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Catching the Last Bits of The Spoleto Festival 2012

June 6, 2012 by

SpoletoWe at the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction absolutely love our city! Charleston has a unique blend of metropolitan and small-town charm, with a healthy dash of the arts thrown in. While Charleston’s arts scene is great year-round, The Spoleto Festival is the pinnacle of all things artistic in the Holy City.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Spoleto Festival USA yet, don’t worry! There are still plenty of opportunities for you to experience this international arts Festival between now and Sunday.

Westminster Choir

The Spoleto Festival’s choir-in-residence will be performing a wide variety of pieces, from Rachmaninoff to contemporary composer Eriks Ešenvalds Friday evening at the Church of St. Luke and St. Paul. Come sit back, relax, and let the choir’s angelic voices wash over you as you begin your weekend. Concert begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are available here.

Return to the Sea: Saltworks by Motoi Yamamoto

This site-specific art installation is on display at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the corner of Calhoun and St. Phillip Streets. Yamamoto’s intricate works are created entirely of salt, which are a symbol of purity in Japanese culture. Take a break from the mid-day heat and wander through the salt lands of Yamamoto’s mind from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m daily.

Rebirth Brass Band

Dance the night away with New Orleans’ Rebirth Brass Band in the College of Charleston Cistern this weekend! This jazz, funk, and hip-hop ensemble will be playing shows on Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m.

Charleston is absolutely alive this time of year, so even if you don’t attend a performance, be sure to take a stroll downtown and take in the atmosphere! Visit our Facbook page for all the up and coming events in Charleston!

 

 

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The Best Brunch Spots in the Holy City

May 30, 2012 by

poogans porchCharleston isn’t only a great city to visit for the history—we have some of the best restaurants in the South, too! Whether you’re in town for a weekend or a local looking for someplace new, we’ve got the city’s best brunch spots lined up for you.

Toast

One of downtown Charleston’s most popular brunch spots, Toast is known for its $10 bottomless mimosas, enthusiastic wait staff, and delectable Lowcountry fare. Some of its most popular menu items include Shrimp & Grits, Stuffed French Toast, Fried Green Tomatoes, and a spicy Crab Cake Sandwich. Grab your gal pals, and head to Toast for a fun morning of bubbles and breakfast!

Poogan’s Porch

Located in a beautiful Victorian home on historic Queen Street, Poogan’s Porch is arguably Charleston’s best-known brunch spot. Named after the little dog that made his home on the restaurant’s porch, Poogan’s has developed a menu of down-home Southern dishes sure to please any palate. Some of their signature dishes include a Crab Cake Benedict, Fried Alligator, and Chef Issac’s She Crab Soup. Put on your favorite sundress, and relive the Victorian era at this beautiful restaurant!

Lost Dog Café

Looking to get out of the city for a morning? Head over to the Lost Dog Café on Folly Beach, where life moves a little bit slower and breakfast is served all day. Pictures of patrons’ pooches line the walls, while their real-life counterparts lie complacently beneath their owners’ chairs on the patio. The food is a delicious brunch fare with an island twist—perfect for a lazy morning!

Seabiscuit Café

A little-known island treasure, the Seabiscuit Café on the Isle of Palms has been serving brunch to Charlestonians for 25 years. Their delicious Southern-style food is the perfect complement to an early day on the beach. Just make sure you get there early! Brunch is only available until 11 a.m.

Old Village Post House

Don’t feel like fighting the city crowds for brunch? Try the Old Village Post House in Mount Pleasant. This neighborhood gem is part tavern, part inn, and entirely fabulous. The Post House offers some heartier brunch foods, such as a Croque Madame (gourmet grilled cheese with egg), Pan-Seared Salmon, and Cinnamon French Toast, complete with brioche and sausage.

No matter which restaurant you choose, you won’t go wrong! Sit down, relax, and enjoy a delicious brunch with loved ones—it’s good for you!

 

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Laughter is the Best Medicine: Top Comedy Spots in Charleston

May 9, 2012 by

laughterBecause it lowers stress, boosts the immune system, reduces pain, and improves bonding among individuals, laughter really does have the powerful health benefits we’ve long attributed to it. We at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction are proud to say that Charleston is home to world-class comedy clubs where you can get your daily dose.

Next time you’re in need of a hearty chuckle, check out one of these laughter hot spots.

Theatre 99

Known as Charleston’s home for improv comedy, Theatre 99 offers affordable live shows most Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. In addition to improv, audiences enjoy sketch and stand-up comedy performances on the theater’s stage. Those who are interested in participating in comedy themselves can take advantage of Theatre 99’s improv classes and workshops.

Plan your next outing here.

Visit: 280 Meeting Street, above The Bicycle Shoppe, Charleston, SC

The Stephen Colbert Childhood Tour

Stephen Colbert, one of Charleston’s most famous and well-loved native sons, soaked up the city’s atmosphere and went on to a wildly successful career in comedy. Diehard fans can make a driving tour of Colbert’s childhood stomping grounds by visiting James Island, where he spent his youth, and East Bay Street in downtown Charleston, where his family moved after the death of his father and two brothers.

Be sure to swing by Episcopal Porter-Gaud school, where Colbert acted in school plays and wrote for the newspaper.

Center Pointe Bar & Grille

Friday nights at Center Pointe mean comedy. Enjoy jokes in a sports-bar atmosphere where you can enjoy food and drinks from a full kitchen and bar menu. Want to create some comedy of your own? Come back on Monday nights for karaoke!

Visit: 4950 Centre Pointe Dr., North Charleston, SC

Palmetto Comedy House

Enjoy a night of stand-up at this comedy hub, located inside the Clarion Suites Hotel. The Palmetto is known for special event shows (including performances for Valentine’s Day and its Divas of Comedy show), so check out the schedule to see what’s coming up.

Visit: 3640-B Dorchester Rd., Charleston, SC

 

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Best Dining Views in Downtown Charleston

April 25, 2012 by

rooftop diningWe at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction love our city! Charleston, South Carolina, is full of rich historical and cultural beauty. Whether you’re in town for breast reconstruction surgery or you’ve lived here for years, enjoy the best of what Charleston has to offer by checking out these excellent dining rooms with a view during your next dinner out.

Fleet Landing Restaurant

Constructed by the U.S. Navy in 1942 as a departure point for sailors, Fleet Landing offers diners stunning views of the Charleston Harbor. The restaurant lies within a 6,000-square-foot, hurricane-proof structure that went unused for decades following World War Two. In 2004, visionary Tradd Newton realized his dream of reinventing the striking space, and Fleet Landing was born.

Today, diners enjoy seafood dishes in a rich historical setting. Fleet Landing offers lunch and dinner seven days a week, plus brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu and reservation information are available here.

Vendue Inn

Even if you aren’t staying at the Vendue Inn during your time in Charleston, be sure to visit the Rooftop Bar and Restaurant atop the building. Named Charleston’s best bar five years in a row by the Charleston City Paper, Rooftop offers sweeping views of the city’s harbor and historic downtown.

Cozy during any season, the Rooftop boasts outdoor heaters in the chilly months and luxurious sunshine during the rest of the year. Visit seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m., with live music in the evenings. Menu information is available here.

Pavilion Bar

Described as a “rooftop oasis,” the Pavilion Bar is located on top of the luxurious Market Pavilion Hotel. Pavilion patrons can sip signature cocktails while enjoying views of historic downtown Charleston and the waterfront. The bar also boasts a cascading waterfall to relax patrons.

Private parties and individuals can enjoy the elegant Pavilion every day between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 a.m., but should be sure to consult the bar’s dress code. Menu and other details are available here .

 

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Charleston Plantations

April 18, 2012 by

charleston plantationNo visit to Charleston, South Carolina, is complete without a stop at one of the area’s striking historical plantations. These immaculately preserved sites allow visitors to take a step back in time and soak up the atmosphere of the Old South.

Next time you’re in town to visit the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, we recommend stopping by one of these three beauties.

Middleton Place

No matter what time of year you visit Middleton Place, you’ll find 65 acres of stunning gardens in bloom. A National Historic Landmark, Middleton Place offers a glimpse into the plantation life that dominated pre-Civil War South Carolina.

Visitors of all tastes will find something to love at Middleton Place, which includes extensive landscaped gardens, a preserved plantation mansion, and rejuvenated stable yards, where actors perform the tasks that African slaves would have done in the 18th century.

Plan your trip to Middleton Place!

Boone Hall Plantation

Famous for the double line of oak trees (planted in 1743!) that line its driveway, Boone Hall Plantation provides educational tours as well as an opportunity to participate first-hand in plantation life. For 320 years, Boone Hall has been a living, producing plantation.

In the 1800s, Boone Hall produced cotton and pecans, but today its crops include strawberries, pumpkins, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Visitors can pick their own harvests in special fields after learning about the life of those who lived in the Boone Hall house and on the plantation hundreds of years ago.

Plan your visit to Boone Hall!

Magnolia Plantation

Home of the oldest public gardens in the United States, Magnolia Plantation opened its doors to the public in 1870, nearly 200 years after its founding in 1676. In 2010, Magnolia Plantation won a prestigious Heritage Tourism Award for its efforts at interpretively recreating and presenting slave cabins to visitors.

Visitors can enjoy boat tours, a petting zoo, tours of the gardens and house, and a leisurely stop at the plantation’s Peacock Café. The self-guided walking tour of the Swamp Garden is especially popular among tourists, and is open 365 days per year.

Plan your trip to Magnolia Plantation!

 

 

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The Best Tours of Charleston

March 21, 2012 by

Charleston ToursCharleston, South Carolina, is commonly cited as one of the nation’s most historical cities. Many of our patients who come for breast reconstruction surgery stay long enough to enjoy the eclectic sights Charleston has to offer.

The next time you’re in town, consider making time to visit one of these excellent Charleston tours.

Historic Charleston Tour

Founded in 1670, Charleston boasts more than three centuries of fascinating history. Join the historic tour to learn about Charleston’s role in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well as the natural disasters that the city has withstood through the years. Your licensed tour guide will draw your attention to more than 100 points of interest. Hotel pick-up and drop-off service may be available.

Old Charleston Walking Ghost Tour

Keep your mind sharp and your body healthy with a walking tour of Charleston’s most haunted places. Tour guide Mike Brown offers more than a decade’s worth of research about the city’s spookiest alleys, graveyards, and other locations. Offered at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. daily, these tours are sure to get your heart thumping and can act as either a main attraction or the opening for an exciting night on the town.

Historic Harbor Boat Tour of Charleston

Relax aboard a boat for a nonstop tour from the water. During your 90-minute sea adventure, you’ll learn about the historically significant Charleston Harbor and get to view three major forts (Moultrie, Sumter, and Johnson). The tour also includes views of Charleston’s best-known landmarks, including St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. If you keep your eyes on the water, you may even spot dolphins, pelicans, or other Low Country sea life.

Gone with the Wind City & Mansion Tour

Relive the beauty and drama of Margaret Mitchell’s iconic novel on Charleston’s Gone with the Wind City & Mansion Tour. You’ll see the French Quarter, the Market, Old Citadel, and the Rainbow Row of homes in pastel colors. The tour concludes inside the historic Manigault House, complete with antique furniture and architecture.

 

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Where to Go for the Best Sushi in the Low Country

March 14, 2012 by

Best SushiWhen nothing will do but sushi, South Carolina’s Low Country has plenty to offer your palate. Here’s a guide for anyone in search of great Japanese cuisine in the greater Charleston area.

Wasabi of Charleston

Please a crowd at Wasabi of Charleston, which offers sushi and hibachi dinners, plus an extensive drink menu (including plenty of sake choices!). In addition to classic Japanese cuisine prepared by professionally trained chefs, Wasabi boasts an exciting nightlife and hosts special events including birthdays and anniversaries. Open for lunch (11:30 to 3:00) and dinner.

O-Ku Sushi

This upscale sushi hotspot was cited by Esquire magazine as one of the country’s 20 Best New Restaurants in 2010. So far, its finely prepared entrees and small plates have lived up to the hype. With locally sourced ingredients, a sleek interior design, and an assortment of hand-crafted cocktails, O-Ku’s unique take on Japanese favorites provides something for everyone to love. Open for lunch (11:30 to 2:00) and dinner.

Bambu

In addition to its unique cocktails and hand-rolled sushi, Bambu boasts an outdoor patio and live music every weekend night during the summer. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the Charleston-influenced Japanese and Thai dishes, the quirky décor, and the community-style tables (private booths are available too!). Bambu further distinguishes itself from other sushi haunts in town by offering diners a glimpse into the sushi-rolling process, which they can observe via a webcam stationed in the kitchen. Open at 5:00 p.m. daily.

Tsunami

Tsunami’s four locations and extensive menu (which includes hibachi, sushi, and other traditional Japanese fare) make this an ideal site for a night out, no matter what crowd you’re with. The restaurant makes a special effort to accommodate those with food allergies and special diets, making this restaurant the place to go for those with food restrictions. Open for dinner daily.

 

 

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Top 5 Spas in Charleston

March 7, 2012 by

Charleston SpasIf you’re in Charleston for a consultation or breast reconstruction surgery, we recommend the following spas for a bit of pampering or relaxation.

The Spa at Charleston Place

With its beautiful views and airy rooms, The Spa at Charleston Place is one of our favorites. The massage therapy options themselves are incredible: Swedish, deep tissue, warm stone, reflexology, and Moroccan oil. Skin care treatments include a decadent 24-karat gold facial and a diamond facial. Peppermint rosemary body scrubs, spa manis and pedis, and yin and yang classes are only a few of the dozens of possibilities for pampering.

Treatments for men and children are available, and if you stay at the hotel, you have use of the state-of-the-art health club with salt-water pool and Jacuzzi.

Stella Nova

Stella Nova takes facials to the next level with their Rx Infusion facial, which provides results fast with medical-grade ingredients that reduce rosacea and fine lines. This facial includes a penetrating serum and soothing mask. The Micro Mini Peel helps combat aging and firms the skin, while the Purifying Complexion facial reduces blemishes and deep cleans pores. The Cure Carboxi-Express and O2 Awakening infuse pores with oxygen to detoxify the skin.

Full-body treatments include a head-to-toe massage and salt scrub, a lavender-scented body wrap, African Red Tea Body Cocktail, and a sweet, luxurious sugar scrub. If you’re visiting with friends, book the VIP Spa Suite to enjoy the butler service and choice of delicious food and drink while you’re being pampered.

Simply Your Spa

An intimate day spa and yoga studio, Simply Your Spa offers a variety of packages that give you the best of the best in spa services. The Simply Your Sampler includes a Swedish massage, Quick Results Facial, Express Manicure, and Express Pedicure. For the ultimate in spa, The Pleasure Seeker Package offers a Swedish massage, Herbology Body Treatment, Simply Your Signature Facial, and Sea Spa Manicure and Pedicure. The Ultimate Feet Treat Package pampers your feet with a shea butter reflexology foot massage, followed by a Sea Spa Pedicure.

Simply Your Spa also offers lash and brow tinting, spray tan, and yoga and Zumba classes, as well as professional skin care, makeup, and doggie bath products for sale. Men’s and couples’ packages are available, and Simply Your Spa caters to brides, grooms, and groups.

Urban Nirvana

With an invitation to come into your own, Urban Nirvana is a day spa with a difference: their treatments use luxurious products rarely seen anywhere else. In addition to prenatal and hot stone massages, they offer a spectacular hand and foot massage, a scalp and full-body massage with citrus extracts, a paraffin massage, a warm rubdown, and an aromatherapy massage with your choice of intoxicating scents such as oolong and mandarin.

Urban Nirvana’s reclined-seating hydrotherapy tub and seven-head Vichy Shower offer unsurpassed luxury and relaxation. Body treatments such as a seaweed detox, a coffee body mask, and cocoa shea-butter wrap are treats for the body, mind, and soul. A full-service salon provides hair care and waxing by seasoned professionals.

Seeking Indigo

Integrating holistic wellness and lifestyle, Seeking Indigo has a yoga studio, Pilates center, organic café, and detox center that offer biofeedback, yoga, massage, organic facials, and Ayurvedic treatments. In addition to reiki and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, the spa has unique treatments not seen anywhere else. The Charleston Hyperbaric Chamber delivers oxygen to the body at the cellular level and allows the body to heal itself. Seeking Indigo’s far infrared sauna heats you from the inside out, reducing blood pressure and detoxifying the body.

The spa also offers fashion from local designers ranging from vintage to modern, jewelry of all types, books, music, art, and exotic treasures for sale.

Which spas appeal to you, and why?

 

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Dining Out on James Island

February 15, 2012 by

James Island has some of the most flavorful and enchanting dining experiences in the Charleston area. This post will discuss some of our favorite restaurants that we recommend to visitors and breast restoration patients:

J. Paul’z:

If you’re looking for a great place for your next party, whether with friends, family, or coworkers, try J. Paul’z. With mouthwatering food and unique cocktails, you and your friends will have a wonderful time. Their private lounge will hold up to 30 guests, and if you have a large party, you can enjoy their formal dining room.

The food ranges from vegetable eggrolls with sweet chili sauce to roasted salmon to bourbon-braised pork. The sushi menu is unforgettable, with almost 30 varieties, including Nigiri and the Big Sexy Roll, with crabmeat, eel, avocado, and cucumber.

Athens Restaurant and Grill:

With amazing Greek food, Athens Restaurant and Grill is one of our first choices when we’re on James Island. From appetizers such as stuffed grape leaves to classic Greek entrées like moussaka and desserts such as baklava, you’ll feel like you’re on the beach in Greece.

According to the website, dining choices include soups and salads, pasta, oven-baked parmigiana, a variety of meats cooked Greek style, and Greek pizza made from an Old World recipe. Athens offers a full wine and beer menu plus specialty cocktails and coffees, and it’s a perfect place for a first date or a dinner with the family.

Mustard Seed:

Sal Parco began this restaurant in 1994 on Sullivan’s Island and has expanded throughout the Charleston area. Named for the biblical parable, Sal truly did begin his restaurant from a small seed, and he’s grown it to nine locations. One taste of the food, and you’ll see why his restaurants are popular—Sal’s eclectic mix of different cuisine styles includes Asian beef satay, hummus plate, fettucine carbonara, and black bean cakes. No matter your taste, you’ll find something to please it at the Mustard Seed.

Boulevard Diner:

Part of Sal Parco’s group of fine restaurants, Boulevard Diner’s menu reminds one of the old-style diners: good, simple food you’ll love. For breakfast, you’ll find your old favorites, such as buttermilk pancakes, omelettes, and country fried steak and eggs. Lunch is the Big & Juicy Burger, roast turkey, and sautéed shrimp over cheddar grits. For dinner, dig into fried chicken, crab cakes, and Cajun-style meatloaf. Your only problem will be deciding what to order from the large menu full of favorites.

Med Bistro:

Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Med Bistro is another restaurant with an eclectic menu sure to please everyone—and the live music adds to the experience. The website regularly features specials such as half price wine and 3-course dinners for $30. For lunch, the menu features amazing salads, delicious deli sandwiches and wraps, and big ½-pound burgers. The sides are housemade and include coleslaw, macaroni salad, and onion rings. The classy dinner menu includes favorites such as crab cakes, ravioli, lamb chops, and swordfish. If you can, be sure to stop in for brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy omelets, Lowcountry specialties such as pecan and coconut stuffed French toast, and Monte Cristo sandwiches.

Our breast restoration patients love to come to Charleston and sample our spectacular cuisine. Which restaurant is your favorite?

 

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The Perfect Rainy Day in Charleston: What to Do for Fun

February 8, 2012 by

Charleston is one of those places that has so much to do and see that you can have fun even on a rainy day. From the South Carolina Aquarium to the Charleston City Market, here are our favorite dreary day activities.

South Carolina Aquarium

With a daily dive show and exhibits galore, the South Carolina Aquarium is the perfect rainy day activity for all ages. The exhibits take you from the mountains to the sea, and the first one you’ll see, the mountain forest exhibit, features majestic eagles and playful otters frolicking in the hilly forest. You’ll see the flora and fauna in the piedmont, coastal plain, and salt marsh areas before you hit the coast and ocean to have close encounters with sharks and pufferfish.

The Touch Tank allows you to see and touch water creatures such as stingrays and sea urchins. In February, the Aquarium will hold a birdhouse building workshop and a Love under the Sea Valentine’s Day dinner.

Tour the Yorktown

The focal point of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum is the World War II aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. The museum is home to a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships and the Cold War Memorial. Patriots Point also houses the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Medal of Honor Museum.

Aboard the Yorktown, you can tour the flight deck and bridge, living quarters, brig, and engine room. The Charleston Navy Shipyard Museum and Medal of Honor Museum are on board, and individual memorials are scattered around the ship. The hangar bay holds vintage aircraft, and if you’d like to try flying yourself, you’ll want to try the flight simulator.

Kiln Time

If you’re artistically inclined and would like to paint your own pottery—or your kids would—Kiln Time is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. You’ll find a large collection of pottery that you can decorate or paint, and then Kiln Time will fire them and have them ready in just a few days. What a fun way to spend some family time!

Historical Charleston City Market

The Charleston City Market has been part of Charleston’s history for over two centuries. The majestic Market Hall building houses the Daughters of the Confederacy museum. Grab your umbrella and head to this amazing open-air market that sells everything from jewelry to food to sweetgrass baskets. With over 100 vendors, the market has something for everyone, and is the perfect place to have a coffee and watch people. Take a carriage ride, relax, and enjoy Charleston.

Do you have any suggestions for a perfect way to spend a rainy day in Charleston?

 

 

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