Miss Ruby's Corner Market in Charleston provides fresh, healthy, and locally sourced food at discounted prices to support low-income families. "Miss Ruby’s Corner Market was born out of a vision to make fresh, healthy, and local food accessible to everyone, especially those in Charleston’s lower-income communities. It started with a simple idea—growing food in urban spaces to help provide fresh produce to families who often struggle to find affordable, nutritious options. Over time, this vision blossomed into a storefront designed to serve as both a grocery market and a community hub." "Our founders, Dural Miller, Alecia Allen, and the KYFC team, are passionate about supporting local farmers, promoting health, and giving back to the Charleston community. With the grand opening just around the corner, we’re excited to bring this important resource to the neighborhood—offering not only fresh produce but a variety of healthy, locally sourced products at discounted rates to ensure that everyone has access to what they need to live healthy lives." Chef Ke is at the helm of the kitchen and is offering sandwiches, salads and other specials. On this particular day, Chef Ke was offering walking tacos with choice of chips and toppings, which included: buffalo chicken, pulled chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, chipotle ranch, ground turkey, cheddar, jalapeños, black beans, ranch and taco sauce. I got a Doritos walking taco with buffalo chicken. Tasty! And my coworker got one with lettuce, tomato, cheese and ranch; it looked delish. While I was there, they had fresh strawberries, plums, blueberries, peppers, avocados, and more. Plus, they have a variety of frozen goods, bakery items and general convenience items. They are also offering occasional dinners, like spaghetti or chicken alfredo with sides of garlic bread and salad. I can't wait to come back to try some of those. Grade: A

"In 1924, Benjamin Tillman “Pop” Byrd, Sr., at the age of 28, began baking his famous Scotch Oatmeal cookies in beautiful Savannah Georgia. He had a small bakery downtown near City Market and delivered the fresh cookies to stores around town in his Model T Ford. Typically, the cookies were sold out of large glass jars at ‘2 for a penny’. Pop’s cookies quickly became a favorite among locals and several more items were added to the bakery lineup, but nothing was as unique or as popular as the Scotch Oatmeal cookie. As the business grew, Pop decided to move the bakery closer to home on the outskirts of town, a little community called Sandfly. In 1929, he converted a tin-sided barn into a larger bakery which he lovingly named 'Byrd’s Famous Cookies,'" reads the website.



Byrd's Famous Cookies still bakes their traditional family recipes in small batches, with the highest quality ingredients. Their shop offers a collection of southern delicacies and gifts.



They offer an extensive variety of flavors and options. From their famous Key Lime Coolers to their classic Chocolate Chip cookies, they have it all. Almond shortbread, cinnamon sugar and "Cookie's Cookie" - Love our classic Scotch Oatmeal Cookie? To celebrate of our 100th anniversary in 2024, we created a fun take on our original Scotch Oatmeal Cookie and added a punch of creamy butterscotch chips and indulgent dark chocolate.



I went for Salted Caramel Cookies - Golden crisps that will leave you hootin' and a'hollerin for more. Crammed with buttery caramel morsels and a pinch of sea salt.



These crispy little bites were buttery and sweet. Kind of addicting!



Grade: A

At grocery stores, produce of all kinds is available year-round because it is shipped in from all over the country, which covers a variety of growing seasons. Here in West Virginia, our local growers grow in accordance with the season to produce the best fruits and vegetables. Here's what you can expect in each season:



SPRING: Lettuce, strawberries, cucumbers, kusa, tomatoes, herbs, squash, zucchini, eggplant & blackberries



VENDORS: Bostic Greenhouses, Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Evans Greenhouse, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, Hall's Greenhouse, Highland Greenery, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses & Roane Grown.



SUMMER: Cherries, half-runners, peaches, corn, cabbage, garlic, potatoes, bell peppers, kale, beets, onions, banana peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, blueberries, plums, nectarines, hot peppers, blackberries, eggplant, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, lettuce, cantaloupe & watermelon



VENDORS: Bostic Greenhouses, Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses, Robbie's Produce & Tug Fork Farms.



FALL: Apples, cabbage, carrots, beets, green beans, potatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupes, corn, spinach, kale, chard, onions, squash & sweet potatoes.



VENDORS: Crihfield Farms, Ed & Ellen's Greenhouse, Evans Greenhouses, Gritt's Farm, Gritt's Midway Greenhouse, Highland Greenery, John Crihfield Farms & Greenhouses, Robbie's Produce & Tug Fork Farms.



What's your favorite thing to get at the market?

Savannah Bee Company is a local and specialty honey producer - in the form of honeycomb, bath & body products and more.



"At Savannah Bee Co., our mission is centered on supporting the vital work of bees. Beyond honey, we're committed to safeguarding these essential pollinators, crucial for building hives, sustaining our food supply, and enhancing our environment. Climate change and pesticides threaten their existence, making bee preservation our top priority. Through every honey jar, bee-powered beauty product, or cultivated hive, we actively contribute to their protection. By choosing Savannah Bee Co., you're not just buying products; you're joining our mission to preserve bees and the planet for future generations," reads the website.



They offer so many varieties of honey, from wildflower and tupelo to orange blossom and lavender.



"The species of flower from which the bee gathered the nectar determines the color, flavor, and sugar composition of the honey. Buckwheat honey is black and strong in flavor, acacia honey is almost completely clear and mild. We mostly sell monofloral honey – nectar from one specific flower species. We like to say all honey is good, but some honey is great. And believe us, there is a big difference. Common commercial honey is often blended for color consistency without regard to taste," reads the website.

Spice of Life is an international grocery store in Kanawha City. I went to check it out and first perused the dry spices and other mixes. The variety covers all parts of Asia. Next, I spent a great deal of time perusing the instant noodle section. I think they have become more widespread thanks to TikTok. I have been exposed to a lot more brands, so I nabbed some to try. I also loved the selection of juices and syrups with fruits you don't always see in the store. While I didn't investigate, they also had two freezers full of meats. It has a pretty wide selection of a little bit of everything. Plus, there are items you may have seen or heard of, but didn't know where to get them. This is the place. Have you been?

In Orange, Connecticut, there is the PEZ Visitor Center. You know, those tiny little pieces of candy that come in a fun dispenser? This is the motherland.



"The creation of a particularly fine peppermint candy in 1927 by Eduard Haas III in Austria marks the birth of PEZ. Originally introduced in small tins, the refreshing candy proved extremely popular. The name PEZ comes from the German word for peppermint, "Pfefferminz" taking the P from the first letter, E from the middle letter and Z from the last letter to form the now iconic brand name PEZ. The original shape of PEZ candy was round and called 'PEZ drops.' The candy quickly changed to the familiar brick shape we still manufacture today," reads the website.



In 1935 a new PEZ candy factory is built in Czechoslovakia to manufacture candy on a larger scale. In 1948 the compressed sugar tablets are sold in small pocket sized tins until inventor Oscar Uxa patents a small mechanical box for dispensing the tablets. In 1949 the first dispenser is officially introduced at the Vienna Trade Fair. The original dispenser held the same number of tablets (12) as today!



PEZ starts U.S. operations in 1952 establishing in New York City. All goods sold, however are imported from Europe and distributed throughout North America. On December 2, 1952, PEZ is awarded the first U.S. patent number for a dispenser: 2.620.061. In 1956, PEZ introduces an innovated dispenser called the space gun. 1957, PEZ adds a three dimensional character head to the top of a dispenser. The Halloween Witch becomes the first traditional character head dispenser in 1957, while Popeye adds to the variety as the first licensed character in 1958.



During the 1960's, PEZ continues to bring a new dimension to the dispenser base with sticker and die-cuts. PEZ showcases some rare and unusual candy flavors, such as Licorice, Flowers, and Chlorophyll. PEZ Pals are introduced. The PEZ Boy is designed as a detective who dresses up in disguises to solve mysteries. With these various disguises he becomes different characters such as Policeman, Knight, Sheikh, and Doctor. These character are shown in the PEZ Comics inserts that came packaged with the dispensers.



In 1973 PEZ in the US grows to the point that, in addition to distribution, the company begins to manufacture the candy domestically. PEZ breaks ground on a new warehouse and manufacturing facility in Orange, Connecticut on November 19, 1973. In 1978 PEZ introduces interchangeable rubber head character dispensers.



In 1984 Europe adds small tabs to the bottom of the dispenser base to help it stand upright. This feature is introduced in the United States in 1987. These tabs are referred to in the collector community as 'feet' and help determine year and value of vintage dispensers.



As PEZ collecting grows in popularity during the early 90s, the first convention is held in Mentor, OH in 1991. In 1993 Forbes features PEZ on its cover and the prestigious Christie's auction house holds the first ever pop culture auction featuring PEZ. In mid 90's PEZ reintroduces two popular products - peppermint candy and the 'regular' dispenser. The Tweety Bird Dispenser was featured on an episode of the popular Seinfeld television show.



In 2000 PEZ introduces Fuzzy Friends, the first plush dispenser. The early 2000s also brought General Mills PEZ dispensers and candy as premium giveaways with the purchase of selected cereals. In 2005 PEZ releases the Star Wars Collectors Set. This was the first PEZ limited edition set. In 2007 PEZ celebrates its 80th Anniversary with the launch of a Disney Mickey Mouse collectible tin.



In 2011 the PEZ Visitor Center was opened in Orange, CT. The Visitor Center has hosted many guests over its first decade where fans enjoy over 4,000 sq ft dedicated to all things PEZ! The 2010's also saw the introduction of several fan favorites including the PEZ Presidential Series, PEZ Connectibles, and new innovative gift sets like the Finding Dory Fish Bowl set, and seasonal candy flavors! In 2021 the PEZ Visitor Center celebrated it's ten year anniversary with an exclusive PEZ Treats Cupcake. Only 1000 were produced and lucky fans can register their dispenser here. As PEZ embarks on it's 100th anniversary in 2027, we continue to bring America's favorite characters to life through the iconic PEZ Dispenser. We are proud to partner with America's favorite licensors to bring you the candy with character - PEZ.

I'm on an international snacks kick.



A vape shop in downtown Charleston, King's One Stop Shop, has a decent selection of chips, Skittles and some other odds and ends.



I visited to pick up a couple of snacks to get through the snow days.



The garlic steak chips were pretty good - not sure I would recognize that flavor - but they were a little sweet and a bit smoky. The tomato flavor was a tiny bit spicy and sweet. I was a fan of both.



Have you been?