Hilton Head Monthly December 2017

M HILTON HEAD MONTHLY MAGAZINE

December 2017

THE SEASON

REASONS FOR

FASHION

HOLIDAY

LETTERS

DECEMBER 2017

TO SANTA

A FREY MEDIA PUBLICATION

Faster-than-ever Internet connections to power everyone at once.

THE

Gig Big IS

Broadband speeds may not be available in all areas, are not guaranteed, are subject to a number of factors and are measured via direct connection (not via WiFi). Additional restrictions may apply, see representative for details. Š2017, Hargray Communications Group, Inc.; logos are registered trademarks and as such, protected property of their respective companies; all rights reserved.

This holiday season, dig how big up to 1 Gig really is.

Ridiculous speeds for a houseful of needs.

Use 20+ devices simultaneously

Game around the globe without a glitch

Stream classic holiday movies in 5K

Skype festive greetings across 3 continents

Upload thousands of New Year’s photos in minutes

Supported by 450+ local employees

Bigger thinking for Gigantic possibilities.

Hargray is investing in the local communities we serve to plan and provide the next generation of broadband Internet through our ever-expanding Hargray fiber network.

Call 800.545.7461 or visit Hargray.com

Forgotten

Thanksgiving

My favorite holiday has long been Thanksgiving.

I recognize that it may not suggest the same importance as holidays

Thanksgiving (the act, not the holiday) can be thought of as “gratitude

that reflect critical aspects of one’s religious beliefs. And apparently,

in action” and is in part sharing what you can with others, and

it does not create the same economic boon enjoyed by other holidays.

“paying it forward” so to speak, so that others may also feel the

I believe this must be true, because it felt like many retailers forgot

happiness of gratitude.

it this year. Christmas decorations were displayed beside those for

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

–John F. Kennedy

Halloween. Certain cable channels began their annual Christmas movie broadcasts before Halloween. And Halloween greeting cards seemed to outpace those for Thanksgiving.

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received.

Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” –Henry Van Dyke

Nonetheless, Thanksgiving, while considered a secular holiday, touches my spirituality in very deep ways. A feeling of gratitude is, in my way of thinking, an important ingredient to developing a feeling of happiness:

While I know that many are suffering in numerous ways, my sincere

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” –Denis Waitley

hope is that the Thanksgiving holiday brought joy to all in some fashion—time with family and friends, a meal or two deserving of the harvest season, and a way to share of your gifts with others who have needs. And now is as good a time as any to reflect on the holiday past, the gifts we have been given, the

Thanksgiving (the act, not the holiday) can be thought of as “gratitude in action”...

needs of others, and the myriad ways we can be of service. I won’t delineate the many community needs which could use your financial support and/or your volunteer time, but a quick contact with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry will help you to find ways to live generously, following that thanksgiving

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” –Melody Beattie

impulse to pass positive feelings of joy and happiness on to others.

Thanksgiving must not be forgotten, but should drive our actions the entire year through. The Community Foundation board and staff wish you a joyful season of gratitude in action.

Sometimes, we have to work this. For a number of years, I kept a “Gratitude Journal” and daily wrote at least five things for which I was

Denise K. Spencer

grateful that day. It is a good exercise to help to develop a gratitude

President and CEO

“habit.”

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry P

A

R

T

N

E

R

P

R

O

M

O

T

I

O

N

monthly

TM

address 14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 200, Bluffton 29910 offices 843-842-6988 fax 843-842-5743 web hiltonheadmonthly.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS One-year (12-issue) subscriptions are $12.

843-785-1889 or subscriptions@hiltonheadmonthly.com

MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com PUBLISHER Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Carol Weir carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Lupi mike@hiltonheadmonthly.com SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Allyson Venrick Bailey Witt Chad Hughes ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Yarbrough majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 1-843-290-9372 Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Rob Kaufman, Lloyd Wainscott, Robert Rommel, Larry Watts, Christopher Brychy, Bailey Witt, Stacey Collins, Doug Gilman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Coyne Bredeson, Melinda Copp, Dot Jeger, Carmen Hawkins DeCecco, Brad Bloom, Pete Berntson, Mohammad Usmani, Becca Edwards, Jessica Farthing, Dave Ferguson, Marco Frey, Carolyn Grant, Carrie Hirsch, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Nicole Moore, Robyn Passante, Dean Rowland, Nicole Schultz

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS...

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR OVER 30 YEARS. ISLANDGETAWAY.COM | 800.476.4885 | 28 NEW ORLEANS ROAD | HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928

We treat every h me like it’s our own.

5B Hickory Lane South Forest Beach

Find out how you can become an esteemed member of The Vacation Company’s premier home portfolio, call our Director of Sales & Marketing, Dru Brown, today.

5A Hickory Lane South Forest Beach

Ma r y Ka t e

•

Mo l l y

•

T i f fa n y

•

Beth

•

Deanne

•

Elizabeth

•

Susan

•

Carrie

As one of the few locally owned and operated vacation rental businesses in the Lowcountry, we treat every property like it’s our own.

Share your home with us and we’ll work hard for you.

800.545.3303 | VacationCompany.com | info@vacationcompany.com 42 New Orleans Road, Suite 102 | Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

•

Christine

Wesley Bryan, 2017 Champion

#PLAIDNATION

TICKETS RBCHERITAGE.COM

APRIL 9-15 A history of giving is the heart of our South Carolina heritage.

HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS, HILTON HEAD ISLAND

monthly

pe

ok e sp

l hav op

’

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017

Thank You for Voting Us Favorite Family Dentist on Hilton Head Island!

››

December’s

must reads 96

106

64 116

140

134 64 Reader's Choice Award Winners

Monthly celebrates the “best of the best” places to shop, dine, live, party and more, as voted by you, our readers.

Find out if your favorite businesses and professionals are among the winners.

96 Holiday Gift Guide

Local boutiques and other retail stores suggest gifts that will make your loved ones smile.

106 Fashion Forward

Great looks for all the holiday parties, galas, concerts, performances and other events in the Lowcountry.

12 hiltonheadmonthly.com

116 Christmas at the Biltmore

The Biltmore Estate near Asheville, N.C., is a great weekend vacation spot at any time of year, but it is at its most beautiful when decorated for the holiday season.

134 Letters to Santa

Second grade students from Ms. Rea Colella’s class at Michael C. Riley Elementary School in Bluffton responded to our call for letters to Santa.

140 Bird Count

As part of the world’s largest and longest-running citizen science project, bird lovers will participate in the 118th Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count.

we have the best gifts for everyone on your list!

J. B A N K S D E S I G N | I N T E R I O R D E S I G N & R E T A I L

35 N. Main Street | Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 | jbanksdesign.com | 843.681.5122 September 2017 13

››in this issue 122

+ 158 32 Friend of the Arts

RT & CULTURE A 122 Gullah Christmas

34 Field of Dreams

130 Reasons for the Season

LOCAL VIBE

Walter Graver left a legacy Upgrades coming to Bluffton park

36 Meatball Mania

Italian-American festival

PEOPLE 38 Holiday Plans

Locals tell us what they're doing

HEALTH

48 Have a Heart

Islanders preserve holiday traditions Local religious leaders weigh in

138 Give the Gift of Books

New titles explore the Lowcountry

ENVIRONMENT

1 46 Can you find them?

Find the hidden birds in this puzzle

HOMES

IN EVERY ISSUE 24 opinion 28 news 30 pet of the month

40 where in the world?

44 social spotlight 60 on the move

150 Coastal Christmas

175 real estate news

Local trainer teaches HIIT workout

158 Calawassie Calm

200 sports roundup

BUSINESS

166 LightHouse Awards

202 calendar

SPORTS

240 last call

Maggie Maine is a miracle

50 Beat the Holiday Spread

54 Heritage Shortbread

A HHI small business goes global

56 Road to Success

Successful leaders share attributes

58 Trickle down economics

Inflation and tax cuts may affect you

Decorate with nature's gifts Local home is an oasis of peace Salute to the best builders

198 Going the Exta Mile

Hilton Head High Cross Country wins

DINING

2 14 Keep it Simple

Cook an easy holiday dinner

222 Dinner Out

Private dining rooms are hassle-free

14 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››local vibe | PEOPLE

I T ’ S T I M E TO G I V E T H E G I F T O F

STYLE SPECIAL SAVING GOING ON NOW

BLUFFTON 115 OKATIE CENTER BOULEVARD NORTH 843.705.4422 Ask a designer or visit ethanallen.com for details. Sale going on for a limited time. ©2017 Ethan Allen Global, Inc.

16 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Was life ever going to slow down? For a long while I didn’t think so...and maybe I didn’t want it to. Those times were so worth it! Raising our family, getting so far in my career, building true friendships. But it’s different now. And what I’m noticing lately is that finally having time for myself to reflect...has become an unexpected joy. And I’m finding it right here...”

This is Lake Life.

Home/homesite packages from the high $300s to $1Ms+. Wooded homesites from the low $100s. Waterfront homesites from the $170Ks. Call us today: 843.836.LAKE

hamptonlake.com

A REED GROUP COMMUNITY

This does not constituteSeptember an offer to sell or a solicitation 2017 of any offer to buy where prohibited by law.

17

››At the helm

Happy Holidays from the team at Hilton Head Monthly

Dear Reader W

ith bellies still full from Thanksgiving we enter the last month of the year. December was always a special month growing up.

Counting down the days to Christmas, lighting candles at night, and the smell from baking cookies are all part of the memories we cherish most.

As we grew older the joy of giving became more important than receiving and eventually the most important part about the holidays turn out to be spending time with family.

It’s also the month when we take a moment to reflect on what the year has brought as we turn the last page of the calendar and start making plans for the coming year. It’s the time for counting blessings, forgiving wrongdoings and renewing hopes for a new year to do good deeds.

Here at Monthly it was a year of revitalization. A welcome change at the helm of the magazine opened up the opportunity to build the strongest most passionate team ever, a move to our new collaborative office space puts as the heart of the Lowcountry and just in time to end the year with a bang we introduce a new look with a more readable typography and stronger visual elements.

True to our mission of connecting the communities we serve, the content in this issue is full of all facets of local life. Here are just a few highlights that will enhance your season: Religious leaders reflect on the holidays, a look behind the scenes of heritage cookies, letters to Santa, a new columnist will teach you leadership, fashion to celebrate, our annual Reader’s Choice winners represent the best of the Lowcountry and our inaugural “Eat More Local” savings booklet will help you savor the finest for less.

All of this would not be possible without our loyal business partners, our engaged readers and the fabulous team at Monthly. So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts and happy holidays!

– MARC AND ANUSKA FREY

18 hiltonheadmonthly.com

‘‘

THIS ISSUE CELEBRATES THE WINNERS OF OUR 2017 READERS' CHOICE AWARDS. BE SURE TO SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR READERS' CHOICE PARTY ON DEC. 5TH. FOR TICKETS TO THE BEST PARTY IN TOWN GO TO: hiltonheadmonthly.com

BE {LOVED}

“The ardent golfer would play Mount Everest if someone would put a flagstick on top.”

– Pete Dye –

Or play the nationally ranked course in your own backyard.

Hilton Head Island, SC

Long Cove Club .com

{843} 686-1070

Best Private Golf Club on Hilton Head Island Readers’ Choice

BEST

PRIVATE GOLF CLUB Thank you for voting!

September 2017 19

20 hiltonheadmonthly.com

SINGLE ROUND SPECIALS Play Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III, Heron Point by Pete Dye or Harbour Town Golf Links

“Thank you for voting Harbour Town Golf Links your favorite public golf course!”

Atlantic Dunes

by Davis Love III starting from

$135

Heron Point

by Pete Dye starting from

$89

Harbour Town Golf Links starting from

$220

DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR EXCLUSIVE GOLF OFFERS! Visit seapines.com/app on your mobile device.

For tee times, visit seapinesgolf.com or call (843) 842-8484.

Specials valid now through March 11, 2018.

September 2017 21

››About this issue

ONLINE

BEHIND THE SCENES

An entire crew of hair, makeup, wardrobe, and photography pros worked behind the scenes at Monthly headquarters to create the beautiful images in this month's fashion spread. A backdrop transformed the office into a studio for photographer Chris Brychcy. In addition to hard work, there's also a lot of sitting around

and waiting at a fashion shoot.

That’s the reality of fashion. Two of the models, Esther Jordan and Grace Barlow, came from a modelling agency in Columbia.

The other two—Nobiraida Infante Bosques and Rafael Ingannamonte— are local talent.

Brychcy worked hard to build rapport with them until they relaxed and their movements looked natural. He had no qualms about climbing on precarious structures to get the right shot. Creating the perfect shot is a coup for everyone involved— the chance to have your work seen and remembered.

Team work made this spread possible. From putting together outfits to serving sandwiches, the whole staff pitched in.

EXCLUSIVE To get pumped for the December issue, the Monthly team spent an afternoon at Aerial Adventure, part of Zipline Hilton Head. Owners Pam and Roger Freedman made sure we got the safety talk, and then it was up in the trees for us.

The course is divided into levels so everyone faced a personal challenge at this playground in the sky.

THIS ISSUE'S CONTRIBUTORS

LARRY WATTS Photographer A Hilton Head Island resident for more than 25 years, photographer Larry Watts is also a boat captain and a retired veterinarian.

He is most often found cruising local waters on his boat and indulging his love of photography and wildlife. His patience and knowledge of animal behavior combine to give him the ability to capture breathtaking shots.

AMY COYNE BREDESON Writer Lowcountry native Amy Coyne Bredeson graduated from Hilton Head Island High School in 1994 and earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Bredeson has worked for area publications for almost two decades and lives in Bluffton with her husband, Matt, and two children, Elijah and Chloe.

22 hiltonheadmonthly.com

ROBERT ROMMEL Photographer

CHAD HUGHES Graphic Designer

Photographer Robert Rommel’s love affair with nature started early when he spent his childhood exploring the outdoors. This interest carried over into his education; he studied biology and ecology at the undergraduate and graduate level.

In addition to leading photography workshops, he sells his work at art shows around the Southeast and via robertrommel.com

Chad Hughes is a freelance graphic designer with a hankering for print-design and more than 20 years of experience working in the magazine publishing world. When he’s not fretting over typefaces, negative spaces and measurements, he can be found on Hilton Head Island where he lives with his beautiful wife, three exceptional children and two average dogs.

Digital dynamics HOW CAN A SMALL BUSINESS OR NONPROFIT GET AHEAD IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT? SOCIAL MEDIA AND CROWDFUNDING ARE TWO LOW COST WAYS TO REACH A WIDE AUDIENCE. NICOLE SCHULTZ OFFERS TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED.

Correction: Our Nov. issue featured Jacob Morrow. Morrow retired from the U.S. Army in 2012 at the rank of master sergeant.

As Lowcountry residents rebuild, we’ve launched an initiative to strengthen the community’s economy and social fabric by encouraging the support of locally owned businesses.

December 2017 23

››Reader feedback

Holidays difficult for grieving parents HELPING PARENTS HEAL

D

ear Editor, My name is Irene Vouvalides and I am the chapter leader of Helping Parents Heal Bluffton/Hilton Head. We are a national organization with chapters throughout the United States and the United Kingdom and almost 10,000 members. We support each other in dealing with an unthinkable loss: our children leaving this earth before us. We go a step beyond other support groups by allowing the open discussion of spiritual experiences in a non-dogmatic way.

My daughter, my only child, passed almost five years ago and finding Helping Parents Heal has helped me tremendously in my journey with grief. One never “gets over it;” instead, we learn to live with it by supporting each other and providing resources to aid in the healing process.

Whether your journey with grief is a new one or not, I think being with others who “get it” can be beneficial in this journey.

I invite parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins to join us for our monthly meetings. They are held the second Sunday of every month at Seaquins Ballroom, located at 1300 Fording Island Road in Bluffton. Our next meeting is from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 10. For more information, please contact me at 843-706-0882 or ivouvalides@aol.com.

Irene Vouvalides Chapter Leader HPH Board member HPH Conference chair HPH mother to angel Carly Elizabeth Hughes

24 hiltonheadmonthly.com

We Asked, You Answered

“LOVE ’EM OR HATE ’EM, THE HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE. WHAT DO YOU LOVE — OR DREAD — ABOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON?”

BAH, HUMBUG "I dread the yearly fear of hearing the Paul McCartney song ‘Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime.’ I try to avoid it at all costs." – LAURA LAWSON "I dread the thought of not having my dad to celebrate with. He loved Christmas more than any of us. I know this hurts for many." – JODI WATTS

"I HATE MISSING MY FAMILY, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY KIDS CAN’T PLAY WITH THEIR COUSINS IN THE U.K." – CLAIRE MILLARD "Traveling. We always go north to visit family, but the drive is brutal at the holidays, especially with a kid in tow." – SARAH HURST

A LOVE-HATE HOLIDAY

“HOLIDAYS MEAN THAT GRANDMA IS COOKING. I WILL BE WHEREVER THE FOOD IS — I JUST DREAD WASHING THE DISHES.” –KELSEE HOWELL

HO-HO-HO HAPPINESS “‘The Nutcracker’ — just hearing the first few bars is enough to bring on the holiday spirit. I love that we have this annual tradition in our little community.” – MICHEL CHELLA CLAUDIO

“I LOVE OUR FAMILY TRADITION OF RIDING BIKES ON THE BEACH ON CHRISTMAS DAY.” – PAMELA UHLES BROWNSTEIN

"I love the holidays. That’s when my true fashion sense comes out. I just don’t like waiting in the long lines this time of the year." – TROI ADAMS

“I love making my Christmas cake, which I have made for the 26th time this year! It's a great excuse to have friends over and catch up.” – DEBBIE BIRKETT

"The holidays really haven’t been that special for me. I want to change that once I start to have my own family."

– RICHARD CAMPBELL

“My mom’s eggnog is straight out of the ‘Charleston Receipts’ cookbook.

Guaranteed to improve your holiday cheer — as long as you don’t think about the cholesterol too much.”

– ANDREA TERRILL

“I dread mall Santas and the song ‘The Christmas Shoes.’ Things I love: the letters and photos people send with their holiday cards, and almost any version of ‘A Christmas Carol.’– JULIET LAMB

“Love family time and making cookies with my daughter.” – SARAH WARREN

December 2017 25

››Local vibe | People

THANK YOU

for voting us Reader’s Choice Awards 2017 for the 10th year in a row!

“

The experienced care at our chiropractic center is all about you.

Your well-being is our primary focus, and we will always go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction.

DR. BRAD FRAUM CHIROPRACTOR WINNER

DEDICATED TO YOU 3 PRACTICE DOCTORS WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

FRAUM CHIROPRACTIC LIFE CENTER 1403 Main Street Village, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926

843.681.7777 | WWW.FRAUM.COM 26 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“

Serving Hilton Head Island since 1991 Caring for our community for almost three decades, Fraum Chiropractic Life Center has got your back! Learn more about our multifaceted approach to chiropractic and wellness.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

READERS’ CHOICE WINNERS!

r . , e .

FREDERICK WENIGER, MD

FAVORITE DERMATOLOGIST BLUFFTON CARMEN TRAYWICK, MD

FAVORITE MEDICAL SPA BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD LUX

843.757.0123 SUITE 200

843.837.4400 SUITE 100

843.757.3223 SUITE 101

350 FORDING ISLAND ROAD

FAVORITE SPA BLUFFTON LUX

|

BLUFFTON SC December 2017 27

››Local news

DEC

hit

list

WINTER WONDERLAND FESTIVAL (DECEMBER 1)

Start the holiday celebration, everyone is welcome! 4- 8 p.m.

Shelter Cove Community Park

BLUFFTON CHRISTMAS PARADE (DECEMEBER 2)

10 a.m. at the corner of Bridge and Pritchard Streets. Parade participants will make their way along the parade route and end in Bluffton Park at the corner of Pin Oak Street and 8th Avenue.

BEADAZZLED (DECEMBER 5 - 30)

Beaded sculptures, jewelry and embroidered art pieces fashioned with thread or wire and more.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

MOVIE ON THE GREEN (DECEMBER 15)

In the spirit of the season, enjoy a showing of Elf. Proceeds donated to Honor Our Heroes Foundation. Moreland Crossroads

NEW YEAR'S EVE "BALL" DROPS (DECEMBER 31)

On Hilton Head, Harbour Town drops a golf ball from their famous lighthouse, while Bluffton prefers to drop a crab pot.

28 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PRESSANA GRANT REMEMBERED AT COMMUNITY CELEBRATION The “songbird of Bluffton” has flown.

Pressana Grant, who became well-known for singing at local events, died Nov. 1 at the age of 61 in a single-vehicle crash on Bluffton Parkway near Burnt Church Road. A community gathering was held in her memory on Nov. 9 at the Rotary Community Center at Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton, following funeral services at Campbell Chapel AME Church. Mourners crowded the church’s sanctuary and an overflow room. The community gathering was organized by Grant’s long-time friend Bridgett Frazier, who said, “Pressana would have been in awe. So many people of all ages, races and denominations came together.” A member of St. James Baptist Church on Hilton Head Island, Grant was an active member of the choir. A single mother of three and grandmother to six, she founded the Hilton Head Island High School gospel choir, which reunited three years ago for a concert and was planning to do so again in December. In June, Grant sang at the town of Bluffton's ceremony for the Garvin-Garvey House. Friends and family say she will be missed by all who knew her.

BLUFFTON ADDS A THIRD-ACRE PARK The town of Bluffton accepted the donation of a .3-acre parcel of land in the Stock Farm development during a Bluffton Town Council meeting in October. Eugene Marks, who owns and develops property in Stock Farm, offered the parcel so the town could create a small park to complement the existing amenities of Stock Farm and the May River Road Streetscape Project. New benches and landscaping will be installed in the new park as part of the May River Road Streetscape project, with additional amenities scheduled to be added in the summer or fall of 2018.

BEACH PARKING PASSES NOW AVAILABLE ON HILTON HEAD The Town of Hilton Head Island is selling beach parking passes for the 2018-19 season. Passes are available to Hilton Head residents and cost $30 a vehicle. The pass will allow residents to park in designated spots at Islanders Beach Park and Driessen Beach Park and can be purchased at Town Hall or the town’s facilities management division at 12A Gateway Cir on Hilton Head. Passes are valid through Dec. 31, 2019.

CHAMBER LEADERSHIP GROUP HOSTING PARK FUNDRAISER The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Leadership Class is hosting “Party in the Park” from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward a new train play set for the park. The event will include food from Melly Mel’s, Gullah Fried Sweet, and GMA on Ice, as well as music by Shane Marstiller, face-painting and more. Make a donation to the project or buy a commemorative paver to be installed at the park. For more information, contact Melanie Thomas at 843-707-6219.

Welcome to

››Local news MEDICAL CAMPUS PLANNED FOR BLUFFTON A new $22 million medical campus planned for the Buckwalter Place development will serve as a one-stop medical shop for all health care needs. St. Joseph’s/Candler is planning a 44,000-squarefoot facility to provide patients with services like primary care, physical therapy, wound care, X-ray and MRI imaging, plus oncology and radiation treatment. The new facility will be built in two phases on the four-acre parcel directly across from Buckwalter Place Boulevard. It is expected to employ 63 people with an annual total payroll of about $6.6 million.

PET MONTH THE

OF

Name: Milan Age: About 9 years old Gender: Female Weight: 45 lbs.

Breed: Rottweiler mix Length at the shelter? Almost 8 years

FORT MITCHEL ADDED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Fort Mitchel on Hilton Head Island has joined 1,400 other sites in South Carolina included on the National Register of Historic Places. The national program coordinates and supports public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s history and archeological resources. Fort Mitchel was constructed during the Civil War after Union troops captured Hilton Head in 1861, and it served as a defense against Confederate raids until 1868.

The remains of the fort were discovered in 1972 during the construction of Old Fort Pub, and the land was deeded to the Hilton Head Island Historical Society.

30 hiltonheadmonthly.com

AARP OFFERS DRIVING COURSE FOR SENIORS Seniors who successfully complete the “Smart Driving” course by AARP will receive a discount on their auto insurance. The course is the first and largest refresher course designed specifically for drivers ages 50 and older.

Instructor Paul Jones will teach research-based safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of a crash. The four-hour course is being offered from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dec. 6 at 18 John Galt Road in Beaufort. For reservations, call 843-470-5109.

ISLAND REC CENTER ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE

People for Parks is holding an open house for the community to preview the Island Rec Center’s new community center at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Guests will hear about construction and fundraising updates and will be able to tour the new building, which is currently under construction. The project includes renovation of the existing Island Rec Center and construction of a new facility with a second gym, elevated indoor walking track, teen room, fitness equipment, offices and rooms for classes. The renovated Island Rec Center is expected to open in winter 2018, with the new community center slated to open in summer 2018. The open house will be held at the existing Island Rec Center campus at 20 Wilburn Road on Hilton Head Island.

Temperament: Milan is picky about whom she likes, and she takes a while to feel comfortable with people. But once she does she is a sweet, snuggly love bug. She came to HHHA as a stray with two bullet wounds but has recovered. She is a staff favorite because once she warms up to you, she is all love!

Name: Oreo Age: About 10 years old Gender: Male Weight: 11 lbs.

Breed: Domestic Short Hair Length at the shelter? 6 years Temperament: Oreo is very laid back and typically likes to do his own thing, but also loves to cuddle. He was adopted from HHHA as a kitten but came back due to his former owner’s circumstances. Oreo has some health issues which are under control and nothing stops him from being a loving, relaxed older gentleman.

Visit them at:

Hilton Head Humane Assoc.

10 Humane Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 www.hhhumane.org | (843) 681-8686

PHOTO BY W PHOTOGRAPHY

››Local vibe

Setting the Stage

WALTER GRAVER LEFT A LEGACY OF SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS

BY JUSTIN JARRETT

F

or more than three decades, Walter Graver put everything he had into making Hilton Head Island a better place for residents and visitors alike.

“I’ve sat in the shadow of the trees that other people have planted here on Hilton Head,” Graver told Hilton Head Monthly in 2014, “and I don’t mind if the next generation finds some shade in the trees I’ve helped to plant.”

He left behind a flourishing forest.

Graver died Oct. 23 at age 96 after suffering from pneumonia, but his philanthropy lives on in every corner of the island he called home since 1986. His widow, Lois, said cards offering condolences and kind notes have poured in since his death. She hasn’t counted them, but estimates there must be at least 100. Similar sentiments have peppered the letters to the editor sections in local publications.

“Walt was a wonderful man and did so much for everybody,” Lois said. “What I’m reading is exactly the way he was.”

The list of Lowcountry organizations and programs Graver served is a long one. He was a past president of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, served for many years on the Hilton Head Cultural Council, was a founding member of the South Carolina Youth Leadership Conference, served on the committee that oversaw the opening of the Self Family Arts Center — now the Arts Center of

32 hiltonheadmonthly.com

‘‘ WALT SET

THE STAGE

FOR MANY THINGS

THAT ARE YET TO

COME. — Dan Castro

Coastal Carolina — was instrumental in creating the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, and led the Youths Friends Association — an organization that pre-dates his time on the Hilton Head and that focuses its grants on inspiring young people through the arts, including support for the arts programs at Hilton Head Island High School and Hilton Head Christian Academy. Beyond Hilton Head Island, Graver was involved with the Thornwell Home for Children, a foster home in Greenville that is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. He also contributed behind the scenes to numerous other organizations, and in addition to all those metaphorical trees he liked to mention, he also donated an actual one: the Town of Hilton Head Island’s official Christmas tree.

The common threads that run through most of Graver’s philanthropic efforts were his love for children and his passion for the arts.

Graver’s greatest desire was to bring a multimillion-dollar arts and entertainment center to the island. He was a founding member of the nonprofit group Community Vision of Hilton Head, through which Graver and other members spent more than a decade and upwards of $100,000 of their own money to fund a study that estimated a $500 million economic impact on the region over the first five years after opening such a facility.

“Walt was a man of vision,” said Dan Castro, who worked with Graver on a number of projects over the past decade and was the vice president of Community Vision. “He was an industry titan at one time, and he took that kind of vision and leadership and applied it to everything he did.”

Despite being involved in countless projects, Graver was rarely the front man who reaped the credit, Castro said. But when an organization he was passionate about needed a boost, “he would jump into it with all four feet.” The quality that most defined Graver was his persistence, but beyond that it was his ability to keep pushing without hurting the cause.

“In his persistence, he would never offend people,” Castro said. “He was a professional diplomat. I mean, he could have worked for the State Department. Even when someone disagree with him, he always left them loving him, and that’s why he’s always had such great respect from anyone he came into contact with on the island.”

That persistence is finally paying off in the quest for a new arts and entertainment center. The town recently established a committee to study the feasibility of bringing Graver’s vision to fruition and hired an arts and culture director — two “home runs” for the arts community that Castro attributes in large part to Graver’s hard work.

“Walt set the stage for many things that are yet to come,” Castro said.

make your season bright

stone

o

tile

o

area rugs

o

wood

o

carpet

35 main street, suite 110 o hilton head, sc 29926 o (843) 342–4955 w w w. k p m f l o o r i n g . c o m

December 2017 33

RENDERING COURTESY OF BLUFFTON ROTARY CLUB

››Local vibe

All Aboard for Park Project BLUFFTON ROTARY CLUB TO ENHANCE ‘FIELD OF DREAMS’

BY DOT JEGER

A

place filled with children and families, all running around, laughing, playing: It’s what the “Field of Dreams” at Oscar Frazier Park has been about since the beginning—and now the space is getting an upgrade. Enhancing the playground and bringing other improvements to the park is a fitting way for the Bluffton Rotary Club to mark 30 years of serving the Lowcountry.

34 hiltonheadmonthly.com

The open field and playground area in front of the park’s community center, given to the town of Bluffton by the Rotary Club more than 13 years ago, is slated for a facelift to begin early next year. The Rotary Club hopes the addition of a creative train-themed playground, as well as other planned improvements, will put the park on par with Bluffton’s Dubois Park — creating another destination for family

At Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton, an enhanced playground, walking trail and other improvements are coming soon.

fun in the Old Town area.

The project is part of a partnership by the Rotary Club, the town of Bluffton and the members of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program. Other planned improvements to the park include a new picnic pavilion with restrooms, a walking trail, an art wall, space for formal events like weddings, a splash pad with

fountains, and improved landscaping. The open space in the middle of the field will remain, town officials said.

“We are committed to keeping the grand lawn, perfect for its flexible use, as a gathering spot and a space to play informal soccer and pick-up football games,” said John Kirkland, president of the Bluffton Rotary Club.

The Rotary Club turned to local land planning and landscape architecture firm Witmer Jones Keefer for help with a master plan for the park project. The club also held two open forum meetings in October for community review and shared its plans with the Bluffton Park homeowners association for its approval, because the neighborhood surrounds the park.

The playground expansion is phase one of the plan. In honor of the park’s namesake, Bluffton’s former mayor pro-temp and poet laureate Oscar Frazier, a train-themed play structure will be added to the site. Frazier ran a barbecue restaurant in an old caboose. The playground also will get new turf, cooling sand and other equipment.

“We’re excited about the train concept and having a structure to tie into the fabric of the park and our community,” said Frazier’s nephew, Kenneth Frazier, who also is a member of this year’s chamber leadership program. The leadership class has taken on the playground enhancement as their annual project.

Playground construction is expected to begin in 2018 and be completed in the spring, when the capital campaign for the next two phases of park improvements is set to kick off.

The Bluffton Rotary Club has set aside about $45,000 for the initial phases of the project and partnered with Bluffton officials to identify grants that could help pay for the estimated $1 million improvement project. The chamber is also holding fundraisers for the project.

December 2017 35

PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

››Local vibe

Italian Ingenuity

CLUB COOKS UP A RECORD-BREAKING MEATBALL

BY CARMEN HAWKINS DECECCO

H

ilton Head Island has earned a mouth-watering new superlative— it’s home to the world’s largest meatball and holds a record to prove it.

Italian cuisine is filled with mouthwatering dishes, but few are as comforting or as classic as spaghetti and meatballs. Or meatball. Just one, weighing 1,700 pounds.

The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island served up a monster meatball Nov. 18 in its quest to set a world record for the world’s largest.

Representatives from The Guinness Book of World Records were on hand, ready to see if the Hilton Head meatball could top the former record-holder, a meatball prepared by an Italian-American Club in Ohio that weighed in at 1,110 pounds.

The Hilton Head team easily rolled

36 hiltonheadmonthly.com

over the competition.

The idea was cooked up over dinner a few years ago. IACHH board members Rob Lembo and Christina Belen joked about setting a world record for biggest meatball, and over a few glasses of vino the Meatball Madness Festival Don’t Fuggetaboutit Committee was born.

On Nov. 14, club got the roughly 2,600 pounds of meat cooking in a stainless-steel “pod” and custom large oven engineered by club members Joe Carpinteri and Kevin Lawless. In order to qualify for the world record, the meatball had to be not only large but edible, as well, with the center of the ball reaching 165 degrees. The club used a recipe provided by member Joe Sullivan, owner of Mulberry Street Trattoria in Bluffton.

Samples of the record-breaking

meatball were distributed Nov. 18 at the annual Italian Heritage Festival-Meatball Madness event, which also included a 5K race, other Italian dishes and music.

After the new record was recorded, volunteers from nonprofit Second Helpings helped the club cut up and package the cooked meatball to distribute to partner agencies. Second Helpings rescues food and delivers it to over 60 agencies in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties.

Meatball Madness had been planned as its own event, but Hurricane Irma forced the club to reschedule the Italian Heritage Festival.

The preparing and weighing of the meatball was filmed for the syndicated cable TV show “Small Town Big Deal” to air at a later date.

The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island broke a world record by cooking a 1,700-pound meatball Nov. 18 at Shelter Cove Community Park.

Above left: A representative of from The Guiness Book of World Records presents the award to the club.

Above: The giant meatball cooked in a special pod.

December 2017 37

››People

Holiday Happenings How does the Lowcountry spend the holiday season?

MONTHLY ASKED AREA RESIDENTS WHAT THEY’LL BE DOING TO CELEBRATE. HERE ARE A FEW OF THEIR ANSWERS:

BY DEAN ROWLAND

“We have Christmas morning at our house and do presents. My wife’s family lives on Hilton Head, so we go spend time with them.

We go to church on Christmas Eve, and my wife makes a birthday cake for Jesus for the kids. It’s more about giving than getting.”

Josh Cooke owner of Corner Perk

“I don’t have any plans yet. I think I’m just going to work.

My family is in Puerto Rico and my parents still don’t have power or water after the hurricane. The communications are not good either, but I’m hoping I’ll be able to talk with them on Christmas.”

Nobiraida Infante waitress at Truffles and Chow Daddy’s

“I don’t know. I try not to think about it. Honestly, I just do what I’m told. It’s some kind of fire drill, you know. It’s impossible, just crazy. It depends on everybody’s plans.

You’ll have to ask me Jan. 3.”

Amos Hummell artist

“I like to make sure my guys at work can enjoy their families and take some needed vacation time at the holidays so I work the schedules to be convenient for them. And then I do the cooking Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for my boys and my parents. We celebrate with just a small family thing.”

“We visit family before Christmas, but we’re always home for Christmas itself. All my kids will be coming in. It’s kind of a tradition that no one wants to break, but I don’t have anybody who’s married yet so nobody’s been tested.”

Sandy Benson owner of Custom Audio Video

Lisa Sulka mayor of Bluffton

38 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“My husband, Scott, youngest son, Mark, and I are staying in town.

My older son, Dean, is a deputy sherrif here so he'll most likely work. ”

“We plan to stay right here in the Lowcountry, which means going to Savannah for ice skating and shopping on Broughton Street; a visit to see Hilton Head’s holiday lights and coffee, ice cream, lunch and shopping in our favorite place in Bluffton: Calhoun Street.”

Sandy Entrup, manager of The Bargain Box of Hilton Head

“I'll be going to my grandmother’s in Allendale. She turned 94 before Thanksgiving. She lives alone, and so it will be my husband, my grandmother and myself. Just spending time with family and going to the midnight service.”

Ashley Reeder executive assistant to Todd Hawk owner of H2 Builders

Meg Engler a teacher from Bluffton

“I’m flying to London to spend three days with my daughter, who’s in school there.

We’ll probably take in a show and stay at Claridge’s Hotel. Then we’ll go to Ireland to spend Christmas with my family on the North Berkshire coast.”

Sharon Cleland, interior designer at J. Banks Design Group

December 2017 39

in the world ››Where is Monthly?

1

2

3

1. Jim LaMarre, Paula Hart, Gordon Miller, Kathie Miller, and Sandy and Jan Stasiek went sailing with Monthly in Croatia.

2. Larry and Mary Lou Cygan cruised the Danube on their way to Engelhartszell, Austria, for a visit home.

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com

4

3. Karen and Richard Hutchinson crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2 with Hilton Head Monthly on a trip to Norway to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

4. Bea Fuller of Bluffton and family pose with Monthly in Durango, Colorado.

5

6

7

5. Paula and Nick Brenchak show off Monthly in Havana.

6. Dinny and Elmer Cuthbertson pose in Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background.

8

7. Patricia Owen and her husband, Jay, hold up an issue of Monthly in Havana.

8. Jenny and Steve Altman and Sharon and Ed Lumadue of Bluffton enjoy the beauty of Portmeirion, North Wales.

December 2017 41

››Social spotlight

CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE ANNOUNCES WINNERS

From left to right, the winners of the 16th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, held at Port Royal Golf Club were: a 1953 Chevrolet 3100 Good Humor Ice Cream Truck, People’s Choice Award; a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder, the Paul Doerring Founders Award; and a 1934 Cadillac Victoria Convertible Coupe, Best of Show Award. Photo by Rob Kaufman.

FRED ASTAIRE STUDENTS DANCE THEIR WAY TO SUCCESS Students from Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Hilton Head/Bluffton competed in the Ballroom Blitz Dance Competition in Orlando against more than 300 students from around the world. Pictured are Hannah Pfenninger, Emily Oldham, Jacqueline Boockmeyer, Milla Porcelli, Rashad Gadson, Teddy Oldham and Matei Porcelli.

All students took home medals.

BLUFFTON ORTHODONTICS GIVES AWAY BRACES Brianna Davis, 13, received a free set of braces from Bluffton Orthodontics as the winner of its “New Smile for a New School Year” contest. Brianna was selected at random from dozens of entries. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to work with Dr. Garrison to give her the smile she’s always dreamed about,” her mother said.

44 hiltonheadmonthly.com

HILTON HEAD HEROES HOLDS GALA, PRESENTS NEW BOARD Hilton Head Heroes announced its board of directors for 2017-18. They are, seated: Nancy Kelly, Jan Raisch, Lindy Russell and Leila Nelson. Standing, from left: Marilyn Healy, Paul Griz, Gregg Russell, Rob Bender and Faith Seiders. Not pictured: Nancy Condor and Mark Hammond. The organization held its annual gala and silent auction — its biggest fundraiser of the year — on Nov. 3 at the TidePoint Clubhouse. The money raised supports its “Hero House” — a vacation home run by the nonprofit group to host families of children with terminal illnesses for a fun-filled vacation.

MAY RIVER MONTESSORI STUDENTS DONATE HARVEST The elementary school students at May River Montessori — led by their gardening instructor, Amy Thompson — grew a bountiful crop of lettuces and herbs this season. The students have donated the harvest to Bluffton Self Help, a local organization that serves over 10,000 community members a year. The produce will help fill the food bank’s need for fresh, organic food this holiday season. May River Montessori’s gardening program, now in its third year, lets students plant, tend and harvest organic produce and herbs.

VEGFEST DRAWS CROWDS

The Palmetto Plant Eaters Club hosted the second annual VegFest on Oct. 21 at Shelter Cove Community Park. The free community vegan festival attracted approximately 1,000 people from Beaufort County, Charleston, Savannah, North Carolina and Florida. Celebrity vegan activist and author Gene Baur spoke and the band Cranford Hollow performed, as did the Bluffton School of Dance. About 60 vendors offered vegan food and drinks, advocacy, merchandise, education, services and pets for adoption. Pierre the Pig from Wallow in the Woods Pig Sanctuary in Metter, Ga., also made an appearance.

December 2017 45

››Social spotlight

BLUFFTON ROTARY CLUB OUTFITS STUDENTS IN SHOES The Bluffton Rotary Club held its annual Happy Feet event Nov. 4 at Payless Shoes in Bluffton, raising enough money to outfit more than 200 local children with shoes for school.

COLLINS GROUP REALTY DEBUTS RENOVATED ‘COMMUNITY VEHICLE’ The Collins Group Realty’s Community Vehicle received a full renovation and new look. The boutique real estate firm has offered the truck to local schools, churches, clients and nonprofit organizations throughout the Lowcountry, free of charge, for more than 15 years.

ROTARY CLUB HONORS HILTON HEAD TEACHERS

The Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island held a ceremony honoring the island’s “Teachers of the Year” for their exemplary service.

Hilton Head Mayor David Bennett presented a proclamation honoring the awardees and spoke about his own teachers in his life.

Rotary committee chairman Jon Hopman also spoke, acknowledging each teacher and praising their contributions to education and their students.

46 hiltonheadmonthly.com

WEXFORD CHARITABLE FOUNDATION RAISES OVER $100,000 FOR CHARITIES

At its sixth annual charity gala and auction, The Wexford Charitable Foundation raised more than $100,000 for local nonprofit groups. Terre Blair Hamlisch was the special guest and the Bluffton School of Dance performed “One Singular Sensation,” a song composed by her husband. Since its inception in 2012, the Wexford Charitable Foundation has donated more than $500,000 to 26 well-deserving local charities.

TORCH CLUB RAISES $1,000 FOR PUERTO RICO

FISHCAMP FUNDRAISER BENEFITS ISLAND REC CENTER

In its first fundraiser, The Torch Club raised $1,000 in donations for Puerto Ricans affected by Hurricane Irma. The club, designed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry to inspire leadership and develop character in middle school students, held a bake sale throughout October, making the treats using donated ingredients. “We’re overjoyed not just at the selflessness of our volunteers, but of our young Torch Club members as well,” said Terece Torquanto, deputy unit director.

At its inaugural oyster roast, Fishcamp restaurant raised more than $7,500 for the Island Recreation Center Expansion and Renovation Project and People for Parks. The Heritage Classic Foundation matched donations by 15 percent, bringing the total raised to $8,625. “We’re building a community together,” said marketing director Abby Werth.

December 2017 47

PHOTOS BY

››Health

Born to Raise Hope MAGGIE MAINE, THIS YEAR’S HEART BALL HONOREE, IS A MIRACLE

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year — and, for many families, the busiest. Holiday parties. Shopping for gifts. Spreading peace and good cheer.

It’s easy to get swept up in the tinsel and twinkling lights, but the Maine family always makes sure their daughter, Maggie, is right in the middle of the action.

Maggie was born with a series of congenital heart defects that have made it harder for her to do the things other kids her own age do. But that never slows her down.

For example: On Halloween, Maggie’s tiny frame couldn’t keep up with the other young ghosts and goblins prowling Lowcountry neighborhoods in search of candy. She rode in a trailer, hopping out every few houses to collect her goodies and return to her ride while kids around her ran the streets, collecting sugary treats until their bags overflowed.

But before long, rallied by Maggie’s brother Mason, neighborhood kids were pooling their candy to make sure she didn’t miss out.

“She wound up with a bigger bag of candy than anyone else,” said her father, Jeff. “It’s really cool watching the effect a kid like that has on other kids.”

48 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Despite a lifetime of hardships that began even before she was born, through endless physical therapy and numerous surgeries, there is a light in young Maggie Maine that will not be dimmed.

“Even on a bad day she still looks at us and smiles,” said her mother, Renae.

“We’re motivated by her and people around her are, too.”

Despite her young age of 7, Maggie has proven herself to be both a source of limitless inspiration to those around her and an incredibly strong child. Diagnosed with Dandy-Walker Syndrome in utero when Renae was 26 weeks pregnant, Maggie has defied medical science.

Dandy-Walker is a malformation of the cerebellum, an area at the back of the brain that controls movement, but also can cause problems in other organs.

Maggie is missing 50 percent to 75 percent of her cerebellum, and doctors were able to detect as many as four heart defects using ultrasound while she was still in utero. When Maggie was born, doctors were able to confirm the Dandy-Walker diagnosis, along with six total heart

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY THE MAINE FAMILY

Maggie Maine, now age 7, was born with Dandy-Walker Syndrome and six heart defects. She underwent open heart surgery as a baby.

defects. They also discovered that she had suffered a stroke.

Eventually, doctors determined Maggie was well enough to allow Jeff and Renae to take their daughter home. Just three months later, she was back in the hospital.

“She was just very low energy. She wouldn’t eat and she wasn’t putting on any weight,” Renae said.

Her doctors decided to operate, performing open-heart surgery and installing a pacemaker. During the surgery, Maggie suffered another stroke.

During times like this, hope can become a rare commodity. For the Maines, however, hope goes hand in hand with faith. And theirs never faltered. In return, they were granted a miracle.

Young Maggie took to her physical therapy immediately, her young brain rewiring itself as it grew. The girl who would never move was soon walking and running. The girl whose heart should have been too weak to let her move soon began to dance, expressing her endless joy through ballet.

And, in defiance of conventional medical wisdom, the girl who is missing nearly half

Meet

MAGGIE

Lowcountry resident Maggie Maine, 7, will be the 2018's honoree at the Southern Coast Heart Ball.

The event, which benefits the American Heart Association and its mission to raise awareness about the dangers of heart disease and stroke, will be held Feb. 3 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. For more information, go to ahacharlestonsc.ejoinme.org/ MyEvents/20172018Sout hernCoastHeartBall.

Against all odds and thanks in part to a pacemaker, Maggie is able to see, dance, and take part in typical childhood activities.

of her optic nerves can see.

“Textbook-wise, she should be blind,” Jeff said. “We’ve actually had her ophthalmologist tell us, ‘I don’t know why she sees.’ ” But Maggie’s parents might know why.

“I don’t doubt for a second we’ve witnessed a lot of miracles with Maggie. In this day and age, people write that off, saying, ‘You’re just lucky,” Renae said.

“For us, we just feel really blessed. You can’t just brush that off and say it’s luck.”

Jeff agrees.

“We believe God has a hand in that. At the end of the day it’s His decision of what kind of life she’s going to live and what she can do,” he said. “We’re just here to be a part of that.”

Witness the miracle that is Maggie yourself at the Southern Coast Heart Ball, to be held Feb. 3 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Maggie will be the honoree at this year’s gala, which benefits the American Heart Association and focuses on raising awareness about cardiovascular disease and stroke.

December 2017 49

››Health

Holiday HIIT Workout

LOCAL TRAINER OFFERS TIPS FOR FIGHTING HOLIDAY SPREAD

BY BECCA EDWARDS

H

ave you ever wondered where the expression “Slow as Christmas” comes from? Everyone knows there’s nothing slow about Christmas. From the start of the holiday season it’s a 24-7, frenetic hodgepodge of festivities that often derails our wellness routines.

But not this year. Give yourself an early gift: Stacey Saritelli’s holiday high-intensity interval training workout. Saritelli — a personal trainer, the fitness director at Breakthrough Fitness Center and the five-time winner of local“best of” Readers Choice Awards — is a graduate of Penn State University and has a bachelor’s degree in commercial recreation and health education. She also is an ACE/AFPA personal trainer and fitness instructor and an ACE-certified weight

50 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Stacey Saritelli teaches a HIIT class at Breakthrough Fitness Center on Hilton Head Island.

management consultant. Yep, she kicks butt — for a living.

“This 25-minute HIIT workout is a quick way to get in shape,” Saritelli said. “The basis is functional, full-body moves that build strength, stamina and stability all while increasing your metabolism.”

Intensity intervals increase the amount of calories you burn during and after your exercise session, she said.

“It is widely accepted that strength training increases the body’s metabolism, causing it to store less fat tissue, which will result in reduced body fat and increased lean muscle mass."

Because it doesn't require equipment and can be done at home, this workout is perfect for those who have no time to go to the gym or no gym membership. Sounds like just the ticket to help keep off those holiday pounds.

‘‘

PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT STRENGTH TRAINING INCREASES THE BODY’S METABOLISM, CAUSING IT TO STORE LESS FAT TISSUE.

—Stacey Saritelli, fitness director at Breakthrough Fitness Center

SARITELLI

HOLIDAY HIIT

W O R K O U T  WARM UP (2 minutes) Do anything that gets the body warm, like marching in place or toe taps

➸Segment 1

(repeat twice)

 PLANK ROWS (45 seconds): From plank position, alternate tapping your palms to the opposite shoulder  JUMP SQUATS (45 seconds): With your toes at 2 and 10 o’clock, jump up, landing on your heels with your knees behind toes  REST (30 seconds)  REPEAT

➸Segment 2

(do for 2 minutes)

 BURPEES: From standing, bend at the waist, jump back to a plank, do a modified push-up, jump forward, and jump up

››

December 2017 51

››Health

➸Segment 3

(repeat once)

 SCISSOR LUNGES (30 seconds): Alternate forward jumping lunges  MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (30 seconds): In the plank position, quickly bring alternating knees to your chest  V-TUCK CRUNCH (30 seconds): Laying flat on back, contract abs, lift chest and bring knees in toward chest  X-JACKS: From a low squat position, explode into the air into a large “X” and land softly in a squat  REST (1 minute)

➸Segment 4

(3 minutes)

 SPEED SKATERS (50 seconds and a 10-second rest): Quick side to side movement, with one leg behind the other and using resistance band  ELBOW PLANKS JACKS (50 seconds and a 10-second rest): With your elbows under your shoulder and heels pressed back, quickly jump out and in  TRAVEL SQUATS (50 seconds and a 10-second rest): Using a resistance band around the knees, squat back and then travel to the right eight times and to the left eight times

52 hiltonheadmonthly.com

➸Segment 5

Cool Down (3 minutes)

 GLUTE LIFTS (1 minute): On your back and with a band around the knees, lift and lower your glutes, contracting at the top and keeping heels flat  BICYCLES (1 minute): Lie on the back and put a resistance band around the knees; alternate right elbow to left knee and left elbow to right knee keeping elbows open  BEAR CRAWLS (1 minute): On hands and knees and with band around the knees, lift knees slightly off floor, and then crawl to the right four times and to the left four times

➸Stretch

(2 minutes holding each pose for at least 30 seconds)

 On your back, hug your knees to your chest, then lift the left leg in air and hold straight  Take leg across body to right, look over left  Repeat other side  Roll over to Child’s Pose: kneel, then lean toward the ground, keeping your hands down at your side, until your head rests on the floor or you can’t stretch forward any further  Advance to standing, bent at the waist — also known as standing forward fold — and then roll up and finish with a big inhale and exhale Becca Edwards is a wellness professional, freelance writer and owner of b.e.WELL+b.e.CREATIVE (bewellbecreative.com).

December 2017 53

››Business | Entrepreneur

Scotland’s Delicious Heritage

HOW HILTON HEAD ISLAND'S HERITAGE SHORTBREAD INTRODUCED A GENERATIONS-OLD RECIPE TO A GLOBAL AUDIENCE.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

54 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

O

ver the course of its centuries-long history, Scotland has given many gifts to the world. The sublime smokiness of single malt. The beautiful frustration that is the game of golf. The timeless class and sophistication of Sir Sean Connery.

But perhaps none are as delectable as simple shortbread. The crumbly, buttery treat somehow embodies hospitality, whether it’s enjoyed alongside a steaming cup of tea or as a gift.

“When my mother got out the shortbread pans, that always meant something was happening. Either it was a holiday, or it was being made as a present,” said Willow Cole (née McGrain).

“She’d never tell anyone how she made it because every Scottish person has their own recipe.”

Fortunately, Cole’s Scottish-born mother eventually passed the McGrain family recipe down to her daughter. And when her mother passed away, Cole decided to carry on that legacy of delicious hospitality — and share it with the world.

What started out as a small side business selling shortbread based on her mother’s recipe and baked by her husband, Tom, has snowballed into an international success story. Today, Heritage Shortbread can be found in gift shops from Hilton Head Island to Canada, South Korea and Japan, still made with that delicious original recipe.

“I just thought it’d be great to create something on the island that people could get as a gift to take home,” Cole said.

WHERE TO BUY Heritage Shortbread can be purchased in gift shops around the world. In the Lowcountry, it can be found at Pyramids on Hilton Head Island and at RT’s Market in Palmetto Bluff in greater Bluffton. Or go online to heritageshortbread.com.

But something in her recipe struck a chord with foodies, and soon she and her husband were seeing potential far beyond the Lowcountry’s shores. Before long, Heritage Shortbread was being stocked by stores like Neiman Marcus and Dean & DeLuca.

“We’re proud of where we come from,” Cole said. “I’ll go with Tom to food shows in New York and San Francisco, and when we say we’re from Hilton Head, everyone knows Hilton Head.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Heritage Shortbread’s location allows it to play off the Lowcountry’s famed hospitality and enjoy easy access to shipping.

“The beauty of any kind of mass shipping is you have the Port of Savannah right there,” Cole said. “We seem remote on this sleepy, beautiful island, and yet we’re able to produce it and the trucks take it to Savannah and off it goes. It’s very user-friendly that way.”

Despite the now-global reach of the cookie’s empire, Heritage Shortbread is still made in a Hilton Head bakery by the husbandand-wife team. Willow Cole was disabled in a car accident, so her husband oversees the bakery while also running his own chiropractic clinic.

“I come up with the ideas, but he’s the one that does the yeoman’s work,” she said. “He’s really the one who’s there all the time.”

And it’s under Tom Cole’s watchful eye that Willow’s mother’s legacy is carried on, with deep respect for that tradition informing new additions — like the lemon-infused shortbread — to the product line.

“My mother was a purist. Our twist was to add lemon, but we use pure lemon oil — there are never extracts or additives,” Willow Cole said. There’s also royal lavender shortbread, which has its own United Kingdom inspiration. “I read an article on Princess Diana. When she was having horrible morning sickness and was hospitalized with her first baby, the only thing she could eat was lavender shortbread. So I said (to Tom), ‘You better go develop that.’ ” And even as the product line has grown and flourished, it’s still very much a family affair. “Several times, we’ve looked into outsourcing,” Willow Cole said, “but if you’re not there and on top of it, it will morph into something that’s just a commodity.”

Instead, it remains a testament to a family tradition and a Scottish treasure.

What started out as a small side business for Willow and Tom Cole has snowballed into an international success story.

Heritage Shortbread embodies hospitality.

December 2017 55

››Business | Leadership WE LIVE IN A DRAMATICALLY CHANGING MARKETPLACE. THE DYNAMIC LEADER KNOWS HOW TO STAY RELEVANT AND EXPAND RELEVANT SKILLS.

3. Remain flexible

5. Plan

4. Be Passionate

6. Maintain Self-Awareness

Leaders who thrive understand why organizations need to change. They also see the value in Plan B, C, D, and Z. Just because it wasn’t the first idea doesn’t mean it’s not the better idea. Strengthen this attribute: Replace the word “failing” with the word “learning.”

The road to success

Passion is what propels leaders who thrive to take risks when others won’t. Strengthen this attribute: Eliminate the excuses you make to accept new challenges. Understand what is holding you back.

10 ATTRIBUTES OF LEADERS WHO THRIVE

BY DAVE FERGUSON

(but don’t over-plan). Leaders who thrive plan for potential pitfalls, difficulties and setbacks — but not so much that they overlook opportunity. Many leaders fall victim to over-planning. Strengthen this attribute: View your plans as a road map, and let go of perfection.

Leaders who are self-aware lead with a better sense of purpose and authenticity. This is because they are in tune with their strengths and weaknesses equally. Strengthen this attribute: Ask for feedback from trusted peers and mentors — allow them to be your mirror until you can learn to be your own.

I

’ve written and presented many times about good habits to practice, but it is equally important to discuss valuable attributes of successful leaders. I’m talking about those features that are inherent in us.

If you look at any business that weathered the Great Recession, or any business that shows continual growth, you will be able to identify many of the following valuable attributes in their leadership team.

1. Stay curious

Many leaders who thrive are successful because they are “life-long learners.” They never presume to know it all, and constantly wonder how something can be improved.

Strengthen this attribute: Ask, “What if?” in every situation.

56 hiltonheadmonthly.com

2. Be creative

Leaders who thrive in a changing market do so because they are innovative. They work with what they have and produce things no one else imagined. Strengthen this attribute: Hold brainstorming sessions with your team (or by yourself). No rules allowed — anything goes.

7. Network

Leaders who thrive understand the strength of a team, and don’t presume they’ve gotten where they have on their own. They know that a certain amount of interdependence is more valuable than independence. Strengthen this attribute: Set monthly goals of people you would like to connect with, email, or touch base with. Write these goals down.

8. Doubt yourself

(but not too much).

Leaders who thrive are successful in part because they are not blind to challenges. Leaders who doubt themselves too much will eventually talk themselves out of trying. But a little bit of doubt is healthy, and keeps their leadership grounded. Strengthen this attribute: If you doubt too much — ask yourself, “Is that thought unfounded?” If you doubt too little —ask yourself, “What are the potential pitfalls of this decision?”

9. Be decisive

Leaders who thrive often do so because they make decisions faster than others. Strengthen this attribute: Gather the “how,” “what” and “why” of every decision you face. Decisions are infinitely easier to make if you’re clear on their importance and impact.

10. Remember the customer

Leaders who thrive know who their customers are, are familiar with their expectations, and are constantly reassessing their customers’ needs.

Strengthen this attribute: Let customers get to know you — communication is a two-way street and the foundation for any lasting relationship.

Remember, we all have the ability to be any one of these things — some features just may come easier to some than others. But this doesn’t mean attributes can’t be developed.

Take the time to get to know yourself and your team, and identify which of these valuable attributes come natural and as well as those you’d like to see more of. Practice makes progress.

Dave Ferguson is an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator and author. Contact him at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com. Ferguson is a part time resident of Hilton Head Island. This article was originally published in CEOWorld magazine and is reprinted here with permission.

December 2017 57

››Business | Finance the federal funds rate in December, and then possibly as many as three to four more times in 2018.

We will certainly see increased interest income on our cash savings. The offset to that will be that we will likely see the cost of borrowing go up. Investors should also be wary about being overexposed in the equity markets, as rising interest rates will make fixed-income investing more attractive and draw investable dollars away from stocks. I would be particularly concerned about higher dividend stocks like utilities, as these investments compete directly with bonds.

The next area of concern is how full employment — defined as a 4.1 percent unemployment rate — and the resulting impact on wages will impact inflation.

Remember that the majority of Americans today have very little experience with rising interest rates and any meaningful level of inflation. Labor is becoming a huge problem for companies, particularly in the Lowcountry, as new business and existing employers compete for people in a limited labor pool. Wages will increase, causing more demand for goods and services, and what is known as “wage push” inflation will be off and running. The FOMC has indicated that it would like to see a 2 percent annual inflation rate, and with all this tightness in the labor market, as well as increasing oil and food prices, we just might see prices rising at rates not seen in decades.

When it comes to tax reform, we must remember that our tax code has been constructed not just to pay for the cost of government, but also to be a tool to implement policy. Let’s start with the subject of corporate taxes, as that issue is far less complicated than individual tax reform.

The United States has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world and, as a result, U.S. corporations are disadvantaged when competing for both customers and capital in a global marketplace. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress can find ways to support a lower corporate tax rate of, say, 25 percent as long as they can also find a way to make up for that lost revenue without increasing the national debt. If the proposed changes were to lower the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, and reduce the number of corporate

Rising interest rates will make fixed-income investing more attractive and draw dollars away from stocks.

The ever-changing world we live in

BY ELIHU SPENCER

I

t is said that lake sailors are far more skilled because they deal constantly with gusting winds, while ocean sailors enjoy the prevailing winds for days at a time. Like sailors, those of us in the business of forecasting economic activity are much more comfortable following trends, and so the rapid change we are now experiencing is driving us crazy.

As we head into 2018, we must keep in mind that our personal financial situations are likely to change substantially. Let’s start by looking at interest rates and how upward pressure, across the interest rate curve, will affect us. Analysts anticipate that the Federal Open Market Committee will continue to raise

58 hiltonheadmonthly.com

THESE DAYS, THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING HARD — THE TROUBLE IS THEIR DIRECTION IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

tax loopholes, lawmakers would probably work together and pass legislation.

Unfortunately, the current proposals are for a 20 percent rate, which many will not support.

As far as individual tax reform is concerned, it will be far more difficult for our elected officials to compromise. While we can all agree that tax simplification is an admirable goal, the complexity of reducing the number of tax rates and the elimination of certain deductions is immense. Further, the unintended consequences of changing the tax code are far-reaching. Under the current proposed legislation, several highly popular deductions would be eliminated or reduced in exchange for a higher standard deduction and fewer and lower marginal tax rates.

President Donald Trump has promised this plan will reduce taxes for the middle class and will spur economic growth, which hypothetically would make up for revenue lost due to lower tax rates.

While eliminating the ability for people to deduct state and local taxes on their federal tax return can offset the advantages of a higher standard deduction, it will certainly result in migration from higher-tax states like New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota to lower-tax states like South Carolina, Florida and Texas. The unintended

consequence is fewer people paying for government services in higher-tax states and more demand for services in states with lower tax rates.

And, of course, the proposed increase in the standard deduction and the reduction in the level of the mortgage interest deduction may well give way to higher demand for rental housing. The elimination of deductibility for second homes could also cause home prices to drop in markets like Hilton Head Island. Every current tax deduction has a sponsor, however, and the debate will be fierce.

Unintended consequences are certain.

Expect 2018 to be a year of change for our national and local economies, and as far as our personal finances go, it is important that we are knowledgeable and prepared to deal with the unexpected.

Elihu Spencer is a local amateur economist with a long business history in global finance. His life work has been centered on understanding credit cycles and their impact on local economies. The information contained in this article has been obtained from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

December 2017 59

››

On the move

SONESTA RESORT EARNS ACCOLADES

PEACOCK AUTOMOTIVE ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION

Peacock Automotive purchased the Savannah Hyundai dealership in November from previous owner Mark Medinger. With this new purchase, Peacock Automotive now covers more than 15 acres with four dealerships in the Savannah area. Peacock Automotive will add 60 jobs to its current roster of about 600 employees. All current employees of Savannah Hyundai will keep their positions. Angelo Minichiello will serve as general manager of the new Peacock Hyundai of Savannah.

LOCAL OPHTHALMOLOGIST EARNS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD The American Academy of Ophthalmology has awarded Dr. Scott K. Schultz with the prestigious Achievement Award. The award recognizes Schultz for his many years of distinguished service in AAO programs. Schultz is a member of the leadership development program, serves on the glaucoma subcommittee, participates in the mid-year forum for advocacy, and lectures at AAO meetings. He is currently the director of glaucoma care and surgery at Bishop Eye Center on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. He has dedicated his career to the treatment of glaucoma by using the latest techniques and technologies. For more information, call 843-689-3937 or go to bishopeyecenter.com.

RESORT RENTALS PARTNERS WITH VACASA Resort Rentals of Hilton Head Island has recently partnered with Vacasa, a globally recognized leader in vacation rentals. Resort Rentals’ existing properties will now have access to Vacasa’s enhanced digital photography, digital imaging, dynamic rates and reach.

The local management team and staff will remain in place and continue to focus solely on Hilton Head vacation rentals.

60 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Court Akins Group receives 28 honors The Court Akins Group received 28 awards at the 18th annual Lighthouse Awards hosted by the Hilton Head Area Association of Home Builders. The awards included Best Home Architectural Design and Best Interior Design/Merchandising, in addition to 26 other honors.

This year’s award show included 29 builders and 67 qualifying entries. The Court Akins Group specializes in residential and commercial architecture, planning and interior design.

HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MOVES TO NEW HOME The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra has joined forces with The Richardson Group and is moving to a new location in Coligny Plaza. The new space will be at 7 Lagoon Road and will also house the symphony orchestra’s offices, as well as serve as an event space for the community — it’s ideal for intimate events like recitals, small interactive concerts and theatre productions. The symphony orchestra expects the new space to open in early summer.

FINANCIAL ADVISER RECEIVES ACCREDITATION Natasha Donaldson, a financial adviser at Financial Design Associates of Savannah and Bluffton, recently passed the Series 7 and Series 66 exams. These exams are administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and qualify her to work in securities and as an investment adviser.

The accreditation will allow her to do business in South Carolina and Georgia with Financial Design Associates, a division of MassMutual Financial Group.

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island has been awarded the 2017 Re a d e r s ’ C h oi c e Award by the publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, a national multimedia resource for event planning in the South.

The award is presented to meeting sites that provide exemplary service for group events.

More than 6,000 voters participated in the selection process. The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head has received the award four times since its 2012 opening.

BLUFFTON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kelly Logan Graham has been named the new executive director for the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society. Graham is a well-known artist and marketing professional who has lived in the Bluffton area for 36 years. He will be responsible for marketing and promoting the Heyward House Historic Center.

J. BANKS DESIGN WELCOMES THOMAS Donna Thomas has joined the staff at J. Banks Design Group as accounting manager. She will report to Sarah Tillman, the company’s vice president of finance, and will manage the daily operations of the accounting department. Most recently, Thomas worked for Sea Pines Montessori Academy as director of operations. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clemson University.

SALON ADDS NEW STYLIST

Fifth Avenue Salon on Hilton Head Island recently welcomed Jon Sankas to its styling team.

Sankas has been a stylist in the area for more than three years.

He is passionate about promoting healthy hair and specializes in women’s cuts, color and keratin treatments.

STONEWORKS NAMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER StoneWorks, a family-owned stone and tile design center on Hilton Head Island, has promoted Rob Cavano to general manager of production. Cavano has been with the business for 12 years and most recently served as operations manager. In his new role, Cavano will be responsible for all facets of service, scheduling, templating, production and installation.

COURT ATKINS GROUP RECEIVES 28 LIGHTHOUSE HONORS The Court Atkins Group received 28 awards at the 18th annual Lighthouse Awards hosted by the Hilton Head Area Association of Home Builders.

The awards included Best Home Architectural Design and Best Interior Design/Merchandising, in addition to 26 other honors. This year’s award show included 29 builders and 67 qualifying entries. The Court Akins Group specializes in residential and commercial architecture, planning and interior design.

LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT HONORED WITH TOP AWARD Kelly Brock was honored with the award for the highest sales, highest revenue and highest preferred cruise sales at the AAA Travel annual conference in October. Brock is a 30-year veteran of the travel industry and has served with AAA Carolinas in Bluffton for the past 17 years. This is her fourth time winning the Superlative Award, and Travel Agent Magazine has also named her a Top 25 All-Star.

HAMPTON HALL CLUB WELCOMES NEW MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Kristy Stewart has joined Hampton Hall Club as the new director of membership, marketing and communications. Previously, she served as the club manager at Dolphin Head Golf Club for nine years, as well as director of membership relations and communications at Sea Pines Country Club. Stewart is a member of the Professional Club Marketing Association and currently serves as secretary for the Lowcountry chapter. She is from Nebraska and moved to the area in 2006.

December 2017 61

H I L T O N

H E A D LE

B R ATI

11 E

YE

Sunday, February 18, 2018

RS

OF BR

1 P M U NT I L 4 P M

HAMPTON HALL , 157 HAMPTON HALL BLVD. BLUFFTON SC 29910 Presale $8 (includes mimosa!) $12 at the Door. Visit hiltonheadmonthly.com/bridal for tickets

62 hiltonheadmonthly.com

2018

AL

2007

A

N

G

C

BRIDAL SHOW

ID

The Island’s Best Party!!

monthly

pe

ok e sp

ha v l op

’

20 17

2017 Readers’ Choice Awards Party You Voted- Now Come Celebrate with the 2017 Winners!

Food - Drinks - Gifts - Giveaways - Live Music by The Martin Lesch Band and White Liquor - More!

Tuesday, December 5th 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sonesta Resort, Hilton Head

Purchase Your Tickets Today! hiltonheadmonthly.com

shop Sponsored by: local more

December 2017 63 .org

12,001 PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN: 2017 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

MONTHLY CELEBRATES LOCAL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE 2017 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS. These are the “best of the best” places to shop, dine, live, party and more, as voted by you, our readers. We received 12,001 electronic ballots in our eight-week Readers’ Choice campaign, intending to identify the top contenders in wideranging categories. Are you looking for the best of the Lowcountry? You’ll find it here. If you don’t find your favorites here, make sure to cast your ballot next year.

Congratulations to this year’s winners, and special thanks to all who voted.

64 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE FOODS FAVORITE APPETIZER

Hilton Head Island: Wise Guys: Gourmet tapas and delectable small plates get the party started in an urban, sophisticated atmosphere.

Bluffton: The Pearl Kitchen & Bar: “Firsts” in this coastal fine dining spot include handselected oysters and jumbo lump crab cake.

FAVORITE BURGER

Hilton Head Island: Charbar Co.: The Champ (in both its signature burger and its chart-topping dishes) since 2012.

Bluffton: British Open Pub: 8 oz. of certified Angus Beef cooked the way you love it and served on a fresh Ottenberg brioche roll.

FAVORITE BURRITO

Hilton Head Island: Java Burrito Company: It’s not hard to make a good burrito. But the best burritos use local and organic ingredients and damn good guacamole.

Bluffton: Mi Tierra: Authentic Mexican burritos filled with carne asada, chile verde, carnitas and more crowd pleasers.

FAVORITE CANDY

Hilton Head Island: Chocolate Canopy: Since 1982, only the finest ingredients are used in these quality handmade chocolates.

Bluffton: Kilwins: An old-fashioned confectionery with chocolates, fudge and ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth.

FAVORITE CRAB LEGS

Hilton Head Island: Crazy Crab: Melted butter, lemon wedges, red potatoes and corn accompany the sweet taste of these generous crab clusters.

Bluffton: Captain Woody’s: Serving fresh Alaskan snow crab legs with a choice of two fantastic sides.

FAVORITE BARBECUE

Hilton Head Island: One Hot Mama’s: Our very own celebrity chef (she’s a Food Network star and South Carolina chef ambassador), Orchid Paulmeier is the queen of pit-to-plate barbecue.

Bluffton: Bluffton BBQ: It’s a barbecue joint, not a restaurant. Ted Huffman wins again with his generous sandwiches served on Texas toast.

FAVORITE FRENCH FRIES

FAVORITE DOUGHNUTS

Bluffton: Fat Patties: The crispy signature rosemary fries are worth their own plate.

Bluffton: Alljoy Donuts: Made by Culinary Institute of America in New York graduate Bill Ellis, these doughnuts have taken Bluffton by storm since the shop opened this summer.

Hilton Head Island: Charbar Co.: Perfectly salted and always fresh, these fries are to die for.

Hilton Head Island: Duck Donuts: This new doughnut shop opened in March at the Fresh Market Shoppes and all the doughnuts are made to order with toppings chosen by the customer.

December 2017 65

›› FAVORITE FOODS FAVORITE FRIED CHICKEN

Hilton Head Island: Rockfish Seafood & Steaks: Take your pick of sliders made with award-winning BBQ pulled pork, Kobe beef, crab cakes or buffalo chicken.

Hilton Head Island: Ruby Lee’s: Tim Singleton’s grandmother would be proud of the perfect fried chicken created by chef David Young.

Bluffton: Okatie Ale House: Quintessential homestyle sliders served with lettuce, tomato and American cheese.

Bluffton: Cahill’s Market: Could it be any fresher? Johnny Cahill’s famous Chicken Kitchen serves scrumptious bird, raised just a few yards from the front door.

FAVORITE STEAK

Hilton Head: Crane’s Tavern: All of Crane's steaks—ribeyes, filet mignon and sirloin— are generously hand carved, prime grade and come in sizes from petite to large.

FAVORITE FROZEN YOGURT

Bluffton: Bluffton Room: Try the Trilogy, the three very best steaks plus fatted potatoes, creamed spinach and mushrooms.

Hilton Head Island and Bluffton: Orange Leaf: Always new featured flavors and toppings, in a fun setting.

FAVORITE OYSTERS

Hilton Head Island: Old Oyster Factory: At this waterfront dining destination, the staff served more than 210,000 oysters last year.

FAVORITE HEALTHY MENU Hilton Head Island: Delishee Yo: This vegan/ vegetarian cafe sources local produce and even has a sustainable garden on location.

Bluffton: The Juice Hive: This juice bar and health emporium specializes in cold-pressed juices, smoothies, lunch items and snacks.

FAVORITE ICE CREAM/GELATO

Hilton Head: Hilton Head Ice Cream: This shop has been making delicious, homemade, award-winning ice cream for locals, visitors and local restaurants since 1982.

Bluffton: Ben & Jerry’s: The long-awaited treat shop on Promenade Street in Old Town Bluffton officially opened in May to rave reviews.

FAVORITE MARGARITA

FAVORITE PIZZA

Hilton Head and Bluffton: Local Pie: True Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas with a wide variety of topping options.

FAVORITE SALAD

Hilton Head Island: Healthy Habit: Make your own farm-fresh chopped salad or select from their six signature dishes featuring locally sourced produce.

Hilton Head Island: San Miguel’s: These classic Margaritas combine tequila, lime and triple sec in a refreshing, crisp drink.

Bluffton: Truffles Café: These salads are tossed with Romaine hearts and baby greens, with your choice of housemade dressings.

Bluffton: Agave Side Bar: Serving only Patron Tequila in its world-class margaritas.

FAVORITE SANDWICH

FAVORITE MILKSHAKE

Hilton Head: Charbar Co: Perfectly blended, cold and creamy goodness.

Bluffton: Cheeburger Cheeburger: Any flavor you can think of, or combine a few to make something new in a retro 1950s setting.

66 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE SLIDERS

Hilton Head Island: Munchies: Fresh baked breads, quality deli meat stacked high and a wide selection of cheeses make this the place for lunch.

Bluffton: Alvin Ord's: Bread baked on the premises and melted cheese are the secrets to this perfection wrapped in white butcher paper.

Bluffton: Bluffton Seafood House: The May River oysters couldn’t be fresher—they have travelled less than a few miles from their natural habitat to the shucking house and then to your table at the Toomers’ restaurant.

FAVORITE WINGS Hilton Head and Bluffton: Wild Wing Café: Its name says it all. With neverfrozen wings and 33 scratch-made sauces, it's no surprise that they flew to the top of the charts again this year.

FAVORITE TACO

Hilton Head: Holy Tequila!: Choose a plate of three with creative favorites such as fried chicken, pork belly pastor or thai chicken.

Bluffton: Mi Tierra: At this family-owned restaurant, you can’t go wrong with tacos filled with steak, chicken, carnitas, shrimp or lightly battered fish.

FAVORITE SUB

FAVORITE SUSHI

Hilton Head Island: Stu’s Surfside Subs: Homemade bread makes 22 signature subs stand out.

Hilton Head Island: Hinoki: Restaurant and lounge serving the very best sushi.

Bluffton: Which Wich: This Belfair plaza sub shop ensnared sandwich fans with their mouth-watering ingredients and laid-back philanthropic vibe.

Bluffton: Kobe: Offers a variety of traditional Japanese dishes and sushi in beautiful presentations.

FAVORITE TAKEOUT

Hilton Head Island: Fiesta Fresh: Fast-casual Mexican with homemade taco shells, killer cilantro salad dressing and a fantastic salsa bar.

Bluffton: Saigon Café: No matter what time of day or night, a steaming bowl of pho noodle soup is comfort food that can’t be beat.

December 2017 67

›› FAVORITE FOODS

FAVORITE ASIAN RESTAURANT

Hilton Head: Okko: The sleek décor is only upstaged by the authentic Asian cuisine.

Bluffton: Saigon Café: Lemongrass, ginger, mint, peanut sauce and basil leaves delicately flavor the savory dishes from Vietnam.

FAVORITE BAKERY

Hilton Head: The French Bakery: Made-from-scratch breads baked in the wee hours of the morning are wonderful, or enjoy an authentic croissant.

Bluffton: Twisted European Bakery: A touch of Europe in the Lowcountry, serving light, flaky pastries.

FAVORITE BAR/HOTEL

Hilton Head Island: Bayley's Bar & Terrace at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head: Enjoy a signature cocktail or a cold beer by the pool or ocean.

Bluffton: River House Lounge at Montage, Palmetto Bluff: Handcrafted cocktails, wine and suds while soaking in gorgeous views of the May River.

FAVORITE BAR/ LATE NIGHT

Hilton Head Island: Roof Top Bar at Poseidon: Not just a great watering hole with a million-dollar view, the Roof Top Bar is hands down one of the island’s best live music venues.

Bluffton: Old Town Dispensary: The place for Blufftonians to see and be seen, period. If these walls could talk… we’d tell them to shush so we could hear the band.

FAVORITE BAR/SPORTS Hilton Head Island: Street Meet: This tavern has all the cable sports packages, and serves craft beers and American bar food including wings, sandwiches and burgers.

Bluffton: Cheap Seats Tavern 2: The place where you never have to ask “is the game on?” and a plate of delicious wings, pizza, calzone or Stromboli is always close at hand.

FAVORITE BARTENDER

Hilton Head Island: Melissa Roy, Twisted Cork Cocktail & Wine Bar: Everyone’s favorite bartender is blazing her own path with a bar to call her own.

Bluffton: Benjamin Nelson, Corks Wine Co.: Friendly, knowledgeable and always ready with a killer recommendation. We raise our glasses to you, Ben!

FAVORITE BEER SELECTION

Hilton Head Island: World of Beer: If you’re going to throw down with a name like that, you’d better deliver. And WoB does, with selections representing the finest suds from all points on the globe.

Bluffton: Fat Patties: The beer list comes at you with a dizzying selection of mouthwatering brews. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a world tour.

FAVORITE BREWERY

Hilton Head: Hilton Head Brewing Company: The OG brewery on Hilton Head Island is still the best, with a stunning selection of brews complementing that signature Tropical Lager.

Bluffton: Southern Barrel Brewing Co.: Enjoy a glass in the beer garden or head inside and watch it made while you polish off a pint.

If there’s a heaven, they serve SBBC’s Saison N’on N’on.

68 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE BRUNCH & BREAKFAST FAVORITE BREAKFAST

FAVORITE BRUNCH

Hilton Head: Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café: You know those long lines you see here on Saturday and Sunday mornings? They’re there for a reason. This place has staked its claim on Hilton Head’s breakfast scene and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Hilton Head: Reilley’s Grill and Bar: Three words. Crab Cakes Benedict. OK, one more. Mimosas. Some things just speak for themselves.

Bluffton: The Cottage: There are two types of people. Those who rave about the scones here and those who haven’t tried them yet. And the early-morning people watching along Calhoun Street always delights.

Bluffton: Red Fish: The mighty Sunday brunch at Red Fish proves this isn’t just your go-to place for a sophisticated seafood dinner.

It’s also a great launching pad for your Sunday Funday.

December 2017 69

FAVORITE DRINKS & NIGHT LIFE FAVORITE CATERING/ CATERER Hilton Head: SERG: The same magic that SERG Group has brought to some of our island’s most revered restaurants is here to make your party unforgettable.

FAVORITE CASUAL RESTAURANT

Hilton Head: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks: There are institutions and then there is Hudson’s. Slurp some oysters or crack into some crab legs, without worrying about a dress code.

Bluffton: The Cottage: An exquisite menu caps off the full experience at The Cottage – charming indoor dining and fabulous outdoor dining right on Calhoun.

Bluffton: Downtown Deli: If there were a Mount Rushmore of Bluffton’s dining scene, you’d see Ryan and Leah McCarthy’s faces smiling down from it.

We’ve seen what they do with their current space and we can’t wait to see what happens when they relocate into larger digs.

FAVORITE CHEF

Hilton Head Island: Michael Cirafesi, OMBRA Cucina Rustica: Score another for the talented chef who brought Italy’s finest food traditions to Hilton Head Island.

Bluffton: Chaun Bescos, Red Fish: It’s rare that a chef takes such passion in procuring ingredients. Not only does Chef Bescos prepare his dishes with expert skill, he usually hunted, fished or foraged for them with his own hands.

THE FIRST COCKTAIL PARTY HAPPENED IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI IN 1917

FAVORITE DESSERT MENU Hilton Head Island: The Purple Cow: No one does dessert like The Purple Cow. The S’Mores Cups alone could have put them over the top, but when you combine that with a deep roster of scrumptious confections, this is one sweet win.

Bluffton: Pour Richards: Ally’s cakes are famous, and they’re just part of a multi-faceted menu of mouth-watering morsels that make up the ever-rotating menu of goodies.

FAVORITE DRINKS AND NIGHTLIFE

Hilton Head Island: The Jazz Corner: One of the world’s hottest jazz rooms (that’s not hyperbole – they have the awards to back that up) is a shoe-in for the island’s coolest place to grab a cocktail and enjoy some serious tunes.

Bluffton: Old Town Dispensary: At night, the front courtyard transforms itself into Bluffton’s back yard. This is where the town comes together to knock back a few drinks and shoot the breeze.

70 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP Hilton Head: Starbucks: Our local baristas are legendary for the care they take in getting to know everyone who walks in the door.

Bluffton: Corner Perk: That friendly neighborhood coffee shop in every sense of the word, this is Bluffton’s most treasured hangout spot for rich, flavorful coffee and conversation.

FAVORITE DELI

Hilton Head Island: Publix: The only thing that could possibly make that world-famous Publix bakery bread better is turning it into a delicious sandwich, piled high with thin-sliced meat and cheese.

Bluffton: Downtown Deli: Ryan, Leah and their crew launched a culinary empire from their spot on Mellichamp.

When they make the move into their new building, the sky will be the limit.

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FAVORITE EUROPEAN (NON-ITALIAN) RESTURANT Hilton Head Island: Alfred’s (German): The uber-flavorful cuisine of Germany has found a home at Alfred’s, a place where the hearty fare of Deutschland is reinvented with sophisticated style.

Bluffton: Claude & Uli’s Bistro (Continental/French): Not since Lady Liberty has there been a more generous gift from the French to the United States. The only thing more delightful than the rich cuisine on offer is the welcoming hospitality of Claude & Uli themselves.

FAVORITE FINE DINING

Hilton Head Island: Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana: Sets the standard for contempary Italian fine dining in the Lowcountry. Also holds cooking classes.

Bluffton: The Bluffton Room: At a place where expensive cars pull up next to high-end golf carts, the sophistication of fine cuisine meets the laid-back attitude of Bluffton. The result is culinary perfection.

December 2017 71

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FAVORITE FOR LARGE GROUPS

Hilton Head Island: Skull Creek Boathouse: The extra large outdoor deck means there’s plenty of room for the whole group to spread out. The famed menu of seafood means plenty of reasons for the whole group to come together.

Bluffton: Truffles Café: Depending on your group you can either fill in one of the side dining rooms or grab one of the private areas.

Either way, you’re in for a fabulous dining experience.

FAVORITE HAPPY HOUR

Hilton Head Island: Reilley’s: A great happy hour isn’t just about drink specials or appetizers. It’s about people, and Reilley’s is the spot where locals come together to share a few drinks and good company after work.

Bluffton: Old Town Dispensary: Live music, cornhole and great drink specials in the epicenter of Bluffton’s social scene make for the perfect happy hour.

FAVORITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Hilton Head Island: OMBRA Cucina Rustica: Chef Michael Cirafesi captains this stylish spot for elevated Italian cuisine. Rustic plates of salads, pastas, grilled meats and locally sourced seafood pair with a thoughtful list of premium wines.

Bluffton: Nonna Rosa: Chef Peppe named the restaurant after his grandmother, and it was her treasure trove of small-town Italian recipes that informs a marvelous menu of oldworld favorites.

FAVORITE KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Hilton Head Island: Salty Dog Café: While the kids get their pictures taken with Jake and enjoy family-friendly tunes, you can dig into some amazing seafood and breathe in a few moments of silence alongside South Beach Marina views.

Bluffton: Fat Patties: Admit it. There have been more than a few times you wish you could play on the giant soccer ball pool table. But you’re just going to have to let the kids have their fun and enjoy your consolation prize of a delicious craft beer.

FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANT

Hilton Head Island: Darren Clarke’s Tavern: GM Mike Doyle came to the island from New York City’s internationally renowned Smith & Wollensky to create a true gourmet-caliber steakhouse. He and the famed Irish golfer whose name is on the sign pulled it off.

Bluffton: FARM: OK, so FARM opened last year. But the carefully curated menu changes with the seasonal availability of local fare, so it’s like stepping into a new restaurant every time you go.

72 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE NEW CHEF

Hilton Head Island: David Luther: The anticipation over Skull Creek Dockside was electric. Chef David Luther created an inspired bill of fare that pairs exquisite seafood with Southern standbys and changed the game.

Bluffton: Chef Brandon Carter, FARM: If Chef Brandon Carter is new to you, he’s certainly not knew to our area’s discerning diners. He’d already proven himself as a genius in the kitchens of Palmetto Bluff’s finest restaurants before he partnered with Ryan Williamson and Josh Heaton to realize his vision at FARM.

FAVORITE MEXICAN/SOUTHWESTERN

Hilton Head Island: Santa Fe Café: It’s an island favorite for a reason. Carefully prepared dishes pair the flavors of Mexican cuisine with a delightful atmosphere. Eat outside if weather permits.

Bluffton: Mi Tierra: Locals know where to send you when you want the best Mexican. Just look for the wooden cowboy out front, then follow your nose to some of the most mouth-watering fajitas, burritos and Mexican favorites known to man.

FAVORITE LUNCH

Hilton Head Island: Jane Bistro & Bar: Jane has proven to be a powerhouse in the lunch category with dishes like the Greek Goddess and the Salmon BLAT. Bluffton: Truffles Cafe: We all know it’s the bread and butter that set this longtime favorite at No. 1. The salad, soup and pimento cheese sandwich are pretty awesome, too.

FAVORITE OUTDOOR DINING

Hilton Head Island: Fishcamp on Broad Creek: Brendan Reilley’s brilliance in turning the old Simmons Fishing Camp into the island’s hottest new seafood experience centered on giving those stunning Broad Creek views center stage. The result is delicious food served with a side of inspiring sunsets.

Bluffton: The Cottage: There’s no finer Southern tradition than porchin’, and no finer place to do it than at The Cottage, where the wraparound porch and cozy garden create an exquisite outdoor experience.

THE WORD RESTAURANT IS FRENCH, ORIGINALLY MEANING "FOOD THAT RESTORES"

FAVORITE PET FRIENDLY RESTURANT

Hilton Head Island: Bistro 17: You and your furry friend can enjoy a quiet table along the waterfront, where ample outdoor seating makes everyone feel equally welcome.

Bluffton: Old Town Dispensary: Anyone who says Bluffton doesn’t have a dog park has never seen the tail-wagging social club that emerges every night as Bluffton’s pet lovers converge on this outdoor hot spot.

December 2017 73

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

FAVORITE SOUTHERN RESTAURANT (CONT.)

FAVORITE RESTAURANT STAFF

Hilton Head Island: Michael Anthony’s: You don’t earn this many Readers’ Choice Awards without a terrific and hard-working staff. The friendly faces at Michael Anthony’s never fail in making you feel like part of the family.

Bluffton: FARM: There’s passion in every aspect of FARM’s mission statement.

As the chefs in the back labor over every detail, the staff in the front of the house bend over backwards to deliver the finest dining experience.

FAVORITE PLACE FOR A DATE

Hilton Head Island: Ela’s Blue Water Grille: The garden patio, the deep wine list, sophisticated menu and chic atmosphere come together to create the ultimate romantic getaway for two.

Bluffton: The Pearl Kitchen & Bar: The Nightingale family sweeps this category, with an inspired collection of upscale Southern-inspired dishes pairing beautifully with stylish décor.

FAVORITE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Hilton Head Island: Sea Grass Grille: Tucked away but well-known among locals, this hot spot near the beach serves scallops, grouper, shrimp and more.

Bluffton: Toomer’s Bluffton Seafood House: The first family of Bluffton seafood consistently delivers dock-to-plate goodness.

74 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Island: A Lowcountry Backyard: Hilton Head native David Peck serves the freshest Southern cuisine with his fried green tomato BLT, homemade pimento cheese, shrimp and grits and more.

Bluffton: Cahill’s Market: Some of the best fried chicken you’ll ever taste rounds out a menu famed for its Southern flair.

FAVORITE WINE SELECTION

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Red Fish: Its lengthy wine list has won Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence,” plus both locations have a wine shop with more than 1,000 wines.

FAVORITE VEGETARIAN

Hilton Head Island: Delishee Yo: Who else could make quinoa and kombucha taste so good? This Palmetto Bay Road hideaway proves healthy food can taste incredible.

Bluffton: The Juice Hive: Brought to you by the owners of The Cottage, the cold-pressed juices, smoothies and vegan-friendly items make this new lunch and breakfast spot a healthy favorite.

FAVORITE WATER VIEWS

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks: If you haven’t been out to the restaurant’s stunning overwater bar, you’re missing out on the island’s most happening hotspot.

FAVORITE WAITER/WAITRESS

Hilton Head Island: Ned Dwyer from Ombra: A veteran of this famed Italian eatery, Ned has proven himself to be a crowd favorite, with repeat guests asking for him by name.

Bluffton: Leah Bellamy at Pour Richard’s: In a town famed for hospitality, Leah stands out for her warmth, charm and deep knowledge of this Bluffton icon’s mouth-watering menu and famous wine list.

A CHEF'S HAT IS CALLED A TOQUE

FAVORITE ANTIQUE STORE

Hilton Head Island: The Greenery Antiques & Garden Collectible Shop: The shop is a retrofitted church that Ruthie and Berry Edwards purchased outside of Ridgeland and barged over to Hilton Head. It’s a fitting historical setting for the antiques and collectibles sold within.

Bluffton: Stock Farm Antiques: Since Bluffton was just a sleepy little town, Stock Farm Antiques has been offering up a huge array of the classic and the timeless.

December 2017 75

›› FAVORITE RETAILERS FAVORITE CHILDRENS SHOP

Hilton Head Island: Island Child: From the everyday to special occasions, the bestdressed and trendiest kids know to take mom and dad to Island Child.

Bluffton: Moonlit Lullaby: Clothes, gifts, swimwear and more await your young ones at this charming Bluffton shop.

FAVORITE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

Hilton Head Island: Chella D: Friendly and luxurious, this place has been called the island’s best kept secret. The secret’s out.

Bluffton: Bargains & Treasures: Low prices, unique finds and delivery put this spot above the rest.

FAVORITE FISH/SEAFOOD MARKET

Hilton Head Island: Benny Hudson’s Seafood: The Hudson family has been at the local seafood game long before most of us had heard of Hilton Head Island. They did it first, and they do it the best.

FAVORITE GROCERY STORE Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Publix: The undisputed champions of the region’s grocery game is a Southern tradition. Friendly service, huge selection and a bakery that’s approaching legendary status.

FAVORITE GIFT/ NOVELTY STORE

Hilton Head Island: Gifted Hilton Head: The streak of wins continues, a string of awards that began when Meredith Taylor first opened her charming shop.

Bluffton: Bluffton Oyster Factory: Known for its hand-shucked oysters, the seafood selection also includes fresh-off-the-boat shrimp and more.

Bluffton: Eggs N Tricities: Its new location on Lawton Street has breathed new life into a store that has defined Bluffton’s quirky charm for decades.

FAVORITE FLORIST

FAVORITE HARDWARE STORE

Hilton Head Island: A Floral Affair: Dawn Kiritsy brings her expertise as the island’s only AIFD florist to bear on every memorable arrangement.

Bluffton: Gardenia’s Event Floral: Angela Mandigo’s Circle of Life project of live wreaths expanded into the floral company it is today.

76 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Island: Grayco: Settled into its big digs on Palmetto Bay Road, it has everything you need for home improvement, tools and more.

Bluffton: Heuser Ace Hardware at Buckwalter Place: Named best new store in America by Hardware Connection Magazine, its focus is providing the best brands in hardware.

FAVORITE SHOPPING CENTER

Hilton Head Island: Shelter Cove Towne Centre: Stroll along the storefronts and you’ll find everything you need, from groceries to gifts to a tasty beverage served with Broad Creek views.

Bluffton: Tanger Outlets: A longtime savings center with close to 100 namebrand outlets at two spots within a mile of each another.

FAVORITE HEALTH FOOD/VITAMIN STORE

Hilton Head Island: Good Health Unlimited: Vitamins, supplements, herbs, natural health and beauty products, and organic food can all be found at this locally owned store.

Bluffton: The Juice Hive: There’s plenty of buzz around Bluffton’s hub for healthy living.

FAVORITE LIQUOR STORE Hilton Head Island: Rollers Wine & Spirits: With three spots in Coligny, Palmetto Bay Road and Port Royal Plaza, this store boasts the best booze selection on Hilton Head Island.

Bluffton: Bill’s Liquors & Fine Wine: Wholesale offerings, huge selection and low prices make this Fording Island Road store a favorite.

FAVORITE NEW BUSINESS

Hilton Head Island: Hilton Head Distillery: These purveyors of high-end craft spirits came out of the gate swinging with a range of delicious rums and their Aermoor Vodka.

Bluffton: Hobby Lobby: One of the most hotly anticipated openings in Bluffton opened its doors to universal acclaim.

December 2017 77

FAVORITE RETAILERS FAVORITE STATIONERY/ PAPER STORE

Hilton Head Island: Pretty Papers & Gifts: Offering beautiful and elegant stationery for weddings and events for 30 years.

Bluffton: Markel’s Card & Gift Shop: If you are given a gift adorned with one of their fabulous bows, you know you’ve scored. Wonderful stationary for writing your thank you notes is sold there too.

FAVORITE THRIFT SHOP

Hilton Head Island: The Litter Box: An eclectic mix of clothes, furniture, home goods and more benefit the Hilton Head Humane Association.

Bluffton: God’s Goods: Holy Moley, this place has a huge selection of gently used goods.

FAVORITE TIRE STORE

Hilton Head Island: Island Tire: With more than 40 years of family ownership, thousands have called on Island Tire for wheels.

Bluffton: Bluffton Tire & Auto: Carries all the name-brand tires for every type of car, truck or SUV.

FAVORITE WINE STORE

Hilton Head Island: Wine & Cheese If You Please: Its temperature-controlled wine room has every wine imaginable for all palates and budgets.

Bluffton: Belfair Fine Wines & Spirits: Huge selection and friendly service helped Bluffton’s friendly neighborhood wine store win over our readers.

FAVORITE AUTO DETAILING

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: A1 Auto Detailing: Not only detailing, but also reconditioning and restoration, exotic car storage, painless dent repair, motorcycle detailing and more.

FAVORITE AUTO REPAIR

Hilton Head Island: H&H Auto Service: The Lowcountry leader in auto repair, they offer free estimates and work with insurance companies.

Bluffton: Bluffton Tire & Auto: Repairs taking a while? These guys have shuttle service so you can get where you need to be while they work on your car.

FAVORITE BUSINESS PHOTOGRAPHER

Hilton Head Island: John Brackett Photography: When John’s not helping his clients put their best face forward, you’ll find him tickling the ivories in his own jazz trio.

Bluffton: Kellie McCann Photography: With her impressive technical skill and relaxed approach, Kellie’s portraits are head and shoulders above the rest.

78 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE SERVICES FAVORITE CARPET CLEANING

FAVORITE CHILD CARE FACILITY

Hilton Head Island: Mighty Mac: Making your carpets “beary clean” and also providing care for hardwood floors, upholstery, carpet and more.

Hilton Head Island: Providence Early Learning Center: Offers a full-time program for families of all faiths to have a safe, loving home-away-from-home for children from infancy to kindergarten.

Bluffton: Palmetto Cleaning & Restoration: Not only carpet cleaning, but also fire, smoke, soot and mold clean up.

Bluffton: Lowcountry Day: Privately-owned Christian and state-licensed preschool welcoming families, with a music and ballet studio on-site.

FAVORITE EVENT PLANNING COMPANY/PERSON

Hilton Head Island: Beth Baldwin Weddings: For more than a decade, Beth has been specializing in the lavish and luxurious.

Bluffton: Spencer Special Events: A favorite among regional and national wedding magazines and websites, Spencer Special Events has gained fame for their unforgettable ideas.

December 2017 79

FAVORITE HOME CLEANING

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: In and Out Cleaning & Steaming: Like its name suggests, they are quick and clean.

FAVORITE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Hilton Head Island: Celia G Photographie: From the moment you pop the question to the big day, Celia specializes in capturing the moment in vibrant images.

Bluffton: Silly Goose Photography: Family portraits and baby photos that come to life with color and energy are what this unique Bluffton studio is all about.

FAVORITE TECH SUPPORT COMPANY

Hilton Head Island: Tech Heads: Since 2011, these guys have been your one-stop-shop for getting your home or business some hightech TLC. Bluffton: KML Computer Services: For keeping your business’ data assets secure, Bluffton trusts KML Computer Services.

›› FAVORITE SERVICES FAVORITE VIDEOGRAPHER

WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING TO BALANCE YOUR BOOKS,

Hilton Head Island: Main Event Video Productions: Slick production and skillful cinematography ensure you’ll want to watch your big event over and over.

INVEST IN ART, BUY A NEW CAR OR GIVE TO A GOOD

Bluffton: Aerial Lifestyles Photography: The sky’s the limit for those looking to show off the curb appeal of their home or other assets.

FAVORITE CAR DEALERSHIP

FAVORITE ACCOUNTANTS

Bluffton: Stokes-Brown Toyota: A beautiful showroom and stellar customer service. Great pick, Bluffton!

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Innova SBC: An eye for the details and outstanding customer service gave Innova SBC the win on- and off-island.

FAVORITE ART GALLERY

Hilton Head Island: Smith Galleries: Making their return to the Readers’ Choice Awards is this Village at Wexford favorite.

Bluffton: Pluff Mudd: It doesn’t get much more Bluffton than this uniquely vibrant Calhoun Street art gallery.

80 hiltonheadmonthly.com

CAUSE, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WANT TO KNOW

Hilton Head Island: Hilton Head BMW: Whether you are looking to drive off the lot in a shiny new BMW or a pre-owned one, this is your one-stop-shop for cars and auto repairs.

FAVORITE CAR SALES PERSON

Hilton Head Island: Stephanie Sullivan, Hilton Head BMW: If you’re looking to get behind the wheel of the ultimate driving machine, Stephanie’s there to help!

Bluffton: Tom Calcaterra, Stokes-Brown Toyota: Stokes-Brown takes home another trophy with favorite sales person at your favorite dealership.

FAVORITE NONPROFIT GROUP

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Volunteers in Medicine: Dr. Jack’s vision remains as vital today as it was when it began.

FAVORITE BANK

Hilton Head Island: Coastal States Bank: Opened in 2004, local luck has paid off for the friendliest bank in Southern Beaufort County.

Bluffton: South State Bank: A bank for every stage of life, from professionals and newlyweds to families and retirees.

FAVORITE FAMILY PLANNING LAWYER

Hilton Head Island: Bree Kennedy of Kennedy & Blackshire, LLC. Attorneys at Law: Born and raised in Mississippi, she and her firm are well-known in the Lowcountry for their expertise in family law.

Bluffton: Meredith Bannon, The Bannon Law Group, LLC: Meredith Bannon is not only a great lawyer in her own right, she’s helping the next generation of attorneys as a new lawyer mentor with the S.C. Bar Association.

FAVORITE FINANCIAL ADVISER

Hilton Head Island: Gary Bezilla, Wells Fargo Advisors: A wide range of services offered with impeccable skill and know-how made Gary Bezilla our readers’ favorite.

Bluffton: Sarah Reed, Edward Jones: Offering one-on-one advice and specializing in those saving for retirement or college.

Shop More Local congratulates our winning partners 4M Metals 104.9 The Surf Alliance Dance Academy The Art Café The Bike Doctor Billy Wood Appliance Bluffton Center for Dentistry The Bluffton Room Budget Blinds Burke’s Pharmacy Chella D Claude & Uli’s Coastal Bliss Coastal States Bank Collins Group Copper Penny The Cottage Crane’s Tavern Crazy Crab Distinctive Granite & Marble Eggs’n’tricites Ela’s Blue Water Grill Faces Day Spa FishCamp A Floral Affair Forsythe Jewelers Gifted The Greenery Grayco HH Ice Cream Hilton Head Distillery

Island Child J. Banks Design The Jazz Corner Jiva Yoga The Juice Hive KML Computer Services KPM Flooring Kelly Caron Designs Litter Box Thrift Store Local Pie Maluka Old South Golf Links Optical Solutions Outside Hilton Head The Pearl Kitchen + Bar Players World of Sports Poseidon Providence Early Learning Center Reilley’s Rock Fish Seafood & Steaks Salon Karma San Miguel’s Stoneworks Street Meet Tail Wiggles Truffles Twisted European Bakery Which Wich?

Wild Wings Cafe

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US YOUR FAVORITE!

Monday-Saturday 10am-7pm | Sunday Noon-6pm 843.505.6252 | Shelter Cove Town Centre shopcopperpenny.com Connect with us on Social Media @copperpennyhiltonhead December 2017 81

FAVORITE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Sam Bauer, Bauer & Metro: The streak of wins continues for Sam Bauer and the team at Bauer & Metro.

FAVORITE GATED COMMUNITY

Hilton Head Island: Sea Pines: Who wouldn’t want to live in a community that has all the resort amenities? Easy access to the beach, Harbour Town, Lawton Stables, great biking and walking … it's a living paradise.

FAVORITE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONALS

82 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Bluffton: Hampton Hall: A community carved out of 1,000 pristine acres featuring a Pete Dye Signature Course, indoor pool, great tennis and more.

FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD

Hilton Head Island: Hilton Head Plantation: Beach parks, historical sites, restaurants and a true community feel. Why would you ever go outside the gates?

Bluffton: Old Town Bluffton: This sleepy little one-square-mile isn’t so sleepy anymore, but that tight-knit hometown feel remains.

FAVORITE LAWYER/ATTORNEY – GENERAL: Hilton Head Island: James F. Berl, P.C.: This former member of the JAG corps started his firm in 1994, representing islanders with skill and attentive care.

Bluffton: Ryan Mikkelson, Mikkelson Law Firm, LLC: The law firm specializes in services including commercial and residential real estate closings, family law and estate planning, but Mikkelson is active on a number of boards, including Family Promise of Beaufort County, the Boys & Girls Club of the Lowcountry, and Lowcountry Legal Volunteers.

FAVORITE INSURANCE COMPANY Hilton Head Island: Carolina Heritage Insurance: They call themselves the “insurance agency the Lowcountry is talking about.” Now they’re the insurance agency the Lowcountry is voting for as their favorite.

Bluffton: State Farm: Like a good neighbor, State Farm is Bluffton’s choice for favorite insurance company that’s got your back.

FAVORITE PRINTER Hilton Head Island: Curry Printing: These folks have ink running through their veins, so it’s no surprise they’ve earned your accolades as the island’s favorite.

Bluffton: Savannah Blue Prints: More than just blue prints, the Kittie’s Crossing location of a Savannah institution is your go-to for signs, brochures and more.

FAVORITE REAL ESTATE COMPANY Hilton Head Island: Charter One Realty: Years of experience and a dedication to putting customers first has made Charter One a clear favorite among our readers.

Bluffton: Collins Group Realty: Collins Group Realty celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. What better way to ring in the celebration than with a Readers Choice Award?

FAVORITE REALTOR

Hilton Head Island: Rick Saba. Carolina Realty Group: An island institution, Saba knows the ins and outs of island real estate like no one else.

Bluffton: Steven Stempel, Charter One: Tremendous know-how combined with a dedication to building relationships with clients makes for a real estate professional you can trust.

December 2017 83

FAVORITE BUSINESSES & PROFESSIONALS

FAVORITE RETIREMENT FACILITY

Hilton Head Island: The Cypress of Hilton Head: Don’t call it retirement. Call it what it is: an experience unlike any other on a beautiful campus with a friendly staff.

Bluffton: Bloom Senior Living: Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, the staff at Bloom makes every day enjoyable for residents.

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: 104.9 The Surf: Classic hits and toe-tapping favorites. Turn that dial to The Surf and you’ll leave it there all day.

FAVORITE REAL ESTATE LAWYER

Hilton Head Island: Jack Qualey, Qualey Law Firm: Qualey Law Firm hung out their shingle in 1990 and has been representing locals in real estate transactions, civil litigation and corporate settings with skill ever since.

84 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Bluffton: Ryan Mikkelson, Mikkelson Law Firm, LLC: Buying or selling property is stressful. You need a good real estate lawyer—like Ryan Mikkelson.

FAVORITE WEDDING VENUE

Hilton Head Island: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa: The upscale resort has been a longtime favorite of beach brides. Its Grand Ocean Terrace opened in 2017, making the best even better.

Bluffton: Oldfield Club: Stunning fairway views, upscale facilities and a dedication to luxury make Oldfield Club a clear favorite.

FAVORITE BIKE STORE

Hilton Head Island: The Bike Doctor: A favorite of cycling enthusiasts and beach cruisers, its two locations offer rentals, sales and maintenance service, and is the only authorized specialized bike dealer on the island.

Bluffton: Sports Addiction: Locally owned and operated since 1999, this is Bluffton’s favorite spot for equipment, service and repairs.

FAVORITE COVER BAND

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: White Liquor: The Rolling Stones never sounded so good as they do coming from Rick Saba and company. Can’t get no satisfaction?

Then you haven’t heard these guys yet.

FAVORITE GOLF STORE

Hilton Head Island: PGA Superstore: The long-awaited golfer’s mecca finally opened its doors to universal acclaim. Well worth the drive to the mainland.

Bluffton: Old South Golf Links: A fantastic public course and equally impressive pro shop, Old South Golf Links is a locals’ favorite.

FAVORITE HOTEL FOR VISITING FAMILY

Hilton Head Island: Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island: Lush and luxurious guest rooms, a slew of outstanding restaurants and that beautiful beach. You’ll be calling the family into town just for a chance to spend a day by the pool.

Bluffton: Hampton Inn & Suites BlufftonSun City: Centrally located for a trip into Old Town or a day exploring Beaufort.

FAVORITE KIDS ACTIVITY

Hilton Head Island: The Art Café: Let the young ones pick their pottery and paint to their hearts content – and if you want to enjoy a glass of wine while they express themselves, so be it.

Bluffton: Alliance Dance Academy: From tap to ballet to hip-hop, Rochelle Clarkson has a class for everyone, young and old.

December 2017 85

FAVORITE MARINA

Hilton Head Island: Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina: Step off the boat and you’re surrounded by one of the best selections of shops and restaurants on the island. Stay onboard, and you have prime seating for the Tuesday night fireworks during the summer.

Bluffton: Palmetto Bluff: The majestic May River draws you to this idyllic paradise set among live oaks and drenched in luxury.

FAVORITE TOUR COMPANY

FAVORITE TRAVEL & RECREATION

86 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Island: Island Explorer: Offers a variety of dolphin and nature tours ranging from one to three hours.

Bluffton: Kelly Tours: Coordinating tours all over the region and beyond with departures from Savannah, Charleston and Jacksonville.

FAVORITE ORIGINAL BAND

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Cranford Hollow: They tour all over the country, but we’re happy that our resident rock stars still call Hilton Head Island home.

(And congrats to frontman John Cranford on getting married recently!)

FAVORITE PARTY BAND

FAVORITE SPORTING GOODS STORE

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: The Nice Guys: This talented quintet finished first for a reason, propelled by a funky setlist of old favorites given an unexpected twist.

Hilton Head Island: Player’s World of Sports: One of the largest selections of tennis gear, complemented by soccer, swimming and beach supplies.

FAVORITE JAZZ BAND

Hilton Head Island: Martin Lesch Band: This Jazz Corner favorite packs a deep playlist running from jazz standards to soulful Delta blues.

Bluffton: Dick’s Sporting Goods: The big-box store has a selection for any sport and offers special discounts on designated days ahead of every youth sports season.

Bluffton: Deaz Guys: Reggie and company never fail to delight a crowd with their blend of Motown, R&B and jazz.

FAVORITE TENNIS CENTER

FAVORITE PRIVATE GOLF CLUB

Hilton Head Island: Long Cove Pete Dye Course: At 7,000 yards, this championship course is just the right balance of flexible and challenging in a gorgeous Lowcountry setting.

Bluffton: Colleton River Plantation Club: Its Pete Dye and Jack Nicklaus courses frequently land on “must play” and “best of” lists for South Carolina.

FAVORITE PUBLIC GOLF CLUB

Hilton Head Island: Harbour Town Golf Links: The home of the RBC Heritage is a classic course with iconic Lowcountry views, including the picturesque 18th hole leading up to the famous lighthouse.

Bluffton: Old South: A favorite of residents and visitors alike, wildlife abounds on this naturally beautiful course.

Hilton Head Island: Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort: Recently named the top tennis resort in the Carolinas by Tennis Magazine, Palmetto Dunes offers 40 adult clinics weekly, as well as free exhibitions and demo days.

Bluffton: Tennis Club of the Low Country at Rose Hill: TCL has programs for all ages, including regular tennis socials and an excellent junior development program.

December 2017 87

FAVORITE TRAVEL AGENT/AGENCY Hilton Head Island: Island Travel: Helping locals make travel plans since 1983.

Bluffton: AAA Carolinas: It’s not really a vacation if you have to do all the planning. Let these award-winning travel agents handle the details.

FAVORITE WATERSPORT RENTAL COMPANY

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Outside Hilton Head: Whether it’s bikes, kayaks, paddleboard or surfboards, Outside Hilton Head has the largest quality selection. Plus super fun outdoor adventures on the water.

FAVORITE APPLIANCE STORE

Hilton Head Island: Billy Wood Appliance: A 44-year-old family-owned business.

Bluffton: Livingood’s Appliance & Bedding: Locations in Savannah and Okatie offering discount prices on appliances and mattresses and top-notch customer service.

FAVORITE ARCHITECT

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Court Atkins: Specializing in architecture, planning, and interior design for residential and commercial projects.

FAVORITE BLINDS/ WINDOW COVERINGS

Hilton Head Island: Liberty Wall Coverings: Whether you’re covering your windows or walls, these guys have been doing it all since 1985.

Bluffton: Budget Blinds of the Lowcountry: Blinds? Shutters? Shades? Drapes? Rugs?

They have thousands of looks in hundreds of colors.

FAVORITE CABINET COMPANY

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: American Wood Reface: This family-owned business can remodel kitchens faster and at lower cost using exclusive process to reface your existing cabinets.

88 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE CARPET/ FLOORING COMPANY

FAVORITE HEATING AND AIR COMPANY

Bluffton: Exact Flooring: Offering an extensive collection of brand-name flooring options and a knowledgeable staff that’s ready to dress up your home with new floors.

Bluffton: Howell Chase Heating and Air Conditioning: All its technicians are certified

by North American Technician Excellence Inc., the leading certification program in the industry.

Hilton Head Island: KPM Flooring: Floors a little squeaky? Look no further than their amazing selection of tile, stone, carpet, area rugs and specialty floors.

FAVORITE ELECTRICIAN

Hilton Head Island: Randy May Electric: Ready to handle any electrical project, big or small, since 1982.

Bluffton: Bluffton Electric: Full-service electrical company focused on providing high-quality electrical service and customer satisfaction.

Hilton Head Island: EAC Heating & Air: A Carrier factory authorized dealer with more than 30 years of experience.

FAVORITE BUILDER/ REMODEL

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: H2 Builders: With homes in Hampton Hall, Indigo Run, Palmetto Bluff, Berkeley Hall and Colleton River, H2 Builders has been building luxury homes as the Lowcountry grows.

FAVORITE INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY Hilton Head Island: J. Banks Design: Internationally renowned interior designer defines casual elegance and got her start right here on Hilton Head Island.

Bluffton: Kelly Caron Designs: Bringing Southern soul to large-scale projects and more modest ventures.

FAVORITE HOME FURNISHINGS STORE

FAVORITE GRANITE/STONE/ MARBLE COMPANY

Hilton Head Island: J. Banks Design Showroom: Interior design retail store offering sophisticated home decor, artisan inspired gifts, and eclectic luxuries gathered from the worldwide marketplace.

Hilton Head Island: Distinctive Granite & Marble: This icon has been installing countertops, flooring, walls and outdoor areas in the greater Hilton Head Island area since 1994.

Bluffton: Ethan Allen: Offers a broad range of furniture and accessories from classic to contemporary, as well as free interior design help from a professional staff.

Bluffton: StoneWorks: Unmatched reputation and quality since 1987, offering premier marble, granite, stone, quartz and tile products for use in countertops, fireplaces, kitchens, baths and more.

FAVORITE MOVING COMPANY

Hilton Head Island: Hilton Head Moving & Storage: Locallyowned company providing quick, reliable service with a personal touch.

Bluffton: Carolina Moving & Storage Co.: Full-service moving and storage company serving the Lowcountry since 1959.

FAVORITE LANDSCAPING COMPANY Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: The Greenery: Whether it’s a perfectly manicured yard for your home or business, this employee-owned company has its roots on Hilton Head Island.

FAVORITE NURSERY

Hilton Head Island: The Greenery: One of the best garden centers in the southeast, known for friendly customer service and in-depth horticultural knowledge.

Bluffton: Sunshine Hardscape, Landscape & Nursery: This three-acre facility has everything you need to add beauty or color to your landscape or tackle a complete outdoor remodel.

FAVORITE MORTGAGE COMPANY

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Mortgage Network: If you are looking to buy or refinance a home, or invest in a multifamily property or second home, this is the one-stop shop of the Lowcountry.

FAVORITE PEST CONTROL

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Hilton Head Exterminators: Bugs or critters don’t stand a chance against the area’s largest independently owned pest control company.

FAVORITE POOL COMPANY

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Year Round Pool: It started as a onetruck pool cleaning company in 1981. Now it has a fleet and offers pool cleaning, construction and more.

FAVORITE PLUMBER Hilton Head Island: Butler’s Plumbing: Professional, courteous staff offers custom residential and commercial plumbing installations and repairs.

Bluffton: Bluffton Plumbing: Specializing in plumbing, water heaters, water softeners, wells and pumps, and heating and cooling installation for more than 35 years.

FAVORITE HOME REPAIR COMPANY

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Wright Home Services: More than 25 years of experience in all aspects of construction from drafting and design to residential and commercial building, renovation and maintenance.

December 2017 89

›› FAVORITE HEALTH & BEAUTY

FAVORITE ROOFING/ FAVORITE FITNESS FABRICATION COMPANY CENTER Hilton Head Island: Pana Roofing: Your roof can make a statement with Pana.

Bluffton: 4M Metals: Using the metal industry’s most up-to-date technology, they have over 35 colors available.

FAVORITE BARBER SHOP

Hilton Head Island: The Barber Shop: The winner since 2012, there’s more than 100 years of combined experience here.

Bluffton: Barbers of the Lowcountry: Since 1997, Brent and Lou have specialized in hair care, razor shaves, and the finest grooming products.

90 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Island: Beach City Fitness: The only fitness center on the island designed and built specifically as a health club with windows overlooking a private lagoon and woodlands.

Bluffton: Cynergy Fitness: Open 24 hours with a wide array of classes, personal training services, child care, tanning and more.

FAVORITE MASSAGE FAVORITE NAIL THERAPY SALON Hilton Head Island: Art of Massage: Their vision is to provide simple, high-quality services using natural and organic products in a relaxing and nurturing environment.

Bluffton: Massage Envy: Providing total body care ranging from a variety of therapeutic massage services to a host of skin care solutions.

Hilton Head Island: Lovely Nails: In business since 1998, this salon prides itself on providing customers with the best-quality service plus a personal touch.

Bluffton: Tip-Toe: From your fingers to your toes, they’ll leave your nails in tip-top condition.

FAVORITE HAIR SALON

Hilton Head Island: Enliten Salon: Their team of forward-focused artists delivers professional salon experience and the best in current trends for haircuts, color and styling to create a look that enhances your unique image.

Bluffton: Salon Karma: What goes around comes around, especially when it comes to your look. Here, there are latest techniques in hair cutting, hair coloring and nail care.

FAVORITE MEDICAL SPA

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: LUX ~ A Medical Spa: The premier choice for medical aesthetics and skin enrichment services.

FAVORITE SPA

Hilton Head Island: FACES DaySpa: Just relax! It’s been Hilton Head’s favorite day spa for many years in a row.

Bluffton: LUX ~ A Medical Spa: The premier choice for medical aesthetics and skin enrichment services.

FAVORITE ACCESSORIES STORE

Hilton Head Island: Copper Penny: Designer collections curated with a Southern eye deliver sophisticated, effortless beauty that is an edgy mix of sweet and heat.

Bluffton: Spartina 449: Founded on Daufuskie Island, Spartina 449 creates handbags and accessories that are uniquely Lowcountry-inspired.

FAVORITE WEIGHT LOSS CENTER

Hilton Head Island: Pure Medical Spa: State-of-theart medical spa offering a variety of minimally-invasive treatments.

Bluffton: Metabolic Research Center: Experienced staff helps you choose a weight loss plan to fit your lifestyle.

FAVORITE YOGA/PILATES

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Jiva Yoga Center: Bringing awareness, community, and a space to “just be” to beginners and experienced yogis alike.

FAVORITE JEWELRY STORE Hilton Head Island: Forsythe Jewelers: Recently celebrated 35 years on Hilton Head and are proudly locally owned and operated.

Bluffton: Golis Family Jewelers: Carries fine jewelry with gemstones, gold pieces, silver pieces, diamonds and more.

FAVORITE MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Hilton Head Island: Belk: Charlotte-based department store offers modern Southern style.

Bluffton: Tanger Outlets: No matter a man’s style, he can find what he needs in one of the many stores at this large outlet mall.

FAVORITE OUTDOORS APPAREL Hilton Head Island: Outside Hilton Head: An outdoor enthusiast’s fashionable dream.

Bluffton: Dick’s Sporting Goods: Big-box sporting goods store has gear and apparel for every outdoor activity.

FAVORITE SUNGLASSES/EYEWEAR

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Optical Solutions: Its huge selection of frames and lenses has provided the Lowcountry with great vision as well as first-class style and taste.

December 2017 91

FAVORITE FASHION FAVORITE WOMEN’S CLOTHING (CASUAL)

Hilton Head Island: Coastal Bliss: Locally-owned boutique offering an eclectic mix of fashionable clothing at affordable prices.

Bluffton: Maluka: This fashion-forward boutique brings an urban feel to the Lowcountry with a mix of different styles.

FAVORITE WOMEN’S CLOTHING (FORMAL/SEMI-FORMAL)

Hilton Head Island: S.M. Bradford Co.: Lilly Pulitzer signature store offering the popular designer’s bright fashions at the Village at Wexford.

Bluffton: Gigi’s Boutique: Owned by Bluffton natives strives to provide a laid-back environment and Lowcountry style that helps contemporary women look and feel their best.

FAVORITE SHOE STORE

Hilton Head Island: Phillips Shoes: Serving the Lowcountry since 1967 with a wide selection of more than 60 top brands.

Bluffton: Cole Haan: Outlet store featuring upscale footwear, as well as outerwear and accessories.

FAVORITE ACUPUNCTURE

FAVORITE CHIROPRACTOR

Bluffton: Kim’s Yin & Yang Acupuncture: Dr. Kim is a thirdgeneration acupuncturist with the highest level of education in Oriental Medicine and more than 10 years of experience.

Bluffton: Bluffton Family Chiropractic: The Aita family has treated everyone from newborns to the elderly since 1981 and moved their family practice to Bluffton in 2003.

Hilton Head Island: Peter West, Hilton Head Acupuncture: Hilton Head’s first licensed acupuncturist has more than 20 years of experience in the field of holistic and therapeutic wellness.

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Brad Fraum, Fraum Chiropractic Life Center: Hilton Head Readers' Choice chiropractor for 10 years in a row.

FAVORITE DENTIST (COSMETIC)

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Matthew Mastrorocco: Practicing on Hilton Head since 2000, Dr. Mastrorocco has extensive training in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant dentistry.

Bluffton: Dr. Richard Porcelli, Bluffton Center for Dentistry: Winner since 2013 committed to helping people get the smile they want.

92 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE DENTIST (FAMILY)

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Kenneth Kowalyk: Winner since 2012 and in practice since 1985.

Bluffton: Dr. Richard Porcelli, Bluffton Center for Dentistry: Dr. Porcelli considers dentistry an art form requiring precision work.

FAVORITE DERMATOLOGIST

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Thomas Bundy, Hilton Head Dermatology: He’s board certified by both the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Mohs Micrographic Skin Cancer Surgery.

Bluffton: Dr. Carmen Traywick, May River Dermatology: A graduate of Emory Medical School, she opened May River Dermatology in 2009.

FAVORITE EYE DOCTOR

FAVORITE DOCTOR

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Trey Bishop, Bishop Eye Associates PA: The founder has performed more than 10,000 cataract surgeries.

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Paul Long, He r itage Me d ica l Partners: He has more than 40 years of experience.

Bluffton: Dr. David Remigio, Low Country Eye Associates: Offering general ophthalmology as well as specialization in eyelid and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Bluffton: Dr. Lynn Goetze, Palmetto Medical Group: Practicing in the Lowcountry since 2000 and focused on family medicine.

FAVORITE EAR DOCTOR

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Dr. David Mauer, Hilton Head ENT: From tubes to hearing aids, allergies and sinus issues, Mauer has been a longtime favorite.

FAVORITE INHOME CARE

Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Hospice Care of the Lowcountry: An independent, community-based, non-profit organization providing the gold standard in hospice care to Beaufort and Jasper counties for more than 30 years.

FAVORITE OB/GYN

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Katherine Coley: One of three doctors providing an array of specialized services through Advanced Women’s Care of the Lowcountry.

Bluffton: Dr. Lynn Norton: Has 25 years of experience and has practiced in the Lowcountry since 2001.

December 2017 93

FAVORITE MEDICAL FAVORITE ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR Hilton Head Island: Dr. Mark Dean: One of the area’s most trusted specialists for sports-related injuries, rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery.

Bluffton: Dr. K. Craig Boatright, Spine Institute of the Carolinas: An expert in all aspects of caring for disorders of the spine.

FAVORITE MEDICAL OFFICE STAFF

Hilton Head Island: Volunteers In Medicine Clinic: All volunteer staff with the mission of providing access to healthcare to low income and underserved residents.

Bluffton: Pinnacle Plastic Surgery: Friendly and diverse staff helps to give patients a pleasant experience.

FAVORITE PHARMACY FAVORITE PHYSICAL THERAPIST Hilton Head Island: Burke’s Main Street Pharmacy: Not only a local compounding pharmacy, but also offering medical equipment rentals.

Bluffton: Bluffton Pharmacy: Bluffton’s only compounding pharmacy since 1988.

Hilton Head Island: Drayer Physical Therapy: Services range from orthopedics to sports medicine.

Bluffton: Alan Cummings: is our winner, thanks to his loyal clients.

FAVORITE PLASTIC SURGEON Hilton Head Island & Bluffton: Dr. Audrey Klenke, Pinnacle Plastic Surgery: She knows what her clients are looking for and restores their natural beauty.

94 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FAVORITE PET SERVICES FAVORITE PET BOARDING

Hilton Head Island: Evergreen Pet Lodge: Whether it is doggy day care or overnight stays, your pet will have a luxury experience.

Bluffton: The Bark Shack: A full-service pet care company offering boarding, daycare and grooming, as well as pick-up and delivery service.

FAVORITE PET GROOMING

Hilton Head Island: Groomingdales: Full-service grooming for all breeds of cats and dogs.

Bluffton: All Four Paws: A unique pet store offering professional grooming, as well as a self dog wash where they supply everything but the dog.

FAVORITE PET SUPPLY STORE

FAVORITE VETERINARIAN

Bluffton: PetSmart: From food to supplies to toys to dog training, in a welcoming atmosphere for people and pets.

Bluffton: Buckwalter Veterinary Clinic: Small practice providing overall wellness and preventative care to a wide range of pets including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, amphibians and more.

Hilton Head Island: Tail Wiggles Pet Boutique & Barkery: Everything you could need to pamper your pooch and other pets.

Hilton Head Island: Dr. Curtis Hennessy, Plantation Animal Hospital: Hennessy opened the practice in 1995 with his wife, Lynnette, and has cared for a large portion of the island’s pets.

December 2017 95

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

4.

1.

5.

2.

3.

6.

96 hiltonheadmonthly.com

1. Good Health Unlimited Charlottes Web CBD Oil. Maintain balance through the daily chaos of life with Everyday Plus hemp extract wellness boost!

843.681.7701 GoodHealthUnlimited.com

7.

2. Coastal Treasures Hilton Head Island Artwork 843.671.3643 islandgifthhi@gmail.com *Shop More Local Partner

3. Pyramids Prestige Decanters - A glass ship inside a whiskey decanter for your home bar.

1600 Main Street - 843.689.6367 316C Shops at Sea Pines Center 843.363.2040 Pyramidsonhiltonhead.com

8.

*Shop More Local Partner

4. Gigi’s Boutique Plaid Peplum Top. Necklace sold separately.

843.815.4450 GigisBluffton.com

9.

5. Al-Harry Furniture Holiday Pillows 843.757.5999 al-harryfurnituredesign.com 6. Chocolate Canopy Chocolate Reindeer 843.842.4567 ChocolateCanopy.com 7. Wine & Cheese, If You Please? / Rollers Spirits “Happy Holidays from California” In support of our Sonoma and Napa friends that have suffered from the forest fires.

843.842.1200 WineandCheeseIfYouPlease.com 8. Outside Hilton Head Hook + Gaff’s Sportfisher Black. Perfect for those sportsmen who are early to rise!

843.686.6996 outsidehiltonhead.com *Shop More Local Partner

10.

9. Billy Wood Appliance Bring professional performance and distinctive style to your countertop with the Wolf Gourmet blender 843.681. 8441 BillyWoodAppliance.com *Shop More Local Partner

10. Serendipity Medical Spa Aquiesse Portfolio Collection Large Candle - French Oak Currant.

342-BODY (2639) SerendipityMedSpa.com

December 2017 97

››Gift guide

11. Birdie James A candle by Simpatico is the perfect holiday or hostess gift! One for you, one for them!

843.842.2622 TheBirdieJames.com *Shop More Local Partner

12. The Art Café Handcrafted Pottery 843.785.5525 artcafehhi.com *Shop More Local Partner

12.

11.

13. Buona Terra Wine Caddy shown in White Wash, holds a single bottle of wine and two glasses.

917.545.5920 BuonaTerraWoodworks.com *Shop More Local Partner

13.

14. Starbooks Hilton Head Island Book 843-217-4683 starbooks.biz *Shop More Local Partner

15. Traveling Chic Boutique Kendra Scott Reya Stackable Ring Set. 843.295.9003 TCBHHI.com 16. Bike Doctor The PERFECT Island Bike! The Specialized Roll is the ultimate COMFORT bike, available in mens & ladies.

843-681-7531 • 843-681-75332 Bikedoctorhhi.com *Shop More Local Partner

17. Forsythe Jewelers Marco Bicego 18K yellow gold Lunaria necklace with black mother of pearl and brilliant cut diamonds, D=.2ctw, length 16.5 inches.

843.671.7070 ForsytheJewelers.biz

14.

*Shop More Local Partner

18. Gifted Hilton Head Dune Jewelry - Handmade with beach sand from Hilton Head Island 843-842-8787 giftedhiltonhead.com

15.

*Shop More Local Partner

19. Radiance Sturdy canvas and leather “I Travel” tote.14”x18”, collapsable with two interior pockets.

843.363.5176 RadianceHiltonHead.com *Shop More Local Partner

20. Moss Creek Village Furniture Flexsteel Catalina Fabric Power Recliner.

843.837.4000 mcvfurniture.com 21. Spartina 449 Spartina 449 Sea La Vie Necklace Splendid.

843-815-9000 Spartina449.com 22. Quiet Storm Surf Shop Nixon Ranger 45. Field Instrument inspired with rugged design for an outdoor lifestyle, detailed in a contemporary appearance.

843.671.2551

98 hiltonheadmonthly.com

16.

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

17.

18.

21.

19.

22.

20.

December 2017 99

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE 26.

23.

27.

25.

28.

24.

23. Too Belles Boutique Holiday Pillows 890 William Hilton Pkwy, Suite 82 Located in Fresh Market Shoppes between Bonefish Grill and Gruby’s 843-715-3276 www.shoptoobelles.com

29.

24. The Back Door Joules Right as Rain Packable Hooded Raincoat in Navy Raining Dogs 843.671.3677

30.

*Shop More Local Partner

25. Thomas Pinck Rare Coin Jewlery Featured at JCostello Gallery. Raw Emerald and Gold Necklace with Austrian Gold Ducat.

843.686.6550 ThomasPinck.com 26. Cocoon Old St. Nick Pitcher by Vietri Bluffton Promenade 843-815-3315 cocoonbluffton.com 27. Island Girl Love Your Melon Black Speckled Beanie.

843.686.6000 IslandGirlHHI.com

31.

28. Abode Fine Home Furnishings Merlot Valley Wreath by The Magnolia Company 843-815-3322 abodesc.com *Shop More Local Partner

29. Oilerie Custom Oilerie Gift Set 843.681.2722 facebook.com/oilerieHHI/ *Shop More Local Partner

30. Aiden Lane (formerly Affordables Apparel) Shelved black-red necklace with earrings.

843.321.4200 Affordablesapparel.com 31. Maluka PJs with sleep mask and slippers 843.815.4674 ShopMalukaSC.com

32.

*Shop More Local Partner

32.Hilton Head Bicycle Lightship Nantucket Basket www.hiltonheadbicycle.com 843.686.6888 *Shop More Local Partner

33.Hilton Head Bicycle Bike GPS www.hiltonheadbicycle.com 843.686.6888 *Shop More Local Partner

33.

December 2017 101

››Gift guide

34. Antiques & Garden Collectibles at The Greenery Kissing Balls! 3 different sizes available.

Great ornaments on trees or hung with ribbon in a special place for a kiss!

843-592- 3759

34.

37.

*Shop More Local Partner

35. Knickers Jack Black Power Trip Travel Set. 843.671.2291 KnickersMenswear.com *Shop More Local Partner

36. Pelican’s Pouch Stanley Classic 25 oz. Vacuum Bottle in Hammertone Green.

843.363.5775 37. Hilton Head Bicycle Jamis Citizen 2 www.hiltonheadbicycle.com 843.686.6888 *Shop More Local Partner

38. 32° North Get function and fashion when you choose the KAVU Rope Bag. 843.363.5177 32DegreesNorthHHI.com

35.

*Shop More Local Partner

39.Hilton Head Distillery Smathers and Branson hand-stitched coaster set.

843.686.4443 HiltonHeadDistillery.com *Shop More Local Partner

40. Heritage Fine Jewelry Phillip Gavriel 18 karat and Sterling Silver cuff bracelet.

843.689.2900 HeritageJewelersHHI.com

38.

41. Wild Birds Unlimited Finch Tube Feeder with Weather Guard.

843.681.4461 HiltonHead.WBU.com 42. Amusement Sales & Service Brunswick “Smash 3” Ping Pong table.

912.354.4881 amusementsalesandservice.com

36.

43. fringe Aveda Holiday Candle.

843.785.7400 www.fringehiltonhead.com *Shop More Local Partner

44. Tail-Wiggles Fluff & Tuff Holiday Toys.

843.686.3707 Tailwiggles.com *Shop More Local Partner

39.

45. Hilton Head Bicycle 3G Newport Black Copper BBW www.hiltonheadbicycle.com 843.686.6888 *Shop More Local Partner

46. Faces Day Spa Oh Gorgeous Gift Set. 843.785.3075 FacesDaySpa.com *Shop More Local Partner

102 hiltonheadmonthly.com

40.

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

43.

44.

45.

41.

42.

46.

December 2017 103

104 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Eat • Drink • Shop •Live Local Since 2012

Proud to be locally owned & family operated Breakfast & Lunch Menus have been extended until 8pm Monday-Friday in addition to our Dinner Menu!

Buona Terra Woodworks builds home décor pieces from reclaimed wood found in the Lowcountry.

Gorgonzola & Goat Cheese Fondue

Tuna Sashimi

island treasures since 2001

1 N. Forest Beach Historic Coligny Plaza 843.363.5775

@thepelicanspouch

Bailey’s, Espresso & Dark Chocolate Martini Potato Benedict

Cobb Salad

Celebrate the Journey Complimentary gift wrapping all December long!

$10

1 N. Forest Beach Historic Coligny Plaza 843.686.6000 islandgirlhhi.com

Breakfast, Lunch & Evening Menus available Monday-Friday 4-8pm 843.686.5200 | islandwatusi.com (view menus) 71 Pope Ave. | Hilton Head Island (next to Aunt Chiladas)

Eat Local. Be Local. Support Local.

An island tradition since 2003

@islandgirl_hhi

December 2017 105

Holiday Fashion

Available at Cocoon 843-815-3315

106 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Available at (left to right) Island Girl, 843-686-6000, Maluka 843-815-4674, Gigis 843-815-4450

December 2017 107

››Holiday fashion

Available at (left to right) The Back Door 843-671-3677 and Radiance 843-363-5176

108 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Available at Too Belles 843-715-3276

December 2017 109

››Holiday fashion

Available at Quiet Storm 843-671-2551

110 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Available at Copper Penny 843-505-6252

December 2017 111

››Holiday fashion

Available at Traveling Chic Boutique 843-295-9003

112 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Available at Knickers 843-671-2291 and Birdie James 843-842-2622

December 2017 113

PHOTOGRAPHER: CHRISTOPHER BRYCHCY MAKE UP: HEATHER EDGE

114 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Thanks

THE WEATHER IS A LITTLE COOLER, BUT THE LOOKS ARE BLAZING HOT.

MODELS: RAFAEL INGANNAMONTE NOBIRAIDA INFANTE BOSQUES ESTHER JORDAN GRACE BARLOW

December 2017 115

››Travel | Biltmore Christmas

A Season Celebrating the holidays in grand style

BY AMY COYNE BREDESON

116 hiltonheadmonthly.com

of Light December 2017 117

››Travel | Biltmore Christmas

118 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BILTMORE

O

n Christmas Eve in 1895, George Vanderbilt welcomed friends and family to his estate for the first time. More than a century later, visitors are still celebrating the holiday at Biltmore House.

Situated on more than 8,000 acres of land in Asheville, North Carolina, the 250-room French Renaissance chateau is known as America’s largest private home. Its 178,926 square feet include 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and 19th-century throwbacks like electric elevators, a call-bell system and a banquet hall featuring a 1916 Skinner pipe organ — as well as the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques.

A roughly five-hour drive from Hilton Head Island, the Biltmore Estate is a great weekend vacation spot at any time of year, but it is at its most beautiful when decorated for the holiday season: the smell of fresh evergreens, holiday décor like wreaths and garland, and sparkling ornaments hanging from bows of greenery.

“In Biltmore House alone, guests will enjoy 55 hand-decorated Christmas trees, including a 34-foot-tall Fraser fir tree in the seven-story-tall Banquet Hall,” said LeeAnn Donnelly, the Biltmore’s senior public relations manager.

Christmas is the most popular time of year at the famous estate, Donnelly said, with roughly 300,000 people exploring the house and its grounds over the season.

Visitors can travel back in time to experience Christmas the way the Vanderbilts did, based on family archives.

This season, the holiday celebrations at the estate will run through Jan. 7.

Over the decades, Biltmore has expanded to include Antler Hill Village, which features an award-winning winery

“Christmas at Biltmore is a sight to behold.”

LEEANN DONNELLY, SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER AT THE BILTMORE ESTATE

and farm; The Inn on Biltmore Estate; Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate; an equestrian center; numerous restaurants; event and meeting venues; and the company’s licensed products division, Biltmore For Your Home. Admission includes access to the entire estate.

Throughout the estate during the holidays, guests can see more than 100 hand-decorated Christmas trees; 135,000 LED and mini lights; and more than 1,000 traditional poinsettias and 1,000 amaryllis, Christmas cactus, orchids, peace lilies, cyclamen, begonias, kalanchoe and potted green plants.

Guests can also tour the Conservatory, adorned with festive poinsettias and

Christmas is the most popular time of year at the famous estate, where visitors can travel back in time to experience the holidays the way the Vanderbilts did.

December 2017 119

››Travel | Biltmore Christmas

At Biltmore Estate, 55 hand-decorated Christmas trees, incluidng a 34-foottall Fraser Fur, delight visitors ast the holidays.

120 hiltonheadmonthly.com

orchids, participate in a holiday decorating seminar at A Gardener’s Place, and enjoy free tastings of estatemade wines at Antler Hill Village and Winery.

Donnelly said the winery features a ceiling display of 7,000 large-scale ornaments that create the sense of being inside a bottle of sparkling wine.

New this year is an enchanting village scene with a constellation of holiday lights at Antler Hill, Donnelly said. “ ‘Waterfall’ lights cascading from treetops, stars and ornaments draping tree branches, miniature lights outlining the archways and buildings — it is a magical scene,” Donnelly said.

On the weekends this season, carolers will be performing throughout the village, and Santa will be available to visit with good little boys and girls.

Then gather 'round the bonfire near the “waterfall” lights and toast marshmallows for s’mores.

“Christmas at Biltmore is a sight to behold,” Donnelly said.

38c new orleans road • hhi, sc 29928 843 785 7400 • fringehiltonhead.com

CHRISTMAS AT THE BILTMORE The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, will be decorated for the holidays through January 7.

Biltmore House will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the holidays, with Candlelight Christmas Evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. The candlelight events are by reservation only and are not included in daytime admission. Reservations are required for self-guided tours of Biltmore House during the holidays.

There are plenty of other spots to explore on the estate that don’t require a reservation. Raise a glass at the Biltmore Winery, America’s most-visited winery. Explore the family’s impact on the region and culture at The Biltmore Legacy in Antler Hill Village, or step back in time and into the everyday lives of the families who lived and worked on the estate At the Antler Hill Farm & Barn.

For more information on visiting the estate, call 800-411-3812 or go online to www.biltmore.com.

December 2017 121

››Arts & culture

Celebrate the Gullah Way CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS ON HILTON HEAD ARE TAUGHT TO NEW GENERATIONS

BY CAROLYN GRANT

GULLAH SOUL CHRISTMAS Experience a true Gullah holiday celebration at "Gullah Soul Christmas" starting at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, presented by the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head. The event, to be held at Northridge Plaza, will include a buffet of Lowcountry favorites, an open bar, live music and a ring shout performance by the McIntosh County Shouters.

Tickets are $35 a person, $65 a couple and $600 a table. For reservations or more information, call Nell Hay at 843-298-2395 or Louise Cohen at 843-681-3254.

122 hiltonheadmonthly.com

D

ecades ago, Christmas truly came just once a year for the families living in the Lowcountry’s Gullah communities, and many native islanders are trying to hang onto the days when the holidays were a special time for children and families.

“Christmas was always a big celebration for our people,” said Louise Cohen, who was born and raised on Hilton Head Island and is a renowned Gullah storyteller.

Dancing, horse races, visiting family and friends, and enjoying food and spirits are among the festivities Cohen and others remember from that time. The Gullah Museum of Hilton Head, which Cohen founded, will celebrate some of these Christmas traditions Dec. 8 during the museum’s second annual Gullah Soul Christmas event at Northridge Plaza.

The event will feature a Lowcountry feast served buffet style, as well as a band and the nationally acclaimed McIntosh County Shouters from Georgia, who will perform a ring shout: a vibrant dance with hand-clapping, stick-thumping and singing or chanting. The 300-year-old tradition was common in Gullah communities and was part of the Christmas celebrations Cohen remembers.

As a young girl, Cohen and her siblings and young cousins were not allowed in the company of elders, especially when the shout was performed.

“The dance was done on a wooden floor and, oh my gosh, there was something about that shout. So much so that you wanted to see what they were doing,” Cohen said, recalling how she would peek at her mother, father and other relatives as they danced. She and her siblings practiced the shout on their own, based on their hidden glances at the adults, and today Cohen performs ring shouts as part of her cultural presentations.

PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

Louise Cohen, founder of the Gullah Museum on Hilton Head Island, is one of the organizers of "Gullah Soul Christmas" on Dec. 8.

DANCING, HORSE RACES, VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND ENJOYING FOOD AND SPIRITS ARE AMONG THE FESTIVITIES THAT THE LOCAL GULLAH COMMUNITY REMEMBERS FROM EARLIER TIMES.

December 2017 123

››Arts & culture

Nell Hay, a native islander who serves on the board of the Gullah Museum, and Gullah historian Emory Campbell both recall treasuring the gifts they received as children during the holidays.

“We would get an apple, an orange, a couple of nuts and a piece of hard candy,” Hay said. “We were grateful for that.”

Fruits like apples, oranges, grapes and bananas were considered exotic, and Christmas often was the only time Gullah families would have them, Campbell said.

Relatives from up north would visit and bring other small gifts, but it was their presence that was the best gift, he said.

Campbell said people spent months preparing for the Christmas holiday. In the spring, Christmas turkeys began hatching and they were raised and sold at markets in Savannah. People organized the Christmas Savings Club and collected cash so they would have money for the holiday. Blackberries, mulberries and plums were harvested to make wines. Families

124 hiltonheadmonthly.com

‘‘ IN ORDER FOR OUR

CULTURE TO BE PASSED ON, WE

HAVE TO

PRESERVE IT. LOUISE COHEN

At Queen Chapel A.M.E. Church on Beach City Road, Rev. Edward Alston will stand before the congregation on Dec. 31 to read the Emancipation Proclamation.

preserved fruits and vegetables that were later used to make Christmas meals.

While today Christmas is still a celebration, it isn’t quite the same as what Campbell, Cohen and Hay remember from their childhoods on Hilton Head. They and other members of the Gullah community are trying to share their memories of these traditions so they aren’t lost forever. Campbell has dedicated a chapter in his book “Gullah Cultural Legacies” to Christmas on Hilton Head.

“In order for our culture to be passed on, we have to preserve it,” said Cohen, who has taught some of her grandchildren how to do ring shouts. She and Hay said they both share stories with their children and others so they know about Christmas traditions. Through those stories and events like the Gullah Soul Christmas, Hay said she hopes people gain an appreciation for how Christmas was celebrated many years ago.

December 2017 125

››Arts & culture

First African Baptist Church on Hilton Head Island will be part of the GullahGeechee Cultural Heritage Corridor's Watch Night initiative.

126 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Watch Night It’s not just Christmas that is marked by special traditions observed by Gullah families. New Year’s Eve—a time of revelry across the country—has special significance to those who observe Watch Night.

Watch Night services take place in churches, and as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Rev. Edward Alston will stand before the congregation at Queen Chapel AME Church on Beach City Road to read the Emancipation Proclamation.

The reading is part of Watch Night, which signifies the arrival of the New Year, and is part of an initiative by the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission to observe the original reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and the intent behind it. First African Baptist Church will also take part in this initiative.

“It is part of our history as a race,” said Alston, who is helping the commission celebrate the 155th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, when enslaved people in the Lowcountry, the Sea Islands and throughout the United States were freed from bondage.

The commission is encouraging churches of all faiths in Gullah-Geechee communities along the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to incorporate the reading of the proclamation during Watch Night services or to sponsor Watch Night and Emancipation Day celebrations on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1.

“For a long time after the end of slavery, Gullah-Geechee communities would gather on Jan. 1 in churches and praise houses for the purpose of having the elderly explain to young people what Jan. 1 meant to them,” said Dr. J. Herman Blake, former executive director of the commission. In fact, he said, the communities didn’t call the day New Year’s Day. “It was called Emancipation Day because that was the day (the Emancipation Proclamation) became effective,” he said.

Blake said one of the first Emancipation Day celebrations was in the Port Royal area near the old Smith Plantation, which is now the location of Naval Hospital Beaufort. A historical marker erected at the site designates this historical occurrence.

Over time, most of the celebrations faded away. But the commission decided to revive them as part of its efforts to help people understand and appreciate the Gullah-Geechee culture. Alston, who has been the pastor of Queen Chapel for 22 years, said this year will be the first the Emancipation Proclamation has been read in its entirety at Queen Chapel AME Church.

“In the past, I just focused on the importance of the proclamation and how it tied in with our overall history,” he said.

Reading the document, Alston said, will help emphasize its importance both educationally and historically for current and future generations.

“Ultimately, by coming together to celebrate Watch Night and Emancipation Day from a Gullah-Geechee perspective, participants will learn priceless and powerful lessons about the human experience and how to transcend and transform our differences,” according to organizers of the initiative.

To learn more about the initiative, please visit them online at gullahgeecheecorridor.org.

December 2017 127

Shop the Lowcountry (in your socks)

Visit the NEW ShopMoreLocal.org Online Store Kick your shoes off, get comfy and do some local shopping now

shopmorelocal.org/shop

The best items in the Lowcountry has to offer you all in one place!

Shop 24 hours a day. You know the merchants and your money stays local, which helps the entire community!

››Arts & culture

Season’s Greetings

PHOTOS BY BAILEY WITT

REFLECTIONS ON THE HOLIDAY SEASON FROM AREA RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Holy Christmas:

OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO LIGHT

BY PETE BERNTSON

T

he month of December includes days that fade to longer and longer nights and darkness that increases minute by minute, until it seems like night has nearly devoured most of our waking hours. We rise in darkness to start each day, yet are not nearly done before the darkness returns. It is as though the darkness grows in strength and power.

So how appropriate that this month also hosts the day of Christmas, which for Christians is the celebration of how God chose to break through into the dark, tragic reality of humankind. In the mystery of becoming fully human and fully divine all at the same time, the holy one — God — became accessible in a new and remarkable way. The creator put on skin and moved into the neighborhood, to show us a different, better way of living.

And for Christ’s followers, nothing would be — or could be — the same.

130 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Once viewed as far away, unapproachable, beyond reach, God kept his promise to be forever with his people. And seeing no limits to love, God came close and vulnerable, entering the world as one of us to show us up close the reality of what we humans are intended to be and how we are connected to God and one another in love.

For all this — for promises kept, for love reaching down, for light that no darkness can overcome, for a model of our greatest potential and possibilities — this season has special value.

It is in the birth of Emmanuel — God with us — that we are infused with hope and that we come to understand the peace that passes all understanding. It is in this reminder of God, ever present with us, that we find true joy that is different from circumstantial happiness. And it is in this self-giving expression of love that we come to understand that nothing, not anything in all creation, can separate us from God through Jesus Christ.

In response, Christians are challenged to see each other as beloved children of God, to acknowledge each other’s sacred worth, and to work together to bring the reign of God a little closer and a little Pete Berntson sooner. What could be more important, is the pastor of especially in this season?

Church of the Palms United Methodist Church in Okatie.

Brad Bloom is rabbi of Congregation Beth Yam on Hilton Head Island.

THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT GIFT-GIVING, BUT ALSO ABOUT BRINGING PEACE, CELEBRATING FREEDOM AND MAKING OUR

PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Hanukkah:

THE MIRACLE THAT LASTED EIGHT NIGHTS

BY BRAD BLOOM

D

uring the eight days of Hanukkah, Jewish children spin a dreidel, a four-sided top that has a special Hebrew letter on each of its four sides. The letters form an acronym that means: “A great miracle happened there.” Hanukkah, in its spiritual core, is a holiday that commemorates a great miracle in Jewish history: when the Maccabees led an insurgency to expel the Greek forces who invaded the land of Judea in 165 B.C. Jewish forces ultimately defeated the Greek armies, and as the Jewish leadership entered the grounds of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they discovered that the menorahs needed oil to rekindle them so as to rededicate the Holy Temple. The legend goes that there was only enough oil to keep the candelabras lit for one night. Yet, with the prayers of the people and God’s beneficent compassion, the oil somehow lasted eight nights and so the miracle of Hanukkah was born.

We light the special menorah for eight nights to celebrate that miracle and to reaffirm the love of freedom, for which Jews have yearned for over 2,000 years. Jewish families and communities sing songs and tell stories of the Maccabees to the young people. The word Hanukkah means literally “dedication,” which inspires us not just to rededicate the Holy Temple in Jerusalem but to also rededicate ourselves spiritually.

Today, Hanukkah has adapted to contemporary American society to include gift-giving and parties, and is among the most celebratory holidays in the Jewish calendar. In fact, Hanukkah has grown to be an important holiday for Jews all around the world. Because Hanukkah occurs around Christmas, the season of holiday cheer reminds Americans that religious diversity does not mean division.

In modern Israel, the children spin their dreidel, too, but with one change in the acronym. It says; “A great miracle happened here,” which means the story actually happened in ancient Israel. We need to believe in miracles here in America as well. The holiday spirit is not only about gift-giving, but also about bringing peace, celebrating freedom and making our world a better place. This time of the year provides us with the unique opportunity to dedicate ourselves to helping those in need and making a difference in the world.

Happy Hanukkah!

December 2017 131

››Arts & culture

Mohammad Usmani is the imam of the Islamic Center of Savannah.

By The Lunar Calendar:

MUSLIMS MARK THE OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS OF ISLAM

BY MOHAMMAD USMANI

F

rom Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, Muslims in many countries will celebrate Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, with decorations and tents where sweets and candy are handed out. However, Sunni Muslims like myself don’t believe it’s correct to celebrate this day. Of course, we appreciate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, because we believe he was one of the greatest men to walk the Earth, but we don’t celebrate it. This holiday was not celebrated during the prophet’s time or during the next 100 years. We don’t celebrate New Year’s either, but I encourage people to reflect and be happy that they have survived another year, by the grace of God. Muslims use the lunar calendar instead of the Western calendar, so this year our New Year’s Day was Sept. 22.

Our two big holidays are Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha, which are the official holidays in Islam. Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of Ramadan — a month of fasting during daylight hours.

When the moon is sighted on either the 29th or 30th day, we hold a big breakfast to celebrate the end of fasting and everyone brings something to share. We pray, visit people’s homes, share sweets and give presents.

Eid Al-Adha honors the actions of Abraham, who went through many tests and proved he was a good steward to God.

132 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Eid-ul-Adha is the 10th day of Zul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. People travel to Mecca and perform rituals performed by the Prophet Abraham. On the 10th day, we sacrifice a goat, a camel or a cow and distribute its meat in three parts: among family, friends and the poor.

In Savannah, to mark this special day we pray, have breakfast and then go and sacrifice the animal. This is celebrated all over the world.

We Have a Vision for You. Clouded vision obscures life, but it shouldn’t obscure your options. If you’ve been thinking about cataract surgery, you need to know that there are many different options available. At Bishop Eye Center, we have the leading expertise to match our advanced technology methods to your individual eye care needs — all framed in an experience you’ll be comfortable with.

Let’s talk about your eyes.

The Leading Center for Cataract Surgery Hilton Hea d • Oka tie • 843-689-3937 • B ishopEye.com

A letter

SECOND GRADE STUDENTS FROM MS. REA COLELLA’S CLASS AT MICHAEL C. RILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BLUFFTON RESPONDED TO OUR CALL FOR LETTERS TO SANTA. THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO THINK ABOUT BOTH MATERIAL AND NON-MATERIAL GIFTS DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

134 hiltonheadmonthly.com

a t n a S to

December 2017 135

››Arts & Culture

136 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Santa’s Helper I’m Bella Miller, and I’m a homeschooled 13-year-old student who lives in Bluffton.

I’m interested in journalism because I love to write, and I enjoy interacting with people and hearing their stories. I enjoyed this Santa project because I got to experience the complete publishing process from start to finish. I also loved seeing the sweet letters and drawings the students submitted.

Editor’s note: At Monthly, we regularly work with interns of college age, but this is the first time an eighth grader approached us about partnering. Bella Miller did a great job with this project and we were lucky to have her help.

Special thanks to: Mrs. Colella and Kenslee Zimmerman, Jonathan Montelongo, Jillian Spencer, Lizette Roldan, Armando Guerrero, Derek Molina, Annabella Allenberg, Vanessa Martinez, Amelia Beggs and Layla Bowen.

December 2017 137

››Books

LOCAL READS NEW LOWCOUNTRY-THEMED BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS

By Amy Coyne Bredeson

A

new title that celebrates the beauty of the Lowcountry is “Hilton Head Island” by Starbooks and Lydia Inglett Publishing. This book is filled with gorgeous photos and articles about the history, nature, culture and amenities of the island. Local author Ryan Copeland and the Camera Club of Hilton Head collaborated on the book.

But the book goes beyond high-quality photos to really set the scene for readers using augmented reality technology. Readers can download a free app called Aurasma, and then use their smartphones or tablets to scan photos marked with the Snap Click! icon. These pages contain hidden code that immediately launches a video in the app.

Once you have the book, for a look at what augmented reality can do, open the app on your phone and focus on an image of the Harbour Town Lighthouse to see an aerial drone tour of the famous landmark.

Hilton Head Island publisher Lydia Inglett said copies of the book sold like hotcakes at the recent Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival.

“People were just mesmerized by being able to get that moving experience from a photograph,” Inglett said. “We feel like this combines the best of both a gorgeous book and living, moving content.”

For a stocking stuffer or a Secret Santa gift, Carole Marsh Longmeyer’s paperback book “Lowcountry Christmas A to Z” details the things that make Christmas so special in the Lowcountry. Longmeyer defines the Lowcountry as coastal areas of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

Published by Atlanta-based Gallopade, the book teaches readers about the history, culture and cuisine of the region and includes several traditional Lowcountry Christmas recipes, like Saltwater Taffy, Gullah-Geechee Gingerbread, Bourbon Sweet Potatoes and Bluffton Eggnog Pound Cake.

“I’ve always loved everything about what I call Lowcountry Christmas,” Longmeyer said. “There are so many traditions, delicious recipes and things that are fun to remember about all the old-time celebrations and traditions. I like having a book like this to revisit with my children and now with my grandchildren.”

138 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser” is a collection of the paintings of the renowned representational artist who grew up in the Lowcountry.

For the past 40 years, West Fraser has sketched and painted his way through the Southeastern coast of the United States. His works depict scenes from Winyah Bay in Georgetown County all the way to St. Augustine, Florida.

This high-quality coffee table book features paintings of scenes from Charleston, Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island, Savannah and the Golden Isles. "‘Painting the Southern Coast’ is a culmination of a body of work that inspired me in my youth,” Fraser said.

“This is the land I was born to and a place that has defined my artistic spirit. The book, through my paintings and anecdotes, shares this land of the Lowcountry and reveals aspects of this popular coast little known to the casual visitor or new arrivals."

SHOPPING MADE SIMPLE Looking for a book about the Lowcountry to give as a holiday gift? Try these suggestions: • “Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser”: westfraserstudio.com • “Hilton Head Island” by Ryan Copeland: starbooks.biz • "Lowcountry Christmas A to Z" by Carole Marsh Longmeyer: gallopade.com

December 2017 139

››Environment | Annual bird count

140 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Birding on an Epic Scale

IT’S A LOT OF FUN, AND IN ORGANIZING THE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, I’M HELPING KEEP A VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT GOING. Susan Murphy

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT HAS BECOME A HOLIDAY TRADITION

BY MELINDA COPP

Snowy Egret

PHOTO BY ROBERT ROMMEL

A

s part of the world’s largest and longest-running citizen science project, bird lovers in more than 2,500 locations in the Western Hemisphere will participate in the 118th Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count.

Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, each group will cover a 15-mile radius and tally the birds spotted.

In the Lowcountry, the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society will hold its count on Dec. 15 and cover Hilton Head, Daufuskie and Pinckney islands and parts of Bluffton. Sun City Hilton Head will hold its count on Dec. 16.

Last year, 253 birders tallied 130 species and 25,353 individual birds during the Hilton Head Audubon count.

Susan Murphy has served as the Hilton Head count compiler for four years — collecting, organizing and inputting all data from the annual event, then sending that information to be added to state totals and the official international count maintained by the National Audubon Society.

It’s a serious business, Murphy said; a local panel reviews all the count results, with sightings of rare birds coming under extra scrutiny. Rules are in place to protect the count’s scientific integrity.

December 2017 141

››Environment | Annual bird count

142 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Bald Eagles

PHOTO BY LARRY WATTS

And the whole thing is run by volunteers.

The annual Christmas “It’s a lot of fun, and in Bird Count is a organizing the Christmas citizen science Bird Count, I’m helping project that keep a very worthwhile collects data project going,” Murphy used by bird said. researchers.

The data gathered during the annual count is used to calculate bird population numbers, establish long-term trends, and document shifts in range for one of the planet’s most charismatic and colorful animal classes. According to the Audubon Society, over the past century the data has been used to help researchers, conservation biologists and wildlife agencies study the long-term health of bird populations across North America.

Robert Rommel is a wildlife photographer who sits on the local review panel and has served as the Audubon chapter president for the last three years. He’s been watching wildlife since he was a kid, and said he participates in

PHOTO BY ROBERT ROMMEL

Northern Cardinal

PHOTO BY LARRY WATTS

Red Shouldered Hawk

PHOTO BY ROBERT ROMMEL

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Blue Bird

PHOTO BY LARRY WATTS

Cedar Waxwings

Volunteers from the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society will count on Dec. 15 and cover Hilton Head, Daufuskie and Pinckney islands and parts of Bluffton.

Sun City Hilton Head will hold its count on Dec. 16.

PHOTO BY ROBERT ROMMEL

PHOTO BY LARRY WATTS

Mourning Dove

December 2017 143

››Environment | Annual bird count

JOIN THE COUNT

For more information about the Hilton Head Island Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count or to download participation forms, go to hiltonheadaudubon.org/ audubon-christmas-bird-count.

144 hiltonheadmonthly.com

the Christmas Bird Count and the Audubon S o c i e t y because they offer him a chance to give back for a life spent enjoying nature. Counting the birds is essential to keeping them around, he said.

“It’s a huge citizen science undertaking — coordinated at all these different levels,” Rommel said.

“And it’s local, regional, global data that anyone can access and use.”

One of the largest trends Hilton Head Audubon members have noticed in the past few years is a decline in waterfowl numbers.

Rommel said that waterfowl populations have grown nationally, but now that winter temperatures are warmer, the birds may be spending the season further north.

Lowcountry birders say the Christmas Bird Count is an excellent chance to spot a few bucket list-worthy birds. Carol Clemens, who has led the Hilton Head Plantation team since 2011, said one of the most memorable counts for her was in 2012, when a flock of 48 white pelicans — rare to spot in the area, especially in such a large number — happened to fly over the bluff by Pine Island, then made their way over the golf course.

“With all the teams, we could track them all across the plantation,” she said.

Clemens said there are eight to 11 groups of counters in Hilton Head Plantation, ranging from expert birders and photographers to novices. Most teams spend two or three hours in the field, a number of birdfeeder watchers commit to watching their home feeders for at least 30 minutes on the day of the count.

“Audubon Society is a great place for people to learn how to bird,” she said. “The Christmas Bird Count is an event for people with interest and some birding skills to participate in an important citizen science count.”

Brown Pelican

PHOTO BY ROBERT ROMMEL

The Christmas Bird Count is a chance to spot a few bucket list worthy birds.

December 2017 145

››Environment

146 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hidden Bird Count Puzzle Find all 6.

Woodpecker

Dove

Eagle

Sparrow

Owl

Gull

Whether you're a kid or a kid at heart, this hidden figures bird puzzle should keep you busy for a while.

If you color it, you get extra points.

Did you find all six? Color it in? Share your masterpiece with our readers. Upload a photo to Facebook.com/hiltonheadmonthly

December 2017 147

DO NOT BE CONFUSED!

There is only ONE local heating and air conditioning company owned by the EPPERSON FAMILY and that is…

LOCAL OWNERS: Pat Epperson Martin Jones Patrick Epperson, Jr.

WHY CHOOSE EAC HEATING & AIR: • EAC Heating & Air’s mission statement is to be the most trusted HVAC company in our local area.

• We strive every day to provide our customers with reliable peace of mind and ultimate customer satisfaction.

• We stand behind our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and our word.

• We have been servicing the Low Country for over 35 years.

• We service all brands and we are always on call.

• Our Hilton Head Island office staff is polite, friendly, and trained to meet your needs.

• Our factory-trained, NATE-certified HVAC technicians wear uniforms, drive vehicles with logos, and are drug tested for your comfort and safety.

• We offer FREE Second Opinions on Service Repair and FREE Estimates on Equipment Replacements.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF SUPPORT!

Favorite Heating & Air Company 2014 Bluffton | 2016 & 2017 Hilton Head

2015 & 2016

Expires 12/31/2017

Call EAC for Details. Expires 12/31/2017

Call EAC for Details. Expires 12/31/2017

Call EAC for details. Expires 12/31/2017

www.eacair.com

•

843-681-3999

EAC Heating & Air is not associated with Epperson Heating & Air.

››Home | Coastal Christmas

Decking the halls, Lowcountry style NATURAL ELEMENTS BRING A LOCAL TOUCH TO HOLIDAY DECORATING

BY JESSICA FARTHING

T

he porcelain insides of oyster shells have always looked like angels’ robes to Stacey Collins, a local attorney who makes holiday ornaments from the rough, pear-shaped shells.

After selecting the best clusters, Collins adds Spanish moss for hair and cloth wings. She has used wide ribbon and burlap, the rough-hewn fabric used at outdoor roasts to cover oysters steaming over a fire.

“I started making them for myself, and then all my friends wanted one,” said Collins, who lives in Bluffton and works at a law firm on Hilton Head Island.

Like oyster angels, many of the Lowcountry's most festive holiday decorations are inspired by our surroundings. On Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, this often means incorporating native plants and coastal themes into holiday decor.

Found objects from nature are more than just raw materials for crafty individuals. Professional designers also use the bounty of the Lowcountry in residential and commercial jobs.

Local designer Cynthia Bailey is an expert at Lowcountry holiday scenes. The founder of CW Bailey Interiors and a self-described “individual consultant,” she tackles decorating jobs of all sizes, from selecting unique holiday home accessories to crafting a color palette for a client’s walls. When decking the halls for the holidays, she suggests setting realistic goals instead of getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

“My philosophy is to make it simple,” she said. “Pick your big

150 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Wreaths will look less formal if made of leafy branches from trees or shrubs native to the Lowountry, instead of traditional pine boughs.

PHOTO BY PERY VAILE

‘‘

My philosophy is to make it simple. Pick your big focal points first and really do those up.”

-Interior designer Cynthia Bailey

December 2017 151

››Home | Coastal Christmas

With notes of copper, silver and gold and a pop of holiday red, holiday arrangements are updated with a more modern aesthetic.

Magnolia leaves and Spanish moss are two natural materials that can be decorative.

focal points first and really do those up.”

Thanks to the Lowcountry’s mild winters, many people are able to take advantage of their yard planters yearround. Bailey suggests decorating planters and outdoor areas to reflect the season, especially if throwing a holiday party.

Once she’s given the planters and front door a little holiday sparkle, she moves on to the mantel and then the dining room table and the rest of the home.

When considering Lowcountrythemed decorations, trends in design don’t have to be ignored. Dawn Kiritsy of A Floral Affair loves to blend current trends — like today’s focus on metallics — with traditional Christmas decor. With notes of copper, silver and gold and a pop of holiday red, holiday arrangements are updated with a more modern aesthetic.

To add a Lowcountry touch, Kiritsy suggests adding grasses and feathers from the area’s marshes or foraging for moss-covered branches. Using magnolia leaves and laurel instead of the typical pine boughs also reflects the area’s aesthetic. And there are other benefits to using local vegetation, Kiritsy said.

152 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Some of our local foliage has a tendency to last longer,” she said. “Even using a live oak dusted with gold or copper, just the skeleton of the structure gives you a light, airy feeling.”

The nearby beach might lead some to use hues of soft blue and green, but Kiritsy also likes the look of darker green or plum accented by a starfish or sand dollar.

“I like the contrast of the stark bleached color against the darker plant life of what nature provides in the Lowcountry,” she said.

Incorporating locally sourced natural elements into your home’s décor can also be a cost-effective and unique way to prepare for the holiday season. And it

PHOTO BY PERRY VAILE

PHOTOS BY BAILEY WITT/ORNAMENTS COURTESY OF THE COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Christmas tree ornaments made out of shells and even okra give holiday decorating a distinctly Lowounty touch.

December 2017 153

PHOTO BY STACEY COLLINS

››Home | Coastal Christmas

Oyster shell angels are Christmas ornaments with a local touch.

They incorporate natural elements as holiday decorations.

certainly sets the scene. Magnolia leaves intertwined with faux pine roping and decorated with shells collected from the beach give any holiday scene a coastal vibe.

“I also love to intertwine cotton. It is becoming more readily available,” Bailey said. “That says ‘the South’ all over it.”

Those without the time or talent to craft —or the budget to hire a professional decorator—will be happy to know that many local stores embrace the trend of incorporating natural elements at the holidays. Collins’ oyster shell angels are on sale at Traditions on Hilton Head Island. The gift shop at the Coastal Discovery Museum also carries ornaments and other decorations made from materials found in nature.

154 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTO BY BAILEY WITT

A natural palette can be festive when emboldened with ribbon, pearls and other decorative touches.

843-785-3748 THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING US AS

$

YOUR #1 HVAC COMPANY FOR THE 8TH YEAR IN A ROW!

79

.00

TUNE UP SPECIAL

MUST MENTION THIS AD FOR DISCOUNT. CALL HOWELL–CHASE FOR DETAILS. CANNOT COMBINE WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. $79 PER SYSTEM. EXP 01/5/18

www.howellchase.com

NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MO. ON QUALIFING SYSTEMS

INTEREST WILL BE CHARGED TO YOUR ACCOUNT FROM THE PURCHASE DATE IF THE PURCHASE BALANCE IS NOT PAID IN FULL WITHIN THE PROMOTIONAL PERIOD.

MUST MENTION THIS AD FOR DISCOUNT. CALL HOWELL–CHASE FOR DETAILS.

The Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank, an Equal Housing Lender. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit. Minimum monthly payments are required during the promotional (special terms) period.

Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the APR for Purchases if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period. Paying only the minimum monthly payment will not pay off the purchase balance before the end of the promotional period.

For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00.

This information is accurate as of 06/01/2017 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires 12/31/2017.

››Home | Featured home

elegance lived-in

on Callawassie Island

BY DEAN ROWLAND

W

PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

atching a bald eagle take flight, soar and dive in the hunt for lunch is exhilarating.

The scene connects us to our environment and brings us close to the wild.

It’s a view Maggie Baum enjoys daily from the home she shares with her husband, Daniel, amid the marshes, creeks, long-leaf pine trees and Spanish moss-draped live oaks on Callawassie Island. A neighborly bald eagle stops by their halfacre property often, eats and perches in a tree nearby. She doesn’t know where it nests, but she follows its movement often from behind the lens of a telescope in her dining room.

158 hiltonheadmonthly.com

It’s not the only example of beauty and nature coexisting in harmony at the Baums’ house. The 3,500-square-foot home features classic, spacious interiors that flow seamlessly from room to room in a monochromatic palette — the work of interior designer Anne Hagerty of Anne Hagerty Interiors. ”I love the restraint,” she said. “The property is really beautiful. Sometimes a client who has a really beautiful view comes in and wants to do too much. They want window treatments and bright colors. To me, this home is quiet and simple in an understated way. The details of the woodwork, the trim, the cabinetry and finishes are so beautiful. The back of the house is all open for the view, which I love. I wanted to make it special without overpowering the view.”

Hagerty has been working with homeowners in Bluffton and Savannah since opening her company in Savannah in 2010. She later opened Abode Fine Home Furnishings in the heart of Bluffton. Her experience has given her a unique eye for colors and styles that complement the Lowcountry look.

The 3,500-square“The base of the house, foot home features whether the paint colors classic, spacious or finishes, are in the grays interiors that flow and neutrals,” she said of seamlessly from the Baums’ Callawassie room to room in home. “Maggie loves blue, a monochromatic so we brought in blue palette. accents.”

December 2017 159

››Home | Featured home

The home exudes warmth and comfortable elegance thanks to elements like the brickencased fireplaces in the great room and screened patio, as well as the brick in the homeowner’s entry and the sealed heart-pine flooring throughout the home.

160 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“The interior is updated, classic and timeless.

There’s a lot of clean lines. It’s very elegant and minimal but warm.”

-Anne Hagerty

putting That soft color base appears everywhere “to make the house feel like one home. Especially in an open concept home, there needs to be a sense of place,” she said.

The home exudes warmth and comfortable elegance thanks to elements like the brick-encased fireplaces in the great room and screened patio, as well as the brick in the homeowner’s entry and the sealed heart-pine flooring throughout the home. That lived-in elegance extends to the home’s furnishings, with their clean minimalist lines, as well as custom-made area rugs in neutrals, linen and cotton blend fabrics, dark natural wood, and custom-made cabinetry.

“The interior is updated, classic and timeless,” Hagerty said. “There's a lot of clean lines. It’s very elegant and minimal but warm; we used a lot of warm building materials. The wood on the walls, for example: in some places we whitewashed it and other places we painted it.”

The house and its decor fit the Baums and their lifestyle perfectly.

“We’re kind of casual,” said Maggie Baum, a retired executive in the department store industry, who, with her husband, a retired insurance industry executive, bought their lot last year and moved into their home in September. “We like to cook and entertain.”

But while the home’s flow might be a perfect match for the Baums, the

decision-making process wasn’t. It took a skilled negogiator to balance Maggie’s contemporary style with Daniel’s traditional preferences. That’s where Hagerty stepped in.

“He’s more traditional and I’m more contemporary Lowcountry with some traditional features, and we needed her to keep us friendly,” said Baum, a Bostonarea native. “(Hagerty) was always the tie-breaker.”

“They came with two different perspectives,” Hagerty said. “Maggie was more modern and contemporary, and Danny was more mountain — the couple moved to the Lowcountry after spending 10 years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

A lot of what we do is like marriage counseling, making everybody happy.”

The Baums and Hagerty originally met serendipitously. The Baums were leaving the upstairs office of Scott Pearce Architects in Bluffton when Maggie slipped into Abode on the ground floor to look around.

“I started talking to her one day in her shop,” she said of Hagerty. “It was a gut feeling, so I brought my husband in and he felt the same way.”

“With the clients, you know it’s a fit or not,” Hagerty said. “You want them to trust you.”

After all, it takes trust to let an interior designer like Hagerty turn your house into a home.

IT ALL

together BUILDER Coastal Signature Homes ARCHITECT Paul Cole Designs INTERIOR DESIGNER Anne Hagerty Interiors CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS Grayco EXTERIOR DOOR & INTERIOR TRIM Coastal Millworks INTERIOR TRIM LABOR ACC APPLIANCES La Source TILE Savannah Surfaces COUNTERTOPS Precision Granite and Marble WOOD TOPS Mark of Excellence PLUMBING FIXTURES Ferguson Plumbing LIGHTING Circa Lighting, Pace Lighting and Restoration Hardware Lighting FLOORING Olde Savannah Hardwoods December 2017 161

From the Mid 270’s

THE OVERLOOK

AT B AT T E R Y C R E E K

CGC1521832

Low country living at it’s best!

This waterfront community has all the amenities you need to call home.

Call 843.298.3198 today for more information! w w w.D r e a m F i n d e r s H o m e s.c o m

For more award winning homes visit: www.SouthernCoastalHomes/Lighthouse

843.815.0100

www.SouthernCoastalHomes.com

LIGHTHOUSE AWARD WINNER 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017

H2 Voted Favorite Builder

Thanks to the readers of Hilton Head Monthly and Bluftton Monthly for

“The Nationals” Silver Award • 414+ Lighthouse & Finalist Awards • Small Business of the Year Pinnacle Award Finalist & Merit Winner • Numerous “Best Builder” awards • Beaufort Civitas Award

the vote of confidence, again.

H2Builders.com 843.815.GOH2 (4642)

“The experience you expect….The quality you deserve….A family you can trust….”

10 LONGWOOD CT - CALLAWASSIE ISLAND | Best Kitchen

23 SHELDON LANE - INDIGO RUN | BEST BATH & BEST KITCHEN

94 LANDCASTER BLVD - BERKELEY HALL | BEST BATH, BEST EXTERIOR, & BEST OVERALL

281 BAMBERG DRIVE - BELFAIR | BEST EXTERIOR AND BEST OVERALL

A Part of the Lowcountry for Over 44 Years

2017 Lighthouse Award Winner 40 Persimmon St. Suite 103 • Bluffton, SC 29910 843.837.5133 • RandyJeffcoatBuilders.com

2017 L I G H T H O USE AWA R DS W I N N E R: BE S T OV ER A L L BE S T BAT H BE S T K I TCH EN

(843) 836-9700 VILLAGEPARKHOMES.COM

››Real Estate News WRIGHT JOINS CENTURY 21 DIAMOND REALTY

Century 21 Diamond Realty has announced that David Wright has joined its team of professional agents. Wright is an experienced agent who comes to the brokerage after an eight-year career with another real estate company in the area. Before making the move to real estate, Wright worked for 38 years for Rockwell International in manufacturing, sales and marketing. He has lived in the Lowcountry for more than 12 years.

MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE ADDS HOMEBUYER TOOL Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island has added Graphiq to its informational tool platform. Graphiq rapidly creates interactive data-driven infographics that illustrate property lot, tax and transaction information, local real estate trends, school ratings, commute times and demographic breakdowns.

The tool will offer a more visual understanding of property and location data while providing more context on the property and community.

RON BURHANS AND ASSOCIATES ADDS AGENT Tyler Day has joined Ron Burhans and Associates as a real estate agent. A native of North Carolina, Day launched his real estate career at the age of 19, becoming one of the youngest Realtors to ever sell a home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Day has a bachelor’s degree in management and entrepreneurship from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and recently moved to Hilton Head Island to pursue a real estate career.

LANCASTER REAL ESTATE COMBINES WITH BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY Lancaster Real Estate Sales has joined Berkshire Hathaway’s real estate brokerage network and will operate under the name Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Realty. Berkshire Hathaway is one of the nation’s fastest-growing brokerage networks, with more than 43,500 agents and 1,325 offices. The merger will the provide the former Lancaster Real Estate with national and international marketing support, professional education and the exclusive Luxury Collection for high-end listings.

FOUNDATION REALTY WELCOMES TWO Two real estate agents have joined Foundation Realty. Realtor Susan Kitchen has a background in management and marketing, and her primary focus will be in residential sales.

Michelle Elliott, also a Realtor, started her career in the banking industry, where she focused on mortgage lending. She later transition to real estate sales. Foundation Realty is located at 22 Folly Field Road on Hilton Head Island.

MONTHLY CONGRATULATES THE BEST OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY Nearly 300 people attended the 18th annual LightHouse Awards gala Oct. 27 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. The Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association presented the event, which recognizes the Lowcountry’s top builders, architects and other construction industry professionals. BB&T Home Mortgage was the title sponsor of the event, which this year had the theme “Your Time to Shine.”

“The LightHouse Awards is truly like the Academy Awards for our local building industry,” said Dan Monroe, who has been the chairman of the awards program since its inception. “It gives builders the opportunity to be recognized for the hard work, talent and vision they put forward in building some of the most remarkable homes found in this area and beyond.”

LightHouse Awards are presented annually to builder members of the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association in recognition of quality craftsmanship and design excellence.

This year 29 builders, including remodelers, custom builders and semi-custom builders, submitted 67 qualifying entries and competed for awards in categories like best bath, best kitchen, best exterior and best overall for new homes, full remodels and partial remodels. In addition, a number of new sales and marketing awards were awarded, including best brochure, best company logo, best company website, best interior design and best home architectural design.

The construction cost of this year’s entries in the remodeled and newly built home categories ranged from $125,000 to $3.5 million. Each award was subdivided into categories so homes in similar price ranges and construction types competed against one another.

Twelve judges from Georgia, North Carolina and other parts of South Carolina assessed Hilton Head Island homes in mid-September.

At the awards gala, master of ceremonies Monty Jett announced the winners as attendees followed along to a visual presentation of entry homes and features. Winners received marble obelisk trophies.Congratulations, LightHouse winners!

December 2017 175

Island Resident Since 1972 REALTOR of The Year 1996, 2004, 2015

CharlesSampson.com • CSampson.com BridgeToHiltonHeadHomes.com

HiltonHeadIslandSouthCarolina 81 Main Street, Suite 202, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 384-7300 or (800) 267-3285 ext. 4215

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION COLLECTION 31 OLD FORT DR.

7 NEPTUNE CT.

5 FLAGSHIP LANE

FANTASTIC SUNSET/WATERWAY VIEWS. Magnificent moss draped oaks and vista up Skull Creek and to the Port Royal Sound and Broad River Bridge. 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, office, 1st and 2nd floor family rooms, formal living and dining rooms. Open floor plan flows to the private pool deck, covered terrace and two lower decks with its private hot tub. Views abound from almost every room, bringing the outside inside! $1,075,000

ELEGANT HOME with panoramic golf and Spring Lake vista on a great Hilton Head Plantation street. Just off the CC of HH’s 16th fairway and green with views across to Spring Lake. 4 BR or 3 plus bonus room, formal living and dining rooms, eat-in kitchen/family room, office with builtins and 2nd floor sitting room. High smooth ceilings, oak flooring, quartz countertops and more! $749,000

JUST OFF THE COUNTRY CLUB OF HILTON HEAD’S SIGNATURE HOLE - the 12th. View all the way to the green, Skull Creek and beyond. Enjoy bird activity in the lagoon across the fairway from the expansive deck. Great open floor plan, features 5 BR + bonus room, hobby/exercise room, 4 BA, open eat-in kitchen, great room, formal dining and 1st floor master. View – Location – Great Floorplan $698,500

65 OLD FORT DR.

19 COOPERS HAWK RD.

1 CYGNET CT.

ESCAPE to your own private backyard and pool which is surrounded by lush landscaping conveniently located on a cul-de-sac near the 4th fairway of the Country Club of Hilton Head, the docks on the Intracoastal Waterway in Hilton Head Plantation, Seabrook Farm and Spring Lake Pool and Tennis Complex. Features 5 bedrooms plus a bonus room, formal living and dining room, eat-in kitchen family room, high smooth ceilings, wood floors and much more.

NESTLED UNDER 100 PLUS YEAR OLD MOSS DRAPED OAKS just off the Signature 12th Hole of the Country Club of Hilton Head. Enjoy fantastic sunsets over the green which fronts Skull Creek.

Short distance to Spring Lake pool and tennis complex, Clubhouse, and docks along Skull Creek. Updated cottage w/ wood and limestone floors, high ceilings, granite tops, updated kitchen and master bath. 3 BR, 2.5 BA, eat-inkitchen/family room, living and dining room and 2-car garage. Private end of the street location. $454,000

BRIGHT & OPEN panoramic golf views of Dolphin Head’s 3rd and 4th holes. Conveniently located between the Spring Lake Pool and Tennis Complex and Dolphin Head Beach Park. 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, formal living and dining rooms, updated eatin kitchen/family room, high ceilings, 2-car garage and expansive rear deck. $438,500

LOCATION LOCATION... Just off the par 3 7th Hole of the Country Club of Hilton Head. Short distance to the Spring Lake pool and tennis complex, Seabrook Farm and Clubhouse. This Hilton Head Plantation home was built as one of the model homes but has been updated with a new kitchen and a large family room with wrap around windows, wood floors and an over-sized garage with shop. 3 BR, 2 BA, living and dining room, eat-in kitchen/family room. $409,000

5 HIGHBUSH DR.

58 HICKORY FOREST DR.

54 HONEY LOCUST

16 PURPLE MARTIN

HGTV READY 5 Highbush has it all – tranquil lagoon view, expansive rear deck and screen porch for outdoor living and entertaining. Updated – new roof, exterior paint, Core Tech Plus flooring, new bathroom cabinetry all with quartz tops, new walk-in tile shower – granite tops, S/S appliances. 3 BR, 2.5 BA, eat-in kitchen, formal living & dining room plus over-sized 2 car garage. Convenient to Spring Lake pool and tennis complex. $424,350

OPPORTUNITY TO OWN IN THE HICKORY FOREST neighborhood of Hilton Head Plantation on a full size homesite just off the banks of a picturesque lagoon. Short distance to Port Royal Sound. Northern rear exposure. 3 BR, 3 BA, Carolina room, 2-car garage, fenced dog run and updated kitchen. $408,000

HICKORY FOREST NEIGHBORHOOD CREAM PUFF. Enjoy morning coffee or lazy afternoons viewing the long tranquil lagoon from the expansive screen porch. Short distance to Port Royal Sound. Great curb appeal, 3 bedroom, living room and dining room plus eat-in kitchen, high ceilings and 2-car garage. $397,000

ENJOY LONG LAGOON VIEWS with the herons and egrets. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage plus a loft for at home office space and a Carolina room off the formal dining room. Eat-in kitchen and formal living room. One owner Rookery home - to be under $375,000

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION SOON TO MARKET

CHARTER ONE REALTY The One to Turn to for All Your Real Estate Needs

Charles Sampson (843) 681-3307 x4215 Mobile - (843) 384 -7300

Charles@CharlesSampson.com

Frances Sampson (843) 681-3307 x236 Mobile - (843) 384-1002

Frances@FrancesSampson.com

Angela Mullis (843) 681-3307 x223 Mobile - (843) 384-7301

Debbie Cort (843) 681-3307 Mobile - (843) 384-8491

Give Charles, Frances, Angela, Debbie or Daniel a Call!

Daniel Cort (843) 681-3307 Mobile - (843) 384-2206

DebbieCort@CharterOneRealty.com

Angela@AngelaMullis.com

DanielCort@CharterOneRealty.com

843-384-7300

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 2 CUSABO PLACE SPANISH WELLS

634 COLONIAL DRIVE INDIGO RUN

21 SPARTINA CRESCENT SEA PINES

CONTEMPORARY LOWCOUNTRY on an acre plus Spanish Wells golf view lot. Enjoy community pool, golf, tennis and Sound front Clubhouse with its own dock.

5 BR, 5.5 BA, 1st floor master, eat-in cook’s kitchen, open to great room, office, expansive screen porch, 4-car garage. Outdoor courtyard with fireplace. $1,095,000

UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE - the backyard offers a quiet oasis with its paver covered and screen porch plus the paver patio with gas fire pit is on the bank of a lagoon. Quality built by Chris Construction 634 Colonial Drive has detail trim and molding, wood and stone floors, ceiling as high as 19’, eat-in Cooks Kitchen with S/S appliances including a 5 Star dual fuel range, kitchen open to the family room. 1st floor master, office formal living and dining room plus guest bedroom. 2nd floor has 2 bedrooms, a sitting area, a bonus room and 2 full baths. 634 Colonial will be a joy to call home. $895,000

PANORAMIC MARSH VIEWS, 10 minute bike ride to Harbour Town or the beach, neighborhood pool and tennis courts, are some of the reasons you will love calling 21 Spartina Crescent home.

One of the largest homesites in Spartina Crescent. $1,195,000

27 RED MAPLE SEA PINES

32 SPARWHEEL LN. WINDMILL HARBOUR

LOWCOUNTRY HOMESITES

742 WIREGRASS WAY HILTON HEAD LAKES

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION 7 ANGLERS POND CT. LAGOON VIEW $168,500

18 CHINA COCKLE LANE 2 ND ROW SOUND $189,500 15 SEABROOK LANDING 1.2 ACRE SKULL CREEK VIEW $295,000

BLUFFTON

38 BARTONS RUN DR $185,000

BELFAIR

99 PINCKNEY COLONY RD. PINCKNEY COLONY

214 FLAT ROCK TRACE EDGEFIELD

124 SLATER STREET CYPRESS RIDGE

RARE ONE-OF-A-KIND PROPERTY property off of Pinckney Colony Road... 1-bedroom cottage w/ flex room on generous .59 acre homesite… No restrictions or HOA dues! Huge fenced yard, large deck, detached 2-car garage & with many renovations completed, this is not something readily available in Bluffton. One-year home warranty included. $229,900

LARGE 2 story home located towards the front of Edgefield. This home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, large eat-in kitchen, screened porch, a front porch and foyer entrance. Other features include wood floors, laundry room and 2-car garage. Edgefield amenities include a community pool, playground and basketball court. It is located in the River Ridge Academy school zone. $225,000

CUTE 2 BR 2.5 BA TOWNHOUSE with new carpet and new interior paint, features a covered front porch, back patio, and storage outside. Cypress Ridge features resort style swimming pool, lazy river and kiddie pool, 3-story fitness center, playground, tennis courts, basketball court and dog park, and is located in Bluffton – just minutes from Old Town Bluffton and downtown Savannah. $146,000

BOAT LOVERS walk out of your harbour front home and step on your boat docked at your 70’ boat slip.

Home of the South Carolina Yacht Club and in a very protected part of Windmill Harbour (one of only 3 lock system marinas on the East Coast). Easy water access to the Atlantic Ocean, Calibogue Sound and Intracoastal Waterway. This is one of the best harbour front lots left to build, southeast exposure, high elevation, full size lot framed by Palmetto trees. $548,500

103 PINECREST CIRCLE PINECREST

VERY POPULAR 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Jordan model on the 14th hole in Pinecrest… Over 2,700 SF, welcoming foyer, open floor plan, cathedral ceiling in living room, French Doors to Carolina Room, stainless appliances, 1st floor master suite with tray ceiling, fenced yard offering wooded/golf view and more. One-year home warranty…

Motivated Seller! $334,900

HILTON HEAD LAKES

966 WIREGRASS WAY $69,900

WHY BUILD - Single story living on almost 1/3 acres.

Nearly 2,200 SF, this impeccable 3 BR, 2 BA home has an open floor plan & features include over-sized screened porch, spacious kitchen with large island, GE Profile appliances still under warranty, vaulted ceilings, gas stove and BBQ stub, tankless water heater and side load garage with 4’ extension. $344,900

STELLAR LOCATION... One-of-a-kind home on an extremely desirable street overlooking the 2nd fairway of the Heron Point Golf Course. Boasting unique architectural design, this home features over 3,000 SF, an open floor plan, flexible living space, spacious master suite with fireplace, screened balcony and two bathrooms; 2nd bedroom with large private sundeck, a 3rd bedroom that can be utilized as a den/ library and large rear deck. All within a walk or easy bike ride to the beach. $850,000

WINDMILL HARBOUR 32 SPARWHEEL LANE & 70’ SLIP $548,500

100 CUMBERLAND DR $284,500

#1 Ranked Real Estate Company in The Lowcountry

CHARTER ONE REALTY The One to Turn to for All Your Real Estate Needs INDIGO RUN

PALMETTO DUNES

WEXFORD

42 BROAD POINTE DRIVE $2,000,000 • MLS#365819

3 FLOATILLA $1,395,000 • MLS#359061

9 WEXFORD ON THE GREEN $979,000 • MLS#369189

GRAND Waterfront Residence w/ palatial design.

Connoisseur’s kitchen, family room w/ 2 story ceiling, screened-in porch w/ fireplace & outdoor kitchen/dining area, custom pool, 4BR/5BA + office.

DREW BUTLER

843.384.8637 | Drew@DrewButler.com

Palmetto Dunes Resort. 5BR/5BA 2nd row home with pool & large deck for entertaining. Cathedral ceiling provides natural light, updated kitchen open to dining room with fireplace & two living areas.

ANDY TWISDALE

843.384.7771 | andy@SellHiltonHead.com

Built 2007, 3 story townhome, 4 BD/3.5BA! Panoramic views of Wexford Harbour.

Outstanding craftsmanship from floor-ceiling.

4 stop elevator, chefs kitchen, 2 car garage, decks, porches, fireplaces!

JACQUE JOHNSON

843.816.2483 | jacque@jacquejohnson.com

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

INDIGO RUN

BERMUDA POINTE

4 SAM’S POINT LANE $799,000 • MLS#357621

14 BALSAMS COURT $749,000 • MLS#360233

40 BERMUDA POINTE CIRCLE $559,000 • MLS#367897

4BR/3.5BA+OFFICE. Light filled stately home with panoramic tidal marsh views features two story Living Room. Master includes 2 walk-in closets and HGTV quality bathrooms. Entire home has wood floors.

ANDY TWISDALE

843.384.7771 | andy@SellHiltonHead.com

1 year young! Better than new! Lagoon view!

4 BR/3.5 BA. 3,130 sq ft home plus over-sized 750 sq ft garage. Over $40K of upgrades added since 2016. Architectural details abound. This one is a must see!!

JACQUE JOHNSON

843.816.2483 | jacque@jacquejohnson.com

Views of sound from front porch and back decks! Beautiful open kitchen with stainless steel appliances. This home is great for entertaining! 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.

Community dock and swimming pool.

PAULA TRAVER has been featured on HGTV Island Life 843.247.3728 | HHI4Me@ outlook.com

HAMPTON LAKE

MOSS CREEK

ROSE HILL - GOLF SIDE

161 HAMPTON LAKE CROSSING #1410 $525,000 • MLS#367676

6 SILVER FOX LANE $399,000 • MLS#372069

34 PIPERS POND ROAD $379,900 • MLS#370664

FULLY FURNISHED 2 Bd, 2.5 Bath 1st floor Coach Home, a short walk to the Hampton Lake Amenity Village. Open concept floor plan features a gourmet kitchen, Island work station opening to great room.

RANDY FIX

843.263.8295 | RandyFix22@gmail.com

A rare gem, just under 1 acre home site with stately oak trees and tidal dock in place. Sunset water views. Seller will convey OCRM permits for 8’ x 10’ floating dock , 12’ x 13’ boat lift.

ANGELA BARBIC

843.227.2526 | angelabarbic@gmail.com

At 2,300 sq ft, this cottage style home is perfect for a couple or a family. It’s a great value and in excellent condition. Also, very private location but close to amenities.

HOLLY SNYDER

843.384.7534 | Holly@SoldOnBluffton.com

You’re Never far from ONE of our 10 Charter One Realty Offices ...

www.CharterOneRealty.com

#1 Ranked Real Estate Company in The Lowcountry SEA PINES

WESTBURY PARK

HILTON HEAD BEACH & TENNIS

6 LIGHTHOUSE LANE #904 $359,000 • MLS#362291

97 WESTBURY PARK WAY $319,000 • MLS#372375

C-322 HHBT OCEAN VILLAS $132,000 • MLS#372045

Large two-level patio provides plenty of room for entertaining and overlooks Harbour Town Golf Clubhouse and the first tee. Stay a night here, you won’t want to leave.

RANDY FIX

INDIGO RUN

286 BERWICK DRIVE $110,000 • MLS#356646 Sellers want sold by year end! Builders, Investors, and Future Home Owners take notice and make offer! No minimum time frame to build and no club dues to pick up a great home site on the Island.

843.227.2526 | angelabarbic@gmail.com

monthly

pe

’

20 1 7

PAULA TRAVER has been featured on HGTV Island Life

PAULA TRAVER has been featured on HGTV Island Life

$676MM in Closed Sales 1,518 Client’s Dreams Realized and more than 4 Properties Sold Daily through October 2017

BERKELEY HALL

Charter One Realty connects more buyers and sellers than any other Real Estate Brokerage in the Lowcountry.

As a result, more clients turn to us for all of their real estate needs.

843.247.3728 | HHI4Me@ outlook.com

44 CLIFTON DRIVE $1 • MLS#339737 Opportunity of a Lifetime! Build in Berkeley Hall and golf on the two fabulous Fazio Designed Courses. Truly 2 of the best courses on the east coast. Backs to permanent open space for total privacy.

HOLLY SNYDER

843.384.7534 | Holly@SoldOnBluffton.com

Thank You! ok e sp

l ha v op

Great location in Hilton Head with fabulous updates! Just steps to the beach, this 1 bedroom, 1 bath villa comes beautifully furnished and features peaceful marsh and peek views of the ocean. A great place to vacation or call home.

843.247.3728 | HHI4Me@ outlook.com

843.263.8295 | RandyFix22@gmail.com

ANGELA BARBIC

The Best location in all of Westbury Park has just come on the market! Stunning home offers 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths with porches galore and park like setting. A Must See!

Thank you for voting us Hilton Head’s Favorite Real Estate Company With over 30 years of experience in marketing and selling real estate in the Lowcountry, you can feel confident that you are receiving the highest level of service from a company you can trust. We would like to thank you for your support and confidence in us.

*This information is based on data provided by the Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island, Inc. HHIMLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data provided by HHIMLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.

Toll Free | 844.526.0002

An International Network of Brokers Representing Luxury Properties Worldwide

Visit our informative web site for photos, virtual tours and MLS Listings

www.PatrickandTaylorTeam.com

RO

2N D

CE WO

AN TID

3 Tattnall Place Port Royal

Meticulously remodeled home on high elevation 2nd row, ocean/beach view setting.Timeless style from the stunning antique glass & wood front door to the Chef’s kitchen with custom pecan cabinetry, oversized ocean view Carolina room, private master suite w/luxuriously appointed master bath, den/study with fireplace, expansive LR & DR. Attractive hard coat tabby stucco exterior, pristine landscaping, majestic live oaks & secluded ocean view back yard with brick paver patio. 3BR/3.5BA/4107 Sq. Ft., $1,250,000.

TRI

PLE

FA

AY V I RW

IE W

LF GO

&L

AG

GOL

F

OO &P

L VI

AL

M

H ARS

S

274 Moss Creek Drive Moss Creek

Complete remodel featuring vaulted/beamed smooth ceilings, wood & stone floors, custom millwork package, built-ins galore, designer fixtures, hardware & lighting, Savannah brick fireplace, Chef’s kitchen with island & wet bar, spacious BR’s, spa quality baths, cozy Carolina room and to die for private pool, pool deck & outdoor kitchen. 3BR/3BA, 2200 Sq. Ft., $499,000.

&

F GOL

H

ARS

EW F VI GOL & L POO

2 Toppin Court Moss Creek

Well maintained home with private pool and golf views on quiet cul-de-sac street.

Open floorplan with great room, formal and casual dining areas, chef’s kitchen with Thermador gas range, twin master suites with walk-in closets and oversized baths with separate showers & garden tubs. Bonus/wine storage rooms. Screened porch opens to pool area with ample deck and lush landscaping. New roof. 3BR/3BA, 2850 sq. ft., $599,000

WS F GOL

86 Victoria Drive Moss Creek

Panoramic lagoon to golf view on high elevation area of Moss Creek. Open floor plan has high end Chef’s kitchen w/Bosch appliances, gas range, granite counters, breakfast bar, & built-in desk. Private, large master suite w/twin walk-in closets & well-appointed bath. Features incl. office nook, wood floors, custom built-ins, plantation shutters, tray ceilings, etc.

Brick paver rear patio. 3BR/3BA, 2785 Sq. Ft., $539,000.

WS

Beautifully remodeled, award winning home w/panoramic 3 mile tidal marsh & creek views.

Chef’s 5 star kitchen open to dining area & family/keeping room, spacious LR, private master suite w/ luxurious spa quality bath, large guest BR suites, well equipped media room/4th BR suite and generously sized water view screened porch opening to pool & deck with top of the line Azek decking. Nothing but the best in this waterfront showplace! 4BR/3BA/2HB, 3775 Sq. Ft., $999,500.

ATE PRIV

VIE

O & PO

116 Moss Creek Drive Moss Creek

WS

Panoramic tidal marsh views across moss draped live oaks from this home thoughtfully designed for South Carolina Lowcountry sub-tropical climate.

Design inspired by the renowned Jim Thompson home in Bangkok, Thailand. Highest quality craftsmanship in/out w/features incl. brick & cypress exterior, tongue/groove cypress walls, expansive great room with 12ft. cypress ceiling, built-ins, brick fp, wood floors & impressive 2 story staircase.

Secluded ground floor 4 season Carolina Rm w/fireplace. 3BR/2BA/1HB, 3196 Sq. Ft., $649,000.

OON

EW

VIE

L VIE

LM TIDA

23 Peninsula Drive Moss Creek

LAG

Newer custom built home w/panoramic golf & lagoon views on Moss Creek’s South Course. Double island kitchen opens to family room, living room, dining room, private master suite, oversized laundry room w/office nook, walk-in pantry and walk-up attic storage. Smooth volume ceilings, extensive millwork, wood floors, gas FP, and outdoor living area with expansive rear patio. 3BR/3BA, 2755 Sq. Ft., $549,000.

S

Completely remodeled estate sized home on oversized lot provides maximum privacy, sweeping tidal marsh & creek views. Finishes include detailed millwork, double tray & coffered ceilings, custom built-ins, wood floors, designer fixtures and hardware. Oversized Chef’s island kitchen boasts high end appliances, custom cabinetry, granite, natural stone, wet bar, etc. New master suite features luxurious marsh view bath. Huge bonus suite/media room and 3 car garage. 4BR/4BA/1HB, 4498 Sq. Ft., $1,039,000.

WS

111 Moss Creek Drive Moss Creek

IE W

72 Toppin Drive Moss Creek

TID

Enjoy wonderful curb appeal and triple fairway views from this superbly maintained newer home with open floorplan. High end chef’s kitchen opens to Great Room with built-in, fp, and bar. Formal and casual dining areas. Private master suite has luxurious master bath. Large guest bedroom with huge bonus room/4th BR. Carolina Room view overlooks golf course. Oversized 2-car garage with workshop. 4BR/4BA, 3752 Sq. Ft. $649,000.

VIE

MA

S

109 Saw Timber Drive Moss Creek

N OO

AL

V RSH

-MA

RSH

EE -CR

K VI

E WS

99 Toppin Drive Moss Creek

Updated custom home perfectly sited on dynamic lot offering maximum privacy + golf, tidal marsh & creek views. Features include volume ceilings, detailed millwork, custom built-ins & luxury window package.

Floorplan includes Chef’s kitchen, breakfast bar & casual dining open to FR, LR and DR with wet bar, private master suite w/well-appointed bath. 2 guest BR’s & huge bonus suite. Hardcoat stucco exterior & 3 car garage. 4BR/3.5BA/3500 Sq. Ft., $519,000.

MOSS CREEK HOMES AND VILLAS

57 Victoria Drive – Golf & Pool Views – 3BR/2BA/2HB, 2793 Sq. Ft. – $499,000 239 Moss Creek Drive - Lagoon & Golf Views – 3BR/2.5BA, 2663 Sq. Ft. – $449,000 11 Indigo Court – Golf Views – 3BR/2.5BA, 2593 Sq. Ft. – $375,000 15 Saw Timber Drive – Golf Views – 3BR/2.5BA/2129 Sq. Ft. – $355,000 44 Wax Myrtle Court – Lagoon Views – 3BR/2BA, 1803 Sq. Ft. – $339,900 26 Marshwinds – Tidal Marsh Views – 2BR/2BA, 1710 Sq. Ft. – $299,000 73 Stable Gate Road – Lagoon View – 2 BR/2BA, 1371 Sq. Ft. – $229,000 1 Devil’s Elbow Lane – Golf & Marsh Views – 1BR/2BA, 1217 Sq. Ft. – $149,900

TOLL FREE (800) 267-3285 | OFFICE (843) 681-3307 | 81 MAIN STREET, SUITE 202, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29926 EMAIL: info@PatrickandTaylorTeam.com

David Carroll

Cell 843.384.8111 | dchiltonhead@gmail.com

30 Years of Local Experience and The #1 Real Estate Company INDIGO RUN GOLF CLUB

23 Cotesworth Place

PORT ROYAL PLANTATION

43 Fairway Winds

PORT ROYAL PLANTATION

136 Coggins Point

LONG COVE CLUB

6 Cotton Hall Lane

Quality constructed by H2 Builders. One owner home. Grand foyer leads to great room. Formal dining room, wet bar. Center Island kitchen with eat in area opens to family room. Master wing has 2 walk-in closets, elegant bath, sitting area.

Guest wing features 2 BR, full BA, plus office/ game room or 5th BR with full BA, off the private pool. 2nd floor has guest suite, plus office/bonus room. Large laundry room. Could be 6 BR. 2 car side entry garage with golf cart bay. Golf views of 16th fairway. $759,000

Million Dollar Views & just a short walk to the beach & new Port Royal Beach Clubhouse (2018 completion).

Enjoy lagoon, golf & a sneak peak of ocean views! New flooring, paint & smooth ceilings. Main floor Master w/ large bedroom, walk in closet, updated master bath.

Great room w/Cathedral wood ceiling, stone fireplace.

Spacious kitchen w/abundant cabinetry & countertops, center island & casual dining area. Formal dining room/ study/media room, plus laundry room on 1st floor. 2 BR's w/full bath & loft up. Enjoy the outdoors w/multilevel rear decks with sprawling views! $749,000

Smell the salty air & walk to the beach! One-of-akind, amazing homesite! 200' frontage, 160' deep and 222' along the view (rear). Over 30,000 sq. ft., 3/4 acre site along the Barony Golf Course, with potential distant views of the ocean! Sprawling site with high elevation, can build on slab. Beautiful Live Oaks adorn the property! 2 minute walk to the beach and 3 minutes to the Beach Club. Very rare to acquire a homesite of this size, and view with high elevation, so close to the water! $599,000

Rock solid built, custom home with long and wide lagoon view, cul de sac location. Elegant entry into living room and dining room, kitchen has eat in area and opens to family room. Office or 5th BR on main floor with full BA. Master is graciously sized, 2 walk in closets, large double vanity, separate shower and large garden tub. 2nd floor has two ensuite BR. Walk in storage, heated and cooled artist studio or playroom. Bonus room above garage with full BA. Long Cove Club Amenities. $549,000

SHIPYARD PLANTATION

SHELTER COVE HARBOUR

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

YACHT COVE

CONTRACT PENDING

278 Evian Villas

Standalone 3 BR townhome, totally renovated with new kitchen, baths, flooring, appliances, fixtures, furniture in 2016. Lagoon to golf view, covered back porch. Amazing location directly across from the Evian Pool and Tennis facilities. Villa feels like a home with just under 1,900 heated sq. ft., an eat in kitchen plus dining room, living room with fireplace and loft ceiling. Master has cathedral ceiling, double vanity bath with granite tops, walk in shower, desk/work station, plus big closet. Extra bunk room upstairs. $515,000

INDIGO RUN

690 Colonial Dr.

Desirable full sized homesite on prestigious Colonial Drive in The Golf Club at Indigo Run. Level high ground, overlooking the 14th fairway. $169,000

CONTRACT PENDING

259 Captain's Quarters

20 Country Club Court

22 Brittany Place

4th & 5th floor Penthouse, 2 BR + Loft. Direct waterfront views of Shelter Cove Harbour, Broad Creek, and miles of the amazing watershed. Updated with cherry floors, new carpeting, granite in the kitchen. Two story great room with walls of glass overlooking the views! Free Shuttle to beach, walk to shopping, dining, nightlife, restaurants, boating.

Partially furnished, turn key ready & priced to sell! $429,000!

Picture perfect home on a great street with an amazing panoramic golf view! Towards the end of cul de sac, so extreme privacy, yet close to CCHH, Marina, Old Fort Pub, back gate for EZ access. 1-story, 3 BR, 2 BA, powder room. Custom floorplan, eat in kitchen, dining room, and living room with fireplace. Brand new windows. HVAC and Roof 10 yrs. old. Master has sitting area and double vanity bath. Lots of natural light. Lots of closets. 2 car side entry garage. $429,000

Perfect Mid-Island location. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths.

4 car tandem garage (2 car wide, 2 car deep)! New carpet, new paint, tile floors in kitchen to dining. Tile backsplash in kitchen. Main floor master with double vanity sink, tub/shower, walk in closet. 2 bedrooms plus laundry closet up. Backs up to open space and water feature. On site pool. $247,500

FOLLY FIELD

THE PADDOCKS

MOSS CREEK

23 Sandcastle Ct.

Opportunity is knocking! Closest to the beach, plus a big lagoon view! Desirable Eastern exposure across the back for sunshine filled morning and cool afternoons on the back deck, hear the waves...$119,000

15 Percheron Lane

Amazing building activity in The Paddocks and in this area. Great opportunity to own a piece of land on Hilton Head Island! $89,900

Search All MLS Listings at HiltonHeadHomeSource.com Real Estate Listings and Sales Since 1986 Experience - Knowledge - Results Who Is #1 In Real Estate? YOU Are When You Work With David Carroll

19 Catbriar Lane

Full size lagoon view lot, beautiful specimen trees outside building envelope! Moss Creek membership included; 36 holes of championship golf, 7 Har Tru tennis courts & clubhouse, deepwater marina offering wet or dry boat storage, kayak storage, waterfront pool & fitness complex, full service clubhouse and golf shop, equestrian center, two nature preserves & miles of leisure trails. Amazing value for $79,900

Rick Saba has personally assisted 91 families YTD with their property needs!

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

1 Honey Locust Circle

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

13 Cottonwood Lane

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

65 Crooked Pond Drive

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

37 Santa Maria Drive

Beautifully renovated one level home w/ private pool in Hickory Forest w/Sound beach access from your neighborhood.

Open concept home has wood/tile flooring, brand-new carpet, and new custom paint throughout. Large eat in kitchen, smooth ceilings, gas fireplace vaulted ceilings, custom molding, large patio w/pavers, and gorgeous lagoon view w/plenty of privacy. $489,000

Beautiful 4 Br located around the corner from Pine Island Beach and the path along the Port Royal Sound, with stunning fairway and lagoon views of the Dolphin Head Golf Course.

Renovated eat in kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances opens to the family room. 1st floor master Br and large master bath. $499,000

5 Br home on a cul de sac, near the bike/nature trail w/1st floor master bedroom and private pool. Open eat in kitchen to living area with vaulted ceilings that bring in natural light.

Stone fireplace, smooth ceilings, steam shower in the master bath and plenty of storage space. Private back yard and huge side yard. $598,000

Newer one level home close to the Country Club with views of the 18th hole. Open floor plan with high ceilings, fireplace and natural light throughout. Gourmet eat in kitchen, granite wet bar, gas fireplace, Sentricon protection, and lots of storage. Enjoy the large back patio to take in those great views. $569,900

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

INDIGO RUN

BROAD CREEK LANDING

10 Lenora Drive

Features an updated kitchen w/granite and stainless appliances. Living area with high ceilings, fireplace & wood flooring. Spacious 1st floor master suite, plus Br and full bath. Upstairs 2 Brs with Jack and Jill bath, 5th Br with bath. Upstairs loft, bonus room.

Great privacy with covered porch as you back to the HHP Conservancy. $598,000

{

100 High Bluff Road

Gorgeous golf views of the 5th green of the Oyster Reef Course and a short distance to Port Royal Sound. Large vaulted ceilings, living room and family room open to eat in kitchen. Features fireplace, screened in porch, large 1st floor master bedroom with huge walk in closet. Bonus room/4th Br above the garage. $619,000

8 Mead Lane

Stunning lagoon views from this new construction home...the Tom Peeples Love Oak model with open concept floor plan, huge great room w/gas fireplace and hardwood flooring. Open eat in kitchen, completely custom w/ granite counter tops, stainless appliances and more. Enjoy the view from your screened in porch or from your golfer’s porch on your bonus room. $819,000

6 Anchorage Point

Gorgeous views from multiple decks across Broad Creek to Spanish Wells. Custom kitchen is open to main living area with fireplace. Built ins, smooth ceilings, wood flooring and large Brs, and more. Broad Creek Landing is located on the south end of the Island close to the Marina, shops, restaurants and Sea Pines. $254,900

“I would recommend Rick Saba and his team to anyone buying or selling their house in the Bluffton/HHI area. I had no previous experience selling a house and he provided knowledgeable guidance throughout the process. Rick was easy to get in touch with and very attentive to my questions or concerns. From the beginning, his team had a constant flow of potential buyers viewing my home. Once an offer was made, he helped guide me through the process all the way to the closing and kept me informed along the way” – The Lasseter Family November 2017

}

Rick Saba

Carolina Realty Group (843) 683-4701 Rick@TheBestAddressinTown.com www.RickSaba.com 2009 Realtor® of the Year Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors® 2005 President Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors®

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you & your family!

Favorite Realtor Hilton Head

Would you like to get AUTO ALERTS on ANY COMMUNITY OR VILLA COMPLEX? Please call (843) 683-4701 or email me today: Rick@TheBestAddressinTown.com

Follow me on the web and on Facebook & Twitter.

SEA PINES REAL ESTATE AT THE BEACH CLUB WWW. 18 HARROGATE DRIVE – WEXFORD

BEACHCLUBREALESTATE .COM

6 TURNBERRY LANE – HARBOUR TOWN

70 PLANTATION DR. #181 – HARBOUR TOWN

ING D N PE

Open floor plan with 4 Br, 3.5 Ba with great outdoor environment overlooking the pool and Wexford golf course. The 4th Br is over the 2-car garage which could be used as a media room. Large kitchen with granite countertops, appliance upgrades, and open to family room. Master on first floor. Den/study.

Invisible fence installed.

Estate sale. Sold as is. Remodel was in 2014. Excellent location to Harbour Town and Beach. Located on the 15th hole Par 5 of Harbour Town Golf Course.

3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, all on one level. Open floor plan with kitchen opening up to family room and den. Dining area and living room.

Very popular street in Sea Pines.

Beautifully renovated and designer decorated 3 BR/3 BA villa furnished with French & Swedish Antiques. Fantastic views of Harbour Town golf course 10th & 16th holes and Calibogue Sound View. All bathrooms completely renovated.

Walk to Harbour Town, bike to the beach. (All furnishings is either antique or recently recovered upholstery.) Very strong rentals averaging close to $60,000/ year the last 3 years.

MLS #367673 $979,000

MLS #372349 $695,000

Jeff Hall 843.384.7941

Jeff Hall 843.384.7941

6 OSPREY ST. – NORTH FOREST BEACH

26 SAINT ANDREWS PLACE – HARBOUR TOWN

10 S. FOREST BEACH DR. #312 – S. FOREST BEACH

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath turnkey home located 3rd row from the ocean. Open floor plan with fireplace, beautiful back deck and outdoor environment area with pool. Plenty of parking with good elevation. Great rentals! Gross rentals 2016 is $32,200 and to date for 2017 $20,800

Attention to detail on this 4 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home. Well maintained home located on 8th Fairway of Harbour Town Golf Course. Cathedral ceiling, two master suites. One on first floor. Eat in kitchen opening into large family room.

Outside screened deck/porch and pool. Very nice open floor plan.

Super location! Heart of Hilton Head Island and across the street from the beach.

Walk to Coligny for restaurants, shopping and groceries. This efficiency villa is on sunny side of building on third floor. Perfect getaway or rental property. Concrete and stucco building with elevators from under building parking to each level.

Metal roof, huge pool and two tennis courts.

MLS #337961 $799,000

Jeff Hall 843.384.7941

MLS #372065 $1,395,000

MLS #362195 $849,000

MLS #372205 $159,000

Jeff Hall 843.384.7941

Jeff Hall 843.384.7941

15 LIGHTHOUSE RD. #42 – SEA PINES

150 LIGHTHOUSE RD. #A-729 – SEA PINES

AVALON AT INDIGO RUN

Excellent condition 2 Br, 2 Ba, one floor villa, walking distance to beautiful beach, Plantation Golf Club and new Sea Pines Beach Club. Great value for beach villa with gorgeous golf views. Anderson windows throughout with shutter inserts plus extra large sunroom!

WATERFRONT TOWNHOUSE Beautiful, designer updated 2 BR, 2 ½ BA 1440 sqft. This lovely, furnished townhome is move-in-ready in the Heart of Harbour Town. Fishing and crabbing from bulkhead. Walk to shops, evening entertainment, golf course, tennis, pool, restaurants, boat trips and parasailing. All day Free Trolley to Sea Pines Beach Club.

3 bedrooms, 3 baths • 2 car garage • Gorgeous lagoon view with fountain Totally furnished • Recently updated • One floor living - no stairs!

Just painted interior • New carpet throughout, tile in kitchen & baths Private side patio • Beautifully maintained by original owners Community pool and gated entrance

MLS #365832 $349,900

Tommy Austin 843.384.7033

Jeff Hall

Mary Pracht 843.298.1715

MLS #362016 $539,000

MLS #372327 $399,000

Nancy Cunningham 843.683.4580

Barbra Finer 843.384.7314

Tommy Austin

YO U R M O S T T R U S T E D R E A LT O R S

Mary Pracht

Nancy Cunningham

Barbra Finer

W W W. B E AC H C L U B R E A L E S TAT E .C O M

Tracy Dayton

843-686-4000 tracydayton59@hotmail.com

43 Fairway Winds - Port Royal $749,900

Million Dollar Views & just a short walk to the beach, & new Port Royal Beach Clubhouse (2018 completion). Enjoy Lagoon, Golf & a sneak peak of Ocean Views! Updated with new flooring, paint & smooth ceilings. Main floor Master w/large bedroom, walk in closet, updated & elegant master bath. Great room w/Cathedral Wood Ceiling, stone fireplace. Spacious kitchen w/abundant cabinetry & countertops, w/center island & casual dining area. Formal dining room/study/media room, plus laundry room on 1st floor. 2 BR’s w/full bath & loft up. Enjoy the outdoors w/ multi-level rear decks with sprawling views!

136 Coggins Point Rd (land) - Port Royal $599,000

Smell the salty air & Walk to the beach! One of a kind, amazing homesite! 200’ frontage, 160’ deep and 222’ along the view (rear). Over 30,000 square feet, 3/4 acre site along the Barony Golf Course, with potential distant views of the ocean! Sprawling site with high elevation, can build on slab. Beautiful Live Oaks adorn the property! And only a 2 minute walk to the beach! 3 minutes to the Beach Club. Very rare indeed to be able to acquire a homesite of this size, and view, with high elevation, so close to the water!

Build your Dream Home in Port Royal Plantation on Hilton Head Island!

2518 Villamare - Palmetto Dunes $499,000

Penthouse condo in Palmetto Dunes, just steps to the ocean. 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, fully equipped Kitchen with washer & dryer. Entire Condo has been painted with fresh Carribbean colors, new chair rail, all new doors, bedding, 58” smart TV in living room, 43” Smart TV in guest room and more. Oceanfront pool, hot tub, grilling area & indoor pool, hot tub, sauna & gym. Great Rentals. Bright & Sunny!

2116 Villamare - Palmetto Dunes $459,000

Best priced Villamare on the market in Palmetto Dunes. Freshly painted with smooth ceilings and can lighting & chandelier in dining room. Updated kitchen with granite, newer appliances throughout, new furniture, mattresses, bedding etc. & some new furnishings.

Hilton Head Islands most pristine beaches of Palmetto Dunes Resort. Steps to miles of pristine beaches. Villamare has an oceanfront pool + hot tub; indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and gym in resort setting. Enjoy the resort lifestyle of Palmetto Dunes. Miles of bike paths & beaches with plenty of golf and restaurants. Rentals - $32,000 on books, $40,000 projected. Great villa in an ocean front complex on Hilton Head Island.

20K Fiddlers Cove- Folly Field $180,000

Great 2 bedroom 2 Bath condo with a fully equipped kitchen with a washer & dryer.

Wood floors with tile in the bathrooms, smooth ceilings and crown moulding. Short walk to Hilton Head beaches. Great as a rental or second home. 24 hour Gated community. 10 Clay Har Tru Tennis courts, 2 indoor Racquetball courts, 2 Large Pools, Hot tub, grilling areas, playgrounds. Miles of Bike Paths, close to dining and entertainment. Enjoy the Hilton Head Resort Lifestyle.

21 Percheron Ln (land) - The Paddocks $129,000

Amazing opportunity for a full size homesite with mile long marsh and tidal creek views in front. All newer homes in this North End Island gated community. Country living on Hilton Head Island! The Paddocks features a community pool, clubhouse, outdoor fireplace, fishing lake with a dock, PLUS a recreation Island replete with wildlife and total serenity. Equestrian enthusiasts would find this community extremely attractive, with boarding, stables, pastures and riding trails adjacent to the development. Convenient location for access to the South End of the Island, as well as Bluffton & beyond! Two other lots also competitively priced & available.

Check out Hilton Head MLS Listings at: www.tracydayton.com Charter One Realty

Richard MacDonald & Associates Richard MacDonald

Joey Doyle

Richard@RMacDonald.com cell: 843-384-8797 | office: 843-681-3307

JoeyDoyle@CharterOneRealty.com cell: 843-290-5055 | office: 843-681-3307

INDIGO RUN

INDIGO RUN

PALMETTO HALL

CLASSIC SOUTHERN Lowcountry Estate Home in the exclusive Broad Pointe Community. 5,200 sq ft home w/ every imaginable upgrade. 5 BR, 4 full BA, multiple Covered Porches, Rec Room, 5 car Garage, and elevator. Grand entry Foyer w/elegant Dining Room & Study w/coffered ceilings.

Spacious Great Room w/20’ ceilings & Brazilian Cherry Floors, Chef’s Kitchen w/Medallion Wood Cabinets w/large Granite Island. Top of the line appliances includes a Sub-Zero & Wolf Gas Range/Oven. Private Master Suite w/fireplace & much more. Broad Pointe has own pool & day dock. $975,000

INCREDIBLE ISLAND LIFESTYLE HOME overlooking the most panoramic Lagoon and Golf Homesites. Privacy abounds as you enter by the Courtyard Pool. Spacious main living area with large Great Room with hardwood floors opening to a large Kitchen. Private Master Suite and Den/4th Br. 2 Br/2 Ba Guest House with Kitchenette. 3 Car Garage plus a temperature controlled area for additional 6 cars or additional living space. Landmark Home in The Golf Club designed by Kermit Huggins. $779,000

PREMIER STREET IN PALMETTO HALL across from the Palmetto Hall Club. Tom Peeples Custom built home overlooking a large lagoon and 9th Fairway. 4 BR/4 BA. Spacious Great Room with hardwood floors and coffered ceilings. Dream Kitchen with custom cabinets, granite tops and top of the line appliances. Private Master Suite, 4th BR is a Bonus Room over the Garage. Model Perfect. Used only as a 2nd home. $775,000

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

SEA CLOISTERS

ROSE HILL

SPACIOUS 4 BEDROOM plus Study, 3.5 Bath home with a panoramic view overlooking a Lagoon and 3 Fairways of the Country Club of Hilton Head Golf Course. Beautiful Living Room and Dining Room. Great Kitchen opening to a light filled Breakfast/Family Room.

Master Suite with sitting area. Large Bonus Room/4th Bedroom above an over-sized 2-car Garage. $520,000

BEAUTIFUL DIRECT OCEANFRONT villa with panoramic OCEANFRONT View! Fully furnished 2 BR/2 BA, 1st floor Sea Cloisters villa. Great 2nd home or rental property. $520,000

BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM BUILT HOME overlooking the 13th Fairway with our 3600 sq ft. 4 BR or 3 BR plus bonus room and 3.5 BA. Built in 2004 this home has an elegant Living and Dining Room, Chef’s Kitchen open to large Family Room. Private Master Suite, Bedroom separation and a covered Porch. $515,000

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

PALMETTO BLUFF

PALMETTO COMMONS

SPACIOUS TOWNHOME with over 2800 sq ft across from The Country Club. 3 BR, 3.5 BA with 2 car garage and private elevator. Open floorplan, Kitchen with Breakfast Area, Dining Room. Great Room with hardwood floors. Private Master Suite and Guest BR/BA. Regime Fee covers exterior maintenance. $495,000

BUILD YOUR DREAM FAMILY COMPOUND on the 6.96 acre homesite in prestigious Palmetto Bluff. Beautiful entrance with gas lanterns on either side and brick paver entry drive. Enjoy the incredible LowCountry lifestyle that Palmetto Bluff represents.

EZ access to Hilton Head, Bluffton and Savannah. $419,000

GREAT CONVENIENT mid-Island location. Beautifully renovated ground floor 2 bedroom, 2 bath villa. New appliances, new plumbing system, new roof in 2017. Split bedroom plan. Great permanent home or vacation get-away. Beautiful on-site pool. $142,500

R DE CT UN TRA N CO

homesites

PALMETTO HALL 15 Madison Lane

$99,900

BERKELEY HALL 4 Rice Hope

$10,000

HAMPTON HALL 267 Farnsleigh Ave $89,900 274 Farnsleigh Ave $99,900 HILTON HEAD PLANTATION 41 Ellenita Dr $142,500

www.CharterOneRealty.com

Merry Christmas

and Best Wishes for the New Year!

››Sports CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS You might say Bill Wrightson was an accidental genius.

He was a lifelong runner — though not a particularly fast one — who became somewhat obsessed with the science of the sport.

He became more involved with the Seahawks’ cross-country and track programs when his daughter, Christie, started running for the school in 1995, and he and longtime coach Max Mayo began working one on one with the team’s elite runners, including Adams.

Mayo was the vocal motivator with the coaching background, Adams said, while Wrightson was the calm, collected, number-crunching scientist. Together, they were an unstoppable duo that could turn spindly island kids into mileage-eating machines.

In many cases, Mayo and Wrightson recruited runners who didn’t play other sports — and often lacked the attributes needed to succeed in traditional team sports — and used the tangible evidence of their steady improvement as constant motivation to work harder, which resulted in more improvement, and the cycle began anew.

“That’s why I love the numbers,” Wrightson said. “There’s so many numerical measures for you to look at to see improvement. Sometimes in life that’s hard to see. It’s really hard to notice improvement as finite as you can with numbers and running. When you can show them their improvements and constantly remind them, they really start to get the connection between hard work and success.”

And, boy, did they have success.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOUG GILMAN

HHIHS cross country coaches Bill Wrightson (left) and Max Mayo coached the Seahawk boys to a fifth consecutive state championship in November. Wrightson stepped down after the race, ending a 13-year stint as head coach in which the boys won eight state crowns and the girls five.

Going out in glory

AFTER ANOTHER BIG WIN, HHI CROSS COUNTRY COACH STEPS DOWN

BY JUSTIN JARRETT

B

y any account, there’s no good reason why Hilton Head Island should produce more talented distance runners than any other town its size.

Sure, outdoor activities are popular here, and training in the humid environment might benefit local runners when they race elsewhere, but high humidity isn’t unique to the Lowcountry.

The terrain is flat as can be — the bridges to the mainland and across Skull Creek provide the only opportunities for substantial elevation change.

Yet Hilton Head Island High School has formed a distance running dynasty, dominating South Carolina’s cross-country scene and cleaning up in longer races during track and field season.

“It’s no running mecca or anything,” said David Adams, whose 14:37 5K in 1999 still holds the record at both the school and state. “It shows you how important a good coach and support system can be.”

And for the past 13 years, the Seahawks have had one of the best.

198 hiltonheadmonthly.com

THE EXTRA EFFORT Wrightson stepped down after the S.C. High School League cross-country championships in November. And it’s no surprise he went out on top, with Hilton Head High’s boys winning their fifth straight state championship and their eighth in the past nine years, and the girls finishing second.

Four times during Wrightson’s 13-year tenure as head coach, the Seahawks swept both the boys and girls titles, and for eight years, from 2008-15, both teams finished first or second at the state meet. As an assistant track and field coach training distance runners, Wrightson guided the Seahawks’ boys 4x800 relay team to the state title in 10 of the past 11 years.

Wrightson’s coaching philosophy centered around the “four Ps” – passion, preparation, patience and perseverance — and his runners took it to heart. They put in the kind of mileage typically expected of college runners, always chasing that extra second and, of course, the accolades that came on race day.

“I always told them the fun is on Saturday — going out there and people showing up and realizing they’re running for second place if we’re there,” Wrightson said. “The fun is in the performance and the achieving and constantly getting better.”

‘IT’S JUST RUNNING’ Wrightson’s fortune cookie-like nuggets of wisdom are legendary among the program’s many alumni, and he sprinkles

them throughout casual conversation.

“You’re always out there trying to beat your best self,” Wrightson often tells his runners. “As time goes by, your best self gets tougher and tougher to beat.”

Another one stuck with Ben Gilman, the 2016 Class 4A state champion for the Seahawks who is now running at NCAA Division II Lee University in Tennessee.

“Whenever I had a bad day, he would say ‘It’s just running.

It’s one day. You have 365 of them every year,’” said Gilman, who also praised Wrightson’s eclectic mix tapes he produced for road trips. “Even now, when I have a bad day I remind myself that it’s just running, and it’s just one day.”

Gilman, whose younger brother, Sam, kept the state crown in the family by winning the Class 4A title this year, says he “wasn’t much of anything” when he transferred from Hilton Head Christian Academy in eighth grade and began running for Wrightson and Mayo. Now he’s an all-region performer as a freshman at Lee, and he says he owes it all to his high school coaches.

When Adams decided to run competitively again after a 10-year hiatus following his career at Clemson, he sought out Wrightson to train him. He said he had the best results of his life. “(Wrightson’s) an incredible guy,” Gilman said, “and he deserves every single accolade that comes to him.”

Of course, Wrightson is quick to deflect the credit.

“It’s really a testament to these kids and the success that they’ve had that allows other people to know about my story,” he said. “It’s been a tremendous, tremendous experience.”

Wrightson’s winning coaching philosophy centered around the “four Ps” – passion, preparation, patience and perseverance.

OFF THE TRACK Wrightson has achieved enough to hang up his stopwatch, at least for now. He’s 73 years old and has sent more kids than he can count off to run in college. Now, he said, it’s time to be closer to his own daughter, Christie, so he and his wife, Joy, are moving to Durham, North Carolina. He figures he’ll keep close tabs on the Seahawks through track season and come back to help with the program’s annual summer camp. And he knows nostalgia will likely hit come fall, when he’ll probably be wondering where that old stopwatch has gone. He doesn’t want to be a head coach again and deal with all the administrative tasks, but said being an assistant again is appealing.

“I’ve probably got some good references,” he said with a laugh, “and the resume isn’t bad, either.”

December 2017 199

››Sports | Roundup

‘ROEBOAT’ WINS BIG DURING REGATTA WEEKEND The Yacht Club of Hilton Head and the South Carolina Yacht Club held their annual Regatta Weekend from Oct. 13-15, including the 47th annual Harbour Town Cup and the 46th annual Calibogue Cup. Mike Roe took home the top honors in his Hunter 356 boat — nicknamed Roeboat — winning The Island Packet Trophy for the best overall performance in both regattas. Roe won the PHRF Non-Spinnaker Class in both races.

Other winners were Mark Newman's boat Vortex in the PHRF Spinnaker Class of both regattas, and Henry Schultz aboard TTFN in the Flying Scot Class in both races.

FORMER SEAHAWKS STAR FORD A FINALIST FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD

Former Hilton Head Island High School star and current Texas Longhorns standout Poona Ford is among 12 finalists for the S.C. Football Hall of Fame’s Blanchard-Rogers Trophy.

The trophy is awarded annually to the most outstanding collegiate player of the year with South Carolina ties. Previous winners include Deshaun Watson in 2015 and 2016, Vic Beasley in 2014, and Tajh Boyd in 2013.

Though 10 games this season, Ford had collected 26 tackles, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. He is projected to be one of the top five defensive tackles selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Other finalists for the state award are Jake Bentley and Skai Moore from the University of South Carolina; P.J. Blazejowski and Antonio Wilcox of Furman; Austin Bryant, Dorian O’Daniel and Kelly Bryant of Clemson; Anthony Ellis of Charleston Southern; Darius Leonard of S.C. State; Mason Rudolph, a Rock Hill graduate who now plays at Oklahoma State; and Andre Stoddard of Wofford.

The S.C. Football Hall of Fame allows its supporting members — anyone who purchases a membership, sports media and its boards and executive team — to vote for this award. Online voting at scfootballhof.org will close Dec. 11.

The Blanchard-Rogers Trophy is awarded at the organization’s annual Enshrinement Banquet, to be held on April 19 in Greenville.

200 hiltonheadmonthly.com

SEA PINES GOLF INSTRUCTOR NAMED TOP TEACHER

The Sea Pines Resort’s golf instructor Dana Rader has been named one of the “50 Best Teachers in America” by Golf Digest. She is one of only four women to make the prestigious list. The honor comes just months after Rader was formally inducted into the LPGA’s Teaching and Club Professional Hall of Fame — the highest honor bestowed to teaching and club pros.

Rader joined the instruction team at The Sea Pines Resort in the fall. She leads the ladies golf instruction programs at the resort’s state-of-the-art Golf Learning Center.

Rader has been awarded numerous honors throughout her career, including Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 Teachers in America” in 1996, a title she still holds today. She was named LPGA Teacher and Golf Professional “National Teacher of the Year” in 1990 and won the Ellen Griffin Rolex Award in 2015. In addition, the Golf Channel Academy made her Lead Charter Coach.

Rader is a contributing writer for Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, Golf Tips magazine, Sports Illustrated and The Charlotte Observer. She also wrote the book “Rock Solid Golf: A Foundation for a Lifetime.”

PTR PARTNERS WITH GIRLS TENNIS NETWORK Hilton Head Island-based Professional Tennis Registry has been named the official education partner of Girls Tennis Network, a program developed by Evolve9 to help tennis coaches and facilities keep girls in the game. The program focuses on giving coaches the skills to retain young female players ages 8-12 by providing drills, games and activities delivered through the six core principles of GTN. GTN was successfully launched at the Women’s Tennis Coaching Association Conference in August in New York City. PTR and Evolve9 will offer one-day GTN workshops to PTR members throughout 2018.

December 2017 201

››Calendar | DECEMBER DEC. 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

Enjoy holiday lights, hot toddies and a showing of the movie “Elf” outdoors at Moreland Crossroads in Palmetto Bluff. $20 per car. Movie starts at 6 p.m.

THROUGH DEC. 10

floral arrangements and fiber art. Open 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SoBA is a collective of more than 100 artists in Bluffton’s historic district at the corner of Church and Calhoun streets. 843-7576586 or sobagallery.com

SOBA FEATURES NEW EXHIBIT Elizabeth Slater is the featured artist at the Society of Bluffton Artists gallery. Her exhibit, “Lowcountry Elements: A Natural Study,” showcases pencil, watercolor and acrylic adaptations of the coastal elements of the Lowcountry. At SoBA gallery in Old Town Bluffton. Slater is a Savannah native with a love for the Georgia coast. sobagallery.com

THROUGH DEC 23

THROUGH DEC. 22 SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS’ HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE: A unique place to shop for holiday gifts by local artists with a variety of creations to choose from — including jewelry, cards, holiday decorations, small paintings, 202 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Elizabeth Slater's art show "Lowcountry Elements: A Natural Study" is at the SOBA gallery in Bluffton.

PICTURES WITH SANTA AT THE SOUTH BEACH INN: Pictures with Santa. Families, children and well-behaved, leashed pets are invited to get their photos taken with Santa.

Savor tasty holiday treats to fuel your fun. Write letters to Santa and send them to the North Pole. At South Beach Inn, 232 S. Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island. Every Friday and Saturday 3- 7 p.m.

Complimentary. saltydog.com

December 2017 203

››calendar PICTURES WITH SANTA AT BLUFFTON SALTY DOG T-SHIRT FACTORY: Families, children and well-behaved, leashed pets are invited to get their photos taken with Santa.

Write and send letters to the North Pole. Take home some reindeer food so the reindeer have no problem finding your house. Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory, 1414 Fording Island Rd, Bluffton. noon-3 p.m.

Complimentary. saltydog.com

THROUGH DEC. 24 COASTAL GEORGIA BOTANICAL GARDENS - DECEMBER NIGHTS & HOLIDAY LIGHTS: Savannah’s jewel of Christmas returns with 1,000,000 sparkling lights across the gardens. Visit with Santa Claus Thurs.-Sat. and stop by the Coastal Rail Buff’s miniature train display. Stop at Mrs. Claus’ kitchen for a hot beverage or baked goodies . Weather permitting, 6-9 p.m. $10 adults; $5 children. 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah. 912-921-5460 or coastalgeorgiabg.org

THROUGH DEC. 30 ‘TIS THE SEASON! Enjoy the season's beauty at Shelter Cove Towne Centre. This highlight of

the local holiday season takes place from 5:30-9 p.m. nightly and includes lights throughout Shelter Cove Towne Centre, horse and carriage rides, train rides, a rock wall, an ice skating rink, live music, Santa Claus and more. Park your car, stroll through the lights, and enjoy these activities plus shopping and dining. All proceeds benefit the Island Rec Center. . Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. welcometosheltercove.com

Local artist Amos Hummell's new exhibit is at Karis Art Gallery on Hilton Head.

DEC. 1- 31 MIA MOONA LISA: Hilton Head Island artist Amos Hummell revisits his inner "Moon Dog" with this collection of moonlit fantasies partly inspired by mythological sea sirens and ancient mariners, but mostly by a fascination with lights in the night. The exhibit will be showcased Dec. 1-31 at the Karis Gallery, C4 Village at Wexford on Hilton Head. An opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8. Free and open to the public. 843-7855100 or karisartgallery.com.

BLUFFTON CHRISTMAS TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY AND PARADE: Mayor Lisa Sulka will begin the evening with

The Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens shine with holiday decorations.

announcements, the M.C. Riley Elementary school chorus will sing and the town Christmas tree will be lit. Cookies and refreshments will be served under the pavilion where a special guest will make an appearance. At 5 p.m. DuBois Park, 67 Lawrence Street, Old Town Bluffton. bluffton.com

DEC. 1 WINTER WONDERLAND FESTIVAL: Start the holiday celebration, everyone is welcome!

Carnival games, children’s parade, golden candy cane hunt, Coca Cola Refresh Crew and much more. Concessions, trampoline bungee, and rock wall sold separately. Special appearance

by Santa. Free admission, donations welcome. From 4- 8 p.m. Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-6817273 or islandreccenter.org

DEC. 2 BLUFFTON CHRISTMAS PARADE: Saturday morning the Christmas Parade will step off at 10 a.m. at the corner of Bridge and Pritchard Streets.

Parade participants will make their way along the parade route and end in Bluffton Park 204 hiltonheadmonthly.com

at the corner of Pin Oak Street and 8th Avenue. bluffton.com FOURTH ANNUAL PARADE DAY OYSTER ROAST: Join the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society for a night of familyoriented fun, barbeque, and oysters straight from the May River. Live Entertainment by The Walker Harris Band. Tickets are $35 and children 12 and under are free. Tickets will be sold at the door, and prior to the event at the Heyward House Museum and Welcome Center. From 5 - 8 p.m. Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St, Bluffton. 843-7576293 or heywardhouse.org

DEC. 2, 9, 16, AND 23 HOLIDAY FIRESIDE MOVIES WITH POPCORN: Every Saturday night in December, enjoy a movie on the terrace at Sonesta Resort. Pull up a comfy chair by the fireside, have some warm popcorn and take in a show. At 7 p.m. sonesta.com

DEC. 2 - 27 THE ISLAND CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: This winter wonderland is filled with trains, trolleys and villages to excite the young and young-at-heart. This year’s

theme is Christmas around the world, highlighting eight countries and how each one celebrates Christmas. Free and open to the public, donations of canned goods and toys accepted in support of Deep Well and St. James Baptist Church Soup Kitchen. Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 11 a.m. will be story time with Greg Crispell from the Hilton Head Library and photos with Santa from the Lens Club. 843-7855560 or info@clchhi.com

DEC. 3 EAT, SHOP, & BE PAMPERED: Who said holiday shopping had to be stressful? Enjoy some live music and holiday hors-d’oeuvres while browsing some of your favorite popup boutiques and Lowountry businesses. Enjoy Indigo Spa’s complimentary mini treatments for your most relaxing holiday

shopping spree yet. 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. The Indigo Spa, 14 Valencia Rd., Hilton Head Island. 843321-4083 or indigospa.com

DEC. 3 - 4 HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR: HHSO conductor John Morris Russell will continue the orchestra’s 36th season, “American Mosaic” with “Joy to the World,” an evening of festive holiday music with talented guest soloists, three choruses, the Hilton Head Dance Theatre and the Savannah Children’s Choir along with an intricate violin concerto performed by Phoebe Liu. 5 p.m. Dec. 3, and 8 p.m. Dec. 4. Concert tickets are $30, $45, and $55.

Reduced matinee prices are available for children with their accompanying parent. hhso. org or 843-842-2055.

MAKE MERRY WITH VIM ON DEC. 2

Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island will hold its premier fundraising event – the Circle of Caring Gala – from 6 to 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 2 at the Hilton Head Island Westin Resort & Spa.The gala will feature music by Deas-Guyz and dancing, a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, complimentary wine, and silent and live auctions.

Patron sponsorship packages with preferred seating and other benefits begin at $3,000 for a table of eight. Individual guest tickets are $175.

Volunteers in Medicine is funded by donors, run by volunteers and maintained with the help of patients. Sponsors of the event are Charter One Realty, Latinos Unidos and Fidelity Investments.

For reservations and information, call 843-689-6612 or email development@vimclinic.org.

DEC. 3, 10 AND 17 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Enjoy breakfast with Santa at Heyward’s Restaurant and Seacrest Terrace and Patio.

A photographer will capture holiday moments for guests.

9 a.m.- noon. Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, 130 Shipyard Dr, Hilton Head Island.

Reservations required. $21.95 (13 and older), $11.95 (8 to 12 years), $8.95 ( 4 to 7 years), 4 and under complimentary with paying adult. sonesta.com

DEC. 5 - 30 BEADAZZLED: Beaded sculptures, jewelry and embroidered art pieces fashioned

December 2017 205

››calendar DEC. 10

with thread or wire are just a few of the techniques displayed in the Beadazzled Show. Choose a stylish, elegant gift for that special someone or for yourself.

The artists will be demonstrating their techniques from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 14, 21 and 28. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-6815060 or artleaguehhi.org

DEC. 7

HOLIDAY HOOK UP: A Pop Up Event

S

ome of the area’s top female entrepreneurs are teaming up to provide the ultimate shopping and social experience featuring gifts, glam and tastes of the season.

Lowcountry Girls Branding will present the inaugural Holiday Hook Up – a pop-up event that will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Sonesta Resort. It will feature a cash bar and mimosa station, live DJ playing holiday songs, and a raffle and silent auction to benefit Hopeful Horizons.

Lowcountry Girls Branding is the brainchild of Jackie Wells-Lindstrom of Too Belles Boutique and Brody Kenneweg of Traveling Chic Boutique, who have teamed up to create an atmosphere where local business owners can come together to offer on-trend shopping opportunities for locals and guests in the Hilton Head Island area. After experiencing similar collaborations in other areas around the country, they decided to take on the challenge of bringing this type of experience to the Lowcountry.

In addition to Too Belles Boutique and Traveling Chic Boutique, about 30 other local vendors have signed on to take part in the Holiday Hook Up, including Little Fish Boateak, Sterling Styles, Island Girl, Sweet Carolina Cupcakes, Cycle Bar, Watusi, Pelican’s Pouch, and Fresh Produce.

The one-day event is free to the public. For more information, including the vendor sign-up link, visit lowcountrygirls.com, email lcgbranding@gmail.com or call 843-295-9003.

206 hiltonheadmonthly.com

AMERICAN REVOLUTION ROUND TABLE: Quarterly meeting to explore historic events and people of the American Revolution era emphasizing the importance and influence of the South.

Jim Jordan, speaker, tour guide, and author will discuss Nathanael Green, one of Washington’s most trusted generals. Guests are welcome.

11:30 a.m. Tidepointe, 700 Tide Point Way, Hilton Head Island. For information and reservations, contact: John Basch 843-707-7049 or Gina Tjersland 843-422-3815.

DEC. 8 - 10 HOLIDAY MARKET FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS: For three days, young crafters and artists 18 and under will have a chance to share their creations with shoppers in one of the most heavily trafficked holiday shopping spots on Hilton Head Island, decorating their kiosk as they see fit and learning how to turn their hobby into a trade. ColignyPlaza.com

DEC. 9 DAVID ROTH: James Taylor meets Jon Stewart? Awardwinning singer/songwriter David Roth makes his first visit to Bluffton to present an evening of unique original music, a rollercoaster ride of hilarity, poignancy, spontaneity, and inspiration.7 p.m.

Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.General Admission

is $20. Doors open at 6 pm. 843837-3330 or uulowcountry.org

DEC. 10 HELPING PARENTS HEAL: Monthly meetings of this nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting parents who have lost children, giving them support and resources to aid in the healing process.1 p.m.- 3 p.m. Dec. 10, Seaquins Ballroom, 1300 Fording Island Rd., Bluffton. 201-2336015 or ivouvalides@aol.com ST. ANDREW BY-THE-SEA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TEDDY BEAR SUNDAY: Those attending may bring a new bear which will be given as part of the church’s Christmas Grace store for those in need as well as provided to local helping agencies.hhiumc.com

DEC. 13 PINOT ENVY 5 COURSE WINE DINNER: Special culinary pairings

by Chef James Wooten featuring wines from Foley Family Wines & Domaine Caneros. ELA'S Blu Water Grille, Shelter Cove Harbour Shops, 1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island. 6 p.m. $90 per person. elasgrille.com

DEC. 14 LWV ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON: The public is encouraged to attend this annual event. Guest Speaker will be James Mallory on the topic of Real and Fake News. 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m., Country Club of Hilton Head, 70 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head. $30 per person, RSVP by Dec. 5. lwvhhi.org/calendar

DEC. 15 MOVIE ON THE GREEN: In the spirit of the season, enjoy a showing of Elf. Bring beach chairs, blankets, and favorite Friday night date. Hot toddies and movie snacks along with candy from our favorite Elf. Moreland Crossroads, 6 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. to

mix and mingle with Santa. $20 per car. Proceeds will be donated to Honor Our Heroes Foundation.

Come early and enjoy the pop-up art shop sponsored by Red Piano Art Gallery. redpianoartgallery.com SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS CONCERT: This joyful holiday treat features Carols Galore, Vivaldi's Gloria and Christmas Movie Soundtracks. 8 p.m.

First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. For tickets visit hiltonheadchoralsociety. org or 843.341.3818.

DEC. 15 - 17 POP UP ART SHOW: A curated collection of art from renowned Lowcountry and Southern artists will be on display, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Honor Our Heroes Foundation. Red Piano Art Gallery, Moreland Village in Palmetto Bluff. 744 Old Moreland Rd.

DECEMBER 2017

Tides Provided by ®

www.saltydog.com

Predicted by Jake MOON PHASES 4th 10th 18th 26th Sunrise: 6:52 AM Sunset: 5:23PM

Latitude: 32˚ 06.8’ N Longitude: 80˚ 49.8’ W

Friday noon to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. redpianoartgallery.com

"Color with Candace Whittemore Lovely" is an opportunity to explore both the Impressionist style of art and the coloring craze that's sweeping the nation.

DEC. 17 ST. ANDREW BY-THE-SEA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: In addition to regular worship services, children will present Christmas pageants at 10 a.m. in Bluffton and at 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Head Campus. hhiumc.com

DEC. 20 COLOR WITH CANDACE WHITTEMORE LOVELY: Learn to color the Impressionist way with a local artist who paints in the Impressionist style. Enjoy an afternoon of tea, croissants, and crayons while Ms. Lovely guides you through the process of coloring one of her paintings from her new coloring books.

An event for all ages and skill levels. From 3 p.m.- 5 p.m.The French Bakery & European

Day Date Time

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Height

12:33am 1:34am 2:33am 3:29am 4:23am 5:14am 6:01am

6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 7 7.1 7.2

12:22am 1:15am 2:11am 3:09am 4:09am 5:09am 6:07am

6.1 6.3 6.6 6.9 7.3 7.7 8.1

Cuisine, 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-5403963 or candacelovely.com

DEC. 24 CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER: Traditional holiday offerings at

Time 12:19am 1:12am 2:04am 2:55am 3:47am 4:40pm 5:35am 6:34am 7:37am 8:42am 9:45am 10:41am 11:32am 12:19pm 12:23am 1:04am 1:43am 2:21am 2:58am 3:34am 4:11am 4:50am 5:33am 6:24am 7:22am 8:29am 9:36am 10:40am 11:41am 12:38pm

Height -0.08 -1.1 -1.3 -1.3 -1.2 -0.9 -0.5 0 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.2 -0.3 -0.7

Time

5:34am 6:27am 7:19am 8:11am 9:04am 9:58am 10:55am 11:55am 12:53pm 1:50pm 2:45pm 3:39pm 4:31pm 5:21pm 6:08pm 6:45am 7:26am 8:04am 8:41am 9:18am 9:54am 10:30am 11:11am 11:56am 12:46pm 1:40pm 2:37pm 3:36pm 4:37pm 5:37pm 6:35pm

Height 8 8.4 8.7 8.9 8.8 8.5 8.2 7.8 7.4 7.1 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.5 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.3 7.1 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.4 6.4 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.8 7

ELA'S Blue Water Grill available in addition to regular menu; live music by Bill Peterson. ELA'S Blu Water Grille, Shelter Cove Harbour Shops, 1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island.Open 3 - 8 p.m. elasgrille.com

Time

12:02pm 12:57pm 1:50pm 2:43pm 3:34pm 4:26pm 5:18pm 6:13pm 7:11pm 8:11pm 9:10pm 10:05pm 10:54pm 11:40pm

Height -0.1 -0.05 -0.7 -0.9 -0.8 -0.7 -0.4 -0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1

1:03pm 0.2 1:44pm 0.1 2:24pm 0.1 3:01pm 0.2 3:38pm 0.2 4:14pm 0.3 4:52pm 0.4 5:32pm 0.5 6:16pm 0.5 7:06pm 0.5 8:02pm 0.3 9:02pm 0.1 10:01pm -0.3 11:00pm -0.7 11:56pm -1.1

Time

Height

6:02pm 7.3 6:54pm 7.4 7:46pm 7.5 8:38pm 7.5 9:32pm 7.4 10:30pm 7.2 11:31pm 7

6:52pm 6.5 7:34pm 6.5 8:13pm 6.5 8:51pm 6.4 9:29pm 6.2 10:07pm 6.1 10:47pm 6 11:32pm 6

December 2017 207

››calendar ST. ANDREW BY-THESEA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: Lessons and carols with candlelighting, 10 a.m.

Family Candlelight Service with harp, 4:30 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service with harp at the Hilton Head Campus, 7 p.m.

Traditional Candlelight Service with Chancel Choir and harp at the Hilton Head Campus.9:30 p.m. Hilton Head Campus, 20 Pope Avenue. hhiumc.com CHRISTMAS EVE UNDER THE STARS: St. Andrew By-TheSea United Methodist Church service, at new location, includes carols and candlelight. 6:30 p.m.

Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street. Check hhiumc. com in the event of rain or high wind for the alternate location.

DEC. 25 CHRISTMAS NIGHT DINNER BUFFET: Enjoy a Lowcountryinspired Christmas dinner with family and friends. . From 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. Sonesta Resort

Hilton Head Island, 130 Shipyard Dr, Hilton Head Island. Adults $38.95, 7 -12 year olds $15.95, 3 -5 year olds $8.75. sonesta.com

DEC. 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER: Bring in the New Year with Sonesta! Enjoy a special buffet at Heyward’s Restaurant followed by entertainment at Bayley’s Bar. Watch the ball drop in an intimate ballroom setting with live music and late night appetizer menu. Dinner at 7 p.m., ballroom 10 p.m.- 1 a.m. sonesta.com NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER: Special holiday offerings available at Eia”s Blue Water Grill in addition to regular menu.

Complimentary champagne toast and our notorious threestory balloon drop at midnight.

Local live music by John Wasem and Reid Richmond. ELA'S Blu Water Grille, Shelter Cove Harbour Shops, 1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island.Open 5 p.m.-1 a.m. elasgrille.com

GOOD-BYE 2017, HELLO 2018 Hilton Head and Bluffton don’t have Times Square, but that doesn’t stop locals from celebrating New Year’s Eve to the hilt.

Ring in the new year in Sea Pines with two ball drops on Dec. 31 – the first at 7 p.m. for kids and the second at midnight for after-hours revelers.

Harbour Town hosts a Lowcountry-themed ball drop—a huge golf ball drops from the top of the Harbour Town Lighthouse after the count down. For more information call (843) 842-1999 or go to seapines.com Or dance the night away to welcome the new year at the Old Town Dispensary in Bluffton, where the seventh annual New Year’s Eve crab pot drop will take place. Live music starts at 6 p.m. and a DJ starts at 10 p.m. The crab pot, made out of old building materials, is hoisted 60 feet into the air and dropped at midnight. Check the Old Town Dispensary’s Facebook page for details.

208 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Harp music will accompany the candlelight Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew ByThe-Sea United Methodist Church on Hilton Head.

ONGOING TUESDAY NIGHT SUPPER CLUB: JOIN THE CLUB AT SONESTA RESORT: Three courses for $20. Complimentary glass of wine. Specialty three course tasting menu.

For reservations call 8433341-1850. sonesta.com GARVIN-GARVEY COTTAGE TOURS: By appointment, Tuesdays and Thursdays, located in Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St, Bluffton. Visit the newly opened GarvinGarvey Freedman’s Cottage. $5 per person. For more information about the GarvinGarvey Cottage and its history please visit townofbluffton. sc.gov/garvin-garvey FOREST PRESERVE WAGON JOURNEY: 3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sea Pines Resort.

Sit back, relax and experience the animals and plant life of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Reservations required; call 843-842-1979. $16/adult, $13/child (ages 12 & younger)

FALL-WINTER ADULT READING PROGRAM: September 1 to March 31, Bluffton Branch Library 120 Palmetto Way. Missed or didn’t get to read enough during summer reading?

Join us and participate in the fall-winter reading program and register to win gift cards or movie passes. Read three books a month and submit your reading log at the Bluffton Branch reference desk. Free. For more information visit beaufortcountylibrary. org or contact Armistead Reasoner at 843-255-6512 or areasoner@bcgov.net UNCOVERING THE ROOTS OF RECONSTRUCTION: 9:30 a.m. Fridays, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive.

A partnership with the Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island Land Trust and the Mitchelville Preservation Project offers a new tour. Meet at the Coastal Discovery Museum for a short introduction and then participants will caravan in their personal vehicles to the sites.

Visit the site of the self-governing community of Mitchelville (est.

1862) to learn about the Port December 2017 209

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHEN YUN

››calendar

Classical Chinese dance troupe Shen Yun will perfomr at the Savannah Civic Center Dec. 23.

Royal Experiment and how freedom and reconstruction impacted the new citizens who lived there. Nearby, join a guide for a tour of Fort Howell, built in 1864 to protect the town of Mitchelville. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12 and reservations are required by calling 843-689-6767 ext. 224 or online at coastaldiscovery.org THE JAZZ CORNER: The Jazz Corner's intimate, elegant atmosphere is the perfect setting to enjoy an evening of world-class entertainment enhanced by our innovative southern flavors menu and personal, attentive service.

Nightly concerts at 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. The Village at Wexford C-1, Hilton Head. For concert schedules and more information, visit thejazzcorner. com, or call 843-842-8620.

210 hiltonheadmonthly.com

LIVE JAZZ AT ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE: Hilton Head Island's award-winning waterfront restaurant on Shelter Cove Harbour, features exceptional water views, fresh catch seafood, prime cut steaks, and a sophisticated atmosphere. For schedule and more information visit elasgrille. com. 7 p.m. Nightly and 11 a.m.2 p.m. during Sunday Brunch, ELA'S Blu Water Grille, Shelter Cove Harbour Shops, 1 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island.

BACH LOBSTER NIGHTS: Wednesday nights starting Sept. 6, The Wreck of the Salty Dog, 232 S. Sea Pines Dr., Hilton Head Island. Enjoy live Maine Lobster ($25) with a side of live piano music. Call the Lobster Line to reserve your lobster 843-683-6465.

COMING TO THE SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER: 301 W Oglethorpe Ave. Upcoming artists include Katt Williams, classical Chinese dance troupe Shen Yun and "blue collar" comedian Ron White (mature audiences only).

For a full schedule of events and entertainment visit savannahcivic. com or call 912-651-6550.

BIRDING AT PINCKNEY ISLAND: 7:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m.

Sept. 6 - Nov. 29, Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge. The Coastal Discovery Museum runs this bird watching program at Pinckney Island led by experienced birding guides from the museum. The walk will include the combination of habitats at Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge. These varying areas allow participants to see many different species of birds.

Ages 12 and older. Participants are asked to bring their own binoculars and the program will be canceled in case of rain. The program is $12 per person and reservations are required by calling 843-689-6767 ext 223.

HISTORIC ZION CEMETERY AND BAYNARD MAUSOLEUM: 10 a.m. Wednesdays, intersection of U.S. 278 and Mathews Drive.

Join the Heritage Library for a tour of the cemetery where Revolutionary War soldiers are buried. Learn about the oldest existing structure on Hilton Head Island and explore the location where planters antebellum church and muster house used to sit. $12 per adult, $7 per child. Registration required, call 843-686-6050 or visit HeritageLib.org.

HISTORIC FT. MITCHEL IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION: 10 a.m. Thursdays, 65 Skull Creek Dr, Hilton Head Island. Join the Heritage Library for a tour of the Civil War battery Skull Creek built to protect Port Royal Sound the Seabrook Coaling Station. $12 per adult, $7 per child. Registration required, call 843-686-6050 or visit HeritageLib.org.

HISTORIC TOURS BY BICYCLE: 10 a.m. Wednesdays, leaving from 137 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton

Cultural heritage tourism and events are growing on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. See listings above.

December 2017 211

››calendar

”SETTING SUN“ ON DISPLAY at Coastal Discovery Museum

BY ADDI MCNEEL

L

ooking for something to do outinstallation once construction on a new doors during the holiday season? park there is complete. (l to r): Sculptor Tom Check out the enormous “Setting The piece was created with the Holmes, Denise Spencer and Michael Lowcountry’s unique environment in Sun” sculpture on the grounds of the Marks pose in front of mind. Artist, musician and sculptor Coastal Discovery Museum. It’s 19 feet "Setting Sun." Tom Holmes of Greeley, Pennsylvania tall, 19 feet wide and weighs almost a — whose work has been selected for a ton, with fiery orange hues and 16-foot steel spikes that fan out like the sun’s rays. number of national, international and solo exhibitions — built “Setting Sun” using steel and primed “It’s a colorful piece that represents the beauty it with epoxy before painting it with auto paint. and cycles of nature we experience every day in the Lowcountry,” said Michael Marks, chairman The Community Foundation of the Lowof the Community Foundation of the Lowcouncountry established the Public Art Fund in try’s Public Art Advisory Committee.

2006 to bring more art to public settings. “SetThe sculpture is a gift to the Town of Hilton ting Sun” is the eighth piece to be added to the Head Island from the Community Foundation of island’s outdoor art collection. Other pieces the Lowcountry’s Public Art Fund. The piece is include “Charles E. Fraser” at Compass Rose valued at about $40,000 and was the Purchase Park, “Family” at Chaplin Linear Park, “Sail Around” at the corner of William Hilton ParkPrize winner at the 2015 Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head. The Public Art Exhibition is a fourway and Arrow Road, “Sail” at Hilton Head Island Airport, “Poppies” at the entrance to month-long large-scale sculpture exhibition held every two years at Honey Horn and is next schedthe Shelter Cove Veterans Memorial, “Carocol” uled for fall 2018. at Shelter Cove Community Park, and “THEB: The Coastal Discovery Museum is just the temTally” in the Stoney area on William Hilton Parkway. Another piece, “Sandy Roads” by porary home for “Setting Sun.” The sculpture will be moved to Coligny Park as a permanent Hilton Head artist Mark Larkin, is planned.

212 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Head Island. Take a ride along the waterfront corridor of Squire Pope Road and learn about Hilton Head Island’s unique and rich history of Native Americans, The Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gullah Community and more. Tour lasts about 90 minutes and is safe, casual and fun. Helmets required, bug spray and water suggested.

Bring your own bike. $15 Adult, $10 Child, 10 and up only. Book online at HeritageLib.org.

THE PEARL KITCHEN AND BAR: 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Dinner daily.

Enjoy live entertainment Thursday through Saturday, 55 Calhoun St, Bluffton. The Pearl Kitchen & Bar will please your palate with the freshest of ingredients prepared in a manner that will excite, entice, and keep you coming back for more. For additional information call 843-757-5511 or visit thepearlbluffton.com.

FARMER’S MARKET OF BLUFFTON: 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

Thursdays, 1271 May River Rd. The market is now open with additional public parking provided by the Town of Bluffton. An artisan showcase on the first Thursday of every month highlights a rotating group of local artists and their fine craftsmanship.

Keep an eye out for fabulous new food and farm vendors this year and find your next favorite thing. farmersmarketbluffton.

org for more information.

SAVANNAH CULINARY TOUR: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, Savannah Historic District, Savannah. Explore Savannah’s fine food and drink in a 2.5hour tour that offers tastes of the best of the Hostess City’s cuisine. This guided afternoon journey is delicious, informative and fun. Adults $49, Military $45, children 12 and under $39. Reservations required, visit SavannahCulinaryTour. com or call 912-604-3007 for more information.

MEDITATION + YOGA: 9 a.m.10 a.m. Mondays, Hilton Head Library. Group meditation is a great way to get support and develop a mindfulness routine for a brand new, spotty, or long-time practice. Sit in silence for 30 minutes. New to the program is that the meditation is to be followed by a 45-minute yoga session, to draw from heightened awareness to practice mindful movement. For meditation, use a chair or bring a cushion; for yoga, bring your mat. Everyone is welcome. Free, for more information contact Lauren Read at 843-255-6531, lread@bcgov. net or beaufortcountylibrary.org.

tea at a beautiful plantation house in the Lowcountry. Selections include custom crafted teas, elegant finger sandwiches and heavenly desserts. Small groups or large groups welcome $40 per person. Call Lou Anne Takach today to book your tea time, 843-757-6046.

GOLF CLINICS FOR ALL AGES: Times vary, Country Club of Hilton Head. Group and individual golf programs for adults and juniors led by PGA Professional Jeff Picus of Excel and Enjoy Golf Academy. To learn more or to register for any of these programs, contact Jeff Picus at 843-2958888 or classapro@pga.com.

FRESHWATER FISHING: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island.

Enjoy a relaxing morning by the beautiful lakes of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve while fishing.

Supplies provided. Reservations required; contact 843-8421979. $19/adult, $14/child (ages 12 & younger) For additional information visit seapines.com TEA TIME AT ROSE HILL MANSION: 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Rose Hill Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton. Experience afternoon December 2017 213

››Dining | What's cooking?

Keep It Simple

IMPRESS YOUR GUESTS WITH THIS EASY YET ELEGANT HOLIDAY DINNER MENU

BY CARRIE HIRSCH

’T

is the season for gathering around the table with family and friends. But sometimes fixing that festive feast can be a little overwhelming. To make things easier for cooks who aren’t master chefs, we at Monthly have put together this simple but elegant meal that’s perfect for holiday entertaining.

“Easy” can be misleading. Yes, these festive recipes have fewer ingredients and steps than, say, a holiday meal of ham, turkey, duck or roasts with two or three side dishes and elaborate desserts, but that does not in any way mean that they are any less delicious or fall short of a pleasing presentation.

When planning a holiday meal, many cooks tend to focus on appetizers too much — I say skip them. They are the saboteurs of all the host’s efforts. Serve Champagne or prosecco with a small bowl of olives and a few slivers of cheese, and don't replenish the tray. This will whet guests’ appetites but won't fill them up. Food tastes better when one is hungry — a basic rule of entertaining.

Since we eat with our eyes first, this first course of bright Citrus Carrot Soup with Cilantro Pesto will awaken the palate, followed by golden brown Roasted Cornish Game Hens surrounded by ruby-colored Mushrooms au Vin and brilliantly green Italian-Style Green Beans.

Cornish game hens work well for many reasons. For example, one game hen serves one person, which makes a pretty presentation on the plate, and no carving is needed. A simple green salad of baby greens with olive oil and fresh lemon juice would work here as well, but that’s optional.

And for dessert, the Prosecco-Poached Pears with Blue Cheese bathed in rose-colored syrup will shimmer in the candlelight. Wines can be versatile; if going with red, a pinot noir or a syrah will work, while a gewurztraminer, pinot gris or buttery chardonnay are good choices for whites. As an extra garnish on any of the dishes, red pomegranate seeds offer mini bursts of flavor and add color and sparkle.

FOR THE CILANTRO PESTO: – 1 cup cilantro leaves, thick stems removed – 1/3 cup roasted peanuts – 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil – 3 garlic cloves – 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

CARROT CITRUS SOUP WITH CILANTRO PESTO MAKES: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

FOR THE SOUP: – 1 tablespoon butter – 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil – 1/2 onion, finely chopped – 1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced into 1-inch rounds – 2 cups water – 2 cups vegetable broth – 1 teaspoon ground turmeric – 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt – 1/2 teaspoon black pepper – 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 214 hiltonheadmonthly.com

To make the soup, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat in a medium pot. Add the onions and sauté until translucent, stirring often. Sprinkle turmeric, salt and pepper over onions and stir for 1 minute. Add carrot slices, water and vegetable broth to the pot, making sure the water covers them. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat, cover and simmer until the carrots are tender when pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes.

Puree the soup in batches in a blender or food processor. If it’s too thick, add water by the tablespoon. Return to pot and then stir in the lime juice.

To make the cilantro pesto, combine all ingredients in a mini food processor and pulse. Add more olive oil to thin out the pesto as needed.

Serve the soup warm or chilled with cilantro pesto.

ROASTED CORNISH GAME HENS WITH MUSHROOMS AU VIN

FOR THE HENS: 4 Cornish game hens 3 cups dry red wine 2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper

FOR THE MUSHROOMS: 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 10-ounce packages cremini or white button mushrooms 1 medium yellow onion, finally chopped Salt and pepper FOR GARNISH: Parsley, finely chopped Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Rinse and pat the Cornish game hens using paper towels. Pour the red wine into the bottom of a large Dutch oven. Arrange the hens, breast side up, in the Dutch oven. They should be spaced 2 to 3 inches apart. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dot with butter. Place the hens in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

While the hens are cooking, start the mushrooms. Heat the butter and olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat, and then add the mushrooms and onions, sautéing and stirring often, until browned — about 15 minutes.

The mushrooms will release a lot of liquid, but if necessary, carefully add a small amount of red wine to the skillet if the skillet seems too dry. Remove the hens from the oven and arrange the sautéed mushroom mixture and any liquid around the edges of the hens.

Return the hens to the oven and continue roasting, basting twice during the remaining roasting time. If necessary, stir in a few tablespoons of red wine while the hens and mushrooms are roasting.

When the hens are golden brown, test for doneness by inserting a thermometer inside the thickest part of the thigh — it should read 165 degrees and juices will run clear. Loosely tent the hens with foil and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley.

ITALIAN-STYLE GREEN BEANS MAKES: 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

– 2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed – 2 tablespoons butter – 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil – Juice of half a lemon – Zest of a lemon – Salt and pepper, to taste – 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted In a medium-sized heavy skillet, heat butter in olive oil over medium heat.

Add green beans then sprinkle with salt and pepper and then sauté, using tongs to turn the beans constantly until desired doneness. Add a few teaspoons of water, if needed. Transfer to a serving dish, toss with lemon juice and zest and top with toasted pine nuts. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

PROSECCO POACHED PEARS WITH BLUE CHEESE MAKES: 4 SERVINGS

This is a light and festive dessert that pairs pears with blue cheese — a classic combination.

This recipe can be made up to two days in advance and stored in an airtight container.

– 2 pounds Bartlett pears (about 4 pears), peeled, cored and halved – 3 cups prosecco, Champagne or other sparkling wine – 3 tablespoons red wine – 1/2 cup granulated sugar juice of 1 lemon – Zest of 1/2 lemon Garnish: ½ cup blue cheese, crumbled Pour lemon juice into a shallow dish. Place the pears, cut side down, in the lemon juice to prevent browning. In a medium pot, bring the prosecco, red wine, sugar and lemon zest to a low boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Lower the heat and poach the pears in the liquid, covered, for 15-17 minutes. Remove the pears from the liquid with a slotted spoon and transfer to a dish. To make the syrup, bring the remaining liquid to a boil over medium-high heat for 15 minutes until it reduces, stirring occasionally. Allow the syrup to cool slightly, then add to the pears and refrigerate. Serve pears and syrup in shallow bowls and top with crumbled blue cheese.

December 2017 215

BLUFFTON

HILTON HEAD

SAME, BUT DIFFERENT.

32 Bruin Road

8 Archer Road

843.837.8888

843.686.3388

redfishof bluffton.com

redfishof hiltonhead.com

››Dining

Holiday spirits

GO-TO ADVICE FOR WINNING WINES AND COCKTAILS

BY THADDEUS MILLER

M

y friends, here we are again.

Another year has flown by and we are staring down the barrel of the holiday season. So many presents to buy and wrap, so many meals to plan and prepare. It can be daunting, especially without the benefits of a festive tipple. But what should we drink? Here are a few tips to get you in the holiday spirit:

PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

Don’t pick something expected If Aunt Jenny loves it, Cousin Mary hates it. Try to find a crowd-pleaser.

Sauvignon blanc is an excellent choice for holiday meals: It’s great for a cocktail wine, and it’s perfect to cut the richness of dark-meat turkey yet light enough to pair with oyster stuffing. Instead of a wine from New Zealand, choose Sancerre, a classic style from northern France that is said to be “the sommelier’s helper” because it goes with everything — unlike Cousin Mary. Or try a fumé blanc from Washington state.

Barnard Griffin makes a delicious one, and it won’t break the bank.

218 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Always have a solid “utility” red wine It is imperative to have a red wine that is neither too heavy nor too light.

The classic option would be pinot noir, but we want to make sure no one feels left out. And let’s face it: Pinot can be a divisive wine. Skip the pinot problem by pouring a Rioja. Primarily made from the Tempranillo grape in Spain, this varietal is medium-bodied and fairly acidic, with a delicious aroma of tart cherries and dried autumn leaves. It’s perfect with poultry and ham, and even pairs well with beef or lamb.

Have a big, bold option Even if you are serving delicate cucumber sandwiches, someone will inevitably want a big, bold red wine like cabernet or zinfandel. Offer something a little

December 2017 219

››Dining

MILK PUNCH – Half-gallon whole milk – Half-gallon heavy whipping cream – 1 quart cinnamon simple syrup (directions below) – 1 750 ml-bottle of Denizen 8-yr.-old rum To make the cinnamon simple syrup: Bring 1 pint of water to a boil, and then stir in 2 cups of granulated sugar. Add 6 heaping tablespoons of cinnamon and remove from heat. Cool for an hour, uncovered, in the refrigerator.

To make the milk punch: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk thoroughly. Chill in the refrigerator. Serve in chilled glasses or over ice. Garnish with fresh nutmeg. You can substitute bourbon or rye if you wish. I prefer the round, vanilla tones of the Denizen rum. And yes, you could just use a gallon of half-and-half.

220 hiltonheadmonthly.com

different: syrah — dark and inky, with rich, velvety aromas of dark fruit, smoked meat and freshly cracked black pepper.

Choose something from California’s Central Coast, like a bottle by Melville Vineyards or Qupé. Or turn to producers from Washington state, including labels Owen Roe and L’ Ecole No. 41. If you’re feeling adventurous, go old-school French with Chateauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe and Domaine du Vieux Lazeret, long considered two of the finest.

Just make sure to bring your wallet — or, better yet, somebody else’s if you choose the French. It is, after all, the holiday season. Live a little.

Sommelier Thaddeus Miller captains the bar at FARM in Old Town Bluffton five nights a week. He also coordinates monthly wine tastings and wine dinners, where everything served is available for sale.

Have a pre-made, batch cocktail Choose something that you would only serve once a year. Most people have very strong feelings about eggnog: They love it or hate it. Some believe eggnog must be cooked like a custard, while others argue it should never be heated. Don’t spend your holiday with your uncles brawling over the punch bowl. Instead, I suggest a classic milk punch. It’s quick, easy and the beverage equivalent of a blanket knitted by your grandmother.

Build a relationship with a professional The Lowcountry is home to some really wonderful wine nerds, cork dorks and bottle jockeys. Take some time to introduce yourself. We are happy to help.

It’s our favorite thing. By starting a dialogue, you can diminish your frustration level when shopping for a daily drinker, or for the next truly amazing dinner party gift. The conversation doesn’t have to be formal or arduous. It would be my pleasure to make the world of wine less intimidating and a lot more fun.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! December 2017 221

››Dining

PRIVATE DINING SOME MOMENTS IN LIFE CALL FOR CELEBRATION. AND SOME CELEBRATIONS CALL FOR A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

W

hen you want to make a statement with your soiree, there’s nothing like gathering a few dozen of your closest friends for a lavish dinner party. The drinks flow, the food entices, the conversation buzzes and memories are made. But then it all comes to a screeching halt when you have to decide who’s going to clean up.

No one wants dish duty, and cooking — or managing the catering — for a crowd can be stressful. If you want to make the evening truly memorable, intimate and stress-free, head to a private dining room at one of the Lowcountry’s renowned restaurants. There, you’ll celebrate in style in a luxurious setting customized for your party. Looking for something cozy and personal for a family get-together? Perhaps something a bit grander for a big milestone celebration? You’ll find it at one of these restaurants.

The second-story private loft at Bluffton’s FARM offers exquisitely elevated views of Old Town from its wide balcony, with plenty of room inside to customize your celebration or enjoy private wine dinners.

222 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Private dining at Rock Fish Seafood and Steaks gives you total control over your dining experience — you can customize the space for up to 100 people and even tailor the menu to your needs.

Michael Anthony's can accommodate up to 55 people in an upstairs private event room designed to reflect Old World ambiance.

Majestic Broad Creek views flood the panoramic windows at ELA’s Blu Water Grille, so your guests can soak up the exquisite scenery while enjoying Southerninspired steaks and seafood.

December 2017 223

››Private dining

PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

At OMBRA, the back dining room can seat up to 55 people. It is the frequent site of rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions, as well as company meetings.

Red Fish Bluffton offers an intimate dining room for private parties (right).

Red Fish Hilton Head has several options for a private gathering, from intimate seating for eight in the Wine Room to the open kitchen and spaciousness of the Chef’s Cellar for groups of up to 75.

224 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Contemporary Italian Cuisine

by Award-Winning Chef Michael Cirafesi

Best Italian 2017

Favorite Chef Hilton Head 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 Best Italian Hilton Head 2017 Favorite Place for a Date 2016

Thank you for all your support and Happy Holidays!

Michael & Lauren Cirafesi

Happy Hour | Premier Italian Wine List | Private Dining | Chef’s Table | Special Events | Early Dining Monday-Saturday | 4:30pm until 10pm | The Village at Wexford | 843.842.5505 | OMBRAHHI.com

››Dining

Our Favorite

Restaurants Brought to You by Monthly, Fork & Fun and Vacation Guide

g BREAKFAST

n LUNCH G DINNER

HILTON HEAD – NORTH END

} SUNDAY BRUNCH a OPEN LATE

additional dining room perfect for group functions. 200A Museum St. (Across from Walmart). 843-342-9949

Bella Italia nG

Munchies nG A true American deli and ice cream shop that only uses Boar's Head meats, cheeses and Nathan's famous all-beef hot dogs. Menu items include paninis, wraps, salads, homemade quiche, soups and more. Satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade chocolate candy, fudge, baked goods and premium ice cream. Gluten-free bread/wraps; vegan and vegetarian options. 1407 Main Strret, Main Street Village; 843-785-3354

CocoNutz Sportz Bar Ga Open to the public. Imagine your favorite sporting events shown on dual 125” high-definition screens and 18 other TV’s tuned in to every sporting event imaginable. That’s what you will find at CocoNutz. $12 buckets of domestic beer, darts and pool. If you get hungry, we have the “Island’s Best Wings,” 1st place at Wingfest 2017, craft burgers and brews, prime rib. 40 Folly Field Road, Beach & Tennis Resort; 843-842-0043

New York City Pizza nG

Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek nG

Dine indoors or outside on the patio, the Old Fort Pub offers beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway and is the only AAA Four Diamond Restaurant on Hilton Head. (Won 11 times!) Enjoy “new south” favorites with influences from around the globe. Try the “Pub and Patio” menu offering smaller portions of Old Fort Pub’s signature entrees. Reservations Recommended. 65 Skull Creek Drive; 843-681-2386, OldFortPub.com

Family-oriented restaurant serving great food at affordable prices. For more than 25 years Bella Italia has been placing lots of emphasis on freshness and quality, including the sauces, the homemade meatballs, fried-daily eggplant, inhouse cut chicken, and more. Pizza and salads are specialties.

Large pizzas will feed a family. Delivery available mid-island to the bridge. 95 Mathews Dr. (Port Royal Plaza) 843-689-5560, bellaitaliahhi.com

Visit the Crazy Crab and enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” king crab, fresh local shrimp and more. Dine in the heart of Sea Pines at Harbour Town. Large parties welcome. Children’s menu available. Highway 278 (near Mile Marker 1);843-681-502, thecrazycrab.com

Old Fort Pub G}

Reilley’s North End Pub nGa

Il Carpaccio nG

Ruby Lee’s North End nG}

226 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Street Meet: The American Tavern nGa “Sidewalk Sandwiches from America’s Favorite Street Corners™” Street Meet specializes in homemade versions of regional American bar food. Voted: People’s Choice Awards Best Bar 2015, Island’s Best Hot Dog. Best Wings, Best Fish & Chips, Homemade Soups, Salads with Fresh Local Produce, Vegetarian Menu, Seafood. Port Royal Plaza, 843-842-2570, streetmeethhi.com

An upscale Italian pizzeria featuring authentic New York pies, homemade Italian entrees, and a full bar. NYCP offers three kinds of pizza crust: NY Style (thin), Pan, and Sicilian, and a variety of Italian dishes, appetizers, subs, calzones, and veal/ chicken entrees. Kid’s menu. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week with dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering.

45 Pembroke Dr. (Festival Centre); 843-689-2229

Gator’z Pizza G Be sure to stop by Gator’z Pizza and order the “Bigly” MEGA Pizza. It’s 400 square inches of pizza perfection! These delicious square pizzas are available for both dine in and take out. Remember that you get more with a square pizza-just to do the math! Pie R Square! 40 Folly Field Road.

Beach & Tennis Resort; 843-842-0043 Il Carpaccio serves a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from the highly regarded cuisine of Northern Italy to genuine crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza. Casual, attractive restaurant, with large, attractive bar and a genuine brick oven (imported from Italy) for baking pizza. Attractive new

Reservations suggested during live music hours, $7 music charge per person. 46 Old Wild Horse Rd; 843-681-7829, rubylees.com

A genuine island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years.

Specials include Monday Night Lobster and Friday and Saturday Prime Rib; reservations required. Kids eat free Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entrée. 95 Mathews Dr. (Port Royal Plaza) 843-681-4153, reilleysnorth.com

The hotspot for sports, blues and soul food. Ruby Lee’s uses time-tested family recipes to produce authentic fried chicken, southern fried pork chops, smoked baby back ribs, seasoned pulled pork, collard greens, fresh seafood and more. Enjoy all of the sports packages and a happy hour. Live music nightly.

Alfred’s Restaurant G

Longtime island chef Alfred Kettering learned to prepare classical European cuisine at the Rhein School of Culinary Arts in Germany and subsequently at some of the best hotels in Switzerland and Holland. His cuisine combines many appealing elements of classic Continental and authentic German cuisine. Tempting seafood and meat entrées, plus hot and cold appetizers, soups and salads. Casually elegant seating, plus a chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen. Dinner is served Monday-Saturday, from 5p.m.-“until.” Reservations recommended.

Plantation Center (Hwy. 278, near Palmetto Dunes) 843-341-3117, www.alfredshiltonhead.com

HILTON HEAD – MID-ISLAND Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar G

Operated by the Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort family.

Chef de Cuisine Sean Carroll introduces an updated summer menu using seasonal ingredients with a strong emphasis on seafood while paying homage to Alexander’s original

favorites. Dinner is available from 5–10pm seven days a week. 76 Queens Folly Rd. (Palmetto Dunes) 843-785-4999, alexandersrestaurant.com

Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza nG

Located inside the Robert Trent Jones Clubhouse, Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, gourmet burgers, grilled pizzas, homemade soups, salads, seafood, steaks and fall-off-thebone ribs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seasonal live entertainment. Big screen TVs and outdoor seating make Big Jim’s the perfect spot to watch sports. Take-out and catering available. 7 Trent Jones Ln. (Palmetto Dunes) 855-878-1966, palmettodunes.com/big-jims

Bistro 17 nG

Excellent French bistro-style food in one of the island’s most charming locations. Indoors, the intimate restaurant boasts crisp white tablecloths, a huge wooden wine rack, and an overall cozy atmosphere. The spacious outdoor patio directly overlooks Shelter Cove Harbour. Fresh seafood is delivered six days a week. A children’s menu and reservations are available. Dogfriendly 17-D Harbourside Ln. (Shelter Cove Marina) 843-785-5517, bistro17hhi.com

ELA’S Blu Water Grille n G

Fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, artfully prepared by their team of culinary experts, compliment the extensive boutique wine selection. Overlooking Shelter Cove marina and Broad Creek, ELA’S offers the island’s best water views. A casual intimate interior, wrap around patio, and nightly entertainment provide the perfect dining experience or location to host events & private parties. Reservations recommended. 1 Shelter Cove Ln. (Shelter Cove) 843-785-3030, elasgrille.com

Fishcamp on Broad Creek nGa

Fishcamp’s menu consists of mainly seafood and American cuisine, including steak and lobster. The main attraction is the outdoor bar and open patio. The restaurant is family friendly, and offers bocce, corn hole and a children’s menu. The history of the fish camp is legendary, and the venue embodies the rich Native Islander culture of Hilton Head Island. Pet-friendly outdoor pavilion. 11 Simmons Road (Adjacent to Broad Creek Marina) 843-842-2267, fishcamphhi.com

Flora’s Italian Cafe G Family-owned by a dynamic European couple and their son. The husband is a renowned chef, having cooked for several heads of state, while the wife is an excellent pastry chef. Wide selection of appetizers, tempting entrées include pastas, seafood, chops and veal, and wonderful homemade desserts. Selection of wines from December 2017 227

››Dining | Favorites California, Italy & Australia. Reservations recommended. 841 Wlm Hilton Pkwy. (Near entrance to Palmetto Dunes ) 843-842-8200, florasitaliancafe.com The French Bakery & Courtyard Café gn

Have breakfast or lunch inside or outdoors in this bakery/café. Broad range of crepes, omelets, breads, baguette and grilled panini sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches and lots of wonderful pastries. The restaurant prides itself in the production of some of the finest bakery products in the region by using traditional French recipes, baking methods and imported French ingredients.

28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 120; 843-342-5420, frenchbakeryhiltonhead.com

Island Bagel & Deli gn The only real New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily on the island. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 flavors of home-made cream cheese and a variety of fresh baked pastries and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch try the specialty hoagies or your favorite deli classic sandwiches and salads. Catering available and call-ins welcome. Breakfast and lunch daily. S. Island Square, 843-686-3353, hiltonheadbreakfast.com Jane Bistro & Bar nG

The owners of Wren Bistro in Beaufort opened Jane Bistro & Bar, serving classic bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Favorites include the jumbo lump crab cakes, toasted pecan cranberry chicken salad, crispy flounder and petit filet mignon with pommes frites. There is spacious outdoor patio seating and a Kids Menu with healthful selections. Open 7 days a week. 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 109 (Shelter Cove Towne Centre) 843 686-5696, janehhi.com

Mediterranean Harbour Bar & Grill nGa

Simon Mikhael has brought Lebanese cuisine to Hilton Head. For those unfamiliar with Lebanese cuisine, most dishes are grilled or baked and use ingredients like lemon, garlic, parsley, olive oil and spices. Enjoy their indoor and outdoor seating with a full service bar. Open daily and serving lunch. Shelter Cove Harbour, 843-842-9991, mediterraneanharbour.com

New York City Pizza nG

An upscale Italian pizzeria featuring authentic New York pies, homemade Italian entrees, and a full bar. NYCP offers three kinds of pizza crust: NY Style (thin), Pan, and Sicilian, and a variety of Italian dishes, appetizers, subs, calzones, and veal/chicken entrees. Kid’s menu. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week with dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. Daily happy hour. Shelter Cove Towne Center; 843-785-4200

Old Oyster Factory Ga Panoramic marsh and water views. Specializing in fresh seafood and some of the best steaks on Hilton Head. Recently recommended in “Off the Beaten Track” column of The Wall Street Journal. Recipient of Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence” for the wine list and knowledge of wine. Children’s menu available. Casual dress. Reservations accepted. 101 Marshland Rd. 843-681-6040, OldOysterFactory.com Ruan Thai Cuisine nG

Bunruan Suphata (Ruan), a native of Thailand, cooks authentic Thai fare based upon the cuisine of central Thailand. It ranges from curries to seafood to duck. Everything is prepared from scratch. Portions are generous. Lunch (informal) is served Monday-Saturday, and dinner (complete with white tablecloths) seven days a week. A children’s menu, take-out and dinner reservations are available. 811 Wlm Hilton Pkwy. 843-785-8575, myruanthai.com

San Miguel’s nG San Miguel’s is located directly on the harbour at Shelter Cove and provides islanders and visitors with good food and fun. Extensive California/Mexican menu. Try San Miguel’s Fish Tacos.

The staff is especially proud of the fajitas and chimichangas. The Especiales de la Casa are popular favorites. Lunch and dinner served 7 days a week. Casual dress. 9 Harbourside Ln. (Shelter Cove Harbour) 843-842-4555, sanmiguels.com 228 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Santa Fe Cafe nG Enjoy casually elegant dining in a longtime (20-plus years) island favorite that captures the spirit of New Mexico. Signature items include Parmesan Chipotle Grouper (written up in Tennis magazine), 24-ounce bone-in ribeye steaks, fajitas made with filet mignon, and Painted Desert Soup. Only authentic New Mexican chilies are used. 807 Wlm. Hilton Pkwy. (Plantation Center,

by Palmetto Dunes) 843-785-3838, santafecafeofhiltonhead.com Sea Grass Grille nG American and Lowcountry Continental cuisine. Chef Chad, a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America of Hyde Park, New York, brings 38 years of hands-on culinary expertise.

More than 50 wines by the glass. Won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence in 2012, 2013.

Kids menu. Reservations accepted. 807 Wlm. Hilton Pkwy. (Plantation Center, by Palmetto Dunes) 843-785-9990, seagrassgrille.com Up the Creek Pub & Grill nGa Located on Broad Creek with a great view of the marina, boats & Broad Creek. This popular lowcountry hideaway offers very casual waterfront dining on their decks. Known for smoked wings, the best hush puppies, house specialty buffalo chicken dip, a great beer selection and the best burgers on the Island. Kids menu available. Dogs are welcome. 18 Simmons Rd. (Broad Creek Marina) 843-681-3625, upthecreekpubandgrill.com HILTON HEAD – SOUTH END Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café nG

Excellent Tex-Mex and American fare is their specialty. Enjoy the all-you-can-eat crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & delicious margaritas. Kids menu available. Casual dress. Reservations & large parties welcome. Private dining/event area. Live entertainment (seasonally) on the covered patio; Delicious wings, fajitas and to-go party package menu available. 69 Pope Avenue; 843-785-7700, auntchiladashhi.com

British Open Pub n G a Family friendly pub style restaurants featuring authentic English food with additional American favorites and certified Angus beef. Try the signature fish and chips along with other British fare, including shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, lobster pot pie and bangers and mash. Casual dress. Take-out available. Village at Wexford, Hilton Head; 843-686-6736 thebritishopenpub.com

Big Bamboo n G a

Where the South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast just steps from the beach, escape to the Big Bamboo Cafe. A long-running, casual hangout with a local vibe and a menu of burgers, seafood and festive libations. Come for the food, stay for the live entertainment! 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza 843-686-3443 www.bigbamboocafe.com December 2017 229

››Dining | Favorites avocado toast with a kale and quinoa salad or you can dive in to the pork sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Call for Priority Seating Take out available as well. 14b Executive Park Rd., Hilton Head (off of Pope Ave); 843-757-CHOW(2469), chowdaddys.com

Captain Woody’s n G a Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” They have dining inside and outside on the patio, with friendly owners and staff which adds up to a great place to eat. Captain Woody’s serves a wide variety of fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices. Hilton Head: 6 Target Rd (off of Palmetto Bay Rd) (843) 785-2400

Charbar Co. n G

Voted Top 16 Burgers in the World at the World Burger Championship. Pick a bread, a protein, veggies, and toppings and Charbar will whip up a custom-built burger that will blow your mind. Voted Hilton Head’s “Best Burger” Burgers & Brew Festival 2012-2016 and Hilton Head Monthly’s Reader’s Choice “Favorite Burger” 2013-2016. Find sandwiches, salads and drink specials daily. 33 Office Park Road, Suite 213 (Park Plaza) 843-785-CHAR (2427), charbar.com

Carolina Crab Company nG

Boasting water views, C3 prides themselves on great, fresh seafood at an affordable price in a family-friendly atmosphere. The menu offers an array of seafood; from light & healthy peel-n-eat shrimp, to giant Po Boys, burgers, Maine lobster and crab legs. Pet-friendly outside bar and patio. 86 Helmsman Way; 843-842-2016, carolinacrabco.com

ChowDaddy’s nG Chow Daddy’s offers a wide variety of unique menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy 230 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse G A unique, all-you-can eat “Churrascaria.” Enjoy a full salad bar with over 30 items, six Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork carved at your table by their gauchos. Featuring a full bar, an eclectic wine list and their famous Brazilian drink “caipirinha.” Beautifully decorated restaurant featuring Chihuly lighting. 1000 William Hilton Parkway, B-6 843-715-3565, cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com CQ’s Restaurant nG SInce 1973 CQ’s combines fine dining, an intimate atmosphere and a touch of Hilton Head history. Signature dishes inspired by the abundant varieties of fresh seafood, beef and game. Craft your own unique menu at The Chef’s Table (by special arrangement). The “Bistro” menu offers smaller portions of CQ’s signature entrees. Children’s menus and take-out are available. 140 Lighthouse Road; 843-671-2779, CQsRestaurant.com Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood G A great destination for steak and seafood lovers, where numerous cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef, including its Famous Prime Rib, with an excellent selection of fresh fish, seafood and pasta dishes. Recipient of Wine Spectator magazine’s Award of Excellence. Everything, from dressings to dessert, that can be is homemade. Reservations are appreciated. 26 New Orleans Rd. (near Sea Pines Circle); 843-341-2333, cranestavern.com Crazy Crab Harbour Town nG Visit either Crazy Crab location and enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years!

Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” king crab, fresh local shrimp and more. Dine among beautiful, waterfront sunsets at Jarvis Creek, or in the heart of Sea Pines at Harbour Town. Large parties welcome. Children’s menu available. Harbour Town: In the Sea Pines Resort; 843-363-2722, thecrazycrab.com Dough Boys Pizza nG

Offering various house made crusts: traditional hand tossed, thin crust and thick Sicilian. The Create-Your-Own-Chopped Salad has over 40 different items to choose from. Specialty subs include a Philly cheesesteak that makes Pat & Geno jealous, a secret recipe meatball sub, all served on Amoroso rolls. Dine In, Takeout and Island Wide Delivery. Beer and wine. 1 New Orleans Rd. (Shipyard Galleria) 843-686-2697, DoughBoysHHI.com

FISH Seafood & Raw Bar G FISH Seafood & Raw Bar places a premium on sourcing delicious seafood from local sources and lightly preparing it with a deep respect for regional foodways and Lowcountry culinary history. Their courteous and knowledgeable staff can guide you on a journey of inspired seafood dishes in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere. Live entertainment at the FISH Bowl music venue. 1 N Forest Beach Dr. (Coligny Plaza); 843-342-3474, gofishhhi.com Flatbread Grill & Bar nG

Upscale, casual dining. Enjoy Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, burgers, wraps, hardy flatbread sandwiches and a great selection of entrées. Dough and sauces are freshly made on the premises. Local produce is used as available. 2 North Forest Beach Dr. (Beach Market Center); 843-341-2225, flatbreadgrillhhi.com

Frosty Frog Cafe & Pizza nGa

Dine inside or out on the large patio w/retractable roof & live acoustic music nightly. Enjoy daiquiris, wine, beer & a full liquor bar; an extensive menu includes burgers, crabcakes, salads, wraps, pizza, calzones, crab legs, shrimp, extensive glutenfree options & a kids menu. As Frosty says “Life may not be a party...but we sure act like it.” They offer – NTN TRIVIA. Coligny Plaza; 843-686-FROG (3764), frostyfrog.com

Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte G Don’t let the French name intimidate you; think of a fun, irreverent friend who happens to be a fabulous chef. Open since 1982, Charlie’s, an island favorite among locals and tourists alike, writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available. The dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list specializes in California cabs, Oregon pinot noir, Rhone Valley & Bordeaux. 8 New Orleans Road; 843-785-9277, charliesgreenstar.com Darren Clarke's Tavern n G If you like golf, good food and an Irish pub atmosphere, this is the place for you. Professional golfer Darren Clarke, a native of Northern Ireland, opened his first restaurant on Hilton Head Island. The Irish influence can be seen throughout the interior and menu of Darren Clarke’s Tavern.

8 Executive Park Rd.; 843-341-3002, darrenclarkestavern.com

Delisheeyo n G

Vegetarian. Delisheeyo owner Blake Wearren set out to create a place for people to escape for lunch. The fruit and veggie smoothies are a quick meal by themselves. Their Buddha Bowls, consisting of steamed grain and healthy toppings of your choice, is a favorite of the regulars. Delisheeyo’s mission is to provide meals that you can trust, that are real, and healthy. 32 Palmetto Bay Road; 843-785-3633, delisheeeyo.com

Hilton Head Diner gnGa One of the island’s only 24-hour restaurants. Modern diner in the tradition of the Northeast, boasting one of Hilton Head’s most extensive menus. All the baking is done on the premises. Beer, wine and mixed drinks are available. Hilton Head Diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Children’s menu and carry-out available. Hwy 278 at Yacht Cove Drive; 843-686-2400, hiltonheaddiner.com Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill n Ga Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much of a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. 70 Pope Avenue, Suite H (BiLo Circle Center); 843-686-5959, hincheys.com Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar nG

Hinoki serves traditional Japanese dishes such as grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, a variety of noodle dishes, tempura, and many daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi.

More than 20 entrées. Reservations are recommended for dinner. 37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza), 843-785-9800, hinokihhi.com

Jump & Phil’s Bar & Grill nGa

Opened in 1994, the Jump & Phil’s tradition continues as long time Jump & Phil’s bartender Lawrence Powell and wife Lauren have taken over the restaurant. Offering pub fare, fresh seafood, she–crab soup, grouper bites, chicken and dumplings and December 2017 231

››Dining | Favorites awesome burgers. All desserts are made in house from key lime pie to maple pecan muffins. Family owned.

7B Greenwood Dr.; 843-785-9070, jumpandphilshhi.com

Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood gnG} “Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence.” Order New Orleans traditions such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and authentic gumbos. Kenny B’s is home of the Island’s best po’ boys and fried seafood. Enjoy blackened shrimp, chicken and catch of the day. Kenny B’s offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch. 70-A Pope Ave. (Circle Center) 843-785-3315 Holy Tequila n G

Voted Hilton Head’s Best Mexican and featured as the Top 6 Mexican Restaurants in South Carolina for 2016. Holy Tequila offers modern Mexican cuisine and features an open kitchen, indoor/outdoor open air seating, and a tequila tasting room.

The menu features gourmet tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads and small plates. The full bar features handcrafted cocktails and over 60 kinds of premium tequilas! 33 Office Park Rd, Suite 228 (Park Plaza) 843-681-TACO (8226), holytequila.com

232 hiltonheadmonthly.com

New York City Pizza nG

An upscale Italian pizzeria featuring authentic New York pies, homemade Italian entrees, and a full bar. NYCP offers three kinds of pizza crust: NY Style (thin), Pan, and Sicilian, and a variety of Italian dishes, appetizers, subs, calzones, and veal/ chicken entrees. Kid’s menu. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week with dine-in, takeout, delivery and catering. Daily happy hour. 81 Pope Ave. (Heritage Plaza); 843-842-2227

Nick’s Steak & Seafood G

The menu at Nick’s Steak & Seafood emphasizes steaks, seafood and barbecue and offers something for everyone including sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers,

pasta and a children’s menu. Prices are very reasonable.

Nick’s also offers dining specials every day and complete bar service. Take-out is available. Reservations accepted.

Large parties are welcome. 9 Park Lane; 843-686-2920, nickssteakandseafood.com

Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café gn Great breakfast fare starting before the sun rises, from 6 a.m. Now expanded seating on veranda, with clear roll-down walls available in the event of cold or inclement weather. Both breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. The cafe specializes in to-go lunches for charter boats, the beach or any other occasion. Open seven days a week. Palmetto Bay Marina; 843-686-3232, palmettobaysunrisecafe.com Phillys Cafe & Deli n Locally owned and operated for more than 25 years, Phillys is a favorite lunchtime spot for locals and visitors.

Phillys’ motto is “Best sandwiches on the island...Period!”

Custom sandwiches with bread baked fresh daily. The pita wraps and salads are both imaginative and healthconscious. Dine in or take out. 55 New Orleans Rd.; 843-785-9966, phillyscafe.com

It’s Greek To Me n G a

Enjoy the unique taste of genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert in one of their cozy dining rooms or expanded patio. Food is prepared with authentic Greek recipes using only the best ingredients and equipment, including the only gyro machines on the island. Greek beer and ouzo. Reservations accepted. 11 Lagoon Rd., 843-842-4033, itsgreektomehhi.com

Local Pie n G Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitan-style pizza using ‘double 00’ flour. Observe the art of hearth cooking with the open kitchen. Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as fresh-water mozzarella are all made in-house. Large screen TV’s, a sprawling 800-foot deck with a bar and bike parking. Reservations accepted, walk-ins welcome. 55 New Orleans Road; 843-842-PIES, localpie.com

Reilley’s Grill & Bar nGa An island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Reilley’s serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, and Sunday brunch.

The bar remains open until 2a.m. Specials include Monday Night Lobster and Friday and Saturday Prime Rib (reservations required). Kids eat free Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entrée. 7D Greenwood Dr. (Reilley’s Plaza); 843-842-4414; reilleyshiltonhead.com Ruby Lee’s South End n G }

The hotspot for sports, blues and soul food. Ruby Lee’s uses time-tested family recipes to produce authentic fried chicken, southern fried pork chops, smoked baby back ribs, seasoned pulled pork, collard greens, fresh seafood and more. Enjoy all of the sports packages. Live music nightly. Reservations suggested during live music hours, $7 music charge per person.

19 Dunnagan’s Alley; 843-785-7825, rubylees.com

Sea Shack nG Sea Shack serves up one of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood served lots of ways, including grilled, blackened, fried, & more. Very reasonable prices. Family friendly. Take-out, kids menu available. Separate checks are no problem. Sea Shack was voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by both Coastal Living magazine and Southern Living. Open Mon.–Sat. for lunch & dinner. 6 Executive Park (off Pope Avenue); 843-785-2464, seashackhhi.com December 2017 233

››Dining | Favorites

Michael Anthony’s G

Family owned and operated since 2002, Michael Anthony’s offers upscale classic Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations and farm fresh ingredients. Acknowledged by Open Table as one of the Top 50 Italian Restaurants in the country. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5:15pm. Reservations suggested. 37 New Orleans Rd (Orleans Plaza) 843-785-6272, michael-anthonys.com

Ombra Cucina Italiana G

Chef Michael Cirafesi proudly promotes the foods & wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily as well as a variety of fish, veal, beef and game additions using only natural & fresh ingredients imported from Italy. An extensive wine list. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome. Peanut Free. 1000 Wlm Hilton Pkwy, G-2 (Village at Wexford); 843-842-5505, ombrahhi.com

Red Fish n G

Red Fish specializes in beautifully prepared seafood and steaks.

Diners choose from a 1,000-plus bottle selection of wines to enjoy with their meals or to take home. Private dining room for large parties. Serving lunch and dinner. Specializing in beautifully prepared seafood and steaks. Private dining room. Ample parking available.

8 Archer Road; 843-686-3388, www.redfishofhiltonhead.com

234 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Skillets Café & Grill g n G All-day southern fare & seafood. For breakfast, there’s eggs, waffles, crepes, Benedicts & signature skillets. Lunch features salad bar, soups, Po’Boys, shrimp BLT, crab cakes & more. Dinner includes seafood platters, baked grouper, fried chicken, steaks, Duroc BBQ ribs, Lowcountry boil, shrimp & grits, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, & black-eyed peas. Pet-friendly porches; full bar; gluten-free options; kids’ menus; take-out. Open daily. 1 N. Forest Beach Dr., Unit J, (Coligny Plaza) 843.785.3131, skilletscafe.com Southern Coney gn

The sign reads “Best Pancakes Ever.” Super pancakes and other made-from-scratch breakfast favorites, delicious traditional hot dogs and sauce “imported” from Michigan and other tempting lunch fare. Try the house-made roast beef sandwich, turkey, ham and more. Soups and salads also available. Featuring Charleston Coffee Roasters coffee.

Take-out, kids menu and catering available. 70-J Pope Ave. (Circle Center), 843-689-2447

Stack’s Pancakes & More g n G

Family owned and operated, Stack’s serves a full breakfast and lunch, 7 days a week. Including: pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, eggs, homemade crepes, and Stacks Original Crème Brûlée French Toast, shrimp & grits,

eggs benedict, crab benedict with lump crab, shrimp omelet topped with lobster cream sauce. Kid’s menu, Gluten free items and takeout orders. 2 Regency Pkwy. and Hwy. 278; 843-341-3347

Stellini G

Family owned and operated since 1989! Recently renovated, guests dine in either the main dining room or Carolina room. Stellini features many of the most popular Italian appetizers and entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef and lamb all expertly prepared, as well as nightly Chef Specials. Daily selection of homemade desserts, extensive and reasonable wine list. Gluten Free & Children’s Menu available. Reservations suggested. 15 Executive Park (off Pope Avenue, near Sea Pines Circle) 843-785-7006, stellinihhi.com

The Studio G Dine while enjoying watching artists painting in the elegant studio. The menu is inspired by American and global cuisines and uses the finest regional, natural and organic ingredients.

Chef Colella has expanded the gluten-free vegetarian and vegan menu offerings. Reservations are recommended and walk-ins are welcome. 20 Executive Park Road; 843-785-6000, studiodining.com Thai Ocean nG Thai Ocean serves traditional Thai dishes including Tom Yum Soup, Thai Basil, Mussaman Curry, Pad Thai and Drunken Noodle Soup. Dine inside their tastefully decorated restaurant or enjoy a more casual experience outside on their deck. Open for Lunch and dinner daily. Kids Menu is available with both Thai and traditonal items. 2 N. Forest Beach Dr., (Beach Market Plaza); 843-715-8956

Salty Dog Cafe nG One of Hilton Head’s favorite outdoor cafes for more than 20 years. Fresh seafood.

Located at South Beach Marina, overlooking Braddock Cove. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available. Live music and children’s entertainment nightly during the season.

South Beach Marina Village, Sea Pines. 843-671-7327, saltydog.com

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras G a Formerly, Bomboras, Rockfish Seafood and Steaks at Bomboras is a unique family seafood restaurant and bar that is located right near the beach. Offering fresh and local lowcounty ingredients paired with craft beers and wines. Rockfish offers a chill indoor/outdoor social dinning experience! Kids menu. Lunches to Go for the beach are a specialty. At the bar, beer is poured from the bottom up with chill disc built into the bar. 5 Lagoon Road; 843-689-2662, rockfishhhi.com December 2017 235

››Dining | Favorites Truffles nG Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups, delicious sandwiches, and garden salads. Specialties include glazed grouper, mango salmon, crab cakes, chipotle chicken, meatloaf and fried shrimp. Call for Priority Seating. Catering and carry-out available. Full cocktail bar. 7 days a week from 11:00am. Sea Pines Center; 843-671-6136, trufflescafe.com Watusi Cafe & Marketplace gnG Watusi is your family owned café serving gourmet coffee, fresh fruit smoothies, made to order all day breakfast and lunch. They strive to select the finest provisions and source quality fresh products from local SC farmers. They provide an atmosphere of comfort and enjoyment for all and welcome their guests to visit their Marketplace for unique gift ideas. Dine indoors or outside on their patio. 71 Pope Avenue 843-686-5200, IslandWatusi.com

Twisted Cork n G

Open Monday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m. Open Monday-Saturday, 5pm.A local cocktail and wine bar. You can find it in Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle.11 Palmetto Bay Road # 102 (next to Staples) 843-802-0510

BLUFFTON Amigos, Bluffton nG Authentic Mexican taqueria, serving delicious food “inspired by Mexican cuisine from the Gulf Coast of Baja, Mexico, to the beautiful seaside community of Santa Barbara, California.” Owner, Andrew Farbman created Amigos’ famous BBQ Chicken Salad. Amigos uses the finest ingredients possible. Amigos’ salsa bar features a variety of salsas from carefully selected fresh chilies.

Amigos is open for lunch and dinner. Full bar. Carry-out is available. Awarded Bluffton’s Favorite Burrito and Taco – Hilton Head Monthly’s Reader’s Choice Awards. 133 Belfair Town Village; 843-815-8226 British Open Pub nGa Attractive pub-style restaurant featuring authentic English food, lots of golf and British photos, art and memorabilia on the walls and elsewhere. Excellent signature fish and chips. Lots of other British fare, including shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, and bangers and mash.

Also wide selection of American appetizers and entrées. Serving only Licensed Certified Angus Beef. Serving lunch and dinner every day. Sheridan Park; 843-815-6736, britishopenpub.net ChowDaddy’s nG Chow Daddy’s offers a wide variety of unique menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy avocado toast with a kale and quinoa salad or you can dive in to the pork sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Call for Priority Seating Take out available as well. 15 Towne Fr. Belfarir Towne Village; 843-757-CHOW(2469), chowdaddys.com Cinco Mexican Grill nG

The extensive lunch and dinner menus offer authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch using both traditional and modern recipes very popular with families, couples and large groups.

236 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Agave Side Bar nG

A fun laid-back Southwest Tex-Mex Patrón margarita and taco bar specializing in authentic tacos and smooth margaritas. Happy Hour daily 4-6pm, Taco Tuesdays.

Indoor & Outdoor seating. 13 State of Mind St. 843-757-9190

Captain Woody’s n G a Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” They have dining inside and outside on the patio, with friendly owners and staff which adds up to a great place to eat. A big outdoor deck bar featurs beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Captain Woody’s serves a wide variety of fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices. 17 State of Mind St. (in the Calhoun Street Promenade); 843-757-6222

FARM Bluffton n G Inspired by the seasonal bounty of Lowcountry produce, FARM bases the menu on locally sourced and homegrown veggies, thoughtfully raised meats, and “cultural traditions from around the world.” The menu changes at least weekly, depending on what’s in season, and they are able to accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets. Reservations recommended. 1301 May River Road, 843-707-2041, farmbluffton.com December 2017 237

››Dining | Favorites

Among the most popular dishes are the Cinco Bowl, Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Flautas and for dessert, flan and other desserts. The full bar offers mixed drinks, beer, wine-by –the-glass and a high end tequila list, including Mescal. The spacious, beautifully decorated dining rooms feature dramatic artwork, warm terra cotta colors and soft lighting. 102 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 3D (Berkeley Place) 843-815-2233, cincomexgrill.com

Claude & Uli’s Bistro and Lounge nG European-trained Chef Claude and Uli, a native of Normandie, France, has cooked in some of the world’s best kitchens, including Maxim’s in Paris, the Connaught (Chef Saucier) in London, and Ernie’s in San Francisco. Culinary school graduate Uli orchestrates matters in the dining room, welcomes guests and makes them feel very much at home. Affordably priced.

1533 Fording Island Rd. (Moss Creek Village), 843-837-3336, claudebistro.com El Nuevo Vallarta nG El Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Bar & Grill serves up fresh Mexican fare for lunch and dinner. Enjoy pork carnitas, fish tacos, quesadillas and sizzling fajitas or their Stuffed Mojarra Fish. A tasty breakfast is served on the weekends. The spacious, open dining room with over 300-seat capacity, is a great venue for special occasions and large enough to accommodate large parties and there is also a private dining room. 16 Kitties Landing Road; 843-706-9338, elnuevovallartabluffton.com Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill nGa Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is verymuch of a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out.

Open seven days a week. 104 Buckwalter Place; 843-836-5959 hincheys.com The Original 46 Gastropub G An upscale pub food and an extensive bar that showcases craft beers and more than 130 bourbons. Start with one of the many shared plates, the deviled eggs and pimiento cheese toast points are two favorites. Pub favorites include fish and chips, "lobstah" mac and their burgers.

Enjoy seasonal offerings along with their signature dishes. Open for dinner Mon – Sat starting at 4. Offering happy hour and early bird dining. 68 Bluffton Rd.; 843-757-4646 Red Fish nG

Red Fish restaurant's second location in Bluffton which is the “Same, but different” from the Hilton Head location. Specializing in beautifully prepared seafood and steaks, diners may choose from a large selection of wines from around the world to enjoy with their meals or to take home.

Private dining room. Serves dinner nightly. Multi-course early dining specials from 5–5:45 p.m..

Ample parking available. 832 Bruin Rd.; 843-837-3388; redfishofbluffton.com

Truffles nG Casual cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!” Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and fresh garden salads. Truffles also has excellent desserts, and offers a full bar and fine wines by the glass or by the bottle to complement your dinner. Covered patio. Lunch, dinner seven days a week. Full cocktail bar. Serving Lunch and Dinner daily from 11 a.m. Happy hour is everyday from 4-6. Belfair Towne Village; 843-815-5551, trufflescafe.com Twisted European Bakery gn Stephanie Pisano and Chris Veneris opened Twisted European Bakery in late September 2016 in Old Town Bluffton. This traditional old world style bakery specializes in all types of European pastries, all made by hand on the premises. Birthday cakes, small catering for bridal, family and office events. 1253 May River Road; 843-757-0033, twistedeuropeanbakery.com

238 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Island Bagel & Deli g n

The only real New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily on the island. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 flavors of home-made cream cheese and a variety of fresh baked pastries and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch try the specialty hoagies or your favorite deli classic sandwiches and salads. Catering available and call-ins welcome.

Breakfast and lunch. Sheridan Park, Bluffton; 843-815-5300 hiltonheadbreakfast.com

Local Pie n G Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitan-style pizza using ‘double 00’ flour. Observe the art of hearth cooking with the open kitchen. Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as fresh-water mozzarella are all made in-house. L unch, happy hour, dinner and late night. Promanade, 843-837-PIES (7437), www.localpie.com

The Pearl Kitchen + Bar n G

A refreshing new approach to dining - focused on a complete sensory experience offering fresh, “clean-eating,” contemporary food preparations utilizing the best fresh catch seafood, certified steaks and local produce available. Outdoor dining available on the front patio - perfect for people watching. Open for sunday brunch, lunch and dinner. Private 2nd floor dining space available for parties and special events. Reservations highly recommended. 55 Calhoun Street; 843-757-5511

December 2017 239

››Last call

Our community’s true wealth comes from giving

BY MARC FREY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE RITTERBECK

I

Marc Frey – media entrepreneur mfrey@freymedia.com

‘‘ TRUE

COMMUNITYBUILDING

ONLY OCCURS WHEN PEOPLE

venture to say the Lowcountry would rank very high nationally if measured by its citizens’ giving per capita. In addition to writing large and small checks, many people in our region donate countless hours of volunteer time to raise money, organize events, direct aid, build homes and provide other services to those in need. Then there are the countless in-kind donations from local businesses and the never-ending coverage by local media of the area’s thriving nonprofit community.

There are no fewer than 99 (soon to expand to 150+) not-for-profit organizations listed alphabetically on the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s website, and all are worthy causes to include in your holiday giving. To make a direct donation to any of these organizations doing great work locally, go to thegivingmarketplace.guidestar.org.

These organizations are not the only way our community supports worthy causes. There are 70-plus churches in the Lowcountry, and these congregations also give time, money and support to our neighbors in need. In addition there are a variety of private, family and company foundations and trusts tied to specific causes.

Community wealth is created when people from varied backgrounds share their strengths to advance worthy causes that lift up society.

Our enormous community wealth is based on

three factors unique to the Lowcountry. For starters, our area is home to a large number of professional retirees, who bring their talents and wealth to every endeavor they undertake.

Like building a professional career, effective philanthropy requires time, focused attention and creativity. With free time on their hands, these residents are a true force for good in the Lowcountry. Another less obvious factor is that the Lowcountry tends to attract a certain type of transplant — generally someone not too self-absorbed, with understated substance and intellectual curiosity. This personality type is attracted to hands-on, face-to-face philanthropy to improve local health, education, justice, recreational opportunities and access to the arts. Simply put, Lowcountry residents are good at identifying needs and filling them. And the final factor is the sense of place that the Lowcountry exudes — it just inspires giving. This one is harder to explain: True community-building only occurs when people in the same geographic area feel connected and engaged. If you live in a place that respects nature and fosters cultural diversity and your interaction with fellow citizens is generally positive, it’s easier to feel united with your neighbors and to want to help them.

This is the foundation upon which community wealth is built.

In this sense, the Lowcountry is indeed a very special—and wonderful— place.

IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA FEEL CONNECTED AND ENGAGED.

240 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Over the years, Monthly has had the privilege to help many local nonprofit groups with their marketing efforts — consulting, content, printing, websites, etc. These organizations have included Sea Pines Montessori Academy; Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra; and the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island, which won a national award for its capital campaign — a collaboration with Monthly. Monthly has featured philanthropic people, organizations and events for 25 years. On a personal level, Anuska and Marc Frey contribute and get involved. At their home, they hosted hopeful piano competitors and judges for a decade. Anuska has been the president of the Island School Council for the Arts, and is currently a member of Women in Philanthropy. Marc was part of the previous Mayor’s Vision Task Force effort and has given numerous presentations. Their latest effort is funding and leading our own not-for-profit initiative, ShopMoreLocal.org. The goal of this effort is to help small businesses compete against big-box retailers, and to make consumers aware of the importance of small businesses in our local socio-economic fabric. It has always been rewarding to make a positive impact.

Thanks for voting for us!

The Shops at Sea Pines Center 71 Lighthouse Road • 843-671-7070