Upstate Lake Living Winter 2014

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WINTER 2014

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Upstate Lake Living magazine

Volume 9, Issue 4 WINTER 2014

10 Madison’s mansions gleam for the holidays 14 A century of childhood Christmases 20 Summerhouse holds family memories 26 Speedway transforms for the holidays 32 Curl up this winter & enjoy Upstate majesty 40 A casual French bistro with a stunning view 45 Men: Flowers speak a Language of Love 53 Plan now for a state park golf getaway

60 Fishing: Warm winter rains 62 Your Waterfront: Winter on the waterfront 64 Theatre: Traditional tales & holiday humor 68 Calendar: So many ways to celebrate the season Dear Readers, Happy Holidays!

All of us at Upstate Lake Living wish you a most blessed holiday season.

For many of us, the holidays are about traditions, particularly those we celebrate with family. Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s are rich with specific events, held in special places and celebrated in ways particular to us and those we love. Faith and community-based traditions give the holidays greater meaning and lift our spirits.

Here in the Upstate, history and tradition are inseparable and, in this edition we encourage you to explore a couple of unique opportunities. First, there may not be a more historical community within easy driving distance than Madison, Ga., and the time to discover it is at Christmas.

Saved from Sherman’s fiery March to the Sea by happenstance, Madison has more than 100 antebellum mansions and buildings. At Christmas, many of these structures, and downtown businesses as well, are decorated and open to the public.

Equal distance, but to the northwest, is the Biltmore Estate. Many of you have experienced Christmas at Biltmore but, this year, we share with you a rich, behind8 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

the-scenes tradition that now spans five generations of the Vanderbilt family.

Meanwhile, Bill Bauer has found several ways to have fun during the holidays in the Charlotte, NC area. From the remade infield of the Charlotte Motor Speedway to “snow” inside the waterpark-themed Great Wolf Lodge, to the underwater world of Sea Life Aquarium, every age can find fun during a holiday getaway to North Carolina.

Bill also gives golfers a new spring adventure to ponder while reading in front of the fire this winter.

And, fellas, there’s one more story you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re thinking about giving flowers this Valentine’s Day. As always, Phil Gentry talks fishing. Dave Kroeger answers your questions about dockage on the lakes, and our calendar of events and theater calendar are both chock full of events and possible stocking stuffers.

Snuggle up and enjoy this edition. We’ll see you in 2015.

Brett McLaughlin, Editor bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com PS: By the way, we are already beginning next year’s editions and I would love to hear from you. Send your story ideas or other suggestions to: bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com

PUBLISHER: Jerry Edwards jerry@edwgroupinc.com Ph: 864-882-3272 EDITOR: Brett McLaughlin bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com GENERAL MANAGER: Hal Welch hal@upstatetoday.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Sandy Peirce sandy@upstatetoday.com ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHICS: Melissa Bradley UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is published quarterly

by Eagle Media 210 W. N. 1st Street Seneca, SC 29678, USA Ph: 864-882-2375 Fax: 864-882-2381 Subscription: $15 includes 4 issues Single issue: $3.95 U.S. Postal Permit #18 UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is a trademark of Edwards Group.

Contents copyrighted.

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Address subscription inquiries to: UPSTATE LAKE LIVING magazine, P.O. Box 547, Seneca, SC 29679; phone 864-882-2375; fax 864-882-2381.

Two weeks advance notice is required for address changes; please send old and new address.

contributors to this edition Bill Bauer • Phillip Gentry Jack Kates III • Dave Kroeger Brett McLaughlin • Jessica Nelms Special thanks to Keowee Marina and Staff for providing their decorated boat and captain for the cover shot.

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There are 100 antebellum homes and buildings in Madison. This mansion was among those featured on an earlier tour, but several similar to this will be included in this year’s Annual Holiday Home Tour.

Southern KIND OF CHRISTMAS A

ANTEBELLUM HOMES OPEN FOR THE HOLIDAYS Story by Brett McLaughlin Photos courtesy of Madison-Morgan Convention & Visitors Bureau

10 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

eople convinced that Sherman didn’t burn down Madison, Ga., simply because it was beautiful have likely been to Madison, Ga. The truth is Madison was home to pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill, who also had ties to Sherman’s brother at West Point. So sparing the town during his March to the Sea was more political than appreciative on Sherman’s part.

The result, however, is the same: Today, Madison attracts tourists from all over the world to marvel at the beauty of its 100 antebellum homes and buildings.

Tagged by Budget Travel as one of the “16 Most Picturesque Villages in the World” and

by Travel Holiday as the “No. 1 Small Town in America,” Madison — located just beyond Athens and a short 90-minute ride from the

[At top left] Heritage Hall, pictured here during a candlelight tour, is one of three former antebellum mansions that have been converted into working museums in Madison. The three homes are included on the annual holiday tour and are also part of a combination tour package that can be purchased throughout the year. [At top right] Downtown Madison features 45 unique boutique shops, most of which are decorated for Christmas. Store offerings range from antiques, to jewelry, to clothing, and even a quaint grocery that offers locally-made products and doubles as a deli and sandwich shop. [At bottom left] Simple holiday décor, such as this garland inside the 1811 Heritage Hall, is in keeping with the antebellum period. Visitors to the Hall, and other stops on the various tours available in Madison, will be treated to period stories offered by local docents. [At bottom right] This is one of the private homes that was featured on an earlier Annual Holiday Home Tour in Madison. This year’s event will feature more than a dozen stops, including six private homes.

Upstate — is an historic work of art any time of year.

But, at Christmas the largest historic district in Georgia takes on added beauty and charm.

Self-guided tours are available throughout the season, but visitors may want to circle December 5-6 on their calendars, as those dates will feature the annual “Holiday Tour of Homes.”

“Whether they opt for a daytime tour or a candlelight experience, visitors never fail to be awestruck by the beauty and rich southern heritage on display in this mixture of private homes, historic house museums and churches,” said Ellen Ianelli, director of the MadisonMorgan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Sponsored by The Morgan County Historical Society, the tours take place most-

ly in the National Register Historic District, which boasts a mix of Greek revival, late Victorian and Romanesque buildings. In its 31st year, the 2014 tour event will feature a dozen or more stops, including six private homes, as well as churches and museums.

Daytime tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with candlelight tours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tickets are $30 and are available by calling 706.342.9627 or online at: friendsofheritagehall.org.

If you can’t make it to Madison for the holiday home tour, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the city during the holidays.

Another specific date you might want to visit is December 13 when the annual holiday parade kicks off at 4 p.m. After the parade, folks

will gather for Caroling By Candlelight in Town Park. It will feature local choral groups, bands and community musicians, performing holiday carols. Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the Elves will be on hand, as will Santa’s reindeer. Warm your hands with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and tasty marshmallows roasted over an open flame.

If you visit during the week, Ianelli suggests you begin at the Welcome Center, 115 E. Jefferson St., where you can obtain a walking map. Three house museums — Rogers House, Rose Cottage and Heritage Hall — offer a combo ticket for $10.

Heritage Hall (circa 1811) is known as the “antebellum dame” of Madison. House Manager Ruth Ann Feliks will happily tour you WINTER 2014 • 11

through the former home of Dr. Elijah Evans Jones, a prominent physician in Madison, pointing out period furnishings, window etchings made by family members, medical instruments and even the ghost bedroom.

The Rogers House, a middle-class working plantation home, and the Rose Cottage, are both exquisite examples of life in Madison in the 1850s when cotton was king and 7,000 of the city’s 9,000 inhabitants were slaves.

Other fascinating stops in town include the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, which features a nice Civil War museum, an old classroom, an exhibit of the original living room of the Boxwood mansion and an art exhibit. There is also an AfricanAmerican Museum.

Ianelli said visitors who want to take a longer, 1.5mile walking tour of the historic district would enjoy 46 points of interest and 27 historical markers. Simply walking the tree-lined streets of the historic district, one will see one stunning home after another.

And, behind each door there generally lies a story, like that of Lula Hearst, whose husband owned the Georgia Cyclorama and who was believed to possess the power of levitation; or a home whose lineage can be traced to the

Visitors never fail to be awestruck by the beauty and rich southern heritage.

founders of Coca Cola; or the home believed to have been the scene of the only Confederate death in Madison.

Regardless of how you choose to see the city, any holiday stroll in Madison isn’t com-

plete without a walk through the festively decorated downtown area. There you will find 45 unique boutique stores, including Andy Oller’s quaint Madison Produce Co. and Deli, where you can enjoy a great sandwich or buy a few locally-produced jams, jellies or other products to take back home.

You also won’t want to miss Ricky D’s Hollywood Museum & Cinema, a unique entertainment venue that houses a 50-seat cinema showing independent films, documentaries, classics and foreign films. Uniquely similar to a speakeasy, it serves up wine “backstage” and has a retro soda fountain up front.

Downtown also features 16 antique dealers, 13 restaurants and, should you choose to spend the night, the historic James Madison Inn and Brady Inn. Southern Cross Guest Ranch, the only dude ranch in Georgia, and The Farmhouse Inn at Hundred Acre Farm, are also nearby. The farm features solar power, organic gardening and a bevy of animals on 100-plus riverbank acres. n For more information on Madison, its holiday events or the area’s antebellum history, visit: www.madisonga.com.

MADISON IS ONE STOP ON ANTEBELLUM TRAIL

This map shows the paths Northern generals took as part of General George Sherman’s November 1864 March to the Sea. Seven towns along the route were spared total destruction and are part of today’s Antebellum Trail.

12 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Madison is one stop on the 100-mile trek through Georgia known as the Antebellum Trail.

The trail features seven historic communities that escaped Sherman’s burning March to the Sea in November-December 1864. In addition to Madison they are Athens, Watkinsville, Eatonton, Milledgeville, GrayOld Clinton and Macon.

Although one can spend any amount of time enjoying history, shopping and dining on the trail, the Antebellum Trail Organization offers self-guided tours of different length. Suggested tours are 3-days, 2-nights from south to north, or 4-days, 3-nights from north to south. Itineraries are offered by the hour and include suggested dining spots and historic sites.

Itineraries and guides are available online at: http:// antebellumtrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ATTrail-Guide-2014-r.pdf. The guides include lists of places to stay and highlights of each of the major towns on the trail.

There is also more information about an antebellum bicycle trail available online. For more information visit: http://antebellumtrail.org

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CHILDREN STILL THE CENTER OF ‘FAMILY’ CHRISTMAS Story by Brett McLaughlin / Photos courtesy of the Biltmore Estate

For more than a century, children have been standing in awe of the Christmas tree that adorns the Banquet Hall of the Biltmore House. Every year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, all the employees and their families of Biltmore Estate are invited to a party and descendants of George and Edith Biltmore give each child a personal gift.

14 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

ames Hamilton was a cabinetmaker for George and Edith Vanderbilt. One Christmas season his twin sons came to him and asked if they could go out on the estate and cut down a Christmas tree. Hamilton gave permission, but specifically told the boys to stay away from the trees on the esplanade.

Not knowing exactly where the boundaries of the esplanade were, the boys ventured too close and returned home later dragging one of four prized European firs, two of which had adorned each side of the esplanade. Hamilton immediately took the boys to Mr. Vanderbilt to apologize and receive their punishment.

However, the mild-mannered Vanderbilt was far from angry and told Hamilton not to “ fuss,” just to take the boys home and enjoy the tree.

To honor the tradition of respect the Vanderbilt family has long shown for its employees, two trees are decorated in Mr. Vanderbilt’s bedroom every Christmas season.

Eugenia Halyburton was the daughter of an early employee at the Vanderbilt Estate. The impertinent nature of the little girl came to the fore one Christmas as the Vanderbilts were distrib-

uting gifts to their employees’ children. Upon receiving a set of paper dolls, Eugenia promptly informed Mrs. Vanderbilt that she didn’t like the dolls and would prefer to receive one of the glass bulbs that decorated the tree.

Rather than be upset, Edith Vanderbilt ordered the massive tree stripped of its glass bulbs and gave one to each of the children. As the years went by, she would present Eugenia with many more ornaments, all purchased as she and her husband traveled around the world.

George Vanderbilt’s massive home near Asheville, NC, opened just in time for Christmas 1895. Vanderbilt christened the home by inviting friends and dignitaries from around the world to join him for holiday celebrations.

He also held a party for the 300 or so employees of the estate and, according to Curator of Interpretation Leslie Klinger, charged his estate manager’s wife, Clara Macname, with buying gifts for all of the employees’ children.

In June 1898, Vanderbilt married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser. She immediately and happily assumed the task of buying the children’s gifts.

“Our archivists tell us that Edith kept copious notes on what each child received each year to avoid repeating a gift in the years to follow,” said LeeAnn Donnelly, senior

THE HIDDEN BULB TRADITION While most Biltmore traditions are built on historical facts, some are just plain fun.

Although there are few pictures and very little written history about how the estate was decorated in its early years, today’s decorators generally draw from America’s Gilded Age (1870-1915), using natural materials for garland, simple bows and glass bulbs.

It is also known that at some point electric lights replaced candles as tree decorations so lights are used liberally in decorating the Biltmore House’s many trees, including the massive Christmas tree in the Banquet Hall.

Getting some 500 lights on that tree is a task assigned to the estate’s engineering staff some 2530 years ago. From the beginning those “impish” engineers chose to “sign their work” and created their own tradition by placing one single light on the tree that is different from all the rest.

The remainder of the staff is then challenged to find it.

“You can stare at that tree forever and not find that one light,” lead decorator Cathy Barnhardt said.

“But, when you do, then you can’t stop not seeing it.”

That was even the case the year the engineers “hid” a 6-foot fluorescent light in the tree.

“It wasn’t as obvious as you might think,” she said.

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“These lists exist, as well as receipts from FAO Schwarz detailing some of the toys and games she purchased for the children.”

One hundred and nineteen years later, children of estate employees continue to receive gifts at Christmas. And, just as George Vanderbilt handed out those first gifts himself, his descendants continue to oversee the gift opening at an anThis FAO Schwarz nual employee Christreceipt from 1898 mas party that is the shows the dozens of toys purchased for highlight of every year. children of estate “I feel a huge sense employees that of pride to be able to year. Mrs. George honor a tradition and W. Vanderbilt herself made the legacy of giving that $3,700 purchase. began so long ago,” The note at the said Dini Cecil Pickbottom indicates, ering, great-grandaccording to estate curators, daughter of George that money and Edith Vanderbilt. was taken “It’s so exciting to still from a “slush fund” dubbed do that.

“Christmas tree.”

“Although it is harder to maintain that family feel as we grow, it remains a special time for all of us to be together,” she added.

The estate has, indeed, grown.

There are nearly 1,800 employees and a new hotel, to be under construction soon, will add several hundred employees to the party list.

Most of the Christmas parties have been held in the Banquet Hall at Biltmore House, though at various times they were also located at the dairy and at All Souls Church in Biltmore Village. In 1916, the party was held at Antler Hall, a home predating the creation of the estate that was converted to apartments for dairy workers and their families.

Today, as the last guests leave the estate on

16 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, thousands of gifts will appear, covering the Winter Garden floor. Employees will begin arriving from as far away as Tennessee and will await the arrival of Santa, his elves and the Vanderbilt de-

scendants. With them will come hundreds of wide-eyed children, including 30 babies born to employees this past year.

Currently, the task of shopping for toys falls to Hannah Parks and Patricia Phillips, entertainment and event programming coordinators.

Unlike the “notes” kept by Edith Vanderbilt, the pair uses computers to keep track of all the children, their ages (0 to 11), genders and the gifts they have received in past years.

“We prefer to buy toys that are made in the United States and in North Carolina if we can find them,” Parks explained. “We buy very few battery-operated toys and try to stay away from things that are trendy, preferring toys that are simple but still exciting.

“We usually have a lot of crafty toys and try to fit the toys into the Christmas theme that has been chosen for that year,” she continued. “For instance, one year we had an ‘Art of Christmas’ theme, and we gave out some Van Gogh paint-by-number painting kits.”

Building blocks, quick-to-knit scarf kits, indoor gardening kits and musical instruments are examples of other past gifts.

“The Housekeeping ladies live for the party,” Parks said, explaining that they help bag the gifts and label them by age and gender.

Santa and his elves distribute most of the gifts with help from Pickering, her brother,

This was the Antler Hall employee Christmas party of 1916. This building is no longer on the estate, although Antler Hill Village stands in its place. According to Ellen Erwin Rickman, director of museum and guest services and author of “Images of America: Biltmore Estate,” parties were most often held in the Banquet Hall at Biltmore House, though at various times they were also located at the dairy, at All Souls Church in Biltmore Village and, in 1916, at Antler Hall, a home predating the creation of the estate that was converted to apartments for dairy workers and their families.

Bill Cecil and their children.

“Everybody has a Santa, but we have the REAL Santa,” said Cathy Barnhardt, Biltmore’s floral display manager and leader of the team that decorates the estate house each Christmas.

Barnhardt is in her 37th year at The Biltmore and has worked for three of the Biltmore’s five generations of owners. Like many employees, her now-26-year-old daughter remembers receiving gifts for several years.

Later, when she “aged out” she “graduated” to helping as an elf.

“One year she even got to be the Santa wrangler,” her mother said proudly, referring to the person responsible for seeing that Santa and Mrs. Claus get to the grand stairway on time and that all the elves are in place.

Even today’s owners remember coming to the Christmas party as children.

While Edith Biltmore used to shop personally for Christmas toys to give to the children of estate employees, that task now falls to Hannah Parks, right, and Patricia Phillips, entertainment and event programming coordinators.

Here, they are pictured in the Winter Garden with hundreds of gift bags, awaiting the arrival of Christmas party celebrants.

WINTER 2014 • 17

“Bill and I grew up coming to the parties,” Pickering said. “I can remember back in the ’50s and ’60s, before the basement was added to the public tours, we would have 100 employees in a close gathering in the basement.

It was cool and dark and usually just the night watchman was down there. I was also an elf for a few years.”

Although many things have changed over the years, Curator Klinger notes that some things always stay the same.

“Annie Scarborough’s grandmother was a cook’s helper in 1898,” Klinger said, recalling details from one of the 100-plus oral histories she has collected. “She came to work as an orphan at age 12. She told Annie that the first time she was ever in ‘the Big House’ was for the Christmas party. She said she was sure the Christmas tree was 75 feet tall.

“Today, kids still look with wonder upon the big tree in the Banquet Hall and watch with awe as Santa and his helpers dive into the gifts that await them,” she said.

“One year Chase (Pickering) stopped by to help decorate and Dini has come in the evening to help decorate as well. It’s just one big, happy family. It’s just a great family Christmas party,” said Barnhardt.

“I can’t wait to buy gifts for the next generation,” Parks added with an impish grin. n

“DOWNTON ABBEY” COSTUMES ON VIEW AT BILTMORE HOUSE Fans of the television series Downton Abbey may want to make their way to The Biltmore where a new exhibition, “Dressing Downton: Forty costumes Changing Fashion for Changing from the Times,” will open February 5 and popular PBS series, Downton continue through Memorial Day. Abbey, will The exhibition features more than be showcased 40 costumes from the popular PBS in rooms series. The clothing will be showcased throughout in rooms throughout Biltmore House Biltmore House this spring. in groupings inspired by the fictional show and by real life at Biltmore, the resemblance to the show’s setting at Highclere Castle, grand Vanderbilt estate of the same era. in Hampshire, England, making it easy for visitors to Although Downton Abbey is fictional, the show blur storylines and experience for themselves a bit of depicts a real historic era of great change. The period life a hundred years ago. costumes in the exhibition act as a window into “The day-to-day running of the house was history beginning in 1912 with the sinking of the surprisingly similar to that of Downton Abbey,” said Titanic, moving into the tumultuous years of World Biltmore’s Director of Museum Services Ellen Rickman.

War I, and finally through the dawn of the Jazz Age in “Just like Downton has Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes, the early 1920s.

Biltmore had its own cast of fascinating characters.

The waves of social change felt abroad also had a Displaying these fabulous costumes from the show lasting impact on the Vanderbilts, their servants and gives us an unparalleled opportunity to delve into Biltmore as a whole. New stories will be shared about Biltmore’s stories.”

George Vanderbilt, his wife Edith and their daughter Complementing the exhibition will be a series Cornelia, who lived in the 250-room Biltmore House. of estate-wide special events at Biltmore to be The Vanderbilts’ home bears a striking visual announced at a later date.

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MORE THAN A

Story by Brett McLaughlin / Photos by Jack Kates III

The house is special to me. It was built by my great-grandfather and a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into it over the years.

— SAM HEAD —

This view of Sam Head’s home on Lake Keowee shows very little of the original farmhouse built by his great-grandfather.

That small, 1,000-square foot portion of the home is tucked behind the wraparound porch and the dormer that were added when renovations first began.

20 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

P

eople become attached to their homes.

The bricks and mortar of our childhood … the first home a young couple may have owned … the two-story walkout where we raised our children … the retirement home we may have shared with a loved one, now departed … … children cry when their house, with their room, is sold … sentiment can cause adults to defy financial logic and simply keep their “home full of memories” when retiring far away.

Houses do become homes … they become part of who we are.

Sometimes, it doesn’t even require actually living in a house to feel that special bond. That has certainly been the case for Sam Head.

For the Upstate native and Clemson grad, his summerhome on Lake Keowee is as much about preserving his family’s heritage as it is having a nice place to enjoy with his family or a place to entertain friends and clients.

It is his inheritance and, while it will likely never be his permanent home, it will always be a place close to his heart.

ONE-TIME PREACHER’S HOME PREDATES THE LAKE Just down the shoreline a few hundred yards is a dock with a blue canopy. From his porch facing the lake, Head could almost throw a stone and land it near the dock ... near where his great-grandfather built what is now his summerhome. John Head was a preacher, who ministered to farmers and sharecroppers

in the Keowee River Valley. He is buried in the Bethel Cemetery, just up the road from his great-grandson’s summerhouse. Head says he will likely be buried there as well.

Head’s grandfather, Lemuel Head, had an 800-acre cattle farm on the other side of Lake Keowee. Before South Carolina Land & Tim-

ber swept in and purchased thousands of acres for what would eventually become Lake Keowee, Lemuel had converted his father’s twostory farmhouse — at the time accessible only by an old logging trail — into a barn for the storage of hay.

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[At left] This portion of the original home now serves as the kitchen and dining area. Through the archway to the right is a 1,000-square foot addition to the home completed in 2009. The wall that creates the arch provides a subtle hint as to the home’s history as it lists inward a few degrees, an effect created when the house was relocated up and out of the Keowee River Valley. [At right] The wood plank floors and ceiling beams in this original living room space represent Sam Head’s efforts to maintain the style and design of a home built by his great-grandfather.

Lemuel hired someone to move most of the original home several hundred yards up, out of what would become the Lake Keowee basin.

(Two bedrooms, the kitchen and front porch were left behind.)

Head was born the year the lake was im-

pounded. Eventually, he would inherit the ramshackle house, and he and his sister would share the acreage around it.

After graduating from Clemson, Head and a college friend opened a financial services business in Columbia. In 1999 they opened

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a second office in Seneca. However, by then, the remodeling of the old farmhouse was already underway.

With help from his brother-in-law, who had built on the adjacent lot, Head rearranged the original 1,000 square feet of space, re-

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Head added this waterfall placing a bath with a modern kitchfeature last year. It runs en, raising the ceilings on both floors from the top of the of the house, changing the roof and property down to the adding a dormer on the lakefront side. lake. The circulating water also provides a source of A porch was added and, in 2008, irrigation for plantings on an infinity pool was built nearer the the upper level. lake. The pool lining is colored so as to blend in to the lake and, looking down from the porch, it is virtually impossible to tell where the pool spills over into a causeway and where the actual lake begins.

The following year, Head added 1,000 additional square feet in the form of a master bedroom and bath, office, laundry and first-floor bedroom for his daughter, Elizabeth. The original wood fireplace in the living room (now gas) was duplicated on the backside in the master bedroom.

While the home has many modern conveniences, Head has done his best to retain as much of the original homestead appearance as possible. Original flooring and boards from the back wall of the home have been used in both the floor and ceiling of the new addition. Beams in the ceiling are lumber taken from the family farm and milled in nearby Six Mile. Where possible, pine planking has been used to blend in with original materials. On the second floor, where there are two bedrooms and a full bath, the bath contains a vintage claw foot tub that Head brought from the first home he and his wife Tracques owned in Columbia.

“The house is special to me,” Head said of the Keowee home. “It was built by my great-grandfather and a lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into it over the years.”

My answer is always the same. I get to share everything that is great about where we live. From the beautiful, emerald waters of Lake Keowee to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains… the warm summer days on the lake to the incredible colors we see in the fall… the breathtaking waterfalls to the awesome hiking trails… the Clemson Tiger games and tailgating to the high school Friday nights… the awesome southern foods to the best sweet tea… the cities that treat old and new like the small town you grew up in… but most of all I get to tell about all the great people that live here and their stories. I love telling people about how great it is to live and play in this area we call home.

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WINTER 2014 • 23

Given its modern appliances and 21st Century touches, it is hard to imagine the home’s origins. But, there is one place where, if one looks closely enough, the home’s past is barely apparent. Standing in the archway created when the size of the home was doubled, one might notice the wall between what is now the master bath and the kitchen is skewed perhaps five degrees. The top of a nearby cabinet slants inward toward the wall, enhancing the list ever so slightly. Both are subtle reminders of days gone by.

“The wall must have tilted in as they dragged it up the hill,” Head explains. “It’s one little bit of proof we have that the house is as old as we claim.”

Certainly a highlight of the summerhouse is this gorgeous infinity pool, located midway between the home and the lake. Looking down from the porch it is difficult to tell where the pool ends and the lake begins.

24 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

A modern, outdoor kitchen has been added near the pool and is enjoyed by Head’s family as well as visiting friends and clients of his successful financial services business.

In the past couple of years, extensive landscaping has been added around the pool, including an outside kitchen and, most recently, a waterfall was created that runs from the top of the property to the lake. The pump that circulates water for the falls also serves as a means of irrigating plants near the entrance of the home.

Compared to neighboring homes, Head’s “cottage” is small, but what it lacks in square footage, it more than makes up for in heartfelt appreciation for one man’s family heritage … an Upstate way of life formerly lived on what is now the floor of a glistening lake tucked amid native pines and aging oaks. n

Trim the tree, hang the wreath, put up the lights and get your wish list ready.

The race calendar may have officially ended in late October, but in the city “Where Racing Lives” — Concord, NC — the holiday season is just getting cranked up.

Speedway Christmas returns for the fifth year at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and you can make your trip just north of the Upstate a great package by also visiting Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge. This year’s extravaganzas at both venues promise to offer more family fun than ever before.

Start your engines!

When the sun went down over America’s most famous racetrack on November 21, a switch was thrown and 3 million LED lights and 800 decorations illuminated the night sky over Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The display was the work of crews who had spent 12-hour shifts around regular racetrack activities for 17 days, stringing over 300,000 feet of animated lights along the front stretch grandstands, erecting glowing displays along the Speedway Christmas route and creating the famous Christmas Village in the infield.

26 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

One of the greatest race tracks in the U.S., the Charlotte Motor Speedway, is converted into a winter wonderland at Christmas with 300,000 lights, glowing displays and a Christmas Village.

SPEEDWAY AND LODGE OFFER HOLIDAY FARE

Story by Bill Bauer / Photos courtesy of Jonathan Coleman, CMS & Great Wolf Lodge

And, that was just the beginning!

Exiting I-85 onto Bruton Smith Blvd. in Concord, a glowing speedway lies dead ahead where a 3.1-mile drive-through course begins on the backstretch. After entering at Gate 25, cars travel in the “wrong” direction around turns 2 and 1 before heading up Pit Road and, eventually, on to Turn 4 before cutting back onto the infield.

“We’ve completely changed the route this year, but visitors will still get to ride one mile on the track,” says Jonathan Coleman, communications manager at the Speedway. “Once they get in the infield, cars will weave through light displays along our go kart path and have the option of pulling over to the Christmas Village before exiting through the Gate 26 tunnel.”

Like a North Pole in the South, Christmas Village has a host of activities for young and

old. Photos with Santa will be available and children can create holiday crafts alongside Santa’s helpers in the Elves Workshop.

Inside the Village visitors can go on pony, camel and horse drawn carriage rides, and get up close and personal with a wide variety of animals in the petting zoo. For the more adventurous, highspeed action in bumper cars, a gyroscope and inflatable slides are also part of the show. After sampling the rides and attractions, guests are encouraged to visit vendors, enjoy a Bethlehem Nativity scene, or simply warm up while roasting marshmallows at the fire pits.

Instead of watching Christmas classics at home, fans are invited to enjoy

LIKE A NORTH POLE IN THE SOUTH, CHRISTMAS VILLAGE HAS A HOST OF ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AND OLD.

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holiday movies on the Speedways’ 16,000-square foot HDTV. Every Friday and Saturday night, visitors can watch movies like “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Christmas Story” and “The Polar Express.”

“Watching movies together has always been a great way for families to bond,” said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of the Speedway. “Whether it’s taking in the

lights or enjoying a Christmas classic, we want our fans to create memories here and make the Charlotte Motor Speedway part of their holiday traditions.”

Speedway Christmas will be open through December 30, from 6-10 p.m. It is closed on Christmas Day. Admission is $15 per car, Monday through Wednesday, to drive through the light show. Thursday through

Sunday when Christmas Village is open it is $20 per car. Admission to the movie nights is included with the purchase of a Speedway Christmas ticket.

• • • • •

Water, wolves and snowflakes too

It is rare in the South when Santa Claus arrives on the crest of new-fallen snow, and dreams of a “White Christmas” are usually just that — dreams.

But, at Concord’s Great Wolf Lodge it “snows” every day and the lobby of the resort is transformed into a white, winter wonderland. Through January 4 GWL is officially dubbed “Snowland,” offering a holiday happening like no other.

“The holiday season is the perfect time to travel together as a family, and in addition to everything the GWL has to offer, it is one of our most exciting times to visit,” says Susan Storey, communications director. “Our repeat guests make Snowland part of their holiday tradition, and each year many first-time guests visit as well.”

[Above] Inside the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway holiday visitors can enjoy a Christmas Village, complete with a petting zoo and dozens of other interactive exhibits.

[Below] Kids of all ages can find plenty of fun and excitement in the Great Wolf Lodge indoor pool area. The area features slides, rides and fountains of all kinds. And, as if the water park wasn’t enough fun all by itself, the lodge also features, movies, miniature golf, bowling, a magician and much, much more.

28 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

The lobby of the Great Wolf Lodge resort is transformed into a white, winter wonderland every holiday season … a place where it actually snows every day.

Twinkling lights, snowflakes large and small, Christmas trees and a life-sized gingerbread house fill the lobby. Baked exclusively by the lodge’s food and beverage team, the gingerbread house is the centerpiece of the Snowland décor and offers guests a delicious opportunity to dine inside a house made of entirely edible treats.

A lthough busy throughout the year, GWL really bustles during the holidays.

Santa Claus is a regular guest Thursday through Sunday, right up to Christmas Eve. Magician Adrian Gagnon astounds and amazes guests during his close-up stage performances in the lobby, and the Great Wolf Kids Team hosts Story Time and an interactive dance party. The Great Clock Tower, the center of many activities, puts on a nightly holiday show followed by a holiday carol sing-a-long.

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In the lobby of Great Wolf Lodge the Great Wolf Kids Team hosts Story Time and an interactive dance party. During the holidays, the Great Clock Tower, the center of many activities, puts on a nightly holiday show followed by a holiday carol sing-a-long.

The list of rides, slides and activities inside the lodge is endless and, in addition to the many interactive quests designed for kids, enrolling in North Pole University provides youngsters fun activities on their way to earning a “Snowploma.” Howl in One Mini Golf,

Ten Paw Alley and Howly Wood XD Theater continue to be favorites for the kids.

Lodging choices are numerous, accommodating a pack of “wolves” from 4 to 8 in a combination of suites and rooms. There are many dining options as well, but Loose Moose Cot-

tage and Lodge Wood Fired Grill are among the favorites.

Storey said that, while checkin at Great Wolf Lodge is 4 p.m., guests can arrive as early as 1 p.m. to begin their Great Wolf Lodge experience. Lockers and changing rooms are located in the waterpark. In addition, on day of check out, families can still enjoy a full day of play in the waterpark, even after they’ve left their room at 11 a.m. Greatwolf.com offers details to help families plan their stay. Guests can enter promo code SNOWLAND for great savings.

If you’ve never been to Great Wolf Lodge or are planning a return trip, there is no better time of year to visit and begin another holiday tradition. n

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EXPERIENCE SEA LIFE FOR THE HOLIDAYS If you need a break from shopping, want to dry off after a day at the water park or have already thrown the switch at the speedway, Sea Life Aquarium at Concord Mills offers one more fun stop on your holiday family adventure.

Open less than a year, Sea Life allows visitors to experience the magical world beneath our seas with marine habitats, displays and close encounters with sea creatures. The aquarium takes its visitors from the fresh waters of the Catawba River in the Blue Ridge Mountains to salt waters of the Atlantic Ocean and beyond … all in a little over one hour.

On a single story, Sea Life occupies 26,000 square feet at one end of Concord Mills Shopping Mall, just off Interstate 85 at Exit 49.

A visit entitles you to a one-of-a-kind experience with over 5,000 underwater creatures. Stingrays, sharks, seahorses, jellyfish and thousands of colorful fish dwell in over 20 spectacular displays. The stunning centerpiece in the aquarium is a huge tropical ocean tank with an acrylic walk-through underwater tunnel.

Viewing windows, educational talks, feeding demos and a touch pool are just a few additional ways to interact with marine creatures.

Throughout the year, different exhibits make their way to Sea Life Aquarium. Currently, Serpents of the

Seas features nine species of eels from around the world, including Snowflake and Dragon Morays and the Ribbon Eel. In keeping with Sea Life’s mission to educate visitors, these seldom seen creatures were brought in to shed light on the misconception that eels are just snakes in the water.

“We are very excited to bring these elusive and secretive animals closer to our guests,” said David Cochran, displays curator at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord. “I am hopeful that our visitors walk away with an understanding and appreciation of this unique group of animals.”

In addition, three new species of shark and one new species of ray have arrived from the Sea Life Aquarium in Grapevine, Texas.

Regular hours are Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9

[Above] Viewing windows, educational talks, feeding demos and a touch pool are just a few additional ways to interact with marine creatures.

[At left] The stunning centerpiece of the Charlotte-Concord Sea Life Aquarium is a huge tropical ocean tank with an acrylic walk-through underwater tunnel that allows visitors to get up close and personal with thousands of underwater creatures.

Photos courtesy of Sea Life Charlotte-Concord

p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last admission is one hour before closing each day. For up-to-date information or to purchase tickets online visit http:// www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord.

WINTER 2014 • 31

CROWN OF THE CAROLINAS:

A gem of Upcountry imagery and sound Story by Brett McLaughlin Photos courtesy of Bobby Holliday

W

inter is waning and the fringe winds of a fading nor’easter sweep down the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, dusting the pines, sprinkling the lakes with a snowy powder and tickling the emerging signs of the approaching spring.

“A winter wildflower breaks through the snow The first sign of spring determined to grow

32 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

The power of nature unfolds The trees are bare, heavy with ice Songbirds are gone, gray is the sky, But the power of nature is alive Soon winter’s grip will let go The world will turn green once more But for now, this wildflower is alone” Inspired by Ben Robertson’s 1983 Upcountry narrative Red Hills and Cotton, and drawing on

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No matter the season, few places on earth are as beautiful as the Upstate region of South Carolina. Veteran singersongwriter Bobby Holliday, of Easley, has captured that beauty in words and pictures on his DVD “Crown of the Carolinas.”

his recollections as a youngster growing up near Six Mile, SC, Bobby Holliday has little difficulty turning nature into song and song into imagery.

And, nowhere are the talents of this veteran singersongwriter more magnificently captured than on a DVD entitled “Crown of the Carolinas,” a masterful collection of images that brings to life the words and acoustic guitar sounds of Holliday’s earlier CD of the same name.

The DVD compilation is a 15-year “labor of love,” according to the former professional songwriter with Milsap/Galbraith Publishing Nashville.

“When I would tell people I was from South Carolina, they would immediately think of Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head or Charleston. They would only associate the mountains with North Carolina. It seemed that the mountains of South Carolina were a very well kept secret,” he said.

For that reason, Holliday started writing songs specifically about the mountains and the natural beauty of the Carolinas.

“Before people can care about a place, they first must know about it. Music with lyrics can be a powerful teacher, engaging both sides of the brain to create vivid images, strong emotion and lasting memories,” he said.

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Filming the glorious pictures and video that complement the original music of “Crown of the Carolinas” took nearly five years and covered all four seasons in the North and South Carolina Upstate regions.

Bobby Holliday did a good deal of the work himself, noting that in many cases he would wait for hours for a single shot.

The finished product is a finely woven body of music released in CD format in 2005.

The CD was recorded in Nashville and in Greenville, SC. Bil VornDick, producer for such artists as Ralph Stanley, Bob Dylan, Jerry Douglas and Allison Krauss, got most of the musicians together. In fact Allison’s brother, Viktor, played acoustic bass. Randy Kohrs played Dobro, and Robert Bowlin, who was Bill Monroe’s last fiddle player, played mandolin. Seasoned session musician, Tom Roady, played percussion and Pete Huttlinger, John Denver’s former guitarist, played on four songs.

Vocals and most of Holliday’s guitar parts were recorded with Buddy Strong at SouthEastern Sound in Greenville.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

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In the front of City Hall in the Town of Six Mile stands a memorial to the men who left to serve in the United States Armed Forces in protecting our freedom. Special tribute is to the four who earned the highest military medal...

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While real estate has the past three decad Keowee and Jocass and other many ame beauty of the area, w the Jocasse Gorges of virgin land which w the Cherokee Nation from all over the wor In buying or selling a home in the Upstate the key is Location, Location, Location. That is why “Above and Beyond” has planted stakes here at the intersection of Highway 123 and Highway 183.

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This area abounds with many creeks, streams, rivers and waterfalls. Should you be more happy near running water, “Above and Beyond” can show you a peaceful setting such as this one at the Puckett Mill, just outside of Six Mile. There are 24 waterfalls in Oconee and Pickens Counties accessible to the pubic.

s boomed over des around Lakes see with golf courses enities, it is still the which encompasses and its 43 acres was once part of n that draws people rld.

Just down the road from the town of Six Mile, at one of the busiest intersections in Pickens County, a new business opened its doors in late October. “Above and Beyond Real Estate” was welcomed by Mayor Roy of Six Mile and Senator Lindsey Graham as they cut the ribbon in front of a large crowd of friends and supporters. Dedicated to providing high quality professional real estates services, the Agency will be accommodating all transactions. The energetic team of “Above and Beyond” will also work with the community in promoting the natural beauty and historic aspects of the area to visitors intending to locate her in the “Crown of the Carolinas”.

If lake living is your desire, “Above and Beyond” can show you property on pristine Lake Keowee whether it is in a gated community or just off by itself touching the shores of the lake. There is over 300 miles of shore line on Keowee and many have found “their spot”.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

The CD became the musical background and provided the theme song for the first six seasons of the SC-ETV nature series “Expeditions With Patrick McMillan.”

But that’s just half of the story.

While doing the very first interview promoting the CD, public radio producer Bob McAnally heard about Holliday’s desire to create a DVD to complement the music.

McAnally immediately offered his services and filming began in 2006.

“He talks about the places that I go hiking and backpacking,” McAnally said. “His style of music is very laid-back, his love of the area is evident and some of the stories that he had to tell are wonderful.

I decided to do more with him and to document these areas from a video standpoint, and use it more as a teaching tool. It could also be a tool utilized for bringing people into the area not only to see how beautiful it is, but to understand why it’s here.”

Four new songs were added and now, eight

years later, the DVD is finished and available to the public.

Designed as a souvenir for visitors and residents alike, it provides entertainment that informs, inspires and offers a fun way to learn more about the area. With the holidays approaching it also may be the single-best way to let out-of-state friends and relatives know why you love to live in the Upcountry.

The DVD offers images of some of the brightest jewels in Carolina’s crown, including Eastatoee, a rainforest refuge to one of the

and searches out rare and beautiful Oconee Bells. Filmed across all seasons, it portrays colorful spring and summer wildflowers, autumn foliage and frozen waterfalls.

Viewers can step back in time at Hagood Mill, view hundreds of petroglyphs carved thousands of years ago by an ancient people, learn of The Enchanted Tree where, in the early 1800s, couples professed their undying love right in the heart of downtown Greenville.

“Crown of the Carolinas” also features 13 stories and commentary by ETV Emmy winner McMillan and Pickens County writer and naturalist Dennis Chastain. n

(Holliday’s) style of music is very laid-back, his love of the area is evident and some of the stories that he had to tell are wonderful.

— BOB MCANALLY —

largest collections of rare plants in the Eastern United States; Jocassee, once considered the Yosemite of the East; and Whiteside Mountain, named for its 750-foot sheer white cliffs, the highest in the Eastern United States.

The DVD goes deep into the valleys, explores lush waterfalls, follows Trillium Trails

“Crown of the Carolinas” is available at locations throughout the Upstate, including several in Greenville; Aunt Sue’s Country Store on SC 11; Hagood Mill, Table Rock State Park, the Pickens County Museum and SC Botanical Gardens in Pickens County; and the Market at Keowee Towne, Devils Fork State Park, Walhalla’s Farm House Gallery and the Oconee Heritage Center in Oconee County. For a complete list of outlets, visit: CrownOfTheCarolinas.org.

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LOCKED IN TO MUSIC

His first single, “Know A Lot About Love,” was released in 1967 by The Wyld, a group led

by Rudy “Blue-Shoes” Wyatt. It charted #24 regionally. Between 1967-1969 he released three singles with The Bojax, two of which charted in the top 10 regionally.

In 1975, his first solo album entitled “Home Grown,” featured the original, acoustic guitar version of “Red Hills & Cotton,” and, in 1977, his second solo album, “Another Stage,” contained two singles that charted regionally, again featuring acoustic guitar, singer-songwriter music.

Through the late ’70s and early ’80s Holliday made solo and duo performances across the Southeast, including Nashville, opening act for various concerts including Ray Charles, Steely Dan, ZZ Top and Fleetwood Mac. In the early ’90s Holliday stopped performing to pursue a full-time songwriting career and became a staff writer in Nashville

with Milsap/Galbraith Publishing, owned by Ronnie Milsap and his producer Rob Galbraith.

His 2005 CD, “Crown of the Carolinas,” provides the theme song and background music for the National ETV series, “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan,” which premiered in January 2007 and is now in its seventh season.

Today, Holliday continues to write and record new music for Season 8 of both “Expeditions” and “Your Day.” He is also providing music for an all-new, 13-episode television series with Patrick McMillan about The South Carolina Botanical Gardens and is providing video and musical content for the Web and in Welcome Centers for SC Tourism in Pickens, Oconee, Greenville and Anderson counties.

He is currently co-producing a new music CD for International Artist and Hawaiian SlackKey Guitar Master, Ozzie Kotani, to be released this summer.

Bobby Holliday is a veteran singer-songwriter whose roots may lie in the Upstate, but whose musical talents are known far and wide, particularly in Nashville, TN.

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‘OUI’ SAY

Enjoy superb food and Greenville’s greatest view

D

o yourself a favor this winter. Catch one of those warm South Carolina afternoons, put on your fleece and find your way to Passerelle Bistro

in Greenville.

You won’t regret it for a minute.

At the gateway to Liberty Bridge, overlooking beautiful Falls Park, you will find chef-inspired fare that Teryi Youngblood calls, “a little French, a little European and a lot ‘local.’”

The Easley native and long-time pasty chef at nearby Soby’s has been serving comfort foods rooted in French tradition and prepared with classical French techniques since June 2013 when Passerelle opened and she was named chef.

The leaves may be off the trees and the water rushing over the falls of the Reedy River may be running Carolina cold, but a glass of wine from Passerelle’s extensive list of French wines or a sumptuous appetizer can still make Table 63 in the corner of the patio a great place to spend an afternoon.

Or, if cabin fever has cast its spell, you can enjoy lunch or dinner on an enclosed and heated portion of the patio or at one of the 50 seats inside the former Overlook Grill. Regardless of your seat, Youngblood has created an ambiance that is exactly what you would find at a little bistro in Paris, right down to the chef ’s bar.

“You can reserve a seat there or ask for it when you come in. We have some regulars at the chef ’s bar because they know that’s where the action is,” Youngblood said, adding that Sous Chef Drew Erickson has been known to hand out samples at the bar.

40 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Story by Brett McLaughlin / Photos by Jack Kates III

[At left] A house rub adds just a hint of the South to the duck entrée, which is served on a bed of French green lentils and cherries pickled in red wine vinegar. The dish also features small cubes of Kabocha squash.

[At bottom] Some 75 seats are available on the patio overlooking the Reedy River. Among them are tables under a canopy that can be enclosed and heated during the winter.

Photo courtesy of Passerelle Bistro

The food at Passerelle’s features balance, purity and simplicity, techniques of classic French cooking made famous by such chefs as Julia Childs and Jacques Pepin, two of Youngblood’s culinary idols.

Among the signature dishes created by one of Greenville’s fastest rising culinary stars are a seasonal cassoulet, parsley and garlic crusted mountain trout and a baked goat cheese pastry.

While the consistency of their dishes is a source of pride for the Passerelle staff, Youngblood and her team adjust the menu seasonally to take advantage of local products. Also, rather than offer features on specific nights, the experienced line routinely brainstorms ingredients to create unique dishes on the spur of the moment.

“It’s more fun, results in better food and everyone’s happy,” she said. “We sort of share the love.”

The new fall/winter menu offers a variety of inspired appetizers, salads and entrees.

During our visit we enjoyed the garlic shrimp, made unique by the use of sweet Espelette pepper, a “secret ingredient” produced on a commune in southern France. When the Charleston shrimp were gone we dipped the crusty French bread in the remaining savory herb sauce.

From among several tasty salads we enjoyed the marinated goat cheese, served on bib lettuce. Topped with red bell pepper jelly, spiced with the same Espelette pepper, the combination is perfect on the toasted fruit bread provided.

Our entrees were Youngblood classics, combining such French favorites as red wine and French green lentils with southern classics like blue cheese and sweet potatoes.

The pork roulade featured Arkansas black apple stuffing, spiced with fresh sage and topped by a Normandy cream and brandy sauce. It was served with sweet potato gratin in a light basil sauce topped with crumbled blue cheese — the best sweet potato dish I have ever tasted.

A house rub added just a hint of the South to a duck entrée that was perfectly plated on a bed of French green lentils, balsamic pickled cherries, cherry gastrique and served with small cubes of Kabocha squash.

“I love lentils and these French greens have a firmer texture so they don’t become mushy,” the chef explained.

“The Kabocha is a very old squash that kind of went off the grid but now it’s trending. It’s the new old thing,” she said of the squash, which is even sweeter than butternut squash and is similar in texture and

Another tasty salad is goat cheese, marinated in herb oil and served on bib lettuce.

Passerelle serves it topped with red bell pepper jelly, spiced with the sweet Espelette pepper. The combination works perfectly on toasted fruit bread.

CHEF LOVES ALL THINGS FRENCH

Photo courtesy of Passerelle Bistro

Standing on the patio overlooking Falls Park in downtown Greenville, Passerelle Bistro’s Chef de Cuisine Teryi Youngblood says she considers herself “the luckiest person on the planet.”

“To be in this space, cooking food I love, working with a great team and making people happy — it doesn’t get any better than this.”

A self-proclaimed Francophile, loving everything French since she was a child, Youngblood is creating an element in which she is remarkably comfortable and equally creative.

Although she has only spent about 10 days in France, her mastery of French cuisine is apparent during any visit to the Bistro.

“I took five years of French in school, but I can hardly speak it because I just never had an opportunity to use it,” she said. “But my high school French teacher comes here to eat all the time and he has lived in France, so that makes me very happy.”

Youngblood says she learned to cook by watching

her mother and grandmother and then honed those skills with self-teaching, work experience and learning from those around her.

After her chocolate creation won Greenville’s Chocolate Soiree in 2000 she was rewarded with a position with Table 301 Restaurant Group. She began her career path at Soby’s on the Side and was eventually promoted to head pastry chef for all baking at Soby’s on the Side as well as all desserts served at Soby’s.

In 2012, she was promoted to Chef de Cuisine at Overlook Grill, which Table 301 reopened in June 2013 as Passerelle Bistro.

Outside of the restaurant, Youngblood’s favorite activity is spending time with her daughter. She loves to share her culinary passion with loved ones by experimenting in the kitchen and cooking meals for friends and relatives. She also enjoys music — everything from heavy metal to Mozart — and watching martial arts films and sports.

WINTER 2014 • 41

[At left] The pork roulade features Arkansas black apple stuffing, spiced with fresh sage. It is served with a side dish of baked sweet potatoes in a light basil sauce topped with crumbled blue cheese. [At bottom left] The garlic shrimp appetizer is made using sweet Espelette pepper, a “secret ingredient” produced on a commune in southern France. When the Charleston shrimp are gone diners can dip crusty French bread in the remaining savory oil. [At bottom right] One of the most popular Passerelle appetizers is the baked goat cheese. It comes wrapped in a light crispy pastry and features blueberry lavender jam and candied walnuts. Photo courtesy of Passerelle Bistro

flavor to a pumpkin and a sweet potato combined.

Other dinner entrees range from a root vegetable pot pie, to mountain trout to a seasonal cassolulet with white beans, tomatoes, sausage, crispy pork belly, wilted heirloom spinach and toasted breadcrumbs.

Of course, with Youngblood’s history as a pastry chef, Passerelle offers a variety of scrumptious French desserts.

The bistro is open for lunch as well, offering choices from smoked

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[Above] Parsley and garlic crusted mountain trout is a staple on the Passerelle menu, regardless of season. The dish features a North Carolina mountain trout plated with carrot, sweet peas and château potatoes. Photo courtesy of Passerelle Bistro. [At right] You can reserve a seat at the chef’s bar or ask for it when you arrive, according to Chef Teryi Youngblood, right. She said the bar is “where the action is,” including an occasional sample from Sous Chef Drew Erickson, left.

salmon-potato croquettes to mussel dishes that allow you to choose the preparation, to steak or chicken sandwiches or a burger, bistro style of course.

There is also a mid-day menu available from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Youngblood refers to it as an intermezzo menu featuring small plates, perhaps a root cassoulet or a simple appetizer. (For a look at the completely new winter menu, visit: passerelleinthepark.com.)

The bistro will also pack meals for people attending the annual Shakespeare Festival or a concert in the nearby Falls Park amphitheater. Passerelle hosts wine tastings, half-price wine Wednesdays and bottomless mimosas at the Sunday brunch (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

For those looking ahead to Valentine’s Day, Youngblood promises a special menu that will include, among other things, lobster crepes and great steak selections. While reservations

are recommended at any time, calling ahead is a must for Valentine’s Day. To make reservations, call 864.509.0142 or go online at: passerelleinthepark.com. n Dinner entrees at Passerelle range from $15$27 with feature dishes being slightly more; appetizers vary from $4-$11; lunch sandwiches range from $7-$11; most salads cost $9 with add-ons costing $4-$5; and desserts range from $6-$9.

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Elkmont Trading Company offers unique shopping experience

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In September, Elkmont Trading Company opened its doors at 100 Liberty Drive in Clemson, SC. What the community gained was a truly unique shopping experience. Constructed with reclaimed barn wood and timber framed log beams harvested from area barns, the shop’s interior is what immediately grabs the shoppers attention. It has the feel of a ski lodge… The towering stacked stone fireplace, scented candles and vintage chandelier are just some of the features that invites the customer into a welcoming, rustic environment. This isn’t your average outdoor store!

It was the goal of Aimee and Lee Hill to bring the feel of the mountains to the foothills. “Why do folks have to drive to Highlands, Cashiers or even Asheville for that warm inviting shopping experience? Let’s provide that and more right here in Clemson” said shop owner Lee Hill.

Best described as a destination location, Elkmont Trading Company is a branch off of Outdoor

Adventures that has been located in the heart of Clemson since 1995 across from Death Valley.

Outdoor Adventures will continue to offer the best in game day boutique items as well as college lifestyle clothing and accessories. Elkmont Trading Company addresses the traditional outfitter activities including canoe and kayaking, climbing, hiking and camping , but will also expand that offering to much more. A key focus of the new store will be promoting a healthy outdoor lifestyle. This includes expansion into the travel category and lake living lifestyle.

In addition to clothing and outdoor gear, Elkmont Trading Company will also offer specialty spices, gourmet soups, cocktail mixes and cooking accessories intended for lake living entertainment. These are perfect for holiday gifts and Christmas is just around the corner… Come see us and thanks for supporting local businesses!

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BE CAREFUL THE MESSAGE YOUR BLOOMS SEND Story by Brett McLaughlin / Photos by Jessica Nelms

ditor’s Note: This story was written for the benefit of our male readers. If nothing else, it will hopefully get them to circle February 14 on the calendar or schedule their smartphone to send them a reminder. Ladies, you may want to read on, however, since now you should expect to get something other than a bouquet of yellow carnations for Valentine’s Day.

Heads up, fellas: Flowers have meaning.

If flowers are your gift of choice for Valentine’s Day (or, any holiday or occasion for that matter) you should know that what you send may convey a meaning well beyond anything you had in mind ... or could possibly have dreamed of.

And, to make matters potentially worse, many women tend to know a lot about the meaning behind various flowers and their colors. If your lady happens to be one, tread cautiously into the flower shop.

With this knowledge, you may better understand why your wife’s reaction was muted (a.k.a. unhappy), at best, when you allowed the florist to sub-in crimson roses for red roses when you placed your order late last year.

WINTER 2014 • 45

Be kind, ladies: Men just don’t get it sometimes.

“We get a lot of men in here with that last minute, deer-in-the-headlights look,” said Christine Drais, florist extraordinaire at Heartwarmers in Seneca.

“Others, though, are garden enthusiasts and ask for specific types of flowers,” she added. “They know how to get a little more bang for their buck and what’s going to earn them some points.”

The red rose says it all … beauty and love. It’s as good as it gets in the Language of Flowers when it comes to Valentine’s Day.

If flowers are your gift of choice for Valentine’s Day, you really can’t go wrong with a colorful bouquet, especially if you can further impress your lady by letting her know you’ve learned the meaning of the various flowers and their colors.

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There is actually a Language of Flowers. It pre-dates Victorian times, having started in Constantinople in the 1600s and was brought to England in 1716. The phrase, Language of Flowers, was first used in 1809.

British royalty have always spoken in the language of flowers, particularly Queen Victoria, who perfected the art in the mid-1800s.

After ascending to the throne in 1837, she became so enamored by the Language of Flow-

For instance, when Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011, she retained the royal tradition of an all white bouquet. However, the bouquet included: Lily-of-the-Valley (return of happiness), Hyacinth (constancy of love), ivy (fidelity, marriage, wedded love and friendship), Myrtle (emblem of love and marriage) and, yes, Sweet William (gallantry).

(Men: Set aside an hour ... please ...

WHITE (ROSES) MEAN “INNOCENCE, PURITY, HUMILITY AND I AM WORTHY OF YOU.” ers that she spread the tradition throughout the empire and actually spoke in the Language of Flowers when describing the affairs of her daughter’s heart.

Even today, interest in the meaning behind flowers seems to peak every time the Brits put on a show.

and search the Internet for “Language of Flowers.” Scan a couple of articles. It will be time well spent.)

(Ladies: We understand this isn’t Rosetta Stone, but don’t expect too much ... please.)

For us commoners, however, flower

Be sure to pick the right time for handing out those single white roses as they speak to “innocence, purity, humility and “I am worthy of you” in the Language of Flowers.

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FLOWERY TIPS FROM THE TOP Christine Drais and her mother, Nan, own and operate Heartwarmers in Seneca. While the recently expanded store has many gift options, fresh flower bouquets are a sizeable part of the store’s business, particularly at Valentine’s Day. Drais said men sometimes shy away from flowers because “they just die in a few days anyway.” That’s not necessarily the case.

“If you take care of them and keep the water fresh and full, roses can last up to two weeks,” she noted.

She offered these tips, as well, when it comes to purchasing fresh flowers: ` Use a brick and mortar flower shop. Call centers and online bouquets can be misleading as to size and cost, to say nothing of the freshness and the staying power of the flowers.

Expectations have been shattered. ` Plan ahead. Last minute orders may mean you have to settle for what’s left. A few days’ notice can assure that your florist has fresh flowers on hand for your arrangement. ` Do a little research. Find out what flower is special to your significant other. It can make all the difference in the world. ` Be creative. Flowers can convey love like no other gift, particularly if paired with another personalized token of your love and affection.

Christine Drais is the master of beautiful bouquets at Heartwarmers in Seneca. She also knows the Language of Flowers and is happy to direct potentially “wayward” customers toward using the right blooms in bouquets for special occasions, especially Valentine’s Day.

language needn’t be so complicated.

“Keep it simple,” Drais advised. “If you have any doubts at all, stick with roses. You really can’t go wrong.”

Not to contradict the expert but, yes, you can still go wrong, even if you decide to send roses, because the color of a particular flower also conveys a particular meaning.

(Ladies: Seriously, there are so many colors — more than there are toothpaste choices — should you really expect your guy to get it?)

Black roses, for example, should defy gender. Nearly everyone knows that they mean death. Sending them on Valentine’s Day could have that result. Likewise, most men know that roses, in general, mean beauty and red roses convey love. (Not to be confused with crimson, which says “mourning.”) So, to truly keep it simple, go with red roses. Another piece of good news here is that

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a single red rose is the ultimate expression of orange rose speaks to your fascination of the love. If you’re not inclined to spring for a doz- recipient. Pink bespeaks “perfect happiness,” en roses, you might want to include that fact and white means “innocence, purity, humility in a note, but don’t count on it to get you off and I am worthy of you.” the hook.

Drais said many of her Val“Most men tend toward entine’s Day customers lean a bouquet of mixed toward tulips and other flowers with a couearly spring bulbs, parple of roses,” Drais ticularly her avid garden said. “Maybe clients. Others, some of they’re just not whom seem a little emthere yet in the barrassed, will combine relationship.” flowers with a ballon or Or, maybe they some chocolates. The more don’t realize the preunflappable may even ask her cipitous Language of to add a scented candle or a Flowers. stuffed bear to the bouquet.

Those yellow carnations, for If you are going to be out of town instance, mean disappointment on Valentine’s Day, you could send a Men, your or rejection. Do you really want significant bouquet of striped carnations. They to say that, fellas? A red carna- other may love a mean “Sorry I can’t be with you.” tion, on the other hand, means bouquet of coralOr, if you are in town and want to my “heart aches for you” and colored roses for convey that very special message to your Valentine’s Day pink says “I’ll never forget you.” but, if she knows significant other, consider presenting Now, we’re talking flower lan- the Language of him/her with some peas. (Presumably Flowers you had guage points! they should be fresh, not canned. I’ll If you want to convey de- better know it as leave the research up to you.) well since that sire, throw in a couple of coral- combination of And, finally, if all this seems to be colored roses. A lavender rose flower and color simply too much or too silly, try green means “enchantment” and an says “desire.” roses. They mean you’re from Mars. n

Keep it simple.

If you have any doubts at all, stick with roses. You really can’t go wrong.

— CHRISTINE DRAIS —

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Victoria Bryant Park’s Highland Walk course is the perfect spot for a final round on the northern tier of Georgia State Park golf trail. Close to the Upstate, it has all the natural beauty of the other parks plus some exquisite vista views.

WINTER 2014 • 53

G

eorgia is steeped in golf tradition. It is the home of The Masters, the birthplace of the legendary Bobby Jones and the site of the FedEx Cup Golf Championship.

From the mountains in the north to its low-lying coastal areas, Georgia has over 500 public and private courses. In that same expanse the state maintains nearly 50 state parks with a history dating back to the 1800s.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that, given Georgia’s long commitment to golf and its dedication to preserve its natural beauty and history, it has created a home for some of the most award-winning public golf courses in the country inside the Georgia State Park system.

For Upstate golfers, three of the seven state parks are within a few hours drive, making them a perfect destination for a one-, two- or three-day golf experience.

The courses are championship caliber and the lodging choices are first class.

Each layout winds its way through the forested state parks and offers a wonderful round of golf void of highways and homes.

It is golf at its grandest with a side of serenity.

Begin your golfing sojourn with a challenge at Hard Labor Creek State Park in Prescott, about a two-hour drive from the GA-SC border. Golf Digest Frugal Golfer magazine lists The Creek Golf Course as “the 4th sweetest deal in the United States,” but also makes you aware you will be tackling “the hardest starting hole in Georgia!”

The par-4 opener does not require distance, but does call for a well-placed fade off the tee. The left to right slope on this downhill fairway can get you into trouble in a hurry as thick stands of trees border each side. Stay left and let the ball funnel its way toward the bottom where the fairway ends at a creek, which must be carried to an elevated and well-bunkered green.

How Hard Labor Creek got its name is open to speculation, but it is believed that it reflects the era when slaves toiled in Georgia’s heat and humidity or Native Americans had a hard time crossing the creek that winds its way through a third of the holes.

Today, golfers simply realize that its name typifies what to expect. At only

54 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

6,426 yards from the tips it is not long, but elevation changes, tricky tee shots and demanding approaches to difficult greens can leave you feeling like you had a hard day at work. That said, its pastoral setting, abundant wildlife and winding layout make the difficulties palatable.

Playing The Creek at Hard Labor a second time is a must. Knowing the nuances of the course to avoid the troublesome areas, and managing the elevation will make your round well worth the trip.

Heading back toward the Upstate, near the GA-SC border in Elberton, is Richard B. Russell State Park, home to one of the true gems of the state park system, Arrowhead Pointe.

Consistently rated “among The Top Ten Municipal Courses in the U.S.” by Golfweek magazine, Arrowhead Pointe boasts over half of its 18 holes overlooking massive Richard B. Russell Lake.

Designed by Bob Walker, the par-72 layout is one of the most scenic in the state and typifies the state golf course theme of “No crowds, no houses, no noise.”

Built on a peninsula, the 6,800-yard design weaves its way through a forest of towering pines and majestic Oaks while bordering the shoreline of the 26,500acre lake. Carved out of 110 acres of woods, the golfer is confronted with 63 bunkers and an array of inverted mounds from tee to green.

These hazards combined with gently rolling, Bermuda fairways and a host of large, multi-level, sloping greens place a premium on accurate drives and precision shots to the putting surface.

Deciding on a signature hole is a tough task, but former general manager and PGA professional Greg Russell says it’s a toss up between numbers 16 and 17, a par-5 and par-4 respectively. Like most of the back nine, both holes are bounded by the jagged edges of Lake Russell. Number 5 is a unique par-5 with a double dogleg.

Off the tee it curves to the left where two large bunkers await errant drives. Then it sweeps back to the right where more sand comes into play on the approach to the

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Hard Labor Creek State Park in Prescott features “the hardest starting hole in Georgia!” The par-4 opener does not require distance, but does call for a well-placed fade off the tee. The left to right slope on this downhill fairway can get you into trouble in a hurry as thick stands of trees border each side.

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green. This is not a course for the hydrophobic as water either comes into play or surrounds 11 of the 18 holes.

The third and “closest to home” course is in nearby Royston.

Across the pond, in Scotland, the mountainous area north and west of a line from Dumbarton to Stonehaven is known as The Highlands.

Two kinds of valleys — steep narrow glens and broad rolling straths — are dotted with rock outcroppings and carpeted with green grass.

It is only fitting that in a setting so similar to the birthplace of golf one finds the aptly named Highland Walk, nestled in Victoria Bryant State Park.

Highland Walk was completely renovated in 1996 by architect Denis Griffiths, who also fashioned Château Élan and the Georgia Club in Athens. Originally a 9-hole tract, Griffiths used the natural flowing rises and falls in elevation to reroute the course and add nine holes.

The par-72 layout is somewhat unique with the front playing to a par 37 and the back to 35. The back nine sports three par 3s and a long par 5, dubbed “the monster.” This 603-yard beauty is a dogleg left that turns nearly 90 degrees, keeping the green hidden for an eternity. It takes two lengthy shots to pass bend in the fairway and have an approach to the green. A sizeable bunker protects the corner and two more allow a narrow opening to the green. While it registers as the #2 handicap hole, many Highland Walkers consider it the toughest on the course.

A picturesque par-4, the 17th is clearly Highland Walk’s signature hole. It reflects the course’s name. Utilizing seven tee boxes, depending on the day, it requires the most challenging tee shot on the course. Standing atop the tee the golfer looks down upon a huge ravine that must be carried to safely reach the landing area beyond the winding cart path. The narrow fairway begins its ascent just beyond

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the valley and is bordered by trees to the left and a wall of rock and scrub pine to the right. The steep and somewhat ominous outcropping skirts the fairway from the tee to the elevated green.

The Georgia State Park Golf Courses provide more than just golf.

Each has a host of lodging choices and amenities.

Richard B. Russell State Park offers some of the state’s finest fishing and boating and the fully-equipped cottages are located on or near the water’s edge of the lake. Among the park amenities are seasonal canoe and pedal boat rental, bike and disc golf rentals, and six miles of trails for hiking and biking.

Hard Labor Creek is best known for its golf, but it too offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in a beautiful wooded setting. A lakeside beach is popular with swimmers, and more than 24 miles of trails are available for hikers and horseback riders. Like Arrowhead Pointe, first-rate cottages are available for overnight stay and play packages.

Victoria Bryant’s Highland Walk is the perfect spot for the final round on the golf trail or a one-day outing. It has all the natural beauty of the other parks as well as all the golf amenities you need, but there are no cottages.

For a perfect two-day package, play a midday round of golf at Hard Labor Creek, head to Arrowhead Pointe and relax by the fireplace in your cabin by the lake, and tee it up the following day. Add another night and enjoy the beauty of Richard B. Russell Lake after golf, and then drive over to Highland Walk in the morning to complete the trifecta. n A variety of winter golf packages and specials is available and can be arranged by calling any of the courses, or accessing the Georgia State Park Golf Course website at http://gastateparks.org/golf-packages.

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BY PHILLIP GENTRY

Warm winter rains can create spring-like conditions

A

typical winter pattern for many anglers on our mountain lakes includes chasing birds and bait that will have them spread out all over the lake … keying in on flocks of seagulls and balls of forage to find fishing success.

However, consider what happens when several days of rain occur. Last winter, after a long three days of dreary winter rain, I wondered why fish didn’t respond to winter rains the same way they did spring rains. I figured it had to have a predictable effect, especially as the skies began to clear.

To test my theory during the final days of December last year, my son Will and I hit the water at midday to go fishing. Topwater baits, weighted flukes and live shiners or herring had been producing a mixed bag of striped bass, hybrids, spotted bass and perch for other anglers over the last several weeks. Now it was time for us to squeeze the remaining deer season for all it was worth and get back to fishing.

On our first day on the water in a few months, the weather felt more like spring than the second day of winter. It had me thinking about a trip Will and I had made to Hartwell the previous March, when winter was finally loosening its grip and a warm spring rain had blanketed the area.

After chasing a couple of flocks of half-interested birds with nothing but a couple of 12inch spotted bass to show for it, Will and I discussed our next move while staring intently at the GPS map.

“Let’s head to the back of a creek,” I said.

“The water temperatures out here on the main lake are hovering around the mid-50s. I’ll bet we find another five degrees in the back of either Little Beaver, 18 Mile Creek or Six and Twenty.”

Picking the one closest to our location, we 60 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

motored our way under a couple of bridges as the banks closed in on either side of the boat.

Rounding the last bend of the river, we found what we were looking for — a mud line.

We’d come armed with four dozen large shiners from the local convenience store, which

size of the bait the fish were eating, were soon devoured by a mix of stripers, hybrids and the occasional spot.

The final result was discovering that fresh water coming into what had been a fairly consistent water level for several weeks or even

meant we had bait from 2-4 inches long. The plan was to free line the shiners, two on each side of the boat, while both of us stood on the front deck and cast artificials at any schooling activity we saw.

Crossing the mud line meant moving from clear green water to Campbell’s Tomato Soup water. Thirty yards past the line we both noticed that the first cove was abuzz with activity. Not a bird in sight but lots of surface swirls.

A quick pass through the cove resulted in the two of us abandoning our casting rods as the free lined live baits, more closely matching the

Don’t be afraid of heading into shallow water following a long spell of winter rain. Fresh water entering a body of water can have the same positive effect on fish in the winter as it does in the spring.

months, can and does have the same effect in wintertime as it does during the spring. Baitfish seem to sense the fresh water, which typically isn’t as cold as the ambient water temperature, and flock to it. Naturally, when baitfish flock to one location, it doesn’t take long for bigger fish to follow. My only regret that day was that we hadn’t bought more bait. n

BY DAVE KROEGER

President/CEO Kroeger Marine Construction

Waterfront winter preparation

W

ith winter upon us let’s take a break from guidelines and regulations and talk about how you can protect your lakefront structures and equipment for the season. This is the time of year we are affected not only by cold weather but also by the high winds that are associated with cold fronts. Here are just a few simple ideas that will make a big difference for the next boating season and help cut down on unwanted surprises and headaches.

Boat docks Take a look at the connections such as where the ramp is connected to the dock and where it meets the shoreline. These areas are vulnerable as points for wear and tear. Look for breaks in welds or any bending of metal.

Take a look at how your dock is anchored such as cables to shore, pilings or a Sea Flex system.

longer life.

• Pilings are attached to the floating dock with a piling loop either made from steel or aluminum. Just take a look at the bolted and welded joints of this loop assuring there are no cracks or loose bolts.

• SeaFlex is a self-adjusting underwater system mostly out of view. If you don’t notice any slack in the tension or wear on the connecting ropes, you should be in good shape.

• You also might want to protect or secure any loose furniture or water toys, such as tubes and rafts, from the wind.

Boatlifts Boatlifts are typically very maintenance free and need little attention. If the unit is up and operating properly, there shouldn’t be much to worry about. It would be a good • Cables should be adjusted to a tension time to visually inspect the air hose leadthat keeps them out of the water. This will ing to the tank of your boatlift. If the lift is slow down on the corrosion process. Inspect not losing air, all should be good. There are the cable for rusting and fraying. If either is some areas around the lake that have beaver visible, it is most likely time to change them populations that can wreak havoc on rubber out. Stainless cable is a good option here for that is contacting or under the water. You can usually see scarring on the hose from beaver that may not have penetrated enough to cause a leak yet. Hoses can be LAKE RESOURCES tied up to keep them out of the CONTACT INFORMATION water if this is the case.

With that in mind it is a Lake Keowee: good idea to have lines tied Duke Energy Lake Services from your boat to your dock 1-800-443-5193 or www.duke-energy.com even in the raised position.

This will eliminate the chance Lake Hartwell: of your boat taking an un706-856-0300 or http://www.sas.usace.army.mil manned joy ride if the lift loses air. I have learned this from Kroeger Marine Construction: experience.

864-882-7671 or www.kroegermarine.com Some earlier model boatlifts have metal tank connections 62 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

and components that are underwater making them more susceptible to rusting. Even when some rust is present on these parts you can expect several good years of service. If there is a significant amount of rust, it might be a good idea to have this inspected to avoid breakage at these points.

Other than that if the lift is not making any type of clanking or racking noise, all should be good.

Boats and PWCs (Jet Ski) We do have cold enough temperatures here to freeze a motor block or other areas that hold water in your system. This is something you will want to consult with in your owner’s manual or dealer to assure that the proper procedure is followed. This can also be done at your location by service technicians in our area.

Also check to see if your dealer recommends fuel stabilizer. This is usually a good measure to avoid fuel condensing water or becoming stale from sitting idle.

I personally try to use my boat as much as possible, catching some of the great mild days that we have throughout the winter. I am not sure how it happens, but things seem to either break or not run well when they don’t get enough attention. I do re-winterize after each use if there is freezing weather in the forecast, but it does seem to do the equipment good to be used periodically.

Boat covers It’s hard to avoid mildew that will occur over the winter months unless you go to the extent of having a small fan run under the cover. I normally just make sure that the cover is tied down well to protect from heavier winds. Also make sure that the top is propped up to avoid collecting water from blowing rain.

Hope you can catch one of those beautiful winter days out on the lake. n

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Serving Oconee, Pickens, & Anderson Counties

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upstate theatre

BROOKS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ART 141 JERSEY LANE, CLEMSON, SC 864.656.7787 WWW.CLEMSON.EDU/BROOKS/ EV ENTS/ DEC. 3-6 DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD (BELLAMY THEATRE)

What would the Peanuts kids look like as teenagers? In this unauthorized parody of the famous comic strip, we get a look at “CB” and his friends as they deal with issues of relationships, drug use, bullying, abuse, eating disorders and suicide. When CB’s dog has to be put down, he questions the afterlife, and begins an emotional journey that leads him to some surprising places in an attempt to answer the existential questions he has been plagued with his whole life.

Sometimes hilarious and sometimes tragic, this is not a show you want to miss! This is the first ever fully realized production from Theatre Unhinged, Clemson’s student theatre group.

JAN. 29 BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

The world’s most successful rock and roll musical, “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story,” continues to thrill audiences around the world.

The show tells the story of Holly through his short, yet spectacular, career and features classic songs such as “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be the Day” and “Chantilly Lace.”

64 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

FEB. 19-21 EURYDICE (CLEMSON PLAYERS)

A beautifully theatrical fable, “Eurydice” is a retelling of the Orpheus myth through the eyes of the heroine. When Eurydice dies too young, she is faced with the heart-wrenching decision between remaining in Hades with her father or returning to earth to be reunited with her husband. Journey to a world between modern and myth, where the Lord of the Underworld travels on a tricycle and stones talk. Sarah Ruhl’s play, heralded by The New York Times as “rhapsodically beautiful,” explores whether lost love is better remembered or forgotten.

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE P.O. BOX 310 FLAT ROCK, NC 828-693-0731 TOLL FREE: 866-732-8008 WWW.FLATROCKPLAYHOUSE.ORG NOV. 20 – DEC. 21 A CHRISTMAS CAROL (MAINSTAGE)

This new, adventurous interpretation of “A Christmas Carol” takes the famous story and infuses it with laughter, love and a brand-new score that celebrates the holiday season. With over a dozen new songs and exciting new characters, this world premier is a Christmas event for the whole family.

upstate theatre

Wonderful Life It’s A

CENTRE STAGE 501 RIVER ST. INSIDE THE SMITH-BARNEY BLDG. GREENVILLE, SC 864.233.6733 OR TOLL FREE 877.377.1339 DEC. 4-20 HOLIDAY CLASSIC RADIO SHOWS: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE & CHRISTMAS CAROL

Our radio shows have been extremely successful with audiences of all ages. Come and be entertained while you watch the talented cast perform these live radio shows while also creating all of the sound effects, as you would have heard them back in 1940. These shows will run in repertory during the holiday season. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is a beloved American holiday classic telling the story of idealistic George Bailey as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. With the help of all of his friends, he finds the true meaning of Christmas. “A Christmas Carol” is the classic tale of what comes to those whose hearts are hard. In a series of ghostly visits, Scrooge visits his happy past, sees the difficulties of the present, views a bleak future, and in the end — well, you know the end.

DEC. 9-17 SLEEPING INDOORS: HOMELESS DOES NOT MEAN IT WASN’T HIS CHOICE.

When literary reviewer Paul and his wife Nora invite a homeless man, Dwain, into their home for Christmas dinner, they don’t expect to be so charmed by him — or that his journal will be the incredible literary masterpiece that it is. But can Dwain, whose art thrives in anonymity, be convinced to give up the only life he’s known for such comforts as sleeping indoors?

ing Sleep rs o d n I 9, 10o, 16, 17 Dec 7pm

upstate theatre

CLEMSON LITTLE THEATRE 214 S. MECHANIC ST. PENDLETON, SC RESERVATIONS 864.646.8100 EVENING PERFORMANCES, 8 P.M. MATINEES, 3 P.M.

DEC. 5-7, 12-14 THE CHRISTMAS FOUNDLING

When a baby boy is orphaned in the California Sierra on Christmas Eve 1850, two curmudgeonly miners agree to raise him. A decade later, the boy’s idyllic life is interrupted by the arrival of a meddling aunt, who attempts to give him a better life.

Join us for this heartwarming holiday tale, with the love of a child at its center and an unlikely romance.

OCONEE COMMUNITY THEATRE 8001 UTICA ST., SENECA, SC RESERVATIONS: 864.882.7700 10 A.M. – NOON AND 2 – 4 P.M. EVENINGS, 8 P.M. SUNDAY MATINEES, 2:30 P.M.

DEC. 5-7 AND 12-14 THE GAME’S AFOOT (OR HOLMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS)

It is December 1936 and Broadway star William Gillette, admired the world over for his leading role in the play “Sherlock Holmes,” has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the 66 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house of tricks and mirrors quickly turn dangerous. Then it’s up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim appears.

The danger and hilarity are non-stop in this glittering whodunit set during the Christmas holidays.

GREENVILLE LITTLE THEATRE 444 COLLEGE ST. GREENVILLE, SC 864.233.6238 OR WWW. GREENVILLELITTLETHEATRE.ORG ALL SHOWS 8 P.M. EXCEPT SUNDAYS AT 3 P.M.

DEC. 12-21 A CHRISTMAS STORY

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” The beloved Christmas movie comes to life in this delightful stage adaptation, which features Ralphie’s quest for that Red Ryder BB gun. We “triple-dog-dare you” to join us for this Christmas classic!

FEB. 27 – MARCH 14 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

The greatest story ever told, comes to life in the incredible score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Centering on Jesus’ final days and his betrayal by Judas, this Passion play featuring contemporary music illuminates Jesus’ transcendent power.

PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 300 SOUTH MAIN ST. GREENVILLE, SC 864.476.3000 OR 800.888.7768 DEC. 23-28 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

One of best-loved of all musicals, this classic story of a beautiful village girl, Belle, who is first repelled by, then attracted to, a gruff yet big-hearted Beast, is indeed, as one of the show’s numbers has it, “a tale as old as time.”

The songs (music by Alan Menken; lyrics

by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice) are almost criminally tuneful. And the musical appeal crosses age barriers; “Beauty” is an experience that can be enjoyed by child and adult alike.

JAN. 28 – FEB. 15 WICKED

Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the Land of Oz. One — born with emerald green skin — is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “the most complete — and completely satisfying — musical in a long time.”

upstate theatre WALHALLA PLAYERS WALHALLA CIVIC AUDITORIUM WALHALLA, SC EVENINGS 8 P.M. SUNDAYS 2:30 P.M. 864.638.5277 OR 877.368.5318 WWW.WALHALLACIVIC.COM JAN. 23-25, JAN. 30 – FEB. 1 SOUTHERN FRIED NUPTIALS

The South Carolina Premier of the hilarious sequel to the hit play, “Southern Fried Funeral.” “Southern Fried Nuptials” finds the Frye family back in Mississippi for the charmingly funny on-again, off-again wedding of daughter Harline.

FEB. 28, 4 P.M. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (CHILDREN’S THEATER)

Take a wild ride with Mr. Toad and his friends Ratty and Mole in this adaption of Kenneth Grahame’s classic book for children. Toad desperately wants a motorcar, and he will go to any lengths to get one. Audience participation and music help to tell the story of Toad’s adventures.

Rocky Mountain Christmas starring John Denver Tribute artist Ted Vigil

Friday, December 5 @ 8 pm

Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $15.00, group rate $25.00 Ted Vigil, one of America’s greatest John Denver Tribute Artists, has hit the road for Christmas! During his memorable Rocky Mountain Christmas concerts, Ted presents terrific Denver favorites like Christmas for Cowboys and Christmas Like a Lullaby, mixed with a rousing I’ll Fly Away, and many popular Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, in a far-out and fantastic Christmas concert. You’ll hear those great Denver lyrics recalling Grandma, Mathew, Annie, Eagles, Hawks, and Horses, too! So many John Denver songs come shining through in a Rocky Mountain Christmas, your audience will leave the concert singing, and spiritually uplifted by the experience.

Emile Pandolfi @ Christmas

Friday December 12 @ 8pm

Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $15.00, group rate $25.00

In what is fast becoming an Upstate Holiday tradition, pianist Emile Pandolfi brings his Christmas show to the WCA stage. His brilliant musical performance, his charming sense of humor and his friendly personality make this night a wonderful holiday treat for the whole family. www.emilepandolfi.com.

Blue Highway (Bluegrass)

Saturday, January 17 @ 8pm

Tickets $25.00, children under 12 $12.50, group rate $20.00

At the 18-year mark, Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. The band’s nine exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the stellar reviews, Grammy nominations, and numerous awards earned by the band since it first took the stage on December 31, 1994, with the same musicians that comprise Blue Highway today. www.bluehighway.com.

Southern Fried Nuptials (play-comedy)

January 23,24,25, 30, 31 & Feb 1

Tickets $12.00, children under 12 $6.00, group rate $10.00

The South Carolina Premier of the hilarious sequel to hit play, Southern Fried Funeral. Southern Fried Nuptials finds the Frye family back in Mississippi for the charmingly funny on again, off again wedding of daughter Harline.

Little Roy & Lizzie (bluegrass/gospel)

Saturday, February 7 @ 8pm

Tickets $25.00, children under 12 $12.50, group rate $20.00

The Little Roy & Lizzie show features the energetic bluegrass gospel legend Little Roy and the multi-talented Lizzie Long. They have teamed up to bring you the most entertaining bluegrass gospel show around. This award winning duo will treat you to a night of outstanding music featuring Lizzie’s vocals, guitar, fiddle, and banjo playing along with Little Roy’s musicianship and his crazy on stage antics. Sure to please the entire family!!! www.littleroyandlizzy.com

Acoustic Heartstrings Saturday, February 21 @ 8pm

Tickets $12.00, children under 12 $6.00, group rate $10.00

“Come enjoy a fun, sentimental journey through your musical memory with Alice Martel, Connie Lowe, and Mike Crane. They play a diverse assortment of popular folk songs and old country from the 60s that you just don’t hear much of these days, along with a salt and peppering of old time and bluegrass and other favorites.”

Children’s Theater Week:

Our America

The Wind in

Friday, the Willows February 27 @ 7 pm Tickets $3.00

Multi-Cultural folktales & folksongs from the American experience are brought to life by Tall Tale heroes Mike Fink & Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. Included are stories from Asian-American, Latin-American, & NativeAmerican cultures, along with the history of the Underground Railroad bringing freedom to enslaved African-Americans. Traditional songs & audience participation add to the fun.

Saturday, February 28 @ 4 pm, Tickets $3.00 Take a wild ride with Mr. Toad and his friends Ratty & Mole in this adaption of Kenneth Grahame’s classic book for children. Toad desperately wants a motor-car, & he will go to any lengths to get one. Audience Participation & Music help to tell the story of Toad’s adventures.

Andy Cooney’s Irish Caberet Friday, March 6 @ 8 pm

Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $15.00, group rate $25.00 Dubbed “Irish-America’s Favorite Son.” Andy returns to the WCA stage just in t ime for St. Patrick’s Day. His outstanding voice and dynamic stage presence makes him a favorite with all audiences and he renders such classics as “Galway Bay,” “Danny Boy” and “The Irish Wedding Song.”

To order tickets call 864 638-5277 or online www.walhallacivic.com WINTER 2014 • 67

calendar of events DECEMBER

and refreshments. Visit www.seneca.sc.us for additional details.

THRU DEC. 21 8th Annual Clemson ARTS Center Holiday Show and Sale; unique variety of holiday art created by local Upstate artists. Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 864.633.5051

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and have a photo taken at Duke’s World of Energy; 1-3 p.m.; no appointments; no charge.

DEC. 6-7, 13-14 “Christmas at Ashtabula Plantation” is a historical reenactment of Christmases Past of the families of Ashtabula. Annual Christmas event since 2003 with a different “theme” each year; Saturdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2-5 p.m.; performances start every 15 minutes; admission – $10 adults and $5 children ages 5-10. Call for reservations.

THRU DEC. 26 Anderson Lights of Hope is the Upstate’s largest festival of lights with an endless loop around the magical hill of dancing Christmas Lights; 1000 Anderson Beach Blvd.; 5:30-11 p.m.; $8 per vehicle.

THRU DEC. 30 Roper Mountain Holiday Lights. Start your visit by strolling through WinterWonderland, where you will find lighted walking trails, Santa Claus, a balloon artist, concessions and giant holiday greeting cards created by local area students. After that, get back in your car and drive the 1.5-mile large holiday displays; $15 per vehicle on Fri.-Sun., and $10 Mon.-Thurs.; 864.355.8900 for information.

THRU JAN. 3 Duke World of Energy presents its Festival of Trees. Enjoy decorated trees, each sponsored by a different organization or business in the community. Vote for your favorite tree and help them win a chance to donate $1,000 to their chosen charity. Free admission. Mon. through Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. noon-5 p.m.; 800.777.1004.

DEC. 1 Seneca Christmas parade; 6 p.m.; 864.882.2097 DEC. 2 Clemson Christmas pre-parade festivities and tree lighting, 5 p.m.; parade, 6 p.m.; 864.653.2030

DEC. 6 – FEB. 5 Sydney Cross: Printmaking; works by Greg and Paul Flint at Pickens County Museum; corner of Hwy. 178 at 307 Johnson Street in Pickens; 864.898.5963.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Parish Hall hosts TRIO, an annual fundraiser for The ARTS Center of Clemson and the Clemson Free Clinic; 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets available through The ARTS Center at 864.633.5051.

DEC. 5 Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents Ted Vigil, one of America’s greatest John Denver Tribute Artists, who has hit the road for Christmas! During his memorable Rocky Mountain Christmas concerts, Ted presents terrific Denver favorites like “Christmas for Cowboys” and “Christmas Like a Lullaby,” mixed with a rousing “I’ll Fly Away” and many popular Christmas songs; 8 p.m.; 864.638.5277 or online at: www.walhallacivic.com

DEC. 7 Salem Christmas parade, 4 p.m.; 864.944.2819 Handel’s Messiah at Southern Wesleyan University.

The most beloved oratorio in the English language is timeless. Conductor Bill Diekhoff will lead the Foothills Chorale and orchestra in a fresh mix of solos and choruses not often performed, as well as the selections any performance of Messiah simply must contain; 3 p.m.; visit http://foothillschorale.org.

DEC. 9 Duke’s World of Energy presents a Super Tuesday with festive holiday music and refreshments 10 a.m.; 800.777.1004.

Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents the CU Symphony Orchestra. Take a musical trip around the world! Experience the diversity of the Americas – both North and South – the British Isles, Russia and more, via Orchestral Music Airlines; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787

Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents the Annie Moses Band, comprised of extraordinary musicians from one family. The siblings call their style “chamber pop” – a spicy blend of classical, jazz and pop, mixed with some good ol’ fashioned country. Get in the spirit of the holidays with this Christmas concert to remember; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787

DEC. 4 Westminster Christmas parade, 6 p.m.; 864.647.5316

DEC. 6 Walhalla Christmas Parade, 5 p.m.; 864.638.2727

DEC. 11-14, 18-21 Flat Rock Playhouse/Music on the Rock presents A Motown Christmas. Originally released in 1973, A Motown Christmas featured performances by Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. These unique arrangements of beloved Christmas classics like “Silent Night” and “White Christmas” feature harmonies that epitomize the Motown sound; 8 p.m.; 828.693.0731

The Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents the CU Women’s and Men’s Glees, as each performs a repertoire from a variety of style periods; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787

Join the Christmas Spirit at Santa’s Workshop on Ram Cat Alley 5-8 p.m. in Seneca. Enjoy a visit from Santa Claus, a ride on the Santa Express Rail, meet the Elves and enjoy music

DEC. 12 Emile Pandolfi brings his Christmas show to the Walhalla Civic Auditorium stage. His brilliant musical performance, charming sense

68 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Grand Prize $

500

Send us your best shots in any of these three categories involving the lake: people, places and nature. Please submit images that accurately reflect the captured moment in time. In other words, keep it real.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive $500 and be published in the Spring Edition of Upstate Lake Living. There will be a best overall selection and runners up in the remaining categories. They will receive $100 gift cards and also be published in the Spring Edition.

All entries must be submitted and received by February 1, 2015.

HOW TO ENTER – you can email or mail your entry.

Include your name, address, Lakeside community, telephone number, email address, and photo caption; and submit along with your photograph. The Categories for entries are: (1) People, (2) Places, and (3) Nature. There is no limit on the number of entries per person. Each entry must comply with the “Photograph Requirements.”

E-mail your entry to sandy@upstatetoday.com or mail to Upstate Lake Living P.O. Box 547 Seneca, SC 29679

PHOTOGRAPH REQUIREMENTS Photographs must be in digital format. The photograph need not be taken with a digital camera; scans of negatives, transparencies, or photographic prints are acceptable. All digital files must be 20 megabytes or smaller, must be in JPEG or JPG format, and must be at least 1,600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image).

Photographs must have been taken at an identified Upstate lake. Only minor burning, dodging and/or color correction is acceptable, as is cropping. The photograph, in its entirety, must be a single work of original material taken by the Contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the photograph.

Submission indicates you have expressed permission to have the rights to have the image published and the contents therein.

LICENSE By entering the Contest, all entrants grant an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive license to Authorized Parties, to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any publications of Oconee Publishing and online affiliates, highlighting entries or winners of the Contest.

WINTER 2014 • 69

calendar of events of humor and friendly personality make this night a wonderful holiday treat for the whole family; 8 p.m.; 864.638.5277 or online: www. walhallacivic.com

riveting personality, but as the ultimate star in the Golden Age of Hollywood; free show each day at 2 p.m.; Wade Hampton High School, 100 Pine Knoll Dr. Greenville; (864) 244-1499

DEC. 13 West Union Christmas parade, 5 p.m.

FEBRUARY

DEC. 20 Ed Harrison Memorial Celtic Christmas at Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens; “Music in the Mountains” will wind up the year by hosting a multi-year tradition of a Celtic music-oriented yuletide celebration. Music from noon-3 p.m. There will be fiddles, uilleann pipes, penny whistles, guitars, mandolins and more, all playing different types of Celtic music, songs from around the world, jigs and reels as well as old-time music; 864.898.2936

JANUARY JAN. 15 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents jazz pianist Vijay Iyer, described by “The Village Voice” as “the most commanding pianist and composer to emerge in recent years,” and

by The New Yorker as one of “today’s most important pianists … extravagantly gifted” 7:30 p.m.; 864.656.7787 JAN. 17 Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents Blue Highway, one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass.

The band’s nine exceptional albums and compelling live performances give proof to the stellar reviews; 8 p.m.; 864.638.5277 or online at: www.walhallacivic.com

FEB. 2 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents Chanticleer, called “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker magazine and named “Ensemble of the Year” by “Musical America” in 2008. Chanticleer presents an evening of music that explores “The Gypsy in Our Soul”; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787.

FEB. 7 The Walhalla Civic Auditorium features the energetic bluegrass gospel legend Little Roy and the multi-talented Lizzie Long. They have teamed up to bring you the most entertaining bluegrass gospel show around; 8 p.m.; 864.638.5277 or online: www.walhallacivic. com.

FEB. 13 Come celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Seneca Woman’s Club for another outstanding wine tasting event and silent auction, 7-9 p.m., Historic Ballenger House, 212 East South Third St., Seneca; Call 864.888.2825 for more information or to purchase tickets.

FEB. 26 Back to the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts by popular demand, Danú is one of the premier traditional Irish music ensembles; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787.

JAN. 27 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts presents Urban Bush Women, a troupe committed to dancing powerful, under-told stories of the African diaspora through the vision of awardwinning founder Jawole Willa Jo Zollar; 8 p.m.; 864.656.7787

FEB. 27 Walhalla Civic Auditorium presents Children’s Theater Week: Our America; 7 p.m.; multicultural folktales & folksongs from the American experience are brought to life by Tall Tale heroes Mike Fink & Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. Included are stories from Asian American, Latin American & Native American cultures, along with the history of the Underground Railroad bringing freedom to enslaved African-Americans. Traditional songs & audience participation add to the fun; 864.638.5277

JAN. 31 – FEB. 1 Greenville Chautauqua presents All About Bette Davis, close up and larger than life; a witty, sharp portrayal that reveals Davis not only as a

FEB. 20-23 Flat Rock Playhouse/Music on the Rock presents The Beatles. With new songs and amazing performers, this will be an

JAN. 22 – MARCH 6 The 2015 ARTS Center of Clemson’s Juried Exhibition; 212 Butler St.; Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.5 p.m. and Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 864.633.5051.

70 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

unforgettable celebration of the Fab Four’s music; 8 p.m.; 828.693.0731

ONGOING Historic Ballenger House tours and rentals: The Seneca Woman’s Club preserves and manages the Historic Ballenger House. Tours and rentals by reservation. 864. 654.4043.

Oconee County Library used book sale is the second Thursday of every month in the basement of the Walhalla Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hardback and paperback books (adult’s and children’s), magazines, books on tape, books on CD, records, CDs, games, puzzles and DVDs. Oconee Heritage Center Book Club meets quarterly on the 4th Thursday of the month; Dec.’s meeting has been moved up to Dec. 11 due to Christmas; next meeting March 26; 6:30 p.m.; Walhalla, SC. For a list of books, call 864.638.2224.

Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, hosts “corn grinding” days, rain or shine, third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

These mini-festivals offer traditional arts, folklife and music. Presently more than 25 regular demonstrators share their skills in milling, blacksmithing, cotton ginning, moonshining, spinning, weaving, bee-keeping, metal-smithing, quilting, woodcarving, flint-knapping, chair caning, open hearth cooking and more.

City of Seneca, SC hosts Cruzin’ on Main, 1st Saturday of every month; 3 p.m.

Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, has monthly “First Saturday” house concerts in the Visitors Building from noon to 2 p.m. and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to tour the grounds and pick up “mill products.” Guided tours available by appointment. The site is available every day during daylight hours to picnic or walk the nature trail. For information contact Hagood Mill at 864.898.2936 or Pickens County Museum at 864.898.5963.

Silver Dollar Music Hall in Westminster, SC features open mic each Friday at 7 p.m. with regular pickers performing at 8 p.m.

Clemson Area Storytellers monthly meeting is the 4th Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at The ARTS Center, Clemson, SC.

Visit our 20,000-square-foot showroom located at 6210 Calhoun Memorial Hwy (Hwy 123) | Easley, South Carolina | (864) 850-3563

Warmest Holiday Wishes

From Our Homes...To Yours!

May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.

Bob Hill Realty www.BobHillRealty.com

Keowee Town Office 1231 Stamp Creek Rd Salem, SC 29676

864-944-0405

Seneca Office 528-D ByPass 123 Seneca, SC 29678 864-882-0855

Clemson Office 1103 Tiger Blvd Clemson, SC 29631 864-722-5300