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.

Lowcountry

Charlie’s Grocery Offers a Memorable Falafel

August 26, 2014 by 0 Comments

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Downtown Charleston is home to several corner stores but few have the rich history that Charlie’s Grocery  does. Opened in 1996 by Charlie Dabit, the Jasper Street grocery store has kept nearby residents and college students in stock with the essentials and more. Anyone who has ever experienced Charlie’s knows there is an impressive deli within. Beyond the Boar’s Head and large selection of homemade salads and jumbo pickles, there is one of Charleston’s most delicious treats, falafel. While falafel can be found at a few restaurants downtown and beyond, Charlie’s is arguably the best. The Charleston Daily (CD) sat down with Abe, Charlie’s eldest son who is now at the helm of day to day operations. We talked history, falafel and the future.

CD: Tell me about Charlie’s.

Abe: Charlie’s is our family’s store. We have been in business going on 18 years in April. The Jasper Street store was opened in April of 1996 and we recently opened a second store at the corner of Spring and Rutledge.

CD: Looks like you are running the Jasper Street store now. Where is Mr. Charlie?

Abe: My father is still around. Every morning he is at our Spring Street location. He’s very much a part of the business still. He has given a lot of the responsibility to me and my brother though.

CD: Enough small talk. Tell me about the falafel.

Abe: (laughing) What do you want to know?

CD: What makes it so great? Whose recipe is it?

Abe: It’s just really fresh. The falafel is my mother’s family’s recipe and it hasn’t changed. It’s really simple. There is a basic ratio of chickpeas, onions, cilantro, and spices but there is no real measuring. It’s based on taste.

CD: So it’s a secret…. Would you ever considering opening a restaurant?

Abe: Yeah, especially with Middle Eastern food including falafel. Charleston kind of lacks in that area, but we have a few places around like Tabbuli and Manny’s. We have definitely considered opening a restaurant.

CD: What is the strangest thing a customer has requested?

Abe: That’s a toughie… Actually, pig’s feet! We used to carry them in jars. We had to talk my father into dropping them. People would request them, and there you are, reaching in, grabbing a pig’s foot, stuffing it in a bag and sending them on their merry way. Disgusting.

CD: What is the biggest challenge Charlie’s has experienced?

Abe: Finding trustworthy, good help. My father is very old fashioned. It’s very difficult to walk away and allow someone else to do this job.

CD: What does Charlie’s mean to your family?

Abe: Charlie’s is ours and we take care of it like it is a child. It’s everything to us.

On that note, I dove into the falafel pita Abe had carefully prepared for me. The pita was generously stuffed with flattened orbs of fried falafel and refreshing cubes of cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. The falafel were crispy on the outside and tender inside. Where so many falafel are dense, these were light and bouncy. The optional hot sauce was no joke, even for me. The creamy hummus was a welcome option and it gave the sandwich a layer of depth that made it a satisfying meal. This falafel, like the many others I have enjoyed from Charlie’s, was perfection.

Charlie’s original corner store and deli is located at 1 Jasper Street. Charlie’s second location is open at Spring and Rutledge. Their hours are Monday – Saturday 9am-8pm and Sunday 10am -6pm. Falafel and other sandwiches can be ordered ahead from the Jasper Street location by calling: (843) 853-0351

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Lowcountry

Poetry is all around Charleston

August 26, 2014 by 2 Comments
By Mark A. Leon

As I walk the streets of Charleston turning down the cobblestone of the French Quarter, I can hear faint sounds of journeyman and poets through the walls of the historic buildings.  For centuries, Charleston has defined romanticism with passionate simplicity and elegance.  It is a city blessed with church steeples and architecture that dates back to the early colonists escaping religious persecution for a better life.  It is in their sweat and blood that we can now smell the fragrance of flowers, freedom and community.

Written word and song from lover to lover, performer to fans, dreamers to visionaries and leaders to supporters has been the capstone of our foundation in Charleston.  From Gershwin to Poe, Charleston has housed some of the most creative minds in American history.

As a poet and a writer, Charleston showers me with inspiration each and every day.

My love for this town inspired the following poem:

This is Charleston

It is a rainbow of infinite memories
From the early settlers to the pioneers of tomorrow

Sailboats raise a symbol to the sky as the wind guides them offshore creating a finely stitched canvas of white clouds and ocean blue

From the tips of the church steeples reaching to the heavens, to the remains of our forefathers resting in the sacred burials, Charleston is a blessing and gift

In its wonder, we are taken back in time to cobblestone roads, horse drawn carriages and southern hospitality as sweet as nectar on pecan pie

Once a shipping ground for slavery and inequality; now a harmonious settlement of integration, culture, dining and hospitality

Each morning, the sun rises over the harbor and welcomes a new day with open arms

Streets filled with life, the sound of music and aromas to warm the soul

This is Charleston

It is home to the world

Defining a global appeal, an artist sees a city with a marriage of nature and skyline beauty becoming one
Painting in his head a true masterpiece
Now this canvas, resting peacefully on the coast, is laden in strokes of reds and blues
Always in flux as patrons pay homage to the city we love

This is Charleston

From the laughter of the children in the fountain, to the love of an elderly couple embracing on the sand, this is heart of all that is good

This is Charleston; where the heart of the South reminds you of the beauty of life

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After performing at various events in Charleston including Jailbreak 2014, East Bay Meeting House and The 827 Center and hosting spoken word open mic events at How Art Thou Cafe, it is clear that there is incredible talent in this community.  Recently, I published my third collection of poetry and the last collection has been exclusively inspired by the people, places and experiences of this place I call home.  Poetry is often hidden in the shadows due to its intimacy and personal nature.  It is disguised as music, composition, storytelling, acting and written word.

Poetry is a personal emotion that is shared from one to another.

I have often said that poetry is one of the greatest risks you can take in your life.  It is ability to become emotionally naked to everyone around you and let them inside your deepest personal thoughts and feelings.  That is the true core of poetry.

Being honored as the number one city in the world and the nicest city in the United States is not just an honor we carry in a magazine article or a plaque, but a way of life.

Just months before his passing of terminal cancer, the legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano said, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”  That line has stayed with me for 21 years and in all my travels it has never rang more true than in Charleston.  There isn’t a day that goes by without a stranger saying hello or smiling at you.  In times of need, this community rallies like no other.

If you ever find yourself walking down the street alone, thinking and then sitting on a dock watching one of our magical sunsets, you will have experienced visual poetry.

I hope each one of you finds that internal strength to open up your emotional window and let people in.  Each day, you should laugh, cry and think and most importantly, write down how you feel.  Someday, those words will inspire another generation.

If you would like to read more of my personal thoughts, my door is always open at Recruiterpoet Blog and if you see me on the street, say hello.  I may read you a poem.

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Mount Pleasant, SC

Escape to Pitt Street Bridge

August 14, 2014 by 2 Comments

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Have you ever gone for a walk at night, under a full moon and experienced a moment of Gatsby and Hemingway? Is there a place to sit on the lush grass, watch the moon reflected off the harbor and drink wine with your lover? Maybe you could crab or fish in murky water off a quaint bridge. There is a certain romanticism of the idea of connecting with nature and escaping the daily routines of life.

Pitt Street Bridge also known as Pickett Park offers this great escape. Just a short drive off of Coleman Boulevard through an unsuspecting suburban neighborhood, this walkway, custom made for friends, lovers and fishermen is a pathway to uncover some of the incredible beauty of Charleston.

Cornered off between Old Village Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island, Pitt Street Bridge is situated perfectly. From picnics to fireworks, to the distant sounds of Hootie and the Blowfish playing at the Family Circle Cup arena, you can be taken away without leaving Mount Pleasant.
How can such a beautiful and strategically placed path of tranquility be hidden for so long? This is one of the many charms of Charleston.
Just down the street from the Pitt Street Bridge in the Old Mount Pleasant is the Village Bakery. This is a tiny rustic bakery where you can get breakfast, lunch or coffee. If you do stop by, try the pimento grits and the chocolate banana nut muffin. Those are two of the many things that will keep you coming back.

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Get a nice basket of food and take the short drive to the Bridge. Lay a blanket out and watch the birds or boats in the harbor. If I didn’t mention it already, this is a haven for bird watchers. You will see several unique species in their natural habitat.
I know this quite a bit to take in.

We just introduced you to a spot in Mount Pleasant where you can:

• Kayak
• Picnic
• Go crabbing or fishing
• Jog
• Take a romantic walk
• Bird Watch
• Watch the sunrise and sunset

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It may sound like a dream come true, but it is all there free of charge. Plan your escape soon to Pitt Street Bridge and don’t forget your camera. You will want to create some lasting memories.

Pitt Street Bridge Video

Food & Bev

Charleston Recipes: Four Southern Recipes You Must Add to Your Collection

July 23, 2014 by 0 Comments

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Our local Charleston resident chef Gabriella has awakened our senses and warmed our hearts with four mouth watering Southern Homemade Recipes to overflow the heart and fill the stomach.  Next time you are in the kitchen and want to make the whole family happy, whip up some of these treasures (Coca Cola Ham, Collard Greens, Hummingbird Cake and Shrimp and Grits).  Believe me, they will love you for a long time, or until they take a nap from all the food.

Coca-Cola Ham

Ingredients:

  • 1 (4 -5 lb) bone-in ham
  • 1 onion, peeled, cut in 1/2
  • 1 (2-liter) bottle coca -cola

For the Glaze:

  • 1 handful cloves
  • 1 heaping tablespoon molasses
  • 2 teaspoons English mustard powder
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

Method:

Peel and cut 1 onion in half.  In a large pot, place ham and the onion and pour the 2 liter bottle of coca-cola over top. On a medium-high heat, allow to cola to come to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover, not tightly with lid, and allow to cook for 2 1/2 hours. It is 1 hour for every 2 pounds.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
For the Glaze:

Pull the ham from the pot and allow to rest on a cutting board reserving the cooking liquid. Using a sharp knife, trim the skin, leaving a thin layer of fat on the ham. Using the knife, score the fat diagonally into large diamond cut. In each diamond pierce the fat with 1 clove. Spread the molasses over the meat. Gently pat the powdered mustard and sugar around the meat so it sticks to the molasses. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil. Gently place the ham in the roasting pan. Cook the ham for about 10 minutes or until glaze is burnished and bubbly.
For braising the ham in advance and then letting the ham cool, take ham from the refrigerator, glaze it according to the recipe, and give it 30 to 40 minutes to sit at room temperature. Place in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, then turning up the heat if prefer a crispier exterior.

 

Collard Greens

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound smoked ham or turkey wings
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 1 Tablespoon hot sauce (Tabasco, franks, or sriracha)
  • 1 large bunch collard greens
  • 1 Tablespoon butter
  • 1 tsp vinegar (apple cider, white or balsamic)

Method:

Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add meat, salts, pepper, garlic powder and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour.
Wash, trim and slice greens into 1/2 to 1-inch slices. Add greens and butter to stock. Cook on medium for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vinegar and more salt and pepper to taste.

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Hummingbird Cake (for a cake or cupcakes)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup pecans
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup vegetable, corn, or canola oil
  • 1  1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 – 8 ounce undrained can crushed pineapple
  • 2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium sized bananas)

Pecan Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1/4 cup butter, room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 pound box (about 4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • Shredded coconut (optional)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter, or spray with a non-stick spray, two – 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. If you are making cupcakes, line tin with cupcake liners.
Place the pecans on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop finely.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon. Then stir in the chopped pecans.
In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, pineapple, and mashed bananas. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until combined. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After 10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, flip the cakes right side up, and then cool completely before frosting.
Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and cream cheese, on medium-low speed, until very smooth. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on medium-low speed, until smooth and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract and then beat (or stir) in the finely chopped pecans.
To assemble Cake: Place one cake on your serving platter. Spread with about a third of the frosting. Gently place the other cake layer on top and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. Pecan halves as a garnish is optional. If not serving immediately, refrigerate the cake. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Cupcakes: Frost when cool and top with pecan halves. Note from chef Gabriella: I also like to sprinkle them in toasted coconut.

 

Shrimp and Grits (stolen from Chef Mike Lata when he was Executive Chef of Anson House Restaurant)

GRITS:

• 2 cups milk (with some extra for during the cooking process)
• 1 cup fresh white grits
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

SHRIMP:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons finely diced onion
• 3 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper
• 2 ounces diced country ham
• ½ cup shrimp stock (make this from boiling the shrimp shells in 1 cup for water for 10 minutes)
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives or parsley
• 6 dashes of hot sauce (Tabasco or Franks)
• Salt and ground pepper

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Method:

Grits: Bring the milk just up to a low boil over medium heat. Add the grits and stir constantly for 1 minute. Turn the heat to low. If there are any hulls, skim and remove them using a slotted spoon. Add the butter and stir frequently for the first 10 minutes, then stir every 10 minutes until grits are done, about 1 to 1 ½ hrs. Add more milk if the grits are becoming too coarse. Cover between stirrings. When creamy, add salt and pepper to taste. May need about ½ tsp salt.
For the shrimp:

Melt the butter in a large, heavy bottom fry pan or enamel skillet. Add the onion and red pepper, cooking till translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the ham and sauté briefly. Stir in the stock, scraping the sides and bottom of the skillet to deglaze the pan. Bring to a boil, and cook till the liquid is reduced by half. Add the cream, bring to a boil, and reduce the liquid making a loose sauce. Add the shrimp, stir, and cook till the shrimp turn pink. Add the chives and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Divide the grits among four plates, top with the shrimp and some of the sauce and serve.

We at Charleston Daily have gotten to try these recipes ourselves, and they were delish!  Now, onward to our naps!  We’ll get the dishes later.

 

 

 

 

Lowcountry

Cheers! – Top Breweries in Charleston, SC – Bottoms Up!!!

July 23, 2014 by 1 Comment

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Charleston is a craft beer heavenly oasis. It is a marriage made to last. The synergies between our careful community spirit and the flavorful zest of a good pint of craft beer is priceless.

The next time you are sitting outside at Bohemian Bull, Bay Street Biergarten or My Father’s Mustache, you know where your local beer is coming from.

What makes Charleston and craft beer such a special combination is that it is much more than the beer. Along with tours, there are even yoga classes, pot luck fundraisers, tastings and so much more. Craft beer in Charleston is its own tourist attraction. Come and see….

 

Breweries

Bottle Shops / Craft Beer Havens

Events

Check out the websites to learn more about tours and other events.

Bring the taste of Charleston home today.

*Charleston Craft Beer Blog

Lowcountry

The Great Outdoors of Charleston

July 10, 2014 by 0 Comments

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Fishing, jet-skiing, tubing, skiing, swimming, wakeboarding, camping, hunting, eating, and relaxing.

It’s that time of the year again. The weather is hot and the water is cool, which means lakeside parks like Somerset, Overton and Short Stay on lakes Moultrie and Marion are in full swing. For those who are unfamiliar with the lakes, they are located on the shores of Upper Berkeley County, just a cool 30 minutes from Downtown Charleston. Every weekend, hundreds of boaters are beaching on “Coon Island” to enjoy a little bit of lake life. Almost certainly, a few of them will enjoy it so much they will spend the weekend out there camping. Once dawn breaks, meals will be prepared over a campfire, beverages will be consumed and a typical day on the lake will be underway.

Children will be slung around on tubes behind pontoon boats, screaming with joy while holding on for dear life. Jet skiers spontaneously “race” each other without any word or mention of a start or finish. Skiers, wakeboarders, and kneeboarders glide around, unhindered from every worldly stress except the painful fall that is soon to come. After everyone works up an appetite playing on the lakes, they could visit one of the several restaurants conveniently located nearby. The catfish nuggets at any of these locally owned destinations are always heavenly.

Speaking of fish, the lake’s main attraction is the award winning fish it produces.

cd2Daily, whether there is rain, sleet, or hail, someone is casting a line into the Santee Cooper lake system. And who could blame them? State record bass, catfish and bream have all been caught in the Lowcountry lake system. This is probably what has prompted the rise of the various fishing tournaments that are held on the lakes. Year round, bass and catfish tournaments are held with cash prizes as large as $10,000.

If catching prize-winning fish isn’t your forte, there are dozens of fishing tours that could help even the most unskilled angler land a big one. If you get the opportunity to sail out with one of the lake’s fishing veterans, you are almost guaranteed to land a sizeable fish. If you have not gotten to experience the incredible feeling of winding in a largemouth bass, participate in a tour as soon as possible. You will quickly find out why so many people spend their past-time on a lake.

So get out and about Charleston! There is so much beauty out there to continue to experience. And now you can take us with you. We have Charleston Daily bumper stickers for sale so that you can spread the love throughout Charleston. We appreciate each one of you!2014-07-10 11.17.52 (1)

Written by Charleston Daily’s blogger Hayden Grooms.

North Charleston, SC

Trees, bees and dirty knees

June 27, 2014 by 0 Comments

OPA PNGA few blogs back, I went on a downtown library date at the suggestion of Ben with On Purpose Adventures/Dating. We had such a good time with his first suggestion that I decided to look back at his other ideas and the man is full of great local freebies. If you ever catch yourself saying,“I have nothing to do!”ask this guy for date help, or just check out his FB page to make you look really boring. That man is way too busy! Did you see his awesome RiverDog ZombieDog?

I digress, but another one of the date suggestions he gave to us was to go on a Geocache. What the heck is Geocaching, you ask? Well, it requires a good GPS app like Google Maps, some passion for treasure hunting, a bit of patience and an eagle eye to seek out your pot at the end of the rainbow. Are you waiting for a dinner reservation somewhere? I can guarantee there is a Geocache within scouting distance. I initially dismissed this date idea since I’m just not tech savvy. GPS/smart phone gadgets intimidate me, but my man, Mr. D, who doesn’t prefer a flip phone from the old ages, wanted to give this date suggestion a whirl. How could I say no? It was another chance to explore our fabulous city for free.

geocache-labelWe took on North Charleston/Park Circle for an afternoon. Pulling the truck into a church parking lot, we unloaded our bikes and headed down the street to the first GPS coordinates, just down the way from EVO. The geo community site offered only one simple clue to help guide you in locating the smallest of small caches. It’s shocking…hmm.

We were an entertaining sight to others who watched as Mr. D wandered around with his giant phone outstretched in front of him, trying to narrow down the location. I got down on hands and knees to peer under cob web and dirt encrusted possibilities. We even got asked if we needed help finding our keys. Well, I’ll be honest; that first one was a bit tricky. I experienced first-hand what other “cachers” had rightly warned me about in their online feedback. It took me looking in the same place three times to finally find the little bugger, but it was me – competitive me – and not Mr. D who found the small-as-my-pinky, silver, magnetic bullet that held a book of signatures curled onto a piece of paper tucked inside. I was proud of myself for not giving up when draft beer at DIG was calling my name and found that I was immediately addicted to the hunt. Excited to find the next hidden booty, we peddled to the local pond and as I ranaway from some scary geese, Mr. D hauled the medium sized container out of the bushes. We plopped down on the grass and looked through all the little tokens that people had left inside the green container. The afternoon went on with one cache that must have been stolen, one snuggled next to a bunch of busy bees, and if any of you ever find the one on the Frisbee golf course, you must tell us where it is!

goodies insideThe only thing missing was a picnic basket full of Southern Season cheeses and a beautiful red wine stashed at our last find. Since then, we’ve found a great hide after a visit to the Frothy Beard and I also had the skills to find another tiny, silver gem in a West Ashley parking lot while we waited for my foster dog from Carolina Coonhound (I haven’t lost another one yet – cross your fingers). You will never look at your environment again without wondering how many caches there are out there. So, get out into our city with a friend or your family and start looking!

 

A warm Welcome Back to Tatiana Fisher as our main contributing writer and blogger. We look forward to sharing more adventures of hers! You can check out her blog for more fun times.

 

Lowcountry

Take the leap of a lifetime with SC Skydiving

April 10, 2014 by 0 Comments

2013-08-21 22.50.51The climb into a prop plane that rises fast into the sky like the adrenaline pumping through your body. The little plane circles in quick loops higher and higher to reach the right elevation point. The moment of truth to jump or to have the flight of shame back to the ground. You tuck your arms into your chest close your eyes and on three, you’re free falling. Then the wind starts rushing past you blocking out all other noises except your thrilled screams. Limbs spread out and it will be the closest feeling to flying that you will ever have, until the next time you do this, that you have already decided you must. The jerk of the chute stopping you in the air for a split second making your plummet to the ground turn into a float to earth. Then lifting your feet so your tandem guide can bring you onto the grassy field with a jolt to your bum and it’s all over in a flash. All that’s left to do is strip off your gear and digest that you just checked off skydiving from your bucket list.

All that thrill and rush was NOT for me. I get my thrills from flying down a mountain on my bike, or finding the perfect cheese to go with a new wine. I’m too much of a control freak and a scaredy cat to go tandem skydiving. My boyfriend on the other hand says bring it on.

So thanks to a living social coupon we rose early on Saturday and, with our rare nasty treat of Bojangels chicken and biscuit permeating my truck, we headed out for my man’s thrilling adventure again. On our first attempt to dive the winds picked up and it was too dangerous to send a man out of a plane at 10,000 feet, but this time we just knew it was going to happen. We had the drill down and brought chairs, beverages and reading entertainment. You might be scheduled for 10:00 am but that really interprets into sometime this afternoon. The crew works quickly and efficiently but only three teams at a time can fit into the tiny plane, then getting to elevation, fueling, it all adds up to… be patient dude you get to jump out of a plane today. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was able to bring my dog so I settled in for catching a tan, reading a book on my bucket list and letting Hagan romp through the grassy fields and get belly rubs from all the anxious clients.

2013-08-21 22.52.19My man was signed up and went through the safety video quickly, the weather was sunny and breezeless and the packs of three cycled through until it was GO time. I watched with a tight stomach of nerves as they strapped the heavy harness over his shoulders and around his legs and just like that he was in the sky. I had one eye on the plane and another on my phone that kept lighting up with his mother’s worried texts, and then he appeared, a little dot high in the air. What felt like seconds to him was drawn-out eternity for me. When is the chute going to open! It finally did and he swooshed down in large circles to the ground with no incident. He was thrilled with the experience and ready to sign up again, hell ready to learn solo jumping. My man was ready to jump every day.

Are you ready for the rush? Just an easy drive to the small town of Andrews you too can check off that “I always wanted to do that” from your list. Don’t be a baby like me and take a very safe chance to skydive with some awesome guys from SC Skydiving.

Want to see what it’s all about? Ride along!

 

Written by contributing adventurist & writer Tatiana Fisher

Food & Bev

Scratch your Itch at the Local Flea Market

March 5, 2014 by 0 Comments

CCFWho can resist a good flea market treasure hunt? Rummaging through boxes of collections, knowing that at the bottom of this battered cardboard box, splitting at the seams, could be that vintage poster you have to have for your bathroom. Trying on rows of sunglasses- I’ll take this one, and this one and oh wait these too!

At the Coastal Carolina Flea market, you will be hard pressed not to walk away with a gem. Something you might cherish forever or at least for the day. I come from a long line of dedicated hoarders and I have fought the genetic urge to have a “craft room” or collection of… I have taken the extreme opposite route of my family tradition and try to keep my living spaces clutter free almost sparse with just a hint of charm. So it was with sweaty palms I decided to make my first trip to the Market. It could go either way. I could fall victim to my upbringing and make my boyfriend back up the truck and start loading, or I could stick with the mantra: Do I really need this? What do I need this for? Where will this go?

CC2From the alarming strong smell of the fish tents to the equally overwhelming smell of the perfume guy, chasing you down as you try to dart out of the smog of the sample spray, this place is littered with 1000 available booths and vendors that cover the imagination of possibilities.

We were lured to our first visit by the promise of fresh, cheap produce. I was disappointed to not find an organic vendor, but tried to avoid the dirty dozen as I filled my grocery list. I was going through a juicing faze so we stock piled on beets, mangos, carrots, everything to make mean green juice for a healthy breakfast kick start or my favorite watermelon margaritas for an awesome evening start!

Our second visit we decided to explore the rest of the forty seven acres and double our pleasure by taking the dog with us. Hagan was thrilled with all the smells and sights. We found a vendor that sold raw African Shea butter for a steal, and it makes the perfect lotion for a sensitive skin massage.

CC3The third visit I came upon a photographer that had captured a shot of a tree growing right through an old pick-up truck. There was something perfectly fabulous about it, and I begged my sugar daddy boyfriend to spend his big bucks on two of this artist’s pieces for our bedroom at the whopping price of $30. Now the whole room has been inspired by those two photos and I can’t wait to find a few more things to complete the funky look.

We have found a lunch box to upgrade our brown bags, a cool cat toy and a few old sailing photos for our guest room during our picking. I love that the choices always change, depending on who has decided to set up a table that weekend. Every time I go back I like to think of it as practice to break the cycle. They say it takes a month of doing something to break a habit. I wonder how many times it will take to break three generations of junk collectors?

Yet again this is a great example of “local” so head over to Ladson on a weekend and find your must have.

Written by contributing writer Tatiana Fisher.

North Charleston, SC

Adventures in Rescue Fostering with Charleston Animal Society

February 19, 2014 by 1 Comment

I think only succeeding once out of three tries justifies failure, so should I just give up? I should have given up when some guy pulled his car up next to me, rolled down the window and yelled, “Get in!” Oh my God, he thought I was a hooker! It was an innocent mistake. I was dressed in old moccasins, a cotton beach skirt, and loose tank top yelling, “Bambi come here, Bambi”. The sun was fading and apparently the nightlife was getting frisky, in my Hanahan hood. I’m pretty sure my look of absolute horror made him pull away without another word. I remember being so embarrassed to be yelling Bambi as my neighbors drank Forties malt liquor (it was a scene straight out of Friday), laughing at the little white girl stalking about abandoned houses as they sat comfortably on their front porches, enjoying the cool down of the evening. Yes, embarrassed, and maybe second-thinking my move from a safe tourist town to what I tell my boyfriend is an “up and coming” area, that in reality has a very high crime rate. Was I risking my life for a skinny dog named freaking Bambi?

Dog 1My first foster dog from Charleston Animal Society had bailed over a low part of my fence and my loyal black lab Hagan ran into my bedroom to tattle on her with a rare, high-pitch whine. I figured out the cause of his distress when I saw through my window my new dog dash down the street. I threw on some shoes, grabbed a leash and started running after her.

I wanted to help. I wanted to provide for a poor abused animal, rehab the precious thing and then find an amazing forever home for her. One dog at a time, every little effort helps in animal rescue. I didn’t foresee an escapee in my rescue fantasy!

I cornered Bambi in an empty back yard of a house for sale and felt triumphant walking her back down my street, neighbors cheering. Then my cheap, old moccasin slippers caught on a crack in the pavement, and I literally went head over tea kettle to the ground. It could have been a scene out of a wile e coyote cartoon- except if I was a cartoon it would have been less road burn- but I swear I heard a “meep, meep” from my road running away dog. The leash had come out of my hand, and I saw that thick pink line to success go flying down the road. The neighbors went silent. We never found Bambi. I like to think she ran all the way back to her real home in the country and is curled up in a big dog bed, having nightmares of the wannabe Pocahontas chasing after her. Failure dog #1

Dog 2I gave it a month or so and decided to try again. Home came one of the skinniest dogs I had ever seen in rescue. I would walk by her cell and, even though she could barely get around, she would try to get up to say hi to me. I grabbed her up in my arms and rushed her home. Animal bleeding heart to the rescue! She was fearful of everything but my handsome Hagan was the dog that all the gals get a crush on. So we used that to get her in and out of the house until she started to trust us. She wasn’t house trained or crate trained and went through a longer foster home adjustment time than usual, but all of us grew very fond of our Olive Oyle. She gained weight, house manners and confidence and was adopted in a few months. Success dog #2

Dog number three would dance around her dinner bowl, whole butt wiggling and feet tapping and that was the inspiration for her name Treme. She had a little bit of music in her step, just like the music coming from that neighborhood of New Orleans gives you. Treme had no accidents in the house and thought we were awesome. Hagan was so excited to share a yard with someone new that he ran figure eights around her with a huge grin on his face as she loped around, stretching her long legs. She was great at cuddles, and a super star at the dog park. I was going to get this one adopted quickly.

Dog 3Jackson, WY is one of the most dog friendly towns in the country. No leash laws, bring them to work, take them hiking and watch them bound ahead of you with fellow happy Jackson dogs. This is what my dog grew up with, and I love to sneak out to the bigger parks and let my athletic boy bounce like a deer through the bush on occasion. I didn’t think twice when I got to Santee Park and let the two of them out of the back of the truck. I had every intention of hooking a leash on Treme and doing a couple of miles, working on leash manners as Hagan ran free. With the same damn pink leash in hand, I locked the truck and called Treme to me. My best friend owns a hound, and I knew that look: good things never came from that look. She paused, even turned to me, but wait, eyes lit up, nose catching the wind as she wrinkled her sparkling brown eyes, and I saw her ponder the decision. Go to the great human with leash or she was out of there! I had hardy sneakers on this time, and I booked after her. Even Hagan belted behind her, but the smells in the wind and a hound’s endurance won out and she disappeared. Hagan would catch a whiff of the elusive girl and take off. I pictured my loyal Lab dragging that little dog back, teeth wrapped gently around the collar, and we would all laugh at her silly hound ways! Instead, the park was closing in five minutes, and I was one dog short. I had no witnesses this time in my search and rescue attempt as I broke God knows what laws and snuck through the gaps in the fence, back into the park as the sun started to set. I ended up going home when I couldn’t see anymore and had nightmares of gators chomping Treme for dinner when she paused from her gone-with-the-wind run for a drink of fresh water. Well, thankfully, she was picked up the next day and taken back to CAS. Failure dog #3.

Dog 4When I quit CAS, I pacified myself of leaving animal rescue, my PASSION, by trying to foster, but maybe my talents could be used in a different outlet? Or maybe the fourth try will be the best?

If you are up for a satisfying challenge, Charleston Animal Society can always use Foster Ambassadors. They will find a dog (or cat) that will fit into your lifestyle and send you home with food, supplies and an adoption vest. You can take that dog out to events around town, dog parks etc and get them adopted. It is a great motivator to get out and be involved in our city’s endless events and literally save a dog’s life.

Written by Contributing Writer Tatiana Fisher. Want more laughs? Read her other ghost walk, dating, and outdoor adventures!