Places to Be: Spencer’z South

It’s not just the owners who can get me to come visit their favorite place to be. Anyone can e-mail me and ask me to come on down. For example, last week Phil from the Inlyn Gruve band e-mailed me to come down to Spencer’z South to see them play. This gave me the perfect excuse to head down to Murrells Inlet and check out Spencer’z South.
At the intersection of Pendergrass Ave. and Highway 17, Spencer’z South is a huge place with great character from the moment you walk up the steps to the front door. Inside, the place is virtually split into two separate areas. Immediately upon entering, there is a comfy bright barroom with several tables, a digital jukebox, dart games and TVs. If you keep going, you come to the short flight of stairs leading down to a huge room with high ceilings and plenty of space for tables. On a raised platform, there is more seating on the “backside” of the bar from the other room. What a great design effect. I fell in love with the place immediately.
On the lower level, there was a second bar against one wall, and on the opposite end of the room was a stage and a spot for a couple of pool tables. The back of the room had an extension that looked like it could be partitioned off as a private banquet room if needed.

Inlyn Gruve is in the House!

Inlyn Gruve is in the House!

The stage was big enough to fit all of the members of Inlyn Gruve and their guest members. They played a great mix of classic rhythm and blues and rock ‘n’ roll. There was enough room in front of the stage for some couples to dance. (more…)

Published in: on March 26, 2009 at 17:14  Comments (1)  
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Places to Be: Studebaker’s

Elvis is in the house @ Studebaker's in Myrtle Beach

Elvis is in the house @ Studebaker's in Myrtle Beach

One of the first places I went to as an adult — i.e. 21 years old — was a little theme place just outside Pittsburgh. It has a ‘50s rock theme and the waitresses and staff would jump up on the tables and dance.
The girl I was seeing at the time absolutely fell in love with Studebaker’s and took me there for dinner on my birthday.
Later that year, while on vacation with my family, I discovered another Studebaker’s in Myrtle Beach. Turns out that it was a franchise. As the years passed, the Pittsburgh Studebaker’s disappeared, and family vacations became rare as I worked my way through college.
Since I have moved down here permanently, I have been in Studebaker’s a few times, but the place wasn’t my regular scene. I have always been more of a Beatles man, and Studebaker’s was decidedly more Elvis.
That’s not to say I have anything against Elvis. I love Elvis. My mom raised me on Elvis 45s and movies. I even liked that Western one in which he doesn’t sing.
Studebaker’s is very Elvis. The long bar in the front is straight out of a ‘50s diner. The waitresses are in cheerleader style uniforms and still do their dance routines, although the music is not limited to oldies.
There are old cars, old gas station signs and memorabilia from the bebopping days of yore. In addition, Studebaker’s is probably one of the best-lit dance clubs I have ever visited. It also sports one of the largest dance floors on the beach.
Speaking of Elvis, he was the reason I went to Studebaker’s last Friday. I was invited to check out Studebaker’s and their Elvis show by Doug Kelly. (See how easy it is to get me to review your favorite place to be? Just e-mail me, and a Wham-Bam-Boom, there I am).
Michael Sokolik, the “beach’s only young Elvis” tribute artist was performing a double set of Elvis songs, and brought in quite a crowd for the early start time. His show was fun and full of humor and good singing. Sokolik covered all the bests from Elvis’ young years to his Vegas days (still as young Elvis).
I ordered a personal pizza and some cheese sticks to munch on while I watched the show. Doug and I split a pitcher of Studebaker’s Tropical Punch. The mix of rum, Midori melon liqueur, peach schnapps and tropical juices made for a very good sipping drink.
Studebaker’s has plenty of tables, a balcony, a second bar in the back and a couple of game rooms, but dancing is the name of the game at Studebaker’s, and locals and tourists of all ages regularly pack the place.
Studebaker’s is also one of the prime Shagging spots on the beach, and will be hosting the Shagging Nationals on March 12-14.
For some good old shagging good time, Studebaker’s is the place to be. To check out more.
Visit www.studebakersclub.com.

Published in: on March 9, 2009 at 13:39  Comments (1)  
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Places to Be-Sam’s Corner

 

Sam's Corner, Myrtle Beach

Sam's Corner, Myrtle Beach

Hot dogs: Is there a more American food than hot dogs? Sure, some people may argue that its really a German food or that corn or turkey could be considered more American because they are native to the land. 
However, you don’t go to the ball game and order corn on the cob. You don’t celebrate the Fourth of July out in the back yard grilling up some turkey breast.
I am sure I have mentioned that hot dogs are my favorite food, and have been since … well longer than I can remember. And yes, I have been told all the dreadful tales of supposed ingredients and health risks. In fact, those culinary horror stories inspired my award-winning piece entitled “No one here gets out alive.” (Reprinted Here at PirateJournalism.com)
However, we are straying from the point, which was that hot dogs were one of the first things I ate as a new resident of Myrtle Beach.
I was meeting with a real estate agent about an apartment shortly after I had loaded up the Buick and made the 700-mile exodus to the promised land of the Grand Strand. I had basically bet everything on this trip, burned my bridges and hoped that I could find a place to live, a job and a life before my tiny bankroll ran out. Well, after signing a lease for a new apartment, I decided it was time for a reward — and lunch.
Lo and behold, right there next to the realtor’s office was Sam’s Corner. Well, okay, it was one of them. They have three locations: Garden City, Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island. I was at the Myrtle Beach location in the plaza on the 77th North block of Highway 17. It wasn’t on a corner — closer to the center of the plaza — but I was nitpicking.
Sam’s is a narrow place with booths on one side and “old-style diner” bar seating on the other. The walls are alive with vintage style signs advertising chili-cheese fries and “state fair-style Italian sausage hot dogs.” However, this place had me at “World Famous Hot Dogs.”
I grew up as a purist of my hot dogs. Weiner, bun and ketchup — that was all that you needed or should have on a hot dog. Of course, over the years, I have matured and come to enjoy the variety of things you can put on your dog, except for maybe onions. In addition, I usually don’t go for chilidogs, but Sam’s proved to be the exception.
Their basic foot long comes with chili, mustard and onions (I get them with no-onions), and dawg-gone-it, if these aren’t the best chilidogs I have ever had.
Moreover, Sam’s is not just a one-trick pony. Their Ocean Burger — served on a pita with cheddar and American cheese and ranch dressing — is good, too. In addition, while it is not my thing, I have a buddy who raves about the El Paso sandwich — grilled pimento cheese, bacon, jalapeños and tomato on wheat.
I have also enjoyed hearty, hot breakfasts there. In addition, if you need a little pick-me-up or nightcap, they offer draft beers and a selection of cocktails and frozen drinks.
While Sam’s Corner may not be one of those big flashy touristy places to be, I am here to tell you that those chili dogs are well worth the trip.

 

(Originally published in the Myrtle Beach Herald.)

Published in: on February 20, 2009 at 23:56  Comments Off  
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Places to Be: Original Mr. Fish

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Places to Be to bring you this special issue.
I know that in the last issue I told you about my plans to present you with some tourist oriented places that you might want to check out before the summer crowds arrive. However, two things happened over the last week: First, I had a terrible cold that put me out of the mood for visiting tourist spots, and second, I enjoyed a spectacular lunch from The Original Mr. Fish.
Fish is a trick food for me. I love it, but my desire to order it rarely comes up. I don’t know what it is exactly, but sometimes I will see a restaurant that specializes in fish and, blam, that is what I want. That is how I came across Mr. Fish.
I was heading toward the office after a morning meeting and I came across The Original Mr. Fish, located at 3401 N. Kings Highway. Right then, I knew it was lunchtime.
Mr. Fish is an intimate place. It is brightly colored and a friendly environment. There were maybe a half-dozen tables for seating, with a few tables outside on the sidewalk. It was lunchtime and the place was full. I was happy that I was getting take out and didn’t have to wait for a seat.
On the other hand, I was kind of jealous of the people eating in. While I waited, I watched some truly excellent customer service going on in the midst of the crazy lunchtime rush. The waiter was on the ball, and Ted Hammerman, the owner, seemed to make time to stop and talk to everyone.
It seems that Ted really knows his fish. Apparently, Ted is a well-respected consultant to the international fishing industry and has an impressive resume. He also offers catering in addition to the restaurant, consulting, seafood supply, bait and … well, just about every service you can think of that involves fish.
I ordered a fish sandwich and she-crab soup from the menu, which I almost regretted. The specials board listed a lot of tasty sounding meals, including seafood lasagna.
However, I had made my choice, and would have to live with it.
When I got to the office and finally got to dig into my meal, I had no regrets.
The sandwich had a perfectly cooked piece of fish.
There was a generous side of fries, and more importantly, a very generous supply of tartar sauce.
The she crab soup was something different. To be honest, I wasn’t impressed with my first taste of it, but with every spoonful, it got better and better. By the time I reached the bottom of the bowl, I found myself wanting more.
The Original Mr. Fish is a great place to be for lunch, but I suggest you plan ahead. It gets crowded, and even with the great customer service, it may take awhile. If you can, call ahead for take out orders (843.839.FISH), Mr. Fish is well worth the extra effort.

(Originally Published in the Myrtle Beach Herald)

Published in: on February 16, 2009 at 19:15  Comments Off  
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Setting Sail!

Ahoy!
This is just a quick note to let you in on what is going on. I am migrating to WordPress, and bringing along my old stuff from Beach Ninja Blues, and am going to consolidate my writings from several different sources here in a single blog. Soon, you should be able to find all my movie reviews, Places to Be, Geek Strand columns and everything else I write about here in one spot. I have already imported my Beach Ninja posts, so expect more and more updates to show up during the next few days.

Published in: on February 2, 2009 at 14:04  Comments Off  
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