Everybody moo shu tonight

Noteworthy responses to the Do you moo shu? message on the windows of the currently under renovation/expansion Fish:

· I would, but I prefer to Wang Chung.
· I did once, but my hips can’t take it.
· Is this a teaser for the Beijing Olympics?
· Dude, I just quit.

And finally:

· As long as I can rest afterwards.

Scenes from Dubrovnik

So, had a great conversation with Managing Partner Randall Goldman this afternoon about his trip to Dubrovnik. (Photos to come next week.)

You know when you have one of those conversations that has so much in it that it keeps resonating well after it's over? This was one of those conversations. Which is not surprising when you consider the fascinating, at times tragic, history of this amazing part of the world.

And while I wish I could reproduce our conversation in its entirety, I thought I would first share some of the images that have been bouncing around in my head all afternoon.

Cherries and apricots are currently in season.

So is lavender and the street vendors sold it in small sachets.

No one takes food or drink to-go. If you go for coffee, you are also going for the social/cultural experience. Count on at least an hour. HAVE YOUR COFFEE.

There is a restaurant on the water where they harvest oysters fresh before each lunch or dinner service.

The sea is crystal clear.

Though they stayed in the center of Old Town Dubrovnik, Randall and Jennifer also took a trip to Bosnia. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around all that took place in Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro roughly 12 years ago. There is so much I don't know. How do you look at any place in the world that survived civil war and not see its scars?

Traveling has the capacity to get us out of own heads a bit. I suppose that's why we love it. Not just as an escape from what we know, but also a chance to see, hear and experience something we haven't before. Expand our view a bit. I think that's what was so compelling about my conversation with Randall. The quality of his voice conveyed that he truly experienced something. In all honesty, at times I think he didn't believe he could express it in words.

I know you're wondering about what Randall spoke about to the students at the University of Dubrovnik, because I was too. Here these students sit, in a beautiful, historic, seaport city. With a history so long it makes Charleston look like a little kid. He spoke about what Patrick Properties does, what these buildings really mean. Bricks and mortar that become the fabric of a society. Certainly this group of students, indeed Dubrovnik as a whole, know that down to their bones. It's a pretty amazing world when you have the opportunity to go across the world, shake hands with someone who has endured. Sit and have coffee. And gaze out at the crystal sea.

Bonjour, partner. French-Texan, maybe?

Isn't that a priceless gem? There's our very own Executive Chef Nico Romo tipping his cowboy hat (?!) to the ladies at Juanita Greenberg's at Fish's last hurrah after the final shift Saturday evening.

Now, check out a few sneaks peeks of the Theater and Fish renovation currently in progress. Camper, it is fast and furious in there, may I just say?


In other news, PP is donating two vacant homes located on property we own in Mt. Pleasant to the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. The two homes will be used for fire and safety training purposes. Since we're in the business of finding creative ways to preserve and reuse, it was important to us to find a new use for these homes. For all firefighters do, we are happy to be able to do a little something to support them.

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with Managing Partner Randall Goldman to hear all about the Goldman Dubrovnik Escapades. He did happen to mention that he took approximately 1,000 photos. (Um, methinks I think I will be sharing just a nice representative sample.) Stories to come!

Which came first? The moo or the shu?

Know what's fun about marketing? Sparking peoples' curiosity. I have to say, it's one of my favorite things. Just yesterday morning, my partner in crime painted a message on the butcher paper that is now covering the windows of Fish. The message, you ask?

Do you moo shu? Coming this September.

The message hadn't been up even 24 hours before Managing Partner Randall Goldman received 2 phone calls asking if we were changing our concept to Chinese food. A fair question, I suppose, as moo shu is Chinese in its origin, although you can find a moo shu kind of recipe in most every cuisine. That being said, Fish is not changing to Chinese food.

However, our concept is, after all, FRENCH-ASIAN. So really, that leaves room for a whole lot of influences (say perhaps, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia or Provence, Paris, Normandy).
And might I also add, unique and totally delicious.

But back to the message. The moo shu alludes to something new. Something fresh. Something you will just have to watch for. I'm sorry, I like you best when you want more, more, more. Stay tuned.

American Theater...I couldn't help but wonder...

Standing in the vast, empty quiet space of the nearly gutted theater this afternoon, I could help but wonder what kind of celebrations will take place here. This morning at 8 am, sledgehammers cracked against wood; workmen hollered across the vast space to each other; power saws churned out sawdust. The whole space was vibrating and echoing with noise and action. But now.

Right now, the room is calm and quiet. I stood on the stage and looked out at the expanse of space. Even in its demolition state, it is beautiful. It is full of possibility. It's like the anticipation just before the curtain rises, just before the party begins. Even in the quiet, there is a faint hum of what is about to be.

What's Up

Dear Internet,

Did you miss me? Well, here I am, back from Ohio, home of the Buckeyes and my Mom, as the case would have it. I also got to see my niece (12) and nephew (15) who were also visiting. They are fantastic young people and might I say this, their texting skills are exemplary. Truly I have never seen thumbs move so fast. I was exhausted just watching.

Today marks the return to the PP campus of none other than the globe-trotting Goldmans. That's right, folks, fresh from Dubrovnik and other choice European cities (I know Paris for sure). I have not had a chance to be in their presence long enough to be regaled with trip tales. However, I can report that at least two boxes arrived at PP headquarters from Dubrovnik. PRESENTS!

In other news, Fish officially closed for refreshing after dinner service on Saturday night. And today, members of the Fish and PP team cleared out the entire kitchen and restaurant in what I think may be record time to prepare for the upcoming enhancements. Giddy up!

And, at The American Theater, the concessions area? Yeah, gone. Stadium seats? As if. Kids, this demo crew means it, and the results are going to be unforgettable.

Oh and get this: our friend and location scout, Stephen Rhea, who has helped PP get connected with some wonderful productions (remember that scene from The Notebook in front of The American Theater?). Anywho, Stephen brought a film production team, including actor/director Bill Duke to The William Aiken House to scope it out for an upcoming project for the Hallmark Hall of Fame network. Not only is Mr. Duke a formidable actor/director, every single bit I read about him refers to his imposing height (6'4) and his shaved head. He definitely has presence, and it's not just his size. He was also extremely friendly and warm. And, he just loved The William Aiken House which, I'll admit, only made me love him more.

As if all of this refreshing business wasn't enough, PP is also getting a brand new server. That means I'm writing you from my sweet old home MacBook, as the installation may take a day or so. Soon to come, photos from the great refreshing and tales from Dubrovnik. Stay tuned.

You calling me fresh?

Dear Internet,

I'm headed out of town tomorrow. Try not to miss me too much. I will definitely send a posting from the road, so never fear. I leave you with some of today's photos from Lowndes Grove. Enjoy.