Fleet Landing

Charleston is a small city that’s big on tourism and hospitality so there’s no surprise that there are plenty of tourist traps in and around this beautiful city. Fleet Landing is certainly one of them, but how can it not be when it’s the only waterfront dining option in downtown Charleston?

I decided to take my Yankee visitors here on Saturday night and while the food wasn’t necessarily the best food I’d ever tasted, the views were quite special. This is a restaurant that I’d like to revisit for drinks and appetizers while enjoying the Lowcountry sunset.

 

weekend recap

I love showing out-of-towners the beautiful and seductive city is Charleston. It’s such an easy destination to host in with so much to do and see. Weekends with visitors are always jam-packed and this was certainly one of those weekends with two of my best friends from home in town.

We re-lived our high school days by attending an O.A.R. concert at Family Circle Stadium, taking a bike ride through downtown Charleston, and wreaking havoc in and around the city.

Boutique of the Week: {Honey & Bloom}

“[Honey & Bloom] was founded on a simple belief that good design plays an essential part in our everyday lives. We make art, design experiences, and craft objects from the heart. We aspire to create products that everyone will love.”

Honey & Bloom

A sweet little boutique based in San Francisco exudes California cool and the ease of west coast living.

1. letterpress cards (waves)  |  2. letterpress cards (cheers)

 3. necklace  |  4. tote  |  5. debossed print (frames)  |  6. debossed print (balloon)

The Gasparilla Inn & Club

One of the perks of working for a magazine that’s all about the South is having the opportunity to discover new places that I have never visited and probably never would have visited before. In mid-June, I traveled to The Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande, Florida for their B4 Weekend (beach, barbecue, bourbon, and beer).

A delightful historic inn founded in 1913, Gasparilla is nestled on the Gulf Coast, surrounded by clear blue bath-temperature waters. This charming property boasts a seaside golf course designed by Pete Dye, an exquisite spa, a quaint town a stone’s throw away from the main lobby, immaculate tennis courts, tasty cuisine, beautiful rooms and common areas, breathtaking sunsets, and gorgeous beaches. Oh, and did I mention that there’s lots of good dolphin watching to be had here?!

Just don’t try to visit between the months of July and October… The Gasparilla Inn & Club shuts down for the Florida off-season and re-opens October 9, 2014.

birthday wishes

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and loving Mom. It’s too bad  that I’m 750 miles away from her on this special day, but I do know that she will be very well taken care of!

weekend recap

Having Mike down in Charleston always feels like a vacation, and this past visit was no different. We took full advantage of our three days together and the unseasonably mild weather with a post-work date night on Sullivan’s Island, a round of miniature golf at The Shrimp Shack (I let him beat me by one stroke… next time he may not be so lucky), a relaxing afternoon on Folly Beach, a double-date double header, dinner at the newly opened Union Provisions, and a visit to Cypress Gardens á la The Notebook.

An exhausting weekend, but wish we could do it all over again!

The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park

Staff members assume that if you’re dining at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park–on a Monday afternoon, no less–you’re automatically a clueless tourist. I’ll have you know that I am no tourist–OK, now, maybe a little bit–and I am certainly not clueless when it comes to the restaurant business in NYC. I truly hate when a host or hostess speaks down to me. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. You are the first person people see when they walk through that door so you better put on a happy face… no matter how badly your feet may hurt (I used to be a greeter at Abercrombie & Fitch; I get it). If you couldn’t tell already, this particular hostess really got under my skin.

Moving on!

Now that I’ve vented my frustrations about the staff, I can talk about more important things like the food and overall atmosphere. Their claim to fame is their crab cake, which was undoubtedly one of the better crab cakes I’ve ever tasted–after Magnolias in Charleston. Now, the ambiance. Central Park is beautiful and I always feel at home when walking along the winding paths, whether they’re surrounded by greenery or mounds of white snow. Dining al fresco, overlooking the views of the park is definitely not something to complain about and that is a big reason to dine at the Boathouse–if not the reason.

I remember when people used to dress up to go to the Central Park Boathouse. It used to be for special occasions and important business meetings, but I soon realized that nobody dresses up anymore. Nobody cares about how they look, nobody bothers to put on a clean shirt, or change out of their sneakers. It’s the same thing when you attend a Broadway show. My parents would dress my sister and me up in our Sunday best when we were young, and now you’ll see people–grown people–stroll into a show in sweatpants and sneakers. It’s sad, really. And I guess that just goes to show, The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park is a major tourist trap. And we got trapped. But so what? I love it anyway.

 

Twenty-Eight Atlantic

Dining at Twenty-Eight Atlantic for my, err, big 2-8 could not have been more appropriate, and Mike could not have picked a better restaurant, whether twenty-eight was in the name or not.

For starters, the waterfront views of the Pleasant Bay and Atlantic Ocean from the Wequassett Resort were absolutely breathtaking. Views like that are unbeatable, but when fire pits, hydrangeas, and manicured lawns are incorporated into those views, there’s nothing better.

We feasted on lobster ravioli and filet mignon, and the bread? It was addicting, which just shows you how great the restaurant will be, of course.

 

36 Hours in Chatham

I hadn’t been up to Chatham since my early teens, so what a treat it was to spend some time there right before the Fourth of July. Nothing beats a summer escape to a quaint and charming New England beach town, really.

Some highlights included:

• Swimming in the 56° Atlantic Ocean temps

• Lobster rolls at the Chatham Pier Fish Market

• Exquisite breakfasts at a charming B&B

• Daily ice-cream cones

• 28th Birthday dinner at Twenty-Eight Atlantic

• Waterfront views from the Chatham Bars Inn + Wequassett Resort

• A visit to the Nauset Lighthouse and Three Sisters Lighthouses

• Lots of seal spotting

• A casual dinner at the Wild Goose

• A late night stroll down Chatham’s charming Main Street

• A tour of the Jonathan Young Windmill, built circa 1720

• And lots of quality time with my beau, of course

Fireworks on the Sound

An impromptu outing on the Long Island Sound brought us lots of visual stimulation this Fourth of July. I’ve now concluded that there’s no better way to watch fireworks than from the water.