24
TAZEWELL MORTON IN LIVING COLORS
AUBURN / OPELIKA, AL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
Innovative technologies for fast, affordable & safe cleaning
RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL Window Cleaning Interior & Exterior
Pressure Washing
Driveways, Docks, Patios & more
Soft Cleaning
Houses, Garages & Soffits
Gutter Cleaning
Serving Auburn, Opelika & Lake Martin areas
Contact us today for your free estimate! (334) 759-7080 • sparklealabama.com • customerservice@sparklealabama.com
1 for 8 straight years! Voted BEST Real Estate Company #
L EE CO uNtY 2017 REAL E StAt E SAL ES *Sales Volume in 2017. Data from MLS Listing and Selling Transaction Report, 1/1/17 - 12/31/17.
$50 Million
$75 Million
$100 Million
$125 Million
$150 Million
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
$252,256,574 COMPANY B $131,856,375
COMPANY C $90,157,822
COMPANY D $88,868,028
COMPANY E $69,128,798
$175 Million
$200 Million
$225 Million
$250 Million
uN
tY REAL
ES
LEE
tE tA
CO
2010 - 2017
1810 E. Glenn Ave #130
|
Auburn, AL
|
334.826.1010
BHHSPreferredAuburn.com
CONTENT
VISAGE
VISAGE
town
EVENTS AROUND
H O S P I TA L I T Y G A L A The Hotel at Auburn University, Auburn AL
22 MASQUERADE BALL The Bottling Plant Event Center, Opelika AL
28 CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PART Y Creekwood Castle, Auburn AL
32
SENSIGREEN CDH FOUNDATION INAUGURAL SKEET SHOOT Enon Plantation, Opelika AL
42 UNIVERSITY CLUB’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY Auburn AL
44 4th Annual Christmas Open House Oliver Henr y, Auburn AL
46
6 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Ann h u t
l
10
a
K e n t u c k y D E R B y Dinner & Auction
And They’re Off!
Don your Derby Attire, enjoy a Mint Julep reception, sample tasty traditional cuisine, and experience the "Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" all while supporting our mission of Hope On Horseback! Held on Derby Saturday, May 5, this event is a delightful and sophisticated afternoon that takes place at Storybook Farm, where fairy tales come to life and lives are changed.
Tickets can be purchased online or by phone. Inquire about corporate sponsorship opportunities because together we can make a difference!
May
On the grounds of:
2018
for more info visit:
BIG HATS & HORSES.
www.hopeonhorseback.org/derby or text keyword SBF to 515-55
MFun
a t a ikmeans
MIKATA offers a wide assortment of delicious sushi and hibachi entrees prepared right in front of you!
323 Airport Road Auburn, AL 36830 334.821.5305 mikatarestaurant.com
CONTENT
FEATURES
LOCAL FOCUS
FACES
Kim Evans
52
LOCAL FOCUS
FEATURE STORY
The Boys and Girls Club
TA Z E W E L L M O R T O N
84
62
CULINARY CORNER Pho Lee
74
FASHION Studio 3:19
96
T R AV E L
OKINAWA Japan
112
10 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
AND
April 23rd, 2018 Moore’s Mill Club
CheCk In/Breakfast: 8am tee Off: 9am $175/person $600/foursome until march 15th $225/person $800/team after march 15th
Mother’s DAy MArket 10am-2pm Call amy Wadsworth register at 404.933.1174 or email at cdh@sensigreen.com for all of the details.
Hole Sponsorships Available
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 Glenn McCarley Heather Carson Isaac Leverett Jesi Godwin Tanisha Stephens
cop y editor Jonathan Kaiser
W riters
Caroline Lentz Jarod Johnson 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.
Drive a Little, Save a Lot
NEW AND USED!
Your Local Team. 1618 Gilmer Ave, Tallasee, AL 36078 Sales: (334) 553-2647 Hours: 8:00 AM-6:00PM
LETTER from
the
PUBLISHER 2017 left us in a blind of the eye, and I am confident that 2018 will leave us just as fast. I hope this year is just as jampacked with new acquaintances and new experiences as was last year. Each piece of art has a personality, and each drawing has its own meaning. Everyone interprets art differently and see a different meaning. Art and painting have a meaning of its own. In this issue, we had the opportunity to interview a former art professor and a local artist – “Tazewell Morton.” Mr. Tazewell had lived all over the Southern United States, but he still chose to retire here in Auburn, AL. Auburn holds a special place in his heart, as he’s the artist who designed the Auburn flag which went to the moon in 1972. This winter is one of the coldest winters that we ever experienced. I would like to introduce a local restaurant, “Pho Lee.” Pho Lee gives us a taste of authentic Vietnamese cuisine, without buying a plane ticket. Pho Lee serves Pho (noodle, soup); it will provide warmth and comfortable after indulgence. As golf season is about to kick off, we had the opportunity to meet a former women’s golf coach, Ms. Kim Evans. She won multiple championships during her 23 years in coaching. She’s also a cancer survivor and gives back to our community in various ways. We also had a chance to talk with Ms. Betty Burns and Ms. Wanda Lewis about the boys and girls club of Greater Lee County, and what they offer to the kids in the community. Thank you for your support. You are the reason I love to call this area my home.
-Matthew Tse
16 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
334.246.3582 oliver-henry.com 2272 Moores Mill Road Suite 210 Auburn, AL 36830
LIFE
2018- HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED HOTELS
AYANA KOMODO RESORT, FLORES
www.ayana.com/en/labuan-bajo/ayana-komodo Tucked away on the lush island of Flores, an hour’s flight from Bali, the newest AYANA resort makes for the perfect tropical hideaway. Each of the resort’s 201 rooms will overlook the pristine sands of Waecicu Beach and the resort’s private pier which boasts a scenic bar and floating deck. The hotel includes three swimming pools, a rooftop bar, four restaurants and a cruise ship for exploring the island.
INTERCONTINENTAL LOS ANGELES, USA dtla.intercontinental.com The newest hotel in Los Angeles Downtown, with its soaring 70th-floor sky lobby. Here, and in every one of its 889 elegant guest rooms, you’ll find Instagram-worthy vistas over the City of Angels, from the Hollywood sign to the Pacific Ocean. With LA-inspired design and six food and beverage options, including Spire 73 - the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere.
NOBU HOTEL SHOREDITCH, LONDON
www. nobuhotelshoreditch. com Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s fifth hotel and first foray into Europe. 150-room London property is sleek, modern and feng shui to boot, with low-slung, minimalist furniture, black marble and sexy mood lighting. Looks aside, the food’s good, too: at the onsite Nobu restaurant, guests can try some of Chef Nobu dishes, like black cod miso and yellowtail sashimi topped with jalapeño.
MONTAGE LOS CABOS, MEXICO www.montagehotels.com/loscabos/ For one, it’s set upon the protected waters of Santa Maria Bay, meaning it’s one of the few Cabo resorts able to offer a swimmable beach (most beaches in the area have rough ocean currents that make them too dangerous for swimming). Then there’s the refreshingly minimalist design, also rare in Cabo. With native desert materials and indoor-outdoor spaces, the resort is subtly luxurious without taking away focus from its stunning natural backdrop.
18
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
• concierge medicine through MDVIP Group • Specializing in Bioidentical hormones, subclinical Hypothyroidism and natural medicine
EVENT: HOSPITALITY GALA VENUE: THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER DATE: NOVEMBER 9th, 2017
22
28
32
HOSPITALITY GALA
MASQUERADE BALL
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
42
44
46
SENSIGREN CDH F O U N D AT I O N INAUGURAL SKEETSHOOT
UNIVERSITY ’S CLUB ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PA R T Y
OLIVER HENRY ’S 4th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
VISAGE 26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA
26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
November 9th, 2017
22 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Since 1992, Auburn University Hospitality Management Program has hosted a formal dinner and silent auction as an annual signature event for the program. Every year, the students in the catering and special events management class continue this tradition of excellence by planning and hosting The Hospitality Gala under the direction of Dr. Alecia Douglas, HRMT Faculty and the leadership team in The Hotel at Auburn University led by Hans van der Reijden, Managing Director.
23 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE 26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA
26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
November 9th, 2017
24 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
The Gala has served as the principal fundraising event for the program since 1992. As proceeds directly benefit the program, students, and faculty from the department have a hand in planning, executing and facilitating the event from start to finish. The 2016 Gala raised $310,000, and this year the Gala raised over $400,000.
25 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE 26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA
26TH ANNUAL HOSPITALITY GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
November 9th, 2017
26 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
RO
UD SUPPO
R
CO
NE
RS OF LEE
SOCIETY•
TE
P
Michelle Crum Catherine Lowder
U N T Y H U MA
Finding Homes for Everyone.
call:
334-887-5274 472 N Dean Rd#101. Auburn, AL 36830
334-821-3222
www.prestigeprops.com info@prestigeprops.com
VISAGE MASQUERADE BALL
MASQUERADE BALL THE BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL
October 28th, 2017
Jaime Moore, Marty Moore
Amber McCrory and Chad Boers
David and Sara Musgrave
Sandy Waldo, Kim Harlin, Kim Moore
Beth Bruce, Ryan and Sarah O’Meara
Annette Kiger, Amy Hess
28 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Jonathon and Julia Sharit
Opelika Theatre Company’s Inaugural Masquerade Ball was held at The Bottling Plant Event Center. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Expression of a Braveheart (a local fine-arts program for special needs teens & young adults). Ms. Mallory Hagan (Miss America 2013) was one of many guests in attendance.
Brian and Sandy Waldo
Mallory Hagan
Tim and Chad Peacock
Allen and Stephanie Treadwell
Brian and Katherine Foley, Dawn and Joel Jones
Vicki and Kevin Sexton, Kortney Culpepper, Roger Easterling
29 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE MASQUERADE BALL
MASQUERADE BALL THE BOTTLING PLANT EVENT CENTER, OPELIKA AL
October 28th, 2017
Betty Jean Johnston, Libby Herring Stanley and Cheryl Jones
Daniel Lee Webster, Conner Dungan, McKenzie Dungan, Mitch McHargue
Meribeth Spence, Sara Musgrave, Kim Harlin, Amber McCrory, Jaime Moore
James Jolly and Shawna Hartley
30 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
relax at the dentist... take it to another level at the spa
Schedule a cleaning at Auburn Dental Spa and receive a complimentary facial or massage from éLevé 1575 Professional Parkway•Auburn
WWW.AUBURNDENTALSPA.COM 334.821.2846
WWW.SPALEVE.COM 334.521.7728
VISAGE CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PA RT Y
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY CREEKWOOD CASTLE, AUBURN AL
Decembere 2nd,2017
32 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
33 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PA RT Y
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY CREEKWOOD CASTLE, AUBURN AL
Decembere 2nd,2017
34 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
35 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PA RT Y
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY CREEKWOOD CASTLE, AUBURN AL
Decembere 2nd,2017
36 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Singleton Marine - Blue Creek Marina 7280 Highway 49 South Dadeville, AL 36853 (256) 825-8888
Singleton Marine - Parker Creek Marina 486 Parker Creek Marina Road Equality, AL 36026 (256) 329-8550
SingletonMarine.com
VISAGE CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PA RT Y
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY CREEKWOOD CASTLE, AUBURN AL
Decembere 2nd,2017
38 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Custom built furniture
that's made to last as long as the memories you make around it.
www.SimplySouthernHomeDecor.com Simply Southern Home Decor
334.203.1992 181 Columbus Pkwy. Opelika, AL
VISAGE CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PA RT Y
CREEKWOOD CASTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY CREEKWOOD CASTLE, AUBURN AL
Decembere 2nd,2017
40 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
VISAGE INAUGURAL SKEET SHOOT
INAUGURAL SKEET SHOOT E N O N P L A N T A T I O N, M I D WAY A L A B A M A
October 12th, 2017
Justin Quinn
Audrey Bonner, Corey Love, Liz Lamb
Terry Ratliff
Allen Crowe, Brad Martin
42 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Sensigreen CDH Foundation hosted its first fundraiser, a Skeet Shoot at Enon Plantation in Midway Alabama. Sensigreen CDH Foundation was created in February 2017 by Justin and Jessica Quinn. The Sensigreen CDH Foundation’s goal is to raise money to help Alabama families with a CDH diagnosis seek the best medical care available for their child no matter the location of care.
Justin Quinn, Brad Martin Brent Kohn
Scott Luesse, Mark Painter
Amy Register
Brent Kohn, Keith Wilson, Justin Quinn
Justin Quinn, Amy Register, Terry Ratliff
43 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE
UNIVERSITY CLUB’S ANNUAL CH RISTMAS GATH ERING
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
Auburn, AL
G AT H E R I N G
December 9th, 2017
Wayne and Gayla Sellers
Steve and Liz McPhaul
Ted Little and Cheryl Patten
Mike Reynolds, Sadie Mason, MaryAnn Stiles, Robin Reynolds, Lee English, Carrie Holeski
Judy and Dan Guin, Susan Lee, Pay Boblett
Carol Ann Fowler and Chip Patterson
Barry Dorman, Buck Bowers
Robin Sanders and Jean Reid
44 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Lee English and Carrie Holeski
Mike and Dawn Walker
Ladene Mangum and Luellen Bishop Ted Little and Cheryl Patten
Kathi and Hugh Wilson
Celeste Dorman and Susan Giambrone
45 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
Dawn Patterson and Liz McPhaul
VISAGE 4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN
HOUSE
4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE O l i v e r H e n r y, A u b u r n A L
November 9th, 2017
Oliver Henry Staff
Hillary Parker and Jenna Chambliss
Erin Norrell and Kay Butler Sarah Barker, Meredith Bryan, Emily Lett
Liz McPhaul and Dawn Patterson
Linda Hardy, Beverly Miller, Lyn Woodham
46 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Maunette Bass and Barbara Higgins
Prissy Goodson and Cissy Edwards
Oliver Henry helds its 4th Annual Christmas Open House. Guests were able to enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, signature gifts, and a kickstart to the Christmas gift shopping.
Addie Hill and Amanda Martin
Jamie Donaldson Payton Carter and Holly Thornton Melissa Smith
Kelli Shomaker
Crystle Cooper, Jenna Layson
Laura Klugh and Kam Nelson
Becky Lewis, Kirsten Milenkovitch, Elizabeth Segrest
47 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
VISAGE 4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN
HOUSE
4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE O l i v e r H e n r y, A u b u r n A L
November 9th, 2017
Angie Jordin and Joy Bozeman
Sandy Bridges and Kerri Hensarling
Heather Woodard, Shaylen Robinson
Melissa Taylor and Allison Grant Joanne Hood
Rachel Suddes
Lindy White, Ginger Perkins
48 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
we’ve gone mobile.
download our FREE app
334.329.5055 | thehomelink.com 2178 Moores Mill Rd., Auburn, AL 36830 Follow us @yourhomelink
LOCATION: PHO LEE
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
BREATH FACES: KIM EVANS LOCAL FOCUS: BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER LEE COUNTY CULINARY CORNER: PHO LEE
FACES KIM E VA N S
AUBURN'S 'ACE' OF A COACH TO PUT IT PLAINLY, KIM EVANS IS A BUSY WOMAN. WHILE TELLING HER STORY IN THE ONE BIKE COFFEE SHOP IN THE MOORES MILL SHOPPING CENTER, AFTER HAVING PLAYED GOLF WITH A FRIEND, HER ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM FOR LIFE ARE UNMISTAKABLE. CURRENTLY IN HER 23RD YEAR OF WORKING IN AUBURN, SHE PRESENTLY WORKS AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. KIM WAS ALSO THE AUBURN UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S HEAD GOLF COACH FROM 1994 TO 2015, A PERIOD IN WHICH SHE EXPERIENCED A WEALTH OF CHAMPIONSHIPS AND GAINED AWARDS.
im Evans was born and raised in Decatur, Alabama, the youngest of five children. She had four older brothers, a situation that she claims made the competition between the siblings “of the highest degree.” Her father was an avid fisherman, hunter, and golfer, and kept the children involved with outdoor activities. “Whatever sport was in season, we were playing,” she recalls. “Backyard baseball, basketball, football; anything really.” She attributes her father with instilling her love of golf at an early age and teaching her the ins and outs of the sport. Kim ponders, “He just really loved the game, and looking back through the years, I realize he really gave me the gift of life. Golf is a lifelong sport, so he also gave me a livelihood and my passion.”
Kim graduated from high school and stayed in Decatur for a year, attending a junior college. Her father was a physician, and she considered following a career in health or physical therapy. She interned at the local hospital physical therapy department, attending community college along the way. She loved the work but also had brothers that attended Auburn University, one of which she often visited while in high school. As she describes it: “It was sudden. One day I woke up and decided ‘I’m going to go to CARRY ON Auburn University and play golf.’” She called up A golf bag issued the coach, Ron Murphy, and was walking on the to Kim Evans team and traveling in the next spring semester. during her Auburn “[Getting on the team] was very different back University coaching then, it was 1977. I just called up the coach and career. A special next thing I knew I was at Auburn and on the item of hers that she team.” She fell in love with Auburn and knew continues to use on two things when she left; that she would follow the course today. a career in coaching, and that she would one day return to Auburn. Kim graduated in 1981 with a degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; a joint major that allowed a broad avenue of opportunities, from teaching to coaching. “I like to stay active,
“WELL I’M A COACH
SO I LIKE TO WIN” so it was a good choice for me,” she recounts. She started her career at the Sandestin resort in Destin, Florida. She worked in the golf shop at the resort and worked towards being a golf professional and tutor for players wanting to learn the game. In her time at Sandestin, she met a man by the name of Puggy Blackman, the then-Head Men’s Golf Coach at Georgia Tech. They developed a friendship while Kim ran a junior golf tournament for him, called the Atlanta Junior Golf Association. The tournament would travel to Sandestin every year for the grand championship. One day, Puggy offered Kim a position as his assistant coach. This was monumental at the time, as Kim recalls “That was huge because I was a female, and I think I would’ve been the only female that was in men’s coaching. So I said yes, and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia.” Kim continued to run the Atlanta Junior Golf Association in the summer, and during the school year coached Men’s Golf at Georgia Tech. She had the opportunity to coach and mentor many young men that would become big names, such as David Duval, Stewart Cink, and Charlie Rymer [who now hosts on The Golf Channel]. “The names go on and on,” she says with a laugh, “and I was just really fortunate to work with such an amazing program, an amazing university, and amazing student-athletes. That was my first opportunity coaching, and when the Auburn position arose, I came home.”
TROPHIES
Coach Kim Evans standing in front of her achievements.
Kim Evans returned to Auburn as Head Women’s Golf Coach in 1994, where she would become a powerhouse of a coach. Her achievements stretch over two decades and heftily sum up the dynamo of the program she oversaw as its leader. To date, Kim Evans has eight SEC titles for the women’s golf team, the second-most conference titles of any coach in Auburn history. The team won SEC titles in 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2012. The team received many number-one rankings in her tenure, many top-ten finishes in the NCAA championship, and 94 top-three finishes in 223 tournaments. She led the Tiger’s Women’s Golf Team to 14 NCAA championship appearances. She has coached seven SEC Golfers of the Year, 13 All-Americans, and 19 All-SEC recipients, as well as seven SEC Freshmen of the Year and one National Golf Coaches
LISTEN UP!
Coach Kim giving Auburn student veterans a few pointers on how to improve their golf game.
Association [NGCA] National Freshmen of the Year. Many of her former students have gone on to become professional golfers, including some that have played in the LPGA and European tournament circuits. Personally, she has received many accolades in coaching and education, including the Horton Smith Award, NGCA’s National Coach of the Year in 2001-2002, 5-time SEC Coach of the Year, and induction into the National Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. Her time saw a lot of personal growth and professional achievement, as well as the satisfaction of shaping student-athletes to be well-rounded students. Asked about her most rewarding moments in coaching at Auburn, she says, “Well, I’m a coach, so I like to win.” She laughs. “So breakthrough wins are always rewarding. I think conference events are up there, especially our first conference event. The first event I coached [at Auburn], we won. So that was a huge win.” She goes on to explain the multi-faceted aspects of coaching, from recruiting talented individuals to seeing them become fully realized as students and athletes. “To see them go from freshman to senior to graduation, and see their development, and to see them win and succeed; that’s gratifying. Whether they go on to careers outside of golf, or they go on to play the professional tours, or get married and have children; it’s good to see them continue with their lives and know that I contributed to that. Those are really the high points of my career.”
However, in 2013, Kim began to feel sick. She fought with symptoms such as fatigue and general discomfort, and thought “I haven’t felt well in a year.” She went to the doctor and discovered that she had a mass in her left ovary, and took a blood test to confirm the presence of ovarian cancer. Ever the dedicated coach, she focused on getting her team to regionals and would undergo treatment during the summer, after the school year was over. She went to the doctor again some weeks later to find that during the season the level of cancer cells in her body had doubled, and the cancer itself was diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma, a rare form of ovarian cancer. She was faced again with the frightening gravity of the situation. “There’s no way you hear something like that and don’t think, ‘I may die,’” she recalls. “But from that point on I was going to fight and focus on battling the side effects of the chemotherapy.” She decided to do what she had always done; fight, and most importantly, win. She had former student Danielle Downey coach the team in her absence while Kim put her energy into getting treatment. After the conclusion of the season, an associate head coach, Andrew Pratt, was hired to head the team while Kim was away. She began treatment via chemotherapy in May 2013 at UAB in Birmingham and received an outpouring of heartwarming support from students, staff, fellow coaches and fans. “All of the SEC coaches shaved their heads in support,” she remembers, “and that touched my heart. That they would do something like that for me just really sticks with me and shows how much love there is in the world.” She underwent five rounds of chemotherapy, multiple blood transfusions, and several surgeries in her fight against cancer. The outpouring of support from across the country helped to keep her fighting until early October of 2013, when she received
58 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
a call from the doctor at UAB, telling her that there was no evidence of the disease in her body. Kim Evans had gone from cancer patient to cancer survivor, always keeping her winning attitude and fighting spirit.
Kim returned to Auburn with her strength in a new capacity; her position was Special Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs. She has renewed vigor in her new position, enjoying interacting with the whole of the Auburn campus. “Athletics is and always will be my home, but sometimes you don’t get to get out and enjoy everything this campus has to offer: the people, the students, everything,” she says. “It’s just really nice to think of the whole of Auburn as my home, and really have that connection.” Kim is currently working diligently with the Auburn student veteran population, teaching them golf as well as helping them to adjust to civilian life and life at the university. She also devotes time and resources to a wealth of charities. These include the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation, which benefits the Tee Off Against Cancer Golf Tournament. Also among the charities are the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation, and the Lee Russell Aging Foundation, which holds a fundraising event every December called “Will Golf Fore Food and a Cure.” This fun event allows people to get out on the links and hit a golf ball with items for fun (or stress relief, whichever is preferred, according to Kim). “You can get out there with a sledgehammer and hit some balls, and we’re out there whether it’s freezing cold, rain or shine. It’s a great time for a great cause.” She also works with
BACK NINE
Kim tries to get out to play a game at least once to twice a month. Here we see her following through on a shot at one of Auburn’s local golf courses.
other charities such as Habitat for Humanity, EAMC Foundation (Cancer Center) and the Jason Dufner Foundation.
Outside of work, Kim Evans enjoys outdoor activities such as playing with her two Standard Poodles-Aunt Rita and Baby Sister-, and naturally, golf. There are many courses in the Auburn-Opelika area, and while she can’t put an exact number on how often she gets out to play a game, she at least plays once to twice a month. When asked her favorite course in the area, she says “I can’t choose a favorite, they’re all great. That’d be like asking me to choose my favorite dog. I just can’t do it. They’re all wonderful. I’m really blessed to be in a place with so many good local golf courses.” Nationally, Kim’s favorite course is Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, the site of the PGA Masters Tournament. She’s dedicated to her charity work and enjoying life. “When I talked to my doctor, he said one of the biggest risk factors you can take out of your life to prevent cancer overall is stress. So I try not to stress too much about work or anything these days, as a way to kick this [cancer] to the curb. That’d cut into playtime with my dogs.” While Kim Evans may have slowed down to enjoy life, her bustling spirit and vivacious energy are envious. She keeps busy with her good causes and new career path but makes sure to take the time to enjoy herself. As the interview wraps up, she’s off to play nine holes with an old friend; it’s hard to imagine a better way to spend a day.
“Our core mission is to strengthen our local businesses and nonprofits. We aspire to turn vision into reality”.
Brett A. Smith, Esq. Partner
For our Businesses & Nonprofits SERVICES SMALL BUSINESS NONPROFITS FAMILY LAW REAL ESTATE
369 South College St. Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 329-5596
www.huffsmithlaw.com
No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services to be performed by other lawyers.
Southern Tatler “The essence of Southern Society”
your CITY, your MAGAZINE e: customer.relations@southerntatler.com l phone: 334.329.1780
LOCAL FOCUS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
SERVING AND SHAPING LEE COUNTY’S YOUTH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER LEE COUNTY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE REGION FOR 27 YEARS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1990, THE ORGANIZATION HAS DEDICATED TO SHAPING THE YOUTH THAT COME THROUGH ITS DOORS INTO GOOD CITIZENS AND WELL-ROUNDED ADULTS. THE PRESIDENT OF BGC, WANDA LEWIS, AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, BETTY BURNS, SHOW US HOW THE ORGANIZATION IS RUN, WHAT SERVICES IT PROVIDES, THE YOUTH OF LEE COUNTY, AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE CLUB AND THE KIDS THAT ARE MEMBERS.
T
he Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County has been around since 1990. After first breaking ground 27 years ago, the organization is housed in two campuses in the Auburn-Opelika area. The Auburn Unit is housed in the Boykin Gymnasium building on Boykin street, while the Potter-Daniel Unit is located on Toomer Street in Opelika across from the Carver Middle School. The club is affiliated with and chartered by the Boys and Girls Club of America, a national organization. Boys and Girls Club of America is a United Way agency. The Club itself, local and national, is dedicated to a lofty and admirable mission statement: “To enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.” The club provides after-school programs for kids ages 6-18, as well as out-of-school programs during regular school closures such as winter break, spring break, and summer vacations. The summer camp
expands beyond the after-school norm of the organization into an all-day camp. The Greater Lee County chapter currently has 200 to 225 kids regularly enrolled in the program, with a total of 673 either enrolled partially or fully from January to December of 2017. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County most likely services more kids in the area than any other organization, except for the school systems. Wanda Lewis, president of the Lee County program, explains “It is our duty to ensure that when kids age out of the program [at age 18 or upon graduation from high school] that they are leading a healthy life in all ways.”
We sit down with Wanda and the Resource Development Director of the program, Betty Burns, and they explain this mission in full detail, as well as shedding light on the different programs within the organization. The chapter offers a broad range of educational supplement, life coaching, and guidance to the kids in its programs. Wanda goes on to elaborate on the five major programs at the club; Education and Career Development, Character and Leadership Development, Sports/ Fitness/Recreation, Health and Life Skills, and Arts.
TEACH ON Wanda Lewis and Betty Burns.
WHAT THE STAFF CALLS
“POWER HOUR” Each of these programs has a specific focus on developing the kids into well-rounded adults and good citizens. She begins with Education and Career development, a vital program in shaping the futures of the children that pass through the Boys and Girls Club. The first goal of this program is making sure that kids receive the supplemental educational aid that they require. This starts when the children come to the club in the afternoon, in what the staff call “Power Hour,” where kids receive homework help and tutoring. The Club has a partnership with the Auburn and Opelika school systems, where they have an education liaison at both sites that coordinate the tutorial programs. Also, these liaisons, typically retired schoolteachers or other workers within the school system, keep an open line of communication with the teachers and counselors within the local school systems, ensuring that kids are receiving the appropriate help and getting updates on the children’s progress and improvements. Wanda says, “We look at report cards at the end of grading periods, just to keep up with progress and see where students need help and where we helped them to improve.” The program also helps young adults figure out where they want to go or what they want to do when they leave school. The staff makes sure the kids are on target to graduate from high school and they are encouraged to consider what they may want to do once they’ve graduated. They help to prepare kids to the SAT, ACT, and graduation exams as needed. Teens are given literature about colleges all over the country and encouraged to explore and tour, figuring out where they’d like to go once the time comes. The club provides help with building resumes, applying for jobs, preparing for and conducting interviews, and even introduces them to a day of work in some fields such as retail and restaurant management.
The Health and Life Skills system takes on a variety of topics and teaches the kids valuable life skills that some schools no longer teach. Kids are taught to cook several basic meals, how to do basic repairs on clothing (such as sewing a missing button back onto a shirt), among other necessary skills for an adult in the world. They are also given lessons on finances, credit, and taxes to be better prepared for adult life. On the health side, the kids are taught the importance of a healthy lifestyle,
65 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
“ENSURING THAT KIDS WHO AGE OUT OF THE PROGRAM ARE
LEADING A HEALTHY LIFE IN ALL WAY’
as well as to avoid high-risk behavior in an age-appropriate way in regard to content. They are cautioned against drug and alcohol use as well as other dangerous behaviors. They’re taught the importance of a healthy lifestyle and diet, and this intertwines with the recreational activities provided in the Sports/Fitness/ Recreation program. There are two programs, Smart Girls and Passport to Manhood. They teach young men and women about adult life and provide them with the means to set and achieve goals, as well as maintain positive role models and attitudes, framed in a way as to appeal and address the differences that boys and girls experience when growing up.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW An after school student standing in front of the B.A.G.C motto “ A postitive place for kids.”
The Arts program allow the youth to indulge their creative side, with no shortage of activities. Betty tells of the kids learning music, painting, and dancing, to name a few. She tells the story of one of the significant activities of the summer of 2017, where the kids were invited to learn about the history of Alabama, and more specifically its native tribes. The summer-long event culminated in a visit from the native Poarch Creek tribe, who put on a presentation of Native American art for the children, which included a showing of art and artifacts, as well as an exhibition of the tribe’s traditional dances and unique music. The kids were able to get involved and create their own paintings, pottery and totem poles in tune with the tribe’s traditions. Another event saw a collaboration with the Auburn Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and allowed the children to experiment and see art in many different media.
doors, and donated items such as blankets to the retirement community. “It shows them how to be caring and concerned about others in the community,” Wanda says. The organization also engages in broad ranges of philanthropy, and as Wanda puts eloquently, there’s more to philanthropy than money. “Some people think philanthropy is just writing a check, and if you can, that’s great! But we don’t want anyone to be discouraged if they can’t write a check, we want to show that there are other ways to give back, and even the kids at their age can contribute to the community and help to improve things in their own ways.” The Boys and Girls Club has a partnership with the Auburn University College of Human Sciences and the Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, one of the club’s largest partnerships. They engage weekly in a program called “Real Sense, Real Change” that encompasses a broad range of topics from goal-setting to money management, as well as service and how the topics relate to one another. The program also gives more valuable life advice to the youth and aiding in their development into adulthood.
Betty tells the story of an artist that came to speak to the kids from Atlanta recently, “This guy does artwork on shoes or sneakers. All of these really cool designs that sell for huge amounts of money, and he chose one of our kids and actually drew on his Nike sneakers then and there. It was cool to see something like that, and it was great for the kids.” The Arts program also sees the kids involved in music, collaborating with Spicer’s Music in Auburn. The kids are given lessons and allowed to learn instruments such as the trumpet and saxophone, and they are exposed to types of music and styles they may not have had access to otherwise.
The Character and Leadership development program is one that genuinely helps shape the youth of the Boys and Girls Club into productive citizens with its various and useful life lessons and activities. Wanda explains that community service is essential, as one of the most vital lessons that the kids can learn is to give back to their community. The youth are involved in civic programs with local nursing homes, shelters and charities. Wanda tells the story of the most recent Christmas holiday, where the children visited residents of Oak Park Nursing Home in Auburn. The kids played games and sang carols with the residents, decorated the
The programs within the Club are undoubtedly varied and impressive, and the rewards are evident in
68 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
HELPING HANDS Some key staff members of the local Boys and Girls Club (left to right) Anthony Brock, Valerie Sherman Washington, Wanda Lewis, Betty Burns.
“WE TAKE ALL KINDS, AND EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES SOMETHING TO HELP THESE KIDS.” the successes of the Lee County Units. Boys and Girls Club of America attendees are more likely to graduate from high school than their peers. For example, the graduation rate of high school students in the state of Alabama is 87%. However, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County has a 100% high school graduation rate for its active and participating teens, a number that is very difficult to achieve. It’s not hard to see why they succeed, as Wanda and Betty are dedicated to the services they give the youth of Lee County. Both smile widely as they talk about the programs, individual kids, and pontificate on children in the organization’s past and present.
However, with rewards also comes challenges. When asked about the most significant challenge of running the Boys and Girls Club, Wanda says, “Funding. We receive an allocated amount nationally, but donations are important. After funding, it’s space. The Auburn Unit shares a building with other organizations in the Boykin Gymnasium, and with 200 kids that can prove to be a challenge.” Betty adds, “A lot of people think our local Boys and Girls Club is federally funded, and that tends to stop people, or they tend to think of it as a handout. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County is NOT federally funded, and we rely on donations, fundraising events, and contributions from the community.” The Boys and Girls Club receives an allocation of funding from the United Way, one of its largest contributors and affiliates. However, these funds are typically allocated for specific areas such
as technology or arts, meaning that they can only be used for those items in the budget. While important, “unrestricted” funds can help with fixed costs, such as employee salaries and utilities, as well as last-minute expenditures needed to accommodate extra kids such as meals. Wanda specifically cites the windfall that even the smallest of donations, especially the unspecific or unrestricted type, can provide to the club. Betty also adds, “If 3% of the residents of Lee County opted into our “I’m in for 10” donation on the website, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lee County would be funded for the entire year.” But Wanda and Betty also live by Wanda’s message on philanthropy, and those who cannot give monetarily are welcomed as volunteers, substitutes, speakers, mentors, and tutors for kids. “We take all kinds, and everyone can contribute something to help these kids” Wanda states with a smile. The Boys and Girls Club has an impressive operation with proven results. Success such as 100% high school graduation is not something that many organizations can claim in regard to children in their care, and their caring staff show no signs of stopping in their mission to provide Lee County’s youth with a better future. As the interview wraps, Betty and Wanda are off to start the day’s “Power Hour”; tending to the children’s individual educational needs. They stand and leave the classroom with smiles on their faces, ready to face another day of making a difference in the lives of the youth of Lee County.
71 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
we’re going digital southerntatler.com relaunch
2018 e: customer.relations@southerntatler.com l phone: 334.329.1780
CULINARY CORNER
PHO LEE
THE FLAVORS OF VIETNAM, HERE AT HOME SINCE OPENING IN DECEMBER OF 2013, PHO LEE HAS BEEN BRINGING AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE CUISINE TO THE AUBURN AREA, WITH REMARKABLE SUCCESS. THE RESTAURANT HAS A COMFORTABLE AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AS WELL AS EFFICIENT AND FRIENDLY STAFF. LEE PHAM, THE OWNER OF PHO LEE, SITS DOWN TO TALK ABOUT MAKING HIS LIFE IN AUBURN, OPENING THE RESTAURANT, AND WHAT GOES INTO RUNNING THE SUCCESSFUL SMALL BUSINESS.
“BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER” t’s 2:30 in the afternoon, a time when most restaurants in the Auburn area would be well past the usual lunch rush and moving into a winding-down phase, replete with cleaning and restocking for the volume of expected dinner customers later in the day. But that’s not the case in Pho Lee, situated in the GlennDean shopping center. The store is bustling; most tables are filled with patrons enjoying the Vietnamese staples offered by the restaurant. Servers are whizzing by to refill drinks, and cooking equipment in the back-of-house is smoking and sizzling as staff prepare more meals for the new arrivals. Smells and sounds fill the air, from the rich broths of the delicious pho (pronounced “fuh”) wafting through as it leaves the kitchen, to the clang of chopsticks ready to dig into the tasty meals, practically inviting anyone passing by to join in on the delights to be offered within Pho Lee. Man-
agers and servers check in on patrons at tables, asking about the quality of the meals provided. The cashier busily closes out tickets and produces new ones to send to the tables while a TigerTownToGo delivery driver waits in the lobby for a to-go order to be completed. It’s not hard to see why the business has become a staple in authentic Asian food in the Auburn area. Lee Pham, owner and operator of Pho Lee, has a smile on his face a mile wide as he surveys the busy restaurant. Lee Pham was born in Vietnam, in the southern part of the country about 40 miles from Ho Chi Minh City, the nation’s city. He came to Auburn in 1996, attended the university, and has lived in Auburn in the 20 or so years since. He worked as an engineer before becoming a business owner. He opened Pho Lee in late 2013. The idea to open the restaurant was inspired by the food he ate growing up in Vietnam, and he wanted to bring that to Auburn, which at the time lacked any Vietnamese cuisine. Lee says, “When people think of Vietnam, if they think of Vietnam, they just associate it with the war and don’t know much about the culture and great food of the country. I wanted to
WHATS ON THE INSIDE
A sneak peek inside Pho Lee
show Auburn a little Vietnamese culture and bring the food I love to the people of the city. I loved my grandmother’s pho, loved eating it, and wanted to show that to the people of Auburn. I wanted to keep it as it was and make people as happy as I was to eat it.” After deciding on his idea, he found a location, hired staff, and opened Pho Lee in December of 2013, and he has had remarkable success since the restaurant opened its doors.
Pho as a dish has become increasingly popular across the U.S., as pho shops, restaurants, and street vendors have opened in major cities all over the country to stunning success. Pho is, put simply, Vietnamese stew or soup. However, pho also has specific ingredients that make it stand out among your average soup offerings. The dish is traditionally made with a (typically light and sweet) broth, rice noodles (called banh phở), herbs and meats such as shrimp, chicken, or beef. There are various methods of pho preparation, dependent on the area of Vietnam in which it is found. The two major types are referred to as Hanoi and Saigon phos, and differ by the width of the rice noodles, choice of herbs, and the inherent sweetness of the broth. Pho originated in the early 20th century, though its history and cultural evolution are often debated among cultural historians and foodies. It’s a staple dish in Vietnam, often eaten, even at breakfast. Lee explains “We [often] had pho for breakfast,” Lee says. Breakfast is different in Vietnam and other Asian countries than in the U.S.; it’s typically very light so meals like soups are the norm versus what an American or European would consider a ‘normal breakfast.’ [Often] pho for breakfast, lots of
pho, and I love it” he finishes with a smile, “and you can eat it anytime; breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”
Pho Lee is currently the only purveyor of authentic Vietnamese cuisine in the Auburn area, and for a good reason. Lee Pham keeps his menu small and authentic, only recently having expanded the menu into other types of cuisine with a select few new items. “When Vietnamese people try our pho before returning to Vietnam, they will say it’s every bit as good as the pho there, that it’s just like it is at home. Same with our Thai food like the Pad Thai (a new menu offering), they will say that the dish is just as good as it is in Thailand.” Endorsements don’t get much better than that for a restaurant selling ethnic cuisines, as popularly most cuisines get changed or an “Americanized” makeover to better suit American tastes. At Pho Lee, though, there’s something for everyone, no matter your preference. You don’t have to be a gourmand or a seasoned world-traveler to appreciate the food that Pho Lee has to offer.
The pho speaks for itself, far better than words, which don’t do the dish the justice and praise it deserves. A typical pho offering from Pho Lee is light, allowing the patron to feel as though they could eat forever. You’ll be glad for the increased appetite provided by the lightness of the food, as the rice noodles and delicious meats beg the eater to enjoy it for as long as possible. Everything from chicken to beef, shrimp, and pork are available in the pho, as well as vegetarian options. Each pho dish also comes with a plate of veggies such as bean sprouts to add as the customer desires. Depending on the ingredients added, the broth can vary from sweet to savory to spicy, furthering the depth of the already-fantastic dish. The pho is so phenomenal that you’ll miss the meal once it’s finished (though no one will stop you from ordering another helping!). Another popular Vietnamese street food, the banh mi sandwich, is also offered with a wide variety of fillings. Traditional Vietnamese appetizers are also offered, such as egg rolls and spring rolls with fillings such as pork, shrimp, veggies and tofu, and chicken. Also offered are unique beverages like Vietnamese hot coffee and jasmine tea. Recent menu expansions have seen dishes like Pad Thai and curry chicken added to the restaurant’s offerings.
PHO FRIENDLY
Lee Pham chatting with some happy customers.
“...EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS THE ORIGINAL...”
When Lee is asked about the difficulties of opening and running the business, he shares his past as an engineer, and how he had to figure out things in the restaurant business as he went. “There were a lot of challenges in the beginning. Things like inventory management, cost of goods, and hiring staff were relatively new to Lee in his foray into the service industry. However, after a few initial hiccups, he began to see the benefits. He says, “In Vietnam, we are all about hospitality, we love people. We want people to come in and experience the culture and great food, feel happy and at home. I think that is the key to the success of Pho Lee.” The business saw immense success due to its fantastic, authentic food and skilled staff. Lee says he keeps his staff happy, and aims to keep employees that are serious and warm to customers. “When you work in any job, you have people that just come in, make a little money, and go home. That’s fine, but in hospitality, it’s not enough. We [strive for] the best, because we want to be the best.” When asked “What’s next for Pho Lee?”, Lee Pham is tight-lipped on details but says that the restaurant is planning on expanding at some point in the future. The local reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, and the business’s success would surely indicate more stores and new ideas from the Pho Lee family. Lee says, “In the future, we have another project, in the next two years, but so far everything is on the table. But there is certainly more in the future, and here in Auburn. We love it here. And if we do go for a ‘Pho Lee 2’,” - Lee laughs at the prospect of a “sequel” store, as he calls it - “then we will keep everything the same as the first one. It’ll be a new Pho Lee with everything you love about the ‘old’ Pho Lee. We’ll focus on a new location, but everything has worked so far, and we wouldn’t want to change that.” Lee did not want to give specifics, but it looks like the future is bright for Pho
Lee, and the Auburn-Opelika area could see more of the business in coming years.
Pho Lee’s mission statement is “Eat Healthy, Live Longer.” Pho is a very healthy meal, and the ingredients used at Pho Lee are fresh and of the highest quality. Lee Pham not only wants to bring the culture, food, and ethos of his home country of Vietnam to Auburn through Pho Lee but also wants to provide good, healthy food that will leave the customer feeling better for having eaten it. Though light, the meals offered on the menu are filling and good for the body. Traditional Asian dishes tend to be healthier than standard American restaurant fare, and the Vietnamese spread at Pho Lee is no different. “We want people to have good food that will help them live a long and healthy life. When they live long, they can enjoy more of the hospitality, atmosphere, and of course, food that we want everyone to experience. We love people, and we want to show that through our food.” Lee Pham and his Pho Lee crew live this mission with their great food, comfortable and hospitable atmosphere, and quick and efficient service. If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing the local business’s offerings, or have never tried Vietnamese cuisine and want to expand your horizons, give Pho Lee a try. They are in the GlennDean shopping center on the corner of Glenn and Dean Road. They also collaborate with TigerTownToGo to provide delivery through the third-party service. So, stop in some time and experience Vietnamese hospitality and some “pho-nomenal” food. “We love people, we are all about people, we love to make people happy,” Lee reiterates, summing up his store’s mission statement. “We want to show Auburn a little more of the world, right here.” Pho Lee will be here and waiting with a healthy offering of delicious eggrolls and soul-warming pho for any who would walk through its doors. for more information on Pho Lee, visit: 756 E Glenn Ave, Auburn, AL 36830 or call: 334.209.2979
80 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Lee Pham and his wife Anh Bui
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R SOUTHERN TAT L E R
FEATURE 84 _________________________
TAZEWELL MORTON In Living Colors
FEATURE TAZEWELL MORTON
TAZEWELL MORTON HAS WORKED AS AN ARTIST ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. BUT HE’S ALWAYS BEEN AN AUBURN MAN. FROM ATTENDING AUBURN UNIVERSITY, TO HIS TIME AS A PROFESSOR AT AUBURN, TO CHOOSING AUBURN AS THE LOCATION FOR HIS RETIREMENT, THE AREA HAS BEEN A COMMON THEME IN HIS LIFE AND HAS INSPIRED COUNTLESS WORKS FROM THIS ECLECTIC CREATOR. HE HAS A LONG AND PROLIFIC CAREER IN THE ARTS BEHIND HIM, AND HIS RETIREMENT IS IN NAME ONLY: THIS CELEBRATED AUBURN RESIDENT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE STUNNING AND UNIQUE ART TO THIS VERY DAY.
those years; especially since the hurricane [referring to Hurricane Katrina in 2005]. It’s very different than when I grew up” Taz recollects. Coupled with a great description of the geography and changes to the area by his wife, Taz gives a sense of just how small the Gulfport area was in his youth. He spent a lot of time in his young life enjoying the culture of the Gulf Coast, from the beaches to the lifestyles of fishing and crabbing that permeate the area; these themes would later inspire some of his artwork. He also played football for his schools. While he was in high school, Taz met and began dating Ann Hunt through mutual friends, the woman that would one day become his wife. Ann recalls “He lived maybe four houses down from my best friend. She’s still a good friend of ours today, and she had brothers that Taz was friends with. It was only natural that we were going to meet.” Taz and Ann have been married for almost 60 years and have many children and grandchildren.
oming off the Christmas holiday, Tazewell “Taz” Morton has put a great deal of work into the medium of ceramics. In the local bank where we conduct our first interview with Taz and his wife Ann, the branch manager Dana shows off a piece on her desk. It’s a stylized angel, with rounded edges and a deft painting scheme on a sturdily crafted brass-colored stand. “An original Taz!” Dana exclaims cheerfully, showing off the angel as Taz gracefully listens to our praise of the piece. An Auburn alumni and former professor, a prolific and accolade-laden artist, and a distinguished career full of massive achievements, Taz shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Even at 82 years old and well into retirement from the standard 9-to-5 business world, Taz continues to produce unique artistic creations with surprising volume.
In his senior year of high school, Taz was mulling over college choices at his school’s career day. He considered the attending schools and spoke to representatives, expressing interest in three schools. The schools were The University of Alabama, The University of Southern Mississippi, and by chance, Auburn (at the time known as Alabama Polytechnic Institute,
Tazewell Morton was born in Birmingham, Alabama, but his family moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast when Taz was a toddler. He grew up in an area now encompassed by the greater Gulfport region. “There’s been a lot of development to the area since
86 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
only referred to colloquially as “Auburn.”) “Nobody in the area had ever heard of Auburn. We all knew the University of Alabama, but Auburn was small by comparison and at the time focused on agriculture and engineering. If it was known, that’s what it was known for. My father had said, ‘Listen, you’re not going to Southern Mississippi, and you’re not going to Alabama,’” Taz says with a laugh. “So I went to the room where the representative from Auburn was supposed to be. Nobody was in the room except the teacher.” Taz asked the teacher about the representative, and she told him that the man, Mr. Norton, was packing up his fliers in his car due to lack of interest in the school from the students. Tazewell caught Mr. Norton in the parking lot of the school as he was loading his bulletins into the trunk of his car, and took one. “It didn’t take me long after that,” Taz says. With that, the first step of Tazewell Morton’s extensive career was taken. Taz, a man of many funny anecdotes, starts with his first week at Auburn, a week that almost didn’t see completion. “It didn’t take me long to get back to the [Gulf ] coast either,” Taz says. Mrs [Ann] Morton interjects with a laugh at the story, adding “Talk about an about-face!” He tells a humorous story about hitch-hiking home to Gulfport and arriving to see his grandmother rocking in her chair on the front porch. “That didn’t last long,” Taz says with a laugh, recalling how when his parents returned home, they had him back on a train to Auburn. “I’m glad they did,” he recounts with a smile “I don’t have any regrets about Auburn. I don’t even know why I left after that first week at all. There’s just something about Auburn that I wouldn’t want to give up. I’m glad I didn’t.” Taz’s tenure as a student at the school that is now Auburn University saw a level of expansion that we now almost take for granted; Alabama Polytechnic Institute had been known primarily for agriculture and engineering and was genuinely beginning to expand into the well-rounded and diverse university that it is today. At this small college, Taz found a love of art, so much that it shaped his life and career from then on. Taz mentions that he had no formal training and not much focus in art before attending the university, but by the time he left he had become an avid painter and even had a few awards under his belt. He shows off his very first painting, a hauntingly beautiful and somewhat surreal piece depicting various nautical items; sails, dock railings, water, and other Gulf-inspired objects interposed on a rippling multi-layered canvas. A large letter “H” adorns the top-center of the painting while varying shades of blue shade the raised areas.
87 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO JUST KEEP
FROM WHAT COMES WITHIN
It’s magnificent and defies simple description, an impressive feat whether done by a person with little formal training or an accomplished artist with many famous pieces to his name. Taz and Ann tell me that the painting won an award at the local state fair the year it was painted.
Taz graduated from Auburn in December 1957 with a B.A.A in fine arts. He married Ann Hunt shortly after in 1958. They kept up their relationship while both were away at separate colleges, he at Auburn and she at Mississippi State College for Women (now known as Mississippi University for Women). They kept in contact via phone and weekend visits to the others’ college or returns to their mutual hometown of Gulfport. Taz went to work shortly after graduating as an artist for the Jackson Brewing Company in New Orleans, a city that would continue to influence his work. In the 1960s, Taz traveled the country in the advertising business, working and creating within an industry during a time when it produced some of its most memorable and iconic work, still remembered to this day. Taz himself won many awards in advertising, including one from the famous Communication Arts magazine. His work in the advertising industry took him all over the country, in a dizzying tiff as one tries to keep up with the names of cities as Taz rattles the names off in a list. “Atlanta, Birmingham, Baton Rouge, back to Mississippi, Boston,” he says quickly, almost as if starting to sing the Johnny Cash song “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Taz did a lot of traveling before tiring of business life and coming into a professor position at the University of Georgia in the early 1970s teaching graphic design. In 1973, Tazewell returned to his alma mater (renamed officially in 1960 to Auburn University) to teach in the Auburn Art Department. While teaching at Auburn, Taz had the opportunity and pleasure to train up the next generation of aspiring painters, sculptors, and designers. He regales the interviewer with countless stories of former students and colleagues, each told with the ironic wit and keen perspective that is uniquely Taz. It’s here that he would find a one-of-a-kind project that sent him beyond the bounds of his regular work, as well as beyond the planet Earth. In 1972, the Apollo 16 mission to the moon was kicking off amid an exhilarating time in space travel. On board would be an astronaut that claimed Auburn as his alma mater, a man by the name of Ken Matting-
ly. When given the option to choose the type of flag that Ken wanted to take with the mission and place on the moon, he decided wholeheartedly on an Auburn University flag. The monumental task fell to the Art Department, and the Vice President of the University called up none other than Tazewell Morton. Taz recalls his starting source of inspiration for the flag and the ensuing process. “At the time, President Nixon was in China [on a diplomatic foray that would eventually re-open diplomatic and trade relations between China and the U.S.], and the flags were on the cover of every newspaper and magazine. It was big news, and you couldn’t get away from it. Well, I was asked to design a flag and kept seeing that everywhere. I saw it, and was inspired to create my own.” Taz’s Auburn flag is a dual-colored one; orange at the top, blue on the bottom, cut with a line that bisects it horizontally with a stylized blue eagle in the top-left corner. Taz’s wife Ann points out the stylized eagle as they show off the flag, “I think it looks more like a dove, but I know it’s supposed to be an eagle. That’s just my interpretation. I think it can be two things at once, like the flag. It can represent Auburn and represent peace at the same time.” The Art Department silk-screened ten flags and sent them along with the Apollo 16 craft. Some flags returned to Earth; Tazewell and others involved with the spacecraft flight were given the remainder of the flags as keepsakes for their part in the historic mission.
Taz moved around more in his career as a professor, finding his way to a position as Head of Graphic Design at an institution in New Orleans in the early 1980s. Since then, Taz has returned to Auburn and worked as a commercial artist and illustrator, as well freelance work. During that time, he has never stopped created paintings, drawings, sketches, watercolors, and sculptures. His work graces galleries all over the southeast and elsewhere, as well as many private collections. Taz has a fundamental and centered view of the creation of art, and he advocated creators to branch out with sellers instead of focusing on creating art specifically with commercial appeal in mind. “Ideally, when you sell a painting, you use the money to buy more
89 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
THINK ART
Mr. Morton relaxing in his art studio. Contemplating what to create next.
canvasses to create more paintings, or more sculpting material, clay, paints, what have you,” he pontificates. “While you need to eat and have a roof over your head, and live, of course, I think the most important thing is just to keep creating what comes from within, and not focus too much on the commercial aspect. That’s for the business types and agents. But every good artist needs a good businessperson on their side.”
painting, watercolors, framed portraits, pictures of sculptures, and ceramic creations that are all uniquely Taz. In their home, Ann is cheerily sorting through Taz’s work to show, handing over books of photographs, framed paintings, and works from past decades as Taz tells stories. The artworks come quickly, each with their own tale of where Taz was in the country, his life, and his career. He and Ann display a celebratory drawing made for Jimmy Carter’s election victory party in Atlanta; a lively black-and-white work with a label claiming, “I Was There; Democratic
Taz’s art itself is a wonder to behold, and its evolution is stunning as once looks over his long and prolific career. He shows off sketchbooks, painting after
90 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
National Election Victory Party, November 2, 1976.” Taz says “They gave away 1000 of those at the victory party.” Ann shows another black-and-white drawing of the Fox Theater in Atlanta, one of the longest-running and historic theaters in the city. Next, a watercolor painting of a bayou and gulf animals; a crab, alligator, fish, and crawfish all marching in a line and playing trumpets and saxophones, as if celebrating Mardi Gras. Photographs of sculptures large and small, made of materials from metals to stone and clay. Ann passes over a bronzed painting of people walking on a bridge from
Taz’s childhood, now immortalized on the highway along the same stretch of bridge as a plaque. Eye-catching, abstract paintings with shapes in soft colors on sky blue backgrounds adorn the painting frames. A sketchbook of pen-and-ink drawings that are strange, surreal, and powerfully provocative is handed off to be thumbed through as Taz spins the accompanying yarn for each sketch. A particularly interesting painting that is displayed is a brightly colored Cubist-inspired picture of a man, with the man’s nose seeming to make a “4” on the painting while a curved foreground object
91 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
DID YOU KNOW?
As a part of the Apollo 16 mission, Auburn Alum and Astronaut Ken Mattingly flew 10 specially designed Auburn flags to the moon. One of the flags was left on the moon to represent Auburn University. That was Taz’s design.
“43 WAS MY JERSEY NUMBER WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL...IT HAS BEEN
PROMINENT IN MY LIFE AND WORK” makes a “3.” The number “43” often makes an appearance in a Tazewell Morton work, whether subtly as in the Cubist painting or directly drawn into the margins or corner. “Forty-three was my jersey number when I played football, and it seems that forty-three has been very important in my life overall. Three is important in literature, art, and religious scripture all over. Four and three are seven, which is also repeated and important. I’ve read the 43rd Psalm.” He pauses. “It’s a good one. It speaks. Four, three, seven and forty-three have all been very important and prominent in my life and work.” Few Taz works slip by without a “43” penciled, painted, or etched into the piece. Taz’s work is undoubtedly unique and difficult to categorize and never are two paintings alike. Taz’s work varies wildly, even amid its commonly held themes. Inspired by his upbringing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he often paints leisurely watercolors involving sandy beaches, sunny days, fish, fisherman, shells, and crabs. Other work is reminiscent of the “outsider” folk art of fellow Alabama-born artist Howard Finster, with heavy lines and a stylized viewpoint of what’s seen by the artist’s eyes. Some work is akin to that of the Cubists of the early 20th century; partially interspersing techniques and perspectives employed in works by Pablo Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, but depicting scenes that could only be brought to life by Tazewell Morton, and always with his distinct style seen through his unique eye. In addition to gifted eyes and hands, Taz is a remarkable storyteller, often encompassing ideas from his life and how it factors into his work. Each original Taz comes with its own fascinating origin story and a snapshot of his life at the time. Tazewell is a man of humility, wit, an artist’s ironic sense of humor, and observation. He winds up another tale of how another piece came to be, a painting that he calls “The Trinity.” It shows a sandy beach, and two men guiding a fishing net while a third seems to sit in the back, hands raised. “When I was walking along
the beach, I saw these men trawling the net along in the water, and a third man was behind them. It took a bit, but I realized he was guiding them by sight and directing them where to go to get the fish into the net. And when the net came up, it was absolutely full of Spanish mackerel,” Taz recollects. “And I asked the men if I could have one. Went home and cooked it, and it was one of the best meals you could ever eat. And then it hit me. I’d always heard the concept of the Trinity in church; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but I wouldn’t say I totally got it. That day it clicked; whether it’s me and Ann, or you and a friend, or me and a painting, or the Father and the Son, it’s never just two things or people. There’s always that third ‘something’ that guides us, keeps us on an even keel, or keeps us from being somewhere we don’t need to be. I won’t claim to know what that is because I don’t think it’s the same thing in every situation, but there’s always that third thing. Once I understood the Trinity, I had to make this painting.” He concludes with a laugh, “Because I believe in three...forty-three.” After telling this story in the interview, Taz remarks on what he’s been up to in his retirement. He’s expanded into the medium of ceramics, taking the time to create in a hands-on way and providing the pieces for sale and to friends. Coming off the holiday season, he has a few leftover tree ornaments to show from his most recent foray at the ceramics table. He gives the interviewer an ornament as a keepsake after remembering that the man had said that he liked the piece. Taz shows no signs of stopping or slowing in his retirement and continues to make stunning and distinctly “Tazewell” art well into his 80s. Auburn is proud to have such a creative force as part of its community, as his personality and love of the city are just as vibrant and omnipresent as his storied career and unique stylings in art. There’s plenty of Tazewell Morton art coming, and there is no doubt we’ll see more of the forty-three.
93 J A N UARY/ FEBRUARY
2018
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
FASHION
FASHION STUDIO 3:19
FASHION STUDIO 3:19
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEA
ELEMENT BOLD LOFT
BOLD LOFT- His And Hers Couples Pillowcases - COUPLE PILLOWCASES: Set of 2 pillowcases. Size: 20x30 inches www.boldloft.com
100 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEA
ELEMENT BOSTON CREATIVE CO.
BOSTON CREATIVE COMPANY LLC- Folded Book Art “Love Pattern” - Paper Anniversary Gift: Stunning Word Pattern - Date - Unique Birthday Gift - Wedding Decoration - 6 Numbers -Save the Date - Book sculpture: will be carefully created, packed - Material: Use brand new book, and is made by carefully folding the individual pages of a book to spell your personalized word www.bostoncreativeproducts.com
102 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Comprehensive financial planning done LOCALLY
Serving the Southeast for over 40 years. 1800 Airport Road
|
Opelika, AL 36801
|
(334) 749-5001
w w w. s m i t h - k a s t n e r. c o m
Roth IRAs Traditional IRAs Education Savings Plans Investment Accounts Employer Sponsored Plans Retirement Income Planning Medicaid Protection Special Needs Trusts Advanced Healthcare Directives Family Partnerships & LLCs Charitable Gifting Plans Insurance
Securities offered through ValMark Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory service offered through ValMark Advisers, Inc. an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. 130 Springside Drive, Suite 300, Akron, OH • 44333-243 • PH: (800) 765-5201. Smith-Kastner Wealth Management, LLC. is a separate entity from Valmark Securities, Inc. and Valmark Advisers, Inc.
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEA
ELEMENT OLIVER HENRY CANDLE COMPANY
OLIVER HENRY CANDLE COMPANY- Glass Candles - Hand poured: each candle is hand poured using high-quality soy-bean wax that fills a room with fragrance - Local: each candle is hand poured in Auburn, AL - 24K Gold: clear glass jar with the Oliver Henry giraffe stamped in 24k gold - Multiple: diverse selection of scent to choose from Available: Oliver Henry 2272 Moores Mill Road, #210 Auburn, AL 36830 334.246.3582
www.oliverhenrycandleco.com
104 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEA
ELEMENT DEFAITH
Defaith - Red Gold Rose: - DEFAITH: Faith in Love. Forever. - Special Valentines Day Gift for Special Her. - “I love you, forever”: She will love this unique everlasting real rose kept in 24k gold for Valentines Day Gift or Anniversary Gift. - Gift Packing Box: Provide 100% protection for the precious gift. - Including: DEFAITH Gold Rose, Acrylic Moon Shaped Stand, Gift Card and Certificate Card www.defaith.com
106 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
369 S. College St. Auburn, Alabama Office: 334.329.5599
Katie McCarley, Realtor
334.887.7777 | Katie@auburnrealty.com Residential and Equestrian Properties
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEA
ELEMENT BON VIVANT DESIGN HOUSE
Bon Vivant Design House - CUSTOM Personalized Spoon: - Each Order: is different but this typically means a maximum of 4 text lines. -Customers love personalized ice cream spoons - Novelty Item: stamped one letter at a time by hand and made with non-toxic ink. - Safely: use this piece as everyday silverware. - Hand-Made: one of a kind pieces, silverware brand and handle design are subject to availability. www.bonvivantdesignhouse.com
108 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Indoor Air Quality Experts 334-246-1062
www.Sensigreen.com HVAC Installation/Maintenance/Repair Spray Foam Insulation
because of the air they breathe Alabama Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors Certification Card #12075 Alabama Refrigeration Contractors Certification Card #52809 Georgia Conditioned Air License #CR110215
SOUTHERN TATLER SOUTHERNTATLER.COM
THE ONLINE GUIDE TO SOUTHERN SOCIETY
LATEST ISSUE
A new start at Southern Tatler means newer and better online content and to prove our point, we provide all of our past issues, and behind the scenes of each of our past cover feature.
STAY UPDATED
Southern Tatler will constant update our online visage section. Bringing you the latest parties pictures around town
>>MORE ONLINE SOUTHERNTATLER.COM
REMODELING COMING SOON - 2018 110 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
There’s always something to
smile
about at
773 N. Dean Road, Auburn, AL 36830 Contact: 334.821.5031 www.sprayberryortho.com
Dr. Scott Sprayberry
TRAVEL O K I N AWA J A PA N
THE CASTLE YOU SEE TODAY WAS RECONSTRUCTED IN 1992 (AFTER BEING DESTROYED IN WORLD WAR II) AND IS AN IMPRESSIVE AND REALISTIC REPRESENTATION OF GUSUKU (RYUKYU ISLAND CASTLE) ARCHITECTURE.
Eastern
Experience
Shuri Castle in Naha
The Okinawa Prefecture of Japan is the country’s southernmost region. An island chain more than 620 miles long, the Ryukyu Islands, makes up the Okinawa Prefecture, and the largest among the hundreds of islands is the subtropical Okinawa Island. With beaches, museums, and a plethora of opportunities for cultural engagement, Okinawa Island offers tourists a wide range of travel experiences. The United States has several military bases in Okinawa, including the Kadena Air Base, the largest US Air Force base in the Far East, so English-speakers may find their way through the tourist areas of Okinawa Island with relative ease.
Imagine warm, tropical breezes blowing through forest hills and expansive beaches, and allow us to take you to Okinawa Island, Japan.
Where to Stay For a luxury Okinawan resort experience, visitors might consider staying at the Hotel Nikko Alivila, an elegant Spanish-style resort located on a beach in Yomitan, Okinawa, just 14 miles from the city of Naha. Featuring two swimming pools, tennis courts, a seafront wedding chapel, and a convenience store, Hotel Nikko Alivila offers guests a leisurely vacation surrounded by clear, sparkling waters. The restaurants at the resort use Okinawan ingredients to provide guests a fresh, delectable food experience. One former guest at the Hotel Nikko Alivila is Chaka Dofredo-Wyatt. Dofredo-Wyatt, 21, is an Auburn University student who grew up in the United States after spending her infancy in Okinawa. She visited Okinawa Island in the mid-summer of 2017 with her family, staying a few nights at the Hotel Nikko Alivila. “[Hotel Nikko Alivila] was on the beach, but it was up on a hill, so there was also a pool area, and there were all these souvenir shops inside the hotel,” Dofre-
do-Wyatt said. “We went to this restaurant [at the hotel], and they had all this food. It wasn’t all Japanese food. It was mixed in with [food from other countries] … It was buffet-style, but it was the fanciest buffet I had ever seen in my life.” In addition to the buffet-style dining options, the hotel features a cave-style wine bar, teppanyaki dining, and a water-view brasserie. The resort also offers nautical activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, a spa, and complimentary parking. The Western-style rooms include flat-screen TVs, tea and coffeemakers, and free wireless internet connection. Guests may choose suites with patios overlooking the sea, or perhaps the Royal Suite, a luxury space at the top floor of the resort that features views of the ocean, spectacular dining and bathroom areas, and beautiful overall décor.
Beaches Okinawa is known by many for its beautiful beaches and clear waters. From sandy coves to rocky shores, Okinawa Island offers seaside destinations for swimmers and fishers alike. Visitors at the island can engage in many watersports and activities, including diving,
American Villiage
Ryukyu style roof (Shasa mythical lion dog)
Busena Beach
sailing, snorkeling, surfing, and fishing. According to the Okinawa Travel Guide, the island has more than 130 recognized beaches. The northern Busena Beach offers clear waters and colorful fish, and a nearby underwater observatory shows a 360-degree view of the water. Meanwhile, at the Manza Cove toward the western center of the island, there is a floating inflatable playground for children along the calm ocean water. For a more natural experience, tourists may consider visiting the Nirai Beach, located near the Hotel Nikko Alivila. The Nirai Beach remains largely unaltered by people, and during the low tide, snorkelers may enjoy seeing the flourishing sea life along the coral reef near the shore, according to Okinawa Travel Guide. For more beautiful sights along the Okinawa Island coastlines, visitors may travel to the Toyosaki Chura Beach in the Southern region of the island. Just a 15-minute car ride from the Naha International Airport, the 700 meter-long Toyosaki Chura Beach is the largest beach in Okinawa. Visitors may enjoy a gorgeous sunset over an uninterrupted horizon, producing beautiful hues of orange and red as another fun-filled day ends on Okinawa Island. The beach is a perfect place to engage in marine leisure activities like water biking and beach soccer, according to Okinawa Travel Guide. Another beach visitors may consider adding to their itineraries is the one adjacent to the Kadena Marina, a recreation area near the Kadena Air Base. Dofredo-Wyatt and her family visited the beach by the Kadena Marina during their stay in Okinawa. “[The Kadena Marina beach] was a huge, empty beach,” Dofredo-Wyatt said. “The water was ice-cold and crystal clear. There were tiny little fish swimming around tiny little rocks. Everything was really pretty.” The beach by the Kadena Marina begins with shallow, soft turquoise waters and descends quickly into a deep blue drop-off. Everything beneath the surface of the crisp saltwater is clearly visible to waders and swimmers. “You go to any beach, and the water is just crystal clear. You can see through it all the time, everywhere you go. And when it drops off, it drops off into a deeper blue, and you can still see through it,” Dofredo-Wyatt said. The coastlines of Okinawa Island provide incredible beaches for unforgettable travel experiences. However, the island offers more sights and opportunities beyond its sandy shores.
Geography Okinawa Island’s humid subtropical climate provides warm weather through the winter, with temperatures climbing to 66˚ Fahrenheit in January and February, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. In the hottest months of summer, the island reaches 90˚ with nightly lows of 80˚. Summer also brings Okinawa’s typhoon season, which lasts from June to November, while the less fierce rainy season lasts from April to June, according to the Okinawa Travel Info website. Okinawa Travel Info advises tourists to visit the beaches in March and April, before the rainy season begins and after temperatures have risen from the chilly winter. Unlike many of the islands along the Ryukyuan chain, which are formed mainly from limestone coral, according to Britannica, Okinawa Island is partially volcanic in origin, with igneous rock forming the northern half of the island. The southern half of the island, consisting of easily eroded limestone, has many caves, including Gyokusendo Cave, located within the Okinawa World theme park.
Okinawan Cuisine Due to the islands’ unique history, Okinawan cuisine differs from that of mainland Japan, according to Japan Guide. Along with general differences in agriculture, Okinawan food culture draws influence from China, Southeast Asia, Japan and the United States.
One example of American influence on Okinawan cuisine is a dish called “taco rice,” a meal of ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa served over rice. However, more traditional Okinawan dishes include champuru, a stir fry dish; Okinawa soba, thick wheat noodles served in a bowl of broth with green onions, kamaboko, and red ginger; and rafute, a pork dish with boiled, soft, thick cuts of meat from the pig’s belly, according to Japan Guide. “My favorite part [of my trip to Okinawa] was the restaurants we went to. I think we went to three different restaurants: one on the base, two more traditional ones,” Dofredo-Wyatt said. “And the best part about the traditional ones is that you get to decide if you want to… kneel at the table on a tatami mat.”
Museums Okinawa Island has several museums tourists can visit. At the Okinawa Prefectural Art Museum, located in Naha and constructed largely of regional limestone, guests can view exhibits on Okinawan art, history, and natural history. Far north of Naha in a town called Motobu, tourists can enjoy the thrill of seeing sharks, rays, and migratory fish at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The aquarium, which was the largest aquarium in the world until it was surpassed by Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium in 2005, displays sea creatures which originate from Kuroshio Current and other parts of the Pacific Ocean. Among the aquarium’s accomplishments
Okinawan Taco Rice
BEYOND BEING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN OKINAWA THE CAVE HAS ALSO BEEN USED AS A FILM LOCATION FOR VARIOUS MOVIES. THE MOST WELL KNOWN INTERNATIONAL BEING THE 1974 MONSTER CLASSIC GODZILLA VS MECHA GODZILLA
is their success in breeding and raising whale sharks in captivity, and the aquarium displays deep sea creatures, sharks, 80 species of coral, and tropical fish across four floors. Within the Ocean Expo Park where the aquarium stands, the Oceanic Culture Museum and Planetarium delights and fascinates visitors with around 750 displays of large canoes and other boats and artifacts from various Oceanic cultures, including the cultures of Hawaii and Papua New Guinea. Among the museum’s exhibits are videos showing how Oceanic cultures navigated the seas. Additionally, visitors can enjoy several shows at the Planetarium, which displays a beautiful starry sky with up to 140 million stars on dome screens. Beyond museums, visitors to Okinawa can engage with island culture and explore beautiful natural features at the island’s theme park.
Okinawa World Okinawa World is an Okinawan culture theme park. Located in Nanjō, Okinawa, one of the park’s main attractions is Gyokusendo Cave, a natural limestone cave of five kilometers, with 890 meters of well-lit walking paths open to the public, according to Okinawa World’s website. Guests can walk along the cave’s paths to view spectacular underground structures, with sights such as the Ceiling of the Spears, an area where thousands of stalactites hang in thin uniform spikes, or the Bell of the Rising Dragon, a captivating stalagmite formation.
Sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri, maki, pickled ginger
Another attraction at Okinawa World is the Kingdom Village, a replica of a traditional island village, where visitors can try their hands at traditional Okinawan crafts. The craft workshops include indigo dyeing, weaving, paper-making, and Ryukyuan glass-making, according to the park’s website. Other attractions at Okinawa World include a restaurant with Okinawan cuisine, a brewery, tropical orchards, a teahouse, and the Habu Museum Park, a snake and reptile museum named for the region’s venomous Habu snake species.
Language Barrier
Japanese is the main language of Okinawa, which can cause a language barrier for tourists who know little Japanese. Outside of the Naha International Airport and other tourist hubs, foreign languages like English are rarely written or spoken. However, near American military bases and within major cities, English-speaking tourists can easily navigate Okinawa, with many shops and restaurants providing English menus and signs, according to TripAdvisor. Locals in tourist areas of Okinawa may appreciate when tourists at least attempt to use Japanese. Dofredo-Wyatt, who speaks Japanese at an elementary proficiency, said locals responded most positively when she phrased questions in Japanese. “They always enjoy when people try to speak it. You try to speak some Japanese, and they get really excited, like you want to learn, and it’s great. And they’ll try to
THE MAIN TANK OF THE AQUARIUM HOLDS NEARLY 2 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, MAKING IT THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE WORLD TODAY (BEHIND THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM AND DUBAI MALL AQUARIUM).
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum
speak English with you, and you’ll sort of speak Japanese, and you’ll make your way down through Japan,” Dofredo-Wyatt said. Tourists with limited knowledge of the Japanese language may benefit from learning simple phrases, including greetings and directional information, prior to their flight to Okinawa. When traveling by taxi, for example, the driver may require passengers to provide directions in Japanese, according to Dofredo-Wyatt. Even learning simple directions, such as “turn left here,” may prove useful when traveling through Okinawa. Dofredo-Wyatt said, “When ordering food, they’ll know enough to know that if you want water, you can say water, and you’ll get some water. But everything else, you’ll just have to read and sound it out on the menu. But basic things like ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ you can probably just learn in Japanese really quick.”
Life In Okinawa
Heiwadori street gift shop
The native population of Okinawa, Ryukyuan people, are among the longest living people in the world, with a relatively high percentage living past 100 years old, according to research by anthropologist Dan Buettner. The secrets to their longevity, Buettner found, may be their healthy lifestyles, including semi-vegetarian diets, limited smoking, moderate alcohol intake, and regular moderate physical activity. Additionally, the Ryukyuan people have a cultural emphasis on family and frequently engage in social activities, according to Buettner. Bustling nightlife adds charm and fun to major Okinawan cities, particularly areas near American military bases. Naha offers the widest selection of bars and clubs on the island, ranging from tourist-friendly establishments in shopping districts to old-school Japanese pubs, according to Compathy Magazine. For a break from the relaxing hours spent at the Okinawan beaches or the fascinating educational walks through museums and caves, adult visitors can enjoy the vibrant nightlife of Naha.
Bon Voyage!
Naha Okinawa
“
l e v a r t o t r e t t . e e v b i r s i r a It o t n a h t l wel a - Buddh
The Great Buddha of Kamakura (statue)
C O N C I E R G E
1787 Chateau Lafite 1787 Chateau Lafite is one of the world’s most expensive wines. In 1766, one of the first auction items was an estate of a “deceased nobleman” containing “a large quantity of Madeira and high Flavour’d Claret. The bottle was sold at £175 then, but today the same bottle was auctioned off for $160,000 or £105,000. The age of the wine would have ensured a reasonable price, but what gave it its unique cachet, especially to American collectors, and ensured the record price tag were the initials “Th.J.” etched in the glass. The bottle had belonged to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and one of the most revered of its founding fathers. The 1787 Lafite was explicitly bought as a piece of Jefferson memorabilia, not as a bottle of wine, and it now resides in the Forbes Collection in New York. These wines are like old stamps; something to be collected and hoarded but never used, and they command such high prices; not because of their utility but because of their scarcity and consequent appeal to collectors. Value: $160,000
122 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Weddings Re-Imagined
New ballrooms in all sizes to fit your wedding like a glove Now offering Double Queen guest rooms Unique off-site venues like ALFA Pavilion & Samford Lawn Full-service catering so we can bring the wedding to you Audio visual services Synchronized service for plated functions Worldly staff to assist with every detail
241 S. College Street, Auburn, AL 36830 · (334) 321-3175 · www.auhcc.com/weddings
The Sky-Dweller The revolutionary watch for world travellers, blending watchmaking ingenuity with simplicity of use. It doesn’t just tell time. It tells history.
oyster perpetual SKY-DWELLER
rolex
oyster perpetual and sky-dweller are ÂŽ trademarks.