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Upstate Lake Living magazine

Volume 7, Issue 2 Summer 2013

6 Speaking the language of the bass man 14 A ‘cool’ festival getaway 18 Refreshing golf … guaranteed 22 All you can eat and history too 32 Your neighborhood ‘Lighthouse’ 37 An Upstate Eden 41 Far East comes to Keowee 48 Safe Boating: It’s time to think safety 49 Fishing: Hartwell’s summer stripers 50 Theatre: Summer stock in full bloom 52 Calendar: Upstate is a busy summer place 54 Your Waterfront: Current Shoreline Guidelines Dear Readers, Summer is just around the corner and, of course, that means fun on the lakes, finding cool places to visit on hot days and savoring great events and good theater close to home. We’ve tried to cover it all in this issue of Upstate Lake Living. While only some of you may be avid fishermen, outdoorsman Phil Gentry has provided a unique look at bass fishing, an Upstate phenomenon that is an economic driver for our communities and an unavoidable part of our lake landscape. Just think how many mornings you have awakened to find a fisherman quietly casting near your cove, enjoying his quiet time and providing you with a tranquil scene by which to enjoy your morning coffee. Yours truly has written an accompanying piece on bass boats, from beginner’s skiffs to those exotic, gleaming professional gems. Also inside, Bill Bauer takes us to another one of those great summer getaways. You can escape the summer heat completely should you decide to visit the Appalachian Summer Festival and maybe play a round or two of golf while touring the area around Boone, N.C. And, if you’re looking for a cool way to spend a summer evening, you might want to join historian John Nolan’s Greenville Culinary Tour. You will get a good helping of the city’s history and an even bigger and 4 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

PUBLISHER: Jerry Edwards jerry@edwgroupinc.com Ph: 864-882-3272 EDITOR: Brett McLaughlin bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com MARKETING DIRECTOR: Hal Welch hal@upstatetoday.com ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHICS: Melissa Bradley UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is published quarterly by Eagle Media 210 W. N. 1st Street Seneca, SC 29678, USA Ph: 864-882-2375 Fax: 864-882-2381 Subscription: $15 includes 4 issues Single issue: $3.95 U.S. Postal Permit #18 UPSTATE LAKE LIVING™ is a trademark of Edwards Group. Contents copyrighted. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE:

tastier sample of the culinary treats Greenville has to offer. If you want to save the calories, you may want to simply invest a little time in the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail. The details are inside. Even closer to home for many of us, John and Gloria Syme have spent years turning what used to be a Keowee Valley cotton field into one of the Upstate’s best shade gardens. They provided us with a tour and have extended an invitation to come join them in the garden. The Lighthouse on Lake Keowee has quickly established itself as a popular dining spot. Our review is on page 32. And, speaking of Lake Keowee, we found a view from the north end that is, frankly, unequalled. We used it for our cover, and you can find the accompanying house story on page 41. The Upstate Calendar of Events is blooming like the Azaleas in John and Gloria’s garden, and there are plenty of summer stock offerings on stages from Walhalla, S.C. to Asheville, N.C. Be sure to take advantage of all the area has to offer. All of us at the magazine wish you a fun and safe summer on the lakes. We will come your way again in September so ... until then, stay cool and enjoy Upstate Lake Living. Brett McLaughlin, Editor

UPSTATE LAKE LIVING will, upon receipt of a new or renewal subscription, strive to provide first-copy delivery of Upstate Lake Living to the Postal Service for the next issue (March, June, September and December). Renewals must be received at least two weeks prior to expiration to assure continued service. To ensure quick service, enclose a copy of your mailing label when writing or renewing your subscription. Address subscription inquiries to UPSTATE LAKE LIVING magazine, P.O. Box 547, Seneca, SC 29679; phone 864-882-2375; fax 864-882-2381. Two weeks advance notice is required for address changes; please send old and new address.

contributors to this edition Bill Bauer • Phillip Gentry Jack Kates III • Dave Kroeger Brett McLaughlin • Jessica Nelms Stephen Peitrowicz Cover photo of Lake Keowee and North Carolina Mountain range by Jack Kates III

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Speaking the language Story and Photos by Phil Gentry

For tournament anglers such as Todd Auten this is the result being sought when they take to lakes Keowee and Hartwell. Having just one largemouth bass such as this dance across the water is thrill enough for most novice fishermen.

6 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

ver a lifetime of fishing in the Upstate, these brothers agree that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. Perry Rogers has been a fishing fanatic for as long as he can remember. A longtime realtor and current partner with his wife in Perry and Sally Rogers Real Estate, Perry can trace his love for real estate and fishing to similar origins. “I can remember when there was no lake, just a stream down at the bottom of the hill,” Perry said, who now lives in Normandy Shores on Lake Keowee. “Back around

1968, Bruce Rochester put his foot on a stake up in the woods and announced that the lake will come to here and asked if anyone wanted to buy a lake lot. In fact, he sold the first three lots on the lake, and those lots are now what many of us fishermen refer to as ‘The Castle’ across from South Cove Park.” Perry’s love of fishing dates back to the days when he and his brother, Gary, fished with their father. Today, the brothers are ardent bass fishermen, who rarely miss a weekend fishing on Lake Keowee. However, Perry said he’s never been a typical good ol’ boy, and admits to having developed a love for the fly rod and reel. He said he spends more than his fair share of time in the mountains fly fishing for trout. He acknowledges that bass boys and trout boys are generally worlds apart, neither group speaking the language of the other. Yet, here they are co-existing in the Upstate, where he finds himself serving as an interpreter when the need arises. “It came up in conversation after a bass fishing tournament that I also loved to fly fish for trout,” Perry said. “I was explaining this to a group of bass fishermen who were standing around. But none of them seemed to comprehend why I’d want to fish with a little bitty fly for trout while standing in a stream that wasn’t even waist deep, when I could be standing on the front deck of a sleek bass boat chunking lures at largemouth bass. I simply said, ‘Well, I go both ways.’” The strange look he got from his fellow bass anglers alerted Perry to the language barriers than can exist in the world of fishing. Of course, he’s quick to point out that it’s often difficult to interpret what bass enthusiasts are saying as well. The Rogers brothers be-

At left: Seasoned bass fishermen know exactly what bait to use in certain types of water, this being the common result of that knowledge and their fishing skills. Below: This is the prize both professional anglers such as guide Brad Fowler of Pendleton and amateur fishermen from throughout the Upstate are after when they take to the waters of Lake Keowee.

came involved in the Bass Anglers Invitational Trail (BAIT) around 2001, signing on as codirectors for the state of South Carolina. They felt the trail was a great fit for the Upstate area and successfully lobbied to have the trail’s championship Classic Tournament held at Lake Keowee in 2007 and again in 2011. Being on a team tournament trail provided the brothers with an outlet to fish together. Gary explained that he and his brother were proud to be able to provide some leadership to the trail over the years, but it was not without its challenges. Difficulties arose in trying to both organize and fish events. He compared it to being the president of a homeowner’s association where every detail of what was being done wrong was willingly pointed out without hesitation. “We had a lot of great anglers who fished and still fish the trail,” Gary said. “It was a working man’s trail. We only fished about one weekend a month, and there was a good chance at winning pretty decent money for a comparatively modest entry fee. But at times it was like herding cats.” The best part about the trail, he said, was the anglers themselves. “They’re a bunch of great guys from different backsummer 2013 • 7

grounds, but one thing they all had in common was 99 percent of the time they’d never tell you the truth,” he laughed, “especially any time before a tournament. You could ask a guy if the fish were biting at such-and-such location, and he’d say ‘No, fishing there is terrible’ even if he’d been over there three days in a row and caught a limit every day. But that’s a part of the fishing language that’s easier to understand.” Even when an angler is willing to tell the truth, there’s no guarantee what he said and what you heard is what he meant. Perry recalled one tournament in particular when one angler unfamiliar to him simply walked away with the win, leaving everyone else behind. Breaking “the code” of bass anglers, he couldn’t help but ask the winning angler what type of lure he had used to catch so many tournament-winning fish. “To my surprise the guy went to his boat and actually showed me the lure. At the time it was a model I had never seen before or even heard of,” Perry said, wondering the whole time if this was actually the lure the angler had used or if this was simply angler-speak for “I’m not going to tell you.” “So I pressed a little further and asked the guy where somebody would get this

8 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Fishing Licenses Make sure you have a fishing license when heading out on either Lake Keowee or Lake Hartwell. Youth under the age of 16 are not required to obtain a license. You may fish anywhere on Lake Hartwell with either a Georgia fishing license or a South Carolina license. Lake Keowee requires a South Carolina license. To catch or possess trout, a trout stamp is required and other rules apply. kind of lure, and the guy said he bought it at AK-a-demy (with emphasis on the first syllable). I’d never heard of the place so I repeated it back to him. Then I thought about it for a minute and said ‘Oh you mean at Academy, over in Greenville.’” Perry said the angler looked at him blankly, “like I was speaking a foreign language and repeated ‘No, I bought it at AKa-demy.’” Shrugging his shoulders, Perry nodded and walked away. “You know to this day, anytime I’m headed over to Greenville to look at some fishing gear, my wife Sally asks me if I plan on stopping by AK-a-demy,” he said. “Now it’s a private joke between the two of us ... just part of speaking the language I guess.”

For the record ...

According to the Department of Natural Resources, fishing is a $1.5 billion industry in South Carolina. While much of that revenue is generated along the coast, freshwater fishing, especially in the Upstate, is the number two outdoor activity in South Carolina, behind only beach swimming and sunbathing. More time and money are spent in the pursuit of largemouth bass than any other species. They may be caught at any time of the year feeding near the shore in early morning. In lakes Hartwell and Keowee they are most commonly fished for using artificial bait. Large mouth bass range up to 16 pounds with the “typical” catch ranging from one to eight pounds. If that isn’t tempting enough to get you hooked, you can reach Perry Rogers at: www.perryandsally.com. He knows how to speak the language. ❖ Lakes Keowee (pictured here) and Hartwell have gained national reputations for largemouth bass fishing. In this photo, a fleet of tournament anglers awaits the signal to take up rod and reel in the quest for the tournament honors.

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summer 2013 • 9

Bass boats: Buy wise, but dream big Story by Brett McLaughlin Photos by Jessica Nelms

10 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

onty McGuffin fishes the 20-foot fiberglass rig, which features an expansive 7-foot deck and is powered for a living. Hard work, per- by a 250-horsepower Yamaha motor. The boat’s transom is made of comseverance, a good dose of daring and a nat- posite materials that provide ultimate ural gift for gab have contributed to his strength but only weighs in at roughly success. So too have Ranger Boats and 500 pounds. This 45th anniversary edition comes with a complete set of bells Strickland Marine. Thanks to the latter two, McGuffin and whistles, including a futuristic-lookhas the “Dreamliner” of Ranger’s fleet ing hydraulic anchoring system whose from which to film his weekly fishing arms cradle the motor when up but, at show and about which he can talk end- the push of a button on the captain’s lanlessly at boat shows and even dockside to yard, can extend 10-feet deep for shallow anyone who wants to know more about water fishing. what it takes to get a Largemouth out of The Ranger Z520c is a sparkling deep water and into your freezer. example of a top-flight bass First of all, McGuffin will be the fishing boat, complete with trolling first to tell you that the average bass fishmotor on the bow, a spacious erman doesn’t need the $70,000 Z520c deck area with vast amounts of storage and a powerful Yamaha rig he is provided by Strickland. But, that 250-hp motor anchored between said, he would tell you it is every fisherthe arms of a rear hydraulic man’s dream and the choice of countless anchoring system. Strickland professionals. Marine provides Upstate fishing “This is the top rung of Ranger’s lad- expert Monty McGuffin with the rig der. It’s their Cadillac,” McGuffin said of for filming his weekly fishing show.

At left: This 250-horsepower Yamaha motor can move McGuffin’s 20-foot Ranger Z520c up and down the lake in a matter of minutes, safely cruising at speeds of 70-80 mph. Middle: This ergonomically designed foot pedal near the bow allows a fisherman to operate the trolling motor comfortably by foot. It is recessed into the deck to provide a more natural position when a person is standing. At right: This combination GPS and sonar fish-finding and positioning system is synchronized with another screen located at the driver’s console. Among the many things it will do is allow fishermen to keep an electronic record of various areas in a lake, including brush and rock piles, and even records the path the boat traveled to reach them. Newer models also include a radar tracking system.

Also unique to this model is an air circulating system that keeps spacious drywells free of mold and mildew. Two adjacent compartments can hold 20 “rigged and ready” rods and seemingly countless tackle boxes.

“When you’re fishing for money, it’s all about time,” McGuffin said. “Having a rod with the right rigging can mean the difference between $1,000 and $100,000.” Even with dual consoles, the width and depth of the boat provide vast

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amounts of storage for lifejackets and other gear, an ice chest, and a live well near the stern that is partitioned into two large compartments for competitive fishing. A pumping system aerates and circulates lake water through the well.

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Above left: Among the features of the driver’s console are a GPS system, tilt steering wheel and several safety features, including a “hot foot” pedal (not pictured) that powers the boat and decelerates as the driver backs off the pedal. When the foot is removed entirely, the boat immediately returns to a cruising speed. Above right: The deck of the Z520c is seven feet wide, provides cavernous space for the storage of prerigged rods and other fishing supplies. The step up from the stern area, where the live well is located (not in photo) serves as a work area, complete with tool holders.

In the deck near the bow and just above the driver’s console are holes in which seats can be mounted, high enough to provide easy access to both sides of the boat. Near the bow, the trolling motor is powered by a foot pedal that is ergonomically designed to allow the operator to fish comfortably without cramping, whether standing or seated. At the bow and atop the driver’s console are synchronized GPS systems, capable of not only finding fish, but charting brush and rock piles, identifying shallow water or mapping and naming any number of several lakes’ best fishing areas and the best route by which to reach them. Some units newer than the one McGuffin enjoys come complete with above ground radar capabilities, allowing fishermen to navigate to within three feet of a predetermined spot on a lake, even in the densest fog. The power plant is located at the stern. Like all “below deck” compartments, it is totally waterproof and contains a battery charger and three batteries, one designated for the boat’s 36-volt trolling motor. An isolation bracket allows power to be cut quickly if necessary, and another external cord allows the batteries to be charged in dock while the storage compartment is locked down. Every conceivable square inch of deck space is used. A step up between the con12 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

soles is wide enough to be used as a workstation, with handy tool holders nearby. There are multiple cupholders, latchdowns for rods and two deep glove boxes that provide even more storage. The driver’s console is a study in boating safety. The typical throttle lever controls only the motion of the boat forward and backward. While it is still connected

Many veteran fishermen agree that aluminum makes a good first bass boat. to a “kill switch” attached to the driver’s wrist, the speed of the boat is determined by a “hot pedal” under the console. The minute the driver removes his foot from the pedal the boat throttles down completely. A standard Ranger keyless ignition system prevents anglers from not fishing when they forget the key, keeps kids from running batteries down when playing in the boat and deters theft. Strickland Marine, the Upstate’s larg-

est dealership, provides McGuffin with a new Ranger boat every 6-8 months. In exchange, he is their spokesman at countless boat shows every year, providing advice to everyone from wannabe professionals to bass fishing beginners. He would be the first to say that while most fishermen dream of owning a Z520, it’s not what any beginner needs. “People need to buy their boats based on their budget,” he said. “Too many of them buy more than they can afford. That’s where dealerships like Strickland Marine, with 30 years of experience, come in handy. “Around $17,000 can get you a very nice aluminum boat,” McGuffin said. “It won’t have all the perks, but it will have a small GPS system that costs $700, not $3,000 like this one, and it will have a good trolling motor that costs $600, not $2,800.” Many veteran fishermen agree that aluminum makes a good first bass boat, capable of absorbing bumps and bruises without having expensive hull repairs. This can be particularly helpful when fishing on Upstate lakes where shallow water can appear quickly and where rocks and trees are often just below the surface. Writing for Bass Club Digest, John Neporadny Jr., said: “The best thing is to set your price and then go from there. You’ll find that you’ll be saying, ‘for a few hundred or thousand more I can get???’”

The large, lightweight and very fast boat that Monty McGuffin uses these days is a far cry from his original boat, a 14-foot Quachita that featured stick steering and was purchased for $1,560 in 1971.

It’s easy to overspend when it comes to buying a boat. Other good suggestions include: • You can never have too much storage, and the more you fish, the more equipment you’ll gather. • Only buy as big a motor as you need. While you want to make sure you don’t underpower, being prudent could mean having more money to spend on a high thrust quality trolling motor that would be helpful on small lakes.

• Avoid wood on the deck. • A good live well is essential. • Don’t take any old battery you’re offered. Get good ones with ample cranking for the outboard and batteries with lots of reserve amps for the trolling motor. • You might look into joining a bass club. After all, what better opportunity does a novice angler have to take test rides and actually get to fish in a variety of brands and sizes of bass boats? • Don’t forget your vehicle’s towing

capacity. The last thing you need is to buy a boat and then have to buy a new vehicle to pull it. • Likewise, you might want to consider the size of your garage, the covenants your housing development might have about open boat storage or the cost of dockage. ❖ Monty McGuffin is producer and host of “The Carolina Outdoorsman Show,” which debuted in 1992. The show has been recognized by the South Carolina Outdoor Press Association and has received numerous awards as “Best Produced Outdoor Show” in South Carolina. Now the longest-running outdoor show in the Palmetto state, 2013 marks the beginning of the 21st, 52-week season of the show.

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summer 2013 • 13

Cool Mountain music … and more Appalachian Festival lights up Boone in July

or years, Floridians have sought to escape the high humidity and furnace-like heat of the summer months by seeking refuge in the North Carolina High Country. For Muriel and Arnold Rosen, cool was good, but it simply wasn’t enough. They also wanted culture and entertainment similar to what they enjoyed in Florida during the winter. So, in 1984, the Rosens sponsored a small chamber music event that has since grown into a multifarious mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film. This July the Appalachian Summer Festival will attract more than 27,000 people to Boone, N.C., where they will enjoy a star-studded list of performers. The beauty of Boone’s annual summer plunge into the arts lies in its diversity. Imagine listening to the vibrating strings of Sara Chang’s violin one evening, watching the rhythmic movements of the Paul Taylor Dance Company the next, and completing your stay by absorbing the pounding sounds of classic bands the likes of Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. In its infancy most of the Festival’s events centered around the original concept of chamber music and the fine arts. That changed in 1998, however, when Willie Nelson took the stage in the Festival’s first non-classical concert. Moving forward, the program expanded to include an array of popular artists, from Broadway’s Ben Vereen and Chita Rivera to Bill Cosby and Lily Tomlin, who delivered their laughable and heartwarming stand-up routines. Still, the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble continMargaret Severin-Hansen and Gabor Kapin will perform in the 2013 Appalachian Summer Festival production of “Rubies” as choreographed by George Balanchine. Photo by Russ Howe, Courtesy of Appalachian Summer Festival

14 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Story by Bill Bauer

ues to keep the Festival close to its roots, as does the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists, now in its third year. For nearly three decades the list of players has grown in number and variety to satisfy the cultural appetites of both young and old. This summer’s schedule promises to uphold that tradition. Opening the Festival on July 6 and headlining the season’s annual outdoor fireworks concert is Grammy Award winner The Band Perry. The American country music group rose to stardom with their Number 1 hit, “If I Die Young” in 2010 and is currently barnstorming the U.S. with groups like Rascal Flatts. “We are so excited to have a group with this type of appeal to kick off our season,” said Festival Marketing and Public Relations Manager Megan Stone. At the other end of the schedule, the August 1 finale is “An Acoustical Event with Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin, with special guest Suzanne Vega.” The show will blend country and folk music as performed by three acclaimed acoustical guitarists whose bodies of work span several decades. Carpenter and Colvin, who together have amassed eight Grammy Awards, will play songs from their vast repertoire as well as some alltime favorites. Recognized as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her

generation, Vega brings her own brand of eclectic, folk-inspired music to her solo performance. Sandwiched between these all-star shows are concerts by legendary recording artists Lyle Lovett and Boz Scaggs, multiple recitals by the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble and a performance by Tony Award winner and current star of the musicalcomedy Glee, Idina Menzel, who will be accompanied by the Eastern Festival Orchestra. Independent films, theater presentations, lectures and visual arts round out this summer’s Festival. Complementing the Festival’s cultural events are Boone’s own charm and op-

portunities to savor the countryside at one’s own pace. Most concerts, shows and recitals are scheduled in the evening allowing arts lovers to explore the area throughout the day. From antiquing to zip lining, there is no shortage of activities whether you are a shopper, casual sightseer, history buff or ardent adventurer. “Coming to the Festival creates the total mountain package,” Stone said. The Main Streets of Boone and nearby Blowing Rock are lined with shops and boutiques to fit every budget and are filled with the work of local artisans. Down the road apiece in Valle Cruces is the original Mast General Store. And, no trip to the high country is complete without heading to Linville’s

At top: Opening the Festival on July 6 and headlining the season’s annual outdoor fireworks concert is Grammy Award winner The Band Perry. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Summer Festival At bottom: Tony Award winner and current star of the television musical-comedy Glee, Idina Menzel, will be accompanied by the Eastern Festival Orchestra during her performance at the Appalachian Summer Festival. Photo by Idina Menzel, Courtesy of Appalachian Summer Festival

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The vistas are nothing short of breathtaking atop Linville’s Grandfather Mountain, located just past the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Linville Viaduct at milepost 305. At the top of the mountain one is standing nearly 6,000 feet above sea level. Photo by Helen Moss Davis

Grandfather Mountain, located just past the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Linville Viaduct at milepost 305. Atop this mountain at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, the vistas are nothing short of breathtaking. Hike it via the famous Profile Trail on NC Hwy. 105, or drive to the top along the road that Forest Gump ran on his famous journey. When you get there, be sure to walk across the famous mile-high swinging bridge and view the valley below. As you head back to Boone on Hwy. 105, a wine tasting may be in order at the Grandfather Vineyard & Winery tucked

neatly off the road below Grandfather Mountain. Finally, no one goes through Blowing Rock without actually seeing North Caro-

AN APPALACHIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL 2013

lina’s oldest attraction, the actual Blowing Rock! Legend has it that a Cherokee brave, who leaped from the Rock to his death into the John’s River Gorge some 3,000 feet below, was blown back into his grief-stricken maiden’s arms by a strong gust of wind that today still appears to blow snow upside down! And, if you decide to add something unique to your itinerary, sit back and relax under the stars and view “The Horn in the West,” an original Revolutionary War drama portraying frontiersman Daniel Boone and the hardy mountain settlers in their struggle to preserve their freedom. The show begins nightly at 7:30 at the Hickory Ridge Homestead in downtown Boone. Numerous chain hotels, as well as elegant resorts and spas like the Chetola and Westglow, partner with the festival and provide lodging packages that are affordable and trouble free. Boone’s cuisine ranges from chain restaurants to fine dining, with a mixture of bistros and cafes to satisfy every palate. Family-style eateries like the famous Daniel Boone Inn are as plentiful as the food they place on your plate. Step into Joe’s Jazzed Up and be greeted by Joe Cafaro, who’ll not only seat you but also place a napkin on your lap, before serving you authentic Italian fare created

How To Get There ... Boone, N.C. is an easy 3 ½ to 4 hour drive from the Upstate. You can drive around Asheville, N.C. and head through the Linville Gorge, or stay on I-85 and take NC 321 from Gastonia, N.C. straight up the mountain. 16 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

from his New York City family’s original recipes. “We have everything from national hotel chains to bed & breakfast inns to mountainside resorts and cabin rentals and dining options that include everything from country cooking to upscale gourmet,” said Wright Tilley, executive director of the local Tourism Development Authority. Appalachian State University serves as your host for the Festival’s events, and rest assured that Boone will follow suit by fulfilling your every need. ❖

Above left: “The Horn in the West” is an original Revolutionary War drama, portraying frontiersman Daniel Boone and hardy mountain settlers in their struggle to preserve freedom. The show begins nightly at 7:30 at the Hickory Ridge Homestead in downtown Boone. Above right: Down the road apiece from Boone is Valle Cruces and the original Mast General Store where folks gather most days in the summer to perform. Photos courtesy of the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority

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Cool golf ... guaranteed!

Escape summer’s heat at Beech Mountain Club

Story by Bill Bauer | Photos courtesy of Beech Mountain Club

At 5,500 feet above sea level, the Beech Mountain Club is the ideal golf location to escape Upstate Carolina’s summer heat. Cool days and even cooler nights combine to create a verdant look and lush feel from May through October. This photo depicts the number 10 tee and fairway.

18 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

“I shoot in the 70’s … if it gets any warmer I don’t play.”

olf humor aside, getting the scorecard below 80 on a regular basis is every amateur golfer’s quest and one achieved by few. But, regardless of how you play, there is one golf course where you can almost guarantee shooting in the 70’s ... well, sort of, since the temperature at the Beech Mountain Club has only broken 79 eleven times since 1992!

The 9th hole plays at 191 yards. Carrying the sizable water hazards should not be an issue, but landing on the green requires a good shot as bunkers to the left protect the long, narrow green.

At 5,500 feet above sea level, the Beech Mountain Club is the ideal golf location to escape Upstate Carolina’s summer heat. Cool days and even cooler nights, combined with ample rainfall, allow the Willard Byrd design to maintain its verdant look and lush feel from May through October. Perched on a number of north-facing ridges along the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western North Carolina, the BMC offers a perfect blend of spectacular golf and magnificent vistas. Byrd’s original track took advantage of high mountain terrain to craft a playable, yet challenging, 18hole layout. “The course is short by today’s standards, but very tight and challenging,” General Manager Brian Barnes said. “It definitely favors a short, straight shooter.” Redesigned by noted architect Tom Jackson in 2008, the championship tees were pushed back creating a 6,225-yard

encounter for heavy hitters. For mere mortals three additional tee boxes change the track considerably and make it enjoyable for all members of the family. Changes in elevation create a roller coaster ride along a blend of bent, blue, rye and fescue fairways defined by towering hardwoods and pines. If it has not been apparent on the front nine, the land-

scape’s rise and fall unfolds when you arrive on the 10th tee box, hovering over the fairway 120 feet below. A generous landing area awaits your drive on this 374-yard par 4, as the golf ball seemingly disappears into the sky. Keeping with the topography, the fairway then rises some 40 feet, requiring an extra club or two in order to reach the green in regulation.

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Identifying a signature hole at BMC is a tough task since each is worthy of a Kodak moment. But, the four par 3’s best represent the character created by Byrd and enhanced by Jackson. “While the par 5’s may be short, the 3’s are long and each has its own challenge and charm,” Barnes said, adding that his choice is number five, one of four holes requiring a forced carry over water, as it requires a 200-yard tee shot over a pond that fronts a treacherous, sloping green. Overshoot the putting surface and you find yourself out of bounds. Similar in length and design are the 9th hole, which plays a little shorter at 191 yards, and the 15th at 187. Both have sizable water hazards but carrying them should not be an issue. Landing on the green however, requires a good shot. The long, narrow green on Hole 9 is protected by bunkers to the left. Standing on the elevated tee the flagstick below is usually still, but the prevailing wind that soars over the trees to the left can blow your tee shot far off course. Fifteen plays across a valley to a sizable, sloping green. The newly added fairway tongue in the front has made it possible to advance the ball up the slope and onto the green for those that can’t carry the distance. The par 5’s are short, providing an opportunity to score. While they all play less than five hundred yards, each calls for an accurate tee shot. Three bend to the left, and number 18 — a dramatic, downhill

finishing hole — doglegs to the right. They are reachable in two, but a precise draw or fade is required to land in the fairway to have an accessible approach. Straight hitters might opt for less distance off the tee and a lay-up to stay out of trouble. Discussing the redesign, Barnes noted that cart path extensions were added on several holes giving players easier walks to the green on some steeper slopes, maintaining a mountain-golf feel but, at the same time, cutting down on player fatigue. The last of the par 5’s is the number 1 handicap hole. At 477 yards, a well-placed tee shot down a tight, sloping fairway will give you a decent approach, downhill to the green. Perhaps the most unique hole on the course is number 16, where the cup rests only 305 downhill yards away. However, golfers are prohibited from attempting to drive the green as a 90-degree dogleg left, less than 200 yards below the tee, opens to a blind green fronted by a pond. A medium iron followed by a wedge is the perfect way to play this hole. Mountain golf courses may have their ups and downs, but the Beech Mountain Club is well worth the ride. Its appeal lies in its beauty, design and immaculate condition. Rory Ellington, superintendent for the last 13 years, lauds his staff for their efforts at carefully trimming the 40 plus Augusta-like sand bunkers, careful mowing and daily pin placements.

Beech Mountain Club provides all the other essentials as well. A well-appointed pro shop resides next to a glamorous clubhouse resting atop the mountain. Golfers can relax before, during and after their round on a sprawling deck overlooking numbers 10 and 14 below. Facilities include a generous putting green, driving range and a chipping green, complete with bunkers. Beech Mountain not only promises comfortable temperatures, it guarantees them! “The Summer of ’79” stay-and-play package offers a unique program tied to the daily high as recorded at the National Weather Service reporting station on Beech Mountain. If the temperature exceeds 79 degrees any day that a stay-andplay golfer tees it up at Beech Mountain Club, the club refunds all golf fees. Although Beech Mountain Club is private, access to the course has been available via local stay-and-play packages. Several lodging operations have club memberships, thus providing golf access for their guests. Archers Inn and 4 Seasons at Beech are just two of the partners. In addition, local rental management companies have homes and condos with club memberships. Choose your lodging and they will take care of your tee time! “The great thing about the Summer of ’79 promotion is there aren’t many places that can offer a deal like this,” said Calder Smoot of the Beech Mountain Tourism Development Authority. “We always brag about how cool it is here in summer. This gives us a chance to put our money where our mouth is.” ❖ For information on accommodations and other area attractions call (800) 468-5506 or visit: www.BeechMtn. com/summerof79. Saying goodbye to the lush fairways and greens that make up the Beech Mountain Club course is hard to do. This view from behind the 18th green provides one last look at one of the premiere courses in Western North Carolina.

20 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

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Tasty Tours

Culinary fare served up with historical flare

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of Greenville History Tours

f you have an appetite for good food, seasoned with a dash of local history, you need to meet John Nolan. He is one of Greenville’s resident historians. He also happens to be a “foodie,” and when he puts his two loves together, the result is a tour of some of the city’s finest kitchens, along its most scenic walkways, all kicked up a notch by a side of Upstate history. Greenville History Tours offers a variety of walking and auto tours of South Carolina’s renaissance city, where textile history meets the car of tomorrow and the “Old South” blends seamlessly with all that is cosmopolitan. Nolan knows his way around the rich tapestry of Greenville as well as anyone and his taste for good food ... well, it’s simply superb. On a perfect, early summer evening, the adventure begins at Soby’s On the Side. Sous Chef Sarah Durham greets our group of 14 in the kitchen, where it only takes a few minutes to realize that the only thing more infectious than her smile is her ability to whip up a tasty appetizer that is all “South.” “This isn’t science class,” she laughs, diving into a bowl of diced onion with both hands and then burying it in a sauté skillet with even greater quantities of shredded red cabbage. “I love to use my hands.” Measured amounts of several spices are added to the skillet, including a little garlic ... and then some more garlic ... and then just a little more garlic. She squeezes the juice of a lime, then another, then another, and then comes a heaping helping of bacon. The skillet is overflowing, but there has to be room for the pulled pork. All blended together, the tour group has inched closer to the chef, sipping a tasty blend of gin and berries she has poured for each of us and inhaling the zesty aroma of the skillet. Using the back of her hand, she wafts the aroma in our direction. A helper places fried green tomatoes on a serving plate and stacks a generous helping of the pork/cabbage mixture on top. Within minutes, rave reviews can be heard. Those unsuspecting of what awaits them on the rest of the tour ask for seconds. Sarah beams and wishes the group well as John prods us

22 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

John Nolan’s passion for the city of Greenville is evident as he leads guests on a tour through some of the city’s finest eateries, offering up fascinating stories of the city’s development and the revival of the past two decades.

At right: Chef Shaun Garcia at Soby’s is pictured doing a demo of shrimp and grits. Demonstrations such as this are standard fare on nearly all Tuesday night culinary tours.

More About The Tour Culinary tours are offered most Tuesdays and Saturdays. Saturday tours do not include a kitchen demonstration but still involve five restaurants. Tours require about three hours and cover roughly 1 ¼ miles with some stairs. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Below: Carl Sobocinski, owner of the Table 301 franchise, is pictured talking to guests from behind the bar at Nose Dive, a gastropub stop on John Allen’s tours.

toward the front door and the short walk up Court Street to Soby’s New South Cuisine — one of the flagship restaurants of the Table 301 group. As we wind our way through the bustling eatery toward a stairway leading to a relatively private table on the second floor, John stops to explain the history of the 301 moniker. “This is table 301,” he says, tapping a table for two at the very top of the stairs. “Table 301 is always the table closest to the kitchen, with the best view of the dining room. It is considered the chef ’s table. It’s always the one to ask for.” As quickly as the group is seated, a host explains the makings of a unique non-alcoholic, berry-based drink prepared especially for our tour. Chef Shaun

The price of $39 includes the equivalent of a fine meal, but does not include a suggested tip for the tour guide of 15 to 20 percent. Nolan also offers walking and driving history tours of Greenville. His 144page “Guide to Historic Greenville, South Carolina” is available for purchase at the conclusion of your tour or can be ordered by calling (864) 567-3940 or online at www. greenvillehistorytours.com. Garcia then takes the floor for a brief history of Soby’s, discusses the importance of hospitality and, as we are being served a main course of the restaurant’s famed bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, tells about the farm-to-table effort he oversees on several acres near Hendersonville, N.C. With virtually every plate empty,

the tour moves on. Our guide is headed for a unique 301 eatery across the Court Square, but first a little history as the main course settles. Using photos and plat maps large enough for all to see, Nolan tells about Greenville’s early origins using a plat drawn up in 1797 by Lemuel Alston in

summer 2013 • 23

At left: An appetizer similar to this pulled pork and cabbage combination represented the first course on a recent Greenville Culinary Tour. At right: This tasty entrée, consisting of shoulder steak over horseradish mashed potatoes, with asparagus and a side strawberry and spinach salad with fresh fruit, was served on one tour by Chef Ken Talbott at The Loft at Soby’s.

which he called it the village of Pleasantburg at Greenville Courthouse. At the time, the now-bustling thoroughfares were simply known as “the street” and “the avenue.” Tour participants begin to sense Nolan’s affection for the city as he talks about Vardry McBee — whose purchase of 11,028 acres in 1815 and subsequent donations for churches and schools, development of the railroad and ownership of flour, wool and paper mills, as well as a store and cotton factory earned him the title, “Father of Greenville.” We move on, making a short walk across the square to Nose Dive, a unique gastropub, whose less-than-pretentious prices and relaxed atmosphere have created a “neighborhood” eatery. Here unlimited beer selections and keg wine flow as patrons select from a thoroughly diverse menu ranging from a traditional pastrami sandwich to an appetizer called “angry drunken mussels” — described as mussels, rye whiskey, tomato, onion, chili and crusty bread. Seated at a group table, we are free to sample “Arrogant Bastard Ale” as Sous Chef Aaron Franklin describes his “Southern version of bagels and lox,” a tasty bruschetta topped with smoked fish, micro-greens, onions and boiled egg. Everyone is enjoying the fare as Franklin speaks of the restaurant’s popular grits bar, its musical offerings Thursday through Saturday and, oh, yes, the oxtail cheese fries and dark chocolate and candied bacon brownie. There’s no time to dawdle, however, 24 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

so it’s out the back entrance and up a few steps into the historic lobby of the Poinsett Hotel. As a piano plays in the background, our group gathers around Nolan who explains the rise, fall and resurrection of business on this Greenville corner. Originally the location of the Mansion House Hotel, a popular summer getaway for humidity-suffering Charlestonians, the Poinsett was built on the site in 1925, opening in time for the international textile exhibition. “The bellmen were slipped a piece of paper with each guest’s name on it,” Nolan explains, “and each bellman was required to say the guest’s name three times before they reached the room.” The group offers a collective smile at yet another piece of local history trivia delightfully delivered. In the 1950s, as stores moved to the suburbs and textile mills began to close, hard times fell on downtown. Attempts to revive the business district with a colorful mosaic of prefab metal storefronts failed. By 1980, the Poinsett had become a nursing home. By 1990, it was abandoned. At every stop on the culinary tours, guests are treated to talks by chefs or owners of the establishments. Discussions range from that night’s tour entrée to the history of the restaurant and/or the building in which it is located. Here, guests gather to learn more about Soby’s, one of Greenville’s finest dining establishments.

However, under the leadership of Mayor Max Heller, Greenville began a revival. Heller convinced the Hyatt to locate downtown and a rebirth was ignited. As the city considered razing the Poinsett, the Westin group came in and in-

vested millions. “The chandeliers, marble and all the wrought iron are original,” Nolan says, gesturing around the lobby. And, as quickly as that, the tour is off again, headed for Devereaux’s, another of

301’s flagships. Chef Spencer Thompson greets us, offers a brief history of the building, which was originally a cigar factory and then leads us to a private dining area. Several tour members comment on the way the eatery has been configured to offer patrons privacy and spaciousness, some suggesting that the decor and design set it apart from others we have visited. We dine on rabbit confit and enjoy a few moments to catch our breath. The last leg of our journey is the longest, taking us back up Main Devereaux’s Chef Spencer Thompson talks with culinary tour guests seated in a private dining room of the restaurant. This kind of special treatment is routine at every stop on the culinary tour.

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Street, past the Peace Center and down to the river. Nolan stops to point out a building that was once the leading carriage company in the South and an annex building that was the original Duke’s Mayonnaise plant but is now used as a riverside pavilion. He regales us with quick

stories about each before leading us across a footbridge that is built on a dam created by the pilings of the former Swamp Rabbit Railroad. The sun is setting as we arrive at our last stop, The Lazy Goat, Table 301’s Mediterranean entree on our culinary

tour. Before we go in to enjoy a sumptuous pastry and fine dessert wine, Nolan spends a final few moments showing a picture of the river view from this location 50 years ago and another as it looks today. He gestures to the west and talks about the city’s plans for development in that area. “There are plans for a 200-acre park. The city is still accepting ideas for what should be included in that area, but it’s sure to be amazing,” he says with obvious pride in his adopted hometown. ❖

Whether it is a culinary tour or an historical tour, John Nolan takes guests through the heart of this South Carolina cosmopolitan Mecca. Along the way he discusses the city’s origins, its struggles and its revival in recent years.

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Greenville preps for film extravaganza

ver been to a film festival? If your answer is “no,” but it is something you’ve always thought about doing, you need look no further than Greenville, S.C. and the second Greenville International Film Festival. That’s right, the international film community, with some glitz and glamour and a lot of digital imagery, is returning to the Upstate, June 5-9. And, for as much as the event has begun to draw filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the world in just its second year, it also has a large local connection. Event founders Miguel, Anders and Gloria Berg all have Oconee County connections. Miguel, the executive producer and visionary behind the event, is currently a master of fine arts film and television producing fellow at Chapman University in Irvine, Cal. In its inaugural season, the Greenville Festival received over 185 submissions from over 33 countries worldwide. Fifty films were selected to screen at various venues from the Historic West End to the

North End of the city. Filmmakers from Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C. and Charleston, S.C. attended the event, as did filmmakers from Australia, New York and California. More than 600 natives from the Upstate enjoyed an array of spectacular films, some of which went on to play at the renowned Cannes Film Festival. One entry also went on to win an Academy Award. Due to this success, major motion picture studios, including Columbia Pictures and Sony Entertainment, have allied and partnered with this year’s organizers to provide special advance screenings of films due in theaters before their nationwide releases. While Greenville has evolved into one of the Southeast’s most contemporary cities and a hub for the arts and culture, GIFF organizers believe that the art of cinema remains hidden in the city. “Once upon a time, Greenville had six movie theaters within its immediate downtown area. Since the 1970s, Greenville has not seen its beautiful downtown sidewalks flourish with the architecture of the classic vaudeville theaters of its former era,” the Festival website explains. “Even its once-prominent theatre that boasted over 1,000 seats — The Carolina Theatre — has turned dark.” The Greenville International Film Festival seeks to revive the city’s theatric life ... at least for a few days ... by attracting some of the best and brightest in the trade, as well as movie aficionados. ❖

Story by Brett McLaughlin

Photos courtesy of Greenville International Film Festival

To learn more about GIFF “Take Two” visit http://www.gviff.com. Produced by World Vision and directed by award-winning producer Michael Landon Jr., Journey to Jamaa received the Best in Film Award at the inaugural Greenville Festival. It is a poignant and inspiring story where tragedy and hardship ultimately lead to the discovery of hope, family ... and the very heart of God.

The Greenville Glory is the award presented to outstanding films, actors, directors and other film artisans participating in the Greenville International Film Festival.

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A Lighthouse for a neighborhood ... not just a lake

he ginger teriyaki salmon is a tasty favorite. The butternut squash ravioli and the Tuscan chicken pasta are seasonal specialties. But, it’s the Maryland crab pretzel that really tells you all you need to know about Lake Keowee’s newest dining establishment. It’s essentially a large baked pretzel, but in the hands of Chef Mark Winters

The Lighthouse Restaurant and Event Center has quickly become Lake Keowee’s premiere dining and events location since opening in May 2012.

32 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jack Kates III

it can become whatever you want it to be — a gourmet appetizer sufficient for several people, a dockside treat to be enjoyed with an imported ale or, perhaps, simply a dinner entrée for one hungry diner with a craving for crab, two cheeses, Dijon aioli and scallions. From the day The Lighthouse on Lake Keowee opened last May until now, the goal of both the owners and the

youthful staff they have assembled has been to create a neighborhood restaurant. “We didn’t want to be the place people go just for birthday or anniversary celebrations,” explained General Manager Andrew Merritt. “We are only 10 or 15 minutes from a lot of places, we’ve kept our prices low and we really want people to feel they can come here a couple of times a week.”

Restaurant brings fine dining to Lake Keowee The Lighthouse website echoes that desire: “Whether you are in a sport coat or sporting a sunburn, we have a place for you to settle in, enjoy a cocktail, a snack or a full meal.” So far, so good. Opening last May, The Lighthouse enjoyed a full summer season on Lake Keowee, attracting diners who made the picturesque drive to the end of Doug Hollow Road, as well as a large number of boaters who took advantage of the restaurant’s boat slips, dockside service and casual porch and first floor dining areas. “The boat traffic was a little overwhelming at first,” Merritt acknowledged. “We have 12 slips, but they were lined up waiting to get into them.” As fall turned to winter the demand

for tables on the second floor, where panoramic views of the lake and mountains are unavoidable, became rivaled by requests for fireside dining on the ground floor. “Our menu changes seasonally, but we only have one menu at a time. You can get any item on the menu whether you are eating in the cabana, being served at the bar or at a table for two on the second floor,” Merritt explained, lending credence to the frequent call for those tasty crab pretzels.

But, Chef Winters’ kitchen is about far more than novel pretzels and the equally appetizing BBQ Mahi Mahi taco starter. “Our specials lend themselves to more elegant dining upstairs,” Merritt said. “Mark makes them unique, based

The Maryland crab pretzel can be a gourmet appetizer sufficient for several people, a dockside treat to be enjoyed with an imported ale or, perhaps, simply a dinner entrée for one hungry diner. It features crab, two cheeses, Dijon aioli and scallions.

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Above left: The 8-ounce filet is charbroiled to order and glazed with garlic-chive compound butter. The entrée is always served with redskin mashed potatoes and another side. Above right: Among the most popular desserts is The Lighthouse cheesecake. Here, the sumptuous filling sits atop a graham cracker crust and is topped with strawberry and a dollop of whipped cream.

on what is available locally, as well as the fresh seafood and fish he can acquire.” Winters’ varied culinary background — short-order cook at Augusta National, sous chef at Keowee Key Country Club, ownership of a restaurant in Liberty —

and degree in restaurant management from Cornell University have combined to give The Lighthouse a “crisp, clean” kitchen that prides itself on using fresh products to create quality meals. A favorite for all seasons has prov-

en to be almond crusted chicken. Winters’ choice is to serve a pounded chicken breast, fried in Creole butter, and topped with a honey glaze and toasted almonds. Served with two sides, the meal is bountiful and reasonably priced at $14.

Keowee’s Premier LaKeside dining Dining In Casual Elegance Private Cabana Club Boat Slips Available Covered Outdoor Seating With Spectacular Views Picturesque View Of Lake Keowee And Blue Ridge Mountains Reservations Accepted Walk-Ins Welcome 1290 Doug Hollow Rd. Seneca 864-888-4446 lighthousekeowee.com 34 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

The Lighthouse version of shrimp and grits features limber cob, heirloom variety corn grits grown in the nearby Brasstown Valley. They are smothered with a heaping portion of sautéed shrimp and topped with andouille-tomato gravy and diced scallions.

plete privacy — or for a family of four enjoying a sunset dinner on the second floor, Winter wants to use as much locally-grown product as possible. It’s one reason he tends his own organic garden near the restaurant. “I enjoy digging in the dirt,” he said with a smile. “We use all organic soils, and it’s fun for me. We incorporate the herbs in our dishes, and people actually enjoy seeing the chef pick his own herbs.” One dish guests can enjoy this summer that inOn our visit, we enjoyed The Lighthouse version of shrimp and grits. This chef ’s specialty begins with grits grown in the Brasstown Valley, less than a mile from Chattooga Belle Farm where they are purchased. Winters takes these Tennessee limber cob, heirloom variety corn grits and smothers them with a heaping portion of sautéed shrimp. The dish is then topped with andouille-tomato gravy and finished off with diced scallions. For $3 you can dare to add a house salad, but be prepared to take a portion home with you. “I enjoy Italian and classical French cooking, but I’m also right at home with Southern gourmet,” Winters said. “Basically, I love to cook with fresh ingredients and put a little different twist on traditional dishes.” Whether he is cooking for a wedding reception, a non-profit fundraiser in the 250-seat Event Center — built as a separate facility to afford guests comAbove: The upper level of The Lighthouse provides the most inspiring views of Lake Keowee and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some of those views are also available on the first floor, which proved a popular seating choice of winter diners, who enjoyed the warmth of the restaurant’s 4-sided fireplace. At right: The bar area of The Lighthouse has become a frequent gathering place for several local diners, as well as a popular after-hours location for young professionals. summer 2013 • 35

Pictured are General Manager Andrew Merritt and The Lighthouse’s newest staff member, Megan Short, who will oversee events planning and customer relations.

cludes some of those herbs and other local products is the Tuscan chicken pasta. A grilled chicken breast is mixed with penne pasta and fresh vegetables from local farms and blended into a refreshing sauce comprised of olive oil and a balsamic reduction. Our service at The Lighthouse was top-notch, reflecting the training routine each new server is given. “We ask them to learn with their eyes and take orders onthe fifth day,” Merritt explained. The Event Center, which hosted an estimated 40 private parties this past holiday season and has been the venue for several community non-profit events since

opening, offers everything from custom-colored linens to DJ and catered bar services. Merritt said one goal he has is to build and strengthen the restaurant’s outreach to the community, particularly its non-profit providers. “We hope to do a lot more in the weeks and months ahead to become an even greater participant in meeting the needs of the community,” he said. ❖

The Lighthouse is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.; Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are not required but are recommended and may Want To Visit ... be made by calling 864The Keowee Cabana Club at The Lighthouse 888-4446. is a private, non-profit social fraternity. Entrees range from $14 to $22; appetizIt is open to anyone age 21 years and older ers from $7 to $12; soups who shares and supports the club’s interest and salads from $4 to $11; in fundraising and support of local charities. and sandwiches from $8 to Annual dues are $35 for an individual $12. A children’s menu is and $50 for a family. Membership offered, as well as an exincludes access to select special events tensive cocktail menu and at The Lighthouse Event Center. While wine list. For more informamembership is not required to dine at the tion or to make inquiCabana Club, it is required for the purchase ries regarding any of The or consumption of alcoholic beverages. Lighthouse facilities, visit The Cabana Club is located dockside on www.lighthousekeowee. Lake Keowee, with access by land or lake. com.

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An Upstate Eden Every day is different in Eden by the lake

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of John & Gloria Syme

very day, John and Gloria Syme start their morning with a different view of the world. Mother Nature, with her unfathomable ability to balance sun and rain, gets a good deal of credit for the inspiring view at 1812 Grandview Drive. John and Gloria, however, are very much co-artists in the creation of the ever-changing panorama available from their terrace. Simply put, the Symes have taken a one-time cotton field in the Keowee River

Valley and created what botanical experts have deemed “one of the three best shade gardens in Upstate South Carolina.” From January, when the Lenten Roses and Daphne break through winter’s cover, right on through the end of the year when the spring blooms begin to show, the gardens surrounding the Syme home bloom

in cascading waves of color that make each dawn an exciting new adventure. The gardens they have created are a labor of love that is anchored in their ancestry and nurtured by a keen desire to continue improving on an already-magical place. It is where a statue of a golfer — affectionately known as Mr. Mulligan

It was the view of Lake Keowee and the mountain ranges in the distance that sold the Symes on purchasing their home in 1987. The view remains excellent during the fall and winter months but is now partially obscured by trees that have grown up nearer the lake.

summer 2013 • 37

At left: Earlier this spring, as the Azaleas and Rhododendrons were just beginning to bloom, John and Gloria Syme posed on the small lawn of the upper terrace. Just a small part of their garden is pictured in the background. Another similar area is in front of them and other gardens stretch around both sides of their home and down to Grandview Drive. Photo by Jessica Nelms

— peeks whimsically out from behind a Rhododendron, where dozens of species of birds nest under towering pines and poplars and where friends gather to enjoy a glass of wine and breathe in the fragrance of that day’s blooms. The Symes moved into their home in 1987, choosing the location primarily for its interior view of the lake and mountains. While the growth of trees closer to the lake has obscured some of that view over the years, the couple has more than made up for the loss of lake ascetics by turning their hillside haven into a garden Mecca. Their loving attention to the gardens seems to have no bounds. “We are always replacing something, looking for something new, trying to figure out what we can do next,” Gloria said as she walked along a perfectly-manicured path on the upper terrace and pointed out a pair of beds where an herb garden gave way to new, flowering plants. 38 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

“The mint took over and Gloria doesn’t use all those herbs in cooking anymore,” John explained. “Other times, things just get too big and you have to replace them.” Gloria explains that her mother instilled a love of gardening in her. John, on the other hand, grew up on a cattle ranch out West. However, he came to love the soil and, at about the same time he was preparing to retire from his professorial post at Clemson University, and with their gardens already underway, he chose to take a Master Gardener class. “I came from an agriculture background, and I knew a little,” he said as he walked toward the back of the property where his hand-crafted “garden house” stands as testimony to the organization required to tend a creation as labor intensive as this. “But, you need to know about soils and what things grow in different soils. You can’t do that without the class.” When the Symes bought their home

Above left: The Symes lot on Lake Keowee is historically interesting in that it shows how hillside acreage near the Keowee River used to be terraced for growing cotton. This stairway leads to the main garden on a terrace above the home. Above right: A variety of flowers are in bloom, providing better cover for Mr. Mulligan, a small statue that reflects the Symes’ love for the game of golf, a game which brought them together as a couple and which they still enjoy well into their 80’s.

the upper terrace was overgrown with brush and weeds. “We knew we could either make it a tennis court or a garden,” John said with a smile. The couple enlisted the help of Billy Head at Head-Lee Nursery in Seneca. He built a stairway to the upper terrace, helped

clear the heavy brush and offered some initial suggestions on the development of a garden. “Our basic thought was that we wanted an informal shade garden ... a relaxing garden,” John said. The couple would call on the expertise of other professionals as additional areas were added to “the garden.” Mary Haque, a retired Clemson University professor and

registered landscape architect, offered suggested plantings for two areas, including a large part of the front lawn going down to Grandview Drive, and renowned Easley, S.C. and Jacksonville, Fla. botanist Dabney Peeples provided expertise as well. However, John credits his wife’s ability to visualize the garden in bloom for much of the couple’s success ... that, and the three full days he works each week tending to

The main garden terrace provides the perfect setting for afternoon luncheons. Gloria routinely hosts a local book club, her neighbors and members of her golf league.

all they have created. He has overseen the installation of a watering system that uses overhead hoses to mist the entire expanse, has built arbors and trellises, mulches fall leaves into compost for flower beds and is

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Above: Rhododendrons provide a beautiful backdrop as John spends a few quiet moments in the garden. At right: John’s “garden house” is more than just a “shed.” The structure’s window boxes are home to some of the gardens few annual plants. In the foreground of this picture, a small statue of a cat marks where the couple’s beloved cat, Cissy, is buried in the garden.

involved daily in the processes of pruning and fertilizing. “It evolves,” John says as he settles into one of several chairs clustered in a “room,” as they refer to secluded areas scattered throughout the upper terrace. “It’s more work than I expected, but it’s also more rewarding ... to be able to sit back here and read a book, feel a little breeze and enjoy a glass of wine, it’s all worth it.” Gloria estimates there are 50 different perennials on the property, including 10 varieties of Rhododendrons. Some of the Lady of York and Red Eye plantings are 20 years old and “seeing their last days,” she explains. Everywhere one turns there are different plants. The hellebores (Lenten Roses) have already bloomed, giving way to a magnificent mosaic of Azaleas whose colors provide background for a festive mix of smaller spring blooms. As spring turns to summer, Clematis inches up a trellis, almost ready to burst into bloom. The yellow clusters of flowers on the Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grapes) have given way to green grapes that will soon turn a vivid shade of purple. The Lace Cap Hydrangeas are filling out, prepping for full blooms that will carry into the summer months. And, the Rhododendrons … oh, those Rhododendrons! The Symes call their home Glenshieling, Scottish for “little shelter in the glen.” And, while the shelter they have created within the confines of a Festive Holly hedge is not in a glen, it is their haven, their quiet place and their place to share with those who visit. A sign posted near the garden reads: “A beautiful garden is a work of heart,” and the Symes enjoy extending the work of their hearts to others. Gloria routinely hosts her book club, neighbor ladies and members of her golf league. Strangers are also welcome but, understand, you will only be a stranger until you arrive. ❖ Everyone is welcome to visit Glenshieling, but the Symes would ask that no small children or pets be included. To arrange a visit to the gardens, call (864) 882-9331.

40 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

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Far East finds home on Keowee mountainside Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jack Kates III

The Jones home sits some 300 feet above a north Lake Keowee inlet. This view from their deck shows the North Carolina Mountains. The Keowee-Toxaway Dam can be seen in the upper left part of the photo.

hanks to Mike and Jean Jones, a little bit of the Far East has found a home atop a high hill overlooking Lake Keowee and the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It’s a beautiful spot for a loving couple and their carefully crafted and fully-functional collection of oriental furniture and art. They couldn’t be happier for more reasons than they ever could have imagined.

summer 2013 • 41

Their home is a house built not only to take full advantage of an awesome lake and mountain vista, but also to accommodate oriental furnishings they have spent a lifetime amassing. It is a place small enough to be practical, yet large enough to welcome friends and family. It isn’t on the beach, as Mike might have preferred, and it isn’t really “lakefront” since the lake is 300 feet below their deck, but only treetops and pine straw separate them from the lake, and their boat slip is just minutes away. However, perhaps the best thing

The front door separates a spacious and functional kitchen from the formal dining room, which offers another example of subtle and tasteful oriental decor. The dining table itself was made in Taiwan. A tonsu (serving) table in one corner is a refurbished Japanese hope chest.

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about this home is that they expect it to be their last. “This is a second master,” Jean explained, walking down a short hall off the home’s spacious great room. “The master is on the second floor, but we wanted a room down here so that, when the time comes, we would have a bedroom on this floor. This is going to be our last home.” The couple’s desire to “settle” isn’t hard to understand. Mike’s two careers — the first in the Navy and the second as an engineer for General Electric — meant moving family (they have two grown daughters) and furnishings 18 times. One of their final moves brought them to Greenville, S.C. in 1982. There, they opened their own business. But, before selling it in 2006, the retirement plan was already coming together. After deciding that life at the beach was not something they desired 12 months of the year, they began looking for property on a lake. It was a lengthy search that didn’t end until they were shown a 2-acre parcel on one of the highest peaks in the Bay View development north of Salem, S.C. “We must have looked at property on every lake from Sapphire, N.C. to Atlanta,” Jean said. It was the view — Lake Keowee in the foreground and the Toxaway Dam on the first of several mountain ranges stretching to the northern horizon — that clinched the deal. One of the most unique features in the entire home is the greenhouse window over the kitchen sink. A glassed-in box protrudes from the house several inches, providing a perfect growing area for plants, including several orchids Jean has cultivated.

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Sitting in the great room, Jean shares the sofa with, Torii, whose name in Japanese refers to a water gate commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine. Mike enjoys an easy chair that provides an envious, hilltop view of Lake Keowee and the North Carolina Mountains.

The home’s design, a plan pulled from another home the couple admired, tweaked by Mike, and then turned over to registered architect and licensed builder Ron Welch, takes full advantage of the view. Entering from under a unique front portico, a spacious and functional kitchen to the left is immediately overwhelmed by the grand panorama made possible by arching windows reaching up 25 feet to the peak of the great room. With almost magnetic attraction, visitors are drawn to a sweeping deck that stretches out over the vast terrain below and envelops the house from the second master on the left, past the great room and on to a screened porch at the right side of the home. A small stone fireplace adorns the interior wall of the 44 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

great room. Near the front of the home Jean’s prize stairway separates the kitchen from the great room ... but not entirely. The stairway is framed in an oriental design created by Jean. It is largely open, allowing people in the kitchen to still enjoy the mountain vista.

While the stairway provides a hint of the couple’s love of things oriental, it is really in the furnishings and decor that their passion is best realized. The entire house has red oak floors, but every room and hallway is adorned with exquisite oriental rugs. Three antique cooking hibachis have been converted into end tables and a chow table, around which the Japanese gather to eat, serves as a coffee table, all in the great room. The furnishings and decor attest to the couple’s passion for things oriental. Every room and hallway is adorned with exquisite oriental rugs. This is one of three antique cooking hibachis that have been converted into end tables and join a chow table that serves as a coffee table in the great room.

“Early in our marriage we spent three years in Japan, and it really defined our tastes forever,” Jean explained, noting that even her contributions to the Iris Garden Club of Salem are centered around her licensure in oriental flower origination. Mission-style doors in the bedrooms, baths and on many of the closets contribute to the Far East theme of the home. Those wood doors and the massive, Douglas fir beams — cut and milled in Canada — that outline the great room and loft above blend seamlessly with the hardwood floors and the latticework of the stairway. Jean’s prize stairway separates the kitchen from the great room ... but not entirely. The stairway, which she designed, features an oriental design that is largely open, To the right of the main entrance is the allowing people in the kitchen to still enjoy the mountain vista across the home’s great room. A loft at the top of the stairs serves as an office.

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It was the view ... that clinched the deal. formal dining room, which offers another example of subtle and tasteful oriental decor. The dining table itself was made in Taiwan. A tonsu (serving) table in one corner is a refurbished Japanese hope chest, complete with secret compartments and small handles on each end that would have been lifted so a pole could be inserted and the chest carried to the new bride’s home. “It fits perfectly on that wall,” Jean noted, going on to explain that most of the walls in the home were designed to accommodate specific pieces of furniture or art. There are several paintings throughout the home, almost all oriental. One in the dining room is a favorite. Created by Sadao Watanabe in 1970, it, like most paintings by the renowned artist, has a biblical theme, this one depicting the trials of Job. The nearby kitchen features cherry cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and several special features such as pullout drawers for oils and spices and a rolltop enclosure for appliances. One of the most unique features in the entire home is the greenhouse window over the kitchen sink. A glassed-in box protrudes from the house several inches, providing a perfect growing area for a variety of plants, including several orchids Jean has cultivated. The window also provides a pleasant street-side view. The second floor landing is a small office/loft, overlooking the great room and providing another wonderful view through the upper oval window of the back wall. The master on the second floor, accessed through double pocket doors, is also very much oriental in theme, but is made distinctive by the use of several wicker furniture pieces. Dressers in the room were made in Japan. The adjoining master bath features a double vanity, tile shower, cultured marble countertops and a large bath by which there is a wide windowsill on which Jean suns more of her orchids. The lower level of the home houses a complete suite, currently home to Jean’s mother. She has her own room, television and/ or exercise room and full bath. The two main rooms both open onto a second deck, offering an equally glorious view of the lake and mountains. Sitting in the great room, Mike enjoys his easy chair just inside the doors to the deck and Jean shares a sofa with the family dog, Torii. (In Japanese, the name refers to a water gate most commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine.) Jean explains that the painting over the fireplace has been part of every home they have owned. “And, now it’s here ... to stay,” she said with a smile. ❖ 46 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

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Thursday, October 24

Keowee Key, Salem 1:00 p.m. shotgun start

Proceeds will: •Purchase Lifeline emergency response units for the elderly and disabled. •Purchase safety equipment for children in Oconee County through Safe Kids Oconee. •Purchase new equipment for Oconee Medical Center. •Support the Mountain Lakes AccessHealth dental clinic for the Oconee County and greater Clemson area.

18-hole, Captain’s Choice $800/team $200/individual

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Contact Libby Cox in the Oconee Medical Center Foundation office at 864.885.7562 to register.

2013 Golf Classic Reception & Auction Thursday, October 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m. The Club at Keowee Key $30 per person Enjoy fabulous hors d’oeuvres, order a cocktail from the cash bar and join your friends for fun and fellowship. Get in on the action at the Silent Auction bidding on great items that range from resort accommodations, fine jewelry, dining packages and more. There will also be a 50/50 chance drawing. Golfers receive two complimentary Big Swing Tickets. For more information and to reserve your tickets, call Libby Cox in the Oconee Medical Center Foundation office at 864.885.7562.

Wednesday, October 23, at Noon Winners announced at The Big Swing Awards Reception on Thursday, October 24

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Cross Creek Plantation, Seneca 12 p.m. shotgun start

To purchase a ticket contact Libby Cox in the Oconee Medical Center Foundation office at 864.885.7562. Make your tax deductible check payable to the Oconee Medical Center Foundation. summer 2013 • 47

By Stephen Pietrowicz Past Commander Golden Corner L akes Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons ©

Time to think safety

t pays great dividends in both peace of mind and in the pocketbook to have your boat shipshape and compliant with state and federal regulations. If you have taken one of the fine basic boating courses available locally or on the Web, you are well aware of what’s required. If you are in the majority of boaters and have not done so, what follows is required reading. For the rest of you it just makes sense to take a minute and proceed. Let’s take a close look at our boats (Paddle craft and PWCs have a separate set of standards and requirements.) with an eye toward meeting the minimum legal requirements. The registration must be current and issued by the state of South Carolina, otherwise, paperwork proving your vessel is a U.S. Coast Guard documented vessel is required. The state issued registration number must be displayed as specified (South Carolina and Georgia have different requirements.) on the bow. That means three-inch block letters in a color that contrasts with the color of the hull. Life vests of the correct size and type are required for each passenger. In addition all boats 16 feet and longer are required to have a throwable Type V device aboard. If you’re boating in federal waters, visual distress signals are required. (See the Federal regulations for specifics.) Fire extinguishers are mandatory if there is a possibility of fumes being trapped in an enclosed compartment. Be a Boat Smart skipper and have your extinguisher mounted in a readily accessible spot. Your boat must be equipped with a

tip of the issue: 48 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

horn or some type of sound-producing device, because most of our boats are less than 39.4 feet; it only has to be heard for a minimum of one mile, still a long way. Weak or inoperative devices are a common occurrence and normally low on the skipper’s priority list. If you’re boating during the hours between official sunset and sunrise, you must have operating navigation lights and use

them. Unfortunately, the lights are very susceptible to malfunctions and are seldom operator checked. Boats with a marine toilet (head) and those 26 feet and longer are subject to additional regulations that should be reviewed by the operator. Our Upstate lakes are strict NO DISCHARGE zones. Inboard and inboard/outboard boats

must have an operating blower that is capable of clearing the bilge of fuel fumes and a clean functioning flame arrestor. All boats should have their decks clear of hazards and their bilges clean. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit is always a good idea. The boat’s battery should be protected from accidental contact with metal objects. The requirements are pretty clear and have not changed substantially over time, but they do vary from state to state; make sure you double check if you’re cruising in a state other than South Carolina. No matter how well a skipper prepares for summer boating season there is no substitute for having a third party safety inspection done on your boat. We in the Upstate are very fortunate to have two organizations more than willing to give free and non-punitive Courtesy Vessel Safety Checks (VSC): the local Power Squadron (Golden Corner Lakes) and the local flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Both of these groups will give your vessel an inspection on your turf at your convenience. All you do is go to the Web and logon to: http://www.usps.org/localusps/d26/ Click on the lower right-hand side of the page to schedule a free VSC. The picture of the decal included in this article is awarded after successful completion of a VSC. It is a signal to all knowledgeable law enforcement officers and your fellow boaters that you have taken the steps necessary to insure your vessel meets the minimum state and federal safety standards. The best of the boating season is still ahead for the Upstate’s boating public; make it your safest and most enjoyable one.

Ventilation is key to keeping summer mildew damage to a minimum. Make sure the boat’s cover is secure, but allows some air movement under it. It also helps to keep an open container with some charcoal under the boat’s canvas.

By Phillip Gentry

Hartwell’s summer stripers

hen Lake Hartwell’s waters reach their hottest during the summer months, striped bass will move from the forks of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers to the main lake basin down toward the dam. Water quality is typically higher in this area. Fish may be found from water depths starting at 40 feet down to below 100 feet. Bucktail Guide Service’s Preston Harden, of Townville, S.C., prefers to

target striped and hybrid striped bass on clean bottom flats and humps adjacent to deep creek channels on the lower lake rather than attempting to fish them out of the forests of standing timber that cover much of the main lake floor. “The area from around Portman Shoals Marina down to the dam definitely has the best water quality when it gets hot,” Harden said. “I’ve noticed that in the years when a thermocline sets up real hard in the rivers, it pushes fish further down the lake.” By eliminating over two-thirds of the lake for his summer striper fishing, Harden can concentrate on his other game plan for finding fish. The water depths in the main lake basin can get as deep as 150 feet in places and the distance across the lake can stretch for a couple of miles, so even the lower lake can look like an ocean. In order to narrow the playing field, Harden concentrates on what he calls “the ditches.” These are the submerged creek channels that meander across the bottom of Hartwell’s lake floor

and eventually connect with the Savannah River channel. Hartwell striped bass use these ditches as roadways to travel around the lake. The guide focuses on three major creek channels — Sadler’s Creek, Powderbag Creek and Lightwood Log Creek — plus there are a number of smaller ditches that run off of these major channels. It’s still a lot of ground to cover, but using a digital mapping system helps narrow it down. Most of the time you can go right back to the general area you found them the day before. But if you haven’t been on the water in a while, you’ll need to do a lot of riding and looking before you pick a spot to fish. Though live bait tends to get the nod during hot weather from other anglers, Harden has an effective presentation for presenting heavyweight artificial baits to deepwater striped bass. Frequently referred to as power reeling, the tactic uses rapid reeling and dropping of bucktail jigs, and jigging spoons can also be effective. “When I mark fish suspended on the graph, I like to drop a heavy, ¾- or 1-ounce buck tail or jigging spoon straight down through the school and then power reel the bait back up through the fish. This will often elicit a reaction bite,” said the guide. Navigation can be challenging, as the vast open water near the dam can seem like a desert, requiring you to rely on your electronics. You can contact Captain Preston Harden of Bucktail Guide Service at 706-255-5622 or www.bucktailguideservice.com.

Using a strategy known as power reeling, Hartwell striped bass guide Preston Harden tempts striped bass from Hartwell’s deep water basin during the summer months. Photo by Phillip Gentry summer 2013 • 49

upstate theatre Flat Rock Playhouse P.O. Box 310 Flat Rock, N.C. 828-693-0731 Toll Free: 866-732-8008 www.flatrockplayhouse.org June 5-30 (Mainstage) Evita Perhaps the greatest collaboration of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, Evita tells the story of Eva Peron, perhaps the most notorious public figure in Argentina’s history. The illegitimate child of a rural landowner and a seamstress, Eva began her career as a performer and then rose to prominence as the wife of the dictator Juan Peron. Beloved by the people and despised by the aristocracy, Eva’s exploits come to life through a compelling score that fuses haunting chorales with exuberant Latin, pop and jazz influences. June 27 – July 14 (Playhouse Downtown) The Big Bang This frenetic entertainment is long on shtick and historical hilarity. Two producers are attempting to raise $83.5 million for a 12-hour staged musical history of the world which will feature a 318-person cast, 6,428 costumes and 1,400 wigs. In the process, the opulent Park Avenue apartment “borrowed” for the occasion is trashed as the two snatch the furnishings to create makeshift costumes while singing and clowning their way through inventive re-creations of the past. July 10 – August 18 (Mainstage) Les Misérables This international sensation may be the most popular musical in the world. Epic, grand and uplifting, Les Misérables packs an emotional wallop that has thrilled audiences for a generation, and now for the first time, it will be on the Flat Rock stage. Set in early 19th-century

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France, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant of abnormal physical and moral strength, and his never-ending quest for redemption. Our all-new production will feature a cast of 30 performers and a new production design that will make this musical a “can’t miss” summer event! August 1-18 (Playhouse Downtown) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) Whether you know you love or think you loathe Shakespeare, this play is for you. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) embodies one of comedy’s most essential impulses: the adolescent urge to take a baseball bat to the culturally revered. Three actors take you on an irreverent, yet surprisingly comprehensive, romp through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays (plus a sonnet or two). You’ll be treated to a mix of pratfalls, puns, willful mis-readings of names and dialogue, clunky female impersonations, clean-cut ribaldry and broad burlesque. August 18 – September 15 (Mainstage) Deathtrap Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell that has left him with a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college – a thriller which Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway hit. Sidney’s plan, which he devises with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea the younger man quickly accepts.

Thereafter, suspense mounts as Sidney’s intentions are revealed and the plot begins to twist and turn with an abundance of thrills and laughter that will leave audiences enthralled until the final, startling moments of the play.

Centre Stage 501 River St. inside the Smith-Barney bldg Greenville, S.C. 864-233-6733 or toll free 877-377-1339 Thru June 8 Fox on the Fairway A tribute from Ken Ludwig to the great English farces of the 1930s and 1940s, The Fox on the Fairway takes audiences on a hilarious romp that pulls the rug out from underneath the stuffy denizens of a private country club. Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors and over-thetop romantic shenanigans, it’s a furiously paced comedy that recalls the Marx Brothers’ classics. A charmingly madcap adventure about love, life and man’s eternal love affair with … golf. July 11-27 Next to Normal Next to Normal is a rock musical whose story concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry and suburban life. This show makes a direct grab for the heart — or wrings it out thoroughly. Next to Normal does not, in other words, qualify as your standard feel-good musical. Instead this portrait of a manic-depressive mother and the people she loves and damages is something much more: a feel-everything musical, which asks you to discover the liberation in knowing where it hurts.

upstate theatre Clemson Little Theatre 214 S. Mechanic St. Pendleton, S.C. Reservations 864-646-8100

Oliver Twist about an orphan who runs away from an orphanage and hooks up with a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor.

Evening performances, 8 p.m. matinees, 3 p.m.

June 14-16, 21-23 Dearly Departed In the Baptist backwoods of the Bible Belt, the beleaguered Turpin family proves that living and dying in the South are seldom tidy and always hilarious.

Oconee Community Theatre 8001 Utica St. Seneca, S.C. Reservations: 864-882-7700 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m. Evenings, 8 p.m., Sunday Matinees, 2:30 p.m.

June 14-16, 21-23 The Odd Couple This classic comedy opens as a group of the guys assemble for cards in the apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication, it’s no wonder that his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Unger who has just been separated from his wife. Fastidious, depressed and nonetoo-tense, Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds Oscar becomes the one with murder on his mind when the clean-freak and the slob ultimately decide to room together with hilarious results as The Odd Couple is born. August 16-18, 23-25 Oliver Musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’

Greenville Little Theatre 444 College St. Greenville, S.C. 864-233-6238 or www.greenvillelittletheatre. org All shows 8 p.m., except Sundays at 3 p.m.

June 1-2, 6-9, 13-16 & 20-22 Annie Get Your Gun Irving Berlin’s best musical is the story of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Mary Freeman and John Brigham star in this classic American musical that features such great songs as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly,” and “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun.”

Peace Center for the Performing Arts 300 South Main St. Greenville, S.C. 864-467-3000 or 800-888-7768 July 10-27 Jersey Boys Jersey Boys is the true story of Frankie Valli

and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide — all before they were 30.

Walhalla Players Walhalla Civic Auditorium 864-638-5277 or 1-877-368-5318 www.walhallacivic.com Evenings 8 p.m. and Sundays 2:30 p.m.

June 1-2 & 7-9 Red Velvet Cake War In this riotously funny Southern-fried comedy, the three Verdeen cousins — Gaynelle, Peaches and Jimmie Wyvette — could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion. Things spin hilariously out of control when a neighbor’s pet devours everything edible, a one-eyed suitor shows up to declare his love and a jaw-dropping highstakes wager is made on who bakes the best red velvet cake. August 9-11 & 16-18 Steel Magnolias Revolving around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor in a small parish in modern-day Louisiana, Steel Magnolias is the story of a close-knit circle of friends whose lives come together there. Filled with humor and heartbreak, these “Steel Magnolias” make us laugh and cry as the realities of their lives in tiny Chiquapin Parish unfold. summer 2013 • 51

calendar of events JUNE June 1 Celebrate National Trails Day by starting at Sassafras Mountain, our state’s highest point, and backpacking to Table Rock by way of the Foothills and Palmetto Trails. The majority of this moderate two-day trip is downhill and covers about 13 miles. June 8 Fun in the Sun 2013 summer festival on West Union’s West Main Street. Country singer Scott Brantley and The Ruckus, as well as food, inflatables, train rides, crafts and more. Call 864-638-2727 or visit www. walhallachamber.com for more information. June 8-15 Matt Hanewald is The Reserve at Lake Keowee’s first artist-in-residence for 2013. Matt is a woodworker who specializes in the making of handmade furniture. He moved to Walhalla from Bellingham, Washington, in 1994. For more information, contact The Reserve at 877-922-5253. June 15 June Tunes Songwriters Showcase — Regional singer/songwriters performing original material in several styles at Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for events and tours of the buildings and grounds. June 17 – July 12 Summer Arts Camp Instructor’s gallery exhibit at Clemson Arts Center; 212 Butler St., Clemson, S.C.; Monday thru Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. June 22 Pack your picnic, bring your favorite beverage to The Reserve at Lake Keowee. Shaun Ritchie and Second Hand Jazz will perform from 6:308:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets! June 28 Dancin’ on Depot in Hartwell, Ga. as the popular band, “Still Cruzin” performs from 7-10 p.m.

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June 29 Pre-Fourth Extravaganza Arts and Craft show, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the square in Hartwell, Ga. For more information call 706376-0188 or go to hartwellmainstreet.com June 29 – August 15 Exhibits at the Pickens County Museum of Art & History, 307 Johnson St., Pickens, S.C., include: “American Colors: Patriotism Reflected in Art,” “Documenting Rolling Thunder; Photographs by J. Michael Johnson,” and “Melody Davis’ Drawings & Paintings.” Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday from 9 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

JULY July 3 Join thousands of revelers for family fun in the early evening with games, food and crafts. Later enjoy doing South Carolina’s official dance, the Shag, to the best of beach bands as the fireworks ring in the 4th. Clemson Y Beach, Clemson, S.C. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., $10/car. Rain or shine. 864-654-1200 July 4 Salem’s July 4 Community Celebration on Main Street with street dancing, food, entertainment and fireworks. Free. July 4 Hillbilly Days in Mountain Rest, on Hwy. 28 near the Hwy. 107 junction. Celebrate one of South Carolina’s oldest July 4 festivals. Clogging, square dancing, country and bluegrass music, crafts and food. July 4 July 4 celebration on the green in Seneca, S.C., at Norton-Thompson Park. July 8-26 Day camp opportunities for children in grades 1 through 12 at Clemson Little Theatre. Call 864-646-8100 or visit www.

clemsonlittletheatre.com for information. CLT is at 214 S. Mechanic St. in Pendleton, S.C. July 19 Culmination Exhibit and Reception for summer campers at Clemson Arts Center; 212 Butler St., Clemson, S.C.; Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. July 20 Hagood Mill’s Summertime Medicine Show — Variety of music and fun; 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, S.C. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for events and tours of the buildings and grounds. July 30 – August 31 Annual Clemson Arts Center juried art show; 212 Butler St., Clemson, S.C.; Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. July – September “Oconee Outdoors,” an exhibit focusing on Oconee’s rich history as a recreation destination at Oconee Heritage Center. Call 864-638-2224 for information. OHC is at 123 Browns Square Drive in Walhalla, S.C.

AUGUST August 3–10 Katherine Scott Crawford will join The Reserve for a week of sharing her love of the area as well as speaking of her new book Keowee Valley. Crawford was born and raised in Greenville, holds degrees in English and speech and communications studies from Clemson University, the College of Charleston and The Citadel and is currently working toward a MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. August 17 Hagood Mill’s Rolling Waterwheel Gospel Revue — Concert with Last Road and special appearance by Myrtle Hall Smith (Billy Graham Crusades); 138 Hagood Mill

calendar of events Road, Pickens. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for events and tours of the buildings and grounds.

ONGOING Thru August First Saturdays on the lake are presented by Hartwell Mainstreet and Hartwell Marina, from 7-10 p.m., at Hartwell Marina. Come by boat or car and join in this free community event. For more information, go to www.hartwellmainstreet.com or call 706-376-0188. Food and entertainment for the whole family. Thru Oct. 26 The Foothills Heritage Farmers Market is held each Saturday, from 8 a.m. until noon, on SC 123 across from Blue Ridge Electric

Cooperative, near Westminster. Features locally grown seasonal produce, meats, products and crafts. Through October Jazz On The Alley every Thursday, 6:30 to 9 p.m., on Ram Cat Alley, Seneca, S.C. Featuring America’s touring jazz musicians. Oconee Station State Historic Site 500 Oconee Station Road, Walhalla; tours every Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Oconee Heritage Center 123 Brown Square Drive, Walhalla, S.C. Old-Time Music Gathering — second Saturday of each month from 3-5 p.m. Bring refreshments to share. Every fourth Thursday is book club at 6:30 p.m. The Silver Dollar Music Hall Offering Bluegrass music every Friday night at 7 p.m. on Highway 76 in Long Creek, S.C. next to The Long Creek General Store.

Historic Ballenger House tours and rentals The Seneca Woman’s Club preserves and manages the beautiful Historic Ballenger House, 212 E. S. Third Street. Tours by reservation 864-654-4043. http://www. ballengerhouse.org

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By Dave Kroeger, President/CEO Kroeger Marine Construction

hen thinking about how Lake Keowee permitting guidelines impact lakefront property owners, there are two categories to address. First are those homeowners who have improved their lakefront, possibly with a boat dock or some type of erosion control. We will refer to this group as the “existing group.” The second category would be those who currently own a lakefront property and plan to either build in the future or market the property. We will refer to this group as the “new group.” In future columns I will highlight a couple of guidelines in each category and talk about how they might pertain to your situation. But, first, a general comment about the revised Shoreline Management Guidelines (SMG). Duke Energy Lake Services is the governing authority for lakes Keowee and Jocassee. Duke’s current SMG went into effect Sept. 1, 2006 and supersedes all previous guidelines. For some property owners it may have been years since any thought has been given to the permit granted to improve your waterfront. This being said, here is one of the basic guidelines that make up the foundation of that permit: A boat dock permit or erosion control permit is valid for one year from the date of approval. Any approved construction must occur within this one-year period. If the permit expires, a new permit will need to be applied for. The potential impact for the “existing group” is that, if your improvements (dock, erosion control, piers etc.) were permitted and constructed prior to the current SMG and are not compatible with the new requirements, these structures may be main-

Lake resources contact information 54 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

tained until it become necessary to rebuild. In other words, you are grandfathered in until you make any changes to what was originally permitted. An example would be any

tion between 800’ and 810’ msl. It is from this line down to and including the lake, that is regulated and pertains to the 1,000-square foot allowable dock size.

modifications, expansions or reconfigurations of the existing facility would require a new permit that would meet all of the present guidelines in the SMG. Any maintenance activities would also require a permit. The impact for those in the “new group” would be that any construction that takes place within the Duke Energy project boundary will require an approved permit application. If you have an existing approved permit, it might make sense to construct the approved structure before the permit expires. Once a permit expires any new application will be required to meet all of the new guidelines in the SMG.

Regarding Lake Hartwell, the current shoreline management plan was revised in 2007. One regulation impacting permit applications is the water requirements for a boat dock. The regulations now state that proposed docks must have at least 4 feet of water depth at the point where the gangway meets the dock. This would be in relation to full pond level of 660’ msl.

What is the project boundary?

The project boundary is the property that Duke Energy Lake Services regulates and is denoted on your property plat. This line will typically be referred to as the contour line on the plat. In the example below, Lake Keowee’s full pond elevation is 800’ msl. Your contour line might be at an eleva-

Recent guidelines changes

Duke Energy Lake Services has ruled that side tie boatlifts are allowable with an approved permit application. The boatlift will need to meet existing regulations such as projected lines and cove distance requirements. A side tie boatlift with a cover is allowable but will count towards the total square footage of the structure. Side mount tie lifts that do not have a cover will not be counted towards square footage. As we become aware of any new allowances or regulations we will try to mention them in this column.

Lake Keowee — Duke Energy Lake Services, 1-800-443-5193, or www.duke-energy.com Lake Hartwell — 706-856-0300 or http://www.sas.usace.army.mil Kroeger Marine Construction — 864-882-7671 or www.kroegermarine.com

Visit our 20,000-square-foot showroom located at 6210 Calhoun Memorial Hwy (Hwy 123) Easley, South Carolina

(864) 850-3563

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