Ashe St Grocery in Elliotborough

The following post was contributed by former Cannonborough Elliotborough Neighborhood Association president Claire Xidis.

The ASHE STREET GROCERY (The corner store next to the Elliotborough Park and Community Garden @ the corner of Ashe and Line) is now selling herbs, flowers, and hot peppers from the Elliotborough Community Garden as a fundraiser for the garden.

Need some basil or rosemary?  Want more kick in your salsa?  Stop by the market!  Prices are very very reasonable -  fresh bundles of herbs only 50 cents.  All proceeds will benefit the garden and be used to buy seeds and supplies for the Kids’ garden and donation beds.
Spread the word to friends and neighbors…
Many thanks to the Ashe Street Grocery for providing the space and supporting the garden – and for bringing more fresh foods into the store.
Look for additional items to be included as the fall season progresses.
Gardeners – if you have excess items from your plots you would like to contribute to this fundraiser, contact Claire Xidis, by sending me an email:  currie@53cannon.com

Black Bean Cafe on Spring St serves up "healthy" salads and wraps in downtown Charleston Sc

Black Bean Cafe is located on Spring St between Rutledge and Ashley Avenues.  The cafe’s hours are 7-11, and they have several carafes of self serve coffee.  They are “green” so if you bring your own cup the coffee is only a buck.  They call their offerings “energy food”.  They have rainforest coffees, muffins, yogurt, granola, and zucchini bread for breakfast.  For lunch and dinner they have a wide assortment of wraps, salads, heros and snacks.  Order online and see the full menu at www.blackbeanco.com. I personally love all new businesses in the neighborhood and make an effort to support and acknowledge them all.  

This building was an extensive renovation of the first African American Bank in Charleston. It is a National Historic Registered Building. The first floor retail/office space has been beautifully renovated with all new electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.

To find out the details of this space click this link: 218 Saint Philip

For Sale or Lease: Corner Commercial building on Spring St in downtown Charleston Sc

This building on the corner of Spring and Saint Philip St has loads of potential, it could have additional stories added above or a rooftop garden or deck or the main floor could be divided into several small commercial spaces which seems to be the direction that the neighborhood wants to go in.  Small start up businesses with a rental budget of around $1000 per month are the most in demand for properties in the Spring Cannon commercial corridor.  This building with the current entrance on Spring could be redesigned into four store fronts facing onto Saint Philip.  The off street parking on the Saint Philip St side could create a vibrant commercial center.  Call me for more details.  Currie 843-853-2004

The “Bogarden” on the corner of Bogard St. and Line St. in downtown Charleston, Sc is a very successful community garden project tended by neighborhood residents.

A nice article about the Elliotborough gardens can be found by clicking the following link:  www.charlestonparksconservancy

Elliotborough Park Community Garden in downtown Charleston is a great place for children to play while parents tend their thriving plots.  Elliotborough Park will be the location for this year’s neighborhood Halloween Festival and Parade.  The parade will begin in Midtown Development and end with festivities at the Elliotborough park on Line St.  The Halloween Festival will be held on Saturday October 30th from 6:30-9:30.  Attendees are encouraged to don costumes and join the parade.  Mitchell elementary school and montessori are sponsoring loads of activities at the finale in the park.  There will also be food and beverages as well as live music.

Community schools and neighborhood residents can sponsor garden spots for more information about obtaining your own spot contact the neighborhood association through the website www.elliotborough.org

I like how my juice looks in this Piggly Wiggly cup

This week I have embarked into uncharted territory, not eating food!  Om Cooking‘s Chef Ken Immer has created a three day juice fast for me.  Ken sat down with me at the “Home of Om” his catering kitchen off of Remount Rd in North Charleston where he produces delicious things like his very popular “gRAWnola”.  He spoke to me about everything from how our bodies metabolize food to how important it is to teach yourself will power.  I left with a very heavy box of juice made of a special blend of mainly Kale juice.  When it comes to food, I pretty much love it all!  I do however acknowledge the health benefits of choosing one type of food over another.  Last year I picked up a Raw Food Cookbook and fell in love.  Mainly what I love about the Raw food is how quickly it erases the effect of too many super rich restaurant dinners.  I also love that you can drink red wine.  Most importantly the way it makes me feel!  A couple of days of raw food only and I am extraordinarily energetic mentally and physically.  The juice fast has been much easier than I expected.  I pretty much drink this really hearty soup like juice and water all day accompanied by some supplements in pill form, also provided by Ken.  Yesterday I drank juice at lunch while my client ate sweet potato cakes at Fuel.  Last night I had some juice for dinner while my friend had barbecued chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and collard greens from Whole Foods in Mt. Pleasant. When I woke up this morning I expected to feel very hungry and deprived, but I feel great.  I don’t think this will be my last Om Cooking juice fast.

Erika of Tabula Rasa design poses against her textural wall paper choice in the new restaurant Graze

Erika’s design is both elegant and earthy.  She did not draw inspiration from other restaurants but pulled ideas from basic shapes, textures, and objects.  Erika works in a very collaborative way.  The owners Mike Karkut, Derrick Lathan, and Bradford Bobbitt were very involved in the process of renovating the space.  Derrick’s Dad, Richard Rodger’s owner of Houseworks is the contractor.

Erika chose this retro light fixture for the new restaurant Graze

Erica was happy that the guys approved this chandelier.  She made sure all of her choices were something they all approved of.   For example, she presented three concepts for the design of the back bar.  They chose a multicolored horizontal plant motif in grays and greens reminiscent of Piet Mondrian, the father of modern abstract art.

cool and modern textures and colors of the new mt pleasant sc restaurant Graze

Erika emphasized the importance of using the right materials in restaurant decor.  She chose commercial grade finishes and fabrics that are “double rub”.  Restaurants get a lot of wear and it is very important that the design looks good continuously.  To interview Erika Nadolny contact her through the website www.tabularasacharleston.com to read more about Graze check out the very good City Paper article and interview by clicking here.

Visit One Respe on Spring St between Ashley and President downtown

Also in August the team of expert stylist and glamorizers at Tabula Rasa Salon (in front of One Respe) are offering a special to make sure everyone steps into fall looking their best.  Take $5 off a haircut, $10 off color, and $20 off Keratin treatments all month.

Stop by Tabula Rasa to get the new look with special summer prices