The Sylvan Gallery and Halls Chophouse: Partners for the 2011 Palette and Palate Stroll

Located on King Street in Charleston’s art and antique district, The Sylvan Gallery has established a reputation of bringing some of the finest international work to the Charleston forefront. Representing more than 25 artists globally, the gallery focuses on 20th and 21st century representational art. Owned and operated by Joe and Janie Sylvan, the gallery is helping to bring diversity to Charleston’s art scene. The Sylvans bring a combined total of more than thirty years of gallery experience to this warm and inviting gallery.  It is a “must see” gallery in a city that is rapidly becoming one of the premier “destination art markets” in the country. For the Palette and Palate Stroll, the gallery will introduce new works by artist, Michael Harrell.

This year again, the Sylvan Gallery is joined by Halls Chophouse for an unforgettable evening of fine art and exquisite food. Located at 434 King Street, the restaurant is a family inspiration that has taken shape over many years. With extensive experience in the hospitality industry, the Hall family values the importance of true hospitality and comfort. With an experienced team from the kitchen to the dining room, Halls Chophouse offers superior dishes, service and an atmosphere that will entice their guests to stay, enjoy and come back time and again.  The Halls created a “Classic American Steakhouse” – delicious cuisine in an energetic, visually striking environment. The restaurant features exposed brick walls, leather banquettes and warm lighting true to old-world traditional steakhouses.

Jeanne and Bill Hall, Sr. has spent over forty years operating hotels and restaurants in Pinehurst, NC, Hilton Head Island, SC, Napa Valley and Pebble Beach, CA. Bill also managed outposts of the Ritz-Carlton Hotels and the Cloister Resort & Beach Club in Sea Island, GA. Tommy Hall who has spent over ten years in the restaurant business joins the team after 6 years as General Manager with Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in Dallas, TX. Billy Hall has worked around hotels and restaurants throughout his life. He joins the family after working in sports for the last 12 years in Major League Baseball, Major College Football and the NFL. Definitely check out the restaurant for a Sunday brunch! One of the best in Charleston!

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Ella W. Richardson Fine Art & Blu: Partners for the 2011 Palette and Palate Stroll

Blu is a swanky restaurant located alongside Folly Beach. The casual yet elegant restaurant includes indoor and outdoor seating and serves some of the freshest local seafood as well as some exquisite dishes perfect for sharing.

Jon Cropf

The restaurant also features live music and an easy to use online reservation system. Jon Cropf, the executive chef at Blu since November of 2010, comments on the popularity of the “fresh catch of the day” menu item and the array of local fish and produce that can be used in eclectic dishes. Cropf graduated from Johnson & Wales’ in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2005. He knew from about age 12 that he wanted to pursue a career in culinary arts and as he’s grown older, the number of benefits have only grown: “Cooking combines science, artistry, agriculture and the environment. It is an amazing mixture; to me it is like a sporting event.” Cropf started at Blu as a Sous Chef when the restaurant opened in March, 2009 and quickly was promoted to Executive Chef in 2010.

Blu is happy to be paired with Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art for this year’s Stroll. Ella Walton Richardson is honored to be featuring guest artist Karen Weihs, who is celebrating her show entitled “20 Year Journey.” The gallery will showcase around three dozen of her abstract pieces this summer.  Weihs graduated from UGA and began her professional career as a graphic designer.

Karen Weihs

Soon after, she started showcasing her works of modern art in the family restaurants before finding her own gallery space in Charleston in 1995. Karen also teaches regularly at several places throughout the US and Europe. We are so excited to have her art as an integral part of this year’s event.

Ella W. Richardson Fine Art specializes in classical realist and impressionist paintings and sculpture by renowned American, Dutch, Russian and Korean artists. The gallery, located at 58 Broad Street in downtown Charleston, is the exclusive North American representative of Bronze Sculpture by Dutch artist Marianne Houtkamp.

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The Martin Gallery and Social Restaurant + Wine Bar: Partners for the 2011 Palette and Palate Stroll

To get Charleston ready for the Palette and Palate Stroll 2011, we’ve decided to do a feature blog on each pairing for the night.

Martin Gallery of Charleston, SC represents about forty nationally and

Don Dudenbostel 's Photo

internationally known artists. The array of different styles and works of art at the gallery keeps visitors engaged and contemplative. The gallery aims to provide works of thought provoking beauty that enhance residential and commercial surroundings. Not only does the gallery make a commitment to quality work, but the gallery is sustained by its exceptional client relationships. The Martin Gallery is presenting a new show for the month of July titled “Smorgasbord: a Culinary Adventure through X-Ray Photography” by Don Dudenbostel. Through X-ray photography, Don captures the inner beauty of objects in nature, such as flowers or shells. Don seeks to open the viewers’ eyes to something they haven’t previously observed in nature. Don studied photography with Ansel Adams and has exhibited his photography throughout the United States as well as internationally. During the month of July, the Martin Gallery is presenting a new collection of X-ray images by Don Dudenbostel with a focus on unleashing a new perspective on familiar fruits and vegetables.

The Martin Gallery is pleased to be paired with Social Restaurant and Wine Bar for this year’s Stroll.  Social is one of Charleston’s most exciting restaurants, offering the city’s largest selection of wines by the glass. Social is housed in a nineteenth century warehouse and features an exquisite four-thousand bottle display cellar, giving it a chic but casual atmosphere. Within the last couple years the menu has been changed to include food that is more eloquent so as to match the quality of the beverages. These changes were put in place by the bar’s new Executive Chef, Doug Svec.

Doug Svec of Social

Svec was brought on board in February 2010 and strives to continue to learn and experiment with food while providing a unique way to think by using distinct cooking techniques.  He also works with Lowcountry Local First and his delicious Crispy Chicken Thighs with Golden Raisin Compote dish was recently featured on the cover of Food & Wine Magazine.

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