Charleston Alley CATastrophe

This weekend I took an adventure to Charleston, S.C. The town in itself is awesome. I mean what’s not to like about a town that has great food, lots of booze, and plenty of history to go around. What I didn’t know is that they have a really rad bike community.

When i got into town I took a stroll down to the local bike shop where one of the guys working told me about this fine little race. I figured why not, it seems like a good way to meet some local, like minded folk, and get to see the city. Plus I have never done an alley cat in a city that I haven’t lived in.

The course was pretty well laid out and spread throughout the city. They included all the challenges you would hope to expect from a good alley cat race. Salty tea, break dancing, potato sac racing, are among some of the check point challenges. My favorite was the break dancing on top of the Cooper River Bridge. The race ended with a much needed slip-n-slide.

Following the race there was an art show, skids and tricks portion, and an after party. I didn’t get to make it to the art show or the skids and tricks portion but I sure as hell made it to the after party. Let me tell you these kids do it right. I mean how can you not be happy with a house party that has two kegs and a freaking awesome D.J. And what do you expect when you mix 40 to 60 folks, The only thing that happened was everyone walked inside, kept it down for a bit, and continued drinking.

At the after party they gave out some prizes for placing and etc. Guess what?!? Yours truly walked out with some pretty dope shwag. One of the races sponsors, Earth Wind and Rider donated a really hot wool jersey that went home with me. All for my mad worm skills at the top of the Cooper River Bridge.

All in all I give some mad props to the cats out in Chucktown. They put on a great race and know how to get down. I personally had a fantastic time and I appreciate all of their hospitality. Good kids and good times, that all I need out of life.

Bar Review – The Local

Here we go first bar review.

Ok so I am new in town, and I am a few friends that I knew before I left and went off to college. So I meet up with a friend at an old watering hole Taco Mac. As a side note I love Taco Mac, I use to work at one back in the day and it is the shit. The food is good, especially the wings, and they have a great beer selection. Anyway I have been there done that and we decide to go and hit up some Midtown action for a couple more drinks and some dancing at MJQ.

We get there early and they are not open yet so my friend makes the decision to have a drink at The Local. Whatever I am always down for something to drink. So we walk up to this place with a nice front porch with a shit ton of people there, especially for a Wednesday. Outside there are a couple of fixed bikes locked to the post, this place is looking up so far. Of course there is a door man, I think its necessary. I still have an Alabama ID so anywhere that doesn’t hassle me about my ID is a big plus, they don’t. NO COVER, my type of place, cover sucks. Anyway from the bikes out front and all the people on the porch this place is totally a hipster bar.

Little history on me, I didn’t know what a hipster was until about 3 weeks ago. I mean we had “hipsters” in Auburn we just didn’t call them that. We were just the art school kids, the IND kids, and the kids that hung out with us. Well all them and the kids that worked at the coffee shop. Anyway we had a “hipster” bar in auburn, its called Roosters, but it was always known as where the grundgie kids went to hang, who knew we were hipsters.

And back to the subject at hand, after we walk in I see probably the greatest thing I have seen at a bar in a long time, 24 oz. PBR’s. I mean it i the hipster life blood I should have expected it. Go to the bar and order two large nectar of the gods, $7.00. Are you serious? That is amazing, $3.50 for a 24 oz. beer in midtown. For you non math majors out there thats like paying $1.75 a beer, you will be hard pressed to find that sort of price in a college bar much less in Midtown. So not only is this a place I can go to grab a beer but if I wanted to I could get pretty drunk here and not break the bank. So like I said earlier, I really don’t know many people here but wouldn’t you know I ran into someone I actually knew. Of course its a friend from the Art Department at Auburn but its someone I know.

At this point I realize how small the place really is. I mean its a decent size but its fairly small compared to other restaurants and bars. The interior is rustic but nice. Most everyone is in a booth hanging out with there own group but there are a few people up and walking around. I think the most interesting part about this place is the people. i mean there was a guy in a vintage tux in the corner and in the other corner theres a dude in a wife beater and a full round hat. Its the type of place I could make a regular outing and be comfortable.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
What else can you want; relaxed atmosphere, cheep beer, midtown location, and a good crowd. We finish our beers and move on to MJQ because dancing is the main objective of the evening but I will say that my short lived trip to The Local will not be my last. In fact I can see many a trip down to that bar for a few 24 oz. PBR’s and some relaxed good times.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5