My 4th of July Tradition continues....
So, if I'm in town for the 4th of July, I try to go see the
North Charleston fireworks show.
Went to the first one they did in 2005 at the still not quite completed
Riverfront Park.
My original plan was to stop first and have a beer - or two - at the Madra Rua Irish Pub on Montague near Park Circle.
Dang. It was closed for the holiday.
Aw, what the heck, I drove up Virginia Ave and followed the signs to the old Navy Base.
Parked and hopped on a shuttle bus.
On the bus I mentioned to someone how great a cold beer was going to taste and was told it was a family setting so NO alcohol was sold or allowed. Yikes.
The bus eventually stopped and now I was a long way from my car so I stayed and enjoyed the show.
In 2006, I tried again and was successful. The Rua was open, had my fish & chips - and a Guinness - and wandered out and walked half a block up to Virginia Avenue just as the first booms started.
Over the years, this routine became the norm. Sometimes I drink a
Murphy's Irish Stout.
Had to change viewing spots after a few years though as the trees grew taller.
My spot was at the end of Montague by the bar and the fireworks were nearly a half mile away.
The fiery picture above was taken last night and I'm pleased.
If there had been more light around me, then the crowd of adults and children - sitting on car hoods and folding chairs - would have made a nice setting for the show.
Behind the bar, on the former
SMOKING side, I saw a photo of mine prominently displayed in a small green frame.
In Montreal a few years ago, I had seen that "sign" scrawled on a wall, followed the arrow and spent several delightful hours amongst a friendly crowd.
The bartender said people ask all the time if that wall and "ad" is nearby.
I had not been on that side for a long time but they recently banned smoking completely in the place so now I can sit wherever I wanted.
Hope it's still there next year.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
Thanks for stopping by on this long holiday weekend.
Our monsoon has finally ended.
Enjoy.
Labels: fireworks show, fish & chips, Madra Rua, Murphy's Irish Stout, North Charleston, old Navy Base, photo behind the bar, Riverfront Park
IRISH-ish Pubs...
Well, it opened as a
Guinness corporate-owned bar.
The entire place was built in Ireland, broken down into numbered pieces and shipped to our little
Island .. of
Daniel.
It was carefully reassembled and, I believe, was called McCaffrey's. It was one of 400 Guinness-owned pubs in the U.S.
Unfortunately, it closed rather quickly and the building sat idle for over a year on Seven Farms Road.
It re-opened a few months ago as
Two Rivers Tavern but it's no longer officially
"Irish." The nooks and crannies (known as "snugs") have been removed but a lot of the original wood paneling is still evident. Check out the pressed tin ceiling.
Over in North Charleston - near Park Circle -
Cork Neighborhood Bistro opened for daily lunch and recently added dinner Monday-Saturday.
They welcomed patrons to their part of Montague Avenue during this year's
St. Paddy's Day celebration with a special beer for the occasion.
Hmmm..when I visited County Cork, in Ireland last year, I found that Bud was considered an
import and cost more than Guinness.
Down the street on Montague is
Madra Rua.
All Irish, all year long.
Slainte.(Click on the photos for more details. Yes, that IS a Guinness in the glass.)
Labels: Cork Neighborhood Bistro, Guinness, imported beer, Irish-ish, Madra Rua, Slainte, Two Rivers Tavern
Just a few more days.
The Manager at
Madra Rua Irish Pub and Grill has been alerted that a small group of Charleston area photographers plan to assemble there Wednesday at 7pm to discuss 21st century photography -
film and digital.
As the humble organizer (Hey, with a blog named "Chuckography" you had to assume I had a camera!) I anxiously wait to see how many of those who sent a positive RSVP actually will show up.
Of course, you ALL are invited. The details are in the link above. Click on the title.
If I am the only one there, I can always have a Boddingtons and some great fish and chips. And, yes, I will have my camera with me.
Labels: 21st Century, cameras, digital and film, Madra Rua, Meetup.com, Wednesday
The Camera Doesn't Lie.....yeah, right!
So it's the last day of the annual
"Be A Tourist In Your Own Town"
and I am checking off places I will visit..the Aquarium, the Military Museum, the Powder Magazine and...Karpeles Manuscript Museum.
Fascinating to look at pieces of paper that give us a written link to the famous and some infamous. I was reminded how often Popes - and their families - were involved in history.
I stepped out and crossed the street to take a picture of the former church that houses one of the nine Karpeles Museums across the country and realized Spring Street obviously has never considered underground power lines. No way to avoid them.But, of course, that was before PhotoShop.
I am organizing a
Photography Meetup February 13, at 7:00pm at Madra Rua Irish Pub & Grill in North Charleston, near Park Circle. I sure hope a few people versed in PhotoShop will sign up and attend.
I can use a LOT of help.
Labels: American Military Museum, Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Madra Rua, Meetup.com, PhotoShop, Pope, Powder Magazine, SC Aquarium, Spring Street, underground utilities
The Smoke Is Clearing...
Hey, two more of my favorite restaurants and bars have created new NO SMOKING policies to make me happier...and continue to keep me as a loyal customer. Both are on newly-revitalized Montague Avenue in North Charleston, just off Park Circle.
I chatted with some of the staff at the
Madra Rua and at
Sesame and at each place, they expressed happiness at NOT having to breathe air they could actually see!
I go out a lot and carry professional ear plugs - and often see others wearing some at live concerts - but had not figured a way to avoid polluting my lungs and smelling like an ashtray after an evening out. Last night I stopped in again at the
Pour House in West Ashley and saw they have finished the elaborate deck out back and continue to invite smokers to step out there to exhale.
Charleston owners apparently are setting new rules instead of waiting for changes to be imposed. That's neat. And makes good business sense.
About that picture ... yes, some places create "theatrical fog" for lighting effect but a lot is cigarette smoke. Fake fog doesn't cling to your clothes.
Labels: Madra Rua, Pour House, smoking ban, theatrical fog
