Ridgeway South Carolina on a Sunday Afternoon

(Click any photo for a full-sized view)

We paid another visit to historic Ridgeway, South Carolina, early Sunday afternoon. That’s the spire of the old town hall building you see above, next to Ruff Furniture. Right on the main drag, Palmer Street. Be sure to mind those 25 mph signs as you drive through, now!

(Should the video above fail to play in your browser, click here to go directly to the YouTube version)

Carol Allen of Laura’s Tea Room mentioned “The Old Station Restaurant and Produce” in one of her recent newsletters, and we hoped to have a look.

The Old Station’s not far, on the other side of the tracks. Just down from the New Town Hall. Be sure while you’re there to have a look at that impressive building when you visit.

In the event, the restaurant and produce shop were closed when we arrived. Next time, maybe. Looks interesting. A fine example of innovation and ingenuity.

Undeterred, we wandered back up to Palmer Street, headed toward Laura’s Tea Room for a nice pot of tea and a sandwich in the deli. On the way we passed one of the new litter baskets you see in the photo above. A minor detail, perhaps. But one that illustrates Ridgeway’s forward motion. This town is a determined beneficiary rather than victim of its history.

Thing is, you have to pass The Cotton Yard to reach Laura’s Tea Room. And it’s near-impossible to just pass by without going in. See that small oak rocking chair in the lower left corner? Well, that followed us home. In the back seat of the truck! Here’s a short Cotton Yard video:

(Again, click here should the video above fail to play in your browser)

The Cotton Yard thoroughly investigated, we crossed Palmer Street to Laura’s Tea Room.

Look at this. Carol Allen has arranged an impressive WWII memorial display in her right front window. Lots of photos and memorabilia Take time for a careful look. In anticipation of Ridgeway’s June 6 commemoration of D-Day. Click here for details. These folks go all-out.

We both had a terrific sandwich and pot of tea downstairs in the café this time, rather than High Tea upstairs. I think Carol has revised the café menu again. More choices. And somehow she manages to keep the prices well below what we’d expect to pay. Got to ask her about those recent changes when she can find the time to sit down for another interview. That’s one busy lady!

So, there you have it. Another delightful afternoon in Ridgeway, South Carolina. A small South Carolina town determined to make your visit a pleasure.

Interview with Bird House Creator Extraordinaire, Brian Baldwin of Ridgeway, South Carolina

Where does “craft” leave off and “art” begin?
Last Friday we drove from Columbia to Camden, South Carolina, for another lunch at the Palmetto Coffee Shoppe. Outstanding sandwiches, coffee, and dessert. With the added attraction of Mr. Jeff Clark performing right in the dining room. What a treat!

On the way to and from Camden we passed an early model pickup parked beside Route One.

Both times we passed by the truck had attracted quite a crowd, covered as it was with unusually shaped bird houses. We weren’t in the market for another bird house. But after sitting at home for less than five minutes I couldn’t resist a return visit.
So, back down Route One to have a closer look. Well, I got to see the bird houses and also got to meet Mr. Brian Baldwin, their creator. Here’s a short interview with him and a few more photos.

(Should your browser fail to display the video above, click here to go directly to YouTube.)

As he explains in the video, Mr. Baldwin maintains neither an e-mail address nor a web site.
His snail-mail address is:
“64 Settlers Drive, Ridgeway, South Carolina 29130”
But it’s probably easier to reach him by calling:
Home: 803-272-5962
Cell: 803-337-6070
Keep on the lookout for Mr. Baldwin and his remarkable creations as you drive South Carolina’s highways. Be sure to stop.

Spring Visit to the Gardens of Columbia South Carolina’s Robert Mills House

Late in March I drove downtown to visit Columbia’s Robert Mills House. It’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays each week for guided tours, and I hadn’t been for more than twenty years.

[A full-sized version of each photo is available with a click of your mouse.]

Well, come to find out, photographs aren’t allowed inside the house. A sensible precaution when displaying delicate antiques. But a house tour without photos didn’t make much sense for this blog. Instead, since I was already there, I wandered around the springtime garden.

That was the first of two visits to enjoy this remarkable green space smack dab in the middle of downtown Columbia. What a display! I’ve got to find out more about how this complex facility is managed and maintained.

I don’t know enough about gardens or gardening to write sensibly about it. So, here are a few photos to give you a hint of the treat in store should your travels bring you to or near downtown Columbia.

The house is impressive even from the outside. Surrounding trees have had time adequate to grow to the point they look as if they belong. They’ve all been skillfully pruned and maintained.

This is the rear of the house. No wonder Columbia’s Robert Mills House has become a popular venue for weddings. During my last visit workmen were erecting an enormous tent for such an event just to the right of the tree you see above.


Blossoms vary according to time of year, of course. That’s a plum tree at peak bloom beside the carriage house. And here are a few of the more impressive examples in bloom during one of my visits.



There were many more, but time was limited.

Shrubs and hedges too have been beautifully designed and maintained throughout the gardens. Who in the world does all of the work? I’ll have to find out.


Benches like these are scattered throughout the grounds. They’re much more comfortable for ElderVisitors than the usual stone slabs. Stone slabs are impressive. But not very comfortable. I took full advantage!

So, there you have it. A few glimpses of the wonders of the gardens surrounding Columbia’s Robert Mills House. That, I believe, is the Hampton-Preston Mansion just across the street. An adventure for another day.

Oops Forgot this Barbeque Contest Video!

Must be getting old. There was so much to see at last month’s annual Agriculture Commissioner’s Barbeque Cook-Off and Festival out at the South Carolina Farmer’s Market in West Columbia that I forgot to include this video in the earlier blog post! Oh my.
There was plenty more than barbeque at this event. Here are a few of the displays and offerings. Enjoy.

If your web browser fails to play the above video properly, click here for direct access to YouTube.

The 2014 Annual Commissioner’s Cup BBQ Cook Off and Festival, Columbia, South Carolina

(Click all photos for a larger version)

One of the many advantages of living in the South Carolina Midlands is waking up each morning smack dab in the middle of American barbeque culture. With all the State’s barbeque opportunities no more than a three-hour drive away. Of course, some of the best are right here in the Columbia area.

Late last month I drove across town to the third annual Agriculture Commissioner’s Cup Barbeque Cook Off and Festival held at the State Farmer’s Market in West Columbia. The festival began Friday night, but I attended only Saturday morning and early afternoon.

What an event! Serious barbeque cooks from all over South Carolina gathered in two of the Market’s open-sided buildings, offering samples of their culinary art. Why, there were even a few from other states. Here to study and learn, I suppose….

There was still room to park when I arrived. But traffic increased rapidly. Latecomers faced quite a hike from their parked cars to the barbeque displays.

All that walking must have increased appetites since barbeque was running low by the afternoon. Click this link to hear Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers explain to WIS-TV how that was handled.

This event wasn’t all barbeque. Cody Webb from Ridge Spring, South Carolina, provided music that went well with barbeque. He’s enjoying some success these days on the country music scene. Well deserved, judging from his performance at the Cook-Off.
Here’s a quick look at some of the contestants and their booths.

(If your browser does not display the video above properly click here to view on YouTube)

When you were full of barbeque ‘n fixins’, there was special popcorn, snow cones, lemonade, corn dogs, and a huge selection of Canebrake Farms’ preserves and fresh fruits and vegetables. That was just the beginning. Kids were running around with brightly painted faces, begging parents for another turn on the jumping pillows. A great family event.

I left the Farmer’s Market around two o’clock and drove back through town along the Charleston Highway, or Route 321. Or 176 or 21, for that matter. Plenty of social and natural scenery throughout. Then, look what came up on the right-hand side of the road? Well! I had to stop.

Piggy Park is the first restaurant in which we had dinner upon moving to Columbia from Washington, D.C. Talk about lucky!

Mr. Bessinger passed away back in February. But the barbeque and fixins’ are as good as they’ve always been. I made a special effort to confirm that. The only difference I noticed was that the display tables inside the restaurant now are devoted exclusively to barbeque and Piggy Park’s signature mustard-based sauce. No political literature in sight.
Piggy Park still serves the barbeque and fixins’ by which I judge all other barbeque. ‘Nuff said.

(If this video doesn’t play properly in your browser, click here for the YouTube version)