26
JAMES HANSEN THE HISTORIAN
AUBURN / OPELIKA, AL May/June 2018
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.
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CONTENT
VISAGE
VISAGE
town
EVENTS AROUND
CHILI COOKOFF ALFA Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park, Auburn AL
18 WARRIOR GALA The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, Auburn AL
22 WINE VS BEER The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, Auburn AL
28 EGGS ON THE PLAIN ALFA Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park, Auburn AL
30 INAUGURAL INSPIRE-AU LECTURE The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, Auburn AL
34
6 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
Come see us for all things home decor! 334.246.3582 2272 MOORE’S MILL RD SUITE 210 AUBURN, AL
INTERIOR DESIGN FURNITURE ARTWORK GIFTS DRAPERIES BEDDING DINNERWAR MIRRORS
CONTENT
FEATURES
LOCAL FOCUS
FACES
Sara Hare
40
LOCAL FOCUS The Flower Store
48
CULINARY CORNER Champagne
FEATURE STORY
58
JAMES HANSEN
72
RECIPE
Robbie Nicolaisen
64
FASHION
Baselworld 2018
82
T R AV E L
ARGENTINA Buenos Aires
90
8 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
334.444.4444 Dial “4” a limo
AuburnLimo.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 Kenneth Ngo Mitch McHargue
P hotographer Glenn McCarley Isaac Leverett Jennifer Wingate Philip Smith Sara Van Hecke
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.
An Auburn FAmily mAtter Auburn roots. Over many decades, Auburn has been part of the heritage of Frederick-Dean Funeral Home. From the legacy of its founder, Mr. James Tichenor Frederick, prominent members of the Auburn community owned and managed Frederick’s for three generations. The compassion, integrity and tradition established early on, continue and flourish today. Whether for pre-planning or immediate need, Frederick-Dean will understand and respect your wishes to help you arrange an enduring memorial experience. Call for an appointment to discuss the benefits of pre-planning and know that Frederick-Dean is available 24 hours a day to assist you in times of immediate need.
Compassion • Integrity • Tradition 1801 Frederick Road, Opelika AL 36801 | phone: 334.745.4667, Joseph Dean, III email: contact@frederickdean.com | www.frederickdean.com
LETTER from
the
PUBLISHER Auburn is alive in anticipation of a beautiful summer season filled with plenty of sunshine, vacations, and big summer blockbuster movies. “First Man”, an upcoming movie of particular interest to the Auburn area, is making its theatrical debut later this year. The film is a biographical space adventure flick directed by Damien Chazelle, based on the book First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong by James R. Hansen. In this edition of Southern Tatler we had the opportunity to interview and feature Mr. James Hansen, a former history professor at Auburn University. During the interview, He was able to give us a sneak peek into the upcoming movie and a little bit of his own personal history. Next, read about Sara Hare from Global K9 Solutions and how she turned a small canine bomb-sniffing company into one of the leading canine companies in the world. Finally, learn about The Flower Store and gain a little insight into the shop’s past and present. As always, thank you for supporting Southern Tatler and I hope that you find these feature stories as interesting as I have. After all, we are all proud to call Auburn – Opelika the hidden treasure of the South.
-Matthew Tse
12 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
chooseible A variety of gifts
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LIFE
HOT SPRINGS DESTINATIONS & HOTEL
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GEORGE V, PARIS
www.fourseasons.com/paris/
At Nanjing Green Towers, two entire buildings will possess that wow factor when they open in 2018 in the Pukou District. Designed by Stefano Boeri Architects, the facades will be draped in about 1,100 trees and 2,500 plants and shrubs -- a living building, if you will. As Asia’s first vertical forest (the Italian architecture firm has already constructed one in Milan), the plant life will help combat air pollution by absorbing 25 tons of carbon dioxide every year. The larger tower will house mostly office space, along with a museum and green architecture school. A 247-room Hyatt hotel complete with rooftop pool will occupy the smaller tower so that you can experience one of the world’s only vertical forests for yourself.
THE PULITZER, AMSTERDAM
www.pulitzeramsterdam.com While you can undoubtedly find this unofficial national flower at many a Dutch hotel in spring, you’ll encounter 2,000 tulips at The Pulitzer’s spacious inner courtyard gardens, which were designed by the same landscape architect as the famed Rijksmuseum. The hotel’s florist, Season Flowers, has also filled the interior with colorful tulips that complement the décor.
GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT, NASHVILLE www.marriott.com Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee, stands out for devoting nine acres to indoor botanical gardens that are maintained by 20 full-time horticulturists. Here you’ll find 50,000 tropical plants, from palm to banana trees. Of course, you’ll also find Southern varieties, such as gardenias, and even a 40-foot-tall magnolia tree. In fact, many of the plants bloom year-round, thanks in part to a climate-controlled environment and air exchange system. Leave plenty of time to explore the three separate gardens.
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GEORGE V, PARIS
www.fourseasons.com/paris/ Jeff Leatham is to flowers what Simon Doonan is to window displays. The celeb florist has reigned over the Four Seasons in Paris for 16 years, where he works with a million-dollar budget to create works of art. In between spearheading the hotel’s extravagant displays, Leatham’s client list is vast, from the Kardashians to Oprah Winfrey.
14 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
369 S. College St. Auburn, Alabama Office: 334.329.5599
Katie McCarley, Realtor
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EVENT: Beer Vs. Wine VENUE: The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center March 4th, 2018 DATE:
18
CHILI COOK OFF
22
WA R R I O R GALA
28 BEER VS. WINE SHOWDOWN
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
VISAGE
30
34
EGGS ON THE PLAIN
INAUGURAL INSPIRE - AU LECTURE
VISAGE CHILI COOKOFF
CHILI COOKOFF ALFA Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park, Auburn AL March 3rd, 2018
Katherine Haas and Ryan Gaither Storybook Farm’s Staff
Jay and Anna Hovey
Tim and Crystal Russell
Justy and Johnny Mann
Kevin McCarley
Lindsey and Seaborn Johnson and family
18 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
The inaugural Auburn Chili Cook-Off presented by Max Credit Union benefiting Storybook Farm! With over 12+ teams competing to win the Chili Cook-Off Champion Award & the People’s Choice Award.
Kelley and Dakoda Wells, Will and Lauren Faulkner
Ashley and Derek Carmack
John Mark Sawyer, M David Kerby, Carol and Randy Howell ark Sawyer, Lauren Weil
Marlena Mumma
Prewett Insurance Group
Eric, Morgan, and Hadlee Darvin
Tim and Cindy Beasley
Paul Willis
19 M AY/ J UNE
2018
VISAGE CHILI COOKOFF
CHILI COOKOFF ALFA Pavilion at Ag Heritage Park, Auburn AL March 3rd, 2018
Graham and Misty Carroll with Gaines and Banks
the Trace Pridgen Band
Michael and Cassidy Tilt, Karyn and Chris Ware
Andy and Sanna Hardin, Liston and Nancy Eddins
David Fletcher, Morgan Davidson
20 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Michaela Allsup, Morgan Davidson
• concierge medicine through MDVIP Group • Specializing in Bioidentical hormones, subclinical Hypothyroidism and natural medicine
VISAGE WARRIOR GALA
WARRIOR GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
April 14th, 2018
22 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Lee Scott Academy Parent Teacher Organization hosted the inaagural Warrior Gala.
23 M AY/ J UNE
2018
VISAGE WARRIOR GALA
WARRIOR GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
April 14th, 2018
24 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
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VISAGE WARRIOR GALA
WARRIOR GALA THE HOTEL AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY & DIXON CONFERENCE CENTER
April 14th, 2018
26 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
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VISAGE
A·T’S BEER VS. WINE SHOWDOWN
AT’S BEER VS. WINE
March 4th, 2018
Clint and Ginger Hahn
The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, Auburn AL
David and Susan Ingram
Margaret and John Smith
Jennifer Keasal, Josh Nagel, Katy Blackburn, Clayton Cawthorne Roger and Joyce Lephander, Alexandra and Emmanuel Kemiji
Jennifer Keller, Bill Pearce
Christi and Kennon Rose
Joe and Meredith Saloom
28 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
A BBQ pairing showdown on the A·T patio, between Red Clay Brewing Company, and MIURA Vineyards. It was a beer and wine paired with BBQ prepared by A·T’s culinary team. Guests had the opportunity to vote for their favorite pairings, with a chance to win prizes from Red Clay and Miura.
John and Mandy Corbin, Alexandra and Emmanuel Kemiji, Hans and Lisa van der Reijden
Gary McLane, Julianne and Tyler McGill
Tara and Jason Harbison
Brian Paolina and Hayley Carson
Bret Eddins, David and Bailey Pugh
Emmanuel Kemiji and John Corbin
29 M AY/ J UNE
2018
VISAGE EGGS ON THE PLAIN
EGGS ON THE PLAIN OGLETREE VILLAGE, AUBURN AL
March 24th, 2018
Ashley and Evie Walker
Blake Prestridge, Tyler Reynolds, Miriam Lane, Mindy Reynolds, Anne Whittlesey
Brad Litkenhous with Isabel
Abby, Judd Langham and family
Steve Hodge
Jamie and Ellie Cripps
Lauren and Paul Kraus
Seaborn and Lindsey Johnson
30 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Matthew Lewis, Samantha Baggett, Trey Fetner Amanda Salatto with Patrick
Harris, Sarah, and Ryan Plumlee
Ali, Kate, and Quin Walker
Weichert Realtors
31 M AY/ J UNE
2018
VISAGE EGGS ON THE PLAIN
EGGS ON THE PLAIN OGLETREE VILLAGE, AUBURN AL
March 24th, 2018
Ryan and Claire Hathcock
Tim and Kim Hudson Russell Stephens, Mary Emma Stephens, James Martin
Casey, Landon, and Mason Bailey
Allen and Donna Tucker
Kathy Powell
32 SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
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VISAGE EGGS ON THE PLAIN
EGGS ON THE PLAIN OGLETREE VILLAGE, AUBURN AL
March 24th, 2018
Jamie and Ellie Cripps
Meliah Blair, Anna Matchinga, Katelyn Kirtley
Sharron Fuller Dana Stewart and Katherine Porter Nick Kellard, Carol Kraneburg, Katherine Femino
Seth, Jennifer, Trent, and Chase Murphy
Bob and Stacy Giles
Scott Lakas
34 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Comprehensive financial planning done LOCALLY
Serving the Southeast for over 40 years. 1800 Airport Road
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VISAGE INAUGURAL INSPIRE AU LECTURE
INAUGURAL INSPIRE AU LECTURE The Hotel at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center, Auburn AL February 7th, 2018
Kristy Myers, June Henton, Susan Hubbard
Ron and Denise Grove Jim and Anne Powers, Laura Kirkpatrick
Wanda Lewis
Mike Reynolds, Will Faulkner
Paul and Joanne Schrantz, Alice and Charles Bell
36 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
Heidi and Taylor Day
The Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit held its inaugural INSPIRE-AU event featuring Mike Lutzenkirchen, father of former Auburn football player, Philip Lutzenkirchen and executive director of the Lutzie-43 Foundation.
Mandy Finklea and Todd Trawick
Mary Marlowe Bailey and Morgan Brown
Cathy Ward , Becca McVey
Holland Myers, Maggie Williams
Penny Houston and Kara Silvers
Ashley Asbury and Meghan Reed
Kim Walker, Lauren Faulkner
Sidney James Nakhjavan, Mike Lutzenkirchen, Greg Williams
37 M AY/ J UNE
2018
LOCATION: THE FLOWER STORE
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
BREATH FACES: SARA HARE LOCAL FOCUS: THE FLOWER STORE CULINARY CORNER: CHAMPAGNE RECIPE: ROBBIE NICOLAISEN
FACES SARA HARE
MAN’S BEST FRIEND,
MADE BETTER
IT’S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE THAT DOESN’T LOVE DOGS AND THE AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO. FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, HUMANS HAVE LIVED ALONGSIDE AND RAISED THE DIVERSE ANIMALS AS SHEPHERDS, PROTECTORS, AND FRIENDS. IN THE MODERN AGE, WE UTILIZE THE MANY TALENTS OF DOGS FOR A MULTITUDE OF PURPOSES, RANGING FROM HUNTING TO EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THAT’S WHERE THE GLOBAL K9 PROTECTION GROUP MAKES THEIR MARK; THEY TRAIN MAN’S BEST FRIEND INTO CAPABLE WORKING PARTNERS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED PURPOSES. WE SIT DOWN WITH THE COMPANY’S VICE PRESIDENT OF LOGISTICS SARA HARE TO DISCUSS WHAT GOES INTO RUNNING THE BUSINESS.
t’s a bit of a dreary, overcast morning when we meet with Sara Hare at the office of Global K9 Protection Group on Frederick Road in Opelika. Despite the gloomy weather and early morning, Sara is friendly and welcoming to us. She greets other employees entering the office, and introduces them to us as they enter their respective wings of the building to start their workdays. A congenial mid-sized Shepherd named Donny patrols the area around the table we’re sitting at, sniffing and examining his surrounding, and occasionally running into hands looking to be pet by the new and exciting strangers. I oblige his request, and give him a scratch on the ears, forgetting the first rule of dog petting etiquette: ask someone! “Oops...it’s okay to pet Donny, right?” I ask Sara, realizing my mistake. “Oh, absolutely” she responds, “he’s friendly.” She then tells a story about her husband and CEO of Global K9 Protection Group, Eric Hare, once incurred an injury when a dog mistook his shirt sleeve for a sleeve used for dog bite training. She presents a framed commendation from Eric’s colleagues after the incident, celebrating his victory in “actually taking a dog bite,” with an accompanying picture of the injury. After seeing that, I’m able to truly appreciate my good fortune; thankfully, Donny is friendly and I won’t need stitches. It inspires a greater appreciation for what is done at the Global K9 Protection Group; if I were a bad guy, these dogs could stop me with no problem.
Sara bears an interesting sleeve-style tattoo on her right arm that immediately catches the eye; a colorful depiction of an armored woman postured in a commanding stance. When asked about the origin of the tattoo and its meaning, Sara explains that it’s a female interpretation of St Michael the Archangel. St Michael is the patron saint of soldiers, police, and other “warriors.” This is fitting, as the dogs the company trains are definitely an extension of this protection; no doubt they act as faithful and vigilant guardians to the soldiers and law enforcement they are trained to serve. Before working in the dog world, Sara and Eric Hare were both in the military; Sara with the Illinois Army National Guard, and Eric with the United States Army. Sara was born in a suburb of the Champaign-Urbana metro area of Illinois, and Eric was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Sara got into the military via joining ROTC while in college. Eric was infantry and stationed at Fort Benning for a large portion of his military ten-
X
ure. The two met on deployment in Kuwait in 2007, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sara’s job during the deployment was to make sure that the belongings and equipment of soldiers arriving in Iraq made it to their owners, as well as extricating the items when soldiers left Iraq via 18-wheeler convoys. She cites this work as a precursor to her current work in logistics for the company. “I’m no stranger to logistics after that. It just comes naturally” she adds. During this time she met Eric, whose Army company provided security details to transports. The two had tents next to one another on their barracks site and became close. They stayed together after Eric returned home, and as Sara says with a laugh, “I came down to visit and never left.” The couple married in 2009. They live locally and have several dogs (largely due to a recent birthing of a litter of seven yellow lab puppies) and 6 children, 4 of whom came into the home via fostering. Their house is a certified foster home, and they have shared its warmth with children
from less-than-ideal circumstances and welcoming them into their family. Sara laughs as she tells us about the placement of the foster children; “We went from having no kids [in the house] to having a newborn, a one-year-old, a two-year-old and a fifteen-year-old all brought into the house at one time.” Sara and Eric settled down in Anniston, Alabama for a while after returning from their deployments and marrying, continuing to work in the Armed Forces at Fort McClellan. Before the move, Sara had only one dog, her Jack Russell terrier Piper. While she was working in Illinois, she found the local doggie daycare service to be a boon. When the couple moved to Alabama, there was no such service available. Sara recognized the need for local dog daycare and decided that “one day, we’re going to start a doggy daycare down here,” as she puts it. And so she did; she jumped right in and immediately started the business. She put in a lot of work to start the business, including learning how to become a dog groomer, as she could not find a suitable groomer right away. After outgrowing the initial venue within a year and a half, Sara purchased two historic properties on Noble Street in Anniston, where the business is still in operation today. Also at the time, Eric was working for a company called AM K9 in Anniston and was soon promoted to an office in West Point, Georgia.
The commute was long from Anniston to West Point, so Eric stayed in West Point during the week and returned on the weekends. The arrangement worked for the couple until the placement of their 3 foster children; the sudden increase in the size of the family necessitated a change, and Eric commuted 4 hours a day between Anniston to West Point and back. The couple decided to move to the Auburn-Opelika area with their new children.
Officer In Training
One of the Shepherds in action as he checks a luggage bag for explosives.
A Bright Future
Global K9’s dogs are in high demand and the company is seeing rapid growth.
Eric had experience working with canine training companies, and Sara in grooming, boarding, and care; after a whirlwind series of career shifts the couple ended up with the local Global K9 Solutions company. In January of 2018, Global K9 Solutions merged contracts with Parks K9 to become Global K9 Protection Group. The two companies continued their works as one; training canine companions in a multitude of ways to serve people and institutions. Sara gives a few examples of the results of their canine training; some dogs become narcotics detection dogs with law enforcement agencies, others become emotional support dogs for veterans with PTSD. Others have military applications; one of the most prevalent military applications for canines are sniffing for explosives. These dogs with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units to find improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They are trained to sniff out common materials used in improvised explosives commonly used by terrorists domestically and abroad and are a great help to institutions scrambling to locate these (often) hidden and small devices before they can wreak havoc on servicemen/women and civilians. While the company can train any dog almost any purpose as specified by the buyer’s needs, they do have preset training programs for dogs that have specific packaged traits in the result. The dogs are referred to as “single purpose” and “dual purpose” dogs based on their training; single purpose dogs include explosive detection canines or narcotic detection canines, while the dual-purpose dogs serve two or more purposes such as patrol and explosive detection and explosives/ person-borne explosive detection. Sara explains that a dog’s energy levels and distinct determine where it can be placed as far as training, a trait she refers to as “drive.” A low-drive dog would be best suited for an emotional support animal, doing things such as pa-
trolling houses and switching on lights for people with PTSD, anxiety, or other disorders that hinder functioning without support. A high-drive dog might be better suited for being a patrol or military dog, working with handlers to suppress attackers or to sniff out contraband and explosives. Global K9 Protection Group is expanding rapidly; Sara mentions that currently, the company is looking to hire almost 200 new people to work on an impending 5-year contract. She’s unable to give specifics beyond the timeline and the hiring numbers, but the contract is surely good news for the company. Global K9 currently has a global footprint; their dogs have been sent all over the world to make a difference and provide security to their charges. The former Global K9 Solutions was a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (designated SDVOSB); Eric Hare was injured in his time in the armed forces. The designation is significant and was important in the merger into Global K9 Protection Group; many military contractors and the Department of Defense prefer to work with businesses that understand the rigors of military service as Eric and Sara Hare do. Even though the name of Global K9 Protection Group may be new, their experience and impression on national and local security is not; their years of experience are certainly an advantage, and their coming expansion and new contracts are proof positive of their success. We look forward to seeing how the company prospers in the future, and what great deeds their canine wards continue to accomplish as they graduate from training and into the world. It’s only natural to trust folks that can take man’s best friend and make him even better.
44 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
The Take Away Global K9 Solutions is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). Their employees are committed to providing the best customerservice, most comprehensive training programs, and highest quality canine possible.
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LOCAL FOCUS THE FLOWER STORE
MORE THAN
FLOWERS
THE FLOWER STORE IS FAR BEYOND A TYPICAL FLORIST’S SHOP. THE
SPRAWLING STORE HOUSES ALL MANNER OF GIFTS AND PRODUCTS TO COMPLEMENT THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWER AND PLANT ARRANGEMENTS
THAT ARE SOLD THERE. THE FLOWER STORE AND ITS OWNER, STANLEY
SISTRUNK, HAVE BEEN AUBURN INSTITUTIONS SINCE THE EARLY ‘80S, AND THE STORE’S REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS FLORAL CAN BE HEARD FIRSTHAND ALL OVER TOWN. SOUTHERN TATLER DROPS INTO THE STORE DURING A BUSY WEEK TO SEE WHAT MAKES THE KEY TO THE STORE’S RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
rriving at The Flower Store is a heavy sensory experience, even before walking in the door. The tall, beautiful brick facade of the building bears creeping ivy vines winding wistfully towards the “The Flower Store” sign over the entrance arch. Flanking the arch’s columns are symmetrical arrangements of potted ferns; four large Kimberley Queen ferns encircle cement planters, while themselves surrounded by smaller spring rye ferns. Large, bright red geranium blooms climb away from their pots to tower over the small spring ryes at the edges of the fern arrangements, the reds contrasting fancifully against the bright greens of the healthy plants. Nestled between the two glass entrance doors is a majestic fountain, coins are thrown into its base glistening in the early morning sun. Nearby, a potted gardenia is in bloom, its sweet fragrance wafting over the nose as one approaches the fountain. There is so much beauty to experience, and we haven’t even entered the store yet.
When we do find our way inside, a bevy of wonder awaits. Most flower shops in the country don’t solely dabble in floral arrangements; many stock a few knickknacks such as vases, ribbons, and loose flowers. To call The Flower Store’s offerings, “knick-knacks” would be a disservice, as this store is like none other and must be seen to be believed. Decorated in a beautiful southern eclectic style, the store is stocked with realistic silk flowers, wedding gifts, and exemplary gourmet foods. Yellow silk butterflies hang from the ceiling, dangling and flitting lightly above the shelves, adding a springlike whimsy. Designer and brand names race by as I am pulled through the whimsical store; Simon Pearce, Jan Barboglio, Michael Aram. My eyes dart to the beautiful displays of deluxe and designer candles. As I approach the front counter, winding around a gaggle of beautiful live pink hydrangeas and one-ofa-kind oil paintings, another wonder catches my eye. A veritable wall filled with fine porcelain figurines and China, made by the Herend company. The wall itself is a sight that is out of this world, its glass shelves stocked with dinnerware, figurines, and other pieces of all sizes. I later learn that The Flower Store has one of the largest collections of Herend in the United States (in a brick-and-mortar retailer, that is). It’s not hard to imagine losing hours searching the store’s hidden treasures. Behind the counter, a young woman is expertly gift-wrapping a selection made by a customer. I’m entranced as she creates a wrapping and ribbon that rivals retail giants like Neiman Marcus. Finally, I walk behind the counter to see where the floral magic happens.
are designing colorful, full arrangements in cubic glass vases for the next run of deliveries while the delivery driver, Tony, loads a van with flower arrangements and a dazzling yellow potted orchid. I try to stay out of everyone’s way as they work, as there seems to be a lot to Flying Fact do and one of the Yellow butterflies are representitive store’s busiest days of hope, intellect, and prosperity. is approaching fast. When I mention this, Stanley gives the trademark smile to his customers, friends, and employees know so well. “Mother’s Day is the biggest day for most florists in the country, but our biggest day of the year is Valentine’s Day. In Auburn, we have 25,000 or so people whose mothers don’t live in town,” Stanley remarks, referring to the student population. “But every one of them has a girlfriend, or at least it feels that way on Valentine’s Day,” he adds with a chuckle. Even outside of holidays, the store stays busy providing flowers, plants, and arrangements for all occasions such as births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals. Stanley Sistrunk was born and raised just a short distance from Auburn in Society Hill, Alabama. He attended Auburn University and received a degree in
In the back area of the store, the floral designers are hard at work in preparation for the coming Mother’s Day holiday. The phones ring nonstop and are answered as customers call to place their orders. Stanley Sistrunk, the owner of The Flower Store, glances thoughtfully as he creates a tall, flowing arrangement for a local church’s service. The head florist, Mary Hodson, is hard at work at making a funeral spray for an internment service that day. Two young women, Erika and Anna,
Flower Processing
51 M AY/ J UNE
New flowers are “processed” to ensure the flowers are at their best.
2018
“
LOOKING BACK ON IT, I’M
Glad THINGS TURNED OUT THE WAY IT DID.
”
flower shop management in 1978, after finding that his initial major of pharmacy wasn’t his calling. “Looking back on it, I’m glad it turned out the way it did,” he says. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing than what I’m doing now.” After his graduation, the Auburn University dean of horticulture offered Stanley a position teaching flower arrangement at the college. Stanley accepted the position and would teach in the program for over 20 years. He opened The Flower Store in 1982 and juggled the challenges of running a business with his teaching responsibilities. In 2001, The Flower Store moved to its current location on Moores Mill Road. Stanley would continue teaching for some time after the move, but after a period decided to dedicate himself
Smiles in Bloom A group photo of the people that make The Flower Store such a success.
A History with Flowers Stanley’s Sistrunk has a career in floral arrangements spanning over 40 years.
WORK Ms. Mary Godson carefully sorting through the flowers.
fully to his thriving business. Stanley’s a charming man, with a smooth smile and an impeccable eye for detail, color, and design. He gives periodic advice about the perfect shirt and tie combination, home decoration, and gardening as we continue our conversation. He dresses casually at work and speaks in a classic southern drawl that underscores the class and knowledge he exhibits in his advice. He regales me with interesting stories of grand weddings and events that the store has furnished in his 40 years in the floral business. The conversation is filled with genuine warmth and levity, and while Stanley is proud of his work, he is the very picture of humility, content with making all of his customers happy. He certainly does keep his customers happy; all day I hear from people that had Stanley provide flowers for weddings, funerals, and other events and the praise is exemplary. His reputation is well-earned, as his customers know that he is the best in the business and will be the first to say so. As the day goes on and designers stay busy, I wonder what a normal day is like in the store. Aside from the norms of the retail side of the business, I am intrigued by the process of taking flowers from their initial states to the beautiful arrangements provided by Stanley and The Flower Store. This starts with a wholesaler, who sells the flowers to florists like The Flower Store. After paying to acquire the products, the store must then “process” the flowers. The processing
system must be done correctly to ensure the flowers are at their best. Take a rose, for example; after acquiring a bundle, a member of The Flower Store team must strip it of a certain amount of foliage and thorns. The flower stems are cut at a sharp angle and set to rest in water in bunches, usually sorted by type and color. This process is different for each flower; the amount of foliage stripped, the amount of water in which to set them, and the appropriate size of the bucket used varies. After paying for acquisition and labor for processing, more must be set aside to store the processed flowers. Cold storage is provided by a walk-in cooler filled with mountains of beautiful flowers; lilac, blue, and white hydrangea, brilliant pink-and-white lilies, all sizes and colors of tulips, and every imaginable color of rose are just some of the flowers that catch my eye in this kaleidoscope of color. After the flowers are stored, they are then put into designs as needed or made to order. The designer’s pore over the vases in which they create their masterpieces, cutting stems and expertly balancing the colors and fullness of the arrangement. All manner of vases are used, from glass cubes to rustic wood finishes to tall metallic urns, and the finished products are always stunning. The amount of labor that goes into a single design is astounding, and it is amazing that the store produces as many arrangements as it does in one day. It’s not a stretch to say that The Flower Store is one of the most majestic and beautiful stores in Auburn. It’s nothing short of magical, and the atmosphere is only heightened by Stanley’s amiable charm and his expertise from decades in the business. You can always call to send flowers for any occasion, but it is highly recommended that you take the same path that I did and get lost in the wonder that takes hold of you when you walk into The Flower Store. Stanley will be there to greet you with his trademark smile and a great story or two. So stop in, smell the roses, and take in some of the beautiful bouquets that are in The Flower Store.
ELEMENTS
PORSCHE DESIGN
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CULINARY CORNER CHAMPAGNE
DRINK GUIDE
CHAMPAGNE FRANCE
A QUICK UNCORKING WHETHER IT IS FOR CELEBRATION OR SIMPLY AN AFTER DINNER DRINK CHAMPAGNE MIGHT BE THE DRINK OF CHOICE FOR MOST. IN THIS GUIDE, WE HAVE SELECTED SOME OF SOUTHERN TATLER’S FAVORITE CHAMPAGNE CHOICES, AS WELL AS EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING WINE. ENJOY! INFORMATION PROVIDED BY WINE.COM
ORIGIN Champagne, the wine, is named after the region where it is grown, fermented and bottled: Champagne, France. Nestled in the country’s northeastern corner, near Paris, the only labels that are legally allowed to bare the name “Champagne” are bottled within 100 miles of this region (according to European Law). Originally cultivated by the Romans as early as 400 A.D., today’s vineyards that adorn Champagne’s beautiful hills and plains span 76,000 acres and 319 villages.
CHAMPAGNE VS. SPARKLING WINE The most expensive Champagnes can cost thousands, while sparkling wine is often much more affordable. This all comes down to the grape quality as well as the methods used to produce the sparkling wine. While most sparkling wines do implement the labor intensive Méthode Champenoise, others cut costs, increase speed of getting products into the market, and up production numbers by creating tank wine—sparkling wine carbonated in giant vats instead of individual bottles. When choosing a sparkling wine or Champagne, it’s important to determine what you’d like to get out of it. If it’s quality and care, a Champagne or higher quality sparkling would make an excellent choice. While if your budget is something to consider or the sparkling wine is going to be mixed into other juices, a less expensive and lower quality sparkling will do.
THE EXTREME PRESSURE MEANS THAT THE CORK ONCE POPPED IS FAST. IT CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 64KM/H, SOMETIMES IN EXCESS OF THIS. TO DATE, THE FURTHEST DISTANCE RECORDED WAS 54M, WHICH EQUATED TO MORE THAN HALF OF A FOOTBALL FIELD!
FLAVOR PROFILE In addition to location, Champagne also receives its distinguished name because of the grapes used to produce it. Grown in a mild climate with chalky and mineral rich soil, the flavor of these grapes is truly unique. Of the countless varieties, only a handful of grapes across Champagne are allowed to be used for its base or “cuvée” (a blend of the first and most concentrated extraction of juices from pressed grapes).
Canard-Duchêne
THE ONLY GRAPES THAT MAY BE USED TO PRODUCE CHAMPAGNE ARE: • Pinot Noir (most widely used) • Pinot Meunier (widely used) • Chardonnay (widely used) • Pinot Blanc • Pinot Gris • Petit Meslier • Arbane
Lanson
THIS WELL-RESPECTED CHAMPAGNE BRAND IS AFFORDABLE
FOUNDED IN 1760, THE LANSON HOUSE BLENDS ITS
AND DELICIOUS. LOCATED IN LUDES, IN THE MONTAGNE DE
CHAMPAGNE WITH PINOT NOIR AND CHARDONNAY FOR TASTE.
REIMS NATIONAL PARK, THE HOUSE HAS BEEN PROVIDING
WITH OVER 500 HECTARES OF VINES IN CHAMPAGNE, LANSON
CHAMPAGNE SINCE 1868. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY MADE IT INTO
USES THE BEST GRAPES FROM THE BEST PLOTS TO CREATE A
THE TOP TEN BESTSELLER LIST, BUT THEY ALSO WERE GRANTED
TOP 10 BEST-SELLING CHAMPAGNE BRAND.
THE RIGHT BY THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL FAMILY TO ADOPT ITS COAT OF ARMS AS THE FAMILY EMBLEM. THE CROWNED TWOHEADED EAGLE HAS THUS APPEARED ON EVERY CANARDDUCHÊNE LABEL SINCE THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
Piper-Heidsieck
Pommery
THE ‘PIPER’ STYLE PLAYS ON A REGISTER OF FRESHNESS,
POMMERY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AVANT-GARDE, BUT MODERNESS
VIVACITY AND FRUITINESS. PIPER-HEIDSIECK WINES ARE JOYFUL,
WOULD MEAN NOTHING WITHOUT TRADITION. TRADITION AND
YOUTHFUL CHAMPAGNES, WITH AROMAS OF CITRUS AND PIP
SAVOIR-FAIRE, THE ART OF BLENDING JUST THE RIGHT MIXTURE
FRUITS CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR SENSE OF LIVELINESS.
OF CRUS TO CREATE A CHAMPAGNE THAT IS LUMINOUS, LIGHT, TENDER AND LIVELY.
Taittinger
Laurent-Perrier
CHAMPAGNE TAITTINGER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1931 BY PIERRE
FOUNDED IN 1812, LAURENT-PERRIER HAS BEEN AVANT-
TAITTINGER ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF FOREST-FORNEAUX,
GARDE IN CREATING UNIQUE AND ELEGANT CHAMPAGNES
ITSELF ESTABLISHED IN 1734 AND THE THIRD-OLDEST WINE
FOR NEARLY TWO HUNDRED YEARS, MAKING IT ONE OF THE
PRODUCING HOUSE OF CHAMPAGNE. TAITTINGER IS TODAY
WORLD’S MOST ESTEEMED CHAMPAGNE BRANDS, AND ALSO
PROPRIETOR OF APPROXIMATELY 600 ACRES OF VINES.
THE LARGEST FAMILY OWNED BRAND.
60 S OUTHERN
TAT L E R
ALTHOUGH THE RATIOS VARY, ABOUT 90% OF ALL BLENDED CHAMPAGNES USE 2/3 RED AND 1/3 CHARDONNAY MIXES. THIS IS BASED ON THE STRUCTURE, FRUITINESS, BODY, AROMA, DELICACY, FRESHNESS, AND COMPLEXITY OF THE GRAPES. THE MOST COMMONLY USED WINES FOR BLENDING CHAMPAGNE MENTIONED ABOVE ARE A HARMONIOUS COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE REVERED CHARACTERISTICS.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS. When determining whether a wine is truly Champagne or sparkling, one only needs to identify the region where it was produced. While true Champagnes can only be made in the Champagne region of France and with seven distinct grapes (and a slew of other regulations), sparkling wines aren’t held to the same restrictions. Sparkling wine may be made with the exact same grapes as Champagne or an entirely different blend. From Rosé to Brut (or extra dry varieties) to super sweet sparkling dessert wines, the flavors and qualities run the gamut.
Meet your Maker Dom Perignon statue at Moet et Chandon
Moët & Chandon MOET & CHANDON IS THE CHAMPAGNE OF SUCCESS AND GLAMOUR SINCE 1743. RENOWNED FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND LEGENDARY PIONEERING SPIRIT, MOET & CHANDON IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BOTH CHERISHED TRADITIONS AND MODERN PLEASURES AND HAS HELPED CELEBRATE LIFE’S MOST TRIUMPHANT MOMENTS FOR MORE THAN 270 YEARS. TOWARD THE END OF THE 18TH CENTURY, JEAN-REMY MOET, GRANDSON OF FOUNDER CLAUDE MOET, BECAME FAMOUS AS THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED CHAMPAGNE TO THE WORLD. THE IMPORTANT FIGURES OF THE ERA, FROM THE MARQUISE DE POMPADOUR TO NAPOLEON, QUICKLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE HOUSE’S EFFERVESCENT WINE. MOET & CHANDON WAS SOON THE ICON OF SUCCESS AND ELEGANCE THAT IT REMAINS TO THIS DAY. MOET IMPERIAL BRUT IS THE HOUSE’S ICONIC CHAMPAGNE. CREATED IN 1869, IT EMBODIES THE UNIQUE MOET & CHANDON STYLE; A STYLE THAT DISTINGUISHES ITSELF BY ITS BRIGHT FRUITINESS, SEDUCTIVE PALATE, AND ELEGANT MATURITY.
Dom Perignon DOM PIERRE PERIGNON SET OUT HIS VISION TO “CREATE THE BEST WINE IN THE WORLD” WHEN HE BECAME CELLAR MASTER AT THE SACRED ABBEY OF HAUTVILLERS IN 1668. OVER 40 YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THIS MISSION LED TO HIM BEING SEEN BY MANY AS THE ‘FATHER OF CHAMPAGNE’, DUE TO HIS VISIONARY SPIRIT AND EXCEPTIONAL DARING APPROACH TO THE WINE MAKING PROCESS - IN WHICH HE EFFECTIVELY LAID DOWN THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES IN THE METHODE CHAMPENOISE. A FAVORED WINE OF THE SUN KING LOUIS XIV, DOM PERIGNON HIMSELF COMPARED HIS WINE TO “DRINKING STARS”. DOM PERIGON IS PRODUCT OF MOËT & CHANDON
CULINARY CORNER ROBBIE NICOLAISEN
PHOTO BY THE HOUND
CHEF ROBBIE NICOLAISEN
The Hound Chef C.R. “Robbie” Nicolaisen has been highly recognized in and around the Southeastern United States for his unique approach to Southern-style cuisine. Hailing from Asheboro, NC, where he attended the highly-accredited Johnson and Wales University in Charleston graduating with honors, Chef Robbie now calls The Hound home. At the age of 24, his culinary career elevated immensely as he received his first Executive Chef position with Hilton Hotels. Since then, his career has expanded to other high-end venues spanning from Charleston, SC to exclusively private establishments here in Auburn, AL. Serving as the Executive Chef and culinary leader of the famous and locally-loved restaurant and bourbon bar, Chef Robbie focuses on fresh, locally sourced foods along with heritage breed pork, house-cured bacon, as well as other organic and humanely raised meats. Redefining New American Southern food in the heart of Auburn, Chef Robbie is proud to be plating up some of the finest food in all of Alabama.
RIBS W. WATERMELON MOLASSES & CORN SALAD Ingredients • 4 ea Babyback ribs, seasoned
FOR THE MOLASSES:
• 2 qts simple syrup (1⁄4 sugar : 1 watermelon juice) • 1⁄4 c sorghum • 1⁄4 c lime juice • Pinch of sea salt • 1 Tbsp olive oil • 6 c watermelon puree
FOR THE CORN SALAD:
• • • • • • • • • •
12 ears of corn, husked 6 Tbsp olive oil, divided 1 cup red onion, finely diced 2 large tomatoes, finely diced 1⁄2 c fresh basil leaves, chiffonade 1⁄2 c fresh tarragon, chopped 2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme 2 oz tarragon vinegar 1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
Directions FOR THE MOLASSES:
1. To make the simple syrup, combine the watermelon juice and sugar in a small saucepan over medi um heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat, and allow the syrup to cool completely before using. 2. Combine the lime, salt, olive oil, simple syrup, watermelon puree, and herbs in a wide pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Skim off any foam that may form. 3. Cook until the liquid has reduced to a molasses-like consistency and it coats the back of a metal spoon, about 10-15 minutes. Remember that the molasses will thicken further as it cools. Allow the molasses to cool completely before serving or storing.
FOR THE CORN:
1. Rub corn with 1 tablespoon oil. Grill, turning frequently, until corn is charred and heated through, 10-12 minutes. Remove from grill; when cool enough to handle, cut kernels from cobs and transfer to a large bowl. Mix onion, remaining 5 tablespoons oil, tomatoes, basil, tarragon, thyme, and vinegar into corn. Fold in parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt & pepper.
ROASTED CARROTS W. MAMA SUE’S PEPPER JELLY, BURRATA, & PISTACHIO Ingredients • • • • • • • •
5lbs baby carrots, tops removed and reserved 2 oz good olive oil 1 Tbsp salt 1 Tbsp ground black pepper 1 Tbsp ground toasted fennel seed 2 oz pepper jelly 4 oz burrata cheese 1 Tbsp roasted pistachios, crushed
Directions 1. Toss carrots with oil, salt, pepper, and toasted fennel. Arrange on a sheet pan and bake at 350 F for 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Spread pepper jelly on carrots and place back in oven to glaze, about 5 minutes. 2. To plate, tear burrata cheese and place randomly with carrots on a plate. Sprinkle crushed pistachios and garnish with carrot tops. PHOTO BY THE HOUND
KOREAN DUCK WINGS Ingredients • 3 pounds of duck wings • 1⁄2 cup Korean bbq seasoning • 1⁄4 c blended oil
FOR THE GLAZE:
• 1⁄4 cup soy sauce • 1⁄4 cup gochujang (Korean red chile paste) • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar • 2 tablespoons honey • 1 tablespoon sesame oil • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger • Scallions and chopped peanuts for garnish
Directions 1. Cut 3 pounds of chicken wings into three sections; save the wing tips for stock. 2. Toss the wings with the blended oil and Korean bbq seasoning. 3. Roast in oven at 350 F for 15 mins or until cooked through. 4. While the wings cook, combine soy sauce, gochujang, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic and minced ginger in a large bowl. 5. When the wings are cooked, add them to the bowl with the sauce, and toss to coat. 6. To order, toss wings in glaze and place in 450 F oven to heat through, approximately 3-5 mins. 7. Plate and garnish with scallions and crushed peanuts. PHOTO BY THE HOUND
PHOTO BY THE HOUND
BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP W. BOURBON PEACH RELISH Ingredients • • • • • • •
8 - 12oz pork chops 10 large, ripe peaches, halved & pits removed 2 oz olive oil 1⁄2 c firmly-packed brown sugar 1⁄2 c bourbon 1⁄4 c chopped parsley 2 oz Dijon mustard
• • • • • • •
2 oz Tbsp minced garlic 1 tsp chili flakes 2 1⁄2 c cider vinegar 2 Tbsp red onion jam 2 shallots, fine diced 2 Tbsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground 2oz pickled mustard seeds
Directions 1. Rub peaches with olive oil and sear on flat-top grill until charred. 2. Remove and let cool to the touch, then slice into 1⁄4” thick slices. 3. Place the grilled peaches and the rest of the ingredients in a bowl, toss together, season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. 4. Store under refrigeration for up to 3 days. 5. Garnish with pickled mustard seeds.
ELEMENTS
OLIVER HENRY
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SingletonMarine.com
SOUTHERN
TAT L E R
FEATURE 72 _________________________
JAMES HANSEN
THE
HISTORIAN JAMES R. HANSEN HAS MADE HIS CAREER AS AN AUTHOR AND HISTORIAN. FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER, DR. HANSEN HAS PRIMARILY WRITTEN ON THE HISTORY OF AERONAUTICS AND SPACE FLIGHT. HE HOLDS THE HONOR
OF WRITING THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY OF NEIL ARMSTRONG, THE FIRST ASTRONAUT TO WALK ON THE MOON. THE BOOK, TITLED FIRST MAN: THE LIFE OF NEIL A. ARMSTRONG, IS AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING BEING
ADAPTED INTO A MOVIE STARRING RYAN GOSLING. JAMES R. HANSEN SITS DOWN WITH SOUTHERN TATLER TO DISCUSS HIS DECORATED CAREER, WRITING FIRST MAN, AND OVERSEEING THE TRANSITION ONTO THE BIG SCREEN IN HIS ROLE AS CO-PRODUCER ON THE UPCOMING MOVIE.
ames (R.) Hansen’s secret to success as an author and historian is obvious from the beginning. His stories are brimming with detail and easily hold the listener’s attention; his posture conveys warmth and the tales are interspersed with great moments of candid levity. The stories are long, but by no means long-winded. In fact, Jim’s stories always leave you wanting more. He relays the fact that often his historical and biographical works need to be trimmed down for publishing, but he keeps a great deal of the content filed; published or not, the information he obtains from notes, documents, and interviews are crucial to the big picture. Indeed, as Jim sits down with us over coffee, it’s apparent that he is dedicated to both the big picture and the most minute of details.
Jim Hansen was born and brought up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He lost his father to a heart attack in 1961 when Jim was just 8 years old. “It was a traumatic experience. We were on vacation, he was 46 years old, and I was the only one with him when it happened” Jim recalls. However, he mentions that his mother remarried a man that would become his stepfather and a great father figure to Jim in those formative years. “I was lucky in that my mother remarried [to my stepfather]. He was a great, great man. He was a jazz musician; a drummer...he was an intellectual but one with absolutely no arrogance about him. I think that was great for me,” Jim explains. Jim’s stepfather was an avid reader, and Jim’s curiosity led him to read many of the same books that were left lying about the house. Jim says “I don’t think I would have become a writer or historian if he wasn’t involved.” He goes on to recollect that his childhood was in actuality, “quite idyllic” once the family had moved past the trauma of his father’s passing and his stepfather’s presence stabilized the family’s situation. “It really was a wonderful outcome,” Jim says
of his early family life. Jim attended college as an undergraduate at Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne (IPFW), a branch campus of the Indiana and Purdue universities. He went on to attend graduate and doctoral programs at The Ohio State University, from which he earned his Ph.D. in 1981. His education was in the history of science. During this time he married his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Hansen. He had grown up around Peggy, but during high school, she was dating one of his friends, Jeff Nowak. Jeff friend attended Ohio State, and when he and Peggy broke up, Jeff suggested that Jim give Peggy a call. Jim tells the story in amusing signature style, “It was Valentine’s Day, and I called her at least 10 times. I finally made one last call, around 10:45 at night, and she answered. She’d just returned home from a night out with her date, and I asked if maybe she was interested in getting together [to see a movie or go to dinner] the following weekend. I suppose it went well; we’re still married 41 years later” he says with a laugh. The couple has two children and 3 grandchildren, with a fourth grandchild on the way.
Jim’s first solid job offer out of graduate school was from none other than NASA; out of the blue, he received a call from the NASA History Office. Someone from the NASA History Office was looking to get get a book written for the program, and Jim’s name had come up as a new graduate fresh on the job market. While he’d never written a book, he was completing his dissertation and Jim’s specialization and training in the history of science prepared him well enough, he hoped, to tackle the NASA project. Jim was required to travel to the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, study records, interview veteran employees, and write a lengthy proposal. He recounts “I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, I didn’t feel all that well prepared. But I was married, I had a two-year-old son, the university job market wasn’t so great [in the early 80s]; my wife was working as a nurse at the time and I was more or less a stay-at-home dad while I was finishing up the Ph.D.” Despite some trepidation, the newly-minted “Dr. Hansen” impressed the NASA History officials and ended up with a three-year contract to write the book. Though he started out “knowing nothing” about the subject, within a year or so of starting the book he found that he had become a de facto
7 Writing Room Jim has written 12 books throughout his career that can be purchased at your local book retailer
6
national expert on the history of aerospace research and development. He attributes his quick success to his love of research, as well as attending conferences, meeting other informed scholars, and generally doing whatever it took to write his book in an exemplary manner. After completing it, he started looking for an academic post, with his now-published NASA book adding greatly to his status in the field. While most brand new PhDs had a very heavy teaching load and were struggling ever to get their dissertations published, Jim by 1985 already had two books under his belt. Jim’s first academic position was at the University of Maine. While he there, a position opened up at Auburn University, a school that was developing a strong specialization in aerospace history and the history of technology, a prospect that was very enticing. “The weather helped, too,” Jim says with a laugh. “In Maine, spring is a euphemism; we had ten inches of snow on Easter Sunday. My family was ready to go somewhere a little warmer.” He applied for and received the job at Auburn in 1985. However, NASA wanted him to write a follow-up to his first book (Engineer in Charge: A History of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, 19171958), so Jim got Auburn to postpone his appointment
54 3 for one year. He began as an assistant professor of history at Auburn in 1986.
James Hansen has authored numerous books in his career, ranging from biographies to a history of the space shuttle Challenger disaster. However, his most famous work remains his 2005 biography of Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to walk on the moon. The book, titled First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong, is the official biography of the astronaut and is widely acclaimed. While he had success with the project, he had several hills to climb on his way to see the book published. The first and most obvious hurdle was that Neil Armstrong shunned the limelight after becoming a national hero. After the moon landing, Armstrong saw a lot of time in the spotlight as he was rocketed to the status of national hero and symbol for humanity. However, fame was never a desire for Neil Armstrong, and outside of a few public appearances had grown to live a very private life by the 1990s. According to Jim, he approached Neil as just the right time
in Neil’s life—and in his own. “I was 20 years into my career, and I’d never written a biography before,” Jim says. In a graduate seminar here at Auburn, my students asked me what I would be working on next and I told them ‘I’d like to do a biography of an astronaut, but the only one that interests me is Neil Armstrong.’” At the time, most of the other famous astronauts had either authored their biographies or had co-authors write their memoirs; only Neil Armstrong’s personal story had been left untold. Well-known historians and biographers had approached Neil many times over the years with ideas for writing his life story—including such notables as Norman Mailer, Herman Wouk, James Michener, and Stephen Ambrose—but Neil had turned them all away. Jim’s approach was to write a very polite letter expressing his interest in writing the biography emphasizing his NASA experience combined with his academic credentials. Neil wrote him back a couple of weeks later: “It was very politely worded rejection, Jim recalls with a laugh. Waiting a few months, Jim then sent Neil a pack-
Quiet on Set! Getting to meet Ryan Gosling and Buzz Aldrin on the set of the new movie.
A Love Beyond The Stars James Hansen and his wife Margaret “Peggy�
A History with Cinema Jim and his sister at NASA in front of a mural that was featured in the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures”
age containing copies of some of Jim’s books, in honor of the astronaut’s 70th birthday. It wasn’t intended to sway Neil in any way, Jim asserts, he merely wanted to give the “First Man on the Moon” a sampling of his work, wish him well, and express his desire to stay in touch. The thoughtful gesture eventually paid off but not for over a year, when Neil finally gave Jim the goahead to start writing the biography, the first and only author he would ever authorize to tell his story.
“small THAT’S ONE STEP FOR A MAN, ONE
Giant LEAP
FOR MANKIND.
A simple contract agreed in 2002 gave Jim the former astronaut’s full support. At the same time, Armstrong wrote a “To Whom It May Concern” letter for him to use in securing agreements from other notable people and organizations for their support of the book project. Jim conducted over 55 hours of tape-recorded interviews with Neil Armstrong over several months while interviewing over 125 other people connected to Neil’s life, including exclusive interviews with Neil’s first wife Janet Shearon Armstrong and his second wife, Carol Held Knight Armstrong. He also poured over many thousands of documents in NASA and other government archives, while also having access to all of Neil’s papers and a great deal of Armstrong family materials, In 2005 the book was published by Simon and Schuster to wide worldwide acclaim. To this day it remains the definitive and only official biography of Neil Armstrong, who passed away in 2012. Movie rights to the book were purchased almost immediately, but a multitude of issues left the movie in development limbo for over a decade; only now is the movie adapta-
2
tion of Neil’s biography becoming a reality. The rights to the movie were first required by Warner Brothers and were going to be directed by Clint Eastwood. Hansen and his wife and Neil and his wife Carol met with Eastwood about the movie at Clint’s home in California, and Neil and Jim even played a round of golf with Eastwood. Ultimately, however, Eastwood passed on the movie, but the rights to it were quickly acquired by Universal Pictures, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and Dreamworks Pictures later becoming involved. The title of the Universal movie is First Man, the same as Jim’s book, and it is scheduled to arrive in theaters worldwide in October 2018, with the first trailers appearing next month. Jim serves as a co-producer on the project, which at the time of this writing is in editing and post-production. The movie is directed by Damien Chazelle (director of La La Land) and stars Ryan Gosling in the lead role. Jim oversaw a lot of the project and was on set (most of the shoot was in Atlanta) virtually every day. He says that the transition from academic works and writing to being on a Hollywood set was a definite challenge, with inevitable differences between what’s in the come and what gets created for the film. “You can’t use everything that’s in a 700-page book for a 2-hour plus movie, plus you have to amp up the drama a bit to make it even more interesting and powerful as a cinematic experience. I find all of it very interesting. The filmmakers made a lot of very good decisions on how to tell the story and how to portray Neil, but I can’t say I agreed with absolutely everything. I grew to know Neil very well and sometimes I found myself on set thinking—
1
Meeting The First Man A photo of Jim meeting Neil Armstrong
and occasionally saying quite emphatically--’Neil wouldn’t have done that’ or ‘Neil wouldn’t have said it that way.’, But I did understand and appreciate that the director and the actors were going to offer their interpretations of the story. Cinema is an art form; it isn’t a historical documentary. It’s a portrait, not a photograph. It’s also entertainment, and all of that makes the result quite a bit different than what I’m used to as a historian]” Overall, Jim is happy with the result and is looking forward to the release of the movie. Jim Hansen retired from Auburn University after spring semester 2017 after 31 years of teaching and research at the university. However, retirement has left him with very little opportunity to slow down. Besides the production of the First Man, Jim still writes (he has two more books under contract), enjoys a round of golf, and may be producing a history/reality series in the future dealing with the search for Moon rocks that were brought back from the Apollo missions and later lost after given as gifts to various states and foreign countries. As much as he’d like to slow down, his introduction into Hollywood and other projects in his retirement are, in his words, “an unexpected second career.” Whether it’s the First Man movie, a new book, or a TV series, we’ll be on the lookout for the next big thing from James R Hansen and wish him the best.
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TRAVEL BUENOS AIRES
GREAT TIMES ON THE
FAIR WINDS
BUENOS AIRES WAS BUILT BY SPANISH EXPLORERS IN THE 16TH CENTURY IN
WHAT IS NOW THE COUNTRY OF ARGENTINA. CONSTRUCTED ON A HILL AND NAMED FOR THE FAIR WINDS COMING OFF OF THE OCEAN, THE MODERN ITERATION OF BUENOS AIRES HAS MORPHED INTO A COSMOPOLITAN WONDER; AS SUCH, IT IS THE MOST VISITED CITY IN SOUTH AMERICA.
TOUTING A VIBRANT THEATER CULTURE, CENTURIES OF HISTORY, AND A TOURISM AND NIGHTLIFE SCENE TO SUIT ALL TASTES, BUENOS AIRES IS A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION FOR ANY.
uenos Aires, Argentina has been around since the 1500s, when it was established by Spanish explorers looking to start new settlements in what is now Central and South America. Before the 20th century, the Argentinian capital functioned mostly as a port. Built along an estuary of the Ria de la Plata (“River of Silver”) on the Atlantic Ocean, the city was a hub for imports of resources going to Europe. Nestled on the eastern shore of Argentina, the city’s name roughly translates to “fair winds” or “good winds” in Spanish, named after the breezes coming off of the estuary’s bay and the nearby ocean. The settlement began with a mesh of Spanish and Portuguese influences, as had most colonial holdings in Latin America. In the last 150 years, the city has seen waves of immigrants of all cultures, further enriching the city’s unique flavor while simultaneously setting it apart from other cities in South America. Buenos Aires’s modern, unique flavor has in effect contributed to a boom in tourism in the city; its many draws have led it to be the most visited city in South America. These attractions include the many historical and cultural landmarks that Buenos Aires has accrued throughout its almost 5 centuries of existence, as well as the fantastic local theaters, fun nightlife, and fantastic restaurants that are also offered within the city. No matter your tastes, the bustling Buenos Aires has something to make it a desirable destination for all travelers.
Buenos Aires’s five-century history and colonial origins lends itself to a wealth of attractions for the would-be tourist. The first and most prominent landmark is the Obelisco de Buenos Aires (Obelisk of Buenos Aires), a monument constructed in 1936 to commemorate the quadricentennial of the city’s founding. Towering 235 feet into the air, the massive Obelisk is located in the Plaza de la Republica, the city square in what was originally the center of the initial settlement. Nearby to the Plaza is the Cabildo, that served as the government house of Buenos Aires in its colonial days, and was refurbished with original colonial features in 1940 after the building’s expansion. The former government building now hosts the National Museum of the Cabildo. The museum contains artifacts, paintings, and other items from the city’s colonial Red Crested Cardinal Despite its name it is history, mostly from the 18th not closely related to birds in the century. The site even still conCardinal family. tains the original building’s water well from 1835. Pivoting to the religious history of Buenos Aires and its Spanish Catholic influences, another fantastic site in the city is the Metropolitan Cathedral. The massive building is the latest church in a long line of religious sites on its current foundation, dating back
to the city’s first permanent settlement in 1580. The modern iteration of the building was constructed in the 1700s, and renovations over the centuries have lent the building an amalgamation of differing styles. The interior contains 18th-century altarpieces, domes, and naves; the exterior of the building touts a mixture of plentiful Neo-Baroque, post-Renaissance, and Neoclassical features and decorations. Almost 80% of Argentina is Roman Catholic, and the Metropolitan Church is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires. One of the most interesting architectural structures in the city is The Water Company Palace; the interestingly
TANGO SPRUNG FROM THE POOR AND UNDERPRIVILEGED AREAS OF THE DOCKLANDS OF BUENOS AIRES. LIKE JAZZ, TANGO STARTED WITH THE IMPOVERISHED WORKING CLASS. THE DANCE HAS ITS GENESIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 19TH CENTURY IN THE SOUTH OF BUENOS AIRES WHERE THE AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS WOULD DANCE IN THE STREET AND IN THE BROTHELS. FOR THIS REASON, TANGO IS A FUSION OF EUROPEAN, AFRICAN AND GAUCHO STYLES.
THE TEATRO COLÓN (COLÓN THEATRE) IN BUENOS AIRES IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OPERA HOUSES IN THE WORLD. ITS RICH AND PRESTIGIOUS HISTORY AND ITS EXCEPTIONAL ACOUSTICS AND ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES RANK IT AMONG THEATRES SUCH AS TEATRO ALLA SCALA IN MILAN, THE PARIS OPERA HOUSE, THE VIENNA STATE OPERA, THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE IN LONDON, AND THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE IN NEW YORK.
named water pumping station is ornate and massive. The facade of the building is grand given its humble purpose, and was built in the late 19th century to replace an unsightly water tower. The designing architect of the project decided to create a grand “palace” for the job. The opulent structure no longer houses water pumping equipment, but still houses a few water company offices as well as a museum containing historical archives of public works projects in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires also plays host to almost 250 public parks, and is located along some of the most beautiful beaches in South America. Buenos Aires’s expansive history also goes hand in hand with its vibrant culture. Visitors in South America’s summer season around lent (nearing the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere) will be treated to a traditional South American Carnival festival, called a Carnivale. Unlike those in other portions of South America, Argentinian Carnivales are heavily influenced by European festivals such as those in Spain and Italy. The region’s Catholicism heavily influences
them, but still, have plenty of bright plumage and fun for all. Indeed, most of Buenos Aires will explode in Carnivale fever in the week leading up to lent, much in the vein of a tamer American Mardi Gras celebration. Food, drink, and music flows freely and welcome all in the fold. If you’re not able to make it into the city of Carnivale, Buenos Aires is still hosting to a plethora of festivals, most of which revolve around music. The Buenos Aires Jazz Festival is one of these, established in the city in 2002 and usually held in April. The festival features artists that play live jazz, fusion, and bossa nova music in large venues. If you’re looking for something a little more rockin’, the Quilmes brewery in Argentina hosts the Quilmes Rock festival in Buenos Aires, also in April. This festival features primarily Argentine artists that play rock and alternative rock music but has been host to American artists such as Aerosmith and Joan Jett. In addition to music, Buenos Aires also plays host to a bustling theater culture; it is home to over 280 theaters, the most of any city in the world. The theatrical culture is so well-known that Buenos Aires is often
FAMOUS LANDMARKS
La Boca A neighborhood in Argentina that is home to colorful dwellings, street performers, and soccer teams.
Land of Beef
Argentina is a leader in the carnivorous world with one of the highest beef consumption rates on the planet.
referred to as “The World’s Capital of Theater” and “The Paris of South America.” Some great venues for catching a once-in-a-lifetime performance is the Cervantes Theatre, which holds three grand performance halls. Just two blocks north is the Teatro (Theater) Colón, a colossal opera house considered to be one of the greatest concert venues in the world. With so many fantastic events and venues, it would be a shame to miss the chance to catch a live show or festival while visiting Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires also has wealth to offer the curious eater, as it has some of the best restaurants and food culture in all of South America. The 20th century wave of immigrants to the city has lent itself to a rich multicultural smorgasbord for epicureans of all tastes; visitors can sample traditional Argentinian, authentic Spanish, and even Jewish cuisines. Possibly unbeknownst to the average American, Argentina is famed for its incredible steaks; the country’s servings of the meat cuts are almost legendary amongst foodies of all stripes. A great place to try traditional Argentine cuisine and some of the country’s legendary steak is House of Wax
Make sure to stop by the Museo Historico de Cera. A popular historical wax museum.
the Don Julio steakhouse. The upscale restaurant offers delectable steaks, sweetbreads, asado (barbecue), and plenty of fine wine while captivating locals and tourists alike. When your party has finished the bottle of wine, the restaurant will even add the empty bottle to the wall décor, forever immortalizing your visit to the institution. For a twist on the traditional Argentine food, try La Carnicería. The restaurant whose name translates to “butcher shop” offers interesting twists on the country’s cuisine, including “modernizing” the Argentine Parilla or “barbecue grill.” The eatery offers smoky chorizo and steaks as large as the diner’s head, all made with meticulous care and fantastic Latin flair. Another of the best restaurants in the city is the Mediterranean restaurant called Tegui; it is the only Argentinian restaurant to be named in the Top 50 Restaurants in the World list. The chef of Tegui hand-picks local, fresh ingredients for his tasting style menu selections. While pricey, the restaurant demands to speak for itself; pictures are strictly forbidden during dinner to entice diners to enjoy the food instead of living vicariously through Instagram photos. If you’re looking for something cheaper, traditional Argentinian asado can be found in mobile
Big Clippings
Check out the rather large Buenos Aires (B.A) topiary near the Obelisco.
parrillas, the Buenos Aires equivalent of a food cart or food truck. Buenos Aires also hosts a large number of clubs and bars in which to enjoy the city’s nightlife. Following the Spanish traditions, Argentinians tend to eat a late meal on the weekends, around 10:30 pm. They then drink a local caffeinated beverage known as “mate” (pronounced mah-day) to keep their energy up. They will enjoy a long meal and some live music, and then begin their pub crawls or nightclub excursions as late as 2 am and continue until 7 am! Many jazz clubs and lounges accompany the nightclubs and bars, should a slower night and smooth bossa nova music be more the speed of the night owl. Those looking to enjoy the 24-hour party can indulge in the popular Pacha club and dance the night away to a DJ’s hours-long electronic sets. The Crobar club can also entice fans of DJ music, frequently hosting big names in the international DJ scene. For those looking to groove to funk or the local bossa nova, the three-sto-
ry Bahrein club provides a smoother velvet experience in one of its many floors and private rooms; those looking to have all-out fun at Bahrein can enjoy its full basement dance floor. All of these clubs share one thing in common; they open late and stay open until the sun rises. If you’re looking for a truly authentic nightlife experience in Buenos Aires, travelers will have to drink some mate and burn the midnight oil just as the Argentinians do. All in all, travelers of any stripe can enjoy something in Buenos Aires. Be it a gigantic steak, an ornate colonial museum, or an all-night club party, Buenos Aires has something for everyone. So if you get the chance, you’ll definitely want to make your way to the Southern tip of the world and enjoy everything that the “fair winds” has to offer. So find your way into Buenos Aires and enjoy a day at the beach, eat some asado, and catch some true South American bossa nova music in one of South America’s oldest and most vibrant cities.
C O N C I E R G E
MARILYN MONROE’S DRESS
The most expensive movie costume ever sold is Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955), which sold at auction in Los Angeles for $4.6 million in 2011. It was sold as part of actress Debbie Reynolds’ amazing Hollywood costume collection, which also included the headdress worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (1963) and a bowler hat once owned by Charlie Chaplin. Reynolds had hoped to one day open a museum to display her collection of over 3500 items, but the project never came to fruition, and so (much to fans’ delight) Reynolds decided to sell. value: $4.6 million
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