Greer Photo Walk

February 5, 2012January 29, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

Last Friday was sunny, warm and simply gorgeous. It was the kind of day we left Ohio for, so I decided it needed to be enjoyed to the fullest. I hopped in the car and made the short drive to downtown Greer where I sat out with my camera. Here’s the first of two posts showing what I captured.

This marker is for the trains that run through Greer.

These three mysterious buildings (barracks? chicken houses?) are surrounded by a barb wire fence.

This abandoned farm supply store is quite close to the three mysterious buildings. The remaining gravel from the parking lot is very hard to see. I can only guess this place has been closed for quite some time.

Dark Corner Outing

February 2, 2012February 1, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

I have always loved history. There is something to be said for understanding the events that shaped your area. Furthermore, I find that history’s true stories are much more compelling than the Hollywood writer’s fiction.

I am particularly interested in what some might consider the small or inconsequential history. These are the stories of real people trying to improve their situation, preserve their way of life, or simply get by. It seems that I’m often drawn to the stories of those who live in the rural South. There’s a lot of good material there – eccentricities, faith, resourcefulness, sass, determination and the occasional blood feud. All of those facets seem to be wrapped up in the history of South Carolina’s “Dark Corner,” an area of the state that was celebrated at the Dark Corner Evening event that I attended at the Upcountry History Museum on January 26.

In addition to a screening of the Dark Corner documentary, the evening featured sampling of moonshine from the Dark Corner Distillery and brief talk from distillery co-owner Joe Fenten. Dean Campbell, Squire of the Dark Corner, was on hand to introduce the film and talk about why preserving (and protecting) the area’s history was vitally important to him. I could drone on about all that I learned, but instead I am simply going to list a few things that really struck a cord with me.

So many families in the Dark Corner and other parts of Appalachia wouldn’t have survived without the money they earned from moonshining. I loved the passion that Joe Fenten has about the moonshine that they’re making down at Dark Corner. Even in his brief remarks, it was clear that he wants to preserve this art for generations to come. He’s also eager to tie his business to local farmers by buying their grains and repurposing the spent grain for feed. It’s great to see someone who has such a love for what they’re doing.
I know that for many people the caricature of the Southern hillbilly and the reality of people living in Appalachia cannot be separated. Dean Campbell proudly accepted the name hillbilly but reminded us all that it’s not the same as white trash. I think that many people don’t see a difference. I think it’s time to abandon the idea of mountain people being uneducated, backwards, and often lazy. Mountain folks, or hillbillies, are far more likely to be hardworking, resourceful people doing everything in their power to provide for their families. They are also a people with a deep and abiding faith. They might speak plainly or slowly, but often it’s because they put a lot of thought into what they have to say. I think most of us could learn a lot from a hillbilly.
I appreciate the filmmakers who wanted to unlock the mystery of the Dark Corner. The stories of common people are often overlooked or lost through the years but they’re so interesting. I’m glad to know more about the families who lived in that elusive area, just a little further up the road.
I thank the Upstate History Museum for having fun with history. Just like the encampment at Cowpens, it’s this kind of thing that will spark a love of history in generations to come.

If you can get your hands on a copy of the documentary, I encourage you to do so. It is available from the Greenville Library. For those of you not in the area, consider looking into a lesser known facet of your local history. You’re bound to learn a lot and have a good time in the process.

Yes, he picked Indian food. No, he doesn’t have a fever.

January 30, 2012January 29, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

Mr. McB is known for being a picky eater who doesn’t generally like to try things outside his comfort zone. This reputation is not entirely fair. He is pretty conservative in his choices but he has also become increasingly adventurous in recent years. That’s why I am so pleased that an office outing took him to Saffron Indian Cuisine; I know he would have never selected it on his own, but he gave into peer pressure and came to learn that he really did enjoy it.

After his visit, McB decided that he had to treat me to the lunch buffet. I enjoy Indian food and am always eager to try new things so I was pretty excited for our visit a few weeks ago. The restaurant, located at 1178 Woodruff Road in Greenville, is part of a small strip mall. While the exterior of the building might seem a bit bland, the inside is bright and welcoming. Inside you’ll find a relatively spacious dining area with Indian art and ample seating.

The buffet ($7.95 during the week, $9.95 on weekends) isn’t particularly massive but it still manages to feature a nice variety of choices in both vegetarian and chicken entrees as well as some salads and other specialties. Patrons pick up their own plates from the warming station and no one seemed to be bashful about making multiple trips to visit the buffet.

McB limited himself to chicken korma, naan, and basmati rice. I tried a small helping of almost every dish that was on the buffet including a lentil curry, lemon tofu, panir makhni and tandori chicken. I can’t complain about any of the dishes that I tried. They were flavorful and well cooked. I didn’t make a pig of myself but I did feel satisfied for the rest of the day.

My only disappointment was that the samosa tray was empty when we arrived and was not refilled until just before we left. I could have helped myself but I was far too full by then. Thankfully, they were very diligent about replenishing the naan. I suspect Saffron goes through at least 100 pounds of naan daily. It was very popular with everyone who visited the buffet.

Whether you love Indian food or want to try it for the first time, I highly recommend Saffron. The very affordable buffet provides a nice mix of spicy and mild dishes that can please any palate. The staff is nice and helpful and the restaurant is clean and bright.

If you don’t take my word for it, you might be interested to learn that Saffron is also Greenville’s highest rated restaurant on Trip Advisor. It just goes to show that no matter the cuisine, good food is bound to be noticed and respected.

Spartanburg Photo Walk – Vacant Lot Edition

January 13, 2012January 6, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

I took a load of photos during my walk around downtown Spartanburg. This post focuses on those I took at a vacant lot downtown. It a large space located between two stores. I like the fact that the city didn’t board it up. Instead it’s grassy (mostly) and easily accessible. I’d love to bring Mr. McB here for photos. I think this would make a really cool background.

Lately, I see beauty in surprising places. I think these photos prove that something can be abandoned without becoming an eyesore. I love that things that might seem broken to some, can be lovely with the right eye.

Spartanburg Photo Walk

January 10, 2012January 6, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

This is the first of two posts from my photo walk in downtown Spartanburg last Friday. It was a very bright day so while that caused some photographic challenges, my body was so glad to feel the sun that I didn’t mind.

Statue on the side of the Extended Stay America’s HQ. He is chiseling himself out of a block of iron/clay/mud.

This tree was full of soft pink buds and busy bees.

I love the sunlight on the water here.

This is for Mr. McB as Denny’s is one of his favorites.

The Palmetto and Magnolia Fountain by Berry Bate with the Daniel Morgan Monument in the background.

First Baptist Church of Spartanburg

A fountain at “The George,” USC Upstate’s business school

Bubbling waters at The George

Blues Blvd

Morgan Square
Finally the SC flag is flapping in the most delightful way.

Another busy bee

Spigot fountain behind Denny’s HQ
A subtle reminder to wash your hands before going back to work?

Now that’s more like it

January 7, 2012January 6, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

It’s our every-other-Friday pizza treat. Mythos (6140 Wade Hampton Blvd) makes a New York pie that makes our bellies very happy. Our regular (half cheese – him, half pep – me) is a bit greasy but McB, and most native New Yorkers, would tell you that grease is part of a good pizza.

They are a bit stingy with the pepperonis but those that are there have a nice flavor. There is enough cheese that McB doesn’t find it necessary to order extra cheese. I haven’t tried it as cold pizza but it does reheat quite well.

Our big fat Greek(ish) dinner

January 6, 2012January 5, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / Leave a comment

After our outing to the Greenville Zoo on New Year’s Eve, Mr. McB and I were starving. He really wanted pizza so we headed down to Pelham Road to have a pie at Bertolo’s only to find that they were closed. The same was true for Moe’s Southwest and Acapulco. It was just four in the afternoon so the folks who own/run these establishments must have been gearing up for quite that party that night.

We notice that The Original Acropolis (3620 Pelham Road – Earth Fare Plaza) was open and since he was starving, McB was more willing to try a Greek restaurant that normal. Things were pretty quiet so we got a seat immediately. The décor is very showy. It seems that this is true of many Greek restaurants in the US. I don’t mind it, it’s just very…fancy.

We review the menu and quickly realize that Acropolis serves a mix of Greek and Italian dishes. This seems to be pretty popular in this area. We had a good experience at Greek/Italian Pomodoros just south of Asheville and our beloved Mythos pizza comes from a Greek/Italian kitchen.

I am pretty hungry so I select the moussaka. It’s a heavy dish but I’m hungry enough to handle it. McB picks pizza (regular Italian not the pita version.)

My meal came with a Greek salad. It was a good basic salad with a flavorful Greek vinaigrette that really popped with the olives and feta in the salad.

The moussaka was a bit different than what I was expecting. I was presented with a slightly Americanized version of Greek moussaka (eggplant/potatoes, seasoned ground beef, béchamel sauce) but it was surrounded by a hearty tomato sauce with slices of feta. It was like a little Italian moat around my moussaka castle. The core dish was good for the most part. The beef was well seasoned with the traditional cinnamon and all spice. The potatoes weren’t cooked as thoroughly as I would have liked. There was also some bitterness to the eggplant but it’s eggplant and sometimes that just happens. The tomato sauce and feta pairing was good but I feel like they were there on the plate trying to cover for the shortcomings of the moussaka. While this odd combination wasn’t horrible, it didn’t provide the authentic experience I was looking for.

McB’s cheese pizza featured the same sauce that surrounded my moussaka. It was a heavy sauce that was applied liberally – too liberally for his taste. The crust held up to the sauce but the ratio of cheese to sauce was less than ideal. The next day I tried to have one of his leftover pieces as cold pizza but this pizza just isn’t made to be eaten cold. I wrapped it in foil and reheated in the oven. I wasn’t fond of the pie. The sauce was just too much for the pizza.

I’m not sure we’d head back to The Acropolis. We only go out once or twice a week so I don’t see us using one of our limited opportunities there. It’s not a horrible place, the service is good and the portions are plentiful and other than the pizza, the food isn’t bad. It’s just not the place I would pick.

Furman Photo Walk

January 5, 2012January 5, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / 1 Comment

These photos are from our visit to Furman University back on December 17, 2011. Mr. McB and I had planned to go to the movies but we thought better of when we realized what a mild, sunny Saturday we’d been blessed with.

Furman is known for having a gorgeous campus, see number 12 on this list. In addition to the beautiful buildings, the campus also features many beautiful natural areas. They even produced a field guide to the trees and animals that you’ll find at Furman. Here are a few images from our little photo walk.

Lakeside housing

This is the original building that housed Furman’s two classrooms. It was moved from its original location and can now be found near the lake.

Sky mirrored in the lake

Furman’s Florentine belltower and bare trees
This photo was not touched up in anyway. The sky was just a stunning shade of blue.

These trees flank the pathway to the bell tower. They are so smooth, I could have rubbed them all day. These are the kinds of trees that are heaven to a tactile person like me.

The clouds showed up in this photo of the pond in the Japanese gardens.

The last remnants of fall were trapped in the pond.

Even dead grass can make an interesting contrast.

Cattails that look like big fat corn dogs – albeit moldy, furry corndogs.

Heading to the Strip Club

January 4, 2012 / sugarsitaspell / 2 Comments

You can relax. I’m writing about The Strip Club 104, a steakhouse in downtown Greer.

I stumbled upon The Strip Club 104 (104 East Poinsett Street) through an Upstate Deal email. After giggling at the name, Mr. McB and I salivated over the menu and decided to buy into the deal.

We used our special for a mid-week dinner in early December. Reservations are recommended. The restaurant is small and popular. I called on a Friday afternoon for our reservation on the following Wednesday. I thought everything was taken care of – I repeated the day, date and time and our name before the end of the conversation. Yes, I looked at a calendar before making the call since I’ve already admitted to having some trouble with dates these days. When we arrived on the appointed night, there was no record of our reservation. I was annoyed by this but more bothersome was the fact that the restaurant was empty when we arrived and yet the hostess had to make us stand in a state of flux for a few minutes and then make a big production over talking to the manager to see if we could get a table. He seemed to look at her as if she was crazy and we were seated shortly. I’d like to note that even with a large party, the restaurant wasn’t full when we left. I looked at the computer while the hostess left us in purgatory and there were only two reservations so really, what was the big deal?

If you make it past the hostess stand, the restaurant itself is warm and inviting. There are exposed beams and brick along with lots of crisp white linen and wood accents. The retro pinup-girl prints provide a witty decorative touch and make for fun conversation.

Our server was wonderful. His demeanor soothed whatever feathers the hostess ruffled. He went over the specials in detail, answered questions, and offered advice when asked.

I admit that we really splurged during our visit. We began the meal with flaming saganaki. I do love the theatrics that go along with this flaming Greek cheese and this was a very appetizing version. I should back up a moment to say that the meal actually began with buttery, warm biscuits. Ummm…biscuits.

For his entrée, Mr. McB selected the New York strip with a balsamic glaze. His sides were mac-n-cheese and grilled asparagus. The aged steak was massive and didn’t cook away despite the fact that McB ordered his steak well done. I want to pause for a moment and give the server props for not trying to dissuade the hubby from ordering his steak well done. My husband isn’t quick to anger but please just tell him how to order his steak and you’ll see the temper. McB was very pleased with his entrée and sides. He loved the balsamic glaze as an accompaniment to the beef. The asparagus was light and tender. The mac-n-cheese was a heavenly blend of cheesy goodness. I also approved of the sides. The steak was good but for my own tastes, it would have been magnificent if only it was medium but it wasn’t my steak so I can’t really complain.

I selected the “Redneck Delicacy.” This meal featured two spicy/tangy shrimp (Boom, Boom Bang Shrimp per the menu) and spinalis of black angus. Spinalis are the cap of the ribeye –well marbled yet very tender when properly cooked and this was tasty and tender. The sides were smoked bacon collard greens and garlic mashed potatoes. The whole delicious mess was finished with a lobster sherry gravy and warm pimento cheese. The flavors played nicely together. I was impressed by the meal as a whole. On their own, the collard greens fell a little short. They were nice but didn’t live up to the description in the menu. In all honesty, I think their blandness worked for my selection but had I ordered them as a side for a simpler dish, I would have been a bit disappointed.

My small plate version of the entrée left room for dessert. I chose the carrot-cake cheesecake. It was nice. There was a lot of creamy cheese goodness which I enjoy very much. I didn’t enjoy the raisins but I should have expected them, it was carrot cake after all. McB chose a chocolately dessert. It was a bit rich so he didn’t finish, but he enjoyed what he had.

Despite the rocky start, we had a lovely evening at The Strip Club 104. The food was original and tasty. Our server was great. We came home with the loyalty card so they’ll definitely be seeing us again. I’ll just be calling to reconfirm those reservations.

Nose Dive

December 30, 2011 / sugarsitaspell / 3 Comments

Last June I came to Greenville to see my sweet husband and explore our new city. On my first full day here, we went for a lovely stroll downtown. It’s really a gorgeous place with the falls and lots of shops and restaurants to boot.

When lunchtime rolled around, Mr. McB suggested Nose Dive, (116 South Main Street, Greenville, SC). I was a little surprised that Mr. Pickypants would willingly eat at a “gastropub.” He’s a wonderful guy but not an adventurous eater. I was definitely game so before he could change his mind, we were making our way to a table.

Nose Dive has a very clean look. There is a lot of glass and metal decor. It is modern and maybe a bit industrial without being overly cold. Incidentally, I love the plates and serving pieces. It’s all very white or taupe but the shapes and sizes are just a bit funky.

Enough of the fluff, let’s get to the substance and there’s plenty of it at Nose Dive.

On our first visit, Mr. McB ordered the Carolina Dip, a french dip made with pork instead of beef. It came with fries and a lovely au jus. He was very happy with his meal.

I opted for the oxtail tacos. The plate (see the cool basket-style serving dish) came with a delicious guac, fresh jalapeno slices, fresh pico (simple, tasty), and cabbage. The oxtail was so flavorful and tender. My mouth is watering at the memory of this meal. Ordinarily I would put cheese on a taco but it wasn’t offered and I didn’t miss it one bit.

We topped the meal off with the Krispy Kreme creme brulee. If I remember correctly, there was a spoon fight over the final bite. Our bellies were already full so that says a lot.

We knew then that we would want to take guests to Nose Dive and finally had the opportunity to do that earlier this month when my parents came for a little visit. It wasn’t until we got to the restaurant that we realized that the menu had changed significantly since the summer. I assume that they use seasonal menus since the dishes offered seemed a bit more “wintry.”

While I had been dreaming of oxtail tacos, I was easily distracted by the Vietnamese Bahn Mi. This delicious cold sandwich was served on french bread and featured tasty, tender pork topped with pickled veggies and fresh jalapenos. The tastes came together to make a delicious and filling meal. The jalapenos added just the right amount of heat to compliment the tangy vegetables and slight sweetness of the pork.

My mom ordered the cassoulet. It was a hearty blend of beans, vegetables and smoky meat. It was a great dish for a cool, wet day.

Dad ordered the fish and chips. The portions were generous and the fish was not greasy. He compared the quality to Eamonn’s Dublin Chipper in Old Town Alexandria. If you’ve had the opportunity to eat at Eamonn’s you know what a compliment that is.

Mr. McB ordered a burger. It was a nice juicy patty with cheese and lots of delicious fries.

I’m sorry that I forgot to bring the camera but trust me when I say, it was delicious and all very appealing to the eye as well.

I think that Nose Dive may be my very favorite restaurant in Greenville. The food is tasty, inventive and plentiful. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to take new guests there.

Sugar, come sit a spell.

Live gently. Love fiercely.

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