolina families of that era. Called to serve our country in World War II, he served as a pilot and paratrooper, acquiring the nickname “Ace” due to his flying prowess. His plane, “Raid Hot Mama,” was shot down over France, and he spent 10 months in a prisoner of war camp. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, nine Air Medals, three Battle Stars, a Presidential Citation, and two Purple Hearts for his valor. The Greatest Generation was great because of Americans like John Drummond.

After the war, his ingenuity transferred from the battlefield to the homefront in Greenwood, where he embarked upon entrepreneurial ventures in fields as varied as the doughnut business and the oil business.

While John Drummond had more than earned a peaceful life out of the public eye, he remained called to public service, winning election to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1964 and to the South Carolina Senate two years later, where he would represent the Greenwood area continuously until 2008. Widely respected by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle, he served in numerous leadership positions, including president pro tempore, majority leader, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and chairman of the State Reorganization Committee. In 2000, he played a key role in brokering the compromise to lower the Confederate battle flag from the State House dome, the vital first step toward removing it from the State House grounds completely.

We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Drummond family and their friends during this time of mourning. We thank them for Senator Drummond’s long life making our state, our country, and the world a better place. As we remember him, we strive to cultivate his selfless servant leadership within ourselves. We need more like him.

Services will be at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Ninety Six with the Rev. Chuck Sprouse and the Rev. Calvin Holland officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church on Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m.

Memorials may be made to Hospice House, HospiceCare of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646; Elmwood Cemetery Association, PO Box 15, Ninety Six, SC 29666 or to the John & Holly Drummond Scholarship, c/o Lander University, 320 Stanley Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646.

Remembrance of John Drummond – South Carolina Democratic Party

Lowcountry

The Importance of the Written Word: Has Mobile Technology Destroyed Our Ability to Connect

September 5, 2016 by 0 Comments
By Mark A. Leon
By Mark A. Leon

In a day and age where breaking up via text is as acceptable as Urban Dictionary definitions, the desire to embrace the essential impact of the written word is becoming more important.  Today, we express emotion through emoticons and acronyms; rely on the smartphone over the pen and celebrate the value of connection with gifs and jpgs.  The evolution of mankind and its infatuation with mobile technology has damaged the roots of humanity and its yearning for connection.

As I completed a seven-page letter to Beth, who currently is about to enter her third year in the Peace Corps in Africa, I reflected back on two years of global letter writing, with each letter bringing a bigger smile than the last.  Don’t get me wrong, we both have WhatsApp and Facebook and know very well in the four weeks of transit, will age the relevance of the letter, but the connection is still felt along with the emotions built into each correspondence.

I want us to take a step back to a time when the pen was magical and the ability to express oneself in words changed lives.  The following excerpts are from letters written several years ago, that pitted the depths of human emotion and effectively changed lives.

Original Hand Written Letter Excerpts:

“No words over a telephone could communicate what I have to say so I’ll have to rely on written words, which seem to be more effective in our relationship.  The letters you sent me were beautiful and plentiful.  They surpassed any gift I have received yet.  The first one showed you are a true friend.  The birthday greeting followed by good advice and a boost to my ego was very much appreciated.  In a word, thanks.  I needed to hear some of the things you said.  Coming from you, they were even more meaningful to me.” – Raquel

“Remember when I said that there are very few people in the world who I identify with and that you were one of them?  I honestly meant that and not just in the sense that you challenge me.  I am glad we met and happy to have you in my life (even if it is a little more dramatic now).  I hope you have the best birthday and that you get all you hope for.  Did I mention I also find you incredibly attractive (I know, I’m being high school)” – Lorie

“There are too many things in the world that suck and you are one of them.  It is sad to say, but it is true.  You suck because of the way you act.  Everything else about you is fine except when it comes to your attitude and your pride.  I’m sure you’ve heard this before, yeah you must have.   Everyone on this floor has been making fun of the immature way you act.  You are a great person and fun to be with until I get to know you.  Don’t get me wrong.  If you want to be friends, it is okay by me, but I know it will never be the same.  I will never try to get close to you again.  One just fails in doing so.  You are so closed.  You are like an asymptote.  People get closer and closer to you, but they never reach you.  Why couldn’t you talk to me?” – Raquel

“I meant what I said this morning that no one has made me feel special in a long time.  You don’t know how much it means to me when you do the little things, like saying “Thanks for going out last night for dinner”.  People can buy all the gifts in the world, but it doesn’t even come close to how I feel when I know you think about me.” – Amy

“If you are reading this then I have already said good-bye.  I can’t be friends with someone I don’t trust.  I do love you still and I have for a long time.  I mean these words.  I have tried to stop.  I am writing this now because I cried all the way down here and I will cry all the way home.  Losing you is one of the hardest things I have had to do in a long time.  As the tears streak down my cheeks and the rain falls on the window, I think of all the memories.” – Kimberly

“Each day with you is a tender moment that fills my heart with joy and each passing thought of you still makes me believe – makes me believe in all the things that I could not comprehend before I met you.  I know that words never amount to much.  Words come and go and we always speak of our thoughts on a passing whim.  I cannot say anything or do anything that will change the way you feel, but what I feel is so strong – strong enough that each morning I awake and thank God I was given the chance to feel a love that no words, no song, no man or woman can ever describe.  I will hold the thought of you in my heart and soul – And I will carry your name with me forever.” – Hope

“I feel safety when I’m in your arms, like the entire army from hell couldn’t come close to me when I’m there.  The softness and passion in your kisses seem to lift me from the Earth, melting the rest of the world away and leaving only you and I to swirl around in the clouds of ecstasy.  The heat of your body next to mine, the feel of your hands on my skin and in my hair, the way your eyes sparkle when you say something clever… These are the things that caused me to drop my guard with you even though my situation basically doomed us from the beginning.  The way you seem to always be right, the way I don’t care when I’m wrong, how you laugh when you really think something is funny – and when you think it’s not.  These are some of the things that ultimately lead me to love you.  I don’t expect anything from you or out of “us”.  I don’t need you to love me back, I don’t need any promises or favors…All I need is for you to know how I feel.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Simple isn’t it?!?” – Summer

“Your letter was amazingly, awesomely, wonderfully great.  I was smiling and laughing out loud the entire time I read it.  The people around me thought I was crazy (oh no!  Now they know the truth about me.)  I got my Cosmopolitan magazine on my lap, some Juicy Fruit gum that Amanda gave me and the Walkman which I didn’t put on yet.  I wanted to write before we took off because I’m afraid I’ll get dizzy if I write while the plane is moving.  I want to tell you how great it is for me to have finally found some true, great friends like you and Rock.  I really appreciate all that you do for me.  I can’t begin to tell you how much better you always manage to make me feel.” – Stacey

“Once upon a time I gave my heart to you.  You kept it for a while.  Then you began to nurture it.  That part of my heart began to grow like the most beautiful, yet delicate flower.  There were not only fragrant petals, but thorns.  The thorns began to hurt.  You took that piece of my heart and began to play with it as a kitten does a ball of string.  I let you because I loved you.  You began to give me back my heart.  So I gave you a piece of my soul.  You will have that forever.  Now you choose to nurture neither my gifts, my heart nor my soul, but they are yours.  I have them to you unconditionally, selflessly and forever.  I love you for you.  For your spirit and for your love of life.” Kimberly

“It’s a very serious thing for me and I’m sorry to do this, but I need time.  I’m not asking for forever, just a couple of days.  I need it and I’m sorry for that, but I have to do this.  I need to not see you for a couple of days.  I need this.  You said that you knew your feelings for me for sure when you were not around me and I’m not saying that’s what I need because I know that I have strong feelings for you.  If I don’t take a couple of days or so from us, I feel that I will run from you and I don’t want to do that.” – Casey

As you can see from these excepts, the power of the written word can penetrate the soul with fulfillment or pierce the heart.  It can bring you to your highest point or lowest and everything in between.

That is one of the greatest losses with the onset of the mobile culture and one we cannot afford to lose.

Food & Bev

Tailgating Recipes to help ring in the football season

September 4, 2016 by 1 Comment

poppers

The buzz is out there Charleston.  The smell of pigskin, house parties, tailgates, BBQ, beer and friends.  It is that time of year for Gamecocks, Tigers and Panthers or any other team that gives you goosebumps every Saturday and Sunday morning.  To help you leap into football season, we have provided three amazing recipes that will make you the life of any tailgate party.

These will surely make you the hit of the parade.  Be careful, they have a bite.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 rotisserie chicken, removed from bone and shredded

16 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1 cup of ranch or blue cheese salad dressing

¾ cup of Frank’s red hot

4 green onions, cut into ¼ inch slivers

1 cup of shredded Chedder or Colby cheese

Celery and carrot sticks

Sliced Baguette or crackers

Method: Preheat oven to 350. Mix first 5 ingredients and spread into 1 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes and serve with veggie sticks and bread.

 

Jalapeno Corn Poppers

12 large jalapeno peppers

1 package Jiffy cornbread mix

½ of an8 ounce can of creamed corn

1 egg beaten

1/3 cup of milk

½ cup of Monterey jack cheese

Sour cream and salsa for serving (optional)

Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wearing latex or nitrile gloves, halve peppers with a knife and scrape out seeds. Place on a metal cookie sheet. Mix cornbread mix, creamed corn, egg and milk together until pasty and fill each halved pepper with 1 tablespoon of the mix. Sprinkle shreds of cheese on top. Bake for 15 minutes and serve warm with salsa and sour cream.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1 16 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chills (Rotel is fine)

1 16 ounce can of white whole kernel corn

1 16 ounce can of black beans

½ medium red onion, diced

1 fist sized bunch of cilantro

1 tsp white sugar

Method: Mix all ingredients, add salt to taste and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips or with jalapeño poppers (above)

James & John's Islands, SC - Mount Pleasant, SC

Tale of Two Cities: Mount Pleasant vs. James Island, SC

September 4, 2016 by 9 Comments
By Mark A. Leon
By Mark A. Leon

Between historic Charleston lies two very distinct communities, each defined by its own unique culture, attitude and neighborhood aesthetics.  How can two towns just miles apart have such a distinct difference in personality?  Let us dissect the differences and similarities and thus allow you to draw your own conclusions.

This piece was inspired by two recent social outings, one on Thursday evening in Mount Pleasant at Basil and Sol and the second on John’s Island at JB’s Smokeshack.  While enjoying a quiet lunch and writing a letter at JB’s, I met Chuck, a lifelong resident of this area who grew up hunting on the farms that are now defined by the intersection of Highway 17 and 526.  It was this conversation and my food and beverage interaction in Mount Pleasant that drove the need to write this article.

Let us dig right in and look at the true differences between Mount Pleasant and James Island

  • Dining Prices – There is a definable difference between dining in Mount Pleasant and dining on James Island.  At Sol, two tacos and a 16-ounce craft beer will run you $18.00, with $2.21 in tax and $4.00+ in tip = $24.21.  On Wednesday at Lowdown Kitchen, a 10-inch specialty pizza and glass of house red wine will run you $9.00, with $1.15 in tax and $3.00 in tip = $13.15.  At Paisano’s on Tuesday, you can get a calzone with two meats and two veggies for $6.00 plus tax.  At White Duck Taco, a taco will run between $3.50 and $4.50 and for Happy Hour, a Tecate is $1.00.  A bowl of she-crab soup at Roadside Seafood is $.6.00.  We aren’t going to go through all menus at all dining establishments, but on average, there is a dining disparity.
  • Original Music – On any given night in Mount Pleasant from Shem Creek to Arts to Wild Wings, live music is abundant and so is the chance of hearing Wagon Wheel.  The music is heavily dominant on cover songs.  That is what the customers want to hear.  There is no doubting the musical eye of the Charleston Pour House on James Island and their ability to find the most amazing original music acts in the Southeast and around the country so we give this category to James Island.
  • Brand Awareness – James Island is defined by a unique culture of small and family owned business.  As you drive through you, will see a Sonic, Walmart, AutoZone and Waffle House.  Not much else in terms of chain retail and dining.  Mount Pleasant is a whole other story.  TJ Maxx, Lane Bryant, Kohl’s, Michael’s, Nordstrom’s Rack, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond, Gap, Old Navy and the list goes on.  Very brand focused.
  • Coffee Houses – This one is very close.  Mount Pleasant has Collective Coffee and Metto, two incredible coffee shops.  James Island has Muddy Waters
    Old Pitt Street Bridge
    Old Pitt Street Bridge

    and How Art Thou.  We are going to give this one a tie.

  • Beaches – Another close one.  Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island vs. Folly Beach.  This debate can go on and on.  In terms of accessibility, great dining, fun playful environment, we will also give this a tie.
  • Trivia – Once again we are at a stalemate.  Locals and Wild Wings are among the local establishments with live trivia in Mount Pleasant.  The Break and O’Brion’s are popular sites on James Island.  Tie.
  • Dog Friendly – The Barrel, James Island County Park, Sip, How Art Thou, James Island Sunday Brunch, The Charleston Pour House, Bohemian Bull; all speak volumes on how dog friendly James Island is.  Dogs are considered residents in these parts.  We know The Shelter does a lot with Pet Helpers and we admire that.  Overall, Mount Pleasant is a little behind on the support of pups and dining.
  • Attitude – This one may come under some scrutiny, but we stand behind it.  James Island is the Jimmy Buffett of the Charleston area communities.  No matter where you go, we greet you with a smile.  If you are drinking or dining alone, don’t expect to be too long.  There is a genuine friendliness that is infectious on the Island.  Mount Pleasant is a bit more stand-offish and not as inviting of strangers.
  • Natural Scenery – Mount Pleasant has Old Pitt Street Bridge, Old Mount Pleasant and Shem Creek.  All beautiful open areas of natural wonder.  James Island has Riverland Drive, James Island County Park, Dock Street Park, Mcleod Plantation, Harborview Road, Intercoastal Waterway, Sunrise Park, and Scenic Fort Johnson Road.  James Island is still untapped with its ample marsh, wooded areas and parks area and thus gets the victory lap in this category.
  • Traffic – I think we can comfortably call Folly Road and Highway 17 almost a dead heat.
  • Organic Food – Mount Pleasant wins by one – Whole Foods vs. Earthfare in a tug of war, but with Mount Pleasant having Trader Joe’s on its side, it has more muscle.  With both having respective farmer’s markets, we have to give this one to Mount Pleasant.
  • Hippie Lifestyle – We have to give the edge to James Island.  Mount Pleasant is a stone throw from Awendaw Green Barn Jam, but with the Brickhouse Drum Circle, Folly Beach (recently voted the Most Hippie City in South Carolina) and the Charleston Pour House, we have to give the victory to James Island.

There we have it, the differences and similarities between James Island and Mount Pleasant.  If we missed any categories, please comment below.