Why is it called a “bar crawl”? It sounds like people are moving from bar to bar on their hands and knees—an outrageous thought but not necessarily inconceivable. The same could be said about the term “bar hoping”. You are not literally hoping from bar to bar. The answer is quite simply, it is one of those nonsensical idioms we use to describe a night out patronizing local drinking holes whether planned or not.
Ironically, in this case, there is a sobering truth in this idiom. It is possible that crawling from bar to bar could happen if a person drank too much at one bar and found walking to the next to be a bit challenging, an embarrassing picture for the person, but since when are the intoxicated rational. Upon investigation, it turns out the term originated in the United Kingdom in 1645 or was it the 19th century? Leave it to the pub-loving Brits to come up with this thought provoking expression.
As one story tells, a group of hooligans led by Sir Geoffrey Toppenbottom decided to go out drinking one night and hit the local taverns. When it came to drinking ale, they were a hardy group of heavy-weights and drank the local tavern dry. Three villages and four taverns later, Sir Toppenbottom and his drinking mates forgot where they left their horses and managed to crawl their way home. From the experience, they coined the term “pub crawl”. After a few tall ones, you just might find this tall tale easier to swallow.
For a more believable story, we go to the Oxford English Dictionary. The 19th century was when British towns and cities exploded in size. As the towns grew, so did the number of public drinking houses, many in close proximity to one another. For a single night of fun and socializing with friends, patrons moved from pub to pub at a slow and steady pace as opposed to rushing. Thus, the term “crawl” became the descriptive for the event.
Five Flowers
Amaret-Tea
I am glad to report I did not see anyone crawling from drinking establishment to drinking establishment in Summerville for the Sweet Tea Festival’s “Hold My Tea Bar Crawl”, but I did observe local residents and visitors having a good time socializing and evaluating the bar’s cocktail entry so as to vote for their favorite. The winning bartender will receive the People’s Choice recognition after the conclusion of the event on Sunday.
There was one question I put to the competing bartenders as I went from bar to bar. By observation, and this is just my opinion, women tend to socialize and engage in local events in groups more than men, unless it has to do with a sporting event. I asked them, “Have there been more women participating in the bar crawl than men or visa versa?” The overwhelming consensus was, “It has been about even.” It was great to hear the bar crawl was being so well supported.
Sweet Tea Mojito
Bubbly Bee Tea
Flowertown Mojito
Summerville’s competing bars and restaurants are Hilton Garden Inn—Sweet Tea Mojito—Ashlee Circelli, Five Loaves Cafe—Flowertown Mojito—Kacie Bankers, The Azalea Bar and Garden—Five Flowers—Elizabeth Cureton, Frothy Beard Off World—InfiniTEA—Brennen Walters, Sweetwater One Twenty Three—Amaret-Tea—Chelsea Cronk, The IceHouse—Bubbly Bee Tea—Jeana Masula, and Godwin’s Beer Hall—Shepard’s Shandy—Austin Willard. All of the cocktails have been very good, and picture perfect. It will be a difficult decision in choosing my favorite, and my vote is just one. Summerville will decide.
Shepard’s Shandy
The “Hold My Tea Bar Crawl” has become a regular part of Sweet Tea Festival Week. It has been fun enjoying a quality cocktail made by local, talented bartenders and socializing with friends and making new acquaintances. Be sure to take it slow and easy and savor the moment, that is what it is all about. Added to that, you are supporting Summerville’s local businesses, and don’t forget the t-shirt you get after you succeed in filling out your bingo card.
My “Hold My Tea Bar Crawl” t- shirt has gotten faded and worn since acquiring it last year, so it is time to get a new one. Sweet Tea Festival Week is near at hand. The bar crawl begins Monday the 16th and runs to Sunday the 22nd. The participating establishments have concocted their finest sweet tea cocktails and are ready for you to determine the best of the best, based upon your personal preferences and likes.
Summerville’s competing bars and restaurants are Hilton Garden Inn—Sweet Tea Mojito, Five Loaves Cafe—Flowertown Mojito, The Azalea Bar and Garden—Five Flowers, Frothy Beard Off World—InfiniTEA, Sweetwater One Twenty Three—Amaret-Tea, The IceHouse—Bubbly Bee Tea|, and Godwin’s Beer Hall—Shepard’s Shandy. Want to know each bartenders chosen mixtures, recipes are posted on social media and Visit Summerville web sight. You can download bingo cards off of Visit Summerville or at participating establishments.
As you savor the cocktails, ask your bartender or server to mark off your card with their initial. Mark 7 spaces in a row or diagonally during the week of the crawl. When you have decided on your favorite, cast your vote using the QR code on your Bingo card. Your vote will help decide the winner of the People's Choice Award, and you will get the middle square.
Trade in your completed card for a free bar crawl shirt at the Summerville Visitor Center or Cotton-Tea booth at the Sweet Tea Festival while supplies last.
Aside from winning you over, bartenders are also competing to win a Critic's Choice Award for their cocktails. Three judges, comprising mixologists and/or industry professionals, local people of interest, and culinary content creators have been appointed to evaluate the entries, considering factors such as taste, presentation, and originality. The real challenge of the competing mixologists in my estimation is not just to win your admiration and vote but to maintain the picture perfect cocktail as seen in the photo through the whole week.
A preview—Bubbly Bee Tea
Last year’s winner of the Critics Choice Award in the Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest was Azalea Bar and Garden’s “Porch Rocker” by Elizabeth Cureton. In the People’s Choice category, Lavender TEAse” by Laura Walling at Sweetwater One Twenty Three was the community’s favorite.
Join me for the fun. Send me a message where you plan on being and I will join you. I look forward to meeting you during the week. We will clang glasses and share Summerville stories, like the Summerville Light or The Phantom Flight Over Summerville. See you then.
As a reminder, be sure to attend the Southern Songwriter Festival Thursday, Sept 19 – Saturday, Sept 21. Over 40 different songwriters will perform at various venues throughout Historic Downtown Summerville. Featured stages, Songwriters Alley on Short Central and Headliner performance at Public Works Art Center with full set bands on Sweet Tea Festival day on Hutchinson Square Stage. Forty Mile Detour takes the stage at 2 pm.
If that is not enough, Summerville’s Historic Garden Stroll will take place September 21st at 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. It will begin with a sneak peek of the Azalea Park Children’s Discovery Garden to be completed in late Fall 2024. It will feature a variety of nature, music, and art-inspired pieces geared towards children. After, four nearby historic homes will open their beautiful private gardens to be toured by ticket holders. Live music, refreshments, and small bites will be available. Proceeds will benefit Leadership Dorchester Class of 2024 and garden project—$75.
Summerville’s Sweet Tea Festival Week will be jam-packed with things to do. Hop on the Summerville festival wave and hang ten—slow and easy to savor the ride through the events. Cheers.
Summerville, from the time of its conception, has been a place to where Lowcountry residents came to heal and renew. Charleston planters, who perspired in the heat and humidity of their river plantations, marooned themselves there to prevail upon its "remarkably dry and balmy atmosphere." Charlestonians, laboring against the voracious mosquitos and yellow fever of their peninsula estates, traversed the 25 miles to avail upon its "foliage of trees and luxuriant undergrowth" that "shut in any poisonous exhalations that might otherwise arise." Unequivocally, Summerville has been appraised as a "charming, rural, picturesque town with a health-promoting atmosphere."
However, Summerville's journey from "Let The Pines Be Sacred" to "The Birthplace of Sweet Tea" has had its ups and downs. In the beginning, the inviting sandy plateau was dotted with Mosquito houses with roving cattle cutting paths through the many pine trees. Then, the railroad came to town and made Summerville one of its stops and held out the promise of greater things to come, but the pineland village grew slowly in population and accommodations.
Then, in 1860, the inhabitants came under the influence of a "new sprit." The sluggish apathy of the previous years seemed to disappear. An "enthusiasm for progress" pervaded the sleepy community. A new administration was taking charge. The new mayor, Reverend Limehouse, purchased land on the Great Thoroughfare and had a new town hall built with a jail behind it and adjacent was the town market. The Brown's Hotel was open for business with a new ten-pin alley and billiard room along with $.50 tickets to Charleston and back, including carriage ride. The Vose Inn and Mr. Cooper's Paradise were other attractors.
However, a political hurricane was brewing in the social atmosphere and its black, ominous clouds spilled over the Town in a fury. It was now 1861. In the distance, shells rained down on Fort Sumter and the American Civil war was under way. Southern State troops were ordered to rendezvous on the South Carolina Railroad at Camp Woodward in Summerville. It would be a chaotic time with the arrival of the emotionally charged troops.
About the gathering combatants, Major Thomas W. Woodward wrote in his memoirs, "And—folly of follies—you were to be allowed to choose whether you would go as a Regiment or disband and go home, although you had already agreed to offer your services to the Confederacy." He further lamented, "some companies preserved their discipline, others were really but roving mobs of jolly, rollicking soldiers."
Eventually, the uniforms changed from grey to blue. There was a threat the Federals who captured Charleston were going to burn the town. In May of 1865, the Black Union Provisional Brigade moved from their position at Bacon's Bridge to occupy Summerville. With many houses and buildings turned into hospitals, it became the temporary residents for the sickly and wounded.
While recovering from the Civil War, the final years of the 19th century saw two more devastating local events. Summerville was rattled by an earthquake in 1886 and a downtown fire ravaged most of the buildings around the Town's square. As with all fires, the clouds of thick smoke dispersed and sunny, blue skies appeared overhead. The sacred tree's that soothed the first marooners came to the rescue.
The International Congress of Physicians in Paris declared Summerville one of the world's two best places for treating lung disorders. The town rose from the ashes and the pleasant aroma of azalea and wisteria wafted through the tall trees and winding streets. Grand inns and hotels were constructed to accommodate the influx of visitors. It was the "Golden Age of the Inns" and prosperity reigned supreme. But alas, the dubious crown of financial security was soon to be knocked off.
An Economic shakeup called the Great Depression began to change the landscape. The wrecking ball took out two of the Town's premier accommodations, the Pine Forest and Carolina Inn. The Summerville Short no longer stopped and the grand old railroad station disappeared from Hutchinson Square. The Summerville Show stopped the movie projectors from turning. Hurricane Hugo paid an unwelcoming visit and showed no respect for the cherished pines. The downtown area lost its allure.
Then, a call went out. :The show must go on," said the Flowertown Players, and Summerville had a Dream. Every Third Thursday the community would gather together and the shops were going local. The Town's popular magazine made a sweet discovery and the "Birthplace of Sweet Tea" took its honored place among the town's mottos, and now from Botany Bay to Boone Hall, it is "at the heart of it all." Restaurants and cafes are on nearly every corner and in-between inviting patrons to linger a little longer. It seems there is no stopping the Town from rising like a Phoenix from the ashes in the face of adversity, and a little help from providence.
Could there be another civil war, it is in the realm of possibility. Could another earthquake happen, it is a viable danger. Could there be another economic crisis, there is always that prospect. Could there be another Hurricane Hugo, blink your eyes and the weather does change. As heralded in this article, each of these insidious calamities have confronted the Town through its 177 years, and each time without reservation, it has prevailed. The only way Summerville could ever fail is if it would lose touch with its sense of itself. Who it was, who it is, who it needs to be, and who it must be in the ever changing South Carolina Lowcountry.
The drink pictured here is the offering by Montreux Bar and Grill for the Hold My Tea Bar Crawl Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest now under way and running to September 23. As a suggestion, when there for a visit during the Sweet Tea Festival all this week, keep an eye on your car keys. If Mischievous Monty thinks you had a bit too much to drink, he will steal your keys from you. And, if they should come up missing, don't take offense, he is doing it for your own good.
In case you didn't know, Mischievous Monty is the patron ghost story at the longtime local favorite Montreux Bar and Grill. The mischievous phantom is an unknown individual, who decided to make the building his permanent home. He has a mischievous reputation dating back many years.
The drink is called Lowcountry Royal-Tea by Leah Pippin. It is a recipe of 1.5 oz Nippitaty Gin, 5 oz Simple Syrup, 3 Lemon Slices, 4 Mint Leaves, and 3 oz Unsweet Tea.
The building was originally constructed circa 1862. It has housed generations of businesses during that time. It has even been said it was once part of Summerville's "red-light district." At that time, it was a boardinghouse and restaurant known as Miss Lucia's. Other businesses once located at this address include a dry goods store owned by Chalmers Waring (now that is a recognizable Summerville name), a store called Summerville Hardware belonging to Gene Hutson, a NAPA Auto Parts, and McGuire's Irish Pub.
When it was a NAPA Auto Parts store, on many occasions, it was said parts would be set aside for customers, and then when they would arrive to pick them up, the part would no longer be where it was placed. Employees claimed to hear footsteps where no one was walking. There would be sounds of things being dragged around in locations no one had access to.
When Montreux first opened, employees working in the grill section would clean the kitchen every night, only to return the next morning to find pots and pans moved around or rearranged. A bartender reported seeing a framed record album launching itself over glasses and bottles from the shelf it had been sitting on striking the bar and ricocheting back into the ice maker.
The general manager recounted one night while alone in the bar and locking up someone shouted in his ear. Another night, he witnessed a plastic caddy sitting on the bar taking off into the air on its own. Upon viewing the surveillance camera footage, he described what looked like a mist descended down onto the caddy in a rapid swooping motion and struck it.
Of course, these are all stories told by witnesses through the years who can offer no reasonable explanation for what they experienced in the building now called the Montreux Bar and Grill. Quite ironic, even the bar's name is tied to the infamous "Smoke on the Water," a Deep Purple song commemorating the burning of the Montreux Casino on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Enjoy the festivities and Montreux's sweet tea cocktail entry for the sweetest week in Summerville, and just maybe, Mischievous Monty will pay a visit to your table or seat at the bar looking for your keys if you had a bit too much to drink, or gently whisper something into your ear, like, be a nice patron and leave a good tip, or else. Have fun and don't forget to cast your vote and get your free tee-shirt.
.127 W Richardson Ave., Summerville, SC
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You can read the full story about Monty in Bruce Orr's book Haunted Summerville, South Carolina.
The British are coming. The British are coming. No, it wasn't the American Revolution and Paul Revere, it was BritBeats and Steven Doniger of Summerville Dream, celebrating the town's 175th anniversary.
First inhabited in the late 1700s as Charlestonians and other inhabitants of the South Carolina Lowcountry sought respite from the summer heat, mosquitos, and disease, pioneer residents from the nearby former colonial settlement of Dorchester, who were descendants of 1696 puritans also took up residence on the pine-forested ridge. The railroad's arrival in the early 1800s led to the village's incorporation. Soon after, the summer retreat became an official town in 1847. Now, 175 years later, it was time to celebrate with a festival.
Concert 175 was the festival of festivals. Three music venues were setup throughout the historic downtown district to entertain shoppers, diners, and visitors in town to celebrate its illustrious history, one at Hutchinson Square, another at Short Central, and the main event stage on W. Richardson Ave. It all started at 2 pm and culminated at 7 pm with the largest crowd I have seen for a downtown event, all gathered on W. Richardson Ave for the premier show of the day.
BritBeats is a Beatles tribute band home-based in Chicago. Their nationally acclaimed Beatles concert, with costume changes and a spectacular, stunning, and immersive multimedia backdrop accompanied by a large screen, successfully entertained Summerville's celebrating residents. The musical group was engaging and definitely a crowd-pleaser. Attendees, young and older, sang and danced to the catalog of Beatles' songs that were performed with precision and uncanny realism by the talented foursome. They began the show dressed in black suits singing I Wanna Hold Your Hand, and ended it outfitted in psychedelic colors to the lyrics of Hey Jude.
Congratulations to Steven Doniger and the Dream Team for their hard work in organizing these kinds of events that highlight the great things Summerville has to offer its residents and visitors and for bringing people to the downtown district in support of the town's much appreciated local businesses. Enjoy the pictures. You may see yourself having a great time.
This past week snowbird winter made an early surprise visit to Summerville and the Lowcountry. However, if you are a reader of The Old Farmer's Almanac, you were anticipating Old Man Winter's sudden early arrival. So far, the long range forecast for the Southeast Region has been spot on.
According to the weather prognosticator, it prognosticates "Winter will be warmer and rainier than normal, with below-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be in mid- to late November, early to mid-December, and early and late February. The best chance for snow will be in late February in the north." I have always said, "If it is going to be cold, I'd rather see it snow."
There is a certain beauty in freshly fallen snow. How it fondly clings to the needles of the pine tree branches and blankets the landscape with a sense of tranquility. The quiet is so overwhelming you can hear the air. It is the perfect time to grab the shovel and head to your favorite lake or pond, scrape away a section of snow from off the crystal clear frozen water, and strap on the ice skates. It is one of the simple pleasures of the season.
Snow is a rarity in Summerville and the Lowcountry, even when it is cold enough. Usually, when it is cold enough, there are no clouds to produce the needed precipitation. Though it adds to the aura, you don't need snow to ice skate. All you need is the ice. With that having been said, aside from the arrival of the early Southern style winter weather, something else is coming this month of November. Summerville will have their very own ice skating rink thanks to the Town and the imagination of Summerville DREAM.
The overflow parking lot at 208 S Ceder Street just south of West Richardson is being transformed into an 40' by 80' outdoor ice skating rink just in time for the holidays. "The boxed structure comes with all the piping. It's a glycogen system. It runs through a chiller," said Steve Doniger, the executive director of Summerville DREAM. DREAM has been overseeing the building and will handle the operations for what is called Summerville Skates.
The skating rink is owned by a husband-wife team called Ice Games 88. Wayne Seybold, along with his sister Natalie, performed around the world and represented the United States at the 88 Calgary Winter Olympic Games in the couples competition. The brother/sister team was the first to successfully land the throw triple lutz. Jennifer Seybold has performed in shows around the United States including an ice show at the Carowinds amusement park. Clearly, they bring to the table 40 years of experience in the area of Figure Skating and 20 years in the portable skating rink business. They were present when the work of laying out and assembling the system began.
Listening to Doniger talk about the planned rink, you can tell the DREAM team is dedicated to making it a success. The rink will afford the opportunity for the community's families and kids to enjoy something different this coming holiday season. "We want to do interesting things to show the quality of life in Summerville is such that they want to grow up here and invest here." Of course, its overall success will depend greatly on the residents themselves and a little cooperation from the weather.
Molly Willard, Director of Development/Promotion and Design, provided a proposed layout she has been working on to give an idea of what the finished seasonal ice rink will look like. There will be parking available on site, bleachers for seating, picnic tables, sponsored concession stands, and a possible split rail fence. My fanciful idea: How about a snow making machine for one of those rare cold days. Wouldn't that make for a interesting picture.
Summerville Skates will be open to the public, birthday parties, group events and community fundraisers throughout the winter season. The Flowertown Players have already scheduled an event to promote their production of Disney Frozen Jr due to open in March. In fact, auditions for the production will take place on the very day the rink opens, Saturday, November 23rd at 6 pm. So, stay up to date by checking out Summerville Skates' web page or theirFacebook page.
So participants can get the most out of their experience and for safety reasons, the maximum number of people on the ice at any given time will be limited. You will need to reserve your day and time to guarantee your spot. General admission is $8 and an additional $4 to rent skates, but with the discount opportunities planned, Doniger said the average cost for a family will be $20 to $25.
Summerville Skates will run from November 23rd through January 11th. Over three hundred pairs of skates will be available for rent. Group sales and rink rental packages will be available. Hours of operation will be Monday-Friday 3-9 pm and Saturday and Sunday 11 am-9 pm.
Summerville Skates' slogan is Happiness is... ice skating. Enjoy the video.
Enter through this door located at the corner of N Magnolia St. and E 2nd N St. in Summerville and you will embark on a journey into the diverse world of loose leaf tea brought to you by Old Barrel Tea Company and hosted by proprietor, Maggie Brooks. With blends like Pumpkin Pie Chai, Blood Orange and Lemongrass, and Coconut Black and Vanilla Rooibos, all you Lowcountry tea lovers wouldn't want to miss it for all the tea in China.
Old Barrel Tea Company is a female run, family business, and there is nothing dainty about this group of tea vendors. For this mother/daughter collaboration, Dana Huffman and Bailey Riddle, tea is more than just an afternoon break. It is a way of life. "We drink tea and tisanes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all the time in between. We don't put our pinkies up while drinking tea," is part of their motto. Rounding out the tea cadre are Dana's daughter-in-laws, Paola and Nenada. Paola does all of the blending at the business's warehouse.
Old Barrel Tea Company had its beginnings in Ruidoso, New Mexico, but through the endeavors of Maggie Brooks, it is fitting O.B.T.C. has found its way to the place where in the early 1700's tea bushes, also known as Camellia Sinensis, first arrived in the United States from China and in due course, through the efforts of Dr. Charles Shepard and Summerville's Pinehurst Tea Plantation, American grown tea become a reality by 1888.
Maggie grew up in Florida and like most Southerners drank sweet tea. She attended Jacksonville University where she acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science. After graduating, she moved to New Mexico and worked for the White Sands National Monument--the world's largest gypsum dunefield with glistening white sands engulfing 275 square miles of desert making it one of the world's great natural wonders. She was there for four months.
After leaving White Sands National Monument, Maggie worked at a high school for 2 1/2 years. It was there she met Bailey, who introduced her to her first loose leaf tea experience--a Pu-Erh tea. It was then her career would take a different path. With passion in her voice, she recounted how she petitioned O.B.T.C. with the request, "Please let me work for your company." Her heart felt plea did not go unanswered. Maggie considers herself the adopted daughter of the Huffman clan.
With a husband in the military, Maggie, along with their daughter, ended up stationed in Myrtle Beach. While doing a Google search for festivals in South Carolina, Summerville's Sweet Tea Festival popped up. She came in contact with Summerville DREAM and a partnership was entered into. The Summerville Tea Emporium was created. Wine barrels were brought in and iron pipe topped with wood shelving were installed on the walls. Over 30 different blends of tea with emphasis on flavor and wellness are offered along with raw, unfiltered honey and various other products.
Summerville Tea Emporium is a neatly arranged, welcoming space. Maggie greets you with a warm smile and possesses a commanding knowledge of her products. Her love and conviction for O.B.T.C. and its goods is unmistakable. Of the three taste offerings presented on my visit, the Blood Orange and Lemongrass--a lightly tart blend full of citrus flavors and naturally caffeine free--was my favorite. The color of the brewed blend was inviting to the eye and the flavor was soothing to the palate. The shop's blends are so voluminous that even the most discriminant tea drinker will not go away unsatisfied.
Old Barrel Tea Company's web blog is called A Dose of PositiviTea and is managed by Maggie. Check it out by clicking here. You will find recipes, product summaries, tea suggestions, and a boun-tea of loose leaf tea trivia.
Summerville Tea Emporium's official opening will take place with a ribbon cutting on Friday, October 25th at 3-6 pm. On Sunday, October 27th, there will be a Garden Tea Party at 1-4 pm.
