chuckography

Midweek Mini-Pub Crawl on Folly Beach...

 The key element of a pub crawl at the beach is simple: beer.

Another smart addition is parking your car and walking from spot to spot.

I found that mid-week in October is a good time to check-in to a beach front property.

Great location and not a bad price.

Certainly less expensive than getting a DUI. And a lot safer too.

No meters so parked on Center Street, right across from City hall (ever notice the shark hanging over the entrance to a lawyer's office.) Some sort of professional courtesy.

Technically, I did stop on Folly Road to revisit The Bohemian Bull for a beer.

The nice bartender lady was kind enough to suggest I might enjoy having another one at The Barrel, a new place, just before you cross the two bridges - still being expanded - and drive onto Folly Island.

No problem when you're only about a mile from parking the car for the next 24 hours.

So one beer there and a
chance to admire the dog-friendly areas out back.

Not only plenty of room to run, but also a body of water just begging for Labradors to check out.

Bring your tennis ball.

This where I heard the old Toll Booth stood during a period when it took a ticket to ride.

The door is a sturdy barrel - complete with iron straps around the staves.

Well not an actual barrel. Just a thick "slice of one."

Got to Folly, parked the car and checked into the hotel to see what kind of view is afforded from the 7th floor of the 9-story lodging. Way cool!

In plain sight were a half-dozen places where I planned to drop in and sample their brews.

It was still Daylight Saving Time so I had a nice. sunny afternoon ahead of me. I started atop Skipped Jack's, my previous favorite place to have an overview.

Now, I was looking down on it. LOL.

Checked out Rita's, The Crab Shack, Planet Follywood and the cozy Jack of Cups Saloon next to it that used to have a sign out from that said "NOPE."

Well, until 5pm, then the "N" was moved to the far right to say "OPEN."

Saw some beach whimsy next to "The Shack" with several small, gaily-painted joggling boards.

Nobody was sitting on them and I have had the experience of explaining to a visiting New Yorker what they were and how they were used.

He also had never tasted boiled peanuts before.

Without smiling, I advised him to open them first and throw away the shell.

He thanked me for that bit of shared knowledge from a native.

I'm not saying the island was deserted.

But, looking down from Skipper Jack's at the only traffic light on the island, it was not exactly buzzing with cars, bikes and surfer dudes.

My membership card in the Sand Dollar Social Club had expired but if you have the old one, you can get a new one for one dollar and not have to wait 24 hours to use it.

I saw that quirk being explained to a couple just inside the door and asked if they would be allowed to come in as my guest.

They were extended guest privileges and still bought a card to use another day.

Feeling good that I had helped a fellow traveler, I ambled up to Taco Boy for a bite ..and a Dos Equis.

I recall when that building had formerly been the Islander Shag Club, restored after severe damage from Hurricane Hugo more than 25 years ago. I even came and helped build the deck out back that still stands.

Another beer and a snack at the Surf Bar, which was decorated for the upcoming Halloween hijinks.

Funky and relatively crowded - for a Wednesday - I looked around and had to ask about a particularly gruesome figure with a rat in its teeth.

It was looking down over the crowd at the bar and I was told the owner of the bar saw it in one of those airline magazines _ Sky Mart? - and thought it would look great in the "Best Bar On Folly Beach" as his sign proclaims out front.

Some cotton was stuffed in the mouth as foam, a hand-made palmetto rose added for class and no reason was given for the dangling rat.

Could not tell if the fire hat was an authentic one from the FBFD. My eyes were tired and my bed at TIDES was calling me.
 This is the sight that greeted me from my 7th floor aerie the next morning.

Obviously I had slept through what I am sure was a fantastic sunrise but this pleased my eye.

I have many photographer friends who trek out to the beach to catch a sunrise (or sunset) here and they produce terrific results.

Have not seen one from this elevated angles.

$99 for a good night's sleep, listening to the gentle roar of the surf.

If you live here, enjoy the treasures we have in our own backyard.

(Click on the photos for details.)

Of course, moderation in all things.

Labels: Bohemian Bull, Crab Shack. The Barrel, Islander Shag Club, Jack of Cups Saloon, Rita's Seaside Grille, Sand Dollar Social Club, Skipper Jack's, Surf Bar, Taco Boy, The Tides Hotel.

posted by chuckography @ 3:18 PM 1 Comments

"A Day At The Beach".... in my birthday suit.

Part of my Week long 75th Birthday Celebration was accepting a delicious FREE gift dinner at The Grill & Island Bar on Center Street.

They wisely allow me the entire month to come in as their guest.

So, naturally I delayed and now find myself with only a few days left, hence creation of the "Birthday Week of Dining Free."

Wednesday was a marvelous day and nice crowds at Folly.

I did not dip my toe in the water and the only sand I encountered was that tracked into the Blu bar at the Tides hotel.

Was pleasantly surprised by the bright new look at Snapper Jacks.

The lady behind the bar said new owners have been busy getting all the changes made before Summer.

They added those garage doors that slide up so you have an open-air window to Center Street.

An expanded second floor now has an updated deck.

The new tents or tarps are due in a few days the chatty bartender added.

If you are looking for a view, keep going up the stairs to the Rooftop bar.

It has three tents flapping in the breeze overhead as you look out at the pier.

Good angle to see the only traffic light on the entire island.

Last time here, I looked down and snapped a picture of a car passing by with two surfboards sticking out the sunroof.

My bad: I did NOT get the name of the fellow playing guitar on a sunny weekday afternoon.

Oops.

I will call there and try to get his name.

That is my version of reverse fact-checking. Sigh.

I did like the shadows that formed on the deck and his songs were entertaining.

He sang one about going fishing.

That reminded me of a fishing guide in Florida who promised that for $75 he would take you out fish CATCHING.

No fish - no fee.

I still have a birthday coupon for the sister restaurant Crab Shacks but I'll go to either the one in West Ashley or Coosaw Creek.

I like to spread my (no cost) patronage around!
Speaking of spreading, here's a snapshot taken at Blu @ the Tides Hotel.

The iconic image of The Endless Summer from the 1960s caught my eye. Hard to miss.

This was a large surfer dude and I didn't want to argue or even discuss ideal wave heights with him.

It was a perfect setting as a surfing competition was to begin the next day. Probably at the Wash Out.

As I was leaving Folly, I saw this hanging out front at a gift shop.

Probably NOT where surfers would congregate.

This was several blocks down - and across the street - from the lawyer's office next to City Hall.

It has a distinctive sign as well, depicting a huge shark., mouth wide open.

Stopped at a fairly new crafts beer place on Folly Road called the Bohemian Bull.

Last November it opened after incorporating several buildings sitting next to the roller skating rink.

The Bull offers an array of pub grub and upscale beers at upscale prices.

The 11.5 ABV beer I had was in a 10oz glass.

Did the math and figured one beer at a dollar an ounce would hold me until I got to the last stop on my weekday outing.

I also had bought a coupon from Frothy Beard Brewing .

That special deal ended the next day so it was added to the mix of the 7-day celebration.

End a beer-drinking day with a little more beer?

Sure. That makes sense to me.

Eat and drink in a sensible manner, spacing when you have the next one, and there should be no problem.

One of the samples offered on the menu had the word Peppermint in its name and I was not too pleased with what I was drinking so, for the next one, I made sure I ordered a pale ale. Yep, the ale was the one with an overpowering pepper taste.

Steve quickly swapped it out for a delightful Irish red.

Labels: Blu @ Tides Hotel, Bohemian Bull, Frothy Beard Brewing, Irish Red, Jesse Strickland, Pale Ale, Peppermint Porter, Snapper Jacks, surfer dude, The Endless Summer

posted by chuckography @ 3:55 PM 2 Comments