Southern Tatler Issue 21

21

THE PAVILION

LOVE UNDER THE LIGHTS

DOMAINE CARNEROS

A LOVE AFFAIR

DANA STEWART

LIVING LIFE FOR OTHERS

AUBURN / OPELIKA, AL JULY/AUGUST 2017

GREAT ESCAPE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK Enjoy some of Marriott’s top golf in Alabama and play where the PGA pros will compete in July during the Barbasol Championship. Plunge into three tropical pools. Experience the new tennis center complete with pickleball courts or hike along miles of natural trails. Sip on signature cocktails while sitting around outdoor firepits. Stay in style and savor American cuisine at the Lakeview Room. No passport or long drives required for this escape. Just head to the Marriott at Grand National in Opelika and enjoy a world-class retreat closer than you think.

For information or to make reservations, call 800.593.6456 or visit MarriottGrandNational.com.

AUBURN MARRIOTT OPELIKA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER AT GRAND NATIONAL 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika, AL 36801 Phone 334.741.9292, MarriottGrandNational.com A part of the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

© 2016 Marriott International, Inc.

Auburn’s Most Awarded Active Adult (55+) Community

MFun

a t a k i means

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323 Airport Road Auburn, AL 36830 334.821.5305 mikatarestaurant.com

CONTENT

VISAGE

VISAGE

town

EVENTS AROUND

D A N C I N G S TA R S O F E A S T A L A B A M A Bottling Plant Event Center, Opelika AL

22 WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD Red Barn, Auburn AL

30 TRAVIS L. RABREN GOLF TOURNAMENT Moore’s Mill Golf Club, Auburn AL

32 SUMMER SOIREE ANNIVERSARY PARTY Oliver Henr y, Auburn AL

38 BURGER WARS Opelika AL

42

6 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

OLIVER-HENRY.COM I 334.246.3582 2272 MOORES MILL ROAD SUITE 210 AUBURN, AL

CONTENT

FEATURES

LOCAL FOCUS

LOCAL FOCUS

A Tale of Two Sisters

52

LOCAL FOCUS

The Pavilion at The Bottling Plant Event Center

62 FEATURE STORY

82

D A N A S T E WA R T

CULINARY CORNER

Eileen Crane & Domaine Carneros 70

FASHION Studio 3:19

94

T R AV E L

BALI

INDONESIA

106

8 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

“Where the good life grows.”

440 N. Dean Rd, Auburn, AL 36830 Office: 334.734.5052

Katie McCarley, Realtor

334.887.7777 | katie.mccarley@homegrownproperties.com

SOUTHERN TAT L E R THE ESSENCE OF SOUTHERN SOCIETY

PUBLISHER Matthew Tse

O peratio n S

Savannah Simpson

A D V E R T I S e M E N T & M ar k eti n g marketing@southerntatler.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anisa Patel Kenneth Ngo Mitch McHargue

P hotographer Andrea Newan Burnett Photography Glenn McCarley Isaac Leverett

W riters

Amy Hudson Caroline Lentz

for questions or comments concerning advertising or general inquiries: 334.539.1780 customer.relations@southerntatler.com Southern Tatler is a bi-monthly magazine by Raw Conceptual, LLC. All material published remain the property of Raw Conceptual, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or copied without Raw Conceptual, LLC consent.

LETTER from

the

PUBLISHER “Thank you” just isn’t enough to express my gratitude for your continued support in reading our publication. These last few years as publisher of Southern Tatler Magazine have given me an amazing chance to meet countless East Alabamians with a shared goal. They all strive every day to make Auburn, Opelika, and surrounding areas better through their hard work, friendship, and philanthropy. I have one of the best jobs in the world. Thank you for supporting these individuals along with myself by sharing their stories.

In this issue of Southern Tatler, you’ll read about Ms. Dana Stewart. She’s an unbelievably kind and giving lady with a lot of love for the special needs community. Not everyone knows that her background with exceptional individuals in Lee County spans almost three decades.

We also sat down with Gray Arnoldy and Lil Conoly of Montgomery’s Graylillies. Gray and Lil are a sister pair who love flower arranging and family. They have strong roots in Auburn and love to watch the tigers play when they have the chance. These women embody the Auburn spirit.

Eileen Crane, CEO of Domaine Carneros Winery in Wine Country, California was kind enough to share her story with us from 2500 miles away! Once you read about how Domaine Carneros came to be one of the most respected producers of sparkling wine in the nation, you’ll want to pull a bottle from the shelf for your own enjoyment. Who knows? Maybe you’ll start with the winery story and read the rest of the magazine with a glass of Brut!

Finally, sneak a peak at the new pavilion at The Bottling Plant Event Center in Opelika. The venue’s owner, Lisa Ditchkoff, has worked hard to make the pavilion the most beautiful environment for East Alabama’s romantic nuptials. We hope you’ll stop by to see her new space!

-Matthew Tse

14 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

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LIFE

ICE HOTEL

HÔTEL DE GLACE QUEBEC, CANADA www.hoteldeglace-canada.com The hotel first opened in January 2001. 85 rooms are furnished with ice beds covered with deer furs and mattresses and equipped with arctic sleeping bags.

Bed are constructed of ice, which are topped with a wooden box spring and mattress. The hotel offers paid tours, and guests are allowed to use the ice bar. Hôtel de Glace was previously the only ice hotel in North America.

ICEHOTEL JUKKASJÄRVI, SWEDEN

www.hoteldeglace-canada.com The world’s first ice hotel, with 80 rooms and suites available. The hotel has a chapel, ice bar named Absolut Icebar. The entire hotel is made of snow and ice blocks taken from the Torne Rive, even the glasses in the bar are made of ice.

Each spring, the hotel harvest ice from the frozen river and stores it in a nearby production hall with room for over 100,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow. Some of the blocks of ice weigh two tons.

ALPHA RESORT TOMAMU,

SHIMUKAPPU JAPAN

www.snowtomamu.jp/winter/en The first ice hotel, in Japan, and everything in it is constructed from ice. The Hotel interiors are typically -3 to -5C. Guests can dine on ice tables and sit on ice chairs covered with sheepskin. The hotel provides sheepskin apparel for guests to stay warm, during their stay.

SNOWCASTLE OF KEMI, FINLAND

www.visitkemi.fi/en/snowcastle The SnowCastle of Kemi, is the largest snow fort in the world, and is rebuilt every winter and has a snow hotel, with double rooms and a honeymoon suite. The facility also has a restaurant, chapel, and rooms. The style of the facility, changes annually, including the theme, shape, size, decorations.

18 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

Indoor Air Quality Experts 334-246-1062

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EVENT: DANCING STARS OF EAST ALABAMA APRIL 13th, 2017

22

30

32

DANCING STARS OF EAST ALABAMA

W O M EN ’ S PHILANTHROPY BOARD

T R A V I S L. R A B R E N GOLF TOURNAMENT

SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

VISAGE

38

42

SUMMER SOIREE

BURGER WARS

ANNIVERSARY PARTY

VISAGE DANCING STARS

OF

EAST ALABAMA

D A N C I N G S TA R S O F E A S T A L A B A M A BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL

April 13th, 2017

Mark Boyd, Lisa Ditchkoff, and Elvis

Piper Hughes, Mary Breland, Paxton Hughes

Mitchell Crum, Griff and Mims Israel

Rusty and Mandy Prewett

Susie Litkenhous, Kathy Wood

Ashley Stewart and Katie Maggard

22 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Andee Hodo, Elizabeth Grant

The Junior League of Lee County present the 7th Annual ‘Dancing Stars of East Alabama’ event. Proceeds from this JLLC event will benefit the various grant assistance programs aimed at improving the health and wellness of the children in Lee County by providing and assisting with access to food, nutritional education, and physical education.

Brent and Leigh Boatwright Jen Ambrose, Joseph Dean

Davis and Stacy Bence

Jay and Angie Jacobs Stephanie Felintin, Cornelius Benson, Karen McInnis

Christine and Carter Weeks, Craig and Maribeth Wolfe

Glen Puckett, Tim Chambliss, Brad Litkenhous

23 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE DANCING STARS

OF

EAST ALABAMA

D A N C I N G S TA R S O F E A S T A L A B A M A BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL

April 13th, 2017

Lauren Adams, Jennifer Johnson

Sara Cauley, Tara Harbison, Jennifer Morgan

Justin Murphy, Cassandra Calloway

Amanda Toland and Dixie Mitchell

Ashley Holcomb and Ali Mann

Bradon and Brock Hughes

Ashley Herring, Lauren Shaffer

24 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Amy Crew

Casey Simmons, Harrison Wright, Michelle Kiousis

Daniel Cannon, Mandy Whitley, Dr. Jesse Pace, Amanda Eaton

Matthew and Kelly Toland

25 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE DANCING STARS

OF

EAST ALABAMA

D A N C I N G S TA R S O F E A S T A L A B A M A BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL

April 13th, 2017

Lindy White, Mandy Moore, Jamie Moore, Jen Ambrose

Anna and Morgan Brandy

Justin Murphy, Constance Maxwell, Nancy and Lee Murphy

Elliott Mac Isaac, Jesse Pace

26 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

29,000 square feet accommodating all events with a capacity from 6 to 1,500 people.

Parties, conferences, weddings, exhibitions, private/social functions and more.

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VISAGE DANCING STARS

OF

EAST ALABAMA

D A N C I N G S TA R S O F E A S T A L A B A M A BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL

April 13th, 2017

Niki Patrick, Meg Beard

Chase, Shayne, Jackie Harris, Joy and Chris Easley Emily England and Nikki Caballero

Brandon Hughes and Madison Breland

Emily Hanner, Kimberly Wallace Rutledge Mary and Joseph Roberson

Christine and Carter Weeks

28 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

THE HUDSON FAMILY FOUNDATION ROOKIE READER PROGRAM The Hudson Family Foundation’s Rookie Reader Program is a book donation initiative that promotes literacy and the love of reading from a young age by donating books to children and youth-serving organizations throughout Alabama and Georgia. THE FOUNDATION HAS DONATED OVER 13,000 BOOKS TO CHILDREN AND WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS. Our latest initiative within this program is our Book Box Program. This program is designed to encourage children and parents to read. We have partnered with the Lee County Home Builder’s Association and they have designed and built and donated more than a dozen boxes.

These book boxes will be placed at businesses, non-profit and service organizations, in public parks and neighborhoods, and other suggested locations. Children and parents can take a book, read it, share it, and return it...or they are welcome to keep it!

@Hudson Family Foundation

@HudsonFamilyFdn

/HudsonFamilyFdn

To find our more about us or make a donation, please log onto our website at

WWW.HUDSONFAMILYFOUNDATION.ORG

VISAGE WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD THE RED BARN, AUBURN AL

May 22nd, 2017

30 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

31 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE TRAVIS

TRAVIS L. RABREN MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

L.RABREN

MEMORIAL

GOLF

TOURNAMENT

M O O R E ’ S M I L L C L U B, AU BU R N, A L

May 5th, 2017

Natalie Rabren, Leah Lee, and Lyla Lee

Matthew Tobia, Bob Schoeneck, Martin Pursell, George Tobia

Courtney, Brittany, Lynn, Natalie and Travis Rabren

Sam Haney, Jay Tomason

Chris Lammons, Matt Mixon

32 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Lee Heathman, Brian Foster

Rabren General Contractors, Inc. hosted the 10th Annual Golf Tournament to raise money for the Travis L. Rabren Foundation. This gives the Foundation the ability to help local charities in the Auburn area.

Allen Harp Lynn Rabren, Tina Rabren, Kim Sellers, Jaena Norton, Laura Traylor

Min Jeong

Ben Garrett, Matt Carter

33 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE TRAVIS

TRAVIS L. RABREN MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

L.RABREN

MEMORIAL

GOLF

TOURNAMENT

M O O R E ’ S M I L L C L U B, AU BU R N, A L

May 5th, 2017

John Tisdale Chris Hiett Danny and Joann Buie

34 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Ali and Tina Rabren

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VISAGE TRAVIS

TRAVIS L. RABREN MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

L.RABREN

MEMORIAL

GOLF

TOURNAMENT

M O O R E ’ S M I L L C L U B, AU BU R N, A L

May 5th, 2017

Austin Rabren, Bo Dean, Clay Samford, Tyler Stankunas

Brad Heston, Brian Barksdale

Ali Rabren, Jaena Norton

Rabren Family

36 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

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VISAGE SUMMER

SUMMER SOIREE ANNIVERSARY PARTY O L I V E R H E N R Y, A U B U R N A L

SOIREE ANIVERSARY PA RT Y

June 22nd, 2017

Sanna Hardin, Randa Marlow

Andy, Stacey, Oliver, Henry Jordan

Christina Shipma, Kake McFarland

Leigh and Frannie Thompson Frank and Kelly Nelson

Robert and Amanda Medeiros

Bradley and Janie Robertson

38 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Leigh Bass, Janet Cooper

Oliver Henry celebrated its third anniversary. There were prizes, signature summer cocktails, hors d’oeuvres , and OTown icecream!

Lauren Smith, Kim Sanders Ashley Tatum, Maunette Bass Lindy White, Tori McIntyre

Gail Hall, Lynn Rabren

Teresa Harrison, Lunn Sumners

Jenna Chambliss

Nicki Key, Meredith Bryan, Janet Davis

Cindy, Candice and David Brooks

39 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE SUMMER SOIREE ANIVERSARY PA RT Y

SUMMER SOIREE ANNIVERSARY PARTY O L I V E R H E N R Y, A U B U R N A L

June 22nd, 2017

Rowan Brown, Alicia Conn Gene and Karin McBride Cathy Antee

Les and LeAnn Tyer Mary Virginia Norris, Emily Finck, Caroline Bush Kelly Cain

Janet Cooper

Ian Mercer

40 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

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BURGER WARS

VISAGE BURGER

OPELIKA, AL

WA R S

June 3rd, 2017

Keaton and Carroll Rhea

Shealy & Rocky Langley Caroline & Marlee Reed Tylere Kreps, Dinah Motley, Jeanna Thomas

Beth Holland

Ryan Mumma

42 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Elizabeth and Jared Cheeter, Lila and Beckett

Anna Marie, Kaylee and Kelsey Kuhlman

The 2nd annual Burger Wars has been created as a fundraising and community event with Opelika Rotary, Happy Hour Rotary. Along with awesome burgers to taste, this was a family and kid friendly event with local sponsors and vendors, live music and much more.

Kathy and William Powell Lisa & Corban, Torin Caegan and Leighalla Caldwell

Dusty, Willow, and Jessica Rozar

Kwaivian and Mercedes Terry

43 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

VISAGE BURGER WA R S

BURGER WARS OPELIKA, AL

June 3rd, 2017

Joe, Cassie, Isla and Hank Davis Chrystie Falconer, Rivers and Raleigh Durham

Ashley Murphy, Autumn Busby, Ken Busby

Travis, Lauren, and Ashton Cooper

Andrew Skinner, Sara Willis

Anthony, Lindy, Cale and Cooper White

Barry Cavan, Bert Harris

44 SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

Doug, Katherine, Alex and Emily Bentley

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VISAGE BURGER WA R S

BURGER WARS OPELIKA, AL

June 3rd, 2017

Chris Hutchison, Shaye Kilpatrick Josh and Amber Hooper

Warren and Tonya Stiles

Darryll Aikens and Lisa Sizemore

Tyler Gay, Justin Brown, Connor Clark, Moses Webb and Allen McGinty

46 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

Joenny and Shelbie French

VISAGE BURGER WA R S

BURGER WARS OPELIKA, AL

June 3rd, 2017

Kathy and Joe Dean Jr. and Joseph and Grady

Claire Goode, Faith Perdue, Barbi Agricola, Kristine Hill, Dixie Broadwater, Brooke Kastner

Laura Henry, Frank and Joanne Johnson

Megan and Kristen Ferrell

Cecile McKelvey, Darrin Davis

Tom and Eydie Adams

John and Carol Raiford Caitlin Conci and Clint Robinson

48 S OUTHERN

TAT L E R

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AO16

The Pavilion at the B o t t l i n g P l a n t E v e n t C e n t e r

SOUTHERN

TAT L E R

BREATH LOCAL FOCUS: A Ta l e o f T w o S i s t e r s The Pavilion at Bottling Plant Event Center

CULINARY CORNER: Eileen Crane & Domaine Carneros

LOCAL FOCUS A TALE OF TWO SISTERS

Tale Aof Two

Sisters

Gray Arnoldy and Lillie Conoly, “Lil,� for short, are the sister pair that comprise Graylillies, a Montgomery-based florist and events decorating team that has earned stellar repute since its establishment in 2005.

G

ray and Lil grew up in midtown Montgomery, but their hearts also hold a special spot for our own gorgeous plains where they spent lots of time as college women. They continue to visit the loveliest village today, both to celebrate the football victories of their alma mater and to set the stage for some of the the South’s most beautiful weddings and special events here in town.

The sisters’ Auburn story begins with their father and mother, Charles and May Lillie Humphries, who taught them the “War Eagle” battle cry at an age they can hardly remember. Charles graduated from Auburn in the mid 1950s, so when it was time for his four baby girls to attend college (Gray, Lil, and their sisters Fran and Sally), there was no questions as to whether they would pursue their degrees at Auburn University. The girls grew up hearing Charles’s stories of what it was like to live in Alabama’s favorite little college town. Charles rented a one-bedroom apartment above Toomer’s Drugs as a student. While there, he not only became an architect, but also cultivated a talent for painting in watercolors. Years later, Charles’s watercolor paintings of Toomer’s Corner, Samford Hall, and other Auburn landmarks hung in the Humphries family home. His daughters were very familiar with Auburn even as children thanks to their father’s art.

Charles went on to to design the Haley Center, one of the Auburn University campus’s most well-loved and recognized buildings. The Haley Center stands taller than not only every other building on campus, but also holds the record for the tallest standing building in the city- although admittedly some of the up and coming students housing structures in the downtown area may soon steal the titlewe’re not so sure! Nonetheless, if you attended or currently attend Auburn University as a student, you’re probably very familiar with the building’s multi-floor, four-quadrant

“

something

special about the Auburn

”

community

54

SOUTHERN

There is

TAT L E R

layout with its own system for locating its hundreds of classrooms. Auburn students seem to have a love-hate relationship with the Haley Center, and for that we can thank Mr. Charles Humphries! “Daddy took each of the sisters on a tour of Haley Center before our freshman years of college.

He wanted to make sure that we had mastered the layout so we weren’t the ones getting lost on the first day of class,” Lil laughed.

Gray and Lil were both Kappa Deltas at Auburn.

Both say KD resides in their hearts forever. The sisters pursued degrees in sociology and elementary education. After college, their careers led them outside of Auburn, but they never forgot the family they made there. Perhaps that is why they are so excited when an Auburn client reaches out to them.

“There is something special about the Auburn community,” Gray explained. “there is this strong sense of support and encouragement that we get from the people there, and we are so grateful for that, especially since we are based in Montgomery. We are always given a warm welcome, just like the welcome we’re given by the families we have the privilege of working with in other parts of the River Region.”

Some of Gray and Lil’s favorite Auburn events have taken place at Lazenby Farms and Moores Mill Country Club. In our time together, the Graylillies sisters reminisced at length about decorating there for several happy couples.

They look forward to two weddings coming up this August, the first inside the intimate University chapel and the second at Opelika’s Southerly Warehouse.

55 J U LY / A U G U S T

2017

While the ladies of Graylillies do more than hang flowers from the church pews and grace the alter with grand floral sprays, the peonies, garden roses, fresh hydrangeas, and cheery gerbera daisies certainly bring them a lot of joy. Gray and Lil say they get their passion from decorating with flowers from their mother, May Lillie. “To say she had a green thumb would be an understatement,” Lil laughed. “Mother had wonderful, beautiful gardens, which inspired Gray and I to propagate our own, even as children.” Gray and Lil remember their mother designing flower arrangements for friends and decorating for weddings and other parties when they were as young as eight and thirteen years old. “Flower arranging seemed intimidating thenit was truly an art that mother had mastered,” Gray said. Lil added, “it took us a while but we learned her art, too, and now our motto is ‘just one more flower!’”

The sisters say that their talents in floral arranging and decorating are well balanced in that Lil is the stronger bouquet maker and Gray is more of a natural at church decorating: “It helps that our strengths are in different places. That means we can see the bigger picture and do a better job of making our clients’ experiences truly special ones,” they explained. Lil and Gray spoke openly and said that their job can be a bit stressful at times because there tends to be a lot of opinion circulating when a couple is preparing for what is potentially the biggest and most celebrated weekend of their lives. But because the sisters know each other so well, both in personality and in ability, they are honest with each other. They tell each other what looks great and what doesn’t, and as a result every little detail is as close to perfect as they can achieve.

Before each event, Lil and Gray say a short prayer. They are confident God’s hand has been in the success of Graylillies from the very beginning: “We remind our brides and grooms that a wedding day isn’t about the venue, the flowers, or the weather. It’s about their commitment to each other and to God. This is how we minister to our clients. We have been extremely blessed since we started Graylillies in 2005. It seems like our growth has ‘just happened,’ but we know that God has been in control the entire time. We want to show others what God has done for us by showing them his light on their special day.”

After the day has been opened with a prayer, Lil and Gray begin decorating, whether that means they are sweeping the venue floor or dusting cobwebs from

“

“Mom taught us

that decorating flowers can bring us closer as a family”

”

the entryway, lighting candles at the altar, or weeding the flower beds at the parking lot entrance. Lil and Gray stay on site all day long leading up to the reception when preparing for a wedding. They head home to “regroup” for a couple of hours before returning to the venue to “clean up” and “take down.” The sisters do it all, and they won’t soon forfeit their responsibilities. They say they’d never become what one might call a “stop and drop” florist: “we won’t pull up in a van, drop off your flowers, and leave.” Keeping busy keeps them happy from what we can tell.

Lil noted that Graylillies has enriched the relationship she has with Gray: “We live in the same city, but we’d struggle to see each other if we hadn’t started our small business so many years ago. We live in different parts of town with two different sets of friends, so we appreciate that we are able to go without seeing each other for several days (although we do talk on the phone daily), then enjoy thirty-six nonstop hours together the following weekend. Not only does that bring us closer, it also honors the memory of our mother who we miss every day. Mom taught us that decorating flowers can bring us closer to our family. She would love what we do today, and we wish she was around to see it.”

Gray and Lil also cherish the love and guidance given to them by their father before his passing only a few years ago. Gray smiled, “Dad taught us the business

side of things when we saw that Graylillies might come to fruition. He gave us $1,000 to help us get started in 2005, and from then on we just grew. We sought his advice often as our business evolved.” Word of mouth has been an amazing driving force in the growth of Graylillies. In the beginning, Lil and Gray were doing flowers for five to six weddings a year. Now they typically decorate for twenty-five to thirty weddings.

Eight weekends are already on the Graylillies calendar for 2018. Because the sisters believe so much in giving back to the communities which have taken their lifelong hobby and turned it into a prosperous business, they aim to provide flowers and decorating for one wedding, free of charge, each year.

“Whatever God sends our way, we know that’s what we’re supposed to do,” Lil said. “We’ll take whatever opportunities He lays in our laps, and we are especially honored to be able to play a part in the wedding of a couple who needs a little extra help.

When not busy with event planning and decorating, Lil enjoys gardening (we would never have guessed!) and sewing. Gray jokingly says she “lives in her pool.” She, too, enjoys gardening. Gray and Lil would like to think that they’re channeling their sweet mother, May Lillie, as they tend their home gardens.

The sisters also like to attend Auburn football games and tailgates, enjoy great food in our downtown district, and shop at local boutiques. They have fun touring new venues and unique spaces when they can. They’re always contriving new ideas.

Of course nothing is more precious to Lil and Gray than their families. Gray is married to Michael Arnoldy.

She has two children, Rachel, 31, and Davis, 27. Lil is

married to Steve. Their children are Cyle, 30 and Nate, 28.

Lil and Steve have three grandchildren: Eleanor, 5, Charlie, 3, and Maggie, 1. While Gray doesn’t have grandchildren, she makes an excellent great aunt!

We asked these sweet sisters if they’d like to leave our readers with a word or two. Their words were heartfelt and kind: “Thank you, Auburn, for your wonderful sense of community, your air of excellence, and the pride you bring us and the rest of the Auburn family. We always feel welcomed in your city- it’s just like home, and that feeling extends far beyond campus.”

Lil and Gray say that no matter where they go, in the south or elsewhere, to say “War Eagle” is to share a secret handshake with a member of the Auburn family. “We are all connected,” Lil smiled. “War Eagle!”

“

“Whatever God sends our way, we know that's what we're supposed

”

to do..”

LOCAL FOCUS THE P AV I L I O N

When Lisa Ditchkoff opened The Event Center Downtown in the old Coca Cola bottling plant of downtown Opelika in 2010, she hit the ground running with plans to transform the space into a dream venue for Opelikans and Auburnites. Word spread fast that Lisa’s efforts toward a complete overhaul and remodeling of the space had paid off. If you haven’t had the chance to tour the venue, now aptly re-branded and called The Bottling Plant Event Center, stopping by for a visit is a must. The space it is a step back into time. Lisa has taken special care to maintain the character and authenticity of the building by using its original elements in creative ways. There’s a fabulous upstairs bar and lounge and a rooftop terrace with views of the ever-growing downtown Opelika, gorgeous ballroom options, and even a private bridal quarters.

I

n 2016, Lisa expanded her business model by doing all food service onsite. She equipped her kitchen, invested in walk-in refrigeration, full china, and more. On Wednesday nights, the Bottling Plant hosts “Wine Down Wednesdays” which often includes southern-style snacks and appetizers for local foodies. Lisa enjoys entertaining guests with regular wine dinners, tastings, and other fun events.

The food from scratch service on site has grown Lisa’s business as of lately, but the case very well may be that the best is yet to come.

In brainstorming ways to further enliven The Bottling Plant Event Center, Lisa came across a photograph on the internet of an outdoor pavilion. From this photo, she further developed her own vision, which included building upon the Bottling Plant’s already existing courtyard area to create a grand pavilion with ample versatility. For the last several months, Lisa has worked tirelessly to get the Bottling Plant Event Center’s outdoor pavilion ready for blushing brides

and others who might choose to use the area creatively.

The pavilion has already played host to a few wedding ceremonies and receptions, and all were beautiful, but Lisa says it will be even more impressive within a few weeks’ time. Recently, Southern Tatler got the chance to see the new pavilion in all its glory.

First, it’s a lot larger than it looks in a picture! Even still, it evokes a sense of intimacy that is often found in smaller settings. To reach the pavilion, one must walk from the Bottling Plant’s main level out to its sprawling courtyard. When the doors open to the courtyard, one immediately sees the open-air pavilion’s high-hanging wood rafters which frame it in “V” formation. The courtyard goes on under the exposed-beam ceiling for several hundred feet, but the space still seems private and small, if only in its ambiance.

There is enough room under the pavilion for 300 or so chairs. The shape of the courtyard allows for Lisa to be flexible as couples select seating arrangements, so guests don’t have to worry about being overcrowded.

Air wafts in from outside to cool off ceremony attendees, and soon, Lisa will install several fans to better

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circulate the incoming air. She’s also put plans on the books for a ventilation system which will “suck out” unwanted humidity. In the cooler winter months, freestanding heaters will warm up chilly company.

Sturdy columns hold up the ceiling. It’s worthy of noting that these wooden vertical timbers were designed to add both structural integrity and a subtle air of grandeur. They achieve this easily at more than 1100 pounds each. Five of them, equally spaced, line the edges of the courtyard. Lisa opted for the thicker, heavier columns as opposed to the slender ones pictured in similar models because she believed that details like these mattered greatly in the grand scheme. She was right!

Lisa has also installed 12 sparkling crystal chandeliers which hang at various depths from the pavilion’ s rafters. They bring about the slightest impression of romanticism and will function well in both formal and informal ceremonies. The courtyard’s waterfall feature is enclosed with a stone wall and flows in the pavilion’s background.

It’s the perfect backdrop for a couple sharing their first kiss.

The grassy outskirts of the pavilion are landscaped in gorgeous green, but Lisa intends to replace the plants growing there with more appropriate ones as the seasons shift and change.

She has already consulted several of the community’s master gardeners who’ve been kind enough to help her jumpstart the task.

Some of the weightier endeavors that Lisa embarked upon to complete the project made subtle but transformative changes to the courtyard. She had the concrete re-poured and cedar joists added. She had contractors install a membrane surface under the pavilion’s metal roof which lines a visible wood ceiling. This dampens the sound from outside. After all, a wedding audience certainly wants to be able to hear the exchanging of the vows over any outside noise.

Again, it’s the little details like these that make The Pavilion at The Bottling Plant Event Center different from other area venues. Lisa smiled, “there’s just nothing else like it around here.”

As Lisa finished showing us the pavilion, she alerted us that there was one more thing that we had to see. She walked quickly to the wall and flipped the light switch to the “off ” position. In an instant, the space came alive with twinkling overhead lights which line the rafters. It was

at that moment that we came to know the pavilion’s magical quality, and we appreciated Lisa’s vision in whole. It might be cliché to say, but it looked like a scene from a fairytale.

The pavilion is a fitting setting for classic nuptials in downtown Opelika, but the space isn’t reserved exclusively for weddings and rehearsal dinners.

There’s talk about class reunions, company parties, anniversary parties, and more. The possibilities are endless, and Lisa promises to adapt the venue to fit bookers’ unique needs.

Lisa says she’ll make a few more changes in the coming months, but she isn’t sharing those with the public just yet. Her vision has been evolving since she was inspired to build the pavilion, and it has been growing ever since.

If you are looking for event space in Opelika or Auburn, we strongly encourage you to consider The Pavilion at The Bottling Plant Event Center Downtown. As noted before, it is versatile. It’s opened year-round, hot or cold, wet or dry, and it’s got the creature comforts, like top-quality ventilation, heaters, and fans, to keep guests at ease. There are bathrooms close by, just inside The Bottling Plant. It’s something to consider, especially in light of the fact that most pavilions are free-standing and a bit of a hike from the closest mens’ or ladies’ rooms. Lisa and her team can also supply a portable bar to those utilizing the venue, and Chef Jonathan and staff are waiting at the ready with mouthwatering food and drink.

Lisa hosted a pre-party at the pavilion in late April with great response.

In Lisa’s words, “people just kept coming! I was so happy to hear from everyone that they loved our pavilion. I knew then that all of our of hard work was worth it.” Since the first wedding ceremony on April 30th, three other couples have promised each other forever under the pavilion’s shimmering chandeliers.

More weddings in the pavilion are on the horizon for the fall season, and we’ve started booking dates in 2018. In other words, if you’re interested, make sure you reserve a date quickly!

Lisa has thought long and hard about creating the perfect pavilion, and she’s considered carefully the amenities that should go along with it as well.

No detail has been left untended. We promise you won’t find a better venue.

If you’d like to meet Lisa, or if you’d simply like to take a peek at her new addition, stop by The Bottling Plant Event Center at 614 North Railroad Avenue in Opelika. Lisa can share with you some additional information about reserving the pavilion, pricing, and package options.

Before we departed the Bottling Plant Event Center on the afternoon of our visit, Lisa asked that we share a few words with our readers: “I am grateful to my community who has shown us the love and support that has helped us grow in the last (almost) seven years. We strive to provide something unique that people can’t find elsewhere, and I hope we have accomplished that with the new pavilion. I am looking forward to being a part of the special weddings and celebrations that will take place at The Bottling Plant.

That’s what makes my job so rewarding.” for more information on The Pavilion at the Bottling Plant Event Center, visit:www.bottlingplanteventcenter.com or call: 334.705.5466

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CULINARY CORNER

EILEEN CRANE & DOMAINE CARNEROS

EileenCrane

&

DOMAINE CARNEROS

The Domaine Carneros Winery overlooks the exquisite Napa and Sonoma Valleys, its vineyards boasting well-bred specimens of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Domaine Carneros does create delicious still wines from these grape varieties, but the winery’s specialty is its exquisite sparkling wines. There is a backstory to the genius of Domaine Carneros’s well-rounded but not overthe-top vino- a backstory that centers around a lady whose love affair with wine has only grown since her entry into the industry.

Her name is Eileen Crane, and she was kind enough to share her story with our readership 2500 miles away here in Alabama. Next time you’re enjoying a glass of fine Domaine Carneros wine, you can thank Eileen, and we hope you’ll feel more connected to to the beverage you have chosen to enjoy.

ileen’s dad, a former U.S. military office, landed on Omaha beach in France on D-Day as the second World War was coming to a close. He became enamored of wine during his stint in Europe, in part because enjoying good wine was not a significant facet of U.S. culture at the time. He ended up returning home to his family in New Jersey soon after and enjoyed a career with Dean Witter, a stock brokerage and security firm.

This professional path afforded him the opportunity to travel back to Europe repeatedly. On each trip, Eileen’s father better acquainted himself with the wines of Europe and brought his heightened taste back to the states.

Every Sunday, Eileen’s father would select one wine for service at the family dinner table. As a little girl, Eileen was the resident juvenile wine expert. What certified her for the task of picking out the wine for Sunday dinner? “Well, I was good at looking at the pretty labels and telling my father which one as the most colorful,” she laughed. When Eileen was eight, her father began allowing her to “sample” the Sunday wine from a cordial glass. “I just got to have the smallest taste until I graduated to a traditional wine glass when I was older,” she said. “And that was when I discovered Champagne.” Eileen continued to frequent the wine

cellar with her father in order to make Sunday dinner wine selections. As she got older, her father’s wonderful stories got richer in detail.

Eileen reminisced, “He’d tell me where the wines came from and how they were made. The day he pulled out a sparkling wine was the day it became my favorite.

Every two or three weeks after that I’d ask if we could have some, but it was reserved for special occasions only. For example, I knew that if my Aunt Elsie and Uncle Ray were coming for a visit, we’d be in for a treat.”

As she blossomed into adulthood, Eileen didn’t forget what good wine was, and she certainly didn’t forget that sparkling wine was what she loved the most. While a career in the wine industry was appealing, winemaking was dominated by men and not a viable option. Not to mention Eileen’s native New Jersey was a long way from California, so she pursued a degree in nutrition and put winemaking on the back burner. That is, until she enrolled in a ten-week summer course at the Culinary Institute of America a few years later, where she got the chance to hear from a guest lecturer, who she jokingly called a “real life winemaker!” This gentleman delivered an oration called “The Art of Winemaking,” and Eileen took it upon herself to talk to him about his craft. He was unable to provide much information about how she might go about winemaking herself, but he did inspire her to phone the University of California Davis to inquire about taking some classes. Eileen thought to herself, “I’m an East Coast girl- a far cry from California born and raised,” but she knew she could do it.

Already equipped with a Masters in both nutrition and biochemistry, Eileen enrolled at UC Davis on the recommendation of a professor who gave her the

confidence to believe that a background in science was ample foundation for mastering the art of winemaking.

It didn’t take long for her to earn the credits she needed to prove her competency- only about four monthsand she began looking for a job. While she desired to segue straight into winemaking, this was not so easy, as the wineries were not hiring in the summer months.

Instead, Eileen started working as a Tour Guide at the first French-owned sparkling winery in Napa Valley, Domaine Chandon, in Yountville, California. When Domaine Chandon needed a bit of help in the pastry kitchen, Eileen began working there as well. To her delight, while working in the pastry kitchen, she befriended a woman who was involved in the wine-production side of the company. Eileen was invited to work in the production lab during harvest season. From there, she worked her way up to assistant winemaker.

A few years later, Eileen’s name had come to mean something in the wine world. She had found her niche.

She oversaw construction of Sonoma’s Gloria Ferrer Winery in 1984 before being recruited by the the prestigious Taittinger family of Champagne to oversee construction of a new winery and chateau in the Carneros Appellation. The opportunity to be such a major part of the Domaine Carneros project was something she might not have seen coming years earlier, but Eileen certainly appreciated the learning experience that was building the winery and making use of the region’s beautiful grapes. Like the Taittinger family, Eileen was very concerned with quality and doing things right. As Domaine Carneros’s founding winemaker, Eileen set her sights on palate-pleasing wines and consistently happy consumers.

Today, almost forty years later, Eileen maintains her position as winemaker and serves as the Domaine Carneros CEO. She calls her work a privilege, not only because she gets to pay homage to her treasured Champagne each day, but because she is an integral part of the wine connoisseur’s positive experience. She explained the importance of attention to quality in her industry, and said that a reputation as fabulous as the one Domaine Carneros enjoys takes time and a willingness to adapt and evolve: “Sometimes people forget that a winemaker only creates his or her product once a year. The weeks for harvesting are few, and each season brings its own subtle changes in weather and climate. To add to that, a winemaker with five years of experience really doesn’t have that much experience at all, because that means he has only made wine five times. It takes time for the winemaker to develop a palate, just like a chef at a fine restaurant.”

Domaine Carneros specializes in its blending of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, resulting in fantastic sparkling and still wines. The fruit grows blissfully under the cool breeze of the nearby Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay. Fog rises in the vineyards during summer, and long, warm days foster ideal conditions for the maturing of the grapes. Add to this fantastic climate Eileen’s science background and Domaine Carneros emerges as an industry leader.

“I was used to running tests in the laboratory setting before coming here,” Eileen said, “but we use an entirely different set of analysis tools.” Learning the chemistry of good wine has been fascinating and exciting for Eileen because many of the concepts involved were very familiar to her upon becoming a winemaker.

Domaine Carneros performs regular analyses of the acidity levels, pH, and sugar maturity of the grapes.

This way there is standing data about how the grapes have changed and will change over time. Eileen says the science of winemaking isn’t as complicated as it sounds, however: “Fine wines are actually very pure substances.

There are a few things we add to our wines to bring out certain aspects of their flavor, but the complexity in taste is really more dependent on the grapes and under what conditions they are grown.”

We asked Eileen to share with us what it’s been like being the leading lady of sparkling wines in California’s Napa Valley for the last several years: “Why have the last thirty plus (almost forty) years been worth your time and effort, and why do you love your job?”

Eileen had obviously been asked this question before. It became perfectly clear that she was born to be a winemaker.

“I love what I do because I appreciate scents. If I had not stepped into winemaking, I think I may have become a perfumer or a florist. Scents are important to me because they bring a great level of enjoyment unlike any other sensual experience. Scent can bring back childhood or major life events- it is so very primal.

It means so much to people. I am able to use scent to create wines that others can enjoy- I think that might be the best part of what I do.”

Eileen also appreciates her ties to agriculture and the intimacy with nature that winemaking affords her: “In August, and after we bring in the the annual crop, the smell of the grapes fermenting is so wonderful.”

Eileen also told us that leading a hard-working and conscientious staff makes her job more fun.

“We have an unusual management system at Domaine Carneros wherein our employees are engaged to participate in management of the company at various levels. That means that everyone is invested in their

work and feels that they have an important role. They all enjoy great wine like me, too!”

Finally, Eileen said that the most rewarding part of being Domaine Carneros’s CEO is seeing winery visitors “watching the wines grow” on the rooftop terrace while drinking a glass of Champagne.

Eileen has spent a majority of her life thinking about winemaking and cultivating her style, so we thought she must have a favorite variety. Like any good winemaker, Eileen says she is in love with any and everything Domaine Carneros produces- probably because she has spent so much time alongside her staff sitting on tasting panels, caring for the fruit, and contemplating new releases. Eileen thought for a while. “I do have a few seasonal favorites,” she said with a smile in her voice. “I love our Rosé sparkling wine during summer. I do like to watch the pink bubbles in my glass.” During Autumn, she can often be found relaxing on the Domaine Carneros terrace with a glass of their Classic Brut Vintage. To commemorate the most special of occasions, like a wedding anniversary, Eileen’s favorite is Le Rêve, a long-aged, sparkling wine with notes of lemon and pears. Its French name translates to “the dream” in English, and a dream it is.

The gorgeous Domaine Carneros chateau is open 363 days a year (even on New Year’s Day!) and is a great place to land on the grandest of wine tours in Wine Country, California. They offer a wide array of tastings which can be fit to any guest’s preferences or party size.

Pairing plates are offered in the Domaine Carneros salon, with a number of sparkling wines, still Pinot Noirs, artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, smoked salmon plates, and delicate caviar plates offered. “If you’d rather settle down with a single glass, that’s okay, too,” Eileen said.

Daily tours start in the vineyard and continue as guests are escorted through the winemaking, bottling, aging, and disgorging areas of the chateau. Guests are invited to enjoy sparkling wine as the tour progresses, and may reflect on the tour with a seated red wine tasting at its close.

Of course, there are other exciting events which take place at Domaine Carneros throughout the year, like its Lobster and Le Rêve Dinner on the terrace and its caviar tastings. The winter holiday party is quite popular, as is the Mother’s Day tea.

It’s no secret that Eileen and the entire Domaine Carneros staff make it a point to be welcoming, kind, and hospitable.

We asked Eileen whether she could share any interesting plans for the future.

She laughed, “we’re always doing something different! Right now we are in the planning stages of build-

ing a glass pavilion on the north side of the winery. When it’s raining or cold outside we want our guests to be able to sit under it and look outside. We’ve taken the idea from the traditional French glass houses which are often used to protect citrus trees from frost during winter.”

Domaine Carneros also plans to release its first single vineyard sparkling wine in the future. Eileen says the winery serves a loyal base of wine connoisseurs who deserve to reap the benefits of the winery’s continued study and refinement of already outstanding wines. Eileen and others at Domaine Carneros are good at asking the question, “how can we do better?”

California isn’t exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away, and for most of us in Alabama, we might not get there anytime soon. You might find Domaine Carneros on the wine menu at a few local restaurants, and we certainly recommend you order a glass, but you might also enroll in the Domaine Carneros Wine Club. Membership in the wine club also comes with invites to club member-only parties and other benefits. Of course, single bottles may be purchased straight from domainecarneros.com.

Since Eileen Crane was eight years old, she’s had a special taste for the noble grape. She watched her father fall in love with vino. She helped him pick the Sunday dinner wine for years, until she graduated to her own “big girl” glass and discovered that Champagne was her very favorite. Today, her love for fine wine has come full circle.

If you’re ever in or around the Napa Valley area, make time to visit the Domaine Carneros Winery. Who knows?

Maybe you’ll have the chance to meet Eileen.

Domaine Carneros wines have been winners in Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, the American Fine Wine Competition, the San Francisco Chronicle Fine Wine Competition, the San Diego International Wine competition, and Connoisseurs’ Guide, among others. Even so, Eileen and the Domaine Carneros family derive their greatest sense of pride and accomplishment from the individuals who say that Domaine Carneros wines are their favorite wines. Run, don’t walk to the wine shop, and pull a bottle of Domaine Carneros Rosé or Brut from the shelf. for more information on Eileen Crane and Domaine Carneros visit: www.domainecarneros.com or call: 707.257.0101

“Our core mission is to strengthen our local businesses and nonprofits. We aspire to turn vision into reality”.

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For our Businesses & Nonprofits SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS NONPROFITS FAMILY LAW REAL ESTATE

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THIS IS SHAPING THE FUTURE. THIS IS PHILANTHROPY. THIS IS AUBURN. For more information about The Phils or the Women’s Philanthropy Board, please contact (334)844-9156 or wpbchs1@auburn.edu.

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FEATURE 82 _________________________

DANA STEWART

DANA STEWART Dana Stewart, affectionately called “Ms. Dana,” may be petite in stature, but her personality is anything but small. If you’ve ever met her, or if you have the privilege of calling her your friend, you know that she is a dynamic individual who is full-of-life. She’s got a heart so big we swear you can hear it beating, and a magnetic presence that you might encounter once in a thousand people, and that’s if you’re lucky. Dana has poured every ounce of her soul and spirit into her work with Lee County’s special needs community. For more than twenty years she has been giving of herself, and if you spoke with her she would never breathe a word about it. You’d only know because she can’t help but smile when she talks about the men and women, young and old, who she works with each day. She calls being a part of their lives her greatest blessing.

D

ana was born in Columbus, Georgia and was raised in Smiths Station, Alabama, just down i85 from Auburn.

She pursued a career in nursing as a young woman and even took a job working at East Alabama Medical Center in the 1980s. After working at EAMC she moved away from the area, eventually making her way to Jacksonville, Florida where she was a hospice nurse. As the years went by, she lived in several other regions of the United States, including the American North in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Dana’s heart always belonged in Auburn, though, and in 1995, she planted herself back on the plains. She knew she was home to stay.

At that time, Dana’s sons, Jay and Aubrey, were attending Drake Middle School and Wright’s Mill Road Elementary School. Dana enjoyed spending time with her boys and encouraged them to participate in whatever activities they set their sights on, so a full time job at the hospital was not something she preferred.

From the time she was young, Dana had a heart for helping those with cognitive, social, and intellectual disabilities, and she volunteered to be a part of the Special Olympics in each city where she lived. She didn’t disrupt that trend upon moving back to Auburn, and when one of her friends saw how much she enjoyed it, she asked her if she might be interested in working as a ParaPro in an Auburn City Schools special education classroom. In Dana’s words, “and the rest was history!”

Dana found her niche in her career as a ParaPro, so much so that she says she once wished she had pursued a college degree in special education: “I’ve always loved it, and I always will,” she explained. “The Lord has blessed me so richly and has given me the skills it takes to work with people with special needs. They’re all such wonderful people, and I am the one who is gifted to know them.”

Around ten years ago, at one of Lee County’s Special Olympics events where Dana was volunteering, Auburn’s Director of Community Programs, Ms.

Alison Hall approached her with a question: “Are you interested in being a part the Auburn City Therapeutic Camp?” It didn’t take much convincing before Dana agreed. She worked her first camp in 2008 and loved every second. After that, the city asked her to work full time as a special programs coordinator. Under that title, Dana was in charge of all programming for the city’s special needs community.

Dana also became co-advisor to Auburn University’s Best Buddies, an organization of Auburn students who are paired with local individuals with special needs. Dana organized downtown Auburn’s annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat as well as the wellloved and much anticipated Daddy-Daughter Date Night each year.

Last year, Dana and several parents of the local special needs community who she called “moms on a mission” joined the future Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama leadership and board of directors on a day trip to Homewood, Alabama to visit the Homewood Exceptional Foundation. Upon arrival at the facility, they saw men and women with special needs (all too old to remain in the Alabama public school system) thriving. They were interacting with dear friends, exercising and playing active sports and games, and creating art projects. Best of all, they were happy and engaged. Dana remembers that day well:

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“I looked at Penny Foster and Samantha Bradshaw, two ladies who were touring the facility with me, with tears in my eyes. Both Penny and Samantha have young children with Down’s Syndrome. I remember saying to them, ‘this is your future.’ I knew then that we needed an option for their children just like the one Homewood’s Exceptional Foundation had provided its adult special needs community.”

After the mothers in attendance recognized the need for a similar foundation in Lee County, they joined forces to create the leadership team. With the support of Dr. Melissa Pangelinan of the School of Kinesiology on Auburn’s campus, the soon-to-be Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama’s first committee was able to hold its foundational meetings. Dana emerged as a leader in the group as she attended these meetings and eventually became a co-director of outreach and recruitment. She was able to supply accurate figures as they related to the need for the foundation’s programs because of her long-standing relationship with local special needs individuals and their families. Dana reflected, “I prayed for a long time that something like this would come to fruition in our community. Honestly, I was a little surprised when our plans started coming together so quickly. I was excited because I knew that there would be so many men and women in our area who would benefit.”

When it was time to start interviewing candidates for the Exceptional Foundation’s Executive Director’s position, Dana seemed like the perfect fit. Since accepting the job, she has worked tirelessly to promote the foundation and to spread awareness of all the good it will do for local individuals with special needs.

As her efforts have all been concentrated on getting the Exceptional Foundation’s doors open at HealthPlus Fitness Center by September, Dana has since stepped down from her position with the city, but that doesn’t mean that her involvement with her longtime friends in Auburn is coming to an end.

Dana is thrilled to introduce the The Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama to families in Lee, Chambers, Tallapoosa, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, and Russell Counties in Alabama and Muscogee, Harris, and Troup Counties in Georgia.

“In the past there hasn’t been a lot for this particular group to do,” Dana said. “We are here to help them build their daily living skills, and recreational skills, to be more

A active through sports and games, and to enjoy theater, drama, arts, and crafts. What we do is about giving these awesome people an outlet in a safe environment alongside their peers.”

Dana says she wakes up every morning feeling blessed.

“It just doesn’t feel like a job,” she smiled. Being involved with the special needs community in Lee County and now being Executive Director of The Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama has been the perfect way for me to use the gift and the talent that God has given me to work with these people.

Sometimes I cannot believe that The Lord has allowed things to happen in the way that they have. I didn’t go to school to do this. All of this has just fallen into place through the years, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”

Dana is a member of Church of the Highlands. She is a member of a “dream team” there which works with Highlands Haven, the church’s ministry for men of women of all ages with special needs. Dana said, “I love being able to ‘plug in with my peeps’ at church. I already know so many of them, and it just gives me one more opportunity to spend time ministering to the people I love.”

Lee County Autism Resource and Advocacy, The Achievement Center in Opelika, East Alabama Mental Healthy, and numerous University programs have all

worked closely with Dana over the past two decades.

“There’s a cliché about what we do,” Dana explained.

“They say it takes a village, and it really does. Whenever I need the resources that these wonderful organizations are able to provide, all I have to do is ask.” As a side note, we are sure the opposite is also true- Dana is always willing to help.

“What do you in your free time?” we asked Dana.

She thought for several seconds, probably because she doesn’t have much free time! Even so, she told us that her personal therapy is early morning exercise. Dana is in excellent shape and has always enjoyed working out. She’s up by 4:30 each morning. First, she says her morning prayer and reads a devotion, then she takes a walk. “I’m a little bit of a morning person,” she laughed.

Dana has a passion for reading and gardening as well.

If that wasn’t enough, she is a certified RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) instructor, a certified Zumba instructor, and a member of the Alabama Association for Non-Profits. Oh, and she is a certified Special Olympics Coach in seven sports. No big deal! On some of her off days, Ms. Dana likes to take Exceptional Foundation participants and other members of the special needs community out to lunch. Often she’ll send them a text message or give them a call just to check in.

“ To know her is to love her.

Dana’s family is very dear, and she jumps at the chance to spend time with them, too. Her first son, Jay, is a proud Michigan State graduate and lives in Tampa.

Her younger son, Aubrey, just graduated from the University of South Florida and resides in Clearwater.

Dana’s parents, Betty and Ronnie Howard, still live in Smiths Station. She pays them a visit whenever she has the chance. “Thinking about my mom and dad gives me chills,” Dana said a little tearfully. “They are wonderful parents and taught my brothers and sisters and me (Dana is the second youngest of five) the value of hard work and how important our faith is. They’ve been married for sixty-two years.”

Finally, Dana cheers for the greatest football team in the SEC every Fall, but she isn’t your average fan.

Her devotion to the Tigers is far from lackluster, and she’s probably screamed “War Eagle” and waved a blue and orange pom-pom millions of times. In fact, Dana has missed only one home Auburn football game in more than fifteen years. The game she missed fell on the

”

same weekend she had podiatric surgery, and even then she was still watching it from her couch. Yes, we’d call her “die hard.”

It seems that Dana Stewart knows just about everyone in East Alabama and Western Georgia, and everyone we’ve spoken to promises that “to know her is to love her.” For close to twenty-five years she has worked closely with the special needs community in our area, and she deserves many thanks. Dana is humble and kind, however, and she would simply tell you, “the pleasure is mine.” Before we parted, Dana insisted on addressing her friends and loved ones: “Thank you to my parents for instilling in me the strong faith that helped me to see the good I can do for others. Thank you to the city of Auburn and my HealthPlus Fitness Center Family. Thank you to the people who have embraced the vision of the Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama, especially the EFEA Leadership Board who was critical in the formation of what I believe to be one of the most

awesome foundations that has ever existed in Alabama.

Most of all, thank you to the precious participants in our programs and their families who entrust to me their sweet children. They have brought me more happiness than they know. Thanks to all of you, what I do day in and day out isn’t work. I get to see the fruits of my labor firsthand, and I hope that the Lord is working through me. I love each and every one of you.”

To say Dana Stewart is devoted to her cause is an understatement. Helping others is her whole life. We hope you’ll join us in thanking her for her priceless contributions to Auburn, Opelika, and surrounding communities. In the words of one of the Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama’s participants, Jeffrey Barnes, “Ms. Dana is a great friend.”

“

Stop by HealthPlus Fitness Center in Northeast Auburn to make Ms. Dana’s acquaintance. This September, The Exceptional Foundation of East Alabama will take residence on HealthPlus’s basemenet floor. Its leading lady is crossing the days off her calendar until the facility is open and running. She is looking forward to what her own future holds, but as in typical Dana Stewart fashion, she is most excited for the families involved.

Thanks to all of you, what I do day in and day out isn’t work. I get to see the fruits of my labor first hand, and I hope that the Lord is working through me. I love each and every one of you.

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TRAVEL BALI INDONESIA

The

Bali

Experience

“Paradise” is an overused word in the travel enthusiast’s repertoire.

Yes, it is true that thousands of beautiful tropical oases exist all over the globe, and each one is at least one person’s own idea of vacation destination perfection, but perhaps the world’s one true paradise island is Bali, a well-loved heaven in the Indonesian archipelago.

t is a post card that has come alive- an island outlined by white sand beaches, dotted with age old volcanoes, and teeming with colorful coral reefs and marine life. A trip to the aquatic wonderland that is Bali is not out of reach, contrary to popular belief. A vacation there can be relatively affordable, and the sights there to see will leave a lasting impression. You’ll be dreaming of Bali long after you’ve left.

You’ll have plenty of time to establish an itinerary during the airplane ride from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to to the airport in Bali’s capital city at Denpasar. The journey takes almost all of a twentyfour-hour day. Making plans for Bali can seem a bit overwhelming due to its mind-boggling number of gorgeous beaches, delicious dining options, and varied accommodations, but some perusing of the blogosphere and a willingness to learn and discover is a significant help.

There are some fabulous, world-renowned hotels in Bali. You’ll truly feel that you’re living, at least temporarily, in the lap of luxury. There are five-star properties with infinity pools, Michelin-starred restaurants, and private beaches.

Fear not, however, because you don’t necessarily have to spend an exorbitant amount of money on excellent lodging.

There are also hostels, homestays and guest houses, and private beachside villas, all offered at very affordable prices.

Getting around in Bali is pretty low-stress, as long as you are selective about what services you use. A decent

zure A e s i d a r a P

“

Getting around

in

Bali

low-stress,

is pretty

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”

about what servivces

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Bemo Mini bus

option in most regions in a low-cost taxi. They’re fast and available almost everywhere in the cities. A second option you might consider is a motorcycle or scooter rental, although traffic conditions are starkly different from those in the United States, so brace yourself for an unpredictable and, at times, flat out dangerous journey. You might also rent a bicycle to ride through the Balinese countryside on its bike tracks, which vary from paved roads to more obscure paths through the grass.

While the ride tends to be pretty dusty and a little hot, Bali’s public minibuses called bemo are likely the best bet for the unfamiliar traveler. Bemo are fairly inexpensive, and there are buses on the network available everywhere in Bali.

Bali is separated into its eastern and western regions by a volcanic mountain chain. River gorges split the north from the south. The northwest part of the island is consumed mostly by national park, while the island’s mountains play host to coffee beans and various crops. Two active volcanoes reside on the island, the most religiously connected being Gunung Agung.

Gunung Agung is seen as a home for the gods by many Balinese Hindus. It sacred nature beckons thousands of locals and tourists alike to try approaching its apex each year. Gunung Agung’s elevation is 9,944 feet, and with only four hours’ time required to reach the summit, it’s a beautiful day hike for those craving heavenly views. One popular excursion is the Gunung Agung sunrise hike from the revered Besakih Temple in Ubud. This trek up the Gunung Agung follows a path through the rainforest and promises sights like Bali’s interesting rice patties, mountain streams, and vibrant wildlife.

As a side note, Besakih Temple has been regarded as Bali’s “Mother Temple” for more than a millennium and is actually a complex of smaller temples on the southwestern slopes of the mountain. It was nominated as a World Heritage Site in the mid 1990s, and dozens of religious ceremonies are held there each year. Thousands of tourists visit the temple each day to witness its grandeur. If you choose to do the same, keep in mind entry to the temple is denied to those not wearing a sarong and sash.

You might also like to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to hundreds of Balinese longtailed monkeys, all mischievous enough to steal from your bag! Tourists seem to especially enjoy watching the baby primates as they interact. The Sacred Monkey Forest is also located in Ubud, smack in the middle of the cool and dense Mandala Wisata Wanara Wana, a jungle with more than one-hundred-fifty tree species.

Biking Bali

g Gunung Agun

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

Fresh fish in a Bali Market

Bali, “authentic in

Balinese cuisine is available

all over

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The Warung A hidden gem in northern Bali is the Sekumpul waterfalls in the village of Sudaji. Once visitors arrive at the entrance to the park, they embark on a bit of a walk past local village homes and the surrounding durian and rambutan trees. Within five minutes, the forest offers its first glimpses of the area’s seven waterfalls. Many describe what is witnessed there as “majestic.”

In western Bali, the Jatiluwih Green Land is the best place to go if you’d like to see the island’s famous sweeping rice terraces. It seems that Jatiluwih is somewhat underappreciated, being that it is in an extremely rural location which is bounded entirely by farming communities and a couple of resorts in the mountains. The great thing about visiting the rice terraces is that the sounds of the city are no longer present. No tours take place in this land of the great wide open, and public transportation does not service the area. This means that the green hills of Jatiluwih are seldom crowded. If you’d like to go somewhere that is peaceful and thought-provoking, Jatiluwih is the right spot.

One can step back into time and roam around the Tirta Gangga in eastern Bali, a site which formerly boasted a royal water palace. The literal translation of Tirta Gangga is “water from the Ganges.” This site is inclusive of lush vegetation, ornate stone carvings and statues, pool mazes, and billowing fountains. The Tirta Gangga was built in 1946 by the Raja of Karangasem, whose name is quite the tongue twister: Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem.

Nearby Mount Agung erupted violently in 1963, destroying Tirta Gangga almost completely, but local Balinese Hindus who cherished the site rebuilt and restored it to its former glory soon after.

These spots are only a few that you might choose to experience during your trip to Bali, but there are countless others which are equally deserving of your time. As is the case with any overseas vacation, you owe yourself the

advantage of research.

If you’re like all of us at Southern Tatler, you also enjoy a good meal. We believe that every vacation should be a culinary treat, as well as a chance for you to sample a palate unlike that of your native region. The good news is that, in Bali, authentic Balinese cuisine is available all over the island at a wide array of price points. As a preface to our gastronomic recommendations, we do alert you that these tastes may seem peculiar or even repellant, but believe us, they deserve a venture.

Lawar is a traditional Balinese dish consisting of finely chopped or minced meats, usually a mixture of chicken, duck, beef, pork, turtle, and dragonfly (yes, you read that correctly), assorted vegetables, grated coconut, and bold Balinese spices like white pepper, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, candlenut, and clove. Preparers of Lawar typically incorporate fresh blood into the mixture to highlight the subtler flavors.

Nasi Goreng is Bali’s rendition of fried rice. It is pre-steamed, then stir-fried with various meets, like beef, shrimp, lamb, anchovies, and crab, fresh vegetables like green peas, onions, and shallots, lightly scrambled eggs, and sweet soy sauce or hot chili sauce. This delicious rice is usually garnished with freshly sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, fried onions, krupuk crackers (made from shrimp and starch), and mixed pickles.

A super safe bet is Sate, pronounced “satay,” which is simply skewered and grilled meats which have been marinated in savory seasonings. Sate are served with spicy sauces, and coconut-ty, creamy dips. Sate are generally wrapped in banana leaves and skewered on bamboo, sugar cane, or lemongrass sticks.

Eat at a “warung,” or small eatery in Bali, and enjoy the Balinese take on chicken and rice called Nasi Ayam or Nasi Campur. It’s usually white rice and meat, mixed vegetables,

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and hot sambal matah, a fiery hot and pasty salsa.

Want to be exceptionally brave? Try the babi guling. It might hurt your heart, but it is a suckling pig! It’s somewhat of a delicacy (but not too expensive) because pork dishes are so rare on the mostly Muslim island. Not all babi guling is made from suckling pigs, however. Some pigs prepared in Bali for this dish weigh up to 150 pounds.

Chefs rub the swine down with turmeric, then stuff them with a spicy paste of coriander, Asian lime leaves, salam leaves, black pepper, garlic, shallots, ginger, lemongrass, and assorted chilies. The babi guling is then roasted atop coconut husks or wood until tender. This dish is most commonly served sliced alongside a bit of Sate.

Finally, if you’re one who likes to push the limits with strange food, try some of the more obscure “delicacies” found in the Balinese markets from time to time like crispy fried dragonflies, sago worms (think plump little caterpillar looking insects), bats, or even cobra blood. Let us know how it goes!

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to prepare for the Indonesia’s variable climate. Bali lies only eight degrees from the equator, but surprisingly, the average temperature is about eighty degrees Fahrenheit on the island due to its highly mountainous terrain. The months of may through September are considered to lie within the dry season, with an average rainfall of less than two inches. As July leaves and August is welcomed, Bali cools down a bit in anticipation of winter. This is as fabulous time to trek to the top of Bali’s volcanoes (gunungs). It is recommended that you start such a journey in the early morning hours in order to dodge a bit of the extreme humidity of the mid-day period.

Not to mention the sunrise views are spectacular!

Pack your sunscreen because there are occasionally unexpected temperature hikes, plus you’ll definitely want to spend some time beachside.

We leave you with a few final words of advice before you depart for Bali, Indonesia. Listen well. Take your camera with you, and be purposeful in capturing a few of your favorite memories, but try not to have your camera or your cell phone in front of your face throughout the entire trip. Take a few moments, or several, to venture outside the tourist cities. Visit the richly adorned temples, buy some produce and fresh fish from an authentic Balinese street market, and walk slowly through the countryside. Immerse yourself in Balinese culture, and introduce yourself to the men and women on the roadside selling goods and husking rice. Lastly, don’t be pulled in by junky and “a dime a dozen” souvenirs. The best souvenirs are souvenirs of the heart and mind. Besides, it might be a little difficult to haul a fifty-pound wood carving of a god of Balinese mythology onto the airplane back home.

Your trip to Bali is sure to be one of your life’s greatest adventures. Make it a good one.

Guardian S tatue

Mou

nt A gung

te a S en k c i Ch

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Two Balinese Legong dancers

“

The

best

souvenirs are souvenirs of the

heart mind

and

C O N C I E R G E

SHARK DISPLAY The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living� is an artwork created in 1991

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