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Mar
11
…to remind you how awesome Columbia is. Sunday evening, the Shop Tart had the great pleasure of playing Patti O’Furniture’s sidekick at a benefit for the Nickelodeon Theatre’s annual Oscar party. Just so you know, this is a verrah important event. This one was sold out and they are working hard to build up their moving fund. Next year, they could be in the new space with room for even more guests. Don’t you love the Nick? Don’t you hate arriving at a show, only to discover it is sold out? Don’t you have room in your budget to donate? Dig deep! Anyhow…
The party was a blast and included some of the best food and wine the Shop Tart has ever enjoyed. The $25 price was far too low. The Shop Tart would like to take a moment to thank all of the sponsors (and list what they provided. You will D.I.E. over the menu!) Many thanks to…
- Immaculate Consumption for allowing the party to overflow into their space and offering their kitchen and staff to make it all happen.
- Spotted Salamander Catering for country ham and spinach dip as well as a delish eggplant bruschetta.
- Cloud Nine for fab green cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles.
- Gervais and Vine for asparagus with romesco sauce.
- The Hunter Gatherer for gourmet pizzas.
- Terra for a deliciously classic shrimp and cocktail sauce platter.
- The Gourmet Shop for a super-fancy cheese platter.
- El Burrito for roasted pork tenderloin with mustard and bread, as well as chips and salsa.
- DiPrato’s for outstanding miniature tomato pies. (Note to self: Must find out how to order these and serve them at every party until the end of time.) Also, delicious pimento cheese and their famous pita crisps.
- Al Amir for hummus, babaganouj and Shop Tart favorite labneh, as well as a few stuffed grape leaves.
- Deborah Yerkes for tasty treats, a cake and cookies.
- Rosewood Market for a delicious party tray that included barbeque tofu, quiche bites and several other delicious appetizers.
- Rhett Bailey and Charlie Yates for fabulously old-school cocktail meatballs. (Love!)
- MoMo’s Bistro for scrumptious barbecue and coleslaw. (Do you know the joys of barbecue and slaw mixed together and served in a roll? You should.)
- Motor Supply Company for a very generous charcuterie platter. (The Shop Tart parked herself by that one for a while!)
- Travis Weatherford for oodles of his divine desserts - loved the lime anise marshmallows and those little pistachio thingies. And the truffles. And the lemon thingies.
- Lindsay Wolfe for chocolate-covered strawberries, apricots dipped in chocolate and various other treats, like these takeaway kisses the Shop Tart forgot to take away for her children. (Please don’t tell them.)
- Cellar on Greene for amazing bubbly. (Really, this was of a much higher caliber than one normally finds at a benefit!)
- The Shop Tart oenotherapist Sam of Baan Sawan and Jennifer of Aleph Wines for sourcing more excellent wine, beer and bubbly.
- Saluda’s for the amazing signature cocktail, the Red Carpetini.
Many, many thanks to Julia Child (or Tracie Broom, as some of us like to call her) for arranging for all the food and drinks and organizing like crazy.
The Shop Tart would also like to thank Debbie McDaniel and Heather Craig of Revente and Sid & Nancy for providing gift bags from the shops for “best dressed” prizes and providing fabulously attired mannequins for decor.
(Psssst...all of those dresses are available at Revente, for prices you won’t believe!)
Valet US provided rides home for overly-merry party goers for a flat fee, rather than their usual mileage charge. (Once again, the Shop Tart would like to remind you we have two services like this in Columbia. They drive you home in your own car, then leave on an electric scooter they have conveniently stashed in your trunk. The number for Valet US is 528-6559 and Zingo is 477-0066. Just do it!)
The Shop Tart did not get any photos of herself or the lovely Patti O’Furniture, but ABC Columbia and Alicia Barnes got some great footage, linked to in yesterday’s post.
Speaking of Patti O’Furniture, she was the highlight of Tuesday’s mayoral forum at Trustus Theatre. The Shop Tart finds one usually doesn’t learn anything new at these forums, but it is interesting to see the candidates’ reactions to Miss O’Furniture, n’est-ce pas? When Larry and Patti start talking, do turn up the sound.
Did you watch through to the end? Did you catch Patti’s shout-out to Cromer’s P-Nuts? Have you been to Cromer’s lately? Well, you should. They have everything you need for St. Patrick’s Day (and every other party you will ever have in your life). They are expanding their popcorn line to include more gourmet choices like dill pickle pepper corn and rosemary garlic. (The Shop Tart sampled both of those, among others, and loved them. Later, she learned Chisolm Crouch of Hydrangea House catering is helping develop new flavors, including those two.) The Shop Tart’s favorite was probably this one, caramel and cheese mixed together. (She is a simple person, according to her mother-in-law. Ahem.) That may sound not-so-good, but trust her. Outstanding!
They even have green for St. Patrick’s Day.
The Shop Tart’s children loved the green cotton candy and so did she. It tastes like green Jolly Ranchers.
The peanut brittle, Cromer’s own recipe, was so delicious it disappeared before the Shop Tart got a second piece.
The Shop Tart learned Cromer’s is great for gift baskets with a real local flavor, too. She will mos def be heading there for hostess gifts soon.
They are the one-stop shop for all things party. Need a nacho or Sno-Kone machine? Popcorn maker? Hot dog machine? Done. Rent or buy. (Go ahead. Buy it. The neighborhood kids will love you. And you’ll be “the cool chick/guy with the nacho machine”.)
Feel like eating in? No problem.
Cromer’s is a great place to score cool party supplies, from funny hats and trinkets for favor bags, to plates, cups and huge bags of their famous popcorn. (And don’t forget that, in addition to all the wacky stuff, they have plenty of basics too, like balloons, plates and napkins in a variety of colors.)
Don’t miss the boiled peanuts, “Guaranteed Worst in Town.” (But they aren’t. They are actually the best. It’s a joke, yo.)
Cromer’s has been “Guaranteed Worst in Town” for 75 years, now run by Carolette Turner, original owner Julian Cromer’s granddaughter. (Read their story to find out why.)
Next time you are planning a party or just want to be some kid’s hero for a few dollars, stop by Cromer’s on Huger Street. (And don’t forget the peanuts.)
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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10 Responses to “In which we take a break from chatter about Charleston…”
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YAY! Thank you so much for the huge food + bev sponsor shout-out from the Nick Oscar party! Everyone we contacted was so incredibly generous. I have a feeling that if we’d had time to ask more restaurants, the donations would have fed Fort Jackson. (In style.)
Not enough was said about your own awesome co-hosting. You were so great! And that bright coral one-shoulder dress you were sporting…magic!
I’m so glad those beers and wines worked out! Jennifer did the bulk of the work in the choosing but, as your oeno-therapist, i did offer some guidelines for your treatment.
pity we missed it but, on the plus side, we were sober and asleep by 11:00pm. (i know how i’ve been at these oscar parties…it wouldn’t do for you to see your oeno-therapist like that…)
Tracie - Thanks! There will be more about that dress when I post about my trip to Novel.
Baan - The wine was GREAT. I’ll see y’all later this evening - coming there for dinner.
I will not this party next year, but will you help me choose what to wear?
Pug so wanted to go to Oscar Party — sounds AMAZING!
I left out “miss.” Sorry.
I can’t wait to party with your Mom at next year’s Nickelodeon Oscar bash!
Hey Mama — Can’t wait to see what you’re going to wear next year! Although why wait? Surely we can find another excuse (or five) for a party dress before then.
Love,
Your less fashionable but somehow much cooler daughter
PS to ST: just kidding?
Mom - I will totally help you choose an outfit. IN FACT, The Shop Tart will provide styling help to anyone who donates $100 or more to the Nick’s capital campaign fund. How about that? I’ll meet you at Revente or the store of your choice. I’ll even bring coffee.
Elizabeth - Agreed. About the partying, not the (non)fact that you are cooler than I. But you are. But I am too cool to care. So hahaha.
Eloise - Perhaps I can help you with styling at a store of your choice, such as Pupcakes?
Tracie - Partying with my mom will be very.
Wow! I love Meryl Tracie!!!