Saturday, March 23, 2013
Charleston
- Attractions
- Old Slave Mart Museum (6 Chalmers Street, 843-958-6467; nps.gov/history/nr/travel/charleston). Exhibitions bring slavery to horrifying life in a way few museums do, addressing such topics as the stigma attached to the slave-trading profession and how slaves were dressed, shaved, fed and otherwise prepared for market day.
- Angel Oak, a tree so large it could whomp 10 Hogwarts willows (3688 Angel Oak Road). The tree, which is thought to be at least 300 to 400 years old, is threatened by plans for a nearby shopping center. It is protected by a fence; the gate closes at 5 p.m
- Middleton Place plantation, a National Historic Landmark, one of several plantations within easy reach of downtown, you can get a close-up view of the marsh — or, in winter, of a primeval cypress swamp — on a guided kayak tour ($40). Alligators, bald eagles and river otter are among the possible sights, as is the architectural award-winning Inn at Middleton Place, where the tours meet (4290 Ashley River Road, 843-628-2879; charlestonkayakcompany.com). After, you can take in domesticated nature on the plantation grounds, billed as the oldest landscaped garden in the country, with twin butterfly lakes, or visit the blacksmith and cooper workshops (4300 Ashley River Road, 800-782-3608; middletonplace.org)
- North end of King St
- St. Philip Street, gateway to the ivy- and oak-draped College of Charleston and the lower peninsula’s gorgeous historic neighborhoods. You may want to stop into the Redux Contemporary Art Studios, a nonprofit gallery; admission is free. It will also cost you nothing, after that, to continue a meandering walk down St. Philip, through the gorgeous square at Saint George Street and down to the graveyard of St. Philip’s Church, resting place of John C. Calhoun, the pre-Civil War senator and vice president, and Dubose Heyward, author of the novel “Porgy” and the libretto of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”
- smaller streets like Archdale and Legare (pronounced Le-GREE), you’ll wander among 200-year-old neighborhoods that feel alternately French and English before reaching White Point Gardens along Charleston’s historic waterfront battery.
- http://thecharlestoncitymarket.com/
- Folly Beach. Folly’s most beautiful beach can be found by driving all the way up to Folly Island’s north end along East Ashley Avenue and parking at the dead end. Walk or take your bike through the gate and head a quarter-mile north past the foundation of an old Coast Guard station, and you’ll find yourself on a secluded and protected beach in the shadow of the spooky old lighthouse that stands guard over Morris Island.
- One of Charleston’s best breakfasts can be found at Folly’s Lost Dog Cafe. Sit on the porch of this old beach house and enjoy pancakes and fruit ($5.75) or biscuits with sausage gravy ($4.95).
- Eats
- Alluette Cafe. Soul Food. 80 A Reid St, Charleston, SC 29403
- Fit. American. 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC
- Husk. 74-76 Queen St. Charleston, SC
- Cypress. 167 E Bay St, Charleston, SC
- Hominy Grill. 207 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC
- Bowens Island Restaurant. 1870 Bowens Island Road. Roasted oysters (bottomless order is $21.50) and oversize hush puppies (a side is $4.25). Get here early to avoid the crush.
- WildFlour Pastry (73 Spring Street, 843-327-2621; wildflourpastrycharleston.com) created an instant tradition with “sticky bun Sundays.” A steady stream of cravers comes through the door in search of a warm, chewy, generously pecanned confection ($2.70). Those with less of a sweet tooth will be happy with crumbly fruity or savory scones ($2 and up) or a hardboiled Sea Island egg (60 cents).
- The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg. Most stores limit free food samples, but not the Peanut Shop, where bowls beckoned with chocolate-covered cashews, peanut brittle and plenty more, simply begging to be feasted upon. I’m pretty sure you can also exchange money for the same products packaged in cans and boxes, but I can’t confirm that
- Just next to the Terrace on Maybank, the Mustard Seed is part of a small chain of South Carolina restaurants and is remarkably affordable considering the quality and consistency of its largely local menu. If you’re on a super tight budget, you could eat well from a couple of baskets of its delicious rosemary bread and a caprese salad ($7). There’s a delicious sweet potato ravioli for $10, and most specials, often featuring local fish, seldom exceed $20.
- Entertainment
- Pour House, which features live entertainment and a new outdoor stage and bar. Acts range from Leon Russell to North Carolina bluegrass to reggae to a Phish tribute band called Strange Design; weekend admission generally runs around $12
- popular rooftop Pavilion Bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel (225 East Bay Street, 843-723-0500; www.marketpavilion.com)
- North Charleston
- Park Circle has in particular been recognized as an especially attractive spot; last year, This Old House Magazine named it one of the country’s “Best Old-House Neighborhoods.” Meanwhile, new restaurants and other businesses have converged on East Montague Avenue, a few blocks away from the revitalized circle
- Cork, a small bistro frequented by the young and stylish and headed by the chef Jimmy Owens (pictured), has seasonal salads, beers and meals made with fresh ingredients from local farmers — and, of course, Southern-style grits. 1067 E Montague
- THE SPARROW - This spot, opened in 2012, is easily the most colorful new concert venue in North Charleston. Old-school arcade games share space with large photographs on the wall of everyone from Mohandas K. Gandhi to George Harrison. The place regularly plays host to local musicians and rock bands of all sorts. 1078 E Montague
- EVO CRAFT BAKERY - In August, the popular EVO Pizzeria got a complementary bakery, where locally brewed coffee and tea are featured alongside freshly baked pastries and breads, all at reasonable prices. 1075 East Montague Avenue; (843) 225-1796
- DIG IN THE PARK - This sports bar, opened in 2011, features a huge patio with an outdoor grill. And unlike many spots on East Montague Avenue, it stays open on Sundays. 1049 E Montague
- McClellanville, S.C. Just short of Charleston, I turned on a whim down a side road leading to the town of McClellanville, population about 500. Pretty houses led to a tiny downtown, where a sign pointed us to an art show put on by the local public high school. The director of the local history museum, which was closed for the day, directed us toward a few of the town’s other attractions: the shrimping boats at the dock, the old wood-shingled Episcopal Church, and T.W. Graham and Co., the wildly popular (but not all that cheap) local restaurant specializing — no surprise — in shrimp. Meal for two, with fried green tomatoes and dessert: $48
# posted by billklee @ 07:37 
