A toast to bright sunny days!

King St., Charleston, S.C.

These gentlemen threw open the windows, hung a flag and turned their second level apartment into a bar porch. I took this on Saturday so it might have been the perfect spot to watch the Charleston Marathon action.

I realize there has been a lot going on today with Martin Luther King events and the inauguration, but I worked and haven't had the television on yet. I got so much done working the holiday I wish I had a week of days like today. It was wonderful. Without meetings, hundreds of emails or the phone ringing I actually got some things checked off my "to do" list. May I have another please? The rest of you relax for a couple of days and let me catch up.

Y

This little Piggie

Piggy Banks, King St., Charleston, S.C.

This little piggie went to King St.!

These colorful, life size piggy banks marching in the window of the Rebekah Jacob Gallery on King St. made me smile. You'd have to save a few pennies to get one but they would handle a lot of change. I liked them!

The long & the short of it

Charleston, S.C.

He made the picture, didn't he? Thank you for running in front of my lens. I am careful about featuring people without their permission or awareness but from the back, unrecognizable, they are fair game.We still have plenty of days to wear shorts sprinkled through a lowcountry winter.

Yeah for five days off. I don't have big plans but it is lovely to be free from work responsibilities for five glorious days. I haven't done too much baking except for shortbread so it's time to get to work!

Upcoming Ginkgo Biloba Festivities

Ginkgo trees - Charleston Library Society, King St., Charleston, S.C.

It is almost time for Charleston's Ginkgo tree festivities. In one outburst of color these leaves will turn yellow and fall to create a carpet of bright yellow. It won't be long.

The trees are beautiful but apparently you want to make sure you have a male tree since the female trees fruit has a stinky odor and you can find almost as many articles from people who love the trees as there are from people who can't stand the smell.

In other news, it has been a glorious weekend in Charleston and almost criminal not to be outside enjoying the weather. I made some tiny chicken pot pies and set the table outdoors. Now, as usual I have left all my cleaning and weekend chores to do in the last hour of my weekend. I am off to sweep and dust. Blah. Later kids!

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Here is another sweetie in the teeny, tiny houses of Charleston category. This one is on lower King St. almost at the Battery.

It is hard to believe we could be having such bright and sunny weather while tropical storm Sandy is hitting the north east. It is so distressing knowing what those poor people will have to go through.

I cooked dinner for six women friends this evening. This is mostly a retired gang of hospital employees. Soon I'll be the only one of this group working while they fritter their jolly time away going out to lunch and puttering in their gardens. I want to be retired when I grow up. We had a lovely dinner after I scrambled together enough silverware for seven. I am clearly out of the habit of large scale entertaining and I had to borrow two forks from my son. I served roasted beet and goat cheese salad, shepherd's pie, corn and a lemon tart. Yummers.

Enjoying the weather

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

It's been that kind of weather. Motorcycles everywhere, cars with tops down, dogs hanging their heads out of open windows enjoying the breeze. I am restless in September until the risk of hurricanes passes but we have had some lovely days lately.

Funny, I didn't notice the different shades of paint on the building until I looked at the photo. 

If you aren't cooped up in an office tomorrow there will be a turtle release on Kiawah according to the Holy City Sinner. I'd like to see that some day. Hmmmm....it is at 4:30 pm. I wonder.....

Browse

Blue Bicycle Book Shop, King St., Charleston, S.C.

The folks at Blue Bicycle Book Store on King St. like to leave messages in their window and the eye- catching blue bicycle with a stack of books parked on the sidewalk. This week's message is "Browse".

I used to be such a book worm. I went to sleep with a book on my pillow and woke up to continue where I left off. Sometimes I dreamed onwards from where I nodded off and woke up the next morning startled to find the story took a different direction.

My mother was a reader and read endlessly to us. She'd try to get a few quiet moments to herself in what seemed like the middle of the night but we'd hear the clicking of her typewriter in the snug kitchen and one after another we'd sneak out of bed, draped in shawls and blankets to huddle by the coal stove and insist on another chapter. With eight kids she couldn't even get that time to herself. Heheh. One more chapter, one more chapter. We'd all sniffle quietly at the sad parts. She read all the classics to us and enjoyed reading in Scottish dialect when called for.

I lost my reading habit when I got a laptop. Now I don't know how to pace myself with a book. If I start to read I can't stop. I read straight through until I am finished and find myself wide awake at 3 a.m. One more chapter, one more chapter.

St. Patrick's Day Parade - King St.

St. Patrick's Day Parade, King St., Charleston, S.C.

They might not look like it here but this gang consists of some cracker jack Emergency Room staff from Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital! More photos here.

The Last Page

House Plants, Charleston, S.C.

I forgot to boast that Charleston Magazine used one of my pictures on their last page in February. Pretty cool since I was actually featured myself in January. They always feature one single picture on their last page each month and after spotting this one they emailed asking permission to use it. Then they asked me to bill them. Hello! How fun is that? Pretty darn fun I say.

This bit of graffiti wall is in an alley on upper King St. It is normally gated off but they left it open one day and that was enough for me.

More good eating coming to Upper King St.

Old Bank of America, King St., Charleston, S.C.

I walked the upper peninsula this morning and walking back down King St. grabbed a "before" shot of the old Bank of America. I am so happy to hear it is going to be turned into a restaurant by Chef Mike Lata and partners. What an exciting use of the space! Some of the best food I've ever tasted was cooked by Mike Lata.  I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Charleston City Paper has more details: FIG owners opening restaurant on Upper King and I snitched this image below from their article.

After months of rumor, speculation, and innuendo, the deal is done and it's official. Mike Lata and Adam Nemirow, the duo behind the acclaimed FIG, have purchased the vacant Bank of America building at 544 King St. with plans to open a new restaurant in the space by Sept. 1. "We are so psyched about the concept," says Lata.

"It's the perfect idea for the perfect property." Just what is the concept? Lata's a little cagey about giving up too much information, but he did confirm that it's going to be an oyster bar. The vibe will be very high energy and casual. "The general feel is a community restaurant," he says, explaining that they want to be a place that folks can drop by for a snack, a drink, or a full-blown meal. "It'll be fun, energetic, and visually striking," he promises.

Oh, the places we will go, the places we will stay!

King's Courtyard, King St., Charleston, S.C.

I was walking back up King St. on Saturday morning and popped into Lily to drool over a pretty mirror they had on their wall. It's hard to drool up onto a wall but I managed. :)) Snooping around I noticed that their back door opens into the courtyard of the King's Courtyard Inn. It looks like a little piece of Europe doesn't it?  The link leads to pictures of the rooms.

Speaking of Europe here is a video of a car racing down the empty streets of Paris at high speed: Rendezvous. Exciting!

Saturday night was the annual Xavier Society Gala with former US Airways pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who became a hero overnight when he safely landed a passenger jet on New York’s Hudson River, and his wife as guest speakers.

It is always fun to see people you work with everyday shined up and sparkling! We clean up pretty good and have fun doing it. We were just so full of ourselves pretending to be grown ups. I splurged on my once a year visit to a hairdresser and had a very ornate "do" wrapped and wound around the back of my head although you can't tell from my picture below. The event was at Charleston Place Hotel and everything was lovely considering the packed house.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I am ahead of the game here since we are only an hour into Sunday as I post this. I spotted these choir members heading to St. Mary's on Hassell St. as I did my morning walk last weekend.

I've had a bit of a lazy day today but an unexpected treat on Friday night. Facebook friend Donna caught me just as I left to go out on my walk and suggested meeting up for a bite to eat. We enjoyed a lovely dinner (mushroom ravioli...mmmmm) at Il Cortile Del Re on King St. It was warm enough to enjoy sitting outside on their patio and fun to meet another Facebook contact.

New Super Hero hits town

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I had to post this picture again. It slipped by unnoticed in the MLK Day parade series. Seriously folks. What the heck? He called out, "There is a new super hero in town and it's Mr. Peanut."

There were quite a few "Peanut Men" selling or handing out Boiled Peanuts along the route but I'm still not clear on what the connection is. Wonder what special powers our super hero has?

MLK Day Parade, Charleston 2012

MLK Day Parade, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Martin Luther King Day Parade on King St. I try to go every year. He was such an incredible man I like to see people celebrating in his honor. More photos uploading here: MLK Parade Charleston 2012

PS: The extra day off doesn't hurt either, does it?

A new Super Hero - Mr. Peanut

Flying Babies

Read Brothers, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Watch out for flying babies on upper King St. I believe this is one of Phillip Hyman's.

I did my walk past Piggly Wiggly this morning meaning to toss a few things in my backpack only to discover that I left my driver's license and debit cards locked up in my camera bag at work. Ooops. It's going to be a frugal weekend.

Behind the Orange Curtain

Cool, eh? A little antique shop in the old breezeway between two buildings with eye-catching bright orange drapes. It is the John Pope Antique store. I've never been in it but walked past hundreds of times. I wonder what kind of treasures he has up there? Here is a little more info.

Happy Friday, kids! It's been a long, sniffly week but I've pulled it off. The weekend feels like a welcome friend. At least I am ahead of the game and have "head cold" checked off the list for 2012. Done.

 

Charleston's Ginkgo Biloba party

Ginkgo trees at the Charleston Library Society

Ginkgo trees at Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

Ginkgo leaves, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Charleston had a Ginkgo Biloba party and I hope you were there! The crazy wind yesterday probably put an end to the festivities but it was grand while it lasted. Besides, who doesn't like saying Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginkgo Biloba.....?


And yes, Virginia, there is a Ginko blog! Check out: The Ginkgo Pages where I found this gorgeous video.

Congratulations Clay & Nicole!

Marry Me!, American Theater, King St., Charleston, S.C.

 I did a nice walking loop around the peninsula today, checked a shockingly low after-Christmas bank balance at an ATM (ouchie!) and picked up a couple things at Harris Teeter etc.

On my way back I went up King St. and happened on this happy scene in front of the American Theater on King St. Congratulations to Clay & Nicole. They probably wondered why the crazy woman walking by paused to join their photo-op but I promised them they would be today's "Charleston Daily Photo". I loved their happy grins. May they have many years of happiness.

You Know it's Christmas in Charleston when....

St. Matthew's Luterhan Church, King St., Charleston, S.C.

What an odd sight! I grabbed this shot a week or so ago. It was on a weekend so they may have been demonstrating the outdoor fireplace at the Holiday Farmer's Market but how odd to see it in front of the church. It makes a fitting Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance for Christmas.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I've been up at the lake with my son. I packed all the goodies to warm up and we had a cozy, lovely weekend with a bonfire last night and a walk around the lake this morning.

Stephanie Harvin listed these in her column in the Post & Courier last week and so many of them rang true I thought I would pass them on and see if you can think of any others. I didn't include them all so click the link to get to her original post. I love them! Thanks Stephanie!

 You know you have enjoyed Christmas in Charleston if you have ...

... danced until you are dizzy under the Christmas tree in Marion Square.
... watched the sailboats decorated with lights bobbing in the City Marina.
... perspired through your Christmas sweater.
... listened to Jazz Vespers at Circular Congregational Church.
... walked around Colonial Lake in the moonlight.
... had shrimp and grits on your breakfast menu.
... taken the time to get out of your car and look down the waterway when the Wappoo Bridge opens.
... peered through a wrought iron gate to see how the other half lives.
... touched the dancing child statue at White Point Garden.

... fallen in love with white camellias instead of poinsettias.
... walked along the new shops at the Market.
... rocked on a piazza that slants toward the bannister.
... walked the Ravenel Bridge in a winter sunset just to see the colors.
... felt the sand ooze between your toes as the wave runs out at Folly Beach.
... played beach volleyball at the Isle of Palms because the weather was warm enough for a tan.
... had a crab pinch your finger as you were plucking him out of the net.
... smelled the trash can after forgetting to take out the shrimp shells.
... gone for a canoe ride on Lake Moultrie as the sun rises.
... rocked the morning away in a Pawleys Island Hammock.
... sung "Kum ba yah" which is actually a Gul- lah spiritual first recorded on the South Carolina Coast.

... taken the kids out to see the Morris Island lighthouse on a chilly day.
... been thankful that the smell of pluff mud means you're home.
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday.
Reach Stephanie Harvin at 937-5557 or sharvin@postandcourier.com.

Merry Christmas everyone! What should we add to her list? 

King St Shopping

King St., Charleston, S.C.

 WISE COLUMN: King Street among top 10 U.S. shopping venues

The accolades keep coming for Charleston.  Already named the top tourist destination in America, now it's on a tony list for shopping.Right beside the glittering fame of Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and Fifth Avenue in New York lies King Street as one of the 10-best shopping streets in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report's online Travel page. Here's part of what it had to say about the storied retail corridor: "This historic avenue pulses with pedestrians in search of the perfect outfit or gift. Beautiful buildings house big-name brands like Apple and Banana Republic; however, it's the number of family-owned boutiques and male clothiers that really distinguishes King Street. ... Although King Street bustles with pastel-clad patrons particularly in the spring, you'll find Southern hospitality persists year-round."

Speaking of shopping, my free range tootsies rebel at the end of every summer when they have to be caged again and the search is on every fall for a comfortable yet semi stylish shoe. I was relieved to find this year's model at Philips Shoe ( I love you, I love you, I love you) store and they are sweeties.  They are the Taos Majesty and although I only wear black, they do come in a few colors.

 

You can expect to see me wear these shoes every single day of the work week until spring when I will have to throw them out in shreds and go back to my favorite Naot sandals.

  Hurrah for comfortable feet!