Elegant Island Living September 2016 by Elegant Island Living Media Group

The Man Who Drew Us In A Tribute to Jack Davis

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Class Act

eptember always kicks off college football season and this year we UGA fans are all especially excited to see if Head Coach Kirby Smart can take us to that next level: a national championship! It might not be this year, but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 36 years since I “stormed” the field at the Superdome in New Orleans along with thousands of other fans when we beat Notre Dame 17-10. Shortly after the biggest win in UGA football history, a poster was made of a drawing by Jack Davis commemorating the amazing event. My high school girlfriend, Kim Taylor, who now owns the great pizza spot Fox’s Pizza Den on St. Simons (shameless plug!) had a copy of that national championship poster framed and gave it to me for my 19th birthday. Over the next 35 years that poster has moved several times. It spent some time in a fraternity room, a New York City dive apartment, a Chicago closet (I rented a room and wasn’t allowed to put anything on the walls), two apartments in Atlanta, and two apartments in Los Angeles (where it survived an earthquake). When I returned to the island, it hung in my room in the house where I grew up, then was in my room in the house my parents rented when they sold the house where I grew up (they didn’t think I would actually MOVE with them!). Finally, after stints in two rental houses, it has a place in my house now. The poster has hung in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, over fireplaces, on top of the fridge and has even sat on the floor. It’s like that first piece of artwork or furniture that you bought years ago and, no matter what, you can’t seem to “downsize it” and add it to that garage sale or toss it out. My folks still have a coffee table from the early 70s that is so dinged-up and scratched that you couldn’t give it away,

but because it’s the first piece of furniture they bought, it has a special place in their hearts. At some point in the many moves through the years, the glass in the frame broke, so the poster has a few nicks and scratches, but I wouldn’t give it away for anything. A few years back, I was having lunch at Brogen’s North (a veritable museum of Jack Davis UGA Football artwork) and saw Jack Davis and his lovely wife Dena. They ate there often and folks would stop by their table to visit. I walked up to their table and told Jack about how much I have treasured my 1980 National Championship poster. Without skipping a beat, he said, “bring it to me sometime and I’ll sign it for you.” Not knowing when I would bump into him again, I ran out, jumped in my car and raced home to grab the poster. I brought it back and he signed it with a smile. I can’t even begin to imagine how many times through the years he had to deal with “fans” coming up to him like that. He was truly a Class Act!

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On The Cover: The world got to know Jack Davis through his MAD magazine cartoons and illustrations that captured pop culture for more than 50 years. In Georgia, many knew him as the man who drew the UGA bulldog mascot battling his foes. On St. Simons Island, we knew him as a family man, a supporter of the arts, a generous and humble neighbor and friend. This month’s cover is our homage to John Burton “Jack” Davis, Jr., December 2, 1924-July 27, 2016.

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contents

TRIBUTE

JAC K

DAV I S

70 The Evolution of a Printer

16 The Man Who Drew Us In

74 Introducing ITM Innovation

F E AT U R E

H E A LT H

20 Forever in Blue Jeans

76 The Gift of Hope

FOOD

A RTS

DR I N K

W E L L N ESS

C U LT U R E

36 Tastings, Toasts & Tribute

78 If It’s Baroque…

T R AV E L

I S L A N D

54 Sicily – A Loving Look Back

80 Weathering the Storms

VI EWPO I N T

82 Business Buzz

62 A Teen’s Look at Life & Learning

88 What’s Happening

I MP R ESS I O N S

93 Beachcombing BUS I N ESS

SP OTLI G HT

64 A Neigborhood Burger Joint with a Pedigree

94 Social Scene 104 Real Estate 138 SSI Archives

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hen longtime St. Simons Island resident and artist Jack Davis passed away, the EIL staff decided that there was no way we could allow the next issue to come out without a tribute to this very special man. Instead of focusing on his career and accomplishments, we instead gathered quotes from people who knew and loved him. Having our own affinity for Jack’s alma mater, The University of Georgia, and Uga, its bulldog mascot, we started there: I got to know Jack back when I was president of the UGA National Alumni. He supported the university in aspects but he has a real affection for the UGA mascot, which my family raises. Whatever was happening with the football team, good or bad, Jack would do a drawing to reflect that with an optimistic thought. He could make that dog look so ferocious with big teeth and blood shot eyes. The national press would always pick that up and reprint it. Every time I would write Jack a note, he would write me back with a different drawing of himself. I thought that was real special. Every year I would look forward to that year’s drawing of Uga. I don’t know how we are going to get by without him. What a great loss. ~Sonny Seiler 16

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A TRUE GENIUS, there is no question in my mind that guy was blessed with genius. Jack was so generous, loving and grateful always. I remember once while I was visiting him at his studio on St Simons Island. We were standing there looking at some gorgeous marsh. It was 11:00 a.m., we were drinking a beer and he told me in that sweet, kind, beautiful Jack Davis way that every morning he stands there and says the Lord’s Prayer. I will never forget that moment as it filled with such beauty and genuine feelings between us. Plus, I was sharing it with someone whose work had made such an incredible impression on me from a very early age. Jack took nothing for granted. All those MAD guys were quite humble about their accomplishments, but Jack really went beyond MAD and every corner of pop culture. I think there is still so much to be discovered and I hope I can complete the fieldwork I did with him. The Georgia Bulldogs won the lottery when Jack Davis started drawing for them. They got him right when they needed him. That’s all I’ve got right now, but the main thing is I loved him and will love him forever. ~Erica McCarthy

The Bulldog Nation lost one of its all time greats when legendary cartoonist Jack Davis passed away. His sweet and gentle sense of humor in his work and in person will be missed. He helped put our publication Bulldawg Illustrated on the map with his exclusive drawings. We are so thankful for that, but more than anything we adored him because he made so many people feel good. -Cheri and Vance Leavy

e turned to Fred Griffin, who wrote about Jack more than a decade ago for EIL, to share his own words in tribute:

the inception of the restaurant, is immortalized in full color and can be found on the wall next to another waiter he drew who we lost too ear-

When I interviewed him in 2005, I was totally naive about the depth of this man as an artist, gentleman, and quite possibly the number one fan of the University of Georgia. As the young son of a career artist, I was often exposed to images I could have cared less for, as well as works that might not have appealed to my mother-the-artist as much as they did to me. MAD magazine was not exactly the work my mother would have appreciated on the surface. However after I encouraged her to look at it, she decided to allow her open mind to judge in my favor. We here on St. Simons Island are the better for having the friendship of Jack Davis so close to us. All you have to do is walk into one of the many restaurants here and see his work to be reminded of how much he loved living here. It was not common but he also used his trademark art style to caricature many of our local residents. In Bennie’s Red Barn the likes of Alvin Davis, a waiter that worked with Bennie Gentile from

I first met him back in 2004 he very graciously offered to draw Al Wise, a local photographer and former football sideline cameraman for the University of Georgia, and myself, while we interviewed him. I still have that drawing. Mr. Davis was not only known for his unusual drawing style but also for setting small messages up in some of his drawings. On several of his “Bulldawg Football” paintings he would very cleverly include his granddaughters names, Sara and Molly, in the creases of the arms. Look for them next time you have a chance. Every once in a while I would run into Mr. Davis somewhere on the island and he would always compliment me on that 2005 article. He probably said that to all the writers that wrote about him. That’s just the way he was.

ome of Jack’s longtime friends in the community were happy to share their sentiments about Jack with us as well: I used to own Poor Stephen’s and Jack would come in for dinner. He liked our baby back ribs and his martinis dry on ice. We would sit and talk about everything. I never heard him say a bad word about anything

ly, Fred Jaudon. Former football greats Vince Dooley, Mark Richt, and Herschel Walker adorn the walls of Brogan’s North. Even when

or anybody. Except Georgia Tech and Auburn. And Florida, of course. We both went to UGA and when I was there (continues)

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years later, I had a roommate named Allen Matthews. Allen was an artist too and he went to the same high school in Buckhead as Jack did. Allen told me a story about when he was in class one day doodling. The teacher started really yelling at him and saying he would “never amount to nothing.” Then she stopped, looked at him and said, “No, that’s not true. Years ago I had a student named Jack Davis and he is a success.” I got to introduce them later on and that was real special. I remember Jack brought in this really young guy one day to Poor Stephen’s. He was from Sotheby’s, you know that big auction house? Jack was telling me he was getting rid of his “clutter.” That young boy looked at us with big eyes and said, “He has a fortune.” I bet Jack gave anything he got from that “clutter” to charity. You don’t get too many friends like Jack in life. He was a real prince of a fella and I am going to miss him. ~Jimmy George JACK WAS ONE OF THE MOST KINDEST, FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE

even though his stature was on the scale of Michael Jordan of basketball or Babe Ruth in baseball. We were both huge Bulldawg fans and we would go to dinner with him and his wife, and they were delightful to talk with and his stories were incredible. He was a loving family man, a Christian man, and he raised great children. Did you know he drew that mural at St. Simons Community Church? He drew Jesus just like he drew most people. Big ole potbelly and all. But there he is standing with all children of all color and the Frederica River behind him. I think that is pretty cool. He would always bring me any new UGA drawings he did, and he would also always bring one for my children too. Back in the 60s before I knew Jack, and because we had a pharmacy, we had a lot of comics that I saved. I brought them down out of the attic when my son was real young and put them in a magazine rack in his room. Well, just the other day, I pulled a MAD magazine out and opened it right up to a Jack Davis drawing. It was like an act of God. He treated me as his close friend and that was very special to me. I was fortunate to know him and I already really miss him. ~Tommy Bryan 18

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I will tell you this, I knew Jack for more than 25 years and I didn’t get to know him long enough. Jack was a really quiet, humble guy who was on top of his form right up until the end. Jack would do anything for anyone. Half the businesses on the island have Jack’s work and knowing him he didn’t charge for half of it. People know he did UGA, MAD magazine and the Times but he did album covers too. Did you know he did the Guess Who cover art? I remember Jack loved his little boat as much as he loved drawing. He and his wife Dena would come up here to the marina for lunch and it broke my heart when he couldn’t take out the little boat anymore. I used to watch Jack draw in his studio, and he would have all these little oddball props. I’d say, “Jack, what in the world are you doing with this old timey gun?” Well, I would watch him draw and it would just be lines and strokes and all of a sudden, there the image was there and it was fantastic to watch. My favorite drawing of Jack’s was when my wife and I came home from the hospital with our 3rd daughter. Waiting in our mailbox was a drawing of the stork with a congratulations on our #3 with a note “Love, Jack and Dena.” I’ll tell you this: that meant the world to me. ~Chick Candler

I knew Jack and Dena for 20 years. I always admired him, as did everyone who met him. He was a shy, gentle and talented man who claimed, “he was not an artist.” When Glynn Art paid tribute to him by displaying his work and brought some of his former colleagues in to talk about him, he kept saying he didn’t deserve all the attention and accolades. That was the happiest I ever saw him. No one who met him could ever praise him enough. ~ Nancy Muldowney

I used to tend bar at The Frederica House and Jack was a regular there. We bonded over the Georgia Bulldogs of course. I knew about MAD magazine but was unaware of his album art. When I was in my Johnny Cash phase, I found this Everybody Loves a Nut album online with Jack’s cover art. Now I have his signature on the album cover and the liner sleeve. He never failed to greet me with a smile and ask me if I still had “that record.” I told him it would lay with me in my tomb. ~ Bill Cochran Jack was a very special and dear friend and will be greatly missed. I told Jack that I would save up my money to buy my monthly issue of MAD magazine and hide them from my parents. They felt it was not setting a good example. My very favorite cartoon was the New York sanitation worker pushing his New York Sanitation Department wheelbarrow past a dead King Kong at the foot of the Empire State building saying with a dialog balloon over his head with the symbols that denote several curse words flowing rapidly from his mouth. I also have a footlocker with a bumper sticker on it saying Alfred E. Neuman for President. ~Stephen Hart

Jack Davis was such a talented artist, I loved MAD magazine but more than that I loved that I was able to meet him, talk with him, fix his car once in awhile, and acquire some of his original art that I have hanging in my office. He even did a caricature of my husband. St Simons was so lucky to have him, and I feel blessed to have known him. ~Rachel Kirby

“I used to watch Jack draw in his studio, and he would have all these little oddball props. I’d say, “ Jack, what in the world are you doing with this old timey gun?” Well, I would watch him draw and it would just be lines and strokes and all of a sudden, the image was there and it was fantastic to watch.”

We wish you Godspeed,

Jack Davis. We are grateful that you have left so much of yourself with us to treasure and remember you by. You will be greatly missed. Thanks to Kreepo Comics, The Darkroom, Bess Seiler and everyone who took time to speak with us.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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REVER O F in

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veryone has a favorite pair of well-worn jeans. Invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in 1873 and embraced by cowboys and concertgoers, bohemian babes and bobbysoxers, hippies and hipsters, jeans have evolved from utilitarian uniform to unisex chic. And just like your favorite pair, home accents that borrow color and texture from that classic indigo dungaree cloth can extend that feeling of comfort to your interior environment. From Levi’s classic 501s to Brooke in her Calvins to a Ralph Lauren created paint technique for trendy wall treatments, denim has been a style mainstay through the decades. Even special events are ditching traditional black tie formality in favor of the casual appeal of a night to kick up your heels clad in your favorite denim. In these pages, read more about the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia’s upcoming Blue Jean Ball and take a tour with style guide Elaine Griffin through denim’s evolution and its look du jour. (continues)

OPPOSITE PAGE: Blue Jean Ball Planning Committee (from left, top: Lou Bailey, Deidra Smith, Brenda Kilgore; middle: Susan Wainwright, Caroline Flexer; bottom: Virginia Schlegel) getting some entertainment advice from their canine companions. Suzy & the Bird Dogs for the band?! Sure!

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Your Blue Jeans & Boots by Troy Salsbury for the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia Photos by Lindsay Stewart Photography

ABOVE (clockwise from left): Susan Wainwright, Lucy

Richardson and Lara Robinson talk Boston butts and bountiful beverages; Helen Bowers, Deborah Murphy (standing), Liz Shaw and Beth O’Conner (seated) say to saddle up for some lively auction bidding; Jane Goodson and Julie Rowland know the real focus of the event is the animals; Kelly Knatt, Helen Peppiatt, Brenda Kilgore and Deidra Smith are ready to hit the dance floor when DJ Weav does his thing. 22

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nity for people to dress down, yet still have a little glamour.” This type of outdoor, casually glamorous event is a perfect opportunity for people to “have a ball” without overthinking what they’re going to wear.

Lou Bailey, an HSSCG Board member, can be credited for coming up with the idea for

HSSCG is reaching out to their Southeast Georgia family and beyond. They hope that people will join them at the event as individual paid guests, sponsors, or donors to help them fund their programs which save the lives of approximately one thousand homeless animals each year, as well as providing medical spay/neuter services and rabies vaccinations for an additional thousand pets through their Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic. With this year’s ball, HSSCG specifically hopes to raise additional money for their sheltered animals’ medical needs, one of

doing a more casual event with blue jeans and boots. She had seen it done successfully in other communities and says, “People often love to come together for a good cause, but the same old black tie and gown events can become a little lackluster. This is an opportu-

the most significant components of their animal budget. The care, love, and medical attention that HSSCG gives to each animal that enters through their doors comes at a high financial price. They can only give homeless animals a second chance with your help. (continues)

ust off your boots and pull out your favorite blue jeans, because you’re in for a quite a treat! On October 21st, the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia (HSSCG) introduces its inaugural Blue Jean Ball. Eliminate the need for wardrobe second-guessing, enjoy a night of good food, drinks, and great music all while helping the animals of the humane society. The Blue Jean Ball will bring together people who are passionate about supporting the homeless animals in our community, and those who just want to celebrate during an evening of fun at The Stables of Frederica, on beautiful St. Simons Island.

Even the horses want to get in on the fun when they see Lou Bailey, Caroline Flexer and Kathryn Saunders enjoying the grounds at The Stables at Frederica.

SEPTEMBER 2016

At the ball, guests can dance the night away to the live music of Suzy and the Bird Dogs, who will perform at the beginning of the event, followed by “DJ Weav” (John Weaver, DMD, beloved local orthodonist and husband of HSSCG veterinarian Dr. Melissa Weaver) who will keep the smiles going for the rest of the evening. Keenan Carter, a/k/a Ziggy Mahoney, has generously agreed to emcee the event. One of the humane society’s Board members (and the founder of Creative Printing), Bob Thompson, Jr., will be preparing Boston butts for the night’s event, with local friends The Crab Trap and Rich’s/SeaPak providing sides, desserts, and other accompaniments. HSSCG also extends a huge thank you to Don Leebern and Wayne Murphy of Georgia Crown Distributors, who are providing libations at the open bar that evening. HSSCG is offering four levels of sponsorship for the event, which all include tickets to the event and promotional and advertising placement. Higher level sponsors will receive, in addition to the above, reserved table seating and/or a private lounge during the ball. Some of the auction items that have already been donated are quite exciting, and will be posted on HSSCG’s social media avenues in the near future. Individual tickets to the ball may be purchased for $150 on the humane society’s website at HSSCG.org/events in advance of the event. A full packet for sponsorships and auction items may also be printed from the HSSCG website. The success of the Blue Jean Ball is truly vital to the humane society’s continued medical program and critical operations. HSSCG saves lives of animals through its medical practice, and helps alleviate the discomfort that so many have lived with before their arrival at their Adoption Center. They need the financial support of the community to continue this important work. HSSCG is not under the umbrella of the Humane Society of the United States, and does not receive any form of government funding. 24

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Many companion animals have been saved through the humane society’s medical programming. The story of “Pickles” is a prime example. Pickles, a Chihuahua/Fox Terrier mix with an adorable face and kind personality, arrived at HSSCG in bad shape. The small-framed dog had been overfed and became morbidly obese. Because she had developed pancreatitis and diabetes that had been left untreated, she started losing weight rapidly, which compounded matters by affecting her liver function. Pickles was properly diagnosed with the dedicated work of Dr. Melissa Weaver, the medical team at the humane society, and Drs. Wes Blount and Brennan McGoldrick of Seaside Veterinary Hospital. She was put on a crucial regimen that included medication, antibiotics, insulin injections, and prescription food. Her health has since improved greatly, she loves the attention of the staff at the humane society, and receives the care, love, prescription food, and insulin she requires daily. Stories like Pickles’ abound, and thanks to the community’s charity to HSSCG, the animals are treated and find great homes. So pull on your jeans and some boots, and come up to The Stables at Frederica for the Blue Jean Ball this October to help HSSCG provide medical care that goes above and beyond for the animals. Virginia Schlegel, Executive Director of HSSCG, is excited about the upcoming festivities and hopes that it will become an annual community event. “I see this event being a great time for people of all age groups, from 21 to above. It’s a perfect way to mingle, celebrate, and make an impact for local companion animals.” This proceeds from the Blue Jean Ball will also help to support other HSSCG programming, such as critical volunteer, fostering, adoptions, and community outreach. Don’t pass up this opportunity to have a blast with good food, live music and dancing, an open bar, and fantastic auctions. The humane society will benefit, and the sheltered animals in your community will love you for it. Visit hsscg.org to get your tickets today. (continues)

The Indigo Denim look is so trendy that Ralph Lauren has created a new faux finish paint technique to achieve the look on walls. Learn how to do it yourself at ralphlaurenpaint.com.

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Design Trend Report: H

Denim du Jour by Elaine Griffin

onestly, I can’t think of a more 80s-sounding phrase than “Decorating with Denim.” I mean, could a Laura Ashley revival be far behind? But it’s true: After years in Style Siberia, denim is officially back, decoratively, and it’s looking fresher than ever. America’s love affair with the fabric began over a century ago, when Nevada tailor Jacob Davis had the genius idea of attaching copper rivets to the stress points of the waist overalls he’d been making out of denim for area miners, which were essentially higher-waisted, looser-fitting versions of today’s jeans. When they proved to be both durable and popular, he wrote to the dry goods merchant who sold him fabrics and proposed a joint venture to manufacture more. Together, Davis and Levi Strauss patented their “improvement in fastening pocketopenings” in May of 1873. (continues)

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Although Mr. Strauss is often credited as the Godfather of Jeans, his miners’ pants weren’t denim’s first rodeo: Massachusetts mills brought over Old World technology to weave blue serge de Nîmes (yes, that’s where the term “denim” originates), France’s super-sturdy, indigo-dyed answer to Italy’s Genoa-backed corduroy, which was like a pinwale cord with a woven twill back and were known by the Frenchies’ name for the town, Gênes, in the 1700s. Work pants made of le bleu de Gênes (that’s right, “blue jeans!”) had long been used for soldiers’ uniforms and sailors’ pants well before the Gold Rush began. Blue jeans remained mostly mainstays of the workman’s wardrobe until their discovery by teenaged bobbysoxers in the 50s. When James Dean oozed movie star style wearing his with a white teein 1955’s Rebel Without A Cause, they were immortalized. The “flower children” of the 60s made denim trendy, and in the 70s, it rose to the forefront of the fashion vernacular, where it remains today. Fashion and interior design have always been first cousins. Trends in colors, fabrics, shapes and attitudes are often born on the runway and then appear a season or two later at home. So it’s fitting that denim made its décor debut in the 1970s as an equally sturdy but groovier alternative to the corduroy popularized in the 60s at the birth of a modern, more casual and comfort-oriented lifestyle. Legendary American decorator Billy Baldwin, a Baltimore native who attended Gilman and Princeton and remained NYC’s truest Southern gentleman until his demise, pioneered denim fabulosity in interiors (because we Southerners invented practical chic!). He was the first to champion its use for stunning, deliberately simple summer slipcovers for his well-heeled clients and also in his own home. Baldwin’s pale blue suite of tailored cotton slipcovers in the living room of La Fiorentina, the fabled French Riviera estate of ad exec Mary Wells Lawrence and her husband, Harding, (continues)

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president of Braniff Airlines, redefined understated super-elegance in 1969, and set off a trend of denim dominance in décor that continued even past Pottery Barn’s

prints, and chenille; chambray in an ocean of hues; and coarse Belgian linen in elegant beiges, grays and whites. If ever there was a trend tailor-made for the

Blues have reigned at the top of the design food chain for several seasons now, but rich navy and indigo hues are officially the “It” colors du jour. In her Fall 2016

overkill in the 80s, when it began to look tired and dated.

Coastal Georgia lifestyle, this is it. Denim is casual, comfortable, and usually machine-washable. It’s the Little Black Dress of fabrics, a fashionable chameleon that takes on the mood of the room and the furnishings to which it’s adjacent.

trend forecast, Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, says that the hot new palette of denim-inspired blues chronicles our “desire for tranquility, strength and optimism. Blue skies represent consistency as they are (continues)

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Twenty years post-mortem, designers are newly rediscovering the joys of denim, as well as its stylistic denim-inspired textile children: indigo mudcloth, 30

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SEPTEMBER 2016

always above us.” Eiseman recommends pairing the new blue with grays, reds, spicy mustard yellows, and pops of fuchsia and earthy

latter in a mid-tone somewhere between the two. Know that the higher the contrast, the more dramatic your space will be. Trade secret:

Happy Hour EVERY DAY FROM 5-7

Gail Butler at Taylor House Interiors graciously pulled together some nautically inspired indigo/denim room vignettes for us. Dress it up or dress it down, cotton looks are perfect for coastal living. Stop in the showroom at 3079 Frederica Road to see what inspiration strikes you. Photos by John Toth, The Darkroom Photography.

brights. Style bonus: The classic combo of blue and white is timeless, eternally chic, and is back with a vengeance! (It’s time to time to dust off that blue and white china! You’ll want to display it in spades – the more, the merrier!) HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR DOING DENIM RIGHT IN YOUR DECORATING:

OPEN EVERY DAY AT 5PM FOR GOOD TIMES & GREAT FRIENDS Trivia Night Wednesdays 9PM

Live Music

T H U R S D AY- S AT U R D AY

912.634.6056 500 Mallery Street villageinnandpub.com 32

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

Assign it a role in your room. Denim can be the star of the show (a sofa, a headboard, a pair of upholstered armchairs), OR a supporting actor in the role of accents or accessories (throw pillows, etc.), but please not BOTH, because highly matchy-matchy becomes too much of a good thing. Contrast is king. Vary the hues of your denim color with those of the finishes/tones of the adjacent furniture and flooring/carpet/area rugs. At the very minimum, go for one in a darker tone, the other in a lighter one, and the

A uniformly dark or light palette is visually blah. The eye needs the visual tension that contrast creates to generate excitement as it takes in a room. Watch the weight. Modern textile technology means that all denim is not created equal, and that’s a good thing. Opt for lighter weights and blends for window treatments and accessories, and heavier ones for upholstery. I’m wild about the softness of pure cotton, but know that the more poly a fabric has, the more washable, stain-resistant and child-friendly it can be. Have fun! No matter how “formal” a piece of furniture you put denim on, it never loses its spirit of fun and whimsy, which is divine and part of the rationale behind the fabric’s renaissance. A Chesterfield sofa upholstered in denim can be a brilliant antidote to stuffiness and add a dash of glee wherever it lands. Think of it as the furniture equivalent of the Queen of England giggling.

SEPTEMBER 2016

Tastings

he St. Simons Island Food & Spirits Festival returns to the island on October 5-9 for five days of epicurean bliss. This celebration of the cuisine of the coast and the Low Country has new events, new participants, and new ways for you to maximize your experience while benefiting Hospice of the Golden Isles. We’re excited because this year EIL was named the official festival magazine! We checked in with the festival coordinators and this is the information they were able to share as of print date. Festivities will kick-off on Wednesday, October 5, with the Southern Soul Barbeque & Beer Pairing that features a unique gourmet menu 36

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& Tribute prepared by the creative artists and pitmasters of Southern Soul Barbeque, Harrison Sapp, Griffin Bufkin, and John Helfrich, paired with Wild Heaven craft beers and spirits offered by Virgil Kaine Low Country Whiskey Co. Special guests will include Angus Brown of Octopus Bar/Ama, and Jim Stacy of Palookaville Fine Foods. This dinner served at the renovated 1940s gas station is incredibly popular so if you’d like to attend get your tickets now, as they are limited. Thursday brings more barbeque and another highly anticipated event. None other than PGA Tour veteran and two-time Ryder Cup U.S.A. Team Captain Davis Love III and other star PGA Tour professionals with join celebrity pitmasters from across the South for

the BBQ Pro-Am at Sea Island, presented by Bulleit Bourbon and Georgia Crown. In addition to the hometown boys of Southern Soul Barbeque, Rainbow Island will host renowned pitmasters Rodney Scott of Scott’s Barbecue, as well as returning barbeque stars Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ, Carey Bringle of Peg Leg Porker, and Home Team BBQ. Friday, you may want to take advantage of the Expert Learning Experiences with educational classes, demonstrations, and experiential opportunities with guest celebrity chefs and beverage experts. That night you can choose to participate in an exclusive fine dining experience with the six-course Friday Festival Feast at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort or a casual culinary tasting event with the Pier

Crawl & Village Stroll, presented by Rich Products Corporation. Special guest chefs for the Friday Night Festival Feast include: Robert Stehling, Executive Chef, Hominy Grill, Charleston, SC; Host Executive Chef, James Flack, The King and Prince Beach & Golf

ings Under the Oaks with a wide variety of gourmet tastings and an expanded assortment of beverages, as well as a free Artisan and Farmer’s Market. You won’t want to miss the Chef ’s Showdown and Coastal Stir Competitions or the special VIP Member Lounge

Southern Soul Barbeque, and The Farmer & The Larder, with more expected to be added.

Resort; Dave Snyder, Executive Chef, Halyards Restaurant Group; John Belechak, Executive Chef, Palmer’s Village Café; Bill Welch, Executive Chef, Sea Island Events; and Tom Delaney, Owner & Executive Chef, Delaney’s Bistro and Bar, so you know this dinner will be nothing short of fabulous. A Live Auction will also take place at the event with 100% of proceeds going to Hospice of the Golden Isles.

experience presented by Elegant Island Living. Special guest talent demonstrations on Saturday include Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill, Whitney Otawka of The Greyfield Inn, and Matthew Raiford and Jovan Sage, of The Farmer & The Larder. Confirmed local participants at the time of printing include Sea Island Resort, ECHO at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, The Reserve at Westin Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, Palmer’s Village Café, Del Sur Bakery, Halyards, Certified Burgers & Beverage,

and After Party. Local oysters and Southern cuisine will be offered with a variety of beverages in this perfect party setting overlooking the marshes. An all-star jam of some of Southeast Georgia’s finest musicians will be part of the night’s festivities.

BENJAMIN GALLAND, H2O CREATIVE GROUP

Saturday night, you won’t want to leave the Bluff, because it will be transformed into the quintessential coastal fall celebration at the Oyster Fest

Saturday, the action moves to the picturesque setting of Gascoigne Bluff, for Tast-

The festival closes with a Sunday SPIRITual Brunch at The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort. This year, the event will be more casual and you’ll be able to sip mimosas or Bloody Marys from expanded beverage and culinary tasting stations. (continues)

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T A L E N T

Robert Stehling

e’d love to talk about all of the fabulously talented chefs and culinary wizards who are taking part in the festival, but space limitations force us to focus on a couple of this year’s new participants. Here we highlight Robert Stehling, the James Beard Award winning Chef/Owner of Hominy Grill in Charleston, SC, and former Top Chef Texas contestant Whitney Otawka, Culinary Director of The Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island. North Carolina native Robert Stehling was an art student when he began working as a dishwasher at Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill. Bill Neal, the legendary Southern chef largely credited with spurring the renaissance of interest in regional foodways, guided Stehling and he rose to be head chef. He moved to Charleston in 1996 and opened Hominy Grill after several years cooking in a wide variety of kitchens in New York City. Stehling’s culinary style has been described as “historically based yet timeless” and he is an active supporter of sustainability issues and a member of Southern Foodways Alliances and Chefs Collaborative. Hominy Grill and Stehling have gained a national reputation for simple, unfussy food based on classic Southern recipes and have been profiled in numerous national food publications including The New York Times, Food & Wine magazine, 38

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Bon Appetit, Esquire, Travel + Leisure and The Times of London and featured on national television shows such as Anthony Bourdain’s No Reser vations, Rachel Ray’s $40/day and Alton Brown’s Best Thing I Ever Ate. In 2008, Stehling received the Best Chef Southeast award from the James Beard Foundation. We’re excited to see him at the festival this year and to taste the offerings he has for us. In the meantime, you can try out this classic Southern recipe from him at home!

3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg ¼ tsp. salt 1 c. buttermilk, room temperature 1 baked 9-inch deep-dish pie shell PREPARATION:

Buttermilk Pie Serves 8 INGREDIENTS:

6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature 1 c. granulated sugar 2 eggs, separated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine butter and sugar until sugar is completely incorporated. Add egg yolks and mix well to combine. Add flour, lemon juice, nutmeg and salt. With the mixer running, slowly add buttermilk. Mix well and set aside. In another bowl, whip egg whites until they form soft peaks. Pour a small amount of the buttermilk mixture into the whites. Fold gently to combine. Gently fold egg white mixture into remaining buttermilk mixture until just combined. Pour custard into baked pie shell. Bake in the middle of the oven until filling is lightly browned and barely moves when the pie is jiggled, about 45 to 50 minutes. Cool the buttermilk pie on a rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers.

GABRIEL HANWAY

Whitney Otawka

he may hail from Berkeley, California, but Whitney Otawka shines as a chef who knows how to showcase the rich bounty and flavors of the South. Whitney began her culinary journey in a French crèperie in California in 2000. It is here she said she discovered her innate discipline and rigor and a passion for cooking. She moved to Athens, Georgia in 2005, following some time in kitchens in San Francisco and San Diego. In Athens, she not only worked her way up to Sous Chef of 5&10 under Hugh Acheson, she simultaneously worked as Chef de Partie for Linton Hopkin’s Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta. It was Whitney’s move to the prestigious Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island in 2010 that was truly transformative for her, she says. It was while she served as Executive Chef there that she gained national recognition and earned her spot as a contestant on Bravo’s Top Chef Texas. She moved back to Athens following that experience, in the meantime garnering the title of “Rising Star Chef” for Atlanta and being named to Les Dames D’Escoffier. In 2013, Whitney once again worked with Hugh Acheson as Executive Chef of Cinco y Diez. Last March, following the closure of Cinco y Diez, an opportunity arose to return to Greyfield Inn, and she welcomed it with open arms, saying “Greyfield Inn has a piece of my heart.” At the Inn, she shares culinary duties with her husband, Ben Wheatley, who comes from an old Southern barbeque family. She’s thrilled to work in a place where owners care about the sourcing of ingredients and is proud of the organic garden at the Inn, which provides approximately 80% of what they use in

the kitchen. She’s excited to be back at the festival this year doing a demo on Saturday and participating in other events, saying “I really think the Savannah region is growing as a culinary destination.” To get a feel for Whitney’s flavorful cuisine that highlights our local ingredients, try out this recipe:

photo by Emily B. Hall

Marinated White Acre Peas with Georgia Peaches & Burrata Serves 6 INGREDIENTS FOR SALAD ASSEMBLY:

4 c. cooked white acre peas, room temperature (see directions below)

lbs. shelled peas (white acre used here, but feel free to substitute), 1 bay leaf and enough water to cover peas by two inches. Bring to a simmer and cook 35-40 minuets or until peas are tender, but not mushy. Cooking times will vary based on what kind of pea you are using. Add in 2 tsp. kosher salt and let peas cool in liquid until room temperature. Drain peas and reserve 2 cups of liquid for vinaigrette. PREPARATION:

In a bowl toss cooked peas, potlikker vinaigrette, sweet peppers, parley, basil, tarragon, and chives. Check seasoning. Add sliced peaches and torn burrata. Enjoy!

Potlikker Vinaigrette Yields one half cup

½ c. potlikker vinaigrette (recipe follows)

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. of diced sweet peppers, small dice

2 c. reserved liquid from cooking peas

1 Tbsp. parsley, chopped

1 tsp. Tabasco

1 Tbsp. basil, torn

2 Tbsp. champagne vinegar

1 Tbsp. tarragon, chopped

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. chive, chopped

¼ c. olive oil

4 oz. of burrata cheese

PREPARATION:

1 fresh ripe peach, sliced into wedges

Over medium heat, reduce pea liquid until only ½ cup remains. Cool to room temperature. In a bowl mix all ingredients and whisk together. Check seasoning.

COOKING THE PEAS (yield

8 cups): In a medium sized pot heat 1 tsp. olive oil. Add in 1 finely diced medium shallot and 2 finely diced cloves of garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add in 1 ½

(continues)

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JOHN BELECHAK Palmer’s Village Café

“Good times, good people, and a great cause. Come on out and be a part of something that helps so many in their time of need.”

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BETHANY FAHEY, Westin Jekyll Island

C H E F

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“I’m really excited and honored to be part of this challenge for a great cause. I plan to bring a fresh approach to the showdown and look forward to a fun event.”

JAMES FLACK, ECHO

“I’m fired up for this year’s Chef Showdown. It is all in good fun and for a great cause but be prepared because I’m turning up the heat!”

great way to participate in the festival and donate directly to Hospice of the Golden Isles is to support your favorite chef in the Chef Showdown on Saturday at the Tastings Under the Oaks. Similar to last year, chefs will be soliciting donations and the top money earners will be competing. We touched base with last year’s winner Chef John Belechak from Palmer’s Village Café, and he’s throwing down the gauntlet to all challengers. But despite his renowned culinary skills, he knows it’s anybody’s game, saying, “you’re only as good as your last dish.” Take a look at some of this year’s competitors and vote for your favorites by going online or encourage any other local chefs to join the competition and the fun on Saturday. See the festival website for updates on competitors and ways to vote. (continues)

MARY SCHOWE, Ember

“The competition will be hot again this year at the Chef’s Showdown. Everybody get ready because this year I’m on fire!”

DAVE SNYDER, Halyards Restaurant Group

“We are ready to have fun with our fellow chefs raising money for Hospice of the Golden Isles.”

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The Coastal Stir Challenge & the Culinary Experience Tasting Tents

his year at Saturday’s Tasting Under the Oaks, there are several new exciting additions including the VIP Lounge, presented by Elegant Island Living which will provide early access at 11:00 a.m. with music, VIP celebrity meet and greets, SEC game headquarters, private bar and special tasting stations. More tents will be added this year with specialized Culinary Experience Tasting Tents. We checked in with Kevin Baker, the Director of Sales & Marketing at The Westin Jekyll Island, who be hosting the “Westin Wine School” at their tent with pairings of 2-3 tastes along with complementing wines. The Wine School teacher, Food and Beverage Director Edson Vizcarra will regularly be speaking throughout the festival in the tent about the wines and wine and food pairing in general. Edson told us, “We have a true passion for wine at The Westin, regularly featuring new wines in The Reserve and we are excited to share our experience at the Festival.” Another new event happening at Tastings Under the Oaks is the Coastal Stir Challenge. The challenge is a contest of participating spirits vendors in five categories: whiskey, gin, tequila, rum and vodka. All Tasting Under the Oaks attendees will receive five corresponding tokens to vote for their favorite beverage in each category. Bud St. Pierre, Director of Sales & Marketing at The King and Prince Golf & Beach Resort, told us while their expert food & beverage team members are preparing for their Culinary Experience Tasting Tent by creative tasting and teaching demos, lead bartender Lauren King and her team are already hard at work designing cocktails for the Coastal Stir Challenge. Featured here are two recipes they have created for us to get you in the tasting mood.

The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort’s festival lead bartender Lauren King pours a Twilight Cocktail.

The Navy Gimlet

(Created by George Jones)

INGREDIENTS:

PREPARATION:

2 oz. Old Tom Navy Gin

Smear honey around the mouth of a chilled martini glass and rim with crushed pecans. Shake gin and Schnapps and pour into chilled glass. Strain a muddled peach into martini.

1 oz. Peach Schnapps Honey Crushed pecans 1 Peach, muddled

Bud also let us know that The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort will have a St. Simons Island Food & Spirits Festival “take the elevator home” package during the festival. For the first time, they will be hosting both the Friday Night Fest and the Sunday SPIRITual Brunch, and they'll have live music every night at ECHO as well as transportation to the festival events. There are several hotels with festival packages, including The Westin Jekyll Island and Sea Island, so be sure to check the festival website for details on accommodations. (continues)

The Twilight Cocktail (Created by Lauren King) INGREDIENTS:

2 oz. St Augustine Vodka .5 oz. Pomegranate Liqueur .5 oz. Blue Curacao Splash Lemon Juice Splash Pineapple Juice Lemon slice PREPARATION:

Shake and pour into chilled martini glass and garnish with lemon slice.

SEPTEMBER 2016

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I T ’ S T H E

A L L

A B O U T

R E A S O N

HGI, there are some expanded Friday Night Festival Feast. Patty ways for you to elevate your expesays, “There are some amazing golf rience at the festival and particigetaways in the works. And, Jim pate in some special events while Jinkins, the creator of the Nickmore of your dollars go directly elodeon series Doug is getting into HGI. First and foremost is the volved too!” Some of the auction Friends of Hospice VIP Member items we can tell you about now Package for Two. At a include a VIP All Access package cost of $1500, the VIP to the Savannah Food & Wine Ticket Package for Festival. This package, valued at Two, with $500 from $1,500, will include VIP all-access every package donated tickets to the culinary festival, plus directly to Hospice of 2 nights accommodations for two. the Golden Isles, inThere is also a Whiskey, Wine & cludes two tickets to Wildlife package valued at $1,100, the following events which includes VIP tickets to that Thursday’s BBQ Profestival and two nights stay at The Am, Friday’s Learning Westin Jekyll Island. Experience – all six classes; Friday Festival Patty stresses the importance of Patty Crosby, Vice President of Development for HGI Five Feast, including the funds raised by the festival to VIP Meet & Greet/Champagne HGI’s mission. “We are so hon(HGI). Someone who couldn’t be Reception, Saturday’s VIP Lounge ored to be the recipient of the more thrilled about experiencing at the Tastings Under The Oaks funds raised from the St. Simons the festival for the first time is Patand Oyster Fest After Party, and Island Food & Spirits Festival. We ty Crosby, the new Vice President Sunday’s SPIRITuof Development for HGI. You al Sunday Brunch. may recognize Patty from her 30 Friends of Hospice years of television news and media VIP Members reexperience. Since starting in July, ceive special celebPatty is delving into community rity Meet & Greet events and she says, “I am really Reception access excited about the St. Simons IsA Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife package at the Westin Jekyll Island and opportunities land Food & Spirits Festival! It’s will be one of the great auction items. for sponsor named such a win, win for everyone. It listings recognition on website depend heavily on grant money not only brings the community and at events. and fundraising. Last year, altogether, it benefits OUR commost $800,000 was spent on unmunity by supporting our only Other ways for your dollars to compensated programs like our non-profit provider of hospice benefit hospice directly are to parbereavement services and caring care Hospice of the Golden Isles.” ticipate by donating Saturday’s for those who are not able to pay. Chef Showdown, or to bid on Bottom line, if you need us. We While a portion of all proceeds items at the live auction during the are here for you.” (continues) from the festival are donated to t’s important to remember that this is more than just a fun culinary extravaganza that celebrates the fine food and spirits of the region, it is a major fundraiser to support Hospice of the Golden Isles

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F I N E L Y

C R A F T E D

B E E R S

elicious wine, bold beers, and distinctive spirits are a big part of the St. Simons Island Food & Spirits Festival. This year’s beer suppliers include Wild Heaven Craft Beers, Southbound Brewing Company, Orpheus Brewing, SweetWater Brewing Company, Boston Beer Works, and Honor Brewing Company. To be honest, we could dedicate an entire magazine to Honor Brewing Company because the story behind the company and about founding partner David Keuhner’s goal is absolutely compelling, but truly, the company’s mission is quite simple: “To brew great beer and honor American heroes and their families.” The company is made up of veterans and family members of servicemen who paid the ultimate price for their country, and David quite simply wants to give those heroes a voice and to raise a glass in tribute to them, in the very spirit of camaraderie that exists in the military community. “Even if it’s one glass at a time.” Having lost his soldier father to PTSD when he was six years old, David went out to find more information about that man and what he did. In that search he not only found six men who served with his father, but heard so many stories from the soldiers about their experiences that he decided he wanted to pay

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

tribute to them by creating a wine called “Honor.” He started Honor Winery five years ago but as demand for craft beers and IPAs has increased, David was requested to brew craft beer. He saw a good business opportunity to create a less hoppy product, and thus, Honor Brewing Co. was born. We wish we had space to tell you about how his Brand Ambassador, the mother of a fallen soldier, was hired, or the many, many stories that pour in from Gold Star Family applications on the website, but it's David’s words that ring true: “It’s more than just a cute pair of boots on a bottle.” Those boots belonged to a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice. Part of Honor Brewing Company’s mission is to install taps at bars as near as possible to a fallen soldier’s home in tribute to them and their family. The soldier’s dog tags are printed on the taps and dedicated with a celebration that includes the soldier’s family and friends. To date: there have been more than 500 tap launches in 10 states. “Our” local fallen hero is Sgt. Gene Lamie, and his tap was recently dedicated at Southern Soul Barbeque. This is the way that David and his partner Allen Cage, himself a combat veteran, can make the voice of the American soldier and his or her family heard.

This tap honoring fallen U.S. Marine LCpl Christopher P. "Jacob" Levy is one of more than 500 taps that have been installed in over 10 states.

Not only does Honor Brewing Company raise awareness, they also raise money for veteran’s organizations. Fifteen percent of all sales of Honor beer and wine are donated, as well as half of all merchandise sales. The Honor winery also produces special barrels of wine for auction, and donates 100% of those proceeds. David stresses that Honor “is a company with a soul and a purpose.” so raise an Honor Brewing beer at the festival, pay attention to the tap from which its poured, the bottle in which it came, or the face and story on the Honor cans. You’ll understand this company also has incredible heart. You can read more about Honor Brewing Company at honorbrewing.com.

W I N E S

B U B B L Y

e love seeing what wines are paired with all the delicious food featured at the festival. Hundreds of corks will be popped on bottles of reds, rosés, whites, and sparklers during this five-day event. At print date, participants and sponsors supplying wine will include: A to Z Wineworks/REX HILL Winery, Laureate Imports Co. Inc., Savannah Distributing, Trinchero Family Estates and Union Wine Company. Jan Gourley, Director of the Festival was thrilled to let us know that new wine sponsors this year are Nicolas Feuillatte and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Nicolas Feuillatte is unique among major Champagne houses for its youth. Created in 1976 by the Mr. Feuillatte, a coffee baron and international socialite, who, with his brother,

bought 30 acres on Champagne’s Montagne de Reims and developed a vineyard. Ten years later, the brand was sold to the grow-

ers, headquartered at the Centre Vinicole outside Epernay. In a very short time, it has become the best-selling champagne in France and the third biggest selling Champagne brand in the world. Mr. Feuillatte passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, but we think he would be delighted to know that his bubbly crossed the pond and will be enjoyed here by folks in South Georgia. Chateau Ste. Michelle, founded in 1954, is Washington’s oldest and most acclaimed winery. The Ste. Michelle Wine Estate combines old world winemaking traditions with New World innovation. Built on the 1912 estate owned by Seattle lumber baron Frederick Stimson, the winery’s roots date back to the Repeal of Prohibition. During the 60s and under legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, a new line of premium vinifera wines was introduced called Ste. Michelle Vintners. In 1976, Ste. Michelle Vintners built a French style winery Chateau in Woodinville, and changed its name to Chateau Ste. Michelle. Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle is one of the few premium wineries in the world with two state-of-theart wineries, one for red and one for white. The whites are made at the Chateau in Woodinville, WA, while the reds are made at their Canoe Ridge Estate winery in Eastern Washington. With annual production of over two million cases a year, Chateau Ste. Michelle is the world’s leading producer of Riesling wine. We’re looking forward to sipping our own glass or three. (continues)

SEPTEMBER 2016

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S O U T H E R N S P I R I T S

o food & spirits festival would be complete without free-flowing distillery products! At print, sponsors and exhibitors featuring spirits at the various festival events include Bulleit Bourbon, Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Whiskey Co., Milestone Brands, Sugarland Distill-

after a long night in the kitchen and his passion for sharing new ways to enjoy simple ingredients. He combined that inspiration with years of experience to launch Virgil Kaine’s debut and uniquely Southern spirit, Ginger Infused Bourbon, in 2011.

ing Company, Absolut Vodka & Plymouth Gin, Savannah Bourbon Co., Brown-Forman, and Trinchero Family Estates. This year, we thought we’d take a look at a company that’s offering some new and different products in the spirit market. Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Whiskey Co., is a chef-inspired whiskey company making some unique and flavorful blends. We spoke to former Charleston chef David Szlam, a self-professed “whiskey lover and fantatic of flavor” and the founder of Virgil Kaine. David’s inspiration was his love for the ritual of having a glass of whiskey

Why ginger? Szlam says it was a natural choice since ginger ale is often used as a mixer. What they found when creating the bourbon was that “the spiciness of the ginger, plus the vanilla and lime flavors, combine in a way that complements the bourbon to create a very balanced vibrant whiskey. It has the nuance of ginger, but not enough to create a ginger hangover.”

spirits – the original Ginger Infused Bourbon, High-Rye Bourbon and Robber Baron Rye Whiskey. Hopefully, we’ll be able to try them all at the festival. Keep an eye out for which events will feature Virgil Kaine whiskey. If you can’t wait, grab a bottle of Ginger Infused Bourbon and make yourself a hurricane. It is hurricane season, after all!

Virgil Kaine Lowcountry Hurricane Cocktail INGREDIENTS:

1 oz. simple syrup 1 oz. all-spice liqueur 2 oz. grenadine 2 oz. lime juice

In 2013, he partnered with Ryan Meany, another former Charleston chef with a love of whiskey and a passion for creativity in the kitchen to further grow the brand. They’ve done some experimentation with tannins and using sherry and port staves to create just the right finish and flavor profiles for the new whiskeys they’re blending, and now have expanded the Virgil Kaine portfolio to include three Southern

6 oz. pineapple juice 6 oz. orange juice 12 oz. Virgil Kaine Ginger Infused Bourbon DIRECTIONS:

Add all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Pour into hurricane glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge, cherry and grated cinnamon. (continues)

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A D D I T I O N S

BENJAMIN GALLAND, H2O CREATIVE GROUP

To the Festival

ome other new and improved event features to spotlight at this year’s festival are the Wine Cruise and the new Sip + Stir Tasting Tent at the Pier Crawl & Village Stroll, which will offer a wide variety of beverage tasting stations with beer, wines, and spirits. Captain Phillip of Jekyll Island Boat Tours will be hosting a Wine Cruise on Friday, October 7. Enjoy a view of the unspoiled marsh and waterways of St. Simons Island while you enjoy wine in the company of a wine expert and pairings with delicious hors d’oeuvres aboard the roomy tour boat. Some of the wildlife that might be seen on the cruise includes the dolphin, sea turtles, and manatees that travel through our (continues) AT LEFT: Rich Products will be providing the food served at participating stores at the Pier Crawl & Village Stroll.

SEPTEMBER 2016

This year, there's a new format for Friday night’s Pier Crawl & Village Stroll, presented by Rich Products Corporation, which takes place in St. Simon Island’s historic Pier Village. Festival goers will be able to enjoy shopping at local businesses who will keep their doors open past normal business hours and serve tasty appetiz-

its Festival in our October issue and through our social media and newsletters over the next month, so make sure to like our Facebook page and follow our Twitter and Instagram accounts, and sign up for the EIL Insider if you don’t already get it. If you’d like to volunteer to assist at festival events or want to check on the most up to date festival information, visit the festival website at ssifoodandspirits.com and follow them on social media too. INSTAGRAM:

instagram.com/ssfsfest/ FACEBOOK:

facebook.com/saintsimonsfoodandspiritsfestival TWITTER:

twitter.com/ssfsfest

We’ll tell you more about what EIL will be doing at the festival in next month’s issue, so stay tuned. And be sure to come see us at the VIP Lounge at the Tasting Under the Oaks! BENJAMIN GALLAND, H2O CREATIVE GROUP

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waters, as well as the osprey, egrets, herons, and roseate spoonbills that fish and nest in our coastal wetlands. The cruise will depart Morningstar Marina at 3:00 p.m. and return at 4:30 p.m., so plan on being at the dock by 2:45 p.m. Get your tickets now because boat capacity is limited to 40 guests. Tickets are $45. For more information about wine cruises and dolphin tours offered by Jekyll Island Boat Tours, visit captainphillip.com.

ers. Some of the products featured will be great appetizers and seafood from Rich’s retail brands Farm Rich™ and SeaPak™. This waterfront night of strolling and shopping, drinks, sweet and savory tasting bites, music and more, will highlight village shops and restaurants from 5:30-7:30 p.m. New this year as part of the event is the “Sip + Stir Tasting Tent” that will be set up in front of Brogen’s and house a wide variety of beverage tasting stations with wines, spirits and beer. Gourmet bites and signature cocktails will be paired with shops and restaurants throughout the Pier Village, courtesy of Rich’s and official beverage sponsors. Get your advance tickets for $39 per person through September 30. Tickets will be $45 at the event. We’ll be sharing more information about the St. Simons Island Food & Spir-

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by Lawrence Certain

y wife Vicki and I recently returned to Sicily for two weeks, our third sojourn to this Mediterranean island where the volcanic summit of Mount Etna broods and which nuzzles up to the tip of Italy’s boot. Scant miles of ocean separate them, yet Sicily

in its customs and culture has unapologetically remained very much a world apart. As Vicki is of Sicilian descent, her physical and emotional connections to the island are generational and ancestral. Mine are less so, but with each visit they have grown more intense. (continues)

OPPOSITE PAGE: The view from the terrace

of our villa in Taormina, Sicily.

SEPTEMBER 2016

The turquoise waters that hem Sicily have been less a barrier than a bridge. She has endured ages of arriving invaders who have each left their footprints and thumbprints–from Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and Spanish, to Patton’s army on it’s way to Italy in World War II and present-day visitors. Sicily is a trampled paradise. Yet she resolutely remains a paradise. We flew from Jacksonville to New York, and from there, first-class via Alitalia (think of a fine Italian restaurant with wings) to Rome. Then it was just a short flight to Cantania, Sicily. We began our visit in an ocean view villa that clings to a cliff in Taormina on Sicily’s eastern coast. The streets of Taormina often bustle with tourists, but its wide piazzas, ancient sites, shops and side streets beckon to new adventures and discoveries. We spent nine days happily wandering, eating and exploring. From there we traveled south, staying in a waterfront (continues)

This is not a travelogue reciting what we did on our travels. It is simply a whetting glimpse of a place unlike any other.

SEPTEMBER 2016

villa in Ortigia, a small (you can walk its perimeter in several hours), time-worn, 2,700 yearold island just off Siracuse on Sicily’s southeastern coast. Ortigia is Baroque in architecture and bewitching in charms. Our villa in Ortigia, with its original marble and terrazzo floors,

dations that granted us water views and, most importantly, kitchens where she could cook authentic Sicilian meals with fresh provisions gathered from local markets and vendors. She wanted to eat and live like the locals, often darting into small shops to ask the proprietors

Marea on Sicily’s north coast to visit Vicki’s family members who have lived and owned shops there for generations. To see her standing next to the places where her late grandparents lived was to sense the profound difference between revisiting and reconnecting.

where they ate, seeking Sicila typica, where foods follow a stubborn ritual of ingredients and preparations honored for centuries.

But this is not a travelogue reciting what we did on our travels. It is simply a whetting glimpse of a place unlike any other.

The smallish size of Sicily encourages day trips. We first went south along the coast to Giardini Naxos, a charming beachfront town just past Taormina where we shopped and lunched. We later drove north to the tiny town of Gioiosa

Sicily is eternal. A place of secrets, straddled somewhere between what we can see and what we can never fully know. To visit is to gain the slightest understanding of the words of German author Johann Wolfgang van (continues)

Vicki at the door of the ancestral home of her grandfather, Salvatore Cicero, in Gioiosa Marea, Sicily.

soaring ceilings and twin balconies, overlooked a fleet of local fishing boats. In the mornings, over coffee and melon-wrapped prosciutto, we watched as they prepared their lines. And in late afternoon, with glasses of Sicilian wine, we watched them arrive and unload their catches. While we had stayed in fine hotels on previous visits, for this trip Vickie chose accommo58

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SEPTEMBER 2016

lemon and fruit trees, and blesses streets and gardens with wondrous profusions of flowering plants. This is a place where bougainvillea spreads unchecked up walls and along balconies like pink and purple blankets, and where wizened oleander trees grow as thick as oaks. A place of absurdly narrow, tightly-coiled streets hemmed by conjoined homes and shops where only the smallest of cars and whizzing motor bikes can easily navigate. Sicily’s towns are architecturally and emotionally intimate.

Goethe who, in 1917, penned a simple summation of this remarkable place: “To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.” Sicily is ever patient. She goes about her ancient rhythms while gently inviting you to sip briefly from the torrent of history and experiences that have flowed there for millenniums. There is a sense of holiness here, not merely in the multitude of cathedrals and churches, but in something somehow deeper, more intimately personal. To sit for a few hushed moments in a structure that took decades to hand shape from stone is a humbling reminder of the tiny speck

of time we occupy. There is magnetism in Sicily that resets one’s compass to true north. We returned to a place where history is measured in a span of centuries and where streets are often little wider than one’s outstretched arms. A place where stooped, stoic Sicilian women trudge home with their groceries from market, sharing cobbled streets they have walked for decades with visitors who are there but for a few days. Sicily is a spectacular organic orchestra. The summer sun blisters the landscape to umber, yet readies and ripens endless groves of olive,

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We returned to a place of sipping tiny cups of potent espresso at small cafés in the morning, dining on fresh grilled squid for lunch, and savoring ricotta pistachio cannoli for dessert. A place of street corners where vendors offer up rainbows of ripe local fruits and vegetables from the backs of small trucks. And where larger, open-air food markets stretch for blocks with endless tables of iced fresh seafood of every description, warm breads, sweet fruits and the exotic aromas from buckets of the earthy herbs and spices that have been on Sicily’s tongue for generations. Where market vendors loudly sing out their wonderful wares to passers-by like operatic tenors. We returned to an island of residents who greeted us with spontaneous warmth and welcome. A place where language often separates, but kindness always connects. We returned to Sicily. An island from which one can depart, but from which one can never fully leave.

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by Chloe McLaren

eing a teenager has many perks. You don’t have to pay off a mortgage, taxes, or student loans (yet). Your days can be spent leisurely hanging out with friends if you aren’t doing homework or extracurricular projects. For me, these past couple years have been a huge step into independence. Despite finding this new independence as I grow older, and needing less and less instruction, however, there are still people with whom I share my life and who have a say in how I live that life: my family. I have learned a lot from my family. One of the more stressful, yet very exciting learning experiences I had with them was learning how to drive. One important lesson that came before I got my license: if you have long hair and like to wear it down, don’t drive with the sunroof open on the highway, because your hair will most definitely get sucked up into it and get stuck. Ouch! As soon as I started driving, the amount of time I spent at home decreased, the amount of money I spent on food doubled, and the number of times my mom

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called me per day increased exponentially. The main thing that was hard for my family once I had my own car was finding a balance between letting me have my independence and still exercising authority in my life. My aunt was happy that now she could send me to Chick-Fil-A to get her a spicy chicken sandwich and a vanilla milkshake. My family has also learned a lot from me, especially when it comes to technology. Some of the funniest and most confusing experiences I’ve shared with them have been ones involving technology. It’s not that they don’t understand how to use an iPhone, it’s that they could use a little practice on what all those “silly acronyms” mean (i.e. LOL, TTYL, and GTG). I remember one day when I texted my grandmother “I love you,” she quickly responded “LOL.” Since “LOL” is text-speak for “laugh out loud,” I was confused as to why she thought my sweet words were laughable. Concerned, I asked my grandmother what she meant. “LOL. That means lots of love, right?” she asked. The miscommunication was readily corrected and I spent quite a few minutes giggling at the fact I thought my grandmother had stopped loving me. I am still learning how to work with my family’s opinions on clothing, which differ from my own. The clothes you wear are like a flashing sign that broadcasts

who you are to the people around you. You could go for a frat look, preppy, hipster, grunge, athleisure, and the list goes on. Yet, fashion is one thing on which my family and I always struggle to see eye to eye, especially when it comes to ripped jeans or shorts. I would categorize my personal style as being very “grunge.” According to my aunt, “Pearl Jam lives in my closet,” so naturally I own a lot of flannel, white t-shirts, and a lot of distressed jeans. Every

time I am dressed and ready to go in my ripped jeans, my grandmother asks if I really pay all that money for pants that look they have gone through a shredder. She would definitely prefer me to be dressed to attend a tea party. Learning to respect the difference between my viewpoint and the opinions of my family isn’t limited to the subject of clothing. The music that my friends and I listen to could not be any

more different from the music my family enjoys. Yet, despite the fact that that they aren’t huge fans of Drake and Beyoncé, my family always puts up with my music, even if they do complain a little that I’m going to break their ears. On the flip side, when my family does have control of the aux cord, I have been forced to sit through upwards of five hours of Phil Collins, the Beach Boys, Michael Bublé, and sometimes even Josh Groban. I couldn’t help wishing I had my earphones to drown out all the “oldies but goodies.” But, even though my family’s taste in music is the polar opposite of mine, we have patience with each other and try to tolerate, sometimes begrudgingly, one another’s preferences. Despite our many different opinions, misunderstandings, and priorities, we are still learning (every day) to work with each other. When my aunt and I vacationed together in LA, we observed a new way of life, met new people, learned how to share space (our hotel room was a wreck!), and sharing that experience brought us closer overall. I have a lot to learn from my family, and my family has a lot to learn from me. It’s the different experiences and ideas that we each bring to the table that help us grow together. Sometimes that growth is accompanied by laughter and sometimes by tears, but the ability we have to love each other through it all amazes me every day.

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ere on St. Simons Island, we love our food! The sheer number of restaurants on this island and in the surrounding area is rather astonishing when you consider its relatively small population. Even more amazing is the fact that a number of those restaurants garner national attention and accolades. Seeing the Food Network or Cooking Channel crews filming here is becoming nearly second nature.

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A Neighborhood Burger Joint with a Pedigree So when word hits the streets that there’s a new restaurant opening, there’s a buzz of excitement that fills the air. When that word is accompanied by the news that the new restaurant is the latest project of former Sea Island Chef David Carrier, that buzz becomes positively electric. Has the opening of a burger joint ever been quite so eagerly anticipated as the first day of business for Certified Burgers & Beverage?! When we sat down with Carrier to talk about the restaurant

and asked him if the first days had brought any surprises, that’s what he said was most unexpected: seeing that despite the fact that they had exceeded the initial projected timeline for opening the restaurant by seven months, the buzz continued. When the logo was revealed and the signs started going up, Carrier says he couldn’t go to the store without being stopped by people wanting to know when Certified Burgers was opening. Thankfully, that wait is now over and St. Simons Island has been (continues)

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introduced to the neighborhood burger joint done the five star chef way. You see, part of the reason for the buzz is Carrier’s own reputation. David came from a restaurant family, growing up in his parents’ place in Queens. He graduated from the French Culinary Institute and moved to California to work for renowned chef Thomas Keller at French Laundry. He then did a stint in Chicago under Grant Achatz and later started a Southern comfort food movement there with Kith & Kin. Starting Certified Burgers & Beverage with partners Bo Chambliss and Jessica Snyder and the support of his wife, Ryanne, is his first local culinary endeavor following his five year tenure at The Cloister and The Beach Club at Sea Island. That experience and five star mindset is what elevates the burger and fries experience of Certified Burgers & Beverage. This stand-alone concept for a casual burger joint with an artisan approach to its menu was created specifically for St. Simons Island by Carrier and his partners. You can immediately see the “grinder to griddle” theme that carries throughout the restaurant. A large chalkboard with a fabulous burger and drink drawing by Daniel “Ox” Hocutt is filled with entries that change daily including notes about where the day’s ingredients originated. Beef from Hunter Cattle Co.

Fresh Shrimp out of Darien. Ingredients were sourced locally or regionally, and he wants you to know exactly what you’re getting. If you want to watch those cuts of meat being ground for the burgers or the house-made sausage, there are windows so you can see directly into the “butcher” room. The tables and bar are topped with solid butcherblock tops created by local craftsman Steve Chef David Carrier changing the daily beef Schoettle. Butcher source information on the board. trays are used to serve the food, and it’s butcher paper that holds your ents, hand-cut fries, hand-ground and hand patsilverware and unwraps to become a placemat. tied burgers that are cooked to order.. The beverage offerings include pure cane sugar sodas from Carrier says the restaurant has “a five star menBoylan, freshly squeezed lemonade, delicious tality and a food truck focus,” serving only a shakes made with real ice cream, a vast bar selecfew items and doing that “right.” From where tion with craft beers as well as popular liquors it’s sourced, to how it’s made, to what it’s served and selections from local/small batch distillers. with, and the care with which it’s served, Carrier says the emphasis is “doing that one thing and The burgers are designed around geographdoing it the best we can.” That means serving ic locations and range from the traditional the highest quality, regionally-sourced ingredi“American” to the more exotic (continues)

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can have a burger that’s ground, pattied, and cooked right in front of you, made with locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by equally fresh sides, plus soda fountain classics like thick milkshakes and egg creams is priceless. If it’s a bargain you want, Carrier says that he’ll be unveiling some specials in the near future, like express lunch and Happy Hour, and maybe even something for the kids.

choices like the “Greektown” (essentially a gyro in burger form), “Buford Highway” (a Korean BBQ inspired kick of heat), and the “Canuck” (topped with poutine – which is also served as a side – as a nod to his French Canadian roots). “I saw a way to introduce some of the culinary ethnic diversity that was lacking here by bringing some of those outside flavors to our menu,” says Carrier. There are both familiar and creative combinations with Carrier promising more to come, including, a double-pattied everything-on-it burger called “The World,” and then something even larger and perfectly paired with a martini (shaken, not stirred) à la 007, called “The World is Not Enough.” Yes, the chef has a sense of humor as well as an artisan’s flair for well-made, flavorful food.

If you aren’t a red meat eater, don’t let the carnivorecentric (yes, we made that up) focus scare you away. The Certified Burgers & Beverage menu also has chicken, shrimp, excellent salad choices, and vegetarian options as well, including a chick-pea patty burger! Gluten-free dietary requirements? That’s okay too, Carrier has tried to keep the menu as gluten-free as possible, and offers special gluten-free buns too. If you’re looking for a $5 burger combo, this isn’t your place, but if you want to experience how amazing a burger can be, in a comfortable, casual atmosphere filled with friends, you’re very welcome here any time. The value in finding a neighborhood hangout where you NASH CONTRACTORS

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Speaking of kids, they figure into the Certified Burgers & Beverage vision too. Carrier wants this to be a true neighborhood restaurant that supports and is supported by the local community and that includes our youth. Proceeds from each kids’ meal purchased are being donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Georgia, and Carrier plans to host fundraising events as well. As the restaurant settles into a normal routine, he hopes to bring youth into the kitchen with programs that allow them to see behind the scenes, participate, and to introduce them to the hospitality trade which supported him growing up. Certified Burgers & Beverage is more than your average burger joint or bar, it has the potential to be a community gathering place for all ages with a heart that beats with the passion for food and hospitality of Chef David Carrier. And if you look at Carrier, you know that heart is no small thing. Stop in Certified Burger & Beverage at 44 Midway Square for a bite or a beverage and bring your friends. Follow them on Facebook to see what’s cooking.

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THIS PAGE: Michael Fredericks, 18 years old learning the printing ropes. OPPOSITE PAGE: Michael present day.

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ichael Fredericks sits quietly at the table that has hosted a multitude of client meetings over the past three decades. He’s been at that table to discuss everything from custom wedding and birth invitations to charity event flyers and brochures and to help new business owners pick out just the right business card design for some of the many start-ups he has seen flourish around him in the Golden Isles during that time. “Funny how fast the time goes,” he says with a smile. August marked 30 years that Mike has worked at Watermarks Printing in Redfern Village on St. Simons Island. From his humble beginnings learning to work the press when the establishment was known as “The Print Shack,” to eventually becoming the proud owner of a thriving business that has built a solid reputation for quality and friendliness, Mike has been the one constant at Watermarks.

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When asked what led him at only 18 years old to the doors of the print shop that would become his life-long passion, Mike explains that his parents attended the same church as the shop’s original owners, Tommy and Kay Jenkins, and recommended him to the couple when it was discovered that they were looking for someone with an artistic eye who could learn the trade. Mike, who was attending college in Tampa but had fallen in love with Georgia’s beautiful coastal islands, jumped at the opportunity. It didn’t take long to realize that he had made the right career choice. “I got along great with Tommy and Kaye and really just tried to learn everything I could. From running the press to learning (continues)

SEPTEMBER 2016

how each machine worked, I wanted to be able to do it all, from folding and cutting to printing in four-color, which was a lot more difficult at the time than it is with the digital printers we use today.” Mike spent seventeen years perfecting his craft under the tutelage of the Jenkins. He helped to navigate the business through the new opportunities and prospects that were opening thanks to a rapid growth in technology that would allow Watermarks to compete by offering small full-color print runs and upgraded services. He embraced the digital revolution, seeing the potential that it had to increase growth and prosperity in his chosen profession. In 2003, the Jenkins retired, and Mike, who by this time was fully immersed in the printing industry, stayed on with the new owners, Michael and Judy Fisher. Mike’s days were spent teaching the Fishers everything from how to run each piece of equipment to day-today operations, all while still interacting with each client to ensure that their needs were met effectively. At night, he would catch up on the actual printing of the day’s orders before heading home. Over the next two years, the business grew rapidly and Watermarks brought in additional help both in the office area and in project design. All the while Mike steadily built his knowledge, not knowing that fate would soon give him the chance to use it to the fullest. In April of 2006, Mike, in conjunction with his parents, was able to take advantage of a

golden opportunity presented to him to purchase Watermarks Printing. By this time, Mike knew every aspect of the business so it was a natural evolution from being an inexperienced kid with a gift for design to the proud owner of the shop in which he had literally grown up. The strong ties with the St. Simons Island community and vast base of knowledge that he had built would allow him to serve his customers with great expertise. Mike nurtured the business, relocating it to its current location at 295A Redfern Village, and has provided

ABOVE: Michael (center) with his dad, Bill Fredericks

(2nd from right), and his daughters, (from left) Megan and Samantha, and the Watermarks Printing staff celebrating the new building’s opening in 2009. LEFT: Bill Melton with Mike and his dad.

career opportunities for others who share his passion for art and design. Watermarks now offers expanded services that include web design and development, app development, and helping local businesses to embrace social media. When asked what he does for fun when he’s not at work, Mike smiles and points at the radio that provides a steady stream of rock and roll hits throughout the workday. “Music is my other passion,” he says. “I’ve always been a

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huge fan of rock music. The louder the better! A perfect weekend for me would be to play golf all day and then an outdoor concert to top off the evening. It doesn’t get any better than that!” Visit Mike and his friendly staff at Watermarks Printing for all of your print, design, and web development needs and put your trust in three decades of experience. Watermarks is located at 295 Redfern Village, 912.638.1445, watermarksprinting.com.

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Introducing ITM Innovation by Jonathan Havens, h2o creative group

A new, more convenient way to bank is coming to the Golden Isles very soon, thanks to South Coast Bank & Trust. 74

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n October, South Coast will be the first bank in the area to unveil innovative technology with live customer service called Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs).

ITMs offer customers the convenience of banking with a real person from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. A live video feed allows normal, natural conversation just like in the bank lobby or drive thru, and the interactive machines cash checks, take deposits (without a deposit slip), transfer money between South Coast accounts, pay a loan, and more.

“We are excited to provide our customers with a brand new way to bank,” said Al McKinnon, President of South Coast Bank & Trust. “People live busy lives, and banking should be convenient. But what convenient means is specific to each and every person. South Coast’s mission is to improve the customer experience and to provide the products and services customers need, when they need them. ITMs help us accomplish that.” An ITM looks almost identical to an ATM, but when customers touch the screen, they are greeted by a real, live person and served in a way that reflects the friendly, professional culture of

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the bank. “An interactive teller experience is similar to using FaceTime or Skype, but with an ATM machine” said Linda Butler, Vice President at South Coast. “The video is clear, the machine is easy to use, and the best part is that customers are speaking with a bank representative who can really help them. Once you use it, you love it.”

bank online. Now we have a solution to accommodate both, with greatly expanded hours.”

South Coast will have two ITMs, one located in the drive thru of their location in downtown Brunswick and the other on the southern end of St. Simons Island. Both will be available as an Interactive Teller Machine from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will serve as an ATM the other hours of the week or for non-customers.

In tandem with the ITMs, South Coast is also introducing a Customer Care Center to offer phone support from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. “Customers will be able to call a bank representative 14 hours a day and receive immediate help – whether that be when you’re getting ready for work or after you’ve put the kids to bed.” McKinnon is quick to add, “The South Coast team you know will still be at the bank ready to assist at any time, but we want to be sure and provide the best service we can to our customers, so growing our services and expanding those hours makes sense.”

“Lots of people use mobile banking for their day-to-day business, but it isn’t for everyone,” said McKinnon. “ITMs are a unique solution for the person who wants a real banker to assist them. Some customers prefer dealing with a real person, and others prefer to

Interactive Teller Machines have been popping up around the country for the past several years, but they’re primarily found in metropolitan areas and only for larger, national banks. Only three other community banks in Georgia have ITM technology, one

of which is South Coast’s sister bank in Valdosta. “We’re honored and excited to be the first bank to bring this type of service and

Wedding Services, Casual Parties, Elegant Dinner Affairs, In-Home Chef Services, Cooking Demonstrations, In-Flight Catering, Drop Off Services.

Some customers prefer dealing with a real person, and others prefer to bank online. Now we have a solution to accommodate both. extended banking hours to our area,” said Jack Kilgore, Chairman of the board. “It will be so beneficial and convenient for our customers.” South Coast plans to have a formal kickoff when the ITMs are live and the Customer Care Center is available. For more information, please call 912.264.8887 or 912.638.2229 or stop in one of the locations at 1500 Newcastle Street in Brunswick or 60 Midway Square on St. Simons Island. Information is also available at SouthCoastBankandTrust.com.

St. Simons Island Office 912.638.3640 contact@tasteful-temptations.com www.tasteful-temptations.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

The Gift

– of –

Hope

any cancer patients face weeks or months of treatment away from home. At the same time, they often struggle to manage medical bills and other financial burdens associated with the cost of travel. Some patients even forgo treatment due to the financial and emotional burden. In fact, 50% of cancer-related deaths could be avoided if more people had access to the lifesaving treatment they need. Hope Lodges alleviate this burden by offering a free place to stay during treatment, providing a supportive, nurturing environment that allows patients to focus on one thing: getting well. Opening in Fall 2017, the Richard M. Schulze Hope Lodge will seek to serve patients and their caregivers when their best hope for treatment is in Jacksonville. The 32 planned

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

patient suites and shared amenities will include a kitchen, dining room, living room, library, activity room, and laundry facilities, and will provide more than 12,000 nights of free lodging each year. Currently, there are 32 Hope Lodges in operation, located strategically across the country near major hospitals and treatment centers. It’s just one of the ways American Cancer Society continues to make major strides in improving quality of life for cancer patients and their caregivers, diminishing patient suffering, and increasing survival rates. Your help is needed. The American Cancer Society must raise a remaining $5 million to reach its goal of $19.2 million to build and fund the operation of the Hope Lodge in Jacksonville. Their lead organizations, foun-

dations, and individuals have already generously contributed over $14 million to-date combined, but the Society still needs additional funds. Since many Golden Isles residents receive cancer treatment in Jacksonville, Hope Lodge is a facility that can benefit our community. To make a donation online, please visit cancer. org/hopelodgejacksonville and click on the “Donate to this Hope Lodge” button. Credit cards accepted include: American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. If you prefer to mail your gift, please send to: American Cancer Society, Attn: Hope Lodge, 1430 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Checks should be made out to the American Cancer Society with a memo or accompanying letter stating that the gift is for Hope Lodge Jacksonville. Help keep Hope alive.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

I F

Baroque

I T ’ S

… don’t even think of fixing it! by Linda Wright

nd why should we care one way or the other about this odd Portuguese-derived word that translates as “misshapen pearl”? Well, circle up, dear readers, the Coastal Symphony of Georgia is launching its new season this month, and inquiring minds (should) want to know. There are musical pearls in this year’s program 78

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lineup, and wouldn’t it be fun to throw words like “baroque” into our everyday discourse? And actually know what we’re talking about? Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in D Major will lead off the September program, and everyone knows what a wild man Wolfgang Amadeus was during his brief life and in his 600+ compositions that continue a vibrant and highly

regarded musical canon of their own into the 21st Century. And, guess what? Yes, you got it in one. Mozart’s career began near the end of what is considered the Baroque period (15801750) of classical music. Mozart was one of the composers, and perhaps the most pivotal, who established the transition from Baroque, with its innovations of

writing music in specific keys (C sharp minor, E flat major, for example) and instrumental ornamentation of note twists and turns often inserted by performing musicians, to Classical. Think Handel’s perennial oratorio Messiah and you will see what I mean, especially if you’ve ever ventured to sing one of its choral parts, or being even braver, attempted one of its arias or recitatives. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, an organ work familiar to most of us (at least in horror films from the back of beyond), shines in its “Baroqueness.” Of course, at the time, Mozart had no idea he was closing out the Baroque period in musical history and moving us all along to the Classical era. He was just writing pieces he liked and trying to stay out of trouble with his wealthy sponsors, usually with little or no success. And obviously, a man of his creative temperament had fun with the energetic style of Baroque and its multiple, sometimes simultaneous melodies. However, misshapen musical pearl that he was, most of Mozart’s life work was destined to fall into the category of Classical, where form, structure, and established patterns of symmetry influenced composition. His music encompasses a powerful triad of Classical composers, together with Haydn and Beethoven. In case I’ve confused anyone who is still following this illuminating discourse, including me, let us be clear: There is a specific period of music composition labeled Classical, 1750-1820, and for reasons that are beyond the scope of this treatise and way above my pay grade, Western art music is also broadly categorized as classical (sometimes as far back as Medieval and Renaissance eras). Thanks to Maestro Luis Haza’s inspired creative genius, in the September program he additionally features Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony

No. 1 in C Major, a natural progression from our friend Mozart’s early Classical contributions to Beethoven’s equally admired compositions. He loved patterns, and as one professional musician has observed, he built “huge structures from tiny ideas.” When Beethoven initially presented Symphony No. 1, it comes as no surprise that his program also included works by Mozart and Haydn. One intriguing side note: Beethoven’s later works are often characterized as Romantic, the musical era that followed Classical. Now don’t worry, I’m not going to wander off into an explanation of what constitutes Romantic composition, but you may find it chronologically satisfying to know that the November concert program features precisely that category. How cool is that? Thank you, Maestro Haza! Abandoning all things Baroque, Classical, and Romantic for a necessary moment and embracing more practical considerations, I offer the following: In 2016-17, the Coastal Symphony of Georgia performs at Brunswick High Auditorium on Monday evenings, 8:00 p.m., September 26, November 7, February 6, and April 10. A few season tickets are still available. (Adult $120 and Child $20.) To be placed on a ticket waiting list for any single performance, contact the Symphony office at 912.634.2006.

Prenatal Care Infertility Workup/Treatment Menopausal Care Osteoporosis Treatment

On Sunday, October 23, at 4:00 p.m. pianist Terry Readdick will present in recital works by composers such as Beethoven, Debussy, and Chopin at Wesley United Methodist Church at Frederica. Tickets are $35 for general admission or $65 for a patron ticket that provides premiere seating and includes a cocktail reception following the recital. For details, contact Janice Lamattina, 912.222.7541.

THE MISSION OF THE COASTAL SYMPHONY OF GEORGIA is to engage, enrich, and inspire the Golden

Isles community through artistically vibrant musical performances. Come to a performance and “Experience the excitement.” coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org.

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SEPTEMBER 2016

ISLAND IMPRESSIONS BY FR. TOM PURDY, RECTOR OF CHRIST CHURCH

Weathering the Storms

I love a good thunderstorm. While my German Shepherd will disagree with me on every point, I love the rumble of thunder, from the sharp peals following close strikes to the low growl that crawls across the landscape over long distances. I find lightning beautiful; the thick bolts that seem to pierce the earth and the sinewy strands that trace along the clouds. On the 4th of July, all the local fireworks displays were upstaged by a gathering storm that offered an incredible light show on a different scale. Storms are a part of living here. Thunderstorms also elicit prayers. I prefer to imagine that lightning strikes are benign, striking out in the marsh or on objects that are designed to absorb and dissipate their energy. I know that isn’t always the case. I also know that the heavy rain and wind that accompanies such storms can also be deadly. We’ve had local fatalities this year as a result of storms, and I have lost friends to storms in the past. Perhaps a fear of storms is a part of the attraction, like riding a roller coaster or any of the myriad

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

of activities designed to thrill us through our innate fear response. I suppose that on some level the recognition of their power and the uncontrollable forces of nature are part of the attraction. They remind me how small I am and how grand this creation we call home is. We tend to take Mother Nature for granted until she shows up with all her power. It can be humbling when that happens. I actually think we need to be reminded of this from time to time lest we get too big for our britches. In order to understand weather better, I have three different weather apps on my phone. All three are helpful and frustrating in their own ways. Lightning strike monitoring and live radar are the most helpful features. Forecasting less so. I don’t need an app to tell me there is a chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. That’s the predictable part. The unpredictable part is whether or not they will actually materialize. August and September are the wettest months of the year, but it doesn’t rain every day. Sometimes the storms break apart before they reach us, and other times they come roaring through. There’s often no telling what’s going to happen until it does. That’s when the radar bit comes in handy. In this regard, I wish I had apps like this for the storms of life. We don’t need the forecasting part; we know that storms are always on the horizon in some measure. There’s no avoiding them. What would be great when they arrive, however, is a map to see where they are head-

ed, whether they are intensifying or subsiding, and how we can find our way out of them. I’d pay more than the $2.99 I’ve spent for a weather app for those features. Sometimes we hear the rumble ahead of life’s storms. Other times we are oblivious until the deafening thunder shocks us with its proximity. Life’s storms also elicit prayer for safety and deliverance.

applicable today. It teaches us that storms don’t last forever. The rain may try to wash us away, but the sun always comes out again, and we can continue on our way too. Remember that the next time a storm blows in.

Storms come in all shapes and sizes. Some are loud but move quickly. Others seem to stall overhead for a while. Usually they are relatively benign, but other times, the lightning and the wind seemingly take direct aim at us. These are not the storms I like; none of us like them. They’re not fun in any way. Living at the beach means dealing with thunderstorms. Living life means dealing with storms of this other sort. Like most parents I taught my children the itsy bitsy spider song, and its words are still

SEPTEMBER 2016

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Jeff Jones Financial Advisor 1430 Newcastle Street Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 264-8865 88

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Ginny Johnson Financial Advisor 219 Edwards Plaza St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 634-0200

Will McKenzie Financial Advisor 559 Ocean Blvd. St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 634-6557

Dale McNabb Financial Advisor 29 Coral Park Way, Suite 102 Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 267-9374

James Sexton Financial Advisor 3409 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 (912) 634-9796

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Family Restaurant Sunday-Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. – Close 4441 Altama Avenue, Brunswick / 912.275.7754

300 Main Street, Suite 201 • St. Simons Island, Georgia (912) 264-4211 / www.atwoodchoate.com

SEPTEMBER 2016

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SEPTEMBER 2016

Boutique

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can use my Smart Seller Listing Service to list their house with me, just like any other Realtor, for a $1,000 flat fee and save up to 3% of the selling price for the same service.

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can use my Smart Buyer Refund Service to receive up to 25% of my 3% commission back at closing. Carew F. Rowell, IV Owner/Broker

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Your smile is our business.

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300 Main Street, Suite 101 | St. Simons Island, Georgia 31522 | 912-638-9001 www. plantationdentalssi. com

EXQUISITE SERVING STYLE. Beautiful pewter serving pieces crafted by Italian Artisans make any meal special. Indigo & Cotton, Shops at Sea Island, 600 Sea Island Rd., 912.634.8884, indigossi.com

SASSY AND SEXY. You’ll make a statement in this exotic poncho with digital print and embellished with crystals. Wild & Personal Boutique, 214 Redfern Village, 912.634.4563. wildandpersonal.com.

DANCING LEAVES. Celebrate the coming of fall in this LeTop dress with its muticolor striped top and ruffle accent at the waist over a whimsical fall print skirt. Complete the look with bold colored tights. Print also available in tunic and leggings. Sizes 12M6X. Carousel Children’s Clothing, 136 Retreat Plaza, 912.638.3060.

CARRY IT COLORFUL. Versatile totes for all occasions like the original Deanos classic tote, Pocket Rocket multi-pocket zip top tote, and the Doggie Bag lunch cooler. All made by Scout. St. Simons Drug Co., 209 Longview Plaza, 912.638.5473.

SEPTEMBER 2016

S O C I A L

S C E N E

RECENTLY THERE WAS A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR SAFE HARBOR’S NEW BUILDING ON GLOUCESTER STREET. THE NEW FACILITY, SET TO OPEN IN 2017, WILL HOUSE 12 GIRLS AND 12 BOYS ON SEPARATE WINGS. COMMON AREAS WILL INCLUDE DINING ROOM, COMPUTER ROOM, COUNSELING ROOMS, TUTORING ROOMS, ETC. SAFE HARBOR HAS BEEN PROVIDING A SAFE HOME FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN GLYNN COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS. 94

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BRUNSWICK MANOR

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SEPTEMBER 2016

S O C I A L

S C E N E

SEA ISLAND’S ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE, OWEN PLANT, CELEBRATED THE RELEASE OF HIS NEW ALBUM, I WAS ON THE MOON, WITH A CONCERT AT RAINBOW ISLAND. He performed songs from the album, and had special guest musicians perform, like Jane Kramer, who opened for him. Even though rain cut the party short, the sold out show was greatly enjoyed by the crowd. Stop in Wake Up Coffee or visit owenplant.net to get a copy of the CD. 1. James McNalley, Joan Brescia, Sara Brescia. 2. Emily Harper, Jeanie Leigh Harper, Holly White, Chris Johnson. 3. Bart Barton, Ben Lee, Dale Provenzano. 4. Laura and Faulkner Bell. 5. Marcia Wilson, Kris Weimer, Tammy Edwards. 6. Owen Plant, Randall Dowling. 7. Kevin and Sara Baker. 8. David and Carlene Ostrobinski. 9. Molly and Scott Mahoney, Scott and Marybeth Steilen. 10. Andy and Amy Jenkins, Jayne and Scott Vincent. 11. Wayne and Ann Martin, Kim and Alan Worthley. 12. Dee Simmons Homans, Jeff Homans, ED Hose. 13. Ashley Fleeman, Mallory Mason, Marcie Hunter, Lindsey Maroney, Laura Latham. 14. Jennifer Hinson, Sandy Jones, Greg Carver. 96

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SEPTEMBER 2016

S O C I A L

S C E N E

THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK IS ALWAYS A FUN TIME. SHOPS STAY OPEN LATE AND OFFER REFRESHMENTS, GALLERIES HOST NEW EXHIBITS, AND THERE’S LIVE MUSIC IN THE SQUARES WHEN WEATHER PERMITS. COME ON OUT TO SIP AND SHOP THE STORES ALONG GLOUCESTER AND NEWCASTLE STREETS.

ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING

S O C I A L

S C E N E

GOLDEN ISLES NATIVE AND NEW ORLEANS COMEDIAN MATT OWENS RETURNED TO ZIGGY’S ONCE AGAIN THIS JULY FOR HIS SUMMER COMEDY SHOW. This year he brought Atlanta comedians Lace Larrabee and Jarrod Harris with him for added laughs, and our very own David Butler emceed the show. There was definitely no shortage of funny in the house! 1. Lace Larrabee and Matt Owens. 2. Jon Knorr, Lynne Kopp. 3. Brandi and Paul Scott. 4. Linda Kelly, Ava Bokker. 5. Jo Allen, Cari Thompson. 6. Bunny and Michael Gilles, Gail and Greg McCarty. 7. Amanda and Jarod Holt. 8. Rosie and Gerald Sellers, Susan Watts, Leo Pieri. 9. James Powell, Stephanie Berry, Merinda Thompson, Earl Gibson. 10. Will and Michelle Santangelo, Christian Kirby. 11. Dean Johns, Lara Johns Forsyth, Courtney Tollison, Layton Johns, Hollye Finn. 12. Dolan Carter, Eric Beerman, Clay Strother. 100 E L E G A N T I S L A N D L I V I N G

SEPTEMBER 2016

101

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GOLDEN ISLES ANIMAL HOSPITAL RECENTLY HELD THEIR ANNUAL CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY to celebrate their clients and the community. Many of the animal hospital’s furry friends and their owners came out to enjoy the festivities and the beautiful weather. 1. Diane Hughes with Racer. 2. Jeff Kortes with Emmy. 3. Destiny Stevens with Hope. 4. Bunnie Ohman, Martha Grant. 5. Summer Evans, Lori Voight, Jennifer Driggers, Sandy Stokes, Sarah Abney, Sarra Pierson. 6. Sarra Pierson, Becky Rocha, Rachael Johansson. 7. Shirley and Robert Haas with Rocky and Hershey. 8. Sarah Taylor with Bertha. 9. Greg and Marilyn Canady with Cooper. 10. Andrew and Andrea Jackson with Snickers. 11. Shawn Lepko with Colby. 12. Maddison Rocha, Minny Fontimayor, Leroy Cannon. 13. Lori and Fred Voight with Sammy. 14. Ashley and Merritt Hornbuckle, Woody Woodside with Walter. 102 E L E G A N T I S L A N D L I V I N G

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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 6 103

SSI ARCHIVES

Paving the Path to the Sea The Opening of the Brunswick to St. Simons Island Causeway

n July 11, 1924, the new Brunswick-St. Simons Highway officially opened with a series of events enjoyed by approximately 20,000 people. Designed by local engineer F. J. Torras, the road had been built in 13 months at a cost of $412,000. The day’s events began at 10:00 a.m. with “the most spectacular and perhaps the most beautiful parade ever attempted in the state of Georgia,” according to the Brunswick News. Lavishly decorated cars and floats left Newcastle Street in Brunswick and proceeded down Gloucester Street and across the causeway. When the dignitaries’ cars at the front of the parade stopped at the Frederica River Bridge, the last vehicle had not yet reached the entrance to the new road, a four-mile stretch. It was estimated that 5,500 cars crossed the causeway that day. On the bridge, island residents presented Georgia Governor Clifford Walker with an oversized key to “unlock”

the gateway to St. Simons Island. Katherine McKinnon, 8-year-old daughter of Brunswick Mayor Malcolm McKinnon, christened the beautifully decorated bridge with a bottle of champagne. The crowds then gathered at Gascoigne Bluff for an extensive program of speeches. Atlanta Constitution editor Clark Howell spoke on behalf of the Dixie Highway Commission, while U.S. Senator Walter F. George and Governor Walker expressed appreciation for the completion of the road. A reported 7,500 visitors were then treated to a “shore dinner” of mixed sea-

food under the oaks. At 3:30 p.m. the grand finale began, featuring an eight-episode Historical Pageant, in which over one hundred local residents participated. In 1953, the causeway was renamed in honor of F.J. Torras, the engineer who made the “great highway over the Marshes of Glynn” a reality. Since its founding in 1965, the Coastal Georgia Historical Society’s archival collection has grown to over 15,000 historically important artifacts, documents and photographs.

This month’s image shows the Frederica River Bridge, decorated for the opening ceremonies. In the center is Governor Walker with his son in front and his Army aide to the right. Mayor McKinnon in white naval uniform is to the left, with his daughter Katherine in front holding a bouquet. Included among the fashionably attired women are Frances Postell, Ethel Ligeour, Florence Aiken, Selma Fendig, Florence Maxey, Dorothy Stevens, Daisy Emanuel, Mary Parker, Elvera Torras, Clara Pyles, Polly Wood, Marjorie Troup Nightingale, and Cornelia Leavy.

Our monthly images on this page are from the vast archives of the Coastal Georgia Historical Society. The Society’s mission includes the “administration, restoration and maintenance of historic facilities and resources … preserved as a living part of the historical and cultural foundations of our coastal community.” Society facilities include the St. Simons Lighthouse and Museum, the A.W. Jones Heritage Center, and the Maritime Center (formerly the U.S. Coast Guard Station). To learn more about the Society, its diverse programs, and the benefits of Society membership, please call (912) 638.4666, or visit www.saintsimonslighthouse.org. 138 E L E G A N T I S L A N D L I V I N G

Catalyzing Innovation Opportunity For funding consideration, eligible nonprofit organizations should submit a letter of inquiry to: The Corwon Fund Community Foundation for Monterey County 2534 Garden Road Monterey, CA 93940 grants@corwonfund.org

Elegant Island Living September 2016

Articles inside

Beachcombing

Weathering the Storms

A Neigborhood Burger Joint with a Pedigree

The Man Who Drew Us In

If It’s Baroque

Tastings, Toasts & Tribute

Sicily – A Loving Look Back

The Evolution of a Printer

The Gift of Hope

Introducing ITM Innovation