Downtown Summerville hosts fantastic events throughout the year, typically centered on the beautiful Hutchinson Square. Third Thursdays, held monthly, are a true social event for all ages. Each month, more than 2,000 people come out to shop, dine, and listen to live music at this celebratory street party.

The area is also home to the annual Sweet Tea Festival, a celebration of Summerville’s distinction as the “birthplace of sweet tea.” The festival is held over the third weekend of September and includes a competition to name the best sweet tea in town, along with contests for Mister and Miss Sweet Tea.

Downtown is the center of attention during the holidays as well. From Small Business Saturday on, it is decorated for the festivities to commence with the annual tree lighting and Christmas parade. The tree lighting is traditionally held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, while the parade, held on the second Sunday in December, is among the largest in the state, with more than 20,000 attendees and over 100 entries.

Art aficionados will find more than 30 public sculptures throughout downtown. From life-sized birds to children playing “follow the leader” to our beloved Toby, celebrations of life are captured in bronze.

We’re also excited to tell you about a great new addition to our downtown, the Public Works Art Center. Public Works, as it is known, has repurposed the old town public works building and is creating artist studios, a reception gallery, teaching spaces, a concert sound stage, and much more. Downtown Summerville values the arts in all forms, and celebrates the value of creativity.

Make plans, too, to spend time in Azalea Park. With its winding paths, foot bridges, and lush flora, the park is a haven for nature lovers everywhere.

Finally, you’ll want to visit the newly renovated town square. Fresh off a multi-million dollar facelift, the square is a user-friendly space with nods to Summerville’s history. These elements include a concert stage/pavilion designed to resemble the town’s old railroad depot and a sign that recreates the “Welcome to Summerville” sign that once spanned Main Street.

Visit Summerville and check out our historically modern Southern downtown! You can find out more about downtown Summerville, including great places to shop, dine, play, and stay, at www.summervilledream.org.

“It really symbolizes Georgetown,” says Deputy Director Kim Leatherwood.

The activities are all the more special this year as they coincide with the 250th anniversary of the construction of the Kaminski House.

Sitting on the banks of the Sampit River, the Kaminski House was originally built in 1769 and has had 13 owners, including three Georgetown mayors. The last residents were Harold and Julia Kaminski. In 1972, Mrs. Kaminski willed the house to the City of Georgetown to be opened as a museum. Friends of the Kaminski contracted to manage it in 2013.

It’s a gift that continues to give to the Georgetown community, playing a role in educating local residents as well as their milestone celebrations.

New Beginnings

It’s become the place couples go to begin their lives together.

About five years ago, a handful of weddings had taken place on the grounds. Today, that number is up to about 100 between the lawn and its adjacent Kossove Terrace.

“We have Georgetown brides who get married here, but we also have a lot of destination weddings,” Leatherwood says. “A lot of the girls say the Kaminski House Museum and Georgetown are memorable for them because they grew up in the area and then went to college and moved away.  But this place is always special in their heart, and when they get married they come back to get married someplace special.”

Even those not getting married on the grounds may use the lawn as a backdrop for their engagement photos. Couples can schedule free time for the shoots.

Prom-goers, too, flock there for photos, a tradition that has spanned generations.

“You’ll hear stories from them about how their parents came out for their prom pictures,” Leatherwood says.

Fun Times

It’s been the scene of much joy for youngsters and families. One highlight is the annual Easter Egg Hunt that local residents have grown up attending to the fall Family Fun and Literacy Day in which every child attendee leaves with a free book after spending time in the pumpkin patch and healthy food tent. Another is the summer 4^th of July Concert on the Lawn, at which the Indigo Choral Society performs for the 23rd year this July.

“The house is special to the community in so many ways, and our programming reflects that,” Leatherwood says. “We work really hard to be inclusive of the entire community.”

Tourism

The museum draws people wanting to view the collection of 18th and 19th Century American and English furnishings, antiques and artifacts acquired by the globetrotting Kaminskis. It also promotes Georgetown in general, pointing visitors to other museums and activities, such as trolley tours, dining and shopping.

“We really act as a visitors’ center because we tell people everything that’s going on,” Leatherwood says.

Work to Do

The Kaminski House has been meticulously preserved, but is in need of some attention this year. The museum needs a new climate control system to keep the decorative arts and antiques — some dating back to the early 1700s — safe from moisture.Donations are being requested for a new HVAC system. Online donations received Tuesday, May 7^th, will be matched by the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation for Palmetto Giving Day. Visit the Palmetto Giving Day website at palmettogivingday.org and type in Kaminski House Museum for more information.

Kaminski House Museum, 1003 Front St., is open Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm. Tours are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission is $12; seniors 65 and over, $10; children 6 to 17, $6. Children under 5 are admitted free. For additional information, visit KaminskiMuseum.org or call 843-546-7706.

 On a busy Carolina highway, a truck full of chickens navigates the lanes toward the slaughterhouse. It carries crates packed full of white feathered birds, clucking curiously, oblivious to their fate. Suddenly, as the vehicle motors down the road, a lone chicken tumbles out of the bed of the truck and onto the shoulder, injured but alive. There she lays, as traffic speeds past her broken body, until a car finally stops. A person rushes out, scoops her into their arms, and gets back in the vehicle. They make a call, and once again, the bird is riding down the same Carolina highway; this time, being enveloped in a gentle touch and kind words. Soon, she is given a name, and within hours, her broken leg has been set by a trained veterinarian technician. Then, she is given a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of room to roam once her leg heals, fresh food, and clean water. Most of all, she is given a second chance at life.

Along a dusty dirt road in a rural area of South Carolina, a woman heads home. As she does every day, she passes a neighbor’s land, and her heart sinks again at the sight of the two horses in the makeshift pasture, their bones sticking out more than she has ever seen. She pauses, and looks at the pair. The mother is swaying, clearly sick with starvation, and the son doesn’t look much better. The woman makes a decision. She cannot stand for this any longer. She makes a call, and soon, two men are knocking at her neighbor’s door. An agreement is reached, and the men load the horses into a trailer shortly after. The woman’s heart fills with hope. Maybe, the mother and son can have a chance at a better life.

At a rest stop somewhere in the Southeast, an excited woman awaits the arrival of a breeder she found online. After seeing countless posts on social media featuring shockingly small “teacup” pigs, she finally convinced her landlord to allow her to have one, promising him exactly what the breeder promised her: that it would not get any larger than 50 pounds. The breeder arrives, hands her the pig, and takes his payment. Then, he is gone, never to be heard from again. The woman returns home, falls in love with her tiny, intelligent little pet, and begins to care for him. Before long, the pig has reached 20 pounds, then 30, and then 40. The landlord eyes it warily, but the woman promises that it will top out at 50 pounds, while quietly beginning to question if the breeder was being completely upfront. As it grows, the pig begins to have difficulty scaling the three floors of steps up to his owner’s apartment, and the woman has a harder time carrying him around. By the time the pig hits 100 pounds, the landlord has had it. Tearfully, the woman makes a call, and within hours, is saying goodbye to her pet: the teacup pig who never was. Like so many people these days, she was fooled into believing that what was actually a standard potbellied pig could remain small, and both she and the pig grieve the loss of each other. Though he has now experienced a heartbreaking loss, the pig will live the remainder of his life in a more suitable environment thanks to the phone call his owner made, and eventually, he will find happiness again.

On a plot of land not far from Columbia, South Carolina, the air is buzzing with activity. A large pig playfully rushes toward a squealing companion, while a group of guinea fowl squawk and march around the premises. Turkeys, horses, donkeys, ducks, goats, and sheep are just some of the residents here, and all are up to something. Some animals laze about, sunning themselves, while others romp around the dirt, looking happy as can be. A man spreads food in a pasture, while another refills water troughs. Then, the phone rings. A knowing glance passes between the two men, and on the second ring, one of them brings the phone to his ear. He listens. He nods. He thinks for a moment. And then he begins to make a plan. He reaches out to the other members of this important team. Decisions are made. Phone calls are placed. Before long, another animal is saved. It is just another day at Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Cotton Branch got its start back in 2004, as the retirement plan of former founder and longtime director of the Carolina Wildlife Care Center, Jan Alber-Senn. Her huge heart for animals leading the way, the farmland Jan obtained quickly became inundated with animals in need. Jan devoted herself to providing the best lives possible for the animals in her care, but retirement plan it was not. The days were long and the responsibilities were many, but Jan’s dedication to the animals never faltered. One day in 2014, as she browsed the Facebook pages of fellow rescues, she kept seeing the same name reaching out for help: Joshua Costner. Josh, an owner of two pigs and lover of animals, had heard about a pig destined to be euthanized at an animal control shelter, and was frantically trying to find someone to take the animal before her death date. Everyone was either not responding, or responding that they could not take her. It was clear that he was realizing what many had discovered before him: most animal rescues do not take pigs. Jan immediately clicked on his profile and sent a message. She could take the animal, she said. Josh and his husband, Evan Costner, saved Louise the pig right in the nick of time, and brought her to Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary. It was love at first sight

“We just fell in love with the place,” remembers Josh. “Jan took us around and introduced us to all of the animals, told us their origin stories, and shared little tidbits about their personalities. At the time, she had over 100 animals and just one volunteer. She was 64 years old, and doing almost everything herself. We got in the car to leave, looked at each other, and just said, ‘she needs help to keep this going.’”

The couple went back home to Charlotte, and Josh quickly set up a fundraiser at his hair salon to raise money for the sanctuary. He sent her the proceeds–nearly $1500–and then planned another fundraising event in the city a few months later. This time, they raised a few thousand dollars. Josh and Evan kept visiting the sanctuary and helping out whenever they could, and soon met other volunteers who helped care for the animals. Together with Jan, they formed a functioning board of directors, and began to set goals and allocate responsibilities. They worked together famously, and new board members were added as the years went on. Now, Josh and Evan are set to succeed Jan after her retirement from the farm in the next two years, voted by the current board of directors. Passionate and devoted, the pair could not be more perfect for the job.

In the United States, around 98% of the animals killed each year are farm animals, yet only around 2% of rescue organizations focus on these types of animals. 98% of the rescues operating in the United States focus their efforts on saving the 2% killed annually: dogs and cats. This is a fact that drives the Cotton Branch team forward every day, knowing that their work has immense value in the lives of so many animals. Their many residents include horses like Roscoe and Tucker who were found neglected and starving, a sweet mule named Chester who was the victim of abuse, and Freckles, the enormous, 2000 pound male dairy cow that the team speculates is a prime example of artificial growth hormone injections. There are two sheep named Thelma and Louise who are known for trying to escape with each other, and a chicken named Lana who fell–or jumped–off of the back of a truck destined for a slaughterhouse. More than any other animal, though, Cotton Branch receives calls about pigs. As one of only a handful of rescues who accepts pigs in either of the Carolinas, the calls can reach into the dozens each day.

“Pigs are said to be the 4th most intelligent animal on earth, much more than even dogs, with the mental capacity of a 3-5 year old,” says Josh. “They learn quickly, have extremely distinct personalities, and mourn loss. So when we get these constant calls, often multiple times a day, about pigs who are found abandoned, neglected, or are set to be euthanized, it’s heartbreaking, because it is so avoidable. If there was more awareness around the fact that the miniature pig is a myth, the number of neglected pigs could decrease significantly.”

The “teacup pig,” “micro pig,” or “mini pig” myth is a recent trend that deceives people into believing that pigs can be bred to be the size and weight of a very small dog. Breeders will show pictures of young pigs and claim that they are full grown to trick buyers, and often suggest incredibly low daily food allowances, which can keep some pigs relatively small but undernourished. Buyers with even the best intentions are coaxed into believing that no matter how small their home, a pig can be a comfortable companion. When, inevitably, a “teacup” pig grows far past its projected maximum weight, owners are often left scrambling for a place for them to go. Oftentimes, after trying and failing to find a home for the animal, the owner simply releases them from their care, dropping them off in rural areas and hoping for the best. At Cotton Branch, the team has seen the rise in calls about pigs directly correspond to the rising trend of buying “miniature” pigs. Presently, Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary has 85 pigs, and all but 11 are pot belly pigs or mixes that were promised to be 20-50 pounds fully grown. None of them are anywhere close to that size.

Because of the massive amount of calls they receive regarding pigs, the sanctuary set up a rehoming program where they move animals from the unsuitable or dangerous situation directly into a new home or foster home in the interim, ensuring that the animal never steps foot on the Cotton Branch Sanctuary land. This helps the pig in need, as well as the pigs at the farm by saving them from additional loss; inevitably, they will get attached to one another, and mourning the loss of loved ones is an extremely emotional time for a pig. They also use the rehoming program to place other farm animals, such as goats, chickens, sheep, horses, and donkeys into safe and loving homes. Since the inception of the program 3 years ago, the Cotton Branch team has successfully saved and rehomed 300 animals. The animals who end up at the farm these days, other than the longtime residents, are typically severe cases, often abused or hard to place animals, such as extremely large farm pigs. Today, Cotton Branch has the most active adoption and foster program for pigs in the Southeast.

Compassionate to a fault, the Cotton Branch team is made up of people who care deeply for animals, and the devotion extends to their many supporters. The bulk of their funding comes from monthly donors, who sponsor an animal at the sanctuary, receive an “adoption certificate,” and get updates all while supporting the farm through a small, recurring donation each month. There are also fundraising events such as 5K races and potlucks, and occasionally, local vegan restaurants will dedicate a day to sharing a percentage of their proceeds with Cotton Branch, as Good Life Cafe in Columbia does on the second Sunday of every month. Volunteers come from all over the state and beyond nearly every day to assist with farm chores, and monthly meetups are held to tackle larger projects. To raise more awareness about the plight of factory farmed animals, well-intentioned potbelly pig purchases, and more, the Cotton Branch team regularly visits schools across the region to educate children from elementary school age to college level. They also work with other sanctuaries and animal rights organizations across the country to form a network of helpers for animals in need: partnerships that are especially apparent when there is a natural disaster or an extreme case of many animals who need to be saved at once.

For the Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary Team, saving animals and caring for them can be both physically and emotionally draining, but that doesn’t stop anyone at the farm from pushing forward, determined to save as many animals as possible.

“Saving animals – that’s our bottom line,” says Josh. “We aren’t paid, and only have two paid part-time employees here on the farm. Every ounce of support we get is directed toward the animals.”

“If we are able to get the support we need,” adds Evan, “We want to expand this property so that we can help even more animals, and have more locations across the state. We are limited in what we can do here, and we know we can do so much more. We will never stop fighting for better lives for the animals, so all we can do is keep growing.”

To find out how you can help Cotton Branch Farm Animal Sanctuary,  follow them on social media and visit www.cottonbranch.org

 By Jana Riley

Natalie Daise was just a young woman when she stepped off a Greyhound bus from New York and breathed in the salty air of Beaufort County, South Carolina. At 22, her schooling was behind her for the time being, and her new life in the South was an exciting blank slate for her to finally write her own story. As she navigated the unfamiliar streets, she could not shake the feeling that this place, however foreign it may be to a girl from central New York, was home for her. Comforted by the sensation, Natalie visited her sick grandmother, spent time with extended family members, and soon, attended her local church congregation. It was there that she heard a young man, skinny and bespectacled, sing in such a way that her soul responded with deep emotion. The two were introduced, and eventually, their relationship would go on to become one of the most impactful joining of hearts the state had ever seen.

When Natalie first met Ron Daise, their relationship was strictly platonic. Over time, they began to collaborate creatively, singing together in a quartet, a trio, and finally, a duo. They connected over their love for creating, their mutual pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the compassionate hearts they offered to everyone they encountered. Before long, they had fallen in love. As they grew together, Ron, a fervent storyteller, shared stories of his ancestors, who he could trace through his DNA all the way back to Ghana and Sierra Leone. Many of his ancestors had been brought to islands off of the South Carolina coast as slaves, selected for their ability to grow rice, which was an important cash crop at the time. They later became part of the Gullah Geechee culture, a part of society whose stories Ron Daise was—and is—determined to keep telling. Around the time he and Natalie met, Ron was often spotted driving around town in his Toyota Corolla, chauffeuring elderly Gullah Geechee women to their various appointments while interviewing them for a book he was writing, which was later published under the title, Reminiscences of Sea Island Heritage: Legacy of Freedmen on St. Helena Island. His passion for his culture was apparent in everything he did, and soon, Natalie became invested in telling the stories right along with him. She and Ron found that they both knew many of the same traditional Gullah songs; Natalie’s grandmother had sang them to her in her youth, and Ron had grown up on St. Helena Island, where nearly every inhabitant was part of the Gullah Geechee culture. Together, they sang the songs and told the tales of their ancestors for anyone who would listen, and friends and family members encouraged the couple to take their stories to larger audiences. Ron had the idea to turn his book of Gullah Geechee stories into a script for a performance on Gullah Culture, and worked on it diligently. Word spread in the right circles about the work Natalie and Ron were doing, and soon, the pair quit their jobs to pursue their craft full-time. They became itinerant performers, traveling around the country to perform at museums, colleges, libraries, churches, and education conferences. Sharing their culture far and wide, they became key members in the Gullah Geechee community, known for their passion and expertise on all things Gullah.

In 1989, Natalie met novelist Gloria Naylor, who had written a book based on the Gullah Geechee community. The two hit it off, and eventually, Natalie found herself on the very tip of St. Helena Island, in a hastily furnished home, eating cold chicken out of a box with Gloria Naylor, Naylor’s college friend, Maria Perez, and actor Laurence Fishburne, discussing turning a novel by Naylor, “Mama Day,” into a movie. It was on that night that Maria Perez suggested that Natalie and Ron turn their performances into a children’s television show for the Nickelodeon channel. Having heard similar pitches from well-meaning friends before, Natalie didn’t think much of it, but a few months later, 9 months pregnant with her son, Simeon, there was a knock at the door. Producers from New York had tracked her down, and they spent the day filming Natalie and Ron going about their lives. A few weeks later, they received a call from New York. Executives from Nickelodeon had seen their tape, and wanted to make a show based on the Daise family and Gullah Culture.

“They invited us to come up to New York to discuss the show, and I ended up in this boardroom, with my five week old baby, surrounded by people wearing suits that cost more than my car,” laughs Natalie. “We had no agent, no television experience, nothing. But we were given the green light for our show, and we were on the air in less than a year.”

The show was called Gullah Gullah Island, and it became a cult classic of the 90’s. Running between 1994-1998, the show featured Ron, Natalie, their two children, Simeon and Sara, and other characters singing, dancing, and sharing life lessons. At the center of the show was a focus on the Gullah Culture, which would establish Gullah Gullah Island as the first children’s show to star an African-American family set in an indigenously black community. As a result, the program, which was the highest-rated preschool show during its original run, exposed children across the nation to a culture which they may have never encountered, and paved the way for more diverse offerings in the future. Today, it holds a special place of nostalgia in the hearts of all who watched it in their youth, with both Ron and Natalie having served as teacher, parent, friend, and entertainer to millions of children growing up in the nineties. Regularly, they are approached with stories and words of gratitude, their program resonating even two decades later.

After finishing their seventieth episode, the last for Gullah Gullah Island, Natalie and Ron continued to create, inspire, and grow together. Ron, who Natalie says is the very definition of a true partner, secured a job at Brookgreen Gardens as the Vice President of Creative Education, and Natalie further immersed herself in the world of using storytelling as an educational tool. She acquired her Masters degree in Creative Studies, helped develop materials for early childhood education, and held creative workshops for students and teachers alike.

“Stories just drop the barriers,” says Natalie. “They are a gentle way of opening doors so that we can all communicate. When I tell stories, it is not just me standing there talking while everyone else is listening. We are building a community in the room, truly seeing and hearing each other. If, for example, I can get a room of people who believe they are very different from one another to laugh together, then they all connect with the story and each other at the same time. When we laugh together, we share a reaction, and we share an experience. From there, we can begin to understand each other and grow together.”

Shortly after finishing Gullah Gullah Island, Natalie’s passion for storytelling found an outlet in an unexpected medium: the visual arts. She began painting, and with each canvas, she shared elements of her history, her culture, and her life. Even seemingly benign elements like a bowl of collards, which appeared in one of her earlier paintings, evolved in her work over time to represent her early childhood, her family of origin, and her connection to African-American culture and gathering. In later paintings, the collards take on a life of their own, morphing into wings, halos, and finally, in “Collard Queen,” an exquisite gown. For “The Evolution of Cornbread,” Natalie recalls her great grandmother, who had few photos taken during her lifetime, and captured her memory of the venerable woman by posing for a photo herself and bringing it to life with reverence and gratitude. Most of her paintings depict people, and it is often in their faces, their hands, their eyes, and their gazes that stories can be found by those willing to listen. Sometimes, Natalie ties in Adinkra cultural symbols, which originate in West Africa, to quietly evoke the spirit of a painting. In “A Prayer For Peace,” a young boy prays in front of a backdrop of the Gye Nyame symbol, which references the supremacy of God. In “Saint Monifa” a woman looks toward the future while flanked by the Fafante symbol, referencing tenderness and the fragility of life. In all of her work, Natalie Daise celebrates the beauty and strength of her heritage, telling the stories of people past, present, and future with an open heart and generous spirit. Though the artist did not begin sharing her work with the public until 2011, today, her art can be found hanging in museums, art shows, libraries, and homes across the Lowcountry and beyond.

Never one to stop evolving, Natalie is constantly in search of more creative ways to educate and inspire. Most recently, while discussing a way to bring Gullah Geechee culture into the daily lives of modern people, she and Ron decided to make a set of wisdom cards, and collaborated on the design and use of them. They took their product to Kickstarter, and were fully funded before their deadline. The set, now available on Natalie’s website, is divided into seven decks which reflect seven principles important in Gullah Geechee culture: Respect for Elders, Tenacity, Creativity, Heritage, Spirituality, Family and Community, and Self-Sufficiency. These are divided into another seven subsets: Understanding, Ancient Wisdom, Spirit Music, Reflection, Testimony, Visualization, and Empowerment. Users of the set can pull a card from within a deck either at random or by careful selection, and an accompanying guidebook aids in seeking meaning and creating an intention based on the card pulled. Natalie’s art is displayed on each card, and lessons are taught through song, story, and encouragement for reflection.

Soon, another family collaboration will take flight in the work of Natalie and her daughter, Sara Makeba. The presentation, called “Pruning our Mother’s Garden,” is a discussion on what is learned from mothers and daughters, and what can be done to apply that knowledge to better serve each other and future generations. Sara, a cultural history interpreter, brings her studies of Afrofuturism to the project, encouraging participants to dream for future generations just as their ancestors did for them. Natalie and Sara hope to bring the discussion to as many places as possible, opening up dialogue about culture, acceptance, and growth.

In all that she does, Natalie Daise seeks to foster dialogue, elicit understanding, and inspire positive evolution.

“You’ve got to tell your own story,” says Natalie. “If you don’t, someone else will tell the story of who you are, and it won’t be correct. And you have to listen to the stories of the past, because how can you understand anything if you don’t know its evolution? History is constantly impacting who we are. We must listen to stories and ask ourselves, ‘Who am I in this story? How can I move forward from here? How can I best use this newfound understanding?’ In doing so, we can facilitate positive change and move forward together.”

For more information about Natalie Daise and her work, visit www.nataliedaiseart.com.

 By Jana Riley

Recognized in the guidebooks as a quaint and historic city with ample hunting and equestrian pursuits, Camden is far from the fustiness one might conjure up initially. Though undoubtedly part of the appeal, Camden’s thoroughbreds, freshly polished rifle chambers, and general air of sophistication are all pleasantly balanced by the intangible comfort of feeling right at home.

Established as a backcountry settlement by King George II along the Wateree River, Camden is as far west as most Europeans would venture in the early 1700s and soon became a convenient trading spot and outpost for the British during the Revolutionary War. The Redcoats occupied Camden as headquarters for over a year surrounded by fortifications. Although they were victorious in the Battle of Camden (1780) and Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill (1781), the English soon left Camden and burned much of it on their way out.

In the wake of the fight for independence, Camden prospered, and by the early 1800s had twice as many homes as the state capital. During the Civil War, Camden found itself once again in a pivotal role, this time as a supply station and hospital, counting Mary Todd Lincoln’s brother among its surgical staff. Ultimately, like so many others, Camden suffered under the fiery exit of General Sherman and found itself forced to evolve in the aftermath.

Wealthy northerners soon made their way to the town and brought with them a passion for horses, solidifying Camden’s place in equestrian tradition that continues today through the Carolina Cup each Spring. Over 60,000 brightly-clothed spectators, about ten times the total population, are drawn into Camden for the steeplechase event annually. If you can’t make it for the cup, be sure to stop by the National Steeplechase Museum, the only museum in the United States that is dedicated to telling the steeplechase story.

To take it back to the very beginning of Camden and further investigate its former life, the first stop is Historic Camden, where the Kershaw Cornwallis House stands, original headquarters to Cornwallis and perhaps the most iconic symbol of Camden’s extraordinary history. Thousands of spectators flock to Historic Camden throughout the first full weekend in November for Revolutionary War Field Days. The signature event features battles, camps, demonstrations, and presentations by scholars.The grounds of the house also contain a larger museum complex featuring the c. 1800 Craven House and McCaa’s Tavern, log cabins with exhibits, a reconstructed blacksmith shed, and more. Continue the story at nearby Camden Battlefield and Longleaf Pine Preserve, a 450+ acre site where the Patriots’ defeat at the Battle of Camden became the catalyst for the promotion of Major General Nathanael Greene as commander of the Southern Campaigns.

Downtown Camden is the ideal of a quaint small town, complete with plenty of shops, an impressive amount of local eateries, and distinct architecture. You’ll spot weather vanes in the likeness of Catawba Indian Chief King Haigler and the unofficial Patron Saint of Camden while he watches over the town atop both the 1886 Opera House Tower and the dome of Camden City Hall. Both are replicas of the original 1826 weather vane that is now housed safely in the Camden Archives and Museum. The museum has a top notch genealogical research facility for those who want to dig deep into the records of Camden along with artifacts and exhibits on the entire county. The newly opened African American Cultural Center houses exhibits including the legacy of favorite son and baseball Hall of Famer Larry Doby.

Once you start thinking life in Camden couldn’t get any more quaint, think again and catch a show at the Little Theater, in operation since 1948. The building has been refurbished since the old days, but still exudes character and includes two screens showing the current blockbusters.

Camden has one of the most impressive mixtures of shops in South Carolina in both quantity and quality. Take a tour of the many antique stores or peruse downtown on Broad Street. Pink Stable ladies boutique has classy southern attire in spades, outfitting locals and visitors alike in beautiful clothing fit for any horse race. For a cup of coffee and a rare find, Books on Broad is an independent bookstore selling used, new, and collectible books to flip through along with millions of titles available online. Music aficionados will naturally find their way to Davis & Sons Guitar Shop, maybe even planning a whole trip around the place. Rusty Davis, former guitar player for Eric Clapton, has everything a musician needs including plenty of life lessons and advice. Definitely check out the Bassett Gallery at the Fine Arts Center to take in art in all forms such as contemporary, classic, folk, sculptures, and paintings. Admission to the gallery and receptions are free.

Camden is also wrapped in forest land inviting lots of fun in the sun. Goodale State Park offers some of the best kayaking in South Carolina on a Civil War-era mill pond. There’s plenty of fishing, a sandy one-mile hiking trail, and a three-mile paddling trail through cypress trees.

STAY

Two of the standout options to make a weekend of your visit in Camden offer, not surprisingly, a big slice of history pie along with your breakfast. The Camden House B&B was built in 1832 in the heart of downtown and features 12 foot-high ceilings and heart pine floors that would make any historic preservationist swoon. The antebellum grandeur of the furnishings, sitting rooms, and breezy porches are merged with just the right amount of modern conveniences, even a pool!

A short walk from downtown will bring you to the award-winning Bloomsbury Inn. The former private home was built in the mid-1800s by Colonel Chestnut, then the third wealthiest person in the state. Many well-known faces of Camden history graced the halls of Bloomsbury including Mary Boykin Chestnut, famous for penning “Diary of Dixie” detailing her experiences during the Civil War. The four rooms are named after original family members–including Mary–and each contains an 1854 fireplace plus sitting area. Here, you’ll awake to the smell of Bloomsbury’s own special coffee brew and a three-course gourmet breakfast made from local ingredients.

EAT

Blackmon’s Little Midget Family Drive-In is a 30-seater that started as a hot dog stand in the 1950s. The still-humble establishment now dishes out incredible amounts of sweet tea, pimento cheese, and chicken and will also fill you up on slow-roasted barbecue, burgers, and more. The must-eat is, of course, a hot dog topped with Blackmon’s famous chili.

Every town needs a nostalgic diner on a side street where kids chuckle at the counter and patrons indulge in some old-fashioned southern goodness. Broad Street Lunch, better known as BSL, is that place. The breakfast comes hot, the burgers come on toasted bread, and the service comes with conversation and a smile every time.

De Bruhl’s Café is too tempting to pass up for all the hole-in-the-wall seekers out there. A southern-style buffet tucked behind a hotel, the cafe offers up full breakfast or the ever-adored meat and three for lunch, with options changing daily.

Just in case their weekly all-you-can-eat crab leg or rib specials don’t pique your interest, the full menu at Hifalutin will. Southern staples like fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese fries will start you off before you choose between entrees like the smoked pork drums, shrimp and grits, and apple moonshine ribs.

For a quick treat or dessert, Mulberry Market Bake Shop has everything from chocolate croissants to homemade breads and pecan rolls. The bakers are up in the wee hours of the morning to satisfy your sweet tooth all day, so make sure to return their warm smiles.

For the slow-cooked savory meat lovers, Westfall’s Texas Style BBQ is open Thursday-Saturday and is chock full of slow-cooked savory meats including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken leg quarters, and smoked Texas sausage. Sauces and side dishes are available, but definitely not necessary.

A word meaning “health” in Spanish and used as a toast, Salud! is traditional Mexican fare with lots of glam and flare. The innovative menu is fresh and the lounge atmosphere allows you to really relax and enjoy the handcrafted cocktails and over 100 tequila options.

The historic exposed brick and tin ceiling are just the starting points for the charm at Sam Kendall’s, where the ambiance is unpretentiously fancy, much like Camden itself. There are separate dinner, lunch, and seasonal menus, and the seafood and steaks are standouts.

This city, as tempting as it is to pigeon-hole as exclusive and a touch high-brow, actually leans more on the side of sturdy with an approachable elegance. Camden is proud of the hearty souls that began its path to such a significant role in history, and it is conscious of maintaining its willful spirit today and more than happy to share it with all who grace its dignified doorstep.

While we pride ourselves on finding soon-to-be favorite discoveries for our readers while scouting cities, this article is by no means comprehensive. Visit www.classicallycarolina.com to explore everything Camden has to offer, including audio tours of all nine of their historic districts.

 By Grace Nelson

gathered at Grandmother’s big round table, or a picnic spread across a checkered blanket on a summer day. It is welcome home, and we’re going to miss you, and it is tender love on a platter during times of loss.

Though the idea of frying chicken is thought to have come to the United States from Scotland, it was the enslaved West African population that elevated the simple food’s flavor with spices and seasonings, creating a staple that has come to be synonymous with Southern cuisine. Once only a working-class dish, today the perfume of drumsticks cooking in hot oil drifts along in the trade winds of the world to grace tables set with fine china as often as it does the disposable kind. No matter where we are or where we’re from—it takes us home.

Empires have been built around the humble yard bird, and though a white-suited colonel with a black string-tie will forever represent the commercial success of its finger-lickin’ goodness, there are those who would go down swinging over whose mom serves it up best.

Crispy or original, dressed for success or salt-and-pepper-simple, it’s a fundamental favorite that lends flavor to our lives and feeds our souls with crispy, deep-fried southern comfort.

Featured Recipes:

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN WITH HOT HONEY DRIZZLE

SPICY FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH WITH BLUE CHEESE SLAW

FRIED CHICKEN AND GRITS

SWEET TEA FRIED CHICKEN

Greenville is no longer an emerging work-in-progress striving towards greatness. This city has firmly cemented its place as a vibrant Upstate hub, contagious with energy and bursting at the seams with experiences like nowhere else in the state.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The landscape we all know as Greenville was once Cherokee hunting ground and forbidden to colonists looking to settle here. Richard Pearis, a trader from Virginia who happened to live with a chief’s daughter, was able to acquire about 100,000 acres (including the current location of downtown Greenville) to set up a plantation along the Reedy River. After the Revolutionary War, Greenville County was formed and most likely named for the much celebrated General Nathanael Greene. The county seat was called Pleasantburg. Through the years following, the Richard Pearis land passed through many hands. The city was renamed Greenville in 1831 and was soon bustling with schools, churches, mills, vacation homes for the Lowcountry planters, and eventually a new fireproof courthouse designed by none other than Robert Mills.

The first Greenville and Columbia railroad train arrived at the depot in 1853, opening up the area to even more commerce, including one of the largest coach manufacturing companies in the south. Greenville remained mostly untouched during the Civil War, besides a brief appearance by Jefferson Davis as he fled with his stash of now-vanished Confederate gold. During Reconstruction, the first bridge over the Reedy was built, followed by more mills, rail lines, and subsequently free public schools, a pipe system for water and sewer, and electric lights.

Like most of the state, Greenville fell on hard times thanks to the boll weevil, a textile strike, and the fallout from both World Wars. Interstates drew traffic further and further from downtown and caused more than a few storefront vacancies. The late 1960s were a desperately needed turning point as local leaders worked to create a downtown development plan focused on transforming Main Street. Their efforts began to show most noticeably downtown, with free angled parking, new trees, decorative light fixtures, and widened sidewalks providing space for outdoor dining. Things picked up speed when large-scale anchor projects became a reality and high-powered industry followed suit.

Greenville has since collected a number of accolades including Top 10 Best Downtowns in the Country from Livability and called “a national model for a pedestrian-friendly city center” by The New York Times.

GREENVILLE OF TODAY

Downtown

At the core of Greenville from the very beginning, the Reedy River leads into the heart of downtown. The waterfalls on the river (formerly obscured by a four-lane highway) are now an icon of downtown, a flowing symbol of a beautiful city once hidden. Falls Park is a must-stop, where you can lounge on the river banks and picnic or grab a bite at Mary’s Restaurant, Passerelle Bistro, or any of the number of downtown restaurants within walking distance. Falls Park is also a piece of The Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 20-mile multi-use trail network that follows the Reedy River and ultimately connects Greenville with the city of Travelers Rest.

The downtown district is easily accessible to pedestrians, but new ways to explore are now available, including Segway tours, carriage rides, tours dedicated to history and architecture, and even a free trolley that operates Thursdays through Sundays. The weekends are always hopping downtown, which usually has a charming ambiance, commonly provided by street performers ranging from banjo players to dancers.  

As for downtown lodging, the Hyatt Regency is the option most convenient for browsing North Main (NOMA) Square, the largest plaza in Greenville with charming specialty shops like Oil & Vinegar and Kilwins Chocolate, Fudge & Ice Cream. Roost is a staple on this side of town for their farm-to-table lunch served buffet-style. NOMA is also the backdrop for several free community events like swing dancing, yoga, live music, and Oktoberfest.

For those who enjoy a little history with their hotel, The Westin Poinsett should be at the top of the list to visit. The Poinsett opened in 1925 on the original spot of the Mansion House Hotel, which operated for over a century before closing. The new Poinsett was the place to stay for the rich and famous, welcoming many guests of note including Amelia Earhart, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Bobby Kennedy, and Liberace. The Poinsett struggled through the Depression era, the hotel and motel boom, and foreclosure before it was fully renovated and triumphantly opened its doors again as The Westin Poinsett in 2000. The Poinsett’s restaurant, Spoonbread, is the perfect casual spot for breakfast, lunch, and Sunday brunch.

Shopping

Along with plenty of nationally recognized names, Greenville has attracted a remarkably diverse list of locally owned boutiques. Cone & Coleman is everything plush and high-class. The owners here display a painstakingly selected collection of clothing plucked from brands around the world, and the grandly decorated space makes shopping here more of a fashion experience than a shopping errand. We Took to the Woods is the spot that merges things old and new. From award-winning handcrafted candles to home decor, everything here is displayed with a focus on season with a unique twist on items styled with attention to traditional-meets-modern.

Though only open since 2003 as a part of a larger network throughout the south, the Mast General Store is an older chapter in the Greenville history book. The building began its retail legacy in 1898 as a dry goods and shoe store before expanding in 1913 as the Meyers-Arnold Department Store. The family operation carried a little bit of everything and operated in this space until 1971. The pressed tin ceiling and maple floors are reminiscent of the old days as you peruse the current Mast General Store inventory which still, ironically, has a little bit of everything from outdoor gear to fashion accessories.

A harbor for creative souls is found right here at M. Judson Books. It is anything but your traditional bookstore and everything cultural core. Their self-proclaimed “story-centered lifestyle” is apparent in the assortment of gifts, vintage pieces, and shelves lined with Southern literature. However the community events are the spirit of M. Judson Books and feature themes such as art exhibits, author signings, and their sell-out monthly suppers with a farm-inspired menu. M. Judson feels more like a society and an on-going conversation than a store, which makes sense as it was inspired by Mary Camilla Judson, the founder of the Judson Literary Society that historically dates back to the turn of the century in Greenville.  

Culinary

The flourishing foodie scene that Greenville has been cultivating is no longer a secret. Inspiring dishes are the norm and can be found in every hole-in-the-wall, gastropub, and fine dining restaurant that calls Greenville home. With 100% Angus beef and dry-aged patty options as main ingredients, Grill Marks is the standout burger place. Burger concoctions range from the French Connection topped with caramelized onions and brie to the BONEafide with red wine compound butter and roasted bone marrow lettuce. One of these creations paired with white truffle parmesan fries and an adult milkshake makes a masterpiece of a meal.

Ideal for brunch, lunch specials, dinner, or even a late night snack, Brazwell’s Premium Pub plates up the classic items like wings and mozzarella sticks in addition to more unique options like the brisket quesadilla, fried corned beef, and watermelon salad.

For a new dessert place with a twist, check out Creme Shack on Main Street. The new rolled ice-cream craze is dished up here with fun flavors like key lime pie or salted caramel pretzel.

Play

Known as one of the premier American art museums in the country, the Greenville County Museum of Art displays pieces with strong connections to the South. Here you can browse the substantial collection or partake in one of their many special events and programs. Sunday afternoons feature free lectures, musical performances, and hands-on-demonstrations. The museum is also home to the world’s largest public collection of watercolors by Andrew Wyeth along with a significant collection of work by Jasper Johns.

Just for the kiddos, the Children’s Museum of the Upstate has 80,000 square feet, 3 floors, and 19 interactive exhibits worth of entertainment. Exhibit options are perfect for all ages from the Toddler Lily Pond to the Garage Rock musical experience. Other kid-centric activities around Greenville include searching out the nine bronze Mice on Main around town for a scavenger hunt experience or exploring The Greenville Zoo, which is home to hundreds of wildlife all over the world.  

Another family favorite is Flour Field. Modeled after Fenway Park, Flour has its very own Green Monster and hosts more than 70 home games for the Greenville Drive, a Class A affiliate to the Boston Red Sox. The seating maxes out at 5,700 and ensures that there are no nose-bleed sections here.

A weekend in Greenville would be incomplete without taking in a show at the Warehouse Theatre. At least six productions per year grace the stage, with this season presenting The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter (December 1-17, 2017), A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill (January 26-February 10, 2018), The Flick by Annie Baker (March 9-24, 2018), and Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare (April 20-May 5, 2018).

If you want to escape the city for a bit for the great outdoors, Paris Mountain State Park (named after the aforementioned first settler Richard Pearis) is definitely worth the short drive. The park has four lakes for fishing, boating, and swimming, 15 miles of trails for hiking and biking, camp sites, and an educational center. For stunning mountain views, be sure to venture to either Caesars Head (31 miles away) or Table Rock (28 miles away) state parks.

Admittedly, these suggestions are only a mere sample of what Greenville has to offer. The innovative and passionate spirit here will draw you in and may even convince you to stay. The initial revitalization stage is over, but transformation has never ceased. We can’t wait to see what happens next.

For more ideas on exploring Greenville, visit www.visitgreenvillesc.com.

By Grace Nelson

It is very early on a chilly spring morning on a rural tract of land.  Two camouflage-clad figures at the base of an oak tree sit very still.  It is a difficult task for a twelve-year-old under any circumstances, but for the young hunter who sits with her father, the excitement of the opening day of turkey season makes it all the more challenging.  Since early fall, the two have worked together to prepare for this day, and she has learned how important it is to take care of the land so that it can support wildlife.  She studied hard to pass hunter’s education, and for the first time she will put her knowledge to use  in the field.  

As they wait, the sky begins to lighten. Hens roosting in the trees on the edge of the woods drop to the open space, bobbing their heads and clucking as they search for their morning meal. The gobble of the big Tom turkey shatters the stillness, and her eyes go wide at the unexpected sound.  The bird struts boldly into the field—his feathered fan extended and beard dragging in the sandy soil.  As the sun rises, the light catches the bronze feathers and bright blue of his head. Drumming and gobbling with all his might, he begins his courtship ritual. She is enthralled.

The fact that they leave empty-handed will be of no consequence when they later recount the morning spent watching the wild turkeys across the sandy field.  Awed and amused by the birds’ complicated and competitive dance, they take away different but equally important and rewarding experiences.  One has passed the baton of stewardship, and the other has taken it to run into the future.  Together, they have put into practice the mission of the National Wild Turkey Federation, an objective dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.

It is an objective that Becky Humphries, CEO of National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) could not be more proud to advocate.  It is also the guiding principle behind a platform that has been instrumental in the restoration of the wild turkey population in this country and the improvement of more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat.  

“NWTF has long understood the importance of active habitat management, and that the future of conservation depends largely on the recruitment and education of hunters,” she says of the mission that attracted her to the organization.

Humphries, a native of Michigan and former Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, assumed leadership of NWTF in April, bringing more than 40 years of conservation and wildlife management experience to the table.  Her dedication continues a legacy that began when NWTF was founded in 1973, and which is chronicled in the impressive Winchester Museum on the grounds of its headquarters.  

But the organization does not rest on its impressive laurels.  From the 700-acre Hunting Heritage Center in Edgefield, SC, the flagship of the federation, Humphries explains that the organization “practices what it preaches,” offering unparalleled outdoor education, wildlife research, and sharing the results of ongoing applications of conservation techniques with others across the country.  Their 10-year initiative: Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt, focuses NWTF’s efforts to address the biggest problems facing conservation today—the loss of 6,000 acres of habitat every day and declining participation in hunting.

Conserve. Hunt. Share. The words are at the heart of NWTF’s outreach programs. Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin’ Sportsmen, and JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship), invite and encourage hunters and conservationists at all levels of experience and physical ability to help meet three critical goals: to conserve or enhance 4 million acres of critical habitat, recruit 1.5 million hunters, and open access to 500,000 acres for outdoor enjoyment.

To help facilitate those goals, Travis Sumner, NWTF Hunting Heritage and Habitat Specialist, who oversees the property and manages food plots at the Hunting Heritage Center, is busy cutting brush and making preparations for upcoming mentored events, designed to teach conservation principals and pass on the traditions of safe, ethical hunting.  He has spent the morning with interns from a local high school who are participating in a wildlife management technique class.  The students spend 1-2 hours at the Center every other day and will participate this winter in a gathering which will test the skills they have learned throughout the year.

“We know that the future of conservation rests with outdoor enthusiasts who have learned basic wildlife management from the ground up.  Our approach is to recruit, retain and reactivate a hunting population that is invested in the ecosystem as a whole—from pollinators and songbirds to game animals such as turkeys and deer.”

Sumner stresses the role that mentors play in helping new hunters see the big picture, and through their programs NWTF has found that many who have hunted their entire lives now find even more enjoyment in passing along the culture to those new to outdoor interests.  Though hunters currently pay for 80% of conservation funding through license purchases and excise taxes on equipment and more, one of the many lessons mentors teach by their example is that the harvest is secondary to the rewards of the outdoor experience.

On the far side of the Edgefield Center, NWTF’s premier shooting destination, the Palmetto Shooting Complex, helps fulfill the organization’s commitment to shooting sports, offering members and non-members access to two dedicated sporting clays courses, five trap and skeet fields, a 3D archery course, and a picturesque 9,300 square-foot pavilion.

As she oversees the many different facets of NWTF’s programs and projects, Humphries says she is optimistic about the future and encouraged by the role that NWTF continues to play in setting the standard.  She has observed better cooperation between government, for-profit, and not-for-profit agencies, resulting in larger-scale tracts of land being set aside as habitat across the nation. And though she is concerned that hunter population numbers have declined, as people become more concerned about sustainability—what they are eating and where their food comes from—she sees a trend toward greater acceptance of hunting.

“There have definitely been peaks and valleys throughout the years, but NWTF has proven that, with education and a culture of good conservation practices, we have the ability to mitigate the peaks and valleys of devastation and restoration.”

Miles away, a deer pauses beneath the pine canopy of a forest, and a covey of quail scurries beneath a windrow of thick brush. From another direction, the tracks of a flock of wild turkeys lead to a magnificent bird standing on the edge of a dusty field.  And thanks to the efforts of NWTF, somewhere a future steward of the land awaits the opportunity to step up and be a part of the future of conservation for us all.

Sumner tells his students to think of themselves as artists when approaching the management of fields and forests for wildlife, and of the land as their canvas.  “They have to help create the landscape of plants, animals, and birds they want to see in their picture of the future,” Sumner says of helping students understand that preservation of natural resources takes effort.  

Women have proven to be the fastest-growing sector of the hunting population, and the organization’s Women in the Outdoors Program hosts opportunities for affordable introduction to hunting classes, as well as other activities such as archery, fly-fishing, shooting sports, and more.

Through Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics, and Sportsmanship, better known as the JAKES program, youngsters are offered age-appropriate activities and events. Xtreme JAKES provides teens with more advanced outdoor opportunities, and JAKES Take Aim gives youth the chance to try target shooting, clay target shooting, and other shooting sports in a safe, fun environment.

Recognizing a need to provide for those with disabilities to be able to enjoy hunting and the shooting sports, NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program events open up outdoor activities to those who might not otherwise have opportunities due to lack of hunting land access, knowledge of how to return to the field after an injury, or a need for assistance in the field.

By Susan Frampton

In the 20 years since the old Navy base shut down, North Charleston took what was a crippling economic blow and launched into a modern day renaissance of sorts. It’s a success story any community can hope for; once hollow buildings are now brewing craft beer, theater seats are filled, hotel rooms are booked up, and the historic district is a textbook case for a charming Southern town.

It’s safe to say that North Charleston has now officially moved out from behind the shadows of its southern counterpart and emerged with its own recipe for success and growth; a unique blend of Lowcountry culture, complete with a lively social scene and a splash of tenacity.

HOW THEY DID IT

Shaking off the dust has been a long and very intentional process with the ultimate goal of enhancing North Charleston for what it is and always has been: industry. First it was the indigo and the rice plantations, ideally situated between the Ashley and the Cooper Rivers. Then along came the railroad that catered to farming and lumbering. There was even phosphate mining for fertilizer, which was profitable long after the Civil War.

Fast forward to the 1900s and North Charleston blossomed with the arrival of the Navy base, spurring residential and business development in spades for a full century. The city grew by a whopping 250% between 1972 and 1982 alone. The loss of the base in 1996, taking the largest civilian employer in the state right along with it, left a void to the tune of a $1.4 billion loss per year. The land reverted back to the city, and it was at this point that North Charleston took control of its own destiny.

Local government and residents tackled their identity crisis by initiating a formal plan dedicated to sustainability, preservation, recreation, and overall quality of life. Private industries began leasing the old warehouses and office spaces, businesses opened, and neighborhoods were building again. In 2009 Boeing announced its arrival, positioning North Charleston as one of the major aircraft centers in the nation.

PARK CIRCLE

The original footprint of the city can be found in Park Circle, sometimes referred to as Old Towne North Charleston, which has the distinction of being one of the oldest planned communities in America. The streetscapes are lined with local shops and specialty eateries that are frequented by a mixture of hipsters and nice suits at the street side tables. Options range from the dark and cozy Madra Rua Irish Pub for $2.50 tacos to the biggest outdoor patio in Charleston at Dig In The Park. The neighborhoods here range from well-established bungalows in Traditional Park Circle to brand new construction in an intimate settings complete with cobblestone, courtyards and plazas with a mixture of modern architecture traditional Charleston style at Mixson.

NOISETTE

Noisette is the actual site of the old Navy base, evidenced by the scattering of former barracks and housing. Rejuvenation efforts were focused heavily here right from the start, resulting in 3000 acres designed specifically for people to live, work, and play. The master plan for Noisette was honored by American Society of Landscape Architects in 2005 for urban redevelopment and referred to the project as a model for revitalization. Some of the old houses on the property—many of which are listed within the Charleston Navy Yard Officers’ Quarters Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places—are being steadily brought back from disrepair and repurposed, such as the old Admiral’s House that will eventually be used for events. Riverfront Park sprawls alongside the Cooper River and provides a setting of towering oak trees, large-scale sculptures, a fishing pier, boardwalk, and an outdoor amphitheater.

THE ART & BUSINESS DISTRICT

North Charleston conveniently has the only large capacity event venues in the area, attracting the likes of everyone from T-Swift at the Coliseum to the Phantom of the Opera at the Performing Arts Center. With the Tanger Outlets and the Convention Center nearby and the lively crowds at South Carolina Stingrays hockey games, North Charleston has itself a bustling epicenter for entertainment, shopping, and business.

THE CRAFT BREW SCENE

Located off Dorchester Road, the casual and eclectic Holy City Brewing was initially set up in a rickshaw bike shed after the owners pedaled tourists around for cash. An openness to share their now official warehouse space with charity and non-profit events brings droves of visitors to the brewery nearly every weekend, with food trucks happily lining up to accommodate them. With a tasting bar, four flagship brews on tap, and burritos on the menu, Holy City is a guaranteed thirst quencher.

This USDA Certified organic Freehouse Brewery uses a 15-barrel system, a pair of 30-barrel fermenters, and 15-barrel brite tank. In the tasting area, a bar constructed from salvaged wood acquired from a 120-year-old seed mill makes for a rustic, farmhouse-style experience. A custom-built deck just outside the backdoor offers a picturesque view of the marsh and the Ashley River.

Family-owned and environmentally conscious, Coast Brewing Company is tucked neatly amongst the industrial buildings of the old Navy base. The energy-efficient brewhouse is run on waste feedstock biodiesel from a nearby processing plant, and the husband-wife team prioritizes organic and local ingredients above all else.

Envision three bearded dudes drawing a pint of frothy beer to their hairy mugs, and you have an accurate image of Frothy Beard Brewing Company. It all began as a hobby, but the emerging market of the North Charleston area prompted the owners to make things official. This year the bearded brewers have concocted 27 types of beer, which have been poured in over 50 different bars and restaurants. Four flagship brews are available in their tasting area with six on tap and a long list of seasonal choices.

A work in progress and a destination worth the drive all at once, North Charleston’s vibe is palpable; it has the electricity of a big city, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a confidence that comes with knowing who you are and where you came from.

Other states may wear the peach on its license plates and coffee mugs, but for generations farms such as Dixie Belle, Titan, McLeod and Big Smile have been quietly cultivating a commercial crop that has made South Carolina the second largest producer of peaches in the country, and the largest east of the Mississippi.  Originating in China over 3,000 years ago, and first introduced to the state in the 1800’s, today, peaches are our signature summer crop, and South Carolina growers produce over double the volume of the state’s next-door neighbor.

With a sun-ripened South Carolina peach on our plate, we know that we will find the taste and texture of perfection.  We can’t get enough. We love the flavor that reminds us of our grandmothers’ kitchens, we love the versatility that adapts them to our recipes, and we love the fresh breath of summertime that drips from our fingers when we bite into the down- covered fruit.  As proud South Carolinians, we love them most of all because they are ours.  

Adopted by the state legislature in 1984 as the state fruit, South Carolina is known as “The Tastier Peach State.”  But then, we knew that all along.

About the Chef:

Meet Chef Forrest Parker, named 2016 South Carolina Chef Ambassador for the Lowcountry, and Chef de Cuisine at The Vendue Inn’s Drawing Room. Few know more about the state of peaches than Chef Parker, celebrated for his work as an “agricultural archeologist,” rediscovering and reintroducing heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables to state growers.  His unique historical perspective adds a unique sense of time and place to his menus. Drawing from the rich heritage of our culinary past, Parker brings us his recipes for South Carolina’s favorite summer fruit, created in homage to the seeds of the past.

Click below to see the recipes from Chef Forrest Parker:

Peach Rubbed Prime Rib of Heritage Pork

Traditional Cottage Cheese

Poached Peach Syllabub