Iconic Concierge Winter 2022/23

HE
GENTLEMAN
by Julie-Anna Vogel | www.julieabroad.com
EDITION 12 - CHARLESTON, SC (USA)
ABROAD
AH... CHARLESTON… established as Charles Town (in honour of King Charles II of England) in 1670 and still nicknamed
‘Charlie’s Town’ or the Holy City (thanks to the many spires that dot its skyline). It is also the home of America’s first golf
course, theatre, and museum. Charleston’s deep harbour made the city rich but also vulnerable to attack and pirates came in
droves. It was the first bit of America most African slaves saw. Rice, cotton and the slaves who worked in the fields were the
foundations of great fortunes. 5% of the pre-civil war population controlled 50% of the wealth. ‘The great fire’ of 1838 leveled
more than one-fourth of the centre and destroyed almost 1,100 buildings. Most were rebuilt in the Greek Revival Style for
which Charleston is now famous along with its gourmet food scene and legendary southern charm. Fictional scoundrel, but
ultimate gentleman, Rhett Butler hailed from the old town. Real-life gents Steven Colbert, Bill Murray and Shepard Fairey
have all called the city home. And should you wonder why may porches in Charleston have a light blue paint upon their
ceilings, it is meant to ward off “haints” or evil spirits who might want to harm the house or the family inside...
KING STREET - The second most historically and architecturally significant street in downtown Charleston with a history of more than
300 years, the 3-mile-long commercial hub is divided into three sections: Lower King is the antique shops area, Middle King is the fashion
district (avoid the national chains and shop local at Dumas & Sons or Ben Silver for men’s clothes) and Upper King is the design and dine
district filled dominated by galleries, home furnishing shops, bars and great restaurants.
www.www.charlestonsfinest.com
BULLDOG TOURS - There is no better way to explore the city than on foot, and voted ‘Charleston’s Best Walking & Ghost Tours’ these guys
offer a great range, from enchanting graveyards and cobblestone streets to the hidden gardens of antebellum mansions. My favourite is
the ‘Scandal and Sordid Affair tour’ where naughtiness abounds beneath the genteel surface.
www.bulldogtours.com
100 ICONIC CONCIERGE