Congratulations, Rich, and great choice, Scott Mason!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
www.ncwaterfalls.com on WRAL
I was almost finished with my latest report when CA co-moderator, KT, posted this special news bulletin. WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler recently journeyed to the Blue Ridge Mountains to interview www.ncwaterfalls.com's, Rich Stevenson about Transylvania County, also known as The Land of Waterfalls.
Congratulations, Rich, and great choice, Scott Mason!
Congratulations, Rich, and great choice, Scott Mason!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Stop Nine on Charleston's Museum Mile
Charleston has a wonderful creature they call Museum Mile. It is as the name implies: a one-mile section that contains a series of buildings filled with history as rich as the food on a Lowcountry plate. I'm a little embarrassed to admit we'd yet to step into one of these treasuries—the haint blue roof we prefer to stay under is generally the sky. But we abandoned that policy on our last visit to check out a place I learned about in 2004, but couldn't enter because it was closed to the public. It recently opened, so my husband and I drove south on Meeting Street, then traversed the uneven cobblestones on Chalmers to reach what was once a showcase of human flesh. No, not a closed strip joint. Charleston's Old Slave Mart.*
If you're like my husband, discomfort just crawled up your spine. Though I'm what my daughter calls whiter-than-bright-white-copy-paper, I'd passed that stage long ago while doing research for my first and, unfortunately, badly written novel—you have to start somewhere—about a young woman subjected to a life of forced labor and personal rejection by virtue of her birth. Part of the story takes place in Charleston, and one scene occurs in the Slave Mart. Though I have no plans to revise the story (you can't fix broke) I had to get inside, to see if reality matched what I'd envisioned, and to learn about the auctions that once took place there.
"Come on," you might say. "Of all the neat places in Charleston, why focus on that one? It's not even an attractive building. Are you just trying to be politically correct?"
The only PC I like is my laptop. But like so many places around the world, Charleston and slavery are inextricably linked, and while we went in expecting major condemnation, we found a sorrowful, but surprisingly evenhanded and informative look at the history of slavery, and the old mart's role in it.
We weren't permitted to take photos inside, so I can't give you a glimpse of the narrow interior (basically the width of the facade you see in the photo) that was once part of a four-building complex widely known as Ryan's Mart. The building on Chalmers, pictured above, served as the "showroom", not the caged holding area I wrote it to be. On display there now are placards and relics that taught us how the mart was run, how the slaves were brought in, and about the people involved on all ends including the "free blacks" who purchased slaves of their own. They even offer near-ancient audio recordings of interviews with former slaves. It was the beginning of the broader scope presented, and though the admission price is $7.00/adult at this writing, (but we are talking Charleston's Historic District), I highly recommend this stop, as well as the remainder of Museum Mile, for all who long to know Charleston more intimately.
For more information on the Old Slave Mart, go to
www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/osm.htm
For more information on Charleston's Museum Mile, go to
www.charlestonsmuseummile.org/Home.html
And since I mentioned it, I should include the Slave Mart scene that I originally wrote. And I will, as soon as I figure out where I hid the file.
-------------------------
*Not to be confused with the covered vendor area known as the Slave Market on the corner of Market and Meeting.
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Do not use or distribute
If you're like my husband, discomfort just crawled up your spine. Though I'm what my daughter calls whiter-than-bright-white-copy-paper, I'd passed that stage long ago while doing research for my first and, unfortunately, badly written novel—you have to start somewhere—about a young woman subjected to a life of forced labor and personal rejection by virtue of her birth. Part of the story takes place in Charleston, and one scene occurs in the Slave Mart. Though I have no plans to revise the story (you can't fix broke) I had to get inside, to see if reality matched what I'd envisioned, and to learn about the auctions that once took place there.
The only PC I like is my laptop. But like so many places around the world, Charleston and slavery are inextricably linked, and while we went in expecting major condemnation, we found a sorrowful, but surprisingly evenhanded and informative look at the history of slavery, and the old mart's role in it.
We weren't permitted to take photos inside, so I can't give you a glimpse of the narrow interior (basically the width of the facade you see in the photo) that was once part of a four-building complex widely known as Ryan's Mart. The building on Chalmers, pictured above, served as the "showroom", not the caged holding area I wrote it to be. On display there now are placards and relics that taught us how the mart was run, how the slaves were brought in, and about the people involved on all ends including the "free blacks" who purchased slaves of their own. They even offer near-ancient audio recordings of interviews with former slaves. It was the beginning of the broader scope presented, and though the admission price is $7.00/adult at this writing, (but we are talking Charleston's Historic District), I highly recommend this stop, as well as the remainder of Museum Mile, for all who long to know Charleston more intimately.
For more information on the Old Slave Mart, go to
www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/osm.htm
For more information on Charleston's Museum Mile, go to
www.charlestonsmuseummile.org/Home.html
And since I mentioned it, I should include the Slave Mart scene that I originally wrote. And I will, as soon as I figure out where I hid the file.
-------------------------
*Not to be confused with the covered vendor area known as the Slave Market on the corner of Market and Meeting.
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Do not use or distribute
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Lowcountry
Last month, we traveled to Columbia, SC for a conference, and of course, we couldn't drive straight home. South Carolina has far too many destinations to explore.
Our first stop was an overnight stay at Daniels Island, just to the northeast of the Charleston peninsula. I've visited Daniels Island on several occasions to attend functions at a corporation located there, and find it both charming and odd. Situated between two of Charleston's major rivers, Daniels Island is a newly (in Lowcountry terms) developed, upscale community complete with homes, golf courses, parks, walking trails, restaurants, corporations and more. However, since it is a Master Community, the buildings and streets have a continuity that tends toward the Disney-resort feel. And while a nice place to stay because of its conveniences, cleanliness, and proximity to I-526, it lacks, in part, the weathered look and Gullah influence that gives the Charleston area its unique flavor.
After a night at the Hampton Inn on Daniels Island, we packed up and headed into Charleston. We've traveled to this historic city on numerous occasions, as reported in several blog posts. There is much to do there and in the surrounding towns, but despite our roaming tendencies, I'm a creature of habit and prefer to stick with the familiar. So today was "Try Something New Day".
An overdue visit to Boone Hall was on the table, along with a trip to something on the map called Raven's Run (turned out to be a private, gated community) and Dewees Island (alas, also a private community.) But we headed into Charleston and drove around parts of the city we've never seen. Charleston's charm never ceases to amaze me.
We also took a tour of the old slave mart (not to be confused with the Slave Market on Market Street.) But that deserves its own post, so more on that later. Afterwards, we headed to the waterfront. Between the SC Aquarium and the Battery is a serene park complete with fountain and pier. We spent time there, taking pictures and watching boats sail near Castle Pinckney, then we went to the Fleet Landing Restaurant for lunch.
It's a shame it took this long to find the Fleet Landing. Located on Concord St, just north of the pier, the simple white building has a good view of the Cooper, good service, and good food with prices that fit most budgets. Since today was "Try Something New", instead of sticking with gumbo or crab cakes, I ordered the special: pan-seared redfish, Charleston red rice, and the veggie of the day. Absolutely mouth watering. I even tried the veggie, which, unfortunately, turned out to be collards. My first taste. Eaten with red rice, it was palatable.
Another relaxing day in the South Carolina Lowcountry. We headed home, but I ached to stop of one of the many destinations along the way: Mt. Pleasant, Francis Marion National Forest, Cape Romain, Georgetown, Pawleys Island, Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens and of course, Murrells Inlet. All located along South Carolina's Hwy 17.
We did make a brief stop at Litchfield Books, located on Hwy 17 in Pawleys Island. We visit the shop whenever we're in the Murrells Inlet area because of their nice selection of regional books. On this occasion, I purchased George Washington's Guide to the Waccamaw Neck and Georgetown. From the pages I leafed through while at the store, it was clear this locally written, locally published volume contains history about this area that I'd not yet encountered.
So much to see. So much to learn. Just another day in South Carolina's exotic Lowcountry.
-------------------------
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Do not use or distribute.
Our first stop was an overnight stay at Daniels Island, just to the northeast of the Charleston peninsula. I've visited Daniels Island on several occasions to attend functions at a corporation located there, and find it both charming and odd. Situated between two of Charleston's major rivers, Daniels Island is a newly (in Lowcountry terms) developed, upscale community complete with homes, golf courses, parks, walking trails, restaurants, corporations and more. However, since it is a Master Community, the buildings and streets have a continuity that tends toward the Disney-resort feel. And while a nice place to stay because of its conveniences, cleanliness, and proximity to I-526, it lacks, in part, the weathered look and Gullah influence that gives the Charleston area its unique flavor.
After a night at the Hampton Inn on Daniels Island, we packed up and headed into Charleston. We've traveled to this historic city on numerous occasions, as reported in several blog posts. There is much to do there and in the surrounding towns, but despite our roaming tendencies, I'm a creature of habit and prefer to stick with the familiar. So today was "Try Something New Day".
An overdue visit to Boone Hall was on the table, along with a trip to something on the map called Raven's Run (turned out to be a private, gated community) and Dewees Island (alas, also a private community.) But we headed into Charleston and drove around parts of the city we've never seen. Charleston's charm never ceases to amaze me.
We also took a tour of the old slave mart (not to be confused with the Slave Market on Market Street.) But that deserves its own post, so more on that later. Afterwards, we headed to the waterfront. Between the SC Aquarium and the Battery is a serene park complete with fountain and pier. We spent time there, taking pictures and watching boats sail near Castle Pinckney, then we went to the Fleet Landing Restaurant for lunch.
Another relaxing day in the South Carolina Lowcountry. We headed home, but I ached to stop of one of the many destinations along the way: Mt. Pleasant, Francis Marion National Forest, Cape Romain, Georgetown, Pawleys Island, Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens and of course, Murrells Inlet. All located along South Carolina's Hwy 17.
We did make a brief stop at Litchfield Books, located on Hwy 17 in Pawleys Island. We visit the shop whenever we're in the Murrells Inlet area because of their nice selection of regional books. On this occasion, I purchased George Washington's Guide to the Waccamaw Neck and Georgetown. From the pages I leafed through while at the store, it was clear this locally written, locally published volume contains history about this area that I'd not yet encountered.
So much to see. So much to learn. Just another day in South Carolina's exotic Lowcountry.
-------------------------
Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved. Do not use or distribute.
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