From now on it's lethargy, cigars & scotch.

Upper King is just the funniest little neighborhood sometimes. AC's, one of our fave places for a delicious bar burger, had its front window boarded up when I walked by today. Not exactly sure what happened, but two people had written on the board in magic marker. One quipped: "Ouch, that hurt." The other: "And that's why you should always tip well." I think that made my whole day.

Nico Knee Update: So, it appears as if Nico may have done some damage to his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament: I know. You love it when I talk medical.). That usually spells surgery, but Nico is currently WAY too busy for that, so it will have to wait. He's currently loading up on anti-inflammatories and hobbling around in a brace. He told me this morning that "this staying in shape thing leads to nothing but injuries!" Agreed, from now on, it's lethargy, cigars and scotch! Giddy up.

As we're heavy into wedding season here at The William Aiken House and Lowndes Grove, it just breaks your little heart to see rain on the weekends. I saw some of The William Aiken House event staff scurrying about in crocs this morning as it poured. Thankfully, in true Charleston style, the rains gave way to clear, sunny skies. From my window, I can now hear the music from a ceremony about to begin. Not bad on a Friday afternoon.

As always, don't forget our friends at the Charleston Farmer's Market tomorrow.

And, should you need a gift for Mom (I know you procrastinated.), how about reservations for the Sequoia Grove wine dinner on Monday? Simply call 843.722.FISH, and you will be redeemed. Thank your Mama right. Take her to Fish.

PP news at 5:30, you've been warned.

Man down! In sports news, Executive Chef Nico Romo, who moonlights as goalie for the local recreation soccer team, "blew up his knee" last night in the heat of battle. The scoop is he "heard a popping noise" and basically crumpled onto the field. (Note: in my experience, the popping noise? Not. Good.) Anyway, after driving himself home (as we say here at PP, "don't be a hero!"), and did I mention he was trying to shift?! Again, not good. The diagnosis? A sprained knee which equals bedrest, a brace and some pain meds. Woohoo! We feel quite certain that Nico will be up and around in about 30 more minutes (doctor's orders or not). You just can't keep a good Frenchman down. Feel better, Nico! (Let us not forget that yours truly suffered a bloody lip as a result of this so-called "recreational soccer team." And, two of our next door neighbors were injured this week as well. Joe took a kick to the eye (WHAT?!) and Adam rolled his ankle. SO NOT RECREATIONAL.)

In local news, our very own Staff Accountant made the 11 o'clock news last night. Elena Hacker was accosted, I mean interviewed, by Channel 2 News as she finished up shopping at her local Pig. (Well, if you must know she was picking up roast beef, muenster cheese and Corona.) The reporter asked Elena about rising gas prices and Greenbax. I'm told the interview was riveting and the words, "It's huge," were used profusely.

In award news, congratulations to our friends at Skirt! magazine who picked up about 1,000, okay 5 GAMMA awards. Most excellent.

In food news, while reading the Food + Wine blog, I came across this cocktail recipe that I immediately sent to our Mixologist at Fish. Picture it: a pint of Hoegaarden beer topped with a scoop of homemade orange sorbet. Oh! Catch me, I swoon!

And lastly in marketing news, I have received 2 so-called humorous remarks on our identity package, both of which began, "Yeah, it looks great. Did you know that [insert property name] was misspelled?" I told you that PP is a sick, sick group of loveable hospitality experts, didn't I?

Blogstar, biz cards & Mother's Day gift ideas!

Let's recap, shall we? Stunning day weather-wise in Charleston in case you were wondering. A hint of the summer heat that awaits.

Though I missed seeing it over coffee this morning, I later watched my favorite blogger, Heather Armstrong, be interviewed on the Today Show. Heather writes a daily blog and just published a book called What I Learned About My Father (in therapy). It's a collection of essays written by a fantastic group of her blogger pals. Anywho, not only is Heather a great writer. She writes funny; she writes touching; she writes unabashed. Plus, she coined a phrase in our popular vernacular. (Throat clearing) Ahem, to be "dooced." To be fired from one's job for blogging about one's job.

Anyway, back to the interview. I will keep this brief as this is not an entertainment blog, however I have to just say that it's worth your entire day to watch Kathie Lee Gifford very carefully almost say something not that kind to Heather. I have my own thoughts about Kathie Lee Gifford, which I will keep to myself, unless of course you ask me outright. (Joke, kinda.) At any rate, the interview is an amazing look at the power of the blog as a means to build community (be it online or person to person) and as an art form.

In other news, we received a big portion of our new identity system from the printer today. Let me tell you, I just looked at those new business cards and said, "Hello, lover." Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but I was really psyched and as our pal Gil Shuler says: "Good design is good for business." Can I get an A-MEN?

By the way, if you haven't already made reservations at Fish for the Sequoia Grove Wine Dinner with Molly Hill...well, I hope you don't make me come over there. It's Monday, May 12 at 7 pm. (Um, hello, great Mother's Day gift!) Nico is preparing 3 courses to go with 3 incredible Sequoia Grove wines. Winemaker Molly Hill will be on-hand to regale you with stories of each wine and will delve into how she helped this fine Napa Valley vineyard gain its organic status. It's $45/person, which includes the wine pairings, and honey, that is just a sweet deal. As we say here in the South, holler at me! 843.722.FISH.

By the way, I took the photo above on my way home this evening. Just a reminder of all the history here.

Thoughts from the second floor hall

Was perusing Charleston Magazine this morning, (by the way, Nico is profiled in the Chef's Table feature.) and ran across an ad for the Cigar Factory condos. Front and center in the ad is one of our Blue Ion pals, the dashing Robert Prioleau, all chilled out on a couch. I will say I knew him when...

Also appearing in the magazine, our friend David Thompson from Gibson, Thompson, Guess Architects in a piece that profiles local architects and their eyewear. Yes. Really. Apparently, all the sassy eyewear in this town belongs to the architects. Who knew?

Thanks to Kathleen Dayton over at the Charleston Regional Business Journal who wrote a piece about the Lowndes Grove River House. Photo above is from the Main House second floor hallway.

Our Identity

Had a great drive up to Columbia yesterday with our pal Gil Shuler to press check our new identity package at the printer. May I just say? It looks FIERCE! Not only am I excited because this identity system looks so good, but I'm also thrilled that we've been able to create a sophisticated, clean and solid foundation upon which we can build anything. Remember, we're talking about a company that just 10 short years ago owned just The American Theater!

"It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes."

We can only hope that the Charleston International Film Festival will strive to bring us lines as memorable as that classic. (I'm also partial to "Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.)

In a nod to our very own Frenchman, Nico Romo, I shall plug one of the film fest's Saturday evening features,"Black Night is Falling." It's a French drama directed by Kook Ewo. Here's the synopsis from the website, which I have to stay made me giggle. Marie, sitting on the windowsill, is reading a magazine. The scene is soothed by the atmosphere of the city: noise from cars, shouts from children who are playing upstairs, the life of the neighborhood... Suddenly, a telephone rings. Gripping, right? Anywho, may I suggest a Saturday night out on the town: say, dinner and movie? Movie then dinner? You decide.

P.S. Don't forget to visit our pals at the Charleston Farmer's Market this weekend. And, SCENE!

A Fish Story

Having only been with PP since October, there is still quite a bit of history I'm still learning. This story is so good I have to share it with you.

Some of you may know that building that Fish occupies was once a bakery. I love thinking about that (and not just because I am a sucker for good bread and pastries), because bakeries are, in many ways, community. When I was very young, my Dad would sometimes treat us to a trip to Lindee's Bakery on Sunday. That heady, sweet smell is forever in my memory. The ring of the bell on the top of the door. The bread slicer behind the counter. I loved every bit of it. (For the record, I was always torn between the giant smiley face cookie and the Linzer tart.) This particular bakery we frequented was nearly always packed. Everyone was always in a great mood, trading stories, picking up treats for special occasions, catching a quick moment with someone they hadn't seen in a while.

I like thinking that particular scene was probably quite similar to the one at Fish when it was a bakery. Full of heady, delicious aromas, full of conversation and community.

What's also interesting is that Managing Partner Randall Goldman named the restaurant Fish in homage to a restaurant he visited in Singapore called Fishes. The owners, a Chinese couple, who were also Buddhists, believed to honor the soul of the "beings" they used for food, you should let the true flavors speak clearly, so they limited themselves to only using 6 or 7 other ingredients. Obviously that idea spoke to Randall, because nearly 8 years later, Fish is still here.

And though things have changed radically through the years, I find it fascinating that this special space is still full of heady, delicious aromas, still full of conversation, still full of community. It's nice to think that maybe the soul of this building is in our hands for our safe keeping.