Tag Archive

Blog Report: Over To You, With Chili

By Steve Shanafelt

Every so often — like when I’m in a big rush out the door to get to a holiday vacation — I like to turn the Blog Report over to you, the readers. You have a very simple task ahead of you: Check out SparkleCityBlogs.com, browse for recent blog entries that strike your fancy... »

Independent-Mail Gives RJ Rocker’s Brew A “BAD” Review

By Steve Shanafelt

Don’t let the headline fool you. Reviewer Jake Grove at the Anderson-based Independent-Mail is just playing a little word game in his recent beer review. See? I feel kinda bad about this review. Or, maybe I should say I feel “BAD.” Why? Well, because this week I am finally getting around to reviewing a member... »

Hub City Co-op’s Website Updated

By Steve Shanafelt

For those of you who have been following the evolution of the Hub City Co-op from good idea to actually-looking-like-it’s-really-going-to-happen store, you’ll be heartened to know that the group now has a brand-new website to replace their static information page (which, as long as we’re on the subject, replaced their free blog page,... »

Hub City Coffee Reopens Downtown Location

By Steve Shanafelt

Early this morning, something that was once thought impossible happened in downtown Spartanburg: A business that had abandoned downtown more than a year ago actually reopened its doors. The same owners restored the location, and at least one of the same employees returned to work. Hub City Coffee — a locally owned drive... »

Sparkle City Headlines: Justin’s Closes, Congressional Forum Gets Spicy, And City Council Gets Earful On Annexation

By Steve Shanafelt

Today is a historic day for the Spartanburg media. So historic, in fact, that you might want to go out and buy a copy of today’s newspaper to remember it by. It’s not because there’s some epoch-defining news. It’s because today, for the first time in months, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s local coverage is hitting... »

The Hub City Co-Op’s New Site And Membership Plan

By Steve Shanafelt

Although the Hub City Co-Op has been active as a Facebook group for several months, and briefly had a blog documenting some parts of their organizing efforts, they haven’t had a true home on the web. This week, however, that changed with the unveiling of their new webite, HubCityCoop.org. Although the sites content is... »

Miss Mom: Clean Me, Or I’ll Smoke

By Sylvie Galloway

You know its time to clean the oven when it begins to smoke. That’s what happened to me recently when I put in a casserole in the oven for Sunday dinner. The fact that the oven is used mostly for cooking occasional frozen pizzas and trays of tater tots would have you... »

It’s Finally Official (Maybe): Hub City Co-op Announces Space

By Steve Shanafelt

While it has been common knowledge that the Hub City Co-op was looking at the space next to Brasserie Ecosse as their potential home — in fact, the Spark reported this in June — we’ve all been collectively waiting for some kind of confirmation since then. Today we have it. The Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s Dudley... »

Sustain Spartanburg: A Green Daydream

By Tammy Stokes

I have quite the active imagination and tend to dream big. One of my dreams of late is to grow a garden. And I don’t mean just plant it and water it; I’d like to actually get some food out of it. So for the past two years, I’ve tried to grow a... »

Sustain Spartanburg: My Favorite Things

By Tammy Stokes

Have y’all ever watched one of Oprah’s “My Favorite Things”? It’s pretty cool, because not only does she share with her audience some of her favorite products — which include technological gadgets, food, etc. — she usually gives each member of the audience one of everything. Well, this post is going to be kinda... »

Sparkle City Headlines: Council seeks deal on Abby’s Grill site

By Steve Shanafelt

Here’s a quick clip of info from the Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s preview of today’s City Council meeting … Spartanburg City Council will consider authorizing a development agreement with the company redeveloping the former Abby’s Grill on Main Street. Approval would authorize the city manager to negotiate and sign the development agreement to provide the property owner, the... »

Wild Wing Cafe Ribbon-Cutting, Reopening

By Steve Shanafelt

A few moments ago, I got a press release about this from the City passing along the news that Wild Wing Cafe will be reopening tomorrow, so I thought I’d pass along relevant bits … A favorite local eatery is getting a new lease on life as Wild Wing Café returns to Downtown Spartanburg... »

Update: Hub City Co-op Progress

By Steve Shanafelt

If you’re curious about how things are moving for the Hub City Co-op, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on their site. Just to bring you up to speed, here’s the latest from their blog … 1. We met with a lawyer on Friday. We’ve got some GREAT ideas on how to set up... »

Sparkle City Headlines: The Local Food Movement Gains Momentum

By Steve Shanafelt

The Spartanburg Herald-Journal reports today on a soon-to-open grocery that focuses on locally grown and raised foods. And here’s the big surprise: It’s not the Hub City Food Co-Op. The Schaum family started farming more than three years ago. It gave them an opportunity to be closer to their four kids, control their workday,... »

Sparkle City Headlines: Rock Water Tavern To Reopen

By Steve Shanafelt

Today’s Spartanburg Herald-Journal adds more fuel to the fire for discussion of downtown revitalization, noting that the Rock Water Tavern will be reopening as a sports bar. Mark Stewart has purchased Rock Water Tavern, across the street from the Chapman Cultural Center at 100 Wood Row in the former Spice of Life building. Although the restaurant... »