Midtown of Charleston

Cocktail Party at Shine Tonight!

2009-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Shine invites you to Pravda Vodka's "JEWELS AND JAMS" with DJ MIKE KRUZ" Friday, October 9 from 10:00 PM until 2:00 AM.
There will be Pravda Drink Specials, meet the Pravda Girls and plenty of music and dancing. Don't miss this great Cocktail Party at Shine, Charleston's neatest night spot.
Shine is at the corner of King and Line Streets in the Upper King Design District with lots of free parking.

Flour Power

2009-08-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

New bakery is coming to Spring Street!

Lauren Mitterer, a James Beard award nominated pastry chef, will open Wild Flour, her very own bakery at 73 Spring Street. Lauren plans to open in September. You may have already delighted your tastebuds with Lauren's handiwork at Red Drum in Mt. Pleasant.

Lauren andWild Flour will be a welcome addition to the Midtown neighborhood. We're salivating already.

2009-08-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

Halls Chophouse Part of "Wine on the Water" Aquarium Benefit

Halls Chophouse will join the South Carolina Aquarium for "Wine on the Water," an evening of great wine with sustainable seafood Tuesday September 1 from 7:00 until 9:00 PM. Enjoy the waterfront views of the Charleston Harbor and sample sustainable seafood dishes prepared by some of Charleston's finest chefs including Halls Executive Chef Matthew Neisser.

There will be live entertainment and a book signing by local author Mary Alice Monroe with her latest novel Last Light Over Carolina.

In addition to Halls Chophouse there will be dishes prepared by the chefs at BLU Restaurant, Gilligan's, Fleet Landing and Coco Cafe. All proceeds benefit the conservation and education programs of the South Carolina Aquarium. You must be at least 21 to attend.

Ants Marching

2009-08-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Ants have begin their march down Upper King Street. In a tribute to Darkness to Light, artist Jeffrey Kennedy and the King Street Marketing Group present The Ants Go Marching Down King Street. The art show featuring Kennedy’s colorful, larger than life ant sculptures are now on display at SieMatic and Fish restaurant.

Kennedy has supported Darkness to Light with his sculptures since their debut at Piccolo Spoleto in 2003, where D2L founder Ann Lee saw a connection between strong little ants who move mountains carrying one grain at a time, and the one-person-at-a-time awareness campaign for child sexual abuse.
Darkness to Light main office is in the Upper King Design District at 7 Radcliffe Street.

For more information call them at 843.965.5444.

Monday Night at The Joe

2009-08-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, located at 360 Fishburne Street, downtown, is home to Charleston's baseball team, The Riverdogs. Monday at The Joe is a “Dogs With a Cause” Night where the RiverDogs team with a local non-profit organization. This Monday (August 10), The Hospitality for Heroes Fund will raise money and awareness for helping hands to local hospitality employees and their families who are impacted by a medical hardship. Bring your neighbor to The Joe as part of Tom McQueeney’s State Farm Good Neighbor Monday as neighbors can purchase 2-for-1 admission to the night’s game with identification at the box office. One lucky neighbor will receive a pair of binoculars courtesy of Tom McQueeney State Farm Insurance.

Charleston Chefs Feed the Need

2009-07-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

There is a fun charity event tonight, at The Riviera Conference Theater, located at 227 King Street, downtown. It is a contest between 25 bartenders from local restaurants to see who is the "most inspired". The winner will be featured in GQ Magazine's Man of the Year issue. Tickets are $25, and only 400 will be sold. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to Charleston Chefs Feed the Need, which is a coalition of 50+ local restaurants, caterers, and hoteliers who are helping to feed the hungry. The program is the nation's first organized relief effort in which meals are cooked and served by the local hospitality industry on a year round basis. If you are lacking entertainment tonight, you should stop by and cast your vote- it should be a good time, and for a worthy cause!

Midtown- Terrific Value for Downtown Charleston

2009-07-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Summer is in full swing at Midtown, and we've taken a look at finalized statistics through the end of the second quarter. While active listings in Downtown Charleston are slightly up from 2008, and closed homes are slightly down, an interesting point is that the average sales price is up by about $30,000. This is an indicator that Downtown remains a solid buy, even in these economic times. With the College of Charleston, MUSC, the Charleston School of Law, and the incredible quality of life that our City offers its residents, Downtown Charleston will continue to be a place where people will want to live, work, and play. Within the City, Midtown is the best thing available, for many reasons. In addition to the location and the things going on in the area which will add value, the quality of the construction and finishes, and the fact that the homes are brand new, Midtown is an incredible value. The average price per square foot of active listings at Midtown is $319.52, and the average of comparable listings downtown is $378.52 per square foot. When you consider this value, the location (walking distance to everything), and the upscale, low maintenance lifestyle offered at Midtown, and take into account that prices, on average, are still increasing in Downtown Charleston, it becomes very clear that this is a great neighborhood to call home.

Charleston Weddings- New Website!

2009-07-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

There's now a website that caters to all things "wedding" in downtown Charleston. It's still in the early stages, and gaining new sponsors all the time, but if you are getting married in Charleston, you should definitely check it out. It's http://www.charlestonweddingdistrict.com/. There is a new upscale bridal store right around the corner from Midtown, located at 171 Spring Street, called Maddison Row, and they have a link on the new website. The Charleston Wedding District website also includes links to businesses that provide jewelry, accomodations, wedding venues, food, salon and spa services, etc.

New Model Now Furnished!

2009-07-10T10:45:00.001-07:00

We have officially moved into our new model, located at 36 Cannon Street. It looks terrific! The floor to ceiling Kal-wal lets in tons of natural light, and it is always fun to see a new floor plan furnished. There are double porches on both the first and second floors, and a private terrace off the third floor master suite. The master bathroom is one of our best ones; it's all carrera marble with a huge soaking tub and separate shower, and the master bedroom has his and hers walk in closets. This is a great floorplan, and an incredible value to for new construction in downtown Charleston!

Spring/Cannon Conversion Update

2009-06-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Things are moving along with the plans to convert Spring and Cannon Streets back to 2 way, and to do the streetscape beautification project. Ken Simmons and Associates, in conjunction with Davis and Floyd Engineering, are revisong their proposal, which should go before the Capital Projects Review Committee on July 1. From there, it will go to City Council on July 21 for approval. Both the streetscape and the two-way conversion are being handled by the same consultant, and will be bid together as funding allows. From there, there will be various review committees, and finally a public meeting to go over the plan and to solicit input from the community. If all goes to plan and SCDOT signs off on the conversion, the bid package should be completed by early 2010, with advertisement for bids in January of 2010. If the bids are reasonable, the City plans to begin construction in March or April of 2010! This will be a great thing for Midtown, and all of Cannonborough and Elliotborough, which are already terrific places to live!

Harborfest!

2009-06-24T16:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend is Harborfest (June 26-29) at the Charleston Maritime Center and Ansonborough field, near the Aquarium. It's usually a lot of fun, and it seems like they have added some great events this year. During the day, tall ships are available for touring, and there are sailing trips (all booked as of June 24), food, drink, music, and even a pirate village! They have also added two evening events this year that look like fun. The first is on Friday, June 26. It's called the International Tall Ships Soiree. It appears to be a private reception/tour of some of the international tall ships. participants get to meet with the Captains of the ships, tour the ships, and there are food stations and a bar set up. Tickets are sold in advance only, and you can get them at the Harborfest website (linked above). The other new event is "Harborpalooza" which, obviously, is an outdoor concert, featuring local bands The Blue Dogs and Plane Jane. It's on Saturday, June 27, from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are available online (same website) for $12, or at the door for $15. You should go check it out if you get a chance; it should be a fun summer weekend in Charleston!

New Weekend Hours!

2009-06-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

Just as a reminder- we have changed our weekend hours. Our model home (soon to be 36 Cannon Street) is now going to be open every Saturday from 1-5 pm, and Sundays by appointment. If you are having lunch at Five Loaves, or on the way out to the beach at Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, or Folly Beach, please feel free to stop by to visit. It is a great way to momentarily escape the heat and see some truly unique and impressive downtown Charleston real estate!

189 B St. Philip

2009-06-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

189 B St.. Philip is now a great buy for someone who is looking to purchase downtown Charleston real estate. Located on the corner of Cannon and St. Philip Streets, this urban condo has everything you are looking for. It has extra storage on the street level, chic stained concrete floors, and limestone counters. Also, it has two, off-street, side by side parking spaces! This is almost unheard of for downtown Charleston! It's a two bedroom, 2 full bath condo, located on the second and third floors of the building. I absolutely love the top floor master suite. It has an enormous walk-in closet, and a large terrace overlooking the city rooftops. The master bathroom is slate, with a separate soaking tub, a walk-in shower, and dual vanities. Best of all, it is our least expensive remaining unit, due to the fact that it is also the smallest. However, at 1470 square feet, there is still plenty of room for dining, relaxing, and entertaining. At 499K, this is truly a great deal for this level of quality in new construction downtown.

5 Brewster- sold!

2009-05-28T12:18:00.000-07:00

We'll be moving our model at Midtown soon! Our current model, 5 Brewster Ct., is under contract and will be closing in the next month. We're excited to welcome our new homeowners, and are also excite to showcase another of our floor plans as a model. At the moment, we plan on moving over to Cannon Street, perhaps to 36 Cannon, which has a great master suite, and floor plan that we all would love to see furnished. It's amazing how different a property looks when it has furnishings in it. I think you really get a feel for the space and how you would love in it. For this reason, we have also furnished one of the few remaining condos, 189 B St. Philip. It's a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home, and is our smallest (also least expensive) remaining home. Once we got the furniture and artwork in, it was amazing how much larger the space felt. You would think that the opposite would be true, that a space would feel larger when empty, but they really is not the case. Stay tuned for the location of our new model, and please stop by to visit any Saturday from 1-5, and Sunday from 2-5, or by appointment.

Stay at the Francis Marion, get $50!

2009-05-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

If you're planning on visiting Charleston any time soon, check out the Francis Marion Hotel's Charleston Getaway Deal. When you book a room, they give you $50 per night to spend however you'd like. The Francis Marion is located at the corner of King Street and Calhoun Street downtown, and there are tons of restaurants, shops, and things to do just steps away from the hotel, so the money will be sure to go to good use. You can also apply the money towards any of the goods and services offered by the hotel, including spa services at the in-house Spa Adagio.

The Have-Nots

2009-05-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

If you've never been to Theater 99 on Meeting Street, you should go. The Have-Nots are a Charleston based improv comedy group, and they are the ones who founded Theater 99. They have other groups come to perform there as well, but it is always comedy and always hilarious. The theater is above the Bicycle Shop at 280 Meeting Street downtown (near Meeting and George). This year Theater 99 is hosting Piccolo Fringe 2009, from May 22-June 6. Apparently, there are going to be 77 shows in 16 days, and tickets are on sale at The Gaillard Auditorium. Tickets for regular events are extremely reasonable, ranging from $5 to around $15. You can also buy beer, wine and snacks at the theater. It's a lot of fun, and something different from the typical bar/restaurant scene.

Food, Fun, and Friends

2009-04-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Homeowners and their guests were treated to a lowcountry barbeque at Midtown last Thursday evening. Residents had a chance to meet their neighbors and some of the business owners of the Upper King Design District. Barbeque and all the fixins were provided by the Midtown Team and enjoyed by all. It was a great evening and the perfect way for the residents and business owners in this unique neighborhood to get to know each other!

King Street Movie Clip Completed

2009-04-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

The CHART group has completed the Upper King Street movie clip that I mentioned a few weeks ago. It briefly touches on many of the great businesses in our part of town, and there is even a shot of Midtown. It is a pretty cool clip, and it will play in local hotels on the "Hotel TV" station. I'm glad that they have done it, because there are so many fabulous stores and restaurants in the Upper King District that are deserving of mention. It's my favorite part of town for shopping, because the stores and the merchandise are so unique, that you know you are not going to see the same item of clothing, in different colors, on every other person in town. Also, I greatly prefer to support local, small businesses than big corporations. When you get a chance, and want to be inspired to do some shopping in the Midtown area, take a look at the clip!

Race Week!

2009-04-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend finishes up Charleston Race Week, which is a fun event every year. It's all about sailing races, both in the Charleston harbor and offshore. After the races, there are parties and events each night. Profits from the event go to support the Spirit of South Carolina, which is a reproduction of a classic tall ship used for educational purposes. People who are sailing in the vents can get shoreside passes to "Race Village", where they offer cocktails, food, music, raffles, trophy presentations, etc. I know that tonight they are having a big Seafoood Feast, and I believe Sunday is a BBQ. If you find yourself with nothing to do this evening or Sunday, you should head down to the Charleston Harbor Marina (20 Patriots Point Road in Mt. Pleasant).

Talking Heads?

2009-04-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

No, these are thinking brains. You'll be seeing them around town beginning Saturday morning. Check out John C. Calhoun's statue in Marion Square at the fininsh of the bridge run.

What's all this mean? What's on their alleged minds? Stay tuned!

Marion Square Comes To Life...

2009-04-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Each Saturday, beginning April 11th, the Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square comes to life and offers the freshest local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the Farmers Market has become a Charleston tradition. While strolling through the market enjoy a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunch while listening to a variety of live entertainment. The Farmers Market also offers an amazing assortment of arts and craft from talented local artists. This a great way to spend a Saturday in Charleston and should not be missed by locals or visitors.

A short walk from Charleston's Midtown, the beautiful Marion Square is located between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street in the Upper King Design District. The Farmers Market is available from 8am-2pm and runs April 11 - December 20. The ever popular Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston's Office of Cultural Affairs in cooperation with the Department of Parks. It is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry Farmers and Growers.

New Website for Cannonborough and Elliotborough!

2009-03-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

There's a great new website, managed by the same group that does the Upper King Design District sites. This one is specific to all of the unique businesses in the Cannonborough and Elliotborough neighborhoods. I went to check out the site the other day, and I was so happy to see all of the great businesses within a block or two of Midtown. We've known these businesses were there, but it is wonderful to have an organized space to promote everyone. I think it really portrays how exciting and diverse the neighborhood is. You can find anything from fine dining to casual eateries, florists, clothing, stationary, bakeries, etc., not to mention the upscale living options offered by Midtown. Once at the Cannonborough Elliotborough website, you can sign up to receive an enewsletter, which will keep you up to date on new businesses, where to eat, where to shop, and events in the neighborhood. They also have a link to the Cannonborough Elliotborough Neighborhood Association, which has neighborhood news, upcoming events, and minutes from recent meetings. You can, and should, make a day of exploring Cannonborough and Elliotborough!

NEWS..,NEWS...NEWS...MIDTOWN AND BEYOND

2009-03-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? Mortgage rates have fallen to a record low level. The mortgage finance giant ,Freddie Mac, announced that THE AVERAGE 30 YR. FIXED RATE LAST WEEK OF 4.85% IS THE LOWEST RATE SINCE 1971 WHEN THEY BEGAN RECORDING RATES.

In addition, the stock market had the most STABLE AND POSITIVE week it has seen in a very long time. The American public seems to have begun to appreciate the steps that are being taken to free up credit and provide jobs for the unemployed. And yes, the real estate market has also begun to improve . A totally unexpected increase of 5.4% in housing sales plus more new housing starts is IMPRESSIVE AND EXCITING!

All of this is great news…along with the stimulus package for qualified first time home buyers (purchasers who have not owned a home in the last 3 years and meet specific terms).

This is the real estate market that you've been waiting for. Don't miss the opportunity!! According to numerous respected financial consultants, as the economy begins to improve, the mortgage rates will increase and the governmental incentives will diminish.

Now, for the LOCAL NEWS! Three new shops and a restaurant have just opened or are about to open in the MIDTOWN/Design District area. WATCH for a new event planner and kitchen design, bathroom fixture and florist shops. More details soon!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MIDTOWN IS GROWING! We are pleased to welcome a brand new baby girl to our neighborhood!

Yes, MIDTOWN is truly for everyone…please stop by our model…we'll met you there if you give us a call... or visit MIDTOWN on line.

Bridge Run Coming Up!

2009-03-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

The Cooper River Bridge Run is coming up! Every year, in early April, countless hordes of people amass in Mt. Pleasant, and they run or walk over the Cooper River Bridge, now known as the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. The first one was in 1978, and they've done it every year since. It's actually become a very well known 10K race, and people come from all over the world to participate.

This year the race is on April 4, at 8:00 a.m. Coleman Blvd., in Mt. Pleasant will be blocked off for a few hours, and then downtown will be busy shortly after that. It's usually a very busy tourist weekend for the Charleston area, because there are so many people in town. As of today, March 27, there are 32,136 people signed up to run the race. The maximum allowable number of people is 40,000, so it is getting pretty close. The runners (and walkers) are frequently out at area restaurants carb-loading the night before, and then there are celebrations and revelry on Saturday night.

The money goes to charities such as: The MUSC Children's Hospital Fund, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, South Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, the American Cancer Society, the Lowcountry Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, and the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.

It's a good time for great causes; go register if you haven't done so already. Space is limited!

Can I get a Halls pass, please?

2009-03-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

Halls Chophouse Opens at 434 King Street!

And it’s one more for Upper King Street! Halls Chophouse has opened its doors and joins the coterie of terrific new restaurants that have made the Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood home! Get ready for mouthwatering prime beef, pork ,veal and more. Halls Chophouse presents delicious cuisine in an energetic, visually striking environment. The restaurant features exposed brick walls, leather banquettes and warm lighting true to old-world, traditional steakhouses.

Diners can choose between two rustic floors with tables and banquettes. A unique 16-seat antique mahogany bar and a lounge are on the 1st level, while the the second floor features a fabulous 350 bottle wine rack cleverly ensconced into the stairwell, a hallway bar and private dining room.

Halls Chophouse offers Charlestonians top flight service and sophisticated cuisine… a "Classic American Steakhouse" located in the Upper King Design District in historic downtown Charleston with convenient metered or nearby garage parking. And it's just a short walk from Midtown.

So take your very next opportunity to join The Hall family for a sumptuous meal prepared by acclaimed Executive Chef Scott Blackerby. Halls Chophouse offers the perfect cut of prime meats, spectacularly fresh seafood, tantalizing choice sides, an ever-changing array of chefs specialties and delectable desserts including the signature chocolate lava cake.

The bar at Hall’s opens at 4pm and dinner service runs until 10 on weeknights and 11 on weekends. Late night dining devotees can order from the bar menu till midnight!
An unforgetable meal, a prime steakhouse for true believers, a beautiful dark wood bar for sipping an expertly prepared martini, dramatically lit banquettes for a romantic dinner and a private dining room for special occassions. Halls Chophouse is truly Charleston's Steakhouse. Call 843.727.0090 or click here to make your reservations today!

HALLS CHOPHOUSE

434 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Spring has sprung...

2009-03-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

Spring is definitely in the air at Putumayo located in the Upper King Design District. Comfortable fabrics and handmade block prints are an essential element of Putumayo clothing. Just a short walk from Midtown of Charleston, Putumayo offers quality clothing at an affordable price. Stop by and see all the new spring and summer fashions arriving daily. Their corporate store is located at 445 King Street but Putumayo clothing is offered in 1000 specialty retailers across the country. Enjoy a day of fun,food, and shopping in the hip design district located in downtown Charleston !

Shine On...

2009-03-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Talking about OUT OF THE BOX...or should we say out of the FRAME? A brand new restaurant called SHINE on Upper King Street is the site of the official Kick-Off event for Charleston Magazine's Charleston Fashion Week. Twelve talented local artists have made wearable art, as in custom painted dresses that will be on display and available for you to purchase. The admission fee is a mere $5 and the cost of the dresses which have been painted as if they were an artist's canvas is only $200. This innovative event is typical of the exciting happenings in the Midtown area, and will take place on Saturday , March 21st at the restaurant on the corner of King and Line streets ( 58 Line). Like many new store and restaurant owners in the Design District of the city, these entrepeneurs are interested in "giving back" to the community. The event is a fundraiser for Dress for Success Charleston County, a non profit organization thay helps provide underprivileged women with professional attire as well as career development tools so that they may be successful in finding employment. Upper King is dynamic and full of energy...plus its good for all of us and sounds like FUN!!! SEE YOU THERE!

Unbelievably Good Pizza on Rutledge

2009-03-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

At George's suggestion, I went to the new pizza shop on Rutledge, Mia Pomodori, for lunch today. It's located near the corner of Cannon and Rutledge, across from Fuel, and diagonally from Hominy. If you check out their website, be sure to look at the before and after photos. Seriously, it was the best pizza I have had in a lonnggggg time. I got there during a lull in the afternoon business, and the owner took a few minutes to talk to me.

Paul DeSantis, along with his wife, Tiffany, and their son, Brandon, are the owners and operators of Mia Pomodori. Paul grew up in Brooklyn, although they moved to Charleston several years ago. It's been a long standing dream of his to have his own pizzeria, and I, for one, am really glad he has realized that dream. Everything is made from scratch- the salad dressings, the dough, the sauce (Paul says it took him 20 years to perfect his recipe), and they cook and slice their own Italian sausage. The crust is extra crispy and light. Paul says that's because of the higher quality flour they use, which is more like a bread flour, and yields a dough with less gluten than the average pizza dough. They also use top quality cheeses, which they shred themselves.

They have tables on the patio in the back of the building, where you can sit to eat your pizza. They have an interesting beer list, comprised mainly of microbrews, and several wine choices, including some organic wines. They also have an array of sodas, juices, and bottled water. The DeSantis' seem like really nice people and their food is delicious; I will be supporting them as much as I can!

Great Eats on Sunday Night near Midtown!

2009-03-13T06:37:00.000-07:00

The Midtown area is HOT! Loaded with energy and happenings...even on Sunday night! When most decent restaurants are closed, Trattoria Lucca is not only open, but loaded with patrons that look like they're all having the time of their lives. That's cause Sunday night is Family Style night at Lucca's , the new Italian bistro on Bogard Street, just a couple of blocks from Upper King Street's Design District. This cozy restaurant is run and owned by famous chef Ken Vendrinski, formerly of Sienna's on Daniel Island. Offering some of the best Italian food in town, on Sunday night Chef Ken serves family style...that means he chooses the ingredients of the 4 course menu based on the very best seafood, meats and vegetables available that day. Each dish is served family style to your table. Its the best of all worlds...Ken doing his enthusiastic creative thing with quality ingredients. You're not exactly certain what's coming next, but are amazed when you taste the next selection! Ken is flexible and is glad to provide other options for patrons with dietary limitations. You'll be so enthusiastic that next YOU'LL be raving to all of your friends! The price is reasonable and the food is delicious ...all on a Sunday night in downtown Charleston!

Hominy Grill

2009-03-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hominy Grill is one the most widely popular restaurants near Midtown. They feature fresh, local ingredients, and make most of their food from scratch. They have delicious biscuits, and use local free range eggs, and local seafood. The Grits Lady sign, which is painted on the side of the building, is a well-known Charleston landmark. They're located on the corner of Rutledge and Cannon, in a three story building built in 1897. The restaurant is located on the ground floor, which once housed a barbershop. They kept the old fashioned barbershop poles, the original wood floors, and the original pounded tin ceiling. The also have outdoor dining, which is fenced from the street. They serve outstanding Southern food, with a twist, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The prices are reasonable, and it is definitely worth the wait (they're almost always busy).

Cool New Paper Store on Cannon

2009-03-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

Mac and Murphy is a refreshing approach to stationary, cards, notepads, etc. You'll laugh out loud as you look through their inventory. Located between Rutledge and Coming on Cannon, in the Design District, and just down the street from Midtown, this new shop catches you off guard...fun and edgy. All this at affordable prices. You should stop by the next time you're doing some shopping on Upper King, or just grabbing a bite to eat at Five Loaves; tell Liz or Amy you heard about their shop on the Midtown blog! It's a great addition to Downtown Charleston's hip shopping district.

King Street: The Movie

2009-03-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

Good news for the King Street Marketing Group, of which Midtown is a member! The Chart Group (Charleston Hotel and Resort TV) is going to make a movie about the upper King area. All members of the King Street Marketing Group are going to be featured. Filming will take place in March. When completed, the film will be featured on the websites for the King Street Antique District, the King Street Fashion District, the Upper King Design District, and King Street Shop. It's also going to be on the popular tourism site, www.charleston.tourvideo.com, and will be in hotel rooms throughout the Charleston area. I will do another post when it is ready for viewing!

More From the City Council Meeting

2009-03-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

City Council has given final approval to the long standing Sidewalk Dining issue. In response to requests from business owners, residents, and tourists alike, the City's sidewalk dining laws have become less stringent, in an attempt to increase the number of tables on the City sidewalks (in areas where the sidewalks are wide enough). The fee of up to $9 per square foot of sidewalk space being used has been eliminated for business owners, along with the required security deposit. Also, allowable operating hours have been extended until midnight, or the business' closing time, whichever is earlier. I think theses all sound like reasonable changes, and I'm looking forward to some new and improved people watching this Spring!

Spring Cannon Two Way Conversion Passed

2009-03-04T07:55:00.000-08:00

Good news for Midtown and Elliotborough! On February 24, City Council unanimously approved the plan to change Spring and Cannon Streets back to two way streets! These streets were originally two way, but were converted to one way in the 1950's, as part of a plan to speed traffic through the City. Obviously, that's not so much the goal we're going for these days, so a plan has been put into place to convert them back. In conjunction with this, there will be beautifications to the streetscape. This is the next step, as the City will begin working with consultants to make revisions to the streetscape master plan. More news on that as it becomes available. The intent of this project is to slow the traffic that passes residences, and our neighborhood businesses, and to increase the overall residential feel of this historically significant, yet progressive, neighborhood. This decision came in the wake of public hearing the week before, where many members of the community spoke out in favor of the conversion. At the City Council meeting, 86% of the community members present spoke in favor of the conversion, and there was a petition signed by 200 residents. Similar two way conversions have already been done on parts of King, Wentworth, Beaufain, Rutledge, and Ashley, with great results. A two way conversion of Coming could follow the Spring/Cannon corridor project.

Five Loaves

2009-03-03T15:51:00.001-08:00

Five Loaves is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch, although they are open for dinner as well. They have terrific homemade soups, and salads with homemade dressings. They sell half sandwiches, so you will usually get some combination of soup, sandwich, and salad. My favorite is tomato bisque with crabmeat and half of a ham and brie sandwich on a croissant. The prices are very reasonable, and they have half price bottles of wine on Friday nights, according to their website (I've only ever been for lunch). They are located right across the Street from Midtown, on the corner of Cannon and Coming. When we have our Saturday Open Houses, I will frequently grab a to-go lunch from there. A lot of the diners from there also come over to the Open Houses, so it is a good relationship. I took this picture when I was at Midtown for our weekly meeting yesterday. It looks like they were doing some road work in front of the building. If you are ever lacking some entertainment for a Saturday afternoon, and want to go downtown, but don't feel like dealing with droves of tourists, you should have lunch at Five Loaves Downtown, and then come visit us at Midtown to see what we're all about.

Fuel Restaurant

2009-03-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite warm weather spots near Midtown is a relatively new restaurant/bar called Fuel. It's located on the corner of Rutledge and Cannon, which is just two blocks from Midtown. The building was an old gas station, and the owners have given a nod to the building's history by incorporating a vintage filling station inspired theme into the design for the renovations. It sounds strange, but it's really cool. The interior of the restaurant is wide open in the summer, and lets a lot of breeze in. There are some tables and a bar inside, but I've sat outside every time I've been there. The back patio is amazing because you feel miles away from the heart of the city. They've put a large patio in, and done a privacy fence around the whole area, and added some nice landscaping. The result is that the street noise is almost completely blocked, and it almost feels like a remote tropical garden. There are lots of tables outside. Some are covered by a big open roof, and some are open to the sky. They have a great bocci court, too, for those of us who like a little friendly competition while enjoying our beverages of choice.

The menu is Carribbean inspired (I love the fish tacos), and they also grind the beef for their burgers in-house. The prices are really reasonable for downtown Charleston, too. They have nightly Happy Hour specials, and they have a Fuel beer on tap, which is $2 all the time. They have about 15 different wines, and you can get all of them by the glass. I definitely recommend checking it out on a warm night. It's a great place to go with friends or on a casual date. For more info, including the full menu, go to Fuel's website.--