What's for Sunday Supper in Greenville?

Let’s get cozy, shall we?  It has been murmured often along the byways of Greenville that lots of our favorite dining spots are sadly closed for dinner on Sunday.  But what if you are gathered with family and/or friends, the home cook needs a break and you just want a nice meal without a whole lot of fuss?  Or dirty dishes.  Some of the places mentioned in the following post are old standbys, not too many newbies, but that’s what old standbys are for - Sunday supper in Greenville!

A few are white tablecloth because sometimes you need that to celebrate before Monday comes around again.  Some represent regional chains… and there’s nothing wrong with that!  Comfort is often born of consistency (and longer business hours) which that kind of stability makes possible.  Of course Greenville’s own Table 301 Group is represented and we all know their chief (chefs’?) aim is making us deliciously comfortable, so, bon appetit, y’all!

Smoke on the Water

This is many a visitor’s first taste of Greenville.  It’s where the locals often take folks on their maiden voyage to Main Street.  BECAUSE the barbecue array is vast, comprehensive, generous in a way that says welcome to the South!  All the selections come with a flight of sauce options so you can experiment and get acquainted with the local flavors we know and love.  AND it’s in a great location - 1 Augusta St #202  Open Sun  11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Kitchen Sync

Number 1 Green-certified restaurant in the country.  Yep!  So what exactly does that mean?  From compostable takeout cartons to sustainable building materials, water efficiency to renewable energy sources, and proximity to public transportation, everything is environmentally conscious.  And the food is awesome!  It’s not a kitchen design studio like so many of us thought while hopping by.  The Bahn Mi Salad (topped with pulled pork or crispy tofu) will knock your socks off and The Shrimp Burger will make you swoon.  Go give them a good Greenville welcome as they are already giving us another shiny pin in the national map.  Parking in the back at 1609 Laurens Rd Open Sun 4 p.m. - 9 p.m

Brazwell’s Premium Pub

Located in the old Ford’s Oysters space, Brazwells is another eatery with Charlotte NC roots.  It’s a solid sports pub with the classic munchies you might expect with a bit more flourish. They put the “premium” in the pub.  Meatloaf and fish ’n’ chips are headliners and there’s a daily Blue Plate Special.  I think there is some sort of ball game on Sunday nights you can watch with your pals on the conveniently placed tv screens.  Take it easy at 631 S Main Open on Sunday 10 a.m. -  2 a.m

Passerelle

Romance you say?  Intimate and sublime, perched on the hillside above the bridge at Falls Park, if country French is what you’re craving Passerelle has a table for you, with a view!  Perfect location, delightful menu.  That was easy!  Sip and sigh at 601 S Main. Open Sun 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Mellow Mushroom

Got kids? Er, young people?  Mellow mushroom’s pizzas/salads/sandwiches are beloved by all, old and young, near and far, but this is a favorite after-the-game/event place to make sure everyone in your group can get something they like. And lots of it.  It’s Casual and Fun.  Everyone can relax here. Sitting still and indoor voices can be reinstated on the car ride home.  Pick out your pie at 1 Augusta Street #201 Open Sun  Noon - 9 p.m.

Antonino Bertolo’s Pizza and Wine Bar

Like your Italian fare a little cozier, a little more low key?  Antonino’s has been featured on this blog before because they rock at what they do.  This is the Sicilian family owned joint you’d expect to find in Brooklyn or on Long Island - and they have a tradition uphold!  Settle in here for some quality time at 200 N Main St.  Open Sun 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Larkin’s on the River

Time to splurge!  It’s that white tablecloth experience.  Mention Larkin’s and you’ll get a faraway gaze as folks reflect on their last time there.  Modern American classic dishes elegantly interpreted, superlative service, historic building, great view.  Enormous wine list. Signature Seafood Tower, Gouda Mashed Potatoes, Tableside Caesar Salad.  Enjoy that special evening at 318 S Main St.  Open Sun 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Stellar

Couple of couples in your crew, or just the two of you?  Is urban just the way you roll?  Hike up the stairs and hop up to the tall tables for a tapas style nosh.  Sure to inspire ample and happy idle chatting about the week gone by and the one ahead.  Don’t fret, they have entrées too.  City folk will feel comfy in this chic, local wine bar ‘round the way.  Linger over that elegant cocktail and look wise. 20 N Main St.  Open Sun 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Purple

Their full name is Purple International Bistro and Sushi, and they are all of these things, but it buries the lead!  The Sushi is a feast for the senses and arguably the best in town.  Warm, inspired décor and a mezzanine I would recommend for that nice date or entertaining old friends. Roll in to 933 S Main St.  Open Sun 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Blockhouse Restaurant and Oyster Bar

Is your Sunday for steak?  Offering a fine dining experience in a casual atmosphere to Greenvillians for 33 years, the Blockhouse features aged and hand cut steaks grilled over a hickory wood fire.  As the name implies, there is also surf to go with that turf!  Equestrian themed and very reasonably priced.  They also have a nice wood deck that didn’t make it into the previous patio dining post.  Saddle up at 1619 Augusta St.  Open Sun 11 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Saskatoon Steaks, Fish and Wild Game

How about a mini vacation to the Pacific Northwest?  Step into the lodge for elk, bear or more traditional four-legged fare.  Rainbow trout or salmon on a cedar plank?  How about pheasant or… ostrich?  It’s a gastronomical day trip (by jet) to a wild world.  You could use an evening out of the ordinary.  Grab your favorite lumbersexual and step through the portal at 477 Haywood Road.  Open Sun 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Tupelo Honey

Did someone say grits?  Biscuits?  Fried okra?  This is feel-good Southern food in a bright, colorful atmosphere that would make a great finish for anyone’s week.  The only hard thinking you need to do here is decide from the scrumptious menu.  You can’t miss, so, eenie meenie miney mo!  You know you’ll be back to try the rest.  If you have trouble smoothing those edges off, the signature cocktails tend to feature bourbon.  Just sayin’.  On the plaza at 1 North Main St.  Open Sun 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Soby's

If Main Street's restaurant scene had a galactic center Soby's would be it.  Local favorite haunt to see and be seen and be comfortable as well.  You will be pulled into Soby's vortex eventually so Sunday supper is as good a time as any!  The New South cuisine is at once upscale and down home.  The She Crab Soup is a huge hit with just the right touch of sherry and will warm your cockles as the weather turns colder.  In fact, the appetizers and starters on this menu could easily keep you occupied for several visits.  Order up a bunch with friends and make some selections from yet another enormous wine list and you're topping off Sunday in style.  Snuggle up at 207  S Main St.  Open Sun 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 5 - 9 p.m.

Just look at all those dishes you don't have to do!  Everyone fed and happy, all caught up and ready for the week ahead.  Well, at least you can feel that way.  Pleasant dreams in Greenville!

 --Percy

Let's Go Some Place Where We Can Sit Outside! Alfresco Lunch in Greenville

The weather is so nice!  It’s such a beautiful day!  Let’s not waste it indoors, shall we?  Below you will find some of our favorites for lunch in Greenville, all offering outdoor seating so you can watch the world or the clouds go by.  Enjoy those balmy breezes!  Don’t you love how pretty the wine looks with the sunlight shining through the glass?

Asada - Latin American

What started with a food truck and the best tortilla chips and fish tacos in town continues to draw the crowds.  An eclectic and inventive (many would say genius) menu of truly authentic Baja fare mixed with Peruvian and Nicaraguan revelations - and the occasional, total surprise like “grilled chimichurri wings with crispy rosemary potatoes” will have you planning to come back to try what you missed. Only drawback is that you’ll be so busy exclaiming over the deliciousness of the food that little else will get discussed with your lunch companions.  Oh darn!  Seek them out at 903 Wade Hampton Blvd.

Open: Tues - Weds  11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Thurs - Sat 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Caviar & Bananas  - Gourmet Café/Deli/Market

Much anticipated recent addition to the downtown chic/urban lunch scene, the owners won’t be upset if you mention it reminds you of Dean & DeLuca of New York fame, they are unabashedly influenced by that concept.  And Greenville can’t get enough!  Everything is on trend, tasty and stylish.  It will be hard to leave without picking up some goodies for later.  At 1 N Laurens St.

Open: Mon - Thurs 7 a.m. -  8:30 p.m.

Fri 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sat 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Gringo’s Cantina  - Baja/Tex Mex

The rooftop patio is the place to be to order up pitchers of specialty margaritas, platters of tacos, and dish the details with your besties about EVERYTHING!  Apparently a lot of business lunches go down here but I honestly don’t know how anything would ever get accomplished.  With Muertos painted on the walls and colorful décor, everyday could be Cinco de Mayo. One block up from the park at 11 Falls Park Dr.

Open: Sun - Thurs 11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Fri - Sat  11:30 a.m. - 1:50 a.m.

Ink N Ivy  - American Bistro Bar

Again with the rooftop bar!  Greenvillians like a view of their downtown.  Ink N Ivy has its flagship location in Charlotte and thereby a strong following for it’s upscale but edgy, tattoo aesthetic.  They do American.  They do Bistro. They do Bar.  Familiar fare with flare and some tasty twists including the creative cocktails which can turn twist to twisted on all four floors of fun!  Adding a lot of social to the scene.  Pull up a barstool in the sun at 21 E Coffee St.

Open: Mon - Fri 11 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Sat - Sun 10 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Lazy Goat  - Inspired Mediterranean

When the leaves of the ginkgo tree on the patio turn yellow (right about now) there is no more sublime place to be for lunch in Greenville (or cocktails at dusk for that matter).  Something about the ambiance here increases one’s sense of élan.  Perhaps it’s the serene view of the river and people strolling along Riverwalk.  Ah, but isn’t the sky a beautiful blue?  They have a delectable menu to match, so breathe, reinvigorate and indulge!  Ease into the perfect spot at 170 Riverplace.

Open: Mon - Thurs  11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fri - Sat  11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Luna Rosa - Gelato Pasta Panini

These folks opened a restaurant with the firm belief that food should be fun and pretty.  The word “delightful” comes to mind when anticipating a trip to Luna Rosa (“pink moon/blushing moon”).  Everything is homemade with a level of heart and soul reserved for Italians alone.  Go for the gelato, start with the lasagna.  Scrumptious menu through and through.  It’s a place locals take visitors for something special!  Grab a seat under the umbrellas at 9 W Washington St.

Open: Mon - Thurs 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Sat Noon - 10 p.m.

Sun Noon - 8 p.m.

Mac’s Speed Shop - BBQ Bar

Looking for a place to park your Hog and tuck into some Southern grub?  Mac’s was made with you in mind.  Many an ice cold brew (beer or Arnold Palmer) has been guzzled at the picnic tables on the side patio accompanied by satisfying platters of burgers or Q.  If you skipped breakfast you can make up for it here.  If you come back in the evening you will find the bar is a cranking, lively nightspot as well.  Kill the motor and roll on in at 930 S Main St.

Open: Mon - Thurs 11 a.m. - 12 a.m.

Fri - Sat 11: a.m. - 2 a.m.

Nose Dive - Gastropub

The prime people watching real-estate on Main for the business lunch crowd hands down!  And a better example of gastropub fare cannot be found in these parts.  Freshly face-lifted in the last year and ready for its close-up, Nose Dive gets kudos for it’s burger and these five little words: Dark Chocolate Candied Bacon Brownie.  You could make a reservation just to be safe.  Ask them to save you a brownie too.  It’s that popular.  Stake out a space for your posse at 116 S Main St.

Open: Mon - Thurs.  11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sat 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sun 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Rick’s Deli and Market - Deli and Market

Need to get in and out lickety-split?  These folks serve the business lunch crowd reliably and efficiently (and deliciously), day in and day out with solid deli favorites in a crisp, clean, breezy and bustling atmosphere.  The club sandwich is a credit to its category.  The potato salad is definitive. The patio is a calm respite in the midst of the metro scene.  Find the hustle and flow two blocks up from the park at 101 Falls Park Dr.

Open: Mon - Sat 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Swamp Rabbit Café  Locavore Bakery, Café and Market

One of Greenville’s signature spots, local hubs and vanguard member of the Upstate foodie renaissance.  If you have been to Greenville before, go here and you will bump into someone you know.  You won’t be able to pass up the baked goods so why try?  Bring a cloth grocery bag for impulse buys or wish you had - up to you!  Ride up the Swamp Rabbit Trail and park your bike at 205 Cedar Lane Rd.

Open: Mon - Fri 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Sat  - Sun 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Takosushi Sushi and Asian/Latin Fusion

These quirky kids have a good thing goin’ on, and on, and… Nonstop, pretty much from open to close, this house rocks the raw fish, and the teriyaki, and the… tacos.  Yep, and tamales, and green-chile-cheese-fries… They have some really fun, creative, yummy rolls for every taste, and cooked stuff for the raw-avoidant in your crew.  Bright and boisterous atmosphere to compliment the raw-cous menu.  Tako-ver a few tables and chairs out front at 34 S Main.

Open: Mon - Thurs 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Sat  Noon - 11 p.m.

Upcountry Provisions  - Bakery and Locavore Café

Best herbed flatbread in the state -  not exaggerating.  The fillings in the sandwiches are jealous of the bread that contains them.  Do the cookies melt into your mouth or do you melt into them?  You be the judge. Pick up treats to go if only to avoid the pouty face you will get when you tell someone back at work or home that you went there but didn’t bring them anything!  Sometimes there is live music on the front deck as well.  Lots of places endeavor to be “artisanal”.  These folks answered a calling.  It’s that good.  Just off the main drag in the middle of Travelers Rest at 6809 State Park Rd.

Open: Tues - Sat 7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Café at Williams Hardware  - Homemade goodness taken to the next level

An anchor establishment that has been serving up your mum’s and auntie’s cooking on overdrive in Travelers Rest since before all the hubbub with the Trail began.  Sisters Joyce and Nancy McCarrell are working’ it for the community.  The place is, frankly, beloved.  The patio/porch is large with enclosed and open areas.  The gift shop is filled with well chosen items both indigenous and befitting the season.  Have a great meal and find that perfect thing for someone special all in the same place. And they are situated right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail at 13 S Main in Travelers Rest.

Open: Mon - Thurs  11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Fri 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sat  8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sun 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

This is merely a smattering of the restaurants that feature outdoor dining for lunch in Greenville.  Just go for a stroll up/down Main and you'll encounter many more!  If you’re heading out for lunch from the Swamp Rabbit Inn, don’t forget me!  Just dance a jig on the front steps and I’ll join you.  I would love to be your cottontailed guide.  You can call me Al - Al Fresco!

—Percy

Greenville Gone Wild! Wildlife in Greenville.

We live among you!  And around you.  Yes, we do!  Most who travel the Swamp Rabbit Trail have seen many of my furry, scaly, slippery, winged, fang and claw extended animal family.  And their days are much enhanced by the encounters.  For the most part we enjoying seeing you slick-skinned, patchy furred, biped types too (small ears AND small eyes AND naked - how on earth do you survive!?).  Most of y’all are pretty respectful and kind.  How about an overview of what’s out there?  Under that bush, in the river, up in the tree, or deep underground. You may not know it but you, my human friend, are surrounded!  If you are coming to visit us there is plenty of wildlife in Greenville to spy.  Enjoy this primer and keep an eye and ear out for wildlife as you bike, hike, climb, golf, and boat around the Upstate.

This quote on the Greenville County Bird Club’s website sums it up beautifully:

"Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth, are never alone or weary of life."   - Rachel Carson

As your mom or dad probably told you, “Look but don’t touch.” is still wise advice as is ‘don’t approach’.  We appreciate y’all respecting our space and we’ll all get along fine.

We’re pretty sure that you’ve seen racoons, skunks, beavers, squirrels, opossums and deer plenty of other places in North America, probably in your own yard.  So allow me to get you acquainted with a few more elusive, lesser known inhabitants of Greenville county and the western Carolinas.

Shall we start at the top?  Look! Up in the air!  It's a...

When the leaves begin to fall around Greenville the birders look to the sky.  The great hawk migration draws enthusiasts to Caesar's Head Hawk Watch and Flock to the Rock at Chimney Rock to watch hawks give the Carolinas a flyby.  We often see hawks dining on prey alongside the Swamp Rabbit Trail, but you must keep your eyes peeled because even though these are large birds, standing 1 ft or taller, they are so well camouflaged you could ride right by unawares!

You will hear lots of owls calling to one another most any night in Greenville including Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls.  They are taking care of the mice so never you fear and enjoy the hooting.

Wildlife Rehab of Greenville, an all-volunteer non-profit, is well known in the state for looking after creatures that get into trouble. Below, Anderson firefighter Billy McCullough holds a three-week old barred owl after rescuing the bird from a 100-year old water-oak tree.

The Indigo Bunting is bluer than blue and that bright flash of color will perk up your ride any day!  The end of summer prompts the hummingbird migration though we still see hummers until the end of October. The GC Bird Club has information resources and events throughout the year so if you are a bird watcher, do check out their site.

Before you gasp be aware that many of the bats in the Upstate are threatened species so be nice!  Bats are the only member of the mammal family that can fly.  In North America most weigh less than an ounce but can have wingspans of 16 inches.  Bats make up 25% of all the mammals on earth, and 70% of bats feed on insects.  A single, tiny brown bat can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes in one hour.  You’re welcome!

Blue in Greenville, kind of a thing.  If you ride the trail in spring, summer, or fall you will be virtually escorted by butterflies.  Plenty of Swallowtails, Mourning Cloaks, and Buckeyes but the Red Spotted Purple will look black at first until the sun catches its iridescent blue wings and... flash!  See Roper Mountain Science Center Butterfly Garden's list.

If you leave a window open and the screen up at night you may bump into one of these on the way to the loo.  We have spectacular moths in the Upstate including the fabled luna moth.  Many are 5 inches, or so, across.

On land and onto the four-legged.  Wild pigs were initially introduced to North America as domestic livestock by Europeans in the 1500s.  For several centuries their populations remained stable and non-threatening to agriculture and local ecosystems.  Wild boar were introduced in the 19th century as big game animals and at first were benignly established in the wild.  In the last couple of decades however, their numbers have expanded dramatically and various efforts to manage them are being considered.  If you see a group however, do not be alarmed; they mainly want to root up your garden.  And again  - don't approach.

Relax.  There has never been a bear attack on a human recorded in South Carolina.  The historic habitat of black bears is northern Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties.  There are estimated to be 800 - 1,000 in the Upstate, mostly in mountainous areas.  They do stray near urban environments occasionally.  If you see one do not approach, do not run; just back away slowly.

“Bears aren’t out to get you. If you run into a bear, it’s usually one of two reasons: He’s startled, or he’s coming to a food source like campsites, or picnic area.  They’re looking for natural food sources.  About 90 percent of what they eat is plant material, blackberries and raspberries in the middle of summer, and then in fall, they’re almost completely dependent on hard mast - the acorn crop.” --Tammy Wactor, wildlife biologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Far less likely to be aggressive (smaller teeth) is the woodchuck/groundhog/marmot/whistlepig.  Several of these make their homes along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.  If you are quiet you are likely to come upon one.  A frequent visitor to the Swamp Rabbit Inn swears that a "marmot sighting"  brings good luck.  I would affirm that when we wild things choose to show ourselves it's because we are not afraid of you, which means you must be doing something right already!

Smaller than a beaver with a vertically flat tail, muskrats are also considered less pesky to the ways of man than beaver as they simply burrow in river banks, like on the Reedy River.  Probably won't spot one unless you decide to set a spell on the bank and watch the river run by.

Who doesn't want to swim like an otter?  Even eye envy these guys.  Pretty much have it made.  They tend to come and go from the water in the same spot making what is known as an "otter slide".  They eat their fish on the riverbanks.  Again, patience and silence are virtues to be rewarded with a sighting.  Or you can go to the South Carolina Aquarium and see this guy below...

Who's that singing in the wetlands?  The frogs of Greenville will serenade you off and on all year.  Only if you happen to be caught in the rain on the Trail are you likely to see them.  But when it's wet they come out in force!  Here are a trio of what's out there among many varieties:

Ah, the tortoise and the hare.  Et tu, Tortuga!  The Bog Turtle is a threatened species here in the Upstate so cherish your sightings accordingly.  The Snapping Turtle looks downright prehistoric.  This way be dragons!  Stay away from its mouth at all costs!

There are 38 snakes in South Carolina and only 5 are venomous.  They are all beautiful.  They like to lounge on the Trail in the sun.  Please keep an eye out for them and do not roll over them with your tires.  That's fatal.  None are aggressive if you keep your distance.

Me, me, me!  Swamp Rabbits!  Sylvilagus Aquaticus, here.  We are the largest of the cottontail rabbits and are found in the swamps and wetlands of the southern united states.  We are highly skilled swimmers.  We are also the second most hunted rabbit in the United States and are a threatened species, so stop it!  Besides we are the only species of rabbit to have met one of your presidents, Jimmy Carter, who was not trying to hunt us and we lived to be on the national news!  Swamp Rabbits love learning which is why we can be spotted in the mornings and at dusk along the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Furman University.  Be "vewy, vewy qwiiii-ette!"

Be on the lookout for wildlife in Greenville for those you see here and so many more.  Say hello!  For more information on Greenville wildlife check out these sites:

Greenville Wild Birds Unlimited

Savannah River Ecology Lab  Reptile and amphibian finder.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

South Carolina Wildlife Federation

Lake Conestee Nature Park

--Percy

Hey! You Wanna Grab a Beer? Craft Breweries in Greenville.

Are you feeling a bit… parched?  Fancy a pint?  Want to wet that whistle?  Greenville is swamped with tasty craft beers, craft brewpubs and craft breweries to take care of that thirst, with style, grace, expertise, creativity, wit and charm!   And in many cases, some good grub to go along with it.

Blue Ridge Brewing

When Bob Hiller decided to open a brewpub in Greenville in the early nineties state law prohibited the production and sale of alcoholic beverages on the same premises.  Gathering other upstate beer lovers, he lobbied to change the law and opened his doors, first on North Main, in 1995.  So here we are where brewpubs abound!   Having just re-opened the sparkling new location at 308 Trade Street in Downtown Greer, fans old and new are eager to pull up pints of Kurli Blonde Ale and Rainbow Trout ESB, pairing it with menu favorites like the Dakota Buffalo Burger and Ale Battered Mushrooms.  Check out the new rooftop dining!  For those truly committed to beer, check out the Ugly Mug Club.

Thomas Creek

At 2054 Piedmont Hwy.  Since they opened in 1998 Thomas Creek has been filling up the Upstate with great variety of great beer.  Signature brews like River Falls Red Ale and Banana Split Chocolate Stout have gained a wide following.  Known in the area for their release party events, you can arrange for a brewery tour by phone, or, fill your growler and grab a pint in the tap room: Mon - Wed 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thurs - Fri 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Add to your calendar the Brewery Bash Oct 29th, and the Greenville Spinners have been known to make it bike ride destination!

Quest Brewing Co.

Home of the Hatha and Hops Monday Yoga (7 p.m., $10 for class and a pint), the brainstorm that lead to this adventurous enterprise began in 2012.  Quest’s very name entices one to explore what Greenville and environs has to offer.  “Legendary” series brews includes Ellida India Pale Ale and “Seasonal” the Kermesse Pumpkin Saison.  Check their website for special releases.  A full calendar of weekly events including live music and food trucks.  They invite you to make their brewery a destination on your quest for delicious craft brew!  Free tours every Saturday. Located at 55 Airview Drive.

Brewery 85

The latest addition to Greenville’s growing brew scene was founded by Clemson grads and named after the interstate that runs past Greenville.  They are hard at work making their mark with Quittin’ Time Helles Bock,  and Hop ’n’ Grind IPA.  Currently brewing Leon’s Lederhosen in anticipation of Oktoberfest.  Weekly tours are available on Saturdays at 3-3:30 p.m. or by request.  Tap room hours: Wed - Thurs 4 p.m. - 8p.m., Fri 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Sat 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.  Find them at 6 Whitlee Court.

Upstate Craft Beer 

Within six blocks walking distance from the Swamp Rabbit Inn at 400 Augusta Street, you too may learn to brew!  You can quaff drafts like Upstate’s own Thin White Duke IPA or Extra Special Boiii Strong Bitter plus other local faves in the brewpub, or purchase your ingredients and consult with the experts to create your own beer!  Yes friends, they will hold your little hand (or paw) the whole way.  Make an event of it with your brew crew!  The pub is open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m Mon - Sun with salads, sandwiches, and naan pizzas, and an event list of game nights and such.  Go and just try to not have fun - we dare you!

Shoeless Brewing Company - Grapes & Grains

Located at 104 Mauldin Road, Suite A, distinguishes itself as the smallest brewery in the Upstate.  Here the brewers enjoy making beer with the input of their patrons.  You can brew your own beer here too (I'm sensing a trend, aren't you?)!  The taproom and brewing facility are side by side so you can concoct your recipe, have a beer, and chat about brewing and beer at the same time.  A store with brewing supplies is, of course, on the premises.  How can we not be charmed by titles such as King Kahn Double Pilsner, Quyet Ryet Rye IPA, and Foxy Grandpa Cream Stout? They offer beer and wine making classes.  Open 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon - Sat.  Go pull up a stool and give them some love.

Swamp Rabbit Brewery and Taproom

A personal favorite!  Voted Best Local Brewery in the Upstate for 2015.  No surprise there.  Opened by a classically trained brewer in 2014, just off the Swamp Rabbit Trail at 26 S. Main in Travelers Rest, it has been mobbed (predominantly by cyclists, I might add) pretty much since day one.  More often than not one or another of the Upstate's most popular food trucks is in residence in the parking lot to provide vittles to go with the brew and the front patio is always hoppin'!  From pale ale to porter the on tap offerings are world class.   Fill your growler or just come hang out - or both!  Open Tues - Thurs 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., Fri 2 p.m. - 10 p.m., Sat noon - 10 p.m.

Now to wrap up with some of we Greenvillian's favorite haunts to simply drink the craft beer...

The Community Tap is  a hub of hop action that you will be invited to within hours of arriving in downtown Greenville.  Since opening in 2010 it has already expanded its space once and become a local institution. With 20 beers on tap and 12 wines by the glass it is a favorite for various groups and clubs meetings and foodie pairing events.  Great food trucks frequent the front lot and the fridges are stocked with an array of exotic brews. The covered outdoor patio is lovely.  Open Mon - Wed 11 a.m. - 8 p.m, Thurs - Sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.  If you are invited - and you will be -, go.  If you're not invited soon enough you will find them at 217 Wade Hampton and making friends will be a cinch!

The Velo Fellow at 1 Augusta Street, mere blocks from the Swamp Rabbit Inn, is outfitted after the grand tradition of the British publick house.  With a menu of Southern and British comfort food and mood of comfortable dark wood it's a perfect place to raise a pint.  Drafts like Murphy's Irish Stout await as does a full bar if that won't do.  Live music occasionally completes the scene.  Order a basket of chips and chill.  Mon -Thurs 11 a.m. -until (kitchen open until 10 p.m.), Fri - Sat 11 a.m.-2 a.m. (Full menu available until 10 p.m.) Sun 10:30 a.m.-until (Full menu available 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; serving brunch 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)

Barley's Taproom has been mentioned before in the blog for its pizza and its array of bar games.  It boasts 72 beers on tap.  Find them at 25 W. Washington just off N. Main.  Guaranteed to show you a fun and tasty time.  Open late: Mon - Sat 11 a.m. - until...,  Sun noon - until...

Until we drink again, Cheers! Prost! À Santé!

Peace, Love, and Pints,

--Percy

A Perfect Day In Greenville, SC - Live Music

Looking for live music in Greenville, SC?  Where the marmots are marching (but mostly munching), the Swamp Rabbits are hopping, and the terrapins are tapping to the tunes coming from Greenville on a nearly nightly (or daily) basis.   It's always wise to pack your dancing shoes when you head to the Swamp Rabbit Inn because you're guaranteed to encounter live music in Greenville without even trying.  I prefer to dance in my furry feet, so if you feel comfortable you can go barefoot too!  As most events head indoors with the falling leaves let's recap and keep that beat.

I know there will be a lot of barefootin' at our new signature event, Swamp Rabbit Music Fest presented by Local Green.  It's coming up next Saturday, September 10th, so get your tickets and come on out to the Swamp Rabbit Lodge!   The lodge is just past past Furman, right off the Swamp Rabbit Trail at 790 Roe Ford Road.  Tickets for students are $5,  early bird online $10, and $15 at the door.  Fun starts at noon and keeps rockin' into the night to 10 p.m.

There will be 11 performers for 10 hours of enjoyment!  You can look forward to LOZ Band, Kelly Jo, Rush Morgen and many more!  We will have food trucks, craft beer, wine, and local makers.  Bring your blankets and chairs to lounge in the high grass and under the tall trees.  Our event is family and pet friendly.  A portion of the proceeds go to benefit Feed and Seed.

Can't leave out a shout for the next Truck Inn Tuesday, Sept. 13th!  Just enough time to rest up between events. Featuring Contra Blues Band for tunes and Automatic Taco for eats this one will be a great way to spend a mild autumn evening.

While the outdoor concerts in the city may have waved goodbye for the season, we expect them to take over our streets again next spring and summer.  This year saw the first edition of ViLLive concert series in the Village of West Greenville as well as the Shoeless Jam (speaking of bare feet).  Downtown Alive Thursdays in NOMA square may be gone until spring but Heritage  Main Street Fridays is going strong until September 30th.  Put Oktoberfest on your calendar for Sept 29th - Oct 2nd!

Traditional big name concerts can be found at The Peace Center and The Well arena, but we'll wrap up with a reminder of the smaller venues that have live offerings on a weekly basis.

The Radio Room features local and regional bands in an "intimate dive bar" setting.   Considered by many to be 'Greenville's favorite rock 'n' roll dive bar' and THE place for "ear-blistering, in-your-face alternative", they serve up fresh talent for the 18+ crowd starting at 9:30 Thurs - Sat.  Located at 2845 N. Pleasantburg Drive.

Smiley's -  is just up the street from the Swamp Rabbit Inn at 111 Augusta Street.  Their week begins with Monday open mic night with live acts Tuesday through Saturday staring at 6:30.  With a full bar and homemade Southern favorites, this makes for a cozy evening out.

WXYZ Bar at Aloft  - has a plush lounge setting and that great balcony overlooking the city.  For a mix of emerging artists and DJ sets on Thurs through Sat nights combined with creative mixed drinks, this is a great stop for your night on the town.

IPA  - Independent Public Ale House, holds the space on the corner at 110 Poinsett Hwy and in Greenville's heart.  Serving Lunch and dinner with a full bar, outdoor patio and large venue for music IPA kinda has it all.  Open 11 a.m - 4 a.m. Mon - Fri, and until midnight on Saturday.  Click the link for their schedule of events.

Gottrocks  - Funk, Soul, Apalachian Rock?  Gottrocks gots it!  And they 'get it'.  A music hall feel accompanied by locally sourced menu items and regional brews and wines.  Touring acts to local emerging artists, it's a fine evening out. See their website for the lineup.

Mac Arnold's Restaurant and Blues - Just like it sounds!  The largest blues venue in Greenville and an anchor of the West Village.  With a weekly lineup of music, full bar, and a menu based on the the Southern barbecue tradition of "meat and 3" (click the link to find out) including cornbread (!), you will not be disappointed! Find it all at 1237 Pendleton Street.

The Grove at Upcountry Provisions - Winner of the TR Beautification Award,  is new to the area, up the road in Travelers Rest, and hatched by and adjacent to Upcountry Provisions who have already made a name for themselves with delicious and original food.  An outdoor venue as the name implies, so getting late in the season, but there are plenty of balmy nights and sunny days left.  Keep them on your radar and check their schedule as their events are bucolic, sublime, creative and ever so tasty!  Holding down the block at 6809 State Park Road in Travelers Rest.

All this crowd surfing has made me thirsty!  I think I will grab a drink on my way back up to the Swamp Rabbit Lodge to continue assisting preparations for the music fest.  I am the Lawn and Greens Supervisor, after all!

--Peace Out, Percy

Check out more of our "Perfect Day in Greenville, SC" posts!

Are You a Tail-Gator? Time to Tailgate in the Upstate!

It's that time again!  FOOTBALL season is upon the Upstate and the über picnic plans have begun.  Just because you are out in a parking lot or a grassy field next to your car does not mean you intend to “rough it”.  Au contraire, mon frère!  We plan (months in advance) to tailgate and cheer our team in style!

In case you didn't know, season parking passes alone start in the thousand-dollar range and go up from there depending upon proximity to the stadium and are bought, sold and traded like precious commodities.  A prestigious tailgate spot and reputation is highly coveted and fiercely maintained from generation to generation.

Of course a tent is recommended. A table (or three) and chairs (8 or 10) is a must.  From there, feel free to go wacky, and folks in these parts abso-effin-lutely do!   A vehicle with special features may be bought from the factory, or custom oufited, or, a entire tailgate wagon/trailer can be purchased with team theme, or rented to decorate, temporarily, of course.

Next there must be food, LOTS of food!  Tailgate tradition for noon games begins with a hearty breakfast. Traffic is often so horrendous following the game that tailgaters plan an early evening meal as well and just hang out.

Grills are the thing whether stand alone or somehow built into your rig.  Grill like a pro with over-the-top, built-in grill table and chair set ups.  Low country boil is very popular and often prepared onsite as well. Crockpots are a standard to prep, and plug in at the site. 

Elaborate coolers have been designed to make the bar tending easier.  Tailgaters party with coolers that would get Thurston Howell III by in style on that deserted island.  If all your cooler can do is hold ice and drinks, well, check this out: http://coolest.com built in blender, speakers, phone charger and more. 

If you really want to live lux, companies like Bell Tower catering and others at Furman will pretty much handle it all from parking pass to football feast.  Clemson also has many catering options.

Fun and games?  Have to keep everyone entertained and occupied.  In addition to a football or two to toss around, yard games complete the experience.  DIY plans for  jumbo jenga, dominoes, cornhole and ladder golf are available.  You may also find these items online already professionally logo-ed.

Now to the finer points - décor and fashion!  Bring all, all ALL your bunting, frou frou and accessories in theme school colors please!  Decorate the cupcakes appropriately, shape any food you can into footballs, and don't forget flower arrangements for your tables.  You have a legacy to uphold!

Do your best to dress in the school colors with style.  T-shirt and shorts?  Try a little harder, this is team pride after all.

If you need more tips and inspiration have a look at Kathy Miller's tailgate blog or Taylor Tailgates, and remember - tailgating can be an art form, so be creative and pull out all the stops.  Have a blast out there ya'll, win or... WIN!

--Percy