I see Charleston as having a strong sense of community.
There have been so many events I’ve attended that I’m starting to lose track. I
figure I need to do a recap at about this point – midway through the summer –
before I get any more under my belt.
Live on the Levee
Free music on Fridays, what more can you ask for? I’ve had a Dippy-Do from The
Shape Shop. Tasty.
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Charlie West Blues Fest
This was a lot like Live on the Levee with many of the same
vendors, but additional blues music. I had two West Virginia hotdogs from Mardi Gras Casino.
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Vandalia Gathering
The Vandalia Gathering is devoted to old-time music and
bluegrass. We saw a fiddling competition! It also brought lots of vendors to
the Capitol grounds, and my poison was a meatball sub from the South Charleston
Lions Club. One of the better subs I’ve had in my life. Mm. Oh, and a lemonade
from the Southridge-Pacesetter Lions Club was pretty tasty, too.
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WV Power Games
These are awesome! Thursday night has $1 drafts, so, yes.
Also, the pulled pork nachos, with cheese, are something I crave. A small
helmet full of cookie dough dippin’ dots. Heaven.
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Symphony Sunday
What a cool idea this is. The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has a concert on the University of Charleston’s lawn. All kinds of
vendors – and other small businesses (I got a book for 50 cents!) – attend. I
got a smoked fish taco with mango salsa over saffron rice from Vandalia Grille.
I was also to get a Symphony Sunday Signature Lemonade – complete with half a
lemon. Oh, AND Ellen’s Symphony Sundaes which was symphony chocolate ice cream
(think a Symphony candy bar) with hot caramel, almonds and whipped cream. Holy
crap.
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Carnival
Surprisingly smaller than what I expected, but I still got a
decent orange slushie out of it.
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Sesquicentennial
It’s not every day West Virginia turns 150, so Charleston
made a pretty big deal about it. It actually overlapped with a couple other
things, but amazing fireworks three nights in a row and a 3D lightshow made for
an awesome experience. Lots of vendors – I got some hotdogs. Oh, and there was
free cake. For everyone!
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FestivALL
This 10-day event is awesome. There are all kinds of events
focusing on the arts, and there are a few the center around food: the OldFashioned Ice Cream Social, the Chili Cook-off and Taste-of-All. I didn’t check
out the ice cream social because I was tuckered out from the other events. The
Chili Cook-off had kind of disbanded by the time I made it there, but it seemed
like a cool event. Just need to make sure I get there earlier next time. But
Taste-of-All was awesome! Right up my alley. You buy tickets and different samples from restaurants cost different amounts of tickets. I got:
-chocolate ice cream cone from Huskey’s Dairy Bar
-Jambalaya w/Creole Sauce from A Taste of N’Awlins
-Meatloaf AND spicy sweet macaroni salad from 5 Corners Café
-Deep fried mac ‘n cheese wedges from Mayberry’s Restaurant
Great way to get to taste something small from each of the
restaurants. I know a couple that I learned about and can’t wait to go back.
Blues Brews and BBQ
This event is part of FestivALL, but it’s a pricier one. I
actually got a deal where I paid for this and Wine and All That Jazz for $30,
but usually tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. At Blues Brews
& BBQ, that $20 doesn’t really get you much beyond access to the music,
which is OK, I guess. I did snag a killer BBQ sandwich with slaw from Ridgeview
BBQ.
Wine and All that Jazz
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Blues Brews and BBQThis event is part of FestivALL, but it’s a pricier one. I
actually got a deal where I paid for this and Wine and All That Jazz for $30,
but usually tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. At Blues Brews
& BBQ, that $20 doesn’t really get you much beyond access to the music,
which is OK, I guess. I did snag a killer BBQ sandwich with slaw from Ridgeview
BBQ.
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Wine and All that Jazz
My last FestivALL event definitely went out with a bang. For your ticket price (again, $18 in advance or $20 at the gate – unless you can
stumble upon a deal like I did), you get a stemless plastic wine glass and all
of the samples! You could literally go here and just round the tents and get
samples all evening. I tried most of the wineries and got a bottle from Forks
of Cheat – my fav. I got a philly cheesesteak here that I could’ve gone
without, but it was just generic greasy fair food – not a local restaurant.
I’m sure I’ll have more coming up. 
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