Posts Comments

You are here: Home / Archives for Charleston

Shop Local and Support Breast Reconstruction Awareness!

October 3, 2012 by

As you might already know, the month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! And our team couldn’t be prouder to reside in Charleston, where compassion and community-support is never in short supply.

All over our historic city, local businesses have donated raffle items for BRADayUSA, an event happening  designed to promote education, awareness, and access regarding post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. The proceeds from the event will go to the East Cooper Hospital Volunteers to assemble post-op care bags for all breast reconstruction patients upon discharge from East Cooper Medical Center.

Check out these local shops, boutiques, and businesses next time you go out for a little retail therapy! Shopping locally supports your community’s economy, and when you patronize these businesses, you join their charitable efforts in the fight against breast cancer.

So grab your purse, and hit the town! Here is your guide to good karma and great local shopping by the location:

Downtown

LulaKate

Stella Nova

Finicky Filly

One Respe’ Wellness Center

 

West Ashley

Charleston Collections Gifts

Party&Paint Charleston

Paul Baron MD/Cancer Specialists of Charleston

Cynthia Sunde & Robin Hoffman – Premier Designs Jewelry – Independent Distributors

Summerville

Radberry Nails

Mount Pleasant

East Cooper Medical Center

Lowcountry OB/GYN – &  Lisa Henderson, Laser Technician

Chantilly Lingerie

 

Daniel Island

Paisley

 

James Island

Beba Luxe

 

Other:

The Little Black Book for Every Busy Woman

Yes Ma’am Tee

 

The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction is overwhelmed with gratitude for these sponsors and their commitment to making a difference in our community! For info on BRAdayUSA events happening across the country check out www.BRAdayUSA.org

To learn more about our BRADayUSA on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, visit our Facebook Event page here. Be sure to join us aboard the Carolina Belle to celebrate the event with delicious food and outstanding prizes! Just RSVP to info@naturalbreastreconstruction.com.

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston, Upcoming Events Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

All About Shem Creek

September 26, 2012 by

Shem Creek is one of Charleston’s most exciting and unique places. Both boating and seafood aficionados have plenty to do here thanks to Shem Creek’s spectacular waterfront dining. With fresh seafood coming in daily from the locally parked shrimp boats, our patients are sure to get the best seafood in town.

Though it’s lined with restaurants on both shores, Shem Creek is more than just great food. Here are our absolute favorites places to dine, drink, relax, and take in the natural beauty of this Charleston  gem:

Page’s Okra Grill: The Page family established The Okra Grill in 2006 with the intent to provide the best Southern food in the Charleston area. With a specials menu that changes daily—from homemade meatloaf, to Southern fried pork chops, and grilled beef calves with liver—Page’s Okra Grill gives every patron a true taste of Lowcountry dining.

  • Water’s Edge Restaurant: Water’s Edge is located on scenic Shem Creek and offers both waterfront and outside dining where guests can view the local fish and shrimp boats unloading their daily catches. This spectacular restaurant features a diverse menu of gourmet seafood, juicy burgers, prime rib, and many more Lowcountry favorites. Enjoy a delicious meal paired with one of their 450 wines from around the world to top off your memorable outing in Shem Creek.
  • Shem Creek Inn: On the waterfront overlooking the tranquil Shem Creek lies this popular hotel. Restaurants, shopping, and bountiful wildlife surround the hotel known for its quaint views and harbor-side activities. Each morning of your stay, you can watch the shrimp and fishing boats make their way out to the Charleston Harbor, or unwind by the waterfront pool and watch the pelican fly overhead.
  • Shem Creek Shrimping Harbor and Crab Bank Island Preserve Saltwater Tour: If you’re looking for a little adventure during your stay at Shem Creek, look no further than this kayak tour. Paddle down historic Shem Creek among the shrimp boats, then journey out to Crab Bank. This preserve is home to thousands of nesting shorebirds, including the Wilsons Plover and Eastern Brown Pelicans. Frequented by dolphin and sometimes manatee, this tour is popular among wildlife enthusiasts. It also includes incredible views of the historic Charleston Harbor, Castle Pinckney, Ft. Sumter, the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse, and Patriots Point.

Where is your favorite place to go when you visit Shem Creek?

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Charleston’s Most Romantic Venues for Tying the Knot

September 17, 2012 by

Image Above Taken From: www.Huffingtonpost.com

With Charleston’s breathtaking waterfronts, rolling countryside, historic plantations and home, and lush parks, it is no wonder the city is such a hub for celebrity weddings! On September 9, 2012, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds exchanged vows at Boone Hall Plantation, the same house featured in the film The Notebook.

Last year, Eva Amurri, Susan Sarandon’s daughter, married Kyle Martino at the Confederate Home event space in Charleston. Even Emily Maynard, the most recent Bachelorette, is purportedly planning her nuptials to reside in the historic city!

If you or your loved ones are looking for a celebrity-worthy wedding, look no further. We’ve compiled Charleston’s most stunning wedding venues right here!

  • Boone Hall Plantation: Turns out, the Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina—where Lively and Reynolds held their intimate ceremony—is the mansion where Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams first fell in love as Noah and Ally in the 2004 film The Notebook. Other than its silver screen pedigree, the Boone Hall sets the scene for the perfect plantation romance with its famous Avenue of Oaks, nearly a mile of 268-year-old giant oaks draped with Spanish moss that lead to the sprawling house. Over 300 years ago, the brick and tile were handmade for this 18th century plantation and can still be seen, as well as the cotton gin house, circular smoke house, and in the formal gardens’ original walls and walks.
  • Confederate Home: The 127-year-old Confederate Home and College offers a unique historic location in downtown Charleston perfect for the big day. The restoration of this landmark features two formal adjoining drawing rooms on the second floor furnished with period furniture and a stately columned piazza which overlooks the landscaped garden. Each drawing room has a fireplace and separate doors for access—the perfect touches for an intimate, romantic occasion.
  • Legare Waring House: For a banquet of traditional grace, explore this 1840s home that has showcased legendary parties attended by governors, international dignitaries, and blushing brides alike. Recently redecorated with characteristic Charleston colors and furnishings, the grandeur of this home, accented by an avenue of majestic, moss-draped oak trees, is truly timeless.
  • Patriots Point Pavilion: The Pavilion at Patriots Point is one of the most captivating and sought-after event venues in Charleston. With rapturous views of the harbor, the luxury tent sits on the 18th hole with the Harbor just beyond for a truly contemporary, yet classic venue.
  • William Aiken House: One of Charleston’s most renowned venues, The William Aiken House has become the centerpiece for the most memorable affairs. This majestic estate has been fully restored to its 1811 condition so that bridal parties and guests can fully relish the rare combination of 19th century elegance and 21st century refinement.

Have you had the chance to explore these enchanting venues? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Lowcountry Tales of Dorothea Benton Frank

September 12, 2012 by
  • Dorothea-Benton-FrankWhat better way to welcome the new season in Charleston than through the tales of the New York Times’ bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank?  With the Lowcountry at the heart of each novel, her words create the same cadence and wonder as the places that inspired her stories.

 Experience the wild beauty, laid-back atmosphere, and unforgettable characters of the Lowcountry, and the emotional honesty that has garnered Dorothea Benton Frank’s fiction national attention. Here’s a sneak peak at some of our favorites—be sure to snag a copy for yourself!

  • Lowcountry Summer: The much-anticipated sequel to Plantation follows Caroline Wimbley Levine as she returns to Tall Pines Plantation. After the death of her late mother, the Queen of Tall Pines, Caroline and the rest of the family are uncertain of who will take her place. Along the banks of the majestic Edisto River, new betrayals and secrets unfold, and a new generation takes the reins.
  • Folly Beach: Folly Beach is the shore of Cate Cooper’s childhood, and the place where her past still roams. After her husband’s death leaves her homeless and penniless, she returns to Folly Beach with the hope of building a new life from her old stomping grounds and becoming the women she was destined to be.
  • Sullivan’s Island: Born and raised on Sullivan’s Island, Susan Hayes’ brand of Southern sass has always helped her navigate troubled times. When faced with an unfaithful husband, a resentful teenage daughter, and painful memories, Susan finds she must seek her future by revisiting her past.
  • Shem Creek:  Meet Linda Breland, a single mother of two teenage daughters, who hopes to find a sweeter life in Mount
    Pleasant. There, she meets Brad Jackson, and soon, she is running his restaurant on Shem Creek. Taking on her responsibilities as a manager and single mother, Linda’s story is one of determination—and proof that second chances do exist.

Can’t get enough Dorothea Benton Frank? Check out her website for even more Lowcountry reads and the latest on her upcoming books: www.dotfrank.com

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , ,

Treasure Hunting: The Top Antique Stores in Charleston

August 29, 2012 by
Charleston Antiques

The Charleston Battery Bench, Image Taken From:Geo C. Birlant and Company (www.birlant.com)

Looking for something nostalgic to spruce up your home? In Charleston, there’s no shortage of fantastic antique boutiques—and each of these local shops is a trove full of beautiful finds you never even knew you needed. Make your next shopping trip a stroll down memory lane, and find an heirloom or two to take home with you. Here are some of our favorite places to treasure hunt:

Geo C. Birlant and Company: Founded by George Birlant in 1922, this historic shop is one of the best places to find exquisite English Georgian furniture and silver. The family-owned business offers the finest in antique benches, dressers, silver, porcelain, crystal, brass, fireplace accessories, and longcase clocks. For those looking for something old-but-new, they even handcraft exceptional reproductions.

Golden and Associates Antiques: Located in historic Charleston, this local boutique has a reputation for dealing with the finest antiques around.  Art, seating, case pieces, chandeliers, mirrors, and tables are just a few of the extraordinary items waiting to take your breath away. You’re sure to find your home’s new signature piece here!

Terrace Oaks Antique Mall: Since 1988, Terrace Oaks Antiques has been one of the most renowned multi-dealer antique shops in Charleston with over 90 booths for every collectors’ tastes. Here you’ll find Victorian jewelry, books, American and European furniture, majolica, oyster plates, antique prints and engravings, original works of art, military items, linens, rugs—and that’s just the short list. Come peruse this storied mall and see for yourself!

Antiques of South Windermere: This upscale antique shop has plenty of furniture, household goods, and art to offer the discerning buyer. With well-preserved, high quality antique items on the main floor to entice your browsing, there is also a back room with a plethora of books to discover. If you’re looking for a nice gift or trying to decorate on a generous budget, you’ll love this gem of an antique shop.

Now get out there,  and find the little piece of antiquity to complete your home’s stellar décor.

What is your most treasured antique find?

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Good Lowcountry Read: A Spotlight on Charleston’s Most Beloved Bookstores

August 22, 2012 by

Image Above Taken From: www.bluebicyclebooks.com

At The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction, we know a good read is a powerful experience. Fortunately, Charleston is full of charming bookstores that are just as inspiring as the books they house. Here are a few of our favorite booksellers where you can pick up the next book on your summer reading list:

  • Blue Bicycle Books: Boasting 1565 feet of stacked books, this local bookstore is anything but plain. Owned and operated by local writer Jonathan Sanchez and his wife Lauren, they offer over 50,000 volumes, including the most complete collection anywhere of used, rare, and new Charleston material. Other popular sections include history, architecture, military history, Civil War, eastern religion, science, philosophy, gardening, poetry, hardback classics, and literary fiction. Come see why they’ve been voted Charleston’s best used-bookstore for the past five years, and don’t forget to pet the store cat!
  • Heirloom Book Company: On lower King Street, you’ll find this gem of a bookstore dedicated to the literature of food. The store offers an extensive selection of rare, out-of-print, and new books, alongside photographs, heirloom plants, and even seeds. Additionally, you’ll find thousands of publications, from the perfect Southern cookbook, to literature about gourmet cuisine, international eats, cooking vegan and gluten-free, the art of wine pairing, and cocktail recipe guides. It’s enough to stoke your hunger and your thirst for knowledge!
  • Books-A-Million: For the book-lover who wants it all, this bookstore doesn’t disappoint. From the latest bestselling titles and new releases to movies and magazines, you could lose a whole day browsing their endless stacks. Try as you might, you won’t want to leave here empty-handed, and you will surely be happier for the visit!

What is your favorite bookstore to visit in Charleston?

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Around the World in Charleston: Best Ethnic Dining

August 8, 2012 by

In Charleston,  we like to give our taste buds a little adventure, and luckily, we don’t have to jet-set far for a bite of global cuisine. With our local restaurants showcasing classic dishes the world-over, all we have to do is decide where our hunger will take us next! Here are some of our favorite places to dine the world right in our beloved Lowcountry:

  • Basil: When we’re in the mood for authentic Thai cuisine,  only Basil will do. Whether it’s peanut-sauce-glazed satay, their famed basil rolls, curries, or Pad Prik, no other Thai restaurant comes close to Basil’s dishes or their lush, sophisticated ambiance. Be sure to top off your delicious meal with one of their signature cocktails—a perfect nightcap.
  • Zia Taqueria: Looking for something a little south of the border? Zia is an authentic Mexican taqueria offering regional Mexican, Southerwestern, and Tex-Mex cuisine and beverage with only natural ingredients. Be sure to try the savory tortas, carne asada, and baja fish —you’ll never forget that wonderful baja sauce!
  • Tabbuli: To sum up the magic of Tabbuli in a word: babaghanoush. Their fire-roasted rendition of this beloved eggplant appetizer is worth the trip alone! Of course, we stay for their glorious salads—fattoush, tabbuli, and the tahini salad. And the falafel. And the kabobs. Who are we kidding—we love it all.
  • La Fourchette: This French bistro will have your heart before you can say moules a la bretonne (their steamed mussels with shallots in a buttery garlic and white wine sauce). For the vegetarian diner, they offer a plethora of soups and salads, as well as an otherworldly delicious eggplant dish, replete with tomatoes, zucchini, and goat cheese, all in a decadent leek sauce. Don’t leave without sampling their succulent cheeses, paired perfectly with any wine from their full list!

Which ethnic eateries have you sampled in Charleston?

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Best & Brightest Fireworks in Charleston this Fourth of July

July 2, 2012 by

Of course Charleston, historic landmark city that it is, would never settle for anything less than the brightest to rein in the 4th of July, and we at the Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction wouldn’t have it any other way! To set your patriotic heart a-soaring this holiday, we’ve rounded up the places where you’ll want to get a good seat come sundown:

  • Patriots Point will host one of Charleston’s biggest and brightest pyrotechnics displays yet with the USS Yorktown as the center stage. Patrons can sit aboard the Flight Deck for $10, but spectators can also enjoy the fiery spectacle landside as well. With food vendors abound and plenty of entertainment for the kids, it’s a walk-through-friendly environment. The real selling point, though, is the view: the fireworks overhead and reflected off the waterfront will saturate your senses in awe.
  • In the heart of Summerville, catch the “Red, White, and Blue on the Green” in Town Square from 5-8 PM. As a special patriotic treat, the Fort Dorchester Garrison re-enactors will set up a Revolutionary War era camp on Hutchinson Square. A reminder of the reason for the holiday, World War II jeeps owned by Summerville locals will be on display. The fireworks sizzle shortly after dusk.
  • The North Charleston Fireworks and celebration take place at Riverfront Park
    where you can enjoy local live music provided by CoastRunner, The Blue Dogs, and Quianna Parlor. A little dancing is good for your health, and a great way to celebrate our country’s independence!

  • Folly Beach, only 15 minutes from downtown Charleston, is yet another perfect star-spangled spot this Fourth of July. Tour the local restaurants, then settle down with your blanket on the sand to watch the sky dazzle above you.

Happy Fourth of July, Charleston! Where will you go to see the fireworks this year?

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

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

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , ,

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 .

 

Filed Under: All Things Charleston Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »