Tag: Charleston

Bowens Island Restaurant Menu – as of August 2012…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD4 Comments

Bowens Island is a fabulous restaurant to visit. Here’s an update to my Bowens Island Menu post… a slightly new menu, so here is the latest as of August 2012!  The prices are still a deal. This restaurant has atmosphere like you won’t believe. It was fun to watch people walk in and say “WOOOOWWWW” mouths open, eyes wide. For all the notoriety it receives you would think it would be fancy (thank goodness it’s not!). The new menu has a photo of the old Bowens Island restaurant, this is what it looks like today… this place has a view that simply cannot be beat! We got there early (couldn’t wait!), but if you can hold out, the sunsets are magnificent!

Fred and I visited Bowens Island last week and had the best time as always! Fried shrimp that is so fresh and delicious it will put a smile on your face! So check out the menu, and pop on over for a quick bite, or lounge on the outside deck. It’s not health food, but if you splurge once in a while it truly is a treat!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… William Berra!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

This piece caught my eye. Artist William (Bill) Berra uses a stunning mix of color and light. I stop in my tracks at that warm golden light, with just enough of the sun hitting the landscape to make it so interesting.The light is so radiant and warm, the strokes loose and deliberate. All the great shadows from the cloudy day. THE. CLOUDS. WHOA! Amazing how light is peeking through. Very nice. I was happy to find that Bill Berra’s work is right here in Charleston, SC at the Sylvan Gallery. So if you’re in town… stop by and check it out! This painting is nothing short of amazing, click to enlarge (at least I know I can with my MAC)… hopefully all computers can??

Here’s a blip about Bill from the Sylvan Gallery website:

William Berra was raised in York, Pennsylvania and studied art there at the York Academy before moving on to the Maryland Institute of Fine Arts in Baltimore.  He left his formal training in favor of a nomadic life-style that carried him all across the country seeking subject matter for his plein-air paintings.  A winter storm stranded him in Santa Fe and he has made it his home ever since.  But the spirit of wanderlust still calls as he travels the world extensively in search of new material to paint.

William’s training as a “plein-air” painter is evident in the loose spontaneity of his pieces although he now does a great deal of his painting in the studio using his travel photographs as reference material.  His ability to make the viewer feel “oh, I’ve been there” has made him one of the most widely collected young artists in the country.

William’s work has been featured at many fine galleries throughout the country.  His work has also been exhibited at the Albuquerque Museum, at the Artists of America show in Denver, the Carmel Plein Air Competition and the Americana Museum in El Paso.  He was also the subject of an extensive article in a recent issue of Southwest Art.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Majestic Crape Myrtle’s in Charleston, SC

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME4 Comments

You don’t normally think of a crape myrtle tree as being “majestic”, but I would say these big old crape myrtles are pretty impressive! Their trunks are so interesting, the bark is such a beautiful color, almost the same as the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco! Hmmm, might be nice to color match, ha ha… wonder if the Benjamin Moore folks will come to a location and color match, ha ha…

Sometimes its the little things in life to make you smile. Don’t miss it! Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Art of the Staycation…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Charleston was voted #1 City in America by Conde Nast Traveler magazine… It’s been on the list for years, but this year it beat San Francisco! Whoa! I have to say, that’s another place that is near and dear to my heart! But since we live in Charleston, SC, I think a staycation is in order!

You’ve heard of it… a STAYCATION. Taking a vacation and staying at home all in one nice little package. A brilliant idea actually! However, the ART of a staycation may take some practice. It’s tricky to be “on vacation” while you’re at home. There are projects to be done, grass to cut, dishes to wash, and all of lifes everyday moments. BUT, life is short and you have to enjoy it while you can! So if you “take” a staycation, give yourself a break, you’ve worked hard, you need some R&R, no guilt!

A staycation has some nice benefits… No packing, no spending money on flights, no hotels, none of the other headaches that come with traveling. You can still get out and see some sites and still save money! (And what better place than Charleston, SC??) It gives you time to be a tourist in your own city. We don’t seem to get to many of the tourist attractions in Charleston and this is a perfect opportunity. So as of today, we are officially on STAYCATION. I guess I can’t say we’re “going” on staycation… we’re “staying” on staycation!

We have some ideas of places we want to go, for instance to the Gibbe’s Museum of Art to see the Mary Whyte: Working South exhibition! We’ve got so many great restaurants in Charleston, SC, that we’ll have to mull the options over a bit more!

I haven’t decided if I’m going to post photos from each days staycation or have a post scheduled for each day, but I guess you’ll figure it out. I will be posting every day regardless… haven’t missed a day since 1/1/2011, I’m heading into year two and I’m on a roll!

So stick with me! Have you been staycationing? Where do you go? What do you do? I was reading an article, it said when you staycation, you should do things differently, turn off your phone (eek), turn off your computer (double eek), plan different places to go (yay), etc. So we’re going to play it by ear. Maybe just cut down on computer time? Hee hee…

Catch you back here tomorrow… promise!

CHARLESTON image via CNTraveler.com

STAYCATION definition via Merriam-Webster.com

A Walk Downtown… (Charleston, SC)

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME4 Comments

How stately is this? Magnificent. Prestigious. Oh, Charleston is full of the most beautiful architecture dating back hundreds of years. Whenever I’m downtown I think what a wonderful city this would be to visit while on vacation… summer could prove a little humid for me, but it’s beautiful nonetheless! Everywhere you look there is a photo to be taken. So if you live here, grab your camera and head out! If you visit Charleston, bring extra batteries and a big memory card!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston SC Photos: Gardens of Charleston

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

It is the exception, not the rule to have a large yard when you live in downtown Charleston, SC. For the most part the yards are very small. However, there are a few homes that have extensive yards that are just breathtaking. In the shot above my lens was poking through a fence so I was limited as to what I could snap a photo of… GORGEOUS!

Look at that! Magnificent! Someone stays very busy keeping that looking so perfect. What a treat for the eye!

What a great size yard! Especially if you have someone to maintain it!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photos: Doors in Charleston, SC…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME6 Comments

Fred and I took a walk around downtown early one Saturday morning and I brought along the camera (of course!). You can loose yourself taking photos downtown. THERE IS JUST SO MUCH TO SEE! For the most part it was a cloudy morning, but the sun peeked through for a few shots… I love how the sunlight hits this beautiful wooden door. The quality of the homes downtown just cannot be beat. They are absolutely gorgeous!

I love the newspaper still on the step… and the carriage step from days gone by… it was a nice quiet morning… then the sun stayed out and it was a tad humid (understatement of the year)… it was nice while it lasted!

Everything is just. so. GRAND. Lovely!

Stay cool and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Italian Cypress Trees = Dramatic Photo

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

Dramatic, eh? Photo taken while walking around downtown (Charleston, SC)…

I need to get up and go take photos early or late in the day… this was more around noon judging by the bright light, but you can still see what a cool place Charleston, SC is… everywhere you look there is a photo to be taken! If you are affected by heat, come in the winter! That’s when I really love Charleston! I wonder how many artists have painted this scene?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Katie Dobson Cundiff!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist1 Comment

“Merriewoods” by Katie Dobson Cundiff

I just love this painting for so many reasons. The cabin feels rustic and like something that fits within a perfect vacation, the trees are loose and full of character, the shadows are amazing and the clothes on the line, whoa! Those nicely added pops of color just make this painting extra special. This was one of the paintings that Katie had done for the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out (Cashiers, NC) that just ended on Saturday. What a delightful time that must have been. How great to be a spectator in such a beautiful location full of fabulous artists!

Another painting that I just love, also from the Cashiers Plein Air Paint Out:

“Toll House” by Katie Dobson Cundiff

I absolutely adore how the underpainting shows through, it just adds so much! The little bits of light on the house, the cool picket fence and gate, the bright green sunlit grass and the beautiful flowers in the foreground all make this painting what it is… fabulous!

If you happen to be in the Charleston, SC area, you’re in luck! You can see some of Katie’s work at Galerie On Broad… if you aren’t in the area, check out their website!

Here’s a blip about Katie from her website  (click HERE to read in full), she sounds like such an interesting person!:

I am primarily a landscape artist, although I enjoy painting many different subjects including portraits and figurative, animals, still life, rural landscapes, boats, and urban scenes.  I think my work differs from that of other artists because of the influence and instruction I received from my father.  As a child, I loved to sit and watch him work on his illustrations, and would often pose for him.  He would let me look through his art books and by the time I was a teenager, we had long discussions on art and artists.  He showed me the works of master artists Degas, Lautrec, Sargent, Sorolla, and Zorn (to name a few). Frequent visits to the Art Institute provided me the opportunity to study these and other great painters. This strong foundation in drawing and painting, and exploring the works of fine art masters has been the most important element in my journey and quest to becoming a “painter of life”.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Images: Katie Dobson Cundiff Facebook

Charleston Photo: Bocci’s Restaurant… special memories!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD2 Comments

This is a neat old restaurant located on Church Street in downtown Charleston, SC. It’s where we ate dinner on our wedding night almost twenty years ago! I love this neat brick and the cool awning, it’s a very authentic feeling space. We haven’t been in years, have you? Let me know if you’ve been recently, what did you get? Here’s their MENU. I don’t recognize any of our old favorites from long, long ago…  Strolling around downtown makes for some fabulous photo taking! I’ve seen artists paint Bocci’s and it’s always such a cool painting! Hmmm, Italian food is sounding mighty tasty right about now!

Charleston restaurants have such character…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Sweetgrass Baskets!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART2 Comments

I took this photo one day while walking around downtown Charleston, SC. This was taken across the street from St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The women that weave these baskets are utterly amazing. So very talented. It’s very cool thing when your craft has been passed down for generations! These baskets aren’t cheap, but they will last forever. They’re worth every single penny. If you’re in town, this is THE PERFECT souvenir to go home with. It’s classy, you can use it and it’s absolutely beautiful!

I’ve heard that the basket ladies don’t like to have their photos taken, so I was able to snap this without revealing the artists identity… Just know that she was a very talented woman indeed!

Whether or not you are located in Charleston, hey, what better wedding, anniversary, birthday, gift would one of these beautiful baskets make?!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Gorgeous Old Building, Used To Be Saracen Restaurant

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

This building has always been a stunner. Look at the detail! This is the perfect example of exquisite architecture, back when they built buildings to look gorgeous and to last for generations! A restaurant used to fill this space, it was called SARACEN. We never made it to that restaurant, but it was always on our list. I hope one day soon this place gets renovated and turned back into a happening building!

Have a good weekend, try to stay cool! And I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Shannon Runquist and the Palette and Palate Stroll!

On By Barbara StroudIn ARTLeave a comment

“Butter Me Up” by Shannon Runquist – Image: HortonHayes.com

Shannon Runquist paints the coolest paintings. Other than landscapes and figures I always look forward to her still lifes. They are often whimsical, or reminiscent of days gone by, one I remember a cool old typewriter… They have character. This collection of paintings was done for the Palatte and Palate Stroll, where local chefs are paired with galleries for some fabulous art and tasty food (see information below)… it’s TONIGHT! (Check out the painting entitled “Pigs in a Blanket” – how creative!) I wish them much success! If you don’t have tickets for this event, then check out the Horton Hayes website to see more of Shannon’s paintings. Head on down to the gallery if you’re in town. (Note: you must have tickets for the Palatte and Palate Stroll). Horton Hayes Gallery is full of fabulous artists… every single one of them is beyond amazing and worth any effort to get there and check out their work!

I recently heard Shannon being interviewed on public radio, it was like listening to an old friend talk. Very good interview!

“Summertime” by Shannon Runquist – Image: HortonHayes.com

Don’t you just love this painting? “Summertime” epitomizes summer in Charleston… You need tea and cool air to survive!

Here’s a blip about Shannon from the Horton Hayes website (click link to read more):

Shannon Runquist was born is Savannah, Georgia and has spent most of her life in the South. She has lived on St. Simons Island, Georgia and currently resides in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and spends summers on Cape Cod. Spending time near the shore, she has developed a great love for coastal regions and the elements that define them. She has painted and studied in Europe, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Runquist has participated in many national and international exhibitions including consecutive years at the Salmagundi Club in New York City and the Salon International. She enjoys traveling and painting en plein air as well as working in her home studio. Her paintings hang in both corporate and private collections in the United States and abroad.

Artist’s Statement: “I would like for my paintings to convey a timeless aesthetic. They are often an extension of an emotion at the time I am painting but I hope my work remains ambiguous. I paint what is familiar to me, what I have collected or a place I have been. My favorite paintings are ones that tell a story but leave a little mystery for the viewer.”

Here’s a blip from CharlestonFineArtDealersAssociation.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Farmers Market Bounty is Plentiful!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD2 Comments

Just didn’t want you to forget about the Charleston Farmers Market today at Marion Square in Charleston, SC. Even if it’s blistering hot I promise you it is SO worth it! Head out early if the heat concerns you… we can zip in and out in no time flat and we fill up a few bags of heavenly goods… Last week we bought butter beans, butter peas, corn on the cob, fresh juicy tomatoes that are UNBELIEVABLE this year, zucchini, banana pepper, cantaloupe and some grape tomatoes… I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but whoa, you can stock up and prices are so much cheaper than the grocery store and the quality cannot be beat!

Ahhh, one fruit I forgot to mention… the freshest, juiciest peaches EVER! Ooooh! I had one on my cereal and it made it dessert! Speaking of… would be super tasty over ice cream ;)

What do YOU make with your farmers market bounty? Catch you back here tomorrow!