Just got back from Charleston tonight.
A perfectly weird, beautiful town. My birthday & 25 year anniversary weekend, redux from last year’s Covid cancel. Lotsa fun with no kids. Dusted off the ol moves with the Mrs.
I caught a Venice vibe from Charleston... a snapshot of layered, frozen history with interesting buildings and surprise spaces but a vestige of better times and an inorganic reason for its current existence. There seemed to be no commerce there except restaurants, lawyers, and doctors.
That said, it was easily the best big town I’ve ever visited - knocking Boston off the top of the list. ...I could easily retire there. But for humidity, it’d be a foregone conclusion.
Walked and walked. Sweat. Rain. Did all the Touristy things. Museums, Historic Home tours...
We stayed in a brand new Hilton ‘Club’ Hotel that opened in April that is a timeshare thing. Thank God we successfully dodged the Amway pitch for buying in and had just a beautifully appointed unit (300sf

with 9foot ceilings). Toto ***-washing toilet, electric roll-down black out shades, TV mirror in bathroom (no clue the reason for this)...I love the smell of new carpet offgassing.
snackdown:
- Met Rodney Scott... BBQ whole hog & greens. Not overdone, pork shone thru. Primo.
- High Wire Distillery. Tasted many offerings highlighted by Peach Brandy finished Jimmy Red Corn Bourbon. Ham smoked corn white dog. Combo pot/column still juice that is creamy and malty. Got an inside tour.
- FIG for dinner. Weller 107. Small plates. Chicken Liver Pâtè, Tarte Tartin, Ricotta Gnocchi. Wreckfish entree. Takes reservations 28 days in advance... sells out immediately. Was fantastic.
- Big Bad Breakfast for chicken biscuit and gravy. Was good, not sure it was worth the. 1.5 mile walk.
- The Ordinary: popped in that place for 6 oysters on the half shell and an icy cold beer. Light and refreshing in between my sweating. Beautiful space in an 1850’s old bank. Wife can’t do oysters, so she humored me.
- Husk. Weller Full Proof Pick. Shrimp and Alabama white sauce, Striploin steak, cornbread. Xcellent, but perhaps overhyped. So basic, but delicious.
- Met my nephew and his fiancé on the Vendue rooftop. Table on the tip-top deck and got obliterated on Gin & Tonics. My old go to, but too easy to fire down.
- Lewis Barbecue Texas Brisket and whatnot. 45 minute line where we thankfully moseyed inside before the skies opened up. Excellent BBQ. Got sliced point meat, wished I got a beef rib... just to try. This joint is the truth. Brought home a doggie bag for the boys... but the dog countersurfed half a brisket sandwhich.
Glad I sweat so much, because I would’ve gained 20 pounds.
Everyone we met was super nice and helpful while being proud of their town and were knowledgeable of its histories and nuances.
Hat tip to RC Cola. Why that magical elixir isn’t sold nationwide, I’d love to know.