Mark Pointer - Stir Magazine Volume 2

[ingredients] 8

28 6 cruise : Ferrari: The Passion and Performance 8 feast : From Farm to Table 10 scene : Up Close and Personal with Auntie Psychotic 14 imbibe : The stir Cocktail 16 essential : The stir Holiday Gift Guide 18 lovin’ it! : Lines, Lust and Love 22 earn : Josh Hackler: Taking on the World 24 live : Eat, Drink, & Mind Your Manners 26 fashion : Night and Day 28 escape : Knoxville 36 accessorize : Hey Four Eyes! 40 last scene : Donnie Thompson 44 edge :

Dancing with the Green Fairy

18 Publisher/Designer Mark Pointer

Editorial Intern Stephanie Flynn

Kristy Quattrone, Michele Hardeman, Katie Alice Cox

Editor in Chief Natasha Chilingerian

Contributing Writers Anne Postic, Rebecca Gaetz, Violet Frances, Tom Poland, Susan Levi Wallach,

Contributing Photographers Scott Bilby, Melinda Register

Director of Sales & Marketing Veronica Staub

On the cover: Autumn’s dress is from Copplon’s shoe from Kicks, Jewelry (white gold and diamond necklace, bracelet and ring) from Unforgettable. Hair by Bombshell Beauty Studio. Makeup by Freya Katzman, Smashbox Cosmetics. Photo by Scott Bilby

stir Magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the publisher's written permission. ©2008 All Rights Reserved

[the edge]

Dancing with the Green Fairy Absinthe: The most misunderstood and maligned drink in history eading For Whom the Bell Tolls in Spain, appropriately enough, I came across these lines. Absinthe “takes the place of the evening papers, of all the old evenings in cafés, of all the chestnut trees that would be in bloom now in this month . . . .”

If anyone knew absinthe, Hemingway did. “Got tight last night on absinthe and did knife tricks. Great success shooting the knife underhand into the piano. The woodworms are so bad and eat hell out of all the furniture that you can always claim the woodworms did it.”

Cool word play, for wormwood is a prime constituent of absinthe, known as “La Fée Verte” (The Green Fairy), a tribute to its seductive powers.

An air of danger, a wild romance with writers, and a tortured history — that’s why absinthe fascinates me. So when a woman bound for Southern France said, “I’m bringing you some absinthe,” I was ready to dance with the green fairy.

Upon returning, she handed me a slender box with art of a green, shapely nude woman bearing wings. I opened my bottle of Liqueur Aux Plantes D’ Absinthe (110 proof!) and inhaled licorice.

That hint of licorice comes from herbs, especially Artemisia absinthium, the infamous wormwood with its thujone, a convulsant

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poison similar to marijuana’s THC. No worries, though. If you binged on absinthe, alcohol poisoning would get you long before thujone could.

Van Gogh, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Poe, Picasso and other creative souls featured absinthe in their works. Some went insane, making it easy for prohibitionists to portray absinthe as an addictive psychoactive drug. By 1915, the United States and most European countries had banned it. Today, some experts attribute absinthe’s delirious effects to toxic artificial coloring such as copper sulfate. So pay absinthe’s bad rep no attention.

Absinthe’s making a comeback. In 2007, it became legal to sell authentic varieties using 19th century distilling methods. Some liquor stores sell absinthe because the export version contains no wormwood. I, myself, have seen a bottle at Total Wine. Try some.

The French do it this way. Pour a dose into a glass. Place a sugar cube on a flat perforated spoon, and rest it across the glass. Drip iced water (three parts water, one part absinthe) over the sugar cube. True absintheurs drop the water slowly, watching each drip cut a milky swath through the peridot green absinthe.

Absinthe’s reputedly an aphrodisiac. Does absinthe really make the heart fonder? Dance with the green fairy and see for yourself.

Etymology: French absinthe, from Latin absinthium, from Greek apsinthion absinthe: an emerald-green, toxic liqueur distilled from wormwood and other aromatics, including angelica root, sweet-flag root, star anise and dittany, which have been macerated and steeped in alcohol. Dr. Ordinaire, a Frenchman who lived in Switzerland, concocted absinthe. Genuine absinthe is 70 to 80 percent alcohol. Because it caused harmful neurological effects, many countries banned absinthe; where it’s available it’s no longer as toxic.

Ernest Hemingway’s Death in the Afternoon Cocktail 1. Pour one jigger absinthe into a champagne glass 2. Add iced champagne until it attains the proper opalescent milkiness 3. Drink three to five slowly

Written by Tom Poland, Photography by Mark Pointer

[cruise]

Written by Michele Hardeman, Photography by Melinda Register

errari: Three syllables encompassing a legend of impeccable style, performance and reputation. Named for founder Enzo Ferrari, just the word itself rolls luxuriously off one’s tongue. The brand is indeed prestigious and the rearing stallion logo a proud one — instantly recognizable and inspiring. Those who cannot afford the four wheels may add a touch of Ferrari to their lives with everything from key chains and teddy bears to high-end mobile phones and laptops bearing the familiar stallion.

While the speed and strength of a stallion may seem the reason for its choosing, there is a quite a story behind the trademark.

In 1923, while driving for Alfa Romero, Ferrari was asked by a countess to use the horse symbol on his race cars, offering that it would bring him luck. Her son, a national WWI hero, had painted it on the side of his planes. Enzo added a yellow background for his native town of Modena and topped it off with red, white and green stripes for, of course, the Italian flag. “SF” represents “Scuderia Ferrari,” loosely translated as “Team Ferrari.”

Speed and performance have been priorities since the cars’ inception. It is perhaps the performance (aside from the price tag) that has earned said reputation as, through the decades, Ferrari has satisfied man’s need to achieve a speed of 60 miles per hour in as few seconds as possible (the Ferrari F430 manages this feat in four).

Originally, Ferrari began producing street cars only to finance

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his racing team (having been a participant in Formula 1 since day one). Ferrari’s influence on the global racing scene manifests in more than a myriad of wins and trophies, however. Certainly the recent coup of partnering with A1GP is a testament to the company’s renowned prestige. Formed in 2004, AIGP “pits nation against nation in the World Cup of Motorsport” and “promotes countries and utilizes the national patriotism instilled in every person on the planet, not only attracting traditional motorsport and sporting fans, but exciting anyone who is passionate about their heritage, country and population.” More simply put, the racing teams comprise 25 nations, each racing the same car provided by a single manufacturer to ensure a level playing — or, in this case, driving — field. And now, Ferrari is the face of this global phenomenon.

The international reach of Ferrari has also found a home here in the South Carolina chapter of the Ferrari Club of America. Its 50odd members get together for races, parties and the occasional fundraiser. Its president, David Scott, shares how he acquired his taste for Ferrari: “Personally, I have always enjoyed cars, but I call myself an accidental enthusiast," he says. "One night, during the height of my divorce, I was sitting at my computer. I said to myself, I have to get out of this funk, and looked on eBay. I was going to buy a Ford Shelby 350GT, but then thought, I'm going to be single, why

not look at Ferrari....I saw one I liked in San Diego, flew out, and the moment I saw, or rather heard it pull up to pick me up at the airport, I was hooked. I knew I was going to be an owner. The experiences and friendships I have developed have been priceless. As President of the South Carolina Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America, I feel it is my mission to share the joys of Ferrari with all.”

Outside of the racing world, Enzo Ferrari was noted for disliking customers, as he felt they were more interested in the prestige of the brand, rather than the fine-tuned precision and performance they possessed. It is a stigma still plaguing Ferrari owners, generally thought of as a certain type (read: obscenely wealthy with nothing better to do with their money and a Freudian need to overcompensate). When asked about the sort of person who “thinks Ferrari,” Scott offers, “…auto enthusiast, racing fan of F1, someone passionate about cars,” but admits, “…or perhaps easily impressed by ‘money.’ The latter being the least desirable reaction. But let's face it, it is an expensive hobby.” Such rare, wellengineered, fine-tuned machines are costly beyond the initial purchase price. “I recently saw an $11,000 bill for a belt service… It is not uncommon for it to cost over $1 per mile and sometimes over $2 per mile to drive these cars in service work.”

Many, including the Vatican, see such luxury vehicles as “an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin."

Scott counters, “I admire people who put their money where their mouth is. We do use our cars to raise money for charity, such as the Ferrari Cup Challenge in Asheville for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation that raises money for the children of fallen Special Ops, or Buddy Delaney's Ferrari Fest in Columbia. The event in Asheville has raised over $150,000 for this cause in just the two years it has been in operation.”

The dollar amount of Ferrari ownership may be multi-figured, but what of the aforementioned joy? No price can ever be put on that which is so tenuous. What are the “joys” of a Ferrari?

According to Scott, there are many! “(It) makes me feel alive and lifts my spirits when I am down. (It) opens up new friendships and opportunities to share with others….The sound of the engine, the thrill of driving alone on a twisty mountain road or racing on the track at breakneck speeds and of my ears ringing after a day of driving and experiencing my Ferrari...and of sharing it with others and the good friends I have made that otherwise would not exist.”

Originally envisioned as an unbeatable feat of engineering, modern day Ferrari has surpassed Enzo Ferrari’s dream of the perfect race car becoming a global symbol of glory and prestige that is not out of reach for those who share his passion and love of superior motoring (and have the bank account). If you’d like to learn more about the South Carolina chapter of the Ferrari Club of America, visit fca-sc.org.

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From Farm to Table [feast]

Farmers, chefs and consumers struggle to keep food local in Columbia Written by Rebecca Gaetz, Photography by Scott Bilby

eople are busy. People are hungry. Generally, people want to eat their food in happy ignorance with little thought as to where it came from or what it’s been through to make it to the dinner table. Because after all, isn’t it obvious that all food is raised by a farmer who may live down the street or across the globe?

“I don’t really have time to worry about where my next meal comes from,” Columbia resident Shane Cole says. Cole makes a weekly grocery store trip and usually leaves with whatever is on sale. “Everything I get looks fresh. To me, it looks like it was grown right around the corner.”

The South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers, is working to educate people like Cole. Weathers recently wrote that our farms have declined in number from 34,000 to 24,000 over the past 28 years. After finding that 90 percent of shoppers in South Carolina would buy locally grown produce if it were both affordable and of high quality, our own SC Department of Agriculture made a commitment to help farmers, the environment and the local economy by launching the Certified South Carolina Grown program in 2007.

As listed on certifiedscgrown.com, the purpose of the program is for consumers to be able to easily identify, find and buy South Carolina products.

Given the push to join the SC Department of Agriculture in support of locally grown products, one might plan to wake up bright and early on a Saturday morning and make a trip to the Columbia State Farmers Market. What better way to gather fresh, local products for tonight’s dinner date? Unfortunately, this plan couldn’t be more wrong.

Originally founded to help state farmers, the national highway system combined with global industrial food production quickly turned the market into the second largest transfer station in the Southeast.

Today, a surprising 85 percent of the products come from out of state.

According to local pig farmer Emile DeFelice, the reality of the Columbia State Farmers Market has put all but the very largest South Carolina farms at a competitive disadvantage.

Despite the challenges of getting their products to consumers, local farmers continue to work hard to make sure that busy Columbia citizens have the option to buy local — just as farmers across the country work incessantly to support the industrial food system.

Many people agree with Cole and would consider the grocery store a “fresh” option. What Cole

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does not know is that a grocery store product travels approximately 1500 miles, by rail or truck, which causes harmful effects to our environment and adds to the cost of each item shipped. By the time a delivery truck reaches its destination, the product could be more than ten days old. Such facts have turned some stomachs towards locally grown food.

“While the industrial food system is certainly convenient and seemingly inexpensive, it is not the only option,” California native Eunice Kim says. Kim has lived in Columbia for the past 13 years, but has held true to her West Coast eating habits. Kim purchases her produce and meats from local farmers whenever possible.

Former owner of Marchant’s produce Brad Marchant considers himself part of the majority of South Carolinians who, in the SC Department of Agriculture study, cited state pride as a key reason to buy local. “Everybody is excited to buy South Carolina produce,” Marchant says. “Strawberries, tomatoes and cucumbers from South Carolina are the best. That’s always been the general consensus with produce experts.”

Perhaps it is a mixture of state pride and an elevated way of thinking that is causing more and more people to buy in to the locally grown idea. South Carolinians are taking a cue from progressive cities such as San Francisco; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Portland, Oregon and New York City by turning to farmers markets and locally grown food. Even some of Columbia’s restaurants are on board with the local movement.

“Locally grown food is out of the earth and straight to the consumer,” Hunter-Gatherer head chef Joe Turkaly, who considers locally grown food to be of higher quality, says. He says that many of his customers dine at Hunter-Gatherer because they feel locally grown food just tastes better. Unfortunately, these very customers will spend a cold winter munching on meats and veggies from across the country as Turkaly has difficulty finding locally grown food during the winter months. “Our climate just isn’t conducive to growing everything local,” Turkaly says. By Turklay’s standards, locally grown food is anything he can buy within a day’s drive.

Chef Mike Davis, the owner of Terra, agrees that it can be difficult to find local produce, however finds it much more convenient to buy local cows, chickens and dairy products. “I try to purchase as much as I can locally,” Davis says. “If I can’t find something in South Carolina, I usually end up shopping within a 200-mile radius.” About 30 to 40 percent of Davis’ inventory is purchased within that 200-mile radius.

This includes trout from Tryon, North Carolina and pork fresh from Caw Caw Creek in Columbia.

As a general rule, Davis feels that locally grown food is the way to go. He even went so far as to pick a name for his restaurant that

Emile’s wardrobe by Granger-Owings

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reflects his views: Terra means “earth” in Latin.

“I was influenced by chefs in Birmingham and New Orleans years ago, who took an active role in the buy local movement,” Davis says.

“Locally grown food is fresh, has had less travel time and it is tailor made,” he continues. “I know the farmers, I trust where it’s coming from.”

Knowing where food comes from could be a comfort to some, given the tomato salmonella outbreak earlier this year on the heels of the jalapeno, scallion and spinach outbreaks. Davis guesses that a little less than half of his customers are cognizant of the importance in paying attention to the origins of their food. Some simply don’t care and those who have just begun to gain awareness wonder if the cost of local products is affordable for the average consumer.

“It is a little more expensive, but we find people are willing to pay a bit more for the quality,” Davis says.

Quality is what DeFelice delivers to customers at his pig farm, Caw Caw Creek. DeFelice raises pigs in a stress free environment and each pig is raised humanely and roams free in his pasture. By raising pigs in a natural environment, away from the cover of industrial farms and spark of electric prods, DeFelice produces a couple thousand pigs each year, which is a drastic difference in production from the millions of pigs churned out by his industrial counter parts.

While his way of farming might seem slow and difficult on the surface, DeFelice firmly believes that working with nature, not against it, makes his job easier. “The industrial way seems like the hard way to me,” he says. “It is den laden, high maintenance and profit deprived.

Doing things my way really just means the pigs do the work for me.

Maximizing production is not the goal. Optimal production is the goal.”

Caw Caw Creek welcomes visitors and gives consumers a chance to look behind the curtain. According to DeFelice, the relationship between feeder and farmer is an American act at its very roots, leaving the consumer fully informed of the origins of his food. Every once in a while, DeFelice finds himself providing free lessons in pig anatomy.

“I recently had a customer come by to see the farm,” DeFelice says.

“I asked how she would like me to cut the pig, and she replied, quite seriously, that I can cut the whole pig into chops.”

DeFelice was happy to educate his customer that only 10 to 15 percent of a pig can be cut into chops.

DeFelice views his method of pig farming as simply another option for consumers. In his line of business there is no middleman. And while he agrees there is nothing wrong with having a middleman, or non-local food, DeFelice sums up his views by stating that acting as a local farmer gives consumers a choice of what to buy and producers a choice of how to sell.

Kim agrees. “People are going to do whatever is easy for them,” she says. “There’s really no right or wrong. I just prefer to put the money back into our local economy and know where my food has been.”

The industrial food system is large, thus secure, and while a secure food system benefits us, buying locally grown food is another option.

Locally grown means freshness, quality and perhaps a little state pride thrown in your grocery sack along with a choice of how you support the environment, the state and your health.

It’s something to think about the next time you open your mouth to swallow a pork chop.

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Up Close and Personal [scene]

with Auntie Psychotic

Interview by Stephanie Flynn, Photography by Melinda Register

hopping, tanning, getting manicures, sipping wine — these are all typical things that Columbia girls do with their friends. The ladies of the Columbia Quad Squad have a different idea of a good time — they like to strap on some skates and pummel their best friend to the ground. We decided to sit down with Dena Weber (a.k.a. Auntie Psychotic), coach of the Columbia Quad Squad, to find out what it’s like to be a bad ass on wheels.

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When did you first become involved with roller derby?

In 2001, roller derby started up again in Austin, Texas and at that time I was living in Greenville, where I’m from. I moved to Columbia in 2005 and I heard through the grapevine that one started up in Greenville after I left and I thought, Oh no! I put up flyers to start my own and I had nine girls at the first meeting. It started from there.

Did you play any sports in high school that set the ground work for you to play roller derby?

No, I have no sports background whatsoever. I’ve done a lot of hiking and rock climbing though.

You must get a lot of reactions from men when they hear what you do. Are most of them frightened or turned on?

Usually they think that it’s a joke. We have to explain to them that it is a real sport. Then they always want to know what we wear. (Hey guys, check columbiaquadsquad.com if you want to know.)

What’s the worst injury that you’ve sustained since beginning the sport?

In the beginning, I herniated a disc and since then I’ve coached. I have some nerve damage and you can’t play when you never know if your leg is going to give out. I’m not capable of bouting. As a team, we’ve had torn shoulders, MCL’s and ligaments and broken ankles and toes — nothing too serious.

This is the only sport that really requires girls to knock each other around. Does this bring you closer as a team or does tension sometimes carry over after the bout?

It’s really interesting because the first thing you concentrate on is building a team. Then, I have to teach them to take out a friend and possibly put them in the hospital — without apologizing. I have to teach them that whatever happens on the track does not carry over.

Our main goal is to watch roller derby grow and the only way to do that is as a team.

What does it take to be a roller derby girl?

Basic understanding of skating, very basic. Did you skate at the roller rink as a kid? That basic. Attitude and teamwork are also very important. I would say nine tenths of the sport is attitude. You have to really push yourself and step outside of the box. A little aggression is also handy.

In stir ’s first issue, you were undefeated. How’s it been going since?

We are now six and one. We lost by six points to the Classic City Roller Girls from Athens, Georgia. It was a hard, tough bout but it was a great and wonderful bout. They did not expect us to bring it as hard as we did, their team has been around much longer. We’re already making a name for ourselves. You learn more when you lose.

Where can our readers go to watch you ladies knock each other around?

We hold bouts at the Jamil Temple. We have a home bout in January, which starts out our season. There’s food and beer there and you can tailgate in the parking lot.

Are you in a relationship?

I got married three weeks ago on Sep. 16!

Be honest, who wears the pants in the marriage?

We’ve had a long, interesting relationship. It’s pretty even.

(Husband answers from background: I never wear the pants!)

What is your favorite spot to party in Columbia?

I’m not a big partier. Bars are not really my thing. We look forward to going to that jazz bar though — Mac’s on Main. We’re really excited about that.

So, is there a soft spot to roller derby girls?

To this one, yes. Actually, there is to all of them. Our team has moms, lawyers, grad students, etc. I have a forest ranger on my team!

Dena (center) and two of her Quad Squad team members

[imbibe]

The

stir Cocktail

Welcome to stir’s bi-monthly cocktail column – an up close look at some of our favorite bartenders and their latest concoctions. In this issue, we introduce you to Andy Haddock of Terra. Bottoms up!

The Bartender Name: Andy Haddock Age: 29 Hometown: Florence, Alabama Education: University of Alabama, with an extended senior year (I took a bartending detour) First gig: Ricatoni’s in Birmingham, Alabama Past Bartending gigs in SC: : Plum’s in Beaufort, Rhino Room in the Vista and Garibaldi’s in Five Points Current bar: Terra. I’ve been here for about one and a half years.

Celebrity sighting: Kevin Bacon. He ordered red wine at Garibaldi’s.

Most annoying customer: One time at Plum’s, a group of guys had a $100 tab and they paid it with a bag of change.

Hidden talent: Juggling After work activities: Swinging birdies on the back nine Poison of choice: Budweiser or bourbon (like Makers Mark)

Written by Kristy Ray Quattronne

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Photography by Melinda Register

Premium Pomegranate Martini Pomegranate has long been considered an elixir and the Premium Pomegranate Martini is sure to serve as a remedy for your ailments. Kettle One vodka is blended with PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur to give this libation a SweetTart kick. Pomegranate is thought to have been grown in the Garden of Eden, but historically, it can be traced back to Persia. The Moors brought the pomegranate to Spain around 800 A.D., when they conquered the city of Ilbira and renamed it Granada (the Spanish name for the fruit). Incidentally, this is where we get the name for one of the most popular behind the bar mixers that began as pomegranate syrup — grenadine.

The Premium Pomegranate Martini is the perfect sip to unwind with after a long day of holiday shopping. The bar at Terra is festive and warm, with a wood burning oven turning out delicious pizzas such as the duck confit with caramelized onions and port soaked cherries. Let Andy shake up a Premium Pomegranate Martini for you this season. It's the perfect antidote for your holiday stress.

[essential]

the essential

holiday gift guide Written by Anne Postic (theshoptart.com), Photography by Scott Bilby

t’s that time of year again. Some of us love it — there’s parties, shopping and plenty of cheer! Some of us are more reluctant. Let stir help you navigate the shops with this guide to what your significant other wants this year. P.S. Don’t forget to stop for cocktails along the way.

Somehow that always makes decisions a little bit easier!

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Here’s what you need to please your girl, no matter who she may be.

The Downtown Girl She’s a diehard apartment dweller, wants to be close to the action and is much too busy with her social life to maintain a yard. You’ll find her enjoying a fabulous meal at Motor Supply Company Bistro, followed by drinks at Rust and dancing at Art Bar. She needs all the trappings to keep up with that fabulous lifestyle. Try a bright coat ($110-128) or splashy earrings ($24) from M Boutique. They’ll suit her fun style, just like a pair of tall boots from Kicks ($275). For a big night out, she would adore jeweled pumps by Tibi ($363 at Kicks) or glittering fine jewelry (prices vary) from Devine Street’s newest addition, Unforgettable. Every now and then, a party girl needs to entertain at home. She’ll love funky melamite plates and platters from Cloud Nine Market.

The Classic Lady She’s an old fashioned girl with modern style. She’ll love personal ized stationary from Jot (prices vary). Owner Tara Felder knows all about keeping tradition with a sophisticated and modern twist.

She’ll help you choose just the right design. The Classic Lady loves to get dressed up in perfectly tailored clothes. She’ll adore a black silk cocktail skirt custom made by Annabelle at LaRoque ($168).

After all, it will go perfectly with her pearls (Hint: Those pearls can be faux and they have them in all price ranges, starting at around $10 at Just the Thing). And since she’s perfect from head to toe, pamper her with a beautiful manicure and pedicure from the spa at h2 ($70-100). Pretty Days of the Week hipsters ($118) from Tullulah Lingerie will appeal to her sense of decorum.

The Rocker Chick She rocks your world and you want the perfect gift to let her know, or maybe you just want to impress her with your coolness. If she wants to be in the band, she’ll enjoy drum lessons from Two Four Studio ($100 for four lessons). Sid & Nancy is the perfect place to find clothes to suit her style, including many by local designers.

Locally designed bags by I *** Mac N Cheese and night light shades ($25) are true originals. If she wants to take her rocker look to the next level, try a gift certificate from Bombshell Beauty Studio, the place to go for the edgiest styles in town. Or take it a step further and get matching tattoos!

The Artsy-Crafty Girl This girl wants to do it herself and she’s happiest when she’s in the middle of an art project. She’ll love a gift certificate for studio time at Art Shack Gallery & Gifts ($5-12 per hour), where she can bring her own supplies or use theirs. If she wants to paint at home, head to City Art for a quality easel. Is she a knitter? In the Loop has everything she needs, including lessons. The Mango Moon Saddle Bag Kit is a great choice, with everything she needs to make a knit or crochet handbag. But she can’t make everything herself. She’ll love handmade pieces from Southern Pottery (prices vary) or a Nana Bag ($60 and up), by local designer Sally Peek.

The Performing Arts Patron She loves the arts and she’ll be thrilled if you want to enjoy performances with her. How about season tickets to Trustus Theatre ($150 for eight tickets to shows of her choice)? From The Glass Menagerie to The Rocky Horror Show, Trustus produces it all, including original plays like The Sweet Abyss, coming in August 2009. A dance fanatic will love season tickets to the Columbia City Ballet ($134-199). You might even enjoy going with her to an original performance called The Hootie and the Blowfish Ballet. Yep, you read that right. If she’s a movie buff, she’ll love a membership to the Nickelodeon Theatre, Columbia’s only art house cinema ($30). And what will she wear to all those events? Glamorous jewels of course!

Portfolio Art Gallery has very original, very sparkly pieces by Sorelli (necklace $130, earrings $52).

The Mama Are you going out with a single mom? Well, you better hope so, because married ladies aren’t supposed to date, now are they? My husband learned a hard lesson: Just because a woman has children doesn’t mean she wants a big purple bathrobe that makes her look like Barney. She wants to feel hot, so pick up something special from Tullulah Lingerie, like a lacy chemise ($58). Just make sure you get a cute robe to go with it, in case the kids walk in. She’ll also love a gift certificate to the salon at h2 or Tonic Day Spa (located in the Hampton Hill Athletic Club). They offer free childcare, so she can get a massage and facial without paying a sitter. And if you want to prove you love her kids as much as you love her, how about

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a membership to the Riverbanks Zoo ($59-74 for a family membership). Riverbanks is a world-class zoo and (bonus!) they host events for adults, too, such as wine tastings, live jazz and Brew at the Zoo. The Fashionista She wears it first and probably best. VanJean is the place to go for the newest styles in town, like a mad hot jacket by Phillip Lim ($908). Want to impress her with your fashion knowledge?

VanJean, always on the cutting edge, carried Phillip Lim before Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman. Just the Thing is a great spot for super chic accessories, such as a clutch ($49.50). If you really want to splurge, pick up a pair of forever fabulous Christian Louboutins from Coplon’s ($895). The Fashionista likes to be an original at home, too. In fact, one Fashionista I know (okay, it was me) planned an outfit and a whole party around a new piece of furniture. Ahem. She’ll love super chic serving trays from Bohemian Home ($59).

The Cougar She’s older than you are, but you’re not sure by how much, because she’ll never tell. You need to impress her, because what she lacks in youthful bounce, she makes up for in experience. Rowrr! The Cougar needs a little help to look her best, but you don’t want to let on that you know. Get her a gift certificate from Pout!, where she can get perfume, glamorous lounging pajamas or a facial that will take five years off her face, instantly! Just don’t suggest that last one if you have any sense. She also likes her accessories flashy, just like her frosted hair. A gorgeous satin bag by Botkier can be found at Kicks ($475). The Cougar has to entertain at home on occasion and she likes to drink. A couple of Reidel mar tini glasses ($24.99 each) and Stirrings Mixers ($5-15) from The Gourmet Shop will be a hit. If you really love her, how about this Tory Burch leather jacket ($850) from VanJean? It’ll go with everything from her cheetah print leggings to her black lycra halter dress. All her friends will be jealous!

great in any doorway, if she doesn’t have them already. If she wants to jump into the drum circle at the park, she should have a good one. Head to Natural Vibrations for a great assortment of drums (prices vary). Help her expand her scent repertoire beyond patchouli with Auric Blends Fine Perfume Oils ($6.95) from Loose Lucy’s. With names like Egyptian Goddess, they’ll be sure to please. Peace Earrings are a great accessory ($5.95-8.95) for any flower child. Fringed boots from Sophie Shoes and a copy of Tom Wolfe’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test will bring out her inner Merry Prankster.

The Gourmet Girl You’re a lucky man. This one can cook like nobody’s business and pairs wine with dinner like an expert.

Surprise her with a mixed case of wine from The Gourmet Shop. Let one of their experts help you choose the bottles (prices vary, 10 percent discount on any 12 bottles.) If she doesn’t own it already, get her The Larousse Gastronomique , the ultimate encyclopedia of French cooking and the ultimate entertainment for someone who loves all things related to food and wine ($85 and worth every penny). Want to take her on a picnic? Hoping she’ll cook? Let Cloud Nine Market create the ultimate gourmet picnic basket, with everything from unbreakable wine glasses to linen napkins (prices vary).

The Political Junkie Some of us want to know just enough to vote intelligently. This lady takes it a few steps further; she eats, lives and breathes politics. If you love to argue, she’s the woman for you. You might want to just agree with her, though, because she knows a lot more than you and she won’t back down. She’s too busy reading newspapers to shop, so she’ll love a classic black Milly cocktail dress ($348.50) from Mary to wear on New Year’s Eve or to an inaugural party in January. If she’s a real patriot, she’ll wear red, white and blue whenever she can. Tullulah Lingerie has just the thing — a matching cami and pair of boy shorts ($55).

The New Professional It’s official. She’s a grown-up. Her jeans have been delegated to weekends because her weeks are spent in business attire. She’ll need stationary to write thank you notes to everyone who helped her get there. Jot has plenty of sophisticated options, available with monogramming (prices vary). She may need to entertain colleagues at home. Let the knowledgeable staff at Cloud Nine Market put together a bas ket of ready to eat snacks, wine and cocktail napkins (prices vary). Mornings are tough when you aren’t used to getting up early. Get her a Cuisinart coffee maker ($89) from The Gourmet Shop. She can set it the night before, so she’ll wake up to the smell of fresh coffee brewing. If she needs new looks for work, head to Granger Owings, where you’ll find plenty of choices for the professional woman, including custom suiting. If you really want to make an impression, give her a pair of classic gold or pearl stud earrings. They’ll add polish to any outfit.

The Hippie Chick She’s a free spirit and likes to keep things natural, but even flower children like presents. Loose Lucy’s is a great shop for the hippie chick. In fact, she’s probably a regular. A flowing patchwork skirt ($39.95) is great for dancing to jam rock and beads ($39.95) look

Sporty Spice She’s an adrenaline junkie and always ready to try something new.

Head down to Salty’s for a full selection of longboards, skateboards, wakeboards and snowboards (prices vary). With a gift from Salty’s, she’ll never get…bored! Get it? Board? Bored? Half Moon

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Outfitters is a great place to score gear for everything from paddling to climbing to yoga. The best thing you can do for Sporty Spice is learn to play whatever it is she’s into. Just don’t expect to be better than she is.

Is your sweetie a man? Don’t fear. There are plenty of options for him, too!

No man’s dopp kit is complete without a bottle of pre-shave oil ($23), but most men don’t know how much they need it until they try it. Pout! carries a full line of products by Art of Shaving. Once he tries them, he’ll be hooked. Why not spring for the Art of Shaving kit ($100), which includes everything he needs to start shaving his way to fabulous? If he’s a metro guy and already hip to manly grooming products, treat him to the ultimate in gentlemanly grooming, the Mankini at Urban Nirvana ($60). On second thought, he might prefer the Gentlemen’s Journey, a facial treatment, relaxing one-hour massage and Lime Coconut scrub (150 minutes, $220).

If he’s a wine connoisseur, or just wants to be, give him a gift cer tificate to Cellar on Greene, where he can enjoy new and interesting wines. Cellar on Greene is a great place to try before you buy.

Or, he can take you for a late night glass of wine (or three) and tapas.

Is he one of the few, proud, remaining post-smoking ban cigar smokers? He’ll go gaga over the Cigar of the Month Club from The Cigar Box (one month $29, three months $81, six months $150, 12 months $276). Each month, he’ll receive several carefully chosen hand-rolled cigars and five percent off all other purchases. If he’s more of a pipe man, try the pipe starter kit, which includes a pipe, two pouches of tobacco, pipe cleaners and a pipe tool ($35).

Do you love your man’s derriere and want to show him how much you care? Granger Owings carries the ultimate boxer shorts. Royal Highnies (two pairs for $82.50) are made of the finest 400 thread count Pima cotton and are the most luxurious shorts in town. He might get spoiled, so be prepared to buy him more for his birthday.

Does your man love the outdoors? Is he a real bear? Backpacker can help with everything from camping gear to casual clothing, perfect for your burly guy.

Ties are always a great option. Britton’s has ties to suit any man, from the diehard bowtie wearer to the guy brave enough to rock an ascot.

And finally, shopping for your sporty man is easy. Todd and Moore has it all, from tennis rackets to Gamecock gear. Let the knowledgeable staff help you choose just the right gift for his sport of choice or get him a gift certificate he’ll be sure to enjoy.

Main photo credits: Surfboard, Salty’s; Necklace, earrings & bracelet, Unforgettable; Pearls, Just the Thing; Coat, M Boutique, Dress, Mary; Clutch, Just the Thing; Lingerie, Tullullah; Boots, Kicks; Serving platter & Gift Basket, Cloud Nine; Backpack & Rope, Backpacker; Wine & Books, The Gourmet Shop; Handbag, Kicks; Drum (lessons), two/four studio; Easel, City Art. Hair by Bombshell Studio, Makeup

by Freya Katzman, Smashbox Cosmetics.

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[love & money]

stir’s new dating, sex and relationship columnist explains why she’s craving some chivalry in Columbia Written by Violet Frances Photography by Melinda Register

hen a male hippo spots a potential sex fest across the swampy waters, he enters the female hippo’s line of vision and immediately poops on himself.

This very event occurs nightly at your favorite watering hole in Columbia.

These local hippos include the skeevy old men who wouldn’t leave my friend Chloe* and I alone at Carolina Ale House until I told them, in no uncertain terms, that no, we did not want to have sex with them, and no, we did not want to talk to them, and yes, please go away.

They include the guy with kind eyes at Jake’s Bar & Grill who should have been a catch (he said he was in medical school and a personal trainer), until he slid from his bar stool to reveal glittery jeans, quite possibly stolen from Elton John’s closet.

And I can’t leave out the local celebrity I met at Wild Wing Cafe, who gave me three date options. Dinner, a movie, or, “If you don’t like one and two, pick option three — go f**k yourself.”

Men all over this town are pooping all over themselves.

And if having to hide from hippo-men isn’t bad enough, Columbia is also crawling with marsupial mice, whose collective priority is to bone as many females as possible.

Coincidentally, these such mice strongly resemble my last long-term ‘fella. It’s true. I had quite a tryst with a boy like this. We’ll call him Adam, and I give him props. He didn’t hide the fact that he was a man whore through and through. And no mattand through. And no matter how much beer he consumed, this home grown Lexington lover always came bearing condoms. Staying true to his wanton ways, there was absolutely no expectation that a real relationship would ensue.

Quite frankly, the only issue I had with Adam is that after having all that sex with all those women, he should have been able to “produce.”

Unfortunately, it was a classic two hump chump experience.

While I didn’t get the mind-blowing sex I’d set out for, I held the power of being in a non-committed relationship with a guy who couldn’t possibly hurt me, who is an ideal mate for a girl on the rebound.

Until I was ready for more, in my head and in my bed, it worked.

Another serious problem swimming through my vodka tonics is the male angelfish. Similar to the sonofabitch I used to date, the male angelfish is a born mooch, latching on to the female for survival.

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A Columbia native, the sonofabitch was the quintessential angelfish freeloader, engaging in endless hours of Playstation use (on my TV), while spending weeks at a time in my apartment, where he ate my food and drank my beer before going home to his parents’ house to drop off his dirty laundry.

This is the most not-OK behavior I’ve ever lent myself to. I’m quite ashamed of it. Young and naïve, I thought I was in love. Needless to say, the relationship did not end well. Never again will I date a man who still lives with his parents.

After the many months of heartache that followed, my views on love and independence took a sharp turn.

This time around, I’m taking my cues from the female praying mantis. She is in control, whether she wants to keep her mate around or eat him for dinner. There is a 31 percent chance she will bite off his head as they mate, causing him to ejaculate much faster than planned. If he doesn’t fall victim to her, however, he’s got a 69 percent chance of happy survival and post sex bliss.

Her thought process is not that unlike my own. There are times when I want to have wild, crazy sex and enjoy my bed without a man in it afterwards. I do not want to talk about where things are going or what this means for “us.” If you want to have that conversation, you may as well just ask the girl to bite your head off.

On the other hand, a man who wants a woman to keep him around should invoke the courtship rituals of the praying mantis, which include magnificent dances, stroking and wooing. Women like that. I’m a sap for it and hey, that kind of behavior may allow you to keep your head.

Let’s bring chivalry back to Columbia. Instead of invading our

personal space while we are out with our girlfriends, have some class and send over a round of drinks. Try to engage in real conversation. And don’t be afraid to embrace your animal instinct, because you never know, you could be just the mate we are looking for.

Remember, the odds are in your favor. Chances are slim that you will lose your head and have a speedy ejaculation. * Name has been changed.

If you might know my dad from an AARP meeting, DON’T talk to me.

DO look in the mirror before going out at night. This is Columbia, not Hot-lanta, where glittery jeans might actually fly.

DON’T tell a girl to go f**k herself when trying to ask her out.

DO be honest if you only want sex. Sometimes that’s all we want too.

DO try to be good at having sex, if it is indeed your favorite hobby.

DO come prepared. Condoms are required; no one wants your disease.

MOVE OUT of your parents’ house, for God’s sake.

DO NOT cheat. You will get caught.

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[earn]

Written by Susan Levi Wallach, Photography by Scott Bilby

t’s the kind of moment to which Josh Hackler can’t really relate.

By the time Hackler received his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina last spring (he majored in international business, global supply chain management and risk management and minored in Spanish), he was already running his own company, Spanish Vines. He wasn’t wondering how to take on the world. He already had.

Hackler is not as interested in talking about himself as he is about his company, a two-year-old venture that has already catapulted him to fourth place on BusinessWeek’s 2008 list of Best Entrepreneurs 25 and Under — this for a 23 year old whose work space in a USC business incubator building on Laurel Street is more dorm room than corner office (sofa, coffee table, and desks, yes, but there’s also a hot plate, coffee pot and refrigerator in the corner).

But who cares about decor? As of November, Spanish Vines has five new wines on offer, including another Tempranillo, a red wine that was a Best Buy in Wine Spectator magazine. It also has a new line of Spanish cheeses, the start of what Hackler sees as a growing array of Spanish gourmet food products. Some might think “too much, too soon.” Hackler thinks “opportunity”: “You go on Facebook, you see 200,000 people who list as interests either Spain or wine,” he says. “Plus the Hispanic population of the U.S. is growing at a tremendous rate, and they are extremely brand loyal to anything Spanish. When we have all these things on our side — all these statistics saying Spain, Spain, Spain — there is a lot of opportunity that’s already happened but so much more to go.”

Making the best of opportunity — given the know-how, you could make a living from that. Hackler grew up in his family’s Myrtle Beach restaurants: “I was 13 years old, selling cigars, cooking steaks in the kitchen, washing dishes, bussing tables, taking out the

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garbage.” A year later, he was on a summer trip to Bordeaux, France, where he “experienced what wine drinking was about on a whole different level. We went to San Sebastian for a day, and I knew that I wanted to go back to Spain and study” — which he did when he was still at Rollins College.

“It was in a small town in Spain,” he says. “I didn’t want to go to a big city that had an American influence, I wanted to go somewhere authentic, a place where they spoke little to no English, so that I could learn the language, observe the culture and really learn something new. So I went to Oviedo, the capital city of Asturias, in northern Spain, and had a rebirth on all kinds of levels. Have you seen Vicki Christina Barcelona, the town they go to and have this magical weekend? That’s it.”

Every project he did for school had something to do with wine.

“My dad is in the restaurant business, so I said, ‘Dad, when you go to the store, do you see a lot of Spanish wines?’ And he said, ‘No, maybe you see a couple.’ I started doing more research. I started talking with a guy who owns a restaurant in Oviedo about the possibility of doing export, in my broken Spanish. He doesn’t speak any English and I’d been in the country for only a couple of months.

There was the idea of taking Spanish products and bringing them to the United States, but I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to take that passion, that cultural experience that had influenced me so much and put it into a brand as well.”

His dad’s reaction? “At first he was ‘Get a job — this is stupid,’” Hackler says. “I have much better opportunities in terms of education than he did. I graduated from the number one international business school in the country. He’s like, use that to get a job. I was like, use that to build my own job.”

Not that he didn’t do the requisite business school summer internship — in Hackler’s case, with an insurance company in New York City. “I wanted to give it a fair shot,” he says. “I got a really nice internship, and it just wasn’t . . . you know, you’re so young — why not just take the risk? You’ve got plenty of time to have a structured job later on in life. If you fail, you fail. If not, you’re still better off.”

What makes Hackler tick? He reeled off passionate and hard working, then paused. “That’s very difficult,” he says. “Definitely hard working. Passionate. Driven. I challenge a lot of things. And ethical — I always try to do the right thing.” At a loss to come up with more, he looked frustrated. A little while later, he added one — intense. “That’s another word that you can throw in there.

Sometimes people don’t like the intensity — I’m a very intense person.

To that list you could add precocious, cocky, competitive and selfassured. When a question seems to nudge him onto a path he’d rather not follow, this manchild corporate president is just as likely to respond with ‘I don’t look at it like that’ as to come out with a direct answer. But that might come with the territory: You need more than a little assertiveness to be a wunderkind in the business world.

“I want to make Spanish Vines a top imported brand in the U.S. by the time I’m 30,” Hackler says. “On a higher level, I eventually want people to see Spanish Vines the brand and really think about Spain and how beautiful a country it is and, ‘Wow, it’s a cool company and they’ve got an incredible following on their Web site.

They’ve got thousands of members on their Web site, and, man, the products are incredible.’ I want it to be the most successful Spanish brand out there.”

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[live]

Eat, Drink and Mind Your Manners Written by Katie Alice Cox

Written by Katie Alice Cox

t’s the most wonderful — make that awkward — time of the year. Nestled between carefree fall football Saturdays and the January slowdown are the holidays. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years and any other excuse you can come up with to make merry are often fueled by alcohol and excessive eating, which can make for thoughtless, sticky social situations.

We’ve all been there. Aunt Ruth really wants to know why it’s so hard for you to meet a strapping young man with a decent bank account at the ripe old age of 24 — gasp! Then there’s the guy you met at your friend’s holiday party and accidentally passed your phone number off to who won’t stop calling. And maybe you are just a little old fashioned, but isn’t it just a little odd that he’d really feel honored if you joined him for his grandparents’ holiday feast later that month? Instead of gaffing at that awkward question when it arises (and it always does), take a hint from an etiquette expert and politely, gingerly come out on top.

Jan Cohn, a veteran Junior Cotillion teacher, has been teaching Columbia teenagers manners (or “life skills,” as she calls them), for 15 years. Perhaps her knowledge would be well suited to rub off on some of us and our uncouth party mates. We threw her some, ahem, difficult situation curve balls, and she gave us very helpful homerun answers.

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Party pity.

You carefully calculated your dinner party guest list. You’ve worried if your history buff friend would be interested in sitting by your crazy college roommate, and just as you’re strolling down the Piggly Wiggly aisle picking up last minute ingredients for tonight’s

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fete, another friend stops you and mentions they heard you’re having the dinner party of the year. What do you do to redeem the fact that you didn’t invite this particular friend?

“Well I don’t know many people who’d confront you, but if they do, just say, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, I just haven’t seen you in so long. It just slipped my mind as I made my guest list. Please join us,’” Cohn says. Do whatever you can to save face.

If they can’t join that evening, Cohn notes, “Make sure you try to make plans to do something together soon down the road.”

We won’t talk about the guts it must take to virtually invite your self to someone else’s dinner. Just don’t do it.

Over served?

It sounds like a bad movie, but it happens at the best holiday parties every year. The mood is perfect, the eggnog is flowing — after all, it’s cold outside and everyone needs a little something to warm up. The guest that’s the hit of the party suddenly takes a turn for the worse. He’s had far too much to drink. How do you stop the incessant embarrassment?

“Pull him aside so that no one else hears the conversation, and say, ‘Let’s get you some water and a ride home,’” Cohn says.

“Usually situations like that only get worse. Be very discreet, but don’t insist on them staying.”

Let’s not beat around the Christmas tree here. Flip the situation.

What to do if you’re the guest gone awry and that little voice in your head is not piping up and telling you to put down the cocktail?

What to do when you’ve spilled red wine all over your kind host’s minimalist white furniture?

“Don’t ever be afraid to apologize,” Cohn says. “Be humble, take

the high road and call the next day and apologize, and of course, offer to pay for dry cleaning.”

Cohn also notes that, if you can believe it, spillers often just try to avoid the situation and hope it will go away. That’s a great way to be knocked off every party list between now and the next holiday season.

Say what?

Aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. They’re all right there with the partridge and the pear tree. You thought it was the perfect time to bring the girl you’ve been dating for months into the family fold.

Just as you sit down and wait for your grandfather’s year-in, year-out toast, the chatter stops and your seemingly sane grandmother asks you when you’re planning to propose to your girlfriend. To be honest, the thought hadn’t ever crossed your mind. If you’re choking on your chicken, here’s what you should try to eek out.

“Very sternly say, ‘Quite frankly, we haven’t discussed that, and I will let you know first when we do,’” Cohn says. An emphatic response to an awkward question should get the point across.

Cohn goes on to say, “If you feel that it’s necessary, you could speak with the offending questioner later in private.”

Roles reversed, have you ever been in a position where you really wished the question you’d just asked someone hadn’t come out of your mouth?

“Just admit it,” Cohn says. “Honesty is the best policy, so just say, ‘I’ve just put my foot in my mouth.’ No one can get mad at you for that.” Well, no one can stay mad at you after that.

Pass the turkey, er, tofu.

You’ve got 10 guests watching football on the couch who’ve waited all year for this meal, and you’ve burnt the bird. What’s next?

Dominos delivery?

“If it affects everybody, like a dish falls on the floor, just order out,” Cohn says.

But there’s something more serious than a singed meal.

“It’s been around long enough. People are vegetarians or vegan.

As a host or hostess, you always need to find out ahead of time and plan to have something they can eat.” Cohn says.

If you’re making a casserole with meat, make one without. But Cohn also says that partygoers should be respectful guests.

“Vegetarians really should bring it up ahead of time, especially if it’s a sit-down dinner and someone’s taken the time to invite and prepare a meal for you,” Cohn says. “Don’t inconvenience your hostess, or worse, embarrass her if you won’t eat what’s prepared.”

She also suggests guests with dietary issues could also offer to make something to their liking that could be added to the menu.

Common ground, or not.

As soon as the holiday season rears its ugly head, every social event, for the next few months at least, will see a heated political discussion. It’s in the air. But has your civil, thoughtful political discussion ever turned into a winner-takes-all debate? News flash: It’s uncomfortable for everyone else in the room.

“In a nice, polite tone, find a way to change the Continued on page 42

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Wendy Katlen faux fur coat, available at Max & Prissy. Nicole Miller taffeta mini skirt, Liquid Metal necklace, both available at Ivory Tower.

Nicole Miller black one-shoulder dress, available at Ivory Tower.

Christian Louboutin black satin sling back shoes, available at Coplon’s.

John Hardy earrings and cocktail ring, available at Reeds.

On Susan: Dolce & Gabbana dress, available at Coplon’s. John Hardy earrings and David Yurman bracelets, available at Reeds.

On Nate: Vluxe button down shirt, Altea checkered tie, Trafalgar belt, Victorinox slacks. All clothing available at Britton’s.

On Ian: Alan Paine argyle sweater, Altea scarf, Aguve black denim pants, all available at Britton’s. David Yurman bracelet, available at Reeds.

Paisley maxi dress, bangles and rings available at Bohemian.

Left: Mitchie’s Matchings fur vest, available at Britton’s. Paisley maxi dress and bangles available at Bohemian.

Front: Altea paisley cashmere scarf, Bugatchi paisley button down shirt, Agave suede motorcycle jacket, Berle brown slacks.

All clothing available at Britton’s.

Center: Trina Turk paisley silk blouse, Milly brown faux fur vest, both available at Van Jean. J. Brand black bell bottom jeans, available at Mary. Necklace available at Bohemian.

Top Right: Milly gray coat with black fur coat, Tibi red paisley dress, both available at Van Jean.

Right: William Rast jeans, available at Max & Prissy. Corduroy military jacket, striped button down shirt and striped cashmere scarf available at Britton’s.

Guy: William Rast jeans, available at Max & Prissy. Corduroy military jacket, striped button down shirt and striped cashmere scarf available at Britton’s.

Girl: Bottega Veneta green hobo handbag, available at Coplon’s.

Brown leather belt, J. Brand dark denim jeans, C.K. Bradley NY navy printed blouse, all available at Mary.

Left: Chloe handbag, available at Coplon’s. Blue suede boots available at Kick’s. Cynthia Vincent silk printed three-quarter sleeve dress, available at Mary.

Center: BCBG brown leather boots, available at Kick’s. Tibi red paisley dress, available at Van Jean.

Right: Mitchie’s Matchings fur vest, available at Britton’s. Nicole Miller silk chiffon maxi gown, available at Ivory Tower. Model’s own bracelet.

Story and photography by Natasha Chilingerian

y now you’ve accepted that it’s just too cold to fully enjoy a weekend in Charleston, so going from cold to colder in the Smoky Mountains for your next weekend trip just makes sense. We had been dying to explore Knoxville, Tennessee, if not just to see if the Dolly Parton vibe emulated from around every corner. Granted, a few women walking down the street did resemble Dolly, but in a few short days we found a cross-section of cultural opportunities, artistic expressions and progressive attitudes.

The stir staff took off for Tennessee early one morning expecting a long, exhausting trek, but were pleasantly surprised to find the drive is completely doable in three and a half hours (not to mention beautiful, with tall rock panels, vibrant fall leaves and mist present throughout the Smoky Mountains). We settled into the luxurious Hilton Knoxville (501 West Church Ave, 865-523-2300, hilton.com), a hotel that gets points for having its own Starbucks and martini bar.

After chatting it up with locals, we discovered that we had come just in time to witness the result of Knoxville’s ten years in the making transformation. “Ten years ago, our downtown was not yet developed and was known as a scary place,” Erin Burns Freeman, the director of communications at the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation, says. “Now we have $1 million lofts downtown and shopping that’s unique and eclectic. We’re the arts and culture hub of east Tennessee. Before, we were just a college town with a lot of chain restaurants.”

Intrigued, we hit the pavement for a taste of Knoxville and found walkable shopping districts, outdoor cafes and glorious architecture to be the ingredients of a makeover well done.

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Shopping Thanks to Knoxville’s downtown makeover, shopoholics will feel like kids in candy stores when they discover the city’s retail options.

If you’re looking to stroll in and out of shops, Market Square and Gay Street are the places to be — you’ll find a plethora of gifts, vintage wear and home fashions, to name a few. But true fashionistas must venture out to Kingston Pike (a traffic-heavy main street), where they’ll find the clothing, shoe and accessory labels that

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dreams are made of at Lola B. (6614 Kingston Pike, 865-909-9059, shoplolab.com). Owner Deena Sukenik stacks her shelves with brands like D&G, Anna Sui, Just Cavalli, M Missoni, Trina Turk and Sass and Bide.

Market Square, a community gathering spot the size of a large block, is dotted with shops. Among them are Bliss Home + Art (24 Market Sq, 888-809-2424, shopinbliss.com), a two part Market Square shopping experience that offers elegant home furnishings and accessories in one location and clothing and gifts in the second. Another funky spot for gifts is Earth to Old City (22 Market Sq, 865-522-8270, earthtooldcity.com), where you’ll find bohemian buys like animal-shaped lamps and handcrafted soaps.

Dining Knoxville’s traditional cuisine is ruled by smoky barbecued meats, but downtown’s rebirth exposes restaurants with cooking styles from around the globe. For a memorable evening of dinner and cocktails on Gay Street, head to Sapphire (428 Gay St, 865-6378181, sapphire-knoxville.com) . According to owner Aaron Thompson, it’s where “the prettiest people in Knoxville” gather. The restaurant, formerly home to a jewelry store and then a bank, offers killer mojitos, continental cuisine, sushi and their signature sapphire martini, which costs $350 and includes a 2.25 blue natural cut sapphire at the bottom of the glass (talk about a way to impress your date!)

Any of Market Square’s restaurants make a great destination for people watching; for a fusion of Latino and Southern cuisine (not to mention stellar margaritas) pick LaCosta (31 Market Sq, 865-5660275, lacostaonmarketsquare.com). For casual Italian fare, stop by Tomato Head (12 Market Sq, 865-637-4067, thetomatohead.com), a Market Square pioneer. And the elegant yet comfortable Oodles Uncorked (18 Market Sq, 865-521-0600, oodlesuncorked.com) serves up comforting pastas and a late night cheese menu. Outside the bustle of the square, the intimate, basement level Copper Cellar (1807 Cumberland Dr, 865-673-3411, coppercellar.com) is a good choice for prime rib and fresh fish; sushi lovers should look no further than the popular Nama Sushi

Bar (135 S Gay St, 865-633-8539, namasushibar.com).

A lively, casual lunch can be enjoyed at the Downtown Grill & Brewery (424 Gay St, 865-633-8111, downtownbrewery.com), where you can watch beer brewed before your eyes in the heart of downtown Knoxville. For a more elegant midday experience, head to the European-style restaurant in a house, The Orangery (5412 Kingston Pike, 865-588-2964, theorangeryrestaurant.com).

And if you’re determined to get that Tennessee barbecue experience, do it right at Calhoun’s (400 Neyland Dr, 865-673-3355, calhouns.com) on the river. The bustling spot, often visited before football games and for birthdays, includes an outdoor deck and panoramic view of the Tennessee River.

Nightlife Some say Knoxville is strictly a bar scene while others argue it’s a split bar and club scene, but regardless of your taste, there are more than enough watering holes to fill a weekend. For a high in the sky experience in Knoxville’s most recognizable landmark, the tall vertical structure topped with a gold glass globe known as the Sunsphere, visit the newly opened Skybox Bar. Unfortunately, a power outage cut our visit to the bar short, but they still have our recommendation (who wouldn’t want drinks paired with an amazing view?)

Crowds gather on weekends at The Crown & Goose (123 S Central St, 865-524-2100, thecrownandgoose.com), an English gastropub that’s located in another populated downtown spot, the Old City. In fact, Freeman and her colleague, Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation Senior Manager of Public Relations Sarah Malak, recommend bar hopping from the Old City all the way through Market Square, noting that the presence of courtesy officers keep the areas safe. Other nightlife spots worth keeping on your list include jazz and blues club 4620 (4620 Kingston Pike, 865558-0183, 4620jazzclub.com) and for beer lovers in the Old City, Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria (200 East Jackson Ave, 865-5210092, barleystaproom.com).

If getting down under flashing lights is more your style than conversing over a beer is, head to Voo Doo at music venue/entertainment complex The Valarium (1213 Western Ave, 865-522-2820,

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thevalarium.com). With VIP bottle service, sexy performances from the Voo Doo Doll dancers and fire breathers, the club offers a Vegaslike escape.

Entertainment Tennessee holds tight to its bluegrass roots, and every weekday at noon at the Knoxville Visitor’s Center (301 S Gay St, 800-7278045, knoxville.org) coffee shop, you can witness Knoxville’s music culture at its best at the WDVX Blue Plate Special concert. The local radio station has partnered with the visitor’s center to create a raucous show that’s recorded live for the station’s listeners.

Performing arts fans (or really anyone for that matter) should take a trip to the grand Tennessee Theatre (604 S Gay St, 865-6841200, tennesseetheatre.com), a palace-like, newly renovated venue that’s at the very least worth stepping inside to view the 1920s era interior design. The venue hosts six major concerts per month, including Knoxville’s own opera and symphony as well as touring Broadway shows and big name artists and comedians. “Whenever there is a show, all the restaurants on Gay Street are full,” Chyna Brackeen, the marketing and promotions director for AC Entertainment (the Tennessee Theater’s agent) says.

Brackeen adds that while the theater attracts crowds in downtown Knoxville, it’s the work of many business owners that’s enlivened the city. “There was so much focus on creating an attraction, when all along it was about creating a community,” she says.

“There are some amazing, visionary people who opened up businesses that can’t be found anywhere else.”

For a more intimate theater experience, check out the Bijou Theatre (803 S Gay St, 865-522-0832, knoxbijou.com), a venue that hosts small groups and ensembles and student performing arts groups (and beware — it’s rumored to be haunted).

Attractions While we didn’t have the pleasure of seeing it for ourselves, a great side trip option while visiting Knoxville is the famous Dollywood (1020 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, 865-428-9488,

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dollywood.com), a country theme amusement park in nearby Pigeon Forge. Its rollercoasters, water park and rockin’ shows are even rumored to have attracted a recent visit from Paris Hilton and Benji Madden.

Another enjoyable day trip for those visiting Knoxville for longer than a weekend is the charming mountain town of Gatlinburg (just under and hour’s drive from Knoxville) where you’ll find wineries, a haunted mansion and Ober Galtinburg (1001 Parkway, Gatlinburg, 865-436-5423, obergatlinburg.com) a ski resort and amusement park where you can take in spectacular mountain views on the 120passenger aerial tramway.

If history is your thing, spend part of your day at the East Tennessee History Center (601 S Gay St, 865-215-8824, east-ten nessee-history.org). There you’ll find the largest genealogy center in the Southeast, so if you’ve always wanted to trace your roots, eat your heart out. Southern history buffs can beef up on Tennessee’s background in “Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee” and “The East Tennessee Streetscape,” two permanent exhibits at the center.

While deep Southern roots are at the core of Knoxville, new cultural developments make the city a treat for anyone. As Freeman puts it, “There is a misconception that all you will find is the Dolly Parton lifestyle, but you will find arts and cultural opportunities and some great restaurants. You can expect the unexpected.” Adds Malak, “What’s unique about it is the downtown area. It’s such an eclectic mix. We’ve got history, the arts, shopping and restaurants.

We’ve got it all.”

You may love the Palmetto State in the winter, but if your desire is to sink deeper into the magical feeling that cold weather brings, take a long weekend in the Tennessee mountains. It’s closer than you think, and you’ll be laughing at the preconceived notion that Dolly Parton, bluegrass and barbecue is all Knoxville has to offer.

Celebrate the Season

in East Tennessee and discover the excitement of Knoxville’s “Christmas in the City” events!

Celebration of Lights GFBUVSJOH UIF GBNPVT “Roof Top Trees” Christmas at Chilhowee Park XJUI GMPBUJOH USFFT PO UIF MBLF UPVST GPPE GBNJMZ GVO BOE NPSF Holidays on Ice skating rink EPXOUPXO JO IJTUPSJD .BSLFU 4RVBSF Santa Claus Parade BOE NPSF Call 800-727-8045 for a FREE Visitor Guide and Christmas in the City calendar of events.

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Written by Natasha Chilingerian, Photography by Scott Bilby

3. “Elias” by French line Anne et Valentin. One of many unique frames at Columbia’s premier eyeglass and accessory shop/art venue, this whimsical, modern design is for the guy who isn’t afraid to stand out at the party. Available at Frame of Mind: The Art of Eyewear (1520 Main St, 988-1065, artofeyewear.com) for $366.

2. “The Bernie,” exclusively designed for 20!20 Vision by German optician Dr. Wolf Schnuchel. These smart, bold, limited edition frames are available in a variety of shapes and colors and are the perfect addition to an intelligent conversation. Available at 20!20 Vision (1924 Blossom St, 748-9994) for $300.

1. “The Masunaga” by Japanese line Toki. Sleek and contemporary, these semi-rimless frames are made from titanium and are sure to give any outfit an edge. Available at Eye on Gervais (1929 Lincoln St, 799-2020, eyeongervais.com) for $429.

Guys, glasses aren’t nerdy, they’re fashionable (and we think they’re damn sexy!) Columbia’s eyeglass shops have just what you need to add that special touch to your holiday attire.

Hey, Four Eyes!

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subject,” Cohn suggests. “Just say, ‘Let’s talk about something we can all agree on.” It’s best to change the conversation before it gets too awkward for everyone in the room, and you.

“Like my mother said; you can’t talk about politics, religion or money in mixed company.” Timeless advice.

Continued from page 27

The gift that keeps on giving Everywhere you turn, there’s an occasion to give a gift. Gift giving isn’t just for the last quarter of the year, and an acceptable gift has gone from a bouquet of flowers to something that requires a little more thought.

But make sure you actually think before just grabbing something out of the closet before running out to a friend’s party.

“Everybody re-gifts,” Cohn says. “People just give gifts more than they used to. And you can only use so many of the gifts you receive, and somebody else might really like one of the gifts you’ve been given. You just have to be careful in the same circle of friends.”

Cohn suggests making note of who gives you the gift if you don’t think you’ll use the item to avoid a re-gifting situation. What if you’re given a gift that you actually gave that shameless gift-giver last year?

“Just say, ‘Thank you so much,’” Cohn says. “You never want to make someone else feel bad, and you have to assume they’re doing it with good intentions.”

If you’re hosting the soiree and someone brings you a gift, don’t forget to make your guest aware that you appreciate the gift.

“Depending on the level of your friendship, you could give them a call and say, ‘Thank you for coming last night. We had the greatest time and I appreciate your thoughtful gift — you didn’t need to do that, but I just love it,’” Cohn says.

She also suggests that a handwritten note is always appropriate, and be sure to mention how you’ll use the gift.

Final words Entering a phase where keg parties are replaced by dinner parties and cocktails takes some getting used to, and well, it requires manners and civility. To get the evening started on the right foot, Cohn suggests mastering introductions.

“When you walk in and your host doesn’t automatically introduce you to the crowd, especially when you don’t know anyone, it’s difficult,” she says.

Get your party’s momentum going by making your guests feel comfortable. And if all else fails, Cohn says to refer to the good manners bible, Emily Post’s Etiquette. “It’s the all-time, gold standard of etiquette.”

Discover new music

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[last scene] Donnie Thompson World Champion Powerlifter hile most men are bench pressing 150 pounds at the gym, Donnie Thompson’s typical lifting equipment weighs 800 pounds or more.

The powerlifter and proud Columbia resident holds the title of strongest man in the world (he’s executed a 1,155-pound squat, 900-pound bench and 832-pound deadlift). He’s currently the strength director at Progressive Sports Physical Therapy in West Columbia and trains six days a week at his underground gym, The Compound. Thompson plans to break free from competitive powerlifting for strength coaching this year and is preparing for his final meet on Nov. 23, at which he hopes to break his record. We recently sat down with the 43-year-old, 370-pound Thompson (who’s totally warm and fuzzy on the inside, by the way) for a quick chat.

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Tell me about your proudest moment in competitive powerlifting.

It was in 2005 at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness EXPO in Columbus, Ohio.

They have the world championships for powerlifting there. I won the world title, and that was the biggest dream of mine ever. It was so cool, I got a belt, and I grew Elvis Presley lambchops, they looked so funny with my fat head. When I went to squat, the girls saw my lambchops and started laughing, and that made me relaxed. I was entertaining people.

Take me through a typical week’s workout while training for a meet.

Sunday is the first day — Saturday is my only day off. Sunday is a light upper body day and is dedicated to speed. Monday and Wednesday are my heaviest days. Monday is a big squat day, and that’s the most important day for my guys to be there (to spot me). Wednesday is a big bench day. Tuesday is a lower body rehab day, Thursday is an upper body rehab day and Friday is a light lower body day with a focus on speed.

What’s going through your head during an important lift at a meet?

That’s the dangerous thing — I don’t want anything going through my head. I’ll be completely honest, I’ll start thinking about sex and different people, and I have to get that out of my mind. I have an ammonia inhaler that I use right before a lift and it clears my head. Then all I think about is setup and execution.

Does it take a certain type of genetic makeup to accomplish what you’ve accomplished, or is it all about working hard?

It’s a combination of both. Genetics play a part — you don’t know too many guys built like me, do you? It also takes dedication. There are guys in this town who are as strong as me or stronger than me, the difference is, I have no fear of heavy lifts and they get scared. They just don’t have the mental capacity for it.

Are people ever intimidated by you due to your size and strength?

The people who want to be in my field tend to be nervous around me when they first meet me. But regular people just look at me like I’m some fat guy.

They don’t know anything about me, and they don’t understand it.

What is the best advice you offer to aspiring powerlifters?

It’s not about how fast you get something done, it’s about your longevity. You have to be smart, you have to read and you have to surround yourself with like minded people. You have to go to the dungeon-type places to train — they’re called “hard core gyms.”

Interview by Natasha Chilingerian, Photography by Scott Bilby

Corrections from the Sep/Oct issue: On page 8, Jenny Thompson was incorrectly identified as Jenny Workman.

“The New, Alternative and Classic Columbia” was written by Natasha Chilingerian, Shayna Katzman and Stephanie Flynn. Photos of Grant Robertson, Eric Michalovic and the Nickelodeon Theatre were shot by Melinda Register. Photos of the female impersonators and Olando “Opie” Patterson (incorrectly identified as Orlando “O.P.” Patterson) were shot by Shawna Simmons. Remaining photos in the article were shot by Brad Allen.

In “The New, Alternative and Classic Columbia,” the Cellar on Greene blurb was cut short. The last sentence should have read, “To start, the Cellar on Greene will be open from 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and evening and weekend hours will begin after a couple of weeks. — NC” In “The Right Combination,” Coplon’s was misspelled.

“Beauty Rx” was written by Shayna Katzman and the “His” and “Hers” headings were mistakenly swapped.

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