Independent Book Stores in Greenville

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In my estimation, book stores may be some of the best places in the entire world.   I particularly esteem independently owned book stores.  (Due to job hunting I cannot comment on big box book stores- But, all book stores have their place.)

I found a new book store today The Open Book on Pleasantburg Road in Greenville, right across from The Fresh Market and just before Laurens Road.  Lot’s of seating and a friendly staff mean I will probably be studying here in the future.  Limited selections of books mean I might not be buying my paperbacks here.  But antique books are interspersed with the selections; I may be tempted.

As the Page Turns is another excellent independent book store close to Furman University.  This store is in the shopping center with Publix near Duncan Chapel Road.   This store has quite a large selection and has a program that awards purchasers with ten dollars off after spending one hundred dollars.

If you are closer to Greer you might consider checking out Silver Chair Book Store.  This store is perfectly charming, although I understand that their hours may be very limited.

If a Christian book store is more your flavor mosey on down to Cross Way on East North Street.  Here you will find a huge selection of books, cd’s and other paraphernalia.

While not being independent, The Book Rack sells and buys paperback books (no hardback books).  Relatively high prices for used books, but not as expensive as ordering online and paying shipping and handling.  This store has a tremendous selection of paperback novels.  Located near Bob Jones University.

This list is by no means exhaustive, it simply includes my favorites.  More to come as I enjoy them.

The Top Ten of Downtown Greenville

I have lived in Greenville a little over a year and I have enjoyed it very much.  As far as I am concerned the place to be in Greenville is “downtown”.  There are so many excellent places to visit and things to see.

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These are some of my favorite things in downtown Greenville:

1.)  Falls Park – There are always people there and the park often has live music.

2.) The people that frequent Reedy River Park – For an awesome blend of street performers or anything else.

3.) Coffee Underground – This locally owned coffee shop is underground and features excellent drinks, live music and serves it all in a great location.

4.) The Peace Center - For regional musical acts and other artistic efforts.

5.) Mice-on-Main – There are nine statues of mice hidden along main street, see if you can find them all.

6.) Mast General Store -Features excellent products, as well as being a good source for outdoors supplies.

7.)  Spill the Beans – Another great coffee house, right over Falls park.

8.) Smoke on the Water -BBQ in the South.  Upscale, but reasonable.  Excellent.

9.)Ocha Tea Bar -Funky, arty, much more than tea.

10.)The Greenville Drive -I’m a sucker for the home team.

Earlier I posted about being able attach your location using Twitter, I think this kind of post would be excellent using that kind of technology.

What are your favorite things to do in downtown Greenville?

The beach day 2 photo essay

Pawleys Island

The Conch Cafe

Last night I dined at the sea side Conch Café near Garden City pier in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Seafood restaurants are a dime a dozen along the coast and throughout the marsh and the Conch Café is not in Murrells inlet which means that the traffic is lighter.

My wife and I started with the conch fritters.  The namesake appetizer set the par for the evening.  Slightly chewy and very fried; these fritters were served with a spicy cocktail sauce with a lemon wedge.  Conch turned out to be much like lobster and it was cooked very much like a hush puppy.  All things considered, eight dollars went towards being able to say I have consumed conch.

The main course offerings were mainly seafood, and if they offered it broiled it was not readily apparent.  We had fried grouper; a meatier fish, fried flounder; flaky white fish, shrimp; peeled tail-on, bay scallops; the succulent highlight of the evening, fried crab cake; with red and green roasted red peppers, and oysters; squishy blobs that I generally prefer not to eat.  All of the above were decent and some of them were less greasy than others.  I would recommend the fried grouper with shrimp as the bay scallops only seem to be available on the high priced conch platter.  The rice pilaf was beat out by the very creamy red mashed potatoes, but both were quite adequate.

The service was prompt without being overbearing.   The views were nice and the dining companions were mild mannered.  Altogether not a bad experience; the ambiance takes the day.  Try the Conch fritter and the bay scallops.  In Myrtle beach most always you are paying more than you would somewhere else, but the seaside location was desirable.  If you do not like the wind, you might consider dining inside.

Winding down for the summer

School at USC-Upstate is rapidly winding down and many of my fellow students are gearing up and stressing themselves out.  Pardon me, but, I don’t see the point.  If I haven’t learned something by now, I’m probably not going to.  Perhaps this logic is flawed, but I don’t have stomach ulcers either.

This morning finds me reading a two day old newspaper, drinking excellent coffee, enjoying boiled shrimp. Studying is hard I tell you. Try it sometime. Here is my recipe for academic success:

1 gallon of water

1 pack of pickling spice

1 lb. of shrimp

Thaw it. Cook ‘til pink.

Don’t get me wrong, do study. But you pain me when you study all night long and then sleep through the test. That’s not the way to do it.