Good Tack: Cheryl and Kelsey Baird connect these gorgeous steeds with their perfect owners. See “Dark Beauty,” page 92.
Horse
Show GREER’S FRIESIAN MARKETPLACE IS THE STUFF OF EQUINE DREAMS
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ABBEVILLE
ALTA VISTA
212 Dungannon
502 Crescent Avenue $1,049,601
6,000 sq. ft. in Main House, 4,000 sq. ft. in Detached Garage/Boathouse | 49 Acres
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2 Half Bathrooms
Listed by Jack Herlong 864-313-2520
Local Expertise, Global Reach
Featuring Fine Upstate Homes . . . Like Yours. E TAT ES TE! T S A INE PST E F HE U H T T IN
OCK
P
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D G TIN RED LIS / COVE W NE LOT W R TE WA
ON CHANTICLEER GOLF COURSE
LAKE HARTWELL
100 Chapman Place $7,500,605
114 Keowee Club Road $2,950,689
5 Bedrooms, 6 Bathrooms, 3 Half Bathrooms | Six Acres | Over 12,000 sq. ft.
6 Bedrooms, 6 Bathrooms, 3 Half Bathrooms | 3.43 Acres Co-listed with Jody Lovell/Highlands Sotheby’s International Realty
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THE CLIFFS AT KEOWEE
CHANTICLEER SECTION IX
724 Cliffs Vista Parkway $1,299,682
12 Lawson Way $1,135,605
4 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, 1 Half Bathroom | Tom Fazio Golf Course View
5 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, 1 Half Bathroom | 0.70 Acre | Inground Pool
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The Word on the Street…
One McDaniel Greene | Greenville South Carolina 29601 Office: 864-297-3450 jha-sothebysrealty.com © MMXVII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Liberty over the Reedy is used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
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Painting by Melissa Anderson, “Liberty over the Reedy”
Planning to buy or sell your home in Greater Greenville this Spring? So are we…
2/19/18 1:47 PM
FIRST
Glance
4 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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Bush and Bramble: “I took this photo in Devon, England, on the moors near High Tor. They are wild Devon ponies—one was a pregnant mare, I believe.” For more, see “Double Lens,” page 58. Photograph by Monica Stevenson
The quality you expect and the compassion that can only be found here.
Need a doctor?
Visit BonSecours.com/Greenville or call 864-610-5639.
MARCH 2018 / 5
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Luxury Service at Every Price Point EQUESTRIAN ESTATE
23 ACRE EQUESTRIAN ESTATE
275 Montgomery Drive, Spartanburg $2,750,000 | MLS#1350714 Damian Hall Group 828-808-8305
8 Moss Falls Lane, Cliffs at Glassy $1,945,000 | MLS#1346522 John "Clark" Kent 864-784-9918
120 E Round Hill Road, Green Valley $1,460,000 | MLS#1360958 Shannon Donahoo 864-329-7345
106 Fire Pink Way, Cliffs at Glassy $899,000 | MLS#1356127 Spencer Ashby 864-344-0333
200 Knightsridge Road, Cliffs Valley $898,988 | MLS#1361066 John “Clark” Kent 864-784-9918 Kennie Norris 864-608-0865
121 Rhett Street, Unit 305, Rhett Street $823,500 | MLS#1361175 Cheyenne Kozaily 864-999-1959
TO BE BUILT
208 Lake Hills Lane, Cliffs Valley $799,900 | MLS#1356360 Spencer Ashby 864-344-0333
UNDER CONTRACT
5 Autumn View Ridge, Natures Watch $699,000 | MLS#1346304 Lonnie Adamson 864-385-4659
6 Chipping Court, Kellett Park $649,900 | MLS#1354930 Debra Owensby 864-404-8295
HISTORIC HOME
1551 Highway 56, Spartanburg $599,500 | MLS#1347108 John “Clark” Kent 864-784-9918 Cynthia Cole Jenkins 843-696-7891
TO BE BUILT
203 Southview Ledge Road, Cliffs at Glassy $575,000 | MLS#1353158 John “Clark” Kent 864-784-9918 Cynthia Cole Jenkins 843-696-7891
64 Aqua Vista Drive, Peninsula Pointe North $478,400 | MLS#1360828 Cheyenne Kozaily 864-999-1959
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UNDER CONTRACT
240 Grandmont Court, Charleston Walk $475,000 | MLS#1341159 Holly May 864-640-1959
8 Chipping Court, Kellett Park $460,900 | MLS#1359315 Zach Herrin 864-990-1761
100 Walton Court, North Hills $449,500 | MLS#1357705 Holly May 864-640-1959
329 Harkins Bluff Drive, Dillard Creek Crossing $398,000 | MLS#1354586 Annell Bailey 864-346-0598
427 S. Pendernale Drive, Millbrook $299,900 | MLS#1353918 Debra Owensby 864-404-8295
310 Garnet Valley Drive, Inman $260,000 | MLS#1359770 Spencer Ashby 864-344-0333
UNDER CONTRACT
423 S. Pendernale Drive, Millbrook $259,900 | MLS#1353721 Debra Owensby 864-404-8295
300 Chariot Lane, Squires Creek $239,900 | MLS#1359454 Kennie Norris 864-608-0865
UNDER CONTRACT
UNDER CONTRACT
309 Wicker Park Avenue, O'Neal Village $234,900 | MLS#1359372 Joseph Gobbett 864-553-1998
202 Donnybrook Avenue, Greenville $234,900 | MLS#1358819 Kris Cawley 864-516-6580
212 Brockman Avenue, San Souci Heights $232,900 | MLS#1353311 Kris Cawley 864-516-6580
18 Twinnings Drive, Twin Creeks $205,000 | MLS#1359421 Jen de Groot 864-380-0240
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FEATURED WITHIN THE CENTER Acropolis Restaurant and Oasis Bar Bacon Brothers Public House Chick-Fil-A Chicken Salad Chick Clean Eatz Earth Fare Joe’s Crab Shack Logan’s Roadhouse The Lost Cajun McDonald’s Menchie’s Yogurt On The Border Palmetto Restaurant and Alehouse Romano’s Macaroni Grill Shuckin’ Shack Sidewall Pizza Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Bank of America Bermuda Triangle Coldwell Banker Caine Emily Austin’s Fabulous Nails Home2 Suites Mariani’s Boutique Painting With A Twist Pinnacle Bank South State Bank Spinx The UPS Store Red Bowl Sola Salons COMING SOON: Pet Supermarket Giggles Daycare * LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE (shown in red)
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Destination = Expectations 864.235.6317 | crhrealestate.com
You’re Invited to Our Spring Fling! FREE ADMISSION • MARCH 24TH • 1-5 PM Rain date: April 14th
sponsored by Central Realty Holdings
FOOD & DRINK SALES • SIDEWALK SALES • LIVE MUSIC FACE-PAINTING • FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT HUGE RAFFLES INCLUDE: • Earth Fare - $50 gift card • UPS • Mariani’s Boutique - $75 gift card • Bermuda Triangle - 1 mask/snorkel package - value $99, 1 Smart Snorkel - value $69 • Painting With a Twist - 2 free seats to attend class of your choice • Giggles - 25 hour childcare package for one child that retails at $225
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Contents
2 9
12 EDITOR’S LETTER 21 THE LIST See, hear, read, react. The month’s must-dos.
DARK BEAUTY
27 ON THE TOWN
Greer-based Friesian Marketplace is in the business of buying and selling. But for co-owners Cheryl and Kelsey Baird, it’s more than a monetary venture. Their charcoal charges are a unique Dutch breed of horses, and worth pairing with the perfect human counterpart.
Pics of the litter: Upcountry fêtes & festivities.
40 WEDDINGS 45 TOWNBUZZ
Painter Jeffrey Leder is a geometric guru; shoe designer Armin Oehler fuses family tradition with a passion for style; take a (spring) break along the Charleston Harbor; toys take on infinite forms at Plus-Plus USA; Julianne Fish joins the Greenville Symphony Orchestra; and more.
/ by Jac Valitchka // photography by Paul Mehaffey
58 TOWN EXTRA
Between the flashing lights of NYC and the rolling hills of Tryon, North Carolina, Monica Stevenson photographs the finer things.
66 SIDEWAYS
An escape to Macon, Georgia, offers an abundance of cultural sites, plus enough cherry blossoms to satisfy your spring flower fever.
72 TOWN SPORT
Grab a bat and take a wicket with the Greater Greenville Cricket Club.
CENTRAL 75 STYLE Encounter bold styles with emerging
designer Tygerian Lace; function meets form in H. Goose field watches.
84 MAN ABOUT TOWN
Working from home might seem like one big pajama party, but for The Man there’s a bit more discipline involved.
BEA WRIGHT 86 MS. To friends or family, Ms. Bea warns a loan is not to be given lightly.
101 EAT & DRINK
These Carolina citrus kings squeeze the best fresh juice; The Sun Belly Café is a happy health food haven; and take on Thai with a Bangkok noodle bowl.
109 DINING GUIDE 118 TOWNSCENE
Got plans? You do now.
128
SECOND GLANCE
Discover the iconic twentieth-century photography of Imogen Cunningham.
10 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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COVER: “Friesian” is a horse breed renowned for their jet black coats and long, wavy manes. For more on the Upstate business helping horses find the perfect home, see “Dark Beauty,” page 92. By Jac Valitchka Photograph by Paul Mehaffey THIS PAGE: Monica Stevenson melds artistry and technique in her work for global clients and also in her equine fine art photography. For more, see “Double Lens,” page 58. Photograph by Monica Stevenson
March 2/19/18 12:33 PM
A body that reveals the soul within. 2018 C 300 Coupe. Seductive lines slice the wind and the clutter of ordinary cars. Sculpted muscle and a confident stance put emotion into motion. The C-Class Coupe looks exactly how it feels from the driver seat. Taut lines match its tight handling. Its poise at a standstill stays rock-solid at speed. And while its efficiency makes you feel good, its exuberance makes you feel great. Athletic yet elegant, clean yet impeccably detailed, it’s pure Mercedes-Benz. And like nothing else.
CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com
(864) 213-8000 2446 Laurens Road | Greenville, SC 296
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EDITOR’S
Letter March Highlights If the Shoe Fits
Armin Oehler crafts elegant shoe designs with leather made by his family’s tannery in Germany: page 50
Toy Story
Greenville-based Plus-Plus USA takes Denmark-made puzzle pieces to a global market: page 56
Double Lens
Monica Stevenson lives here and there, photographing with both technique and artistry: page 58
Pretty in Pink Self-por trait by Blair K nobel
Bet you didn’t know that Macon, Georgia, has more cherry trees than D.C. Yeah, we didn’t either: page 66
It’s Showtime
Charlotte’s Tygerian Lace presents forward design at Charleston Fashion Week: page 75
Dark Beauty
Luxurious locks, stunning physiques, and quiet temperaments endear Friesian horses to an international clientele: page 92
The Road
M
onica Stevenson lives a double life. I met her last summer when she wanted to show me her portfolio. Many photographers reach out to do the same. Monica, I learned, is different; she has a home in Tryon, North Carolina, and one in New York City. Her commercial photography studio is there, and she shoots for major brands like Cartier, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co. When in Tryon, however, her focus turns from glossy, digitally pristine composites, to stunning, digital and film portraits of equine life. “Lately, even though I’m shooting digitally,” Stevenson confesses to contributing editor M. Linda Lee in her profile of the artist, “I will often set things incorrectly on my camera so I can allow the pathway for a mistake to happen.” Stevenson not only welcomes mistakes—she seeks them out. It’s a compelling quality for one who’s hired for her technical prowess. Perhaps that’s why in Tryon she chooses a different path, one based more in emotional response than in slick presentation. In this way, she achieves balance, both creatively and personally. While we applaud excellence, we realize it’s not one-sided. The slips, the slides, the cracks, the mishaps— the mistakes—are not only necessary, but should be invited. In Eastern thought, this is considered Wabi-sabi, or the philosophy that there is beauty in imperfection, that, in the words of Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light gets in.” What if failure is just another version of success? There will be dips and bumps, curves taken too quickly, branches in the way—but just when the tunnel is its darkest, the route then opens to a grand view. We each walk a road. Everything along it, the bad and the good, makes it our own. To know greatness, in business and beyond, means to accept the lows and the highs—both the dark tunnel and the light at the end.
We asked Monica Stevenson (left) to put her photographic twist on our feature story. For the result, see “Double Lens,” page 58. And for a gallery of her images, go to towncarolina.com.
@towncarolina
@towncarolina
facebook.com/towncarolina
Photograph by Paul Mehaffey
Blair Knobel, Editor-in-Chief blair@towncarolina.com
bit.ly // towniemail
12 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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APRIL 21 & 22 Welcome spring with the perfect pairing of fresh flowers and fine art at the GCMA. Twenty local floral designers and garden enthusiasts will interpret works of art, creating imaginative displays that celebrate the GCMA permanent collection! Fine Art + Flora Weekend is free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to admiring the art and arrangements throughout the weekend, guests can enjoy an Ikebana demonstration on Saturday afternoon, and, for a small charge, take part in Saturday’s “Bouquet to Go” workshop, using fresh flowers. The weekend begins Friday, April 20, with a Preview Party ($50 per person) showcasing the flowers at their peak of freshness. To learn more or to purchase Preview Party tickets, visit gcma.org/flora
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Greenville County Museum of Art
420 College Street on Heritage Green 864.271.7570 gcma.org Wed - Sat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 1 pm - 5 pm
admission free
2/15/18 1:06 PM
2/16/18 3:11 PM
2018 ART FOR GREENVILLE
Please support
Stories from Home
J. Kelly Fitzpatrick 1888-1953 Business as Usual, 1938
J. Kelly Fitzpatrick 1888-1953 Business as Usual,1938
Featuring new acquisitions of paintings depicting everyday life in the South from the 1920s to the 1950s, Stories from Home opens March 7, and continues through September 16, 2018.
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TURNS OUT THE BEST THINGS REALLY ARE FREE
Named one of South Carolina’s “10 Best Attractions,” by 2018 USA TODAY 10Best and as one of the Top Three Things to Do in Greenville by U.S. News & World Report Travel, the Greenville County Museum of Art is home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by renowned American artist Andrew Wyeth. When you visit the GCMA, you’ll discover a carefully curated selection of American art, including one of the world’s best institutional collections of works by America’s most acclaimed living artist, Jasper Johns. The museum’s unrivaled Southern Collection highlights a collection of clay vessels created by the enslaved potter David Drake and one of the largest collections of paintings by William H. Johnson outside the Smithsonian. And admission is always free! Learn more at gcma.org.
Greenville County Museum of Art
420 College Street on Heritage Green 864.271.7570 gcma.org Wed - Sat 10 am - 5 pm Sun 1 pm - 5 pm
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admission free
2/16/18 3:12 PM 2/15/18 1:13 PM
First Baptist Church
faith-based encouragement group of First Baptist Church Simpsonville for mothers who have xperienced the death of a child. Through this event, started in 2013, we desire to reach out to other mothers in compassion to bring you love, For More Information l Group Choices and hope. comfort, Kathryn Helt
ease Circle Four)
Heart
cialLiving thanks to nds– with the
3 Hedge Street Simpsonville, SC 29681
Registration Cost: $15.00 Includes Lunch
God’s Healing for a Mother’s Heart 864-325-3526 • kathryn.helt@dignitymemorial.com Alice Ann Holman
our Sponsors and Community Partners: 864-979-3198 • aadholman@gmail.com Jan James First Baptist Church Simpsonville 864-963-3543 • jan@pdtm.us rough Loss Brixx Pizza for luncheonWesalads will be glad to talk with you. eace in a Turbulent Sea Mackey Mortuary Brochures and Small Group descriptions be found at : Park www.fbcsimpsonville.org, Woodlawn Funeral HomecanMemorial My Grief? under Women’s Ministries illard-Hillcrest Memorial Park Funerals & Cremations pe This event is offered to you by Volunteers, Community Greenville Memorial Gardens othe Away Stress and Make Partners, and Heartstrings Members. Heartstrings is a lmetto Cremation Service, Oconee Gardens faith-basedMemorial encouragement group of First Baptist Church Simpsonville for mothers who have Over the Rainbow Gift Shop ” Art Project experienced the death of a child. Through this event, Also to:OnThomas McAfee startedFuneral in 2013, weHome desire to, and achingthanks Out, Moving out to other mothers in Our Wonderfulreach Volunteers
hor in the Tidal Wave of Grief
rgiveness
Experienced the Death of a Child
Saturday, March 24th, 2018 8:45—4:00 Check-in: 8:15-8:45
WHAT IS YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?
First Baptist Church 3 Hedge Street Simpsonville, SC 29681
Registration Cost: $15.00 Includes Lunch
compassion to bring you love, comfort, and hope.
Please join us for a day of encouragement, pampering, loving support, comfort food, authentic presenters, and sharing the love of Christ, our Great Special thanks to our Sponsors and Community Partners: Healer andFirst Comforter. welcome mothers of all faiths and at all points Baptist ChurchWe Simpsonville Brixx Pizza for luncheon salads along theirMackey journey of healing regardless of the age of the child. Mortuary
Ocean
and biographies of those found on the website at lle.org under the Heartstrings mation in Women’s Ministry.
l Group Choices
A Day-Retreat For Women Who Have
A Day-Retreat for Women Who Have Experienced the Death of a Child
y Affects The Way We Grieve
Toolkit
God’s Healing for a Mother’s Heart
Laura Linen STYLE EDITOR Abby Moore Keith ASSISTANT EDITOR
Saturday, March 24, 2018 8:45 am - 4:00 pm Check-in: 8:15-8:45 am Registration Cost - $15.00 (Includes lunch)
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Cathryn Armstrong, Elaine Best, Terri Bright, Kathryn Davé, JOHN JETER CATHY SAMS & Stephanie Trotter
Our Guest Presenter
Dianne Collard – International speaker, author, and missionary leader
• Looking Up, Reaching Out, Moving On
• How to Love Through Loss
• Finding an Anchor in the Tidal Wave of Grief
• The Anchor of Peace in a Turbulent Sea
to get me going.
I definitely hit the snooze button at least once. After that I like to go to the gym to get my day started right. Then it’s just a rush to shower to get to work on time.
• Sibling Grief
• Anchored in Hope
• Grief Recovery Toolkit
• “Kindness Rocks” Art Project
• A Journey of Forgiveness
• Stretches to Soothe Away Stress and Make Us Stronger
MIKAYLA HUNT EDITORIAL INTERN ANDREW HUANG EDITOR-AT-L ARGE
• How Personality Affects The Way We Grieve
• Where is God in My Grief?
• Navigating the Ocean
To RSVP & receive registration brochure, please contact: aadholman@gmail.com • 864-979-3198 jan@pdtm.us • 864-963-3543
Deadline to register is March 9th.
My day usually starts with 10 minutes of procrastination, followed by a cup of hot coffee to kickstart the morning!
Holly Hardin VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kristy Adair Michael Allen Emily Yepes SALES MANAGER MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES John Clark, Donna Johnston, JONATHAN MANEY, Heather Propp, Meredith Rice, Liz Tew & Caroline Spivey
Brochures and Small Group descriptions can be found at: www.fbsimpsonville.org
Kristi Fortner EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
I guess my routine starts the night before? I set my coffee maker timer, wake up, drink coffee in bed while I listen to the news (smart speakers are crazy), and inevitably wind up late to work somehow. Go figure, haha.
Lorraine Goldstein, Sue Priester & Hal Weiss CONSULTING MEMBERS
MACKEY
DILLARD
FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS CENTURY DRIVE
MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME
GREENVILLE
HILLCREST
Mornings are spent devising as many distractions as possible to avoid actually doing anything.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & DESIGNERS Chelsey Ashford, Timothy Banks, Robin At least two cups Batina-Lewis, David & Sarah Bonner, Jack of coffee and a mile and a half Connolly, Jivan Davé, John Davidson, Whitney Fincannon, Monica Stevenson & Eli Warren on the treadmill
~ Small Group Choices ~ • Unbreakable Bonds– Living with the Loss of a Child
It’s off to the races between 5:30–6 when my husband gets up, followed by our three-year-old, who I try to cajole into sleeping until 7.
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Ruta Fox M. Linda Lee Steven Tingle JAC VALITCHKA
First Baptist Church, Simpsonville 3 Hedge Street Simpsonville, SC 29681
• Straight Talk
Blair Knobel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF blair@towncarolina.com Paul Mehaffey ART DIRECTOR
Woodlawn Funeral Home Memorial Park Dillard-Hillcrest Memorial Park Funerals & Cremations Greenville Memorial Gardens Palmetto Cremation Service, Oconee Memorial Gardens Over the Rainbow Gift Shop Also thanks to: Thomas McAfee Funeral Home , and Our Wonderful Volunteers
• Art to Heal the Heart
Mark B. Johnston PUBLISHER & CEO mark@towncarolina.com
864-232-6706
Susan Schwartzkopf EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
MACKEY
FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS AT WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK
MEMORIAL PARK
WOODLAWN
864-878-6371
GREENVILLE
Douglas J. Greenlaw CHAIRMAN
MEMORIAL PARK
PICKENS
OCONEE MEMORIAL PARK
864-244-0978
SENECA
864-882-2369
PALMETTO CREMATION SERVICE
GREENVILLE MEMORIAL GARDENS
SERVING THE UPSTATE
PIEDMONT
864-878-6661
16 TOWN / towncarolina.com
For More Information
Kathryn Helt ease Circle Four) Mackey_hlfV_TOWN Mar18.indd 1 • kathryn.helt@dignitymemorial.com 864-325-3526 TOWN_MARCH_Masthead.indd 16 Heart Alice Ann Holman 864-979-3198 • aadholman@gmail.com nds– Living with the
864-277-0078
God’s Healing for a Mother’s Heart
TOWN Magazine (Vol. 8, No. 3) is published monthly (12 times per year) by TOWN Greenville, LLC, 581 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611, (864) 679-1200. If you would like to have TOWN delivered to you each month, you may purchase an annual subscription (12 issues) for $65. Postmaster: Send address changes to TOWN, 581 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
2/17/18 9:40 PM
2/19/18 12:18 PM
16 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601 (864) 467-3132 www.greenvillearts.com
GET CARDED
for the best shows in town.
Centre Stage Greenville Chorale Greenville Little Theatre Greenville Symphony Orchestra Peace Center (select shows only) South Carolina Children’s Theatre Warehouse Theatre
Centre Stage’s production of ”Million Dollar Quartet”
GET YOUR ARTCARD TODAY!
With a donation of $50+ to the Metropolitan Arts Council you will receive an ArtCard valid for buy-one-get-one-free tickets for one time at each of the locations above for one full year.
LEARN MORE:
(864) 467-3132 mac@greenvilleARTS.com @MACartscouncil #GVLarts
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greenvilleARTS.com
2/19/18 1:55 PM
Your Home’s Best Friend. W e help people like you sell your house and find a home . Yes, we’re recognized for resources, innovation, and agents that go above and beyond... but what really matters is you.
A good friend listens. Why? “Because dad wanted us to be our best... for you.”
TRAVELERS REST
– Danny Joyner, Son of our Founder, President & CEO
22 Taunya Lane—One-of-a-kind property minutes from downtown Traveler’s Rest and Greenville. More than 30 acres with over ten acres of immaculate maintained landscaping as well as two large man-made stocked lakes. Large 3 bedroom main house built entirely from Cypress, a guest home, and a 4,000 square foot barn. make for a world of opportunity.
$1,495,000
MLS#1357072
Patrick Head 420-2643 • Richard Cox 843-602-5180
SPAULDING FARM 10 Hitchcock Lane—Beautiful 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home is located on a .70 acre cul-de-sac lot in desirable Spaulding Farm. This home is approximately 5600 sq feet and is “The Wedge Plantation” plan by Southern Living.
$749,900
MLS#1354704 Margaret Marcum • 420-3125
SPAULDING FARM Industry-leading technologies A global referral network Smart working and inventive agents One of the nation’s most recognized and trusted brands
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1 Hunters Run—Curb Appeal is an understatement at this painted brick beauty! This home exudes pride of ownership and there’s no shortage of spaces for recreation from the sprawling screen porch & patio and the keeping room to the upstairs bonus room AND newly developed media room with surround sound and projection screen. Master suite and guest suite on main level.
$699,000
MLS#1360217 Melissa Morrell • 918-1734
2/19/18 9:38 AM
Featured Listings March 2018
GLENS AT ROPER 304 Limerick Court
COBBLESTONE 109 Putney Bridge Lane—This exceptional home features 5/6 Bedrooms
$472,500
•
MLS#1360270 Carole Atkison • 787-1067
and 4.5 Baths. Walk out Basement with large rec room, full kitchen, Media Room, Bedroom, Bath, and lots of walk in storage. The amazing outdoor area includes a screened porch, 2 decks, covered patio, pool and patio with stone fireplace. Master and Kitchen renovation/expansion in Nov. 2016.
$1,340,000
MLS#1359842 Carole Atkison • 787-1067
DOWNTOWN 110 N Markley Street
$399,900
•
MLS#1345643 Beth Crigler • 420-4718
SPAULDING FARM 204 Buckland Way—Breathtaking Grounds with Gunite Pool. Exquisite Gourmet Kitchen. Spa-Inspired Master Bathroom. These are just a sampling of the special features in this home at Spaulding Farms, one of Greenville’s most sought after neighborhoods. The owners have taken such pride of ownership and it speaks volumes!
$699,900
MLS#1354328 Melissa Morrell • 918-1734
104 Farm Terrace Court—Beautiful custom brick home sitting on over 3 acres in a private cul-de-sac with a fully finished basement, heated salt water pool, hardwood flooring, smooth 12ft ceilings and a gas fireplace. Walk in the front door and you’ll find the formal dining room on the right with custom built bookshelves, columns, and crown molding.
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309 Scotch Rose Lane
•
$329,000
MLS#1359964 Margaret Marcum • 420-3125
DUNCAN
THE FARM
$699,000
TOWNES AT THORNBLADE
MLS#1351410 Hannah Johnson • 864-934-7857
799 S Danzler Road
•
$218,500
MLS#1358026 Hannah Johnson • 864-934-7857 © 2018 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity. Information not verified or guaranteed. If your home is currently listed with a Broker, this is not intended as a solicitation.
www.CDanJoyner.com 2/19/18 9:38 AM 2/17/18 9:56 PM
A New Neighborhood with Single-level Cottage Homes at Hollingsworth Park Beautiful homes along tree-lined streets will welcome you. Bella Grove at Hollingsworth Park offers a fresh approach to city living, featuring single-level cottage homes from the high $400s in a village-like atmosphere. With great respect for architectural beauty, this close-knit community showcases distinctive details, charming verandas, a 20-acre greenspace, multiple pocket parks and maintenance free lawns. Here, families and neighbors interact with one another in a variety of settings. In its early stage of development, lot selections within Bella Grove are available now. Call (864) 329-8383 for more information.
Visit the Verdae Sales Office located at 340 Rocky Slope Road, Suite 300 - Near Legacy Park Call (864) 329-8383 for office hours or to make an appointment.
Veranda photo by Rachael Boling Photography
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verdae.com
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Photograph by David McClister, courtesy of the Peace Center
WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY
March 2018
From his early beginnings in Texas to run-ins with the law, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and sixteen albums topping the country music charts—including last April’s God’s Problem Child— it’s clear that Willie Nelson has found overwhelming success as one of the genre’s original outlaws. The music icon is on the road again with a mess of other accomplished musicians in tow, so leave your blue eyes crying in the rain and join in for a rollthrough of classic hits and original collaborations. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Mon, Mar 5, 7:30pm. $65-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
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CELTIC WOMAN
AND THE GOLD MEDAL WINNER IS
Take a break from dying your beer green to appreciate some real Irish culture. Breathtaking vocals and storied heritage have become calling cards for Celtic Woman’s multifaceted live shows, often accentuated with traditional dance and talented musicians. The quartet recently released a live performance album that was recorded in Ireland last September; it is this namesake— Homecoming—that sets the scene for another year of dynamic concerts worldwide.
When 28-year-old Yekwon Sunwoo nabbed first place at the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held in Texas last year, he became the first from his native South Korea to earn the esteemed title. Now, he’s bringing his phenomenal talents to the Upstate stage, joining the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel for a special performance of both Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 4 and the Piano Concerto No. 3 penned by another master pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Bravo!
Photograph courtesy of Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
THE FLICK
The tedious inner workings of an old-timey projection movie theatre might not spell “Pulitzer Prize” for some. But that’s exactly what happened when Annie Baker’s creation premiered OffBroadway in 2013. Three movie palace employees are going about their usual nightly work, manning the projector and scrubbing mysterious sticky substances off the floor, when unforeseen drama begins to unfold. Part humor, part honesty, The Flick takes a magnifying glass (and a tender heart) toward those bygone days of simpler times. The Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville. Mar 9–24. $35. (864) 235-6948, warehousetheatre.com
Featured Home 236 RHETT STREET, #205
Photo courtesy of Patrick Cox Photography
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Photo courtesy of Steven Vitosky
Photo courtesy of Patrick Cox Photography
Luxury four-level Brownstone, custom built with the highest quality construction, materials, design and finishes, also offers one of the most beautiful views of downtown Greenville's skyline. Spanning over 3,000 square feet, #205 features four bedrooms, fourand-one-half bathrooms, two-car garage, elevator to all levels, and an outdoor terrace with gas fireplace and built-in outdoor kitchen. In addition, this Brownstone was built by a Certified Building Biologist, and also includes many healthy features for improving overall health and quality of living.
Photo courtesy of Steven Vitosky
864.313.2986 VirginiaHayes.com 22 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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Photograph by Matthew Murphy, courtesy of the Peace Center
The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Mar 3–4. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $18-$75. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, 385 N Church St, Spartanburg. Wed, Mar 14, 7pm. $39-$99. (864) 528-8107, crowdpleaser.com
Photograph courtesy of Celtic Woman
THE
Photograph by Matthew Murphy, courtesy of the Peace Center
Although the original production launched on Broadway in 2005, it would take a revival some ten years later—and starring none other than American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson—to introduce Alice Walker’s powerful 1982 novel to a whole new generation of fans. The Tony Award–winning musical chronicles the lives of Celie and Nettie, two sisters whose unbreakable bond carries them through decades of abuse, heartbreak, struggle, and, eventually, redemption. Their physical distance may be great, but the love in their hearts knows no bounds. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Tues–Thurs, Mar 13–18. 7:30pm; Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 1pm & 6:30pm. $35-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
AN EVENING WITH JASON MRAZ, SOLO ACOUSTIC Way back before the dawn of time—you may know it as the year 2002— a California coffeehouse musician strummed his way into our hearts with “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).” That quirky, fedora-donning songster was none other than Jason Mraz. Mraz has continued to flourish over the past 16 years, earning four Grammy nods and a spot in a Broadway musical. Yet the artist remains true to the roots that first gave his career legs with shows like this one, a special, acoustic set that allows Mraz’s thoughtful songwriting to really take flight. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, Mar 10, 8pm. $65-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
CHARLESTON FASHION WEEK Can’t make it to the runways of Paris and Milan? No worries—Charleston’s iteration of the quintessential fashion week has just as much to offer to aspiring designers, fashion mavens, and those who appreciate a good statement piece. Each year, the event gives a muchneeded platform for local retailers and emerging designers to strut their stuff, then kick back at a glam after-party. Fun, eclectic activities are also slated to take place around the city. Marion Square, Downtown Charleston. Tues–Sat, Mar 13–17. Prices vary. charlestonfashionweek.com
Photograph by Jen Rosenstein, courtesy of the Peace Center
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THE FINEST QUALITY WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE SALES | INSTALLATION | SERVICE | REPAIR The Southeast’s dealer for pool tables and game room furniture since 1964 Ledford hlfH Town Mar18 v3.indd 1
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Quick HITS CHARLESTON WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL z Charleston’s culinary scene continues to be on the up-and-up in America—so it only makes sense to hold a celebration in its honor. Numerous chefs from both the region and beyond will descend on the Holy City for a weekend-plus of tastings, classes, meals, cocktails, and much, much more, each with a little Lowcountry flair. With so many options each day of the fest, there’s no reason for you to leave hungry. Various locations, Charleston. Thru Mar 4. Prices vary. charlestonwineandfood.com
SCHOOL OF HARD ROCKS BALLET
Photograph courtesy of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena
z Swapping out Swan Lake for guitar riffs, Carolina Ballet Theatre artistic director Hernan Justo’s latest dance production might not be the ballet you’re used to—it’s just got a little more punch. Drawing on both contemporary and vintage vibes, School of Hard Rocks fuses CBT’s signature stellar choreography with stunning visual elements, and hard-hitting live rock tunes both new and old. But this ballet also comes with a purpose: beneath the poignant inner-city school narrative, Justo has threaded some powerful antibullying rhetoric that we could all take a cue from. Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri, Mar 9, 10am; Sat, Mar 10, 2:30pm & 7pm. $35. (864) 4673000, peacecenter.org
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND IRISH FESTIVAL
z St. Paddy’s may still be six days away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go ahead and get your green on! Head downtown for a family-friendly day that includes a Main Street parade followed by live Irish music, dancing, and eats. Keep your eyes peeled for the little man dressed in green—legend says if you spot him, you’ve already had one too many. NOMA Square, 220 N Main St, Greenville. Sat, Mar 11, 1pm. Free. (864) 630-1922, nomasquare.com
A PARANORMAL EVENING WITH ALICE COOPER
z Rocker Alice Cooper may have just turned the big 7-0, but he’s not quite ready to put down the eyeliner yet. Last year saw the release of Cooper’s first studio album since 2011’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare—the 18-track Paranormal featured two songs recorded with Cooper’s original band, live performance cuts, and guest spots by members of U2, Deep Purple, and ZZ Top. Join Cooper—and his trademark eyeliner—for an evening of classic songs and wild antics that promises to be truly paranormal. Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Mon, Mar 26, 8pm. $48-$75. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com
Blake Shelton Maybe you’ve seen him on The Voice. Maybe you danced to his hit song “Honey Bee” on your wedding day. Maybe you hate him because he left Miranda Lambert for Gwen Stefani. No matter your feelings toward People Magazine’s 2017 “Sexiest Man Alive,” there’s no denying that singer and songwriter Blake Shelton has left a permanent mark on the country music world. His latest recording, Texahoma Shore, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Top Country Albums chart, making it his 11th top album in the U.S. For this stretch of his “Country Music Freaks” tour, Shelton will share the stage with country legends Trace Adkins, Brett Eldredge, and newcomer Carly Pearce. Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Fri, Mar 9, 7pm. $60-$122. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com
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Adrianna Hicks (Celie) and the North American tour cast of THE COLOR PURPLE. Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2017.
MARCH 13-18 “A MIRACLE on Broadway.”
MAY 8-13 DAUGHTRY MARCH 11
J UNE 12-17 PRETENDERS MARCH 28
AN EVENING WITH GILLIAN WELCH
BRIAN REGAN APRIL 15
APRIL 9
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Preview of the Carolina Music Museum January 18, 2018 The Carolina Music Museum, which is set to open this spring in the Coca-Cola Building on Heritage Green, held a sneak peek event to introduce community leaders to the new museum, featuring Tom and Debra Strange’s formidable collection of sixteenth to nineteenth century musical instruments. Guests were treated to a concert from Dennis James and Michael Tsalka, who played works by Mozart, Coral, Ries, and Wartensee.
John Sowell & Debra Strange
Becky & Bobby Hartness with Alan & Ellen Weinberg
Bill & Laura Pelham
Roy Fluhrer & Tom Strange
Diane Perlmutter, Chuck Elder & Mary Elder
Photography by Bonfire Visuals
Holly Caprell with Nancy & Bruce Halverson
Patty & David Revels
Tonia Hubbard & Elizabeth Barwick
Dennis Urell, Patty Urell, Tom Strange & Mary Lawson Judy & John Rozzell
Marshall Winn & Bill Kehl
Jerry Dempsey & Kay Foster
Dennis James (glass armonica musician)
Susan Bichel, Luba Tchvizhel, Edvard Tchvizhel, Lena Forster & Steve Bichel
Bianca Walker & Laura Blume
Bert Strange, Nancy Strange & Mark Strange
William Crawford & Marion Crawford MARCH 2018 / 27
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Greenville Women Giving’s Luncheon and Educational Session January 23, 2018 Katrina Way & Kathleen Howze
Janet Sumner & Diane Perlmutter
Greenville Women Giving hosted its education session, “Life in Limbo: Foster Care,” to address the intricacies of the foster-care system. Attendees viewed Removed, a 12-minute video that showcases foster care through the eyes of a young girl. Speakers were David White, CEO of Fostering Great Ideas, and Rhonda Littleton, Baptist minister and A Home for Me founder. To date, GWG has granted more than $4.8 million to Greenville County non-profit organizations.
Nina Huffstetler & Beverly Eye
Pamela Parrish & Carroll Luck
Photography by Bonfire Visuals
Bessie Lee & Betsy Moseley
Passionately pursuing excellence
Hope Woford, Rhonda Littleton & David White
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Harriett Williams, Joyce Moore, Betty Jenkins, Melanie Dixon & Magaly Penn
28 TOWN / towncarolina.com JulieCwynar_hlfV_TOWN Jan18.indd 1 TOWN_MAR_OTT WF.indd 28
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ON THE
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Alicia Zmuda, Beth Toney & Shirley Keller
Jack McCall & Rhonda Littleton
Lee Elmore & Bev Bresette
Marybeth Trunk, Lynn Potter, Bev Leech & Pam Rider
Ellen Stevenson, Lillian Darby & Charlotte Crout
Julie Garrett & Emmy Holt
Kerri Brandon, Mia Sloney, Brittany Hilbert, Laura Moore & Blair Bailey Karyl Woldum, Emelia Stephenson & Tommie Reece
Splash on Main 807 S Main St Greenville, SC 29601 (864) 534-1510 www.splashonmain.com
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Sally Sobolewski & Linda Albright MARCH 2018 / 29
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ON THE
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The Cotillion Club’s 130th Anniversary Ball January 19, 2018 As the second oldest dance club in South Carolina, The Cotillion Club hosted its 130th anniversary ball at the Poinsett Club. The formal white-tie dinner and dance featured classical music played by students from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, along with an elegant meal and traditional and modern dancing. The officers for the evening were James Harvey Cleveland, III, president; James McWilliams Allison, vice president; and George Macaulay Zimmerman, secretary/treasurer.
Bill & Libby Kehl with John Kehl Gunn & Nancy Murphy with Holtie & Richard Mitchell Stacy & Rick Schroder
By Jack Robert Photography Murray McKissick & Julie McKissick Ben & Tricia Craddock
Foster & Madison McKissick
Rhett Brown & Harriett Kinard
Elizabeth Short
Jeanne Robinson, Sullivan Short & Suzanne Short Kathryn Chinn & Reid Poole
McBee Zimmerman & Rhett Brown
Ben Simmons & Elizabeth Scovil Lyle Bridgers & Frank Gary
Lauren & David Sigmon
Zane & Carter Meadors with Bob & Bev Howard
Elizabeth Cleveland & Jeff Kwitchen, Hazel Holcombe & James H. (Buzz) Cleveland, Harvey & Gretta Cleveland
30 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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Opening Reception for Glory Day Loflin January 12, 2018
Andrea, Vivian & William Morris
The MAC Gallery at Centre Stage hosted guests for the opening of Glory Day Loflin’s exhibit, Wet Paint. The artist’s works explore the connectivity between figurative and visual language through wet-on-wet oil painting. The exhibit is on display at the theatre’s gallery through March 3rd. Photography by Chelsey Ashford
Kaitlyn Walters & Glory Day
Charis JB & Sarah Teal Sunny Mullarkey-McGowan & Kris McGowan
211 EAST PARK AVENUE East Park Historic District! Fabulous 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home steps away from Downtown. Over 5,000 square feet of living space. Originally constructed in 1910, this home underwent a complete renovation in 2005 keeping with the Arts and Crafts details and the modern conveniences one would expect. Open floor plan. No detail missed!
WE’RE EVERYWHERE Rob Davis & Antonio Modesto Milian
Elizabeth, Kate, Allene & Michael Fletcher
NICK CARLSON
VICE PRESIDENT / BROKER ASSOCIATE
864-386-7704 NICK@WILSONASSOCIATES.NET Katie Fenske, Jeffrey Leder & Grace McDowell
Sally Eastman & Pam Huffstetler
32 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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ON THE
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Greenville Little Theatre Honors Allen and Suzanne McCalla January 21, 2018 Greenville Little Theatre honored Allen and Suzanne McCalla’s 25 years at the theatre with a celebratory night featuring a live 15-minute medley from Guys and Dolls and a proclamation from Mayor Knox White. The evening started off with a bang as scrumptious hors d’oeuvres from Saffron’s were served, alongside cocktails.
Delvin Choice & Emily Dymski
By Jack Robert Photography
Graham Shaffer & Ian Hendrix
Kristi Parker Byers, Kim Granner, John Brigham & Kasie Granner
Allen & Suzanne McCalla
16 BARONNE COURT Exquisite 5 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath Estate situated on the 14th green of Thornblade Golf Course. Open floor plan, two-story great room, two hundred bottle wine cellar, home theater and recently updated chefs kitchen. Newly finished master suite on main. Screened porch with fireplace and custom-built diamond stainless steel 16 jet spa. High-end outdoor kitchen. David Mcgarrigle & Ernetta Edmunds
WE’RE EVERYWHERE Benjamin Augusta, Mary Freeman & Cory Granner
SHARON WILSON
PRESIDENT / BROKER IN CHARGE
864-918-1140 SHARON@WILSONASSOCIATES.NET Tim & Sarah St. Clair with Sterling & Chelsea Street
Jennifer Connor & Nancy Suitt Bennett MARCH 2018 / 33
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ON THE
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Opening Reception of Direct Experience Exhibit Mike Stoner, Sandra Mokalled, & Bryan Stoner
Marilyn Murrel & Carol Funke
Shawn Scott & Erin Turner
Danielle Fontaine & Bill McLendon
Joshua & Danielle Paul
Deborah & Jim Feiste
January 26, 2018
Baylee Dunn & Lauren Tedeschi
Carole Knudson Tinsley, Mary Margarette Jones, Terry Jarrard-Dimond & Tom Dimond
J.J. Thomas & June LeCroy Lynn Greer & Henk Vandyk
The Metropolitan Arts Council opened its doors for the opening reception of the Direct Experience exhibit “Cancer and Art,” which offered visual evidence that the 14 participating artists found a sense of peace in the act of creation. Guests shared the direct experience of being a cancer patient, and then a cancer survivor. Entertainment was provided by guitarist Jim Feist. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer were served. Photography by Bonfire Visuals
Marv Parker & Kay Bingner
Debi Culler & Bonnie Littrell
Christina Laurel & Joseph Kloss
David Pschirer, Shannon Carney, Cheryl Lecroy & Sloane Siobhan Marie Blough, Alan Ethridge & Paton Blough
Carole Knudson Tinsley & Shirnett Matthews
Vivianne Carey, Linda McCune & Frederick Parrish
David Dahl, Cheryl DeSellier, Deborah Feiste & Laura Dahl
34 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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ChangeMakers 2018 Class Kick-Off January 25, 2018 The Jefferson Awards Foundation honors individuals for community leadership and service, and the local chapter has recognized ten Greenville leaders, 40 and under, who will work together this spring to raise funds and awareness for Students in Action, the foundation’s initiative to help Greenville County students with leadership and life skills. Honorees and guests of the 2018 ChangeMakers Class kicked off the season at Greenwood Capital to hear from student leaders. The class includes Ansel Sanders, Blair Dobson Miller, Blair Knobel, Brad Cline, Ebony Austin, Jason Richards, Laura Bauld Turner, Lindsey McMillion Stemann, Reid Sherard, and Yasha Patel.
Kimberly Cooley, Brian Disher & Heather Love
Blair Knobel, Blair Miller, Reid Sherard & Betsy McMillan-Hipp
Photography by Chelsey Ashford
Ashley Rhodes, Timothy Whitley & Jonnasia Sledge Tracy & Tammy Swinney
Malisa Crow, Ken Harper, Lynda Leventis-Wells, Michael Giordano & Brad Benjamin
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YMCA OF GREENVILLE
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A Marriage of Mediums Reception January 25, 2018 Artist couple Meredith McEachern Piper and Douglas Piper welcomed guests at a reception for their co-exhibit, A Marriage of Mediums, at the Coldwell Banker Caine Real Estate Gallery. The duo used inspiration from their everyday lives for their art. The opening received a large viewing, and light refreshments were served.
Tristan & Kristel Pendergrass with Meredith Piper Jennie Carrington & Thomas Cheves
Photography by Bonfire Visuals
Virginia Wilson, Marisa Stephens, Lucy Pressly & Kate Dabbs
David & Arlene Wright
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Megan & Steve Mussman with Victor Lester
Michelle Newman & April Garrison
Jim Dyer & Michelle Moore
Meredith & Douglas Piper
Sarah & Nick Gilley
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underwent a complete renovation in 2005 keeping w Arts and Crafts details and the modern convenience would expect. Open floor plan. No detail missed
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211 EAST PARK AVENUE
East Park Historic District! Fabulous 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home steps away from Downtown. Over 5,000 square feet of living space. Originally constructed in 1910, this home underwent a complete renovation in 2005 keeping with the Arts and Crafts details and the modern conveniences one would expect. Open floor plan. No detail missed!
East Park Historic District! Fabulous 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home steps away from Downtown. Over 5,000 square feet of living space. Originally constructed in 1910, this home underwent a complete renovation in 2005 keeping with the Arts and Crafts details and the modern conveniences one would expect. Open floor plan. No detail missed!
WE’RE EVERYWHERE
The Cottages at Overbrook is WE’RE EVERYWHERE
conveniently located near the intersection of Lowndes Hill Road and Oakland Drive. NICK CARLSON
VICE PRESIDENT / BROKER ASSOCIATE
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NICK CARLSON
VICE PRESIDENT / BROKER ASSOCIATE
864-386-7704 NICK@WILSONASSOCIATES.NET 2/16/18 2/16/18 11:14 3:15 PM AM
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/ by Mikayla Hunt & Abby Moore Keith
Heather Michele Herbsleb & William McCallum Propp November 18, 2017
W
hen it comes to that famous South Carolina football rivalry, there’s little room for love between respective fans. But sometimes a bit of friendly competition can kindle the embers of attraction. While they may have grown up in Anderson, Heather Herbsleb and McCallum Propp were never more than neighbors. That is until the fateful football game in 2014, when they reconnected. While Heather’s Tigers may have come out on top, it was McCallum who won the ultimate victory, because after a few evenings of late-night phone calls, Heather invited him to visit her in Atlanta. What followed was a long distance romance, until Heather
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had enough of the I-85 drive. She soon made the move back to South Carolina, and almost two years later, McCallum organized a romantic getaway to the Biltmore Estate, where he proposed on the Front Lawn, in the glow of the brilliant lights of the Christmas tree. The two were married in Highlands, North Carolina, at the Farm at Old Edwards Inn. Heather’s bouquet, designed by Suzie
Better Together: Though Heather and McCallum celebrated their wedding and reception in the North Carolina hills, they used several Greenville talents, including wedding planner Upstate I Do! and reception band Erica Berg Collective.
Bunn of Statice Floral, contained photographs of her late grandmothers, and the wedding cake was a sweet potato and vanilla creation crafted by Tessa Pinner Cakes. Heather and McCallum live in Greenville; Heather is a Pure Barre instructor and sales representative for Community Journals, and McCallum is a pharmacist at Propp Drugs in Anderson. NICK BREEDLOVE PHOTOGRAPHY MARCH 2018 / 41
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Weddings Brenda Norris and John Pendarvis October 28, 2017 Love took a gamble with Brenda Norris and John Pendarvis. The duo bonded over cards at a local pub for almost three years. One Friday after a card game, reunited once again, John pulled Brenda into his arms, looked into her eyes, and asked, “Will you marry me?” which she happily replied—yes. That Thanksgiving, an ecstatic John revealed the engagement to his family, and a dinner party with Brenda’s family followed in December. During a family game, her sister unknowingly opened a sealed piece of paper, announcing the couple’s engagement. Everyone, overjoyed with surprise, popped the Champagne and celebrated. The dynamic duo was married at Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church with a reception at the Huguenot Mill and Loft. Although in their sixties, the theme for the evening was youth. The ceremony consisted of only junior attendants, all 12 years old or younger. The two now reside in Simpsonville. Brenda is a retired educator from the Greenville County School District, and John is an artist and retired IT service delivery manager from IBM. CHARLES BROCK
Tyler Dale and Graham Williams January 13, 2018 Taco Bell may not be the world’s classiest setting for a first date—but since the fast food joint was the first time Graham Williams paid for Tyler Dale’s meal— it holds fond affections for the couple. To say Graham and Tyler’s romance was a whirlwind would be an understatement. Though they’d crossed paths before as reps for TTI Electronics, their true first encounter occurred through the dating app, Bumble. Graham had just made the move South, and when he popped up on Tyler’s Bumble matches, she reached out. An initial evening with friends at Gringos was all the interaction needed for the two to recognize “the one.” They chatted on the phone for hours, confessed their love within the first three weeks, and by month eight, they were engaged. Graham’s street-side proposal led to a gorgeous winter wedding at the Huguenot Mill and Loft. Tyler wore an allure gown from Poinsett Bridal with an heirloom pearl crown from her grandmother. After an evening of dancing, the couple treated their guests to a late-night snack from Taco Bell. Tyler and Graham continue to live in Greenville. Tyler is in advertising at Erwin Penland, and Graham works in sales for Techtronic Industries. ANNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Jordan King and Ian McClure June 3, 2017 A double date with your future fiancé’s best friend—talk about awkward. High school is nothing if not the definition of uncomfortable experiences. Months later, Ian McClure sent Jordan King birthday wishes via Facebook. After a short time exchanging messages, the two finally decided to hang out. After seven months and secret lake dates, they made it official with the approval of Jordan’s parents. Since then, the pair has been inseparable. Ian talked of plans for a trip to New York, with Jordan suspecting a big city proposal. Days later, Ian proposed at the Central Park skating rink. The love-struck couple married at the Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn. Jordan contributed a personal touch with handmade throw pillows, 10 refinished church pews, and 250 miniature peach baskets of sweet potato biscuits from her grandmother. Ian and Jordan are now located between downtown Greenville and Taylors. Ian works in marketing, and Jordan is a teacher at GREEN charter school. KAT BRADSHAW PHOTOGRAPHY HEARING WEDDING BELLS? TOWN Magazine wants to publish your wedding announcement. If you currently live or grew up in the Upstate and were recently married, please write to us at TOWN Magazine, Attn: Weddings, 581 Perry Ave, Greenville, SC 29611, or e-mail weddings@towncarolina.com. Due to space constraints, inclusion is not guaranteed. 42 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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44 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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Artwork courtesy of Jeffery Leder; photograph by Eli Warren
TOWN
Buzz
INTERESTING PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS
True Colors Jeffrey Leder bridges dark and light with geometric designs MARCH 2018 / 45
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OUTSIDE THE
Box Visual Thinker: While his artistic heroes range from Gerhard Richter to Paul Klee, Jeffrey Leder pulls inspiration from philosophical realms, including the writings of Plato, Marcus Aurelius, and Dag Hammarskjöld.
Shape of Success From Puerto Rico to New York, Jeffrey Leder brings his abstract eye to Greenville / by Abby Moore Keith
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// photography by Eli Warren
t all came about because he slipped on the ice. Well, to be fair it came about because he wanted to be a doctor, but we’ll get to that. Jeffrey Leder was on one of his walks—“I’m a walker,” he says—along those slick New York City streets, when he hit a patch of ice and fell. Though undamaged, the fall sealed his desire for warmer climates, and after closing his New York gallery, Leder found himself exploring Greenville, South Carolina. “It was love at first sight,” the longtime painter explains. After an initial encounter downtown, Leder walked (yes, walked) through the West End and into the Village of West Greenville, which happened to be celebrating First Friday. “It confirmed this was the place for me,” Leder says. By place, Mr. Leder means current place, as he’s experienced a myriad of places in his time. During his adolescence, Leder lived in Puerto Rico, where he was “introduced to color and flavor.” But his artistic enthusiasm held bloom until his third year at the University of Michigan. Realizing his medical studies required an elective, Leder enrolled in a watercolor course on Saturday mornings. “I start to take the class, and I fall in love with art,” he says. “I could not get enough of it.” Needless to say Jeffrey Leder never became a doctor. His newfound passion led him to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and
then to San Juan, where at 22 years old he sold out his first one-person exhibition. By his mid-twenties, Leder was represented by the West Broadway Gallery in Soho, and the next few decades saw not only progress in paint, but also success in marketing, which exposed him to travels across Latin America and Europe. “I’ve been very fortunate in my time,” Leder says. “Life is not beautifully fluid and peaceful, not necessarily. But this is the chance we have to do things. To affect the world in a particular way, a positive way hopefully.” It’s an inspiring philosophy he doesn’t consciously put into his work, but perhaps finds its way there all the same. Label Leder a minimalist or reductivist—for him it’s mainly about form and color. He pulls a small notebook from his pocket, leafing through graph-lined pages, exposing hundreds of geometric drawings. “I get into a particular groove, of angles . . . it’s like meditation for me,” he says. “I don’t pass any judgment while I’m doing it, I let it flow out. Later on, I’ll go and choose which ones I want to develop further.” Color choice, too, is a subconscious act, and Leder admits they don’t always work. However, while reflecting on his paintings, it’s clear each color holds its weight; the dark and the light all exude purpose. The effect is sobering, but in a peaceful way. “It’s my understanding from reading and studying and understanding life, that we have dissonance,” Leder explains. “But we each need to take that discipline and make as much harmony as we possibly can.” You can find Jeffrey Leder’s work at Art & Light in Greenville. He has shown at ArtHelix in Brooklyn, NY, and will be featured in a group show at the Miller Gallery in Charleston in May. For more, visit jeffreylederart.com; @jeffreylederart.
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Towner
UP
Class Queen SkillPop entrepreneur Haley Bohon provides an inside look at the fast success of her community classes / by Stephanie Trotter // photograph by John Davidson
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hat’s the latest trend in learning? What’s the easiest way to conquer a craft? How can you affordably hone a hobby? How have more than 13,000 people broadened their personal and professional skill set? If you answered “SkillPop” to all of the above, give yourself an A. These pop-up community classes started in Charlotte in 2015 with a simple hand-lettering class. They’ve since ballooned across Raleigh-Durham, Nashville, and here in Greenville, with instruction on everything from crochet basics and cookie decorating, to podcasting and branding essentials. SkillPop founder, 28-year-old Haley Bohon, is revolutionizing continuing education by ditching digital methods for an old-fashioned technique: a real teacher in front of eager students, inside a classroom as active as kindergartners on Skittles. SkillPop has grown so fast, Bohon is spending this spring meeting mentors to cast a vision for controlled growth and sustainable expansion. She sat down to chat between brainstorming sessions.
Pop Culture: Haley Bohon is the founder of SkillPop, which offers classes in a variety of subjects via a classroom or studio setting. Begun in Charlotte, SkillPop is now offered in Nashville, Raleigh-Durham, and Greenville, where Jeremy Elrod serves as Community Manager. For more information, visit SkillPop.com.
How does a mechanical engineer hatch the idea for popup classes on marketing tools and tapestry weaving? >> I had lived in Charlotte a few years and I was seeing a lot of my friends go to fitness and run clubs, yoga at breweries, and casual networking events. As a life-long learner, I struggled to find places to learn that were in a similar, unity setting. Everywhere I looked for a photography class, the best and easiest, and cheapest, options were all online. But you wanted to learn in person? >> Yes! I love to learn when there’s someone there with me and I can say, ‘Hey, can you come show me that again?’ I like to learn alongside other people. So, I started working on this idea. Learning is great to do in person. It doesn’t have to be digital, just because our whole world is going digital. You had a full-time job going into that first handlettering class. How long did you stay? >> I quit my job that day, or shortly thereafter. It was quickly very apparent this was going to be more than a sidehustle. My husband, Steve, and I self-funded with a very small amount of cash, and we’ve been bootstrap since the beginning. We doubled in 2017 over where we were in 2016.
“Learning is something that is not going away. Community is something that is not going away.” —Haley Bohon
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A PRICE POINT FOR EVERY DREAM… Potential Rental Investments
Where does SkillPop go from here? >> We’ve been in Greenville about six months, and launched in Nashville in November. I want to make sure we’re strong, and that people have the classes they want, before taking our next step. My goal at Techstars Austin [a start-up accelerator program in Texas] is to learn to do what we’re doing, as best as we can. Learn to get really good at it, so we can bring it to other communities. Whether that means the Southeast, or nationwide? It’s a little too soon to tell. SkillPop offers quite the range of classes—beginner hiphop to small business finance. Is there a formula to your offerings? >> We play in spaces of hands-on hobbies, business development, and personal development. We try to offer a balance of new classes, and repeat classes, on a wide-range of subjects. Any classes you thought would tank, but proved to be popular? >> We recently introduced a ukulele class, and I had no idea how it would do. But, it’s a hit! What’s been the biggest surprise? >> We’ve seen people completely change careers, go from operations to marketing, and do all of their training at SkillPop classes. We’ve seen people take one class on embroidery, and get so good at it they launch an Etsy shop. We’ve seen people meet their best friend in a class. Seeing how impactful a two-hour class can be, it’s been really exciting and really powerful to see how much people have rallied around this idea. What’s been the biggest challenge? >> This is my first business. It has been amazing how fast things change. I do not have kids myself, but I imagine it’s like having kids. You figure out one stage and feel like you know what you’re doing, and then everything changes, and you have a whole new set of things to figure out. That’s what keeps it fun and that keeps me energized.
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Move in Immediately! Meticulous 4BD/3.5BA Modest and cozy this brick 2BD/2BA offers Mountain Lake Retreat with prime deep fabulous private Lake Keowee water frontage water slip. Open floor plan with upper convenient to Clemson and Greenville alike. and lower level living spaces, hardwood Lower level is unfinished and offers endless and tile throughout, fireplace, no detail possibilities. Great views. Rental possibilities. Not spared. Amazing wrap around covered many unrestricted areas remain on Lake Keowee. porch, oversized 28x40 garage offers endless This lot may allow you enough room to build possibilities on this 2.2 acre (more avail) lot. closer to the water while enjoying present home.
SkillPop reminds me of going to the rec center as a kid to learn ceramics and gymnastics. >> Yes. It’s something communities need everywhere. I think learning is something that is not going away. Community is something that is not going away. Do you take any classes? Recommend any? >> I usually try to get to one class per week. It’s hard to pick favorites, but our gardening class on a nice spring night is up at the top. Most Greenville classes take place at Atlas Local. For a list of upcoming classes, visit SkillPop.com.
DIANE BOSTROM
864.280.5844 | Diane@DianeBostrom.com DianeBostrom.com
Call Diane Bostrom to find your dream home! ))) READ MORE UPTOWNER INTERVIEWS AT TOWNCAROLINA.COM
MARCH 2018 / 49
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BY
Design
If the Shoe Fits
Greenville’s Armin Oehler crafts luxurious footwear for the modern man / by Steven Tingle // photography by Paul Mehaf fey
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s far as engineers go, Armin Oehler is certainly one of the most charismatic. He is funny, fashionable, eloquent, and creative. And if the old adage that you can tell a man by his shoes is true, then you can certainly tell a lot about Armin Oehler. Like the man himself, Armin’s shoes are a juxtaposition of styles and character— traditional yet modern, conservative yet stylish, chic yet functional. And all are of his own design. Armin grew up in Marbach, Germany, and spent his formative years helping out at the Oehler family tannery, which supplies leather and suede to some of the world’s most respected luxury brands. The tannery began in 1832, and Armin is part of the sixth generation of Oehlers to drive the company forward. But while Armin’s brother decided to stay in Marbach and take over the family business, Armin followed another path. “My father said I could try something else if I wanted to,” he says. “So I did a banking
degree and then I went to engineering school.” Armin first arrived in Greenville in 1999 to complete an internship for his engineering degree. He had no intention of staying, but now, almost twenty years later, he is still here, married with two young daughters and with years of experience as an automotive industry consultant. But a career working on pricing negations and quality control did not feed Armin’s creative side, so in 2002 he began sketching shoe designs. The idea was to design a few shoes that would be manufactured in Portugal using leather and suede from the Oehler tannery in Germany. “The first round I did five styles,” Armin says. “All very traditional but also a little more fashion forward.” The shoes were sold in a
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Got Sole? Shoe designer Armin Oehler (opposite left) hails from Germany but settled in Greenville twenty years ago. His shoes, sold in 30 boutiques throughout the Southeast, are crafted from the finest leather made at his family’s tannery in Europe. You can shop his line of shoes, belts, and accessories at arminoehler.com.
tiny storefront next to the family’s tannery in Marbach. As Armin continued to design new styles, the store continued to expand. For Armin, it was a hobby that was slowly evolving into a potential business. “It just kept growing,” Armin says. “And in 2015 I realized I really loved doing this, and I started doing more and more designs.” It was around this time that Armin and his wife, Sara, began discussing the possibility of bringing a full line of men’s shoes to the U.S. market. Armin was still working full time as a consultant, but his love for shoe design was becoming hard to suppress. “It was a slow process,” Sara says. “It’s hard when you don’t hate your day job but your passion project begins to take over.” And take over it did. Today, Armin Oehler shoes are available in more than thirty boutiques throughout the Southeast as well as online at ArminOehler.com. “The full line developed about two years ago and the approach here was completely different than what we were doing in Europe,” Armin says. “I didn’t want to start a retail business, so we developed the brand and then began working with high-end retailers.” The evolution of each style, from concept to production, is generally the same. Armin sketches a design on his Surface Pro then selects materials for the design’s construction. A couple of design prototypes, always in Armin’s size, are produced in Portugal. Armin then wears the shoes for a period of time to determine if the look and feel meet his incredibly high standards. “Sometimes I tweak the design after I wear the shoes,” he
says. “And then decide to put it in production or not. Sometimes I design a shoe, and I’m the only one who loves it.” Despite the various styles, colors, and materials, the shoes all share one thing in common—they’re luxurious. Coupled with the Goodyear Welt construction, a traditional way of crafting a shoe, the finished product only improves over time. And Armin consistently hears his shoes provide better arch support than those of other luxury brands. Armin’s designs are mostly conservative, paying homage to classic styles such as the wing tip, monk strap, and cap toe as well as chukkas, button boots, and slip-ons. “We try to stay traditional, but mix it up a little bit,” Armin says. This past winter Armin Oehler shoe brand became Armin’s full-time job. And now, when he’s not sketching designs, he and Sara are traveling to apparel shows, meeting with retailers, and keeping a watchful eye on the production in Portugal. “We want to grow and have a sustainable business,” Armin says. “And I’m a perfectionist when it comes to this.” MARCH 2018 / 51
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TOP
Bunk Coastal Comforts: The Cottages on Charleston Harbor offer the top amenities of a hotel stay, such as maid service and complimentary breakfast, while maintaining the private convenience of a vacation home.
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Tuck away in the comfort of a cozy water front cottage on the Charleston Harbor / by M. Linda Lee
hy is being by the water so inherently serene? Perhaps it’s the moodelevating negative ions charging the air around moving water, or it might be that gazing out at a vast expanse of blue reminds us we are but a small speck on planet Earth. No matter what particular alchemy is at work here, The Cottages on Charleston Harbor are ideally positioned to heed the water’s siren call. Although The Cottages on Charleston Harbor have been around for 18 years (originally as time shares, and as a resort since 2013), I am discovering them for the first time. Our cottage, Brightest Star, is one of ten (with equally evocative names like Tender Twilight and Glorious Morning) fringing the harbor at this little gem of a resort, tucked away in Mount Pleasant, just over the Ravenel Bridge from Charleston. Well-appointed and spacious, the cottages have everything you need for a comfortable stay with family or friends. Two bedrooms and three full baths assure privacy for couples, or kids and parents. Each unit has a washer and dryer, and full kitchens—with a dishwasher to boot—are equipped for cooking meals (assuming you can ignore the area’s myriad outstanding restaurants). This is all great, of course, but it’s the screened-in porch running the length of our cottage that calls to me. Ceiling fans, tables, chairs, and rockers (perfect for enjoying cocktails) furnish the porch, but the best feature is the hammock suspended at one end of the space. Unfortunately, the sun is scarce during the two days of our visit, but even watching the clouds is soothing from the hammock’s cozy confines. At day’s end, we settle into the strategically placed Adirondack chairs on the palmetto-shaded lawn out back with a glass of wine and surrender to the spell of the sunset. Later, we fall asleep lulled by the whisper of the wavelets breaking on the little manmade beach just outside our room.
We awake to rain the next morning, so we grab one of the umbrellas provided in our cottage and stroll down the sidewalk to the Clubhouse, where a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bagels, fruit, pastries, and yogurt awaits. Each afternoon, refreshments are also set out here, to be enjoyed outside by the pool while gazing out at the harbor from comfy lounge chairs, unwinding in the hot tub, or sipping iced tea on the covered porch. Given the rainy day, we opt to relax in our comfortable cocoon, forsaking the attractions of Charleston. Had the weather been better, we could’ve taken a spin on the bikes available to guests, or hopped aboard one of the water taxis (guests can purchase discounted tickets) that ferry folks to the city from the Charleston Harbor Resort, across the parking lot. Decked out with all the conveniences of a vacation home, The Cottages on Charleston Harbor have an added advantage, according to Lisa Crowley, the property’s general manager: “When people stay in a vacation home, they don’t normally have hotel-style amenities like maid service, a concierge, a pool, or a complimentary breakfast available to them.” Where accommodations are concerned, it’s the best of both worlds. The Cottages on Charleston Harbor, 16 Patriots Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC. (843) 849-2300, thecottagesoncharlestonharbor.com; rates start at $499.
Photography courtesty of The Cottages on Charleston Harbor
Siren Song
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TOWN
Profile
Person of Note Julianne Fish brings her musical and managerial mastery to the Greenville Symphony Orchestra / by Stephanie Trotter // // photograph by Eli Warren
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he stage is set for a classical birthday bash. When the curtain rises at the Peace Center on March 4, Julianne Fish will be celebrating her 53rd year— almost all filled with a focus on music. “Oh, we’ll be hosting the winner of the 2017 Van Cliburn Competition,” she explains excitedly, reviewing the program. “Anytime I get to hear the Greenville Symphony Orchestra play Brahms and Rachmaninoff, that’s a magnificent birthday present!” The big day will mark the executive director’s first birthday in Greenville, after taking the helm of the GSO last summer. “Greenville is absolutely fantastic,” shares the enthusiastic leader, who goes by Julie. “I sense a certain type of energy that’s very positive and forward-looking, but with respect for where the town has been and started.” As she takes the role once held by beloved timpanist Sherwood Mobley (who passed away in 2016), Julie can’t help but compose a melody with notes encompassing past, present, and future. She spent her first 100 days meeting 100 people, exploring the region’s musical composition. “On the big scale, Greenville blows it out of the water,” she declares. “The GSO has been supported and nurtured by the community for 70 years. The revitalization of downtown showcases what a vibrant cultural arts scene means to the city.” And when it comes to cities . . . she’s known quite a few. The budding instrumentalist was born and raised just east of Cleveland, where she took up the French horn in elementary school. By high school, she was marching with the band as the shortest tuba. “It was fiberglass, so that was a little easier to manage— unless it was windy, and then you were a wind hazard,” adds the 5’6” dynamo. She studied musical performance at Ohio State University and the Cleveland Institute of Music, before enlisting in the military to serve as a bandsman and principal horn for the Air Force Field Band.
Two terms later, she left with fond memories and operational tools acquired while running the band squadron. The San Antonio Symphony hit her as smoothly as a major chord, offering multiple jobs in the pit and front office. “I did both for a while,” she recalls. “But I stopped performing in 2001 when I went into senior management. I made the choice not to dedicate my time to practicing, but to managing. It was a very natural, very organic progression.” That unique mix of musician and manager creates a beautiful harmony with Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel, as he conducts the orchestra. “I understand and value what they do to create the music,” Julie reveals. “I use their talent and expertise and dedication as a motivator. Edvard leads with his vision . . . and we deliver an experience to the audience that will bring them back.” Since arriving, the new director is encouraging orchestra
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Pass the Baton: Executive director of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra Julie Fish will celebrate with orchestra members and guests at the Diamond Jubilee on March 10 at Thornblade Country Club, hosted by the Guild of the Greenville Symphony. Fish praises the guild, which turns 60 this year, saying, “They are an important part of our team of ambassadors, sharing the message of what the GSO does for the community of Greenville, by using their network and passion and dedication to the organization.” For more on the Diamond Jubilee, visit GuildGSO.org.
“We want to engage with the community in a meaningful way. Our vision is to continue to be a reflection of the city.”—Julianne Fish
members to meet the audience beyond the concert hall. The brass quintet played outside during the TD Farmers’ Market. “We want to engage with the community in a meaningful way,” she explains. “Our vision for the GSO is to continue to be a reflection of the city. That mix of tradition and innovation. We want to continue to be relevant in a competitive and dynamic market.” After the curtain falls, Julie heads home to her downtown apartment, where Abbie the cat, and Sheldon the rescue dog await. Spotify amplifies an eclectic mix of P!nk, Rascal Flatts, and Handel’s Water Music. The player-turned-administrator reflects upon growing another year older, never taking her eyes off the baton, ready for an encore. “What will we look like as we move forward for the next 70 years?” she ponders. “We will mirror what Greenville values and supports and embraces. We will challenge ourselves to showcase the diversity of the symphony orchestra. Our musicians, they perform on stage. They teach in schools. They are our primary representatives for what the organization means and does. They are the music. They create the music. They are our superstars.” For the latest news and concert schedule, which includes many free events, see GreenvilleSymphony.org.
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TOWN
Buzz
Toy Story Greenville-based block toy distributor Plus-Plus USA pieces together a constructive form of entertainment for kids and adults / by John Jeter
// photograph by Paul Mehaffey
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n less time than it takes to read this sentence, Ryan Hamilton builds a cow, then a moo-bot—a halfinch-high toy with a jetpack. These are the unlimited possibilities of Plus-Plus, a relatively new construction toy that can shape into a waterfall, tapestries of famous paintings, and a unicorn—“Unicorns are very hot right now in kids’ world.” The 42-year-old toypreneur spends his workdays fiddling with pieces at Plus-Plus USA, the Greenvillebased global distributor for the toy, drawing obvious comparisons to the archetypal Lego. But once you start tinkering with either of the toy’s two sizes, about the dimensions of postage stamps, the similarity ends.
Block Party: While Plus-Plus USA toys are produced in Denmark, their global distribution is Greenville-based. The business packages the almost unlimited designs in tubes, shipping some 600,000 plastic containers from their warehouse on Rutherford Road.
“Kids see it as a puzzle piece instinctively,” says Hamilton, director of product development and operations. “Younger kids are going to match together the pieces and do simple mosaics, and if you keep turning it every other way, it’s like weaving a basket.” Legos stack and lock into tiers. Plus-Plus pieces hinge, so sheets can be instantly shaped from 2-D to 3-D. “This toy is much more open-ended and creative because you can literally build in any direction,” he says, showing off a foot-high pirate ship with billowing sails and a mermaid’s tail. Creative Director Emory Cash, a self-described “Legos fiend,” works alongside Hamilton as the only other person in the offices adjacent to the 9,000-squarefoot warehouse off Rutherford Road. “Seeing all the things that Ryan was coming up with, and seeing the possibilities, opened up my imagination about what you could do with it.” Hamilton’s office looks like a kindergartner’s playshop. Once a buyer for Barnes & Noble in New York and a onetime toy store owner in Ohio, he returned home to Greenville to launch the distributorship for the toy that was invented in Denmark around 2005. Hamilton discovered Plus-Plus at a toy fair in Europe—in fact, the day after our chat, he was off to the International Toy Fair in Germany. “It was only in Scandinavia at that point, but only in kindergartens with really limited distribution.” These days, Plus-Plus USA grows as fast as a child bending a mosaic into a bust of the Mona Lisa, its business exploding nearly 250 percent from 2016 to 2017, shipping 600,000 tubes to some 3,000 retailers from the warehouse.
“This toy is much more open-ended and creative because you can literally build in any direction.”—Ryan Hamilton
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The first time Hamilton’s four children saw the clear, plastic tubes, packed with as many as 240 pieces in up to 22 colors from neon to pastel to camo, they began building . . . and shaping. The jam-packed tubes come with instructions—and, of course, there’s an app—but kids are kids. “My kids said, ‘Oh, look, it’s a cow,’ and then, they were like, ‘now it’s a cow with a rocket on him.’” Their engaged little brains still inspire Dad to add to the dozens of product lines. And for adults, we’re talking idle-hands salvation. While puzzling over how to end this story, I toy with a pile of pieces. Oh, cool, here’s a superhero! Now, a dog . . . and, hey, a cat! And now I’m . . . Plus-Plus USA, 1801 Rutherford Rd, Greenville. (888) 830-4212, plus-plus.us
Plus-Plus USA pieces come in two sizes—big blocks are available for younger builders, while smaller pieces offer more complex constructions for older players. Whether it’s animals, airplanes, or robots, the toys offer creative exploration that encourages imagination.
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Extra Depth of Field: Through the years, Monica Stevenson has developed a successful career in commercial photography in New York. But her emotive portraits of equine and equestrian themes offer an opportunity to connect with horses, a personal passion, and also explore the medium in a different way.
Double Lens Monica Stevenson melds technique and artistry for commercial clients and in her fine art photography of equine life / by M. Linda Lee // photography by Monica Stevenson
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hen it comes to her career, Monica Stevenson leads an artistic double life. The award-winning photographer divides her time between commercial work with clients based in New York City and the horse photography she does in Tryon, North Carolina, where she and her husband have lived since 2015. “Every day, my life revolves around making beautiful things,” Stevenson says. “I like so much that my work is both technical and artistic. Those two sides of it satisfy the two sides of me.” Stevenson perches on a stool in her small home studio with Maggie, one of her two wirehaired dachshunds, curled up in her lap (the other one, Ziggy, is in my lap). Surrounded by the tools of her trade, the photographer claims she comes by her métier naturally. While she describes her mother as a “Depression-era Martha Stewart with an artist’s soul,” it was her father, the family photographer, who piqued her interest in taking pictures. “He turned our big bathroom into a darkroom,” Stevenson recalls. “As a kid, I would spend Saturday and Sunday afternoons in there with him while he developed pictures. I sat and watched that amazing magic you experience when you put a blank piece of white paper into the clear liquid and a photograph miraculously appears. I didn’t realize until many years later what an important experience that was for me.”
THE BIG PICTURE Stevenson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, but her family lived all over the world (Australia, Puerto Rico, Spain) when she was growing up. For college, she landed back in the United States (her parents were living in Atlanta at that point) at UNC-Chapel Hill as a math major. That was where she caught the photography bug, in a class called Physics 45 that focused on why photography works. “It was that course,” she says, “that linked my affinity for science with my budding affinity for art.” At home in Atlanta the summer after her freshman year, she enrolled in a fashion photography class at the Art Institute of Atlanta, and that sharpened her focus even further. “Up until that point, I had been mostly shooting documentary-type photography,” notes Stevenson. “I was a photographer for Yackety Yack, the UNC-Chapel Hill yearbook, and I was assigned to shoot football, basketball (Michael Jordan and James Worthy), dance concerts, festivals, and general campus and town scenes. I absolutely loved having special access to events and being able to watch people. And I loved sifting through the little yellow box filled with two columns of Kodachrome slides. The Yack was well funded, and several camera brands sent us new models to try. I remember using the Bronica ETR, which was the first 2-1/4 camera I had ever put to my eye. It was big and heavy, and it made a MARCH 2018 / 59
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Out of the Saddle: Stevenson splits her time between creating images for clients such as Clinique, CocaCola, Volkswagen, Macy’s, and Michelle Obama, and pursuing fine art photography of equine culture at her second home in Tryon, North Carolina, and around the globe.
spectacular thunk when the mirror cocked—it was thrilling!” The fashion photography class unlocked a creative door for her. “I realized how much I liked making pictures and not just taking pictures,” says the photographer, whose work has been exhibited across the globe. “I was enthralled by constructing the entire look of the photograph, from backgrounds to lighting to clothes and faces and make-up. This element of control allowed me to combine my theatrical affinities for fabric, textures, surfaces, and light. It was in this class that the idea took hold that I could actually do photography as a career.” When her parents moved to Ohio, she ended up transferring to the University of Ohio, where she enrolled in the school’s renowned photography program. By then, Stevenson had realized that math was
not something she wanted to pursue. Photography, as it turns out, more closely suited her artistic temperament. While still in college in Ohio, the nascent commercial photographer moved to New York City to work as an assistant with a well-respected fashion photographer named Albert Watson. Better yet, she managed to convince her professors to give her credit for doing it. After six months, Stevenson returned to Ohio to graduate, and then went back to New York to work with Watson for another six months. From there, she freelanced for a while before snagging a full-time job with commercial photographer Chris Callis, with whom she worked for four years. “Chris was more conceptual, more illustrative,” Stevenson explains. “From Albert I learned rules and from Chris I learned how to break the rules.
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Both men were extremely helpful and formative to my own aesthetic.” With that experience under her belt, Stevenson started her own business in 1987. She took some business classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and rented a studio with four other photographers. “In those days, there was a lot of work,” she recalls. “I trudged up and down Madison Avenue with my portfolio to as many as five or six appointments a day.” And the assignments started rolling in. Stevenson gazes into the distance as she reflects on how her work has evolved. “I’m way more skilled as a technician now. I had a series of photo agents, and they all felt that if I honed my photography to be more advertising-oriented, I’d get more work. So I made my work less illustrative and more technically adept.”
A DIFFERENT TACK One summer in the 1990s, while she was living in Manhattan, Monica rented a bedroom in a house in East Hampton. The owner kept horses on her property, and the photographer, who grew up as a horse-crazy kid happy to muck stalls in exchange for riding lessons, suddenly realized how much she missed riding. So she leased a horse for the summer, and stabled it on Long Island. With that, horses became an important part of her life again. “That’s when I decided I wanted to be a vet,” she remembers, laughing. Since she was in her thirties at the time, her father (who always envisioned his daughter as a company executive in a suit and pumps) talked her out of going back to veterinary school. “If you love horses so much, why don’t you just photograph them?” he asked. That’s when the flash went off. So she purchased a plastic camera called a Diana—very popular at the time—with which to photograph her horse on weekends when she went out to the barn. That camera gave her a respite from the technical rigor her 9-to-5 job demanded. “The plastic camera was so low-tech that it let my heart come through faster,” asserts Stevenson. “And the pictures came out romantic and blurry in places, because the lens was so rudimentary.” Eventually, the Diana proved unreliable, and Monica bought an old Rolleiflex camera (the kind that Richard Avedon used in the 1940s and ’50s). She now owns three of them.
BEHIND THE LENS Her horse work blossomed, becoming a yin to her commercial work’s yang. In the latter, the cultivated technique and precision gained from her years of technical experience are immediately apparent in Stevenson’s mastery of lighting and her ability to bring out shapes and the subtlety of things. “I shoot a lot of liquids and reflective things in my commercial work,” she states. “In those pictures, I want to grip someone and make them feel the slipperiness and wetness of the water.” Most of her horse work, however, is not about technique at all. It’s about emotion. “I’m more beguiled in my commercial work by the appearance of the surface, while with the horse work, it’s what’s under the surface,” Stevenson points out. “My horse pictures stand out because they come from my heart. It’s pure self-expression, and I’m not doing it for anybody else but myself.” The ink and the paper on which the images are printed contribute to the overall effect. “I like people to feel how two-dimensional art captures 3-D things,” alleges the artist. “My choice of ink and paper makes the blacks very velvety, so there’s a feeling of texture and depth and softness. I want people to be able to appreciate that aspect of the subject matter, too—the sensuality of fur, or breath, or leather.” Until recently, Stevenson has been shooting horses with film in black and white. Film, she feels, is organic and it’s much more difficult to make a mistake with digital photography than with film. But it’s those mistakes that give her horse photography a warm life. “Lately, even though I’m shooting digitally,” she confesses, “I will often set things incorrectly on my camera (a Sony a7R II) so I can allow the pathway for a mistake to happen.” Stevenson has also begun portraying horses in color. She has a seasonal series of her Dutch Warmblood, Zoe, where she body-painted the horse and matched it to the scenery of the season (green in spring; blue in summer; yellow in fall, gray in winter). “Zoe loves human attention, so she doesn’t mind being painted,” Stevenson explains. “She just thinks she’s getting a bath.” MARCH 2018 / 61
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Free Rein: From polo matches in Argentina to Mexican rejoneadores (above), along with her own horse, Zoe, Stevenson’s photography captures a wide spectrum of the horse world. She also photographed the Friesian (above left) at Cheryl and Kelsey Baird’s Friesian Marketplace. For more, see “Dark Beauty” on page 92.
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NO FEAR From any angle, it’s challenging going back and forth between two types of work and two cities, yet Stevenson pulls it off through her fearless approach. “When you run your own business, you can’t be afraid of making cold calls, or having a calendar that’s empty for a month,” she acknowledges. “As a commercial photographer with an artistic style, you can’t be afraid to try a new technique and have it fail.” When the photographer and her husband moved to Tryon, friends asked if she was afraid her career would die when she moved from New York City to this tiny town in North Carolina. “The idea of my career not working never entered my head,” declares Stevenson, “because I’ve
lived my whole life figuring out ways to make things work. Being able to shape your own destiny is very powerful.” Be it in her commercial or horse work, Stevenson feels she has an artistic responsibility with her image-making to demonstrate the inherent beauty in the objects before her camera. “I think this stems from my insistent optimism—that everything has a beautiful aspect if you look at it correctly.” What would she do without the artistic freedom of her horse work? “I would just ride,” she muses. “But it’s very difficult for me to do anything without thinking about taking pictures of it.” To view more of Stevenson’s work, visit monicastevenson.com. MARCH 2018 / 63
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F Pretty in Pink While this Georgia gem celebrates a musical and historical legacy, Macon shines in its cherry-blossom showcase / by Cathy Sam s
or years I thought of Macon as a place to drive past on the way to Florida. Then my son and daughter-in-law moved there, giving me good reason to exit I-75 and see what the town had to offer. Quite a lot, as it turns out: music, history, good food, and a calendar-full of festivals. Add the fact that it’s less than a four-hour drive from Greenville, and you have the makings of a great weekend getaway. Macon sits in the state’s center at the intersection of I-75 and I-16, about 85 miles south of Atlanta. Georgia’s sixth largest city, Macon is the retail, educational, medical, and cultural hub of a primarily rural region. In 2016, the Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled a branding strategy to attract new residents and businesses as well as tourists. It takes guts for a city to brand itself “where soul lives,” but Macon backs it up.
M U S I C A L H E R I T A G E / For one thing, it has a legitimate claim to be the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll, soul, and Southern rock. Few cities have contributed as much to twentieth-century American music as Macon, which helped launch the careers of Otis Redding, Little Richard, James Brown, and the Allman Brothers Band (ABB), among others.
Photograph (above center) courtesy of the Harriet Tubman Museum; photograph (opposite far right) courtesy of the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
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Photograph (above center) courtesy of the Harriet Tubman Museum; photograph (opposite far right) courtesy of the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Living History: While springtime cherry blossoms are a significant draw to downtown Macon, the city’s cultural sites, such as the Allman Brothers Band Museum, Tubman Museum (opposite left), and Ocmulgee National Monument (below), are excellent tourist opportunities available year-round.
I knew a little about this legacy, considering I grew up on Southern rock. My first significant date with my high-school sweetheart (now my husband for more than 40 years) was an Allman Brothers concert—back before the untimely deaths of founding members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley. So I knew our first visit to Macon would have to include a trip to “The Big House,” the Allman Brothers Band Museum. In 1970, Oakley and his wife rented the two-story, 18-room house, and for the next three years it was home (or crash pad) for Duane and Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, and other band members and their extended families. Today, it houses an extensive collection of band memorabilia—concert posters, Duane’s first guitar, Betts’s handwritten lyrics to “Blue Sky,” the yellow dress worn by Oakley’s daughter on the back cover of Brothers and Sisters, the band’s first paycheck, and a pool table owned by Gregg and former wife Cher. Instrumental in the founding and rise of ABB was Phil Walden, Macon-based agent, music producer, and founder of Capricorn Studios, the recording label for a host of other
EAT Named one of the top meat-and-three joints by the Wall Street Journal, not much has changed at H&H Restaurant, a Macon institution since the young Allman Brothers Band members were adopted by founders Inez Hill and Louise Hudson. Soul food and Southern favorites still dominate the breakfast and lunch menu, and the quality still shines. (478) 621-7044, handhsoulfood.com Burgers and sandwiches get most of the attention at The Rookery with names like the Allman Burger and the Little Richard Pennimelt. But ask about the creative daily specials, and save room for decadent milkshakes. The Jimmy Carter features peanut butter, banana ice cream, and a slice of bacon, while the one named for brother Billy adds a dash of bourbon. (478) 746-8658, rookerymacon.com
Southern rock groups, such as Wet Willie, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Elvin Bishop. The label disbanded in 1979, and the Macon studio remained vacant for years. It’s now being resurrected, thanks to a major downtown development project and a partnership with Mercer University. Mercer is raising funds to restore the studio to the business of making music and sharing the story of Capricorn and Macon’s music heritage.
S E R I O U S H I S T O R Y / But there’s more to Macon than music. The city is serious about its history, boasting more than 12 historic districts, 6,500 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, engaging museums, and a prehistoric national monument. Part of the National Parks Service, the Ocmulgee National Monument is said to have seen 17,000 years of continuous human habitation. American Indians came here to hunt Ice Age mammals during the Paleo-Indian period, and different Native American cultures occupied the land for thousands of years. The park includes five and a half miles of trails, an indoor museum, and ceremonial mounds constructed more than 1,000 years ago. Each fall, Macon welcomes the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration, one of the largest Native American gatherings in the Southeast, featuring arts and crafts, dancers, storytellers, and history reenactors.
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The Tubman Museum is the largest museum in the Southeast dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of African-American art, culture, and history. Named for Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and humanitarian who escaped slavery and then led dozens of others to freedom, the Tubman has become a key educational and cultural resource for the broader region. In 2015, the museum moved into a new 49,000-square-foot facility housing a signature mural depicting the journey from Africa to America, an inventors gallery showcasing the contributions of AfricanAmericans, and numerous permanent and traveling exhibits featuring local history, folk art, and black artists of Georgia. Sports history takes center stage at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, which has inducted more than 400 Georgia athletes to date—Hank Aaron, Bobby Jones, Angel Myers-Martino, Walt Frazier, Evander Holyfield, Nancy Lopez, and Jackie Robinson, to name a few. Built to resemble a stadium, the 43,000-square-foot museum is the largest state sports museum in America, with more than 3,000 artifacts, rotating exhibits, a research library, and a theater.
T H I N K P I N K / Perhaps the city’s most surprising draw this time of year is the 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees, a number that makes the several thousand or so around the Tidal Basin seem paltry. Legend has it that a local realtor, the late William A. Fickling Sr., found a wild cherry tree—a rare species in the South—in his yard, but was unaware of the treasure until a business trip to Washington, D.C., years later. He learned to propagate the tree and shared cuttings with friends and neighbors. Eventually, other cherry tree lovers took up the cause, and now the town transforms pink for several weeks each year. The city celebrates the season with a 10-day Cherry Blossom Festival, March 16–25 this year, attracting thousands of visitors. The event’s hub is the Festival at Central City Park, with midway rides, exhibits, shows, a series of tribute band concerts, and a grand-finale fireworks show. The weekend’s free Mulberry Street Arts and Crafts Festival features hundreds of vendors and a food truck court, but take my advice and go early. This extremely popular event draws thousands, and the lines at the food trucks get longer by the minute. So, next time you’re rolling down I-75 South, do yourself a favor and take the Macon exit. Florida can wait a couple of days. This year, the Cherry Blossom Festival will feature performances by The Eli Young Band, Chaka Khan, and Southern rock group Charlie Daniels Band. You can download a Cherry Blossom Trail map for a self-guided tour, which begins at the Visitors Center and winds through some of the most vibrant neighborhoods. 794 Cherry Street Macon, GA. (478) 330-7050, cherryblossom.com
Upstairs (and upscale) from the Rookery, Dovetail focuses on seasonal availability and area food products. Favorites include blackened catfish, sorghum BBQ glazed pork chops, and Gulf grouper. Stay for Saturday and Sunday brunch. (478) 2384693, dovetailmacon.com As Miss Anne’s Tic Toc in the 1940s, the Tic Toc Room was the site of Little Richard’s premiere and performances by other Macon greats. The menu includes Osso Buco, lobster ravioli, prime steaks, and inventive small plates like chived lobster and crab dip with plantain chips. (478) 7440123, thetictocroom.com NuWay Weiners is the place to go if you need to feed a crowd on a budget. One of the nation’s oldest hot dog stands, it’s been feeding Maconites for more than a century and now has eight locations. Hot dogs are the star, and breakfast platters, burgers, and sandwiches round out the menu. nu-wayweiners.com STAY The 1842 Inn, named for the year it was built, is an elegant bed-andbreakfast with 19 guest rooms, antique furnishings, a daily hospitality hour, homemade cookies in the parlor, and fresh flowers in the rooms. (877) 452-6599, the1842inn.com
PLAY PinStrikes opened its Macon location in 2016, bringing a mega-entertainment venue with much more than bowling—24 high-tech lanes, a video arcade, laser tag, bumper cars, billiards, a 24-foot rock climbing wall, and balladium (a loud and frenzied foam ball battleground). (478) 8128655, pinstrikes2.com During winter months, the Macon Centreplex, home to the Macon Mayhem hockey team, opens its doors to the public for ice-skating. Skaters with a Mayhem game ticket stub get a discount on admission. (478) 803-1593, maconcentreplex. org/coliseum/ For families and nature lovers, Amerson River Park is 180 acres of woods, meadows, and seven miles of trails alongside the Ocmulgee River. There are picnic areas, a playground, and a launch for canoes, kayaks, or a two-mile tubing excursion in warm weather. (478) 8030484, maconga.org/listings/ amerson-river-park/4262/
Photograph (above right) courtesy of the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Flower Power: (left to right) This year’s 10day Cherry Blossom Festival will take place March16–25; make sure to grab a meatand-three plate at H&H Restaurant, a Macon staple since the early days of the Allman Brothers Band.
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I’M EVERYWHERE you want to call home.
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Decade Two of Racing Against Cancer!
Sat., May 5 • Portman Marina, Lake Hartwell
Dragon Boat Upstate Festival
Hate Cancer? So Do We. Our dedicated Dragon Boat Hall of Fame members share a common goal: to help eradicate cancer. And they embody the spirit of the event—teamwork, perseverance and a shared passion to raise money to fight cancer right here at home. Our Hall of Famers invite you to join them by paddling in the race against cancer. Together, we can make a difference. Please join or start a new team today! THE HALL OF FAME IS PRESENTED BY ACCESSHEALTH: Big Daddy AKA Teensy’s Abbey Paddlers, in memory of Alan Howard Larry Brotherton cb events Mike Coe Countybank Richard Cox The Cunningham Family Acey Deiwert Annette Dunphy
Fabri-Kal Cancer Containers Gina Franco The Freeman Family David Freeman Tim Garrett* Larry Gluck Grainger Jenny Green Matt Gregg Harper Corporation
Ken Harper Linda Hillman ITOR Biorepository Team Jani-King of Greenville Jim Kaltenbach Lisa Littleton Julie Martin Amanda McGee MDC Team Heather Meadors Anita Miller
Donna Phipps Krista Ramirez Carolyn Reeves Release The Kraken Janet Rigdon* Chris and Andrea Roberts Roers SCOCF in memory of Sarah Harrison Sally Smith Tru Blu and CRU Winn the Fight *Deceased
DragonBoatUpstateSC.org Benefiting
Organizing Partners
Sponsors
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SPORT THE BEST RECREATION ON LAND & WATER
Photograph by Eli Warren
Suit Up: Cricket players must wear a variety of gear for protection against a hard ball hurled at fast speeds.
Having a Ball
Greenville’s international community brings cricket across the pond MARCH 2018 / 71
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Wicket Game Greenville’s championship-winning cricket club is educating the Upstate about one of the world’s most beloved sports / by John Jeter // photography by Eli Warren
A
h, spring, when the first crack of the bat signals those sweet, sanguine afternoons around a ball field. Today, a dreary Saturday, a team of a dozen or so guys gathers at an indoor batting range where, for two hours, they take turns hitting and bowling. They . . . what? Cricket. “Is it jai alai?” asks a young dad, wearing a New York Yankees ball cap and taking guesses, some as wild as the Greater Greenville Cricket Club’s dazzling array of pitches. No, this definitely isn’t jai alai, the Latin American racquetball-like game whose hand baskets happen to be wicker. At least, wicker sounds like “wicket,” the most prominent term in what has to be the world’s most fascinating ball-and-bat game. Our spectator, sitting on a metal bleacher alongside two equally perplexed boys, both about 10-years-old and grasping baseball bats, takes another swing at the goings-on inside the Strike Zone’s green nets. “Cricket? Isn’t that what they play on the horses in England?” Strike two. So much for being the second most popular game on Earth. Just behind soccer, cricket is venerated in more than 100 countries, many of them former British colonies. Most, if not all, of GGCC’s members hail from South Asia, primarily India. “When I came to the U.S., I had to play cricket because cricket was kind of a religion for most of us,” says team captain Hari Krishnan, 27, the 2017
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Batter Up: The players in the Greater Greenville Cricket Club hail from South Asia, especially India, and include (above right) Rohit Singh, Kamalshil Lokhande, Hari Krishnan, and Ashwin Raj.
Division I Champion Player of the Year in the Carolina Cricket League, with 29 teams from Columbia to Greensboro. Krishnan, who played professionally in India, really does talk with a fundamentalist’s passion about the game. “I love this sport. Because it’s a sport and you learn about people—how to get the best out of them and how to get the best of you when the chips are down—it gives you a taste of success.” The team has seen its share of that, too, beginning in 2008 and now boasting around two dozen players. The 2014 Division II champs credit the city of Woodruff for boosting the game here, thanks to a large field created for them at the Woodruff Leisure Center. “There was nothing around here where people could come out and play, people with like-minded interests,” says Guru Raghuram, 37, GGCC’s longestplaying member, who arrived here in 2007. “It’s grown quite a bit. It’s pretty satisfying, especially when it started out with four members. It’s nice to see it grow so much over the years.” Cricket is action-packed—within the first 10 minutes of practice, the guys break into a sweat. At one end of the rectangular pitch, the center of the game’s action, a bowler races several feet toward one wicket—the game’s three signature “stumps”—to hurl a ball at the other. There, the opposing player, the batsman, tries to swat the ball away. He can hit in any direction, where the opposing team’s 10 fielders entirely surround the pitch. Incidentally, the ball, with a sewn center seam, is really hard. But only batsmen wear gloves. Scores can hit three digits and games can last as long as five days, though cricket’s three different formats determine the length of play, usually based on number of pitches.
“There’s a lot of strategy,” says Ashwinraj Thiagarajan, 26, an electrical engineer who came to the area from India in 2013. “You have to choose your team: a person who can just bat, a person who can just bowl, and a person who can do both.” As fluent as they are in the game, so they are in multiple languages. Spend any amount of time with these players, and it feels like a visit to far-flung ports-of-call with a stew of exotic languages, such as Hindi and Tamil. English is the game’s lingua franca, of course, because cricket began in England. Said to have originated in the thirteenth century, the game was first referenced as an adult sport in 1611—long before the founding of the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club in 1845. Cricket’s laws, as they’re called, were adopted in 1787 and now fill 82 pages, with the first page titled, “The Spirit of Cricket.” These days, it’s the country’s fastest growing sport according to the Washington Post in 2012, boasting some “15 million fans and an estimated 200,000 players.” GGCC’s players, among the nicest bunch you’d ever meet, are nothing if not steeped in a game who’s spirit is catching on. “The people that get interested get into it,” says K. Bapat, 44, who started playing when he was eight years old in Mumbai, India. “It’s a little complicated initially, but, like for us, if someone tells me, ‘Do you know anything about baseball?’ I don’t know anything about baseball, but I can learn it.” Swapnil Kabu, 27, also an engineer, echoes Bapat: “I mean, people who are out for trying new stuff, it’s just like people who like Indian food—a lot of people like Indian food right? But if they’ve never tried it, they don’t know if they would like it or not.” Team captain Krishnan hopes to retire one day and spread the game throughout his adoptive sports-hungry country. “In the U.S., the sporting structure here is so good. It’s just phenomenal. When I think about it—look at football, look at baseball, look at basketball—the sports structure to groom sportsmen from school all the way to pro leagues, it’s just phenomenal.”
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STYLE CENTRAL ALL THINGS STYLISH / UNIQUE / EXTRAORDINARY / EDITED BY LAURA LINEN
Photograph by Paul Mehaffey; Hadiatou Bah / Marilyn’s Agency; hair & make-up by Isabelle Schreier / Belle Maquillage
SHEER CHIC: Black lace V-top designed by Tygerian Lace; Serefina earrings from Muse Shoe Studio.
It’s Showtime
Emerging designer Tygerian Lace delivers novel styles for Charleston Fashion Week MARCH 2018 / 75
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THE LOOK
Made in the Shade
Come out of the shadows in avant garde designs / styled by Laura Linen // photography by Paul Mehaffey
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DRAW THE LINE:
(this page on Mira) Mini Jackie Mignonne Gavigan pom-tassel earrings from Monkee’s of the West End; lace dress from Tygerian Lace
(opposite on Hadiatou) black and white jumpsuit from Tygerian Lace
MARCH 2018 / 77
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THE LOOK RED ALERT:
(this page on Mira) Red floral dress from Tygerian Lace (opposite on Hadiatou) Black and white dress from Tygerian Lace; Mignonne Gavigan Polly feather earrings from Monkee’s of the West End; shoes, models own.
DESIGN DIVA:
Special thanks to models Mira Kasari / Directions USA & Hadiatou Bah (opposite) / Marilyn’s Agency; hair & make-up by Isabelle Schreier / Belle Maquillage
As one of Charleston Fashion Week’s 12 finalists, Emerging Designer Tygerian Burke of Tygerian Lace will compete for a prize package valued at $40,000, which includes Internet marketing and mentorship from some of New York’s premier fashion names. Tygerian Lace exemplifies feminine, elegant, and contemporary style. Burke’s latest collection will be at Charleston Fashion Week, March 13–17. For more, go to charlestonfashionweek.com.
78 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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COLD SHOULDER :
Woolrich original buffalo check blanket from Mast General Store
(opposite) Large thread lap throw from 4Rooms
MARCH 2018 / 79
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THE GOODS
Wrist Action
H. Goose watches sport sleek style and modern function // photograph by Paul Mehaffey
T
hese days, time-telling leans digital. But as long as respect remains for things well-made, as long as men find themselves following adventure in field and out, a reliable wristwatch never goes out of style. Greenville maker H. Goose is dedicated to providing elegant designs for whatever wardrobe. Its military-grade field watches feature gold-plated, five-jewel Swiss-made quartz movement, and are water resistant to boot. For a list of local retailers, visit H. Goose online at hgoose.com.
QUALITY TIME (clockwise from top left): Black dial Saluda field watch with green NATO strap; white dial Saluda field watch with green NATO strap; black dial Saluda field watch with black NATO strap; white dial Saluda field watch with black NATO strap
80 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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MAN
About TOWN
Each month, the Man About TOWN will share his Upstate rendezvous, which may or may not involve cocktails.
Life Cycle The Man considers the virtues—and pitfalls—of working from home // illustration by Timothy Banks
A
few months ago, a FedEx man came to my door to deliver an important document. It was an updated version of my mother’s will, which she had warned me would be arriving for me to review. I was convinced she had decided to leave her entire estate to her dog, Winston, a self-absorbed Airedale Terrier my mother feeds directly from the table, so I was in no rush to read the bad news. When I signed for the delivery, the FedEx man gave me a sorrowful frown and said, “I hope you feel better soon.” At first I thought he had somehow predicted the contents of the envelope and was expressing his condolences. But then I realized I was standing at my doorway at three o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon wearing pajamas, a silk robe, Nike sneakers, and sporting a hairstyle widely known as “bed head.” As he climbed the steps to his truck I yelled after him: “I’m not sick. I work from home.” The life of a stay-at-home writer is not for everyone. It requires exceptional strength of character and an extraordinary amount of self-discipline. There is no eagle-eyed supervisor watching to make sure you are at your desk at an appointed time. There are no judgmental coworkers whispering behind your back about your greasy hair, three-day stubble, and general
lack of hygiene. And there is no human resources department informing you that your sense of humor is offensive and that the three-martini lunch is a relic of the past. In short, you are your own boss. And whether or not you decide to actually do any work, or shower, or put on clothes, or drink Bloody Marys out of a Tervis tumbler while responding to the morning’s emails, is completely up to you. But there are downsides, as well. Working from home can be a very lonely existence. Sometimes a week can go by in which I don’t leave the house. Sometimes I strike up a conversation with the mailman just for the opportunity to speak face-to-face with someone. And sometimes I decide working on my short game or alphabetizing my spice rack is more pressing than finishing an overdue article or rewriting a chapter of a book. If I’m not careful, laziness and complacency can overtake me, and happy hour can be easily rescheduled from 5 p.m. to 1:30. Despite the pitfalls of working at home, I somehow manage to keep my head above water. And now whenever I’m tempted to procrastinate or answer the early afternoon call of the liquor cabinet, I picture a smirking Airedale named Winston and remind myself that my financial future is entirely up to me.
84 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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Trunk Show March 16
“Purveyors of Classic American Style” 864.232.2761 | rushwilson.com 23 West North St. | Downtown Greenville Rush fp TOWNpage.indd TOWN_blank Mar18.indd 7 1
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MS. BEA
Wright
Bitter Fruits: Helping a friend in a monetary fix is certainly the neighborly thing to do, but when repayment is lacking, Ms. Bea warns about the relational poison resentment can bring.
Loan Wolf Ms. Bea cautions against lending a cent to a dear friend or family member // illustration by Timothy Banks
T
ell me I’m not alone in this, folks. My husband and I can negotiate a well-reasoned understanding about our division of household chores. But implementing the plan becomes challenging when clouded by our clashing recollections of “whose turn” it is to do certain tasks, making it very easy to forget things that we don’t want to do. The way I see it, the same principle comes into play when friends loan and borrow money. I surmise that an actual written I.O.U. with outlined terms for repayment is rare. Without documentation, we are left to rely on our casual exchanges, which, like remembering whose turn it is to unload the dishwasher, can be very self-regarding, especially when money is involved. We all can recite Shakespeare’s warning from Hamlet: “Neither a borrower, nor a lender be.” Few, however, recall the next line that illuminates the admonition: “For loan oft loses both itself and friend.” Borrowing among family and friends is a thorny issue, capable of souring even the healthiest relationship. A problem with loaning a friend or family member a bit of your hardearned cash is the flashing mental neon sign over her head detailing the date and amount of the loan whenever you see her. It rankles when you cannot afford to buy that new dress you’ve been wanting since your wallet is a little light due to your untimely, generous loan. And the kicker—your friend seems happy go lucky. She is having the time of her life on your dime. In fact, it’s as if she doesn’t even remember that she owes you money. Just that quickly, resentment can seize a relationship. An
elephant has entered the room and will linger until the debt is either paid or forgiven. Unresolved, resentment will ruin your friendship. Borrowing a cup of sugar is one thing. But loaning a friend money is a sure way to bake a friendship, if you are not careful. To avoid the angst inherent in making a personal loan to a friend, be prepared. Here are a couple of options to consider: O P T I O N 1 : Tell the borrower that the money is a gift with
no expectation of repayment. (Mind you, once you pronounce the money a gift, you are not allowed that flashing mental neon sign to impair your vision at your next meeting.) O P T I O N 2 : Confess that you are a faithful follower of Judge Judy. If there is one lesson you have gleaned from hours of television, it is that any agreement about borrowing money needs to be in writing. Get an I.O.U. O P T I O N 3 : Be honest and kind, but explain you have a hard and fast rule against lending money to friends. They may be disappointed, but in the long run, your friendship will be spared. I’m here if you need me. Until then, y’all behave.
86 TOWN / towncarolina.com
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FIND YOUR HAPPY MEDIUM | MAY 11-13 | GREENVILLE, SC A Festival of Fine Art, Live Music and Southern Cuisine.
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Original artwork by Janina Ellis, “Crowds”
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TOWN
Essay
How to Grow a Fern To weather the storms of life, this writer needs a willing companion / by Elaine Best // illustrations by Timothy Banks
I
n the same way some people deal with stress by buying new clothes or pints of ice cream, I buy plants. First, there was the cactus I received after a disastrous year at college. I named him Taco, and he became my good luck charm for the next four years. Then, I moved to Columbia from Ohio after graduation. I had just given up my dream of starting fresh by trekking to New England, and moving to the “armpit of South Carolina” had me very depressed and incredibly sweaty. My parents’ parting gift to me was Vinny the Venus flytrap. Unfortunately for Vinny, he was high-maintenance and couldn’t take tap water. Vinny died graciously and rapidly on the porch that summer, drowning in tap and neglect. In Columbia, I moved into my own place and loved it. No one could stop me from belting out Dolly Parton’s greatest hits. Wearing sweatpants was considered business casual. If I ate a block of cheese for dinner, no one was there to stop me. But it didn’t take long for old feelings of resentment toward my career to drag me down. I hoped a new plant would fix it— maybe something exotic this time, too. Like a ficus. Or basil.
Days passed without luck. On a whim, my friends and I swung by a pet store. It happened to be adoption day, and Homeward Bound Rescue had rows of lonely dogs, looking up at us with sweet eyes. I saw an especially forlornlooking dog near the end of the row, laying on the ground and completely alert. Her brow was furrowed, her whole forehead a sea of wrinkles, and her long, white legs stretched out before her. She resembled a Sphinx more than a dog. I glanced at her name tag. Fern. Fern didn’t make eye contact with me. She stared straight ahead as though willing herself to disappear from her cage, to cease to exist. I felt that. “Did you want to take a look at her?” one of the volunteers asked, coming up behind me and smiling. Two weeks later, I took home my new Fern. While she was a dog and not a plant, I figured she couldn’t be that different. To start, Fern enjoyed tap water. Or, at least she didn’t know what she was missing out on. Fern also expressed emotions, so I knew when she was hungry or thirsty. Fern’s main emotion that spring, however, was fear. Terrible, shaking fear. When I first took Fern home, she froze in her tracks when she saw the three flights of stairs we’d have to take. I tugged on her leash. Her forehead wrinkled and she bowed away from me. I crouched down to her level and patted her head. “Come on,” I said. Fern gave me one of those I’d rather be back on the streets than with you looks and proceeded to jump through a nearby window. My heart sank as I imagined losing my first dog after owning her for less than an hour. I held tight onto the leash and peered over at Fern, who was sitting upright and staring at me with those forlorn eyes. I tugged on the leash, hoping she would jump back up again. MARCH 2018 / 89
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Essay
Woman’s Best Friend: Author Elaine Best lives with her dog, Fern, in Charleston, where she works as a publishing coordinator at Advantage|ForbesBooks. She has placed six times in the South Carolina Collegiate Press Association Awards, and most recently won the 2017 Emrys Journal Linda Julian Creative Nonfiction Award.
She blinked. I bit my lip, my shoulders slumping in defeat. I swung my legs over the ledge and hopped into the garden below. She followed me through the row of bushes and back to the entryway. I looked down at her, and she looked up at me. It was those sad eyes, I think, that conned me into picking up my 42-pound Fern and carrying her up the three flights of stairs like a damsel in distress. Fern didn’t seem to mind, and I half believed she’d planned it all from the beginning. The stairs soon stopped being Fern’s biggest issue. Spring in Columbia meant pollen was alive and thriving. We took turns sneezing back to one another, as though our noses were having a lovely conversation about the recent Gamecock season and my, weren’t those Tigers just troublesome? Our noses were stuffy, making Fern’s snores as gentle as a hurricane, and I had the bags under my eyes to show for it. When we ventured outdoors, our allergy problems doubled. I thought Fern was ready to tackle the Riverwalk by the Congaree River. Up to that point, Fern had sat every time she saw another dog. Huskies to chihuahuas, Fern planted herself on the ground and watched them walk by. I hoped this adventure would illicit normal dog behavior from Fern. I’d have even accepted a joyous hump or two. But Fern trotted along with her head down, tail unmoving. I was doubting my skills as a dog owner and wondered if I should exchange my Fern for a potted one. Fern walked off the trail and began the hunt for the perfect dumping ground. As a shy pup, Fern preferred complete privacy for her indecency, which meant I often had to bushwack through the wilds of Columbia. I stepped on a branch, making a loud crack. Fern whipped around, glaring at the offender under my foot, and then turned to stare at me. “Just go potty,” I said. Instead Fern sat down in protest. I’d made a bad noise. A terrible noise. And now, I would pay. I tugged her leash, but she wouldn’t budge. Mosquitos swarmed us. Fern stared, unblinking. For all she knew, a whole tree would fall on us at any second. The best way to fix the issue was to not deal with it at all and swelter in the heat. After that, I decided maybe the outdoors wasn’t for us. I thought a restaurant might be more Fern’s speed, so we went to Grill Marks, where dogs are
allowed. Fern cowered between my legs, and I had to drag her to our table, which she crawled under to hide. When a waiter brought Fern water, she slurped it, then accidentally stepped into the bowl and knocked it over. The noise scared her, and she ran under my chair, pushing it back a few inches, causing the burger I was eating to fall in my lap. I didn’t stop trying, though. We went for walks behind Target and befriended a mammoth dog named Shadow. I noticed that the more I made Fern try to enjoy life, the more I found myself finding a purpose in mine. Each day, I searched for jobs more aligned with what I wanted to do. I started trying new things. The first time I went out since my move was to Flying Saucer, and I took Fern with me. Once we sat down, Fern actually poked her head out at the crowd and wagged her tail. We may have sneezed only three times that night. We still had our lingering fears. It soon became clear that Charleston needed to be my next move, which scared me to death. I was looking at a job application when I heard the light tapping of rain. Soon, loud, slamming drops of rain slapped against my windows. The wind from the storm scraped the branches of a nearby tree across the sides of my apartment, and the following thunder rang in my ears. Fern, shockingly, was not a fan. Her ears perked back, she hopped off the couch and ran to my room. Sighing, I went to find her. “Fern?” I said. A tail poked out from under my bed. I knelt down and a pair of shiny eyes stared back at me. The thunder roared and the outline of Fern shook. I reached out my hand to grab her paw. “You’re okay,” I said. I squeezed her paw and we sat there until the storm ended. I didn’t know then, but a few months later, Fern and I would move to Charleston. I would love my job. Fern would bark for the first time. There would still be shaking and running when the thunder came, but we’d grown roots strong enough to weather the storms.
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Shop Small. Dream Big.
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DARK B E A U T Y Mom and daughter duo
C H E RY L A N D K E L S E Y B A I R D
are in the horse business, b u t n o t j u s t a n y f o u r - l e g g e d t r o t t e r. T h e y c a r e f o r a r a r e b r e e d called F R I E S I A N —with manes like ’80s rockers and physiques like Olympic atheletes—and pair these equine charges with their P E R F E C T OW N E R S .
b y JAC VALITCHKA photography by
PAUL MEHAFFEY
MARCH 2018 / 93
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1
A of dust
2
CLOUD
RISES as the heavy H O OV E S disturb the
D RY T E R R A I N.
Black as obsidian, the horse makes its round in the ring—a locomotive of elegant power, seemingly unaware of its nearly 1,400-pound heft. Were this the fifteenth century, the rider, clad in all black save for the blonde hair, could as well have been a knight in chain mail. But rather it’s just another day on the Friesian Marketplace farm in Greer, South Carolina. Kelsey Baird sits atop a horse named Nick who will soon be shipped out to his new home in Oregon. Nick—like his fellow Friesians, Corneel, King, and Luke, to name a few—is just one of the horses Kelsey and her mother and business partner, Cheryl, have imported from Holland.
For the past nine years, the duo has found perfect homes for these unique equines—anywhere from Australia to Nashville, Canada and Mexico, and yes, even just up the street, where a client owns six Friesians. It sounds like a business story, but with animals, especially with horses and their owners, it’s always much more personal. It’s what Cheryl calls “a heart business,” and they are the “matchmakers”—pairing the right horse to the right owner.
W
ho are these owners? Let’s see, the Bairds have had inquiries from Martha Stewart (her agent), a sheikh from Dubai (his “guy”), and a member of the band Bon Jovi. (Of those, it was Bon Jovi’s piano player who bought one for his wife). Clients—who text and call the Bairds with glowing gratitude and updates on their horse years after their purchase—come from everywhere, and across every spectrum. The country act Big & Rich’s manager, Marc Oswald, and his wife Krista, have bought two—one of which will be the carriage horse for guests at the Fontanel Mansion, the former Nashville home of country star Barbara Mandrell, which the Oswalds now own. Then, there’s the original creator of the product Simple Green, Judi Walker in California, who bought one for her granddaughter, Lauren, with whom Kelsey spent a week on the West Coast training. One of the original six Friesians the Bairds purchased almost a decade ago on their initial trip to Holland sparked the interest of a woman named
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Blythe Brown from New Hampshire. “She told me about Zerko (the horse’s registered Dutch name),” Brown remembers, “and after a long conversation, we determined that Zerko would be a good match for me. I flew to South Carolina to meet my possible new companion in the horse-flesh, and it was love at first sight. Zerko arrived to our farm in New Hampshire, and right away this Friesian stole my heart. I changed his name, and gave the barn the name “Dante”—a tip of the hat to a character in a new novel my husband was writing.” That novel is Inferno, by Dan Brown, written 10 years after his blockbuster book, The DaVinci Code. Dante, the horse that is, has his own fan club now, and graces the barn door in sculpture form at the Brown’s farm, Historic Runnymede, in New Hampshire. Inherently majestic, horses have an especially arresting hold. Look no further than Black Beauty, written in 1877 by British author Anna Sewell. More than a hundred years later and it is still one the most successful books ever published. And it’s about a horse. Not a Friesian, mind you, but still, a horse. But as any Friesian owner will tell you, these aren’t just any horse. The particular aspects of the Friesian breed, hailing from Friesland in northwest Netherlands, are the feet feathering—which lends a delicate detail on these otherwise big-boned, broad colossi—as well as their long-flowing manes, and gleaming, black-as-midnight coats. They are gentle and eventempered; the horse of the nobility—of knights in shining armor, really. Until,
R AW P OWER:
The Friesian breed hails from Friesland in northwest Netherlands and has certain physical characteristics, such as feet feathering, long manes, and black coats, that create its otherworldly appeal. These beauties are gentle, even-tempered, and huge—once used as a draught-style horse for agricultural pursuits, especially in Friesland.
as it is with trends, Friesians faded into a draughtstyle horse for agricultural pursuits, especially in Friesland, where the economy depended on it. In fact, the horse almost faded out entirely. “They got the breed going again, and they started refining the breed more and making them more modern for sport,” explains Cheryl, who started riding at age 6 and has trained horses for 35 years, “and now they look more sporty than in the old days when they were wider and thicker for pulling.”
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f course, like most success stories, if it weren’t for a serendipitous meeting with a Frieisan a friend had brought to Cheryl to train, this might just be any other horse story. Instead, “It was the smartest, neatest horse I had ever worked with, and I didn’t know anything about them,” says Cheryl, sitting fireside in her home adjacent to the barn. “I said, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ He was three years old and a little wild at first so I took him on, and it turned out I won five world titles with him.”
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“Then one day I walked out of my barn and said, ‘One day, we will be all black. We’ll have all black Friesians.’ And my dream came true. At the beginning it was really hard because I had to go down a road less traveled that I really didn’t know much about. But I took a lot of time learning about the Friesians, and I really loved it so it made it so much easier to do.”
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hat same horse, named Maverick, would even come when she called. She had her moment in the hot seat with him when Maverick was set to appear in the 2012 Clint Eastwood baseball movie, Trouble with the Curve. “He had to run across a baseball field in Atlanta,” says Cheryl, “with no halter at a full gallop, and all the movie people were right behind me asking, ‘Will he do it?’ They turned him loose and he came right to my feet and they all cheered.” If she sounds like a proud mama, she is. Though it’s hard to tell if she’s more proud of her
LO CK S O F LOVE:
Cheryl and Kelsey Baird (above and opposite right) own the Friesian Marketplace in Greer, SC, the largest East Coast importer of Friesian horses. The steeds make the long trip from Amsterdam to New York, “Each with their own personal groom to keep them comfortable during the flight,” Cheryl says, adding, “You know, to get them cocktails, or anything.”
daughter (a bio-engineering Clemson student on scholarship who graduated with a master’s at 21), or the success they’ve found together as a dynamic duo, taking the leap to start an online business importing horses from Holland, which is now the largest East Coast importer. Cheryl and Kelsey try to visit Holland three times a year, and will be there this month. They’re selling horses at a clip of about three a month, though last year they sold 50, the largest amount yet. Nick, the horse headed to Oregon, a supermodel among horses for his training and beauty, is one of the highest sells at $45,000. Had he been younger, he might have fetched up to $150,000. The Bairds’ Holland business partner helps them decide on which horses come to the States—the best only, as the Bairds’ reputation is as shiny as the jet black coats of their charges. The horses make the long trip from Amsterdam to New York, “Each with their own personal groom to keep them comfortable during the flight,” Cheryl says, then adds, laughing, “You know, to get them cocktails, or anything.” The geldings stay in quarantine for three days, the mares for two weeks, and the stallions for a month. From there, it’s off to Oregon, Oklahoma, or New Jersey (Bon Jovi, naturally), traveling by companies like Horses2Fly, or in a stall loaded onto a big cargo shipping rig. But that’s not before they are welcomed, like a new member of the family, to the Friesian Marketplace’s 10-acre farm, conveniently located ten minutes from the airport. “They usually arrive at 2 or 3 in the morning, and we’re always excited,”
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AT T H E B E G I N N I N G you have a really good idea, but you really don’t know how it’s going to evolve until you star t D O I N G I T a n d f i n d o u t W H A T W O R K S a n d w h a t d o e s n ’ t .” says Cheryl. “It’s like a new baby every time. They come in off the trailer all bright-eyed, like ‘Where are we? This is not Holland!’ I get them treats and make them comfortable. I’ll make them a carrot and sweet potato hash, and we’ll give them lots of kisses and let them sleep a little while because they’re tired from their trip.”
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very college student coming home for spring break should be so lucky. But these horses, and the dealings involved, mean so much to these two women—for what they mean to their clients. The famous ones, and the not-so-famous ones, find friendship, solace, and even therapy in their Friesian, such as dealing with a husband’s slow decline from ALS, or the crushing loneliness after they pass, or adding a big splash of black to the golden years as one husband did to surprise his wife. Cheryl’s dark brown eyes sparkle with the telling of the story. “We just sent a horse off to Virginia,” she says. “The man had all the church ladies in the neighborhood come over, and his wife had no idea. The trailer pulled up, and he said, ‘I got your new horse!’” Like a well-intentioned friend setting up a blind date, Cheryl hopes it’s always a perfect match. “You just hope it goes right,” says Cheryl. “For our clients—and for our horses. It’s important that they get the right people.” For Debbie Kesling in Ohio, a horse named Zanzibar was definitely the right pick for her.
Kesling’s husband passed away from ALS, but not before getting her dream horse. “He had told one woman at the barn that he was glad that I would have Zanzibar after he was no longer here,” says Kesling. “Zan has become my therapy horse. I can tell him anything, and he doesn’t mind the tears that sometimes come with that.” The Bairds make a living doing what they love by making dreams come true for people who love Friesians as much as they do. Even if it’s seven days a week of hard work. Cheryl’s mother, Carolyn, in her 70s, even helps with the bookkeeping—and cleaning the stalls. There is constant care, maintenance, and upkeep. The Bairds wouldn’t have it any other way. “At the beginning you have a really good idea, but you really don’t know how it’s going to evolve until you start doing it and find out what works and what doesn’t,” Cheryl says. But as the Bairds now know, going for your dream—however massive (literally) of an undertaking it might be—is always what will make you a breed apart.
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APRIL 19-21, 2018
YOUR GATEWAY TO THE WORLD OF
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Join the GSO for a
musical tribute to Nature’s majesty featuring Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite accompanied by breathtaking video footage of one of America’s natural wonders of the world.
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD
Edvard Tchivzhel, Conductor
April 7 at 8pm | April 8 at 3pm | The Peace Center Debussy: La mer | Ravel: La valse, poème chorégraphique | Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite
For tickets call (864) 467-3000 or visit www.greenvillesymphony.org
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Drink
FOOD FINDS & CAN’T-MISS DISHES
Photograph by Paul Mehaffey
Pop-Up Shop: Enjoy the first shoots of the season as winter thaws and green produce sprouts anew.
Spring Show From vegan soups to homemade Thai dishes, fresh fare begins now MARCH 2018 / 101
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Sun Salutations Yoga teacher Deborah Bouts imparts her inspiring energy into creating healthfocused cuisine at the Sun Belly Café / by Jac Valitchka // photography by Paul Mehaffey
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s cliché as it might be, the symbolism of a lotus flower— pushing up and out to rise and blossom—comes to mind while sitting with Deborah Bouts, owner of the Sun Belly Café and certified yoga teacher. It was, after all, not Bouts, but her yoga students and friends who pushed her to open the café, after they’d enjoyed the soups she’d started selling at 90 Degrees Yoga. “I just said, ‘I don’t have the guts to do it.’ How much soup can I sell to justify a $15,000 renovation and all this stuff at the studio?” explains Bouts, sitting at a table inside the Belly’s cozy, bright surroundings. But as any yogi might tell you, things have a way of coming into alignment. So Bouts, who is the epitome of a yoga teacher with her warm smile, flowing blonde hair, and calm and nurturing presence, soon found support coming at her from myriad angles. One person had a glass front refrigerator destined for Goodwill—unless Bouts wanted it. Another, with connections in the restaurant business, had procured the soup to nuts version of any and all restaurant equipment, and what would Bouts like from it? “So, I thought, I have to do it,” Bouts smiles, “I mean how many times can the universe go, ‘Hey, do this.’” For five years, Bouts would teach the early 6 a.m. yoga class, take her two children to school, cook all day in the DHEC-approved 10-by15-foot kitchen in the studio, and then teach the evening class. In 2015, she and her husband, Trent, found an old beauty parlor, which they bought and renovated just 400 steps from the Swamp Rabbit Trail on
Veg Out: Deborah Bouts (above) cooks a variety of soups, salads, and other glutenfree, vegetablefocused meals at the Sun Belly Café, located at 1409 West Blue Ridge Drive in Greenville. For more information, call (404) 3097791 or visit facebook.com/ SunBellyCafe.
West Blue Ridge Drive, opening the Belly there in 2016. Bouts’s inspiration for what she’s doing is her family. Her daughter, Zoe, is 15 and has type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, while her 11-year-old son, Broderick, is “on the verge of type 1.” The café serves (delicious) gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan food—with the option of adding turkey meatballs, wild salmon, or chicken. Bouts has a rainbow offering of ten different soups daily, including what Trent describes as “decadent” Portobello mushroom, as well as cauliflower lima bean, goji berry, and a healing Ayurvedic stew with lentils and warming spices, like turmeric and ginger. Bouts wants people to connect—not only with each other, but with food. She makes it easy by hosting cooking classes (for children and adults) and free events like salad-in-a-jar parties. She also offers catering and meal planning, where a customizable menu is prepared and can be picked up (at 90 Degrees or the Belly) or delivered. As committed as she is to helping students feel better with yoga, she takes that same practice off her mat. “We’re not connected to the food cycle anymore,” says Bouts. “We don’t have grandmothers teaching us how to garden and then how to cook from it. If we can bring it back by nurturing people with real food by putting feeling into it, hopefully that comes through.” Just like the lotus bud pushing forth to reach the sun.
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CITY
Dish
Main Squeeze Two brothers turn heritage citrus into a new kind of juice company / by Kathryn Davé // photograph by Paul Mehaffey
Orange Crush: Find Krause Brothers juice around the Upstate, including at Swamp Rabbit Café and the Community Tap. But don’t dillydally—citrus season runs (approximately) November to July.
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lice a beautiful piece of Florida citrus open. Squeeze it. Store the juice in the refrigerator . . . and leave it for a year before you drink it. Essentially, that’s the process commercial juice undergoes, with a few chemically modulated flavor tweaks along the way. And for Ben and Will Krause, it’s a far cry from the freshsqueezed OJ they grew up enjoying. The Krause brothers, who have made quite a name in the Upstate for their scriptadorned bottles of fresh orange and grapefruit juice, pride themselves on a “grove to glass” taste. If that sounds like marketing hyperbole, it’s not—their juice is squeezed to order and on the shelf the very next day. “You cannot get a shorter time frame,” laughs Ben, who trucks in 12,000 pounds of fruit from their family’s Florida citrus groves each month. When the brothers did a soft launch of Krause Brothers juice last spring, Swamp Rabbit Café sold out in six hours. Now, in the middle of their second citrus season, orders are flying and the company is growing. Ben credits the success of their “one-ingredient juice” to careful sourcing: “Cut an orange open—that’s what you’re drinking when you open a bottle of Krause Brothers,” he says. In some ways, this path was inevitable. Ben and Will, who grew up sharing everything from a room to chores in the family citrus groves, always knew they wanted to go into business together eventually. What they didn’t know is that their craving for the fresh juice they missed from home would turn into the company they could build together. Krause Brothers Citrus Co. Visit krausebrothers.com for a full list of local carriers.
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Introducing the Junior League of Greenville’s inaugural Shop for Greenville Fundraiser.
March
9th-18th ENJOY 10 DAYS OF PURE SHOPPING PLEASURE at Greenville’s finest retail locations, businesses and restaurants. Special Thanks to our Print Sponsors
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Get your discount card today at ShopforGreenville.org! Proceeds from the 2018 Shop for Greenville discount shopping card benefit the community projects, programs and grants of the Junior League of Greenville
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KITCHEN
Aid Use Your Noodle: For a fast, Thaiinspired meal that won’t break your spring training, try this flavor (and veg) packed dish.
Bowl Game Take your noodle craving in a new direction with this colorful, Thai-inspired curry / by Kathryn Davé // photograph by Jivan Davé
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nce upon a time, bowls were for soups, salads, and cereal. Now, the bowl has become a clean-eating catch-all, a marketing device (Broth Bowl, Power Bowl, and so on), a magic trick. Much of what we eat from bowls these days could, theoretically, be served on plates, but—somehow—composing the same ingredients in the curves of a bowl transforms them. I am reminded of the power of the vessel. The power of the objects we choose to hold and store and serve. My relationship with things can be a bit tidal—regularly surging toward minimalist ideals only to surrender, again, to the truth that ordinary objects are meaningful. In this case, the meaning is practical first: my favorite shallow bowls catch every last drop of the silky, spicy sauce that binds this bright, fresh tangle of Thai noodles and veggies. But fast forward past the prep (a rapid chop, an even faster sauté in a hot, hot skillet) to a moment when the steaming bowls are served: possibility. We could curl up on the couch, cupping our bowls, and let the intense flavors of garlic, ginger, red curry, and sambal oelek warm us through. If the March night feels right, we could eat on the porch, balancing our bowls on our knees and our beers on the steps. Or we could come in ravenous from the gym, throw this rainbow of saucy, spicy vegetables in the skillet, and have it in bowls minutes later. It’s just a bowl. Just a dinner. Just a versatile, vegheavy curry you can make in a flash. But, of course, like anything we consume, it can be so much more.
BANGKOK NOODLE BOWLS Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
I am reminded of the power of the vessel. The power of the objects we choose to hold and store and serve.
Coconut curry sauce 1 Tbs. neutral oil 3 shallots, minced 2 Tbs. fresh ginger, minced (approx. a 2-inch piece) 4 Tbs. red curry paste 2 cans (15 oz. each) full-fat coconut milk 1–2 Tbs. sambal oelek chili paste (depending on how spicy you like it) 3 Tbs. fish sauce 3 Tbs. soy sauce Bowls 3 Tbs. neutral oil, divided 2 heaping cups of broccoli florets (approx. 1 small head) 1 ½ cups matchstick carrots ½ head purple cabbage, thinly sliced 4 scallions, thinly sliced 12 oz. rice noodles 1 lb. shrimp Salt and pepper 2 limes, quartered
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Soak rice noodles in a large bowl of cold water to soften, about 20–30 minutes. When soft, drain and rinse. 2. Heat 1 Tbs. of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger and shallots and cook for 3–5 minutes. Add curry paste and cook for another minute, stirring. Stir in coconut milk, sambal oelek, fish sauce, and soy sauce. Simmer for about 15 minutes and stir occasionally, until sauce reduces and thickens. 3. Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbs. of oil in a large, heavybottomed skillet over high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and sear until opaque, 2 minutes per side. Squeeze a couple of lime slices over the shrimp. Remove shrimp and set aside. 4. Heat the remaining 2 Tbs. of oil in the same skillet. Add the scallions, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage and sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Vegetables should soften slightly, but retain a little crunch. 5. Remove skillet from heat. Add sauce, shrimp, and noodles to the skillet, tossing quickly to evenly distribute sauce. Serve immediately in shallow bowls and finish with a few squeezes from the remaining limes. ))) FOR MORE RECIPES TOWNCAROLINA.COM
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ROAST
&
when : t h u rs d a y , a p r il
TOAST
22, 2-5 p m
x
BBQ
l o c a ti o n : t h e r u t h e rf o r d
price :
get y o u r t i c k e t s n o w a t
OYSTERS
x
LIBATIONS
$65
all inclusive
euphoriagreenville.com
p r e se n t e d b y
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DINING
Guide BARS, CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS
BACON BROS. PUBLIC HOUSE
AMERICAN THE ANCHORAGE
With a menu focused on hyper-local produce, Chef Greg McPhee’s globally influenced menu changes almost weekly. Sample dishes include Grass Fed Beef Tartare, White Sweet Potato Gnocchi, and Fraylick Farm Ossabaw Pork Belly. The “For the Table” option offers housemade charcuterie, Blue Ridge Creamery cheese, Bake Room bread, and more. Don’t miss the outstanding cocktail program at the gorgeous bar upstairs, or brunch, which is now served on Sunday. $-$$$, D, SBR. Closed Monday. 586 Perry Ave. (864) 219-3082, theanchoragerestaurant.com AUGUSTA GRILL
The unassuming Augusta Grill is home to upscale comfort food. At the bar or in the intimate dining room, patrons can enjoy dishes such as the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with pancetta and roasted garlic cream, or the Sautéed Rainbow Trout with crabmeat beurre blanc. The lineup changes daily, but diners can always get Chef Bob Hackl’s highly sought-after blackberry cobbler. $$$-$$$$, D.
Closed Sunday & Monday. 1818 Augusta St. (864) 242-0316, augustagrill.com
You might think you know what meat lover’s heaven looks like, but if you show up at Chef Anthony Gray’s gastropub, you’ll know for sure. From a board of house-cured, smoked, and dried meats, to a glass-walled curing room display, there’s no shortage of mouthwatering selections. The drink menu mirrors the food, featuring whiskeys, bourbons, bacon-infused liquors, and even smoked sorghum syrup. $$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 3620 Pelham Rd. (864) 2976000, baconbrospublichouse.com
GB&D
The restaurant’s description itself—Golden Brown & Delicious—tells you all you need to know about this West Greenville joint. Locally sourced dishes of American favorites, such as well-crafted salads and sandwiches—like the killer burger on a housemade brioche bun— fill the menu. Check out the extended menu at dinner, which features an impressive repertoire of the restaurant's best dishes. $$, L, D, SBR. Closed Monday. 1269 Pendleton St. (864) 2309455, eatgbnd.com
BRICK STREET CAFÉ
HALLS CHOPHOUSE
$$-$$$, L, D. 315 Augusta St. (864) 421-0111, brickstreetcafe.com
$$$$, D, SBR. 550 S Main St. (864) 335-4200, hallschophousegreenville.com
You’ll likely have to loosen your belt after chowing down at this Augusta Street mainstay that serves all the comforts of home. Try Mom’s Spaghetti, Miss Sara’s Crab Cakes, or the signature fried shrimp with sweet potato fries. But do save room for made-from-scratch sweets like the sweet potato cake, peanut butter cake, and apple pie (available for special-order, too).
The renowned Charleston steakhouse puts down roots in the former High Cotton space on the Reedy River. Indulge in a selection of wet- or dry-aged steaks (USDA Prime beef, flown in from Chicago’s Allen Brothers), or try a Durham Ranch elk loin with root vegetable hash and pine nut relish. Don’t miss the lavender French toast at brunch.
Monkey Wrench Monkey Wrench Smokehouse comes by its name honestly, taking up space in what was a long-standing hardware store in Travelers Rest. This BBQ restaurant from the folks behind Sidewall Pizza and Rocket Surgery will be serving everything from ribs, wings, and veggies—all wood-fired. But don’t forget to save room for the pork belly corn dogs or the pulled pork sandwich (left). Steven Musolf wears the title of head chef and is the mind behind the menu. During your visit, you’ll find handmade and repurposed features around the restaurant, such as a blue jean wall, custom firewood storage, old stage lights, wooden music boxes, and a sewing machine turned into a host stand.
Photograph by Andrew Huang
$$-$$$. D. Closed Monday. 21 N Main St, Travelers Rest. (585) 414-8620.
KEY: Average price of a dinner entrée (lunch if dinner isn’t served): Under $10 = $, $10-$15 = $$, $16-$25 = $$$, $25+ = $$$$ Breakfast = B Lunch = L Dinner = D Sat or Sun Brunch = SBR MARCH 2018 7 / 109 5
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DINING
FREE Yes! FREE PIZZA? PIZZA? Yes! Purchase any Purchase any 14'' 14” pizza pizza andreceive receive a FREE and FREE pizza of of equal equal or pizza or lesser lesser value. Coupon Coupon must value. mustbe be present at at time time of present of order. order. Dine-in Only Dine-in Only. Expires 08/302016 Expires 4/30/2018
TM816 TM816
Guide
HENRY’S SMOKEHOUSE
Delicious Thin Crust Pizza * Fresh Salads * Homemade Ice Cream * Craft Beer & Soda
Though this barbecue joint has since branched out, Henry’s original location has long set the standard. A Greenville institution, the smokehouse specializes in slow-cooking meat in open pits over hickory logs. Sure, there’s more on the menu, but their succulent ribs with beans and slaw will transport you to hog heaven. $, L, D. 240 Wade Hampton Blvd. (864) 232-7774, henryssmokehouse.com
99 Cleveland Street Greenville,SC 29601
HUSK GREENVILLE
864-558-0235
35 S. Main St. Travelers Rest, SC 29690 864-610-0527
3598 Pelham Road Greenville, SC 29615 864-991-8748
Settle down Sean Brock devotees. Husk Greenville has arrived, delivering legendary farm-to-table concepts under Chef de Cuisine Jon Buck. Devoted to fresh and local goods, Brock and Buck champion Southern fare, resurrecting dishes reminiscent of greatgrandma’s kitchen. The ever-evolving menu offers starters—like the crispy pig ear wraps with gourd sweet and sour sauce—then dives into heftier plates like the cornmealdusted catfish, collard greens and potlikker, and a Carolina runner peanut–satsuma salad. $$-$$$, L, D, SBR. 722 S. Main St, Greenville. (864) 627-0404, huskgreenville.com INK N IVY
Located in the space formerly occupied by Corner Pocket, Ink N Ivy boasts a menu of American fare with an emphasis on fresh seafood. Lunch features staples like the charred salmon salad, and the evening menu tacks on entrées like the grilled scallops, topped with lime cilantro butter, served on wilted chives, baby spinach, and roasted peppers. $$, L, D (Mon–Sun), SBR (Sat–Sun). 21 E Coffee St. (864) 438-4698, greenville.inkanivy.com
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NOBODY SELLS MORE REAL ESTATE THAN RE/MAX
271-3919, northamptonwineanddine.com
THE NOSE DIVE
The Nose Dive is city bar meets corner bistro. Beer, wine, and cocktails at its upstairs bar CRAFTED complement an ambitious menu of “urban comfort food” from fried chicken and waffles to a customized grits bar at brunch. Located on Main Street between ONE City Plaza and the Peace Center, this gastropub is a downtown hotspot. $-$$, L, D, SBR. 116 S
Main St. (864) 373-7300, thenosedive.com OJ’S DINER
OJ’s is not a restaurant. It’s an Upstate institution. The old-school meat-andthree dishes up homestyle favorites on a daily basis, but every weekday comes with specials: lasagna and porkchops on Mondays, turkey and meatloaf Tuesdays, and more. Don’t forget to dig into a mess of sides: the mac ‘n’ cheese tastes the way mama made it and God intended.
$, B, L. Closed Saturday & Sunday. 907 Pendleton St. (864) 235-2539, ojs-diner.com
$$, L, D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 1609 Laurens Rd, Greenville. (864) 5688115, kitchensyncgreenville.com
$$$-$$$$, D. Closed Sun & Mon. 10 Road of Vines, Travelers Rest. (864) 516-1254, restaurant17.com
LARKIN’S ON THE RIVER
RICK ERWIN’S NANTUCKET SEAFOOD
the Reedy River, Larkin’s balances upscale dining with comfort. Start with the she-crab soup, then select an entrée from the day’s offerings—or opt for an aged filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Enjoy the river view on the enclosed outdoor patio and the extensive wine list. $$$-$$$$,
L (Mon–Fri), D (daily), SBR. 318 S Main St. (864) 467-9777, larkinsontheriver.com
The latest addition to the Larkin’s line-up, this ristorante serves up Italian cuisine out of the former Playwright space on River and Broad streets. The menu ranges from pesto pizzas to chicken marsala to classics like spaghetti and meatballs—but the real winner is the all-Italian wine list, curated from award-winning vineyards from across the region. After you’ve had your glass, don’t miss out on a bite of the housemade limoncello gelato. $$-$$$, L, D. 401 River St.
(864) 263-7000, limoncellogvl.com LTO BURGER BAR
Jeremy Russell RE/MAX Realty Professionals Broker Associate Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist RealEstateOfGreenvilleSC.com info@jeremyrussell.net | 864.679.0708
Linger in the relaxed atmosphere of Northampton’s wine bar. Choose a bottle from the thousands for sale, open it for a corkage fee, and enjoy with a selection of cheese or small plate. Or, stay for dinner and select from an ever-changing menu, which includes seafood, beef, and wild game. The outdoor patio is a decidedly relaxing location for a meal or a glass of wine. $$-$$$$. L, D. 211-A E Broad St. (864)
RESTAURANT 17
A straight farm-to-table concept and a certified-green restaurant, Kitchen Sync’s eco-focus extends to its menu, sourced by local farms. Start with the Gritz Fritz, with 2:06 PM Hurricane Creek fried grits, collards, and pepper jam. The Banh Mi salad comes loaded with fresh veg and rice noodles, topped with pulled pork or tofu, or try the local rib pork chop. Don’t miss the pizza!
LIMONCELLO
TEAM IN THE UPSTATE
NORTHAMPTON WINE & DINE
KITCHEN SYNC
Located between the Peace Center and
2017
Dr, Greenville. (864) 214-1483, ltoburgerbargvl.com
Chef Brian Coller has crafted a menu that steers the beefy American staple into unconventional (but totally delicious) territory. Take the “Piedmont Mullet ’85,” with sloppy joe chili, bomb mustard, American cheese, and “phat” onion rings. For you Elvis enthusiasts, the “King of Memphis” is a hunk of burnin’ love concocted with banana jam, peanut butter, and bacon. $$, L, D. 2451 N Pleasantburg
Tucked away in Travelers Rest, Restaurant 17 blends contemporary European bistro with Blue Ridge bliss. The menu changes seasonally, but expect dishes from Executive Chef Nick Graves like smoked scallop crudo with crème fraîche, grapefruit, hot sauce pearls, and Meyer lemon oil, and pork belly agnolotti with chestnuts, rapini, and saffron cream.
Greenville may be landlocked, but Rick Erwin’s restaurant takes us seaside. The day’s fresh catch comes grilled, seared, broiled, blackened, or in chef-designed specialties. Try the fried lobster bites with a drink at the elegant bar. Ideal for group dinners or quiet date nights, Nantucket offers both an intimate and entertaining atmosphere. $$-$$$$, D, SBR. 40 W Broad St. (864) 546-3535, nantucketseafoodgrill.com RICK ERWIN’S WEST END GRILLE
Traditional surf-and-turf meets upscale dining at Rick Erwin’s. The dining room is decorated in rich, dark woods that, along with low lighting, create an intimate, stylish atmosphere. Entrées range from sashimigrade tuna and pan-seared sea bass, to certified Angus beef. $$-$$$$, D. Closed Sunday. 648 S Main St. (864) 232-8999, rickerwins.com ROCKET SURGERY
From the folks who bring you the heavenly pies at Sidewall Pizza comes a new craft concept. Trading slices for sliders, Rocket Surgery’s low-key bill of fare features snackable burgers with variations like lamb topped with feta, spinach, and tangy harissa, and the fried soft-shell crab with creamy paprika aioli and pickled red cabbage. If you plan to drink your dinner, go for the rum, coconut, and pineapple-infused “Zombie, Y’all” or “The Prospector” with bourbon and house-made bitters. $$, D (Mon, Thurs–
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Sat), SBR. 164-D S Main St, Travelers Rest. (864) 610, 0901, rocketsurgery54321.com ROOST
This nod to the enterprising farm-to-table trend lends a modern, tasty addition to North Main. With a promise to provide food with a limited distance from producer to consumer, Roost’s ingredients are sourced from nearby areas in South and North Carolina. In good weather, try to snag a spot on the patio overlooking NoMa Square. $$-$$$,
B,L, D, SBR. 220 N Main St. (864) 298-2424, roostrestaurant.com SMOKE ON THE WATER
Located in the West End Market, Smoke on the Water has a homey feel, with separate street-side dining and covered patio tables overlooking Pedrick’s Garden. Choose something from the smoker (beer-butt chicken), or pick from sandwiches, burgers, or salads. $-$$$, L, D. 1 Augusta St, Ste 202. (864) 232-9091, saucytavern.com
SOBY’S
Local flavor shines here in entrées like crab cakes with remoulade, sweet corn maque choux, mashed potatoes, and haricot verts. Their selection of 700 wines guarantees the perfect meal complement. Featuring different selections every week, the Sunday brunch buffet showcases the chefs’ creativity. $$$$$$$, D, SBR. 207 S Main St. (864) 232-7007, sobys.com
BARS & BREWERIES 13 STRIPES BREWERY
Providing patrons and patriots alike with a wide porch area and spacious interior bar, 13 Stripes rotates a loaded arsenal of aptlytitled suds—including the Rise & Fight Again IPA and the Sgt. Molly American Wheat— and rolls out session beers, IPAs, porters, and other seasonal kegs that pair perfectly with one of 13 Stripes’ “ration plates,” laden with fresh-cut meats and cheeses. Taylors Mill, 250 Mill St, Ste PW 3101, Taylors. (864) 349-1430, 13stripesbrewery.com BIRDS FLY SOUTH ALE PROJECT
With a focus on farmhouse saisons and sour beers, Birds Fly South Ale Project has come home to roost in Hampton Station. Though closed for production Monday through Wednesday, the open-air taproom is the perfect end-of-week place to drain a cold glass while noshing on local food truck fare. Expect to find flavor-filled concoctions, such as the Biggie Mango, Eldorado Saison, or the 2Hop Session IPA. Thurs–Sun. 1320 Hampton Ave Ext. (864) 412-8825, bfsbeer.com
BREWERY 85
Named for Greenville’s favorite freeway, this microbrew is attracting outsized attention with its eclectic collection of craft brews. From the crisp GVL IPA to the malty Howdy Dunkel, Brewery 85 combines Southern style with the best of German brew techniques. Trek to the taproom for their latest lagers; well-mannered kids and canines welcome. 6 Whitlee Ct. (864) 558-0104, brewery85.com THE COMMUNITY TAP
Convenience, expertise, and great atmosphere collide at the Community Tap, Greenville’s neighborhood craft beer and wine shop. Choose from an extensive selection—more than 180 local, national, and international brews—or have a glass from one of the everrotating beer and wine taps. 217 Wade Hampton Blvd. (864) 631-2525, thecommunitytap.com GROWLER HAUS
The franchise’s West Greenville addition is its newest, rounding out the total to four
Upstate watering holes. Growler Haus’s drafts rotate seasonally to bring you the best in local and national brews, so whether you’re a fan of IPAs, pilsners, ciders, pale ales, or wheats, they’ve got a cold one waiting for you. Just remember to pepper in a homemade pretzel with beer cheese or a pork belly bao bun in between pints. $-$$,
L (Fri–Sat), D (Mon–Sat). Closed Sunday. 12 Lois Ave. (864) 373-9347, growlerhaus.com LIBERTY TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL
Located next to Fluor Field, Liberty Tap Room Bar & Grill is both pre-game watering hole and after-work hangout. Dinner choices range from classic burgers and juicy steaks to spinach pizza. Gather with friends at the long bar to enjoy one of 72 brews on tap. $-$$$, L, D, SBR. 941 S Main St. (864) 770-7777, libertytaproom.com MAC’S SPEED SHOP
Across from Liberty Tap Room, Mac’s is for the Harley-set as well as the Greenville Drive crowd, with plenty of brisket, ribs, and beer-can chicken. Try a plate of Tabascofried pickles, washed down with one of the 50 craft beers on tap. With outdoor seating, you’ll likely want to lay some rubber on the road to grab your spot. $-$$$, L, D. 930 S Main St. (864) 239-0286, macspeedshop.com QUEST BREWING CO.
Committed to producing premium brews while minimizing their environmental impact, Quest guarantees to satisfy your beer cravings and sustainability enthusiasm in a single sip. Grab a pint of QBC’s signature brews; the West Coast–style Ellida IPA packs a punch of flavor, or venture to the dark side with the Kaldi imperial coffee stout (crafted with locally roasted beans). Stop by for an afternoon brewery tour, then follow up with an evening full of food truck fare and live music. 55 Airview Dr, Greenville. (864) 2726232, questbrewing.com
SIP WHISKEY & WINE
True to its namesake, this rooftop tasting room is all about liquid refreshment. While the full-service bar offers an array of fine wine and whiskey, there’s no better way to end your evening than with an easy-drinking glass of sangria (or a signature cocktail) in hand. SIP’s open-air patio complete with cushioned couches accentuates the laidback atmosphere, and a curated collection of small plates guarantees a quick answer to an alcohol-induced appetite. $-$$, D. 103 N Main St #400, (864) 552-1916, sipgvl.com SWAMP RABBIT BREWERY & TAPROOM
Located off Main Street in Travelers Rest, this local brewhouse gives you one more reason to cruise (responsibly!) down the Swamp Rabbit. With a taproom offering classics (try the easy-drinking American pale ale) and fresh brews (the Belgian-style farm ale is a golden dream) as well as frequent food truck visits, this brewery is sure to become your favorite place to cap off a Saturday afternoon. 26 S Main St, Travelers Rest.
theswamprabbitbrewery.com TASTING ROOM TR
Wind down on the weekends at this combination gourmet wine shop, beer tap, and sampling space. With nearly 200 wines and 150 craft beers for sale in-house, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Not sure what kind of vino revs your engine? Taste-test a few by the glass and pick up a new favorite from the weekly featured wines or happy hours hosted Wednesday through Friday. Enjoy cheese and charcuterie while you sip. $$, L (Sat–Sun), D (Wed–Sat), Closed Mon– Tues. 164 S Main St, Ste C, Travelers Rest. (864) 610-2020, tastingroomtr.com
2222 Augusta Street, Suite 7 Greenville, SC 29605 | 864.520.2486 MARCH 2018 / 111
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DINING
Guide
THOMAS CREEK BREWERY
The Thomas Creek brand has been a familiar feature on the Greenville libation lineup for more than ten years, but a visit to the home of the River Falls Red Ale or Trifecta IPA is well worth the trip. Fill up on your favorite Thomas Creek brew in the tasting room, or soak up some sun (and hops!) on the brewery’s patio. Tours available by appointment. 2054 Piedmont Hwy.
(864) 605-1166, thomascreekbeer.com UP ON THE ROOF
We all know a well-crafted cocktail can make your spirits soar, but a glass at this dignified drinkery will leave you nine stories high, literally. With it’s classic cocktails, local craft brews, and unique wine varieties, this rooftop bar brings a heightened experience to downtown’s Embassy Suites. Graze on small plates and soak in some of the Upstate’s most scenic vistas. $-$$, L, D. 250 RiverPlace. (864) 242-4000, eatupdrinkup.net
UPSTATE CRAFT BEER CO.
Housed in the old Claussen Bakery on Augusta, Upstate Craft Beer Co. is hoppy hour heaven. Not only does it feature the best local and national brews on tap, this beer joint offers home brewsters all the gear and ’gredients needed to craft their own ale-inspired inventions. Make sure to try a naan pizza from the in-house kitchen. 400 Augusta St. (864) 609-4590, upstatecraftbeer.com UNIVERSAL JOINT
Everyone needs a neighborhood bar. Where better to cheer with your friends? This hangout is within walking distance of North Main, featuring a covered outdoor patio and roll-up garage doors. Rotating bottle and draft selections and plenty of outdoor seating keep things fresh. $-$$, L, D. 300 E Stone Ave. (864) 252-4055, ujgreenville.com VAULT & VATOR
Named for a former vault elevator that once took up residence in the underground expanse, this hip downtown joint puts a twenty-first-century spin on the fashionable speakeasies of yore. The small plates of charcuterie, hummus, and cheese are simple yet refined, providing just enough bite so as not to overpower the intimate establishment’s true star—the cocktail list. The thoughtful menu includes both signature and traditional libations; your only task is picking your poison. $$, D (Tues–Sat), Closed Sun–Mon.
655 S Main St, Ste 100, Greenville. (864) 603-1881, vaultandvator.com THE VELO FELLOW
Cozy in a funky way, this hip pub is right under the Mellow Mushroom. The menu has burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, falafels, and more. In addition to craft brews on tap, the Velo Fellow offers traditional absinthe service, complete with a silver-plated brouilleur. $-$$$, L, D, SBR. 1 Augusta St, Ste 126. (864) 242-9296, thevelofellow.com
BREAKFAST/LUNCH BISCUIT HEAD
The queen bee of all things fluffy, floury, and delicious, Asheville-based Biscuit Head has set up shop in Greenville with its wide array of home-cooked biscuits. Whether you like ’em slathered in gravy or smothered in sweetness—the jam bar is slammed with fruity preserves—you can’t go wrong with the GreenVillain topped with fried pork steak, jalapeño cream cheese, bacon gravy, a sunny side egg, and pickled jalapeños. $-$$. B, L. 823 S Church St, Greenville. (864) 248-0371, biscuitheads.com/menu-greenville
THE BOHEMIAN CAFÉ
Treat taste buds and ears at the Bohemian Café, side-by-side with the legendary Horizon Records. This eclectic café serves a wide-range of globally inspired dishes for lunch and dinner. For Sunday brunch, try the Bloody Mary bar, or indulge your sweet tooth with a slice of homemade rum cake. $$, L, D, SBR. Closed Monday. 2 W Stone Ave. (864) 233-0006, thebohemiancafe.com CHICORA ALLEY
Chicora Alley’s Caribbean riff on traditional Mexican and Southern fare offers signature crab cakes or mountain-high nachos, shrimp and chicken burritos, quesadillas, and more. Be sure to drop by on Sundays for brunch. $-$$$, L, D, SBR. Closed Monday. 608-B S Main St. (864) 232-4100, chicoraalley.com EGGS UP GRILL
If your name has “eggs” in it, you’d better know your eggs. Eggs Up Grill doesn’t disappoint. From classic over-easy eggs to Patty-o-Sullivan omelets (grilled corned beef hash with melted swiss cheese), this breakfast joint has you covered. Not a fan of eggs? Try classic diner fare like pancakes, waffles, burgers, and French toast. $-$$. B, L. 31 Augusta St. (864) 520-2005, eggsupgrill.com HAPPY+HALE
Based out of Raleigh, the healthy eatery’s first SC location offers diners a diverse menu of made-to-order salads, bowls, smoothies, juices, and breakfast items crafted from wholesome, all-natural ingredients. Try the “Incredibowl” packed with pumpkin seeds, black beans, avocado, golden quinoa, dino kale, and lemon tahini dressing, paired with an Almond Brothers smoothie. $, B, L, D. 600 S Main St. happyandhale.com MARY BETH’S
Breakfast is an essential meal, and Mary Beth’s treats it accordingly. Take your pick: biscuits, omelets, eggs Benedict, waffles, crepes, and pancakes populate the breakfast menu. Or don’t pick—get the Mega Breakfast for a hearty menu sampling. For something later in the day, Mary Beth’s also has lunch and dinner menus that include sandwiches, rack of lamb, and salmon.
$$-$$$, B, L, D (Thurs–Sat). 500 E McBee Ave. (864) 242-2535, marybethsatmcbee.com MARY’S AT FALLS COTTAGE
Located in historic Falls Cottage, Mary’s offers brunch and lunch with a charm perfect for leisurely weekends. The menu includes the ultimate Reuben and quiches, as well as Southern comfort favorites like the Fountain Inn salad and hot chicken salad. $-$$, L, SBR. Closed Monday. 615 S Main St. (864) 298-0005, fallscottage.com TANDEM CREPERIE & COFFEEHOUSE
Tandem lures Swamp Rabbit cyclists with aromas of Counter Culture Coffee and a happy stomach guarantee. Try the lumberjack (cornmeal crepe, ham, bacon, eggs, cheese, bechamel, and maple syrup) or the tasty banana nut crepe. Stuck between savory and sweet? Split one of each with a friend in the Tandem spirit: “Together is best.” $, B, L, SBR. 2 S Main St, Travelers Rest. (864) 610-2245, tandemcc.com
TUPELO HONEY CAFÉ
Big Southern charm comes in forms of steaming hot biscuits at Tupelo Honey. Indulge in sweet potato pancakes (topped with pecans and peach butter of course), available all day, or try a mouthwatering sandwich like the Southern fried chicken BLT with maple-peppered bacon. $$, B, L, D. 1 N Main St, Ste T. (864) 451-6200, tupelohoneycafe.com
CAFÉS BARISTA ALLEY
Looking for that midday pick-me-up? Pop on over to Barista Alley, where exposed brick walls and wide wooden tables create the perfect ambience to converse with a warm mug in hand. Sure, you can satisfy your caffeine cravings with a fresh espresso, cold brew, or chai tea. But you’d be cheating yourself by missing out on Barista Alley’s colorful array of green, berry, peanut butter and chocolate, and pineapple punch smoothies. $, B (Mon–Sat), L,D (Mon–Sun). 125 E Poinsett St, Greer. (864) 655-5180, baristaalley.com BEX CAFÉ AND JUICE BAR
Healthy and hearty join forces at this West End juice bar. Find fresh fare in their organic salads, as well as their fruit and veggierich juice varieties; or sink your teeth into something a little more solid. Their sausage, egg, and cheese bagel will not disappoint, with gluten-free options available, of course. $, B, L. 820 S Main St #104. (864) 552-1509, bex.cafe COFFEE UNDERGROUND
Coffee Underground boasts a wide selection of specialty coffees, adult libations, and dreamy desserts like the peanut butter pie with graham cracker crust and a peanut butter and vanilla mousse. If you’re craving more substantial fare, choose from a splendid breakfast-anytime option, sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. $-$$, B, L, D, SBR. 1 E Coffee St. (864) 298-0494, coffeeunderground.info CRÊPE DU JOUR
Much more than offering “really thin pancakes,” this downtown establishment brings a taste of Europe to the Upstate with delicate, delicious French fare. The diverse menu includes breakfast options like the bacon, egg, and potato, and for lunch and dinner, the tomato pesto. Crêpe du Jour also serves up specialty cocktails, coffee beverages, and wine. $$, B, L, D (Tues–Sun). 20 S Main St, Greenville. (864) 520-2882 KUKA JUICE
If you’re hard-pressed for a fresh fix—Kuka Juice has just the ticket. Created by nutrition mavens Abigail Mitchell and Samantha Shaw, Kuka doles out cold-pressed craft (and a range of fresh-focused menu items) with health-minded passion from its new doors in the Village of West Greenville. Need an immune boost? Grab the Ginger Binger juice, with ginger, green apple, black pepper, and turmeric, or dig into a salad bowl like the Taco ’Bout It with romaine, walnut meat, salsa fresca, black beans, avocado, and pepitas with cilantro lime vinaigrette. Paninis, bowls, smoothies, toasts, and more are also available. $, B, L. 580 Perry Ave, Greenville. (864) 9051214, kukajuice.com
chewy tapioca pearls. For a more intense cooling experience, try the mochi ice cream. The dessert combines the chewy Japanese confection (a soft, pounded sticky rice cake) with ice cream fillings in fun flavors: tiramisu, green tea chocolate, mango, and more. $, B, L, D. 300 River St, Ste 122. (864) 283-6702, ochateabaronline.com SOUTHERN PRESSED JUICERY
A healthy-eaters haven, Southern Pressed Juicery offers super-food fans organic smoothies, bowls, juices, and more. Try a power-packed energy bowl like the Dragon Blood. This hot-pink concoction is based with a creamy mixture of dragon fruit, almond milk, and banana, then layered with buckwheat granola, raw honey, coconut chips, kiwi, and bee pollen. $-$$, B, L. 2 W. Washington St.
(864) 729-8626, southernpressedjuicery.com SWAMP RABBIT CAFÉ AND GROCERY
Grocery store, neighborhood café. Local produce, delicious food. These intersections are what make the Swamp Rabbit Café a staple. But new to the operation? Woodfired pizza, of course. Sourcing every ingredient from local vendors, the ever-changing toppings feature local cheeses and freshfrom-the-farm produce. Beer taps flow with excellent suds, many of them local. $, B,
L, D. 205 Cedar Lane Rd. (864) 255-3385, swamprabbitcafe.com THE VILLAGE GRIND
Tucked between art galleries in the heart of Pendleton Street, the Village Grind is a cheerful, light-filled space for java lovers. Emphasizing community, the coffeehouse brews up beans by Due South and serves flaky treats from Bake Room. $, B, L. 1263 Pendleton St. (864) 915-8600
DELIS & SANDWICHES CAVIAR & BANANAS
A Charleston-based fresh-food fantasy, Caviar & Bananas has answered Greenville’s gourmet prayers with a whopping selection of salads, sandwiches, and baked goods galore, not to mention a fine selection of beer and wine. But don’t miss weekend brunch! We suggest the B.E.L.T.: bacon duo, fried egg, arugula, tomato, and black pepper aioli, on grilled sourdough bread. $-$$, B, L, D, SBR. 1 N Laurens St. (864) 235-0404, caviarandbananas.com RICK’S DELI & MARKET
For a filling, gourmet lunch on the go, the artisanal sandwiches and salads at this West End deli hit the spot. Try the Classic Reuben, with corned beef piled high on toasted marbled rye with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing, or the Rick’s Chopped Salad, with turkey, bacon, and ham. For dinner, fish and chips, herb-crusted salmon, and chicken piccata make the cut.
$-$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 101 Falls Park Dr. (864) 312-9060, rickerwins.com SOBY’S ON THE SIDE
METHODICAL COFFEE
Whether it’s the white marble countertops or the gleaming chrome Slayer espresso machine, Methodical is a coffee bar built for taste. Coffee guru Will Shurtz, designer Marco Suarez, and hotelier David Baker ensure there’s plenty of substance to go with style. With single-origin espressos, house-made shrub sodas, wine varieites, and homemade treats, there’s plenty to rave about. $-$$, B, L.
101 N Main St, Ste D. methodicalcoffee.com O-CHA TEA BAR
A trip to O-CHA will have you considering tea in an entirely new light. This sleek space, located right on the river in Falls Park, specializes in bubble tea—flavored teas with
Located around the corner from Carl Sobocinski’s restaurant, Soby’s on the Side adds speed and efficiency to high-quality food. From BBQ Monday to Grilled Cheese Wednesday, add a spontaneous element to your lunch, or enjoy a hot breakfast.
$-$$, B, L. Closed Sunday. 22 E Court St. (864) 271-8431, sobysontheside.com SULLY’S STEAMERS
When considering the perfect sandwich, steam isn’t the first (or even last) thing to come to mind. For Robert Sullivan, hot air is the key to handheld nirvana. With a smorgasbord of ingredients like cut meats, veggies, and homemade cream cheeses, Sully’s serves bagel sandwiches piping hot
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and always fresh. $, B, L, D (closed Sunday evenings). Open until 3am on Friday & Saturday. 6 E Washington St. (864) 5096061, sullyssteamers.com TWO CHEFS CAFÉ & MARKET
Count on this deli for fast, high-quality food, from homemade soups to a traditional grinder and a turkey melt. Grab “crafted carryout” entrées and sides, or impress last-minute guests with roasted turkey and Parmesan potatoes. Choose from the daily menu, or check back for daily specials. $-$$, B, L, D. Closed Sunday. 644 N Main St, Ste 107. (864) 370-9336, twochefscafeandmarket.com UPCOUNTRY PROVISIONS
Serving up gourmet sandwiches on freshmade stecca bread, Upcountry Provisions is well worth a trip to Travelers Rest for an extended lunch break. Snack on the shop’s daily crafted cookies, scones, and muffins, or bite into a Devil Dog BLT with hormonefree meat on just-baked white focaccia bread. Don’t miss The Grove on Friday nights—live music, a rotating tapas menu, and a selection of craft beer and wine. $, B, L, D. Closed Sundays. 6809 State Park Rd, Travelers Rest. (864) 834-8433, upcountryprovisions.com
ETHNIC ASADA
Vibrant Latin culture comes to Greenville by way of ASADA. Grab a bite of Latin flavor with the chayote rellenos de camarones (a Nicaraguan dish of chayotes stuffed with sautéed shrimp in creamy spicy Chipotle-Guajillo suace); or see a trans-Pacific collaboration at work with the chicken karaage taco, which features Japanese-style fried chicken and a Latin-Asian slaw. $-$$. Closed Sunday & Monday. 903 Wade Hampton Blvd. (864) 770-3450, asadarestaurant.com
BANGKOK THAI CUISINE
Bangkok Thai makes a standout version of pad Thai, everyone’s favorite noodles. The curries are a surefire hit, though the green curry is the only one made from fresh chilies. For a different dining experience, take a seat on the floor pillows in the back room. $$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 605 Haywood Rd. (864) 458-7866, bangkokgreenville.com BASIL THAI CUISINE
Elegant comfort is hard to come by, but the Eang brothers have created an empire out of the unconventional concept which Basil Thai adds in the Aloft building downtown. Try the Chicken Coconut Tureen to start: a simple dish of chicken, mushrooms, and galanga roots in coconut milk packed with herbaceous flavors. You’ll probably have enough for leftovers, but the best comfort meals usually do. $$-$$$, D. 9 N Laurens
St. (864) 609-4120, eatatbasil.com/ greenville HANDI INDIAN CUISINE
At lunch, sample items from a reasonably priced buffet with choices that change daily. For dinner, try the Handi Special: a sampler of tandoori chicken, lamb kabobs, lamb or chicken curry, and vegetable korma, served with basmati rice, naan, and dessert. $$-$$$, L, D. 18 N Main St. (864)
241-7999, handiindiancuisine.net IRASHIAI SUSHI PUB & JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Splashes of red and lime green play off the blend of traditional and modern influences at this sushi restaurant. Chef and owner Keichi Shimizu exhibits mastery over
his domain at the bar, but also playfully blends modern-American elements into his menu. Soleil Moon Frye fans should give the Punky Brewster roll a try: tuna, mango, hot sauce, and Panko topped with spicy crab salad and unagi sauce. $$, L, D. 115
B A S I L
Pelham Rd. (864) 271-0900, irashiai.com
T H A I
KANNIKA’S THAI KITCHEN
C U I S I N E
The family-owned restaurant serves up exotic recipes direct from owner Kannika Jaemjaroen-Walsh’s native Thai province, boasting plenty of traditional dishes like green and yellow curries, pad Thai, and the spicy/sour Tom Yum soup. But don’t miss out on Kannika’s specialty items, like the pla pad khun chai, a lightly fried red snapper filet doused with white wine and soy bean sauce, and the savory honey duck paired with carrots, cilantro, snow peas, onions, and fried shallots. $$$, L, D. 430 Haywood Rd, Ste B, Greenville. (864) 297-4557, kannikaskitchen.com
EXOTIC FLAVOURS
JI-ROZ
The delicacy of Mediterranean cuisine greets Greenville at Main + Stone’s latest food joint, Ji-roz (YEE-ros). With its abundance of natural light, ocean blue décor, and authentic Grecian pottery, this farm-to-table concept transports patrons straight to the Santorini seaside. Do dinner tapas-style with a variety of small plates, or go straight for the gyro, complete with a fluffy pita wrap, tzatziki, tomatoes, onions, fries, and your meat of preference. $$, L, D, SBR. 644 N. Main St #100, Greenville. (864) 373-9445, jirozgreenvillesc.com
KIMCHEE KOREAN RESTAURANT
LIVELY ATMOSPHERE
Kimchee’s kimchi keeps locals coming back. Try the Kalbi short ribs (marinated in soy sauce, onions, and sesame seeds) or bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl for crispy rice). All dishes come with ban chan, side dishes that include kimchi, japchae (glass noodles), marinated tofu, and more. $$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 1939 Woodruff Rd Ste B. (864) 534-1061, kimcheekoreanrestaurant.com
MEKONG
Chef Huy Tran delivers the nuances of fine Vietnamese cuisine at Mekong. Favorites include the grilled pork vermicelli: marinated pork, lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, mint, cilantro, peanuts, crispy shallots, and sauce. Try the Vietnamese crepes or the Pho, which is flavored with fresh herbs from their home grown herb garden. $, L, D. Closed Monday. 2013
AWARD-WINNING DINING EXPERIENCE
Wade Hampton Blvd. (864) 244-1314, mekongrestaurantgreenville.com
MENKOI RAMEN HOUSE
Can you say umami? Located on Woodruff Road with a second shop now on North Main, this Japanese noodle house offers an exquisite ramen experience that will have you wondering why you ever settled for the dorm room packet version. Start with the rice balls or edamame, then dive into the Shoyu ramen—marinated pork, bean sprouts, spinach, green onions, nori, and a boiled egg bathe in a soy-based broth. $,
REFINED THAI
L, D. 1860 Woodruff Rd, Ste C, and 243 N Main St, Greenville. (864) 288-5659
YELLOW GINGER ASIAN KITCHEN
Here, Chef Alex Wong and wife Dorothy Lee have managed to reinvent the conventional. Start off with the homemade pot stickers, or dive right into the soulsatisfying mee goreng, with fresh lo mein noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, green onions, and shrimp with an unctuous soy tomato chili sauce then topped with a fried egg. $ - $$, L, D. Closed Monday. 2100 Poinsett Hwy, Ste J. (864) 605-7551, yellowgingerasian.com
OPEN FOR DINNER EVERYDAY: 5 pm - 10 pm LUNCH: Monday - Friday 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
9 North Laurens Street, Greenville • 864-609-4120 Family-owned • EatAtBasil.com • MARCH 2018 / 113
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Guide
EUROPEAN
RISTORANTE BERGAMO
$, L. 210 E Coffee St. (864) 236-7410, aryanagreenville.com
& Monday. 100 N Main St. (864) 271-8667, ristorantebergamo.com
DAVANI’S RESTAURANT
STELLA’S SOUTHERN BRASSERIE
Come visit us at our new location in the
Boasting French flair and fare, this sister restaurant to Simpsonville-based Stella’s Southern Bistro is the second in Jason and Julia Scholz’s line of quality eateries. Situated in the burgeoning Hollingsworth Park area, Stella’s Southern Brasserie offers a local twist on French staples—such as blue-black mussel shells with smoked tomato broth, Marsala-spiked onion soup gratinée, and roasted game hen—served up daily in a lively, chic environment. Don’t miss the breakfast pastries.
JIANNA
$$-$$$. B, L, D, SBR. 340 Rocky Slope Rd, Ste 100, Greenville. (864) 626-6900, stellasbrasserie.com
With stellar views of Falls Park from its wrap-around terrace, this modern Italian osteria offers patrons daily house-made pastas, the region’s freshest seasonal ingredients, and, of course, oysters. Grab a cocktail or a glass of wine from the 40-foot bar, and nosh on potato gnocchi, radiatori, and ricotta with truffle honey. $$-$$$, L, D. 207 S Main St. (864) 720-2200, jiannagreenville.com
VILLAGE OF WEST GREENVILLE – 580 PERRY AVE.
THE LAZY GOAT
I am a musician. I am a leader.
The Lazy Goat’s tapas-style menu is distinctly Mediterranean. Sample from the Graze and Nibble dishes, such as the crispy Brussels sprouts with Manchego shavings and sherry glacé. For a unique entrée, try the duck confit pizza with a sour cherry vinaigrette and a farm egg. An extensive variety of wine is available in addition to a full bar. $$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 170 River Pl. (864) 679-5299, thelazygoat.com
I am a Montessori student. I am Five Oaks Academy.
PASSERELLE BISTRO
Gaze over the lush Falls Park scenery while enjoying French-inspired cuisine. Make a lunch date to enjoy the arugula salad or bistro burger with caramelized leeks and mushrooms, arugula, Gruyere, and garlic aioli. At night, the bistro serves up romance à la Paris, with items like escargot and mussels. Don’t miss brunch on the weekend. $$-$$$, L (Mon–Fri), D (Mon– Sun), SBR (Sat–Sun). 601 S Main St. (864) 509-0142, passerelleinthepark.com
Karlotta, age 5, accompanies the toddler students as they sing during a school-wide International Festival.
Toddler through Middle School
1101 Jonesville Road Simpsonville, SC (864) 228-1881
www.fiveoaksacademy.com
Minds Opened Here! Schedule a tour to see how Five Oaks Academy can unlock your child’s unique potential.
Ristorante Bergamo, open since 1986, focuses on fresh produce and Northern Italian cuisine: fresh mussels sautéed in olive oil, garlic, and white wine, veal with homegrown organic herbs, and pasta creations such as linguine with shrimp and mussels. The bar fronts 14-foot windows along Main Street, making it a prime location for enjoying a glass while people-watching. $$$, D. Closed Sunday
Heaping portions and a menu that mixes inventive flavors with customer favorites make Davani’s a Greenville mainstay. The friendly staff doesn’t hurt, either. Try the Muscovy duck, pan-seared with port wine and a sundried cherry demiglacé, or the veal Oscar, topped with crab meat, asparagus, and hollandaise.
$$$-$$$$, D. Closed Sunday. 1922 Augusta St, Ste 111A. (864) 373-9013, davanisrestaurant.com
Fresh Cold-Pressed Juice, Salads, Smoothies, Paninis, Soup, & More
618 S Main St. (864) 241-3012, pomegranateonmain.com
ARYANA
The enticing aroma of Afghan cuisine delivers savory satisfaction at this local lunch spot. Chef Nelo Mayar brings her favorite fare from hometown Kabul to Greenville eaters—think succulent lamb kabobs and meat-filled steamed dumplings, sweet potato burhani, and root-veggie rich soups. To spice things up, the menu changes daily, but expect to find two plates of rice, meat, and veggies offered.
RAW. LOCAL. COLD-PRESSED
Main. $$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday.
PITA HOUSE
The Pita House has been family-operated since 1989. Inside, it’s bare bones, but the cognoscenti come here for tasty Middle Eastern fare such as hummus, falafel, kibbeh, and shwarma. And save room for baklava and other Mediterranean sweets for dessert. Also, check out the little grocery in the back of the restaurant for some homemade inspiration. $, L, D. Closed
Sunday. 495 S Pleasantburg Dr, #B. (864) 271-9895, pitahousesc.com POMEGRANATE ON MAIN
Pomegranate serves traditional Persian cuisine in an eclectic Eastern ambience. Attentive service, reasonable prices, and a flavorful variety, such as the slow-cooked lamb shank or the charbroiled Cornish hen kabobs, make this an excellent spot for lunch or dinner. Be sure to sample from the martini menu at the aquamarine-tiled bar, or head outside to the street-side patio facing
FOOD TRUCKS AUTOMATIC TACO
Since 2015, this taco truck has delivered new wonders and old favorites. Owner Nick Thomas treats the tortilla as a work of art, with the likes of Nashville Hot Chicken or Thai Shrimp with fried avocado stuffed into soft shells. Sides like the street corn are must adds. Don’t miss a chance to reinvent your taste buds—check the Automatic Taco’s Facebook page for their weekly schedule. $. Schedule varies. (404) 372-2266, facebook.com/ automatictaco CHUCK TRUCK
Owner David Allen uses only local ingredients to make his burgers. Treat yourself to a pimento cheeseburger and fries, or salute our Cajun neighbors with the truck’s signature N’awlins burger—a fresh-ground beef patty served with andouille sausage, peppers, onions, and applewood-smoked white cheddar, topped with the Chuck Truck’s very own herb aioli. $. Schedule varies. (864) 884-3592, daveschucktruck.com ELLADA KOUZINA
Greek cuisine hits the Greenville scene in this big blue traveling kitchen. Traditional treats are always available off the spit, the lamb and chicken gyros are Mediterranean heaven, and their special take on Greek fries are the ideal pre-meal snack. Check social media for weekly schedules and booking opportunities. $. Schedule
varies. (864) 908-5698, facebook.com/ elladakouzina2013 ROBINO’S
Chef Robin’s vision of freshly sourced fare with a home-cooked feel comes to fruition in Robino’s Food Truck. Though mainly featuring Italian food, this truck shucks out a wide variety of American classics, such as the chicken potpie with puff pastry or the garden burger. For those with dietary limitations, the vegan lasagna is a great go-to option. $, Schedule varies. (864) 621 3064,
robinosfoodtruck.com
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THOROUGHFARE FOOD TRUCK
From culinary school to the streets of Greenville, Neil and Jessica Barley have made it their mission to bring people together through food. Not only has Thoroughfare proved that tater tots can be eaten with every meal (their disco tots are topped with white cheddar gravy), they’ve driven their way into our hearts. Don’t miss the mahi mahi tacos topped with kale slaw and chipotle aioli. $. Schedule varies. (864) 735-8413, thoroughfarefoodtruck.com
VIC’S PIZZA
The sign that says “Brooklyn, SC” at this walk-up/take-out joint makes sense when you see what you’re getting: piping hot New York–style pizza, served on paper plates. Purchase by the (rather large) slice, or have entire pies delivered (as long as your home or business is within three miles). $, L, D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 12 E Coffee St. (864) 232-9191, vicspizza4u.com
TACOS
PIZZA CANTINA 76 BARLEY’S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA
Pizza and beer—flowing from more than 27 taps downstairs and another 31 upstairs—are what bring students and young revelers to Barley’s. Besides the tap, there’s a list as long as your arm of selections by the bottle. Try the classic New York–style pizzas, or go for one of Barley’s specialty pies. Afterwards, make your way upstairs to the billiards tables and the dartboard lanes. $-$$, L, D. 25 W Washington St. (864) 232-3706, barleysgville.com COASTAL CRUST
This Charleston-based catering joint graces the Greenville scene with artisan, Neapolitan-style pizza pies. Served out of a turquoise ’55 Chevy tow truck, the pies are baked in a wood-fired brick oven and topped with local produce from Reedy River farms. Stick with the classic Margherita pie, or branch out with the red Russian kale and Gorgonzola, sprinkled with almond pieces and drizzled in olive oil. Location information available on their website. $, L, D. Location varies. (843) 654-9606, coastalcrustgreenville.com
SIDEWALL PIZZA COMPANY
Located on the main drag of Travelers Rest, on Cleveland Street downtown, and now on Pelham Road, this pizza joint is a fast favorite with its handcrafted, brickoven pies made from local ingredients. But their salads are nothing to ignore, not to mention dessert: the homemade ice cream will make you forget about those fellas named Ben & Jerry.
$$, L, D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 35 S Main St, Travelers Rest, (864) 610-0527; 99 Cleveland St, (864) 5580235; 3598 Pelham Rd, (864) 991-8748, sidewallpizza.com STONE PIZZA
Serving both Neapolitan- and New York–style pizzas, the latest edition to the corner of Stone and Park avenues is no pie in the sky. Ideal for a classic family outing or catching the game with a few friends (beer, sports, and pizza, amirite?), STONE and its fire-inspired pies are crafted with house-made mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour, and baked for a flat minute in their wood-fired oven. $$, L (Sat & Sun), D. 500 E Park Ave. (864) 609-4490, stonepizzacompany.com TOSS PIZZA
Located in the South Ridge Apartment Community, the TOSS menu is loaded with unique, artfully crafted pies that are a far cry from your typical pepperoni. Head far east with the Phuket Thai Pie, based with zesty curry sauce, then topped with peanuts, arugula, and shiitake mushrooms. The Chile Relleno is guaranteed to light a fire in the ol’ belly—thanks to a few poblano peppers and ground chorizo. There’s even gluten-free options available. $$, L, D. 823 S Church St, Greenville. (864) 283-0316, tosspizzapub.com
Tex-Mex has a new home in Greenville with the addition of Cantina 76. Although ripe with golden-brown chimichangas and zesty enchiladas, the menu’s real star is the taco selection. Play it safe with classic handhelds like fried tilapia and ground beef with lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, or turn up the heat with fried chicken doused with jalapeño aioli. $, L, D. 103 N Main St. (864) 631-2914, cantina76.com
FARMHOUSE TACOS
Hand-crafted and locally sourced, this TR taco joint is the love child of Mexican cuisine and Southern soul food. Start the meal with a few small plates—try the fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese or the pan-seared crab cakes—then dig into pure taco bliss with the Travelers Rest hot chicken or the fried catfish with tartar sauce. Go a little lighter with a farm-fresh salad, and end with a mouthful of campfire s’mores. $-$$, L, D, SBR. 164 S Main St, Travelers Rest. (864) 6100586, farmhousetacos.com PAPI’S TACOS
Table 301 plankowner Jorge “Papi” Baralles brings family tradition and the familiar childhood flavors of Cuautla, Mexico, to this walk-up taqueria on the Reedy River. The menu is short and to the point. Get your tacos with shrimp, barbacoa, al pastor, carne asada, carnitas, or chicken and chorizo, or sample some gelato in the display case. Get in, get out, and enjoy Falls Park. $, L, D. 300 River St.
(864) 373-7274, eatpapistacos.com WHITE DUCK TACO SHOP
The new kid on the taco block, White Duck sets up shop at Hampton Station in the Water Tower District, and feels right at home next to Birds Fly South Ale Project. Try the Bangkok Shrimp taco or the Mushroom Potato with romesco, and pair with their fresh peach sangria or Birds Fly South’s crisp Bungalow Golden Ale for the complete taqueria experience. $-$$, L, D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 1320 Hampton Ave Ext Suite 12B. whiteducktacoshop.com
MAR 15 - APR 8 Book by Catherine Johnson Music & Lyrics by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus
Thursday- Sunday
WILLY TACO
Much like its Spartanburg-based sister, Greenville’s Willy Taco is a straight-up Mexican fiesta! Housed in the former Feed & Seed, the atmosphere pairs perfectly with its festive food presentation. Choose from a variety of taco flavors; we suggest the crispy avocado—topped off with a house-crafted margarita. $-$$, L, D. Closed
Monday. 217 Laurens Rd. (864) 412-8700, willytaco.com
TOWN Magazine accepts no compensation for Dining Guide reviews and selects entries by its editorial discretion. Reviews are conducted anonymously. ))) FIND MORE RESTAURANTS TOWNCAROLINA.COM MARCH 2018 / 115
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2 0 1 8 U P S TAT E
International Month
101 grants
more than
550 members
totaling
$4.8
million in 11 years
We are honored to be able to present the first exhibition of the Clyde Hensley Collection in the Upstate after having traveled to 14 cities throughout the U.S. Feast your eyes on a unique Cuban art collection featuring 16 master artists from Eastern Cuba throughout March.
We invite you to join
Upstate International Month is a community collaboration bringing the world home to our region. For a listing of activities visit UpstateInternational.org/calendar
Greenville Women Giving in our journey of learning, working and giving together for a greater Greenville. greenvillewomengiving.org Giving Collectively | Granting Strategically | Growing a Greater Greenville
Showing at Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville (200 N. Main St.)
2017-2018 Partners
For details, contact Upstate International at 864-631-2188 For art related questions call Rob Rowen, 813-546-9819
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Love Your Carpet…
Again!
IKE’S
128 Poinsett Hwy., Greenville
864-232-9015 www.ikescarpet.com
CARPET • RUG • UPHOLSTERY CLEANING ———— RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL ————
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203 N. Main Street Greenville, SC 864.240.7366
www.shopjbritt.com shopjbritt
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Thru Mar 3
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
MARCH
Thru Mar 3
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
While it’s too bad there wasn’t a magical wardrobe-world we could escape to when we were kids, C.S. Lewis’s 1950 novel is still a veritable classic on every child’s bookshelf. The Spartanburg Youth Theatre brings the Pevensie siblings to life in the extraordinary land of Narnia, linking up with a slew of woodland creatures to fight the evil White Witch. Throughout their perilous journey together, the unlikely band of comrades will learn lasting lessons about faith, love, and friendship. The Salvation Army Kroc Center, 424 Westfield St, Greenville. Fri, 6–7pm; Sat, 11am–Noon; 1–2pm; 3–4pm. $10. (864) 235-2885, scchildrenstheatre.org
Penned by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti in 1835, the tragic opera centers around Lammermoor Castle, where Enrico is planning the forced marriage of his sister Lucia to Arturo. Unbeknownst to him, Lucia has already given herself to Enrico’s sworn enemy Edgardo. What ensues is a tangled web of deception, heartbreak, and Lucia’s eventual descent into madness. The University Opera Association production will be guested by Mark Walters, Sarah Coburn, Kevin Thompson, and Yi Li. Rodeheaver Auditorium at Bob Jones University, 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville. Tues, Thurs, Sat, 8pm. $23-$43. (864) 770-1372, bju.edu/events/finearts/concert-operadrama/lucia.php
Thru Mar 4
CHARLESTON WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL
Charleston’s culinary scene continues to be on the up-and-up in America— so it only makes sense to hold a celebration in its honor. Numerous chefs from both the region and beyond will descend on the Holy City for a weekend-plus of tastings, classes, meals, cocktails, and much, much more, each with a little Lowcountry flair. With so many options each day of the fest, there’s no reason for you to leave hungry. Various locations, Charleston. Prices vary. charlestonwineandfood.com
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MARDI GRAS IN THE ELECTRIC CITY
A lot more tame than, say, vying for the most beads on Bourbon Street, Anderson will laissez les bon temps rouler once again. Douse yourself in Mardi Gras garb the moment you step through the door, and browse the makeshift Jackson Square marketplace. Additionally, the evening will include a silent auction, live band, and themed eats from local vendors. Proceeds benefit Meals on
March 9-24
Annie Baker
by
directed by Jess Chayes
“Flick, The” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
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Photograph courtesy of Flat Rock Playhouse
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CAN’T-MISS CULTURE / EVENTS / ATTRACTIONS Wheels of Anderson. Civic Center of Anderson, 3027 Martin Luther King Blvd, Anderson. Fri, 7–10pm. $40. acmow.org/mardi-gras-in-theelectric-city/
Photograph courtesy of Flat Rock Playhouse
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THE CINDERELLA PROJECT
Yeah, like you’ll ever wear hot pink chiffon with sequins again. The annual Cinderella Project is sponsored by the SC Bar Young Lawyers Division, and acts as a “fairy godmother” to teenage girls in need of that special “oomph” on prom night. Donations of gently used gowns and other accessories are dropped off throughout the Upstate, with each county hosting special “boutiques” where young ladies can select their perfect prom ensemble. Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7 Shannon Dr, Greenville. Sat, 10am–1pm. Free. cinderellaprojectsc.com
YOUNG 3–4 THE IRELANDERS
If there’s a better way to kick off the month that brings us green beer and men in kilts, we’re all ears. The Irish Cultural Academy features a developed group of Irish artists in their 20s who are champions of their
given gifts, including vocals, dance, and music. Traditional in style, but modern in performance, The Young Irelanders will take your breath away—and carry it all the way to the Emerald Isle. Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC. Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $16-$32. (828) 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org
THE GOLD 3–4 AND MEDAL WINNER IS
When 28-year-old Yekwon Sunwoo nabbed first place at the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held in Texas last year, he became the first from his native South Korea to earn the esteemed title. Now, he’s bringing his phenomenal talents to the Upstate stage, joining the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel for a special performance of both Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 4 and the Piano Concerto No. 3 penned by another master pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Bravo! The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $18-$75. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
z ot Do N
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THE YOUNG IRELANDERS March 3–4. Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 2pm. $16-$32. Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NC. Combining traditional styles and modern performance, The Young Irelanders celebrate the best of their culture with vocals, dance, and music.
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RAGTIME THE MUSICAL Photograph courtesy of Greenville Little Theatre
March 9–25. Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Greenville Little Theatre. Nominated for more than 12 Tony Awards, this NYC-based diversity tale is one not to miss.
to run-ins with the law, a Lifetime Achievement Award, and sixteen albums topping the country music charts—including last April’s God’s Problem Child—it’s clear that Willie Nelson has found overwhelming success as one of the genre’s original outlaws. The music icon is on the road again with a mess of other accomplished musicians in tow, so leave your blue eyes crying in the rain and join in for a roll-through of classic hits and original collaborations. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Mon, 7:30pm. $65-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
THE 8–25 SEUSSICAL MUSICAL
Sure, some of Dr. Seuss’s whimsical characters talk like your friend Chad when he’s sipped one too many Zimas. But the kids don’t have to know that. Dance, sing, and laugh along with the Whos, Horton the Elephant, Lazy Mayzie, and other Seuss-stars as they pay tribute to one of the world’s most imaginative authors of this,
or any, generation. Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown, 125 S Main St, Hendersonville, NC. Thurs–Fri, 7pm; Sat, 11am & 3pm; Sun, 3pm. $14-$28. (828) 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org
SHELTON 9 BLAKE Maybe you’ve seen him on The
Voice. Maybe you danced to his hit song “Honey Bee” on your wedding day. Maybe you hate him because he left Miranda Lambert for Gwen Stefani. No matter your feelings toward People Magazine’s 2017 “Sexiest Man Alive,” there’s no denying that singer and songwriter Blake Shelton has left a permanent mark on the country music world. His latest recording, Texahoma Shore, peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Top Country Albums chart, making it his 11th top album in the U.S. For this stretch of his “Country Music Freaks” tour, Shelton will share the stage with country legends Trace Adkins, Brett Eldredge, and newcomer Carly Pearce. Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Fri, 7pm. $60-$122. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com
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Photograph courtesy of the Carolina Ballet Theatre
5 From his early beginnings in Texas WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY
PR E SE N T E D BY
STEEL MAGNOLIAS 9–18 There aren’t many things
kept secret in a small town, and even less stays quiet between the ladies of Truvy’s beauty parlor. Through the comically intertwined lives of six tough-as-nails women in Louisiana, Steel Magnolias chronicles the tragedy of loss, triumph of love, and the power of friendship to overcome it all. Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E St John St, Spartanburg. Fri–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $20-$25. (864) 542-2787, chapmanculturalcenter.org
Jewish family who are all trying to find their place in a world on the brink of imminent change. The raw portrayal has been nominated for more than 12 Tony Awards including Best Score by Stephen Flaherty and Best Book by Terrence McNally. Greenville Little Theatre, 444 College St, Greenville. Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. (864) 233-6238, greenvillelittletheatre.org
BOB JON E S U N I V ER SIT Y
A N D T H E M USEU M & GA L L E RY
OF HARD 9–10 SCHOOL ROCKS BALLET
Swapping out Swan Lake for guitar riffs, Carolina Ballet Theatre artistic director Hernan Justo’s latest dance production might not be the ballet you’re used to—it’s just got a little more punch. Drawing on both contemporary and vintage vibes, School of Hard Rocks fuses CBT’s signature stellar choreography with stunning visual elements and hard-hitting live rock tunes both new and old. But this ballet also comes with a purpose: beneath the poignant inner-city school narrative, Justo has threaded some powerful antibullying rhetoric that we could all take a cue from. Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri, 10am & Sat, 2:30pm & 7pm. $35. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
Photograph courtesy of the Carolina Ballet Theatre
EVENING 10 AN WITH JASON MRAZ, SOLO ACOUSTIC
FLICK 9–24 THE The tedious inner workings
THE 9–25 RAGTIME MUSICAL
The lives of three families from very different walks of life become strangely intertwined in this retelling of E.L. Doctorow’s popular 1975 novel. New York City serves as the backdrop for the tale of the Protestant upper crusts, the African American Harlem community, and the immigrant
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ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND IRISH FESTIVAL
St. Paddy’s may still be six days away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go ahead and get your green on! Head downtown for a family-friendly day that includes a Main Street parade followed by live Irish music, dancing, and eats. Keep your eyes peeled for the little man dressed in green— legend says if you spot him, you’ve already had one too many. NOMA Square, 220 N Main St, Greenville. Sat, 1:30pm. Free. (864) 630-1922, nomasquare.com
Detail of Christ and the Samaritan Woman • Abraham Bloemaert From the Museum & Gallery at Bob Jones University
To order tickets and learn more, visit LivingGallery.bju.edu or call (864) 770-1372.
Thursday, March 29 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 30 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 31 2, 4:30 & 7:30 p.m. Rodeheaver Auditorium, Bob Jones University
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of an old-timey projection movie theatre might not spell “Pulitzer Prize” for some. But that’s exactly what happened when Annie Baker’s creation premiered Off-Broadway in 2013. Three movie palace employees are going about their usual nightly work, manning the projector and scrubbing mysterious sticky substances off the floor, when unforeseen drama begins to unfold. Part humor, part honesty, The Flick takes a magnifying glass (and a tender heart) toward those bygone days of simpler times. The Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville. $35. (864) 235-6948, warehousetheatre.com
Way back before the dawn of time—you may know it as the year 2002—a California coffeehouse musician strummed his way into our hearts with “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).” That quirky, fedora-donning songster was none other than Jason Mraz. Mraz has continued to flourish over the past 16 years, earning four Grammy nods and a spot in a Broadway musical. Yet the artist remains true to the roots that first gave his career legs with shows like this one, a special, acoustic set that allows Mraz’s thoughtful songwriting to really take flight. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, 8pm. $65-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
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11 DAUGHTRY Proving that there is indeed life
after he of the tight, white t-shirt (AKA Simon Cowell) utters the infamous “It’s a ‘no’ from me,” singer Chris Daughtry has been fronting his own rock outfit since 2006. The alt-rock sextet has racked up an impressive number of Billboard toppers and awards for Favorite Rock Band and Best Rock Song. Daughtry’s 2018 tour celebrates the band’s fifth studio album in five years, promising new material to keep fans rockin’ and rollin’ for decades to come. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sun, 7pm. $45-$65. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
13–17 CHARLESTON FASHION WEEK
Can’t make it to the runways of Paris and Milan? No worries—Charleston’s iteration of the quintessential fashion week has just as much to offer to aspiring designers, fashion mavens, and those who appreciate a good statement piece. Each year, the event gives a much-needed platform for local retailers and clotheshorses to strut their stuff, then kick back at a glam afterparty. Fun, eclectic activities are also slated to take place around the city. Marion Square, Downtown Charleston. Tues–Sat. $25-$1,200. charlestonfashionweek.com
COLOR PURPLE 13–18 THE Although the original
production launched on Broadway in 2005, it would take a revival some ten years later—and starring none other than American Idol finalist Jennifer Hudson—to introduce Alice Walker’s powerful 1982 novel to a whole new generation of fans. The Tony Award–winning musical chronicles the lives of Celie and Nettie, two sisters whose unbreakable bond carries them through decades of abuse, heartbreak, struggle, and, eventually, redemption. Their physical distance may be great, but the love in their hearts knows no bounds. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Tues–Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 1pm & 6:30pm. $35-$95. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
beer green to appreciate some real Irish culture. Breathtaking vocals and storied heritage have become calling cards for Celtic Woman’s multifaceted live shows, often accentuated with traditional dance and talented musicians. The quartet recently released a live performance album that was recorded in Ireland last September; it is this namesake— Homecoming—that sets the scene for another year of dynamic concerts worldwide. Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, 385 N Church St, Spartanburg. Wed, 7pm. $39-$99. (864) 528-8107, crowdpleaser.com
MIA! 15–Apr 8 MAMMA Here we go again!
Whether you’re a dancing queen or a super trouper, this jukeboxstyle musical based on the music of ABBA has something for everyone. Both an international juggernaut and Broadway’s ninth-longest running show, Mamma Mia! has transported millions of audiences to the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, where innowner Donna Sheridan is preparing for her daughter Sophie’s upcoming nuptials. But when Donna’s three former suitors—and one possible baby daddy—show up, the festivities soon become a little more, er, complicated. Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $24-$39. (864) 233-6733, centrestage.org
PADDY’S DAY 17 ST. DASH & BASH
Pro tip: Jameson after jogging. Start off the day with a timed 5K “dash” through the downtown area, before ending up at Fluor Field, where live music and refreshments await you at the Paladin Plateau picnic area. As for the “bash” portion of the day, a kids’ fun run, silent auction, and costume contest are in store. Fluor Field at the West End, 945 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, 8am. Registration, $30-$35. stpaddysdashandbash.com
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ACCESSORIES
DAUGHTRY March 11. Sun, 7pm. $45-$65. The Peace Center.
2222 AUGUSTA ROAD, GREENVILLE
Longtime alternative rock band Daughtry hits the stage this spring with their Billboard topping hits, “It’s Not Over” and “Home.”
864.271.9750 MUSESHOESTUDIO.COM
Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center
SHOES HANDBAGS
WOMAN 14 CELTIC Take a break from dying your
Photograph by courtesy of Ballet Spartanburg
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DECADA: CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Photograph courtesy of Ballet Spartanburg
March 23–24. Fri–Sat, 8pm. $15-$25. Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg. Local artists join talents to create this excellent blend of contemporary and classic styles.
HARMONIA 18 PAN CONCERT
Based out of Asheville and the brainchild of flutist Kate Steinbeck, Pan Harmonia is an award-winning chamber music company that has been spreading its musical message far and wide. This special Upstate performance celebrates the 333rd birthday of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach as well as the works of the “Black Mozart” Joseph Bologne. Steinbeck will be joined by violinists Karen Pommerich and Mariya Potapova, soprano Britnee Siemon, bassoonist Rosalind Buda, and Kara Poorbaugh on viola. Greenville Center for Creative Arts, 25 Draper St, Ste A, Greenville. Sun, 3–5pm. Advance, $20; day of show, $25; students & military, $5. (864) 735-3948, artcentergreenville.org
19–20 ARMED No matter what corner
of the country you live in, the topic of gun control is ever-present and permeating. In that vein, GLOW Lyric Theatre has partnered with Safe Harbor, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and Arm in Arm to present the second installation in its Raising Voices Series. Compiled of a variety of different artistic elements—dance, opera, narratives, spoken word, and music theatre, Armed invites its audiences to take an introspective look at one of America’s most debated political issues.
The Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville. Mon–Tues, 7pm. $25. (864) 558-4569, glowlyric.com
23–24 DECADA: CLASSIC &
CONTEMPORARY BALLET
If the word “ballet” makes you think of tutus, uncomfortably tight hair buns, and Natalie Portman . . . well, you’re probably not alone. Luckily, the tenth annual DanSynergy production is here to change your mind. Dynamic choreography, along with an eclectic mix of local visual and written artists, is used in both contemporary and classic styles to rev up the energy and give tribute to the masters of their craft. Equally as strong as it is provocative, Decada is both ahead of, and in line with, its time. Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E St John St, Spartanburg. Fri–Sat, 8pm. $15-$25. (864) 542-2787, chapmanculturalcenter.org
SC COMICON 24–25 2018 You may not have the
Batcave. Or the Batmobile. Or a billion dollars. Okay, so you just have a cape that your mom made. But, you can still join forces with other heroes of the graphic novel world for a weekend of gaming and panels featuring all your favorite comic characters. Artists, writers, and celebrities of the scifi genre are slated to appear, as well as plenty of product vendors to sate your inner nerd. TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville. Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 12–6pm. $15-$80. (864) 235-3488, sccomicon.com
SHOES HANDBAGS
ACCESSORIES
2222 AUGUSTA ROAD, GREENVILLE
864.271.9750 MUSESHOESTUDIO.COM
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AND 23–25 FAREWELL WELCOME BACK
So long. Farewell. Auf wiedersehen. Adieu. No, it’s not those rascally Von Trapp kids. Rather, it’s the Greenville Symphony Orchestra treating you to a unique showcase of classical ditties. The evening’s opening number, Joseph Haydn’s Farewell Symphony, begins with the entire chamber orchestra on stage, a number that slowly begins to dwindle until only two artists remain. But not so fast—each musician will make their measured return, uniting once again for a finale of works by John Corigliano and Edward Elgar. Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $45-$55. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
JAM 2018 25 WINTER Hey, not all spiritual music has
to come from a hymnal. Each year, touring sensation Winter Jam brings together some of the genre’s more contemporary acts for an evening of togetherness, praise, and worship. This year’s show will be hosted by Grammy-nominated band NewSong and features comedian John Crist and musical guests Jordan Feliz, Building 429, Skillet, and more. The all-ages event even includes a special pre-Jam party with even more talent! Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Sun. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com
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A PARANORMAL EVENING WITH ALICE COOPER Rocker Alice Cooper may have just turned the big 7-0, but he’s not ready to put down the eyeliner yet. Last year saw the release of Cooper’s first studio album since 2011’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare—the 18-track Paranormal featured two songs recorded with Cooper’s original band, live performance cuts, and guest spots by members of U2, Deep Purple, and ZZ Top. Join Cooper—and his trademark eyeliner—for an evening of classic songs and wild antics that promises to be truly paranormal. Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Mon, 8pm. $48-$75. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com
NOW 27–Apr 4 CAPTURE New York’s
Long Island is the setting for this emotionally-charged Fringe Series concocted by playwright Josh Jonas. Teenage Elijah and his younger brother Ace are the focal point of this story, which explores timeless themes of adulthood, family ties, and, of course, the big C-word—cancer. Tossed in with a few choice rock standards and soaked in personal familiarity, Capture Now is a solid reminder of the value of a life. Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Tues–Wed, 7pm. $15. (864) 233-6733, centrestage.org
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Photograph of courtesy of Bob Jones University
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Photograph of John Crist; courtesy of Bon Secours Wellness Arena
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PRETENDERS 28 THE The timeline of the Pretenders’
musical journey since their formation across the pond in the late 1970s has been nothing if not tumultuous. Years of member deaths, disagreements, and departures plagued the rock group, with several hiatuses thrown into the mix along the way. In 2016, vocalist Chrissie Hynde and company made a triumphant return with the album Alone, a ragged, guitar-fueled treasure on which the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach contributed his songwriting skills. These OG rockers will be accompanied by alt-folksters Lowlight. The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Wed, 7:30pm. $45-$55. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org
Photograph of courtesy of Bob Jones University
GALLERY: 29–31 LIVING THIS IS MY WORD
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LIVING GALLERY: THIS IS MY WORD March 29–31. Thurs–Fri, 4:30 & 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm. $14. Rodeheaver Auditorium at Bob Jones University. The 20th installation of Bob Jones University’s enthralling creation will highlight manuscript pages from The Book of Hours.
For three days only, classic pieces of religious art will, quite literally, spring to life before your very eyes. In honor of its 20th installation, the Living Gallery will present a contemporary piece detailing a woman’s struggle with illness and search for meaning in Christ. “This Is My Word” will spotlight two manuscript pages from The Book of Hours, and feature musicians, actors, instrumentals, and vocalists to create an experience you won’t soon forget. Rodeheaver Auditorium at Bob Jones University, 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd. Thurs–Fri, 4:30 & 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm. $14. (864) 770-1372, livinggallery.bju.edu
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mcbeeavenuewealth.nm.com | 864-679-3838 Mark B Clary and Thomas L Willcox Jr use McBee Avenue Wealth Advisors as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. McBee Avenue Wealth Advisors is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, insurance agency or federal savings bank. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) and its subsidiaries. Mark B Clary and Thomas L Willcox Jr are Insurance Agents of NM. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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SECOND
Glance
View of Her Own
W
hen Imogen Cunningham took up photography at the turn of the twentieth century, women were more accustomed to being in front of the camera, rather than behind it. A member of the f/64 photography group (along with Ansel Adams and Edward Weston), Cunningham embraced a modernist aesthetic that promoted detail and clarity of vision—a characteristic for which the camera was undeniably well suited. Moving fluidly between portraits, still lifes, and abstractions, Cunningham’s photographs are an homage to light and shadow, shape and form. Images from her seventy-year career are the subject of Seen & Unseen: Photographs by Imogen Cunningham at the Columbia Museum of Art. While the title of the exhibition refers to Cunningham’s ability to coax enigmatic moments from the most common subject matter, it might also describe her understated role in the push to legitimize the photographic arts within the art world.—Terri Bright Seen & Unseen: Photographs by Imogen Cunningham will be on display at the Columbia Museum of Art until April 29. The museum is located at 1515 Main St, Columbia, and is open Tues–Fri, 11–5pm; Sat, 10–5pm; and Sun, Noon–5pm. (803) 799-2810, columbiamuseum.org
(clockwise from top left) Frida Kahlo Rivera, Painter and Wife of Diego Rivera, 1931; Head and Leaf of Voodoo Lily, 1972; Forest in France, 1960; Hand of a Hand Surgeon 2, 1973; all images courtesy of the Columbia Museum of Art
Behind the lens, Imogen Cunningham defied cultural expectations
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