I thought this to be a rather unusual designation for a restaurant, after all Poogan is an uncommon name in itself. But when I did some research into the matter, the name made perfect sense.

The story is both exceptional and endearing. It will warm your heart and put a smile on your face because Poogan was a bit of a wanderer who finally found his place in society and a permanent residence in the old house that was built in 1888 turned restaurant in 1976 bearing his name. He presided over the renovations and greeted the first happy customers. The porch was his favorite part of the house, like alot of Charlestonians, so the name Poogan's Porch. Its the American Dream at its best. Poogan is no longer here and if he could speak he would tell you, "To succeed in life, never bite the hand that feeds you." Poogan was a scruffy neighborhood dog.

Poogan isn't the only story that is part of this house-turned-restaurant's rich history. It seems there is a previous owner that likes to make unannounced, surprise visits from time to time. Her name is Zoe St. Amand. She waves at hotel guests across the way and wanders around making mischief in the kitchen bagging pots and pans, so the story goes. The Travel Channel voted the restaurant "Third Haunted Place in America" in 2003. It has become a hot spot for celebrities and politicians. In 1989 scenes from the movie "Champagne Charlie" were filmed at Poogan's Porch.

There's something appealing and bit fun about dining in a restaurant that once was a home. Poogan's Porch is all that and boasts the credentials that makes it Charleston’s oldest and most reputable culinary establishments. Since opening it has upgraded the interior of the restaurant. A 1500-bottle wine cellar was built in 2005, which has tripled since opening. It carries numerous awards. A dinner for two will average around $75 without wine. Open 365 days a year, Poogan’s Porch serves a Lowcountry lunch from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner from 5-9:30 p.m. and weekend brunch from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The restaurant closes for one dinner seating on Super Bowl Sunday, a family tradition. It is located at 72 Queen Street just down the street from the Dock Street Theater. Menus and reviews.-Vacation Rick Travel

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on vacation blog Vacation Rick. Check out all the articles on things to see and do in Charleston and beyond.

Learn not only the definition of sushi, but also how to ripen an avocado!

"Tickets please." "May I show you to your seat." "Enjoy the performance." There is something nostalgic and exhilarating about attending live stage performances at old theaters. Originally from Northeastern Ohio, I periodically took the short thirty mile trek into the theater district of Cleveland called Playhouse Square and saw performances like the Lion King, Phantom Of the Opera, Cats, Starlight Express, and the Invisible Man. The architecture was stunning, the atmosphere was electric, everything exudes the feel of cultural distinction and gratification.

If you are willing to step out of the box when it comes to movie entertainment and cinema going to try some live theater look no further than the Dock Street Theater in the French Quarter of Charleston. The Dock Street Theater had been closed since 2007 and for the past three years underwent a multi-million dollar transformation and re-opened March 2010 ready to dazzle and gratify its patrons with a taste of Broadway.

The original Dock Street Theater opened in 1736. It was the the first building designed for theatrical use in the Americas. Quite a privileged distinction that sets it apart from all other theaters. One month after the theater was opened the name of Dock Street was officially changed to Queen Street, but the theater retained its original name. The building had numerous uses during the next 200 years. In the 19th-century it was replaced by Planter's Hotel where wealthy planters stayed during Charleston's horse-racing season, but in time became a derelict building and nothing more than a shell. In the 1930's it went through a restoration and the theater was in business again until it closed in 2007 when a full-scale renovation brought the historic theater into the 21st century with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

There will be a benefit performance for Charleston Stage July 31st starring Michael Emerson of ABC's "Lost" and Carrie Preston of HBO's sizzling show "True Blood" in the Broadway hit "Love Letters". This will mark their return to the theater and kickoff the 2010-11 season with a full list of scheduled performances such as "Hairspray" in September, Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" in October, "Blue" in January, and "The Original Peter Pan" in March and April of 2011.

Put on your best, rent a limo, pop some bubbly, and strut your stuff for an evening of enchantment at the historic Dock Streeet Theater. Make it a complete package by reserving a place at one of the tables of Charleston's fine restaurants such as Charleston Grill, Circa 1886, Mercato, Halls Chophouse, Bocci's, High Cotton Maverick Bar & Grill, or Magnolias to name a few. Dock Street Theater is located at 135 Church Street.-Vacation Rick Travel

Can you answer: What drink was first introduced at the Planter's Hotel?

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on travel blog Vacation Rick. Check out all the articles on things to see and do in Charleston and beyond. 

Meet Chef Sean Park of O-ku--

Stay tuned as he will be teaching us sushi 101 and showing us how we can make sushi at home!

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, home again, home again, jiggety jig. To market, to market, to buy a fat hog, home again, home again, jiggety jog. To market, to market, to buy a plum bun, home again, home again, market is done. This nursery rhyme came to mind when I thought of writing about the Old City Market. Now I don't know about buying fat pigs, fat hogs, and plum bun, but the Old City Market originally sold foodstuffs, including meat, fish and fresh produce grown locally.

Today, the City Market is definitely the center of attention and on any given day, especially the warmer months with cruises in port and tourists in abundance, quite crowded. Many of the carriage rides begin their tours here and on both sides of the Old Market numerous specialty shops and restaurants cater to the many visitors needs and wants. Locally crafted sweetgrass baskets, clothing, artwork, jewelry, local souvenirs, perfumes, food, T-shirts, and other gift items are displayed by numerous vendors.

Coming down Meeting Street from the interstate there is no mistaking you have arrived at Old City Market because Market Hall stands out rather distintively compared to the surrounding structures. It was built in 1841 from a design by Edward Brickwell White and is a copy of the Temple of the Wingless Victory in Athens, Greece. Charles Cotsworth Pinckney ceded the land to the City of Charleston in 1788. So far his wishes that a public market be built on the site and remain in use as a public market into perpetuity has been honored. The low buildings that stretch from Market Hall to the waterfront have survived fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and bombardment.

Even now, as a resident, when taking new visitors or relatives to Charleston I invariably end up at the Old City Market like it is "Go" on the Monopoly Board. All my favorite restaurants and sites are a short walking distance. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co is there with their "Bucket of Boat Trash" and at one time offered you a chance to embarass yourself or show off your hula hoop skills at its entrance. Around the corner on East Bay Street is Southend Brewery where I stop for a sidewalk lunch and sample their great microbrews. Charleston Place, one of Charleston's finest hotel venues graces this area and also the Market Pavilion Hotel with its rooftop bar overlooking the Market where on a hot, humid evening you can catch the slight breeze coming off the bay while leisurely consuming a cool alchoholic concockshun.

The Old City Market is an intricate piece of the Charleston experience. Parking can be a challenge and patience is a must if you are looking to park on one of the streets, but there are lots and parking garages in the area as an alternative. By the way, if you see a man hosing down the street creating a sudsy, foamy looking substance, don't ask him what he is doing. Looking forward to seeing you hobnobbing around beautiful Charleston.-Vacation Rick Travel Charleston

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on vacation blog Vacation Rick. Check out all the other articles on what to do and see in Charleston and more.

I just saw the movie "Holiday" again for the umpteenth time. There is something about the movie I like that keeps me interested time after time. It has everything to do with the idea of being rejuvinated by rediscovering life and the possibility of achieving happiness despite life's setbacks, particuliarly in relationships. Holidays can do exactly that, rejuvinate and reinvigorate.

Holiday is an Europian term, here in the U.S. we call it a vacation. We vacate our everyday lives to experience a change of scenery and for a brief time immerse ourselves into a world of self gratification, reconnect with those we love, or experience something new and exciting. Some refer to it as "recharging their batteries". It could be a weekend respite or span an amount of time usually involving a week or two.

Charleston abounds with places to do just that, recharge the batteries. In this article I will highlight two of Charleston's more prestigious inns, Wentworth Mansion and John Rutledge House Inn. Wentworth Mansion is a AAA Five Diamond Award hotel and John Rutledge House a AAA Four Diamond Award inn.

Wentworth Mansion was built in 1886 by wealthy cotton merchant Francis Silas Rodgers. It was a private residence turned into one of the world's finest and most unique hotels. The hotel features 21 luxurious rooms and suites, all with whirlpool tubs and most have working fireplaces. It also has a spa. The original carriage house in the gardens behind the mansion is home to the Circa 1886 restaurant. The hotel offers a variety of packages through the year, many of which cater to couples looking for a romantic interlude.

John Rutledge was one of the fifty-five signers of the U.S. Constitution and built his home in 1763. George Washington made a visit to the home as a guest in 1791. The restored home was turned into an inn offering nineteen guest rooms within a complex of three buildings, the main house and two carriage houses. Some of the rooms have working fireplaces and jetted-tubs. It too offers a variety of packages that cater to couples.

They are not cheap, but why not indulge and immerse yourself into the Charleston of the past. John Rutledge House Inn is located at 116 Broad Street and Wentworth Mansion is located at 149 Wentworth Street.-Vacation Rick Travel

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on vacation blog Vacation Rick. Check out all the other articles on what to see and do.

One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes was the "Soup Nazi". "No Soup for you!" When I recall that I think of Ladles and not because of the catch phrase, but because their soup is so good it makes you knees go weak, or maybe just a little bit weak. Anyways, if you haven't visited Ladles and sampled the soups as of yet, give it a try. I have been a regular customer since I discovered them and Ladles wedding soup has been a personal favorite.

Ladles Homemade Soups is a locally owned and operated restaurant filling a special niche in the areas market. Stop in at one of several locations throughout the Charleston area. The Summerville location is convenient for me, at the corner of Main and West Richardson, next to Town Hall. The restaurant is small and unpretentious. The menus are simple and uncluddered. You can sit down or take it with you. You can order combination soup/salad or soup/sandwich. You can order whole sandwiches and salads.

An informal setting ideal for meeting up with someone for a chat and a quick lunch. Afterwards, do a little shopping or just take a relaxing stroll around downtown Summerville. The old Summerville Theater on the Square is right across the street. The historic plantations on 61 are about twenty-five minutes away. Woodlands Resort and Inn is only five minutes away.

Other Ladles locations around Charleston include West Ashley: 3125 Bees Ferry Road located at the corner of Bees Ferry Road and Highway 61, John's Island: 190 Gardeners Circle in Freshfields Village at the crossroads of Kiawah & Seabrook, and soon to open in Mt Pleasant. If you are interested they are offering franchises. "Yes, there is soup for you."-Vacation Rick Travel

Article by Rick Dunbar first published on vacation blog Vacation Rick. Check out all the other articles on things to see and do in the Charleston area.

Charleston has become a favored tourist attraction and destination over the years. Rich with history, sandy beaches, walking tours, ghost tours, carriage rides, galleries, museums, shopping, and of course, fine dining. Charleston has become "one of the South's important culinary capitals."

It has a long list of restaurants and eateries offering a variety of cuisines blended with Charleston's own multicultural heritage. Bocci's has become one of my favorite and for a nice lunch and brew outside on the sidewalk, Southend Brewery. The Pavilion Bar on the rooftop of the Market Pavilion Hotel offers a scenic view of the Market and Charleston Bay at night. The night breeze, the achoholic tease, some light conversation please, are all a part of the experience. No doubt you have your own favorite, but the common fascination is Charleston.

Charleston at one time was not the bustling attraction it is today. Here are some interesting facts you may not know. The Vendue Inn and Rooftop Bar in the lengendary French Quarter was a warehouse. The Magnolias on East Bay Street was a building with its windows knocked out and full of debris before its renovation. Charleston Place and Charleston Grill on Meeting Street was a huge, sandy lot where a JCPenney once stood. Bocci's was built in 1867-1868 by the Molony family and home to Charleston’s first Irish Pub. Hurricane Hugo came calling on Sept. 21, 1989, hammering the Lowcountry with 135-mph winds and washing through downtown with 15 feet of seawater. Since Hugo, Charleston rapidly was transformed into the attraction-destination it is today. Between 1995 and 2000, some 2,600 new hotel rooms opened in Charleston County giving proof of that growth in the travel market.

Cypress, Robert's, Magnolias, SNOB, High Cotton, Grill 225 are just a small sampling from a long list of fine dining Charleston offers to its visitors. What I like is how each establishment utilized the old characteristics of its buildings interior and structure to create the feeling that its heritage was respected and thoughtfully preserved along with a balanced blend of the new. SNOB, Post and Courier's "Restaurant of the Year" 2006, did not get that name because it is uppity and presumptuous. The service is friendly and top notch. It is the acronym for Slightly North of Broad.

SNOB features an open kitchen, but don't be dissappointed if you don't get a table with a view, the food is all the same. Award-winning executive chef Frank Lee and his staff's use of local and seasonal ingredients make the Maverick brand of southern cooking what you will come to love and bring you back time and time again.

If you read the reviews on SNOB the majority are upbeat and positive spattered with a few negatives. C'est la vie, you can't please everyone, and let's face the facts, not all palates are the same. Oh, by-the-way, SNOB was an old 19th century warehouse. Location: 192 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC. Also, try High Cotton and Old Village Post House. Bon appetit. Suggestion, check out  Pat Conroy's South of Broad Walking Tour .-Vacation Rick Travel

Article first written by Rick Dunbar on Vacation Rick blog. Check out all the other articles and travel ads.