The Adventure Issue

COVER 2 OF 2 • ISSUE 38

A PR- M AY USA $ 4 .95

A SALUTE TO

MILITARY HEROES-P.70 SOU T HM AG A Z I N E .COM

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SGT. JOSHUA MORSE, THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION

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contents ➼

south

apr | may 2012

| features

40

S O U T H ’ S GU I D E TO A DV E N T U R E R AC I NG THERE’S A NEW BREED OF RACES POPPING UP IN THE SOUTH AND THEY COME EQUIPPED WITH FIRE , MUD AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. USE THIS GUIDE TO FIND THE ONE NEAREST TO YOU.

➼

BY R ICH EL L E L AUGHINGHOUSE

70 VO I C E S O F VA LO R

NINE LOCAL SOLDIERS SHARE THE GRIPPING STORIES BEHIND THEIR VA L O R O U S M E DA L S .

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➼

BY L AU R EN H U NSBERGER

SOUTH’S GREATEST BODIES THESE SOUTHERNERS ARE NO SLOUCHES.

➼

BY GR EG CEO

132 S U RV I VA L M O D E

S U R V I V I N G T H E A P O C A LY P S E I N S T Y L E .

➼

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BY A N LE

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contents ➼

south

apr | may 2012

| departments

64

[ LIVE ] 32,34 SCENES OF THE SOUTH

[ MEET ] 62 MEET TRAPPER JACK

Parties, celebrations, and anniversaries that were scene in the South.

Savannah’s only certified alligator trapper.

36 NOT YOUR AVERAGE NAUTICAL DESIGN

64 SAVING AL SEEGER

Release Marine specializes in crafting $70,000 fighting chairs, but that just tops the list of handcrafted creations .

In 2009 Savannah’s boxing hero woke up severely injured after a fight in Texas.

The long road to recovery wasn’t easy and eventually led him down a completely different life path.

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46 SURVIVING ARMAGEDDON IN SAVANNAH

[ G O , S T AY , S H O P ] 86 QUICK TRIPS

We’re not saying the world will end in 2012, but if it does, we’ve got you covered.

All within a day’s trip, these Southern cities all offer adventures of all sorts.

52 FRIENDS OF STATTS Four years ago in Ardsley Park, two unsuspecting musicians were shot. One is still struggling to live, and now thousands are stepping up to help.

58 A RACING RESURGENCE Savannah was once known as a racing hot spot. One group of locals are working to bring racing back to the South.

90 SAV TO ATL

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A weekender’s guide on where to stay, play, eat and shop in Atlanta.

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92 ADVENTURES IN ASHEVILLE From trekking in the mountains to riding rapids in the rivers, Asheville is the perfect place to stage an adventure.

98 SHOULD’A BEEN A COWBOY One brave city boy takes on the cowboy lifestyle.

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98

[ E AT ] 150 GO AHEAD, PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD These local eateries offer both a place to eat and a place to play.

152 DINING DESTINATIONS

152

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SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL FEATURE: SAVANNAH STAYCATIONS ➼ PAGE 106 A guide to daycations, vactions and staycations with hundreds of ideas on how to spend your break.

Whether you head south to Sunbury or north to Charleston, there are a smattering of delicious destinations within driving distance.

[ P L AY ] 160 BULL RIDING, BOURBON AND BANDS There’s a new bar in town and it’s a little bit country.

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publisher’s letter apr | may 2012

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES

About the Covers

I , PROB A BLY L I K E M A N Y OF YOU,

cover: Adventure Racing photographer: Tim Johnson creative director: Michael Brooks art director: Bonnie

COU LD N EV ER FIGU R E OU T THE FU N

O F D I S T A N C E R U N N I N G B E F O R E . Sure, it seemed like a uniquely effective means of self-torture, but that’s about all I could suss out. Worse, lately, a running craze has hit the nation and the South is no exception.

I vowed that I wouldn’t fall prey to the trend. Despite all my best (non) efforts, it wasn’t long before I was hooked.

It started with a 10K at the “South’s Frankie, Dodge & Michael Brooks at the shamrock run, 2012 Toughest Bridge Run.” Soon after, the Reindeer Run, Critz Tybee Run, FCA Alive in Savannah and, most recently, the Shamrock Run were under my belt. I’m no record setter, but the thrill of logging a PR (personal record) has become a bit addictive.

If you’re one of the thousands of diverse runners at these events, you get it. If you’re not, I highly recommend that you give running a shot. The rewards are fellowship, camaraderie, adventure and good health. The last one alone is reason enough to try.

And there are no losers at these events. Long after what we thought was the end of the Tybee Beach run, Fleet Feet’s Robert Espinoza announced, to everyone’s surprise, that there was one last runner on the course. The SCAD running team assembled at the finish line and onlookers anxiously scanned for the last contestant.

A few minutes later, two images appeared on the horizon. The last runner was walking with the aid of a walker and a companion. Cheers erupted as she approached the finish line. As she crossed, I noticed tears in her eyes and a very big smile on her face.

The official timer had been shut down by then, but that didn’t matter at all. On this day, we all knew who the winner was.

On another day, we had another special winner—or maybe two. On March 9th, I had the privilege of running with my six-year-old son, Dodge, in Savannah’s Shamrock 5K run. It was his first run and, without a doubt, my most rewarding yet. I’d have been the proudest dad there if he just walked the course. But he ran the whole way, finishing in just 29:58. Not bad for a kid whose legs are shorter than my forearm!

So now I understand. One way to live like there’s no tomorrow is to take on a challenge that you’d never really considered before. Maybe you’d like to try.

Run for your lives, indeed.

Many thanks and keep reading,

Michael Brooks, Publisher/Creative Director

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Youngman

R

unning in general has hit an all-time high in Savannah, but we couldn’t think of a version of the sport more fitting for the South than adventure racing. And as soon as we heard there were a handful of mud runs coming to Savannah, we knew we had to get in on it. So we talked to all the event coordinators and convinced a great group of locals to jump in a few mud pits at the Big Nasty ATV park. Our cover girl, Cassandra Langley, who is also one of South’s Greatest Bodies winners, also agreed to allow us to fling a little dirt on her. In short, we had fun with this one and hope you will too. Find out more about mud runs on page 40.

cover: Sgt. Joshua Morse photographer: John Fulton creative director: Michael Brooks art director: Bonnie Youngman

W

hile most people spend their work days at a computer of some sorts or driving in their cars, soldiers spend many of their’s outside in the elements, dropping out of aircrafts, engaged in combat or looking after their fellow soldiers. That’s why we thought a tribute to the country’s warriors was perfect for this issue. What makes these featured troops so special though is they all have a very unique story to go along with a very honorable medal of valor.

PHOTO BY JOHN A L E X A N DER

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editor’s letter apr | may 2012

GETTING INTO THE RING

magazine

publisher/creative director Michael Brooks ➼ mb@thesouthmag.com M O S T P E O P L E S T A R T A N A D V E N T U R E B Y PA C K I N G U P

I started my most recent by stepping into the ring with Al Seeger, a 32-year-old ex- pro boxer forced to retire early by way of severe head injury.

You can read more about his compelling journey on page 64.

He wanted me to experience a training session at Jarrell’s Gym, a session like those he gives to local kids looking for an outlet for their energy as well as athletes seeking to fight at a professional level. I agreed, and Seeger wrapped my hands himself, gave me a pair of 8-ounce pink boxing gloves, and taught me the classic punches: my one and my two (my three apparently needs a little work).

He explained exactly how to bend my knees, how to pivot my feet and how to float around the ring. I felt like I understood the mechanics, and he was encouraging, telling me I had good range and an understanding of the athleticism necessary.

There was one thing he had to keep reminding me though: “Keep your hands up.”

I quickly found out it’s not in my nature to protect myself as much as I should. As a lifetime athlete, I had stamina and power. But the reflex of protection, particularly for my face, was completely foreign. With sweat pouring down my back, I realized that’s probably what got me into this position in first place—my willingness to blindly put myself in the line of danger and pain all for a thrill, a new experience, without necessarily fully considering my wellness. Maybe it’s that same line of thinking that led me to jump out of an airplane with my best friend a while back for her birthday (much to my family’s dismay) or to take off on a trip across the world last year with few days’ notice and with no plans or concerns (apparently, much to our readers’ delight, as many of you commented positively on my decision). But those are also some of the most memorable moments of my life, and I think ultimately my willingness to embrace risk works to my favor and allows me to grow.

However, my body might disagree. As I type this, my right hand—my “two” that’s apparently powerful, especially when I bend my knees deeply and use the center of gravity of my five-foot-nine-frame to my benefit—is pretty sore. Previous to this adventure, I had never punched anything, not a pillow, not a wall, certainly not a person wearing pads, and now most definitely feel the effects. But along with the tenderness, I feel empowered, exhausted and exhilarated; I spent two hours training with one of the South’s—the world’s—best boxers and you can bet I’ll go back to do it again. I also imagine the soreness I feel now will soon turn to strength. And that’s exactly what a true adventure does; it forces you to face something a little scary, a little uncomfortable, a little challenging. But once complete, the rewards are incomprehensible and always surprising. You’ll always come out stronger for it. Start planning!

THEIR CA R OR BOA R DING A PL A N E;

Lauren Hunsberger - Managing Editor

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managing editor Lauren Hunsberger ➼ lauren@thesouthmag.com art director Bonnie Youngman ➼ bonnie@thesouthmag.com advertising art director Omar Mendez ➼ omar@thesouthmag.com marketing coordinator Erin Wessling ➼ erin@thesouthmag.com community relations director Kristine C ompton ➼ kristine@thesouthmag.com account executive Kristine C ompton ➼ kristine@thesouthmag.com Erin Wessling ➼ erin@thesouthmag.com Randi Hempel ➼ randi@thesouthmag.com circulation and financial manager Ivy H ankins ➼ ivy@thesouthmag.com assistant to the publisher/south tv Heather Myrick ➼ heather@thesouthmag.com fashion editor Mitchell H all travel editor Melanie Simón city editor David Gignilliat dining editor Shawndra Russell copy editor Kerri O’Hern contributing writers David Gignilliat, E zra S alkin, M elanie Simón, M ike Kelly, Marty Olmstead, S hawndra Russell, Clark B yron, L isbeth C heever-Gessaman contributing photographers John F ulton Photography, T im Johnson, J abberpics, Shawn Heifert, Z ac Henderson, G reg C eo, D erek S cearce editorial interns Richelle L aughinghouse production and photography interns Harrison Brackett, B rianna F inkle, K atie D unkle, Aaron B ernstein, T aylor Block, C hina Fagan south mag a zin e i s p ubl ish ed b imon t h l y b y b a d i n k , b r o ok s a dv er t ising desig n, i nc . r epr od uc t ion b y a n y me a ns of t h e w hol e or p a r t of b a d i n k wit hout w r it t en p er mission f r om t h e p ubl ish er i s p r oh ibit ed. v ie ws e x pr essed i n t h e e dit or ia l p ag es d o n o t i mpl y o ur e n dor sement . w e wel c ome y our p r od uc t n e ws. i nc l ude p r ic es, pho t os a n d d ig it a l f il es wit h y our p r ess r el e a se. pl e a se f or wa r d p r od uc t s a mpl es a n d m edia k it s t o r ev ie ws e dit or , south mag a zin e, 1 1 6 bul l s t r eet , s ava n na h , g eor g ia 3 1401 . w e c a n no t b e r espon sibl e f or u nsol ic it ed p r od uc t s a mpl es. subsc r ipt ion r at es: u .s.: $19 for one year; $28 for two years; s ing l e c opies: $3.95. c h a ng e of a ddr ess n o t ic e: s ix t o e ig h t w eek s p r ior t o mov ing , pl e a se c l ip t h e m a il ing l a bel f r om t h e most r ec ent i ssue a n d s en d i t a l on g w it h y our n e w a ddr ess t o: south mag a zin e, c h a ng e of a ddr ess no t ic e, 1 1 6 bul l s t r eet , s ava n na h , g a 3 1401 , a t t n: c ir c ul at ion

south magazine: A D ivision of B ad I nk 1 1 6 B ull Street, S avannah, G eorgia 31401 phone: 91 2.236.5501 f ax: 91 2.236.5524 southmagazine.com

PHOTO BY JA BBE R PIC S

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contributors apr | may 2012

nah is routinely named Best Local Indie Film Series, and as part of Tiny Team and Knocked Out Loaded he independently promotes high-profile concert events at area venues. READ JIM’S WORK IN “A NOTE OF HOPE” [PAGE 53].

J O H N F U LT O N John’s work is often described as rich, fresh and authentic. His clients include national and international companies and his work regularly appears in esteemed competitions including recently being nominated into the Top 200 Ad Photographers Worldwide by Luerzer’s Archive, the internationally recognized advertising arts publication. John is addicted to image making and adamant about going the extra mile (or ten) to make award-winning images. Aside from image making, he spends a lot of time with his wife and pets in Savannah, Georgia. SEE JOHN’S WORK IN “VOICES OF VALOR” [PAGE 70].

Active on Savannah’s music scene for over 25 years, Jim Reed is a founding member of local bands Superhorse, The 8-Tracks and T he Magic Rocks. The former Music Editor of Connect Savannah, he writes for regional, national and international publications.

His Psychotronic Film Society of SavanJIM REED

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WAY N E M O O R E A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Wayne Moore came to Savannah to study photography; he stayed because it’s the best place in the world to live. After 20 years as an awardwinning staff photographer at Savannah College of Art and Design, Wayne now works independently for commercial and advertorial clients as well as architectural and documentary projects. To every assignment he brings the determination of an Eagle Scout and the heart an artist.

In his spare time he enjoys fishing, endurance road racing and camping, taking photos wherever he goes. SEE WAYNE’S WORK

Featured Contributor

AN LE

B or n in Saigon , Viet na m , A n L e currently calls both Savannah, Georgia and New York City home. At just 22 years old, he has a long career ahead of him but is already on his way to becoming one of the hardest working photographers in the fashion industry. Equally on the walls of a gallery and on the pages of a magazine, his photography combines artistic narratives with a strong, signature style making for unique fashion editorial work.

SEE AN’S WORK IN “SURVIVAL MODE” [PAGE 132].

IN “FRIENDS OF STATTS” PAGE 53].

JU LE S DEJ E SUS

T his makeup ma ven is t he founder of Dollface by Jules a nd D ollface Photobooth.

Jules creates f lawless looks for all faces from celebrities to bridal beauties, the fiercest looks in print, and brings characters to life for feature films. She is excited to add creator of “Jules”, her upcoming makeup line, to her accomplishments. To learn more about Savannah’s Dollface, visit dollfacebyjules.com.SEE JULES’ WOR K IN “SURVIVAL MODE” [PAGE 132].

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letters apr | may 2012 ➼

write to us at editor@thesouthmag.com or 116-a bull street, savannah, georgia, 31401

SPORTY SUPPORT

Congrats on continued success with South magazine. The rule in the store is no one opens the magazine until I see it first. I read and look at it front to back. It’s an amazing magazine and is having a tremendous impact on this city, including the running scene. We appreciate all you do.

— ROB E RT E S PI NOZA , FLE ET FE ET

C OV E R G I R L

HunterMaclean is proud to share the cover story in this month’s edition of South magazine. Congratulations to the very talented Alston Macgill!

Greatest Bodies OUR SOUTH’S GREATEST BODIES CONTEST HAD SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZING. HERE’S WHAT SOUTHERNERS WERE SAYING ABOUT OUR CONTESTANTS. SEE PAGE 78.

We LOVE your feature article on Janice Shay! Thank you for recognizing her achievements & contributions!

Nice piece on group dining in this issue of @south_mag, good resource! — @VI S ITSAVAN NAH

Cassandra is where it is at!

She’s an awesome person.

—MAR K A . THOM AS

— @M E R M AI DCOTTAG E S

I just voted for you TONY Do! You better win this kid! :) —Z E E BUTTE FLY

Nashville is featured in the newest edition of @ south_mag! So Cool!

- @VI S ITM US ICC ITY:

Where are the fat chicks? I’m lookin’ for some jiggle! —WALT SOWE R S Demi, I just voted for you … You are Rockin’ it Girl! Slammin’ definition and muscle tone...SPECTACULAR! — DAN B R I STOL Vote for Allison! She’s toned and healthy and looks like the girl next door. She’s beautiful and isn’t over done!

—AMAN DA ROS E G E RAM I

Social media is the new letter to the editor. Follow South on Facebook and twitter to give us feedback on editorial content, get alerted to the greatest happenings in town and get access to our Scenes of the South photos. Plus, you’ll be the first to know about all of our contests!

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southmagazine.com apr | may 2012 ➼ check out southmagazine.com for daily blogs, exclusive videos and extended interviews from this issue

SOUTH MAGAZINE’S

HOTTEST SINGLES

G THE SEEKIN ’S !

T U SO sH gles in t hotteysour photos to m submit gazine.co southma

SOUTH MAGAZINE PRESENTS THE PREMIERE

GREATEST HOMES CONTEST RESIDENTS OF THE HOSTESS CITY TAKE SPECIAL PRIDE IN THEIR HOMES. IN HONOR OF THE BEST IN S OUTHERN STYLE, SOUTH IS LOOKING FOR OUTSTANDING B ATHROOMS, KITCHENS, BEDROOMS AND MORE.

SOUTH’S FITNESS CHALLENGE SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE

BY JAMIE EAS ON

GO TO S OUTHMAG AZINE.COM/CONTESTS TO FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF OUR CONTESTANTS. WINNERS WILL BE FEATURED ALONGSIDE JAMIE EAS ON (JAMIEEA SON.COM), WHO WILL BE MAKING A SPECIAL APPEARANCE IN SAVANNAH FOR THE PHOTO SHOOT.

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PHOTO BY JOSEPH LIN DSTROM

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