Vickery’s Bar and Grill on Beaufain Street was robbed at gunpoint shortly after 2 a.m. Monday, Charleston police said.

The robbers put two employees into a walk-in cooler, a police report said.

The employees freed themselves after about 10 minutes and called police, the report said. The amount stolen during the robbery was not released by police.

That report comes from the local paper, and strangely enough, last night’s robbery at Vickery’s is eerily similar to a crime at another Shem Creek restaurant: Shem Creek Bar & Grill was robbed back in January and the employees were locked in the cooler then too!

It’s that time of year again! The 2009 Charleston Food + Wine Festival is here for a 4 day weekend with sunny weather all 4 days and temperatures in the low 70′s from Friday on – just in time for everybody to come out and enjoy the event!

Win the once-in-a-lifetime chance to cook on stage with critically-acclaimed chef/restaurateur and Food Network television personality Bobby Flay!

The Charleston Food + Wine Festival was named one of the best U.S. Food + Wine Festival’s by Forbes Traveler!

We all know The Lowcountry has exceptional chefs, a celebrated food history and a distinctive regional cuisine unlike any other, so come out and enjoy the good weather with food and friends!

“Charleston has become the culinary capital of the South…” – John Alex Floyd
Editor in Chief, Southern Living magazine

Festival Events

The BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival runs through Sunday. Tickets are still available to the events listed below. To see the full schedule and purchase tickets, visit charlestonfoodandwine.com, call 843-577-6235, or go to the ticketing tent at Marion Square. The tent will open 10 a.m. each day.

Free events

• Opening ceremony 11 a.m. today at Marion Square.
• Live Charity Auction, 2:30 p.m. today at Marion Square

Tickets remain to:

• The Culinary Village and Grand Tasting Tents:

• 2-5 p.m. today – $45
• 10 a.m-1 p.m. or 2-5 p.m. Saturday – $55, and
• 1-5 p.m. Sunday – $45 ($35 for locals).

• King Street Sip + Stroll, 3-6 p.m. today, $40.
• Restaurant Dine-Arounds at Tristan or Circa, 6:30 tonight, $150.
• Pinot Envy Uncorked!, 3-6 p.m. Saturday, $75.
• 1,000 Point Wine Tasting, 3-5 p.m. Saturday, $450.
• Lowcountry Gospel Brunch, 11 a.m. Sunday, $55.
• BBQ & Blues, 4-7 p.m. Sunday, $75.

Event director Angel Postell says the goal is to raise $50,000 for MUSC Children’s Hospital and another $10,000 for scholarships at The Art Institute of Charleston, The College of Charleston, and Trident Technical College.

* UPDATE: Food + Wine Festival reports record attendance