kitchen countertopsIn Charleston, SC

Bar Tab is a recurring column in The Post and Courier Food section that highlights a locally made or sold adult beverage.

When I heard The Cocktail Bandits were hosting a new bar crawl, I thought, sign me up. Taneka Reaves and Johnny Caldwell, the “curly haired ladies who talk cocktails daily,” are a power pairing in uplifting a “feminine, urban perspective” in the beverage industry.

For the influencers’ February bar crawl, they wanted to uplift other Black people in Charleston’s beverage world, aligning with Black History Month. Thus, the Black Bartender Crawl was born, a journey that would highlight four Black bartenders across town.

I was preparing for the night out when February hit me in its unwavering icy blast with a fun little thing called the flu. Surrounded by tissues and soothed only by a constant flow of cough drops, I had to bow out of the experience I had so been looking forward to.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to write about it. Though I didn’t go on the crawl, I have experienced cocktails made by one of the bartenders on the crawl: Worship Chaleka at The Loutrel’s Veranda Lounge.

I wrote about one of his seasonal drinks in a previous Bar Tab column, where I rounded up the 12 cocktails of Christmas. The “Wrapping Paper” was, in fact, one of my favorites from that holiday adventure.

I asked The Cocktail Bandits to send over a little more information about the participating bartenders and the experience in its aftermath, in the hopes of sharing some highlights.

Here’s what I acquired:

Kendale Agec, Frannie & The Fox at Hotel Emeline

Kendale, who uses cocktails as a way to express himself, served up the “Thousand Sunny” to start off the crawl at Frannie & The Fox. The drink is made with brandy, simple syrup, lemon juice and blood orange Vermouth.

Brandon Sessions, The Iron Rose

Brandon concocted “The New Dawn” for crawlers at The Iron Rose, made with tequila, cointreau, lemon juice, lime juice and grenadine. The drink was inspired by the love he has for his two-year-old daughter.

Worship Chaleka, The Veranda Lounge at The Loutrel

This time, Worship traded in “The Wrapping Paper” for “The Dora Milaje” for guests at The Veranda Lounge, consisting of tequila, dry Vermouth, green chartreuse, lime juice, mint, pandan syrup, orange blossom water and black lemon bitters. It was inspired by his Zimbabwean heritage.

Vincent Bobo, The Whiskey Lounge at Henry’s

The tour wrapped up with Vincent’s “Distant Lover” at Henry’s, featuring tequila, simple syrup, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and Velvet Falernum. The cocktail is inspired by Charleston’s hot summer nights.

The first reading of Charleston County School District’s plan to implement school board prayer will be on the agenda for Monday, February 27. It’ll require a second reading to pass into policy, but the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry is fighting to stop that and get religion out of government meetings. “We’re facing a teacher shortage, COVID-related learning loss, and dramatic racial inequities in student outcomes, but one of the board’s first actions was to add public prayer to the policy that governs school board meetings,” said group President Bonnie Cleaveland.

Cleaveland and her group (a chapter of the American Humanist Association) became active after reading an article in The Post and Courier about the board’s January 9^th meeting, where the policy amendment was introduced. The original addition to the policy began with: “The board recognizes the United States of America was founded on Christian ideals, and as such should start board meetings with a prayer…”, and quoted a prayer Abraham Lincoln gave in his Proclamation 3750. Fortunately, that language has been removed, along with the condition that board members should invite local faith leaders. Despite two members commenting that they didn’t believe the addition was necessary—as individuals can pray to themselves during the moment of silence—others liked that the policy puts in writing that board members may pray together aloud.

According to the policy, the prayer or invocation must “precede public business and not be part of public business”. It’s not yet clear if that means before the meeting is called to order or before or after the moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance. It is clear that some members want to do it publicly, although the policy states it “must be directed only at the board members themselves.” In an attempt to be inclusive, the prayer must be nonsectarian, not invoke one religion in preference of others, and may only reference God or “The Almighty.” Although this still doesn’t recognize nontheists, it’s an improvement from the original text—“may not reference Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ, Savior, or a patron saint”—which was seen as oppressive to Christians. In the discussion (from 1:49 to 2:04 on the recording), interim co-general counsel Alice Paylor stated, “You don’t want people praying to Buddha and all that stuff.” To which board member Dr. Carol A. Tempel replied, “But why not? If we’re a diverse system then we need to recognize the fact that we have diversity.” Then board member Leah Whatley claimed it’s inclusive by being general for all people of faith but (a) many religions don’t pray to a generalized deity, (b) some religions don’t have any deity, and (c) not all Charlestonians are people of faith.

To oppose the new prayer policy, Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry members wrote letters to the editor and a guest column for the Holy City Sinner, provided public testimony, and reported the violation to South Carolina American Civil Liberties Union, American Atheists, and Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF). They met with board members and are helping others speak up to defend the Establishment Clause. Parents participated in public testimony emphasizing the importance of separation of church and state, and noting that not all students are Christian. Christians urged the school board to respect our Constitution’s wall of separation, realizing that both religion and government prosper when independent.

When presenting the amendment during the January 9^th meeting, one board member defended the policy by claiming that prayer is common in various government settings. However, FFRF’s letter to the board explained that a school board praying publicly is unconstitutional. “It is coercive, insensitive, and intimidating to force nonreligious citizens to choose between making a public showing of their nonbelief by refusing to participate in the prayer or else display deference toward a religious sentiment in which they do not believe, but which their school board members clearly do.”

As of this writing, the votes are likely to be at least 5-4 in favor of the public prayer amendment, with the main argument that board members have a right to pray publicly. But what happens when the policy is violated by board members or invited guests proselytizing their religion? Will they be fined, reprimanded, or removed? Will the board direct funds to respond to a lawsuit instead of improving the county’s education system? In her public testimony at Charleston County School District board meeting on January 23, Cleaveland concluded by urging board members, “Pray privately, OR…. pray silently, and get on with the business of education.”

The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry are excited to share and learn about tactics being used across the country to end Christian Nationalists’ harmful influence on schools and government. Contact them at activism@lowcountryhumanists.org and keep up with American Humanist Association alerts from our Humanist Action Headquarters. Together we can and must work towards a real inclusive democracy.

Tags: Chapter Spotlight

Firm Serving Charleston Region Joins the BHGRE® Network

The brokerage was established in 2021 by Aimee and Terry Peterson. Prior to their transition into real estate leadership, Aimee spent time in custom home construction while Terry was a commercial appraiser. Together, the two have also operated several small businesses.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Palmetto is known for its high-quality agent learning and mentoring programs, which they will now be able to integrate with the full array of the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate lifestyle programs, professional development and learning resources and extensive affiliated network. The team will now have the franchise support to sustain that level of development into the future and ensure their current affiliated agents have the assistance they need to continue to grow.

The company is centered around a team-first mentality that they’re all colleagues, not competition. Thanks to their in-depth professional development and collaborative culture, a number of the brokerage’s affiliated agents have received the 2022 REALTORS® of Distinction award from the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®.

Charleston is one of the most desirable places to live in the Carolinas. The city offers 230 days of sunshine a year as well as a real city-feel, without the hustle and bustle of more densely populated metropolitan areas. There are no shortage of entertainment options in Charleston, including its numerous beaches, historical landmarks, and vibrant nightlife. Charleston residents can also enjoy hiking the nearby scenic parks and trails including the Cypress Gardens and James Island County Park. Sports fans can also make the most of the city’s perfect weather by enjoying the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, a golf course often used by PGA players.

The Charleston demographic consists of millennials who are attracted to the city’s strong economy, which is centered around the nearby ports, medical facilities and military stations. Large employers such as Boeing and Volvo are located nearby, as well as the Medical University of South Carolina. Education is also a strong selling point for Charleston, as the city’s public school system is the second largest in the state, with prominent institutions such as the College of Charleston, Trident Technical College, Charleston Southern and The Citadel all located nearby.

SOURCE Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

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One of the most valuable patches of land in downtown Charleston was underwater for more than a century after the city was founded. And without careful planning, the water could be Union Pier’s undoing.

The entire site was tidal flats, marshes or open water until workers began dumping debris from trash and construction sites in the late-1700s. In some cases, brick structures were dropped into the marsh, where they likely remain today.

Atop the new ground, they built piers and wharves for the surrounding businesses, including railroad terminals, navy yards and junkyards, along with a fertilizer plant and other manufacturers that often used hazardous substances or had boiler rooms with fuel tanks.

Developers hoping to turn the port into a bustling city neighborhood with high-rises, office space and storefronts will need to contend with both legacies as they try to answer a pair of fundamental questions: How much of the pollution should be cleaned up before the area becomes home for thousands of people and a destination for millions more? And in a region where the land is sinking and the sea level is rising, what’s the best way to handle the water that floods the peninsula dozens of times each year?

“Water management, in all its forms, is priority No. 1 for us,” said Jacob Lindsey, the former city planning director now in charge of pulling off the project for developers. “We began our design process thinking about water management, and we have proposed a comprehensive, thoughtful strategy that we think goes above and beyond what anyone else has ever proposed here.”

But before anything is built, Lowe is working through a state-regulated process to decide whether the harmful substances beneath the surface should be capped in place, hauled away or avoided.

Soil and water samples taken last year revealed heavy metals common in Charleston, like lead and arsenic, along with volatile organic compounds like benzene. For substances like lead, the risk is direct contact. The organic compounds, in many cases hard-to-pronounce components of fuel, can release harmful vapors that can be inhaled.

Lowe is a Los Angeles real estate developer that secured a deal giving it an inside track to buying the land. The company conducted the soil and water tests last year as part of a voluntary brownfield cleanup contract it’s working on with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

State regulators have entered more than 700 similar contracts around the state since the federal brownfield cleanup program started. Nearly half of the sites have been completed and designated as ready to be reused.

The cleanup and monitoring, once approved by the state, ensure that a new landowner can’t be sued over pollution created by any previous owner. The State Ports Authority, as the current and long-time owner, wouldn’t qualify for the program.

Union Pier has for decades been far less industrial than in its early years, and is primarily used today for storage, shipping and cruise ship operations.

Lowe plans further investigation at 13 sites with the highest concentrations of contaminants. Those are mostly in the northern and central parts of the property.

While those areas merit further investigation, the levels of pollution discovered at the site so far won’t prevent it from eventually being developed, DHEC said. But it could be a factor in precisely where certain aspects of the plan are located on the site.

Lowe said in a statement that the company is working with state regulators to determine the next steps in the cleanup. But its plans for fighting the ways water invades the peninsula — rainfall, storm surge, high tides — are already starting to take shape.

A 12-foot barrier will tie in with the sea wall being planned around nearly the entire peninsula. It will be designed underneath landscaping — imagine a park water’s edge that obscures any view of the structure below.

Lindsey said the structure would have no impact on neighboring properties if a storm raises water levels before the city completes the rest of the wall. Without the rest of the wall in place, water would have too many entry points for the Union Pier piece to make a difference.

“A way to visualize it would be like dropping a penny in a bathtub,” he said. “Does it increase the water level? Yes, hypothetically. But is it measurable? No.”

The wall would ring the peninsula and largely keep storm surge from entering the city. But it’s a divisive project at least a decade away from completion, with numerous federal and local hurdles to clear before work on the billion-dollar endeavor could begin.

Even on sunny days, high tides push water into the city, covering parts of the Union Pier property and sometimes lapping at the parking lot of the Harris Teeter supermarket behind it.

Last year, the harbor overflowed 70 times, according to the National Weather Service. A symptom of sea level rise, it’s a problem that has been getting progressively worse: The harbor flooded more times in the past 15 years than it did in the previous 85.

At every outfall where water exits into the river from the property, backflow prevention devices will keep the water from entering during high tides. One is already being put in, which is expected to immediately reduce sunny day flooding near Washington and Laurens streets.

For storm water, the plan calls for a variety of approaches. Two systems along Society Street and Hasell will be enlarged to drain water from the Ansonborough neighborhood through the site. Underground chambers will be built to hold excess water.

The ground will be elevated to create a high point along Concord Street with a slight slope that pushes water into the harbor or nearby drainage basins. And the streets will be paved with materials that allow water to seep through, such as pavers with small openings between them or a porous type of asphalt over a stone reservoir.

Brian Turner, president and CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston, said he sometimes wonders about the wisdom of continuing large-scale developments on former marshlands. Those decisions all carry risk for the people and structures already on the peninsula, he said. Turner said the Union Pier project should be developed in a way that other cities facing sea level rise can imitate.

The entire site, like most of the peninsula, is within a flood zone. The plan calls for about 18 acres of open space. Turner, like others who have critiqued the plan, said he worries it won’t do enough to help reduce flooding.

“I think, frankly, that’s going to take a dedication of more space. It’s going to mean sacrificing some of the potential opportunities for more built environment on the site, and I think that’s kind of the state of our disagreement with the port,” Turner said.

Open space like parks are also valuable weapons against water, providing open land where it can be slowed and absorbed.

Plans call for a network of small parks around the site, along with a larger one surrounding the façade of Bennett’s Rice Mill, a 19th century operation that closed in 1911. It’s projected to be similar in size to the 1.5-acre Washington Square Park behind City Hall.

And along the Cooper River, the plans look similar to nearby Waterfront Park, but with a park situated out over the river that’s roughly the size of the nearly 6-acre White Point Gardens at the tip of the peninsula.

Amy Armstrong, executive director of the S.C. Environmental Law Project, said she’s concerned the development will have dire consequences for its neighbors.

“How is the storm water system designed in a way that anticipates and plans for the future when we know that we’re going to have many more sunny day flood days in downtown Charleston?” Armstrong said. “The bottom line is we know we can’t keep doing business as usual because business as usual is not good enough anymore.”

Developers also shouldn’t be allowed to designate areas over marshes or water as open space in the plan, she said. Nearly half the 64-acre site today is either docks and piers or open water and marsh. Some of the piers will be removed, opening up water and wetland that has been underneath for 80 years.

Lindsey said he’s heard the criticism over how to count open space before. He said the plan could have pushed high-rise condos closer to the waterfront, but developers decided to turn the most valuable land on the site into public park space because it’s a better fit in Charleston. It’s something people asked for time and again in public meetings and comments.

He said the sheer size of the property gives developers room to design systems that can reduce flooding beyond its boundaries.

“When we look at Union Pier, we see an opportunity to improve water management not just for the site, but for the areas all around us,” he said. “We hope to rebuild every component of water management at Union Pier.”

Dale Morris, who is co-founder of the Dutch Dialogue workshops, focused on how to manage water in coastal cities before becoming the city’s chief resilience officer. He said the early design plan is solid because it contemplates how to deal with the various causes of flooding downtown.

Like others, including the mayor, Morris said he’d like to see more open space on the site. But around the nation, not just at Union Pier, the economics of development projects don’t value open space. The profit comes from building.

Mayor John Tecklenburg told The Post and Courier this week that the project could still be financially feasible with additional open space to more closely mirror the city’s development patterns, which could achieve other goals like preserving sight lines to the water from farther inland. And he said the project will have to meet the city’s strict storm water requirements.

Morris said he’ll be watching closely as the plans make their way through the city’s approval process. Once the plan reaches a building design phase, there are other opportunities like green roofs or other rain-collection systems that could help store water.

With Charleston sinking and the harbor rising, he said the focus should be not just be whether Union Pier’s plan will work on day one, but whether it can handle where the water will be in half a century.

Charleston, a port city in South Carolina founded in 1670, is known for its magnificent French Quarter and Battery neighborhoods, as well as their cobblestone walkways, horse-drawn carriages, and pastel antebellum homes.

When it comes to luxury hotels, those in Charleston won't let you down. Charleston is a city full of charm and so much history, and our recommended hotels reflect that with everything from colorful boutiques to magnificent art deco structures. Here are 10 of Charleston's finest high-end hotels, perfect for a soothing getaway.

Related: The Best Beaches In (& Around) Charleston That You Can't Afford To Miss

10 Zero George Street Hotel

Zero George Street, Charleston's famous boutique hotel, is a fusion of antique architecture, modern bathrooms, and casually stylish guestrooms and suites that lead out onto open-air furnished piazzas. The hotel is a complex of five renovated historic residences arranged around a beautiful courtyard. Zero George is located in the heart of the Ansonborough neighborhood, close to the Battery and East Bay Street's restaurants, pubs, and boutique shops while still maintaining the neighborhood's historic charm.

9 The Dewberry Charleston

Located in the heart of Charleston's historic area, The Dewberry Charleston is a landmark hotel that blends traditional Southern hospitality with a contemporary flair. Guests of The Dewberry Charleston are in a convenient location, just a few minutes walk from Marion Square and the College of Charleston. Amenities include a 24-hour front desk, dry cleaning/laundry services, and daily newspapers in the lobby. The hotel has three separate venues for business meetings.

The Pinch Hotel

The Pinch, situated at the intersection of King and George Streets in old Charleston, is a brand-new five-story luxury boutique hotel that incorporates three separate buildings—two renovated Victorian-era properties dating back to 1843 and a brand-new one. Twenty-two opulent guest rooms and suites, plus three wholly furnished apartments, are now available for stays of 30 days or more at this property. One restaurant at The Pinch is an intimate oyster and cocktail lair, while the other is a full-service destination restaurant with a lively outdoor cobblestone courtyard.

7 The Spectator Hotel

A classically-trained butler staff sets this Charleston hotel apart from the rest, providing guests with a level of attention rarely found in a hotel. The Spectator Hotel sits near famous landmarks and exudes an ideal blend of historic Charleston character and modern metropolitan comforts. The unique guest rooms and suites have a contemporary twist on the glitz of the 1920s. The local Southern Lady mattresses and fine linens provide a comfortable night's sleep, and in the morning, a delicious continental breakfast is brought right to guests' rooms.

6 Harbourview Inn

The HarbourView Inn, located in Charleston's historic district, has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, transforming it into a cozy, romantic refuge—a pleasant lodging option with 52 guestrooms and suites in a setting that begs for exciting excursions. Enjoy a heartwarming variety of surprises at this retreat, from milk and cookies sent to guests' rooms at night to upgraded beverage options served in the privacy of one's room.

5 The Restoration Hotel

The five buildings that make up The Restoration Hotel were all renovated to reflect the spirit of the New South and bring Charleston's vibrant past to life. The Restoration brings back the centuries-old concept of a community-oriented, mixed-use layout. The Restoration integrates its location's rich local history and culture into a casually elegant, premium hospitality experience by fusing traditional elegance with a natural and easygoing Southern touch.

4 French Quarter Inn

A stay at the French Quarter Inn, Charleston's most decorated hotel, feels like entering the lovely house of a delightful Southern friend. Charleston's refined past comes to life in this elegantly designed retreat. Enjoy the comforts of home with Italian marble baths and other modern amenities. Be ready to be pampered with luxuries like a Charleston treat at turndown and a pillow menu with seven options.

Related: 10 Awesome Things That You Can Do In South Carolina

3 86 Cannon Historic Inn

Located on historic Cannon Street, 86 Cannon is a boutique hotel housed in a fully restored, three-story home from the 1860s. Historic hotel catering solely to mature guests, offering all the comforts of home with a personal concierge. All the rooms feature a stylish blend of modern and classic French design, and the hotel exudes a refined take on traditional Southern hospitality. For those who want to stay in the middle of all the action in historic Charleston, 86 Cannon is an ideal residential hideaway.

2 The Charleston Place

The hotel's modern vibe helped revitalize Charleston's historic district. The Charleston Place's combination of restaurants, cocktail lounges, spas, and retail stores attracts locals and tourists, business travelers, convention organizers, and brides-to-be. Guests will be in the heart of Charleston with a stay at The Charleston Place, steps away from Charleston City Market and 8 minute's walk from the Port of Charleston Cruise Terminal.

1 Hotel Bennett

Hotel Bennett is the South's most luxurious new hotel, incorporating elements of traditional Southern architecture and European elegance. Guests will find the grand entrance on trendy King Street at the intersection of historic Marion Square. The large Ballroom, terraced two-level restaurant, rooftop pool and French bakery, and spa all exude an air of refined sophistication thanks to locally sourced furnishings and a mural painted by a renowned artist.