Keeping It Local This Holiday Season

Saturday, November 26 was “Small Business Saturday.” The brainchild of American Express, this campaign encourages shoppers to do at least some of their holiday shopping at those small, locally-owned establishments that are the lifeblood of a community. Forget the Mall – Main Street is where it’s at!

The eclectic mix of local businesses is what gives Downtown Greenville its unique character. I mean, where else but Dark Corner Distillery could you purchase a bottle of moonshine, made of local ingredients and distilled right here on Main Street. Where else but at Palmetto Drum Company would you be able to meet Freddie, a true craftsman who custom makes drum kits for some of the best musicians in the South? And art lovers can not only view some incredible local art at the Matthew Campbell Gallery, but they can meet the artist too.

But don’t limit yourself to only the 26th for frequenting small businesses – make shopping local part of your holiday mantra. Need a sweet treat for a family gathering? Get a batch of Red Velvet cupcakes at Chocolate Moose on Main or a gorgeous cake at Coffee to a Tea. Looking for some holiday music? Instead of going to one of those huge “super-stores” with their limited selection, go by Horizon Records and buy some classic tunes on vinyl. Got a funky fashionista on your gift list? You could go to one of those designer chain stores and shell out hundreds for a purse that will be on everyone’s arm next season, or opt for a uniquely beautiful vintage handbag from the 1950’s at Clothing Wearhouse.

So, whether you visit the Saturday Market in the summer, the SLAM Local Art Market in the Fall or any of the wonderfully diverse businesses located in our beautiful Downtown, shop local and enjoy the charm of Main Street all year long.

Downtown Greenville Restaurants To Be Thankful For

Ahhh Thanksgiving…the turkey, the dressing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie…what’s not to love? Most people dream of that Norman Rockwell-esque family dinner…Dad carving the delicious turkey that Mom has loving prepared. But what if your cooking skills are not so much “Rachel Ray” as they are”Flambe”(heavy on the flame part)? Or you have had some unforseen kitchen disaster (did anyone remember to put the dog outside)? Don’t worry, our wonderful DTGVL restaurants are here to help you out!

With a name like Spoonbread, you know the Westin Poinsett’s restaurant will serve delicious food that will rival your Grandma’s home cooking. Start your Thanksgiving Day off with brunch, a good idea if the one preparing your Thanksgiving dinner is a bit “culinary-challenged”. For those wanting the “breakfast” side of brunch, Spoonbread offers Eggs Benedict, Virginia Ham, Maple Rosemary Biscuits and an Omelet Station with over 25 ingredients to choose from. Spoonbread also tempts diners with a wonderful selection of soups and salads like Butternut Squash soup and Autumn Greens with Pecan Vinaigrette as well as traditional favorites such as Baked Macaroni Pie and unique entrees like Pecan Crusted Mahi Mahi. They even have a special kid’s menu. Brunch will be served 11AM to 3PM.

Boasting Sage Rubbed Turkey with all the traditional trimmings, if you need to feed your crew the entire Thanksgiving meal, Spoonbread aims to please. Start your 3-Course meal with soup, salad or an appetizer like Cinnamon Pumpkin soup or a Spinach Salad with Crispy Goat Cheese. As an entree, if Turkey’s not your thing, select something a little different like Seared Salmon served over goat cheese grits with braised collard greens. For dessert, go with a Holiday classic like Pumpkin Pie or satisfy your chocolate craving with a warm Lava Cake…YUM!

If you want add a little Lowcountry flavor to your Thanksgiving celebration, then head to High Cotton. As an appetizer to the big meal, nothing beats their Buttermilk Fried Oysters…except, maybe, the Blue Crab and Butter Bean soup. In addition to the expected turkey dinner, High Cotton offers Lowcountry favorites such as Shrimp and Grits and Grilled Charleston Grouper. And as a fitting finish to your delicious meal, have a slice of their sinfully good Pecan Pie…or to really be in “High Cotton”, try their Grand Marnier Creme Brulee…so good, it’ll make your toes curl up!

The weather on Thanksgiving Day promises to be gorgeous, so you may want to consider dining outdoors at The Green Room. Rev up your appetite with a southern classic, Fried Green Tomatoes, served with herbed cream cheese and red pepper relish. For the main event, enjoy a Brined and Roasted Turkey with all the trimmings, or you may want to break tradition and try the Braised Short Ribs, served with Horseradish Mashed Potates and Bacon Brussel Sprouts. On the side, try the Roasted Butternut Squash or everyone’s favorite, Baked Macaroni and Cheese (which, in the Carolinas, counts as a vegetable). For dessert, indulge in a little chocolate decadence with a Brownie drizzled in Blackberry Sauce or go lighter with their Apple and Pear Cobbler. And for those “indoor types”, no worries…The Green Room will be serving this delectable menu inside as well.

Don’t feel the need to leave when your meal is over? The Green Room invites you to hang out with bartender, Larry, at the bar to wash down that wonderful meal with a cocktail or two. In addition to The Green Room, several other Downtown establishments will be opening their doors to welcome guests with a need to escape all that “family togetherness” for a while. Sharkey’s Pub, Sky Sports Bar, Blue Ridge Brewing and On The Roxx will be open later that evening (and, rumor has it, so will City Tavern, Blu Martini, Connolly’s Irish Pub and Park Avenue Pub).

So, as you see, Downtown Greenville offers plenty of options for Thanksgiving festivities to help you get in the spirit of the holidays1 But, if you’ve gotten the spirit through liquid form, please take a cab home. We want you around to enjoy all the fun Downtown has to offer visitors and locals alike. Happy Thanksgiving!

Downtown Greenville Honors Her Veterans

Each November 11th, Americans pause to commemorate the sacrifices our military men and women have made for our country. Downtown Greenville offers many opportunities to honor our vets. The first event is a Veterans’ Day Celebration which will take place at 6PM on Friday, November 11 at the Greenville Vietnam Memorial in Cleveland Park. This special outdoor ceremony will honor all branches of the military and veterans of several wars.

Saturday’s events honoring our military service people will begin with The Children’s Museum’s “Salute to Military Families” at 10AM. This special program will teach children the very special role families play in supporting our military. Just a few yards from TCM, is the Upcountry History Museum, who will be honoring our veterans with not just one, but two days of special events, with special tribute given to veterans of the Korean Conflict. The weekend’s activities will include special exhibits of military items from private collections, including personal items that belonged to Gen. Douglass MacArthur (on loan from the MacArthur Museum) as well as continuous screenings of the award-winning documentary, “Threads of Victory” and special children’s activities including a take home “Victory Garden”. Saturday’s events, which begin at 10AM, will showcase the talents of the Carolina Youth Symphony and their musical “Tribute to the Troops”, offer special insights of the Korean Conflict and give visitors the opportunity to explore the GI Bill’s impact on returning vets and SC football with educator, Heather Yenco. Sunday’s events begin at 1PM and include a screening of “Pork Chop Hill’ with an introduction by military historian, Jack Green…as well as complimentary popcorn & sodas! The museum is open until 5PM both days.

Also on Saturday, our local hockey team, the Greenville Road Warriors, will pay tribute to our military personnel with their “Thank You Military” night. Active military service people and veterans can see the Road Warriors take on the South Carolina Stingrays (at 7PM) for the special price of $6 – just show your military ID at the box office to receive your discount tickets. But that’s not all! For the 2nd year, the Road Warriors are partnering with Greenville area Blue Star Mothers to gather donations to send to troops overseas. Fans are asked to bring individual packets of powdered drink mix, beef jerky, prepaid iTunes cards, hand & foot warmers and/or monetary donations to cover the $12 cost of sending each of these care packages. Special guests of the Road Warriors for this special night include Simpsonville native, Edie Melson, author of “Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle”, who will be selling and signing copies of her book at the game, and Colonel Mindy Williams, Assistant Chief of Staff G-1, 4th Marine Forces Reserve, who will participate in the ceremonial puck drop.

No Veterans’ Day Celebration in Downtown Greenville would be complete without visiting the American Legion War Museum, located at the American Legion Post #3 on the corner of Main and Academy (look for the “big gun”). South Carolina’s role in every conflict from the Revolutionary War to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are showcased with exhibits of maps, photographs, weaponry and uniforms, many of which are personal effects from Greenville natives. Tours are led by veterans whose personal insights and fascinating accounts bring the exhibits to life.

But no matter how you choose spend this weekend, take a moment to tell a veteran or a member of the military (and their families) “Thank You” for their service.

For More info, visit: 

Greenville Vietnam Memorial: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=16124

The Children’s Museum: http://www.tcmupstate.org

The Upcountry History Museum: http://www.upcountryhistory.org 

Greenville Road Warriors: http://www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com 

American Legion War Museum: www.americanlegion3warmuseum.com

While Downtown, you may also want to visit:

Springwood Cemetery: Located at the corner of Main and Elford, Greenville’s oldest public cemetery contains the graves of several unknown Confederate soldiers, soldiers who died at Camp Sevier (Greenville’s WWI training camp), and veterans of several wars from the War of 1812 to the Gulf War.

Richland Cemetery: Located near Stone Avenue, this cemetery is Greenville’s oldest African American cemetery and is the final resting place for many prominent Greenville African-Americans, including veterans from the Spanish-American War, WWI & II. Korea and Vietnam.

Lincoln Veteran’s Cemetery: Located on Rutherford Road, this small cemetery contains the gravesites of over 300 veterans of both World Wars and the Korean Conflict. The cemetery is maintained by volunteers from the American Legion.

Greenville Cultural Exchange Center: Located at 700 Arlington Avenue, the unique museum showcases the history and contributions of Greenville’s African American community. Museum curator, Ms. Ruth Ann Butler, is a wealth of information.

Major Rudoplh Anderson Memorial: Located in Cleveland Park, the F-86 Saber Jet is a tribute to the memory of Major Rudolph Anderson, Greenville native and the only American casualty of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Museum and Library of Confederate History: Located at 15 Boyce Avenue, this museum contains an extensive collection of Antebellum and Civil War era clothing, uniforms, maps, weaponry and photographs

Get Your Art On in Downtown Greenville!

Downtown Greenville has long had a special place in its heart for the arts. With special events such as Greenville’s Open Studios every November, which allows the public a rare glimpse of the artist at work, to the family-friendly Artisphere held every spring, Greenville celebrates local artists and their creative endeavors. But you needn’t wait until a special event to see some incredible artwork. Downtown Greenville offers a multitude of opportunities to “get your art on.” The many galleries and museums feature not only works by local and regional artists, but those of national and even international acclaim as well.

Perhaps the best place to start your personal art tour is the Greenville County Museum of Art, located at Heritage Green (www.greenvillemuseum.org). A cornerstone of the Greenville art scene for over 30 years, featured artists range from South Carolina natives such as Mary Whyte and Matt Baumgardner to such art legends as Andrew Wyeth and Jasper Johns. Be sure to check out their “Sundays @ 2” – special programs that present everything from private concerts to guided tours (often lead by the artists themselves). And it’s FREE (although donations are greatly appreciated).

One look at Main Street will tell you – Greenville loves art! Sprinkled throughout the “main drag” of Downtown is a diverse collection of sculptural artwork. Ranging from the life-like sculptures of notable Greenvillians and avant garde interpretations of Greenville landmarks to the whimsical “Mice on Main” found peeking out from various Main Street locations, these sculptures are all part of the city’s “Art in Public Places” project (www.greenvillesc,gov/Culture/ArtinPublicPlaces/). While enjoying the outdoor art, take a moment to visit The Artists’ Guild Gallery of Greenville, located on Main Street at E. North (www.artistsguildgalleryofgreenville.com). This cooperative gallery provides space for local artists to display and sell their work. The AGGG chooses a monthly Featured Artist and organizes gallery events that are open and free to the public.

Another little gem in Greenville’s visual arts scene is Art Crossing at RiverPlace (www.artcrossing.org). Situated along the Reedy River, this collection of galleries and studios is home to a wonderfully eclectic mix of artwork – ranging from fine to funky. Art Crossing gives the public a chance to meet local artists and watch the creative process in action.

For those wishing to venture off the “beaten path”, The Pendleton Arts District provides an appropriately “BoHo” experience (www.penstreetart.com). This developing area is home to over 30 artisans in a variety of galleries and studios. Be there the first Friday of every month for their fun and funky gallery crawl, named…you guessed it…”First Fridays“.

All this visual stimulation may give you the urge to design something sensational yourself. Check out Design with Wine (www.designwithwine.com) located in Greenville’s historic WestEnd, which gives you the unique opportunity to have a glass of wine and create your own work of art. They even have similar events for kids, called Design with Cheerwine. Or, just grab a sketch pad and head to Falls Park, where the Reedy River, its Falls and the surrounding foliage will certainly delight and inspire you! But no matter what gets your creative juices flowing, Downtown Greenville offers plenty of art to fill your heart and feed your soul!