A Taste of Charleston

I hate to admit it, but I’d lost that loving feeling. When I moved to Charleston, I lived downtown. For me, there wasn’t life outside the hallowed walls of our Holy City. If it mattered, it happened downtown.
Then, I graduated and discovered life off of the Peninsula. Gradually, more and more of my life started happening in West Ashley, James Island, and Folly Beach. Since I work in hospitality, I’m downtown weekly for meetings, training classes, and trips to the College of Charleston. But my social life was planted firmly on the other side of the Ashley River drawbridge. Voodoo, Oak Barrel Tavern, and Home Team BBQ are just a few of my favorite spots West of the Ashley.
So, when I was offered tickets to this past Saturday’s Iron Chef Competition at The Culinary Institute as part of Southern Living’s Taste of Charleston weekend, I immediately became excited about hanging out with my old friend, Downtown Charleston. This was the perfect excuse to make a night of it.
I called in “the girls.” I was going to need back-up. I’d been neglecting her Holiness and I need reinforcements to get back in the saddle. With proper “going out” outfits picked, hair styled, and girlfriends in tow, we hit the town. First stop was the Southern Living Iron Chef Competition. It was the perfect start to our very own Taste of Charleston evening.
Since my departure from the downtown nightly scene, quite a few new bars and restaurants have popped up. I needed to investigate what I had been missing and reconnect with my old flame.
First stop, The Rarebit on Upper King. Although this wasn’t my first time here, it was a great start for a night on the town. With their signature drink, the Moscow Mule, fueling our party fire, we made our way to our next stop, Stars. The patio provided the perfect backdrop to appreciate Charleston’s majesty, especially on a cool October night. After a martini, we knew we needed to move on. So many bars to see, so little time!
Lastly, we made our way to the Warehouse at the corner of Spring and St. Philips streets. Alas, we found our perfect fit. The restaurant/bar has a cool industrial feel, wide open and welcoming. We ordered craft cocktails and relished the city we live in.
Downtown Charleston has so much to offer, it was impossible to check it all out in one night. Now that I’ve reconnected with my old friend, I’m already planning a second date. That loving feeling is back. I just can’t get stuck in a rut. After all, it’s only a drawbridge away.
 
Katie Wells is a local writer, customer service trainer, and social media specialist. She can be contacted at kewsolutionsinc@gmail.com