Beaufort's City Loft Hotel blog

Fresh peppers from the Beaufort Farmers Market

There’s just something so special about fresh produce, isn’t there?

This time of year in Beaufort, SC we have a farmers market in a different section of the county nearly every day. And when we say Farmers Market, we mean ‘everything’ market. You can find everything from vegetables to incredible breads, plants, corn hole sets and the best barbecue sandwich and dumplings you’ve ever bitten into.

When you stay at City Loft we often try to bring the Farmers Market to you. It’s not unusual to find a big basket of fresh veggies and fruits downstairs at City Java & News.

City Java only does fresh

When we can we try to incorporate those local foods into our dishes.

So if you’re coming from out of town we hope you’ll stay with us and then take the time to visit some of our wonderful markets and vendors. A full list of markets in the area, when they’re held and where you can find them can be found at TheDigitel Beaufort.

City Java & News is proud to support our local farmers by purchasing

locally grown organic produce whenever possible

It’s not a huge deal, but we’re pretty excited to say we hosted Savannah Fox28‘s weekend news anchor Jennifer Beale over at City Loft last weekend.

Jennifer enjoyed the sites and made a trip out to Hunting Island, and from what we understand she had a great time.
Here’s the review she offered up for us on our Facebook Fan Page:

Relaxing at this amazing hotel. Bathroom to die for. Design and color combos that have my mind spinning about what I should try at my home. Sandwiches at their cafe are REAL sandwiches. Turkey and cheese on focaccia.. Delicious! Chic. Modern. Beaufort’s best!

We’re so glad Jennifer enjoyed herself at what we feel is a great hotel option in the heart of Beaufort, SC. We’ll see you soon, Jennifer.

Flickr user Hugging the Coast

The Historic Beaufort Foundation is putting on their 10th annual oyster roast on Friday, January 29th.

Come out and not only will you get to eat some great Lowcountry oysters, but you’ll get to support a great cause while learning more about the history of Beaufort.

Here’s all you need to know from the e-mailed release:

- Tickets are still available for the 10th annual oyster roast sponsored by Historic Beaufort Foundation January 29th. Open to HBF members and the general public, the event kicks off the Foundation’s annual membership campaign. Guests, who have never before been members, receive a one-year complimentary membership with the price of the ticket.

2010 marks the third year that Tombee has been opened to HBF and its guests by owners Deborah and Sydney Snelgrove who, with local craftsman Beek Webb, conducted a major restoration to the property in 2008. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the ca. 1810 plantation and its grounds will be open to ticket holders.

Tickets are $40 per person and a few reservations are still available for the 5:30 p.m. servings of oysters, chicken gumbo, corn bread, beverages and dessert. More space is available at the 7 p.m. serving. The grounds and the bonfires will be open to guests throughout the evening. The bar opens at 5 p.m.

Tickets will not be sold at the door and must be purchased by January 26th at the HBF office at 208 Street, or ordered and charged to a credit card by calling the office at 379-3331 or online at www.historicbeaufort.org. The office is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The oyster roast will be catered by Reeves Outdoor Catering of Bluffton. Beek Webb and the Lowcountry Ramblers will provide music.

Have you heard of City Java & News?

Located near the corner of Carteret and Port Republic streets in historic downtown Beaufort, the spot is a great place to grab a cup of coffee on the way into work, or take a quick break on a walking tour of the downtown area and historic Point.

Stephanie Fairbanks, general manager of the adjoining City Loft Hotel, remarks that “there’s just a really nice energy in the coffee shop. There’s a fresh vibe and it’s very cheerful.”

The coffee blends are provided by Island Coffee. Four regular coffees are available including a “Sunrise,” french roast, decaf, and Costa Rica organic. There’s also a fifth including a regularly changing seasonal blend — presently “Flores Bajawa Ngura.”

Bottled water, organic no-sugar added juices, and cane-sugar sodas are also available.

A staple of muffins, biscotti, cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon roles, and a 72-layer biscuit with ham and cheese is offered.

For lunch a number of sandwiches, chips, and soups are offered.

There’s plenty of space with a sidewalk patio, and rear conference room that can be reserved for privative meetings with advance notice.

And don’t forget that free Wi-Fi internet is always on.

Breakwater Restaurant & Bar has brought back its “Recession Tuesdays” under the new name of “Thank God It’s Tuesday.”

$17 will land you a full meal with the special menu available from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays throughout January and February. They’ll also be offering two wines by the glass for $5 all night.

Reservations are recommended or you can always get our full menu in the bar.

Breakwater is located next door to the City Loft Hotel.

A map (dated 1771) of South Carolina from the Savannah Sound to St. Helena.

Come January 17, 2011, Beaufort will be 300 years old. If you have a phobia to math, know that the mark means Beaufort was charted in 1711 and is one of the nation’s oldest cities.

But the city isn’t planning to mark the occasion with a passing hurrah, for years the community has been working on the Beaufort Three-Century Project as a way to gain perspective on where the town has been and how it can make the most of its future.

The Beaufort Gazette has a short report on the status of the project; you can read it over here.

For those unfamiliar with Beaufort, know that one of the oldest parts of the town is modern-day downtown Beaufort.

If you’re not local and would like to get to know the town more, consider dropping by City Java & News as a headquarters for a day trip (it’s smack dab in the heart of the history — but you can still wire out to the modern world thanks to the free wifi), or stay in town for a couple days, book a night at our boutique hotel City Loft Hotel.

Here’s a quick photo of the 2010 parade on a warm winter day in downtown Beaufort.

The photo was taken in front of City Java & News.

Saltus, one of Beaufort’s premier downtown restaurants with one of the best views around, is offering up a pair of deals that will make sure you’re down there often enough to take advantage of their lovely patio with a view of the Beaufort River and Waterfront Park.

Particularly on a day like this lovely Sunday!

First up we have the “Half Priced Sushi & Sake Sundays and Mondays.” It’s going on now and is good through February 28th. Dine in only.

They’re also offering the “Early Dining Menu at Saltus.” From 5 to 6 p.m. they offer three courses of select menu items offered for $19 per person and $5 wines.

No coupon needed!

www.saltusrivergrill.com (843) 379-3474. They’re at 802 Bay Street.

Also, don’t forget that downtown Beaufort will soon welcome a revamped Plums!

We know, newspaper’s are talked about more often these days as a joke than and not for people actually wanting one, but let’s face it: They’re still very much worth reading, even if it is hard to justify a subscription to more than one.

When you find yourself with an urge to see the daily paper it can be hard to find one spot in Beaufort (much less downtown) that offers all of the region’s best papers along with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and The New York Times.

Well, if you come to City Java & News we sell those three iconic papers, and the leading local ones:

• The Beaufort Gazette: William Elliott, a Beaufort attorney, founded Beaufort’s paper of record in 1897. The paper publishes seven days a week.
• The Post and Courier: Charleston’s paper is the oldest daily newspaper in the South and the eighth oldest newspaper in the United States.
• The Savannah Morning News: This paper traces its roots to 1850.

Whether you want one or three, you’ll be able to see the headlines of each before choosing.

We also offer the local free paper, Lowcountry Weekly

If you’re in Beaufort and in need of a newspaper, City Java & News is a great spot to find the region’s best — and maybe grab a coffee to enjoy with that paper.

Come the spring of 2010, we’ll all be seeing a lot more of the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce as it gets closer to the heart of downtown and the City Loft Hotel.

The chamber will be moving into the historic Arsenal building at 713 Craven Street, the space will not only also double as a meeting and event venue but it will be the official visitor center.

The central and iconic location will immediately immerse visitors in Beaufort’s historic surroundings.

The yellow fort-like building was built in 1798 as home of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, but the building saw major changes in 1852 when it was rebuilt in its present Gothic style.

In addition to serving as the home of the BVA, the building has also served as a venue for parties, plays, political events, fundraisers, lectures and dances.

In 1939 the Beaufort Museum was chartered and housed in a first-floor wing constructed during a 1930s expansion funded through the depression-era Works Projects Administration. In 1966 the National Guard moved out of the building, and the museum relocated into the second story following a renovation.

For many years the building housed government offices as well as the family court and the museum. In 2001 the city leased the building to Historic Beaufort Foundation. During its tenure, HBF renovated the interior with the use of its revolving fund. In 2008-9 the exterior was restored with a Save America’s Treasures grant the foundation secured from the National Park Service. Additional funding support came from the City of Beaufort and Beaufort County. The foundation turned the keys and the museum artifacts back to the city this year.