February 12, 2016

Wonders of Greenville's West End - A Rabbit's Eye View

February 12, 2016/ Wendy Lynam

While winter did indeed get around to visiting Greenville, General Beauregard Lee and Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, PLUS, it’s Valentine’s week, SO, what better time to take a stroll in the West End and see what’s what! I’ll share with you a few of the sights that caught my eye.

Of course I picked one of the chilliest, most blustery days to get my hop and shop on. Lucky for me, Swamp Rabbits come with a fur coat as standard issue! I know! How about we start with a little coffee to warm up? Bex Café is one of the newest editions to the West End and if you walk straight up to Main from the Swamp Rabbit Inn, cozy classic, Bex is the first business you come to on the corner. How perfect is that?!

Fluffing my fur as I head out with my cuppa, I’m not thinking beach time, but Splash on Main does have the right attitude! It’s cruise wear season in swimsuit world and Splash has the fashion to get you set for the Lido Deck.

Coming up on Custard and Mainstream they are definitely feeling the love. Such cute dresses they both have too! Lots of special sales in the West End this week involving pink and red so be sure to check in with your favorites.

The old and new mingle in this historic district. A lot of cranes towering over the details of a more ornate era. A little too early for a drink, but, On the Roxx will be ready and waiting when we are!

Be still my heart! Free books! travel books! Out in front of Joe’s Place Bookstore. They decided to lighten the inventory a bit for Valentine’s Day. How generous! Ooh, here’s one on the Amazon, the Nile… That’s it! I could start a travel agency for Swamp Rabbits. Destination: the world’s great rivers. I’ll call it “Hare Travel”! Moving on… It’s getting a bit…froggy out here. Did you guys lose your way back to the Reedy? A little froyo for the Blueberry Frog and this escapee from Christopher Park Gallery found the bar at Rainer’s Café to rewet his whistle. Just another frog king having a smoke! Pace yourself, buddy; it's early.

Meanwhile, across the street in Provence…, er, Postcard From Paris and Vintage Now Modern, I’ll peruse the shabby chic and sublime finds for some home décor to liven up the burrow and maybe delight some friends with the perfect stylish accent. Oui, oui, mon cheri!

But what about the kitchen? Oh this is lovely! My people! Now I have everybunny on my Valentine list covered! Rainbow carrots, my favorite! Thank you, Cook’s Station!

Speaking of greens… Crossing over to Augusta Street, a restaurant after my own heart, hearts of romaine, one hopes! Green Lettuce, organic and so fresh. Ahhh.

Now that we’ve grazed a bit, next door, eclectic fashion and all kinds of interesting items delight the eye in Emporium. This is a fun shop. My uncle Roger will love this lamp! I could spend hours in here!

Perhaps we should catch a show tonight at the Warehouse Theatre. I love Chekhov! Always something interesting to see here! We can have a bite of sushi at Purple beforehand ( I love a seaweed salad!). Everything on the menu is a feast for the senses and as you can see, rabbit approved!

Evidence that spring is on the way is found at Augusta 20. Their windows are in the perfect place to catch the late afternoon sun so all their accessories gleam and sparkle. Sandals and soft colors are on display!

Spring can't get here fast enough? How about we duck into the spa to take the edge off that cabin fever (please don't actually let the ducks in - noisy!). That robe looks so cozy! The Spa At the West End has the full compliment of spa and salon services to give you back your glow.

How could I blog without a nod to the bike? Carolina Triathlon has something in my size! In the same block, the event venues Zen and Old Cigar Warehouse have set the scene for many a happy memory for Wedding party guests of the Swamp Rabbit Inn.

Speaking of cycles, not to be outdone, Edward Jones provides us with a late winter still-life: Frozen Water Dish w/ Schwinn. The Trolley will save me the hop back to the Falls on the Reedy.

I hope you enjoyed our tour around the West End! A little wild, a little weird an a whole lotta warm and wonderful. Come on down and fall in love!

--Percy

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January 08, 2016

Hopping into the New Year! Greenville Bed and Breakfast Looks Ahead to 2016

January 08, 2016/ Wendy Lynam

Who doesn’t love a fresh start? By all accounts, Greenville had a smashingly successful and eventful 2015, but we’re only beginning to pick up steam! Greenvillians are full of big plans and big dreams for 2016. As we look toward the horizon we see the cityscape growing, changing and glittering. More corner cafés are opening, stylish apartments are being built and more services for urban dwellers are filling in to make our metro hum. Downtown Greenville’s continued attention to arts and culture is adding layers of intrigue and vibrance.

The Swamp Rabbit Trail will expand in several directions in the new year and the features that support it will develop along with it. A new park just to the west of downtown is in the design phase and will center on the Trail and the Reedy River.

Here at the Inn all of the bunnies are reflecting on the past year and Inn-visioning for the future as well.

Innkeeper, Wendy Lynam’s favorite memory of 2015 was the grand finale of Truck Inn Tuesday. Greenville was showing the love with the biggest turnout of the summer that included a spontaneous petition by attendees to keep it going through fall. Community spirit was high and a good time was had by all. Patience! Summer will come again!

Wendy’s favorite Greenville happening was watching the Farmer’s Market grow and combine with other features like outdoor yoga in the parks for an all-around sublime Saturday out and about. Another highlight of 2015 was the Greenville Chamber's Inter Community Leadership visit to Austin TX.

For 2016 our Innkeeper looks forward most to meeting all the cool people that stay at the inn and properties, quality time with her girls, taking her yoga practice to new levels, unveiling the new organic farm at the Swamp Rabbit Lodge, riding her bike in Greenville's glorious countryside, turning her "Cycling Greenville SC" guidebook into an app, revealing our cool new designer kits and our amazing new event on April 3rd (stay tuned) and watching the West End grow and swirl around the Inn. Whew!!

AJ Maronie, Housekeeping Queen, loved hosting the chefs that graced our halls and, ahem, ‘rehearsed’, in our kitchen throughout 2015. Attending the Competition Dining Series and becoming friends with Chef Heidi Billotto were highlights. AJ especially enjoyed watching the Swamp Rabbit Properties become a favorite hub for new residents relocating to Greenville. She likes being able to give a warm welcome to folks and assist in easing the transition with long term stays in our diverse range of accommodations. Publicly, Mrs. Maronie is excited by the rumors that a light rail system is being considered here in Greenville to make traveling in and around the urban centers efficient and stress free. Personally, career growth, increased prosperity, a peaceful environment and a little more travel top her wish list.

Lisa Parks, Manager and Retail Wizardess, was amused, flummoxed and aggravated by turns in 2015 with the saga of capturing the wild, urban rooster, General Pickens (blog post to follow), but can now claim Rooster Whisperer status. This city girl turned farmer tended our hay bale garden and hydroponic tower garden to yield amazing amounts of greens, squash, watermelons and tomatoes.

Her pick for significant Inn event: the addition of the beloved Bike Shed to the Swamp Rabbit Properties, expanding retail in the West End and satisfying everyone’s need for bike rentals, Latte Rides, Bunny Rides, bike apparel and bike jewelry.

Top of her wish list? For all, a life less consumed by auto use, which she knows is a strange wish for a Motor City girl!

Not so surprisingly, Artist at Large, and cycling nut, Kathleen King, echoes the desire for a friendlier future for the car-free and car-optional lifestyle. She looks forward to seeing infrastructure blossom with bike lanes in Greenville County, making the roads safer for all. Her favorite aspect of the Inn this past year was seeing the local community embrace it as a convenient central meeting place for monthly gatherings and special events. Ms. King’s personal focus this year is expanding the public art landscape as she launches a non-profit to achieve that goal. In addition, she says she’s only just begun to explore the South and looks forward to that relationship deepening.

As for me, your Bunny Blogger at Large (in my burrow under the pecan tree), Watching Greenville dominate all those national top ten lists was a fun surprise that filled all of us with pride! Watching you bipeds in general is immensely entertaining. I’m a romantic and the wedding parties that have sashayed through the Inn bring a joy to my heart. Y’all are so adorable heading out all gussied up, nervous and thrilled all at once. In my wild dreams you folks keep planting more backyard/sideyard/frontyard… gardens. Carrots are especially hearty and easy to grow! May Greenville continue to manicure the banks of my beloved river and my family’s namesake Swamp Rabbit Trail. The keyword for Greenville in this new year is “Motion”! Tallyho, 2016!

--Percy

December 13, 2015

We're Only as Cool as our Guests Who Stay At This Greenville, SC Bed and Breakfast - Which Means We're Really Cool!

December 13, 2015/ Wendy Lynam

What makes a house a home? What makes a hotel memorable, unique, a home away from home? You would probably say a lot of the same things for both. First of all, one needs to feel at ease, comfortable, welcome. Next on the list, for most, would include feeling appreciated and valued. Last but not least, most of us want to be in an aesthetically pleasing setting that sets a tone of style and fun. The Swamp Rabbit Inn accomplishes all these goals by providing an environment that is both calm and energizing, casual and bright, and squeaky clean with an air of contemporary European design. The spaces are open, warm and full of light, just like our staff and the combination encourages guests to make themselves at home and enjoy their stay in their own way. We love the people who choose to stay at this Greenville, SC bed and breakfast!

Which brings us to the real secret of our success: our guests! We simply have the coolest guests ever! So far in our short history we have had the pleasure of hosting an eclectic mix of fun and tremendously Inn-teresting people! From the many local groups who use the Inn as a hub for meetings or a venue for day long events to the visitors from far and wide, around the globe who come to Greenville for business, pleasure or both, to the wedding parties, families, companies, teams and organizations who take over the whole place for a night, weekend or longer, all have added their character to the ‘house’ and contribute to its unique identity and presence as a West End urban gem. Add to that our own events: Truck Inn Tuesdays, Hoptoberfest, Tuesday Morning Latte Rides, Holiday Hoppenings,... and the result is a hum of activity that represents the best of Greenville.

We've met chefs and playwrights, cyclists and journalists, Googlers and musicians, activists and entrepreneurs, CEOs, developers and students. Below is a sampling of the vibrant folks who have passed through our doors since they opened less than two whirlwind years ago.