Our Local Favorites
If there is one constant in Charleston, it is change. Restaurants open and close here like chapters in a book. The hot spot of today, with patrons queuing down the block for a small plate of fish, will be a forgotten memory in a couple short years, replaced by the *new* trendy place to see and be seen. That being said, here are a few of my favorites that have stood the test of time and a few new comers I hope will stick around.
Rue de Jean on John Street is one of the few restaurants that has stood the test of time in Charleston. Dress a little fancy when you go. Sit at the bar if you're alone. Get the mussels in vegetable cream sauce. Order the large bowl if you bring a date. Thank me later.
The Charleston RiverDogs, the city's beloved minor league baseball team, play downtown at the Joe Riley Ballpark, just off the banks of the Ashley River. Charleston is not known as much of a sports town, but there is something about a RiverDogs game that feels distinctly Charleston. Perhaps it's the warm humid air hanging over the Ashley River, or the smell of boiled peanuts and beer, or the college kids chasing mascots between innings, or Bill Murray. It’s less about baseball and more about the crack of the bat, the sunset over the water, and the easy reminder that some of the best nights in Charleston don’t require being fancy at all.
The Blind Tiger Patio sits hidden behind old brick walls, shaded by giant trees, and even though everybody already knows about it, it still feels like a local secret. Time slows down there. You grab a cold drink and settle in at the bar next to a local attorney of questionable character and suddenly the afternoon disappears. Many wedding receptions drift into the Blind Tiger which adds to the festive atmosphere.
Robert Lange Studios is my favorite art gallery in Charleston and apparently it's everyone els'e favorite, too. Any tine is a great time at the gallery but First Friday Art Walks are where Charleston’s creative pulse becomes visible. There’s wine in plastic cups, conversations about brushwork and color. It’s intimate, alive, and deeply Charleston — artistic without feeling pretentious.