Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2021

November / December 2021 

Feasts of 

the Season 

Recipes for 

the Table 

Holiday Fashion 

Turn Heads this Season 

with Sparkle and Shine 

Tablescapes 

Inspired 

Holiday Table 

Settings 

$4.50 US 

Holiday 

Dining 

Lebanon 

Christmas Tree 

Farm 

Toys 

for Tots 

November/December 2021 | 1

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264 SKYCLIFF DRIVE 

Asheville, NC 28804 

Canopy: MLS 3768662 

Conceived by renowned Harrell & Co. Architects of Naples, FL, the one-of-a-kind residence is perfectly positioned to enjoy sweeping, unobstructed sunsets and 

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designed by Anthony Grimani of Performance Media Industries of San Francisco, CA. Additionally, the residence’s formal radius bar is crafted of semi-precious 

marble and hosts a Wine Guardian Pro-Split Wine Storage unit, Dacor wine dispenser with thermo-electric 

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4 | CharlestonLivingMag.com art galleries and eclectic restaurants, and only two miles to the Blue Ridge Parkway. $7,500,000

732 PEAKES POINT DRIVE 

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At the western tip of the Peake’s Point Peninsula and situated in a private, gated community sits the definition of luxury and elegance: 732 Peakes Point. 

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high impact windows, finished off with Spanish cedar shake exterior and a salt water pool. Come home 

to your own private oasis and enjoy sunrise and sunset at this truly one of a kind estate. $12,000,000 




Where Your Retreat to the Good Life Begins 



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Treat your sweetie to the gift of beauty this holiday season with one of our personalized 

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Recapture Moments that Matter 

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Features 

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 

76 

Holiday Dining 

Festive prix-fixe menus & iconic 

Charleston settings 

By Elise DeVoe 

82 

Beach Cottage Style 

Bringing the beach home on Folly 

By Rob Young 

90 

Lebanon Christmas 

Tree Farm 

Choose and cut your own 

Christmas tree this year 

By Jenny Peterson 

PHOTO ALEECE SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY 


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DEPARTMENTS | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 

23 

57 

95 

115 

Buzz 

Well Styled 

Food+Drink 

Travel 

23 Watercolor Wanderer 

Kate Kvasnicka finds freedom 

through brushstrokes 

24 Calendar 

Our five musts from this 

issue’s calendar of events 

26 Events 

Your guide to planning your 

social calendar 

37 Entertainment 

Reviews of new movies and 

music 

38 Local Chatter 

M. Dumas & Sons is a 

downtown icon 

40 Newsmaker 

Charleston’s Young Life 

fosters independent leaders 

57 Holiday Glam 

Turn heads this season 

with sparkle and shine 

58 Shopping 

Bubbles Gift Shoppe sells 

items from local artists 

60 Design 

Deck out your mirrors for 

the holidays 

62 Tablescapes 

The more the merrier around 

these holiday-inspired 

settings 

66 Holiday Gift Guide 

Items for everyone on your list 

70 Fashion 

Turn heads this season with 

sparkle and shine 

95 Dining Out 

The Kingstide 

98 That’s Amore 

Amici’s Italian Bistro serves 

feel-good favorites from the 

heart 

100 In the Kitchen 

Rich Flavors 

106 Restaurant Guide 

The best spots for eating 

and drinking in Charleston 

115 Never-Ending 

Inspiration 

A tiny peninsula in 

Wisconsin overflows with 

opportunities to see, hear 

and taste art 

118 Go…Explore Cobb 

The best of Atlanta is 

waiting for you in Cobb 

County 

Fundamentals 

20 Reader Services 

22 Editor’s Letter 

120 The Last Reflection 

42 ArtSeen 

Kate Kvasnicka’s watercolors 

45 Road Trip 

The thing about trains 

45 

48 Charity 

Toys for Tots spreads 

Christmas cheer to children 

50 Southern Drawl 

Executive Director of Dragon 

Boat Charleston leads a 

community of survivors 

Feasts of 

the Season 

Recipes for 

the Table 




Tablescapes 

Inspired 

Holiday Table 

Settings 

53 Staff Picks 

Titles that debuted this year 

54 History 

Holiday traditions worth 

keeping 

$4.50 US 

Holiday 

Dining 

Lebanon 


Toys 

for Tots 

Farm 

ON THE COVER » 

The more the merrier around these 

holiday-inspired place settings. 

Photo by Aleece Sophia Photography 


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CEO & Publisher 

Robert Sweeney 

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE. 

Executive Director of Operations 

Emily Sweeney 

■ ■ ■ 

Managing Editor 

Jenny Peterson 

■ ■ ■ 

Senior Account Executive 

Carolyn Silecchia 

Art Director 

Carl Turner 

Graphic Designers 

Kristina Parella 

Shanna Thomson 

Carl Turner 

Travel Director 

Katie McElveen 

Contributing Writers 

Elise DeVoe, Holly Fisher, Kaitlin Gooding, 

Denise K. James, Jenna-Ley Jamison, 

Pamela Jouan, Monica Kreber, Tim Lowry, 

Katie McElveen, Jenny Peterson, Anne 

Wolfe Postic, Sophia Rodriguez, Liesel 

Schmidt, Brian Sherman, Shelby Simon, 

Wendy Swat Snyder, Rob Young 

Photographers 

Mira Adwell, Keen Eye Marketing, Aleece 

Sophia Photography, James Stefiuk 

■ ■ ■ 

Customer Service: (843) 856-2532 

CLASSICREMODELING.COM 

KITCHENS | BATHS | OUTDOOR SPACES | ADDITIONS 

Charleston Living (Vol. 11, No. 1) is published 

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LLC, 3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle, Mount 

Pleasant, SC 29466. The entire contents of this 

publication are fully protected and may not be 

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Commonly Treated Conditions 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FROM THE EDITOR 

$4.50 US 

Give the gift 

that lasts 

all year long... 

a subscription to 

Subscribe online at 

CharlestonLivingMag.com 


Feasts of 

the Season 

Recipes for 

the Table 

Holiday 

Dining 

magazine 

or by calling 

843-856-2532 

Lebanon 


Farm 




Tablescapes 

Inspired 

Holiday Table 

Settings 

Toys 

for Tots 

‘Tis the Season 

It can be hard to embrace the 

holiday season when in Charleston, the 

weather can be mild on any given December 

day, and Santa sandcastles are more common 

than Frosty. For those who find it hard to get 

into the holiday spirit, this issue is for you. 

We’ve got something for everyone to 

make the most of the upcoming season in 

these pages—whether you’re hosting for the 

holidays, interested in taking in the wonder 

of holiday light displays, or even if you prefer 

to cozy up with a brand new read. 

We have holiday table inspirations on 

page 62—our favorite feature each year— 

and a unique way to decorate your home for 

the holidays (Hint: use mirrors you already 

have hanging on the wall for an extra “wow” 

factor—see page 60). 

We’ve included our annual gift guide 

from local stores and restaurants for the perfect 

person on your list. We hope it will help 

make the holidays less stressful - and maybe 

inspire you to grab an item or two for your 

own stocking. 

Holiday events are back, and we have a 

detailed calendar starting on page 24, which 

includes many holiday-inspired favorites 

to bring some holiday cheer, including the 

Sound of Charleston special holiday singing 

performance—followed by cookies and cider—inside 

the beautifully-decorated Congregational 

Circular Church in Charleston. 

Speaking of events, our holiday fashion 

spread on page 70 will ensure you are the 

best dressed at all your holiday gatherings, 

from black tie events to incredibly glam 

looks for a New Year’s Eve celebration or a 

memorable holiday meal. 

A special feature this year is our profile 

of the Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm, 

a must-see working Christmas tree farm in 

Ridgeville that has been welcoming families 

to choose and cut their own trees since the 

mid-1980s. Be sure to check out their weekend 

Santa’s village complete with hot cider 

and cocoa. Each letter to Santa “mailed” at 

the farm gets a hand-written reply! 

Lastly, there’s nothing better than giving 

back during the holidays. 

On page 48, we profile the local Toys 

for Tots organization, which accepts donations 

of new toys for children to open on 

Christmas Day, and on page 50, we delve 

into the Dragon Boat Charleston organization’s 

Festival of Trees holiday fundraiser, 

which supports cancer survivors. 

‘Tis the season to be merry however 

you like, and I hope you find inspiration and 

joy in these pages. 

Jenny Peterson 

Managing Editor 

editor@charlestonlivingmag.com 

We welcome your comments. Please 

send us your feedback to “Letters to the 

Editor,” Charleston Living magazine, 

3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle, Mt. 

Pleasant, SC 29466 or you can email us 

at editor@charlestonlivingmag.com. 

Find Us Online! 

Visit us on our website at 

charlestonlivingmag.com 

facebook.com and instagram.com 

@charlestonlivingmagazine 

PHOTO SHANNON OLEKSAK PHOTOGRAPHY 


Buzz 

YOUR LOCAL RUNDOWN ON NEWS AND CULTURE 

Watercolor Wanderer 

Kate Kvasnicka finds freedom 

through brushstrokes 

See page 42 

PHOTO ANNA LOUISE CECIL 


BUZZ 

CALENDAR 

The Reveal: 

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 

Our five musts from this issue’s calendar of events. 

Aquarium Aglow 

Nov. 18 – Jan. 2, 2022 

A brand-new event, Aquarium Aglow, is 

a one-of-a-kind holiday experience at the 

South Carolina Aquarium. This immersive 

holiday light spectacular will include tens of 

thousands of lights displayed throughout the 

aquarium, from elegant and innovative to festive 

and nostalgic. Enjoy an elevated evening 

aquarium experience, complete with live entertainment 

and a variety of food and beverages 

for purchase. 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Advanced 

tickets are recommended. Adult tickets cost 

$24.95 and tickets for children ages 3-12 

cost $19.95. Aquarium members will receive 

discounted tickets. 100 Aquarium Wharf, 

Charleston. 843-577-3474. 

www.scaquarium.org/aquariumaglow 


26th Annual Mt. Pleasant 

Christmas Light Parade 

Dec. 12 

Brilliantly lit floats and community groups will 

march up West Coleman Boulevard as the 

Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade delights 

thousands of parade goers. The festivities 

begin at 5:30 p.m. with a fireworks show, followed 

by the start of the parade at Live Oak 

Drive, traveling south and ending at the intersection 

of West Coleman Boulevard and Patriots 

Point Road. The Ravenel Bridge off-ramp 

onto Coleman closes at 5 p.m. for the parade. 

Attendees are asked to practice social distancing. 

For more information or how to participate 

in the parade, visit experiencemountpleasant. 

com/events/christmas-light-parade. 

Uncorked - The Ultimate 

Christmas Holiday Event 


Boone Hall Plantation will host “Uncorked,” 

an exclusive black tie optional Christmas holiday 

event at the Cotton Dock venue at Boone 

Hall Plantation from 7-11 p.m. The enchanting 

evening and fundraiser benefiting the 

Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant will include sparkling 

rosé, prosecco, wine, specialty cocktails, 

gourmet passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations 

and desserts provided by Cru Catering. East 

Coast Entertainment band Right To Party will 

play and there will be unique entertainment, 

including cigar rolling, oyster shucking, photo 

booths and more. $175 per person. 

1235 Long Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant. 

www.boonehallplantation.com. 

The 32nd Annual Holiday 

Festival of Lights 

Nov. 12 – Dec. 31 

The Holiday Festival of Lights returns for another 

year of magic! This vibrant driving tour is one 

of Charleston’s most cherished holiday events, 

featuring an estimated 2 million dazzling lights. 

The event is open every evening, rain or shine, 

from 5:30 - 10 p.m. nightly. Families are invited 

to cruise along the three-mile display of glimmering 

lights through the James Island County 

Park, take a train ride, visit Santa’s Shoppe, 

check out sand sculptures, roast marshmallows 

and walk an enchanted trail. The festival features 

over 750 light displays, including the newly 

refurbished and rebuilt Cooper River Bridge 

display. Ticket prices will be staggered this year, 

with “peak” and “regular” admission between 

$15-$25 per car in advance. Day of admission is 

available for an additional charge. 871 Riverland 

Drive. Visit www.holidayfestivalof lights.com 

to purchase advanced tickets. 

Drayton Hall Oyster Roast 


Drayton Hall is pleased to announce the return 

of its Christmastime Lowcountry event, 

the “Deck the Hall” oyster roast. A longtime 

favorite of local families and visitors alike, 

Drayton Hall throws an annual oyster roast 

to celebrate the Christmas season. Register 

early, this event sells out every year. The event 

begins at 2:30 p.m. The oyster roast includes 

oysters with all the fixings, chili, beer, wine 

and live music on a beautiful historic landscape. 

Tickets are $65 per person and include 

two drink tickets; $75 per person with four 

drink tickets; $400 for a private table for six. 

3380 Ashley River Road. ww.draytonhall.org

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A Life Plan Community offered by Liberty Senior Living. 

November/December 2021 | 25 

© 2021 South Bay at Mount Pleasant

BUZZ 

EVENTS 

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Looking to fill your social calendar? 

We’ve got the rundown on how to stay entertained 

this holiday season. 

Holy City Farmer’s Market 

Wednesdays through Dec. 15 

This pop-up event celebrates local producers 

and creative small businesses every Wednesday 

from 4-7 p.m. on the lawn at Holy City 

Brewing in North Charleston. Perfect for 

holiday shopping, connect with a small business 

to shop for handmade goods including 

home, body care, arts and crafts and more. 

1021 Aragon Avenue, North Charleston. 

www.facebook.com/HolyCityFarmersMarket. 

The Scottish Games & Highland Gathering 

Nov. 5-6 

The Scottish Games and Highland Gathering, 

set for Riverfront Park in North 

Charleston, features a day packed full of 

various activities and events with something 

for everyone – Scottish style. Whether you’re 

looking to experience Olympic-type competition 

of the heavy athletics sporting events 

Charleston Holiday Boat Parade 


A Lowcountry holiday tradition, the Charleston Holiday Boat Parade will bring lighted and 

festive boats from the Cooper River through the Charleston Harbor and into the Ashley 

River, culminating in a fireworks display over the harbor. View the procession along Charleston’s 

waterfront—at the Battery, Waterfront Park or Mt. Pleasant Memorial Waterfront 

Park Pier—or decorate your own boat and join the parade. The parade begins along the 

shores of Mount Pleasant at 5 p.m. and viewing from the downtown peninsula starts around 

7:30 p.m. Free. www.visit-historic-charleston.com/charleston-holiday-boat-parade. 

or the mastery 

of Scottish music, 

the Scottish 

Games and 

Highland Gathering 

will offer 

all you’re looking 

for and so much more. Enjoy music of 

over 25 bagpipe bands, Highland dancing 

and fiddling, Celtic rock bands, border collie 

demonstrations and children’s games. Gates 

open at 8 a.m. General admission $20 plus 

fees, children ages 6-12, $5 plus fees and benefits 

the Scottish Society of Charleston. 1061 

Everglades Ave, North Charleston. 

Harvest Festival 

Nov. 6 

Join Charleston County Parks for a celebration 

of all things fall! The Harvest Festival is 

set for Saturday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 


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at Johns Island County Park. The Harvest 

Festival is known for its foot-stompin’ showcase 

of Charleston’s own bluegrass talent, 

with local bands playing throughout the day. 

Plenty of food will be available for purchase, 

including Southern barbecue, boiled peanuts, 

kettle korn, and traditional favorite festival 

fare, plus cold beverages. 

A kids area will include 

pumpkin painting, horse 

jumps and a youth archery 

turkey day shoot 

for children ages 8-17. 

Festival goers are also 

encouraged to stop by the crafters’ market, 

which features a variety of hand-made items 

that make perfect holiday gifts. All activities 

are free with the festival admission fee. Admission 

is $8 per person. Kids 12 and under and 

Gold Pass holders are admitted free. Dogs 

are welcome but must remain on a leash at all 

times. Outside alcohol and coolers are prohibited. 

For more information, call 843-795-4386, 

visit CharlestonCountyParks.com. 

Chamber Music Charleston Ovation 

Concert Series 


Chamber Music Charleston’s Ovation Concert 

Series at the historic Dock Street Theatre 

will welcome guest violinist Anthea Kreston 

and cellist Jason Duckles joining musicians of 

CMC to perform Brahms String Sextet in B 

flat Major, Op. 18 and Felicien David’s Soirees 

d’Autumn. $5-$50. 135 Church Street, Charleston. 

For more information, visit www.chambermusiccharleston.org/dock-street-theatre. 

The 32nd Annual Holiday 

Festival of Lights 

Nov. 12 – Dec. 31 

The Holiday Festival of Lights returns for 

another year of magic! This vibrant light 

show is one of Charleston’s most cherished 

holiday events, featuring an estimated 2 million 

dazzling lights. The event is open every 

evening, rain or shine from 5:30 - 10 p.m. 

nightly. Families are invited to warm their 

hearts as they cruise along the three-mile display 

of glimmering lights through The James 

Island County Park, take a train ride, visit 

Santa’s Shoppe, check out sand sculptures, 

roast marshmallows and walk an enchanted 

trail. The festival features over 750 light 

displays, including the newly refurbished 

and rebuilt Cooper River Bridge display. In 

addition to the driving tour, guests can park 

the car and explore family attractions, shopping, 

dining and more. Ticket prices this year 

will be staggered, with “peak” and “regular” 


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PRESENTED BY 

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Zero Restaurant + Bar · Indaco · Circa 1886 

Wild Common at Cannon Green · Cru Café 

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Gold Sponsor 

In-kind Sponsors 

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Tito’s Handmade Vodka 

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BUZZ 

EVENTS 

night admission between $15-$25 per car 

in advance. Day of admission is available for 

an additional charge. 871 Riverland Drive. 

Visit www.HolidayFestivalofLights.com to 

purchase advanced tickets. 

Steeplechase of Charleston 


Join us this fall for a quintessential Southern 

event of world-class horse racing in Hollywood, 

SC, with a focus on tailgating fun and 

exciting world-class equestrian action. 

This Charleston tradition 

began in 1792. The 

family-friendly Sunday 

event will feature highstakes 

races with coveted 

titles on the line. Be 

sure to pack your coolers and grab your big 

hats and bow ties. Take a stroll through our 

Vendor Village filled with the best of Lowcountry 

artisans. Bring a tailgate spread and 

enjoy an afternoon of splendor. Enjoy the 

race from the comfort of your own tailgate 

or next to the luxurious VIP bar and food 

services. Feel the breeze of the horses from 

an intimate ground-level view and become 

a part of the race day experience. The Stono 

Ferry Racetrack, 5000 Old York Course 

Road, Hollywood. Ticket prices vary. 

www.steeplechaseofcharleston.com. 

An Evening with The Avett Brothers 


The Avett Brothers are an American folk 

band from North Carolina that combine 

bluegrass, country, punk, pop melodies, folk, 

rock and roll, indie rock, honky tonk, and 

ragtime to produce a novel sound described 

by the San Francisco Chronicle as having 

the “heavy sadness of Townes Van Zandt, 

the light pop concision of Buddy Holly, the 

tuneful jangle of the Beatles, the raw energy 

of the Ramones.” They will play at the North 

Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 

Coliseum Drive. Ticket prices vary. 

Show starts at 7:30 p.m. 

www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com. 

Candlelight Tours of Drayton Hall 

Nov. 27; Dec. 3 & 4, 11 & 12, 17 &18 

Experience Drayton Hall at night with an 

incredibly special audio candlelight tour of 

the eighteenth century historic house, the 

oldest untouched home 

open to the public in the 

United States This is a 

remarkable way to understand 

the house and lives 

which touched it - and 


historic Charleston - from the perspective of 

a non-modernized colonial home. After your 

tour, we invite you to enjoy a warm cup of 

a seasonal beverage (non-alcoholic) as you 

stroll back toward the Visitors Center and 

visit The Shop at Drayton Hall. Pre-registration 

is required. $45 non/$40 members. 

3380 Ashley River Drive, Charleston. www. 

draytonhall.org/event/2021-candlelighttours-of-drayton-hall. 

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas 

by Chip Davis 


Celebrate the 

holiday magic 

of Mannheim 

Steamroller 

when the musicians 

bring their annual holiday tour to fans 

throughout the country. This year will reunite 

the #1 Christmas music artist in history with 

its legion of long-time fans. Experience the 

music that has become the hallmark of the 

holidays and a tradition for multi-generational 

families. Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun 

St., Charleston. Tickets starting at $49.95 

plus fees. 7:30 p.m. www.gaillardcenter.org 

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical 


This holiday season, the beloved tradition 

that has captured the hearts of families everywhere 

returns to the live stage! The Elf on 

the Shelf: The Musical 

is the thrilling spectacle 

of music and dance that 

transports audiences 

to the North Pole to 

glimpse the magical 

lives of Santa’s Scout Elves. Featuring an 

original story and score, dazzling sets and 

costumes, plus heartfelt moments that will 

bring the family together, this joyous and 

uplifting celebration will leave audiences 

captivated by the splendor of the season. 

Tickets start at $34.95 plus fees. Show starts 

at 6 p.m. Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 

Calhoun Street, www.gaillardcenter.org. 

Uncorked - The Ultimate Christmas 

Holiday Event 


Boone Hall Plantation will host “Uncorked,” 

an exclusive black tie optional Christmas 

holiday event at the Cotton Dock venue at 

Boone Hall Plantation from 7-11 p.m. The 

enchanting evening and fundraiser benefiting 

the Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant will include 

sparkling rosé, prosecco, wine, specialty 

cocktails, gourmet passed hors d’oeuvres, 

food stations, and desserts provided by Cru 

Catering. East Coast Entertainment will 

Caregiver Help. 

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Tell your Doctor that you choose Lutheran Hospice, a non-profit, 

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provide the band Right 

To Party and there will 

be unique entertainment 

including cigar rolling, 

oyster shucking, photo 

booths and more. $175 

per person. 1235 Long 

Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant. 

www.boonehallplantation.com. 

Holiday Swing—A Charleston Jazz Tradition 


Maestro Robert Lewis and the Charleston 

Jazz Orchestra will swing you into the 

holiday spirit with big band arrangements of 

winter classics and holiday favorites at the 

Charleston Music Hall. 

Add some jazz to your 

holiday cheer with this 

Charleston Jazz tradition! 

Two sets, 5 p.m. 

and 8 p.m. $25-$62 plus 

fees. Student, senior and military rates available. 

This performance has been made possible 

in part by REV Federal Credit Union. 

37 John Street. www.charlestonjazz.com or 

call the box office at 843-641-0011. 

Wine under the Oaks 


The popular Christmas holiday event is 

returning to Boone Hall Plantation on Sunday, 

Dec. 5 from 1-5 p.m. Admission will 

include wine samples from a variety of wine 

distributors and winery partners, oysters, 

desserts, wine and cooking demonstrations, 

specialty themed tents 

with food sampling, a 

complimentary Wine 

Under The Oaks Stoelze 

glass and live entertainment 

by Occasional 

Milkshake. There will be also gourmet food 

selections from a variety of Charleston area 

restaurants available for purchase, a boutique 

wine tent with featured wines for purchase and 

unique gift options from a number of specialty 

vendors. Tickets are $55 each and a limited 

number of VIP tables for $650 for a table of 

eight are available. This is a rain or shine event, 

all ticket sales are final. 1235 Long Point Road, 

Mt. Pleasant. www.boonehallplantation.com/ 

special_event/wine-under-the-oaks. 

Under the Street Lamp: Hip to the Holidays 


In this special holiday show, Under the 

Streetlamp celebrates the season with rocking 

renditions of classic hits from the American 

radio songbook, plus music from their 


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EVENTS 

fan-favorite album Hip to the Holidays. Under 

the Streetlamp is a musical celebration of 

the American Radio Songbook, a flashback 

to a time when people would gather under a 

streetlamp to sing their favorite rock and roll 

songs, including 1950s- 

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their unique blend of tight 

harmonies, slick dance 

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band of world-class musicians, 

the guys deliver a 

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tales. Tickets start at $29. Show 

starts at 7:30 p.m. Charleston Gaillard Center, 

95 Calhoun Street, Charleston. www.gaillardcenter.org/events/under-the-streetlamp. 

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The Hip Hop Nutcracker 


A unique and joyful holiday mashup for the 

whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a 

contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s 

timeless music. Directed and choreographed 

by Jennifer 

Weber, the production 

is performed by a supercharged 

cast of a 

dozen all-star dancers, 

a DJ, a violinist, and 

MC Kurtis Blow, one of Hip Hop’s founding 

fathers who remixes and reimagines the 

classic tale. Tickets start at $29. Charleston 

Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun Street, 

Charleston. www.gaillardcenter.org/events/ 

the-hip-hop-nutcracker. 

38th Annual African American Spirituals 

Concert at Drayton Hall 


The 38th Annual African American Spirituals 

Concert is an important holiday event 

performed by Ann Caldwell and The Magnolia 

Singers. Performed in the round in the 

George W. McDaniel Education Center at 

Drayton Hall, this traditional Charleston 

holiday concert is a rare opportunity to experience 

music that could have been heard centuries 

ago in the surrounding fields and praise 

houses. Prior to the concert, guests will enjoy 

a light reception with wassail - a historic and 

traditional holiday libation 

of Charleston. 

This afternoon event 

is held at 3:30 p.m. 

at Drayton Hall, the 

oldest planation open 


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a unique and reverent window into Charleston’s 

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Members $65, non-members $75 per person, 

$400 private table for six. 3380 Ashley River 

Road Charleston. www.draytonhall.org. 

26th Annual Mt. Pleasant Christmas Light 

Parade 


Brilliantly lit floats 

and community 

groups will march 

up West Coleman 

Boulevard as the 

Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade 

delights thousands of parade goers. The festivities 

begin at 5:30 p.m. with a spectacular 

fireworks show, immediately followed by the 

start of the parade at Live Oak Drive traveling 

south and ending at the intersection of W. 

Coleman Boulevard and Patriots Point Road. 

The Ravenel Bridge off-ramp onto Coleman 

Blvd. closes at 5 p.m. for the parade. Attendees 

are asked to practice social distancing. For 

more information or how to participate in 

the parade, visit www.experiencemountpleasant.com/events/christmas-light-parade. 

$4.50 US 

July / August 2021 

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Folly Beach 

Turtle Watch 

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Beachfront Bliss on Isle of Palms 

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Restaurants 

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Give the gift that lasts 

all year long... 

a subscription to 

magazine 

Just fill out the postcard in this 

issue., call 843.856.2532 or go to 

www.CharlestonLivingMag.com 

A Christmas Carol Reading 


Charles Dickens edited his book, A Christmas 

Carol, into a public reading format 

and performed this reading himself in both 

Europe and America. The Traveling Literary 

Theater brings the same edited, 70 minute 

version. English stage 

actor, James Dyne, leads 

the three-person cast. 

Two performances will 

be held at 3 p.m. and 7 

p.m. Tickets are $15- 

$20. Circular Congregational 

Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston. 

www.travelingliterarytheater.com. 

The Night Before Christmas Classical Kids 

Concert 


Celebrate the magical holiday season with 

a special Christmas Classical Kids Concert 

featuring musicians of Chamber Music 

Charleston and special guests. Sing along to 

favorite holiday songs and listen as well-loved 

stories come to life through classical music. 

This performance sells out every year, so be 

sure to purchase your tickets early! Tickets 

are $12 plus fees. College of Charleston Sottile 

Theatre, 44 George Street, Charleston. 

www.chambermusiccharleston.org/classickid-concerts. 

Sound of Charleston Holiday edition 

Dec. 26 & 30 

A special holiday 

edition of the 

Sound of Charleston 

concert will be 

held in December 

at the Circular 

Congregational 

Church downtown with a number of holiday 

selections and hot cider and cookies after 

each show. The Circular Church is festively 

decorated for Christmas during these candlelight 

performances. Performances are at 7 

p.m. Tickets are $28 for adults, seniors, $26, 

students, $16, 

children under 

7 are free. 150 

Meeting Street, 

Charleston. 

Tickets can be 

purchased at 

Charleston Visitors Center, by calling the 

box office at 843-270-4903 or visiting 

www.soundofcharleston.com. • 


BUZZ | ENTERTAINMENT 

Reviews: Movies & Music 

DENISE K. JAMES ON NEW FILMS AND MUSIC 

My Morning Jacket 

My Morning Jacket 

ATO Records 

I read over the lyrics to the single “Love Love 

Love” before listening to it and, as a writer, I was 

a bit underwhelmed — but be aware, My Morning 

Jacket’s new self-titled item isn’t meant to be 

judged on words, but on mood. Upon listening, 

I was captivated by the song’s steady beat, somehow 

ambient and energetic all at once. 

WONDER YEARS 2021/WALT DISNEY TELEVISION; 

MY MORNING JACKET/ATO RECORDS; LANA DEL REY/POLYDOR RECORDS 

The Wonder Years (2021) 

4 Stars 

Starring Elisha Williams, Don Cheadle, Dule Hill and Saycon Sengbloh, ABC and Hulu 

Directed and Produced by Fred Savage 

Like others in my generation, I proudly tell people I was a 1980s baby — back when 

social media didn’t rule the world, Big Pharma didn’t advertise and heartwarming shows 

like The Wonder Years graced the airwaves. I was too young to appreciate the show on 

the same level my mom did, but I was nevertheless captivated by anything the two of us 

could enjoy together without her getting bored and leaving the room or shooing me off 

from something too “adult.” That said, I was skeptical whether The Wonder Years 2021 

would make me feel the same joy as its original counterpart. But I’m happy to report it 

absolutely does. 

I settled in to watch my first episode of The Wonder Years 2021 with a number of 

questions: Would I like the new kid as much? Would I like his family as much? Would it 

accurately capture the 1960s? Soon enough, I was emotionally engrossed in the first episode, 

all my skepticism forgotten. Dean, our starring 12-year-old, immediately charmed 

me with his explanations on everything from national politics to current crushes. His parents 

— decidedly cooler than Jack and Norma Arnold — are old-fashioned yet progressive, 

depending on the topic. And as a bonus, the older Dean as narrator, voiced by Don 

Cheadle, is more humorous than original narrator Daniel Stern. Put all that together and 

I plowed through the first handful of episodes, officially sold on the remake. 

There are some differences, of course: Dean has no older brother, and I truthfully 

miss Wayne, who was one of my favorites. Dean’s sister, Kim, is more supportive and 

attentive than Kevin’s aloof sister Karen, perhaps to make up for his only having one 

sibling. And whereas the Arnolds lived in “Everytown” USA, the Williams family lives 

in Montgomery, Alabama, and I applaud the decision to give the new show a specific 

setting. The deep South adds an irresistible layer of tension and culture that the first 

iteration of The Wonder Years didn’t have, as does the Williams family being Black and 

looking forward to progress. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to watching Dean navigate 

the late 60s and early 70s this holiday season — I guess there’s room in my heart for more 

wonder, after all. • 

Lana Del Rey 

Blue Banisters 

Intserscope 

I’m sure I’ve heard Lana Del Ray before on the 

radio, but I had no idea what she sounded like 

until I decided to review her new album — now 

I love her voice! It’s melancholy and wistful, 

two qualities I adore, and her new album “Blue 

Banisters” includes singles such as “Arcadia” and 

“Text Book” with ponderous lyrics, slow tempos 

and Del Ray’s haunting singing, all perfect for 

darker, chillier nights. 


BUZZ | LOCAL CHATTER 

The iconic King Street Store store 

has been in business since 1917. 

F 

Dress like a King 

M. Dumas & Sons is a downtown icon 

By MONICA KREBER » Photos by ALEECE SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY 

For more than a century, M. Dumas & Sons has 

adapted, survived and thrived, always moving forward along 

a path that would lead to its emergence as an iconic downtown 

Charleston men’s clothier, a landmark visited regularly both by 

area residents and visitors to the Holy City. 

Established by Mendel Dumas in 1917, the 

store originally was a uniform shop frequented 

by those who worked on the dock, others in 

the city’s service industry and Naval officers 

stationed in Charleston. M. Dumas & Sons 

also was a place where avid hunters and other 

sportsmen could find just about anything they 

needed in the way of outdoor clothing. 

All that changed in the late 1960s and 

early 1970s, when the store began offering its 

customers a selection of Levi’s jeans. 

“That started our transition into dressing 

everybody,” said Taylor Eubanks, store 

manager and director of marketing. 

A few decades later, in the 1990s, that 

transition took another leap forward when 

M. Dumas & Sons added the Tommy 

Bahama line. 


“The biggest shift was when we added 

Tommy Bahama,” Eubanks said. “That’s when 

we started doing casual clothes and what really 

got things kicked off in terms of being known for 

‘normal’ clothes. Now, once a guy comes in here, 

there’s no reason to shop anywhere else. Most 

guys don’t enjoy shopping, and we have everything 

you could possibly need under one roof.” 

“Everything” now includes casual items 

like college gameday color polos to brands 

not available anywhere else in the United 

States – items such as cashmere jackets starting 

at $3,000 and alligator dress shoes that 

might go for $13,000 or $14,000. 

“We took a pretty big risk with brands 

and price points we’ve brought in, but now 

we can’t keep them in stock,” Eubanks said, 

noting that M. Dumas & Sons is the world’s 

No. 1 seller of Sartorio suits and sport coats, 

(Above and below left): Clothes and men’s accessories for all occasions can be found at M. Dumas; 

(Below right): A wide selection of shoes from casual sneakers to fine Italian leather dress shoes. 

Joe and Abe Dumas, whose dad, Mendel 

Dumas, opened the store in 1917. 

which are handmade in Italy. 

“You’re not going to worry about going 

to a dinner party and seeing another guy 

wearing the same jacket,” he said. 

The evolution of the store, in its current 

location on King Street since the 1970s, continued 

with a major renovation in 2015 and 

virtual shopping, a reaction to the COVID-19 

pandemic that swept across the world beginning 

in early 2020. E-commerce will continue 

to be an important aspect of the M. Dumas & 

Sons experience. 

Through it all, the history of M. Dumas & 

Sons has remained a family story. Mendel’s grandson, 

David Dumas, represents the store’s third 

generation, though Gary Flynn now owns a part 

of the business. And the clothier has remained 

intimately connected to downtown Charleston. 

During the pandemic, it joined with other businesses 

in the 200 and 300 blocks of King Street to 

form the Middle King Shopping District, working 

together to attract customers and hold community 

events to survive COVID-19 together. 

“The local community came together 

to help our neighbors the best way we can,” 

Eubanks said. 

The business’ website features the wide 

range of clothing and accessories it offers, 

from polos, T-shirts, dress shirts, sport coats 

and formal wear to belts, scarves, sunglasses 

and cologne. 

But a visit to www.dumasandsons.com 

also provides a treasure trove of information 

about Charleston, including where to stay, eat 

and shop and how to immerse yourself in the 

city’s arts, culture and history. There’s even a 

thought-provoking essay on the history of the 

tuxedo. 

Eubanks points out that the 2015 renovation 

of the 8,500-square-foot building at 

294 King was necessary to make the store 

more customer-friendly and keeping pace in 

the ever-evolving clothing business. 

“As we grew, it was much more important 

to merchandise and present things in a 

very thoughtful way. The update was needed 

to continue pushing for the future,” Eubanks 

said. Curated women’s clothing, including 

quality jackets, have also been added. 

Virtual shopping and virtual trunk shows 

allow customers to see what items will be 

available during the coming season (a product 

of the pandemic) and Eubanks said they will 

continue when life returns to normal. 

He added that the staff at M. Dumas & 

Sons will never stray from the personal touch that 

has defined the business for more than a century. 

“We’re a generational clothier,” he said. 

“I’ve dressed grandfather, father and son. We 

grow with our clients’ lives. That’s very special 

and it’s getting harder and harder in retail. We 

have dressed the Charleston men and will continue 

to dress the Charleston men.” • 

M. Dumas & Sons is located at 294 King Street, 

Charleston. Parking is validated at the George 

Street surface lot and George Street Parking 

Garage. Visit www.mdumasandsons.com or call 

843-723-8603. 


BUZZ | NEWSMAKER 

A Wando High School Young Life 

trip to Windy Gap Summer Camp 

in Weaverville, NC. 

T 

On Their Own Terms 

Charleston’s Young Life fosters independent leaders 

There is no membership. There are no mandatory meetings. 

Leaders of this special group realize today’s youth is pulled in 

many directions due to educational, social, and athletic obligations. 

Their goal is simply to reach out, build relationships with kids and 

model positive behavior. 

Part of a national non-profit headquartered 

in Colorado Springs, Young Life’s Charleston 

chapter took shape about 25 years ago. Today, 

they have a staff of six, 75 volunteer leaders, 

and local outreach in eleven high schools and 

four middle schools, as well as a presence at 

The College of Charleston, The Citadel and 

Charleston Southern University. 


By PAMELA JOUAN 

Young Life has dedicated teams that go 

into high schools with the sole purpose of 

building relationships with students, sharing 

value and deepening their relationships with 

Jesus. Leaders might coach a sport, become 

a hallway monitor or help out during lunch. 

Sometimes parents initiate a need for ministry 

at a certain school by inquiring about it. 

Reagan Carter, metro administrator for 

Young Life Charleston, pointed to Hanahan 

Middle School as a prime example of organic 

growth in the youth community. 

“Once there is interest, we get leaders in 

place and go from there,” she said. 

Call them missionaries in disguise, 

Young Life leaders simply want to connect, 

and the best way to do that is by being a part 

of the community they want to reach. 

Often, the youth become empowered to 

take on initiatives on their own. 

A subset ministry called Young Lives 

serves teen moms, while the new Young Life 

Capernaum fosters relationships among kids 

with special needs. 

Young Life Capernaum took off earlier 

this year when a group of five young men 

participated in “5 Bikes +1 Country,” an ambitious 

bike ride across America in summer 

2021 to raise funds for the new program. 

They cycled 100 miles a day for 44 days 

straight, following the TransAmerica Bicycle 

Trail from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, 

Virginia. It was no easy task and they relied 

heavily on their own relationships with God 

to give them the strength to persevere. 

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY YOUNG LIFE CHARLESTON

Their fundraising efforts raised over 

$11,000 that helped jump-start the ministry 

that works with special needs youth. There are 

already three additional fundraising events 

planned for this semester. 

Carter was impressed by their creativity, 

as well as their determination. 

“All five have been involved in Young 

Life at some point in their lives and continue 

to have a heart for serving. This was their way 

of creating awareness for a particular need in 

the Charleston area,” she said. 

Those participating in the “5 Bikes +1 

Country” fundraiser for Young Life 

Capernaum were, left to right: Davis 

Linscott, Nick Richardson, Tommy 

Fairbairn, Matt Kierski and Stan 

Connors. 

Reaching area youth 

At Young Life, the goal is simply to reach 

out, build relationships with kids and model 

behavior. As metro director Neil Gardner 

explained: “We try to show up and be faithful, 

and out of that, God helps us connect the dots 

and allows us to engage in real conversations.” 

When they do meet as a group, the 

format is determined by those present: bible 

study for the believers, and a broader-themed 

conversation for a wider variety of youth. 

Fostering relationships in a time of social 

media is not easy. Gardner noted that it seems 

as if today’s high school kids have forgotten 

how to make new friends. He’s the team leader 

at Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant. 

“Friend circles diminish as kids get older, 

but you can tell they still crave that interaction,” 

Gardner said. After all, that’s what 

makes us human. Enter Young Life leaders 

who facilitate those conversations. The goal is 

always to introduce kids to Jesus Christ and 

help them grow in their faith. The means are 

not always conventional. 

Gardner reminisced about a basketball 

game he watched at Wando where a talented 

player caught his eye. Gardner met that athlete 

and they connected over a conversation 

about that very game, which promoted the 

athlete to learn about Young Life. 

“The youth ended up coming to some 

meetings and sharing hardships from his past 

that made him question God’s existence. He 

kept coming around to meetings and this past 

summer announced he was ready to trust and 

begin a relationship with God. He soon began 

modeling leadership behavior to other high 

school kids,” Gardner said. “It’s all because I 

happened to be at a basketball game that gave 

me the opportunity to start a conversation.” 

Impressions can run deep, and Young 

Life has affected the lives of many in Charleston, 

teaching values and engaging directly 

with the young community, empowering 

them to be the best versions of themselves 

and make a difference. • 

To learn more about Young Life Charleston, visit 

www.charleston.younglife.org. 

November/December 2021 | | 41

BUZZ | ART SEEN 

The Watercolor Wanderer 

Kate Kvasnicka finds freedom through brushstrokes 

By LIESEL SCHMIDT 

Tstaid about Katherine Kvasnicka’s 

paintings, no tight lines that suggest 

a need for perfection or realism. Instead, 

there’s a looseness, a freedom and sense of 

whimsy that shows that Kvasnicka doesn’t 

There’s nothing stuffy or 

subscribe to the strict expectations of so 

many professional painters. 

Instead, she lets her paintbrush dance 

over the paper, allowing the paint to take its 

own path to create something that is a joy 

to look at. 

“Watercolors are, hands down, my favorite 

medium to work with,” she says. “I 

love how they can’t be totally controlled or 

manipulated. In an instant, pigment can hop, 

skip, and run across the paper without any 

warning. It’s a dialogue and a dance, and the 

colors bleed and sing together. Wet areas 

will always flow to other wet areas, and the 

process is a living organism right before your 

eyes on paper—until it eventually dries.” 

She adds, “As an artist, this is a true 

authentic expression. There can’t be any hesitancy 

in painting with watercolors, and it is 

the closest thing to magic that I have experienced. 

I also love to mix in ink and acrylic 

for texture—and sometimes a surprising pop 

Kate Kvasnicka 

of gold leaf that winks at you in just the right 

light.” 

Growing up, Kvasnicka was an only 

child, so art was a way to entertain herself. 

“My grandmother would say, ‘Kate, go 

paint the view,’ so I’d paint what I saw: the 

overlook from our mountain house in Caesars 

Head or the beach in Sullivans Island. 

When she brought flowers home, she always 

said that they would live longer if I painted 

them,” Kvasnicka says. “My earliest recognition 

was when I won awards for my artwork 

PHOTO ANNA LOUISE CECIL 


at the South Carolina State Fair during 

grade school. My school and other commercial 

establishments also used my artwork 

for branding in high school. Those moments 

encouraged me to continue studying art, and 

I took classes at the College of Charleston 

and later the Corcoran School of Arts and 

Design at George Washington University in 

Washington, DC.” 

While her true passion continues to be 

art, Kvasnicka still maintains a day job in the 

corporate world. Still, she is determined to 

show her son that dreams are possible—and 

so she pursues her career as an artist, not 

only selling paintings at galleries but also doing 

commissioned work, including a recent 

baby nursery. “As a parent you have to show, 

not tell,” she says. “I also had a feeling that I 

could do anything after childbirth.” 

Painting out of her sunroom studio at 

home, Kvasnicka describes her style as fresh 

and enjoys ample white space in her work to 

make paintings feel light and airy. 

“The white space coupled with the translucence 

of watercolor really captures a certain 

light and glow,” she explains. “I use 

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white space in both my abstract and 

representational work.” 

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(Opposite): “Dancing in Sunlight” - 18x24 

watercolor and acrylic on arches paper; (Above): 

“Wildflowers” 9x12 watercolor on arches paper. 

While she now lives in Richmond, Virginia, 

with her husband and son, Charleston holds 

a large piece of her heart. 

“My family has deep roots in South Carolina, 

mainly in Camden and Charleston,” 

she says. “I am the descendant of six governors 

of South Carolina and my grandmother, 

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2021 | 43

BUZZ | ART SEEN 

(Above): Framed Flowers, 12.5x15.5 watercolor on arches paper. Below: “Brave Spirit” 11x14 watercolor, acrylic, and goldleaf on paper. 

along with her sisters and first cousins, were 

heir to Mary Boykin Chestnut’s papers and 

her famous Civil War diary, which is now at 

the University of South Carolina and won the 

Pulitzer Prize for History in 1982. My grandmother 

went to Ashley Hall with Barbara Bush, 

and my mother was the film commissioner of 

South Carolina and spent a lot of time recruiting 

films to Charleston and shutting down 

streets for production of films like The Prince 

of Tides, Rich in Love, The Patriot, Die Hard, and 

Ace Ventura 2. I was always on set in Charleston 

watching, so it was a creative place for me from 

a young age. I was born and raised in Columbia 

and attended the College of Charleston, where 

I took several art classes on campus. I remember 

walking through The Cistern hauling canvases 

and dropping paintbrushes on my way to 

my studio art classes.” 

Understandably, Charleston has influenced 

her work in subtle ways. 

“I love the deep-rooted history, beautiful 

pastel houses on palmetto tree-lined 

cobblestone streets, and flowers that bloom 

year ‘round,” she says. “It’s almost tangible. 

The church steeples were one of my favorite 

things I painted in college. Charleston historic 

colonial, Georgian, and neoclassical architecture 

transport you to a different time and 

place. Charleston has such a rich culture and 

it truly is a city of details, which is a lost art in 

itself. Charleston is an artist’s muse.” • 

Kvasnicka’s work is represented at the Scouted 

Studio in Charleston as well various galleries 

and shops along the East Coast. Her work is 

available online at www.katekoriginalart.com 

or follow her Instagram @katekoriginalart. 


BUZZ | ROAD TRIP 

Tomotley Oak Alley, Beaufort, SC 

B 

eneath the flocked white Christmas tree adorned with handmade wooden ornaments 

lays a hardbound book. On its cover, a picture of a beaming light from what appeared to be a steam 

engine, a blanket of snow and the words, “The Polar Express.” For years, it was tradition to have a bell placed 

somewhere that allowed it to ring with the movement of a door, to keep the magic of “believing” alive during 

the holidays. Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg, this book inspired many for years before Tom 

Hanks helped make it an annual holiday tradition, played out on passenger trains across the country. 

PHOTOS BRYSON CITY TDA & CHAMBER 

Bringing the magic to life, the Great Smoky 

Mountains Railroad operates The Polar Express 

November 12 through Jan 1, 2022. 

(Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving). 

The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion 

comes to life as the train departs the Bryson 

The Thing About Trains 

‘It doesn’t matter where they’re goin’ — what matters is deciding to get on’ 

By MANDY MURRY 

City, NC depot for a journey through the quiet 

wilderness for a special visit to the North 

Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture 

soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm 

cocoa and a treat while listening and reading 

along with the magical story. Children’s faces 

show the magic of the season when the train 

arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus 

waiting. Santa will board The Polar Express, 

greeting each child and presenting them with 

a special gift as in the story: their own silver 

sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as 


BUZZ | ROAD TRIP 

they return to the Bryson City Depot. 

Bryson City is abuzz with magical smiles 

and laughter from kids and adults wearing 

pajamas around town waiting to board the 

train for the experience. When train-goers 

see Santa and the North Pole, excitement 

fills the air. It’s a win for everyone, as so many 

wonderful memories are made. Once at the 

North Pole, they will see the Hero Boy and 

Elves as well! It’s a special transformation of 

the year-round train operation. 

Originally known as The Murphy 

Branch, a former branch line of the Southern 

Railway between Dillsboro and Andrews, the 

iron rails brought new life to the mountains 

of Western North Carolina in 1880. In a time 

when mercantile business was scarce and 

only a few commodities of bare necessities 

were around, landlocked mountaineers began 

receiving knocks on their door from floods 

of salesmen who peddled oil lamps that superseded 

tallow candles and New England 

“factory cloth” to replace scratchy, uncomfortable 

homespun. From door to door, they 

sold books, pump organs, enlarged pictures, 

jewelry, lightning rods, baubles and doodads. 

The turn of the 20th century brought 

about four daily services between Asheville 

and Murphy. The rail line experienced its 

heaviest use during wartime, in the early 

1940s when the massive Fontana Dam was 

constructed. Thousands of carloads of cement, 

equipment and other materials 

reached the construction site by rail on a spur 

line built from Bushnell to Fontana. Huge 

shipments of copper ore from mines in the 

western end of North Carolina and Copperhill, 

TN, increased the line’s tonnage. In the 

1920s, ribbons of concrete crawled through 

the mountains, linking towns together. 

With the increasing popularity of the 

automobile, passenger traffic on the railroad 

declined, discontinuing all passenger traffic 

on the Murphy Branch on July 16, 1948, 

ending 64 years of service that had opened 

Western North Carolina to the outside 

world. When freight traffic dropped off by 

1985, Norfolk Southern closed the Andrews 

to Murphy leg of the Murphy Branch, and 

the state of North Carolina purchased the 

Dillsboro to Murphy tracks to keep them 

from being destroyed. 

The Great Smoky Mountains Railway 

was formed in 1988. American Heritage Railways 

purchased it in December 1999. Today it 

operates as the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad 

(GSMR) and an upward of 200,000 passengers 

enjoy the scenery and the experience 

of a true operational railroad each year aboard 

passenger excursion trains. Special themed 

trains and events run at different times during 

the year, including the Steam of the Smokies, 

steam engine No. 1702, Western North Carolina’s 

most historic steam locomotives with a 

rich history and impressive engineering. 

Premier Special Event Trains 

» Uncorked Wine and Rail: Plan ahead 

for February 2022! A pairing experience 

with first-class dining offered certain days 

throughout the season. Everyone receives an 

exceptional meal paired perfectly with samples 

of multiple wines and comes with a souvenir 

GSMR wine glass to take home. Adults 

Only. 


(Above): Bryson City, NC gets into the holiday 

spirit with families encouraged to wear pajamas 

on the train. Left: The Swain County Heritage 

Museum in downtown Bryson City, decked out 

during the holiday season, lets visitors view a 

restored log cabin porch, the 1887 church organ, 

one-room schoolhouse desks, plus a children’s 

activity area and offers free admission. Below: 

Downtown Bryson City is a holiday wonderland 

with holiday lights and festive shops downtown.

» The Tuckasegee River Excursion: This 

ride, offered in November, travels along the 

Tuckasegee River through old railroad towns 

and scenic meadows. Departing from Bryson 

City, this 4-hour excursion travels 32 miles 

round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson 

City Depot. Pass by the famous movie 

set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford! 

Serene Relaxation 

At Stonebrook Lodge 

Located just minutes from the Bryson City 

Depot, the Stonebrook Lodge is the newest 

hotelier in Bryson City with 50 rooms 

all smoke-free and pet-free. Conveniently 

placed on Main Street in downtown Bryson 

City, it’s all within walking distance of 

dining, shops, the Great Smoky Mountains 

Railroad, and a short drive to two entrances 

to the Great Smoky Mountains National 

Park – Deep Creek and Road to Nowhere. 

From the moment you arrive, a warm 

welcome awaits you in the rustic lobby with 

stone accents, fireplace, and cozy seating 

areas. Enjoy free wi-fi, access to an indoor 

pool, continental breakfast, and luxury appointments 

in the queen and king rooms. 

Out of the 50 rooms, 37 feature a fresh air 

balcony view. 

The Serene Relaxation at Stonebrook 

Lodge package includes a round-trip train 

excursion for two adults, admission to the 

Smoky Mountain Trains Museum, and lodging 

for one night with continental breakfast. 

Prices through December start at $240 per 

couple for Coach Class seating. 

Call the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad 

at (800) 872-4681 to book this package. 

For private parties larger than 15, train 

cars can be rented out for groups or even the 

entire train! And of course, ‘tis the season for 

The Polar Express. 

All Aboard! • 


BUZZ | CHARITY 

Making Spirits Bright 

Toys for Tots spreads Christmas cheer to children 

in the community 

L 

ast year, the local Charleston Marine Corps Reserve 

Toys for Tots program distributed 108,442 toys to children 

in the greater Charleston area. This year, the Charleston chapter 

for Toys for Tots has a new coordinator, Sgt. Andrew Duval, who 

is planning and prepping for another holiday season and making 

spirits bright for Charleston’s youngest residents. 


By MONICA KREBER 

The national Toys for Tots program began 

in 1947. This popular charity program collects 

new, unwrapped toys during October, 

November and December and then distributes 

the toys as Christmas gifts to less 

fortunate children in the community. Toys 

for Tots collects monetary donations as well. 

While he is new to the coordinator role 

this year, Duval has a heart for volunteering 

and giving back to the community. 

“I saw this as an opportunity to be able to 

do that and also to help others,” he said. “Every 

child deserves a Christmas. I’m excited for it. I 

believe it’s going to be a great year.” 

Duval is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee 

and moved to the Charleston area in 

March. He joined the Marine Corps to fulfill 

a wish to follow in his father’s footsteps, and 

now speaks highly of the family and camaraderie 

he has built with his fellow Marines. 

“You’ve got your brothers and your sisters 

that you work with, day in and day out,” 

he said. 

Duval was part of a small deployment 

to Norway in 2019, supporting the battalion 

with weapons maintenance. He re-enlisted 

with the Marine Corps while he was in 

Germany on his way back from deployment, 

and he subsequently was given the option of 

heading to the East Coast, the West Coast 

or overseas. He initially wanted to go to the 

West Coast but also wanted to stay closer to 

family, so he narrowed his choices down to 

South Carolina or Virginia. Duval said he 

had always heard good things about Charleston 

so when the opportunity came, he took it. 

Duval is stationed at the Naval Weapons 

base as a 2111 small arms technician. He 

lives in Summerville with his wife of almost 

two years, Shelby. 

When he came to Charleston, he learned 

the Toys for Tots chapter was searching for 

someone to fill the coordinator role for the organization 

and decided to take on the job. 

In 2019, the Charleston chapter distributed 

around 72,000 toys to 14,000 children. 

Last year’s collection of more than 108,000 

toys went to 35,000 children. 

“This year we’re hoping to get more toys, 

so that way we kind of have some room to 

work with in case number of children in need 

goes up,” Duval said. 

Duval plans to be out and about helping 

to distribute gifts on Christmas. He works 

with a team of volunteers, and the chapter is 

also supported by its sponsors and volunteers 

through News 2 and Boeing, who help out

(Opposite) Sgt. Andrew Duval, coordinator for the Charleston chapter for Toys for Tots and Santa; (Above) 

Gifts of all kinds, including sports equipment, are welcomed donations for local children; Local businesses 

can sign up to receive a donation box, allowing employees to easily donate toys. 

on Christmas morning; Toys for Tots is always 

looking for more corporate sponsors. 

“We’ve been delivering donation boxes to 

anyone that has requested delivery,” Duval said. 

This year’s Toys for Tots campaign runs 

through December 24. Last year, the Charleston 

chapter had more than 200 drop-off sites, 

including Charleston City Hall at 80 Broad 

Street, and so far this year, about 60 businesses 

and residents have signed up for boxes. Businesses 

and residents can sign up to be a dropoff 

site for toys or even buy toys virtually at 

www.charleston-sc.toysfortots.org. 

The principal activity for Toys for Tots 

is the actual toy collection and distribution, 

but different activities and fundraisers may be 

scheduled throughout the year; such events 

will be posted to the Toys for Tots website 

and Facebook page. 

Duval encourages Charleston area residents 

to consider making a toy donation this 

year; toys must be brand new, unwrapped and 

suitable for children ages 0 to 12; donators 

are asked to also consider finding toys geared 

toward children with special needs. 

“It’s for a good cause and it’s to help 

children who are less fortunate so they can 

still have a Christmas,” he said, adding that 

the program has created a sense of unity 

among its volunteers. “It just brings everyone 

close together and shows there is help and assistance 

when you need it.” • 


BUZZ | SOUTHERN DRAWL 

Power in Numbers 

The “Awakened Dragons” team, made up of 

cancer survivors, at a race on Lake James, NC. 

DIG SOUTH Shindig at Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park 

Executive Director of Dragon Boat Charleston leads a community of survivors 

By HOLLY FISHER 

It’s almost impossible to meet someone who hasn’t been impacted by cancer. 

Whether it’s a personal diagnosis or that of a family member or friend, cancer touches everyone. 

Neves Richards is certainly no exception. She lost her mom and a grandmother to cancer. So 

when a job opportunity with Dragon Boat Charleston came along, Richards couldn’t pass it up. 

“One of the things that pushed me toward 

Dragon Boat Charleston is that I’ve learned 

life is short,” she said. “People who face a cancer 

diagnosis have their priorities in order. I’ve 

been fortunate enough to not have a personal 

cancer diagnosis, but I see the value of making 

the most of every day and being happy.” 

Richards joined the largely volunteerrun 

nonprofit in October 2019 as the program 

coordinator. On Aug. 31, Richards stepped 

into the role of full-time executive director 

after Amy Brennan retired. 

She’s tasked with overseeing the organization’s 

fundraising efforts, events and 

leading more than 150 members – most of 

whom are either battling a cancer diagnosis 

or are cancer survivors. The ultimate mission 

is to promote the physical and mental health 

of cancer survivors. The vehicle for doing 

that: dragon boating. 

The Power of Paddling 

Dragon boating is a 2,000-year-old sport 

that began in China. Today, Richards said, 

it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the 

world. Twenty paddlers sit side by side in a 

48-foot long colorful boat adorned with a 

dragon head and tail. The team members 

paddle in sync to the beat of a drum, the 

heartbeat of the dragon. 

Locally, Dragon Boat Charleston started 

in 2003. Cancer survivors join for free; community 

members can join for $125 a year. 

Club members gather several times 

a week, departing from the Safe Harbor 

Charleston marina to paddle the Ashley River. 

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DRAGON BOAT CHARLESTON 


Neves Richards 

Executive Director 

Dragon Boat 

Charleston 

Education 

Bachelor’s degree in 

parks, recreation and 

tourism management 

from Clemson 

University 

Hometown 


Family 

Neves and her 

husband, Mikell, live 

in Mount Pleasant. 

They have three 

children: Emmy, 

Hayes and Nora 

Clair. 

Hobbies 

“Spending time 

outside, enjoying 

family and friends, 

traveling and 

Clemson University 

football.” 


BUZZ | SOUTHERN DRAWL 

Yes, there’s certainly physical benefits of 

dragon boating. It’s a whole body workout, 

Richards said. 

But what’s even more powerful is the 

peer support and camaraderie. Newly-diagnosed 

cancer patients sit next to someone in 

the middle of treatment and someone who 

has come out the other side, beating the odds 

and living to tell about it. 

Dragon Boat Charleston has teams of 

women, co-ed teams and even a program just 

for those with a current cancer diagnosis. The 

PATH Program – which stands for paddle, 

achieve, transform, heal – is a 10-week session 

specifically for those with cancer. It’s especially 

motivating for those newly diagnosed or in 

the midst of treatment, Richards explained. 

“They are in the boat with other cancer 

survivors, and the power of that is amazing,” 

she said. “They are with other people who 

have been through the same thing, who have 

walked through the same thing they have 

gone through. They’re around other people 

who have been through cancer 15 or 20 years 

ago and that’s so motivating to see they are 

living a healthy life and still paddling,” she 

added. 

For many participants, dragon boating 

serves as a break from the cancer that consumes 

their days. 

They can, as Richards noted, “leave 

cancer on the dock.” They can simply take 

in the sun setting on the Ashley River, enjoy 

the people sitting beside them, and even, if 

just for a short while, think about something 

other than cancer. 

Medical research is even proving what 

Richards sees daily with Dragon Boat 

Charleston members: connectedness and 

social support positively impacts cancer 

survivorship. 


The Dragon Boat Charleston “Paddles 

and Pearls” team, made up of breast cancer 

survivors, at nationals in Colorado. 

A 2020 study out of Canada looked at the 

impact of prostate cancer survivors’ participation 

in a dragon boating team. It found physical 

benefits, but even more so was the positive 

impact on the mens’ psychosocial wellbeing. 

Another study revealed upper body exercise 

– including dragon boating – is beneficial 

for breast cancer survivors and can even reduce 

rates of recurrence. 

“They are doing something that gives 

them a feeling of power over their body,” 

Richards said. “And they are strong because 

they are a team.” 

The Power of Connection 

“It’s easy to look and see how the people of 

this organization lift each other up,” Richards 

said of the Dragon Boat Charleston club. 

“This organization has so much heart.” 

Whether it’s dropping off a meal, writing 

a card or making a phone call, the members 

of Dragon Boat Charleston know they 

have people who will step up to care for them. 

While there’s so much to celebrate 

among the members, Richards said there are 

also tearful moments. In the last few months, 

three club members have passed away – another 

reminder that life is short. 

Holiday Fundraising 

Both the celebrations and the in memoriam 

are motivation to keep the mission of Dragon 

Boat Charleston moving forward. And for 

most nonprofits, that’s been much harder in 

the last 18 months. 

The club typically hosts a fundraising 

festival each May. Because of COVID-19, 

the festivals in both 2020 and 2021 were 

canceled. To make up the lost revenue, 

Dragon Boat Charleston collaborated with 

Explore Charleston on a new fundraiser last 

year: Festival of Trees. 

Teams that would normally have participated 

in the Dragon Boat Festival decorated 

20 holiday trees. Each tree was decorated in 

memory of or in honor of a cancer survivor. The 

tree’s theme is tied in some way to that person. 

Richards said one of her favorite trees 

last year was “Life of the Party.” The tree honored 

Brandi Collins Moore, whose friends 

said she was always the life of the party. They 

adorned the tree with silver and gold decorations, 

feathers and a top hat. 

The Charleston Visitor Center will once 

again host the trees for 2021. The public can 

walk through the display and participate in an 

auction to bid on their favorite tree. After the 

display ends, volunteers will box up the trees 

and decorations for delivery to the winning 

bidders, who will have the festive holiday tree 

for their 2022 celebration. A few select trees 

will be available before Christmas. 

Richards said last year, the dragon boat 

club jumped into action to put together 

the event in just a few short weeks. Plus, it 

brought some holiday spirit and joy to what 

had been a tough year. 

For their second year holding the Festival 

of Trees, the club will fill the Visitor 

Center with even more trees. They’re also 

adding wreaths and holiday workshops 

around the theme of getting ready for the 

holidays. The workshops will include a food 

and floral demonstration, bow making, creative 

gift wrapping and a how-to for making 

holiday centerpieces. 

Richards also has secured sponsorships for 

this year’s event and they are well on pace to make 

more than last year’s $17,000 for the group. 

And the Dragon Boat Festival should be 

back in May 2022. 

“We have our fingers and paddles 

crossed for the festival in May,” Richards said. 

But with so many of the participants and 

volunteers cancer survivors, their health and 

safety is a priority. 

That’s why the Festival of Trees is emerging 

as a second key fundraiser for the organization. 

And it adds a truly personal touch to 

the important work Dragon Boat Charleston 

is doing in the community. 

“It’s super powerful when you go through 

the Visitor Center and read all these stories,” 

Richards said. • 

View the Festival of Trees from Nov. 15 to Jan. 

4 at the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting 

St. in downtown Charleston. For details on 

the auction and holiday workshops, visit www. 

dragonboatcharleston.org. To participate in the 

event or be a sponsor, email Richards at 

neves@dragonboatcharleston.org.

BUZZ | STAFF PICKS 

Hot off the Press 

Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire 

by Lizzie Johnson 

Titles that debuted this year 

Eighty-five people died in the wildfire that devastated the small northern California town of Paradise in November 

2018. Lizzie Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on the fire extensively and has put together a gripping, 

novelistic narrative of the events and their aftermath. Johnson introduces several figures—first responders, medical 

professionals, town officials, ordinary citizens—and follows them through the course of that horrific day. She ably 

demonstrates the guilt of PG&E, the California utility whose outdated and poorly maintained infrastructure is 

believed to have caused the fire, and examines other contributing factors, such as climate change, the misguided 

policy of forest fire suppression, and the town’s poorly conceived and executed evacuation plan. – Bland Lawson 

The Lincoln Highway 

by Amor Towles 

No matter the time or location, Amor Towles’s works convey a strong sense of place, robust character development 

and are guaranteed to keep readers enthralled. His previous books covered 1930s Manhattan and early Twentieth 

Century Russia. Towles’s latest is an unforgettable cross-country road trip in the 1950s with a cast of hilarious and 

memorable characters. When Emmett comes home after serving a year for involuntary manslaughter, his father has 

died, leaving him to raise his precocious eight-year-old brother, and the family’s farm is being foreclosed on. Emmett 

and his brother view this as an opportunity for a fresh start and set out on a remarkable journey. – Megan Mathis 

A Lot Like Adios 

by Alexis Daria 

In this follow-up to her bestseller, You Had Me at Hola, Daria introduces Mich and Gabe, two Latinx 

entrepreneurs who haven’t seen each other since they didn’t quite get together in high school. Now Gabe’s 

business partner, unaware of their history, has hired Mich to market Gabe’s new celebrity gym location – they’ll 

have to work together if either wants to take their career to the next level! Will Gabe reconcile with his parents, to 

whom he hasn’t spoken in years? Will Mich forgive him for leaving her to go to college in California? This second 

chance romance about family and personal growth is a smart and steamy read – and a great holiday gift for the 

romance reader in your life! – Sara McBride 

Never Fall for Your Fiancée 

by Virginia Heath 

In a new historical romance series by seasoned author Virginia Heath, we meet Minerva, the eldest of the 

Merriwell sisters, in this fun rom-com that is perfect for a fall afternoon. Cassanova Hugh Standish, Earl of 

Fareham, has created an imaginary fiancée to stave off his overbearing match-making mother. Still, when she 

comes into town two weeks early, he must scramble to find someone to play the part. Enter poverty-stricken artist 

Minerva Merriwell who gets offered a handsome sum to go along with the ruse. Will Hugh and Minerva be able 

to keep the smoke and mirrors show alive, or will their lies get tangled up in true love? Fans of Bridgerton will 

adore this hilariously witty and steamy read. – Morgan Ryan 


BUZZ | HISTORY 

A Southern Christmas 

Holiday traditions worth keeping 

By TIM LOWRY 

Pecan Pie is a Southern tradition. 

We people of the South Carolina Lowcountry have always prided ourselves 

on the keeping of traditions. This is certainly true at Christmas time. However, in recent 

years, unorthodox customs, modern songs and foreign foods have crept into our holiday 

celebrations. Let me be the first to say that I am not at all personally opposed to elves on 

shelves, a rousing rendition of “I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas,” or a plate of sushi 

sitting next to the oysters at a cocktail party; but we must take care to remember the old 

ways. After all, it said that Charleston, South Carolina is “where history lives.” 

If that slogan is to ring true, than old customs 

must be practiced, not simply relegated to 

display boards in the Charleston Museum or 

filed away on the shelves of the South Carolina 

Historical Society. 

I could go on and on about the importance 

of maintaining cultural distinctives in 

an age of homogeneity, but often find it best 

when explaining such things to my own children 

to simply say, “Traditions are the things 

we do to keep the world from falling down; 

and we wouldn’t want that consequence to be 

your fault, now would we?” 

Thus endeth my sermon. Don’t you wish 

your priest was so concise when delivering 

the homily at Midnight Mass? 

That is the first of those old traditions 

that should be maintained—church. Charleston 

has plenty of them, over 400 houses of 

worship. Pick one, go inside, it’s Christmas! 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, 

PHOTO PIXABAY 


PHOTO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, MUSIC DIVISION; PRINCIPAL CHURCH, CHARLESTON. MEYER, A., ARTIST, 1861 

There are more 

than 400 houses 

of worship in 

Charleston, many 

from the city’s 

earliest days. 

here are some other traditions and a little 

information on their historic contexts that 

in my humble opinion, should keep a prominent 

position during the holiday season. 

Madeira and Pecan Pie 

This deliciously sweet, fortified wine, originally 

imported by the Portuguese from the 

Canary Islands, boasts an exotic bouquet 

with notes of dates, toffee, roasted nuts and 

caramel brought to full flavor by being stored 

at a high temperature. As such, it was very 

popular among Southern Colonists due to 

our extremely warm weather. It was generally 

the practice to store the barrels in the attic 

during the hot summer months. 

Madeira wine was a 

popular fortified wine 

in the early aughts. 

“Madeira Wine: A 

Parody on the Willow” 

song was created in the 

1800s. 

As the weather cooled in the late fall, 

the barrels were tapped just in time to toast 

the Christmas season. Madeira was so highly-prized 

that Louis Manigault stored 2,100 

bottles in the Old Powder Magazine that 

still stands on Cumberland Street downtown 

and instructed that it “remain there until my 

death, and then to be divided equally among 

my sons and daughters.” 

While my own children are too young 

to imbibe, the best way to help them cultivate 

a taste for Madeira (find some at area liquor 

stores) is to tipple a couple tablespoonfuls 

of the good stuff into our family pecan pie 

recipe. The first well-documented recipe for 

pecan pie only dates back to 1898. 

The confection grew in popularity after 

a similar recipe began to appear on the labels 

pasted onto bottles of Karo syrup in the 

1920s. So technically, this culinary delight is 

only now approaching its first century as a 

Southern tradition. Nonetheless, one taste 

(especially with the Madeira) and you’ll 

never want Christmas without it. And by the 

way, my grandfather would wish for me to 

coach you on the pronunciation. According 

to the late Samuel Edward Lowry, the word 

is pronounced “puh-KAHN.” He would then 

wink wickedly and add “A pee can goes under 

the bed at night.” (Grandpa being a little 

bit wicked on Christmas is also traditional. If 

he gets too wicked, hide the Madeira.) 

Fireworks 

No one seems to know why or how the 

discharging of pyrotechnics and/or firearms 

as a celebration of Christ’s birth became a 

holiday tradition, but if you grew up in the 

South, you are well accustomed to the report 

of more than a few fusillades on Christmas 

Day. In fact, this custom was so prevalent in 

old Charleston that the legislature passed a 

law in 1750 prohibiting “the firing and flinging 

of squibs, crackers, and other fireworks” 

to avoid the endangerment and annoyance of 

people passing in the streets. 

According to historian Nic Butler of the 

Charleston County Public Library, (Podcast, 

Charleston Time Machine, Episode 138) 

a reminder of this 1750 law was published 

in the local newspaper every December for 

many years following. But apparently it became 

a happy tradition to completely ignore 

the newspaper’s admonition. In October of 

1772, a local complaint was registered in 

regards to the “illegal mirth of a few inconsiderate 

people” engaged in “the common 

practice of firing guns on the eves of Christmas, 

and on the mornings of the New Years.” 

If you plan to keep this particular tradition 

alive, please check with your local neighborhood 

association for policies regarding 

the discharging of firearms. And remember 

to always wear safety goggles. 

Listening For Christmas to ‘Fall’ 

In direct contrast to all the noise you can 

make with a variety of explosive devices, 

many Southerners enjoy solitude and the accompanying 

silence on Christmas Eve. We 

sit up and listen for Christmas to fall. For an 

explanation, I defer to the celebrated writer 

Archibald Rutledge and paraphrase from his 

book Plantation Game Trails (1921): In the 

South, as perhaps is the case nowhere else in 

the world, there are many superstitions associated 

with Christmas. One of these, which 

amounts to genuine belief, is that “Christmas 

falls.” Perhaps someone once heard it said 

that “Christmas falls on a Friday this year.” 

Whatever the origin of this expression, folks 

on the plantation firmly believed that the 

coming of this great day was heralded by 

some mighty convulsion of nature. Being a 

romantic like Mr. Rutledge, I have often sat 

up until midnight on the eve of the Holy Day 

waiting to hear Christmas “fall.” Perhaps the 

most spiritually advanced do indeed distinctly 

perceive at the precise moment a mystic 

far-off detonation. As for me, if someone 

whispered, “Did you hear?” I would answer 

“yes,” and in my heart of hearts hope that it 

was true. • 

Storyteller Tim Lowry is a Southern raconteur 

from Summerville. Learn more at 

www.storytellertimlowry.com. 


Spend a year 

on the coast 

of Charleston, South Carolina 

January / February 2019 

Table forTwo 

Romantic Restaurants 

in the Lowcountry 

Dream 

Kitchens 

Transformations 

for Every Lifestyle 

SNOB’s 

Russ 

Moore 

Oceanside 

on Kiawah 

Expert 

Interior 

Design Tips 

Subscribe Today! 

The Perfect Gift for Everyone Who Loves the Coast. 


www.CharlestonLivingMag.com/subscribe 

or (843) 856-2532

Well Styled 

SHOPPING | DESIGN | TABLESCAPES | HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | FASHION 

Holiday 

Glam 



See page 70 

PHOTO MIRA ADWELL 

On him: Eleventy jacket, 

$695; Fedeli turtleneck, 

$345; Myths pants,$445, 

at M. Dumas & Sons, 

294 King St, Charleston 

www.mdumasandsons.com. 

On her: Champagne 

sequin cocktail dress, 

$168; gold hoops 

with pearl accents, 

$98, at Maris 

DeHart, 32 Vendue 

Range Suite 100, 



WELL STYLED | SHOPPING 

Delightfully curated 

Bubbles Gift Shoppe sells items from local artists 

By SOPHIA RODRIGUEZ » Photos by ALEECE SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY 

It’s no secret there are lots of places to go if you need to buy someone a gift. 

King Street and the US-17 corridor in Mount Pleasant have many, not to mention the ubiquitous 

influence of online retailers like Amazon. Still, there’s something to be said about stepping into 

a clean, attractive space that contains a manageable amount of carefully curated products. Which 

is exactly the environment that Bubbles Gift Shoppe in Mount Pleasant offers. 

“Our goal has always been to be unique. We 

want to be sure that we carry items you don’t 

find elsewhere,” said Jenn Wilkinson, who 

owns Bubbles with her teenage daughter, 

Mary Brennan Wilkinson. “We turn over our 

inventory often, so every time you pop in, it is 

a unique experience.” 


“We are honored and love to support 

our local artisans—those are staples in our 

shop,” Jenn said. 

Products like hand-painted oyster 

shells from Grit & Grace Studio, Charleston’s 

Own saltwater taffy, Charleston Tackle 

Company apparel and bath products from 

the Old Whaling Company are recognizable 

favorites for locals. And they mix well 

with other merchandise in the shop, such as 

Jilzarah’s beaded bracelets that hold scented 

essential oils and hats from the Florida-based 

30A company. 

Bubbles Gift Shoppe has a diverse cus-

tomer base and local following. According to 

Jenn, they wanted to have items for “someone 

with three dollars to spend or $300 to spend.” 

“We love to help everyone find that 

special gift. We decided that we would carry 

items that not only a child with their allowance 

could come in and purchase, but also 

those looking for high-end gifts and jewelry,” 

Jenn said. 

The story of Bubbles’ existence is as 

unique as the store itself. When Jenn’s daughter, 

Mary Brennan, was a tween, she couldn’t 

find the fashionable yet age-appropriate 

clothing and accessories that would help her 

transition into teendom. So, she started to 

seek out suppliers they could partner with. 

At 11 years old, Mary Brennan was the 

primary buyer for the business, traveling to Atlanta 

and New York to visit markets and place 

orders. Even though the other employees make 

suggestions, “every item is carefully chosen and 

Mary Brennan-approved,” Jenn said. 

And how did the shop get its name? 

When Mary Brennan was a toddler, she 

went to a tea shop with her grandparents but 

asked for asked “bubbles” instead of tea. Her 

grandparents figured out she wanted Sprite. 

And from that moment on, Bubbles became 

her nickname. So, it was only natural that it 

would be the name of the shop, too. 

After a couple of years of hosting successful 

pop-up shops around the Lowcountry, 

the mother-and-daughter team started toying 

with the idea of a brick-and-mortar store. 

Located in the Market at Mill Creek 

shopping center on Highway 41, Bubbles is 

just a stone’s throw from Mount Pleasant’s 

Dunes West neighborhood and burgeoning 

development in the Wando area. As a real estate 

developer, Jenn knew better than anyone 

that the shop’s location would be a key factor in 

its success. “When [the shopping center] was 

under construction, I knew there was a need to 

offer the local community somewhere to purchase 

a gift,” she said. “The shop is located 10 

miles from any other retail stores. It truly has a 

sense of community in its location.” 

In its two years as a physical shop, Bubbles 

has been awarded multiple Best of Mount 

Pleasant and Best of Charleston awards. Jenn 

credits a lot of that success to her work family, 

consistency when it comes to quality of 

the merchandise and the copious amount of 

research she and her daughter conduct before 

introducing a product into the store. 

Everyone who works at Bubbles made 

a point to keep the shop customer-focused, 

even in the face of the pandemic. 

“During COVID, we would do home 

deliveries. Just because we were required to 

be closed didn’t mean those birthdays and 

anniversaries stopped,” said Jenn. “It was like 

we were elves dropping off gifts at doors and 

texting when it was delivered. It added a bit 

of fun during such hard times.” 

The holiday season has traditionally 

been generous to Bubbles’ bottom line because 

that’s the time of year when everyone 

is looking for that perfect gift. Bubbles also 

has monogramming services that are perfect 

for personalizing birthday, hostess, wedding 

party or baby shower gifts. 

“I love our community,” Jenn said. “Pre- 

COVID, we had late shopping hours on 

Thursday nights, with bubbles and mimosas. 

We would also feature our local artisans. They 

would set up shop in the store and introduce 

the community to their craft. We had sweetgrass 

basket workshops, earring-making workshops, 

and painting workshops.” 

Keep up with them on social media 

@bubblesgiftshoppe for announcements about 

workshops coming back to the shop and photos 

of items in stock. • 

(Opposite) Gifts from local artists are all around 

the store; (Above) Jenn Wilkinson and her daughter 

Mary Brennan Wilkinson, who co-own Bubbles 

Gift Shoppe; gifts of all kinds can be found at 

Bubbles Gift Shoppe, including whimsical and 

celebratory beverage coasters; gorgeous cutting 

boards inscribed with Charleston and Mt. Pleasant. 


WELL STYLED | DESIGN 

T 

Tis the season for decorating anything and everything 

to bring the holidays closer to home. Amplify the celebratory 

spirit even more with the strategic use of mirrors. Decorating the 

mirrors in your home for the holidays and optimizing their placement 

can add limitless value to the look and feel of your festive display. 


Mirror, Mirror 

Deck out your mirrors for the holidays 

Niki Miller, owner/decorative painter at 

Charleston Fine Finishes, shares her expert 

tips and tricks on how to make mirror magic 

in any room and style your reflective decor for 

the season. 

Mirrors can be expensive, but finding the 

right ones for your home décor doesn’t have 

to break the bank. 

“Quality always holds its value and good 

taste is timeless. For those reasons, I love 

antique stores. There’s an attention to detail 

expressed on older finishes that I respect and 

admire,” says Miller, who appreciates the 

masterful mix of old and new. 

If a vintage find doesn’t quite match the 

finishes of other parts of your home, professionals 

like Miller, who specialize in solving 

decorative challenges with furniture, walls, 

ceilings and beyond, can help masterfully mix 

the old and new to create a cohesive look. For 

example, a new mirror that looks “too new” 

can have the mirror and metal antiqued, or 

By SHELBY SIMON 

the frame of a mirror can be refinished to 

match the walls. 

When deciding where and how to place 

mirrors in your home, “keep in mind that you 

will see two of whatever that mirror reflects,” 

says Miller, so make sure you like the view. 

“Be sure to notice the reflection from every 

direction… sit on the chairs and the sofa to 

see what it reflects.” 

Large mirrors placed opposite windows will 

bring in twice the light, while strategically-placed 

mirrors can create the illusion of more space. 

One benefit during the winter holidays? 

“Twice the Christmas!” says Miller. “Place that 

tall mirror adjacent to your tree—now it looks 

like two trees, and you’ll get to enjoy it from 

another angle and possibly another room.” 

For a large floor mirror, add dimension 

and adapt according to your style or holiday of 

choice. For an optical illusion Christmas tree, 

Miller suggests stacking several boxes wrapped 

in green paper, graduating in size from largest 

(on the bottom) to smallest, leaning against one 

side of the mirror. Add lights, a large bow and a 

garland, and the reflection will look like a tree! 

Many homes have an entryway featuring 

a hanging piece of art and a small table. Instead, 

Miller suggests replacing the art with a 

mirror and using small tabletop trees or other 

thematic decor for a touch of whimsy. A DIY 

holiday mirror decor idea that Miller loved 

creating with her kids was the creation of a 

Candyland tree: she took an old mirror and 

painted it pink, then glued on a ton of fake 

glittered gumdrops. They loaded their white 

bottlebrush tree with lights (on a white cord), 

lollipops and gingerbread men. Their DIY 

holiday mirror bounced the light and made 

the glittered ornaments extra sparkly. 

You can think of your home’s windows as 

mirrors and vice versa and apply the same decorating 

approach to both, according to Miller. 

Her pro tips: 

» For a glowing effect, use sticky strips to attach 

small fairy lights to the back of your mirror. 

» Hang a boxwood or frasier fir wreath with 

a wide ribbon right onto the mirror, the same 

way you would windows. Make sure the wreath 

is in proportion to the mirror — the bigger the 

mirror, the bigger the wreath should be! 

» Floral arrangements in front of mirrors are 

twice as impressive. Using easy-to-find foliage 

such as cuttings off the tree and magnolia 

garlands that adorn the historic houses of the 

Lowcountry is a great way to add local flair. 

» Evergreen fronds are perfect vase fillers 

for clove-pierced oranges or pomegranates on 

green floral sticks. Vary the height. Big, clear 

cylinder vases filled with shells or pecans are 

beautiful and accessible local elements to display. 

» Use dried fruit, pinecones, pheasant, 

guinea hen or turkey feathers in a premade 

garland and hang it above the mirror. (Remember 

that fresh fruit is heavy to use in 

arrangements.) 

» Mirrors placed behind candles in a fireplace 

hearth or over the mantle cane make the room 

feel larger. 

» Window film in red or green can temporarily 

tint the mirror. 

» Let it snow with a holiday stencil and apply 

artificial snow spray on the mirror. Use a 

razor blade to clean. 

Whatever your choice of mirror style or 

placement, the options for creativity are endless. 

With well-placed mirrors and the extra 

sparkle, lights and reflections they provide, 

they are sure to make a statement and a stunning 

display at home for the holidays. • 

PHOTO ADOBE STOCK


WELL STYLED | TABLESCAPES 

The Table is Set 

The more the merrier around these holiday-inspired place settings 

By SHELBY SIMON » Photos by ALEECE SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY 

To achieve a festive holiday table, remember that it’s all up to you! It doesn’t take 

much to transform a table into a welcoming gathering place for the holidays. A few showstopping 

pieces can go a long way, like guinea fowl placemats or a two-tiered serving tray that instead of holding 

pastries, is filled with bright citrus and topped with a stunning pineapple. Below are some creative tips 

from local experts in home décor on the art of tablescaping for the holidays. 

Bluebird Vintage 

1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd. Unit 1104, Mt. Pleasant 

(854) 222-3690 

925 Front St., Georgetown 

(843) 936-3697 

www.reddressersc.com 

Seizing the opportunity to amplify bright, standout items that are 

already in and around your home can create a festive and hospitable 

holiday tablescape that is anything but understated. 

Glenda Bradley, with Bluebird Vintage, says her team’s jumping 

off point for the design of this holiday table was the tomato red glass 

and metal table. They opted to go bold by voting on which set of fine 

china “popped” the most in contrast with the table’s strong background 

and landed upon Royal Doulton’s “Vanborough” as the winner. 

With those two decisions alone, 

the table already exuded glitz and 

glamour, so Bradley says going organic 

with the decorations felt like a natural 

choice for the aromas, ambiance and a 

nod to local symbols. 

The team only had to open the 

door to find one natural accent — the 

tea olive shrub, in bloom with little 

orange star-shaped flowers — from 

which they clipped a few branches to 

combine with fresh eucalyptus stems. 

“They made a lovely clean jasmine 

scent that naturally drew you in,” says 

Bradley. They were able to camouflage 

the floral water tubes with magnolia 

branches to keep everything fresh and 

aromatic. 

The pineapple, a symbol of hospitality 

and internationally associated 

with Charleston, was a perfect choice 

for the centerpiece. 

“We elevated it by tiering two 

pedestals, all the while keeping the 

height at a scale that still allows the guests to see each other,” says 

Bradley. Surrounding orange clementines echoed the color of the 

tea olive blossoms, while bright yellow lemons circled the base of the 

pineapple, bringing all the colors together. 

Large white satin bows came to life inspired by the etching on 

the vintage wine glasses, a motif that Bradley says is meant to remind 

us that it is a gift to be with family and friends. 

Pro Design Tips: 

» Don’t worry if you don’t have the end vision in your mind. 

Let your imagination guide you and build it as you go. 

» Feel free to mix styles and periods; it takes the stuffiness out of 

the event. 

» Use what you have to encourage conversation. (The antique samovar 

and original oil painting in the armoire are great conversation starters.) 


November/December 2021 | 63 


Rhodes Boutique and 

Rhodes Home & Gift 

92 Folly Road Blvd., Charleston and 84 Folly Road Blvd. 

(843) 225-5244 Rhodes Boutique 

(84) 789-3180 Rhodes Home & Gift 

www.rhodesboutique.com 

An elegant holiday tablescape does not have to be expensive 

— instead, you can create a versatile spread that can evolve to last all 

holiday season by bringing the colors outside into your home. Blair 

Nichols, designer and merchandiser at Rhodes Home & Gift, took 

this literally by bringing organic materials to the forefront in this 

autumn-inspired spread that stands to welcome guests throughout 

the holiday season. 

“The tablescape was inspired by the fall and the natural beauty of 

the season,” says Nichols. “It would be a great table for enjoying with 

family at Thanksgiving.” 

Different shades of oranges and 

yellows work well from Halloween 

through Thanksgiving, and the bright 

green napkins in contrast with the 

white plates could extend the framework 

of this tablescape into the winter 

holidays with a change of centerpiece 

and main accents. 

Wheat, pumpkins and gourds, 

all prevalent and easily accessible 

throughout the fall season, brought the 

outside in and set the tone for the natural 

color palette of this tablescape by 

Rhodes Boutique. “You don’t need one 

significant or expensive centerpiece to 

create a ‘fancy’ table,” says Nichols. The 

real pumpkins and gourds came from a 

nearby market to support local vendors. 

Gold accents scattered throughout 

make a standout statement of elegance 

amongst the organic elements. Bow 

napkin rings and festive wine glasses create the distinction of a special 

occasion rather than a Sunday night dinner. Guinea fowl placemats 

add texture and depth to more traditional white plates. “I believe the 

key to creating a good tablescape for a holiday is keeping the centerpieces 

low so nothing blocks the flow of conversation and all guests 

can see each other,” says Nichols. The antler holder and candlesticks 

add height to the décor without blocking the view of anyone seated. 

Rhodes Boutique and Rhodes Home & Gift is owned by 

Caroline Rhodes. 

Pro Design Tips: 

» Use what you have, such as simple, white dinner plates, and add 

pops of color to make it special for the holidays. 

» Mixing and matching colors and textures always works and adds depth 

to any tablescape. Tables do not have to be completely symmetrical. 

» You can never go wrong with gold accents and accessories. It’s timeless 

and dresses up any table. 



The 2021 

Holiday 

GIFT GUIDE 

1. Local Edisto Gold Honey - Pure, local South Carolina honey raw and unfiltered, harvested from bees near the Edisto River. 11 oz, $12 online at www.edistogoldhoney.com 

2. Peninsula Grill’s Ultimate Coconut Cake - The Ultimate Coconut Cake ® from Charleston’s own Peninsula Grill is a 12-layer masterpiece, available to be shipped across the United 

States via overnight delivery. $130 plus tax and shipping. Call 843-723-0700 to order. 3. Private Mixology Class - The ultimate gift for cocktail lovers—a private cocktail class with 

The Gin Joint’s bartenders at their downtown location at 182 E Bay St. $100 per person for up to 12 guests. Email drinkproper@theginjoint.com to schedule. 4. Oak Steakhouse at 

Home - Chef-selected PRIME Certified Angus Beef—the same type used at Oak Steakhouse—can be shipped nationwide. Culinary director Jeremiah Bacon hand-selects meats, 

roasts and assortment boxes that are vacuum packed, boxed on dry ice and delivered to your doorstep. www.oaksteakhousemeat.com 5. Cranberry Apple Walnut Balsamic 

Vinegar– A seasonal batch of Cranberry Apple Walnut Balsamic vinegar is hand-blended in Lowcountry Olive Oil’s kitchen. $17. Lowcountry Olive Oil, 272 Meeting St. and online at 

www.lowcountryoliveoil.com 6. King Bean Coffee - Brew some Christmas cheer with local freshly-roasted holiday coffees and ready-to-gift seasonal bundles. Starting at $13.49 plus 

shipping. King Bean Coffee Roasters, www.kingbean.com 7. “Pitmaster’s Secret” Six-Pack Gift Box. Ship to the BBQlover in your life. Select three bottles of sauce and three rubs to 

personalize a box for a true Southern treat. $49.99 plus tax and shipping, at www.melvinsbbq.com/collections. 8. Sweetgrass Vodka – This local award-winning vodka makes for the 

perfect holiday gift. Three times global masters winner in 2021: Best Micro-Distillery, Best Organic Vodka, Best Smooth Vodka. $24.99. Find at your local ABC store. 

for theFoodie 

2. 

1. 

3. 

8. 

7. 

5. 

4. 

6. 


1. 

2. 

for theHomebody 

4. 

3. 

5. 

6. 

1. Holiday Dog Treats & Toys – Spoil furry friends this holiday season and create your own festive dog cookie box or holiday-inspired plush toy. $14 & up at Michael’s Barkery Pet Spa 

& Boutique, 864 Island Park Dr., Suite 103, Daniel Island. 2. Edisto Gold Honey Soap - Natural, hand-crafted, skin-nourishing Edisto Gold Honey peppermint soap uses local honey 

from near the Edisto River. Comes with gift box. $10, online at www.edistogoldhoney.com 3. Ash + Vine Botanicals Candle - Locally-made Ash + Vine Botanicals soy wax candles 

are made with the purest essential oils and cotton braided wicks. $38 at Jolie Luxury Consignment, 2114 SC-41 Suite 103, Mt. Pleasant. 4. Plant H20 – For every green thumb, a selfwatering 

system for happy indoor plants, $24.99 at Flowertown Garden Center, 410 E 5th N St, Summerville. 5. Cavallini Paper & Co. Vintage Puzzles – These adorable puzzles come 

packaged in a tube and muslin bag for pieces and have various designs from dogs to national parks. $24 at Charleston Flower Market, 1952 Maybank Hwy., James Island. 

6. Joggle Board – A front porch favorite! The Joggle Factory produces a timeless, sustainable joggling board that helps keep the joggling tradition alive. Handcrafted with pride in 

Edisto, SC. Prices vary. www.thejogglefactory.com 


The 2021 

Holiday 

GIFT GUIDE 

for theHostess 

1. 

2. 

3. 

6. 

4. 

5. 

1. Glass Match Cloche– This hand-blown glass match cloche features a soft ombre finish and festive red tip matches. With a striker on the side and cork stopper bottom, this piece is 

the perfect accessory for any home. $36 at Nellie & Lo, 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd Ste B, Mt.Pleasant. 2. Handmade Oyster Baskets– Handmade oyster basket décor with an oyster 

is made by a local artist. $43. There are unique items from more than 20 local artists at Paisley of Daniel Island, 194 Seven Farms Drive # 600A. 3. Blueberry Square Serving Bowls 

- Beautifully hand-painted and microwave, dishwasher and oven safe, serving bowls add color and festivity to any holiday side dish. $146.85 for the set; individually starting at $41.95. 

Polish Pottery Gallery, 180 King St., Charleston. 4. Crystal Decanter - The Enzo crystal scotch or whiskey decanter by Badash is European crafted with environmentally-sustainable 

materials. $75, at Rhodes Boutique, 92 Folly Rd., Charleston and online at www.rhodesboutique.com 5. Chocolate Ornament - Renowned French Pastry Chef Rémy Fünfrock is 

bringing back his highly-anticipated handcrafted chocolate ornaments filled with pralines, chocolate truffles and mendiants. $20. La Pâtisserie at Hotel Bennett, 404 King St. 

6. Local Serving Boards - Serving boards are perfect for breakfast in bed, an overflowing charcuterie spread or a gorgeous focal point to any tabletop event with the words 

“Charleston” or “Mt. Pleasant” emblazoned on the board. Available exclusively at Bubbles Gift Shoppe, 2118 SC-41 STE 104, Mt. Pleasant. 


1. Chanel Repurposed Button Necklace - Several styles available, as well as coordinating earrings and bracelets. $120, at The Finicky Filly, 303 King St. www.thefinickyfilly.com 

2. Gift Card to Charleston Medical Spa - Charleston’s award-winning medical spa offers the most advanced treatments to help you look and feel your best, from HydraFacials to 

massages and more. Complimentary consultations. www.charlestonmedicalspa.com 3. Silk Scarf - A one-of-a-kind 100% silk 21 x 21 scarf, inspired by scenes of rural landscapes. 

$58 at contemporary boutique Julep, 57 Queen Street. 843-724-9144. 4. Orange Leather Necklace - The Laurens Necklace is a statement-making accessory featuring hand-cut 

draped leather fringe and bead detailing. $275 at Jahde Leather Atelier, 68 Queen Street. 5. Telfair Heel – The 31/2” Telfair heel provides support and comfort with a square toe and 

stacked heel. $135, at Charleston Shoe Company, 161 King Street & The Charleston City Market and online at www.charlestonshoeco.com 6. Holy City Lip Gloss – These beautiful and 

whimsical Lowcountry-inspired colors include “Kiawah Island,” “James Island,” “Folly Beach,” “East Bay Street” and more. $25 each at Jolie Lux Consignment, 2114 SC-41 Suite 103, Mt. 

Pleasant. 7. American Alligator Belt. This custom-fit buffed American alligator belt in chestnut from L.E.N. has been tanned and finished in France for a velvety soft, exquisite detail. 

$695. M. Dumas & Sons, 294 King St., 843-723-8603. 8. Plush Stuffed Animals – Delight children with “Scoop” and “Cookie” the official frog brother and sister mascots for Sweet 

theLadies 

Frog premium frozen yogurt in Mt. Pleasant. Get 10% off your bill when kids bring them in! During November and December, enjoy $1 off yogurt when you purchase any size plush 

for 

1. 

animal. $11.99-$19.99. Gift cards also make a delicious treat. 2114 Hwy 41, Suite 102, Mt. Pleasant. 

2. 

3. 

5. 

4. 

6. 

theKids 

8. 

And theMen 

7. 


Holiday Glam 



Lagence Double Breasted Sequin 

Blazer, $875; Drew Leather Crop 

Pants, $220; Seventy Tie Blouse, 

$328; Brackish Goose Feather 

Earrings, $175, at The Finicky Filly, 

303 King Street, Charleston. 


Lagence Long Sweater 

Coat, $895; Chanel Button 

Necklace, $120 at The 

Finniky Filly, 303 King St., 

Charleston; Metallic Pod 

Wreath at Charleston Flower 

Market, 1952 Maybank Hwy, 


Photography - Mira Adwell 

Wardrobe Styling - Melissa Medford 

Models - Choice with DirectionsUSA, 

Joshua with Tout Models 

Hair and Makeup - Julia Sorenson 

Special thanks to the venue The Cedar Room 

inside the Cigar Factory Charleston & 

Charleston Flower Market 


Badgley Mischka plaid sequin 

tunic, $320 and Badgley Mischka 

plaid sequin pants, $320; Matisse 

Riley heels, $80; Lisi Lerch Mary 

earrings, $98, at Rhodes Boutique, 

92 Folly Rd Blvd, Charleston. 


Sartorio jacket, $2,395; Eton shirt, 

$255; Eton tie, $145; Eton pocket 

square, $65; PT Pants, $445, at 

M. Dumas & Sons, 294 King St, 

Charleston. www.mdumasandsons.com 


Champagne sequin cocktail dress, 

$168 at Maris DeHart, 32 Vendue 

Range Suite 100, Charleston. 


Milly mermaid gown, $120 and 

Christian Louboutin poseidon 

kisslock clutch, $500, at Jolie Luxury 

Consignment Boutique, 2114 SC- 

41 Suite 103, Mt. Pleasant. 


A lavish Thanksgiving Day 

buffet at the Grand Oaks 

Ballroom at The Sanctuary 

on Kiawah Island. 


Holiday Dining 

Festive prix fixe menus & iconic Charleston settings 

By ELISE DEVOE 

The holidays are coming up, and—on pace with the rest of this year—way faster than 

expected. Now that restaurants are back in full swing, they can’t wait to host you and your 

loved ones for a holiday feast. This holiday season, we are especially grateful to be able to 

safely gather with family and enjoy some of the best food that Charleston has to offer. 

Oak Steakhouse 

17 Broad St. Charleston 

843-722-4220 

@oaksteakhouse 

Peninsula Grill was voted 

among the most romantic 

restaurants in the country 

by diners on OpenTable. 

Oak Steakhouse is an upscale setting for any holiday celebration. 

Their Thanksgiving menu will consist of a three-course prix fixe menu. 

While menus are being finalized, the first course will likely be a choice 

of seasonal soup, salad or a seafood option. The second course will 

feature a turkey entree with all the accoutrements, like their roasted 

brussels sprouts and sweet potato souffle. Their family-style sides, like 

roasted jalapeno cornbread and whipped potatoes, can be found on 

their menu all year long. For dessert, they usually stick to the classics 

of pecan and pumpkin pie. Indulge in a dessert cocktail from their 

extensive cocktail menu. Although they are not open on Christmas 

Day, any day can be a special occasion with their high-quality steaks 

and decadent side dishes. 

Peninsula Grill 

112 N. Market St. Charleston 

843-723-0700 

@peninsulagrill 

Celebrate the holiday season at this elegant oasis downtown just beyond 

the hustle and bustle of Market Street. Voted one of the most 

romantic restaurants in the country, Peninsula Grill dresses up for the 

holiday season, where you can enjoy a meal at the handsome dining 

room or the patio, lit by gas lanterns. Upscale Southern food greets 

diners including She crab soup and seasonal specialties like roast 

duck breast and lamb loin. At special treat—literally—is their famed 

12-layer coconut cake, only available during the holidays, where diners 

can get it by the slice. 


82 Queen offers three- and 

four-course menus in their 

historic dining rooms and the 

heated courtyard. 

Tavern&& Table 

100 Church St., Mt. Pleasant 

843-352-9510 

@tavernandtable 

Sharing a great meal with friends and family while overlooking Shem 

Creek is what the holidays in Charleston are all about. Tavern & Table 

can accommodate holiday celebrations ranging from a group sharing 

small plates and cocktails to elaborate feasts. Kick off the meal with 

one of their signature butcher boards which includes house-cured 

meat, accompaniments of pickles and preserved fruits and cheeses. 

Follow that with a selection from their raw bar of either oysters on 

the half shell or peel & eat shrimp. For a show-stopping presentation 

fit for a holiday celebration, try their 30oz pork chop. Enjoy it as a 

chop or porterhouse with gouda grits, grilled asparagus, sherry au jus 

and fennel pollen. Then finish off the meal with one of their signature 

cocktails, like their seasonal sangria or T&T Old Fashioned. 

Muse Restaurant & W ine Bar 

82 Society St, Charleston 

843-577-1102 

@musecharleston 

Muse is known as “Charleston’s Little Secret on Society Street” and 

now you are in on it, too. They serve Mediterranean-inspired dishes 

in a cozy environment. The restaurant is a renovated Charleston single 

house, so you immediately feel like family when you walk in the 

door. It’s like going to a family member’s house for the holidays, but 

with more professional cooking and less drama. Although they are 

closed on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, this is a cozy spot 

to get together with loved ones any time during the holiday season. 

They have a large selection of appetizers that are great for sharing. 

Their bruschetta is perfectly crisp with a bright tang from the tomato 

to kick off the meal. For the main course, their tagliatelle bolognese 

is one of their signature dishes as well as the veal scallopini. To complete 

the meal, sample one of their 75 wines by the glass. 

82Queen 

82 Queen St., Charleston 

843-723-7591 

@82queenchas 

82 Queen makes this year’s holiday planning easy and gatherings 

particularly memorable. Whether it be an extravagant corporate 

event or elevated family gathering, 82 Queen can accommodate. 

They have nine historic dining rooms and a jaw-droppingly beautiful 

heated courtyard to choose from. Guests select from a tailored 

list of chef-designed menu options, including three or four course 

dinners featuring beloved Lowcountry favorites such as their awardwinning 

She crab soup, signature barbeque shrimp & grits and iconic 


Vegan family meal favorites to-go 

include collard greens, cornbread 

stuffing, mac & cheese and banana 

pudding at Vined The Vegan Experience. 

PHOTO BUBBLE PHOTOGRAPHY 

fried green tomatoes. Brunch and lunch are also memorable meals. 

Groups can book by emailing trista@queenstreethospitality.com. 

Kiawah Island Golf Resort 

1 Sanctuary Beach Dr., Kiawah Island 

843-768-2121 

@kiawahresort 

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, guests of Kiawah Island 

Golf Resort will find a series of exciting events and celebrations 

to mark the festive season. Guests can reserve seats at the Grand 

Oaks Ballroom, Jasmine Porch, the Ocean Room, or the Player’s 

Pub at Cougar Point to enjoy a holiday meal. They are also offering 

Thanksgiving dinner to-go where you can choose a full meal that 

serves 8-10 people or order just the turkey or just the sides – either 

way, the cooking is on them! Orders must be placed by Friday, 

Nov. 19 and picked up on Thursday, Nov. 25 between 11 a.m. – 4 

p.m. at the West Beach Conference Center. On Christmas Eve and 

Christmas Day, restaurants throughout the resort host festive holiday 

meals to properly ring in the season. Offerings range from Tomasso’s 

traditional Italian Festa dei Sette Pesci (Feast of Seven Fishes) on 

Christmas Eve to an elegantly sophisticated Christmas Day dinner 

at The Ocean Room. Visit www.kiawahresort.com/dining. 

V ined The Vegan Experience 

5117 Dorchester Rd. Unit G, North Charleston 

843-996-4621 

@VinedTVE 

This holiday season, Vined The Vegan Experience in North Charleston 

is serving up vegan versions of classic holiday sides. Whether you’re 

looking for a vegan option for one of your guests or just looking to try 

something different this year, they are sure to have a delicious option 

for you. They are offering family-sized servings of their vegan collard 

greens, cornbread stuffing, mac & cheese, candied yams, banana pudding, 

peach cobbler, and sweet potato pie that can feed between six and 

eleven people. For Thanksgiving order inquiries, email 

vinedtheveganexperience@gmail.com. The order deadline for their 

delectable side dishes is Friday, November 19 and order pick up is on 

Wednesday, November 24 at 5117 Dorchester Road in North Charleston. 

Thanksgiving vegan dishes at 

Vined The Vegan Experience. 


A prix fixe 

Thanksgiving feast at 

The Watch Rooftop 

Kitchen & Spirits. 

Swamp Fox Restaurant 

Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King St., Charleston 

843-724-8888 

@theswamp_fox 

Located within the Francis Marion Hotel in the heart of downtown 

Charleston, Swamp Fox Restaurant is hosting a Thanksgiving Day 

three-course meal all day from noon until 9:30 p.m. The dinner is $50 

per person and $22 for kids 12 and under. The meal includes a choice of 

a mimosa or Bloody Mary and an amuse bouche of Appalachian corn 

pudding with fig preserve. The first course is a choice of soup—She-crab 

and heirloom carrot or ginger soup—or a choice of salad—winter green, 

traditional Caesar, or bibb salad. The second course includes the choice 

of Swamp Fox shrimp and grits, Joyce Farms heritage turkey, eight-hour 

roasted beef rib, or honey bourbon glazed salmon. The final course is your 

choice of dessert: gluten free chocolate lava cake, pecan pie, baked apple 

galette or pumpkin cheesecake. Call 843-724-8888 for reservations. 

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen Spirits 

75 Wentworth St., Charleston 

843-518-5115 

@therestorationhotel 

A variety of desserts 

offered at The Watch 

Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits. 

Inside the modern Restoration Hotel and Residences downtown, The 

Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits bar and farm-to-table restaurant is 

kicking off the holiday season with a decadent special Thanksgiving 

menu for dine-in. For $65 per person, guests have the entrée options 


of roasted turkey breast with brown gravy, dill marinated salmon, or 

honey glazed ham. They will feature a variety of sides such as apple 

brioche stuffing, oven baked macaroni and cheese, sweet and spicy 

collard greens and more. Additional accoutrements include cornbread 

with honey butter, mixed greens salad, cranberry sauce and deviled 

eggs. Thanksgiving would not be complete without dessert, so they are 

offering apple crisp, pumpkin pie, and carrot cake as options. If you’re 

only here for the pie, The Rise coffee bar on the first floor will be selling 

individual holiday pies as well. Pie orders must be placed by Thursday 

Nov. 18 to be picked up on Tuesday Nov. 23 or Wednesday Nov. 24. 

The Rise’s Christmas pie menu is TBD but they also serve frittatas, 

Benedicts, breakfast sandwiches and more. 

The Kingstide 

Celebrate the holidays with a waterfront view at The Kingstide on 

Daniel Island. They will be serving Thanksgiving in their downstairs 

dining room from 2-8 p.m. The meal is $60 per person and starts 

off with a choice between heirloom pumpkin soup or charred broccoli 

salad. For the main course, they are serving confit turkey with 

cornbread foie gras stuffing, sweet potato souffle, smoked green bean 

casserole, and turkey jus. Another entrée option is a whole roasted 

fish, which will be made specially for the Thanksgiving Day menu. 

They will offer sides a la carte and this meal is available for dine-in 

only. Reservations are available to be booked now. They will not be 

open for Christmas, but they are a festive destination to visit with the 

whole family to have an elegant seafood dinner. • 

Pumpkin Pie at The Rise 

coffee bar, which 

supplies treats to 

The Watch 

Rooftop 

Kitchen & 

Spirits. 

32 River Landing Dr., Daniel Island 

843-216-3832 

@thekingstide 

The Kingstide on Daniel 

Island, which will offer a special 

Thanksgiving Day menu, 

overlooks the Wando River. 

PHOTO JUSTIN TUCKER PHOTOGRAPHY 


Beach Cottage Style 

Bringing the beach home on Folly Beach 

The cottage sits just one block 

from the ocean and one block 

from Center Street with shops 

and dining. 


Even though it checks in at just 780 square feet, the features of this Folly Beach lilac cottage are 

plentiful. It contains a fenced double lot, which provides plenty of off-street parking and helps 

prevent beachgoers or others from walking through the yard. Even better, the house was built with 

three levels of porches, so that it takes full advantage of the partial ocean view. 

By ROB YOUNG » Photos by KEEN EYE MARKETING 


When Elizabeth Baker first bought the home on East Arctic Avenue 

on Folly Beach in 2018, it needed a lot of work. 

“There were popcorn ceilings, laminate floors, walls where walls 

shouldn’t be. The carpeting was worn and original to the house,” she 

says. “The roof was leaking; we lived with buckets gathering water. 

Then after Hurricane Dorian (in 2019), some water started coming 

from under the floor, which caused the laminate floors to peel. Once 

we removed those, contractors found black mold beneath the floors 

and cabinets.” 

Now, it bears little resemblance to its predecessor both inside 

and out. Bright blue Bahama shutters on the outside and thick white 

plantation shutter blinds in the bedrooms add a classic coastal touch 

and large glass doors to the screened-in porch open into the renovated 

open living and kitchen space. 

A major improvement was adding a heated, 30-foot pool, built 

by Heritage Pools, a locally owned and operated company from North 

Charleston. Baker and her two kids spend lots of time in and around 

the pool with an impressive collection of inflatable pool toys. 

With ample outdoor seating, it’s easy to spend relaxing days and 

evenings with friends, family or kids. “For resale and rental, having a 

pool is priceless,” Baker says. 

Professional Stager 

As a Charleston realtor with REMAX Southern Shores, Baker knows 

the score. 

She puts it bluntly: “We live in an HGTV society.” 

HGTV has found a niche among Americans interested in buying 

and renovating their homes. She was featured in the HGTV Island 

Life, for James Island buyers. 


It’s a growing audience, and the prescient Baker has capitalized on 

the trend. “People just can’t envision a space without the accompanying 

pictures or footage,” she says. 

That’s why she focuses not only on selling homes, but staging them. 

“I realized these houses weren’t equipped for staging,” Baker says. 

“I thought if you want to list it, I’ll stage it for free to get it sold.” 

Her staging is a valuable service. “Say, if you have an office, but it 

can actually be used as a bedroom, I can place a queen-sized bed in the 

room to help buyers understand the space,” she says. 

She often uses buyers’ own items to stage their home, adding a bit 

of coastal touches, which is a major selling point for any new buyer to 


House Highlights 

Her own house reflects her love of coastal style and consists of four 

bedrooms and three bathrooms, highlighted by its bright and open 

feel. A spacious kitchen has granite countertops, mermaid tile, a gas 

range, stainless steel appliances, and other amenities, including a pool 

table that doubles as a dining room table. A standout turquoise tile in 

Dynamic Celeste from Melcer Tile in North Charleston brings the 

beach indoors. 

“You don’t have to go custom with everything,” she said, adding 

that most of the lighting fixtures and bathroom floor tile came from 

Lowe’s. 

The downstairs bedrooms both have TVs. One has a king-sized 

bed, while the other has a queen-sized bed and en-suite bathroom. The 

other two bedrooms are upstairs. One has another queen-sized bed 

and private porch, and the other comes with two twin beds, and a bunk 

with a full-sized bed on bottom and twin on top.

An Olhausen Farm Edition 

pool table from Charleston 

Billiards doubles as a table when 

not in use. 

Standout turquoise backsplash tile 

in the color Dynamic Celeste from 

Melcer Tile in North Charleston 

brings the beach indoors. 


The home office 

design used pecky 

cypress finishings. 

All the bedrooms 

have balconies. 

Partial ocean views 

from the top balcony. 


What would a beach house be without taking advantage of the 

beach views? Three levels of porches boast ocean views, with the second 

floor screened in to optimize comfort and a top floor veranda off 

the master bedroom. 

Market Trends 

Baker arrived at her real estate career in a roundabout way. Originally from 

St. Louis, Baker joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 19. She spent three years 

on Parris Island, another year on Okinawa Island, and two years in California. 

The experiences gave Baker her first taste of coastal life. 

She later worked in law enforcement and as a private investigator 

prior to becoming a realtor. “I took a class and really got into real estate 

on a whim,” she says. 

But you can still see evidence of her prior careers today. She often 

appears in star-spangled attire, her skirts bright red, blue or striped. 

The box truck she uses for work features a dual-sided profile of herself 

sitting on a couch. Half of the portrait shows Baker in her Marine 

uniform, the other half depicts her wearing one of her patriotic dresses. 

Folly Life 

When not relaxing at her house on Folly, Baker tends to spend her 

days traveling with her two kids, a son and daughter. “We bounce 

around camping,” Baker says. “We’re all over Charleston and Myrtle 

Beach, and I’m closing on a home on Lake Marion so the kids can 

experience lake life.” 

But she always looks forward to coming home. The ocean is right 

across the street, and the Folly Pier just one-and-a-half blocks away. 

Folly Beach bars and restaurants, such as Chico Feo, Rita’s, Taco Boy, 

and Jack of Cups Saloon are within walking distance. “It’s just a very 

walkable life,” Baker says, “which is the reason I chose Folly.” 


Builder Resources 

Heritage Pools, LLC 

www.swimhere.com 

843-762-3417 

Top Dog Roofs 

www.topdogroofs.com 

843-901-5824 

Charleston Billiards 

Olhausen Farm Edition Pool table 

www.charlestonbilliards.com 

SonofaBrew 

Custom woodwork 

843-834-1225 

Pella windows & doors of Johns Island 

843-377-2500 

Bloomin Blinds of Charleston (interior plantation shutters) 

843-377-2500 

Lowcountry Hurricane Protection (Bahama exterior shutters) 

843-822-5519 


Large white interior plantation 

shutters from Bloomin Blinds of 

Charleston add a coastal feel. 


Kids activities and a visit with 

Mrs. Claus await families on the 

weekends at Lebanon Christmas 

Tree Farm. 

A Timeless Tradition 

M 

Many Christmas movie characters have attempted the feat of cutting down 

their own Christmas tree. Saws at the ready, roof racks on the station wagon, the goal to infuse 

some holiday cheer into their family members. One beloved tree farm in the Charleston area continues 

to offer the timeless tradition. Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm in Ridgeville—about 20 minutes from 

Summerville—is a beloved working Christmas tree farm, with thousands of Christmas trees of all 

shapes and sizes on over 30 acres, ripe for the cutting. 

Enter through big iron gates to witness this 

labor of love started by local veterinarian, the 

late Kim Yerich in 1985, named for the Lebanon 

community he cherished. 

Among the thousands of trees are local 

South Carolina Christmas trees, including 

the Leyland Cypress, Carolina Sapphire, 

There’s magic in the air at Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm 

By JENNY PETERSON 

Spruce Pine and Virginia Pine. The trees take 

five years to mature, meaning that the tree you 

pick this year was planted as a sapling in 2016. 

It’s an entire experience to locate the 

perfect Christmas tree, cut it down and get 

the whole family into the spirit. 

“This is something that takes families 

away from using electronics,” said Julianna 

Velarde, who is now running the farm with 

her husband Cesar. “I started helping my dad 

on the farm when I was a little girl and I’d sit 

on the chair and cut the rope when the trees 

were netted.” 

For those who adore the quintessential 

PHOTOS ALEECE SOPHIA PHOTOGRAPHY, LEBANON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 


Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm owners 

Julianna Velarde and her husband Cesar 

Velarde. Julianna ran the tree farm with her 

late father, Kim Yerich, who started it in 1985. 


(Right): A train ride for kids was added 

to the Christmas Tree Farm; Rows of 

South Carolina Christmas trees ready for 

the season; On weekends, Santa makes an 

appearance at the farm. 

Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir, Lebanon Christmas 

Tree Farm ships those fresh-cut from North 

Carolina and stands them up in a forest setting, 

so families can still get the experience of 

choosing and cutting their perfect tree. 

“It’s not a Christmas tree lot; it’s like you 

are picking out a tree from the field, that’s 

what we were going for,” Velarde said. “We 

ship premium, top-rated trees that are fuller 

and prettier.” 

For a lifelong Christmas tree farmer in 

South Carolina, Julianna is partial to the local 

trees grown in Ridgeville. 

“My favorite has to be the Carolina 

sapphire; I call this the ‘Lowcountry favorite’ 

because it’s native to South Carolina, it has 

a blueish tint to it and I love smell; it is so 

fragrant and beautiful, it is definitely my favorite,” 

Velarde said. 

Lebanon Christmas Tree Farms takes 

care of everything; providing saws and chainsaws 

(although you can bring your own), 

netting and even securing your tree on top of 

your vehicle. 

Starting on Nov. 20, the tree farm will 

welcome people to the property for the 2021 

season. 

Julianna has built upon the tree-cutting 

experience over the last decade, now adding 

the weekend attraction “Santa’s Workshop” 

with train rides, hay rides, hot cocoa 

and apple cider, a food truck, meeting with 

Santa and even letting children mail letters to 

Santa, where each and every one gets a mailed 

response. 

“On the weekends, we have Santa, Mrs. 

Claus and holiday arts and crafts and I usually 

add more things each year, like a scavenger 

hunt,” she said. 

Many families end up picking a tree 

and then spending hours exploring the fields 

among rows of planted trees, visiting Santa’s 

Workshop and enjoying refreshments and 

activities. 

“We have this holding station for trees 

when people choose and cut their trees and 

we always think someone cut down a tree and 

left it here, but really they’ve been spending 

the entire day on the tree farm. They always 

come back and get their tree,” Velarde said. 

Julianna said that seeing the same families 

come back each year to the Christmas tree 

farm is what keeps her going. 

“It’s so sweet to see the families who 

come every year and we get to know them. If 

we didn’t see someone, my dad and I would 

talk and say, ‘so-and-so didn’t come, we better 

check on them.’” 

This is a bittersweet year for Julianna; 

it’s the first year Velarde is running the farm 

without her father, who passed away in August. 

Her husband, Cesar Velarde, was granted November 

off from active-duty military to help 

his wife and the business. 

Owning and running a tree farm is a 

full-time job. Pruning, watering, maintenance, 

pest control and more are required to get the 

full, bushy trees worthy of a holiday home. 

“Growing up, my father taught me how 

to plant trees, prune them, use fertilizer, spray 

weed control...we were right there together 

drinking iced tea while doing it,” she said. 

“People don’t realize it’s a full time job, it’s 

Monday-Friday and there’s always something 

that needs to be done on the Christmas trees— 

we even spray a food coloring-based product to 

make them more traditional green.” 

To keep the tree farm replenished, every 

January, they take inventory of how many 

were cut down that season in order to know 

how many more need to be planted. 

PHOTO ALEECE SOPHIA 



“My dad’s rule of thumb was always that 

we wanted to plant two trees for every one that 

was cut, but we have bumped that up even more 

because we have been busier,” Julianna said. “ 

We plant trees next to every stump we see.” 

True to their love for the Lebanon 

community, the tree farm donates a tree to 

the Lebanon Community Center and offers 

prices as low as possible, based on the height 

of the tree per foot, which on the tree farm 

can reach an impressive 40 feet tall. Garland, 

wreaths and tabletop trees also available. 

“My dad and I always thought that everyone 

should have a Christmas tree and every child 

should be able to have fun and participate,” 

Julianna said. They offer active duty military 

discounts and don’t charge admission to enjoy 

the tree farm or meet Santa. Activities have 

nominal fees. 

“We have thousands of people that come 

in each year and it’s unbelievable how when my 

dad and I revamped the business, I was sitting 

on the back of his pickup truck and we were 

praying, ‘God, please let us have just have one 

customer today,’” Julianna recalls. “It’s unbelievable. 

We are so blessed with the support of 

the community and we feel so much love.” • 

The Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm is located at 

253 Needle Ln, Ridgeville. The season officially 

opens on Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and will 

run until Dec. 12. Hours are Monday- Friday: 10 

a.m.-5:30 p.m. and on Thanksgiving day from 2 

p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Activities with Santa and Santa’s 

Workshop are held on Saturdays and Sunday only 

as well as Black Friday from 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. 

Check their website at www.lebanonchristmastree.com 

and @Lebanon.Christmas.Tree.Farm on 

Facebook for announcements and updates. 

PHOTO ALEECE SOPHIA 


Food 

DINING OUT | THAT’S AMORE | IN THE KITCHEN | RESTAURANT GUIDE 

Lobster 

Agnolotti 

Lobster Agnolotti sits atop a shellfish 

sauce alongside pearl onions, chives and 

bottarga, a wonderfully salty seafood 

delicacy, at The Kingstide. 

PHOTO JAMES STEFIUK 


FOOD | DINING OUT 

By WENDY SWAT SNYDER 

Photos by JAMES STEFIUK 

The Kingstide 

Daniel Island’s New Coastal Dining Destination 

Onew restaurants has opened on 

Daniel Island, and islanders are thrilled 

to have it. 

The Kingstide offers guests one of the 

city’s few true waterfront dining spots, just 

One of charleston’s hottest 

15 minutes, give or take, from the historic 

downtown area—and 30 minutes by ferry. 

In a stunning setting overlooking the Wando 

River, diners enjoy a seafood-centric menu 

surrounded by Southern-style gardens, bubbling 

fountains and wildlife-filled walking 

trails. In the short time since opening in 

March 2021, the eatery has earned a reputation 

for exceptional service and food, and a 

fantastic nautical vibe to boot. 

A project of Charleston-based Indigo 

Road Hospitality Group, The Kingstide anchors 

a luxury mixed-use community, The 

Waterfront, created by East West Partners, a 

Colorado-based development firm. 

“They came to me three or four years 

ago,” says Steve Palmer, founder of Indigo 

Road, the powerhouse behind a multitude 

of successful concepts—locally, O-Ku Sushi, 

Oak Steakhouse and Indaco—and well as 

restaurants scattered across a half dozen states 

and Washington D.C. 

“At the time I was a little skeptical about 

Daniel Island, as I hadn’t really done anything 

on that side of town, but the managing partner 

of East West really had a vision for what 

The Waterfront could be, so we collaborated 

about the food and the development. They’ve 

been great partners.” 

The Daniel Island market proved to 

be an opportunity for the group’s caliber of 

restaurants. 

“From the moment we opened, our instincts 

told us we’d be busy,” says Indigo Road 

chief restaurant officer Jon Murray. “But we 

had no idea we’d be as busy as we are. The 

community has embraced us.” 


The sprawling property boasts two stories 

of wide piazzas—a classic element of 

Charleston’s architectural style—for dining 

al fresco. Aquatic notes running through the 

restaurant are understated, like the pale bluegreen 

palette that also helps blend the structure 

with the natural landscape. 

Soft whites lighten the exterior and shiplap 

walls inside. Wide windows and warm 

hardwoods combine with contemporary 

furnishings and fixtures, delivering a sleek, 

light-filled setting. Charleston architect David 

Thompson and designer Cortney Bishop 

were the design team on the project. 

Understated is also how executive chef 

Kevin Getzewich describes his approach in 

The Kingstide kitchen. 

“The food we’re doing is simple, not 

pretentious,” explains Getzewich. “Our focus 

is on the freshest ingredients and proper technique—cooking 

from a place of passion—not 

an ego-driven menu.” 

An alum of The Restaurant School at 

Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, he reconnected 

with the Indigo Road Group following 

past executive chef stints at their King 

Street properties Indaco and The Macintosh. 

“There aren’t many waterfront restaurants 

in Charleston,” notes Getzewich. “Steve 

and Jeremiah Bacon’s (executive chef/ partner) 

vision for The Kingstide was to fill that 

niche—with something affordable, but also 

special occasion.” 

The autumn evening my guest and I visited 

The Kingstide, we opted for window seats 

in the main floor dining room, with views of 

the sun setting over the river, an open kitchen 

fueled by a wood-fired hearth, and a chef ’s 

“rail” for an up-close culinary experience. 

We dove into the appetizers that ar-

(left) Coastal blues and greens in the dining room are 

indicative of the seafood-forward menu; (right) 

Executive chef Kevin Getzewich; (below) The lobster 

agnolotti sits atop a shellfish sauce alongside pearl 

onions, chives and bottarga, a wonderfully salty seafood 

delicacy; the casual yet elevated outdoor dining area is 

perfect for the neighborhood. 

rived via Carlene Keegan, our charming and 

knowledgeable server. The pickled shrimp was 

bright and perfectly cooked, with a sprinkling 

of microgreens and golden papaya, carrot, cucumber, 

radish, fennel and tangy nuoc cham 

delivering a lovely contrast in textures. 

Among the local and regional purveyors the 

kitchen showcases are Abundant Seafood, Crosby’s 

Seafood, Clammer Dave, Tarvin Seafood, 

Lowcountry Shellfish, Lowcountry Oyster, Barrier 

Island Oyster and CudaCo Seafood House. 

The grilled octopus—a bestseller—was 

fork-tender with a hint of oak wood smoke. 

The chef uses a simple technique, simmering 

the octopus in a water bath scented with 

star anise, tamari and mirin before it hits the 

hearth. 

The lobster agnolotti, another bestselling 

dish, featured lobster-laden housemade 

pasta in a sauce enriched with roasted lobster 

and shrimp shell stock, savory bottarga and a 

whiskey deglaze. 

The richly-flavored pub steak was another 

winner at the table. The kitchen uses the 

hangar and flat iron cuts of only hormonefree, 

humanely treated Certified Angus Beef. 

“We do as much as we can to offset the 

environmental impact of beef,” said Getzewich, 

adding that Jeremiah Bacon is a CAB 

Brand Ambassador. 

Seasoned simply with salt and pepper 

and grilled over an open flame, the steak was 

melt-in-your-mouth tender and came plated 

with a bernaise aioli and perfectly crisp frites. 

We couldn’t resist sampling a side dish of 

wood-fired carrots featuring ras el hanut and 

a yogurt sauce—it was outstanding. Ras el 

hanut is a Morrocan spice blend comprised of 

at least a dozen freshly ground spices. Its spicy 

and sweet profile brought the lightly charred 

baby carrots to life. 

Our server insisted we also try one of her 

favorites, the Brussels sprouts. Another tasty 

side, the charred sprouts were a contrast in 

textures and flavors: tangy with pickled shallot 

and a chili lime glaze; and savory pancetta 

adding a toothsome bite. 

Growing up in the Polish kitchens of 

his grandmother and mom, Getzewich said 

that eating novelties like pickled herring and 

smokey kielbasa as a kid influenced his 

cooking style. 

For dessert, we boxed up a mini-cheese 

cake housemade-for-one by sister-restaurant 

Mercantile and Mash. Executive pastry chef 

Alex Kowaleski says her kitchen produces 

the desserts for all Indigo Road’s Charleston 

region properties. 

“I try to keep the desserts simple—elevated 

but humble,” says Kowaleski. “My aim is to 

make people happy.” 

She explains that the use of egg, fat, 

heavy cream and lemon produce a lighter 

cheesecake than the cream cheese-based New 

York style. Topped with a compote of sweet, 

seasonal berries, the dish was a refreshing finish 

to our seafood-rich dinner. • 

The Kingstide 

32 River Landing Dr., Daniel Island 

843-216-3832 

www.thekingstide.com 


FOOD | THAT’S AMORE 

The Italian Table 

Amici’s Italian Bistro serves feel-good favorites from the heart 

F 

By JENNA LEY-JAMISON 

Photos by MICHELLE BRYANT 

From childhood cooking lessons in her “Nana’s” 

New York kitchen, to whipping up her own delectable 

dishes inside the kitchen at North Charleston’s Amici’s Italian 

Bistro, Jennifer French has spent a lifetime around authentic Italian 

food surrounded by family. 

“We just always had big family meals and my 

cousins lived in my neighborhood, and they 

were always over,” said French, co-owner and 

manager of Amici’s. “I just don’t know any other 

way; it just was natural.” 

Simply put: the act of cooking stirs up a 

myriad of blissful emotions and memories for her. 

“It gives me nostalgia; it just brings me 

back to my childhood,” French said. 

She now keeps the familial tradition alive 


with her own daughters, Anne and Abby— 

who also both work at Amici’s—teaching them 

the beloved heirloom recipes her own mother, 

aunt and grandmother shared with her. 

It’s been six years since French purchased 

Amici’s. In September 2015, she and her son 

Tom took a leap of faith and purchased the 

location. Having previously served as an employee 

at Amici’s predecessor—a restaurant 

named Pino’s—French decided it was time 

(above) Red-and-white checkered tablecloths in 

the cozy dining room; Jennifer French, owner and 

manager of Amici’s Italian Bistro (right) A warm 

and comforting atmosphere awaits diners at Amici’s 

Italian Bistro.

to pursue her own entrepreneurial dreams 

and she quickly got to work transforming the 

facility into a place to call her own, starting 

with a new name. 

“I renamed it to Amici’s because it means 

‘friends’ in Italian,” French said, “and since 

none of my extended family lives here, I knew 

my friends would be with me and help me.” 

To feel a little bit more at home, she 

renovated the building’s interior to reflect the 

favorite Italian restaurant she frequented as a 

child in New York. Upon stepping through 

the front doors, a large part of her customer 

base immediately feels at home, too. 

“It’s old school Italian. When everyone 

from up North walks in, they say, ‘Oh my 

gosh, it’s just like New York!’” she said. 

That means red-and-white checkered 

tablecloths and the iconic sounds of Dean 

Martin and Frank Sinatra wooing patrons 

over the speakers. 

One thing’s certain—French and 

Amici’s are the real deal for those looking for 

the perfect dining destination with a menu, 

décor and ambiance reminiscent of the bootshaped 

Motherland. 

More specifically, French characterizes 

her menu items as “American-Italian” with 

many of dishes and flavors stemming from 

the Naples region of the Mediterranean 

country. Think tantalizing staples like lasagna, 

cheese ravioli, chicken marsala and eggplant 

and chicken parmesan. But it’s the “chicken 

Amici’s,” French said, that her son created, 

that’s a “huge seller.” 

But it’s every menu item that the kitchen 

staff pours their heart and soul into handmaking 

each day so customers receive fresh 

and memorable fare. 

“We make all our sauces homemade 

every day; we bread our eggplant; bread our 

chicken; stuff our manicotti,” French said. 

“We have great servers; we treat everybody 

like family.” 

In addition to a cozy atmosphere and 

hearty, satisfying meals, Amici’s offers its 

patrons cooking classes and monthly wine 

dinners that explore the labels and cuisine of 

other cultures and countries. 

And don’t forget about the dessert. The 

menu features no shortage of sweets, including 

limoncello cake, cannoli and French’s 

favorite—the tiramisu. 

“I make it homemade. It’s truly a labor 

of love; it’s like a little piece of heaven on a 

plate,” French said. 

French largely commends her head chef, 

Mike Mancino, with bringing the recipes to life. 

French has no regrets about pursuing 

her culinary passion and praises her family for 

supporting her “every step of the way.” 

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without my 

husband and my family,” she said. “My husband 

just watches me put in these long hours, 

and he’s very supportive. “I love it; I truly love 

what I do, but I don’t feel like it’s work.” 

During the pandemic, Amicis’s gained 

new customers as French found a unique opportunity 

to start showcasing her talent to the 

social media world through a cooking series. 

She routinely posted cooking videos to Facebook, 

and the response was overwhelming. 

“It just truly took off and had 10k viewers,” 

French said. 

The success of her series prompted a new 

project—writing a cookbook. 

After a year of compiling her and her 

family’s top recipes, she wrote a book, “My 

Menu of Memories,” which she describes as 

her greatest career achievement and a meaningful 

act of love. 

Released on Mother’s Day 2021, French 

dedicated the publication to her mom. So far, 

more than 500 copies have been sold. 

“I feel like I’m keeping everything that 

they taught me alive,” she said. “I don’t want 

to forget anything, and I don’t want my kids 

to forget anything, so I felt like putting it into 

writing—it’s kind of like a legacy.” • 

Amici’s is located at 7648 Northwoods Blvd and 

open 4-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For 

more information, visit amicisitalianbistro.com. 

FOCUS ON FABULOUS CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY 


FOOD | IN THE KITCHEN 

Rich Flavors 

Recipes and Photos by KAITLIN GOODING 


Winter is quietly creeping in with the feasts of the holiday season. The cooler 

temperatures may have your culinary heart yearning for rich flavors like this creamy pumpkin apple soup. Look 

no further than this mini peppermint chocolate cake if you need a quick dessert for your dinner party. The 

butternut squash mix provides a je ne sais quoi that elevates these rillette crostinis to the next level. Have 

vegetarians joining you? No problem. The butternut squash serves as a standalone dish as well. Greet the early 

risers on Christmas morning with a cinnamon-cranberry streusel or share a cheers with family when you make 

this apple bomb cocktail. 

Cinnamon Cranberry Streusel 

Rice Krispie Layers 

1 cup of milk 

3 eggs 

1.5 cups cranberries 

1/2 tsp cardamom 

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/8 tsp clove 

1 1/4 cup brown sugar 

12 tbsp butter 

Pinch of salt 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

Crumble Topping 

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

8 tbsp butter 

1 tsp cinnamon 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 baking 

pan with parchment paper. 

2. Combine the butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, and egg 

in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. 

3. In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder, flour, spices, 

and salt together. Combine the wet and dry 

ingredients until you have a smooth batter. 

4. Pour the mix into the pan and smooth it out evenly. 

Distribute the cranberries over the top and 

lightly press them into the batter. 

5. Combine the ingredients for the topping until it begins 

to crumble, and sprinkle it over top. 

6. Add the pan to the oven and cook for 45-50 minutes. 

Apple Bomb Cocktail 

Yields: 1 drink 

Ingredients 

2 ounces bourbon 

6 ounces cider 

1/2 ounce lemon juice 

1 ounce ginger- honey syrup 

Ginger - Honey Syrup 

1 cup water 

1/3 cup ginger slices (peeled) 

1 cup honey 

Optional: cinnamon + sugar for rim 

Directions: 

1. Create the ginger- honey syrup by combining water, ginger, 

and honey in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce 

the heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove the 

pot from the heat and let it cool for 45 minutes before 

straining the syrup and storing in an air-tight container. 

2. Combine the cider, ginger-honey syrup, bourbon, and lemon 

juice by shaking it in a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Pour 

over ice and garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick. 



Butternut Squash Mix 

Yields: 3-4 for a side 

Ingredients 

1 butternut squash, peeled & cubed into 1/2” pieces 

2 tbsp olive oil 

1 tbsp honey 

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 

arils from 1 pomegranate 

1/2 cup feta cheese 

1/2 cup pecans (chopped) 

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350. On a baking sheet 

lined with parchment paper, toss together 

butternut squash with 1 tbsp olive oil, 

honey, cinnamon, and salt. Pop it into the oven and 

roast them for 25 minutes or until squash is soft. 

2. While the squash is roasting, add pecans 

and sage to a pan with 1 tbsp olive oil and 

1/2 tsp cinnamon. Mix in the pan and 

cook on low-medium heat for approximately two 

minutes. Pecans should be a shade darker and sage crips. 

Be careful not to burn them. 

3. Add the squash to a bowl and mix with pomegranate, 

feta, and crisp sage. This can be served as a stand-alone 

dish or top off these rillette crostinis. 

Pork Rillette Crostinis 

Ingredients 

2 lbs pork shoulder, cut into 1-2 inch pieces 

1/2 cup vegetable oil 

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 sweet onion, diced 

salt 

3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed 

1 Baguette 

1 tsp fresh ground pepper 

5 thyme sprigs 

4 dried bay leaves 

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Season the pork with salt and spread it out on to a large baking 

dish. Pour the oil over top and add the onions, garlic, 

thyme, and bay leaves between the pork. Sprinkle with cinnamon 

and ground pepper. 

3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and add to the oven to cook 

for three hours. 

4. Remove the dish from the oven and remove the pork into a 

high-powered blender. Slowly begin to break down the meat and 

drizzle in the oil from the baking dish and salt to taste until creamy; 

set some oil aside. 

5. Pack the meat into a glass jar, top it off with a little oil, close the lid 

and refrigerate for at least a couple hours. 

6. Cut the baguette into 1/2 inch slices, brush with olive oil, 

and toast in the oven on a baking sheet for 6-9 minutes. 

7. Serve pork rillette with crostinis and top off with the butternut 

squash mix. 


Chocolate-Peppermint Cake 

Yields: 4 

Ingredients 

1/2 cup all-purpose flour 

2 eggs 

1/2 tsp peppermint extract 

1/2 cup sugar 

pinch of salt 

6 tbsp unsalted butter 

6 ounces dark chocolate 

(Optional: chocolate to melt over top or powdered sugar to sprinkle) 

Directions: 

1. Lightly grease four 6 oz ramekins. Preheat the oven to 400. 

2. In a small pot, melt the chocolate, sugar, salt, and butter. 

3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Once the chocolate has slightly cooled, add it to the bowl along with the 

peppermint extract and flour and mix until smooth. 

4. Pour the mix into the ramekins and add to the oven. 

5. Cook for about 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool for five minutes before serving in ramekin and top with powdered 

sugar or melt leftover chocolate on top. 




Pumpkin-Apple Soup 

Yields: 2-3 

Ingredients 

3/4 can of pumpkin 

2 shallots, sliced 

2 tbsp olive oil 

1.5-2 cups vegetable broth (less broth for thicker soup) 

1 gala apple, cut into thin slices 

1 garlic clove, minced 

Prosciutto 

Pumpkin seeds & ground pepper for garnish 

2 sprigs of thyme and rosemary 

Directions: 

1. Heat the olive oil and sliced shallots in a pot 

until it begins to simmer and become fragrant. 

Add the garlic, apple slices, and herbs. 

Allow spices to become fragrant before adding 

in vegetable broth. 

2. Simmer for 15 minutes and then remove the herbs 

and add everything to a high-powered blender 

to mix until smooth. 

3. Combine canned pumpkin and broth mix back 

into the pot and cook for another 5 minutes. 

4. In a separate pan, crisp the prosciutto by cooking it 

for a few minutes on each side until nice and crisp. 

5. Pour the soup into the bowls and top with pumpkin 

seeds, prosciutto, and ground pepper. 


Restaurant 

Guide 

Mark’s Big Eye Tuna 

Crudo with Sugar Rush 

Peppers, South Carolina 

peaches, blackberry and 

basil at Husk. 

Stacks Coastal Kitchen & Stacks Evening Eats 

(MP) 1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd. #1107, 388-6968. A 

Mt. Pleasant favorite—where their famous tomato 

pie is available anytime by the slice or whole to-go 

from the refrigerated case—also has a number of 

sandwiches and salads for lunch. An elegant dining 

room for dinner serves up many options including 

grilled salmon over housemade spinach fettuccine, 

tuna nachos and cornflake-crusted flounder. 

Asian 

Basil (D) 460 King St., 724-3490 (MP) 1465 Long 

Grove Rd. 606-9642. Traditional Thai entrees using 

the freshest ingredients in a chic and relaxed setting. 

Lunch, Mon-Fri. Dinner nightly. 

Kwei Fei (JI) 1977 Maybank Hwy, (843) 225-0094. 

A rotating menu of authentic Sichuan Chinese fusion 

dishes of varying spice levels, including hot pots, lamb 

dumplings, noodle dishes off the wok and Asianinspired 

cocktails. Don’t miss their “Sichuan Sundae” 

dessert with housemade vanilla ice cream topped with 

a chili crunch and Sichuan candied peanuts. Open for 

dinner Tuesday-Saturday. 

American 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants have reduced capacity and hours. 

Please call ahead or look up places on social media for up-to-date information. 

Ready to Eat? 

Use our restaurant listings to find the best 

eating and drinking in Charleston. 

Blackbird Market (J) 1808 Bohicket Rd., 559-0193. 

This Johns Island local seafood and vegetable specialty 

grocery store includes a rustic café attached serving 

piled high sandwiches and plates with hefty sides 

including collards and mac n’ cheese. Daily specials can 

include a pulled pork plate and goat cheese flatbread. 

Offering to-go service during this time. 

Eli’s Table (D) 129 Meeting St., 405-5115. High-end 

bar and eatery with artful decor & locally sourced 

Southern fare for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Bold, 

worldly flavors using fresh and local ingredients, 

outdoor seating and live jazz every Thursday night. 

Daily breakfast 8 am – 3 pm, lunch 11 am-5 pm and 

dinner 5 pm-until. Brunch Sat and Sun. 

Husk (D) 76 Queen St. 577-2500. An ever-changing 

menu of locally-sourced Southern dishes play to what 

local purveyors have seasonally available at any given 

moment. Situated in a restored Victorian-era home, 

Husk is a memorable Charleston location. Open for 

Locations: (D) Downtown; (DI) Daniel 

Island; (FB) Folly Beach; (IOP) Isle of 

Palms; ( J) John’s Island; ( JI) James Island; 

(KS) Kiawah/Seabrook; (MP) Mount 

Pleasant; (NC) North Charleston; (S) 

Summerville; (SI) Sullivan’s Island; (WA) 

West Ashley 

lunch Mon-Sat from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm and 

dinner daily at 5:30 pm with brunch on Sunday 

from 10 am – 2:30 pm. 

The Obstinate Daughter (SI) Pizza, pasta, small 

plates and a raw bar are the focus of the menu. 

Changing seasonally, the creative menu—think 

redfish with farro, kale pesto and boiled peanuts—is 

rooted by the burgeoning farms and fishermen in 

the Lowcountry who supply superior products to 

the restaurant. Lunch 11am-3pm and dinner from 3 

pm -10 pm. Sunday brunch at 10 am. 

Rutledge Cab Co (D) 1300 Rutledge Ave. 720- 

1440. Voted best authentic American restaurant. 

Family friendly serving omelets, burgers, wings, 

sandwiches, kabobs and entrees like grilled salmon 

and sirloin steak. Full bar. Breakfast, lunch and 

dinner daily. 

R Kitchen (D) 212 Rutledge Ave.; (WA) 1337 

Ashley River Rd., 789-4342. Reservations-only 

intimate atmosphere with seats for up to 16 guests 

in the kitchen or 20 including the covered patio. 

Five courses for $50. Menus are tailored to guests 

and change daily, from filet to red snapper. Visit the 

restaurant’s Instagram page @rutledgekitchen for a 

chalkboard photo of the menu. Downtown location 

reservations at 6 pm and 8 pm nightly. West Ashley 

location Thurs-Sat at 6 pm and 8 pm. 

Sermet’s Courtyard (DI) 115 River Landing 

Dr., 471-1777. Upscale service and family friendly. 

Seasonally-rotating menu serves up fresh seafood, 

pasta, beef and local produce. Mon-Sat. 5-10 pm. 

Area restaurants provide this information to Charleston LIVING magazine. It is published according to space 

availability. No advertising or other considerations are accepted in exchange for a listing. To participate in our 

restaurant guide, call 843-856-2532. 

O-Ku (D) 463 King St. 737-0112. Bold and stylish 

décor set the tone for this upscale sushi and Japanese 

eatery. Menu selections include Chilean sea bass and 

yellowtail carpaccio. Dinner nightly. 

Xiao Bao Biscuit (D) 224 Rutledge Ave. (no phone). 

Creative, multicultural Asian cooking and specialty 

cocktails in a trendy converted gas station. Select lunch 

and dinner dishes from China, Taiwan, Thailand and 

Vietnam prepared locally and inspired by tradition. 

The menu changes seasonally, with rotating daily 

specials and family style dinner service. 

Bakery 

Carmella’s Café and Dessert Bar (D) 198 E. Bay 

St., 722-5893. A rotating case of delectable cakes and 

pies available by the slice plus dessert cocktails, gelato, 

sorbetto and wine bar. 

Christophe Artisan Chocolatier (D) 90 Society St., 

297-8674, (WA) 1901 Ashely River Rd., 225-9133. 

Unique combination of French pastries, chocolate 

sculptures and hand-painted chocolate pieces. 

Cupcake Down South (D) 433 King St., 853-8181. 

(MP) 664 Long Point Rd., 856-7080. A cupcake 

lovers’ dream offering an array more than a dozen 

daily rotating flavors such as red velvet and salted 

caramel chocolate. “After-dark” cupcakes, like 

Bourbon pecan pie, have alcohol infused inside. 

Gluten free and vegan options. 

La Pâtisserie (D) 404 King. St., 843-990-5418. La 

Pâtisserie serves the Holy City’s finest coffee, breads 

and pastries, and breakfast sandwiches and quiche. 

Renowned French Pastry Chef Rémy Fünfrock 

ensures both authenticity and freshness. 

BBQ 

Bessinger’s (WA)1602 Savannah Hwy., 843-556- 

1354. Family-owned and operated for 81 years, 

Bessinger’s are the “first family of barbecue” and the 

original mustard-based BBQ restaurant in Charleston. 

Try the pulled pork slathered in their signature 

sauce, ribs, chicken or a burger. Patrons can enjoy the 

sandwich of the day, side and a drink for only $10. 11 

a.m.- 9 p.m. daily. 

Home Team BBQ (D) 126 Williman St., 225-RIBS 

ext. 4; (WA) 1205 Ashley River Rd. 225-RIBS ext. 

2; (SI) 2209 Middle St., 225-RIBS ext. 3. Extensive 

BBQ list including three-meat platters and BBQ 


Best Burgers 

Best Barbecue 

Best Barbecue 


RESTAURANT GUIDE 

nachos in a hip, family-friendly atmosphere. Awardwinning 

dry rubbed wings are not to be missed. A 

number of housemade BBQ sauces are available on the 

table to douse meat as you please. 

Lewis BBQ (D) 464 N. Nassau St., 805-9500. The first 

thing you’ll notice when you pull up to Lewis Barbecue 

are the massive, custom-made smokers, welded by the 

pitmaster himself. Order at the counter, where John 

Lewis is slicing up true Central Texas barbecue, cut-toorder 

and daily specials to enjoy indoors or on the patio. 

Martin’s BBQ Joint (JI) 1622 Highland Ave, 790- 

0838. Pit masters come in at 5 a.m. every morning at 

this James Island location and smoke a whole hog for 20 

hours over hickory hardwood coals. In addition to pulled 

pork, beef and chicken, Martin’s serves up delicious 

smoked wings and brisket, and Southern sides and pies 

are made in-house. An outdoor area and lively bar has 

cornhole games. Open daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and until 

10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 

Melvin’s Barbecue (MP) 925 Houston Northcutt Blvd, 

843-795-6794. Founded by South Carolina’s Original 

Family of Mustard Based BBQ, this small family 

business was voted in 2021 Charleston’s Best BBQ! 

Melvin’s BBQ cooks over all wood and slathers their 

pork with their signature tangy sauce that gives South 

Carolina’s BBQ its distinct authentic flavor. Along with 

BBQ, Melvin’s burgers are one of Charleston’s best kept 

secrets! With over 80 years of experience, and a large 

menu full of options, Melvin’s BBQ is sure to delight the 

whole family. 

Rodney Scott BBQ (D) 1011 King St., 990-9535. 

Famed pit master Rodney Scott brings his awardwinning 

BBQ to Charleston, with whole hog cooking to 

a trendy, counter-service location on King Street. Sauce 

is slathered on the hog while its cooking in a closelyheld 

recipe. Options include piled-high plates and 

sandwiches, ribs and more with classic sides like collards, 

baked beans and fresh baked hand pies. Open daily 11 

am. – 9 p.m. 

Bars and Taverns 

Tuesday through Saturday 5 to 10PM 

82 Society Street • Charleston, SC 

843-577-1102 • www . charlestonmuse . com 

Mediteranean cuisine 

with Homemade 

Pastas & Bread 

Celiac & Vegan Options 

Outside Dining 

Indoor Dining 

Craft Cocktails. 

75 Wines 

by the Glass 

Dunleavy’s Pub (SI) 2213 Middle St., 883-9646. 

Traditional Irish-American fare offering excellent 

burgers, pub dogs, sandwiches from crab cakes to roast 

beef, salads and plate specials. Large beer selection and 

outdoor seating available. 

Moe’s Crosstown (D) 714 Rutledge Ave., 641-0469. 

No-frills vintage pub located near Hampton Park has 

an extensive menu of burgers, sandwiches and late-night 

menu for bar bites. A pool table and multiple TVs 

brings in sports fans and cold draft beer and happy hour 

specials brings in a regular crowd. 

Poe’s Tavern (SI) 2210 Middle St., 883-0083. Festive 

local pub serving fish tacos, sandwiches, salads and the 

best burgers on the island. Lunch and dinner daily. 

St. James Gate (FB) 11 Center St., 588-0002. This classic 

tavern on Folly Beach has Irish entrees like bangers and 

mash and Shepherd’s Pie, many whiskeys and live music. 

Pair a classic Irish dish with their famous frozen Irish coffee 

or a perfectly-poured pint of Guinness. 

Café 

60 Bull Cafe (D) 60 Bull St., 718-3145. Upscale eatery 

offers elegant deli sandwiches, soups, salads and breakfast 

bites, as well as a variety of homemade prepared foods, 

deli meats and cheeses, produce and boutique wines and 

beer. Open daily. 9 am- 9 pm. 


A CHARLESTON CLASSIC ON HISTORIC BROAD STREET 

17 Broad Street 

Charleston, SC 29401 

843.722.4220 

oaksteakhouserestaurant.com 



Thanks for Voting Peninsula Grill as 

having the Best Romantic Atmosphere! 

Aaron’s Deli (D) 213 Meeting St., 723-6000. A New 

York deli with Southern hospitality. Serving fresh, 

sliced meats and cheeses daily. Real Jewish pastrami 

(not trimmed) and corn beef. Homemade desserts. 

Voted best Ruben in Charleston. Real turkey, not 

processed, sliced from the breast. You can also order 

from Hyman’s Seafood, its sister restaurant, next door. 

East Bay Deli (D) 334 E Bay St. Ste H, 723- 

1234. Mouth-watering deli sandwiches with all the 

trimmings and an abundance of side dishes and 

specialties are all the rage at East Bay Deli. Choice 

meats and fresh-cut veggies, along with oversized spuds, 

make this a popular breakfast, lunch and dinner spot. 

Five Loaves Café (D) 43 Cannon St., 937-4303; 

(MP) 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., 849-1043. Gourmet 

soups, salads and sandwiches in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Daily soup menu includes nearly ten rotating 

selections. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. Sunday 

brunch 10 am to 2 pm. 

Come enjoy a genuinely resplendent dining 

experience, where Charlestonians, and 

visitors, are served in style… 

112 N Market St, Charleston | 843-723-0700 | peninsulagrill.com 

Fresh Seafood and 

Lowcountry Dishes 

from Local Farmers 

and Fishermen 

Laura Alberts Tasteful Options (DI) 891 Island 

Park Dr., 881-4711. An array of housemade salads, 

gourmet sandwiches and seafood dishes. Large 

selection of wines and craft beers. Lunch daily, dinner 

Wed., Saturday brunch. 

Saffron Café & Bakery (D) 333 E. Bay St., 722- 

5588. Freshly baked goods like breads, pastries and 

desserts, signature sandwiches and salads, pizza, 

housemade pasta and Middle Eastern specialties like 

saffron chicken and shrimp curry. Breakfast, lunch and 

dinner daily. Live music on the weekends. 

Ted’s Butcherblock (D) 334 E Bay St., 577-0094. 

Old-fashioned butcher counter and gourmet deli 

has prepared foods to take home or eat at cafe tables. 

A neighborhood butcher, Ted’s offers quality meats 

and seafood handcut to order. There’s a large variety 

to choose from, including the monthly featured 

sandwich, paninis and elevated prepared foods. 

Eclectic/Fusion 

Barsa Tapas & Lounge Bar (D) 630 King St., 577- 

5393. Elevated Spanish tapas, paella & cocktails are 

the draw at this stylish lounge with rare downtown 

parking lot attached. Open daily for lunch & dinner. 

Cru Café (D) 18 Pinckney St., 534-2434. A local 

favorite serving up gourmet foods with an Asian flair 

like Chinese chicken salad and ginger glazed salmon. 

Indoor or front porch dining. Lunch & dinner 

Tuesday-Saturday. 

Graze (MP) 863 Houston Northcutt Blvd., 606- 

2493. Diverse eclectic cuisine with small “grazing” 

plates. Dishes include spicy tuna tataki and Koreanstyle 

chicken wings. Lunch & dinner Mon-Sat. 

Lunch: Tues-Sun 11am-2:30pm 

Dinner: Thur-Sat 5pm-8:30pm 

Jack of Cups (FB) 34 Center St., 663-0042. Global 

and flavorful dishes like pumpkin curry soup, Thai 

noodle salad and a roasted poblano mac and cheese 

can be found on this seasonally-rotating menu. Enjoy 

a homemade sangria or pick from the curated beer, 

cocktail and wine list on the large outdoor patio. 

810 Pinckney St. 

McClellanville, SC 

843.887.4342 

Red Drum (MP) 803 Coleman Blvd., 849-0313. 

Traditional Lowcountry cuisine with a Southwestern 

flair. Charred octopus BLT, crab meat tostaditas and 

steaks in a casual atmosphere. Dinner Tues-Sat. 

Fine Dining 

Charleston Grill (D) 224 King St., 577-4522. 

World-class dining at one of Charleston’s top eateries 


inside the Belmond Charleston Place. An everchanging 

menu from Chef Michelle Weaver is uniquely 

divided into four main groups – Social & Shared, Roots 

& Stems, Waves & Marsh, Field & Pasture. Live jazz 

Sat, Sun & Mon. Dinner nightly. 

Circa 1886 (D) 149 Wentworth St., 853-7828. 

Delectable cuisine is served up at the Wentworth 

Mansion with dishes like crabcake souffle and braised 

pork shank. Dinner Mon-Sat. 

Fig (D) 232 Meeting St., 805-5900. Nationallyacclaimed 

bistro serving fish, locally-sourced food. 

Menu changes daily with selections like fish stew 

provençal and chicken liver pâté. 

Gabrielle (D) 404 King St., 843-990-5460. Bold and 

flavorful Southern cuisine that celebrates local bounty 

like grilled local swordfish and grilled oysters. Located 

inside Hotel Bennet, dine for lunch or dinner daily 

in the indoor dining room or outdoor dining terrace, 

which overlooks historic Marion Square. 

High Cotton (D) 199 East Bay St., 724-3815. 

Southern cuisine offered high-fashion style, with 

fresh local vegetables, seafood and charbroiled steaks 

accompanied by tasty sauces like bearnaise and cabernet. 

Dinner nightly. 

Magnolia’s (D) 185 East Bay St., 577-7771. A refined 

take on traditional Southern cooking served in a warm, 

sophisticated environment. Pan seared sea scallops are 

served with a sweet corn hoe cake, pickled okra relish 

and brandy bacon cream. Lunch & dinner daily with 

Southern brunch on Sunday. 

Peninsula Grill (D) 2 Unity Alley, 577-0025. Southern 

classics served in an elegant, yet relaxed setting. Bold 

flavors and impeccable service make this a local favorite. 

First class wine list and romantic courtyard dining 

available. Dinner nightly. 

French 

Gourmet Sandwiches 

Pastries & Desserts 

Gelato & Sorbetto 

Wine Bar 

Dessert Cocktails 

 

198 E. Bay Street 


843.722.5893 

carmellasdessertbar.com 

Bistro Toulouse (MP) 1220 Ben Sawyer Blvd., 216- 

3434. Modern interpretations of classic French cuisine 

including mussels, cassoulet, escargots & steak frites. 

Over 20 wines by the glass, full bar, housemade desserts. 

Lunch, dinner and weekend brunch with a number of 

savory crepes and beignets. Tues-Sun. 

Café Framboise (DT) 159 Market St., 414-7241. 

Quaint, family-owned French nook with delicate light 

and affordable fare that includes gourmet sandwiches, 

crepes, pastries & coffee, plus an outdoor patio. 8am – 

4pm Mon through Sat, 9am – 2 pm Sun. 

Chez Nous (D) 6 Payne Ct., 579-3060. Pint-sized 

and romantic neighborhood spot with elevated food 

and wine from France & around Europe in a cozy 

space. Only six dishes are served for lunch & dinner 

and changes daily. Check the restaurant’s website or 

Instagram page to see what’s being served today. Closed 

Monday. 

Felix Cocktails et Cuisine (D) 550 King St #100, 

203-6297. Seafood & steak sharing plates inspired by 

Paris in a trendy café-inspired setting serving food late, 

plus versatile cocktails and wines by the glass and happy 

hour. Lunch, Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Dinner 

night starting at 5 p.m. until midnight or later. Saturday 

and Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French (D) 98 Broad 

St., 577-9797. Providing French food in Charleston 

since 1984 on iconic Broad Street. Lunch items include 

an open faced Croq’ Monsieur and daily lunch specials 

for $13 that include a glass of French wine. A popular 

chef special fondue is featured on Thursdays for dinner. 

Breakfast, lunch & dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. 



LET US 

CATER 

YOUR HOLIDAY 

EVENT OR 

GATHERING! 

Italian 

Indaco (D) 526 King St., 727-1228. Trendy eatery 

featuring Italian fare & wood-fired pizzas, hand-crafted 

pastas, homemade salumi and cured sausages plus a patio 

and extensive wine list. Dinner nightly and Sunday brunch. 

Le Farfelle (D) 15 Beaufain Street, 843-212-0920. Bright 

and airy neighborhood osteria for thoughtfully sourced, 

reimagined Italian cuisine with a host of rotating freshly 

made pastas, like duck confit agnolotti and squid ink 

spaghetti. Shared plates include octopus carpaccio and 

warm rosemary focaccia. Dinner nightly 

Melfi’s (D) 721 King St. 843-513-0307. Melfi’s is a 

trendy classic Italian restaurant with fresh pasta, salads, 

larger plates, and inventive thin crust pizza. Sit at the the 

long wooden bar, indoor and outdoor dining tables or an 

intimate pizza counter to watch the action of the two wood 

burning ovens. Reservations recommend. Dinner Monday- 

Sunday 5 p.m. 

Mondo’s Italian Restaurant (JI) 915 Folly Rd., 795-8400. 

A favorite local hangout serving traditional Italian baked 

dishes like Italian sausage lasagna and housemade pasta 

with a number of sauces beyond traditional red sauce, like 

vodka sauce over penne and gorgonzola cheese sauce over 

fresh rigatoni. Patio dining available, weather permitting. 

Dinner Mon-Sat. Closed Sunday. 

7648 Northwoods Blvd. • North Charleston, SC • (843) 225-4786 

Wild Olive (J) 2867 Maybank Hwy., 737-4177. Rusticchic 

dining with a simple menu of artisanal Italian dishes, 

excellent Italian desserts & a sizable wine list. Dinner 

nightly. 

Mediterranean 

Let Lowcounty Olive Oil 

be your first choice 

for locally made 

holiday gifts. 

From Palmetto Tea Towels to Charleston 

Candles, soaps and locally made oils and 

vinegars, we’ve got something for 

everyone on your gift list! 

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm 

Sunday 12-5 

272 Meeting St, Charleston • 843.297.0462 

103 S Main St, Summerville • 843.695.8327 

closed on Sundays 

lowcountryoliveoil.com 


Thanks 

for Voting 

us Best 

Health Fare 

Healthy Food for a 

Healthy Community 

Gourmet food with fresh, local ingredients. 

Vegetarian and Vegan options. 

Daily Specials for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 

1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston 

843-297-8380 | gatheringwestashley.com 

Muse (D) 82 Society St., 577-1102. Eclectic cuisine in a 

secluded and quiet atmosphere inside a Charleston single 

house. Entrees include grilled swordfish, sea bass, short ribs, 

duck, risotto, homemade pasta & bread and a large wine 

selection. Dinner nightly. 

Stella’s (D) 114 St. Philip St., 400-0026. Classy 

throwback diner for Greek dishes and meze to share, plus 

Mediterranean Sunday brunch. Check out the whole fish of 

the day, topped with ladolemono, a traditional blended extra 

virgin olive oil and fresh lemon dressing. Dinner daily and 

Sunday brunch. 

Tabbuli (D) 6 N. Market St., 628-5959. Locally-sourced 

fresh tapas and authentic Mediterranean cuisine including 

salads, kebobs and a mezze platter with hummus, 

babaganoush, tabbuli salad, jerusalem salad, basmati rice, 

falafel and grilled veggies with warm pita. Tabbuli boasts 

“the best patio bar downtown.” Opens at 3 pm Mon-Fri, 11 

am weekends. 

Mexican 

Santi’s (D) 1302 Meeting St., 722-2633; (S) 114 Holiday 

Dr., 851-2885. An array of authentic Mexican dishes in 

a comfortable dining atmosphere. Voted best margaritas. 

Lunch & dinner, Mon-Sat. 

Taco Bartina (WA) 1301 Ashley River Rd., (843) 225- 

7426. An unassuming spot for all your taco and burrito 

cravings with an impressively large menu, breakfast tacos 

served all day and Taco Tuesday specials. The blackened 

fish taco is not to be missed. A full bar includes delicious 

margaritas with house-made agave mix. Lunch & dinner 

daily. 

Taco Boy (D) 217 Huger St., 789-3333; (FB) 106 East 

Ashley, 588-9761. Fresh Mexican entrees like fish and fried 

avocado tacos and an array of beer, margarita selections and

their famous frozen screwdriver. Lunch & dinner daily, 

along with weekday discounted menu item specials. 

Pizza 

Evo Pizza (NC) 1075 E Montague Ave., 225-1796. 

This local favorite serves creative Neapolitan-style 

wood-fired pizza using seasonal, locally-sourced 

ingredients. Try the adventurous pastrami and corn 

or pistachio pesto pizza or stick to classics like the 

margherita. Lunch & dinner daily. A new location, 

Baker & Brewer opened in downtown Charleston at 

94 Stuart St. open for breakfast, lunch & dinner daily. 

Thanks for Voting 

us Best Family 

Restaurant! 

Fams Brewing (JI) 1291 Folly Rd., 225-4646. Local 

pizzeria and microbrewery serving New York and 

Chicago style pizza. Pair the Chitown classic—loaded 

with mozzarella, double pepperoni, double sausage 

and chunky sauce—with an award-winning craft brew. 

Large outdoor seating area. Lunch & dinner daily. 

Monza (D) 451 King St., 720-8787. Ranked 50th 

best pizzeria in North America. Neapolitan woodfired 

pizzas plus salads & pastas are offered in a chic 

bistro setting. Try a garlicky four-cheese pizza with 

mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino Romano and parmigiano 

Reggiano or build your own pie. Italian desserts, like a 

boozy tiramisu, are made in-house. 

Seafood 

Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar (D) 205 East Bay St., 

853-8600. Traditional raw bar with fresh seafood choices 

including oysters, clams, flounder and shrimp. Extensive 

beer and wine selections. Lunch & dinner daily. 

Blu Restaurant & Bar (FB) 1 Center St., 588-6658. 

Fresh local seafood at an oceanfront setting. Spend a 

day at the beach and then enjoy tapas-style entrees. 

Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily. 

The Boathouse at Breach Inlet (IOP) 101 Palm Blvd., 

886-8000. Overlooking the Intracoastal waterway with 

fresh seafood, steaks and pasta. A local favorite for over a 

decade. Lunch, Tues-Sat. Dinner nightly. 

Bowens Island (FB) 870 Bowens Island Rd. 795- 

2757. Known for its locally-harvested oysters, fried 

shrimp, hushpuppies, Frogmore stew, flowing beer 

and unmatched view of the river, marshes and islands, 

locals and visitors flock to this one-of-a-kind counterservice 

restaurant with their appetites and cameras. 

Dinner 5pm - 9:30 pm Tues through Sat. 

Charleston Crab House (JI) 45 Wappoo Creek 

Dr., 795-1963; (D) 41 Market St., 853-2900. 

“Family owned for 30 years and still crackin!” Fresh 

Lowcountry seafood served in a casual, family 

atmosphere. Featuring fresh blue crabs, snow crab legs, 

ahi tuna, fresh salads and sandwiches, seafood platters 

and more. Lunch & dinner daily. 

Coast (D) 39-D John St., 722-8838. Relaxed atmosphere 

with an array of fresh local seafood dishes including fresh 

ceviche and an outstanding drink list. Dinner nightly. 

Hyman’s Seafood (D) 215 Meeting St., 723-6000. A 

Charleston landmark and voted best seafood by Southern 

Living Magazine nine years in a row. Seafood favorites 

like shrimp and grits, lobster bisque, she-crab soup, whole 

crispy founder and more. Sandwiches, salads and a full bar 

for cocktails. Lunch & dinner daily. 

The Ordinary (D) 544 King St., 414-7060. Southern 

seafood hall and oyster bar located in an old bank. The 

fancy seafood menu celebrates the bounty of Coastal 

Carolina waters supporting local and regional fishermen, 

crabbers, oystermen, farmers and producers. A lively bar 

highlights the stunning space. Dinner Tues-Sun. Closed 

Monday. 

302 Coleman Boulevard • Mt. Pleasant • 843.881.3333 

PagesOkraGrill.com 

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Exceptional Wine • Champagne • Craft Beer 

DIY Mimosas • Charcuterie Boards 

Coffee • Espresso 

Located in Old Village Mt. Pleasant 

115 Pitt Street, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 

858.401.2732 

www.leeahsoldvillage.com 

Pearlz Oyster Bar (D) 153 East Bay St., 577-5755; 

(WA) 9 Magnolia Rd., 573-2277. Fun, eclectic 

locations serving the freshest seafood in a casual dining 

atmosphere. Oysters prepared raw on the half shell, baked 

Rockefeller-style, fried or steamed are served all day. 

Lunch & dinner daily. 

The Royal Tern (J) 3005 Maybank Hwy., 718-3434. 

Nestled in the heart of Johns island, The Royal Tern is an 

elevated neighborhood eatery with daily seafood specials 

and inspired cuisine. Chef David Pell provides guests 

with an array of freshly-prepared seafood and steaks as 

well as seafood towers, carpaccios and tartares from the 

raw bar. Open for dinner Monday-Saturday. 

T.W. Graham & Co. (McClellanville) 810 Pinckney St., 

843-887-4342. A charming, old-timey restaurant in the 

fishing village of McClellanville that only uses fresh catch 

for their platters of grilled and golden fried seafood, along 

with house-made sides and pies. Lunch Tuesday-Sunday, 

lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday. Closed Monday. 

Southern 

82 Queen (D) 82 Queen St., 723-7591. A swanky bar 

& intimate courtyard make this refined Southern spot a 

special-occasion favorite. Favorites include grilled salmon, 

seared duck breast, Carolina crab cakes and seasonal 

mussels. Excellent wine list. Lunch & dinner daily. 

Slightly North of Broad (D) 192 East Bay St., 723- 

3424. Delicious, upscale food like grilled Carolina quail, 

oyster stew and shrimp and grits in a casual setting. 

Lunch, Mon-Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat and Sun. 

Virginia’s on King (D) 412 King St., 735-5800. Upscale 

yet relaxed atmosphere serving up traditional fare like fried 

chicken, deviled crab, po’boys and an array of side dishes. 

Breakfast, lunch & dinner daily. 

Steaks 

Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill (D) 14 North Market St., 

737-8700. “The next generation of steakhouses” coined by 

those in the know of beef trends, Burwell’s serves up choice 

cuts of beef, including Wagyu hanger steak, along with local 

seasonal vegetables and sustainable seafood. Great location 

on the Market. Full bar. Dinner nightly. 

Grill 225 (D) 225 East Bay St., 266-4222. Upscale and 

fancy with private booths and white-jacketed service, serving 

up prime USDA steaks and select seafood entrees. Lunch 

& dinner daily. 

Halls Chophouse (D) 434 King St., 727-0090. Familyowned 

and high-end dining with a rich interior setting and 

impeccable service, offering up steaks cooked to perfection 

and choice seafood dishes. Dinner nightly, Saturday lunch 

and Sunday gospel brunch with signature steaks and 

Southern favorites. 

Oak Steakhouse (D) 17 Broad St., 722-4220. Upscale 

steakhouse fare in an impeccable setting, serving certified 

Angus beef and freshly-caught seafood. Award-winning 

wine list. Dinner nightly. 

The Ocean Room at the Sanctuary (KS) 1 Sanctuary 

Drive., 768-6253. Rich mahogany sets the tone for this 

upscale eatery, serving up choice dry aged beef and fresh 

local seafood from an ever-changing menu. Dinner Tue-Sat. 

South Carolina 

Federal named 

BEST CREDIT 

UNION! 

THANK YOU to the readers of Charleston 

Living Magazine for voting South Carolina Federal 

Credit Union the “Best Credit Union.” 

At South Carolina Federal, our mission is to serve our 

more than 165,000 members with exceptional banking, 

and support the community in extraordinary ways. 

We pledge more of the same, in hopes of being a repeat 

winner next year! 

MAKE THE SWITCH TO A SIMPLER WAY TO BANK. 

Visit scfederal.org 

Federally insured by NCUA 


TRAVEL 

Never-Ending Inspiration 

A tiny peninsula in Wisconsin overflows with 

opportunities to see, hear and taste art. 

By KATIE MCELVEEN 

Settled in the 1800s by hardy Scandinavians who made their living in timber production, 

fishing, and farming, Door County, Wisconsin seems, at first glance, to be an unlikely place 

for artists to flourish. But after a second look, which reveals a stunning natural landscape of 

tall dolomite cliffs, deep forests, and the startlingly blue water of Lake Michigan, it all makes 

sense. “There is never-ending inspiration in the beautiful sunsets, the change of seasons, and 

the clean, fresh air and water that surrounds us,” says Ginnie Cappaert, a painter who owns 

Cappaert Contemporary Gallery in the village of Egg Harbor. “The welcoming culture and 

support of the arts is added bonus.” 


TRAVEL 

Occupying a narrow peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan 

just above Green Bay, Door County is often referred to as the Cape 

Cod of the Midwest, and it’s easy to see why. Atmospheric villages 

with names like Egg Harbor and Sister Bay rim a coastline that’s 

dotted with lighthouses and marinas; within the interior, shady 

woodlands give way to cherry orchards (it’s one of the top sour 

cherry-producing regions in the country) and neat farms where 

cows graze beside red barns. 

During the summer months, visitors come to hike and bike 

through expansive state parks, swim in Lake Michigan’s bracing 

water, and sail toward brilliant sunsets. Winter brings ice fishing, 

snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and, during certain 

weekends, candlelight tours of the woods on cross-country skis. 

Holiday festivals such as Sturgeon Bay’s Festival of Trees, Ephraim’s 

Luminary walks, and spirited gatherings in Baileys Harbor, Sister 

Bay, Ephraim, Egg Harbor, and Ellison Bay are filled with hot drinks, 

festive lights, sleigh rides, and lots of shopping at Scandinavianthemed 

holiday markets. The northern lights also begin to make their 

presence known with bright wisps of color in the nighttime skies. 

But what sets Door County apart from other outdoor wonderlands 

is the community of artists and makers who occupy its more 

than 100 galleries, studios, workshops and theatres. 

One of the first establishments to focus exclusively on Door 

County artists is the Hardy Gallery, which opened in 1961 and occupies 

a 19th-century warehouse set on the dock in Ephraim. Though 

PHOTOS JOHN NIENHUIS 


(Opposite): Overlooking Sister Bay, which holds New Year’s Eve at The Lodge 

Cherry Drop; (Above, clockwise): A meal al fresco during cool temperatures; 

family fall hike at Ridges Nature Center; winter fat tire biking at Newport State 

Park. 

The Hardy is famous for its juried shows and community mosaic 

project, which encourages the public to create artwork on canvas, 

it’s the graffiti-covered building that is perhaps its most well-known 

feature. “The graffiti evolved from a tradition of visitors signing the 

warehouse walls in the 1800s to let friends know they’d arrived in 

town,” explains Sarah Zamecnik, the gallery’s executive director. 

Eight years later, Anne Haberland Emerson and her mother, 

Irene Pamperin Haberland, opened Edgewood Orchard Galleries 

with a handful of artists in a 1918 barn just outside Fish Creek. Today, 

under the direction of Nell and JR Jarosh, Emerson’s daughter and 

son-in-law, the gallery exhibits the work of dozens of artists within 

the restored barn and tucked amid acres of landscaped gardens. 

Open since 2007, Egg Harbor’s Plum Bottom Gallery is owned 

by Chad Luberger, a porcelain potter who studied in Japan, and his 

wife Angela Olsen Luberger, a jewelry designer. Surrounded by a 

sculpture-speckled garden where silver angels beckon from tree limbs, 

the original gallery (there’s a second, smaller location in downtown 

Egg Harbor) showcases the work of more than 150 artists within a 

welcoming, light-filled space. 

In Door County, creativity goes beyond traditional mediums like 

paint, clay, and glass. Chris Renard is the third-generation owner and 

master cheesemaker at Renard’s Artisan Cheese in the town of Sturgeon 

Bay. Beyond making eleven varieties of cheese, Renard is the creative 

force behind the company’s 50 flavor-infused variations that include 

cheddar with Door County cherries and farmers cheese with pesto. 

Chris Renard isn’t the only Door County artisan who uses 

food as an outlet for his creativity. At Island Orchard Cider, owner 

Bob Purman has tweaked traditional French hard cider recipes with 

herbs, different fruits, and oak aging to create ciders that are as delicious 

as they are sophisticated. Brut cider, for instance, does a spoton 

impression of sparkling wine; blended with apple brandy, Pomona 

is a fruit-forward dessert wine. Then there’s Wickman House, where 

a “whole animal” ethos drives the development of meat dishes, and 

vegetables are overseen by a staff gardener. The result? Collaborative 

creativity that translates into a menu fluid enough to deliciously accommodate, 

if necessary, switching from one cut of meat or vegetable 

accompaniment to another as the evening progresses. With original 

wooden floors, a wraparound porch, and elegant lighting, it’s a beautiful 

restaurant, too. 

Where to Stay 

Open since early 2021, The DÖrr mixes modern Scandinavian design 

with warm wood and sleek stone. Each of the breezy 47 rooms has 

a private balcony, white quartz bathrooms and minimalist platform 

beds; suites have fireplaces and water views. • 


TRAVEL 

> Dine like champs at the Battery Atlanta 

of Atlanta is ready and waiting for you in Cobb County. 

Cobb is where The Atlanta Braves play, and home to some of the city’s 

most celebrated dining, arts, and entertainment experiences. 

Did we mention The Braves? Add to that the southeast’s signature theme park 

Six Flags Over Georgia, the Chattahoochee River, several major lakes, hundreds 

of miles of biking/walking trails, and more. So, get ready, get set… explore! 

HISTORIC 

MARIETTA SQUARE 

Wander the shaded 

square, make a wish 

in the fountain, and 

catch a performance at 

the ‘bandstand’ during 

various concert series 

throughout the year. 

There are art festivals, 

holiday parades and a 

weekend farmer’s 

market. All around the 

square are boutiques, 

antique stores, upscale 

& family-friendly 

restaurants, breweries, a 

historic theater, and so 

much more to explore. 

chattahoochee 

river 

Enjoy a visit to 

the Chattahoochee 

River where you can 

hike miles of trails 

at the many parks 

and access points 

in Cobb. Jump in a 

kayak, tube, or 

paddleboard and 

take a float – we 

call it shooting the 

“Hooch”, or spend 

some time casting 

your flyrod along 

the beautiful 

shoreline. The river 

is calling you! 

OUR QUAINT 

TOWNS 

Charming towns 

abound. Powder Springs 

artfully restored its 

historic downtown with 

parks, play areas and an 

outdoor performance 

area. Kennesaw’s quaint 

downtown has it all 

while being steeped in 

Civil War & Locomotive 

history. Spend a day 

in Acworth on two 

lakes, miles of trails, 

mixed with an eclectic 

downtown offering 

dining, art galleries, 

and shopping. 

THE BEST 

IN DINING 

Top chefs are drawn 

here from all over the 

world. From Chef Brian 

So's Spring in historic 

Marietta Square, Chef 

Joe Ahn's 101 Steak in 

Vinings to chef Douglas 

Turbush's Seed, Stem, 

and Drift – all 

distinctively different 

flavors and located in 

East Cobb. Rounding 

out Cobb's offerings is 

Henry's Louisiana Grill 

where Chef Henry is 

sure to entertain 

in Acworth. 

LAKE ACWORTH 

Lake Acworth is a 

popular site for 

walking, biking, picnics, 

fishing, kayaking, 

paddleboarding and 

much more. You can 

even build sandcastles 

on three sandy 

beaches. Enjoy a day 

at Cauble Park which 

includes a huge play 

ground, picnic facilities, 

restrooms, and plenty 

of parking. Many of 

Cobb's lake events 

and celebrations are 

held here throughout 

the year. 


A Day in Cobb - 

Watch the fireworks light the night 

sky after a great Braves game. Take one 

more ride on the Riddler Mind Bender at 

Six Flags over Georgia or the Python 

Plunge at Six Flags White Water. Shop 

a little longer in our unique boutiques 

and antique stores in one of our charming 

towns. Order that dessert after your 

foodie-fantastic, chef-designed meal so 

good you can’t help to want more. 

Get ready to enjoy all we have in Cobb! 

> shake it up at six flags over georgia 

Go... 

> Paddle year-round on Lake Acworth 

Come explore the historic Civil War 

battlefields, one-of-a-kind museums, or 

guided tours. Connect with nature as you 

hike, bike, swim, or paddle at Lake Acworth. 

Or, chill with your crew as you Shoot the 

'Hooch down the Chattahoochee River. 

With 2 lakes, 1 river, 1 mountain, and 

166 miles of trails, you can really enjoy 

our outdoors at your own pace. 

After a full day of fun, settle in at one of our 

world-class hotels, charming inns, or convenient 

B&Bs. Whether you want boho boutique or 

upscale indulgence, Cobb lodging has it all. 

KENNESAW 

MOUNTAIN NAT'L 

BATTLEFIELD 

This park is the most 

visited Civil War site in 

the U.S. and is spread 

out through 2,923 

acres and is perfect 

for hiking, cycling, 

running, picnicking 

and catching up on 

the history you find 

around every corner. 

SIX FLAGS OVER 

GA/SIX FLAGS 

WHITE WATER 

Six Flags Over Georgia 

is THE place for 

affordable family 

entertainment and 

features fantastic roller 

coasters, rides and 

shows for all ages. 

Six Flags White Water is 

the southeast’s largest 

water park with slides, 

pools, rides, and more. 

TRUIST PARK/ 

THE BATTERY 

Atlanta 

Home to the 

Atlanta Braves, this 

state-of-the-art 

ballpark offers stunning 

views, foodie-worthy 

concessions, and lots 

of fun activities for 

the entire family. 

Attached to Truist Park 

is The Battery Atlanta 

that’s full of restaurants, 

shopping, entertainment, 

and music venues. 

CRAFT 

BREWERIES 

Cobb’s craft beverage 

scene is booming 

with local craft beer 

hotspots and filled with 

flavors you won’t find 

anywhere else! 

DON’T MISS 

BUBBLES & BREWS 

Cobb’s month-long craft 

beverage celebration 

every March. 

THE SILVER 

COMET TRAIL 

Enjoy this 

non-motorized, paved 

trail designed for 

walkers, hikers, 

bicyclists, rollerbladers, 

and dog walkers. 

Beginning in Smyrna, 

this famed trail 

stretches to Alabama 

and offers some of the 

most beautiful scenery 

in the Southeast. 

THE 

#CobbisReady 


THE LAST REFLECTION 

Making a Martini 

By ANNE WOLFE POSTIC 

“This is not the first time you’ve made 

a martini, is it?” 

No, it was not, and the inquiry from our neighbor 

was charming. I adore a nice martini, and have been 

making them for longer than I’d like to admit. There 

are few things more delightful than having a few 

people over for drinks and snacks. Simplicity is key, 

and a martini leaves a host free to enjoy her guests 

instead of laboring behind the bar. 

Bartending my way through graduate school, I concluded that anyone 

who asked for a very, very dry martini really wanted a shot. They just 

didn’t want to admit it. Some of those barflies wanted a martini so dry 

that all a bartender had to do was think about vermouth while pouring a 

slug of chilled vodka or gin into a fancy glass. Only olives differentiated 

the cocktail from a shot. Bartenders work for tips, so I served them with 

a smile, suppressing the urge to call it like I saw it. 

Those barflies are owed an apology because, boy, was I ever wrong. 

Dry or not, a good martini is a true delight. Though the recipe is simple, 

there are options. 

Shaken or stirred. Experts say James Bond ruined this for everyone. 

Cocktails that contain mostly alcohol should be stirred so as not to dilute 

the taste. Only cocktails with egg white, fruit juices, or syrup should be 

shaken to blend the multiple ingredients and prevent separating. I prefer 

my martini stirred, but if you like a slightly diluted, very chilled martini, 

shake away! It’s your drink, and you should enjoy it because you’re only 

having one (more on that later). 

Vodka or gin. Gin is the classic choice, but a lot of people prefer vodka, 

including yours truly. Besides, there’s always room in the freezer for a 

bottle of vodka, especially if you keep it there to make pie crust. (Hot 

tip: Use chilled vodka instead of water for a flakier crust. The alcohol 

evaporates in cooking, limiting gluten development that can make pastry 

tough. But I digress.) Once again, as this is your cocktail, make it with 

whatever liquor you prefer. This is a good time to splurge on something 

good, like Grey Goose or potato-based Chopin. You know what else 

works? Good old Smirnoff. 

Dry or very dry. Or not so dry. A dry martini contains very little vermouth, 

usually about a fifth of the volume of vodka or gin. For a bonedry 

martini, splash some vermouth into the glass and dump it out. I like 

mine dry-ish, about one part vermouth to four or five parts vodka. Noilly 

Prat is perfectly lovely and not terribly expensive. Bonus: Keep it in the 

fridge to use when a recipe calls for white wine, and you don’t want to 


open a bottle. Though once the vermouth is out, you might want to sip a 

martini while you cook, an experience I personally enjoy. 

Dirty or not. A dirty martini contains a splash of olive brine. Yum. 

Olives and olive brine. Look for olives with no added oil because who 

wants a cocktail that looks like a chemical spill? Pimiento stuffed olives 

are classic, but olives stuffed with blue cheese, jalapeños, or garlic are a 

delight. Just make sure to check the label for added oil. 

For a crowd, multiply the recipe and serve in a small pitcher, which 

you can keep in the fridge or on ice. Mix the vermouth and gin or vodka, 

then leave a pitcher of olive brine on the side, as well as olives and possibly 

a few twists of lemon to garnish according to individual preferences. 

Store any leftovers in a thermos in the freezer for when you want 

a surprise martini. 

Given its alcohol content, a martini should be savored. You are too 

sophisticated for a shot. But make it as large as you like, especially if you 

plan to sip it for an hour while you cook like I do. (Add ice if it gets too 

warm.) I never have more than one because this is not a drink for a meal. 

It’s an aperitivo, meant to be enjoyed on its own or with a light snack. 

One Large Martini for the Chef 

Ingredients: 

2 ounces vodka or gin from the freezer 

1/3 to 1/2 ounce dry vermouth 

1/2 ounce olive brine 

1 or more blue cheese stuffed olives 

Instructions: 

Pour vodka or gin and vermouth into a tall glass over ice. 

Stir or swirl the glass gently until completely blended and icy cold. 

Strain into a small glass, chilled if you’re fancy. 

Add olive brine and olives. 

Extra credit: Enjoy your aperitivo like an Italian, served 

with a handful of potato chips on the side, preferably 

in a little sterling silver bowl, like that one you got 

from your grandmother that you never use. Cin cin! •

A Record 

of Success 

in the 

Courtroom 

As one of South Carolina’s premier 

personal injury law firms, Gedney M. 

Howe III, PA has a reputation as the 

place injured people and other firms 

turn to for tough litigation cases. 

“Litigation is hard work and we 

keep our focus on the client.” 

—Gedney Howe III, 

chosen once again to 

the South Carolina 

Super Lawyers list. 

Attorneys 

(left to right): 

Caroline West, 

Gedney M. Howe, III, 

Alvin J. Hammer 

A A RecoRd 

RecoRd of 

of SucceSS 

SucceSS 

in the 

in the couRtRoom 

couRtRoom 

The firm represents 

victims of wrongful death, 

personal injury, trucking 

and automobile accidents, 

Attorneys (left to right): 

Robert J. Wyndham, 

defective products and 

Gedney M. Howe, III 

premises liability, as well as 

and Alvin J. Hammer 

medical and government 

Practice Areas: 

negligence. Howe also 

Personal Injury and 

Criminal Defense 

handles business litigation 

and criminal defense. 

As As one one of of South South Carolina’s premier personal injury law law firms, firms, Gedney Gedney M. M. Howe Howe III, III, PA PA has has 

a reputation a as as the the place place injured people and other firms turn turn to to for for tough tough litigation cases. cases. 

“Litigation is 

CHOSEN TO 2013 

is hard hard work and we keep our focus on on the the client,” says says Gedney Gedney Howe Howe III, III, 

SUPER chosen LAWYERS 

once again chosen to the once South again Carolina to the Super South Carolina Lawyers Super and Charleston Lawyers list. Best Lawyers lists. 

The firm The represents firm represents victims victims of wrongful of wrongful death, death, personal personal injury, injury, trucking trucking and and automobile accidents, 

defective accidents, products defective and products premises and liability, premises as liability, well as as medical well as and medical government and government negligence. 

negligence. Howe also Howe handles also handles business business litigation litigation and criminal and criminal defense. defense. 

Practice Areas: 

Personal injury and 

Criminal Defense 

Gedney M. Howe III, P.A. | attorneys at law 

8 Chalmers Street | Charleston, SC 29401 | 843-722-8048 | www.gedneyhowe.com 



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Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2021

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