Kathy & I spent this past weekend in Charleston, West Virginia. Why Charleston? We met up with friends from Ohio with whom we are planning a vacation this summer, and it is roughly half-way for both of us. It was a planning weekend for us, easier than trying to talk on the phone, or Skype, or send e-mails back and forth. A friend of Kathy’s remarked that “only we would take a vacation to plan a vacation.” Well, duh! 🙂
Investment Opportunity
It wasn’t really a photography weekend, but I did take a camera. I almost always have at least one camera with me, and although I didn’t carry it to dinner, when we went out for breakfast or lunch, or just for a stretch, I took it along just in case I saw something interesting. I don’t think I came back with any prize-winning shots, but it was good exercise.
Random photos while walking around Charleston, West Virginia
I’ll eventually get around to writing more about it, but I’ve been on sort of a “one camera, one lens” kick the last couple of months. I bought one of the Canon 50mm 1.4 lenses a few months ago, and I don’t think I’ve taken it off my camera! I just love the simplicity of the single focal length, and have really enjoyed the discipline of having to work a little bit to refine a composition, rather than just twist the zoom ring. It really makes me think about what I am shooting and what I’m trying to show. At first I was afraid the 50 would be a little wide, but I’ve gotten used to it.
Sculpture at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, Charleston, West Virginia
I think I could have represented Charleston in a more favorable light had I gone a few weeks later, but things were still pretty brown there. The trees were just starting to show some buds and the grass – what little we could see downtown – was still pretty brown. And the whole place had that “could stand a good rainstorm” look that cities get when the snow has just finished melting. Not that they’ve had a lot of snow, but that was sort of the look it reminded me of.
Close-up of the sculpture at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, Charleston, West Virginia
In just a little over a week, Earl and Paul & I are going to go shoot some birds at the Carolina Raptor Center. I suppose I’ll have to take the 50 off for that, but I’ll probably put it back on as soon as I’m done!
In the comments to my last post, Paul gently chided me about the fact that, in a post about our visit to Charleston that I didn’t talk about the food. Sorry! It was one of the most important things we did that weekend, but frankly I had been planning to write more than one post about our weekend, and one of them – this one, in fact – would be to talk about the food.
Supply Side
Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale
Our visit to this place was rather a fluke, as the day we arrived it was pouring rain, the town was full of people attending the Southeastern Wildlife Expo, which we knew was happening but had no idea it was such a big deal. It’s a big deal.
Anyway, the bellman at our hotel told us that we needed to go to a place called Bubba Slyes Deli, located right around the corner on King Street. So off we went, only to find that Bubba had called it quits just the day before and the place is now closed. Practically next door to Bubba’s is a place called Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale, which sounded like an impossibly interesting name. They didn’t have a wait, so we went in. Overall it was decent faux southwestern food, but it hit the spot and the beer was cold, so mission accomplished.
Old Connections
Hall’s Chop House
This was the real reason we ventured to Charleston in the first place. Long-time food & wine buddy Stefan Stanton, formerly a manager at Dressler’s Restaurant in Charlotte – our favorite hometown restaurant – is now a full-time surfer dude and occasional waiter at Hall’s Chop House, reputed to be one of Charleston’s top restaurants. And what a place! It was partly due to the anticipation of seeing Stefan again (it had been a year since he left Dressler’s), but from the moment we walked in the door, the people at Hall’s – including it seemed most of the Hall family – made a point of welcoming us, introducing themselves and basically making us feel like the most important people who had ever showed up at their place for dinner. And what a nice feeling after too many less-than-enthusiastic chain restaurant experiences.
The service from everyone from the bartender to the bus boys – and most especially our waiter – was superb. Stefan introduced us to their sommelier, who recommended a couple of excellent wines, making it easy to choose from their enormous and outstanding selection. Hall’s specialty is dry-aged beef, and while I have had it before, I have never had dry-aged beef like THAT before! It is fairly rare to find a restaurant that dry-ages their own beef, knows how to pick it and – most importantly – knows how to cook it. I had a dry-aged Ribeye that was easily the best restaurant steak I’ve ever had. Kathy had a filet that she could have cut with her fork, and it was delicious. And the dessert – let’s just say that you can’t go wrong with any of the desserts!
Stefan is clearly loving life, and it was great to connect with him and experience Hall’s. He seems right at home there, and I swear that if I could find a way to marry into the family he might just have a job for life! Overall, Kathy & I agree that our dinner there was probably the best restaurant experience ever. We don’t have the resume for that to mean very much, but we’ve been around enough to know what’s good, and Hall’s Chop House is beyond good. It was truly fabulous.
A?
Caviar & Bananas
Another unlikely-sounding place, this is officially a gourmet market and café, and is located just a little out of the way from the tourist traffic, near the College of Charleston. We went there for a late breakfast on Sunday, which explains why I don’t write about my Sunday lunch – we didn’t have any! Their signature dessert – which I did not have but should have – is Caviar & Bananas. It’s described on their menu as “Bruleed Bananas, Sweet Tapioca, Local Honey, Brown Sugar, Marscapone & Almond Tuile. Yummy!
Basil
Recommended by our buddy Jon Dressler, we visited Basil, a Thai restaurant just up King Street from Hall’s, for dinner on Sunday night. Believe it or not, neither Kathy nor I had ever eaten Thai food before. So, trusting Dressler, we went. It was great! I know that I am probably very inaccurate to say that it is a lot like Chinese, but I thought it was a lot like Chinese, with some different spices and flavors. The wait – even on a Sunday night – was over an hour, which we passed across the street in the bar at The MacIntosh, which looks like a nice restaurant itself. Next time!
There is a Basil restaurant in Charlotte, also. We’re going to have to ‘give Thai another try.’ We really did like it!
Jack’s Café
Practically next door to Caviar & Bananas on George Street, is this Monday-Friday, breakfast-lunch only place called Jack’s Café. It’s nothing fancy, but Jack himself has been running the grill for nearly 40 years. Good, fast diner food, served with a smile at a reasonable price, it’s sometimes just the ticket. The cheeseburgers are supposed to be excellent, so we’ll probably need to go back for lunch. Next time!
So there are the highlights of our Tour de Food in Charleston. Every person who goes as their favorite places, and we now have a few more of our own. The next time we go, we’ll definitely make room for a return visit to Hall’s. And some day (Paul) I’ll get to Hyman Seafood! 🙂
Barista at Caviar & Bananas in Charleston, South Carolina
I’ve been away, but I haven’t gone far. We’ve had a few things going on over the last couple of months that disrupted the little bit of posting momentum that I had back in January. I forced myself to spend a little time on the computer to process a few photos and throw a few words onto the blog so everyone knows I still love them!
Tree and brick wall, Charleston, South Carolina
A few weeks ago – seems like months – Kathy & I visited Charleston, SC for a weekend. February probably isn’t the ideal time to visit Charleston, and the particular weekend that we went was cold and windy. We spent a lot of time dashing from shop to shop, looking for shelter from the cold, and even dodged a little rain & snow on the first day there.
Charleston County Courthouse, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a photogenic town whenever you visit. I did some photographing while we were there, and while I certainly didn’t capture the “classic” Charleston, I feel like I captured what I saw and felt while we were there. Add some color from a few flowers and trees, a little warmer weather and the results would be totally different.
Stairs and shadows, Charleston, South Carolina
One of the things that has kept me off the computer is a little “reading project” that I got myself into. When we took our cruise in January, I decided that I wanted to read the Harry Potter series. I had never read any of the books, never saw the movies, and our kids were too old by the time the books became popular for them to bring “Potter-itis” into our home. So I got the first volume as an e-book from the library before we left, started in on it, and I got hooked. I quickly finished the first book while onboard, and quickly downloaded the second volume. I just finished #5 of 7 and decided it was time for a little break. It’s great reading, but it sucked me in and wouldn’t let go!
Wrought iron shadows, Charleston, South Carolina
We’re headed to “The Other Charleston” this coming weekend – Charleston, West Virginia. We’re meeting Bill & Cathy, our friends from Ohio, there to make some travel plans for this coming summer. I’ll definitely have a camera with me and hope to have some time to wander around, so I’ll be interested to see what that Charleston has to offer.
Frozen fountain in front of the Charlotte Plaza Building
It’s a nice quiet Sunday night, perfect for working on some photos. I heard something about some kind of game, but whatever.
Reflections on the Charlotte Plaza parking garage
Kathy & I have developed this idea of being “tourists in our own town” and are starting to play around with that idea. Not Charlotte specifically, but all of the small towns around. Too often we head to the mountains or the beach looking for something to do, when there is a lot to do in our own back yard.
Reflections at the NASCAR Hall of Fame
We had occasion to be in Charlotte yesterday, so we spent some time walking around downtown. It was a little chilly, but we managed to stay warm enough, we had lunch in a new (for me) restaurant, and got some fresh air. Not a bad way to spend Groundhog Day.
Tree shadow at the Charlotte Convention Center
Now, about that game. It’s probably on TV, right? Never mind. 🙂
Sunset over the Bahamas aboard Celebrity Equinox sailing toward Fort Lauderdale
I’m a few hours early, but here is my wallpaper for February. I generally shy away from sunrises and sunsets for my wallpaper, but this one looked pretty nice and I thought it was a photo someone wouldn’t mind looking at for a month, so here it is.
This photo was taken on the last night of our recent cruise. The land is one (or more – it’s hard to tell) of the Bahamas islands. I don’t often get to include land in the foreground when we’re on a ship, and while it doesn’t add a lot it is an extra element of interest. Great sunbeams and color make this a special sunset.
Here in the south we’ve survived our 72 hours of “winter” and will be soon looking forward to spring flowers and buds on the trees. For those of you in the colder climes – sorry! 🙂 I hope everyone has a wonderful February, wherever you might be!
Downtown Davidson, North Carolina under a nearly full moon and some amazing clouds. 5D Mark III w/50mm 1.4. Hand-held at 1/30 @f1.4, ISO 6400.
Kathy & I went to Davidson for dinner last night, and decided to get there early to have a little time to walk around town so I took my camera along. The clouds and moon were quite dramatic, and I thought this was a decent result. I’m playing with a B&W version but haven’t struck on one I like yet.
Random photos in St Thomas USVI from our cruise aboard Celebrity Equinox
Considering that last Friday I was enjoying a sunny and warm day in St. Martin, I didn’t have much hope that today would be a better day. But with the forecast of impending inclement weather, my office closed at noon. What a deal!
One of the things that is interesting – and sometimes frustrating – about living in a place where it hardly ever snows, is that no one really knows what to do when the weather gets “bad.” Those of us from up North, at least for a few years after moving here, scoff at the locals who run out for milk and bread and prepare to hibernate until the temperature gets above freezing. After a few years we realize that we also don’t remember how to drive on ice and decide it’s a good excuse to stay home, or go home if we are out.
Random photos in St Thomas USVI from our cruise aboard Celebrity Equinox
The difficult decisions are for the schools and for the parents who have kids in school. I hadn’t been at work for 5 minutes this morning when I heard a couple of Mommies wringing their hands about how bad the weather was going to be. Then at about 8:00 we got a little bit of sleet and freezing drizzle, and the brave talk about hanging around until noon was gone. The schools went from dismissing 2 hours early, to dismissing at noon and then “we’re closing NOW!” And the roads weren’t even bad, although they look a little slimy out there as I write this.
Rope shadows on Celebrity Equinox in St Thomas, USVI
I’ll take a little time off however I can get it. And I’m obviously putting it to good use – writing a blog post and processing a few photos. Some of my favorite activities!
I hope everyone has an excellent last weekend of January. Spring is right around the corner – sunny and warmer tomorrow!
Random photos in St Thomas USVI from our cruise aboard Celebrity Equinox
My grandfather was a wise man, and growing up I learned a lot of my lessons about life from hours of conversations at my grandparents’ kitchen table. We talked about everything from music, work and investing, to relationships and life in general. In many ways I was closer to my grandparents than my parents, because they loved and appreciated me for who I was, and they didn’t carry the burden of trying to raise me and to make sure I “came out right.”
Grandpa had lots of sayings, phrases and colloquialisms that he liked to use. One of his favorite “good-bye’s” was the admonishment to “keep your head clear and your bowels open.” I always thought that was rather silly, but I knew what he meant. As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized even more what he meant.
Skagway Brewing Company, Skagway, Alaska
Our numerous conversations often revolved around things that troubled me as well as things that made me happy. When I started to second guess my choice of major in my first year of college, we talked about the pros and cons. He supported my decision to change to a business major and helped me get my first job in banking. I didn’t talk a lot about relationships with him, but we shared the occasional tear over a lost love or a missed opportunity. We talked about the good things and the bad. When my grandparents experienced health issues we talked about aging. When my parents were experiencing what were ultimately terminal health issues we spent a lot of time talking about life.
I always joked that it was because he was an avid golfer that he was able to withstand “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.” Nothing was more exhilarating and at the same time frustrating as the game of golf (exhilarating for him and frustrating for me). He was always good at golf, and despite my best efforts I always sucked at it. But he applied his philosophy of golf to the way he looked at life. Whenever we talked about things that were especially wonderful or especially troubling, he would look off into the distance and exclaim, “Ah, the Vicissitudes of Life.”
Sonoma City Hall, Sonoma, California
Nothing has epitomized the Vicissitudes of Life as much as the last several years. In 2009 I spent 9 months out of work, but late in the year found a job doing what I’ve done for 30+ years. In 2010 Scott – our oldest son – was engaged, we took a cruise with Scott & Kristin and our best friends Bill & Cathy. In 2011 Kevin – our youngest son – graduated from college after a longer than anticipated effort, Scott & Kristin got married and we gained a daughter.
This past year showed us the other side of the pendulum. Kathy lost both of her parents in a three month period, after a rather abrupt turn for the worse early in the year. I lost four friends and co-workers – three of whom had retired over the last several years – in the last year. All four well before their time. Few things are harder than that, but through it all we’ve managed a few bright spots. Both of our kids spent another year paying their own bills, we had a few great vacations, made some new friends and re-connected with some old ones. We’ve inched a few steps closer to our eventual retirement and are making some great plans for 2013.
Kathy told me the other night that, despite how tough this year has been, that she is thankful that relatively speaking, her burden has been light. She knows that despite all that happened, things could have gone differently. It’s unlikely that they would have gone better for her parents, since the forces that took them were irreversible. But it’s not hard to think about what things could have been like. And she’s right. There are many people carrying much heavier burdens than those we have been carrying. To the extent we can help we certainly will, and to the extent we can be thankful for our own, we’ll do our best.
One of numerous fire escapes and colorful facades in San Francisco, California
For me, the Vicissitudes of Life means being open to the things that life brings us, and understanding that with the good sometimes must come the bad. It means not living in fear of the future or of the unknown, but it also means not ignoring the realities. It means finding a balance between enjoying today while planning for tomorrow. It means being there when a friend needs us, and not being afraid to ask for help when we need it. It means supporting others when things are tough, and celebrating with them when things go well. It means recognizing what’s important and focusing our energies on those things, and being mindful of all the things that are not as deserving of our time and attention.
For our Christmas gifts this year, Kathy & I bought new luggage. But we’re convinced that the true gift is not the luggage itself but is the privilege, and perhaps the responsibility, to put as many miles on it as possible. So off we go!
“Who says nothing is impossible? Some people do it every day!” (Attributed to Alfred E. Neuman, but who knows?)
The Weird Sisters Visit Skagway
I was doing my usual morning headline scan the other morning and came across one that read:
“Top 10 things to worry about in 2013”
Huh.
So, it’s not enough to just live my life, plan for the future, eat right and exercise. I have to read lists to tell me what to worry about? Please. And actually, none of the items on that list are things that even affect me. Maybe in some distant way, but will they impact my day-to-day life? No. I realize that it’s not good to completely ignore current events, and I don’t. I’m far from oblivious. But why do the media think we need things to worry about? I suppose it provides better ratings or page views, but that’s just one more thing to get in the way.
It’s bad enough that we can’t trust any information we get these days. But then we get these people who feel the need to tell us what we need to worry about? No thanks! If we want to spend our days running around like Chicken Little I guess that just adds fuel to the fire, but that’s not how I prefer to spend my days. Especially the preciously small portion of my days that I get to spend actually doing something I want to be doing!
Image processed in Lightroom from a single “-2 EV” RAW file
On my previous post, Monte asked about how the HDR version of that image came out, and as it turned out I didn’t do an HDR series on that particular photo so I didn’t have anything to compare. Just for kicks though, I went back and found an image where I did do a bracketed series including an in-camera HDR file.
HDR Image from 3 bracketed frames, blended in Photoshop and finished in Lightroom
Most of my readers know that I really dislike futzing around in Photoshop, so I probably didn’t do the HDR version justice. But while there are things I like about it, I’m really a fan of the contrast you get from a single file. While the HDR version perhaps shows more “detail” I’d rather see the contrast. Of course I’m a fan of rich, dark tones in my photos and HDR kind of defeats the purpose for me.
In-camera HDR from the same 3 frames used for the Photoshop version. Unprocessed, it’s a little dark for my taste.
I’ve made these files a little larger for those who want to pixel peep. But please don’t criticize my Photoshop skills. Because, especially for things like HDR, I’m really out of practice.
