Joe Pasta will reopen Friday, March 15 at 4:00 PM after a small fire damaged the restaurant February 26. Known for affordable Italian specialties and sidewalk dining, Joe Pasta has anchored the corner at King Street and John since 1998.
"While the fire was a definite setback, it's just another bump in the road on Joe Pasta's long lasting journey. We're working hard to reopen bigger, better, stronger than ever," said Joe Pasta owner Harrison Edelson. Edelson is known in the community for his support of Chief Gregory Mullen's Responsible Hospitality Group, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and charities served by the Cooper River Bridge Run Taste of the Race.
In January, Joe Pasta's much-loved bartender Serjei Cahuantzi was killed in a car accident on I-526 by an alleged drunk driver. His loss has been widely felt in Charleston's food and beverage community.
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by Susan Lucas
Last week Mary Norton stepped up to the mike at Halls
Chophouse, invited by the Hall Family and the King Street Marketing Group. Speakers
at this monthly event which is nearly two years running have spanned diverse
and influential circles. They include Mayor Riley, Helen Hill, Tommy Baker,
General James E. Livingston, Founder of Cos Bar Lily Garfield and Police Chief
Greg Mullen, to name a few.
The speakers aren’t asked for their agenda or talking points in advance, each is given a 20-30 minute window to deliver whatever message they want, and most stick around to answer questions afterward. The speakers are real, genuine and approachable. Ken Burger personally greeted every person who walked in the door. Fire Chief Karen Brack had the longest Q&A of anybody.
Mary was a first. She told her story of life as an entrepreneurial
star who fell from grace in a series of corporate missteps that robbed her of
her name and reputation. She made everyone laugh and made them cry, prompting a
tissue rescue and comic relief by Jeanne Hall. Most of all she left her
audience wanting more Mary. She told the naked truth about her life and career,
that in spite of her bubbly, bright personality and core of spiritual optimism
she, like each of us, has experienced dark, life sucking moments. She colorfully
related many of those dark times and also the peak experiences that shaped her.
One businessman said he wanted both of his adult daughters to hear Mary speak,
there were such lessons to be learned. She hugged everyone on the way out; Mary
is a hugger.
Continue reading "Keeping Up With King Street from the Charleston Mercury" »
The Washington Examiner recently wrote a great piece on Charleston Restaurant Week that details how the promotion not only brings in regular customers during slow times but also allows restaurants to attract new ones.
"Halls Chophouse opened in the summer of 2009, when the nation was still reeling from the Great Recession, and about seven months before the first Restaurant Week. "We opened in tough economic times," said Tommy Hall, who with other members of his family runs the restaurant. "We were a new restaurant on upper King Street, and there wasn't much up here. People were familiar with the Market, but not here. "
That first Restaurant Week, and the promotions offered by the restaurant, attracted new customers that proved the difference. "It gave people a chance to say let's go try it," he said. "It was exposure to a new range of people that were perhaps intimidated to come to a fine dining, white tablecloth steakhouse. It gave us great exposure and was a defining moment and is why we are still here today."
Hall's brother Billy agreed: "People find out we have live music five nights a week and have a gospel brunch and it gives you a chance to showcase the restaurant."
Continue reading "Restaurant Week Brings in Business During Winter Lull" »
Congratulations to celebrity couple Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively for tying the knot last month in our wonderful Charleston, SC! The couple chose Charleston for their secret destination wedding after escaping to Charleston several times during the past year.
According to People magazine, one source saw them dining at Leaf Restaurant + Bar.
"They were laughing together and you could tell they were enjoying their meal. When they left they were holding hands,"
"Then a few weeks later, the couple was spotted again dining at Halls Chophouse, a family owned restaurant in the Upper King District of Charleston.""Halls is a much more intimate setting and definitely an upscale dining experience. It's known for its prime cuts of beef. It's amazing. There's a live piano player and sometimes saxophonist. The restaurant in general has a more vintage and classic feel," the source says.
Continue reading "Inside Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively's Charleston Wedding" »
Congratulations to The Macintosh for being named one of the 20 Best New Restaurants in America of 2012 by Esquire Magazine. The news couldn't come at a better time as The Macintosh just recently celebrated their one year anniversary!
Stop by this week for Bacon Happy Hour to see what all the fuss is about. This week's $5 Bacon Happy Hour special is a Pork Pie with Carrots, Peas and Parsnips. It's like Chicken Pot Pie - only better!
The Macintosh is located at 479B King Street in downtownCharleston. To make a reservation, call (843) 789-4299, orclick here to make reservations online.
South Carolina's first on-street bike corral was installed this week in front of Blue Bicycle Books on King Street! A national trend in accommodating bicyclists, bike corrals are parking spaces for multiple bikes, located on city streets out of the way of pedestrians, visible to motorists and, most importantly, easily spotted by cyclists.
Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. sees the new bike corrals benefiting the City of Charleston Streets in many ways. “Bike corrals not only serve the customers of businesses on the greatest shopping and dining streets in the country, they serve as a signal to everyone that bicycling is an important part of our community. Promoting bicycling downtown and in other parts of the City helps address the problems associated with congested areas.”
Jonathan Sanchez, owner of Blue Bicycle Books on King Street, agrees with Mayor Riley. Sanchez remarks, “It's amazing to think how much impact this could have on Upper King Street. So many more people are riding bikes to work now, and to go out in the evenings. Turning one metered space into a bike corral isn't just a ten-for-one trade in terms of vehicles -- it's really a feather in the cap for Upper King Street. It's a cool amenity like the bluestone and palm trees.”
Taunya White, owner of Natural Hideaway MediSpa, announced she is relocating her business from 217 Calhoun Street to a second floor space at John Street and King. "We are excited to be relocating to one of the 10 best shopping streets in the United States," said White. "Our new space is light and airy, and the whole corner is beautiful. Our clients will be able to enjoy dining, shopping and much better parking on the days they schedule Hideaway services." She plans to complete the move and be open in the new space by November 1.
Natural Hideaway is the only medispa on the Charleston peninsula. They specialize in non-surgical skin rejuvenation offering Botox, fillers, laser treatments and Thermage radiofrequency skin tightening. "With the move to our new facility, we will be able to expand our retail offerings of pharmaceutical skin care products like Obagi, NIA24, Neocutis, PCA, LaRoche-Posay and Latisse Lash Enhancer."
The staff at Natural Hideaway includes two physicians, two technicians and a client services professional.
The building is owned by Patterson Smith Company and the space, address 43 1/2 John Street, was previously leased to Chuma Gallery Custom Framing.
Huge news for Charleston as low-cost airline JetBlue lands at Charleston International Airport with flights starting February 28th. The airline plans on offering 3 flights a day including direct service flights to JFK International Airport in New York and Logan International Airport in Boston. These flights will provide a huge boost to Charleston tourism industry with local aviation & tourism officials estimating an additional 100,000 airline seats for Charleston easy year.
For more information on JetBlue's arrival in Charleston, SC from the Post & Courier, click here.
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The Francis Marion Hotel's own in-house wedding expert - Charleston native - Caroline Bean now has her own blog on their website. One of her first features in on the Farewell Brunch:
"A popular new trend in the wedding world is hosting a Sunday farewell brunch. It’s a great time to say one last goodbye to out-of-town guests and the newlyweds. Below is one of our most popular menu options.
Menu enhancements such as an omelet station, a shrimp and grits station, or a carving station can be customized to your particular desires. Perhaps you would like to add bloody marys and mimosas to the menu? Your options are endless. We’re happy to help plan a perfect event to say farewell to your special guests."
Click here for more wedding updates on the Francis Marion Hotel's blog. The Francis Marion Hotel, at the corner of Calhoun and King, is a Charleston landmark located in the Upper King Street Design District. 843-722-0600
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