TOWN Jan. 2014

Water

Marks

THE WAVE OF GREENVILLE’S FUTURE IS INEXTRICABLY TIED TO ITS MILLS AND THE BEND OF THE REEDY

Wintry Mix

Underground Eats

Bull Run

LEATHER AND DENIM ARE A MATCH FOR THE COLD

AMERICAN GROCERY RESTAURANT TURNS DINNER ON ITS HEAD

DURHAM, NC, HAS TURNED A NEW LEAF J A N U A R Y 2 014 TOWNCAROLINA.COM

Eric Brown Design NE W YORK

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GREENVILLE

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CHARLESTON

1322 EAST WASHINGTON ST., GREENVILLE, SC

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864.233.4442

NAPLES

“SUCCESSFUL INTERIORS TELL A STORY. THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE HISTORY AND IMAGINATION; THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AND THINGS THAT COULD BE…” ERICBROWNDESIGN.BIZ

765 Haywood Road, Greenville 864-297-6458 86 TOWN / towngreenville.com

© D. YURMAN 2014

JANUARY 2011 / 11

AUGUST 2012 / 87

Where will it take you next?

2014 AUDI A7 Quartz PHOTOGRAPHY: GETZ CREATIVE LOCATION: ONE BUILDING CLOTHING: RUSH WILSON, LTD HAIR/MAKEUP: STUDIO.7 Model: Millie Lewis Models 86 TOWN / towngreenville.com

JANUARY 2011 / 11

stevewhiteaudi.com AUGUST 2012 / 87

Without a doubt, I have never had such a good experience with a real estate transaction. Joan stayed ahead of the process, anticipating and preparing for every step with great professionalism and attitude. I would not consider doing a residential transaction with anyone else! I don’t think we could have completed this without Joan. We ran into multiple roadblocks - Joan helped us work through every one. I cannot give enough praise to Joan for the fantastic job she did on our house. • Joan helped us stage our home before it went on the market. We took all of her advice & tips, and we got an offer immediately! She truly knows what to do to make your home sell! Through the entire process she was professional, knowledgeable & very helpful. We would highly recommend!! • My experience with Joan Herlong and her staff at AugustaRoad.com was excellent, from start to finish. Joan provided great counsel on preparation, staging, showings and contract negotiations. The initial market analysis that she provided, her constant updates and continuous advertising was invaluable. Her personal follow up on every detail was always very timely. I would definitely recommend her to a friend. • Joan is knowledgeable on real estate process, Greenville real estate, very responsive and enjoyable to work with. She helps provide solutions for all parties. We intend to stay put in our current home Joan helped us find but we will continue to recommend Joan and should we need another realtor, Joan is our only choice. • A true professional. Prompt, responsive and accessible. Sets realistic expectations and works well with other realtors to drive results. Five star results from a five star agent! • Joan is an extremely knowledgeable professional. She brings extensive experience to provide individualized and dedicated approaches to her clients. She represented me on both sale and purchase transactions and I couldn’t have asked for a better advocate. • Our house sold the first day it was listed. Joan did a wonderful job and we couldn’t be more pleased. This happened after taking it off the market about ten months ago without one offer in two years. A fantastic realtor makes a big difference. She was the most prepared realtor I have ever met and was very protective of us as her clients. We truly believe she made the process much easier than it would have been with any other realtor and would highly recommend her and in fact have already referred two others to her. • We have both bought and sold a home with Joan as the seller’s agent. She has excellent knowledge of the neighborhoods and market, and is very responsive and dependable. In each of the sales, Joan dedicated a lot of effort and expertise to bring the buyer and seller together into a negotiation that I think was the best for both sides in terms of price, schedule and details. I would definitely use Joan again to sell my house, and would be comfortable buying a home from her. • We have known and worked with Joan for all our real estate needs since we bought our first house - which now seems way too long ago. She has helped us buy and sell each home and a couple rental properties as well. We highly recommend Joan because of her knowledge of the area, many tips for selling and what to look for when buying, and her connections to all trades you may need when buying, selling and renovating a house.

We always had a positive experience and enjoyed working with her. • The only thing that would please me more, is to be able to rate Joan 10 stars on Zillow’s 5 star scale. She’s that good. Joan is on top of real estate rules, practices, & is totally focused on doing everything possible to get the best deal completed for her clients. There’s no wasted time when you’re dealing with Joan’s team. Yet, they always take time to answer questions and make sure the client’s clear about what’s happening. Joan is smart, a great communicator, & tenacious when appropriate. Her team staged my home for sale within a week after we agreed to work together. We had a brisk showing schedule, & a contract within 4 days on MLS. Everything proceeded orderly until, right before closing date, we were surprised that the buyers and their agent wanted to delay because their loan wasn’t ready. Joan investigated; she found that the buyers had been casual about getting their loan app started, and their agent wasn’t tending to their obligations. Faced with those conditions, anyone should want Joan Herlong on their side. She took control and guided the deal to closing on favorable terms for her client. If I’d had the choice, I would have designated 99% of the commission to Joan & 1% to the buyer’s broker. In a business where there are agents who are good, average, & awful, why would anyone not want the absolute best? That’s Joan Herlong.

AugustaRoad.com Thank you.

Many thanks to all our buyer and seller clients for putting AugustaRoad.com Realty on top in 2013.

Here’s to a happy new year of putting our clients first in 2014!

17 Oak Crest Court, 29605

343 Nature Trail Drive, 29651

125 Cammer Avenue, 29605

2003 PLUS Anderson Road

400 Mills Avenue, #413, 29605

2A Aniwetauk Street, 29607

22 Wiscasset Way, 29615

104 Bridgewood, 29687

51 Partridge Lane, 29605

240 Haddington Lane, 29609

203 Greenview Circle, 29609

212 Waccamaw Avenue. 29605

309 E. Hillcrest Drive, 29609

72 Cleveland Street, 29601

324 Stayman Court, 29681

205 Rosebay Drive, 29615

2 Quail Hill Court, 29607

200 S Featherbells Lane, 29685

Lot 2, Riverside, 29605

113 Keowee Avenue, 29605

119 Rockwood, 29605

337 Riverside, 29605

412 Longview Terrace, 29605

307 Waccamaw, 29605

10 Cobblestone, 29615

15 Pine Forest Drive, 29601

5 Riverside Drive, 29605

35 Lowndes Hill Road, 29607

25 E Tallulah Drive, 29605

163 Augusta Court, 29605

104 Tinsley Court, 29615

46 Tindal Avenue, 29605

1225 Parkins Mill Road, 29607

411 W. Faris Road, 29605

605 Waccamaw Avenue, 29605

3 Riverside Drive, 29605

42 Mount Vista Avenue, 29605

205 Robinson Street, 29609

100 Blue Ridge Drive, 29690

117 Brookway Drive, 29605

53 Forest Lane, 29605

126 Babbs Hollow Road, 29607

35 Thistlebrook Court, 29615

73 Rock Creek Drive, 29605

1 Rockingham Road, 29607

307 Meyers Drive, 29605

114 Aberdeen Drive, 29605

Lot 36A Hope Street, 29601

604 Montebello Drive, 29609

803 Edwards Road Unit 23, 29615

28 Lawson Way, 29605

27 W. Tallulah Drive, 29605

103 Raes Creek Drive, 29609

44 Lanneau Drive, 29605

35 Quail Hill Drive, 29605

417 Stewart Street, 29605

140 Pilot Road

318 Legrand Boulevard, 29607

400 Mills Avenue, #318, 29605

39 Lady Marion, 29607

15 Cammer Avenue, 29605

14 Downington Court, 29615

7 Parrish Court, 29607

16 Sir Abbott Street, 29607

100 Lewis Drive, Apt 15D, 29605

210 Rdenour Avenue, 29617

14 Warner Street, 29605

3 Woodvine Way, 29662

24 Rockwood Drive, 29605

31 Nottingham Road, 29607

12 Augusta Drive, 29605

27 Timrod Way, 29607

13 King George Road, 29615

31 Pinckney Street, 29601

24 Tindal Avenue, 29605

112 Lowood Lane, 29605

106 Moultrie Street, 29605

36 Mount Vista Avenue, 29605

106 Bel Arbor Lane, 29662

204 Silver Run Lane, 29607

122 Stephens Lane, 29609

AugustaRoad.com Realty LLC Joan Herlong Owner/BIC

864-325-2112

YOU KNEW CANCER BREAKTHROUGHS WERE BEING MADE SOMEWHERE. NOW YOU KNOW SOMEWHERE IS HERE.

Researchers at Greenville Health System aren’t just making progress in the war against cancer. They’re making breakthroughs. Like helping to develop the first new treatments for melanoma in more than 30 years. It’s the type of groundbreaking work that only happens in our nation’s elite cancer research institutes—including our very own, right here in the Upstate. Learn more at ghs.org/breakthrough.

Paula Deen’s River House Collection captures the beauty, history and hospitality of gracious life on the Savannah River. Designed to be loved and enjoyed, the timeless quality welcomes the bustling activities of real family life. Its pieces represent an enduring style that encourages personal expression. Step in the home of Paula Deen and you will know that a real family lives there. River House reflects the charming juxtaposition of a casual and easy graciousness.

*BONUS $250 Gift Card

towards any Surya rug with River House package purchase. See store for details.

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm • Sat 9am-5pm • Sunday - Home with Family!

FIRST

Glance

Towering Angle: Looking south along the Norfolk-Southern rail line from Pete Hollis Boulevard, Greenville, South Carolina (photograph by Paul Mehaffey)

48 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Contents

17 THE LIST

See, hear, read, react.

The month’s must-dos.

23 ON THE TOWN

Pics of the litter: Upcountry fêtes & festivities.

33 TOWNBUZZ

Photographer Terri Bright, Erskine celebrates 175 years, books by local authors, and more.

43 DAY TRIP

Durham, NC: from historic tobacco powerhouse to hip cornerstone of the Research Triangle.

47 STYLE CENTRAL

Ward off winter with rugged staples and take a peek inside boutique owner Amy Zimmer’s personal closet.

54 MAN ABOUT TOWN

Being the Man About TOWN can take a toll—especially when it comes to his waistline.

57 PLACE HOLDER

0 6

FLOW CHART

6 6

RUN OF THE MILLS

The Reedy River is the backbone of Greenville, channeling its rise, decline, and resurgence.

// by John Nolan

The mills of Greenville’s Textile Crescent put the city on the map and are poised to do it again.

// by Steven Tingle // photography by Paul Mehaffey

An excerpt from Susan Tekulve’s award-winning novel In the Garden of Stone.

73 EAT & DRINK

Going raw for the New Year, a roving band of maverick culinary all-stars, and Chef Daniel Dobbs.

80 DINING GUIDE 82 TOWNSCENE

Got plans? You do now.

THIS PAGE: The Woodside Mill train yard, Greenville, SC, circa 1910 COVER: Water tower at Woodside Mill, Greenville, SC, 2013 photograph by Paul Mehaffey

88 SECOND GLANCE

The Pickens Museum of Art & History spotlights 12 local female artists.

12 TOWN / towncarolina.com

January

MAKE YOUR FAMILY’S NEW YEAR A HAPPY ONE

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EDITOR’S

Letter

Photog r aph by Paul Meha f fey

Mark B. Johnston PUBLISHER mark@towncarolina.com Blair Knobel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF blair@towncarolina.com Paul Mehaffey ART DIRECTOR

River Place

SENIOR EDITOR Jac Chebatoris

W

orking in downtown Greenville certainly has its perks. Lunches range from a multicourse meal or quick taco grab. Food trucks are fond of downtown streets and lots. Cafés quench my java habit and desire for quality laptop time. Shops and galleries inspire. Breaks linger in Falls Park, with walks along its downtown Reedy River.

In fact, one such jaunt lit the fire for this issue. While on the Riverwalk, a thoroughfare not only for pedestrians but cyclists who are accessing the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail—a reclaimed rail line and significant part of local history (“Rail to Trail,” page 38) —it is difficult not to consider the import of the river and the surrounding historic buildings. After all, January is a time of reflection, completing one cycle and beginning another.

This circular logic is certainly apropos of history, particularly in mind of the Reedy.

As historian and author John Nolan writes in one of our two features this issue (see “Flow Chart,” page 60), “In many ways, the fortunes and failures of both the river and the city are indelibly intertwined.” He focuses on the area of downtown Greenville that today we’ve come to love so well, illustrating the lure of its waters for Native Americans and eventually Richard Pearis, Vardry McBee, and the titans of our mill history. Then, after decades of pollution and decay, the river inspired local leaders to rethink the possibilities for downtown Greenville and the opportunity of economic and cultural rebirth.

The Reedy is inextricably tied to Greenville’s textile industry. But, instead of focusing on output, we focus on the mills themselves and the hodgepodge of villages that comprise the city’s Textile Crescent. Longtime resident Don Koonce has a hearty obsession for history, particularly of the place he calls home. His quest to understand this area and its people led him to a scholarly pursuit of our mill past. In “Run of the Mills” (page 66) by contributing editor Steven Tingle, he describes the rise and decay of Greenville’s Textile Crescent—and its inherent potential. Some of these mills have already had facelifts and retrofits, becoming luxury loft apartments, artist studios, and shops. They are symbols of our history but viable resources for our future, and—much like the river—are a point of connection between yesterday and tomorrow.

Still, it’s the river that is our backbone, continuing to transform our area geographically, economically, and culturally. As much as Greenville is a textile story, its true essence is the Reedy, running deep into our past, while channeling us toward the future.

Blair Knobel Editor-in-Chief

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrew Huang CONTRIBUTING EDITORS M. Linda Lee Steven Tingle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS H. Roger Grant, Ph.D. Laura Linen John Nolan Susan Tekulve CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chelsey Ashford TJ Getz J. Aaron Greene Cameron Reynolds EDITORIAL INTERN Mary Cathryn Armstrong

Holly Hardin PRODUCTION MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kristy Adair Michael Allen Whitney Fincannon MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Lori Burney Kristin Hill Kristi Jennings Donna Johnston Annie Langston Pam Putman Kate Banner COMMUNIT Y SPONSORSHIPS & EVENTS MANAGER kate@towncarolina.com

Emily Price DIGITAL STRATEGIST Kate Guptill MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT Sue Priester PHIL ANTHROPIC ADVISOR

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter Be in-the-know online! Find the best of TOWN Magazine— events, stories, dining, & more!

THE MILLS ARE SYMBOLS OF OUR HISTORY BUT VIABLE RESOURCES FOR OUR FUTURE, AND—MUCH LIKE THE REEDY—ARE A POINT OF CONNECTION BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW.

14 TOWN / towncarolina.com

TOWN Magazine (Vol. 4, No. 1) is published monthly (12 times per year) by TOWN Greenville, LLC, PO Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602, (864) 679-1200. TOWN Magazine is a free publication. However, if you would like to have TOWN delivered to you each month, you may purchase an annual subscription (12 issues) for $65. For subscription information or where to find, please visit towncarolina.com.

Postmaster: Send address changes to TOWN, PO Box 2266, Greenville, SC 29602.

All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

Interiors Karen Ann Myers

Karen Ann Myers (b.1984) Rainbows and Diamonds, 2013 oil on canvas

Sunday, January 26 2pm Listen as Charleston artist Karen Ann Myers offers insights into her subject matter and painting process. Responding to a pervasive culture of sex and beauty, Myers employs the intimate setting of the bedroom to explore the psychological complexity of young women.

Sundays at 2 programs are free and are presented by

Opening January 15

Greenville County Museum of Art

420 College Street Greenville, SC 29601 864.271.7570 gcma.org Wed - Sat 10 am - 6 pm Sun 1pm - 5 pm

GCMA- 1416 TOWN KA Myers.indd 2

admission free

12/10/13 4:21 PM

Leasing Now

Live life abundantly at Tapestry at Hollingsworth Park. Enjoy first-class amenities and the feeling of being secreted away in a place you can call your own. Premier location in Greenville, this luxury apartment community is nestled within the dynamic urban development known as Hollingsworth Park at Verdae. Here, a unique blend of contemporary amenities meet tradition.

Apartment Features: 9’ Ceilings, Personal Home Entrances, Granite Countertops, Gourmet Kitchen Islands, Wood Floors, Washer/Dryer Included, Direct Access Garage, and More. Onsite Amenities: Pool with Cabana and Wi-Fi, Fitness Studio, Outdoor Kitchen with Dining Terrace and TV, Clubhouse with Premium Coffee Bar, Wi-Fi, Library and Conference Room, and More. Professionally managed by Arlington Properties.

201 Rocky Slope Road • Greenville, SC 29607 • (864) 288-4528 • www.tapestryathollingsworthpark.com

List z

THE

THE MONTH’S MUST- DOS

z

TOP OF THE

List

January 2014 THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY & BESS

In the fictional Catfish Row of Charleston, SC, good times are harder to come by than a summer day without humidity. When an innocent game of craps goes terribly awry, events are set in motion that will change everyone within the small working-class community where Porgy, Crown, Bess, and Serena make their home.

The Gershwins’ controversial take on African-American life in the 1930s South has been a classic for decades, with poignant tunes such as “Summertime” and “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin.”

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Jan 28–Feb 2; Tues–Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 1pm & 6:30pm. $45-$75.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

JANUARY 2014 / 17

List z

zWhat-Not-To-Miss / RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM NOAH & BAILEY CIRCUS A native of nearby Greer, Noah Guthrie debuts his

Photograph by Darren Carroll

Designed with the foodie in mind, Restaurant Week takes place across South Carolina, offering great deals for full-course meals at all the best hot spots. Dine on hand-picked menus from local favorites like Soby’s, American Grocery, 21 East, and many more, filling both your belly and your need for culinary adventure.

Locations vary. Jan 9–19, times vary. Prices vary. restaurantweeksouthcarolina.com

Photograph courtesy of Jeremy Cowart

new album at the venue that started it for him. A quick-cut cover of LMFAO’s raucously infectious “Sexy and I Know It,” and Noah shot to the top of the viral charts, accumulating YouTube hit after hit and television performances. Now, the singer/ songwriter comes full circle with Among the Wildest Things, a collection of his own material that has already received critical acclaim.

The Handlebar, 304 E Stone Ave, Greenville. Thurs, Jan 9, 7pm. $12. (864) 233-6173, handlebar-online.com

Photograph courtesy of Feld Entertainment

For those without a fear of clowns (it’s called coulrophobia), the circus is a great time to share some of your best childhood memories with your children or your children’s children. As always, the world’s favorite three-ring show has crafted an amazing spectacular of wonder and amusement, all set in a mythical world where pegasus and yes, even fabulous unicorns roam freely. Don’t be afraid to ooh and ahh during the Torres family motocross show or when the Medeiros Troupe take to the tightrope. After all, the show does go on.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Jan 29–Feb 2; Wed–Fri, 7:30pm; Fri, 10am; Sat, 7pm; Sat–Sun, 11am & 3pm. $12-$62. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com

RESTAURANT WEEK GREENVILLE

Photograph by Paul Mehaffey

THE

25 PEDEN STREET

Education to career,

We’ll get you there.

Visit us at gvltec.edu or call (864) 250-8000.

Visit www.gvltec.edu/ken to learn more about Ken’s story.

GetThere.

18 TOWN / towncarolina.com

FIRST CLASS FREE! CHECK THE WEBSITE OR CALL FOR DETAILS.

More than 28,000 square feet – 16,000 indoor and 12,000 outdoor – right on the Swamp Rabbit Trail!

864.438.1450 • SwampRabbitCrossFit.com

True, most of us know how the story of famed female chemist Marie Curie ends. However, the intimate details of her as a scientific pioneer make a much more intriguing story. Famed historic interpreter Susan Frontczak takes on the role of the compulsive physicist as she journeys through numerous hardships and setbacks before making the discovery of radium. The private kickoff party held Friday will feature a smaller performance as well as delicious desserts.

Wade Hampton High School, 100 Pine Knoll Dr, Greenville.

Jan 31–Feb 2; Fri, 7:30pm; Sat–Sun, 2pm. Fri, $30; Sat– Sun, Free. (864) 244-1499, greenvillechautauqua.org

Bulls are temperamental and destructive—doesn’t it make perfect sense to hop on? Professional bull riding is certainly not for the faint of heart. This heartpounding, adrenaline-pumping leap of faith may last a mere eight seconds, but it’s one of the most dangerous day jobs out there. Even if you can’t slip into some cowboy boots and try it out yourself, the whole family can still cheer on the professionals as they cling for dear life atop a bucking beast.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville. Sat, Jan 4, 8pm. $22-$52. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com

MOSTLY BRITISH

Photograph courtesy of Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Photograph courtesy of David Poleski Design Photography

PROFESSIONAL BULL-RIDING TOURING PRO DIVISION

Photograph courtesy of Euphoria

Photograph courtesy of Caroline McIntyre & Greenville Chatauqua

WINTER CHAUTAUQUA: MARIE CURIE

No, it’s not the Beatles; these pieces come from a very different Fab Four. This selection of chamber music performed by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra will include several popular pieces crafted by British composers Malcolm Arnold, Frank Bridge, and Gustav Holst before seguing into a piece by Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla. As part of the GSO Spotlight Series, Mostly British will put the focus on principal musicians, relying on their artistic skill to convey the sights and sounds of a historic era.

Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Sat, Jan 11, 2pm & 7pm. $15. greenvillesymphony.org

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ENCHANTING

by DESIGN

PelhamArchitects.com JANUARY 2014 / 19

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THE

Quick HITS

SOUTH CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW zSo many cars in one room you can practically hear them humming to each other. The annual Motor Trend event showcases new models in everything from Smart cars to Maseratis, giving local gearheads a chance to bask in vintage- and new-model glory. Pick up a few tricks of the trade or pick out your dream car. Either way, you’re bound to get your engine revved.

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville. Fri, Jan 10, 10am–9pm; Sat, Jan 11, 10am–9pm; Sun, Jan 12, 10am–6pm. Adults, $8; seniors, juniors, $5. (864) 233-2562, motortrendautoshows.com

IN / HUMANITY

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

zDance can be a powerful communicator, and this Carolina Ballet production is certainly no exception.

Forged by the struggle of daily survival and the power to overcome, artistic director Hernan Justo’s narrative has been constructed with the Year of Altruism in mind. When kindness prevails and hope is found within the depths of the greatest hardship, only then can true joy be expressed, a concept which is highlighted throughout every movement of this original ballet.

Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, Jan 11, 7:30pm. $25. (864) 421-0940, carolinaballet.org

WAREHOUSE THEATRE 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA zThe Warehouse Theatre has been a Greenville institution for 40 years, presenting more than 400 shows ranging from the controversial to the slapstick. Now, they celebrate their ruby anniversary in true Hollywood fashion: a noirthemed gala at their downtown home. This “Affair to Remember” comes complete with a red carpet, live band, silent auction, and, of course, cosmopolitan cocktails and eats. Vintage duds sparkling with old glamour are highly encouraged as we celebrate the theatre that launched 1,000 rounds of applause.

The Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville. Sat, Jan 18, 6:30pm. $100. (864) 235-6948, warehousetheatre.com

ROCK ‘N ROLL GOLD zThe first three decades of rock ‘n roll music are often characterized as the most inventive and experimental, blazing the trail for the grunge, metal, and punk paths that would soon follow. This year’s production will showcase the genre’s Golden Age, where the first few rocking years were tinged with protesting parents and fear of the swinging hip. This welcome blast from the past is sure to send you home with the sudden urge to fire up that record player.

Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Jan 23–Feb 15; Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $25-$35. (864) 233-6733, centrestage.org

20 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Don Williams The Texas born-and-bred country star has been flying solo since 1971, drawing in fans of all generations with hits like “I Believe in You” and “I’m Just a Country Boy.” He’ll be bringing those hits along with a selection of tracks from his most recent album to the Peace Center for a one-night-only show. With numerous awards and a spot in the Country Hall of Fame, Williams’ laid-back brand of country is a sure bet for any music lover.

The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Fri, Jan 17, 8pm. $25-$55.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

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“THE 1 broadway MUSICaL oF THE yEar! #

A DON’T MISS THEATRE EVENT!” MAGAZINE

g n i n n i w – d r A w A Tony ! l A v i v e r l A c i s u M BesT 2012 Original Broadway Revival Cast. Photo credit: Michael Lutch.

®

Y A W D ROA

THE B

L A C I S MU

JanUaRY 28-FebRUaRY 2 • peace centeR peacecenteR.oRg

864.467.3000 800.888.7768

New BROadway Cast ReCORdiNg NOw avaiLaBLe ON Ps CLassiCs

PorgyandBesstheMusical.com

Town

ON THE Brittany McIntosh & Tripp James

Greenville Royale November 8, 2013 A duel would be fitting for a James Bond–themed gala, but, thankfully, it involved pianos, not firearms. The Red Shoe Society of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas welcomed 350 guests to Greenville Royale, their fourth annual gala. In addition to the dueling pianos, courtesy of Jack n’ Diane’s, guests sampled a menu that included pad thai, s’mores, and other heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Brian Peak, Carrie Shultz, Leila Aziz, & Jon Hammond Tim & Allison Lori

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

Gregg Miller with Jennifer & Tigue Garick

Brad & Susan Mudock Bob & Nancy Kitterman

Daniel Lock, Cameron Poole, & Shelby Dodgens AJ & Randy Jester

Kristin Westrol, Ashleigh Gregory, & Jennifer Hyde

Aaron LeCheminant, Brelyn Holmes, Matt Piersall, Meredith Cook, & Ed Stewart JANUARY 2014 / 23

Michael Pratt

102 Mills Avenue, Greenville, SC 864.271.7155 www.capello-salon.com

Tammy Cubbage & Joan Herlong

New Year…

New You!

Megan Riegel

Not pictured KACI DAVIS

Cheers!

LLC

treasure chest Valerie's Treasure Chest

Dresses by Valerie’s Treasure Chest

Capella jr Town Jan13.indd 1

12/10/13 1:14 PM

Michael Riordan LLC

treasure chest upscale ladies & teen consignment formal • pageant • accessories • shoes

valerie flynn, owner 561-9754 • hwy 81 • powdersville hours: tuesday-friday 10-6 • saturday 10-2

Keri Lumm, Dave Keith, & Jessi Odom 24 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Robbin Phillips & Steven Tingle

ON THE

Town

Military Order of the Purple Heart Comedy Night November 6, 2013

WE’RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE

OPENING OF OUR NEW

DENTAL HOME IN GREENVILLE

Greenville community leaders like Michael Riordan (Greenville Health System), Megan Riegel (the Peace Center), and Bob Howard (Greenville Tech) delivered their best punchlines at this fundraiser. Guests enjoyed 30 of Greenville’s own (including a few Purple Heart recipients) telling their favorite jokes and stories at Centre Stage. The evening, organized by the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, raised more than $6000, all of which will benefit Upstate military veterans.

Building a dental office is more than the construction of brick and mortar. It is the creation of a home for our dental family, where we can better serve and treat our patients through state of the art technology and a spa-like atmosphere. Conveniently located beside Grace Church on Pelham Road – 3369 Pelham Road. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

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Anita & Tom Harley with Lynn & Doug Greenlaw JANUARY 2014 / 25

Rich in Family History, Pendleton Place Breakfast

Love of Community and Built on Good Relationships…

November 14, 2013

Children are our greatest hope for the future, but they are fragile. More than 550 state legislators, community leaders, and friends joined the Pendleton Place for Children Families at their annual breakfast benefit in support of children (and their families) who are affected by abuse and neglect.

The funds raised at the breakfast will help support programs to support atrisk teens, assessments to match families with foster children, and guidance for families facing divorce or separation.

Rush Wilson Limited is greatful for Greenville and our founding fathers.

Since 1959, Rush Wilson Limited has been honored to outfit those who have made Greenville what it is today!

Photography by Cameron Reynolds Kiera Egan & Pamela Evette

864.232.2761 | rushwilson.com | 23 West North St. | Downtown Greenville

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Yvette W. Kinlaw, Brenda Kegler, Teena Whittenberg, & Maggie Sanders-Smith

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Erin Nesbit & Lisa Trojan 26 TOWN / towncarolina.com

ON THE

Town

Park Sterling Bank Cocktail Reception

New Look for the New Year

November 12, 2013 Since starting from scratch about 2 years ago, Park Sterling Bank’s South Carolina branch has grown into a $2 billion business. To celebrate its growth and to thank its local clients, the bank hosted a cocktail reception at Zen. About 130 guests took the opportunity to mix and mingle with the bank’s senior management. The event also signaled Park Sterling’s continued commitment to the Greenville area and its desire to meet the needs of current and potential customers.

Photography by Chelsey Ashford Jack & Susan Fuller

Rece Morgan & Brad Halter

F U R N I T U R E

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Griffin Bell, Kent Barber & Kyle Putnam

JANUARY 2014 / 27

Nashville songwriters Mo Pitney, Ruston Kelly, Phillip Lammonds, & Tiffany Goss

Stacey & Mike Lee

Carley & Rob Victor

Jake & Kylie Way with Patrick Angle

Don’t buy cheap clothes Buy good clothes, cheap.

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28 TOWN / towncarolina.com

ON THE

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If the

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Songwriters in the Round November 20, 2013 For every hit single, there’s an integral cast of unmentioned talent. The Governor’s School for the Arts Foundation brought some of these musicians into the spotlight with their annual Songwriters in the Round event. Ruston Kelly, Tiffany Goss, Mo Pitney, and Phillip Lammons took turns performing their chart-topping songs. A Governor’s School student even got in on the act, taking the stage with the songwriters.

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

Tammy Johnson & John Boyanoski Julie & James Allen Cathy Caldwell & Kelley Knotts

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TOWN

Weddings / by Andrew Huang

Heather Thompson & Abram Curtis October 19, 2013 Sometimes, you just don’t know how close to love you are. When Heather stopped by Spill the Beans one afternoon, she had no idea she’d one day be married to the owner. Luckily, she didn’t have to wait very long for circumstances to work out: she was looking for a new church, and a couple at Spill the Beans suggested their church, which is where Heather met Abram.

The couple dated for four months before Abram mustered up “20 seconds of insane courage” in Falls Park and proposed. Heather and Abram were married at the Alder House Plantation in Fountain Inn in a ceremony that featured plenty of family contributions. The couple lives in downtown Greenville.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CRYSTAL HEART & KEITH CARSON // RED APPLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY

Cassie Graybeal & Peter Eliya September 28, 2013

Katie Beason & Will Tuten November 9, 2013 Usually long-distance middle school crushes don’t develop into lifelong loves, but there’s always an exception to the rule. Katie and Will’s families had known each other for more than 50 years—their mothers were even childhood friends. But despite their families crossing paths through the years (and having a picture of Will tacked up in Katie’s middle school locker), the two didn’t meet until Will relocated from Denver to Greenville. The couple was married at Ryan Nicholas Inn in Simpsonville and featured a transcontinental cast of guests. Katie and Will now live in Greenville.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA CANDLER // JANA CANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY

For all the complications of long-distance dating, there is at least one perk: the excuse to travel. Peter, who was working in Texas, took advantage of that by flying Cassie out for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. In addition to the lineup of music and food, Peter had one extra surprise planned: a proposal. In a way, the setting was perfect for the fun-loving couple. After all, they’d met four years prior at a mutual friend’s birthday get-together where Peter’s arsenal of dance moves caught Cassie’s eye. The couple was married at the historic Downtown Baptist Church. They now live in Greenville. PHOTOGRAPH BY CRYSTAL HEART & KEITH CARSON // RED APPLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY

Lisa Taylor & Jeff Henson October 12, 2013 The scene: A picturesque resort hotel at the foot of Pikes Peak on Christmas Eve in 2012. Snow beginning to fall. A note plucked from its hiding place in a Christmas tree. A man gets down on one knee as his beloved reads the note’s contents: “Will you marry me?” You couldn’t script a more perfect engagement, but Jeff didn’t need any Hollywood magic—only Lisa. The two didn’t meet until the summer of 2011 after both had graduated from Furman. They were married at the Certus Loft and now live in Greenville, where Lisa is a teacher at Greenbrier Elementary and Jeff is a realtor with Prudential C. Dan Joyner.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS ISHAM // CHRIS ISHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

HEARING WEDDING BELLS? TOWN Magazine wants to publish your wedding announcement. If you currently live or grew up in the area and were recently married, please e-mail ahuang@towncarolina.com. Due to space constraints, inclusion is not guaranteed.

30 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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TOWN

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OUTSIDE THE BOX / SHELF LIFE / DAY TRIP

Photograph by Terri Bright

Old But New Photographer Terri Bright highlights the intersection of beauty and decay

JANUARY 2014 / 33

OUTSIDE THE

Box

P Between Time Photographer Terri Bright finds beauty in ubiquity / by Blair Knobel / portrait by Paul Mehaffey

34 TOWN / towncarolina.com

lace is a point of reference. We know ourselves as natives or foreigners, viewing the world from our personal lenses.

Photographer Terri Bright studies place.

But, in an almost sculptural way, she hones in on objects, shapes, and color—experiences of place that make it unique, yet are ubiquitous moments that often go unnoticed.

For Bright, associate professor of art at Furman University, the process of making art is important.

During her undergraduate career, she focused on painting and graphic design, with strong interests in color and form. After college, her paintings became increasingly about process and texture, and virtually void of recognizable subject matter.

Later, while living in New York City, Bright hit a wall. Yearning to get out of her studio, she enrolled in a photography class at the School for Visual Arts. Inspired by the documentary work of seminal photographer Robert Frank, Bright hit the streets, which offered countless photographic subjects and possibilities. “I needed a less-isolated medium.

Photographs courtesy of Terri Bright

Photography allowed me to move beyond my own interior world. Working serially around a chosen subject was an exciting prospect.

Photographic projects continually expand, and this elasticity prevents boredom,” she says.

Such elasticity has led Bright to five continents, yet she titles her images “Untitled” to suggest that each photograph, though characteristic of a place, can be evocative of any place. Traveling can feel uncomfortable because of the unfamiliar. Bright’s precision is a means of control, which provides a measure of comfort in an otherwise imprecise, or even chaotic, world. In doing so, she personalizes the impersonal, carving out private moments in public spaces.

The photographer works mainly in color print film, and for years meticulously printed color photographs in a darkroom. These days, darkroom chemistry is harder to come by, so Bright is now scanning her frames and outputting digitally. “There is no doubt that

digital offers greater flexibility in my working process. I can edit on the computer for five minutes or two hours, whatever time that I have available. The wet darkroom (especially color) required a significant time investment. I couldn’t leave the darkroom until I had a final print, and this might mean a four-hour chunk of time. So in many ways, digital better suits my current lifestyle,” she says.

Bright exhibits nationally and will have a show of her most recent work at Furman in February. That exhibition, titled Beautiful Ruins, presents a series of color images—a home of concrete and steel, a rusting building against a verdant tree—that capture the balance of decay and life, suggesting that one cannot be without the other.

Each of Bright’s images is like a pause—you can almost hear the silence, yet it isn’t cold.

Indeed, the photographer exalts gaps in time: singular, beautiful moments that are constantly happening, yet will never be again.

Space Saver: Photographer and Furman art professor Terri Bright exalts moments in between.

Beautiful Ruins, her next solo exhibition, will be at Furman University’s Thompson Gallery, Feb 6–Mar 7, with a gallery reception on Feb 6, 6–7:30 p.m. For more, check out terribright1.com

JANUARY 2014 / 35

TOWN

Buzz

“I Graduate Work Erskine College, celebrating 175 years, has world-famous alumni / by Jac Chebatoris

was a late bloomer,” Will Frampton says matter-of-factly. Frampton is reporter for the CBS-affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia, who candidly acknowledges his personal history, which ultimately led him to a tiny town of 1,200 in Due West, South Carolina, for college.

“High school was rough,” he admits. “I went to Erskine and really just made the most out of life and had experiences there that were just so wonderful and so positive that made me into who I am today.”

That testimonial might not be an uncommon one now among the 586 undergrads (75 percent male, 25 percent female) who currently attend Erskine College, which is still the heart and soul of Due West. Frampton, a 2003 graduate, is working on a full-length feature documentary tentatively titled Hopefully and Prayerfully: the Story of Erskine about his alma mater. His fellow alumni include luminaries in myriad fields including athletics (Butler University’s women’s basketball coach Beth Couture) and politics (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew). Additionally, Grammy Award–winning Americana musician Jim Lauderdale was a DJ at the college’s radio station.

Frampton’s trying to keep it down to less than two hours he says, but with the college’s upcoming 175th anniversary later this year, it’s a daunting task to whittle down such a rich, historical tradition of the very first four-year, Christian liberal arts school in South Carolina.

“I’m catching up with people who are in their 90s, people who played football at the college back in the 1950s. I talked to World War II Air Force cadets who were there to help keep the college open during World War II. So I feel like I have a chance to chronicle the college’s history and to leave a legacy with the college and give something back,” he says.

Frampton’s intent is aligned with what has pretty much been the mission—even unofficially—of the school since it first held classes (with only 17 young men) in 1839, built on the tradition of the Associate Reform Presbyterian Church, which is “equipping students to flourish as whole persons for lives of service.” It might not be the most glamorous or flashiest, but in the reaches of ivory towers, this little town that could is proud of being home to one very special institution that strives even now to be “due west of ordinary.”

Photograph courtesy of Erskine College

Honor Code: Erskine College, South Carolina’s first four-year Christian liberal arts school, will celebrate its 175th anniversary in the fall of 2014. For more information about the festivities, visit erskine.edu

36 TOWN / towncarolina.com

In appreciation of clients, fellow realtors, friends, and family, a contribution was made in 2013 t o Ca n c e r S u r v i v o rs Pa rk .

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Made in America by an American veteran, a second-generation Master Craftsman. The fine workmanship and aesthetic integrity, Arthur M. Welling’s signature, has won the respect of many fine furniture lovers all over the country.

JANUARY 2014 / 37 12/6/13 2:12 PM

TOWN

Buzz

Rail to Trail Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail has a vibrant history of transportation

H

ikers and bikers who use the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail likely realize that it was once a railroad right-of-way, but the story of its demise is complex and fits patterns in the development of scores of railroads.

Small railroads,“shortlines,” have long been part of American railroading; in fact, the earliest railroads were not lengthy. In the 1830s, the longest railroad in the world was the South-Carolina Canal and Rail-Road, a trans-state line that stretched the 136 miles between Charleston and Hamburg.

As the Railway Age matured, the South emerged as the heartland for shortlines, claiming hundreds of these Liliputian roads. The Upstate of South Carolina was no exception, with multiple shortlines by the early twentieth century. The Greenville & Northern Railway (G&N) was one such road, a carrier that linked Greenville with northern Greenville County.

For a shortline, the G&N possessed a complicated past. In the 1880s, regional investors organized the Carolina, Knoxville & Western Railroad to build between Augusta, Georgia, and Knoxville, Tennessee, via Greenville, but by 1888 rails extended for only 15 miles from Greenville to Marietta. Later tracks reached the logging settlement of River Falls in the extreme northern section of the county. Principally a lumber hauler, this 23-mile pike not only failed in its “paper” ambitions, but after only a decade it closed. In 1907, a renaissance took place when the Greenville & Knoxville Railroad revived the line, but financial difficulties led to a reorganization in 1920, creating the more durable G&N. This Saluda Land & Lumber Company property was more than a “tap” road for timber, it was a bona-fide common carrier.

G&N trains hauled general freight, and later handled shipments for the Railway Express Agency. But unlike most shortlines, including the nearby Pickens Railroad, the company did not accommodate paying passengers.

38 TOWN / towncarolina.com

As stands of timber were depleted, the G&N changed. In the mid-1950s, the railroad abandoned trackage north of Travelers Rest, yet it remained an active 15-mile freight carrier. After 1957, the G&N was controlled by the Pinsly company, a small shortline conglomerate, and then another ownership change occurred in 1997 when the Carolina Piedmont Railroad, a unit of RailTex, took charge. Soon the new owner decided that the few remaining shippers could not sustain the railroad, and so a year later it was sold to Greenville County. Although a potential rail operator sought to keep the G&N running, the property was officially abandoned in 2005.

With no intentions of restoring rail service—although rails remained in place for years—Greenville County opened the Greenville Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail in May 2010 after overcoming a series of roadblocks. Proponents realized that urban areas needed linear trails. This concept began in the early 1960s when May Watts, a naturalist at the Morton Arboretum near Chicago, proposed an adoptive use for a recently abandoned electric interurban.

“We are human beings,” she told the Chicago Tribune.“We are able to walk upright on two feet. We need a footpath, a long one.”

Watts’s arguments spawned a grassroots movement that led to the popular Illinois Prairie Path. Soon more greenways appeared around the country, often coordinated by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and a concept that eventually took hold in Greenville County. This lumber road turned general freight carrier turned community trail graphically reveals how transportation patterns have evolved. As with the railroad, the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail continues to serve a public interest.

H. Roger Grant is the Kathryn and Calhoun Lemon Professor at Clemson University and one of the world’s foremost authorities on American railroads and transportation history.

Photograph by Ben Roberts; courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library

/ by H. Roger G rant, Ph .D.

As the Railway Age matured, the South emerged as the heartland for shortlines, claiming hundreds of these Liliputian roads. The Greenville & Northern Railway (G&N) was one such road, a carrier that linked Greenville with northern Greenville County.

JANUARY 2014 / 39

SHELF

Life

Home Library Hunker down with reads by local authors / by Jac Chebatoris

The Power of Glamour

By Virginia Postrel

A Guide to Historic Greenville, South Carolina

By John Nolan

Virginia Inman Postrel is a Greenville native who attended Princeton and lives in Los Angeles.

Postrel’s resume includes pieces for the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. She is a columnist for the Bloomberg Review and the author of three books, including this most recent The Power of Glamour, which offers a look at how our desires are shaped by the notion of what Postrel calls the “imaginative phenomenon” of glamour. Put on your little black dress and settle in for an evocative read with arresting . . . and, well, yes, glamorous visuals. Available at amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com

Nolan is from Ohio, but he may as well be considered an honorary native.

Nolan founded Greenville History Tours in 2006, which includes South Main Street and West End Walking Tours, a Downtown Driving Tour, and At the Chef’s Table Culinary Tour, then published his homage to Greenville A Guide to Historic Greenville in 2008.

The book takes you through early Greenville, with vintage photographs, through to its incarnation as the Number One City of the Future in North America. Available at amazon.com

…keeping Clarke: One Son. One Day. One Mom’s Personal Journey Through Grief

By Stephanie Benbenek

Experience the raw honesty of a mother digging out of unfathomable grief through Greenville resident Stephanie Benbenek’s memoir—an account of the unsparing emotional upheaval when her only son Citadel cadet Clarke Gibért Russell was killed in a car accident.

Benbenek decides the best way to honor her son is not by focusing on the loss, but by actively “keeping him”: talking about him, planting trees in his name, establishing a perpetual scholarship at the Citadel. With eloquence even in her agony, Benbenek reminds us, “Remember that love never dies, and who they were will forever be a part of who we are.” Available at Fiction Addiction at 1020A Woodruff Rd, Greenville, or amazon.com

Reimagining Greenville: Building the Best Downtown in America

By Knox White and John Boyanoski

Photograph by Paul Mehaffey

Who better than Greenville’s own mayor Knox White to highlight the shining accomplishments of the city he helms? With journalist John Boyanoski, the transition from Greenville in 1999 to its status as Southeastern jewel more than a decade later is given its true reveal.

The uphill battles, the politics, the failings, and then the victories in what became the Riverplace corridor, Falls Park, the West End, and every other big-city fixture (sushi bars, yes!) will leave natives and newcomers proud to call Greenville home.

Available at amazon.com

40 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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DAY

Trip 10am: A Garden Stroll

A foray through the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Duke University’s West Campus will lead you on a meditative walk through four distinct areas: the Italianate-style terraces in the Historic Gardens, the rolling woodlands of the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, the serene landscapes of the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, and the Doris Duke Center Gardens, where the Angle Amphitheatre witnesses many a wedding.

420 Anderson St. (919) 684-3698, gardens.duke.edu From the gardens, it’s a short stroll to the English neo-Gothic style Duke Chapel, an architectural highlight of the campus, which is striking in its own right. Distinguished by its pointed arches and ribbed vaults, the chapel’s bluestone façade rises 201 feet.

401 Chapel Dr. (919) 681-9488, chapel.duke.edu 11am: Indie Shopping

Photograph (omelet) courtesy of Foster’s Market

T Bull Run America’s tobacco lands have been transformed into a cultural melting pot / by M. Linda Lee

obacco grew this city of more than 273,000 people, located in the area of North Carolina dubbed the Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill). And though tobacco no longer lights the local economy, vestiges of the crop responsible for Durham’s early prosperity are evident in its thriving downtown. Historic tobacco warehouses now hold loft-style apartment complexes and contemporary shops and eateries. Even the city’s stellar university nods to tobacco—Duke University is named for the Duke family who founded the American Tobacco Company—the largest of its kind in the world.

8:30am: Fortify at Foster’s

A former chef for Martha Stewart’s catering company, Sara Foster opened her gourmet café and bakery in 1990. The morning meal ranges from a breakfast burrito to Lucas’ cinnamon vanilla French toast—all terrific ways to jumpstart a day of sightseeing.

2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. (919) 4893944, fostersmarket.com

Coffee shops, cool bars, and funky boutiques fill the blocks on and around Ninth Street, an edgy collegiate neighborhood linking the East and West campuses of Duke University.

Visit the independently owned Regulator Bookshop (720 Ninth St) to see what the literati are reading; The Duck Shop (703-B Ninth St) for Duke-themed apparel priced lower than that sold in the on-campus bookstore; and Sam’s Quick Shop (1605 Erwin Rd) for a selection of craft brews worthy of any beer geek. The Ninth District is also where you’ll find Watts Grocery (1116 Broad St), where Chef Amy Tornquist weaves the best local products into the likes of Farmhand Foods pork belly confit with panroasted broccoli.

Ninth Street, between Club Blvd and Main St 12:30pm: Burger and Brew

At Bull City Burger and Brewery, the list of what this locally-owned place downtown doesn’t make in house is significantly shorter than the list of what they do (mayo, mustard, pickles, relish, sauerkraut, buns, and more).

Burgers, naturally, are ground from North Carolina pasture-raised beef, and craft beer is brewed on the premises.

107 East Parrish St. (919) 680-2333, bullcityburgerandbrewery.com 2pm: Tobacco Heritage

North Carolina’s tobacco empire sprouted at the birthplace of Washington Duke (1820– 1905), now open as the Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum, Duke of Durham: (clockwise from top left) An omelet from Foster’s Market; historic tobacco warehouses in Durham’s downtown district; Duke Chapel; the arched bridge in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum of Sarah P. Duke Gardens; the Duke Chapel tower JANUARY 2014 / 43

DAY

Trip where you can tour Duke’s restored family home, early factory, curing barn, and packing house. Duke first planted tobacco on this farm in 1959 after his cotton crop failed. Duke’s youngest son James “Buck” Buchanan Duke established the $40-million endowment that funded Duke University. The Furman University library is also named for him.

2828 Duke Homestead Rd. (919) 477-5498, nchistoricsites.org/duke 3:30pm: A Square Called Brightleaf

One of the first adaptive re-use projects in the country, Brightleaf Square transformed two early-twentieth-century tobacco warehouses on West Main Street into complexes housing shops, restaurants, and offices beginning in 1980. Today, retailers and restaurants face the lovely brick courtyard that connects the two warehouses. Check out Vert & Vogue (South Building) for eco-friendly men’s and women’s designer clothing, and Offbeat Music (North Building) for an incredible selection of CDs. 905 W Main St. (919) 682-9229, historicbrightleaf.com 5pm: Cocktail Time

Craft cocktails stand out downtown at Alley 26, where the tonics and mixers are all housemade. Conveniently located a couple of blocks east of Durham Athletic Park (home of the Durham Bulls), Fullsteam Brewery pours as many as 22 local brews on tap.

Alley 26, 320 E Chapel Hill St. (919) 213-1267, alleytwentysix.com; Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Ave. (919) 682-2337, fullsteam.ag

7pm: Dinner at Grandma’s

Chef Scott Howell has been serving up fine dining and farm-fresh ingredients since he launched Nana’s—named after his grandmother—in 1992. In a space warmed by heart-pine floors, rich colors, and local artwork, you’ll relish seasonal entrées such as slowcooked beef short ribs over creamy Umbrian farro, pan-roasted Maine halibut in a sea urchin broth, and chicken-fried South Carolina quail.

2514 University Dr. (919) 493-8545, nanasdurham.com 9pm: Musical Interlude

If you have an early dinner, you can catch a concert or an original Broadway production downtown at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), which boasts the largest stage between Washington, DC, and Atlanta. For late-night indie rock, the Motorco Music Hall in the Central Park district stages bands in a former auto dealership.

DPAC, 123 Vivian St. (919) 680-2787, dpacnc. com; Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Ave. (919) 9010875, motorcomusic.com 11pm: Inn Style

A Durham icon, the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club rests on 300 acres of the Duke University campus, where period furniture and elegant fabrics adorn the common areas and guest rooms with English country charm.

Rest your head in comfort in one of the 271 rooms and suites, all of which overlook the Duke University Golf Course or the landscaped grounds.

3001 Cameron Blvd. (919) 490-0999, washingtondukeinn.com Brunch at the popular Guglhupf café and bakery southwest of downtown is a must-try Durham treat. On the menu, Bircher muesli and grilled Nutella echo the Old World, while the more contemporary farmer’s omelet is stuffed with house-made country sausage, Emmenthaler cheese, and caramelized onions.

2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Ste 1.

(919) 401-2600, guglhupf.com 11:30am: Memories To Go

The combined talents of Justin Meddis (a butcher) and his wife Katie (a pastry chef, formerly at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California) yielded Roses Meats and Sweets in the Brightleaf District. For some edible mementos of your visit to Bull City, stop here on your way out of town for house-made sausages and charcuterie, as well as addictive gingersnaps and fennel caramels to take home.

121 N Gregson St. (919) 797-2233, rosesmeatandsweets.com Bull City Boon: (from top to bottom) Nana’s offers farmfresh fine dining; shops and restaurants fill Brightleaf Square; the Durham Performing Arts Center

44 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Photograph of Nana’s by Jeana Lee Tahnk, photograph of Brightleaf Square by Heather Jacks, both courtesy of the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau; photograph of DPAC courtesy of the Durham Performing Arts Center

10am: Brunch Bavarian Style

A Distinctive Academic Community Worth Discovering for Nearly 175 Years.

Erskine feels like a second home to generations of graduates who’ve experienced it. As South Carolina’s first private Christian college, Erskine equips students to flourish through academic excellence and a family-like learning environment.

It’s a rare college experience. But since it’s in the Upstate, going away to college doesn’t have to mean going far. So while Erskine may be a little harder to find, you’ll always know where you belong.

KNOW. BE KNOWN. erskine.edu

Due West, South Carolina JANUARY 2014 / 45

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Take control of your heart health in style with an evening full of fashion and laughter featuring Emmy award-winning actress Tracey Conway.

Tracey will share her inspiring story and the lessons she has learned from her heart-stopping moments.

Thursday, February 20 5:30 – 6:30 pm Cocktail Hour 6:30 – 8:00 pm Dinner and Program

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STYLE

ALL THINGS STYLISH / UNIQUE / EXTRAORDINARY

Wintry Mix

Photog r aph by T J G et z

Lace up your skates and shine bright this season in comfort couture

Glide Path: Vintage ice skates, $35. From Shinola, 19 Mohawk Dr, Greenville. (864) 414-2691.

For more, see page 48.

JANUARY 2014 / 47

Code

Double Duty

4

Soft-washed denim combines class with off-duty comfort / styled by Laura Linen

// photography by T J Getz

Alpaca knit cap, $32. From Lily Pottery, 1269 Pendleton St, Greenville. lilywikoff.com; Down vest, $169. by Patagonia. From HalfMoon Outfitters, 1420 Laurens Rd, Greenville. (864) 233-4001, halfmoonoutfitters.com; Denim shirt, $70. From Banana Republic, 700 Haywood Rd, Ste 314, Greenville. (864) 458-7547, bananarepublic.com; Jean leggings, $195. by Vince. From Augusta Twenty, 20 Augusta St, Greenville. (864) 233-2600, augustatwenty.com; Bedina boot, $229. by Vince Camuto. From Muse Shoe Studio, 2222 Augusta St, Ste 5, Greenville. (864) 271-9750, museshoestudio.com; Vintage ice skates, $35. From Shinola, 19 Mohawk Dr, Greenville. (864) 414-2691; Stud earrings, $28. by Loren Hope. From Muse Shoe Studio; Leda bracelet, $100. by Loren Hope. From Muse Shoe Studio; fur leopard belt and vintage Radio Flyer sled are stylist’s own.

48 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Hai r & make-up by Megan Diez ; model, Marqui n Campbell ; location, rai l car on t he Greenvi lle Healt h System Swamp R abbit Trai l

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J A N U A R 12/13/13 Y 2 0 1 43:18/ PM 49

TOOL

Box

Range Rover Miles to go? Invest in a handsome pair

1

/ by Andrew Huang

I

n an age of Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays, and constant online promotions, it seems blasphemous to spend $300 on anything. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. What is that exactly? With these Red Wing Iron Rangers, you get attention to detail, high-quality materials, and an impeccable Made in the USA pedigree. These heritageinspired boots are modeled after the ones worn by iron miners in northern Minnesota, and while they won’t beat out steel-toe boots in construction zones, they’re plenty tough enough for just about anywhere else.

(1) FULL-GRAIN LEATHER Full-grain leather has not been treated or distressed. The leather grain remains intact, which helps maintain the inherent durability and strength of the hide. When properly cared for, these thick uppers age beautifully and develop a patina that reflects their owner’s adventures. ( 2 ) GOODYEAR WELT There’s no point in having uppers that last forever if the soles can’t hold up. To cut costs, some shoe manufacturers attach the uppers and soles with glue. Unfortunately, that means those soles can’t be replaced when they wear out. Not so in this case. The nitrile cork soles are Goodyear-welted to the uppers.

Replacing worn-out soles is simply a matter of finding a skilled cobbler.

2

(3) TRIPLE STITCHING A stitch in time may save nine, but three stitches—that’s a recipe for indestructability. Every stitch is sewn over itself twice more, meaning three lines of thread stitched in the same place. Redundant, but durable.

Make no mistake, these boots are an investment. Make sure you brush dirt and dust off the uppers and apply leather conditioner on a regular basis to prevent the hide from drying out. Treat them well and they’ll return the favor. The potential lifetime of these boots is measured in decades, not just months or years.

50 TOWN / towncarolina.com

3

STEEL AWAY Iron Rangers in Amber Harness, $300, by Red Wing Shoes. From Old North Clothing, 82 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC. (828) 505-6495, oldnorthclothing.com

Photog r aph by Paul Meha f fey

INVESTMENT GRADE

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TREND

Setter

Euro Couture Amy Zimmer, owner of Couture Closets and co-founder of jewelry line Colibri Collection, reveals her style essentials (1) GREY PEARLS AND QUARTZ PENDENT BY COLIBRI COLLECTION

“This is the newest collection we added to our jewelry line. I am a lover of pearls and juxtaposing them. Wearing this with a cashmere sweater and great jeans is the ultimate in luxury—not to mention just down-right fab!”

(2) TAHITIAN PEARL & DIAMOND RING “This was one of the first pieces I designed for myself. The two peacock-colored pearls are very close to perfect, and the diamond in the center makes it a terrific trio.

I don’t believe in the thought, ‘If you’re small, you shouldn’t wear large jewelry . . .’ My theory is they will forget about your size but not your jewelry. Make it grand.”

(3) YSL TRIBUTE HEELS IN BLACK PATENT LEATHER

(4) ANTIQUE MOTHER OF PEARL OPERA GLASSES

“I purchased these in the my favorite city in the world, Vienna. I have been known to use them. I’m pretty sure I used them to inspect Willy Nelson’s braids during his performance at the Peace Center!

Not exactly what the über-cultured Viennese had in mind, but we won’t tell them!”

52 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Spartanburg designer and entrepreneur Amy Zimmer currently runs two businesses—Couture Closets (couture-closets.com), specializing in luxury consignments, and Colibri Collection, a high-end jewelry line created by Zimmer and Angie Comer (colibricollections. com). For more from this style maven, check out her blog StyleAtoZ.com Photog r aph s by Paul Meha f fey

“This is my ‘go-to’ heel when I want comfort and height (yes, comfort)! I own this shoe in a rainbow of colors.

When buying shoes, try them on early in the day because feet swell as the day progresses. Don’t buy a shoe because of the color of its sole (yes, I am referring to the red ones); buy a shoe because it’s a perfect fit, practical, comfortable, and fits your wardrobe. They are one of the best investments you will make, so make it wisely.”

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JANUARY 2014 / 53

MAN

About TOWN

Each month, the Man About TOWN will share his Upstate rendezvous, which may or may not involve cocktails.

Back to Good The Man About TOWN vows to undo the harm of his indulgences

U

pon opening my closet door one recent morning, I experienced an embarrassing hallucination. As I stood there selecting what to wear, I saw my wardrobe come to life. The pants and shirts began to quiver, and the belts coiled up tight in an attempt to conceal themselves. T-shirts and underwear scurried about and a stack of sweaters slowly retreated to the rear of a shelf like a hiker backing away from a slumbering bear. I even noticed one slim-cut Italian dress shirt waving a white flag. I felt their pain.

You see, over the past twelve months, your Man About TOWN has been dutifully being, well, a Man About TOWN. Which, if one is to do properly, requires a significant appetite for food, drink, and charm-filled socializing, which invariably leads to more food and drink. The problem is, all this carousing has increased my waist size from a respectable 32” to a measurement I’m reluctant to commit to print. My clothes have gone from fashionably covering my body to now struggling to keep it cylindrical. In other words, my wardrobe has become a closet full of sausage casings.

For some men, the first line of defense in dealing with a newly acquired spare tire is to adopt what I call the “diagonal waistline.” A physics-defying anomaly where the front of the pants are pushed down and worn several inches lower than the rear. The upside is it saves the wearer from having to purchase bigger pants; the downside is you look like a high school football coach. No, the only true fix for a spare tire is to deflate it.

54 TOWN / towncarolina.com

When a man reaches middle-age, certain things begin to happen to his body that are both confusing and disturbing. Hair goes missing from the scalp then suddenly reappears, seemingly overnight, on the top of the back or peaking out of one’s ears like a follicle version of hide and seek. We begin to make audible sighs of relief when we sit down and groans of stress when we attempt to rise. And the calorie-rich food and drink once burned easily by our youthful metabolism now smolder along our waistlines.

This January, I have finally decided to accept the fact that I am no longer in my twenties, or thirties for that matter, and that my body is now what car enthusiasts refer to as “vintage,” which requires a little more care and upkeep than a newer model. So, for the next several weeks I will eschew the barstools and romantic tables of my favorite haunts and experience the physically active opportunities Greenville has to offer. I will experiment with diets: slow-carb, low-carb, raw, paleo, vegan— and dip my toe in the world of yoga, Crossfit, Zumba, spinning, and martial arts. I will harness my willpower and commit myself to one of the harshest words in the English language: moderation.

I will report my experiences and progress here and let this page serve as a formal record of my commitment to turn back the clock.

I can already hear cheers of support coming from my closet. ))) Catch up on the Man at towncarolina.com/blog

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War Torn Converse College professor Susan Tekulve weaves an enduring tale in her awardwinning first novel In the Garden of Stone / excer pt of “L eav ing War,” a chapter from In the Garden of Stone by Susan Tekulve, published by Hub Cit y Press

I

n early June, Hannah’s father, Dean, said it was time to bring his Aunt Maria back from War. It had been twenty years since Dean had lived with his favorite aunt in the West Virginia coal camp, in a boarding house she ran for single miners and her three bachelor brothers. Now that the brothers were long dead, and the single miners had scattered after the coal company pulled out, Maria sat all day long in the kitchen of the empty frame house, chain-smoking slender cigars at an empty picnic table. Seventy-three and nearly blinded by diabetes, this aunt was becoming a danger to herself. Dean thought she shouldn’t be living alone any longer. When he asked Hannah to come along with him to bring his aunt back to Virginia to live on their land, she didn’t want to go. The last time Hannah went down to War with her father, Aunt Maria had burned her arm with the white hot tip of her cigar. She never noticed, or apologized.

“That woman took care of me the year my father died, and my mother took sick,” Dean said, opening the deep freeze on the back porch. “She’s the reason I’m still in this world. Now that she’s sick, it’s my turn to help ease her on out.”

“I think I’m sick too,” Hannah said. “My stomach hurts.”

Her father reached into the freezer and took out a package wrapped in white butchers paper. “We’ll take her some of this wild JANUARY 2014 / 57

Holder

boar sausage I just made,” he said. “If we can’t get her to leave, at least we can keep her in meat for a while longer.”

Hannah followed her father out to his truck, carrying the package. As he opened the door and pulled the seatbelt over her, she smelled his sweat and the Lucky Strikes his cardiologist had forbidden him to smoke after his last heart attack. He’d put on cologne to camouflage the tobacco smell. It didn’t help. The package of sausage sat like a folded white flag in her lap. A peace offering, Hannah thought, surrendering to her father, feeling dimly chastened by his rough gesture of kindness.

Hannah wanted to help her father, but she dreaded what he called his favorite aunt’s “little mean streak.”

The last time Hannah was in War, after the cigar-burning incident, Maria made her go out before dinner to drive home the goats she grazed on the wooded hills behind her house. When Hannah returned to the house, Maria said she could not eat supper at the kitchen table because she smelled like goat. Since then, Hannah had been terrified of her aunt, wary of getting in her way. As she and her father drove through town, the truck’s cabin filled with the smell of her father’s cigarettes and bitter cologne. Hannah sat in the smelly truck cab, imagining a whole day spent in the company of her aunt, feeling trapped and nauseous. She opened her window.

“Whew, it’s hot,” her father said. “Hottest summer in one hundred years. Looks like the bank’s serving free lemonade. You want to stop?”

She looked at the card table set out on the sidewalk, the clear pitcher half full of water, ice and wilted lemon slices. She shook her head, “I’m too old for that.”

He laughed. “Not hardly.”

“I’m going into the eighth grade next fall.”

“Old,” he said, his face as impassive as ever. “Used to be, when I was your age, this was the town people came to. I once met Hank Williams when he came through.

Hank said that when you got tired in Bluefield, all you needed to do was lean against one of the mountains.”

He paused, looking along the ridges kettling the town. “I guess these mountains look more like dark, strangling arms to you. I’ll bet you’re studying on leaving. You’ve already got your escape plans perfected.”

“I’m studying journalism,” she said. “When I graduate college, I’m going to be a reporter.”

They passed the bank and the pharmacy, and for a moment Hannah wished that she’d told the truth. She wasn’t too old for lemonade. She wouldn’t have minded a cool, sweet drink, especially if it meant putting off the trip down to her aunt’s house. Her father gripped the wheel, his hands scarred by frost bite, the lines of his face deepened by the truck’s stark light. He is old now, Hannah thought suddenly, falling mute with the familiar panic and dread of losing him to illness. Before his heart attacks started, he’d worked double shifts at the train station, and she’d hardly ever seen him. Now, he was prone to taking her for long drives in the mountains, staring beyond some timbered-out ridge or tumbled-down barn, beginning most of his sentences with the words “Used to be.”

Her father’s work-roughened hands made her selfconscious about her own stillness. Passing the Masonic lodge, she took out the reporter’s notebook her teacher had given her in journalism class that year. She fell into the comfort of questions and note taking.

58 TOWN / towncarolina.com

“You ever join the Masons?” she asked.

Her father looked down at her notebook, his eyes amused. “A man asked me to once, but I turned him down. Now why would anyone join a group of men who keep secrets they won’t even tell their own wives and children?”

Outside of town, the road narrowed, twisting. Dark and light leaves wove together, casting nets of shadows over the pavement. Chicory and orange lilies sprouted from the roadside ditches. Her father turned right, and complete shadow fell over the truck even though it was only midday. Hannah wasn’t afraid of getting lost. Her father knew every road in the mountains. Now that he’d retired from the railroad, he still rose at four every morning, staying out late most nights driving the mountain and valley roads in his pickup.

Her father pulled off into a crumbling parking lot beside an old roadhouse converted into a church. “This was on my route when I ran moonshine.” He looked back at the bed of the truck, as if remembering moonshine. “I used to load them right here. Now that’s the straight truth.”

All year in her journalism class, Hannah had been learning how to report the truth, in words clear as water.

Along with these skills came the knowledge that her father’s stories about his past life were as shadowy and changeable as the mountain road before them. When she’d told her mother, who hated a lie above all other things, that her father had begun telling stories about his past that didn’t seem straight, her mother, Sadie, had replied, “Do those stories harm anyone?”

“No ma’am.”

“Then why don’t you let him tell them?” she’d said.

Now, Hannah listened. Though she still wanted the straight truth about her father’s past, especially from the time he spent in War. According to her mother, the things that happened to her father in the coal camp were so bad they could not be repeated. These terrible things her mother left unspoken seemed worse than if she’d said them out loud.

As they drove deeper into the mountain, the truck began the last stomach-flipping descent into the valley. Her father eased around the switchbacks until they reached the railroad tracks at the bottom. There, he followed the creek. The water ran low, trickling feebly around white stones.

Tall, flaky pines were painted dark green, then white, marking how high the flood water had risen the spring before, washing away whole houses, leaving piles of torn clothing and ripped linens heaped along the roadside. Two men, one young and one very old, hunched over the linen heaps, torn bed sheets hanging ghostlike from the limbs above their heads.

SIGHT & SOUND: Meet author Susan Tekulve at these upcoming readings and signings: Emrys Reading Room with poet Rick Mulkey, January 27, 7pm, Ford’s Oyster House, 631 S Main St, Greenville; Reading and talk for International Center of the Upstate, February 10, 7–9pm, Coffee Underground, 1 E Coffee St, Greenville.

Book cover cour tes y of Hub Cit y Press

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829 Garlington Rd. Greenville, SC 29615 | shannonforest.com | 864.678.5107 NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY Shannon Forest Christian School admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin or religious preference to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. SFCS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or religious preference in the administration of its education policies, scholarship, athletic and school administered programs.

JANUARY 2014 / 59

Flow Chart

by John Nolan

THE REEDY RIVER PUT GREENVILLE ON THE MAP— AND, LIKE ITS MEANDERING CURRENTS AND RUSHING FALLS, IS THE CENTERPIECE FOR ITS RISE, FALL, AND TRIUMPHANT RISE AGAIN.

60 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Water’s Edge A depiction of the Reedy River Falls circa 1816, with Vardry McBee’s first gristmill illustrated at left

I mage cour tesy of Joh n Nolan

JANUARY 2014 / 61

It

the British and the burning of his home by local patriots in the 1770s.

After Vardry McBee bought the lion’s share of the village in 1815, it didn’t take him long to continue harnessing the river for commercial use. McBee was, perhaps, the greatest and most ambitious entrepreneur the city has ever known. One of the first of his scores of local businesses was a stone gristmill on the edge of the upper Reedy Falls in 1816. He built a larger mill right next to it in 1829 (the foundation wall can still be seen along the riverwalk and are the oldest ruins in downtown).

Greenville, just like any town of the era, depended on grains as a staple of daily life.

Gristmills, built on seemingly any available stream or river, were a vital part of early American society (by 1860, South Carolina averaged 40 per county). Agriculture was a specialty of McBee’s, and his crops thrived. Like most Southern farmers before the Civil War, he grew plenty of corn. His Reedy mill turned it into hominy, grits, and cornmeal to allow locals the convenience of processed grains to make cooking easier.

Greenville’s first real manufacturing industry also utilized the waterpower of the river—although this time it wasn’t for grains. For nearly a century, what is now known as the Peace Center complex was the site of one of the busiest and most successful businesses in Greenville’s early history. In 1835, the Gower & Cox Wagon HAS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS. GREENVILLE’S REEDY RIVER STARTS and Carriage Factory was started by WITH A FEW SPRINGS SEEPING OUT OF THE GROUND JUST NORTH blacksmiths Ebenezer Gower and Thomas IN TRAVELERS REST OFF EBENEZER CHURCH ROAD. IT GATHERS M. Cox. When Ebenezer’s younger brother STRENGTH, BREADTH, AND FORCE AS IT FLOWS—TOUCHING Thomas Claghorn (T.C.) Gower joined the THOUSANDS OF LIVES BY THE TIME IT REACHES ITS MOST company they changed their name to the PROMINENT FEATURE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. IT MEANDERS Gower, Cox and Gower Carriage Factory.

FOR 16 MILES TO LAKE CONESTEE, ULTIMATELY CONTINUING FOR In 1853, H.C. Markley became a ANOTHER 57 MILES TO LAKE GREENWOOD. THE COMPLEXITY OF fourth partner in the business—then ITS USES AND ITS ENDURING PRESENCE IS WORTH REFLECTION. named Gower, Cox and Markley Carriage WHETHER FOR REFRESHMENT, COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES, Factory—and they continued to prosper, ATTRACTIVE SCENIC VISTAS, OR JUST FOR RECREATION, THE erecting the present three-and-a-half-story REEDY FLOWS THROUGH GREENVILLE’S HISTORY WITH VITAL brick building in 1857, with a distinctive IMPORTANCE. IN MANY WAYS, THE FORTUNES AND FAILURES OF slanted roofline (now Larkin’s by the River BOTH THE RIVER AND THE CITY ARE INDELIBLY INTERTWINED. Restaurant). The building originally was used for carriage storage and display, with the lower floor serving as a blacksmith shop. By the last decades of the nineteenth century, there was 1770s–1870s: From the earliest times of Greenville’s a lumber shed on the bank of the river exactly where the TD habitation, the Reedy River has A Century of Growth Amphitheatre is today and a wheelhouse on the banks right next played a central role in attracting to the Main Street Bridge. A paint shop (now the Wyche Pavilion), people around its banks. For the carriage and wagon warehouses, a hardware store and office Native Americans, its clear, cool waters were crucial. Even more building (426 S. Main St.) were among the other buildings in the important was its ability to draw wildlife in from surrounding fields and hills, making the area an important hunting ground for the local Cherokee FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE PEACE and Catawba tribes. Our first colonial settler Richard CENTER COMPLEX WAS THE SITE OF ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND MOST Pearis was also drawn to the area for its waters, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES IN GREENVILLE’S EARLY HISTORY, THE GOWER choosing to build his plantation Great Plains near & COX WAGON AND CARRIAGE FACTORY. the Reedy Falls. Its natural water power was first harnessed by Pearis with a gristmill built on the factory’s complex. Production in the Greenville facility outpaced all edge of the upper falls. Though Pearis’ presence was key to the others south of Washington, D.C., putting Greenville on the map as village’s origins and the river’s utilization, his time here was limited a transportation hub long before textiles became the city’s enduring by circumstances of the Revolutionary War, namely his siding with claim to fame. The Reedy’s waters were a needed resource for the

62 TOWN / towncarolina.com

machinery used to make carriages for regional citizens, farmers, and, later, soldiers in the Civil War (one of the wagons made here can still be seen at the Upcountry History Museum).

Furman University’s higher education was a much-needed development for this up-and-coming town. Its significance is still strongly felt today. Interestingly, the Reedy played a part in the decision of the school to relocate here. After struggling in several rural locations, school leaders liked the population growth, climate, location, and economic prospects of Greenville. Vardry McBee owned the land on the bluff overlooking the Reedy River Falls—attractive real estate by anyone’s estimation.

McBee offered an irresistible incentive on the sale price ($7,500), and Furman soon put down its roots along the river.

Photograph cour tesy of Joh n Nolan

1870s–1970s: Flourishing Textiles and a Dying River

Greenville’s textile industry dominated the local economy and societal structure for nearly a century. When we look to its origins, the Reedy, again, played a critical role.

The Upstate’s textile industry developed in earnest after the Civil War. The location chosen for the first mill in the city of Greenville was on the Reedy River at the base of the lower falls in 1874. It was called the Sampson & Hall Mill. A mill village housing the more than 50 employees soon grew up in the area surrounding the mill along the slopes of the hill and east toward Falls Street. Just as the earlier gristmills had dams and water sluices to shuttle the Reedy’s water to their water wheels, so did the first textile mills in the city. A pair of large water wheels turned a shaft that powered the machinery inside. Ruins of the water-wheel housing still remain in Falls Park as a reminder of this oncethriving mill.

The successful outlook of Sampson and Hall’s first mill caused its investors to build another mill on the eastern bank of the upper falls. The 1874 mill across the river was renamed the Camperdown Mill No. 1, and the new mill opened in March 1876, as the Camperdown Mill No. 2.

Like its predecessor on the lower falls, Camperdown No. 2 started out as a water-powered mill with a dam and water sluice. After six years, the Camperdown Mill’s business was booming and employed several hundred operatives.

Success, however, had its ups and downs for the mill in the late 1800s.

At the start of the twentieth century, a total of eight mills were in operation within a twomile radius of the city, employing thousands of men, women, and children. Many of the mills were built upriver from the Camperdown mills along the Reedy and its branches. The nearest (and still extant) was built in 1882 as the Huguenot Mill.

Though the mill sits on the banks of the river, it didn’t rely on the Reedy’s waters. The Huguenot was the first steam-powered mill in Greenville, powered by a large Corliss engine. These engines were especially sought after by textile mills for their ability to provide large amounts of energy while still capable of precise speed adjustments to keep from breaking the threads.

The next generation of mills utilized the new advancements of steam and electric power, further expanding their sizes, capabilities, and output. Though the Reedy was no longer needed for power, mills utilized its waters for carrying off wastes. Facilities such as Monaghan Mill, American Spinning, Poe Mill, Poinsett Mill, and Union

MCBEE WAS, PERHAPS, THE GREATEST AND MOST AMBITIOUS ENTREPRENEUR THE CITY HAS EVER KNOWN. HE BOUGHT THE LION’S SHARE OF THE VILLAGE IN 1815. IT DIDN’T TAKE HIM LONG TO CONTINUE HARNESSING THE RIVER FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

Rise & Falls Vardry McBee stands in front of his larger gristmill next to Reedy River Falls, which he built in 1829.

Its foundation wall is still visible in Falls Park today, and are the oldest ruins of downtown.

Bleachery discharged their wastes and excess colored dyes indiscriminately into the river. For many years the Reedy’s waters would flow with a plethora of colors—depending on which dye was being discarded on any particular day. The “Rainbow Reedy” was its pejorative nickname.

Thus, the industry that brought long-term economic strength to Greenville was also the primary cause of the Reedy River’s decline.

Decades of ecological neglect and abuse led to the river’s once-cherished area around the falls in the heart of Greenville to become a part of town that locals would avoid at all costs.

Though textile mills were the major contributor to the Reedy’s decline, other factors were also at play. By mid-century, large construction projects like Greenville’s Army Air Base (Donaldson) and the new I-85 Interstate

JANUARY 2014 / 63

along the Reedy’s path sent massive amounts of sediment into the river for deposit into Lake Conestee. Housing development contributed additional volume of silt, causing the lake to go from a pre–WWII size of 145 acres to less than 18 by the end of the century. Other sources contributing to the river’s years of demise were agricultural (pesticides) and storm-water runoff, sewage runoff, residential trash, pedestrian litter, automobile tires, and flooding debris. Decisive evidence of the river’s disregard was the erection of the four-lane Camperdown Road bridge in 1960. The Reedy’s best natural feature was now hidden from sight under nearly six million pounds of concrete and steel.

The state of the Reedy perhaps reached its low point in the 1970s. Its overgrown banks and foul smell were the disgrace (and

for taking down the Camperdown Bridge came in 1989 and was “a trial balloon that popped.” Community interest in restoring the Reedy moved forward in the ’90s with the formation of the Friends of the Reedy River in 1993 and Upstate Forever in 1998. In spite of these pockets of public awareness, the cause needed a focal point that people could rally around. That focal point would be the creation of a world-class park around the Reedy Falls. However, the removal of the bridge was figuratively and literally the biggest obstacle for its realization.

With Knox White’s mayoral election in 1995, Greenville had a determined leader to take down the bridge and make the Reedy Falls the centerpiece of the city that it deserved to be. A year later the Carolina Foothills Garden Club and the City of Greenville adopted a Master Beautification/Development Plan THE OPENING OF FALLS PARK IN LATE 2004 MARKED A MAJOR for the 26-acre park. The building of the Governor’s TRIUMPH FOR THE CITY OF GREENVILLE, SPURRING MORE ECONOMIC School for the Arts in 1999 on the bluff overlooking GR OWITH, INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION, AND CIVIC PRIDE THAN the falls was a huge win for drawing more interest.

ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED. Finally, the vote to tear down the Camperdown Bridge happened in 2001, bringing the change a reflection) of a downtown in decline. A generation of locals needed for downtown Greenville. The Reedy River Master Plan, grew up unaware of a downtown waterfall, and the Reedy was drawn up by Clemson University under the sponsorship of the City essentially forgotten. Main Street’s once-thriving retail base moved and County of Greenville, solidified the long-range plan to help to suburban malls, and area mills were shutting down one after the sustain, preserve, and utilize the Reedy’s resources and beauty to other. The Reedy and downtown Greenville desperately needed its fullest potential. Grassroots efforts for the Reedy were furthered significant change. through the work of The Conestee Foundation. Locals saw dramatic renderings of what the park would look like and people started to “get it.”

The opening of Falls Park in late 2004 marked a major triumph In spite of the odor, discoloration, trash, for the City of Greenville, helping to spur more economic growth, and crime in the Reedy Falls area, not international attention, and civic pride than anyone could have 1970s–Present: everyone forgot about it. Grassroots imagined. The jewel on the crown of the Reedy River was now Reclamation and Liberty efforts were led by the Carolina visible to all and could be enjoyed in its panoramic splendor from Foothills Garden Club, who bought up the 355-foot Liberty Bridge designed by Miguel Rosales. A year many acres below the Reedy Falls and after completion, the Liberty Bridge won the prestigious Arthur G. began reclaiming overgrown land along its banks in 1967. The first Hayden Medal for outstanding achievement in bridge engineering vision for creating an attractive park was born. at the International Bridge Conference.

For the Reedy, the fact that the textile mills that were shutting Though the Reedy still has more hurdles to its cleanup and down meant that its waters could begin to run cleaner. The protection, its potential is finally being realized in so many ways. federally mandated Clean Water Act in 1972 also helped stop the Recreationally, the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail brings thousands every careless pollution along its length. However, public awareness and week to enjoy the river’s environs while benefiting from exercise. civic pride were critically needed to effectively rally citizens to Beyond Falls Park, thousands more enjoy various sports and support the revitalization of the river. But that would come very activities at Cleveland Park and Conestee—each with big plans for slowly. According to Mayor Knox White, the first public discussion future development. Planned parks promise to enhance the Reedy

LUMBERSHED AND WHEELHOUSE CIRCA LATE 1800s, THE CURRENT LOCATION OF THE TD AMPHITHEATRE AND WYCHE PAVILION

64 TOWN / towncarolina.com

CAMPERDOWN MILL NO. 2, OPENED IN MARCH 1876

Photographs cour tesy of Joh n Nolan

corridor experience even more. The Cancer Survivors Park, coming this year, will provide a dynamic facet and beautiful facilities to the area. Likewise, the scale and features of the proposed Mayberry Park will greatly expand our city core’s recreational greenspace and have the potential to be as transformative to the West Side as Falls Park was to the West End a decade ago. Further upriver, the Greenville Textile Heritage Society is spearheading a 6-acre park with a planned picnic area, trails, playground, and a performance gazebo.

Riverplace, downtown’s largest private investment of the modern era, was a key component of the riverwalk development, and its proximity to the Reedy made it prime real estate for tenants. Recent announcements of the next phase, including offices, retail, and an Embassy Suites (on the location of Jacob Cagle’s old lumber mill) will bring exciting new opportunities. Across River Street, fundraising continues for a $23 million visitor’s center called Reedy Square. Another new hotel/ residential/commercial development, River’s Edge, is already under construction on the opposite bank of the Reedy.

Given the city’s and county’s commitment to the preservation and wise development along the Reedy, the future of the river looks bright indeed. Greenvillians are proud of their downtown and their river again. As we look forward with anticipation of great things to come, learning from our past can help us grow in appreciation and respect for what we enjoy today.

John Nolan is the author of A Guide to Historic Greenville, South Carolina, and owner of Greenville History Tours (greenvillehistorytours.com). John serves Greenville with weekly historic walking tours, driving tours, and culinary tours.

WALK

THIS WAY

EXPERIENCE THE UPSTATE’S HISTORY, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

THE TROUBLE WITH HISTORY IS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH OF IT. FOR DECIDEDLY UN-MUSTY AND REFRESHING TAKES, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

THE CANCER SURVIVORS PARK, COMING THIS YEAR, WILL PR OVIDE A DYNAMIC FACET AND BEAUTIFUL FACILITIES TO THE AREA. LIKEWISE, THE SCALE AND FEATURES OF THE PR OPOSED MAYBERRY PARK HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE AS TRANSFORMATIVE TO THE WEST SIDE AS FALLS PARK WAS TO THE WEST END A DECADE AGO.

COWPENS ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

SPARTANBURG COUNTY GEOTRAIL

For history buffs, there’s not really much that can beat full immersion. Join the National Park Service for the 232nd anniversary of the Battle of Cowpens. The park will be offering Ranger-led battlefield tours, cavalry and weapons demonstrations, and reenactor competitions throughout the weekend.

Cowpens National Battlefield, 4001 Chesnee Highway, Gaffney. Jan 19–20. Free.

(864) 461-2828, nps.gov/cowp

We’d tell you what’s on this geotrail, but that’d ruin the fun (and point) of geocaching. It suffices to say that the trail features 20 locations of historical importance to Spartanburg County, tracing the county’s role from Native American hunting grounds to twentiethcentury textile powerhouse. spartanburgparks.org

GREENVILLE GHOST TOUR Join local paranormalist Jason Profit for a walking tour of downtown Greenville’s haunted buildings, including some you probably frequent.

The 90-minute tours start in front of the Army & Navy Store. Reservations are highly recommended. For those of age, Profit also offers a Wednesday-night haunted pub crawl. Greenville Army & Navy Store, 660 S Main St, Greenville. Fri–Sat, 8pm. greenvilleghosttour.com

THE SQUIRE OF DARK CORNER Dean Campbell fancies himself a squire, but he’s much more than a personal attendant when it comes to Greenville County’s Dark Corner. The author, lecturer, photographer, and storyteller is a native son with maternal and paternal roots that reach back to the eighteenth century. Join him for a driving tour and cultural exposition of the

region made famous by its moonshine trade. squireofdarkcorner.com

—Andrew Huang

THE NEGLECTED MAIN STREET BRIDGE OVER THE REEDY RIVER, LOOKING NORTH, CIRCA 1970s

JANUARY 2014 / 65

BROAD VIEW Woodside Mill as it is today. The sprawling facility was built in 1902 and was for a time the largest cotton mill under one roof in the world. It closed in 2006.

6 56 8 TOWN / townc ga r er o e lni vn ial l. ec .ocmo m

RUN OF THE

Mills GREENVILLE’S MILL HISTORY IS ABOUT MORE THAN TEXTILES. THE EMPIRE OF THE TEXTILE CRESCENT

IS A PLAYBOOK OF POWER, GUTS, AND GLORY—AND WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND.

BY STEVEN TINGLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL MEHAFFEY

JANUARY 2014 / 67

Don Koonce, creative director at Ferncreek Creative, is an enthusiastic scholar of the Textile Crescent’s history—and an ardent proponent of its future.

68 TOWN / towncarolina.com

M

WHEN DON KOONCE MOVED FROM ATLANTA TO GREENVILLE IN 1975, HE THOUGHT HE’D MADE A HUGE MISTAKE. THE GREENVILLE OF THE MID-1970s WAS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT THE TOWN IS TODAY. TEXTILE MANUFACTURING JOBS, LONG THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE AREA, HAD BEGUN TO VANISH FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, INCLUDING MODERNIZATION AND FOREIGN COMPETITION, AND YOUNG PEOPLE WERE LEAVING THE TOWN IN DROVES IN SEARCH OF GOOD JOBS. MAIN STREET WAS NOT ON ANYONE’S CULINARY RADAR, AND THE WEST END OF TOWN WAS ESSENTIALLY BOARDED UP. GREENVILLE SEEMED STAGNANT, AND KOONCE FIGURED HE WOULD MOVE BACK TO ATLANTA AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. BUT OVER 30 YEARS LATER, DON KOONCE IS STILL HERE, AND ON A RECENT WINTER MORNING HE SAT AT SPILL THE BEANS BEHIND A LARGE COFFEE AND SMALL TABLET COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTICALLY DISCUSSING HIS HOBBY, THE HISTORY OF GREENVILLE’S TEXTILE MILLS. Well-spoken and dressed in what seems to be his uniform, blue blazer and khaki pants, Koonce doesn’t seem like an “Ad Man” (he is creative director at Ferncreek Creative), but more like a professor, which in a way he is. A graduate of the Citadel with a degree in history, Koonce has a natural curiosity for yesterday.

Soon after his move, he began asking about the history of Greenville and was surprised to discover most people he encountered seemed to the think the town didn’t have much of one.

One civic leader Koonce queried simply said, “Oh, it’s just an old mill town.” That piqued Koonce’s curiosity, and he set out to find these mills and discover their stories. What he learned was the importance of the “Textile Crescent,” and how it is not only the foundation of Greenville, but also the root of some of its current challenges and the basis for some of its best opportunities.

Flipping through dozens of old mill photos on his tablet, Koonce shakes his head at the audacity of the men who built them. “What’s amazing is that very few of these men had any manufacturing experience,” says Koonce. “They were entrepreneurs, and they were good business men, and they hired good people. But it would be like me going out and starting a steel mill tomorrow. It’s incredible.” The mills Koonce is referring to make up the “Textile Crescent,” a semi-circle of 16 cotton mills and two dye and bleaching mills built from the late 1800s through 1920 and all located within three miles of Main Street. The lower end of the crescent begins at Mills Mill just off of Mills Avenue and curves west to Woodside Mill then east to its peak at American Spinning. Of those original 18 mills, only 13 remain standing, and several of those are abandoned. Two have been repurposed into housing; Monaghan Mill as apartments and Mills Mill as condos, both currently fully occupied. But the remaining abandoned mills serve as Greenville’s largest ghosts, haunting the neighborhoods that surround them by keeping new development at a safe distance.

The history of the Textile Crescent is a fascinating study of the building of an empire. Koonce hesitates to use that word but admits Greenville’s mill entrepreneurs were working toward a greater goal. “They knew each other, and they decided early on that they wanted to build a textile center,” says Koonce. “They were conscious that they were building something bigger than their own individual mills. They served on each other’s boards even though in some cases they competed with each other. Several mills were making broadcloth, some were making twill and selling to the same customers. So they were competing with each other, but they were also about a bigger picture, about building Greenville as an important town in textiles. They did things like build a hospital and build the Poinsett Hotel, not just for their customers but for the general good. These men really built Greenville,” he says.

According to Koonce, Greenville’s textile industry started with Alexander McBee, the son of town father Vardry McBee, who in the mid1800s started a spinning operation in one of his father’s mills located in Conestee. McBee used cotton from the local farms and shipped it north.

It was so successful that when Vardry McBee sold the mill at Conestee and moved Alexander to his sawmill, which was located on the lower falls of the Reedy River, Alexander added a floor to house a spinning operation. In 1873, young McBee leased his mills to three men from Boston; George Putnam, George Hall, and Oscar Sampson, whose cotton mill had burned in the great Boston fire of 1872. The men continued the spinning operation on the Reedy River, and used McBee’s old gristmills for storage. “They named it Camperdown,” says Koonce, “and we still don’t know where that name came from.” Business was strong, and in 1874 the men renegotiated their lease with McBee. Soon after began construction of a second cotton mill across the falls which would be known as Camperdown 2.

Over the next ten years, the business encountered some financial problems, and the picker room burned a total of three times. “In 1885 George Putnam and George Hall left the operation,” says Koonce, “and several years later Oscar Sampson decided to close down Camperdown 2, removing all of the equipment and starting Sampson Mill. Camperdown 2 was a pretty significant mill. I wish we still had that building today. It was beautiful,” he says. The mill was torn down in 1959 and was in the approximate location of what is now the Bowater building at the east end of Liberty Bridge in Falls Park. The beginning of Greenville’s textile industry was literally at what is now the town’s centerpiece.

“What’s amazing is that very few of these men had any manufacturing experience,” says Koonce. “They were entrepreneurs, and they were good business men, and THEY HIRED GOOD PEOPLE . But it would be like me going out and starting a steel mill tomorrow. It’s incredible.”

JANUARY 2014 / 69

Despite the financial disappointment CRESCENT ROLL of Camperdown, when run efficiently At its height, the these early mill owners were basically Textile Crescent spinning gold. In fact, the owners of counted 18 mills Woodside Mill, brothers John, Edward, within three miles and David Woodside, could hardly of Greenville’s Main keep up with demand. “The first part Street. Of those, 13 of Woodside Mill was built in 1902,” remain standing, says Koonce, “and by 1906 they were though most have making so much money, they built the been abandoned. east end of the mill, and in 1914 they built the whole west end, making it the largest cotton mill under one roof in the world.” Another Woodside brother, Robert, was a banker, and in 1906, together with his brothers, formed the Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank which later became the Woodside National Bank. The four brothers, known around Greenville as the “Big Four,” worked closely on textile, banking, and development projects. By 1923, Woodside National Bank moved into a new 17-story building in downtown Greenville, which at the time was the tallest building in the state of South Carolina. John Woodside was also instrumental in the building of the Poinsett Hotel, which opened in 1925.

In 1926, still riding a wave of success and flush with profits from the Woodside Mill, the four Woodside brothers purchased 66,000 acres in Myrtle Beach, including 12 miles of beachfront property, where they envisioned building a luxury hotel and country club. The Ocean Forest Hotel opened on February 21, 1930, just four months after the stock market crash of 1929, which cost the brothers their fortune. Their run had come to an end, and their empire crumbled.

Woodside Mill continued under new ownership and ultimately stayed active for more than 100 years, before closing in 2006.

The story of Woodside Mill and how its early success helped create the modern Greenville we now know is only part of its legacy. In fact, the mills of the Textile Crescent leave trails that connect in various ways to many of Greenville’s institutions including what is now Bon

centers. But during the 1940s and ’50s, the textile industry began evolving. The automobile freed mill operatives from having to live next door to their work, and the big corporations buying mills at the time had no interest in being in the real estate business, so a massive selloff of the villages began. Many of the homes became rental properties and the solidity of the neighborhoods began to show cracks. According to Koonce’s research,

Koonce points to West Greenville as an example of WHAT COULD BE THE FUTURE of the mill villages. A community garden, studio strolls, and rumors of soon-to-come restaurants keep interest high.

Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville Country Club, and Furman University. Bennette Geer, who in 1919 was president of five cotton mills, including Judson Mill, was the former head of Furman University’s English Department. It was Geer’s friend, tobacco magnate and investor in Judson Mill James Buchanan Duke who gave Furman University 5 percent of the original $40 million endowment now known as the Duke Endowment.

Bennette Geer became president of Furman University in 1933. It seems as though almost every aspect of Greenville has some early connection to the textile industry. But the legacy of the Crescent has a darker side, as well.

All of the mills that make up the Textile Crescent were surrounded by “mill villages,” built by the mill owners and occupied by mill employees, known as “operatives.” These villages were ready-made neighborhoods with company stores, recreation facilities, churches, and community

70 TOWN / towncarolina.com

many of the mill village community buildings, including recreation centers and stores, were demolished by the mill companies who feared impending desegregation. “But they didn’t tear down the churches,” says Koonce. “They didn’t go that far.”

Several of the Textile Crescent mill villages overlap, and many communities still bear the name of the mills they served: Woodside, Dunean, Brandon. But whereas these villages were once the center of Greenville’s economic productivity, many of them are now struggling.

“There are 2,000 mill homes in the Crescent,”

CONFLICT / INTEREST

ESTATE SALE

Despite competing in the same market, sometimes for the same clients, Greenville’s mill entrepreneurs were in agreement about a grander vision for the city. In fact, the mills of the Textile Crescent leave trails that connect in various ways to many institutions, including Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville Country Club, and Furman University.

The downturn in the Textile Crescent’s mill villages began as the importance of automobiles rose. With mill operatives no longer geographically tied to their employers, the mills had no incentive to maintain the villages and began selling off homes en masse. Closeknit neighborhoods became blocks of itinerant renters.

Photographs on lef t (2), cour tesy of t he Greenvi lle H istor ical Societ y; photograph of Woodside M i ll, cour tesy of James Woodside

THREADS OF AN EMPIRE (clockwise, from opposite top-left) Brandon Mill’s supervisors; an addition to Woodside Mill under construction; the Monaghan Mill’s fire team.

says Koonce, “and many are in poverty.”

Standing in the shadows of the mills that created them, these neighborhoods are some of the most depressed areas in Greenville.

According to Neighborhoodscout, an agency that compiles data from the U.S. Census and all 17,000 local law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Woodside Mill neighborhood in West Greenville is the eighth mostdangerous neighborhood in the country. By comparison five of the top seven are in Detroit.

“I was part of Vision 2025,” says Koonce, “and we talked a lot about neighborhoods.

I got involved because I wanted to do something, and I thought the best way was to make people aware of the heritage and also the potential of Greenville. This town is really a model for redevelopment.” For the past six years, Koonce has been giving personal tours of the Textile Crescent to anyone who’s interested and larger group tours in conjunction with the Upcountry History Museum. Although frustrated by the current state of the mill villages, Koonce is optimistic about their future, whether or not that future includes repurposing the abandoned mills, which can be a costly venture. “Knocking out those bricked-up windows is expensive,” he

says, “and the wood floors are soaked in dyes and oil. That’s why Poe Mill burned. The homeless moved in and started building campfires.”

But Koonce points to West Greenville as an example of what could be the future of the mill villages. Over the past several years, artists have been moving into the area, buying homes, fixing them up and giving Brandon Mill a real sense of neighborhood. The Artbomb, located on Pendleton Street, is actually the old Brandon Mill company store.

While the Brandon Mill itself may remain desolate and a recent plan to repurpose the mill into apartments abandoned, the neighborhood itself is showing signs of life, and more importantly, renewed pride. A community garden is in the works, and the studio strolls and rumors of soon-tocome restaurants keep interest high. “This could become our Soho,” says Koonce, giving a nod to lower Manhattan’s arts neighborhood. “There is a lot of opportunity here.”

Koonce finishes his coffee, packs up his tablet, and steps out into the cool December air just yards from where the Camperdown Mills operated more than a 130 years ago. He points toward Chicora Alley and starts talking about Chicora College and the unpublished story of why it moved to Columbia, South Carolina, in 1915. Crossing Main Street, Koonce points north towards Larkins and the Wyche Pavilion and begins a dissertation on the carriage factory and associated paint shop. One begins to wonder if it’s the caffeine or just Koonce’s unbridled enthusiasm for the history of his adopted town, which is admittedly fascinating and to many residents sadly unknown. Whatever the reason, never let anyone fool you into thinking Greenville is just an old mill town.

Don Koonce conducts personal driving tours of the Textile Crescent, as well as group tours through the Upcountry History Museum.

JANUARY 2014 / 71

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Soup to Nuts: Lifeit Café offers a rotating selection of soups and stews, like this lentil soup with carrots.

JANUARY 2014 / 73

SIDE

Dish

Eat Your Greens: (this page, clockwise from far-left) Chef Latrice Folkes’s signature Tree of Lifeit Sandwich, with avocado, sprouts, and seeds; Basic Green Smoothie with kale, bananas, mangoes, and almond milk; BLT with eggplant bacon; Chef Folkes; (opposite) Live Pizza, with marinated vegetables and marinara sauce on gluten-free onion bread

In the Raw

Lifeit Café is a delicious shot in the arm / by Jac Chebatoris // photography by Paul Mehaf fey

K

eep going. Keep going past the Burger King on your right, the Frodo’s Pizza on your left.

The “HOT NOW” sign will no doubt be on at Krispy Kreme, but keep going past there too, until you get to that stretch of South Pleasantburg just beyond Greenville Tech, to the Morgan Manor parking lot. It’s a desolate prairie of cracking pavement, but tucked quietly between the Vogue Hair Fashions sign and Joseph Stevens is Greenville’s (if not the Upstate’s) first all-vegan, raw/living foods restaurant, Lifeit Café.

You will not find a Whopper your way. Or, any meat. Well, really, you won’t find anything that is heated above 118 degrees. But don’t stop reading.

Here’s the thing about the eight-month old café: it’s delicious. (Full disclosure: I know my way around a plate of ribs and a venison meatball or two.)

The premise is easy to swallow: eat healthy, vibrant foods, and you’ll feel healthier and more vibrant. Latrice Folkes, owner and chef, has been a vegan for more than 17 years and was also eating raw for some of that time. She wanted to make

74 TOWN / towncarolina.com

a life transformation for her family and friends who were sick, in the hospital, and even dying.

After three years of training in a vegan kitchen at Atlanta’s Soul Vegetarian restaurant, she knew firsthand the positive and what she calls the “regenerative” effects of a holistic lifestyle.

“I wanted a place that was focused on getting energy, getting vibrant, getting sexy—so that’s basically what the ‘life it’ means,” Folkes says, referring to the name of her café. So instead of a diet, it’s a life-it, or as she describes, “a holistic lifestyle centered around life-giving principles and activities, including eating fresh, living foods.”

Take the Tree of Lifeit Sandwich, presently her signature sandwich (Folkes says the menu, especially for dinner, will be expanding soon). It has avocado, vegan mozzarella, pumpkin seeds, sprouts, and Vidalia onion on an organic wrap or bread. It’s got texture, and the buttery avo gives it depth. Yes, you’ll probably still get a laugh from someone at what they’ll call your “rabbit food.” But eating this way—if Folkes is any testament with her clear skin and wellspring of enthusiasm for her community (there are poetry open mics every month, food planning classes, and local art on display)—it’s more like Energizer Bunny fuel.

Lifeit Café 730 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville (864) 271-4334, lifeitcafe.com

Instead of a diet, it’s a lifeit, or as Chef Latrice Folkes describes as “a holistic lifestyle centered around life-giving principles and activities, including eating fresh, living foods.

CITY

Dish

Ground Swell Underground supper club Renegade Vittles takes diners on a wild culinary ride / by M. Linda Lee / photography by J. Aaron Greene

76 TOWN / towncarolina.com

I

t all started with a pig. When Chef Joe Clarke of American Grocery Restaurant purchased a whole Berkshire pig from Roddy Pick at Greenbrier Farms in Easley last fall, it spurred his idea to feature a “Pigtober” menu at the restaurant. Clarke, his wife (and AGR co-owner) Darlene, and their friend Erin Gilreath-Hester (a wine rep for Ben Arnold Beverage Co.) had been kicking around the notion of an underground supper club for a couple of years. So, inspired by that Berkshire pig, they came up with a theme (Dia de los Puercos) and a venue (the covered barn at Greenbrier Farms), and decided to go for it.

“Once we had the chefs lined up, it just sort of steamrolled from there,” says Clarke. The supper club’s name comes from the fact that the founders consider themselves “like-minded renegades, fighting to improve the culinary landscape in Greenville.”

Pop Culture: Renegade Vittles, a new supper club conceived and produced by American Grocery Restaurant, features different monthly themes and guest-chef collaborations. The first supper was a pork feast called Dia de los Puercos, and last month’s dinner was inspired by Feast of the Seven Fishes.

For the latest pop-up plans and to purchase tickets, go to americangr.com, or renegadevittles.com

That inaugural dinner last November 4 was a chilly affair, warmed by a crackling fire pit in the barn and the conviviality of the guests who gathered around the long, farm tables. In addition to Clarke, a mix of chefs stirred in an all-star local lineup: Jason Scholz from Stella’s Southern Bistro, Anthony Gray from Bacon Bros. Public House, Michael Kramer from Table 301 group, and Aaron Manter from The Owl. Each chef was responsible for one pork course, which ranged from grilled, cider-braised ham over squash ravioli to Guinea hog pork belly with bacon jam.

Guests brought their own beverages of choice.

Lack of rules defines any underground supper club, and the location is kept secret to ticketholders until the last minute (in the case of Renegade Vittles, the day before). This unorthodox dining experience sets talented chefs, from Greenville and beyond, loose to step outside the brick-and-mortar restaurant box for an evening of gastronomic free-wheeling.

Planners have complete freedom with the food, venue, and number of people. “You can strip away anything that gets in the way of a great meal,” says Darlene. “A supper club takes the paradigm of a traditional restaurant and turns it on its head.” The key is to keep it simple, the founders say, and to concentrate on the things that will make the dinner great.

Held at the Midtown Artery gallery in the Village, the second Renegade Vittles dinner borrowed its theme from the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition. Part of the ticket price for this meal was donated to Loaves & Fishes, a Greenville-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste, and distributing it to local charities in Greenville County.

Future dinners will all have their own personalities.

One might revolve around music; one might corral food trucks; another could celebrate local grains . . . the possibilities are endless. The goal for 2014 is to stage 18 events and to expand the appeal to different demographics.

No matter the menu, the chefs, the cost, or the venue, Darlene insists there will be one constant dished up at every Renegade Vittles dinner: “Expect the unexpected.”

JANUARY 2014 / 77

KITCHEN

Aid Switch Blade

What piqued your interest for a career in the culinary arts?

“I started cooking when I was 17 at Cheryl’s Briar Patch, a lost Greenville classic. She took me from the dish pit and taught my stubborn self how to cook. I then cooked my way through Auburn, finding my way to the mountains of Virginia. After learning the truth about what it takes to be a real chef, I went to Johnson and Wales University in Charleston and was eventually taken in by the good people at Soby’s.”

How did you come to IPA? “I have been in and out of the Upstate scene for 10 years now. My latest job was for Chef Francis Turk at The Cliffs Keowee Vineyards, who was and is a great influence to have. I was able to explore and express myself in his kitchen.

It was very hard to leave such a great gig, but the temptation to sell DoBBieQ was too strong. Now I am DoBBieQ and IPA all the way.”

Chef Daniel Dobbs, formerly at The Cliffs Keowee Vineyards, slices up fine grub at Independent Public Alehouse / by Mary Cathryn Armstrong The modest, glass-fronted building between Poinsett Highway and Rutherford Road has enjoyed numerous incarnations in its lifetime. Independent Public Alehouse is a combination venue for live music and food.

It’s also Alabama native Chef Daniel Dobbs’s culinary playground. Whether he’s strutting the sidewalks in his pink pig suit or pulling apart perfectly cured pork, Dobbs is certain of one thing: it’s all for the love of food.

Independent Public Alehouse 110 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville.

(864) 552-1265, ipagreenville.com

What relationship do you think there is between music and food?

“If there is laughter and fun, there is always music and food. The owners of IPA, Michele and Alan, have provided our guests with a similar experience, where you can come eat great local food and drink awesome local beers with a background of live local music.

For me, it starts in the kitchen. I start my early morning off with a good dose of Motown, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads, and then a mix of reggae. It gets my head right and makes the food tight.”

78 TOWN / towncarolina.com

Photog r aph by Pau l Meh a f fey

What is DoBBieQ? “DoBBieQ is a food concept that involves local goods and good locals. It’s a line of smoked brisket, chicken, catfish, and appetizers that incorporates a chef’s touch and some classical French methods. I use pork and beef from Greer, our chicken and catfish are from close by in North Carolina.

Even the shrimp we use is from my home state of Alabama. IPA provides me with a stage for my art, my food.”

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608B South Main Street · Downtown Greenville · 864.232.4100

“I start my early morning off with a good dose of Motown, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads, and then a mix of reggae. It gets my head right and makes the food tight.”

—Chef Daniel Dobbs

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:30 am till late; Closed on Monday

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12/12/13 12:34 PM

PROFESSIONAL • PUNCTUAL • FRIENDLY • FRESH

STAX

CHEF RECOMMENDS

1

COARSE OF ACTION

I recommend the section of our menu called “And Grits.” I make some darn good grits, which are topped with pulled pork, chicken, shrimp, catfish, or DoBBieQ smoked brisket (the most popular choice), then garnished heavily with bacon, pepperjack cheese, and green onion.

2

CHEESE HEAD

I also make a new macaroni and cheese every few days. Dishes range from PBR Mac to Quest Pumpkin Mac and Chevre to Garlic Parm Mac. Up next: Jerk Mac!

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JANUARY 2014 / 79

DINING

Guide Legrand Bakery Where Legrand Bakery is concerned, the answer is always yes. Would you like a crusty baguette? Loaves of buttery brioche? Chocolate-dipped meringues? Yes, yes, and yes. These artisanal French pastries come courtesy of Laure and Emmanuel Legrand, expatriates who moved to Greenville after 16 years of baking excellence in France’s Loire Valley.

Swing by for a light breakfast of coffee, baguette, butter, and jam.

—Andrew Huang $, B, L. Closed Sunday. 1818 Augusta St, Ste 106, Greenville. (864) 9918592, legrandbakery.com

KEY : Average price of a dinner entrée (lunch if dinner isn’t served): Under $10 = $, $10-$15 = $$, $16-$25 = $$$, $25+ = $$$$ Breakfast = B Lunch = L Dinner = D Sunday Brunch = SBR 80 TOWN / towncarolina.com

BARS, CAFÉS, & RESTAURANTS BLUE MARBLE CAFÉ AND BAKERY

LOCAL BAKERIES THE BAKERY OFF AUGUSTA

This cozy little house, with its red shutters and perpetual aroma of fresh-baked breads, seems straight out of Hansel and Gretel. Luckily, there’s nothing sinister—just Connie Jud, a native of Benken, Switzerland, and Tom Hohman, a former pastry chef at the Cliffs at Glassy. Together, they ply a trade measured in lemon squares, fruit puff pastries, breads, and quiches. $, B, L. Closed Sunday & Monday. 11 Sevier St, Greenville.

(864) 282-8580

BAVARIAN PRETZEL FACTORY

Carb lovers need no further introduction, but if you’re on the fence about baked goods, the Bavarian Pretzel Factory is a good place to start. Owner and manager Linda Sue Gschnitzer takes pride in infusing every pretzel, pastry, and loaf of bread with Old World quality. $$, B,

L, D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 1106 Woodruff Rd, Greenville. (864) 2836266, bavarianpretzelfactory.com‎

Using fresh, local ingredients, Blue Marble crafts tasty macarons, cheesecakes, and linzertorte with raspberry jam and almond cream to tantalize your sweet tooth. Or, take home a loaf of their scrumptious breads, including the spicy jalapeño cheddar and molasses-baked pumpernickel. $, B, L. Closed

Sunday & Monday. 12019A N Radio Station Rd, Seneca. (864) 882-2434, bluemarblebaked.com

CAKEHEAD BAKERY & COFFEE BAR

That pastry chef Liz Blanchard revels in handcrafting sweet treats is a given. That those treats are mostly palm-sized and under $5, well, that’s just decadent. Cupcakes with towering flourishes of icing (like the New Orleans Praline, a brown-sugar cupcake with vanilla-bourbon icing and praline candy) are plenty enough for your sweet tooth, but if you want to share, Cakehead also has cakes in 8” and 10” sizes. $, B, L. Closed

Sunday & Monday. 188-B W Main St, Spartanburg. (864) 585-8774, cakeheadbakeshop.com

THE CHOCOLATE MOOSE

Try and say no to this bakery’s delightfully playful cupcakes. Dessert hounds can find a taste-bud-boggling assortment of fresh-baked goods every day. Nine daily cupcake flavors and more mean your sweet tooth will never get bored. $, L, D (Sun–Mon), B (Mon– Sat). 120 N Main St, Greenville. (864) 232-2121, chocomoosebakery.com

COFFEE TO A TEA

Mornings (and afternoons) are made better at this quaint spot with a focus on local products and healthy options. Start your day with a signature breakfast sandwich or freshly baked cinnamon roll. Lunch shines with a chicken or tuna salad sandwich on house-baked bread. For dessert, try a slice of cake from the rotating counter selection. Gluten-free options abound. $-$$, B, L, D (Sat). Closed Sunday.

1 Augusta St, Ste 101, Greenville.

(864) 373-9836, coffeetoatea.com COFFEE UNDERGROUND

Coffee Underground boasts a wide selection of specialty coffees, hot chocolate, and adult libations. If you’re craving more substantial fare, choose from a splendid breakfast-anytime option, sandwiches, soups, salads,

pastries, and desserts. $-$$, B, L, D, SBR. 1 E Coffee St, Greenville. (864) 2980494, coffeeunderground.biz

STROSSNER’S BAKERY

More than 60 years of Greenville tradition can’t be wrong. Strossner’s has become the premier go-to when it comes to finding the best baked goods: cakes, tortes, pies, tarts, cookies, chocolates, and breads. If the dizzying array of choices has you baffled, don’t be afraid to ask for a sample. $$$, B, L. Closed Sunday.

21 Roper Mountain Rd, Greenville.

(864) 233-3996, strossners.com

SWAMP RABBIT CAFÉ AND GROCERY

Grocery store, neighborhood café.

Local produce, delicious food. These intersections are what make the Swamp Rabbit Café a staple. Biking to work? Stop by for breakfast and enjoy fresh-baked scones and muffins (made with King Arthur Artisan flour), or enjoy a pogacha (a Turkish pastry stuffed with beef, spinach, and feta) for lunch. $, B, L. 205 Cedar Lane Rd, Greenville. (864) 255-3385, swamprabbitcafe.com THE SWEETERY

One of the best reasons to visit The Sweetery? It’s Taste Test Tuesday, where patrons can sample one item from an array of cakes, pies, and other desserts including the bountiful Southern White Fruitcake or Peach Brandy Pound Cake. Over the last 30 years, they’ve gotten the recipe just right for all their creative confections, all made daily or baked for special order. $-$$, B, L, D, Mon–Fri; B, L, Sat.

Closed Sunday. 1814 E Greenville St, Anderson. (864) 224-8394, thesweetery.com THE VILLAGE BAKER

No bleached flour, trans-fats, or artificial flavors go into the breads and pastries here. At the Village Baker, the day starts with omelets and French toast, and progresses to quiche, salads, and sandwiches—on freshbaked bread, of course—at lunch. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll find it difficult to pass up the tempting pastries and homemade cakes. $, B,

L. Closed Sunday–Tuesday. 108 E Main St, Pendleton. (864) 646-5800, myvillagebaker.com

Photog r aph s by Paul Meha f fey

WILDFLOUR BAKERY

RICK’S DELI & MARKET One suspects the chalkboard menu of deli standards (made with gourmet attention to detail) is just pretense for Michelin-rated chef Emmanuel Hodencq’s true love: pastries. After all, you have to view a gauntlet of colorful macarons (rose, pistachio, and salted caramel), flaky croissants, and delicate choux before even getting to the savory stuff. For something more sophisticated than deli sandwiches, stick around for dinner. Beef tartare, risotto with morel cream, and a host of cheese and charcuterie make the cut. $$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 101 W Camperdown Way, Greenville. (864) 312-9060, rickerwinsdeli.com

This combination bakery and lunch spot bakes up a gracious plenty of your favorite bakery items: sticky buns, double-chocolate brownies, and cinnamon rolls. There’s also a menu of breads ranging from the hefty Black Russian and the slap-yourmama-savory honey cornbread. $, B, L. Closed Monday & Tuesday. 173 E Main St, Saluda, NC. (828) 749-3356, wildflourbakerync.com

JANUARY 2014 / 81

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Scene Thru Jan 20

UNITED COMMUNITY BANK ICE ON MAIN

JANUARY

Thru Jan 5 THE WIZARD OF OZ Follow the yellow brick road through this whirlwind adventure with some of pop culture’s most beloved characters. Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and even the Wicked Witch herself get a facelift in this new adaptation, featuring new songs by musical geniuses Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Bring the whole family to visit the land of the munchkins, take on the winged monkeys, and make a date with Oz the Great and Powerful. Just try to avoid the whole house-dropping thing.

The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Tues–Thurs, 7:30pm; Fri, 8pm; Sat, 2pm & 8pm; Sun, 1pm & 6:30pm. $45-$75. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

On the search for that good ol’ fashioned family Christmas? Look no further than this open-air ice rink right in the heart of downtown Greenville. In addition to a wide range of holiday events hosted on the ice each season, there are also plenty of warm-you-up staples like hot cocoa. Bring your own blades or rent a pair. Just make sure you check out the rink before it’s gone.

Village Green, 208 S Main St, Greenville. Mon–Thurs, 2–9pm; Fri–Sat, 11am–10pm; Sun, 11am–9pm. Adults, $10; juniors, $8. iceonmain.com

Thru Feb 6

A DOZEN DAMES: TWELVE WOMEN MAKING ART Drawing from an assortment of backgrounds and skillsets, this collection of homegrown and nonnative female artists will display a number of pieces rife with various complexities and interpretations.

Whether you’re a fan of surrealism, landscapes, or realistic paintings,

you won’t be disappointed by what these artists have to offer. Pick their creative brains as you learn more about yours.

Pickens County Museum of Art, 307 Johnson St, Pickens.

Tues, Wed, Fri, 9am–5pm; Thurs, 9am–7:30pm; Sat, 9am–4:30pm.

Free. (864) 898-5963, co.pickens. sc.us/culturalcommission

4

PROFESSIONAL BULL-RIDING TOURING PRO DIVISION

Bulls are temperamental and destructive—doesn’t it make perfect sense to hop on? Professional bull riding is certainly not for the faint of heart. This heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping leap of faith may last a mere eight seconds, but it’s one of the most dangerous day jobs out there. Even if you can’t slip into some cowboy boots and try it out yourself, the whole family can still cheer on the professionals as they cling for dear life atop a bucking beast.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville.

Sat, 8pm. $22-$52. (864) 2413800, bonsecoursarena.com

9–19

RESTAURANT WEEK GREENVILLE

Designed with the foodie in mind, Restaurant Week takes place across South Carolina, offering great deals for full-course meals at all the best hot spots. Dine on hand-picked menus from local favorites like Soby’s, American Grocery, 21 East, and many more, filling both your belly and your need for culinary adventure.

Locations vary. Times vary. Prices vary. restaurantweeksouthcarolina.com

9

NOAH

A native of nearby Greer, Noah Guthrie debuts his new album at the venue that started it for him. A quick-cut cover of LMFAO’s raucously infectious “Sexy and I Know It,” and Noah shot to the top of the viral charts, accumulating YouTube hit after hit and television performances.

Now, the singer/songwriter comes full circle with Among the Wildest Things, a collection of his own material that has already received critical acclaim.

The Handlebar, 304 E Stone Ave, Greenville. Thurs, 7pm. $12. (864) 233-6173, handlebar-online.com

Wishing You a Happy & Prosperous New Year!

Buying or selling… a real estate experience with a personal touch.

Exceptional and dedicated service to each and every client. Call today!

www.staceybradshaw.com 82 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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2023 Augusta Road, Greenville, SC 29605 Cell: 864-230-1314 • Office: 864-370-7096

CAN’T-MISS CULTURE / EVENTS / ATTRACTIONS

10–12

in a whole new way, chronicling his rocket-rise to fame in the late 1950s with The Crickets, his quick solo career, and the tragic end that took the life of the gifted singer before he really got a chance to shine. With a bopping soundtrack featuring Holly to Valens, you’ll want to keep this jukebox musical on repeat.

Chapman Cultural Center Theater, 200 E St John St, Spartanburg. Fri–Sat, 8pm; Sun & Sat (Jan 18), 3pm.

Adults, $25; seniors, $24; students $17. (864) 542-2787, chapmanculturalcenter.org

Randi Johns, Mountain Village ; image courtesy of Pickens Museum of Histor y and Art

SOUTH CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW

So many cars in one room you can practically hear them humming to each other. The annual Motor Trend event showcases new models in everything from Smart cars to Maseratis, giving local gearheads a chance to bask in vintage- and new-model glory. Pick up a few tricks of the trade or pick out your dream car. Either way, you’re bound to get your engine revved.

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville.

Fri, 10am–9pm; Sat, 10am–9pm; Sun, 10am– 6pm. Adults, $8; seniors, juniors, $5. (864) 233-2562, motortrendautoshows.com

11

MOSTLY BRITISH

No, it’s not the Beatles; these pieces come from a very different Fab Four. This selection of chamber music performed by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra will include several popular pieces crafted by British composers Malcolm Arnold, Frank Bridge, and Gustav Holst before seguing into a piece by Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla. As part of the GSO Spotlight Series, Mostly British will put the focus on principal

10–19

BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

One of rock music’s original frontmen, Buddy Holly set the standard for authentic coolness.

His quirky glasses and crooneryet-country voice were the spark that lit the rock flame. Now, the “Peggy Sue” singer’s story is told

e nitur r u F rt s Impo cessorie c &A www.TradeRouteImport.com WHERE:

Trade Route Import Furniture & Accessories (located behind Haywood Mall) 1175 Woods Crossing Road Greenville, SC | 864-234.1514

WHAT:

You’ll find a large selection of centuries-old Asian furniture and accessories beautifully mixed with one of a kind contemporary Asian home furnishings, all expertly hand crafted, painted and selected from China, Thailand, Mongolia and Tibet.

Kay Unger ∙ Isda ∙ Carmen by Carmen Marc Valvo ∙ Beatrice.b Sfizio ∙ Shae ∙ John & Jenn ∙ Mavi Jeans ∙ Red Engine Jeans ∙ Ivy Jane ∙ Uncle Frank Knitted Dove ∙ Wooden Ships ∙ Goldleaf ∙ ZaZa ∙ Fresh Laundry ∙ Kut from Kloth Cino ∙ Sara Campbell ∙ Whitley V Jewelry ∙ We Are Owls Scarves

Boutique One Thirty Three 133 Cleveland Street ∙ Greenville, SC 29601 December2011 Across from Sirrine Stadium ∙ 864.271.4404

WHO:

Living and traveling in Asia for more than 15 years has instilled in owners Sherry and Fred Smid a true passion for all things Asian. Their greatest enjoyment is being able to share the beauty of Asian style and culture with their customers.

NEWEST ARRIVAL:

Be on the lookout for the arrival of two new containers full of treasures from China and Thailand this fall at Trade Route!

JANUARY 2014 / 83

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Scene

musicians, relying on their artistic skill to convey the sights and sounds of a historic era.

Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Sat, 2pm & 7pm. $15. greenvillesymphony.org

11

IN / HUMANITY

Dance can be a powerful communicator, and this Carolina Ballet production is certainly no exception.

Forged by struggle of daily survival and the power to overcome, artistic director Hernan Justo’s narrative has been constructed with the Year of Altruism in mind. When kindness prevails and hope is found within the depths of the greatest hardship, only then can true joy be expressed, a concept which is highlighted throughout this original ballet.

Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Sat, 7:30pm. $25. (864) 421-0940, carolinaballet.org

12

ART & CHAUTAUQUA: RISING TO THE OCCASION

llynstrong.com 864.233.5900

The worlds of art and history mesh beautifully in this discussion led by Bill Arthur, where those who stood up are recognized for their stand in American history. As a kick-off to the Chautauqua history season, beloved characters like Patrick Henry, Clara Barton, and Harry Truman are resurrected through illustration, commemorating the moments they fought, taught, and helped shape the free nation we live in today. Whether it’s Henry’s

119 North Main St. Greenville, SC

ffin) Mu ion! t & a g loc Mu ew Street; Next to n r u ch in o gustatist Chur s u u p t a Visi 3021 Aeights B H t s u om

fr ross

GCYO piano soloist Catherine Woo is also an accomplished violinist.

Aug

rebellion, Barton’s disaster relief, or Truman’s presidency, this is what America is built on.

Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College St, Greenville.

Sun, 2–3pm & 3:30–4:30pm.

Free. (864) 244-1499, greenvillechautauqua.org

17

DON WILLIAMS

The Texas born-and-bred country star has been flying solo since 1971, drawing in fans of all generations with hits like “I Believe in You” and “I’m Just a Country Boy.” He’ll be bringing those hits along with a selection of tracks from his most recent album to the Peace Center for a one-night-only show.

With numerous awards and a spot in the Country Hall of Fame, Williams’ laid-back brand of country is a sure bet for any music lover.

The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri, 8pm. $25-$55.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

18–June 5

PROTESTS, PRAYERS, & PROGRESS: GREENVILLE’S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

It’s hard to believe that only 50 years have passed since the schools in Greenville county were desegregated, but in celebration of this landmark time, Furman’s Upcountry History Museum will present a display of the figures, culture, and images that tell the story of civil rights. The exhibition calendar features interactive activities and discussions along with photographs and artifacts.

Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe St, Greenville.

Beautiful Lighting Distinguished Service Creating Brilliance Custom Designed Lamps & Lighting Shades | Unique Chandeliers & Sconces Gas & Electric Lanterns | Design, Construct, Repair & Restore 84 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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harrisonlighting.com | 3021 Augusta Street, Greenville | 864.271.3922 |

Photograph courtesy of Greenville County Youth Orchestra

(ac

18

NOW AND THEN

The sounds of these instruments playing in harmonious sync may bring to mind years of worldly experience and professionalism; but you’ll be even more impressed to learn it’s an orchestra comprised entirely of Upstate youths. Greenville County’s Youth Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Gary Robinson, will perform a number of selections from every era, traveling the depths of the musical globe for a multicultural experience you won’t want to miss.

Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Sat, 7:30pm. Adults, $25; students, juniors, $8. (864) 4673000, peacecenter.org

18

Photograph by Oliver Yu; courtesy of Carolina Ballet Theatre

WAREHOUSE THEATRE’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

The Warehouse Theatre has been a Greenville institution for 40 years, presenting more than 400 shows ranging from the controversial to slapstick. Now, they celebrate their ruby anniversary in true Hollywood fashion: a noir-themed gala at their downtown home. This “Affair to Remember” comes complete with a red carpet, live band, silent auction, and, of course, cosmopolitan cocktails and eats. Vintage duds sparkling with old glamour are highly encouraged as we celebrate the theatre that launched 1,000 rounds of applause.

The Warehouse Theatre, 37 Augusta St, Greenville. Sat, 6:30pm. $100. (864) 235-6948, warehousetheatre.com

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AMERICA’S RESPONSE TO THE HOLOCAUST

The world certainly saw the worst of the Holocaust overseas, however our home country’s response to the terror of persecution is the topic for this lecture, given in conjunction with the Year of Altruism movement.

875 NE Main Street, Presented by Furman professor of history Diane Vecchio, the evening 864.228.1619 | agenda will explore the role of government, the president, and immigration that spurned mass criticism of the United States’ inaction.

Delve deeper into the history in this CaroConsign_4thS_Town Oct13.indd 1 enlightening discussion.

Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville. Wed, 7pm. Free. yearofaltruism.org

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23 –Feb 15

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Tues–Sat, 10am–5pm; Sun, 1–5pm. Adults, $5; seniors, $4; juniors, $3. (864) 467-3100, upcountryhistory.org

9/10/13 9:19 PM

ROCK ‘N ROLL GOLD

The first three decades of rock ‘n roll are often characterized as the most inventive and experimental, blazing the trail for the grunge, metal, and punk paths that would soon follow.

This year’s production will showcase the genre’s Golden Age, where the first few rocking years were tinged with protesting parents and fear of the swinging hip. This welcome blast from the blast is sure to send you home with the sudden urge to fire up that record player.

Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $25-$35. (864) 233-6733, centrestage.org

24–25

MONSTER JAM

Sloshing beers, shouting obscenities, and watching Hot Wheels on steroids smash each other to smithereens? Sign us up.

There’s nothing quite like hearing the crunch of metal on metal, and with a cast list that includes the likes of El Toro Loco, Monster Mutt Dalmatian, and the infamous purpleand-green Grave Digger, you’re in for an exhilarating evening of vehicular

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119 North Main St. Greenville, SC JANUARY 2014 / 85

Scene

slaughter. And, yes, things do catch on fire. It’s the epitome of aggressive entertainment.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville.

Fri, 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm & 7:30pm. $32-$52. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com

25–26

AND THE WINNER IS…

When you plan to take on Tchaikovsky’s incredibly intricate First Piano Concerto, you better be sure you have the chops to pull it off. Fortunately, this evening of key-tickling delight will feature the talents of none other than Vadym Kholodenko, the Gold Medalist of the 14th Annual Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Conducted by the Symphony’s own Edvard Tchivzhel, you will be dazzled not only by selected works from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, but by Kholodenko’s “effortless” talent.

The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $16-$57. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

25

24-HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL

Good things may come to those who wait, but why should you have to? This Greenville favorite showcases all the local talent you can fit into one festival. As part of the Greenville Little Theatre’s

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alternative acting troupe Studio 444, Upstate playwrights, directors, actors and crew have a mere 24 hours to craft, rehearse, and perform a set of original plays featuring selected themes or ideas incorporated from the audience. The fast pace and on-the-spot action will leave you on the edge of your seat through the final minute.

Greenville Little Theatre, 444 College St, Greenville.

Sat, 8pm. $10. (864) 233-6238, greenvillelittletheatre.org

25

CURIOSITIES: THE WARD ARTIST STUDIOS SHOW

Although they recently changed locations (and names), the Ward Artist Studios has maintained a commitment to showcasing the most original and inspiring Upstate artists. After a successful debut stint for Open Studios, the resident artists are hosting a studio standoff, mixing media and styles for an eye-opening clash of the cultures. Pieces by Kay Larch, Kim Sholly, and Suzanne Vitti will be alongside works by guest artists Allen Coleman and Paul Flint. Hit up the after-party at Gringo’s to take in some tunes by Wasted Wine.

The Ward Artist Studios, 110 Wardlaw St, Greenville.

Sat, 5–8pm. $3 advance; $5 at door. (864) 508-6714

Photograph courtesy of Feld Entertainment

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HIDDEN PICTURES PUZZLE ILLUSTRATORS’ WORKSHOP

Graphical hide-and-seek is no simple matter, especially when the target audience is precocious children with time to spare. Illustrator Tim Davis (who has drawn more than 500 puzzles) and Cynthia Faber Smith (an art director working with Highlights magazines) share their tips, tricks, and techniques for Hidden Pictures® puzzles, as well as advice for illustrators looking to get their work published.

KROC Community Center, 424 Westfield St, Greenville.

Sat, 10am–4pm. $85 (includes lunch). (864) 399-3943, highlightskids.com/hpi-workshop

28–Feb 2 ON: THE MUSICAL

BRING IT

When queen of the pyramid Campbell transfers to an inner city (gasp!) school, she quickly learns that being head cheerleader is like being the best linemen for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Join our pony-tailed heroine as she tumbles, backflips, and learns how to B-E a true friend in this adaptation of the popular film.

Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, 221 Brooks Ctr, Clemson.

Tues, 8pm. Adults, $35; students, $15. (864) 656-7787, clemson. edu/Brooks

29–Feb 2

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS For those without a fear of clowns (it’s called coulrophobia, and it’s very real), the circus is a great time to share some of your best childhood memories with your children or your children’s children. As always, the world’s favorite three-ring show has crafted a spectacle of wonder and amusement, all set in a mythical world where pegasus and, yes, even fabulous unicorns roam freely. Don’t be afraid to ooh and ahh during the Torres family motocross show or when the Medeiros Troupe take to the tightrope. After all, the show does go on.

Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 650 N Academy St, Greenville.

Wed–Fri, 7:30pm; Fri, 10am; Sat, 7pm; Sat–Sun, 11am & 3pm. $12-$62. (864) 241-3800, bonsecoursarena.com

31–Feb 9

WINTER CHAUTAUQUA: MARIE CURIE

True, most of us know how the story of famed female chemist Marie Curie ends. However, the intimate details of her not only as a woman but a scientific pioneer make a much more intriguing story. Famed historic interpreter Susan Frontczak

takes on the role of the compulsive physicist as she journeys through numerous hardships and setbacks before making the discovery of radium. The private kickoff party held Friday will feature a smaller performance as well as delicious desserts.

Wade Hampton High School, 100 Pine Knoll Dr, Greenville. Fri, 7:30pm; Sat–Sun, 2pm. Fri, $30; Sat–Sun, Free. (864) 244-1499, greenvillechautauqua.org

31–Feb 9CLICK, CLACK,

MOO: COWS THAT TYPE

What exactly would our animals say if they could speak to us? Please take this ridiculous sweater off of me? Doreen Cronin brings this dream to life in her award-winning children’s book, starring a band of protesting farm animals on a quest for better treatment. When Farmer Brown’s cows grow fed up with their below-grade lifestyle, they take to the typewriter to voice their concerns. The barnyard will never be the same.

Gunter Theatre at the Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Fri, 7pm; Sat, 1:30 & 5:30pm; Sun, 1:30pm. Adults, $24; juniors, $17.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

Feb 1A HERO’S 5K

For many, the death of a loved one during military service is an unending loss carried by constant memory. Steve and Debby Whitsitt transformed their grief into an opportunity to give back, all in memory of their son Specialist Geoffrey Whitsitt, killed in action in 2010. The annual run/walk raises funds and awareness for military veterans and families affected by the horrors of war. This year’s race proceeds will go directly to Upstate Warrior Solution and Patriot Rovers Inc., two organizations dedicated to helping soldiers transition to civilian life.

Furman University Timmons Arena, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville. Sat, 8:30am. $20-$35.

(864) 735-0455, aheros5k.com

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Dream Cast

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woman wrapped in sheets at the threshold of night and day, dreamland and consciousness. Her figure recalls the jarring moments leading to wakefulness, the ones that force us to wonder, “Was it just a dream?” Artist Susan Watson explores the “true substance of reality,” what is known and unknown, in her painting. The Pickens Museum of Art & History presents Watson’s work in conjunction with the visions of eleven other women artists in the exhibition A Dozen Dames: Twelve Women Making Art. This showcase demonstrates tremendous breadth of medium, subject, and technique—acknowledging the unfathomable scope of Watson’s exploration into what is known and unknown in life.—Andrew Huang A Dozen Dames: Twelve Women Making Art will be on display at the Pickens Museum of Art & History until Feb 6.

Other artists featured in this exhibition include Angelique Brickner, Linda Hyatt Cancel, Diana Farfán-Valente, Suzy Hart, Stephanie Howard, Randi Johns, Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers, Beth Bullman Regula, Liz Rundorff Smith, B.J. Turner, and Judy Verhoeven. The museum, located at 307 Johnson St, Pickens, is open Tues–Wed and Fri, 9am– 5pm; Thurs, 9am–7:30pm; and Sat, 9am–4:30pm. (864) 898-5963, co.pickens.sc.us/culturalcommission

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Susan Watson, Dissolution, oil on canvas; image courtesy of the Pickens Museum of Art & History

The Pickens County Museum of Art & History presents an exhibition featuring local women artists

A culinary experience of artistic proportions.

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