WARM WELCOME: THREE RUSTIC CAKES SURE TO WARM THE SPIRIT DR. DENDY ENGLEMAN AT THE ELIZABETH ARDEN HOUSE / MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE KING STREET'S HÆGUR PLANT SHOP / MAD MADE METALS / A KNOCKOUT FRUIT PUNCH JOHNS ISLAND COMMUNITY PONDS / A NONPROFIT GETTING WHEELS TURNING
Fall 2018 ~ FREE
Tapping Into A Culture The explosion of craft breweries across the Lowcountry has a new breed of connoisseurs tapping into the sophisticated flavors and styles of craft beer
Golden Age An ice-cold Westbrook White Thai
EDISTO ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA THE BEST VALUES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY
Edisto Island
is South Carolina’s best kept secret - a relaxing 45 minute drive from Charleston and Summerville! Enjoy the National Scenic Highway winding among historic churches, plantations, marsh and creek vistas, and ancient Live Oaks. Discover an unspoiled coastal community without traffic lights, hotels, or high rises, just 8 miles of pristine shell strewn beach, sunrises, and sunsets! Over 65% of Edisto Island is under conservation easement so future generations will enjoy it just like it is. Our laid back, family oriented beach has it all! Sail, golf, fish, dine, and unwind! You will see why we love to call Edisto home. Contact Edisto’s real estate expert, Marie C. Bost, assisting thousands of buyers and owners achieve their dreams since 1982! ~Call or email Marie today!
Marie C. Bost EDISTO’S REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST® EDISTO@MARIEBOST.COM|MARIEBOST.COM 843-830-8669 | 143 JUNGLE RD, EDISTO BEACH, SC
EXPERIENCE OUR STORY.
A Z A L E A
M A G A Z I N E
F E AT U R E S Winter 2018
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M AS T E R CRAFT
The explosion of craft breweries across the Lowcountry
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MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
A museum-quality collection of antique bottles
Dressed in Layers Pumpkin Pecan Cake
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WARM WELCOME
Three rustic cakes sure to warmÂthe spirit
CONT ENT S
/ Winter 2018
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19 08 Editor’s Letter 12 Contributors SOUTHERN LIFE 15 Southern Spotlight - Artisan 19 Southern Spotlight - Style 23 Southern Spotlight - Community 26 Southern Spotlight - Drink 29 Southern Spotlight - Community
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49 COLUMNS 35 Natural Woman by Susan Frampton
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On The Cover: A Westbrook White Thai. Photo by Dottie Rizzo 8
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29 39 Kids These Days by Tara Bailey 43 Life & Faith by Lili Hiser
49 Open House - The Red Door Diaries Many decades apart, but forever linked by geography and circumstance, two incredible women stand on the threshold of the historic Elizabeth Arden House. 80 THE VILLAGE POET - At The Ready
“We love living here because of the community feel. We know our neighbors. Everyone’s super friendly. There’s definitely a southern charm to it.” Sacha W., current resident
NEW HOMES FROM THE MID-$200s BY FIVE OUTSTANDING BUILDERS
CarnesCharleston.com Infocenter@carnescrossroads.com
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843.761.8600
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513 Wodin Place, Summerville, SC 29486
Where Innovation Happens Every Day.
EDITOR’S LETTER
STEM Education for students in Pre-K3 through Grade 12 Imagine
Teaming Up Rizzo with Chris Zoeller, Chief Marketing Officer with The Post and Courier
Design
A Perfect Pairing Almost a decade ago it was with tremendous sense of pride that we launched the very first issue of Azalea Magazine. We promised you a publication celebrating modern living in the Old South, and our honest commitment to give voice to the sense of place that the people of the Lowcountry share—a deep respect for a history, and for the sights, sounds, and flavors of this special place that we call home.
Experiment
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• • • • • • • •
College preparatory curriculum Idea Lab engineering program Visual and performing arts Smaller class sizes Interscholastic athletic teams Community service opportunities Extracurricular clubs and organizations Experiential learning through class trips
Voted Summerville’s Best Independent School!
Learn more: pinewoodprep.com Schedule your visit today!
843.873.1643 admissions@pinewoodprep.com
That’s why we’re so excited to share with you the next mile marker in our journey across the Lowcountry, from the windswept beaches of our eastern shoreline to the farthest banks of South Carolina’s largest lake, and beyond. With the release of this issue, Azalea Media, the parent company of Azalea Magazine, is pleased to announce our affiliation with The Post and Courier, the South’s oldest daily publication, and one of the nation’s most trusted newspapers. Assuming publishing, promotion, and distribution responsibilities, The Post and Courier brings its full complement of resources to Azalea Magazine, including social media, online content, special events, gatherings and promotions, and special behind-the-scenes videos will offer readers an insider look at the stories we share. Azalea Magazine readers have come to depend on our publication for a novel take on the history and culture of this distinctively Southern region, and authentic and stirring commentary on the alluring places and personalities of the Lowcountry. We pledge to you the continued integrity of our editorial content, and promise to remain true to this truly unique Southern lifestyle. Will Rizzo Editor In Chief
Stretch. Giggle. Live.
Great mom and baby care starts with caring. We have the technology and team to make your birthing experience a memorable one. Go to CharlestonHealthy.com/Maternity to find a doctor or register for a class.
Live your healthy
SM
Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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Will Rizzo Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Susan Frampton Senior Editor Jana Riley Senior Editor & Copy Editor Lewis Frampton Distribution Manager Contributors Tara Bailey Elizabeth Donehue Susan Frampton Lili Hiser Ellen Hyatt Jana Riley Jason Wagener Pamela J. Browning Publisher Chris Zoeller Chief Marketing Off icer Advertising Inquiries info@azaleamag.com 843.937.5922
Subscribe *Available for $16.99 a year (4 Issues). Visit azaleamag.com for details. Azalea Magazine is a division of:
Azalea Media
114B E. Richardson Ave. Summerville, SC 29483 info@azaleamag.com www.azaleamag.com 843.478.7717
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AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
CONTRIBUTORS
JANA RILEY Writer & Editor
LILI HISER Writer
JASON WAGENER llustrator
SUSAN FRAMPTON Writer & Editor
TARA BAILEY Writer
Jana Riley alternates her working time between interviewing people about their passions, writing inspiring stories as quickly as her fingers can type, and editing some of the most interesting magazines she has ever read. The rest of the time, you can find her immersed in love for her family while exploring places near and far.
Lili Gresham Hiser was born in Charleston, SC and raised in both the Lowcountry and Central Florida. She invested more than ten years of service in the non-profit/higher education sector. She and her husband enjoy re-experiencing life in the South through the eyes of their young children.
Jason started his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him the proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board. He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990, before attending The Savannah College of Art and Design.
Never dreaming that anyone would read her ramblings, Susan Frampton scribbled her way through two wildly different careers before accidently becoming a writer. These days, when away from the keyboard, she follows the antics of her accident-prone husband, nurses pine-coneswallowing wiener dogs, reads late into the night, and counts her many blessings.
Tara Bailey lives in Summerville with her husband and three daughters, assuming the one in college comes home to visit. She has worked as a naturalist, a teacher, a writer, and an editor, balancing her love of the outdoors with her compulsion to alter sentences. She enjoys natural history, horror movies, and reads anything in print. She can usually be found on her bike or behind a coffee mug.
In addition to practicing law, Amanda is now conducting family and probate mediations for the Summerville Mediation Center. Let her bring peace to your situation by calling the office today. 207 West Ric hardson Ave. / Sum m e rville (843) 5 01-0 602 / info@ levine rlawfirm .com
Merry Christmas 14
AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
Love a Local. Your Neighbors, Your Hospital.
Proud to be Your Local Doctors It’s an exciting time to be a Berkeley local. Construction of the Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital is well underway, and our brand new Medical Office Building is now open. Come see your neighborhood medical experts, offering the quality care you expect from Roper St. Francis Healthcare.
At the Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital Medical Office Building, you can see the following specialists: • Breast surgery
• OB/GYN
• General surgery
• Orthopaedics
• Urology
Coming 2019: Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Hematology & Oncology, Physical Therapy, Radiation Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Wound Care
300 Callen Blvd., Summerville www.rsfh.com/berkeley
L I F E & C U L T U R E from O U R L I T T L E S L I C E of T H E S O U T H
Heavy Metal
Madison Kingery poses at her King Street Studio
Playing With Fire
Inspired by the natural world and intent on encouraging positive energy and mindfulness, Madison Kingery of Mad Made Metals creates beautiful works of wearable art. by Jana Riley
Featuring: Playing With Fire pg. 15 / Taking Root pg. 19 / A Cycle of Giving pg. 23 / Knockout Fruit Punch pg. 26 / Shifting Tide pg. 29 / Columns
Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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Playing With Fire
t’s open studios night at Redux Contemporary Art Center in Downtown Charleston, and the place is buzzing. People stream through the front doors and down the two main hallways containing dozens of art studios. In one studio, a small crowd gathers around a painting as the artist explains her vision. In another, a person sketches quietly as people walk through and look on, curiously. Uproarious laughter comes from the workspace of another artist as strangers become friends, and everywhere, people examine the artwork featured within the studios: pottery, photography, paintings, drawings, and more, often purchasing pieces to bring home. All around, creativity abounds, and in metalsmith Madison Kingery’s studio near the back of the building, it is clear the artist feels the energy of the space, transferring it into the jewelry she creates and inspiring everyone she meets. As people enter her Mad Made Metals workspace, it is nearly impossible to tell who is a longtime friend of Kingery’s and who she has just met; she greets everyone with the same level of warmth and positivity. Each guest who comes in chats with Kingery for a moment before being struck by the spread of incredible handmade jewelry she has displayed on a table, and before long, the number of items begins to dwindle as visitors purchase their favorite pieces for themselves or loved ones. For every sale Kingery makes, one thing is clear: this is a woman filled with gratitude not only for her customers, but for the sheer fact that making beautiful jewelry is her life. Judging by the amount of fans Mad Made Metals has in the Lowcountry, the feeling is entirely mutual.
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Hard Rocks This page, clockwise: the artist in her Redux studio space; all decked out in the most beautiful baubles; Kingery's creations. Opposite: working a piece to perfection; a statementworthy necklace
Madison Kingery didn’t always intend to pursue metalsmithing as a career. Growing up in Charlotte, Kingery’s first foray into jewelry making was in high school, when a neighbor recruited her help beading and wire wrapping for their jewelry business. Kingery enjoyed the work, but never imagined it could become a long-term career option. Through high school and into college, the art served as a hobby for Kingery, something she did on the side while working as a student full-time. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations at the University of Georgia, and went on to work at a science-based nonprofit in Washington, D.C., where she met the man who would later become her husband. They moved to Charleston, where Kingery worked toward a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Arts Management at the College of Charleston. While working on her degree, she attended a one-day jewelry class at Redux Contemporary Art Center on a whim, and rediscovered her love
of making wearable art. Later, she applied for a Development Work Study at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, dreaming of the opportunity to hone her craft at the revered creative academy. As graduation approached at the College of Charleston, Kingery began to consider her next career move, trying to decide where to best apply her master’s degree. Then, she got the news: she was awarded a scholarship to work and study at Penland. She moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains and began an intensive in metalsmithing at the school while working in the Development Office, opting to figure out her next steps after completing the course. When all was said and done, it was an easy decision: she would give metalsmithing everything she had and try to find success back in the Lowcountry. Four years after she made the call, it is safe to say that Mad Made Metals is a successful venture for Madison Kingery.
Wielding hammer and torch and using traditional metalsmithing techniques, Kingery toils over each piece until she is satisfied. Kingery’s aesthetic is clearly influenced by the natural world; the artist uses organic patterns and materials to create earthy, mystical pieces for men and women alike. Nearly everything she makes begins with an intention, especially the pieces featuring gemstones, which she allows to inspire her as to the direction of the piece. When choosing her gemstones, Kingery is thoughtful, making sure to select materials that are often meaningful or even sacred to her customers. At her workbench, she focuses her creative lens on highlighting the raw, natural elements of the materials with which she works, allowing the colors, textures, and tones to provide brilliance rather than being heavy-handed with polishing. Wielding hammer and torch and using traditional metalsmithing techniques, Kingery toils over each piece until she is satisfied. When she is ready to sell it, she photographs the piece, and shares the photographs with her customers via her website and social media pages. When they inevitably sell (often quite quickly), she packages and ships them out herself, thereby rocking every hat of small business ownership. Kingery also takes her work to markets around town, including the Thrifters + Drifters Market, which she co-founded in 2016, and her work is for sale at Albizia Apothecary in Charleston. This fall, Kingery is teaming up with another metalsmith, Kristen Mein of Kaypea Jewelry, to offer an Introduction to Metalsmithing class at Redux, allowing Kingery’s journey to come full-circle, as the once-student at a Redux jewelry class becomes the teacher. The pair plans to branch out into a series of metalsmithing courses once their first class graduates. Though her workbench is situated in the back half of a small room in a building consisting of many studios, Madison Kingery could not look more comfortably at home than she does as she sits at it, torch in hand, working on her next piece. Surrounded by posters of gemstones, plants, books, and some serious metalsmithing tools, the artist is truly right where she is meant to be. Follow Mad Made Metals on Instagram at @madmademetals, or visit the website at madmademetals.com AM Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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*Not all procedures advertised are performed at all locations. Both specialists and qualified dentists are utilized to perform specialty procedures at our locations.
Plant Life Stadelman in his King Street shop; unique displays abound in the green-studded space
by Jana Riley
abode into a veritable indoor jungle. Other times, typically on Sundays at markets across the Lowcountry, you can catch him selling greenery out of his vintage converted bread truck; painted matte black and fitted with hardwood floors and shelving, the vehicle serves as the coolest kind of mobile plant shop. Mostly, though, he’s hanging out at his storefront on King Street, where he fits into the role of shopkeeper impeccably. Though he is firmly rooted in sharing his passion with fellow green thumbs, his path to this place was a winding one, taking him through multiple states and an impressive amount of careers.
n any given day in Charleston, you can find BJ Stadelman surrounded by plants. Sometimes, it is at his home downtown, where towering fiddle leaf fig trees sit astride innumerable potted houseplants, turning his humble
As a child growing up in New Jersey, Stadelman found himself drawn to nature, and was never happier than when he and his family vacationed in the Adirondack mountains. Their lodging was humble, there was no television, and toys were sparse, so Stadelman ended up exploring the woods,
SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Hægur Plant Shop: Style
Taking Root A local shopkeeper uses his passions to tend to himself and his community
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drawn to the ferns and moss in the peaks and valleys of the mountain range. Later, the family moved to Mount Pleasant, where Stadelman attended Bishop England High School and, feeling like he didn’t fit in, schemed to move away as soon as he was able. At one point, he left to attend art school at the Fashion Institute, but came back not long after. He cycled through jobs, working at a coffee shop, in Whole Foods Market, and at Yo Bo Cantina Fresca, a Tex-Mex shop in Park Circle. In 2014, Stadelman began hair school, working as a stylist’s assistant before becoming a stylist himself. Though he began cutting hair at a local salon, thereby achieving a level of success he had been working toward for some time, internally, Stadelman struggled deeply with a feeling of discontentment. Opting to take control of his situation, he began what he called “therapy Thursdays,” where he visited a life coach and practiced elements of self-care throughout the day. He found Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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Taking Root Green Space
The lush interior of the plant shop; a sidewalk announcement
black and white, and his 10-year-old shop dog, Kai, sports a coat of white and black. The spaces make for gorgeous, comfortable places to visit any time of day, but there is no better time to do so than during one of the workshops held at Hægur regularly, which Stadelman carefully curates.
himself looking for a way to do something nice for himself while also taking on a new responsibility, and ended up browsing the plant-filled aisles of local nurseries such as Abide-A-While and Hyams Garden Center. One day, he decided to take home a large fiddle-leaf fig tree as a gift for himself, and from there, his passion blossomed.
“As my business grows, I want to open up the opportunity for people to have really beautiful experiences here,” says Stadelman. “I want to offer more than just plants, I want to offer lifestyle workshops that extend past how to care for a monstera, for example.”
“I found purpose in the responsibility that came with houseplants,” remembers Stadelman. “I couldn’t just buy one and forget about it; I had to care for it and tend to it.” Stadelman quickly became enamored with all things green and growing, and began making concrete planters using a Martha Stewart recipe for hypertufa. Friends started to take notice, asking to purchase them, and an idea began brewing in Stadelman’s mind. Unhappy in his job as a stylist, he walked away from the chair in January of 2017 and never looked back. The following May, he was on the road with his first plant truck, a small Cushman Truckster that functioned more or less like an enviably rad golf cart landen with houseplants. Inspired by two trips to Iceland in 2014 and 2016, he decided to name his venture Hægur, an Icelandic word that defines something slow, measured, quiet, and purposeful. As soon as he hit the streets selling his handmade planters and beautiful plants, everything changed. His social media following skyrocketed. The popular interior design website, Apartment Therapy, contacted him for a feature. Charleston Magazine did a write up, and various bloggers posted about Stadelman’s work on their websites. “I just put myself out into the world and shared my passion, and people noticed,” says Stadelman. “My crazy self care routine of buying myself houseplants and tending to them somehow became this incredible thing that I got to share with my neighbors here in Charleston and people across the country. It was truly wild.” As Hægur’s popularity grew, so did his business, and Stadelman expanded to a vintage bread truck, selling his plants and
Past events at Hægur include essential oils workshops, kokedama, or Japanese moss ball building events, plant painting workshops, and more. The events, which typically happen in the evenings, are filled with laughter, community, and creativity: elements that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings of Hægur. Stadelman, who prefers to set positive intentions and accept what happens while working toward his goals, is open to many possibilities for the future, ready to grow and evolve as situations present themselves.
wares at markets such as the Basic Flea, Thrifters and Drifters, Pour House Night Market, and Sunday Brunch Farmers Market. Then, on a whim, Stadelman reached out to a local building owner and inquired about a space for his storefront. A few months later, in July of 2018, Hægur had a home.
Though he has one employee who helps around the shop while he is out on the plant truck, Stadelman is otherwise a oneman-show, selling plants, maintaining the building and truck, tending to his stock, managing his social media accounts, keeping up with inventory, offering growing advice, and consulting with interior designers nearly every day of the week. Though the journey was an unexpected one, Stadelman is grateful for where it led.
Across Stadelman’s house, plant truck, and shop, a certain aesthetic flows, which he defines as “Scandinavian simplicity and modern design meets Hawaiian tropical jungle.” As a result, each of the spaces feel clean, simple, airy, and warm all at the same time. Natural textures mingle with crisp metal, and pops of color among the chiefly white and black interiors are seen in the greenery. Even Stadelman himself almost exclusively wears
“There are so many things that have changed in my life because of this experience,” says Stadelman. “The relationships I have begun and cultivated through this venture have been so fulfilling. The fact that I can have something in my life that I enjoy doing, that I can share with others and that also pays my bills...well, it is just extraordinary. I never thought I’d be here, and I am just filled with gratitude because of it.” AM
Etc. 126 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483 (843) 879-2099 • everythingchicetc@gmail.com
OPENING 2019:
Carnes Crossroads Location
Labor of Love: The compassionate crew ready to present young people with their new wheels
SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Pedal 4 Peanuts: Community
A Cycle of Giving The local doctor behind the nonprofit, Pedal 4 Peanuts, is bettering the world two wheels at a time by Tara Bailey
D
o you remember your first bike? Odds are you probably do, but do you also remember how you felt when you got it? That brand new bike with its gleaming, unscratched metal, still smelling of new tires, was most likely the best gift you had ever gotten at that point
in your life. It may have been waiting for you to wake up and discover it early one Christmas morning, or maybe your mom or dad wheeled it out from the garage to surprise you on your birthday. Whatever the occasion, when you saw it, that was it for that holiday. Stocking stuffers didn’t matter. Cake and ice cream didn’t matter. No other present mattered. The only thing that mattered was that you got on that bike, whether you knew how to ride it or not. And once you did, that bike was no longer a toy; that bike was your first taste of freedom. “Everybody remembers their first bike,” says Dr. Dennis Schimpf, founder of Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery. He vividly remembers his, and as a father of seven children, he wanted to give his youngest daughter a special gift for her birthday that would stand out to her like that first bike did to him. He also wanted her to have something that wouldn’t get lost in the shuffle of her siblings’ things, nor did he want her to have the usual hand-
me-downs that come with having multiple brothers and sisters. So he and his wife got his daughter, nicknamed “Peanut,” a bicycle for her third birthday. The bike was a hit. Watching his Peanut experience such excitement and accomplishment while mastering that small bicycle made Dr. Schimpf realize how important bikes could be to the physical and social development of a child. He also realized that not everyone could go out and buy a bike for a birthday present, yet he believed that all kids should have that feeling of independence when taking off on two wheels for the first time. So in 2014, he and a like-minded friend, Mount Pleasant engineer Daniel Johnson, formed Pedals 4 Peanuts, which gives new bicycles to underserved children. And just like little Peanut on her new bike, her namesake nonprofit took off. In just four short years, Pedals 4 Peanuts has distributed 1,500 bicycles and helmets to children in Charleston-area communities. Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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A Cycle of Giving
“We want to get a bike in their hands before an iPad,” says Dr. Schimpf, outlining one of the many goals of his nonprofit organization. He realistically understands the lure of electronics in today’s culture and laments how lonely and sedentary sitting in front of a screen for hours can be for a developing child. “Diabetes, hypertension, obesity —those are all very real problems that are only getting worse. We want to see kids outside getting exercise, and the earlier, the better.”
The goal of Pedals 4 Peanuts is to distribute bikes in a useful and deserving way, Dr. Schimpf says, so that families spend time outside together and the bikes get used.
He also recognizes the social aspects of riding a bicycle. “If you have a bike, then you can get out there and see what all is around you. You can ride with friends. You can get out in your neighborhood and get to know people.” Dr. Schimpf initially reached out to local schools, creating relationships with teachers in order to get recommendations for children who could benefit from a bike. As Pedals 4 Peanuts grew, he got to know local law enforcement officers, in particular Lieutenant Tammy Sad of the North Charleston Police Department. Dr. Schimpf and Mr. Johnson then recognized how Pedals 4 Peanuts could bolster communities, not just individuals, with the help of people such as Lieutenant Sad. “This was around the time when tensions between residents and police officers were pretty high around here,” says Dr. Schimpf, as Pedals 4 Peanuts was formed the year before the Walter Scott shooting made national news. “We thought, if a child’s first interaction with a police officer is a positive one, then that could go a long way in a community.” So Pedals 4 Peanuts organized a giveaway at Riverfront Park in North Charleston during which uniformed police officers personally handed 250 brand new bicycles to local children. Today, police officers are instrumental in the success of Pedals 4 Peanuts, distributing bicycles to kids while introducing themselves and establishing trust between officers and families. The program is so successful in bridging relationships and encouraging exercise in children that many businesses have taken notice and become engaged with the project. Both large corporations and small businesses have taken part in Pedals 4 Peanuts in various ways. “We used to just go buy bikes at Walmart. Now, Huffy ships us bikes at a volume discount,” says Dr. Schimpf. Last December, Boeing held an assembly event that put together between 400 and 500 bicycles for Pedals 4 Peanuts. “It was done as only Boeing can do,” laughs Dr. Schimpf. “It was like they were assembling planes, but on a much smaller level.” A group of 20 local police officers and a team of around 70 Boeing employees used
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eight production lines to assemble around four bikes per minute during the event. The bicycles were then transported to storage and later distributed to families by the police officers. Oblique Magazine, a local fitness magazine, also sponsors Pedals 4 Peanuts, raising both money and awareness through the magazine and at fitness expos and events. Local businesses sometimes contact Dr. Schimpf and Mr. Johnson about assembling bicycles as team building exercises. Others donate to the nonprofit individually. Since forming, Dr. Schimpf says Pedals 4 Peanuts has doubled the number of bicycles given away each year. “We would love to give away 1,000 bikes next year if we could.” While many businesses are involved with the project, Dr. Schimpf says the nonprofit has mostly been self-funded with the help of friends. But donations, while necessary, are only a fraction of Dr. Schimpf ’s goals. “We want to grow our message, generate interest, see this replicated in other cities, and create longevity.” Lieutenant Sad reports to Dr. Schimpf that she loves seeing kids riding their new bikes in their North Charleston neighborhoods. The goal of Pedals 4 Peanuts is to distribute bikes in a useful and deserving way, Dr. Schimpf says, so that families spend time outside together and the bikes get used. But what if they sit inside or even get sold? “We can’t worry about what people do with the bikes once they get them. We can’t look for justification or end return. Yeah, some people will always take advantage of things, but most don’t. We just want to see kids outside on their new bikes.” And new bikes are key to Pedals 4 Peanuts’ mission. “People often want to give us used bikes. We appreciate that, but we want kids to have the sense of pride and ownership that comes with something that is theirs alone. My kids get a lot of hand-me-downs, so it was exciting for our daughter to have her own bike that was just hers.” What started out as a very happy birthday for Peanut has evolved into a mission that has the potential to transform entire communities. Pedals 4 Peanuts may help prevent or reduce health problems that arise from inactive childhoods. It can get people away from their screens and out meeting their neighbors. Police officers and residents might greet each other by name in passing—on bikes, of course. And the many children reached by the efforts of Pedals 4 Peanuts will remember their first bike for the rest of their lives—and be more likely to pass that joy on to the next generation. AM Interested in getting involved with Pedals 4 Peanuts? Visit: www.pedals4peanuts.com
Historically
Modern
Shop, dine, and play in downtown Summerville, where charm and Southern hospitality blend gracefully with a modern, forward-thinking sensibility. Our lovingly preserved downtown, complete with beautiful public art, a friendly town square, and an array of businesses from boutiques to brewhouses, is the hub of activity in Summerville.
For info about Downtown Summerville, visit summervilledream.org/azalea
Knockout Fruit Punch
This spirit-filled fruit punch is a surefire way to get the party started this holiday season Ingredients 4 cups cranberry juice, chilled 1 bottle Prosecco, chilled 2 cups vodka 2 cups ginger ale, chilled 1/4 cup Simple Syrup Fresh cranberries Sliced oranges
28 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
Art Central Photograph “In His Element” by June Peel Sullivan $125 130 Central Ave. Hanebrink Jewelers Sterling Silver Arthur Ravenel Bridge Necklace Handmade in Mt. Pleasant. Also available in gold! $150 112 S. Main St.
Every Thing Chic~ETC A wide variety of accessories perfect for the season. prices vary 126 S. Main St.
d
Antiques and Artisans Ceramic coasters with images from SC and Summerville, past and present. $6.95 140 W. Richardson Ave.
Train Town Toy & Hobby Lionel Christmas Sets from $349.00 traintowntoyandhobby.com Piazza Home Enamel Blue Crab Stock Pot $144.95 Blue Crab Printed Dish Towel $7.95 127 Central Ave.
People, Places & Quilts Southern Angels…Sewing Machines, Books, Classes, Notions and…Heavenly Fabrics! 129 W. Richardson Ave.
Millie Lewis Models & Talent Training models and actors for placement assistance in local and major markets. 217 S Cedar St.
30 AZALEAMAG.COM ALL WinterSH 2018 O PS A R E W IT H IN WA L K ING D I STAN C E I N H I STO RI C D OW N TOW N S U M M E RVI L L E
Natural Wonders
Willis Tant and Halo collaborate on Willis' Johns Island Property
here in Charleston and everywhere. We have to work together to protect the sacred, protect the whole.” In the end, the Dakota Access Pipeline was completed. But the protesters left with momentum, heading back to their homes with renewed vigor to continue working for water protections wherever they went. “After Standing Rock, I became a water protector,” says Willis. “We all did; everyone who was at Standing Rock is still protecting water somewhere. There is virtually no public access to water on the island where I live, so I started there, working with others to bring attention to this issue. We are very motivated because water is the essence of life.”
SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Local Pulse: Community
Shifting Tide Inspired by her love of the land, waterways, and people of Johns Island, Willis Tant works toward a more connected future for the place she calls home and beyond. by Jana Riley
or Willis Tant, her time spent at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in 2016 was a pivotal moment in her life, one that propelled her into earnest determination to change things back in her beloved home of Johns Island. Gathered with the members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, other indigenous nations, and people from all over the world, Willis and her daughter voiced their concerns that construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline would threaten the region’s clean water, as well as many sacred sites for the indigenous people. They, along with many others, prayed with the grandmothers and elders of the nations as helicopters circled overhead and the police presence grew heavier. Despite the hundreds of injuries and arrests that occured at the site, Willis never doubted the importance of standing firm in her resolve with like-minded others.
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“Without water, we all perish, and so water is life,” says Willis. “Additionally, there is so much community and culture around water,
In recent years, the once-quiet enclave of Johns Island has exploded with growth, and the numbers are staggering. Johns Island is the 4th largest island on the US Eastern Seaboard, comprised of 84 square miles, and its land took on 81% of the City of Charleston’s new growth in the last ten years, most notably in planned new developments all over the island. Willis Tant has been around long enough to see the changing effects of development on Johns Island, but it wasn’t until she came back from Standing Rock that she recognized an alarming issue: in the midst of all of the development on her beloved island, somehow, the locals were cut off from any true public access to water, save for a small spot underneath the Limehouse Bridge. All other points of access were now privately owned, accessible only to homeowners in various new developments. Willis was concerned, particularly for those residents who have some of the deepest and longest-lasting relationships with Johns Island: the Gullah-Geechee nation, indigenous American Indian people, and the migrant farming community. Members of these communities have long-standing connections to the land and its waterways, including established fishing spots, places of recreation, and cultures of fishing, crabbing, and shrimping. With development overtaking the island, most of the individuals from these communities no longer have access to any of it, particularly those without transportation. While being separated from water can be simply unpleasant and disappointing on a hot summer day, the people who make their living from fishing and crabbing in the waterways are more than just inconvenienced; their source of income is cut off completely. Willis knew that she needed to do something to find a balance between development and growth and sustaining the cultures and communities that were so vital to the island. “I was at a meeting for the Concerned Citizens of the Sea Islands when members of the Progressive Club brought up that there was virtually no public access to water,” remembers Willis. “I was dumbfounded. We started talking about where they used to shrimp, crab, and fish, and how not long ago, people rode horses and walked around the island, which was almost all farmland up until around the 1980s when the building began. I decided that I had to start educating people on this issue. But if you only tell people there’s an issue with no solution, you don’t hold their attention for long. So I began looking for a solution.” Willis scoured the island for places that had access to water, and eventually found one in the possession of a private landowner in a prime, central location. It had it all: it was zoned industrial, with 26 acres of land and 14 acres of spring-fed ponds. Willis could see the Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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Shifting Tide
Todd Davenport, CFP®, ChFC®, AAMS® Financial Advisor MKT-9811A-A
210 S Cedar St Suite 1 Summerville, SC 29483 843-851-1840
www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
potential so clearly: the land could be the site of a multicultural community center, where people of all backgrounds could come together to enjoy water, swimming, fishing, and communing together as one. She imagined the older, established generations sharing their water-based culture with new transplants, bringing together young and old. She also envisioned having nature programming for people of all ages, and a circular economy commerce space, to support locals while encouraging the sharing of resources. She spoke to the landowner, and came to an agreement regarding purchasing his land. First, she promised not to gentrify him, offering him the option to live the rest of his life in the home he built on the property. Second, she promised that the property would only be used to provide public access to water and to host a multicultural community and event center. With a contract in place, Willis went all-in with trying to secure funding for the land, partnering with sponsors, getting a veritable army of supporters behind her, setting up an Indiegogo campaign, and leaving no stone unturned when it came to setting up meetings with anyone who may be able to make the dream a reality. Over and over again, she got within reach of full financial support from local organizations and members of the community, but then, inevitably, something would fall through, and they would back out at the last minute. Though Willis was paying for a contract on the land while she worked to secure it for the long term, after 16 months, the money ran out. In June of this year, their application for a loan was denied, and potential corporate sponsors opted to support other initiatives instead. “We aren’t backing down,” says Willis. “The landowner is still on board, but we need to make this happen as soon as possible. So I’m still working on it, diligently. Right now, we are approaching nonprofits and asking them to be our fiduciaries. We need people who take in a lot of money to get this off the ground, and then we can sustain it from there. But that said, I don’t have to own this project. If someone wants to offer public access to water on Johns Island, and they’re interested in doing it on their own or forming a partnership or whatever, I’m happy with that. If the land I think is perfect for this doesn’t work out, I truly believe the right thing will. The bottom line is that somehow, someway, there needs to be public access to water out here. Period.”
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During her time working on the water project, dubbed the Johns Island Community Ponds project, Willis began working with a local man named Willie Heyward, or “Halo,” an ambassador of the Gullah-Geechee nation and the man behind a local task force called Preserve the Gullah. As it turned out, Willis’ work aligned seamlessly with Halo’s pursuit of preservation, and they quickly found a common groove. Together, along with countless supporters, the two form Local Pulse, an initiative Willis began years ago that now supports virtually anything that helps preserve, diversify, and sustain, such as the Ponds project. With Halo’s local connections and understanding of social media, he provided momentum to Willis’ ideas, but more importantly, he shared her vision.
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For Halo, something like Local Pulse simply makes sense in an area with such rich Gullah history. “Not far from here is the Seashore Farmer’s Lodge,” says Halo, referring to the fraternal organization and mutual aid society established by African-Americans around 1915. “In this one community, they offered banking, health insurance, life insurance, entertainment, everything. In a way, Local Pulse is today what the Seashore Farmer’s Lodge was back then: a centerpoint for people to support each other and speak their minds about how they want to preserve, diversify, and sustain what is important to them. Through Local Pulse, we can preserve the stories of our elders, diversify the economics of the community, and help sustain our history, our people, and our land.”
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While they were pursuing the Johns Island Community Ponds Project, the Local Pulse team was also creating an app for their initiative: a modern gathering space where ideas, events, and resources can be shared. The app, now available at localpulseapp. com, presents a mission to “Empower the mainstream with ultra-local resources from the whole community...uniting both local and touring visitors to have a true and real impact on the local economy, quality of life, inclusive experiences, education, cultural roots, health, and outdoor family fun.” Through the Local Pulse initiative, the group provides events such as public access to water days on Willis’ homestead (and possibly the proposed community center
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Shifting Tide
1 1 4 E. R i c hardson Ave. S u m m e r v i l l e, S C 29485 8 4 3 . 2 2 5.3661 fl y m o d e r n a p pare l .com
land in the future), highlights inclusive happenings around the Charleston area, and shines a light on people, businesses, and experiences that uphold the “Preserve, Diversify, Sustain” mission. With a focus on collaboration, the Local Pulse team aims to gather everything truly local in one place, offering their app as a resource for anyone who wants to support the community. “We ask local businesses, ‘What do you need? What are you trying to achieve?’ And we try to help provide that through Local Pulse,” explains Halo. “Like the Seashore Farmer’s Lodge, it’s a tool to bring people to each other. It’s a cohesion. You grow to love your community, everyone knows one another, and ideally, you support each other. We’re just providing the means to make those connections easier. We call it fresh marketing.” Willis, a Johns Island resident since the early aughts, recognizes her calling as one to connect people with each other and the land. Around town, she is known for the children’s nature programming she offers regularly, and for her presence in virtually every community, from gatherings of migrant farm workers to meetings with the Progressive Club at the Seashore Farmer’s Lodge to spending time with members of the Gullah-Geechee people and speaking with Native American Indians. In some of the communities she visits, it has taken years to gain the trust of people who have often been overlooked or taken advantage of, but that hasn’t slowed her desire to commune with everyone, helping to bridge gaps in communication and cultural understanding when she sees them. “It’s easy to step on toes when you aren’t born into a certain community and you come in acting like you’re there to save them,” says Willis. “I try to do the opposite of that. A lot of the cultures around here don’t want to be exposed, and no one out here needs a savior. In my opinion, my job is to keep saying their name, keep holding a space for them, to aid in facilitating positive change so they can feel the safety to be as engaged as they want to be. When I go to meetings for these groups, I say, ‘I am here, whatever you want your cultural outreach to be, I just want to help amplify that. Through promoting events and
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speaking up for those who need a voice in other communities and in the larger scope of our region and beyond, I try to fulfill that promise every day.” Through Local Pulse, Willis hopes to shine a spotlight on those who desire attention and could benefit from it, from promoting small community events that support locals financially to supporting civic engagement to sharing the information of farmers and small business owners so that more local dollars can be funneled to those in the community. More than anything, she wants to reach past her group of supporters and into the mainstream, educating on what it means to preserve, diversify, and sustain, and why doing so is imperative for a bright future both locally and beyond. Eventually, Local Pulse hopes to expand as a template for communities across the world to use, but for now, the team is working hard to make the right moves for sustainable upward growth of the initiative here at home. Stretching to reach at least 51% of the population in an effort to reach the tipping point, the Local Pulse team has their sights set on helping to consciously affect impactful change by reaching, educating, and connecting their fellow Lowcountry residents. Though some may see it as a lofty goal, the grassroots effort carries with it the positive intentions and support of a host of people who collectively and individually believe in the mission, perhaps none moreso than Willis Tant herself. “We need to listen to the land and to the people who know about the land, especially the elders. And we need to listen to the children, because they are pure of mind and have yet to harbor the biases that segregate us,” says Willis. “We need to stop thinking our resources are expendable and limitless, because we all know they aren’t. We need to stop being disconnected: from our planet and from one another. If we can simply make the connections here at home, we can protect this landscape and preserve the important cultures of the Lowcountry and beyond.” AM To access the local pulse app, visit localpulseapp.com, and be sure to follow localpulseji on instagram and The Local Pulse on Facebook to learn how you can support the Johns Island Community Ponds project.
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N AT U R A L WOMAN
The Magic of Friendship There is no accounting for what makes two people become friends, but there is no doubt that our lives are better because of each and every one.
I
by Susan Frampton
know a magic trick,” my best friend Cathy Thornton announced, picking a dandelion from my front yard. She was smug, and I was suspicious when she explained that she would close her eyes while I hid a small stone somewhere on my person. “Now,” commanded my BFF in her most mysterious eight-year-old voice. “Stand very still and keep your eyes on the flower, and it will magically reveal where the rock is hidden.” The wispy, feather-like flower floated in front of my face like an apparition held aloft in her small hand. Inseparable since we were toddlers, we were a pairing of opposites; she, a tiny, darkhaired doll of a child, and I, a chunky and awkward blue-eyed
blonde. In our neighborhood games of “swing the statue” I could sling her half-way across the yard, and in “Red Rover” lock her out without breaking a sweat, but she was crafty, and often an underestimated opponent. When we combined our contrasting strengths, we were the perfect team. I watched the flower wand wave to and fro, running up and down my body. “Hmmm,” the mini magician muttered, frowning. “It doesn’t seem to be working.” With a show of dramatic frustration, she instructed, “Open your mouth.” I offered the obligatory “Ah,” as she peered down my throat. In a movement too fast for me to even register, she stuck the dandelion halfway to my lungs and took off running, leaving me sputter-
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N AT U R A L WOMAN
ing and spitting dandelion fluff. I’ll never forget the sensation of swallowing feathers. There is no accounting for the chemistry that makes people instantly click. Sometimes the door is opened by a kindness given or received, a shared interest sparks more meaningful conversation, or forced proximity reveals common ground where the seeds are sown. I have been blessed with many good friends in my life; those who helped ease the way when I walked into a new class, moved to a new town, or started a new job. There have been others who were cohorts in crime, made me laugh, let me cry, held my hand, kicked my butt, mortified me, or glorified me. Some I haven’t laid eyes on in years, others I see every other Wednesday. I married one and gave birth to another, so I never have to look far for someone who knows me well and loves me in spite of it. Those friendships have never diminished my flower-wielding BFF’s place in the order of things, though it has taken me years to convince her of that truth. She has never let me forget that in 1969 I named another girl as my best 7th-grade school friend. (It was forty years ago, CT! Let it go!) It started a war that earned me the title of “Worst Friend,” one she has bestowed on me more times than I care to remember. I can’t disagree as adamantly as I’d like. I know full well that being a good friend is like planting a garden—you have to put in the time and effort to reap the harvest. I’m notoriously bad about staying in touch. I’m not on Facebook, and not always sure 38 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
who’s actually doing the talking in group texts, so I’m often way behind the curve on what’s happening in my friends’ lives. But they know I love them deeply, and with all my heart. I’m not one bit sexist, but I don’t think that men suffer as much angst over their friendships as women do. My husband has a best fishing friend, a best hunting friend, a best first-cousin friend, and a bunch of other good friends. Sometimes they overlap, sometimes they go a while without communicating, and when they do talk, their communications are short, to the point, and conclude abruptly with, “Later.” I don’t think they talk about it or even think about it much. It’s understood that their friendships are deep and meaningful.
No matter who we are or where we go, each adds a chapter to our lives. Time and circumstances alter the dynamics of all our worlds and place thousands of people in our paths. Is it the luck of the draw or do we instinctively recognize the ones that we will call friends— the ones to whom we offer bits of ourselves and accept bits of them to carry with us? No matter who we are or where we go, each adds a chapter to our lives. I thought about that the other day when I heard for the first time the words of a song from Wicked, Steven Schwartz’s Broadway musical based on the Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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N AT U R A L WOMAN
unlikely friendship between witches of the east and west. "I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn," sing the opposites in celebration of their friendship. "And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them, and help them in return."
I may not have known it at the time, but I know now that each of my friends came into my life for a reason. I could not agree more with the sentiments of the witchy women. I may not have known it at the time, but I know now that each of my friends came into my life for a reason. They have helped me learn and helped me grow in immeasurable ways—although some of the lessons we have learned together might be better labeled cautionary tales. I thank each and every one from the bottom of my heart. I may forever get a little choked up at the sight of a wispy dandelion flower and keep my distance from magicians in general, but fifty years later, Cathy Thornton is still my best friend. As one witch said to the other, I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you. That’s real magic. AM
That’s the Ticket
K ID S THESE D AY S
Could you be the South Carolina lottery winner? by Tara Bailey
I
f you bought a lottery ticket back in the fall, then you were loosely hoping that you would be the holder of the $1.537 billion winning ticket. Of course, you knew you wouldn’t be; it was just a fun thought. At least until that Wednesday morning when it was announced that the winning ticket was purchased in South Carolina. Then you thought…hmmm… With a population of just over 5 million, South Carolina is a small state (consider that Georgia and North Carolina have over 10 million people each). It’s so small that if you grew up anywhere in the Palmetto State, then no matter where you go, you’re likely to run into somebody who knows your people if that person has even the slightest South Carolina connection. My parents traveled to Europe in October, and this is an email my mother sent from their trip: “We are in Prague and our hotel
has free WiFi, so I thought I would send you a little hello. This is a beautiful and fascinating city. Tell Jim we met a lady here who was good friends with Aunt Margaret growing up. Love you.” This is a typical Sandlapper experience. So when we all learned that the winner of the Mega Millions was someone who knows what a Cockaboose is, has probably taken a field trip to the Cowpens Battlefield at some point, and is familiar with the Gaffney Peach, then the hope that the winning ticket was sitting right there on the kitchen table got a lot more real. When we found out our numbers didn’t match, it was a tad more disappointing than usual because this time it actually felt oh-so-close. But then again, there was still a decent possibility that we would know or even be related to the person whose numbers did. While my husband was fishing through his wallet for his ticket,
ILLUS TRAT ION BY Jas o n Wa g e n e r Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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KIDS THESE D AY S
I was already planning our fortuitous future. Mentally, tuition for all three of our daughters was paid, home improvements were finally made, and I had personally saved Crab Bank. The beach house we rent each summer for our family reunion was now ours, and I had hired someone else to bathe the dog on a regular basis. I established a scholarship for kids with just-okay grades and test scores who were never going to give any high school graduation speeches but nonetheless would do just fine in college or technical school. I was in the middle of redecorating the den when I learned that the winner was, in fact, someone else. No new den for us. We all fantasize about great fortune entering our lives, bringing us immediate happiness and relieving life’s mundane stressors. When we found our ticket and saw that our lives had not dramatically changed overnight, it got me thinking about how lucky we were, anyway. We had already won the jackpot just by getting up each morning and going through our day. First of all, the odds of being born at all is about one in 400 trillion. So it’s nothing short of miracle that any of us is here to begin with. But not only was I born in America with all of its freedoms and opportunities, I am a native of Charleston, the city consistently considered the most beautiful, friendliest, and romantic in the world. Next, I met my Lowcountry husband by chance when he happened to be passing through my little Upstate college town. What were the odds of that? After a few years of dating, we married and had children. Everyone marvels at the existence of their children, not believing how lucky they are to be the parents of these amazing human beings. We are no different. We are also deeply fortunate to have saved a little for 42
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our kids’ college tuition, and we are lucky that they value education and have the opportunity to learn. So while we still hustle to pay for these schools, which increase in cost each year, it’s an expense we’re fortunate to have. Our house, like most, has issues. Being an old house, it has even more than most. It’s a constant struggle to stay on top of this place, and often things that aren’t emergencies get postponed until the next round of tuition is paid. But we have a home. A safe, warm home that receives us at the end of a long day. For many people, a home would be just as meaningful as any lottery fantasy. Our great luck continues. While the future of Crab Bank is yet unknown, I have paddled around the seabird sanctuary in years past and witnessed firsthand the beauty and awe of the life it hosts. I haven’t traveled the world, but each year I spend time at the beach with my extended family and my soul is renourished until the following summer. I don’t have a dog bather, but I have the world’s best dog and kids who don’t complain about giving her a scrub; my children are far from perfect but know how to contribute to a household. I still dream about establishing a scholarship and plan to someday, even just a modest one. Until then, I give what I can to local schools in hopes of making another kid smile with a new book, a meal for Thanksgiving, or even a piece of candy. Many folks would love to wake up one morning, check a piece of paper, and find they suddenly have the great fortunes that we have. We may not own a beach house, but we still have the beach. And I can live with my shoulder. That $1.537 billion sure would have changed things—but would we really have wanted it to? AM
RIBE SUBSC AY TOD
azaleamag.com and palmettomagazine.com Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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L IF E & F A IT H
The Mint Condition by Lili Hiser
I
am not a doctor. I do not have any type of clinical degree, but I do have a minor in psychology (which could have been my second major if I had been brave enough to take the statistics class). Even so, despite having no significant credentials behind my name, I believe I have identified a diagnosis some may find relatable. I call it the Mint Condition. The symptoms mainly involve stashing items to use for some undefined special occasion that rarely, if ever, arrives. In my later years of elementary school, I received a package of pink glitter nail stickers as a gift. In the eyes of a girly-girl, sparkly nails have a magical component that can only be used for the perfect occasion. For safe-keeping, I placed them in the top right drawer
of my dresser among cherished notes from friends and my stash of fruit-scented markers. Across the room from the dresser was my mirrored closet, which housed my treasured collection of Holiday Barbies. In the preInternet era, getting these popular collector’s items proved nearly impossible, but somehow Santa always came through! Nearly 30 years later, I can recognize the earliest signs of the Mint Condition in how much enjoyment I found in my Barbies throughout my growing-up years and in how those pink nail stickers languished in my dresser drawer, waiting to be used, into my adulthood. Diagnosing the Mint Condition has taught me a lesson I still apply to life.
ILLUSTR AT ION BY JASON WA G E N E R Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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LIFE & FA I T H
LIFE CAN BE CHALLENGING For some young girls, the Holiday Barbies were saved in their unopened display boxes so they could remain top quality and increase in value. However, the moment Barbie and I locked eyes, she came out of the box, got a new hairstyle and had dates scheduled with Ken and He-Man, all before Christmas day ended! I spent hours of my childhood in my room playing on the floor making memories. Yet, just feet away, still in the dresser drawer, remained those prized nail stickers I would daydream about wearing but had vowed to myself never to open except for that perfect circumstance. I waited, and hesitated, and waited some more. Unopened and eventually outdated, they remained in that drawer till the day I left for college, a silent reminder of a lost opportunity.
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The key is learning to seize the moment and understand the character of the One who produces them. If you also suffer from this ailment, know this: attempting to treat Mint Condition takes some tweaking of your mindset. The key is learning to seize the moment and understand the character of the One who produces them. God has not promised tomorrow on this earth. Whereas some of our home appliances and automobiles may have lifetime warranties, we have no such guarantees. Each sunrise is a gift and every day has purpose, even Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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LIFE & FA I T H
if it is unclear to us. Stop waiting for a cause to celebrate—being alive IS the special occasion!
Living with the Mint Condition can be a struggle, as I still catch myself battling the urge to hoard like a hibernating squirrel.
Spray that perfume/cologne you love, even if you are just staying home. Create a reason to wear that outfit you bought years ago that still has its tags. Go ahead and put the miles on the car and take that procrastinated trip. Instead of staring at the china in your cabinet, make memories eating off it today. Living with the Mint Condition can be a struggle, as I still catch myself battling the urge to hoard like a hibernating squirrel. Then I recall the choice I made to unbox those Barbies and how they enriched my childhood with nostalgia. I strive to put aside my hesitancy to experience something just because it might not qualify as an eventful moment in society’s eyes. In my amateur expertise, I do believe the Mint Condition is curable. This powerful moment comes when you start giving yourself permission to enjoy everything around you and realize the real gift is the celebration of life. AM
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Introducing Etched Glass Ornaments by Lex Melfi Collectibles
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A Local Legend The unmistakable red doors of the Elizabeth Arden House
The Red Door Diaries
Many decades apart, but forever linked by geography and circumstance, two incredible women stand on the threshold of the historic Elizabeth Arden House. by Susan Frampton
photos by Dottie & Will Rizzo
T H E M A K I N G O F A T I TA N
The year is 1938. The red door of the Elizabeth Arden House on Summerville’s Sumter Avenue is radiant in the afternoon sun as a young woman stands before it. Far more than merely the entrance to a masterpiece of Victorian architecture, it is representative of her life; the accomplishments of a bright, beautiful woman, blazing a trail across an industry and unknowingly setting a course for one who will eventually bring her amazing achievements full circle. Elizabeth Arden’s story began in 1884, when a modest Scottish grocer and his wife welcomed their fifth child into the world on the last day of December, with no inkling that the baby girl they providentially named for a famous nursing pioneer would change the face of the world. They did not know that the New Year she greeted marked the
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start of a fantastic journey for tiny Florence Nightingale Graham, a journey that would prove her to be a pioneer in her own right. Life was not easy for Graham, who worked odd jobs throughout her early youth to help support her family. Her inquisitive mind led her to train as a nurse, but it was not her destiny to follow in the footsteps of her namesake. Leaving her family for New York, she went to work as a bookkeeper for E.R. Squibb Pharmaceuticals. At night, Graham explored the company’s labs, curious about the skincare products created there. With a flawless complexion that belied her thirty years, she found her niche at a cosmetic shop, rising through the ranks to become a partner in its salon. When that partnership ended, she borrowed $6,000, changed her name to Elizabeth Arden, and in 1909, opened The Red Door Beauty Salon on New York’s Fifth Avenue.
Beauty Parlor Opposite, clockwise from top left: Dr. Dendy Engelman outside the treasured home; the welcoming gates; details reminiscent of its namesake abound. This page: the interior reflects a Victorian style; greenery creates a lush environment; Engelman realizing a childhood dream of visiting the home; a regal terrier enjoying its palace.
Historic Celebration A parade of beauty influencers visit the home; capturing the perfect shot; relaxing in the garden; a bouquet reflects the beauty of the homestead.
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Perpetually dressed in pink and wearing Montezuma Red lips, Arden began to formulate and produce her own line of scientifically researched products, marketing them through makeovers with her coordinating facial makeup, eye color, and signature red lipstick. She targeted middleage women, advising them on ways to care for their skin using her anti-aging products, always reminding them, “To be beautiful and natural is the birthright of every woman.” She traveled to France in 1912, learned new beauty and massage techniques from Paris salons, and collaborated with a French chemist to produce the first “fluffy” skin cream. She grew her burgeoning business under the Elizabeth Arden name and moved into the European market when she opened her first French salon in 1922. With over a hundred Elizabeth Arden salons and international presence, she eventually partnered with famous designers for a fashion division. At its peak, the Elizabeth Arden brand was ranked world-wide with the likes of Coca-Cola.
Her company went on to manufacture over 300 cosmetic products, ... beautifying the faces of Hollywood royals including Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich, and actual royals, Queens Mary and Elizabeth.
In 1938, she purchased an elegant, 15-room winter residence in Summerville, South Carolina, constructed in 1891 by Samuel Lord, builder of the town’s famous Pine Forest Inn. Located on Summerville’s tony Sumter Avenue, the Victorian home forever
dubbed the Elizabeth Arden House boasted an indoor swimming pool, 12-foot ceilings, and details that reflected the ‘Golden Age’ of Summerville’s great inns. Always maintaining her reputation for high standards and exclusivity, Elizabeth Arden appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Even at age seventy, her flawless skin and red lips made her easily mistaken for forty, and was a testament to the products she created. Her company went on to manufacture over 300 cosmetic products, selling for a premium price and beautifying the faces of Hollywood royals including Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich, and actual royals, Queens Mary and Elizabeth. Known as one of the wealthiest and most successful women in the world, Elizabeth Arden died at the age of 81 and is buried in the famed Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York under the name Elizabeth N. Graham. NOT YOUR MOTHER’S MAKEUP
Elizabeth Arden’s story is one that needs no embellishment to make it as relevant today as it was for the pin-up girls of the past. The legacy of beauty and refinement lives on, but while the brand giant was once on the lips of the world with only a handful of competitors, today thousands of small, new, independent brands are readily available to savvy young people through social media. But in the midst of a long-overdue movement to empower women, many are unaware of Elizabeth Arden’s role as one of the first females to create and lead a beauty empire, long before they had the right to vote or the option of a college education. Jenna Rotner Drucker of the award-winning marketing and public relations agency, Lippe Taylor, is ready to share Arden’s legacy with a new breed of beauty consumers. Specializing in marketing to women, the account manager recognizes the shift in strategy necessary to reach and inform young women who might only know the name from their mother’s or grandmother’s makeup bags. “We’ve reached a pivotal moment in beauty,” says Rotner Drucker of the event that brings a dozen beauty bloggers and influencers to the iconic red door of the Elizabeth
A Warm Welcome This page: a brass pineapple knocker is a nod to the South; the guesthouse is charming. Opposite: Engleman enjoying her time at the Elizabeth Arden House
Arden House in Summerville, now home to the Honorable Diane Goodstein and Mr. Arnold Goodstein, who graciously host the influential group. Rotner Drucker hopes that this weekend-long event offering a peek into the very personal life of the cosmetic company giant will help them to connect with Arden’s story. “Beauty influencers, makeup artists, and bloggers access the world through the internet and vice versa,” says Drucker. “The Elizabeth Arden line is not as familiar to this new audience, and we recognize the importance of bringing to light the legacy of empowerment behind the heritage brand, and the ongoing, credible science behind the name for today’s powerful new voices.” That’s what makes Dr. Dendy Engelman’s involvement as a Consulting Dermatologist to the brand so special. Uniquely qualified to tell the entrepreneur’s story at this event, she embodies both the beauty and science components of the brand. She also has a personal connection that draws it close to her heart. FULL CIRCLE Engelman’s own story began under the blue skies of Summerville, SC, where three little girls skipped down the sidewalk of Sumter Avenue. Against a backdrop of purple wisteria and brilliant pink azaleas, Dendy Engelman, along with her friends Mary and Lainey, spent the summer day as they had many others, videoing themselves singing Shout, dancing The Twist, and pretending to spin the wheel of fortune as famous South Carolinians, James Brown, Chubby Checkers, and Vanna White. Looking back on those days, Engelman’s recurring choice to play Elizabeth Arden, the “beauty lady” whose beautiful home she could almost see from her bedroom window, was a foretelling of her future. As a descendant of the town’s original founders and daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Otis Engelman, the white-gloved traditions of manners and grace that pass organically from Southern mothers to their daughters prepared her for whatever path she chose. Just as naturally, the daughter of both a physician, registered nurse and counselor, young Dendy grew increasingly fascinated by the field of medicine. Excelling at both academics and sports, by high school she could spike a volleyball, out-run, and out-think most of her schoolmates. “But I was also a girly girl,” admits the perfectly powdered physician. “I loved beauty and make-up and all the trimmings.” Those who dismissed the strikingly beautiful Engelman as simply a pretty face vastly underestimated the triple threat she posed. At Wofford College, the beauty not only played varsity volleyball, but she was also Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude with honors in French and psychology. Earning acceptance to the Medical University of South Carolina, Engelman completed her internship in internal medicine at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai Medical Center. Though she enjoyed and excelled in general medicine, she returned to MUSC for a dermatology residency. It was not a universally popular choice for those who advised her on a career path, including her own father. But she explained of
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her decision to enter the field, “Almost more than any other specialty, dermatology crosses the boundaries of physical and emotional health. It incorporates the surgical and procedural aspects of medicine, which I loved, but I also found it transformative for the patient.” Her plans to remain in the Charleston area were disrupted when she followed the senior Dr. Engelman’s advice. “No education is ever wasted,” he told her. “In one year you can rise to the top of your specialty.” Though exhausted by the years already invested in her career, she returned to New York for a one-year fellowship in Mohs surgery, dermatologic surgery, and cosmetic dermatology. It was a year that would change her address, and shape her destiny. More than ten years later, as an associate at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Engelman recalls following her father’s advice as the best decision she ever made. Along with the fulfillment of a successful career, and the joys of life alongside husband Devin and their two children, Engelman has most recently been named Director of Dermatologic Surgery at New York Medical College where she oversees the training of future Mohs surgeons and dermatologists. In her role as Consulting Dermatologist for Elizabeth Arden, Engelman is not only a walking endorsement of the aesthetics of the brand for beauty editors, influencers, and bloggers; she is their link to the real science behind the products. “There is an incredibly empowering story behind Arden’s company,” Engelman says of Florence Nightingale Graham’s rise to the top of her industry, “and today, more than ever, women need to hear it.” Fate has a strange way of writing implausible storylines. When asked to help share the founder’s bold philosophy with a new generation, she could hardly believe it. Her first call was to her mother, who took the call just down the sidewalk from the residence once occupied by the cosmetic pioneer. Now, in 2018, as it was eighty years before, the red door of the Elizabeth Arden House on Summerville’s Sumter Avenue is as radiant in the afternoon sun as the young woman standing before it. Beautiful, accomplished, and far more than simply a pretty face, Dr. Dendy Engelman pauses on the threshold to pay homage. Eight decades later, the life and accomplishments of a bright, beautiful, trailblazing woman come full circle as the young physician returns to her home and place of inspiration. As a dozen beauty influencers arrive like a flock of colorful birds at the gate, Summerville’s native daughter welcomes the writers to the home of the elegant entrepreneur who once lived here. On the sidewalk, the shadow of a little girl dances, pretending to be “the beauty lady.” No one could have imagined that the little girl would one day step up to represent Elizabeth Arden’s life’s work, and assure its momentum for years to come. Undoubtedly, somewhere the woman who changed the face of the world with determination and Montezuma Red lips smiles proudly as the accomplished young doctor turns, and walks confidently through the red door, and into the future. AM
Common Grounds The entrance is inviting and enticing; walkways on the grounds encourage exploration; a refreshing outdoor space; views of neat and tidy beauty can be found all over.
Welcome to historic Summerville, located in the heart of the Lowcountry and surrounded by the unique culture of South Carolina’s coastal communities. Enjoy our famous sweet tea and small town charm, fine dining and shopping, only minutes away from sun-drenched beaches, cobblestone streets, arts and architecture. See it all from Summerville—the center of your Lowcountry experience.visitsummerville.com
LOCATION IS EVERYTHING
AT THE HEART of it ALL ®
A Z A L E A
M A G A Z I N E
F E AT U R E S Raising the Bar
A refreshing sour beer at The Hold
M AS T E R CRAFT p g. 6 0
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE p g. 6 8
WARM WELCOME p g. 7 2
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The explosion of craft breweries across the Lowcountry has a new breed of connoisseurs tapping into the sophisticated flavors and styles of craft beer 62 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
by SUSAN FRAMPTON photos by DOTTIE & WILL RIZZO
Sun Day Ready to hit the water at Edisto River Adventures in Ridgeville, SC
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harleston has long been a culinary capital, and it’s no surprise to find those with good taste looking to the versatility and flavor of craft beers to further expand their palates. With the rising tide of interest raising all ships, the award-winning master crafters steering the growing fleet of Lowcountry breweries are bringing many new enthusiasts onboard. On a recent Brews Cruise with Brent Horner, visits to a few of the purveyors of flavorful ales, lagers, porters, and stouts gave us a taste of what makes the Lowcountry one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing craft beer scenes.
Cheers!
The Art of the Craft Barrels at The Hold by Revelry contain future delicious beverages; the team at Holy City Brewing
The Twelve Pack With over two dozen suds shops around the Lowcountry, there’s always a brew near you, so get out and taste for yourself! Here’s a 12-pack of breweries you’ll definitely want on your bucket list:
Commonhouse Aleworks
Rusty Bull Brewing Co.
You know you’ve found the perfect neighborhood spot when you can walk, run, or ride your bike to find your favorite craft beer on tap. Serving a side of camaraderie and community with every pint, the outdoor beer garden and sleek, modern design of rustic wood and tin make it the perfect casual gathering place. Family and dog-friendly, with live music and a Bluegrass Brunch every Sunday, there’s every reason to stroll on over for their core favorites, as well as rustic, historic, and special release brews. 4831 O'Hear Avenue, Park Circle, North Charleston
Housed in an old piano warehouse, Rusty Bull is a welcome haven for those who find themselves navigating the North Area. Inspired by the values of their heroes, father (Rusty) and uncle (Bull) respectively, founders Ben Mayer and Brian Bogstad are living a dream realized by hard work and a passion for beer. Often called the North Charleston version of Cheers, 14-beer taps, light snacks, weekly food trucks, and live music make it the perfect spot before or after a concert or game —or anytime you want some good company and super suds. Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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3005 West Montague Avenue, Suite 110, North Charleston
Charleston Brews Cruise You might begin a Charleston Brews Cruise by hopping on a bus with adventurers that you don’t know, but by the time you’ve completed Brent Horner’s tour of Lowcountry breweries, you’re sure to end it with a new appreciation for the sudsy beverage, and a busload of new friends. When we embarked on a tour taking us to brewpubs from downtown to North Charleston to West Ashley, we had no idea that in addition to enjoying samples of each craft brewery’s unique brews, we’d learn that there’s a lot more to craft beer than simply suds. Horner’s Appalachian State University degrees in recreational tourism and business administration made the Asheville, NC native the perfect candidate to lead groups with interests ranging from kayaking in Hawaii, to hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, and fly fishing in North Carolina. The lure of a city with sand, sun, waves, and great local beer led him to follow the craft beer wave to Charleston, where he opened Charleston Brews Cruise. Named third on Trip Advisor’s list of the world’s Top 10 Ale Tours, Charleston Brews Cruise’s options of Day Drinking, Happy Hour, or Walking tours hit all the right notes to make this an experience you won’t want to miss. For more information on booking your tour and raising a glass, call (843) 860-9847, or visit charlestonbrewscruise.com.
Tradesman Brewing The green shipping container hoisted high beside I-26 is a quirky, casual stop on the way to wherever you’re going. With its self-styled industrial décor, it’s as comfortable as hanging out in your neighbor’s garage —that is, if your neighbor is a masterful brewer of craft beers. Once a small, Johns Island operation, demand for their “good, solid beer for good, solid people” made a larger space a necessity. Now loads of free parking and a covered patio (designed to withstand hurricane wind and host special events) allows them to share the beer love with a growing fan base. Seasonal Brews: Cranberry Cream Ale – A mild ale with accents of cranberry and a tart finish. Sweet Potato Pie – Back by popular demand, this brown ale brings home the flavor of a holiday favorite. 1647 King Street Extension, Charleston
intimate tasting room is dark and reminiscent of a hidden speakeasy, and the outdoor patio has a smooth, modern feel. Taking anywhere from 6 months to a year to produce by the process of fermentation, each unique option on the menu has a flavor and story worth exploring. 36 Romney Street, Charleston
Frothy Beard Brewing The fact that they’re open 7 days a week with 15 different Frothy beers on tap would make this brewery a favorite even if it didn’t offer some of the best and most adventurous beers. Savory ingredients like cilantro, cucumber, and thyme often flavor the beers at this family-friendly West Ashley taproom and brewery. Add the atmosphere of a neighborhood hang-out, creative flights, and fun events to the on-site, offthe-chart-good Zombie Bob’s pizza, and you have everything you want rolled into an open, modern, convenient setting. Seasonal Brews: Tides of Galway Irish Red – An amber hued selection with caramel and toffee flavors. Necromancer Woodford Barrel Aged 2018 Stout – Dark, lovely, and sure to warm your heart. 1401 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Charleston
The Hold by Revelry Brewing
Coast Brewing Company
If you’ve never tasted a sour or wild-barrel-aged beer, you’ve come to the right place to expand your palate and bridge the gap between beer and wine. With the feel of a blues-y nightclub right down to its trumpet tap handles, this specialty arm of Revelry Brewing just a block away on Romney Street is the best of all worlds. The small and
As the architects of the first all-organic beer commercially brewed in SC, and one of the first businesses to flourish in the Old Navy Yard area, the husband and wife team of David Merritt and Jaime Tenny have been leaders in the South Carolina brewing scene since its creation in 2007. Now an ever-popular event destination hosting pop-ups, food trucks, workshops, and barbecues,
the brew pub’s reputation for “damn good organic beer” pretty much says it all. 1250 North 2nd Street North Charleston
Holy City Brewing Nothing says Charleston more than the steeples that make it sacred ground. With the skyline as their byline, the founders of Holy City Brewing set out to craft products worthy of the name, and they do not disappoint. An unexpected oasis in an industrial area of town, the outdoor patio is a favorite spot for friends to gather, and the open taproom/brewery set-up offers a look at where the magic is made. The great offerings from the in-house kitchen are a delicious surprise that makes it the perfect place to sit down and savor all the flavor. Seasonal Brews: S’more of the Worlds – A graham cracker and chocolate “party in your mouth” stout. 4155 Dorchester Road, North Charleston
Palmetto Brewing Company No beer historian or enthusiast will want to miss a visit to South Carolina’s first postProhibition brewery. Never resting on its impressive laurels, the elder statesman of the beer renaissance has recently introduced small batch beers to the newly renovated tasting room, confirming that the trend-setting business has its finger on the pulse of the craft beer culture. Increasing their fermentation capacity by 83 percent this year, the possibilities are endless. A climate-controlled collaboration of reclaimed wood, vintage fixtures, and flat screen televisions make Palmetto a perennial favorite watering hole for those with good taste.
Wide Variety Clockwise from top left: a brew master at The Hold; sampling brews at The Hold; a cheery mural welcomes all to Frothy Beard Brewing Company; the brewroom at Tradesman Brewing Company is clean and ready to rumble.
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Local Flavor Opposite, top row, left to right: specialty bottles of brew at Frothy Beard Brewing; owners of Rusty Bull Brewery, Ben Mayer and Brian Bogstad, have followed their dreams all the way to the taphouse; kegs await distribution all over the state at Coast Brewing. Middle Row: the tasting room at The Hold is cozy and inviting; a dart board at Rusty Bull tells the tales of gatherings past; Owner Chris Winn at Tradesman Brewing is invested in the entire process. Bottom row: A variety of samples at Tradesman Brewing ensure there is something for everyone; Jaime Tenny of Coast Brewing is one of the biggest influencers in the Charleston Brew scene; a sour beer at The Hold. This page: Inside the brewroom at Palmetto Brewing Commpany, where the magic is made; some of the best brews in the Lowcountry can be found at The Hold; the festive brewroom at Frothy Beard Brewing Co.
Stop in for one of the four Palmetto originals or a seasonal variety. 289 Huger Street, Charleston
is room for everyone. 1505 King Street #115, Charleston
Edmund’s Oast
Westbrook Brewing Company
A 65-foot bar featuring 26 taps of house-brewed beers serves as the anchor for this unique, 20,000 square foot brewery in the Pacific Box and Crate area of King Street. Less than a mile from the ever-popular Edmund’s Oast Restaurant and Edmund’s Oast Exchange, the unique combination of brewery, seasonally-focused kitchen, and encyclopedic bar program offers the best of all worlds, with a constantly changing menu of fantastical brews and beverageinspired dishes. Ample parking makes for easy access, and with spacious communal tables inside and patio seating overlooking the courtyard, there
Literally one of the biggest beer players in town, the sleek, sophisticated look of this craft beer emporium with a huge oval bar at its center foretells the trend-setting brews you’ll find on the menu. The taproom is only open 4-8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and 12-6 p.m. on Saturday, but that only serves to make the anticipation greater for excellent selection of beer on tap and to-go. There is plenty of outdoor seating to accommodate the pilgrims who will enjoy everything from sours to stouts and their signature Mexican Cake releases. The taproom has limited food, but food trucks provide great, everchanging options.
510 Ridge Road, Mt Pleasant
Freehouse Brewery Don’t argue with the GPS— you’re not lost; you’re on the right track to the brewery with the best waterfront view in Charleston. The custombuilt porch overlooking the Ashley River is just one of the ways Freehouse integrates regional, organic elements like local-roasted coffee into its products. From the 120-year-old bar made from the salvaged wood of an Abbeville seed mill, the rustic, fresh flavors of signature farmhouse-style brews shine through, offering a taste of the Lowcountry in every glass. Get the party started with live Bluegrass music every Friday. 2895 Pringle Street B North Charleston
Oak Road Brewery Ben Bankey and Brian Cox infused fresh flavor into Summerville’s beer scene. Brewing beautiful, small-batch German beers in Flowertown’s first brewery, the two friends have helped to create beer connoisseurs with their fresh and interesting take on the pause that refreshes. Locals flock to the whitewashed brick building just off Main Street, where conversations come easy over lagers, ales, and porters, accompanied by live music and merriment. With rotating Beer of the Week and Beer of the Month options, there is always something new to try at the casual, family-friendly hang-out. Seasonal Brews: Look for the Twelve Beers of Christmas, coming December 1st. 108 East 3rd North Street Suite C, Summerville AM Winter 2018 AZALEAMAG.COM
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Buried Treasure Opposite: Touchberry in front of a small part of his collection. This page: a South Carolina dispensary bottle, one of Touchberry's most prized finds.
M E SSAGE IN A B OT T L E Combing low-tide riverbanks and exploring historic backyards, Tim Touchberry digs his way to a museum- quality collection of antique bottles. by
Susan Frampton
photos by
Dottie Rizzo
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A Vast Collection This page: Unique shapes are among Touchberry's favorite finds; the treasure hunter catalogues each piece. Opposite: bottles often have interesting coloring; a rainbow of bottles serve as decor in Touchberry's home.
T
he bottles lining the transom windows of Debby Touchberry’s Summers Corner kitchen cast shards of amber and cobalt blue light across the room. A beautiful design element, the bottles represent far more than a discerning eye for decorating. Each has a story that begins with her husband’s passion for finding and collecting antique bottles. “I can tell you that I found that blue one there,” she says pointing to a square blue vessel on the countertop, “But Tim can tell you exactly where each and every one came from.” Considering the displays of bottles and artifacts artfully displayed in glass-fronted cabinets, that’s no small feat. The Tim she references is Tim Touchberry, a man whose name is well-known from his long and storied career as a Lowcountry athlete and coach. After playing multiple sports for Baptist College (Charleston Southern), he began his career in 1972 at North Charleston High School. Over a span of 35 years, he coached 4 years at Stall High School, and 15 years at Summerville High School as a JV football, varsity basketball, and track coach, before rising to the top of his game in his 14 years as the first Athletic Director and head track coach at Fort Dorchester High School. Inducted into both Fort Dorchester High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the SC Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame, following Touchberry’s 2006 retirement due to symptoms of Parkinson’s disease diagnosed in 2003, the Fort Dorchester’s Track and Field Complex was named in his honor. Also honoring him, the Putting for Parkinson's golf tournament was founded by friends and family to help fund research for the disease.
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While his athletic achievements are the stuff of legend, his interest and passion for collecting antique bottles may be lesser known. However, one look at his impressive collection quickly establishes his expertise at a hobby that became a passion and lights up the face of the retired coach. Touchberry’s interest in finding bottles began in the early 1990s. “About 30 years ago, I was fishing with a couple of fellas back behind Charles Towne Landing, when one of them spotted something shiny on the bank. It turned out to be a Bitters Medicine Bottle. It wasn’t in the best shape, but out of curiosity, we asked a neighbor who was a collector about it. The collector offered $300 right off the bat. “That was a pretty good fishing trip,” he chuckles at the memory. “And right then it occurred to me how many other bottles might be out there!” When the shrimp weren’t running, and the fish weren’t biting, he began walking riverbanks looking for bottles. He found his first one on the banks of the Wando River. Bitten by the bottle bug, he soon started taking the entire family trudging through the pluff mud. Many of their finds line the shelves of a hallway china cabinet, and Touchberry is as knowledgeable about the bones, teeth, and artifacts as he is about the bottles. “That’s the fun part about it. The kids and now the grandkids love finding all kinds of things that are collectible—shark’s teeth, bones, arrowheads, and what-have-you. We bring whatever we find back home and try to figure out what we’ve got,” he says, holding a petrified whale bone.
In a small case in the living room, a half-dozen bottles rest under glass. “That middle one is pretty rare,” he says of a large SC Dispensary bottle, pearlescent with age but perfectly preserved. He explains that from 1893 to 1900, liquor bottled by state dispensaries was the only spirit legally sold in South Carolina. Dispensary bottles from that time feature an embossed palmetto tree with crossed logs under the base of the tree. “I knew this one was a good one when I found it, but I had no idea that it was one of the rarest in the book. Only three of them are known to exist.” He has been offered five figures for the rare find, but although he trades bottles from time to time, he seldom sells them. His son, Russ Touchberry, says of the valuable bottles in his dad’s collection, “We don’t want him to ever sell any of them. They’re his. He found them, and he needs to enjoy having them.” Touchberry’s Parkinson's symptoms can make reaching for and handling the fragile glass difficult, so his son, affectionately called ‘Brother,’ is on hand to help out. His gentle guidance allows the senior Touchberry to navigate, and he is quick to locate any item his father references. The easy rapport between father and son is a lovely tribute to their close relationship. The varied sizes, shapes, and compositions in Touchberry’s anthology of bottles and crockery are worthy of a museum exhibit, and he is a patient and tireless guide to the provenance and attributes of each. Many pre-date South Carolina’s recognition as a state. While most have been recovered from riverbanks, a perfect, rounded crockery jug is an example of sixteen dug from
Charleston’s Queen Street area, and is cataloged as dating to the late 1680s, shortly after Charleston was founded.
The collector claims his knowledge to be mostly learned from those better versed, but his familiarity suggests expertise learned through hands-on experience. The collector claims his knowledge to be mostly learned from those better versed, but his familiarity suggests expertise learned through hands-on experience. He is a familiar figure around Summerville, and can often be found digging in the yards of historic homes. “People are usually pretty happy to let us explore. You just never know what’s going to turn up.” The retired coach says he doesn’t get around as easily as he used to, but that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for his hobby. “I still go every chance I get. I’ll keep getting out there and digging as long as I can. When I can’t, I’ll just sit on the side and point.” If history is any indication, whether he’s playing the game or leading from the sidelines, there is no doubt that Tim Touchberry will point those around him in the right direction. AM
G A R D E N P A R T Y Set free from casseroles and heavy sauces, vegetables have finally come into their own! Celebrate the season as fall comes to the table with varieties that are colorful, fullflavored and pack our plates with goodness.
by SUSAN FRAMPTON photos by DOTTIE RIZZO
Power Plant Simple Brussels sprouts are an oft-overlooked treasure of the cooler months
WARM WELCOME With temperatures dropping, these three rustic cakes are sure to fill the belly and warm the spirit Photos by
Dottie Rizzo
Piece of Cake Opposite: layers of a pumpkin pecan cake are spiced just right. This page: waking up to a blueberry breakfast cake can only be a good thing.
Double Chocolate Bundt Cake
Pumpkin Pecan Cake
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Blueberry Breakfast Cake
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Double Chocolate Bundt Cake Ingredients 2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 cup butter (room temperature) 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3 large eggs 2 large egg whites 1/3 cup coffee (cooled) 2/3 cup milk 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup heavy cream Preparation
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick or wood skewer comes out clean when inserted in the cake. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then turn onto the rack to cool completely. Combine semisweet chocolate and heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until the cream starts to bubble around the edges. Remove from the heat, and stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Pour over bundt cake.
Pumpkin Pecan Cake
Heat the oven to 350°F
Ingredients
Generously grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt cake pan.
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon ground clove 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/3 cups shortening 2 1/2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 15 oz can pumpkin puree 1 cup pecans plus 1/2 cup, chopped 8 oz cream cheese 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Whisk well to blend thoroughly. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and the granulated sugar. Mix using hand mixer until light and fluffy. Beat the eggs and egg whites into the sugar mixture and then beat in the 1 tablespoon of vanilla. In a small bowl, combine the coffee and milk. Beat about one-third of the cocoa and flour mixture into the sugar mixture, then beat in half of the coffee and milk mixture. Repeat with another one-third of the flour mixture and the remaining coffee and milk mixture. Add the remaining one-third of the flour mixture and beat until well blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared Bundt cake pan.
Preparation Preheat oven to 300° and grease and flour (2) 9 inch cake pans. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening, sugar, eggs, vanilla and pumpkin puree until creamy. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together. set aside.
Mix flour mixture into pumpkin mixture until well combined. Stir in 1 cup of pecans. Spoon into pans, 3/4 full (mixture will be thick). Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes or until wooden tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and place on cooling rack. In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add vanilla, powdered sugar, and cinnamon, mix well. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until creamy. Frost once cake has cooled completely, adding frosting between each layer and on top. Sprinkle remaining pecans on top of frosted cake.
Blueberry Breakfast Cake Ingredients 1 cup all purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon of flour (plus more for prepping cake pan) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional) 2 cups blueberries, rinsed and drained 1 teaspoon lemon juice Powdered sugar for dusting Optional frosting for dipping: 1/4 cup salted butter, melted 3 cups powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 6-8 teaspoons heavy cream
Preparation Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter an 8 or 9-inch springform pan and dust with flour. Vigorously whisk together flour with baking powder, salt, and cinnamon and set aside. Using a mixer, beat the butter on medium high speed for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, 2 more minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until well blended. Stir in the lemon zest if using. Reduce the speed of the mixer to low and slowly add the flour mixture, beating until smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan. Combine the berries with the lemon juice in a bowl and toss. Spoon the berries over the batter. Bake on middle rack in oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and transfer to a platter, berry side up. Dust the cake with powdered sugar. Serve as-is or with optional dipping frosting below. Dipping frosting: In a large Pyrex 4 cup measuring glass, whisk together all of the ingredients until smooth. Start with 6 teaspoons of cream and then work your way until you reach the consistency you desire. Serve in small bowls with cake. AM
ARTISAN CRAFTED JEWELRY
DOTTIE LANGLEY
T H E C O O P E R - h a n d c r a f t e d , s o l i d b r o n z e o y s t e r n e c k l a c e . d o t t i e l a n g l e y. c o m
TH E SOC IAL
SOCIALS, CAUSES, AND COMMUNIT Y
Kitchen Tour The Scrumptious Summerville Kitchen Tour is one of the Lowcountry’s premier events, showcasing historic homes in the heart of Summerville, as attendees sample creative cuisine and decadent desserts prepared by notable Lowcountry chefs. The annual event benefits the Dorchester Children's Advocacy Center.
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VILLAGE P OET
At the Ready by Ellen E. Hyatt
We're all Janus at this time of year, god in the doorway toward tomorrow, yet still looking over our shoulders, like into snow globes of yesterday. Giving each globe a gentle shake, we find past scenes in glittered tableau: Last spring's first crocus and coltsfoot. Winged joys returned to feeders. Summer's too much of much—heat, fire, storms—and too little moderation. Autumn's air, palette, and butterflies in graced quietude on back-road drives. (Did some swirl of calm really occur amid the whir and whirl of chaos during 2018?) And look here now—more snow globes show chubby cherubs, kin to those atop holiday cakes. Shake the globes. Like leisured snowflakes, letters of the alphabet fall into words for anew: "Scatter kindness. Invite down-home truths, stories to be told, and light. Hear hope unfold."
82 AZALEAMAG.COM Winter 2018
Award-Winning Orthopaedic Specialists in Your Neighborhood. Don O. Stovall, Jr, MD Spine Surgery
William Wilson, MD Spine Surgery
Shailesh Patel, MD Interventional Pain
Christopher Merrell, MD Interventional Pain
Keith J. Santiago, MD Hand Surgery
F. Patterson Owings, MD Hand Surgery
William S. Corey, MD Foot & Ankle Surgery
Joel R. Cox, Jr, MD Foot & Ankle Surgery
Richard H. Zimlich, MD Hip & Knee Surgery
Eric S. Stem, MD Hip & Knee Surgery
David H. Jaskwhich, MD Sports Medicine
James J. McCoy, Jr., MD Sports Medicine
James D. Spearman MD Sports Medicine
Adam Schaaf, MD Sports Medicine
David Johannesmeyer, MD Sports Medicine
LowcountryOrtho.com Summerville
93B Springview Lane Summerville, SC 29485 843-797-5050
Outpatient Surgery Center 93A Springview Lane Summerville, SC 29485 843-285-6065
Summerville
130 East Third North Street Summerville, SC 29483 843-797-5050
North Charleston • Daniel Island • Moncks Corner
styled by Margie Sutton, makeup by Krista Elam photographer Taylor Kennedy
