Upstate Lake Living - Winter 2013 by EDWARDS PUBLICATIONS

Holiday delights Classics, history and family fun light up the season

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Upstate Lake Living magazine

Volume 7, Issue 4 WINTER 2013-2014

6 Ribbons and bows and boughs, oh my! 10 Ashtabula recalls simpler celebrations 14 Something for the 12 Days of Christmas 18 Simply the best Italian to be found

MARKETING DIRECTOR: Hal Welch hal@upstatetoday.com ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHICS: Melissa Bradley

28 Don your jacket and enjoy this classic course

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

34 Design makes ‘cottage’ a delight

38 Fishing: Keowee crappie 39 Safe Boating: Taking a look back 40 Your Waterfront: The skinny on skinny water 42 Theatre: Dozens of stocking-stuffer options await 44 Calendar: Holiday events abound in the Upstate Dear Readers, Happy holidays to one and all! The leaves of summer have fallen and the temperatures — especially in the morning — have taken a tumble as well. Still, most of us cherish the Upstate region partly because it does have four seasons, and now we happily ready ourselves for the winter holidays. Since our magazine is published quarterly, the holiday issue presents a bit of a challenge. It comes out before Christmas but takes in Valentine’s Day and sometimes runs right up to the beginning of the Easter season. This issue focuses primarily on Christmas, offering a variety of things to do and places to go, whether you are spending the holidays at home alone or entertaining a host of family and friends. We can never ignore the beauty of The Biltmore, so we touch upon that. But, we also have a feature on Christmas at Ashtabula

Plantation and a local production of the everpopular Nutcracker ballet. Bill Bauer also offers up a gift suggestion for the family that has almost everything. If you are looking for a great place to have dinner out and your tastes take in Italian, (and whose don’t!), you won’t want to miss our review of Giovanni’s in Greenville … some of the best Italian food I’ve ever tasted. Bill also has a suggestion for a winter golf getaway and, just to make sure all of you guys out there are covered for Valentine’s Day, I found a family-owned chocolate factory in Greenville that is a “can’t miss” to buy sweets for your sweethearts. We hope this issue makes for some fun reading on a frosty morning. Brew a cup of coffee, snuggle up to the fire and enjoy Upstate Lake Living. Brett McLaughlin, Editor

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EDITOR: Brett McLaughlin bmclaughlin@upstatetoday.com

21 A getaway gift for that hard-to-buy-for family 31 Think chocolate, gentlemen

4 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

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contributors to this edition Bill Bauer • Phillip Gentry Jack Kates III • Dave Kroeger Brett McLaughlin • Jessica Nelms Stephen Peitrowicz Cover photo by Les Shayne, Walhalla

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I Next to the 35-foot Fraser Fir in the banquet hall, this tree in the Biltmore library is one of the most magnificent in the house. The ribbon on the tree is one of 500 used throughout the house. The garland along the upper railing is an example of nearly 5,000 feet of fresh garland used in the house.

f decorating your home for the holidays is part of your family tradition, you might want to get to know Cathy Barnhardt. Barnhardt came to Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, 36 years ago to create a Christmas display inspired by the Victorian era. It was her dream job then, and creating dream-like holiday decors for America’s largest privately owned house, Biltmore House, remains her passion today. In title she is the Biltmore’s floral displays manager, but that title is a bit of an understatement when describing the woman who leads a team of decorators in a yearround project to recreate history and inspire thousands of guests with the spirit of Christmas. “I grew up here and always intended to work here,” Barnhardt said of the passion that has propelled her Biltmore career. “I had this great love for art and history, as well as flowers and landscaping, and when there was an opportunity to join the greenhouse staff I jumped at it.” In response to inquiries by visitors, the owners and operators of Biltmore had faced a major decision just two to three years before Barnhardt was hired — whether to remain open through the winter and decorate

for the holidays. “Up to that time, the house was closed in the winter and those months were used for cleaning and redecorating,” she explained. “It was decided to stay open, but there were only two or three (Christmas) trees and a little decorating on the first floor.” Much has been added and much of the decorating has changed over the ensuing three decades. Today, Barnhardt leads a team of eight full-time designers who “live Christmas year-round.” When the actual holiday decorating begins in October, dozens of staff members — from groundskeepers to maintenance workers — are joined by dozens of “reserves” to see that the job is completed within a few short weeks. From Victorian to the Gilded Age After being hired, Barnhardt went on to become greenhouse manager and from there it was a short step to becoming the floral displays manager. However, moving the home’s overall appearance from that of the Victorian Age (1837-1901) to America’s Gilded Age (18701918) took a little more doing and longer to accomplish. “This is really more of a Gilded Age home,” Barnhardt said. “Our period is 1895

to 1920. “The Victorian look was very appealing. It was busy, with a lot of textures and deep colors. But, our researchers have found that the house was actually much lighter, and the gardens were more involved in the decorating.” Recreating what research has found has not been easy, particularly when it comes to holiday decorating. There are no pictures and very few words. Documents have been found indicating that holly and mistletoe were used in both the house and the workers’ quarters. “We do know that the Vanderbilts shared their home with family, friends and staff at the holidays,” Barnhardt said, “but we don’t believe the decorating was that extravagant. We do know there were electric lights on the tree and glass ornaments. “If we decorated literally the way the family did back then, people wouldn’t be very interested,” she admitted. So, in addition to what research on the Biltmore itself has proven, Barnhardt and The tapestry gallery provides a good example of some of the 30,000 lights, 150 candles and 130,000 LED and mini lights found around the estate. The fresh garland is replaced weekly to assure a fresh look and fragrance for visitors.

History ... tied up with a bow Biltmore astonishes at Christmas Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of The Biltmore Company

6 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

WINTER 2013-14 • 7

a bear every once in a while. I’m not going to an office — although I have an office — because I live in my office. “Hopefully, I can continue to be creative and to find creative team members to work with, because I want to do this for as long as I possibly can.” Barnhardt is responsible for all of the estate’s decorating with a second major project each year being the annual “Biltmore Blooms” event that runs from mid-March until the end of May. While the event highlights the estate’s gardens, it also provides the home’s “floral displays manager” with another opportunity to bring nature into the Biltmore. ❖

At right: There are 360 fresh wreaths and 130 faux pieces used to decorate the estate for the holidays. The faux pieces, such as the one Simone Bush puts up here, feature ornaments, berries, faux flowers and ribbon. Bush is among dozens of staff members and volunteers who help with the annual decorating blitz.

her staff have put a lot of additional research into other manor homes of the Gilded Age. “We are finding out more and more and are taking our inspiration from these other homes as well to meet the expectations of our visitors,” she said. Finding the theme Barnhardt said certain aspects of the home’s holiday decorations are always the same, such as having a 35-foot live Fraser Fir in the Banquet Hall. (Actually, two, since the home sports holiday decorations for a full two months). However, the appearance of those decorations changes from year-to-year based on the theme that is chosen. “My creativity comes in finding and developing a theme,” she said. “Once we know that theme our floral department can get inspired, and we can actually get to work. “Having a different theme each year keeps us fresh.” Last year, Biltmore focused on “the art of Christmas,” using several of the actual pieces of art brought to the home by George Vanderbilt. For example, the breakfast room featured holiday decorations using fruit since the room contained a pair of Monet paintings, one with citrus fruit and another with a boy with an orange. This year, Barnhardt has chosen the theme “the nature of Christmas.”

“We are taking it both literally and figuratively,” she explained, noting that many decorations will have a children’s angle, being more whimsical in nature. She said the theme also plays to her passion to bring nature into the home in the form of berries, nuts and cones. And, since the decorators are always working ahead, Barnhardt is beginning to put together the 2014 holiday theme, which will likely center on George Vanderbilt’s actual life. “I think we will try to feature the things he brought to the area such as forestry and farming. “I have the world’s best job,” the veteran designer/decorator said. “When I drive to work every morning I see geese and deer, and even

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The Biltmore Estate is open daily from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The gardens close at dusk. Daytime admission includes a self-guided visit of Biltmore House, access to the gardens and Antler Hill Village, admission to the exhibition, “The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad,” and free wine tasting and a guided winery tour. Buy tickets online at www.biltmore.com or call (800) 411-3812.

Biltmore By The Numbers

decorated Christmas trees inside Biltmore House. The largest tree inside is the traditional 35-foot Fraser Fir in the Banquet Hall. A lighted 55-foot Norway spruce with other evergreens decorates the front lawn.

additional decorated Christmas trees at other estate locations, including the Winery, Inn on Biltmore Estate, Antler Hill Village and the restaurants.

30,000 &150 lights and candles

respectively inside Biltmore House.

1,000 poinsettias and other blooming plants — red poinsettias, amaryllis, Christmas cactus, orchids,

peace lilies, cyclamen, begonias and kalanchoe — in the house displays. Several hundred more are in other estate facilities.

360 &130

fresh wreaths and faux pieces respectively around the estate during the season. Wreaths are made of fresh white pine and Fraser Fir, ornamented with golden arborvitae, holly or other natural materials such as twigs and cones. Artificial bases are decorated with ornaments, berries, faux flowers and ribbon.

kissing balls made of fresh white pine and 130,000 LED and mini lights found around 130 Fraser Fir, or made of dried and faux materials are found the estate. 45,000 lights illuminate the Front Lawn tree, and “up” lighting accents the poplar trees lining the front lawn.

300

luminaries lining the driveway and Esplanade in front of the house.

500

gift boxes, ornaments and electric lights decorating the Banquet Hall tree. There are 12,000 used on the other trees inside the house, and that many again around the estate.

all across the estate.

5,000

feet of fresh evergreen garlanding made of mixed white pine and Fraser Fir. The garlands are replaced weekly to maintain a fresh look and fragrance for guests. Faux garlands add another 1,200 feet in the house and around 1,500 feet in other areas.

500

ribbons and bows inside Biltmore House with that many again at the other estate venues.

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For re-enactors, the two weekends of holiday tours have meant weeks of preparation. Through a series of six vignettes set in the plantation house, the annex — a former tavern and inn that was built before the house itself — and a classroom, visitors are made to feel a part of the plantation’s annual Christmas gathering.

At left renowned slave re-enactor Miss Kitty Wilson-Evans (right in photo) and other volunteers will help tell the story of how a plantation Christmas may have been viewed by African Americans serving at Ashtabula. Right, re-enactors, such as tavern keeper Zach Sahms, will portray members of the early families and household servants who lived at Ashtabula.

An Ashtabula Christmas Plantation hosts ‘The Spirits of Christmas Past’

“T

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos courtesy of Pendleton Historic Foundation

he Spirits of Christmas Past” will haunt historic Ashtabula Plantation this holiday season as, for the 12th consecutive year, the Pendleton Historic Foundation offers candlelight tours of one of the Upstate’s finest antebellum era plantations. South Carolina’s Upstate region is rife with pre-Civil War period history and, through the dedication of dozens of members and friends of the Foundation, Ashtabula throws open its doors for spe-

10 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

cial Christmas tours, offering visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the holidays as they were celebrated from 1828 to 1860. Re-enactors, some of whom have played the roles of plantation personalities for several years, portray members of the early families and household servants who lived at Ashtabula. Through a series of six vignettes set in the plantation house, the annex — a former tavern and inn that was built before the house itself — and a classroom, visitors are made to feel a part of the plantation’s annual Christmas gathering.

Four scenes will be portrayed in the plantation house, including an exchange of gifts involving adults and children, the reading of a letter from a soldier returning home for the holidays, two women preparing holiday meals and family members involved in Christmas activities.

In addition, renowned slave re-enactor Miss Kitty Wilson-Evans will help tell the story of how a plantation Christmas may have been viewed by African Americans at Ashtabula. Col. Ben E. Caudill Camp No. 1629, Sons of Confederate Veterans, said of

Wilson-Evans, “Kitty is just a fantastic person — no, awesome is a better word to describe her and how she can go into character right before your very eyes. She has an innate way to develop a kinship with an audience. Kitty is absolutely mesmerizing when she goes into character.”

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“We try to create an atmosphere in which our visitors can become part of the activities; they can see it and smell it and really sense what it was like back then,” explained Rick Owens, Foundation board member and acting education director.

Guided tours Guided tours of both Ashtabula and Woodburn Plantation are offered year-round. During the holiday season, the plantation homes will be open from 1-4 p.m., Dec 20-23 and Dec. 26-30.

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The Ashtabula tours will be tions about the children; they really offered from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on seem to want to get a sense for what Ashtabula Plantation Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, and from 2:30 life was like back then.” Ashtabula is a two-story clapboard plantation house built c. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 and 15. Tours “They want to feel the ambi1825 by Lewis Ladson Gibbes (1771-1828) and his wife, the will commence in 15-minute inence,” Owens added. “We do our former Maria Drayton and later owned by their son Lewis tervals and visitors will be guided best to bring that to the scenarios Reeves Gibbs, the famous South Carolina naturalist. through the house and annex in we perform. Every room has a mugroups of 15. Each vignette lasts 6 sical instrument, because that is all The house was expanded to 10 rooms by later owners and the to 8 minutes. there was in those days. There was farmland expanded to over 1,000 acres. Owens said that upwards of no television or record player.” The original 2-story brick building on the site dates to before four dozen volunteers are involved, The long drive up to the main 1790 and was the site of a traveler’s tavern prior to the building bringing to life scripts that have house will be lined with hundreds of the main house. This building was later attached to the been crafted by groups of local reof luminaries during the holiday main house with a breezeway and was used as the plantation searchers and historians. Rehearsevening tours. The house will be kitchen, and other rooms are interpreted as servant’s quarters als are held for two weeks prior to decorated minimally as it would and a schoolroom. the first tours. have been during that era. As visiZack Sahms is one of the tors wait for their timed tour they Source: Pendleton Historic Foundation website younger volunteers to participate, can warm themselves at fire barrels having come to the plantation a few and enjoy complimentary hot bevyears ago in search of a Boy Scout erages. ❖ and Foundation intern Amanda Holland, merit badge. He stayed on as a tour guide Sahms represents a new generation of hisafter falling in love with history. This year tory enthusiasts working to keep the spirit Reservations for the tours are required he will portray the tavern keeper. and may be made by calling the Pendleton of Ashtabula alive. Along with Collections Coordinator District Commission Office at (864) 646“A lot of folks who come are interestSamantha Bolen and soon-to-be Clem- ed in the furniture, the china and the pia- 7249. For more information visit: www. son University Museum Studies graduate nos,” Bolen said. “They ask a lot of ques- pendletonhistoricfoundation.org/

“The Spirits of Christmas Past” will haunt historic Ashtabula Plantation this holiday season as the Pendleton Historic Foundation offers candlelight tours of one of the Upstate’s finest antebellum era plantations.

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No lords a leaping …

but plenty of fun for the 12 days of Christmas

rom Asheville to Atlanta the holidays reign supreme. In addition to the wonderful places and fun things to do outlined elsewhere in this issue, here are a dozen great ideas — one for every day of Christmas.

The First Day of Christmas It’s a short trip to Asheville, NC, where contestants from across the country bring their culinary masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn each holiday season, and strolling through the Inn’s renowned Gingerbread House Display is a sure way to be swept up in the holiday spirit. After the judging and the awards ceremony on Nov. 18, the display will be set up throughout the hotel and will be open for viewing from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2. Nonresort guests may view the displays Sundays through Thursdays only.

The Second Day of Christmas If your tastes turn more toward music, you may want to consider taking in The 25th Annual Christmas Jam. Warren Haynes presents his annual musical bash at The U.S. Cellular Center on Dec. 13-14. This epic two-night celebration has deservedly earned a reputation as a place for noteworthy performances, including rare appearances and unique collaborations. One of the greatest and longest-r unning live concerts in the U.S., the shows will benefit the Asheville Area Habitat 14 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Compiled by Brett McLaughlin

for Humanity for the 15th year in a row. With the exception of a few intimate shows in California, Christmas Jam will be the first concert in over 10 years for the Phil Lesh Quintet, featuring Lesh, Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Rob Barraco and John Molo. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are on sale through the U.S. Cellular Center at (828) 251-5505. The Third Day of Christmas On Dec. 7, 14, 21 & 28 Christmas at Connemara, will feature music, storytellers and guided tours of the Carl Sandburg home and young visitors will have the opportunity to participate in storytelling and singa-longs and an activity station to make Christmas crafts, hot cider and cookies will be served, performances 11 a.m., crafts and cookies 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., tours 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., free for music and crafts, small fee for house tours, Flat Rock, NC, (828)693-4178 www.nps. gov/carl The Fourth Day of Christmas No Christmas in the Upstate is complete without a visit to Roper Mountain Holiday Lights! An Upstate holiday tradition, the 22nd Roper Mountain Holiday Lights will illuminate the Greenville night sky between Thanksgiving and Dec. 30. Last year, a total of 21,088 cars, vans and busses visited the twinkling lights displays carrying an estimated 85,000 people through this magical holiday event.

In addition to the 1.5-mile drive through the lights, many visitors park and stroll through an interactive Winter Wonderland with visits to Santa Claus, lighted walking trails, a balloon artist, giant holiday greeting cards, concessions and more. Sponsored by the Greenville Rotary Club, Holiday Lights has returned $1.9 million to the community to help people, organizations and education since 1992. Logon to www.ropermountainholidaylights.com/ The Fifth Day of Christmas If you have young children or the grandchildren are visiting for the holidays, the Peace Center’s Jingle Arrgh The Way production is sure to be a hit. Set sail in this holiday premiere with Jeremy Jacob, Captain Braid Beard and the crew on a jolly adventure to find the Christmas treasure at the North Pole. Santa even makes an appearance in this musical based on an original story by Melinda Long, local author of the best-selling “How I Became A Pirate” books. Friday, Dec. 6 and 13 performances are at 7 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday matinees, Dec. 7-8 and 14-15 are at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are available by visiting http://www. peacecenter.org or call (864) 467-3000 or (800) 888-7768. The Sixth Day of Christmas Perhaps your holiday schedule will take you toward Atlanta this year. If that’s the case, another fantastic Festival of Trees & Lights awaits. Visitors to The Georgia World Congress Center exhibit hall can stroll through 150,000 square feet of decorated trees, wreaths and decorator vignettes created by the city’s top artists and designers. The Festival also fea-

tures magnificent gingerbread houses, an assortment of specialty shops, a special venue of handmade dollhouses and an array of children’s activities. The main stage features continuous live entertainment. To enjoy the Festival of Lights, wander over to Centennial Olympic Park, and enjoy a mammoth display of holiday luminaries. Structures as high as 50 feet are accompanied by local music. For more information, call (404) 785NOEL, or visit: http://www.choa.org/festival/default.shtml The Seventh Day of Christmas There is something special about Celtic music and the holidays and, this year, one special event brings that fact close to home. Celtic Woman: Home for ChristmasThe Symphony Tour will be performed at Greenville’s Peace Center Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. The enchanting Irish music sensation Celtic Woman will depart from its majes-

tic tour productions to perform beloved Christmas songs in a unique and more traditional symphonic setting. Since Celtic Woman’s March 2005 debut, this unique all-female ensemble continues to have mainstream success with more than six million CDs/DVDs and over 1.5 million concert tickets sold. Tickets are available at http://www.peacecenter. org or call (864) 467-3000 or (800) 888-7768. The Eighth Day of Christmas Eight million lights. Fifteen dazzling scenes. One magical night. That’s Fantasy In Lights, the South’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show, and one of the world’s “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights,” as named by National Geographic Traveler. From Nov. 22 through Dec. 30, Calla-

way Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA., will flip the switch, bringing to life the first major holiday light show in Georgia. In 1992, Fantasy In Lights opened with five displays that touched hearts and evoked fond memories of holidays past. Since that humble beginning, new scenes have been added each year, the Christmas Village has been expanded, and indoor shopping and hospitality areas have been included. For more information call 1-800-Calloway or visit: http://www.callawaygardens. com The Ninth Day of Christmas For many a southerner, no holiday season is complete without a touch of the old Appalachian spirit, and, if you live in the Upstate, one way to feel it is to take in Mark O’Connor & Friends — An Appalachian Christmas, at the Peace Center in Greenville. On Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m., multiple Grammy Award-winning violinist Mark O’Connor will surround himself with an all-star band for an unforgettable evening. O’Connor’s perfor-

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mance salutes the original melting pot of our country with a trilogy of his “Appalachia” recordings now — Appalachia Waltz, Appalachian Journey and An Appalachian Christmas. Growing up in the O’Connor musical household, Christmastime was a wondrous mixture of Christmas carols, fiddling, bluegrass and other traditional American music. And, that is the spirit of An Appalachian Christmas. Tickets are available at http://www.peacecenter.org or call (864) 467-3000 or (800) 888-7768. The Tenth Day of Christmas The Denver Christmas Parade has been billed as “the misfit toy of holiday spectacles.” On Dec. 22 you won’t see marching bands and smiling beauty queens. But, you will find a little girl driving a miniature pink Ferrari, women wearing lampshades on their heads and a buck head with red and green shotgun shells hanging from its antlers. The two-lap spectacle around the old Garrison farm on Denver Road, off U.S. 76 between Anderson and Pendleton, is a festival of eccentricity and an Upstate Christmas tradition that dates back to the 1980s. It is whimsical adventure in which you can drive your homemade moped, your beat up truck, your high-priced motorcycle or your hearse, if you happen to own one. To join the fun, just show up at 2 p.m. The event starts about 3 p.m. and doesn’t last for long. But, despite its brevity, the event promises plenty of memories for both participants and spectators.

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The Eleventh Day of Christmas Did you ever wonder how Santa is able to climb down millions of chimneys around the world in a single night? He practices, of course. You can witness Santa’s daring stunt as he practices on 315-foot Chimney Rock in Hendersonville, NC, during Santa on The Rock. Come on Dec. 7 or 14 to see why Chimney Rock was named one of “10 great places to catch up with Santa” by USA Today. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy live holiday music, complimentary hot cocoa, cookies and kids’ activities and see live critters. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for youth (ages 5-15) and free for 4 and under. Call (828) 625-9611 or (800) 277-9611 or visit: www.chimneyrockpark.com for more information.

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The Twelfth Day of Christmas Journey back to the days of yesteryear as Dillsboro presents its annual Festival of Lights and Luminaries. Experience the magic as the entire town is transformed into a winter wonderland of lights, candles laughter and song! On Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, 2,500 luminaries light your way to shops and studios. Horse and buggy rides are available each night from 5-8 p.m. (cost + tips), and shopkeepers provide live music and serve holiday treats with hot cider and cocoa. Carolers sing and children visit with Santa at Town Hall. Everything gets underway at dusk. For more information call (800) 962-1911. ❖

sk any dancer at Foothills Conservatory for the Performing Arts and they will tell you their dream come true would be to dance in the footlights of the world’s biggest stages. Well, for many of those young dancers, that dream will come close to being a reality this holiday season as they share the footlights of Brooks Center for the Performing Arts with a pair of world-class dancers. In keeping with its tradition, FCPA will present The Nutcracker in its entirety Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., at Brooks Center on the campus of Clemson University. And, as in years gone by, local performers will be joined on stage by two of the biggest names in professional ballet. Returning for a ninth consecutive year will be Pavel Gurevich, who will be joined by Melissa Reed as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Both are star performers with the The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington, D.C. In addition, Louis Holland DeFelice,

Photos courtesy of Classic Photography

At top: Marvin-Joe Merck (center, in front of tree), renowned local performer and artist, will reprise his role as Godfather Drosselmeyer and oversee the tug-of-war scene in the classic Nutcracker production. Many local performers are also part of the scene. Photo courtesy of David Sparks At left: Pavel Gurevich, a star performer with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington, D.C., will reprise his role in Foothills Conservatory for the Performing Arts production of The Nutcracker for the ninth consecutive year.

a senior at the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, will perform the role of the Nutcracker Prince, and Marvin-Joe Merck, a renowned local performer and artist, will reprise his role as Godfather Drosselmeyer. “Our guest artists will join dancers from Oconee and Pickens counties to help bring this time honored classic to life,” said Ginny Siano-Eck, artistic director of Foothills Conservatory. “These dedicated dancers devote the better part of their week preparThe Chinese finale is always a special moment in the classic ballet production of The Nutcracker.

ing for this production. Advanced dancers take class throughout the week as well as Saturday morning in technique classes and the remainder of the day in rehearsal with resident teacher and choreographer Kathryn Esposito. “For both our advanced dancers, who aspire to have professional dance careers, and our students who dance for pleasure, it is an extreme honor to share the stage with professionals of this magnitude,” she continued. “It is a life experience our students will never forget.” Tickets at $20 for adults and $15 for students/children may be purchased by visiting The Brooks Center Box Office or by calling (864) 656-7787 Monday through Friday, 1-5 p.m. Tickets are also available online at www.clemson.edu/Brooks. The production is funded in part by The South Carolina Arts Commission and contributions from anonymous donors. Other sponsors are The Journal, Mountainview Medical Imaging, Oconee Federal Savings and Loan and Oconee Urology. WINTER 2013-14 • 17

Giovanni’s is simply the best Diehards and drop-ins agree small eatery stands out

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jack Kates III

t’s a little bit before 5 p.m. on a Wednesday when a Keowee Key resident pulls up outside Giovanni’s. “What time do they open,” the driver says, getting out of his car. “Five p.m., but I just talked to the owner and he’s somewhere out there buying ice.” “I guess we’ll wait,” he says, nodding toward his wife, who has remained behind in the car. “We were over here buying a mattress, and I asked the salesman where we should go for dinner. He said this was the place.” It had been a similar word-of-mouth

Recently added to the menu at Giovanni’s is this homemade bruschetta. The bread is made fresh each day and the combination of fresh tomatoes with garlic, basil, olive oil and vinegar provides a tasty appetizer and sets the tone for an exceptional Italian meal.

Above: Another tasty appetizer is the lightly smoked salmon, served with homemade bread. It comes with red onions, capers, lettuce, sour cream and boiled egg. At left: An ample portion of the seafood linguini features mussels, clams, calamari and shrimp served in a zesty red sauce that owner Gabriel Hernandez said is simply called “Giovanni’s.” Typically, diners can choose from several sauce options for most entrees.

endorsement from a Greenville friend that brought us to this inauspicious eatery in a small strip mall on Woodruff Road, a couple of blocks off Interstate 85. We had asked for the best Italian food in Greenville, and this was it, we were told. A couple of minutes before five, Gabriel Hernandez walks up to the door; two bags of ice in tow. He unlocks it, hustles 18 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

us in and quickly locks the door behind us, telling the group of four still waiting outside that he will open in just a few minutes. No one walks away.

t’s almost 7:30 p.m. Gabriel is beginning his third seating of the evening. “We’re not usually this busy on a Wednesday,” he says. He’s greeted several familiar diners “a la italiana,” kissing the ladies on both

cheeks and hugging the men. “We’ve been coming here a couple times a week for years. It’s the best food in Greenville,” a woman says, having noticed us take in Gabriel’s effusive welcome. Giovanni’s clearly has an established clientele, but tonight, as with most other nights, many patrons have simply been told that if your tastes run to Italian food, the location to find is 1178 Woodruff Road. This is a family-owned and operated restaurant. Gabriel, his wife, Luz, and other family members prepare fresh sauces,

The dessert menu at Giovanni’s is limited but the homemade options are all tasty. This tiramisu, made by owner Gabriel Hernandez’s wife, Luz, is rich and creamy. Midweek diners can opt for homemade cheesecake if they like and, on Friday and Saturday nights, a perfect Italian meal can be finished off with cannoli.

make their own pasta and treat every one of the people seated in their 34 seats as if they are members of the family. The recipes are generations old, many passed down by Gabriel’s Sicilian mother. If an entree is unavailable on a given night or has sold out, Gabriel won’t hesitate to suggest something else. Wise patrons will follow his lead. For our visit, he started us off with bruschetta. It was just recently added to the menu and he sometimes offers it free but, even at a price, it’s worth it. There is an extensive wine list, and Gabriel prefers to pour house wines from mini-bottles to ensure full flavor. Already we are impressed. There is an extensive list of appetizers to choose from but, if the seven-fish soup is available, don’t miss it. It really does have seven types of fish. But, the key to the soup’s full and slightly zesty flavor lies in a week of preparation and a seven-hour reduction process for the roasted onion, garlic, pepper and tomato-based broth. Another tasty appetizer is the smoked salmon, served with homemade bread. It comes with red onions, capers, lettuce, sour cream and boiled egg.

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We enjoyed it, but then Gabriel insisted we also try the meat-stuffed ravioli, which is served in a creamy tomato and roasted pepper sauce named after his wife. As a rule we would suggest ordering anything the owner chooses to name after his wife! The entree menu is extensive, but not so large that the kitchen staff is tempted to cut corners. Chicken options cover the basics — piccata, cacciatore, Marsala, parmagia and a pasta dish with Alfredo sauce — as do the veal entrees, with the addition of a prosciutto and sage option. Not surprisingly, the list of pastas is slightly more extensive — the aforementioned meatstuffed ravioli, ziti, potato gnocchi, lasagna, tortellini and cheese ravioli. $25, while appetizers and salads are modAgain, we followed Gabriel’s lead and estly priced given the portions that are turned to the fruitti di mare (seafood) menu. served. The sea bass with pasta was simply exAn additional word of caution, howevtraordinary. From three options we chose a er. The restaurant is small. It does not take creamy, sun-dried tomato sauce that gave reservations. You will likely have to wait the flaky fish entree a slightly smoky, yet to be seated. It opens at 5 p.m. and seatmellow, flavor. It was at this point that we ing ends at 9 p.m. If, by some fluke, you realized the ample serving of pasta on which were to arrive late it was served was clearly homemade. on a slow night, the My companion dined on seafood lin- family may have guini. The very ample portion of mussels, gone home for the clams, calamari and shrimp was served in evening. a zesty red sauce that Gabriel said is simply If all that called “Giovanni’s.” charms you as The cannoli, tiramisu and cheesecake much as it did us, on the dessert menu are made fresh each trust us, the food is day by Luz. If you want to finish with can- worth it! ❖ noli, you will have to dine on Friday or Saturday. If you opt for a weeknight, we would suggest the tiramisu, which was moist and rich. “I love what I do,” GaProviding briel says. “Cooking is passion and love and we try to bring that to all our homemade cooking.” Service was excellent. The wait staff is quick to meet your needs but not overbearing. This is homemade food, so preparation Owner Gabriel Hernandez is involved can take some time. Be in all aspects of Giovanni’s, from prepared to relax and enjoy morning food prep, to serving as maître de and sommelier, to waiting great cooking. table. His wife, Luz, makes all the Prices are reasonable. desserts and runs the kitchen each Entrees range from $14 to evening.

Giovanni’s provides a small intimate setting for diners who delight in exceptional Italian food. Be forewarned, however, the eatery seats only 34, takes no reservations and is only open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5-9 p.m.

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Put some zip in your life … and a little history too

Story by Bill Bauer | Photos courtesy of Historic Banning Mills

t’s 9 a.m. and all is quiet at Historic Banning Mills, a rustic, adventureoriented retreat just west of Atlanta. In a matter of minutes, however, the sound of metal on metal will begin to break the silence. Miles of steel cable, once still and straight, will bend and sway as trolleys emit a characteristic whine. Soon, shrieks, shouts and screams will follow as suspended thrill seekers zip from tower to tower above and below the treetops. The cacophony will continue until the last zipliner emerges from the canopy around 5 p.m. Then only the rushing waters of Snake Creek will break the silence.

It is business as usual in the winter at Banning Mills, a four-season country inn and recreation center, that is an ideal place to spend some quality time during the holidays. And, for the family in search of a gift that keeps on giving, Banning Mills is where you can experience a non-stop “thrill without the chill” while making holiday memories. What began as a rural Bed and Breakfast in the late-90s has steadily grown into the longest and largest zip line canopy in the world. Eighty taut lines stretch for nine miles, working their way through the unique beauty of a hidden gorge at Snake Creek and the old ghost town of Banning

Mills. In 1998, Mike and Donna Holder, along with their four children, began clearing brush from the forested land they had purchased in response to a newspaper ad. To their surprise, they soon found old roads, water raceways and the ruins of a textile mill dating back to the 1800s. “No one knew about the property’s history, and that the clubhouse from At top: There isn’t a lot of snow around Atlanta but, when it does come, it can be beautiful. One of the most unique ways to experience it may be available at Historic Banning Mills, where zip lines carry you over the wintry vista like bridges over Snake Creek.

WINTER 2013-14 • 21

Above: Terminator Corner is just one of the stops of the level 5 zip line experience. The 8-hour course crosses the Snake Creek Gorge 18 times on over 60 different zips, bridges and towers. At right: Banning Mills holds two Guinness World Records, one for the longest and largest zip line canopy tour in the world. This line, the Falcon, is just one of 80 lines that make up that record-holding network.

a previous failed enterprise was in a state of disrepair,” Donna said. “A person really had to have some vision, and my husband Mike did have it. Me, well I came kicking

and screaming, but it was worth it!” Mike, a retired U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, had lots of experience with zip lines and, while piloting for American Airlines, had seen them used for recreation in South America. In two short years, the family opened a 10-room B&B and a team-building course that included the first high-speed zip line in the United States. That was 2000, and despite a fire that ravaged the main lodge in 2006, the Holders did not stop stringing cable, building towers and adding skywalks.

ture of nine zips, two sky bridges and a tower, experienced and certified guides provide excellent instruction as they take you to new heights. The sky is literally the limit culminating with level 5, an 8-hour rush that crosses the Snake Creek Gorge 18 times on over 60 different zips, bridges and towers with names like Predator, Terminator Corner and Screaming Eagle. The highlight for guests Bruce and Tracy Houck was the 3,400-foot Flight of the Falcon. “I felt like Superman,” said Bruce in describing how he soared high above the trees for over a half-mile in the layout position.

“Since 2007, we have expanded to the world’s largest course with two Guinness World Records — for the tallest, freestanding climbing wall at 140 feet and for the longest and largest zip line canopy tour in the world,” Donna boasts. All this was not in the original vision. However, success from the team building operation and the topography of the gorge, coupled with Mike’s “inability to ever sit still,” has morphed into a paradise where challenge awaits. Beginning with the level 1 Forest and Woodland Canopy tour, a modest mix-

A second world record at Banning Mills is for the tallest, freestanding climbing wall. Here, dozens of climbers make their way up and down the 140-foot face of the wall.

Historic Banning Mills owners Mike and Donna Holder are pictured with Philip Roberson of Guinness World Records.

The Houcks were taking advantage of one of several getaway packages, spending three nights and four days in a private cabin and experiencing all that Banning Mills has to offer. In addition to zip lines, that includes rafting and whitewater kayaking on a private lake and the Chattahoochee River, horseback riding along historic trails or simply hiking through the gorge. One- and two-night stays are also available and can incorporate any or all amenities.

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At the main lodge visitors can dine, enjoy spa treatments or swim. In addition to lodge accommodations, Banning Mills offers private cabins along the creek or cottages with kitchenettes.

“We have over 200 acres, and the beauty and uniqueness of the gorge itself is worth a daytrip and a nice place to just come and get away from life’s stress,” Donna said. Any stay comes with country elegant accommodations in private cabins along the creek, cottages with kitchenettes or in the main lodge. All stays include a complimentary breakfast buffet. Banning Mills does not have a walkin restaurant, but onsite chef Robert Kornacki prepares a host of lunch and dinner options. Picnic baskets and river-ready lunches are available in addition to dining in the main lodge. Each day the cuisine can be different, ranging from a romantic private meal on the Tree Terrace overlooking the Snake Creek Gorge, to the chef ’s nightly choice in the lodge. Regardless, you are in for a treat and will not go away hungry. Any stay at the B&B is not complete without a little R&R. Soothing Jacuzzi tubs can be found in most cabins, and a

Head-Lee Nursery, Inc. We have been providing the tri-state area with the highest quality plants and garden products since 1982 refreshing outdoor pool is surrounded by comfortable lounge chairs. If you are overdue for some pampering, individual and couples massages, as well as a variety of facial and body treatments, are available in an onsite spa, and can be packaged with your choice of activities and meals.

“We want people to push themselves, get out of their boxes and realize that they can overcome obstacles,” Mike said. “The course is unique in that it is not just a ride … it is an experience!”

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The Holders are dedicated to their mission, of “merging fun and exhilarating adventure challenges with natural and historic educational opportunities.” At the same time they are committed to preserving the Snake Creek Gorge and have placed 1,200 acres around the mill in a protected trust. Plans are in place to open a 12-mile aerial bike trail system and a child’s aerial obstacle course complete with tree house rooms. There is even an adjacent RV park. If you have ever considered wrapping While soaring over the treetops is a big part of what Banning Mills is all about, this photo was taken from a helicopter. Taken in the fall, this photo shows the main lodge and the natural setting the Mills’ owners have sought to preserve.

your gloved hand around a zip line trolley and soaring through the forest, Banning Mills offers the ultimate “whine and dine” experience. ❖ To get to Historic Banning Mills take I-85 south to I-20 in Atlanta. Take I-20 west to exit 34. Go south on Hwy. 5, about

19 miles to the second traffic circle. Turn right onto Hwy. 16/Alt 27, go through the town of Whitesburg and turn right onto Antioch Road. You will see a sign on the right. Banning Mills is a few miles ahead … just follow the signs. For information call 770-8349149 or view their website online at http:// www.historicbanningmills.com.

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The greens at Oak Mountain are generally soft and not too fast until the fall and winter. However, there are subtle breaks that make even short putts a challenge. The slopes, tiers and undulations that characterize the greens, make it important to know the pin locations and try to stay below the hole.

Carved from a mountain Atlanta area course challenges all levels Story by Bill Bauer | Photos courtesy of Oak Mountain Championship Golf

he mere mention of playing a mountain golf course conjures up a variety of visions. While, aesthetically elevated tees and greens fashioned by changes in elevation provide picturesque views of the surrounding area, the same terrain that creates that beauty often creates the beast — a host of side hill lies, awkward stances and blind shots that wreak havoc on most golfers. Oak Mountain Championship Golf Club is the exception to the rule. Carved out of a mountain by the same name in Carrollton, GA, Oak Mountain is generous and forgiving while providing the ultimate challenge for every level of golfer. Designed by Wade Northrup, Oak Mountain can play long, measuring 7,100 yards from the championship tees, or short at 5,187 from the women’s tees. Three tee boxes in between allow golfers to choose 28 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

a length to suit their game, a concept Northrup kept in mind in his design. Generous, level landing areas await drives from any of the tees, if you keep the ball in the short grass. Stray too far from the fairway and you’ll have to deal with the slopes that typify a mountain course as well as deep rough. While many of the tree-lined fairways are bordered by beautiful brick homes, only a few backyards bring out-of-bounds into play, a rarity in community golf courses. In 2011, golf architect Bill Bergin moved and reshaped many of the 68 bunkers to open avenues to the greens, raised the tee boxes to create better sight lines and built catchment areas around the putting surfaces. The massive bunker renovation and hole rerouting was done for the average golfer and has provided for forgiving approach shots to spacious, well-manicured, bent grass greens. Daily changing pin placements, along

The beauty of Oak Mountain is evidenced in this sunset photo of the number 9, which features the course’s characteristic tree-lined fairways and multiple tees.

with distance, make the course a real challenge for the low handicapper. Inside 150 yards, adept golfers can attack pins, by flying bunkers or greenside slopes, while safer approaches requiring longer putts are open for the less aggressive. Typifying the varying degree of difficulties is the 18th, a tremendous finishing hole, and Oak Mountain’s signature hole. “It used to be the ninth, but we rerouted it to finish in full view of the clubhouse,” explained PGA Golf Professional Kevin Gibbs. “It is great for tournament play.” A lengthy par 4 at 427 yards from the tips, it requires two demanding shots. The first crosses a creek and gully, uphill to the fairway. The forward tees were raised allowing shorter hitters to make it up the rise and get a clear view of the spacious green and captivating clubhouse nestled above. A full carry approach, over a second gully, is needed to exit the golf cart

with putter in hand. Bergin’s expertise in redesigning this hole is notable. “He moved two bunkers and built bailout areas on the slope approaching the green. Before, if you didn’t stick the green, you rolled into the creek or gully, and the bunker to the left curved around the front and had to be flown!” said Superintendent Shawn Pope. Eighteen’s green, like so many others, is an abundant putting surface. “Our greens are generally soft and not too fast until the fall and winter. But, there are subtle breaks making even short putts a challenge,” said Gibbs. “There’s an old wives’ tale that says everything breaks away from the mountain, sometimes ever so slightly.” The slopes, tiers and undulations that characterize Oak Mountain’s greens, make it important to know the pin locations and try to stay below the hole. Landing in regulation does not guarantee a two-putt par!

Playing four, unique par 3s makes teeing it up at Oak Mountain worth the journey and reminds one why it is called a championship golf course. Each has its own personality, which changes with each tee box. Hole 14, located on the dam of Oak Mountain’s main lake, is the most demanding. From the back tees, it plays 251 yards. A creek, crossing the fairway 40

yards in front and continuing around the right side of the green is daunting at that distance. While the creek is out of play from the 130-yard forward tee, golfers still have to contend with a two-tiered green surrounded by bunkers on three sides. Its counterpart, number 5, is the shortest par 3, ranging from 158 to a mere 95 yards. A small pond guards the front and left side of the green that is surround-

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ed by three large bunkers. Club selection is key in approaching a tiered green that slopes heavily from front to back. Creeks, ponds and a monster lake, coupled with changes in elevation, doglegs and an assortment of protective bunkers create the challenge that is Oak Mountain Championship Golf Club. For the novice it offers a player-friendly, exciting round of golf, and for the seasoned golfer, a vigorous, healthy test of skill. A lighted, grass driving range and an 11,800-square foot putting green are available for practice or warm-up. The full service pro shop has all you need to

30 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

complete your golfing experience, and the clubhouse restaurant is built overlooking the 18th green and has a full menu of food and beverages. ❖ Oak Mountain is 12 miles south of I-20, west of Atlanta in Carrollton. To reach the Pro Shop for tee times and directions call (770) 834-7065, or go online to http:// www.oakmountainchampionshipgolf.com. To arrange a golf package and tee time through Historic Banning Mills call (770) 834-9149 or view their website online at http://www.historicbanningmills.com.

At left: Hole 14, located on the dam of Oak Mountain’s main lake, is the most demanding of four par 3 holes. From the back tees, it plays 251 yards. A creek — crossing the fairway 40 yards in front and continuing around the right side of the green — is daunting at that distance and, even from the front tees, a precise shot is required. Above: Undulating ground surrounds the number 15 green, which is tucked into a glen and protected at the rear by one of Oak Mountain’s many bunkers. Creeks, ponds and a monster lake, coupled with changes in elevation and doglegs, also combine to create a formidable challenge to any level of golfer.

Gentlemen: Think chocolate!

It’s your ‘can’t miss’ Valentine’s gift Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jessica Nelms

aughn-Russell. Gentlemen, as February 14 approaches, you will want to remember that name. Specifically, you might want to talk with Ashton Lanford. She’s the manager at Vaughn-Russell Candy Kitchen in Greenville and, while she has a vested interest in selling you candy, she makes a pretty good point about Valentine’s Day: It doesn’t matter how much your sweetheart says, “Don’t buy me chocolate;” she really doesn’t mean it! “For Valentine’s, most guys know what candy their wives or sweethearts like,” Lanford said. “A few ask me what I

like so they end up with the peanut butter.” Candy has been making the corner of Augusta Street and Aberdeen Drive a popular Greenville location for a lot of years. It was just a few doors down Augusta that Marva and Leroy “Mac” McManaway founded Vaughn-Russell in 1950, naming the firm after their two sons, whose images still grace the candy boxes used today. In those days, confectioneries were as common as Starbucks is today. There was a candy store on virtually every corner, especially up north where the owners had moved from. They decided to introduce Greenville to the concept of the local candy store, and the rest is history.

Current owner Billi Beard bought the firm in 1999. She remains active today, but is gradually turning the reins over to her daughter-in-law, Ashton. “It’s been a lot to comprehend, but I really love it,” Lanford said. “This time of year we make candy two to three days a week but, the closer we get to Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter, the busier it becomes. Then we’re making candy just about every day.” Whether it is milk chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate you prefer, you can buy one candy, a handful, a bag full or a three-pound box at Vaughn-Russell Candy Kitchen in Greenville — one of the few remaining small confectioners at work today.

WINTER 2013-14 • 31

Lanford doesn’t hesitate to share a secret that makes Vaughn-Russell candy special. “We temper our chocolate by hand,” she said, referring to the process of cooling the chocolate down from its 100-105 degree vat temperature. “We take it directly from the vats to the marble slab and work it.” As a result the chocolate has a smoother texture and a richer flavor. The business at 1624 Augusta Street is the only storefront location, but online sales account for a growing percentage of the firm’s business. “We have an established clientele that has been coming in and buying the same products for decades,” Lanford said. “I think a lot of them send candy to friends up North, because we are getting more and more online sales. I think it’s just word of mouth.” As if on cue, an apparent “regular” comes through the door. Lanford knows what he wants before he orders and begins

At left: The total volume of candy made and sold may be greatest at the holidays, but Valentine’s Day is the single largest day of the year at VaughnRussell Candy Kitchen in Greenville. At right: Ashton Lanford is learning the candy making trade from her mother-in-law, Billi Beard, owner of Vaughn-Russell Candy Kitchen in Greenville. The young entrepreneur said there is a lot more to the craft than most people realize, but success basically boils down to good product and great service.

filling a small bag. He asks about white chocolate bark. She tells him he’s “on the list,” and she will give him a call when they start making it. That kind of personalized service is the rule, not the exception, at Vaughn-Russell. For instance, Lanford explained that

Above: Leroy “Mac” McManaway is pictured making chocolate in the original kitchen of the storefront candy store he and his wife opened in 1950. Many of his same recipes are used to make today’s Vaughn-Russell candies. Inset: Minted pecans are the specialty of Vaughn-Russell candy. The tasty treats come in a variety of colors, depending on the season, but the taste is consistently smooth chocolate with a refreshing taste of mint.

making chocolate-covered cherry cordials for the Christmas season requires a 12step process. As a result, they only make enough to fill preorders. “If you’re not on the list, you don’t get cherries,” she laughed; adding that getting on the list is as easy as calling the store. “Minted pecans are our specialty and our best seller,” she said, pointing to several

different colors of the pecans in cellophane bags behind the counter. “We probably sell 1,000 pounds of them at Christmas alone.” Christmas, she said, is the busiest season for the store, but Valentine’s Day produces the busiest week. So, if a box of chocolates is on your Valentine’s gift list, you should probably stop by the Augusta Street store, call (864)

271-7786 or go online at www.vaughnrussell.com/ where you will find everything from mixed chocolate gift boxes to novelties such as chocolate hearts and a chocolate tie that reads “Lover,” to chocolate covered pieces of ginger, prunes, apricots and orange peels. And, don’t forget to add a bag of pink minted pecans. ❖

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Mission accomplished Design makes ‘cottage’ a homeowner’s delight

Story by Brett McLaughlin | Photos by Jack Kates III

esigner Christy Johnson is all about making homeowners smile. Take one look at Ramona Farish’s beaming face and you know that Johnson’s mission has been accomplished. Farish was busy unpacking. Sorting through items brought from her current home to make her new home in The Reserve’s Village Point development homier. It was Friday and the children and grandchildren were due in later in the day. Everyone was focused on Clemson’s big home game on Saturday … everyone, that is, except for Ramona and her new best friend, Christy Johnson. For them, this morning was about Ramona’s smile. “When I think about design, I want to make sure the owners feel at home. I don’t want them to think they are living in a ‘getaway’ or a summer house,” said Johnson, who represents Fowler Interiors of Green-

ville. “Ultimately, what we want to create is the homeowner’s own vision of their home,” she continued. “There are no cookie-cutter homes. Our portfolio is vast and our style is ultimately what the owner wants.” That said, the “cottage home” purchased by Greg and Ramona Farish, as well as other Village Point cottage homes for which Fowler has been chosen designer, presented some unique design opportunities. While it is within 50 yards of the marina and market square, the Village Point development consists of homes with smaller footprints, sitting on lots far smaller than the typical .75 to 1.25 acre Reserve lot. “The cottage homes do represent a departure for us,” said Rutledge Livingston, director of sales at The Reserve, “but we felt the village area had the potential to become sort of a small

town of its own.” This community-within-a-community concept was further enhanced by the building of a sewer system to serve the development and the establishment of a separate homeowner’s association for Village Point. Three basic home designs were drafted, each allowing purchasers vast flexibility.

At left: The daughter’s room is among designer Christy Johnson’s favorites. It has the most colorful décor in the home, creating what she calls a “playful” feel. Located on the walkout level, the room opens to a stone patio and garden-like backyard setting. At right: The front entry opens into the kitchen, which features mosaic-type tile work, granite countertops and a large, functional island with colorful stools along one side.

The Farishes, with Johnson’s expertise, made great use of this flexibility to create what Ramona describes as essentially three homes in one — the upper and walkout levels being self-contained “homes” for their son and daughter and their families when they come to visit. “The Reserve allows immediate fam-

ily to be members as well,” Ramona said. “This was a big attraction for us because we want our children to think of this as their home also.” The main level features a full kitchen, formal and informal dining areas, a living area and the master suite. All three levels have two bedrooms and the upper

and walkout levels feature kitchenettes and what Johnson calls “flex rooms,” that are basically living areas. The home counts 5.5 baths among its 3,700 square feet. Visitors enter through a carport area that has been converted to a patio, complete with an outdoor kitchen. The front entry opens into the kitchen, which fea-

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PRESSURE WASHING Above: This view from the stairway to the upper level depicts the way color has been used to create a cozy — but not crowded — atmosphere, perfect for lakeside relaxation. In virtually every room area rugs and accessories pick up touches of color that recur throughout the home and complement the floor and wall treatments. At left: Fowler Interiors design abilities quickly pull visitors past a kitchen “work area” and into the dining and living room area where a view of the lake awaits. In keeping with a “cottage traditional” style, the “formal” dining area has been fashioned for comfort with a distressed dining table and cushioned seats.

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At right: Designer Christy Johnson of Fowler Interiors was able to find this stair runner whose colors represent all of the colors the designer has included in the Farish home décor. The runner ties together all three levels of the home. Below: The best view of the lake is from the open-air porch located off the flex room on the upper level. The “son’s room,” as the upper master is called, also has access to the lakefront porch.

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tures mosaic-type tile work, granite countertops and a large, functional island with colorful stools along one side. However, Johnson’s design abilities quickly pull visitors past what she refers to as a “work area” and into the dining and living room area where a view of the lake awaits. In keeping with what the designer refers to as a “cottage traditional” style, the “formal” dining area has been fashioned for comfort with a distressed dining table and cushioned seats. “This area says, ‘come, sit here, eat, stay as long as you like and save room for the apple pie’,” Johnson said. Flooring in the home is hand-scraped, wide plank hickory. In virtually every room area rugs, the designs of which pick up touches of color that recur throughout the home, complement the wood. 36 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Such is the case in the living room where Johnson has blended fabrics and colors to create a cozy — but not crowded — room, perfect for lakeside relaxation. “We’ve used different textural layers and colors,” Johnson said, noting hints of blue, pink, yellow and green in fabrics and draperies. Some of these same colors are picked up in lamps and paintings throughout the home. Interestingly, a stair runner that connects all three levels and includes the colors Johnson chose to use was found after the color choices were made. While many lakeside homes have large windows with little or no treatment, the closeness of the homes in Village Point (setbacks are six feet on each side) requires blinds and/or draperies. Johnson actually relished the change and the challenge to find fabrics and patterns that complemented the home’s overall design. “The devil is in the details” she smiled. “There is nothing formal about what we have done. We have used cotton and linen, no silk, and have incorporated contrasting bands of hemp and burlap, as well as colorful edging in many of the draperies.” The couple’s master suite features a small entryway in which Johnson has placed a cabinet for Ramona to display her collection of “ugly animal jugs.” The master features a bath with a large, tile shower and a double vanity with granite countertops. A “barn door” type sliding door provides bathroom privacy while, across the room, another door leads to a lakeside porch with phantom screens. The porch is

accented by wicker furniture. The main level also includes a large, walk-in pantry off the kitchen and a nearby laundry room. The best view of the lake is from the open-air porch located off the flex room on the upper level. The “son’s room” as the upper master is called, also has access to the lakefront porch and features a full bath with tile shower. Past the kitchenette is a guest room with a good view of the developing Village Point community. Looking closely, one can see where Johnson has brought her flair for color into play with small blue birds in the drapery pattern and a wrought iron bird atop the drapery rod. The walkout level nearly duplicates the upper floor with the exception of the flex room being slightly larger and the guest bedroom slightly smaller as it was carved from space originally designed to be a mechanical room. The flex room and “daughter’s room” both open onto a stone patio. This level provides a secluded, garden-type atmosphere, and the path to the marina dock is just a few feet away. The daughter’s room is among Johnson’s favorites. It has the most colorful décor in the home, creating what the designer calls a “playful” feel. The choice of colors, accents and accessories in the home represents the tastes of both Ramona and Johnson. “I ask for Christy’s opinion and she gives me options,” the homeowner said. Johnson just smiles and nods. Mission accomplished. ❖

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BY STEPHEN PIETROWICZ

BY PHILLIP GENTRY

Take a look back!

ost of us have put our boats away or are in the process of getting them ready for our short winter. This time of year gives us all a chance to recall fond memories of the good times we’ve shared with family and friends on the water. When better to do a retrospective on the boating world as seen through the eyes of the author? My first memory of a near boating experience was sinking in a large cardboard box my cousins and I had meticulously prepared for a trip across Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin. A few years later that same adventurous soul, now 10 years old, made a solo crossing in a small dingy. It was powered by a half-horse, 9.5-pound, Evinrude Alto Cub with no safety devices other than a waterlogged and fuel-soaked throwable cushion and just enough gas/oil mixture to complete the five-mile round trip. It took just over five hours. Most summer days were filled with activities centered on sailing and racing inland scows and swimming with no regard for what the world had just been through (World War II). I occasionally did odd jobs and hung out at the Yacht Club. One day this earned me a ride from a fellow named Kiekhaefer in a molded plywood speedboat powered by a motor called the “Lightning.” Most folks were very leery of this fast-talking, self-promoter and were sure the founder of Mercury Marine was headed for ruin. Those were the days of

TIP OF THE ISSUE: 38 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

such things as glass teardrop fire suppression systems filled with carbon-tetrachloride, hand pumped fire extinguishers, cork flotation life preservers and beautiful wooden watercraft devoid of the benefits of all today’s gadgets. It didn’t take long for the war-driven technology to catch up with the boating industry; the boating public was eager to accept it. By the mid- to late-50s very bulky ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore radios, unreliable magnetic compass controlled autopilots and RDFs (radio direc-

tion finders for navigation purposes), became available for larger pleasure craft. In the ’40s and ’50s law enforcement on the water was pretty much a hit and miss proposition. Safe boating classes were something you had to be invited to attend. Luckily for me, completion of such a 22-week class later led to a college dream job as a yacht Captain. Part of my duties abroad the Yacht MurJack was to sit by the radio each evening and write down a long series of numbers that required decoding to reveal tomorrow’s weather forecast. In

Keowee’s Coldwater Crappie 1957, to the untrained observer I’m sure these short every-other-hour broadcasts could have been mistaken as CIA or NSA instructions to their operatives. Just coming onto the boating scene was the Loran navigation system — another marvel born out of the world’s past turmoil. Jump ahead 46 years and we now have a whole array of gadgets including electronic compasses, GPS guided computer-controlled auto piloting systems, fitted high-tech special purpose life vests, power steering, sophisticated fire suppression systems — the list seems endless. This evolution has come to an array of both electronic and mechanical devices. The real beneficiary is the small boat skipper who can now browse the latest catalogs and shop the marine stores. We have been given the means to equip our vessels to meet everyday needs and many times exceed them. About now you’re probably asking yourself where this is going. My first piece appeared in the July 2005 issue of Upstate Lake Living, and frankly I expected it to be my last. Thanks to the backing of the publisher and editor Brett, I lasted eight years and about 50 articles. However, this is my last article. I really appreciate your comments, ideas and above all the encouragement. My hope is that this column has added to your boating knowledge, safety and pleasure. It’s been a wonderful experience; thank you all. If you happen to pass the WIDGEON on one of your boating adventures, please give us a shout out. May all of you have a fair wind at your back and calm seas ahead.

If you have yet to attend a safe boating course, do so! This is a great family activity and a nice way of introducing other members of your crew to good boating practices. Several local boating organizations will be starting up classes soon. There are online courses, but nothing beats the local knowledge and fellowship that face-to-face education offers.

outh Carolina is home to a variety of lakes, rivers and impoundments that hold abundant numbers of crappie. While a debate over the best crappie locations in the state could rage on for hours, there would be a very small number of people who would put Lake Keowee at the top of their list. The surrounding lakeshore is a mixture of controlled residential development and natural pine and hardwood landscapes at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The 18,500-acre lake is deep and clear with average depths in the 50- to 60-foot range. For crappie anglers, none of these statistics is very exciting. But those crappie fans that live near Keowee, like national television show host and guide Monty McGuffin, have learned to make the best of the situation. According to McGuffin, one of the best ways to catch Keowee crappie is to find them in large concentrations during the coldest months of the year. McGuffin made a startling discovery one blustery winter day while filming an episode of “The Carolina Outdoorsman Show.” The day before the filming, he was motoring under a bridge overpass across the lake and marked something on his depth finder. Dropping an underwater camera over the side, McGuffin saw slab crappie holding near the surface as far as the camera lens could see. “The water was cold, down in the 40’s, and there were crappie spread out 12 feet down suspending over water that was 80 feet deep,” he said. “I went back the

Finding crappie on Lake Keowee can be frustrating at times but limits of fish are available, if you know where to look and how to catch them when you find them. Photo by Phillip Gentry

next day and because it was a school holiday we took Josh King, the son of a buddy. We loaded up on some really nice slab crappie, filmed the whole trip and made it into a show.” McGuffin came away from the experience with an understanding that crappie don’t go as deep during the colder months nor do they always have to be holding in brush piles. In fact, the guide has had success targeting Keowee crappie around bridge pilings and drop offs, especially those with overhead cover, such as a boat dock, nearby.

“I feel like crappie, being cold-blooded animals, congregate around those bridge pilings at Keowee because they absorb sunlight and heat the water up just a degree or two,” McGuffin said. “That comfort zone isn’t deep; it’s closer to the surface. “The same could be said for fish suspended on a bright sunny day. The sunlight warms the water and crappie will be drawn closer to the surface to get to the warmer water. I especially like a boat dock that sticks out over a creek run. The fish will suspend over the ledge and use the dock to provide some protection from the sun, but that warmer layer will be near the surface.” On the days when crappie are not suspending over structure, McGuffin employs a vertical finesse tactic to lure fish out of hiding. He learned this tactic from the owner of one of his show sponsors, Tom Mundy of Fish Stalker Lures. “It requires the right tools, meaning a highly sensitive ultra light rod, 4-pound test line, and a 1.5-inch Slabtail lure on a 1/32-ounce head,” McGuffin said. “Get right over the structure and lower the bait to the bottom, which on 4-pound test will take a while. Then, slowly reel the bait up to the surface about one foot every few seconds. The lure quivers in the water and when it gets right in the face of a crappie, he can’t help but bite it.” Phillip Gentry is the host of “Upstate Outdoors” — a weekend radio program heard on news radio WORD 106.3 FM. He can be reached at pgentry6@bellsouth.net. WINTER 2013-14 • 39

Oconee Physician Practices BY DAVE KROEGER

President/CEO Kroeger Marine Construction

Oconee Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

The skinny on skinny water

s the Keowee-Toxaway Project moves closer to relicensing there has been plenty of talk about the potential to add to the square footage of boat docks to maintain usability during extended droughts at lakes Keowee and Jocassee. I will attempt to give you some of the basic guidelines involved in this process. The Skinny The Relicensing Agreement includes revisions to the Shoreline Management Guidelines (SMG). This discussion pertains to the revision labeled, “Modification of Existing Docks To Reach Deeper Water,” which can be found in section 7.5 of the Relicensing Agreement, available on Duke Energy’s relicensing website. The intent of this revision is to provide a potential opportunity for property owners with existing docks and active permits, who potentially had no knowledge of the potential for lower lake levels during extended droughts, to improve their dock’s usability during extended droughts. In other words, try to put their dock in deeper water, if it is available. Property owners installing docks after the “effective date” of the Relicensing Agreement should design their docks to maintain usability during extended droughts. I have listed below some of the basic parameters of this revision. Who qualifies? Only property owners who meet one of the following criteria by the “effective date” of Dec. 1, 2013, will potentially be eligible for the additional square footage: – Property owners with an existing, Duke Energy-approved boat dock; – Property owners with a Duke Ener40 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

gy-approved permit for a not-yet constructed boat dock issued less than 12 months prior to Dec. 1, 2013. In other words, the dock permit must have been issued between Dec. 1, 2012 and Dec. 1, 2013. What modifications can I make to my dock under this revision? The normal maximum size limit of 1,000 square feet may possibly be increased to 1,200 square feet if the larger size is needed to reach deeper water. Modifications can include complete replacement of a dock, relocation of the dock along the approved shoreline, reconfiguration, simple extensions of gangways or a combination of these.

This 200 square foot allowance is intended to provide space required to extend gangways or piers to reach deeper water, not to add deck space to the dock. Docks must comply with all other Shoreline Management Guidelines. When can this be done? Lake Services will accept applications no sooner than Dec. 1, 2014. Duke Energy will provide broad public notification at least 30 days prior to the opening of the window of opportunity.

Daniel Smith, Jr., MD,

Board Certified in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Once this window opens, Duke Energy Lake Services will accept eligible lake use permit applications for the surface area and build-out period exceptions for one year. Waiver of permit fees There will be no permit application fee or a Habitat Enhancement Program fee for approved dock modifications needed to reach deeper water. This waiver will only apply to applications approved within the window of opportunity noted above. Property owners who wish to modify their docks to reach deeper water either before or after the window of opportunity may do so with the proper approvals including written approval from Duke Energy Lake Services. In this situation the applicant is not eligible to increase the surface size above 1,000 square feet or be eligible for any fee waivers. I will discuss this in more detail as we get closer to the allowable dates. In the interim you can access the Keowee-Toxaway Relicensing Agreement at http://www. duke-energy.com/lakes/keowee-toxaway-relicensing. asp. Click on “ Keowee-Toxaway Online Library” then “Relicensing Agreement” at the top of the page. Lake Hartwell Below are some useful links regarding water management on Lake Hartwell and the Savanna Basin, including balancing the basin blog site: http://balancingthebasin.armylive. dodlive.mil/2013/10/11/water-management-website-available-for-public-view/ h t t p : // b a l a n c i n g t h e b a s i n . a rmylive.dodlive.mil/2013/10/17/howdo-i-find-the-weekly-declaration-andprojection/#comment-428

Omotola Adebayo, AGPCNP-BC Randi Bliss Kotal-Lee, AGPCNP-BC Jo Hazelhurst, MSN, FNP-BC

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upstate theatre

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE P.O. BOX 310 FLAT ROCK, N.C. 828-693-0731 TOLL FREE: 866-732-8008 WWW.FLATROCKPLAYHOUSE.ORG

CENTRE STAGE 501 RIVER ST. INSIDE THE SMITH-BARNEY BLDG. GREENVILLE, S.C. 864-233-6733 OR TOLL FREE 877-377-1339

DECEMBER 4-22 (MAIN STAGE) A CHRISTMAS STORY The only thing little Ralphie Parker hopes to find under the Christmas tree is an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range mold BB rifle with a compass in the stock. He doesn’t simply want it — he’s consumed with an aching desire for it. But before he can hope to receive his Christmas wish, Ralphie must deal with concerned mothers, unsympathetic teachers, bundled-up brothers, major “fra-geelay” awards, frozen flagpoles, Bumpus hounds, unsavory soap, a terrifying Macy’s Santa and the even more terrifying Scut Farkus. Based upon the classic 1983 motion picture, this play is a hilarious and heartwarming holiday treat anyone will enjoy … as long as they don’t shoot their eye out!

THROUGH DECEMBER 14 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Old Marley was as dead as a doornail … This must be distinctly understood or nothing wonderful can come of the story …” This timeless classic gets a merry retelling in a world premiere adaptation by the creator of the Tony Award® winning hit The 39 Steps. Five actors portray all the memorable characters, exploring new facets of this canonical classic and breathing new life into the Dickens story you grew up with. Reimagined with a fresh physicality, this “highly theatrical, sometimes comic, ultimately moving adaptation” is sure to brighten up your holidays.

DECEMBER 12-22 (PLAYHOUSE DOWNTOWN) O HOLY NIGHT For two weeks in December, Playhouse Downtown will host a new musical adaptation of the classic Nativity Story told through traditional and modern Christmas music. Four powerful singers are joined by a choir and a live band to present new arrangements of beloved songs and carols. This is a Christmas event that will celebrate the “Reason for the season” and is a must-see for anyone who loves the story and music of Christmas.

42 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

JANUARY 23 - FEBRUARY 15 ROCK ’N’ ROLL GOLD The Golden Age of Rock ’N’ Roll. Centre Stage does it again with a tremendous original concert of favorite tunes through the ages. We capture the tunes you’ve carried with you since childhood with yet another Rock ’n’ Roll presentation that brings the house down every night. We’re gonna bring you the first three decades of rock ’n’ roll as we go back to the roots of the most popular music ever created! CLEMSON LITTLE THEATRE 214 S. MECHANIC ST. PENDLETON, S.C. RESERVATIONS 864-646-8100 EVENING PERFORMANCES, 8 P.M. MATINEES, 3 P.M.

DECEMBER 6-8, 13-15 BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER A true Christmas classic: The local church is turned on its head when casting the notoriously horrific Herdman children in the annual Christmas pageant. Antics, mayhem and hilarity ensue as the children come not only to

boys’ experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost, the Little Orphan Annie decoder pin and Ralphie’s father winning a lamp shaped like a woman’s leg in a net stocking.

broke up Henry’s first marriage. Closely woven with thrills and comedy, it’s Agatha Christie at her best as we are presented with lots of suspects in this classic whodunit by Agatha Christie. PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 300 SOUTH MAIN ST. GREENVILLE, S.C. 864-467-3000 OR 800-888-7768

understand the meaning of Christmas, but also to remind the community of the true reason for the season. FEBRUARY 20-23 CHARLOTTE’S WEB Determined to save Wilbur the pig from the butcher, an extraordinary spider begins writing miraculous messages in her webs. Join Charlotte, Templeton the rat, and a devoted young girl as they work together in a heartwarming tale about true friendship, perseverance and redemption in one of the most-beloved children’s stories of all time. 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.

DECEMBER 6-8 AND 13-15 A CHRISTMAS STORY Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself, at Goldblatt’s Department Store. The consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out.” All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here, including the family’s temperamental exploding furnace, the school bully, the

FEBRUARY 7-9 &14-16 BELLES The play is set in six different cities around the country in rooms specific to each of the six Walker sisters, who communicate with one another via their respective telephones. Told in “two acts and 45 phone calls,” Belles visits six southern sisters, who, over the course of an autumn weekend, seek to bridge the physical and emotional distance between them via the telephone, and in the process come to terms with their shattered family history. The six Walker sisters all hail from Memphis, but now they are scattered all over the country. Only Peggy still lives in Memphis, where she cares for Mama. When the play begins, Peggy is phoning her sisters with the latest about Mama ... whether they want to hear it or not! 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.

FEBRUARY 21 – MARCH 8 AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SPIDERS WEB Clarissa, the second wife of Henry HailshamBrown, is adept at spinning tall tales for their bored diplomatic circle. When a murder takes place in her drawing room she finds live drama much harder to cope with, especially when the victim turns out to be the man who

THE WIZARD OF OZ DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 5 Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this new production contains all the beloved songs from the Oscar-winning moving score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts’ desires.

evolves into a deep romance that triumphs as one of theater’s most exhilarating love stories. 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.

JANUARY 31, FEBRUARY 1-2 & 8-10 SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL When Dewey Frye drops dead in the middle of a Rotary meeting, half the town of New Edinburgh, Mississippi turns out for his funeral, whether his widow Dorothy wants them to or not. And goodness knows she already has her hands full, with feuding daughters and a no-good brotherin-law to deal with. Laugh-out-loud funny, this big-hearted comedy offers an affectionate look at Southern family, manners and traditions. BROOKS CENTER 141 JERSEY LANE, CLEMSON 864-656-7787 MONDAY-FRIDAY, 1-5 P.M. HTTP://WWW.CLEMSON.EDU/BROOKS/EVENTS/

JANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 2 PORGY AND BESS Winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess is hitting the road in a stunning new staging, including such legendary songs as “Summertime” and “I Got Plenty of Nothing.” This classic story is set in Charleston’s fabled Catfish Row, where the beautiful Bess struggles to break free from her scandalous past, and the only one who can rescue her is the crippled but courageous Porgy. Porgy and Bess’ relationship

JANUARY 28 BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Uniting some of the freshest and funniest creative minds on Broadway, “Bring It On: The Musical” is inspired by the “Bring It On” film series and tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of competition. With a colorful crew of characters, an exciting fresh sound and explosive dance with aerial stunts, this universal story is sure to be everything you hoped for and nothing like you expected. FEBRUARY 20 WORKING Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, “Working” paints a vivid portrait of the men and women the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, phone operator, waitress, millworker, mason and housewife, just to name a few. WINTER 2013-14 • 43

calendar of events DECEMBER

Westminster Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. (864) 647-5316.

DEC. 1 Salem Christmas Parade, 4 p.m. (864) 944-2819. DEC. 2 Seneca Christmas Parade, 6 p.m., (864) 8822097. DEC. 3 Clemson Christmas pre-parade festivities and tree lighting, 5 p.m.; parade, 6 p.m. (864) 653-2030. The Clemson University Women’s and Men’s Glees will each perform repertoire from a variety of style periods, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. DEC. 5 Jay Ungar and Molly Mason will join the Clemson University Symphony Orchestra at Brooks Center for the Performing Arts. Among their best-known performances is Ungar’s Ashokan Farewell, the signature tune in Ken Burns’ award-winning documentary The Civil War, 8 p.m.

Walhalla Christmas Parade and first Walhalla Luminary Tour of Churches. Visit area churches as they open their doors and share their celebrations of the Christmas season, 5 p.m., (864) 638-2727.

DEC. 6 Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University features the Boston Brass and the Brass All-Stars ensemble doing big band arrangements of classics like the Stan Kenton Christmas Carols, “Greensleeves,” and “Motown Jingle Bells,” 8 p.m.

DEC. 7 THRU FEB. 6 Exhibit “A Dozen Dames: Twelve Women Making Art” at Pickens County Historical Museum. Call (864) 898-5963 for museum hours and information.

Eddie Miles “An Elvis Blue Christmas” at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m., (864) 638-5277 or 1 (877) 368-5318. DEC. 6-8 The Nutcracker: Once Upon A Time In Greenville will be performed by the Carolina Ballet Theatre at the Peace Center in Greenville, evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. matinees at 2 p.m.

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DEC. 13 Emile Pandolfi at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Call (864) 638-5277 or (877) 368-5318.

DEC. 21 Ed Harrison Memorial Celtic Christmas at Hagood Mill, 138 Hagood Mill Road, Pickens, (864) 898-2936.

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DEC. 14 West Union Christmas Parade, 5 p.m.

DEC. 7 Santa’s Workshop on Ram Cat Alley in Seneca, 5-8 p.m. Visits and photos with Santa.

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WINTER 2013-14 • 45

calendar of events JANUARY JAN. 11 Hen Party at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Call (864) 638-5277 or 1 (877) 368-5318. JAN. 16 Take a rollicking, first-class ride exploring the roots of American music as Rani Arbo and the band Daisy Mayhem take you on a musical journey from the Georgia Sea Islands to the Appalachian mountains and beyond, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, 7 p.m. JAN. 18 Blue Highway (Bluegrass) at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Call (864) 638-5277 or 1 (877) 368-5318.

FEBRUARY FEB. 6 Join the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University for a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Center. The evening will include appearances from past and present performing arts students. Proceeds will provide additional support for the Department of Performing Arts and the Brooks Center, 8 p.m. FEB. 15 Mountain Heart (Bluegrass) at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Call (864) 638-5277 or (877) 368-5318. FEB. 21 James Gregory “The Funniest Man In America” at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 8 p.m. Call (864) 638-5277 or (877) 368-5318. FEB. 25 Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez will perform at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University. Her most recent accomplishments include First Prize and Audience Award at the Anton Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Dresden and semifinalist at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, 8 p.m. FEB. 25 & 27 Children’s Theatre Week – Rumpelstiltskin on Feb. 25 and Alice Rocks Wonderland on Feb. 27 at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium, 7 p.m. Call (864) 6385277 or (877) 368-5318.

ONGOING Historic Ballenger House tours and rentals: The Seneca Woman’s Club preserves and manages the Historic Ballenger House. Tours by reservation. (864) 654-4043. Oconee County Library used book sale is the second Thursday of every month in the basement of the Walhalla Library from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Hard back and paperback books (adult’s and children’s), magazines, books on tape, books on CD, records, CDs, games, puzzles and DVDs. 46 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Upcoming Events: Eddie Miles “An Elvis Blue Christmas” Friday, December 6 @ 8 pm Tickets $25.00, children under 12 $12.50, group rate $20.00 Emile Pandolfi @ Christmas Friday, December 13 @ 8 pm Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $15.00 group rate $25.00 The Walhalla Civic Chorale Christmas Concert Saturday, December 21 @ 8 pm Free Admission Hen Party Saturday, January 11 @ 8 pm Tickets $25.00, children under 12 $12.50 group rate $20.00 Blue Highway (Bluegrass) Saturday, January 18 @ 8 pm Tickets $25.00, children under 12 $12.50 group rate $20.00 Southern Fried Funeral (Play - Comedy/Drama) Saturday, January 31, February 1,2 8, 9, 10 Evenings 8 pm, Sunday 2:30 pm Tickets $12.00, children under 12 $6.00 group rate $10.00 Mountain Heart (Bluegrass) Saturday, February 15 @ 8 pm Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $15.00 group rate $25.00 James Gregory“The Funniest Man in America” Friday, February 21 @ 8 pm Tickets $30.00, children under 12 $16.00 group rate $25.00 Children’s Theatre Week: Rumplestillskin Tuesday, February 25 @ 7 pm Tickets $3 Children’s Theatre Week Alice Rocks Wonderland Thursday, February 25 @ 7 pm Tickets $3 Duck Hunter Shoots Angel (Play – Comedy) March 7, 8, 9 14, 15, 16 Evenings 8 pm, Sundays 2:30 pm Tickets $12.00, children under 12 $6.00 group rate $10.00

To order tickets call 864 638-5277 or online www.walhallacivic.com

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