The painting on our cover is 'Kelp Forest' by Judy Blahut, from her upcoming exhibit at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery, Below the Surface. For more information, see our story on page 5.
August 2 – August 15, 2023
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Last Sunday, my husband and I drove to Bluffton to take part in the great American cinematic event known as “Barbenheimer.”
We saw Barbie in the morning and Oppenheimer in the afternoon, with a palate cleanser of Mexican food in between. Later, at a cocktail party – yes, it was a long day –somebody asked Jeff which movie he’d preferred.
“They’re both great, but I’m tempted to give the slight edge to Barbie,” he replied, surprising his interlocutor . . . and his wife.
My husband is an Army brat/history buff/ science nerd who doesn’t like pink and really doesn’t like musicals, yet here he was voting for Barbie over Oppie.
That’s just how good this movie is, y’all. At least we thought so, anyway.
I always avoid reading movie reviews until after I’ve seen the movie – at which time I devour them by the dozen, like donuts – so I was unaware, when I saw it, that Barbie had already ignited a firestorm of controversy. By the time you read this, that buzz will surely have subsided, hopefully along with the Jason Aldean “Try that in a Small Town” brouhaha and whatever other petty distraction we’ve all been sucked into between now and then.
But today, as I write, Ben Shapiro is burning Barbies on YouTube – calling the film “the wokest movie I’ve ever seen” – and other
conservative critics are labeling the film a “feminist screed,” which is about the nicest thing they’re calling it.
I think they have lost their collective mind.
First, can I just say how strange it is to hear Barbie accused of “feminism” – the horror! – after all these decades of hearing her disparaged by feminists for her unrealistic proportions and exaggerated features that supposedly make young girls feel bad about themselves?
(Incidentally, my Barbies never made me feel bad about myself. But that’s only because there were so many real live girls doing the honors – not intentionally, mind you, but simply by existing in far less awkward bodies than my own.)
While Barbie definitely has a Girl Power vibe, these angry labels like “feminist screed,” “wokest movie ever,” and “man-hating diatribe” suggest to me that some people just don’t get it. And I wonder if they really want to.
(Warning: Continue reading at your own risk. Spoilers ahead.)
For starters, I believe these critics are taking Barbieland – a garish pink confection where Barbies reign supreme in their dream houses and Kens are merely cute accessories – way too seriously, as if writer/director Greta Gerwig were offering it up as her “ideal society,” instead of spoofing the entire Barbie ethos. Barbieland is not a serious proposal. It’s a joke. It’s shallow, ridiculous, and absolutely hilarious. It’s the figment of a little girl’s imagination, which is where Barbie lives and has always lived.
The movie’s detractors are taking the Barbies too seriously, too. Despite being played by humans, these are dolls. Their actions are the actions of dolls. Their perceptions, the perceptions of dolls. When Barbie and Ken travel to the “real world” –where Barbie is stunned to learn that women don’t rule, and Ken is dazzled by something called “patriarchy” – we are seeing through the childish eyes of Barbie dolls. Not 21st century adults. And not Greta Gerwig.
There are multiple levels of satire going on here. Yes, the patriarchy is being parodied; but so are people who overuse terms like “patriarchy.” Barbie is a sophisticated film. (There, I said it.) And in a media landscape that rewards critics for staying in their ideological lanes, it’s not surprising that some are missing the point, willfully or otherwise.
So, what is the point? Among all these layers of glittery pink satire, where does writer/director Gerwig take a sincere stand? Or does she?
I believe she does, and I think it happens in the “real world.” Barbie must travel there to learn why she’s suddenly having “irrepressible thoughts of death” – and cellulite. In the real world, she meets Mattel employee Gloria and her slouchy, pseudointellectual tween daughter, Sasha.
It seems our Barbie’s troubles stem from the fact that Gloria has been playing with Sasha’s old Barbie dolls – out of nostalgia and longing for a little girl who is no more.
What mother of daughters hasn’t been there?
I vividly remember when my own daughter turned eleven. Suddenly, the sweet child who thought I’d hung the moon, and begged me to sleep with her every night, was shutting her bedroom door firmly in my face . . . when she wasn’t rolling her eyes or sassing me. It felt like a death. I think I was in mourning for about a year while our new relationship slowly emerged.
This is the loss Gloria is suffering in Barbie, as Sasha struggles with her own coming of age, often sounding more like a morose Women’s Studies professor than a young girl just starting to think about the complex world she lives in.
Again, I do not believe Greta Gerwig is endorsing mouthy, self-satisfied, 11-year-old cynics. If she were, she’d have left Sasha in that mode – and estranged from her mother –but that’s not what happens in this story. Instead, the pair go on a heroic adventure together, Sasha softens, and Gloria talks honestly with her about life and all its messy beauty. No longer treating her daughter like a child, she treats her to the soliloquy that had me, and other women I’ve spoken to, softly crying in a dark theater.
Here is Gloria, telling her daughter and Barbie about the impossible standards women are expected to live up to in the real world:
. . . You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love
Margaret Evansbeing a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood . . . You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line . . . And so on and so forth.
Barbie listens intently to this litany of unattainable standards, and guess what? She still chooses the real world. After an encounter with a wise older woman – and a beautiful vision of mothers and daughters throughout the ages – Barbie turns her back on the sterile pink perfection of Barbieland –with its promise of eternal Girl Boss energy, and a full battery of Kens to accessorize her – and chooses life as a real woman in the real world. Which also includes real men. Real relationships. Real death.
This ending is foreshadowed earlier in the film, during Barbie’s first trip to the real world, when she encounters a very old woman sitting on a bench. It’s the first old person Barbie has ever seen – there is no aging in Barbieland – and she gazes at the woman’s wrinkled face in wonder and says, simply, “You’re so beautiful.”
“I know it,” the woman replies, with a radiant smile, and Barbie laughs through tears. I think they’re the first tears we’ve seen. I already had a big crush on this movie, but that’s the moment I fell in love.
In the end, Barbie is a story about growing up and letting go of childish things –including simplistic theories about men and women and power. It’s a celebration of real life in all its rich, untidy, heart-achy complexity. It’s also the funniest movie I’ve seen in years.
Below the Surface, an exhibit of paintings by Judy Blahut will be on view at Art League Gallery from August 29 to September 29. This collection of acrylic and charcoal paintings is Blahut's colorful interpretation of underwater environments, balanced between realism and fractured, playful abstraction. These fantastical "waterscapes" are made of sinuous and lyrical forms bathed in translucent light.
Blahut is a lifelong painter inspired by natural forms and environments. This new series is an ode to water’s hidden beauty and power. "The weightiness of the water above gives the sense of being submerged, offering us the opportunity to appreciate our breath," says Blahut. "The paintings are a celebration of breath, our life force, and the fragile relationship between life and death."
An opening reception will be held Wednesday, August 30, 5-7pm. Blahut will hold a demo of her work on Thursday, September 7 at 11am. The exhibit, reception, and demo are all free and open to the public.
Art League Gallery is located mid-island inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head, 843-681-5060.
Art League of Hilton Head is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts organization on Hilton Head Island with a synergistic art gallery and teaching Academy.
Art League Academy welcomes artists and students in all media at all skill levels,
including true beginners. Taught by professional art educators, students can choose from many art classes and workshops that change monthly.
Art League Gallery features local artwork in all media created by more than 200 member artists. All artwork on display is for sale and exhibits change every month. Located midisland inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, next to the box office. Art League Gallery is open every day Monday - Saturday 10am – 4pm & Sunday 12 – 4pm plus 90 minutes prior to all Arts Center Performances.
“Inspiring visual arts for our community and its visitors through exhibitions, education and partnerships” is the mission of Art League of Hilton Head.
Below the Surface, above Ascension, below Coral Reef, left
Artist Judy Blahut
ast weekend, a friend and I were discussing the current issue of bookbanning in schools over a terrific meal at Yes! Thai Indeed. Our words became so passionate, as one might expect of a retired English teacher and a freelance writer, that a couple at the next table joined in. We hashed the topic out for some 20 minutes or so. What piqued my curiosity was the fact that, as I understand, many parents that support book-banning do so because some of the offensive tomes made their kids “uncomfortable.” That word set my mind a-whirring.
Just for clarity’s sake, this column is not about book-banning but about that word “uncomfortable” and why it stuck in my craw.
Remember the last time you felt uncomfortable? Perhaps one of the following scenarios applies. You were
walking into a job interview. You were called to your child’s school to have a “chat” about his or her behavior with the principal. You’d just unloaded a full grocery cart and were ready to pay the cashier when you realized you’d left your wallet at home. You have a fear of heights and were being strapped into a harness for your first zipline ride. You ran into your ex and his new wife for the first time. Or you were being wheeled into surgery.
All of these are definite “yikes” moments. Some are by choice. Others are situations you’d rather not have had to experience, thankyouverymuch! True eye-rollers. Fear personified. However, if you think about it, all are opportunities for growth in one way or another. Each is totally about perception, i.e., the way you look at it. For example, if you nabbed the job, you set your sails on a new life course; if
you didn’t, you may have reviewed the interview experience to determine a better presentation for next time. What might you as a parent have learned from your school visit? And more importantly, what did your child learn? Hopefully, some sort of growth resulted from that encounter. Perhaps you now put your wallet – and keys – in the same place at home all the time. I won’t continue with examples, but you get the idea.
Uncomfortable feelings can cover a lot of emotional territory – uneasy, awkward, troubled, disturbed, freaked out, embarrassed, or even verklempt (choked up by emotion or teary). All of these can bring about change and with positive guidance, either from without (a therapist or friend) or ideally, from within (your own wise counsel), can eventually result in positive outcomes.
In a 2017 TED Women talk in New Orleans, New York Times bestselling author of I’m Judging You: The Do-Better Manual, Luvvie Ajayi – also a comedian, activist, and culture blogger – addresses discomfort brought about by fear. Her words are wise and worth a listen.
“Fear,” she says, “has a concrete power to keep us from living our dreams . . . Our self-critic says, ‘You shouldn’t do this. It’ll make you uncomfortable.’” Turns out that ol’ misanthrope will suggest anything to convince you to maintain the status quo, that being comfort. Heaven forbid feeling uncomfortable. “Don’t give up because something’s hard,” Ajayi continues. “Pushing through challenges makes you grow.”
Back in the 1970’s, I had the opportunity to become the American representative for a thoroughbred horse sales company based in Ireland. Unfortunately, the job, which was a part time gem that paid well and included a yearly trip to the company’s offices in Ireland and France, came around during a time of elevated stress in my life, during which I’d developed a fear of flying. So, I white-knuckled my way uncomfortably “across the pond” in a plane whose coach class was filled with priests and nuns. Nothing traumatic would happen to a plane filled with so many Catholic religious, I thought. Okay . . . I prayed. And stepping onto my return flight, I noticed a bronze plaque informing all that the pope had flown in this plane and had blessed it. Once again in seemingly heavenly hands,
by Katherine Tandy Brown
I white-knuckled my way home. During those flights, I experienced plenty of discomfort but stepping into my fear garnered me a cool new job.
As an aside, the issue of future travel was easily resolved by a class in Aviation Awareness, during which I flew and landed a small Cessna, with an instructor manning the radio. This former white knuckler was high for a week afterwards.
No one seems clear on who first said, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable,” but it’s excellent advice. Possible attributions include Peter McWilliams, author of self-help bestseller How to Survive the Loss of a Love and exercise guru Jillian Michaels. Even the U.S. Navy Seals have used this saying as a motivator for years. No matter its origin, the statement rings true.
An inspiring role model, late First Lady and human rights champion Eleanor Roosevelt is fondly remembered for her courage of conviction. A favorite quote of hers hangs above my writing desk: “Do one thing every day that scares you. Those small things that make us uncomfortable help us to build courage to do the work we do.”
The more you practice doing things outside your comfort zone, the better you will get at embracing discomfort. Challenge yourself to heed this great lady’s advice. You’ll feel uncomfortable initially, but can you just imagine how your life will change if you do?
From time to time, life no doubt will make you feel uncomfortable, but that doesn't have to stop you. Remember, feeling uncomfortable likely means you're moving forward and exploring new territory that just might change your life for the better if you allow it to.
“Change is uncomfortable. Write that down.” This from none other than Grammy-winning Canadian pop star, Justin Bieber. He should know.
From the first note in September to the last one in April, the upcoming season for USCB Chamber Music will be filled with exceptional talents, firsts for the series, and special performances in addition to its 5 central concerts. St Mark’s Episcopal Church will once again join with the Series to offer a FREE performance by the Series director, host and resident pianist Andrew Armstrong at 5 pm on Friday, September 29. A consummate conversationalist as well as dynamic performer, Mr. Armstrong will chat about composers and the history of certain pieces as he plays many of his and audience favorites. If you have someone you wish to introduce to classical music, you will not find a friendlier venue.
a quick preview of Sunday’s concert, Mr. Armstrong, violinist Tessa Lark, and cellist Alice Yoo will chat, sip, and play for OLLI members, their guests, and the general public.
International prize winners based in England will cross the pond in early December to make their Beaufort debut Sunday, December 10. Having just won first prize at the 71st ARD International String Quartet competition, the extraordinarily talented Barbican String Quartet and Mr. Armstrong will conclude the concert with the brilliant and difficult Dvořák Piano Quintet in A Major.
The New Year will open with a celebration of 100 years for George Gershwin’s amazing and American Rhapsody in Blue. Cellist Jan Vogler and violinist Keven Zhu will join Mr. Armstrong as the afternoon continues with Bach, Paganini, and Mancini; the concert will conclude with the heart-throbbing passion of Tchaikovsky.
A full stage of international talents will be on hand for the March 3 concert with clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, hornist R.J. Kelley, violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, violist Gabriela Diaz, cellist Raphael Bell, and pianist Andrew Armstrong. They will perform a program of Hindemith, Price, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, and Saint- Saëns. The second half of the program will be the formidable and absolutely amazing Dohnányi Sextet in C major, Op.37.
To conclude the season, the USCB Art Department will join with Chamber Music to offer a regional high school student art show and then the world premiere of a piece inspired by the student art and composed by
American saxophonist Alison Shearer. She will be joined on stage by trumpeter Jeroen Berwaerts, violinists Abigél Králik and Karl Stobbe, violist Joan DerHovsepian, cellist Ani Aznavoorian, double-bassist Maggie Cox, and Andrew Armstrong. This lively concert will also include works by Rachmaninoff and Saint-Saens.
While Beaufort has the talents assembled for the concluding concert, Chamber Music will offer its first-ever Youth Concert on Saturday, April 6 at 3. Young people between the ages of 5 and 16 will enjoy one uninterrupted, unforgettable hour of conversation and music with professionals from around the country and Europe.
Beaufort offers world-class beaches and golf . . . it also offers world-class musicians playing the music of the masters and the latest compositions. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy this fabulous season; go on-line at www.uscbchamermusic.com for complete information and to purchase tickets or call Staci Breton at 843-208-8246 dwh. The season’s concerts are Sundays at 5pm at the USCB Center for the Arts at the historic Carteret Street campus.
The sensational violinist who captivated Beaufort audiences on several occasions in pre-pandemic times will return and open the 44th season officially on Sunday, November 12. Tessa Lark brings her massive talent and her finely-tuned Strad to introduce new works, play favorites from the classical repertoire, and throw in a few bluegrass numbers from her native Kentucky. She will be joined by cellist Alice Yoo and Andrew Armstrong for the evening’s performance.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will take the talent to the USCB Hilton Head Campus on Friday, November 10 at 5 pm, and for the first time, USCB Chamber musicians will play south of the Broad. With an ample offering of Bourbon, Bach, and Bluegrass and
Violinist Tessa LarkTransport yourself into a world where vibrant colors dance with eloquent words at FLOW Gallery + Workshop during artist Jenan Mcclain’s Painting and Poetry Exhibition. From August 9 to August 12, immerse yourself in an awe-inspiring exhibition showcasing the artistic brilliance of Charleston’s own Jenan Mcclain, compliments of the Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff.
Through her unique approach to painting, Mcclain intertwines threads of emotion and imagination, extending an invitation to delve into the profound depths of limitless creativity. Take advantage of this exquisite fusion of painting and poetry, an unforgettable journey for the senses at the Bluff.
An inherent passion of Jenan’s since childhood, her painting flourished after a
series of life-changing events, enabling her to tap into the intuitive process behind the brush. She attended The Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina, and, under the mentorship of the talented Jim Campbell, first experienced the beautiful beginnings of meditative creation.
Mr. Campbell was a key influencer for her, relaying the message of art meeting the soul’s readiness and willingness to discover true beauty within one’s work. Throughout her travels, Jenan often found inspiration in her natural surroundings, which governed many of her earlier works. She spent her summers creating art programs for elementary school youths and sharing her passion for the brush with them.
Drawn to water’s calming yet powerful sustaining life force, Jenan finds inspiration from it and believes it is universally inherent to all living beings. Primarily working in acrylic paint and oil pastels, Jenan’s recent body of work is strongly influenced by the
surrounding salt marshes and lovely florals along the South Carolina coast. Her work is heavily textured, and the rich vibrancy of her emotional pieces is felt through beautiful colors and lavish layers.
Palette & Pen – An Evening of Painting and Poetry with Jenan Mcclain
Wednesday, August 9, 4pm. FLOW Gallery + Workshop. 76 Boat House St, Bluffton. Complimentary.
We warmly welcome talented Charleston, SC-based painter, and poet Jenan Mcclain to the Bluff. Jenan will unveil her artistry through a poetry reading and writing experience. Her insightful verses will evoke a range of emotions in each listener. Join us for a special evening where the written word and visual arts converge.
Collection Viewing + Meet the Artist
Friday, August 11, 2pm-5pm. FLOW Gallery + Workshop. 76 Boat House St, Bluffton. Complimentary. For more information, visit www.palmettobluff.com
Abstract View" an exhibit of work by local teenage artist Ellie Hicks, will be on display at Island Recreation Center July 29 - September 1, 2023.
"The art show is a great opportunity for the young artist to display her talent to the community. Visitors can admire the artwork and learn more about the artist's inspiration and creative process," says Richard Grant,
curator for the exhibits at Island Recreation Center. "The show is a testament to the importance of supporting young artists and celebrating the arts in our community. If you're in the area, be sure to check out the exhibit and show your support for this talented teen artist."
Hicks credits her family members, who are artist's themselves, for inspiring and encouraging her to become a fine artist. "My mom used to make jewelry, my dad plays guitar and skates, and my older cousin taught me how to paint," she says. "Thanks to her, I
discovered my passion for painting in a more abstract manner, which heavily influenced my current style. "
Hilton Head Island Recreation Center is located at 20 Wilburn Road, Hilton Head Island.
How many times had we driven past the big WINE banner on Route 170 heading south near the turnoff for Callawassie and asked, “Why haven’t we stopped in there yet?” Honestly, too many to count. But it wasn’t until our friends
Gene Rugala and Edie Smith bid on and won a Tacarón wine tasting at a fundraiser that we were finally (and thankfully) exposed to this boutique wine shop that has been hiding under our noses since we arrived in Beaufort.
Selling unique wines from South America, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the United States (although you won’t find many California wines—more on that later), freshly roasted coffee from the Dominican Republic, and their own cigars that they manufacture in the Dominican, as well, Tacarón combines many passions of owners Juan Carlos and Isabella Jiménez.
Having been exposed to the import/ export business, along with the hotel and restaurant industry, through his father, Juan Carlos had been introduced to the finer things in life. Including good wine—which he started drinking at the tender age of five, strong coffee, and smooth cigars (he tried his first puff at five as well). So, a retail shop made sense. The question was, “Where?”
After finishing his teaching career at Arizona State University, Juan Carlos found himself traveling to and from the Dominican Republic seven or eight times per year to tend to the cigar factory that he and his Cuban partner had started in 1997 (more about that later as well). From Arizona, it was an all-day affair to get there. So, Juan Carlos and Isabella decided that they wanted to be closer to the Dominican for easier travel. They thus embarked on a 30-day road trip and planned to stop when they found a place they fell in love with. Fortunately for us, they found the Beaufort area and moved here in 2012.
The story of how Tacarón came about is interesting in its own right. Juan Carlos came to Miami as a seven-year-old from Cuba in 1960 as part of Operation Peter Pan, a clandestine exodus of thousands of Cuban minors during the rise of Castro and the Communist party. It would be eight years before Juan Carlos and his younger sister would see their parents again and relocate from Miami to Puerto Rico.
After attending the University of Puerto Rico, Juan Carlos transferred to the University of Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in marine biology, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics. After a career studying and researching whales and manatees and then teaching collegiate mathematics, he was ready for a change.
With initial plans to open a store in downtown Beaufort, they couldn’t seem to find the right space. However, they found a perfect storefront with plenty of parking in northern Okatie and opened in December 2012. Drawing customers from Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Sun City and Margaritaville, as well as tourists from further afield that are driving from the Eastern seaboard to the Lowcountry or Florida, Tacarón has been a success story since the beginning.
“We’ve never advertised. It’s all been word of mouth,” says Juan Carlos. “In addition to the big wine sign along the highway, my car is the other ‘We Are Open’ sign,” referring to his red BMW convertible with the license plate CIGARRR. “If my clients don’t see that car, they don’t stop.”
Once inside the intimate shop, we were thrilled to see an impressive selection of reds, whites, rosés, sparkling, ports and more. When we asked Juan Carlos about his wine philosophy, he said, “I have many. Every wine has a story to tell.”
From the beginning, the Jiménezes decided they weren’t going to carry California wines because they find them to be over-hyped, over-priced, over-oaked, and available everywhere. Although they have relaxed their opinion on that, and you’ll find some delicious wines from Paso Robles (our fave California region), the majority of their wines are from South America (Juan Carlos is particularly fond of wines from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay); Europe (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and a burgeoning Eastern European selection from Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovenia); New Zealand; Australia; South Africa (where Juan
Carlos thinks they are making some of the best wines in the world currently); and the United States, including pinot noir and pinot gris wine from Oregon, very clean wines from Washington State and even some from New York’s Finger Lakes.
Tacarón is also known for the variety of grapes that they carry. They love to introduce people to ones they might not be as familiar with like tannat from Uruguay, bobal from Spain, and carménère from Chile. According to Juan Carlos, they typically sell 60 to 65 percent red wines and 35 to 40 percent white wines.
Being big wine drinkers and buyers ourselves, we have found the prices at Tacarón very reasonable. Especially for the vast variety of wines that you won’t find anywhere else in northern Beaufort County. They don’t put any wines on the shelf that they haven’t sampled themselves, so we really trust their curation. Juan Carlos and his friendly and knowledgeable staff obviously enjoy what they do and that comes across when you chat
with them about the wines or ask them what to pair with a certain dish or theme.
Juan Carlos’s second love—actually his third if you count Isabella and wine—is cigars. While he was working in Massachusetts, he met a fellow Cuban in the Dominican whose family had been producing cigars for more
than a century in Cuba. The two of them and their wives partnered together and started a new line of Cuban seed cigars called Juanito’s Premium Cigarros, the name being an homage to Juan Carlos’s father, Juanito. With more than 100 rollers and customers around the world, the two couples have created somewhat of a boutique cigar empire producing private label stogies for casinos, golf courses, the White House Historical Association, Mount Vernon, the United States Navy, Lexus, Harley Davidson and more, along with a robust mail-order business. They also offer their cigars in the shop at wholesale prices to the public.
In addition to their expansive wine and cigar selection, they also sell Juanito’s Conchita freshly roasted coffee, thanks to their love of a good cup of brew. Roasted by a Dominican coffee maker specifically for Tacarón and flown straight to the store, the über-fresh café robusto features a photo of his parents—Juanito and Conchita—on the label.
And if that wasn’t enough, Juan Carlos and Isabella created a non-profit organization to help provide clothing, health care, medicines and medical equipment to some of the poorest communities in the Dominican. Contributing a percentage of
proceeds from wine tastings and every bottle of wine sold at Tacarón, they’ve also helped the town of Oviedo, near the Haitian border, excavate water wells and bring clean running water to the town for the first time. They are also avid supporters of several organizations and charities in the Lowcountry.
Visiting Tacarón is like stepping into a shop in the Caribbean. The walls are filled with vibrant and colorful works of art, many from the Dominican Republic, as well as the work of Cuban artist Alberto Godoy, whose artwork is reminiscent of acclaimed Columbian artist Fernando Botero. The walls are painted rich colors and the smells of cigars and coffee intermingle for an authentic experience.
Tacarón offers complimentary monthly wine tastings, often hosting winemakers and importers as guests. However, reservations are a must, as they always fill to capacity. They also offer a very reasonable Wine Club — which we joined on our first visit to the store, natch. The popular club features two bottles of select premium wines every month, plus tasting notes, pairing recommendations, and discounts on bottles and cases throughout the store.
They are also available for private tasting events that can be held at the shop or at your home, business or private venue to introduce Tacarón and their delicious wines and more
to your friends (thanks again to Gene and Edie!). And, of course, there is the retail shop.
But be forewarned, Juan Carlos keeps Cuban hours. According to their website and an irreverent sign on their door: Tacarón is open Friday and Saturday (and most Thursday afternoons) noonish to 4pm. Or anytime you spot the red convertible out front with the license plate ‘CIGARRR,’ you are always welcome to stop in!
Beaufort-based travel journalists Lynn and Cele Seldon (www. seldonink.com) often cover culinary travel around the world, and Lowcountry Weekly recently lured them to write a monthly feature covering the local food scene. This will include articles about restaurants, chefs, food-focused stores, farms, farmers, farmers markets, and more. They welcome suggestions for topics.
It’s hot. Tropical, roasting, searing and sweltering. There’s not a soul in Beaufort County who will disagree with that fact. When the temperature is scorching, no one feels like cooking. Not even me. I actually like to take a break from catering during the hottest part of the summer. The thing is, we all still have to eat. In July and August, Vince and I tend to dine on lots of salads and sandwiches. A cool pasta salad made with chicken or shrimp along with a caprese crostini or a mixed greens salad with fresh fruit and cheese toast are a couple of our seasonal favorites. The most perfect summer meals use fresh ingredients and require very little heat from the oven. They’re even better when they start with a refreshing cocktail. Enjoy the summer while it lasts my friends, in just a few months we’ll be planning our holiday party menus.
1 tablespoon butter
1 pound sliced mushrooms (baby bella, button or canned)
Dash ground nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 (14-ounce) loaf French Bread
½ cup jarred Alfredo sauce
1 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
White truffle oil, to drizzle
parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Split French bread loaf lengthwise and place on prepared baking sheet. Spread ¼ cup Alfredo sauce on each piece of bread. Add cooked mushrooms to bread. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven. Remove French bread pizzas from oven and place on a large cutting board. Garnish with chopped Italian parsley and drizzle with white truffle oil. Cut each pizza into 8 slices, 16 slices total. Serves 8 people.
For the vinaigrette:
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the salad:
and bocconcini. Drizzle with vinaigrette and toss to mix. Garnish with toasted pine nuts. Serves 4 to 6.
½ cup coconut vodka
6 ounces pineapple juice
Juice of ½ lime
Thinly sliced lime, to garnish
Fill a martini shaker with ice. Add coconut vodka, pineapple juice and juice of ½ lime. Shake to mix well. Pour into martini glasses. Garnish with a slice of lime. Serves 2.
4 cups kale
3 cups arugula
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
½ fennel bulb, thinly sliced
½ cup fresh blueberries
½ red delicious apple, thinly sliced
1/3 cup fresh bocconcini (baby mozzarella cheese balls)
3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
By Debbi CovingtonThe writer owns Catering by Debbi Covington and is the author of three cookbooks, Celebrate Beaufort, Celebrate Everything! and Dining Under the Carolina Moon. For more great recipes and to view her cooking demonstrations, visit and subscribe to Debbi’s YouTube channel. Debbi’s website address is www.cateringbydebbicovington.com. She may be reached at 843-525-0350 or by email at dbc@ cateringbydebbicovington.com
Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender.
Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Drain on paper towels, if needed. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with
Place the vinaigrette ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake to mix well. Remove tough stems from kale, roughly chop and place in a large bowl. Add arugula and toss to mix. Add red onion, sliced fennel, blueberries, sliced apple
NeverMore Books and the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will host an evening with USA Today bestselling mystery novelist Leonard Goldberg, author of The Wayward Prince (Book 7 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Series), in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. This free event will be held on Wednesday, August 9, at 5:00 p.m., at 910 Port Republic St, Beaufort. Books will be available for sale and signing. Call the bookstore to reserve your seat: 843-812-9460
During the height of the Great War, playboy Prince Harry, the third in line to the British throne, vanishes in thin air while horseback riding in Hyde Park. The concern deepens when MI5 decodes a recent message from German spies in London which speaks of a captured asset that will bring great embarrassment to the Crown. With Scotland Yard and MI5 baffled, Joanna Holmes, daughter of the famed British detective, and the senior and younger Dr. Watsons are called in, and they soon find themselves entangled in a web of murder, treason, and spies, all of which is seemingly being orchestrated by an arch-enemy of the long-dead Sherlock Holmes.
"Goldberg amply demonstrates once again just how compelling a figure Joanna Holmes has become. Simply put, this series is one of the best continuations of the Sherlock mythos that one could hope for."
– Mystery SceneLeonard Goldberg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Joanna Blalock medical thrillers and the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes mystery series. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and were selections of the Book of the Month Club, French and Czech book clubs, and The Mystery Guild. They were featured as People’s “Page-Turner of the Week” and at the International Book Fair. After a long career affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center as a Clinical Professor of Medicine, he now lives on an island off the coast of Charleston, SC.
Learn about the Conroy Center at www. patconroyliterarycenter.org and NeverMore Books at www.nevermorebooks.com
Former Columbia City Poet Laureate Ed Madden, author of the new collection of poetry A Pooka in Arkansas, will be the featured author at the August 10 Open Mic Night, hosted by the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center in partnership with the South Carolina Writers Association and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.
Open Mic Night will be held downstairs at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, 711 Bladen St., Beaufort, on Thursday, August 10, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Copies of A Pooka in Arkansas will be available for sale and signing after the readings.
Writers interested in reading during open mic can sign up in advance by emailing contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org
Recent Beaufort High School graduates
Mickey Thompson and Christine Conte, the winner and finalist respectively of the Ann Head Prize for Short Story, will also be reading from their award-winning stories as part of the Open Mic. Madden, Thompson, and Conte will be joined by local writers in many genres reading from their individual works for 3-5 minutes each, culminating in the readings from the featured writers.
About the featured writer: Ed Madden is the author of four other books and four chapbooks of poetry, most recently Ark, about his father’s last months in hospice care, and So they can sing, which won the 2016 Robin Becker Chapbook Prize. He is a professor of English and the former director of Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of South Carolina, where he teaches Irish literature, queer studies, and creative writing. From 2015 through 2022, he served as the poet laureate for the City of Columbia, SC. He is recipient of an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship and artist residencies at the Hambidge Center in Georgia and the Instituto Sacatar in Itaparica, Brazil.
Madden’s new collection, A Pooka in Arkansas, explores growing up queer in the fundamentalist South and was selected by poet Timothy Liu for the Hilary Tham Capital Collection. Liu praised, “This book flies in the face of making the rough places plain and the crooked straight. You won’t have to have grown up queer in the deep rural South to be touched by the lyrical antics that go on here, this alternative gospel spreading its haunches till every knee bow, every tongue confess, this chorus of Hallelujah inflected/infected by its own down and dirty twang."
Learn more about the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center at www.patconroyliterarycenter.org, or visit the Conroy Center in person at 601 Bladen Street, Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m.
Poet Ed Madden
Amanda Frazier, Liam Giblin and Nathalia Roca have been awarded $2000 each from The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) Naomi McCracken Scholarship. A special reception was held July 15 at SOBA Gallery, 6 Church Street in Old Town Bluffton.
The scholarship is presented every year to a deserving public high school graduate who is pursuing a major in the art field at the college level.
Frazier recently graduated from Bluffton High School, and plans to attend Winthrop University to study Illustration. She would like to become a comic book illustrator and hopes to one day become an artist for Marvel Comics. Frazier was a member of the National Art Honor Society and she created portraits that were gifted to children in Cameroon and Ukraine.
Giblin will be in his second year at Winthrop University, also studying illustration.
A Bluffton High School graduate, Giblin was a recipient of the Naomi McCracken Scholarship last year. Giblin has been involved in a project at a museum in Rock Hill, SC to make a virtual recreation of the
museum's past exhibits, using 3D digital images. In addition to illustration, Giblin has discovered a passion for printmaking and he took part in an art history study abroad program in the Netherlands.
Another past recipient of the Naomi McCracken Scholarship, Roca has completed two years at Columbia College in Chicago in
illustration. Roca uses faith-based themes through her art, drawing on her Venezuelan heritage and Christian worldview to create works that reflect her interpretation of the world around her.
Naomi McCracken was one of the founding members of SOBA. When Naomi passed away in 2006 her family requested that in lieu of flowers donations should be made to SoBA. In the spring of 2007, her son, Emmitt McCracken, and Dave Dickson, then president of SoBA, established the scholarship program for a graduating senior who planned to further their studies in the field of art.
SOBA is the heart of the flourishing art hub in Old Town Bluffton’s historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. As a non-profit art organization, SOBA offers regular art classes, featured artist shows, exhibitions, scholarships, outreach programs and more. The gallery is open from 10am-5 pm.
Monday through Saturday, and 11am-3pm on Sundays. Please visit www.sobagallery.com for a complete calendar of events and other information or call 843-757-6586.
Southern Sweets Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
40 Flavors. Ice Cream Sodas, Floats, Sundaes, Banana Splits!
Best Hot Dog on the Street!! Sandwich Specials 9.25 917 Bay Street in the Old Bay Marketplace
It was with great anticipation that I approached my container grown sweet potato plants. Of the 15 plantlets that I had purchased in March, I had planted 13 in grow bags and two in a planter box on my front porch. Of the 13 in grow bags, I shared 11 with friends and neighbors and used them for door prizes at Lunch and Learn.
Unlike ‘regular’ potatoes, sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family and so are a vine. I watched as the 4 plants I had left grew vigorously with the heart-shaped leaves that are indicative of morning glories. I didn’t see a single flower all season long. As I was not growing them for their flowers,-- only their roots, I was not disappointed.
The variety that I was growing was a Japanese variety called “Okinawa.” On a shopping trip to Trader Joe’s in Mount Pleasant a few weeks ago, I discovered some for sale and eagerly bought a couple of
I had made the mistake of watering only until water leaked out of the bottom of the container. I found that it takes about three minutes to fill a five gallon bucket from a garden hose and it had taken only a few seconds, actually, for the containers to begin leaking through the bottom. Not nearly enough to wet down five gallons of soil. Three minutes doesn’t seem like a long time, but it’s an eternity if you are holding the business end of a garden hose. The culprit for my poor harvest was me! Like a harsh commandant of a POW camp, I had given them only enough to keep them alive –not to thrive.
Inasmuch as I will be limited to container gardening for the nonce, I have learned a very expensive lesson; in time if not in money. In hot weather like we have been experiencing, learn to water in stages. That is, give the first drink of water some
time to be absorbed and then come back and give a final thorough watering. If it is a hanging basket or a small container, water daily in really hot weather. And it looks like 90o plus is going to be the new summer norm. This is where an automatic drip irrigation system would be invaluable. A battery operated timer on your outside faucet will allow you (yes, you) to install your own drip irrigation with emitters placed in each container to regulate when and how much water will drip onto the soil. It’s easy-peasy and complete kits are inexpensive! It’s a water saver, too. A real consideration if you don’t have a well, since water is ridiculously expensive if you rely on Beaufort/Jasper water.
By Sandra Educate
Remember those hydrogel crystals you used to see for sale everywhere? Let’s take another look at them. Especially now. They will absorb up to 600 times their volume in water (I use a very weak solution of water soluble fertilizer to hydrate them) and when mixed into the soil, they slowly release moisture to the plant roots as needed. Every time you water, they’re re-hydrated and go right back to work. They are viable for several years. They substantially reduce how often you have to water. I used to use them prodigiously, even in my garden beds. I grew out of the habit and haven’t used them for years. I think it’s high time I got back in the habit.
I won’t give up on sweet potatoes, though. When they’re finished curing (it takes about 10 days) I’ll relish every ounce of my paltry harvest and next year, I’ll keep more plants than I give away and I’ll water them properly.
Definitely!
pounds. Not nearly enough, I found. They were without a doubt the most delicious sweet potato I had ever tasted; with no accompaniment whatsoever: no salt, no sugar, and no butter. They were absolutely sublime. I didn’t have enough to try them mashed, french fried or any other way, but I’m certain they would surpass any other variety usually found in supermarkets.
You can imagine how excited I was to try my own homegrown ones. Armed with my trusty Trake, I dug into a green grow bag and pulled out a beautiful, almost one pound, sweet potato!
And that was all!!
The other grow bag and the porch container produced only a total of 5 pounds of sweet potatoes. Where were the 25 pounds per plant I was promised?
And then I realized that the soil around every plant was extremely dry. I had watered them all only the day before. Why?
Hose timer Sandra Educate is active in the local Master Gardeners Association and the Beaufort Garden Club, and she produces the annual Lunch and Learn series at the Port Royal Farmers Market. She loves strange and unusual plants and hates weeds. Sandra won’t give away her age, but takes her inspiration from Thomas Jefferson, who said, "though an old man, I am but a young gardener."ITALY: Tuscany townhouse for rent by the week in historic UNESCO village. Sleeps 4, large furnished garden, easy walk to shops and excellent restaurants. www.cozyholidayrentals. com or 401-862-2377.
FURNISHED LUXURY APT In the heart of downtown Beaufort. 2BR, 2BA, W/D, Housewares. Please call 843-812-4229.
PORT ROYAL APARTMENTS
Now Accepting Applications for our spacious 2&3 Bedroom apartment homes. 11 Grober Hill Rd., Beaufort, SC 29906
BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY ONGOING PROGRAMS & CLASSES Knitting/Crochet Club 1st Tuesdays @ 2:30; Line Dance Class 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 3:30; Basic Computer Skills Class Wednesdays @ 9; Hoopla Class 2nd Mondays @ 10 and 4th Wednesdays @ 4; Escape Quest Games daily during library hours; Dungeon & Dragons Teen Club Mondays @ 4; Teen Art Club 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Anime Club 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 4; Teen Gaming Club 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 4
FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCES The Hilton Head Carolina Shag Club hosts Friday dances from 6-9:30 pm at Dolphin Head Golf Club, 59 High Bluff Rd, Hilton Head Plantation. Open to the public. Shag, ballroom, swing, country, or line. Singles welcome. Cash bar and light dinners available. $5 floor fee. HHICSC also teaches beginner Shag lessons Tuesday nights. www.hiltonheadshagclub. com, or www.facebook.com/HHICSC
ART LEAGUE OF HH CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
With over 25 local professional art educators, and guests from around the world, Art League of Hilton Head offers classes and workshops in all media for all levels of students. Visit www.artleaguehhi.org or email academy@artleaguehhi.org for more info.
POTTERY CLASSES IN BEAUFORT McSweeney
Clay Studio is offering morning, afternoon and evening classes for children and adults. Pottery dates and parties available as well. Classes are on going. Beginner or advanced welcome. mcsweeneyclaystudio.com or call 843-694-2049.
LOWCOUNTRY SHAGGERS Mondays at the Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 6-9pm. Carolina Shag Lessons with Tommy & Sheri O'Brien and others. Occasional Ballroom Dance and once a month a Line Dance is taught. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced lessons. Beginner classes in Jan., Mar, May, and Sep. Open dancing after lessons. Visit www.lowcountryshaggers.com or lowcountryshaggers@aol.com
WEDNESDAYS, BEAUFORT SHAG CLUB founded '02, meets Wed evenings at AMVETS on Ribaut Rd., Port Royal. Free lessons to members. The club is an ACSC, SOS, and the National Fastdance Association member. For info visit www. beaufortshagclub.com
MAYE RIVER QUILTERS meets 1st Saturday of Every Month, at Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Members meet at 9:30am for
social exchange. The meeting starts at 10 am. We welcome new members. Please call 843-707-6034.
WILDFLOWER FAMILY THERAPY CENTER offers individual, couple, and family therapy for children, teens, and adults. Visit us at www. wildflowercenter.org
EVERY 2ND TUESDAY, SHARING HEARTS SUPPORT GROUP Come tell your 10-minute story of a life lesson or healing message using your own creative expression through song, poetry, reading, art or verbal storytelling. Come away with an uplifting sense of support and connections or to just listen. To register leave voice mail with name, and phone number at 843-525-6115 or email reneesutton@healthierhealing.com. Notification will be done of any location change. Free. 2201 Boundary St. #208, Beaufort.
CARIS HEALTHCARE: WE HONOR VETERANS Hospice Program. You a Vet with a little time to share with other Vets with limited time? The We Honor Veterans program seeks volunteers who are Vets to offer a listening ear for our Veteran patients. Volunteers also participate in our Pinning Ceremonies for Veteran patients. Contact 843-473-3939 or smilliken@carishealthcare.com
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY: Non-denominational meditation, silent prayer and healing group forming in the Beaufort area. All are welcome. No previous meditation experience needed. Please call Michael at 843-489-8525
HABITAT RESTORE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
We're looking for volunteers for cashiers, sales floor associates, donation processing, donor data entry, and donor ambassadors. Interested? Go to lowcountryhabitat.org/volunteer or call 843-525-0055.
KARAOKE AT THE MOOSE Sing with us Thursday evenings at The Moose Lodge, 350 Broad River Blvd. 7:30-10:30pm. Brought to you by #top6entertainment Mardi & Dennis Topcik. The Moose is a family friendly place and Thursdays are also Pizza Night!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Calhoun Station Thrift Store in Bluffton. All funds generated are returned to other nonprofits in the community. Store is open Wed & Sat 10am to 1pm and located at 77 Pritchard St. Volunteers can stop by store or contact Cate Taylor, 843-310-0594 or catetaylor@frontier.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort, 1810 Ribaut Road. Looking for committed volunteers for clothes sorting, pantry help, front desk help and Mobile Meals drivers. We are open M-F from 9:30-12:30, Mobile Meals delivers to home bound seniors 5 days/ week, routes takes about 30-45 mins. Email Lori at helpbeaufort@gmail.com, or call 843-524-1223, or stop in and fill out an application.
PORT ROYAL MUSEUM is open Thursday through Sunday at 1634 Paris Ave., from 10 - 3 or upon request. Free admission! Call 843-524-4333 or email historicportroyalfoundation@gmail.com to request a special opening.
PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP - First Thursday of the month at Beaufort Memorial LifeFit Wellness Center, from 1:30-2:45pm, 900 Ribaut Rd. Beaufort. We are individuals with Parkinson’s care partners of those with Parkinson’s, and individuals or companies providing products or services for Parkinson’s patients. For more info: Rick Ostrander at pdawaresc@ gmail.com or Facebook at Parkinson’s Support Group Of Beaufort SC Port Royal & Lady’s Island.
TOUR HISTORIC FORT FREMONT—-Travel to the 1800's and the Spanish American War. From 10:00 am until 2:00 pm every Friday and every Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00pm at the Fort Fremont History Center at the Fort Fremont Preserve, 1124 Land's End Road, St. Helena Island is open. Docent-led tours are every Saturday at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Visitors to Fort Fremont can learn about the fort's history by reading interpretive panels, taking a self-guided tour with a smart phone, visiting the history center exhibit hall, or attending a docent-led tour of the property. The Preserve is open to the public Monday through Sunday from dawn to dusk. For more Information visit www.forttremont.org or contact Passive Parks manager Stefanie Nagid at snagid@bcgov.net
US COAST GUARD AUXILIARY, Flotilla 07-10-01, Port Royal Sound, a uniformed, all volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. We conduct safety patrols, assist search & rescue, teach boat safety, conduct free vessel safety checks and other boating activities. Monthly meetings are open to all and held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Port Royal Sound Foundation classroom at 7pm. For info call Flotilla Commander Pattie McGowan (706-6336192) and visit us on Facebook - USCGA Beaufort.
BEAUFORT TOASTMASTERS CLUB meets from 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm the first & third Tuesday, in the Beaufort College Building, Rm. 103 (USC-Beaufort Campus), 801 Carteret Street, Beaufort. To learn more visit www.beauforttoastmastersclub.org
FREE ACUPUNCTURE FOR VETERANS – Veterans, Active Duty, Transition. Their Families and First Responders are Eligible. First & Third Wednesday 4 - 6pm. Walk In Clinic. No Need to Pre-Register or Call. Nourishing Health Acupuncture and Herbs Clinic. 1214 Prince Street, Downtown Beaufort VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for a few hours each week at St. Francis Thrift Shop. Open Tuesday thru Saturday. Call 843-689-6563 or come in to speak with Mr. Hal. Definitely shop.
COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE Safe & effective centuries old healing system treats and prevents a wide range of health-related conditions. Experience individualized treatment in a peaceful group setting. Sliding scale fee. Beaufort Acupuncture, 12 Fairfield Rd, 5B, Lady’s Island. For info and to schedule: (843) 694-0050 or www.BeaufortAcupuncture.com
SECOND HELPINGS seeking Day Captains and other volunteers to crew our trucks distributing food to local charities. Flexible schedule at your convenience. Email officeadmin@secondhelpingslc.org
AGAPE HOSPICE seeks volunteers to spend time bringing joy to our patients and families during a difficult time. Activities include playing music, baking, arts and crafts, pet therapy, manicures, listening to stories, holding hands, etc. Provide companionship to the elderly who often feel lonely and unappreciated. Contact Ashlee Powers at 843-592-8453 or apowers@agapehospice.com
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for HELP of Beaufort. Come join the team providing food, mobile meals, clothing and emergency financial assistance to those in need in our community. Open Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30. 2 Ice House Rd., Beaufort. Call or email Jennifer 843-524-1223 or info@helpofbeaufort.org
TIDEWATER HOSPICE SUPPORT GROUP: Last Wed. and Thurs. of the month. Weds. 10-11am at Sun City; Thurs. 12-1pm Brookdale Hilton Head Ct., Hilton Head; for those who provide physical, emotional or practical support to a family member or friend. Jodi Johnson, LMSW. Bereavement Group: 5-6 pm., Thursdays, 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite A, Bluffton; for those who have experienced a loss and would like support and info associated with grief and bereavement. Corrie VanDyke, LMSW or Marie James, MA. 843-757-9388
INTERESTED IN HEALTHY EATING? Second Helpings, of Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties, seeks committee members and chairperson for Healthy Food Program. Funding available to procure fresh produce and protein for the 60 food pantries and soup kitchens served by Second Helpings. Contact Exec. Dir. Lili Coleman, 843-689-3616 or execdirector@secondhelpingslc.org
BORN TO READ working for early childhood literacy, needs volunteers to deliver books and materials to new mothers at Coastal Community Hosp., HH Hosp., and BMH. Visits are from 10am – noon. More info at borntoread.org or call 843-379-3350.
ALZHEIMER’S FAMILY SERVICES OF GREATER BEAUFORT, Support Groups: Caregiver - Weds., 12:30pm, Senior Services of Beaufort, 1408 Paris Ave., Port Royal; Living with Alzheimer's - for those in very early stages - Mondays 1pm, Parsons Parlor, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret, Beaufort. Respite Programs: Social Day Program- 10am-1:45pm
$40 Day Fee, Mon. at Cornerstone Christian Church, 2301 First Blvd., Beaufort, Weds. & Friday at Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; In Home - Respite Aides available for 2 hr. minimum, $12$24. Early Memory Loss: Maintain Your Brain - 2nd & 4th Thursday, 10-11:30am, $10/person, $15 couple, Carteret Street Methodist Church, 408 Carteret St., Beaufort; Memory Screenings available call 843-5219190, free; Purple Haven Project - Educate local establishment staff to better interact with a person with Alzheimer's call 843-521-9190.
THRESHOLD SINGERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY A choir to ease and comfort people at bedside by offering gentle voices and sacred songs, with sincere kindness. Two to four singers go to bedside when asked and sing a cappella and in harmony. Practice at St. John's Lutheran Church the 2nd & 4th Sundays of the month from 2:30-4:00 pm. Our songs are our gift of service for no charge. Call Pat Keown at 843-4766073 to either join or ask us to sing for a loved one.
THE LITERACY CENTER is seeking volunteers to tutor adults in reading, writing, math and ESL. Students hope to acquire skills to pursue life goals, support families, and contribute to our community. Daytime and evenings in Bluffton and HHI. Call 843815-6616 (Bluffton); 843-681-6655 (HHI). No teaching, tutoring or other language knowledge necessary. www.theliteracycenter.org
THE SANDALWOOD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY. Volunteer-based, non-profit provides groceries, clothing and basic needs items to ANYONE in need. Open Tues & Fri 11:30am-1pm at 114 Beach City Rd., Hilton Head. Donations of food and funds needed. For info: Rev. Dr. Nannette Pierson at 843715-3583 or email sandalwoodpantry@gmail.com
PARRIS ISLAND MUSEUM. The legacy of the Marine Corps and the history of the Port Royal region. Thousands of artifacts, images, and other materials illustrate the stories in exhibit galleries from Native American to modern Marines. FREE admission. Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm and 8am on Family Graduation Days. Closed all Federal Holidays. Info at ] or 843-228-2166.
MEDICAL SERVICES OF AMERICA SEEKS VOLUN-
TEERS - Volunteers needed for companionship or skills like yard work, music, and crafts to patients and their families or assist in the office with admin tasks. Volunteers needed in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties. For info contact 843-322-0063.
CHRIST CENTERED RECOVERY MEETINGS Join Shell Point Baptist Church Saturdays for “Celebrate Recovery”, addressing life’s problems and looking to scripture for solutions. Meal at 6pm; Praise and Worship at 6:30pm followed by Small Groups at 7:15pm. 871 Parris Island Gateway, Beaufort. Info at 843-592-1046.
Foolish Frog, 846 Sea Island Pkwy, St. Helena Island. (843) 838-9300. Foolish Frog on Facebook
Luther’s Rare & Well Done, 910 Bay Street. (843) 521-1888 or www.luthersrareandwelldone.com
Q on Bay, 822 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 524-7771 or www.qonbay.com
Rosie O’Gradys Irish Pub, in Beaufort Town Center. Irish American Sports Pub & Eatery. C'mon down! Rock & Roll Lunch. Wednesday, Friday & Saturday - Karaoke. (843) 379-7676 or Rosie's on Facebook.
Saltus River Grill, 802 Bay St, Beaufort. (843) 3793474 or www.saltusrivergrill.com
Big Bamboo, Coligny Plaza. (843) 686-3443 or www.bigbamboocafe.com
Captain Woody’s, 6 Target Rd., Hilton Head or 17 State of Mind St., Bluffton. www.captainwoodys.com
The Jazz Corner, Village at Wexf1ord, Hilton Head. Sundays - Deas Guyz; Mondays - A Journey Through Jazz with The Martin Lesch Band; Tuesdays - Fat Tuesdays: A Swingin' Celebration of New Orleans and Beyond; Thursdays - Lavon Stevens with Louise Spencer. 8/2 The Lavon Stevens Quintet, 8/4 & 8/5 Benny Benack III, 8/9 Bobby Ryder, 8/11 & 8/12 Felix Peikli Quartet, 8/16 Lavon Stevens with Quiana Parler, 8/18 & 8/19 Guitarist Jocelyn Gould. (843) 842-8620 or www.TheJazzCorner.com
Omni Hilton Head Ocean Front in Palmetto Dunes. Buoy Bar - HH Prime - (843) 842-8000 or www.omnihotels.com
The Music Farm, 32 Ann Street, Charleston. 8/2 Charleston Rockabilly Night with Jared Petteys & the Headliner; The Innocents; Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics; Uncle Tim's Bench, 8/4 Lily's Burlesque, 8/5 Under the Sea Rave, 8/10 Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band, 8/11 The Baseball Project, 8/12
Unmatched: A Hip Hop Dance Party, 8/17 Return of Disco Hell - Disco DJ dance party, 8/18 HardwiredMetallica tribute, 8/20 Jai Wolf; DeVaults; Tsu Nami. (843) 408-1599 or www.musicfarm.com
The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston. Sundays - The Motown Throwdown, Mondays - Slim & Friends; Tuesdays - Fusion Jonez, Wednesdays - Grateful Dead Wednesday with The Reckoning; Thursdays - iLLA ZiLLA. 8/2
Just Groove, 8/3 Spray Allen; the Happys, 8/4
BloodKin 8/5 The Reckoning - 16 Annual Garcia Gathering, 8/6 Grateful Dub - reggae-infused Grateful Dead with Roots of Creation, 8/9 The Talismen, 8/10 Hotel Fiction; Trash Panda, 8/11
Fishbone, 8/12 Sam Holt Band - Remembering
Mikey, 8/17 Jazz is Led - Jazz Led Zeppelin, 8/18 Cosmic Charlie - Grateful Dead tribute, 8/19 Extra Chill Fest with Nordista Freeze; She Returns From War; Omiwimo; Baby Yaga.
(843) 571-4343 or www.charlestonpourhouse.com
Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd, Isle of Palms. 7/20 Moe, 7/21 Whiskey Run; Muscadine
Bloodline, 7/22 FlashMob, 7/28 Cracker, 7/29 The Vegabonds, 7/30 Red Not Chili Peppers - Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute, 8/4 - 8/6 Moon Taxi.
(843) 886-8596 or www.the-windjammer.com
Now – 9/1, Abstract View, an exhibit of work by teenage artist Ellie Hicks at Hilton Head Island Recreation Center, 20 Wilburn Road, Hilton Head.
8/5 – 2/10/24, Anonymous Ancestors at Morris Center in Ridgeland. Artist Susan Lenz uses hundreds of anonymous vintage photographs, letters, and printed materials to form a societal family tree. www.morrisheritagecenter.org
8/7 – 9/3, Myriad of Visual Expressions, an exhibit of art work by Haldora at the Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery. Opening reception 8/10 from 5-7pm. Corner of Church and Calhoun Streets in Old Town Bluffton. www. sobagallery.com
8/9 – 8/12, Painting and Poetry Exhibition, featuring work by Jenan Mcclain, hosted by the Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff. For more information, visit www.palmettobluff.com
8/29 – 9/29, Below the Surface at Art League Gallery. Acrylic and charcoal paintings of underwater environments by Judy Blahut. Inside Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, 843-681-5060.
Sat 8/5, Fantasy writer Ed R. Green and romance novelist Ann Cofield will have a book signing 4 – 6 pm at Beaufort Bookstore. 2127 Boundary St, Suite 15, Beaufort. For more information, call 843-525-1066.
Tues 8/8, Pat Conroy Literary Center’s Annual Children’s Book Fair, from 10am – 2pm. Featuring children’s author Dinah Johnson (Indigo Dreaming), who’ll give a reading at 11 am. Volunteer students with DAYLO will host a Teddy Bear picnic read-aloud throughout the event. At the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Weezie Educational Pavilion, 130 Okatie Hwy, Okatie. www.patconroyliterarycenter.org
Editors Note: Events listed here may be subject to postponement or cancellation. Please check for further information.
Now – 8/20, Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons. The Tony Award winning musical sensation comes to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove, Hilton Head. For more information and tickets, visit www.artshhi.com
Now – 8/20. A Stunning World Seen Through the Microscope, an exhibition of the 20 prize-winning images from the 2022 Nikon Small World Competition. Free and open to the public at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head. www.coastaldiscovery.org
Now – 8/30, Simply Sea Islands, an exhibit of work by John Kenney at the Beaufort Art Association Gallery. www.beaufortartassociation. com
Wed 8/9, Leonard Goldberg, author of The Wayward Prince (Book 7 in the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes Series) in conversation with Conroy Center executive director Jonathan Haupt. This free event will be held at 5 pm at NeverMore Books, 910 Port Republic St, Beaufort. Books will be available for sale and signing. Call the bookstore to reserve your seat: 843-812-9460
Thur 8/10, Open Mic Night, featuring former Columbia City Poet Laureate Ed Madden, author of the new collection of poetry A Pooka in Arkansas. Hosted by the Pat Conroy Literary Center in partnership with the South Carolina Writers Association and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. 6 – 7:30 pm, downstairs at the Black Chamber, 711 Bladen Street, Beaufort. Free and open to the public. Writers interested in reading can sign up in advance by emailing contact@patconroyliterarycenter.org
Tuesdays, 8/8, 8/22, 9/5. Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra’s Jazz in the Park series. At 7:30 pm in Lowcountry Celebration Park.
These concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, visit hhso.org or call 843-842-2055.
First Saturday of the Month, Teddy Bear Picnic Read-Aloud at Port Royal Farmers Market. DAYLO students and other volunteers will read to young children between 9am and noon. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animal.
Tuesdays, Tours of Hunting Island sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island Keeper Ted and his team. For info call the Nature Center at 843-838-7437. Tours free are and park entry fees apply.
Second Friday, Beaufort Drum Circle 2nd Friday of every month. No experience necessary. All are welcome. Bring a chair and drum or other percussive device. If you don't have one, we have a bunch of extras. Facilitator Eric Roy will lead us in traditional rhythms and others 6:30 – 8pm, under the Gazebo in Waterfront Park. For more information visit beaufortscdrumcircle@gmail.com and check our Facebook page.
Third Thursday, TECHconnect is a monthly networking event for professionals working in and around technology. Come and join on the for the conversation at BASEcamp 500 Carteret 5:30-7:30pm. 843-470-3506. www. beaufortdigital.com
Thursdays, History Tours of Fort Mitchell by the Heritage Library, 10am. $12/Adult $7/Child. 843-686-6560
Ongoing, Beaufort Tree Walk sponsored by the Lady’s Island Garden Club. Meander through the historic Old Point neighborhood, enjoying some unique and noteworthy trees. The “walk” takes about an hour and is a little over a mile, starting at the corner of Craven & Carteret Streets and ending in Waterfront Park. Booklets with a map and info about each tree available FREE at the Visitors Center in the historic Arsenal on Craven Street.
Alisha Doud alisha@dcgilbert.com
Daun Schouten daun@dcgilbert.com
Laure Gallagher laure@dcgilbert.com
Ashley Hart ashley@dcgilbert.com
Joy McConnell joy@dcgilbert.com
Dawn Shipsey dawn@dcgilbert.com
Johanna Graham johanna@dcgilbert.com
Kathy Crowley kathy@dcgilbert.com
Kaitlyn Kintz reception@dcgilbert.com
Derek C. Gilbert derek@dcgilbert.com
Melissa R. Wicker melissa@dcgilbert.com
Sam Bailey samuel@dcgilbert.com
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TELEPHONE: 843-524-4000
FACSIMILE: 843-524-4006
25 Years experience servicing Lowcountry buyers and sellers with closings, deeds, and contracts.PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE CIRCLE BEAUFORT, SC 29907
