what about bill?

 stanley chow illustration.

I've been pretty swamped the last few weeks preparing for one of my paper's biggest issues of the year, Best of Charleston. The issue highlights winners from our big reader's poll — everything from best restaurant to best designer to best councilman — and also includes lots of critics picks from yours truly and my colleagues. I can't tell you the theme of the issue, which comes out Wednesday, but I will say that I've had Bill Murray on the brain for some odd reason. (Check out Stanley Chow's print shop for many more fun portraits.)

sweet tooth.

Here's an example of the aforementioned column I write, a piece published in this week's Charleston City Paper about Baked.

rue the day.

With exposed brick walls, giant antique mirrors, pressed tin ceilings, and red bistro chairs, Rue de Jean never fails to transport me to another place and time. I hadn't been there since our rehearsal dinner back in November, and I'd been dreaming of the crusty baguettes and French onion soup ever since. This week, Todd and I finally gave in to the cravings.

Strangely enough, the place serves some bang-up sushi. I started off with a crab crunch roll and a French 39, a champagne cocktail with chambord and I think an orange liqueur. Todd got the truffle potato soup and scraped his bowl clean.

I tried the Scallops Saint Jacques for my main course —the gratinée of sea scallops were swimming in rich cream next to potatoes dauphinoise and haricots verts.

After dinner, we drove down to the Market to Kaminsky's, a dessert bar, and ordered the Heath bar cake and coffee.

It was a decadent date for sure, but the best part is the visits were in the name of research for my job — we're currently putting together our glossy dining guide Dish, and we need to check in with local restaurants to make sure they're up to par. As challenging as my job is sometimes, it's perks like this that help me remember there's nothing else I'd rather be doing.

industrial scars.

 

These images are beautiful, aren't they? Even more so when you realize they're barely-edited aerial photographs of the earth. Less so when you realize they depict severe environmental degradation. I interviewed photographer J. Henry Fair in this week's paper. Check it out.

in stitches.

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about Sideshow Press and Stitch Design Co. One of my favorite parts of my job is meeting insanely talented and inspiring people like the ladies behind these companies.

Adorable invitation from Sideshow.
and a stationery set.
Stitch identity.

Charleston has so much talent, and I hope I can help to highlight more and more of it. Of course, I'm always open to suggestions (erica@charlestoncitypaper.com).