Treat yourself!
The phrase “health is wealth” is more than just an catchy mantra. Healthy mental state contributes to improved overall fitness. A balanced diet, exercise and frequent water consumption are just the basics. Sometimes we forget to take time out for ourselves. This year, we are putting on emphasis on self care.
Each month, we are partnering with brands who specialize in creating relaxing experiences. Human touch is therapeutic and massage has been used to treat and heel injuries for centuries. We started our weekend of restoration with a massage treatment at Charleston Place Spa. The Spa at Charleston Place is known for its beautiful and serene location as well as their talented and hospitable staff.
Our 50 minute signature massage was complemented by lavender aromatherapy and soothing background music. We retired to the “Relaxation Lounge” to continue to decompress and enjoy a cup of spicy cinnamon tea. After a seven minute visit to the sauna, we left the spa feeling rejuvenated and grateful.
Wine Blending
We enjoy anything that combines learning and drinking good wine. Grand Bohemian Charleston offers a tasting and educational experience perfect for gal pals and newlyweds alike. Our class was lead by Peter.
Not only is he incredibly charming, he’s extremely knowledgeable about wines. He guided us through a sampling of various California red wines including Malbec and Cabernet.
We were then instructed to blend a mixture of the wines to our particular palette’s preferences. Johnny’s blend was heavy in Petit Verdot while Taneka’s custom blend featured more Merlot. We munched on cheese and crackers and sipped our wines, very pleased with our creations.
Hotel Indigo
You can literally follow the glowing blue lights lining the entrance to the Hotel Indigo. Upon entry, you are greeted by smiling staff ready to assist with your check-in.
Upon entry into my room, I did a quick inspection. I hopped in the bed to test the comfort: super soft. I checked out the bathroom which featured a nice sized tub; I thought, “I’ll be soaking in that later”. Lastly, I pulled up the blinds to check out the view. My 4th floor room overlooked the posh pool area. The perimeter of the pool is outlined in spacious beach chairs with a few cabanas positioned for a more private lounge experience. Summer can’t come soon enough.
Each morning, we visited Eliza’s Bar & Grill for breakfast. Options ranged from made to order omelettes to fresh pastries. We dined on seasoned hash browns, crispy bacon and buttery biscuits. Perfect fuel for an afternoon of exploration.
Share the self care
In an effort to encourage others to prioritize self care, we partnered with several local brands to host a special prize pack every month. In addition to a one night stay at Hotel Indigo, one winner was gifted a $50 gift card to dine at a local restaurant (Thanks Rayka App), a wine blending session for two at Grand Bohemian Hotel and a Self Care box from Motherland Essentials.
These curated gift sets contain everything you need to create a personal spa like experience: bath salts, shea butter body cream, body oil, handcrafted organic soap and more. We also threw in a signed copy of our book, Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails” because every good bar desires a great cocktail recipe book!
Make sure to check back for our next #GetawayGiveaway
https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/usa/sc/charleston/belmond-charleston-place/spa https://charleston.classesbykessler.com/collections/all https://www.rayka-app.com/ www.mountpleasantlyindigo.com www.motherlandessentials.com
Tiki Techy Talks
Sip on delicious craft Tiki cocktails while learning new techniques to step up your social media presence. Learn about Tiki culture and brief history of Rum and its connection to Charleston. Live cocktail demonstration and Rum tasting. Each guest will enjoy one signature Rum cocktail during the session.
Purchase tickets using the link below:
https://www.citypapertickets.com/events/92054015/tiki-techy-talks
My Husband’s Woman – A Stage Play
DDMS THEATRE COMPANY is delivering the best in stage plays from husband and wife team: Danny L. & Dee Dee M. Scott. Get ready for their latest play, My Husband’s Woman. In My Husband’s Woman, the Scotts go where few playwrights have dared to go. The scorching stage play touches on infidelity, mental illness, and dialogue so realistic you may just cheer for the villain. You will never see the unexpected surprises in this play that are thrown like the perfect curveball. My Husband’s Woman, playing Tapps Arts Center March 2, 2019.
Email: info@addmsentertainment.com for additional information
Our South
We were first introduced to the Southbound art exhibit during Pecha Kucha 31. Mark Sloan, the collections co-curator briefly shared the overall concept of the artwork. Mark explained that the project hoped to shed light on the changes or lack thereof, in The South over the last few decades. The compilation of photos represents the perspectives of 56 different photographers interpretation of today’s New South.
Deeply intrigued, we took a few friends out to view the pieces. Half of the collection is being held at The Halsey Institute at The College of Charleston, our Alma mater. Our group of 6 meandered through the gallery, mocktail in hand, gazing thoughtfully into each image. Some photos caused a strong emotional response; while others were weirdly familiar. We discussed and expressed which photos were the most impactful. We then asked our group of professional black women, “What ‘The South’ meant to them?”:
We encourage you to visit The Southbound exhibit and explore what ‘The South’ means to you. We are a nation of diverse people with varied and complex backgrounds. To ignore the systematic disenfranchisement that took place in The American South would be to deny an important portion of our country’s history. Exhibits like Southbound remind us that we are not that far removed and that discussion is needed if we are to ever see change.
What we drank…
Surreal Sorrel
Unsweetened Hibiscus Tea + Cheerwine Syrup + Hooch Limeade Soda
Add unsweetened hibiscus tea and Cheerwine syrup to mixing tin full of ice.
Secure the lid, then shake tin passionately.
Pour mixture into rocks glass full of ice.
Carefully add Hooch soda until glass is full.
Take #GentleLadySips
http://southboundproject.org/ https://www.hoochitup.com/ http://halsey.cofc.edu/ https://cheerwine.com/ Photos by: https://theredsunflower.com/
Charleston Wine and Food: Boss Lady
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re creating a tea room experience of our own – and not because all Southern ladies are teetotalers. At a time when women were excluded from many public dining rooms, the tearoom represented an avenue to economic opportunity and collective advancement. The history of the tea room and all it represents serves as the perfect backdrop for a conversation where food is both the catalyst and the vessel for inciting change. Join The Post and Courier’s James Beard award-winning food editor, Hanna Raskin, to look back at a time when suffragists made the case for voting rights over cake. At this light lunch featuring an abundance of pastries, tea sandwiches, and Southern favorites, we’re serving up social change with a cup of tea as we take a seat at the table.
What can I expect?
– All Charleston Wine + Food events are all-inclusive.
– We are still working diligently to confirm talent, so check back regularly for updates.
– Dress code is Lowcountry casual.
– You must be 21+ to attend this event (no children or infants).
– No pets are permitted.
– Food allergies: Accommodations cannot be made at this event.
Buy Tickets
Cork Shuckin’ Annual Oyster Roast
Its time for our annual Cork Shuckin’ festival – an oyster roast with live music from amazing local talent, food trucks, beer from Low Tide Brewing, tastings and drinks from Deep Water Vineyard and Firefly Distillery. Something for everyone, even the kiddos and the dog, bring the whole family!
Music: City Paper’s Reggae Band of the Year – Well Charged and Trickknee
Local Oyster Buckets for sale, of course
Food Trucks: Braised in the South Food Truck, Coastal Crust, Dave ‘N’ Dubs, The Immortal Lobster, and Rebel Taqueria
Drinks: Deep Water and Firefly Tastings all day, drinks by Firefly, Low Tide Brewing craft beer, & Bloody Mary’s using our new Jalapeno wine.
Fun: Vendors, cornhole, and a jump house for the kids!
Tickets: Sold PER CAR! $5 in advance or $10 at the gate
Resistance Served Symposium
Resistance Served is a celebration of black peoples’ histories through contextualization, discussion, visibility and promotion. This two-day symposium rests at the intersection of food and beverage, history and culture. Ashtin Berry and Kisira Hill, co-founders of the collective Radical Xchange, kick off with their inaugural event that aims to bring together historians, chefs, writers, bartenders and more to celebrate the contribution of African-American and Black peoples to all facets of the hospitality industry.
Buy Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resistance-served-tickets-53014889963
Radical Xchange is a collective that uses food and beverage as a conduit for conversational and progressive spaces. Their first annual Resistance Served symposium is happening February 3rd – 6th, 2019 in New Orleans! This is a gathering of members of the restaurant and bar industry to contextualize, discuss and celebrate the contributions of Black and African-Americans to the hospitality world. Join us! Tickets are available for purchase through Eventbrite! Link in @radicalxchange bio!
USBG Southern Regionals 2018 – MIAMI
The United States Bartenders Guild is a national community for bar professionals.
Regional conference allows us to meet other USBG members in our surrounding area.
This annual event is hosted in different member cities to give each chapter the opportunity to educate others on the techniques and trends in their area.
We attended our 1st regional in Miami this May. The four day conference was filled with educational seminars including a beer brewing session with ‘Guinness’, a foam infusion course using ISI whippet and even a honey tasting hosted by the American Honey Board. All a welcome change from the typical brand sponsored spirits tasting.
Each meal was prepared at a hip and modern Miami eatery including ‘Zest’ and ‘Komodo’ that features elevated birds nest sitting; very dope.
The evening bar takeovers showcased beautifully crafted cocktails at popping MIA bars like ‘Better Days’ downtown.
Regional conferences also permit us to discuss important topics in our industry like medical coverage for bar professionals and workplace sexual harassment. Starting and continuing these conversations are critical to the progress of our bar community.
Top 3 Faves
- Meeting cool people – aside form meeting members from all over the Southeast; we had direct connection to brand ambassadors of major spirits companies.
2. Storytellers Dinner Series – Dinner entertainment at Cabaret was narrated by soul stirring stories from industry leaders. Four bar professional shared intimate moments from their lives that ultimately shaped their beverage careers. Very inspiring stuff. The 4-course meal was complemented by delicious Grey Goose cocktails.
3. Amazing Miami eats!
We can’t wait to attend USBG Regionals in Charlotte, North Carolina in Spring of 2019. Interested in joining The Guild?!? Visit the website: www.usbg.gov
www.italianspirits.ice.it/
www.thespiritofitaly.com/
SCPRT Chefs Ambassador’s Dinner 2018
Discover SC is the marketing branch of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. Its mission is to spread awareness of all that SC has to offer as a to offer as a tourism destination. Aside from the amazing weather, lush golf courses and miles of pristine beaches;
SC has a burgeoning food and beverage culture.
In an effort to showcase the State’s culinary talent, Former Governor Nikki Haley, created the Chef’s Ambassador’s program.
Since 2015, chefs from different areas of the SC are selected to represent the state in out-of-town festivals and media events.
2018’s Ambassadors team featured an all-female chefs from Landrum all the way down to the Lowcountry.
To celebrate the honor, each chef was asked to prepare a dish to not only represent cuisine served at their respective establishments but also to symbolize the Palmetto State.
This curated meal was to be served to travel and hospitality media in New York City. We had the distinct pleasure of being selected to serve our signature cocktails for the dinner.
The upstairs at Haven’s Kitchen was adorn with floral arrangements containing tiny pineapples and baby okra. As guest arrived, we served our signature cocktails: Peninsula Tea and Upstate Revival during cocktail hour.
The passed hor d’oeuvres included bacon wrapped shrimp and beet tortollia. The bold flavors of the bites complimented the Sweet Tea Vodka and Bourbon based drinks.
We then moved into the dinner service and were joined by United Nations Ambassador and program creator, Nikki Haley. She shared how proud she was at the development of the program. South Carolina has become quite a contender in Southern food destinations thanks to these amazing chefs. Visit the Lowcountry, discover all the flavors of South Carolina.
www.discoversc.com
www.sixandtwentydistillery.com
www.fireflyspirits.com
www.scprt.com
www.havenskitchen.com/
www.hoochitup.com/
Trappy Hour
The world renowned Cocktail Bandits along with The Royal American presents Trappy Hour on Sunday January 20th • Trappy Hour features performances by local artists with 75% of the music played throughout the night coming from Charleston independent artists. Doors Open at 8PM.
Enjoy delicious Espolòn Tequila cocktails all night! #TRAPPYHOUR
