Weekend in Review
The Brick: My New Late-Night Food Spot
While out and about this weekend some friends and I decided to try The Brick for an after midnight food stop and we were pleasantly surprised. While I was expecting the standard fried late night fare what I found was absolutely delicious buffalo wings. With a kitchen that stays open until 1:00 am. I encourage you to try this place if you’re ever downtown and searching for a late night bite.
Cocktail Bandits Book Release Party
Holy Spirits by Taneka Reaves and Johnny Caldwell
I’ve been so excited for the Holy Spirits book by Taneka and Johnny ever since I first caught wind of it. And their book release party did not disappoint. They showcased several cocktails that are included in the book. My absolute favorite was the Peninsula Sweet Tea featuring Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. The DJ was amazing and there was even a live paint that kind of turned into a pyro display. Overall it was a wonderful way for the Cocktail Bandits to connect with their fans and I’m absolutely geeked to dive and imbibe in this book.
Pancito and Lefty
Favorite Mexican Restaurant Downtown
I absolutely love Pancito and Lefty and since the Book Release Party was in a space in the rear of the restaurant Some friends and I decided to stop in for a bite. On this trip to the Mexican restaurant I tried the mushroom tamales. I didn’t miss the meat at all and the chili oil gives this dish quite a kick. On most of my trips here I also go for one of their Margaritas and a dessert dish. On a previous visit, the waiter convinced me to try flan and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. One note about Pancito and Lefty, in contrast to traditional Mexican restaurants, most of there dishes are plated rather small.
Graft
Pro-tip: Just buy a bottle and eat the $15 recorking fee.
Right through the parking lot of Pancito and Lefty is Graft, a new wine shop and bar co-owned by Femi Oyediran and Mike White. The vibe is beautiful with their wine collection lining the walls and a fresh selection of music. It seems like it’d be a gorgeous place to take a date. On my visit I tried my first orange wine. I expected it to be similar to a blush but it was actually very funky and complex. It was a 2013 Daniel Ramos' Viento Zephyros that I’d recommend. If you’re into something a little more classic, I tried the Chenin Blanc which was also lovely.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Pro-tip: Groupon
This past weekend there was a History Fair at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. There were several groups on display discussing local history organization. It was also a wonderful opportunity to finally explore the gardens. The gardens themselves felt underwhelming as the camellias don’t bloom until winter/spring. So while it was lush and green, it just wasn’t as colorful as I was expecting. I didn’t do any add-ons because frankly $20 is a lot of money to learn about the traumatic history of my ancestors and I was already mad about giving them that many coins. The Slave Dwelling Project was also a part of the history fair and had opened the opportunity for people to spend the night in the existing Slave Cabins on Magnolia Plantation. They also had speakers from various local organization to bring to educate on the various conditions of slavery and the creation of the Gullah Geechee culture of the Low Country. The speakers went beyond the normal from Slavery to Freedom exhibit. Overall it was educational, but the entire experience just made me question what’s the best way to educate people on black history without revisiting old sites of trauma.
