THE HOME & GARDEN ISSUE
Three great restaurants on the beach in Seaside, Florida
850.231.3113
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DISCOVER THE
COASTAL LUXURY LIFE OF RUSKIN PLACE IN SEASIDE, FLORIDA
Stairway to Heaven at 302 Ruskin Place. An iconic Seaside residence, named “Stairway to Heaven” for its unique rooftop spiral staircase and designed by internationally recognized New York architect, Alexander Gorlin, as his own personal residence. While the famed coastal town of Seaside has long gained international recognition, with its charms of the new urbanism lifestyle, Ruskin Place remains somewhat of a hidden treasure within the community.
—Erin Oden
FOR MORE DETAILS AND PRICING ON THIS EXCLUSIVE REAL ESTATE OFFERING, PLEASE CONTACT ERIN DIRECTLY AT 850.502.1220
CALL ERIN ODEN
850.502.1220
erin@coastalluxury.com
CoastalLuxury.com
SOLD BY ERIN: $55 MILLION 2011-2013, $23 MILLION SOLD IN 2013
THE PREMIER PROPERTY GROUP • LEADING COMPANY IN LUXURY SALES • 1701 E CO HWY 30A, SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL 32459
Somewhere between indulgence and nature lies a place that connects both. Portofino Island Resort on beautiful Pensacola Beach, bordered by the protected Gulf Islands
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National Seashore to its east, is a luxurious full-service resort on the Gulf of Mexico featuring eight swimming pools, including an Olympic-style indoor pool; watersports; Spa Portofino; tennis center; fitness center; casual and fine dining; children’s programs; and much more.
A P PA R E L ,
J E W E L R Y,
H O M E
AC C E S S O R I E S ,
A LY S S H O P P E .CO M
A N D
G I F T S
Don’t miss the Verragio Bridal Trunk Show
Friday, August 1 and Saturday, August 2, 2014!
T H E M O S T C R E AT I V E C U L I N A RY E X P E R I E N C E O N 3 0 A Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 p m • Happy Hour 5:30–6:30 p m 8 5 0 - 2 1 3 - 5 7 0 0
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C A L I Z A R E S T A U R A N T . C O M
In this issue:
120
72
138
54
106
40
Home and Garden
Voyager
Container Gardening 33
How Greenville Got Its Groove Back 94
A Rediscovery of America 40 The Legacy Home—A Show House Revival 54 Bellingrath Gardens 72 Aspri Villa 120 Stairway to Heaven—A Seaside Icon 138 The Armored Frog 152 Cue the Waterworks! 171
162
Couture Fashion Firs 22 Summertime, Where the Livin’ Is Easy 82 People + Places Digital Graffiti 2014 88 Perspicasity’s Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration 132
Carrying the Torch of Southern Style 184
Perspectives
Not Too Shabby 193
Handcrafting Nostalgia One Beach Chair at a Time 198
Get Healthy East Meets West: Thinking Outside of the Pill Box 162 Laser Body Sculpting with Smartlipo TriPlex 178 The Art of Life An American Masterpiece 106 V IE Z INE .C OM | 13
COLA COLA
®
Primary Targeted Audiences
W
e are thrilled you have picked up a copy of VIE and hope you
enjoy reading about the people and places of our coveted region,
COLA 2 COLA®—Pensacola to Apalachicola. We live in a great place where life is good! We have a passion for our area and the people and businesses found here, and we hope that you will share in our excitement. VIE can be found locally at Tourist Development Council centers, Chamber of Commerce locations, Sundog Books in Seaside, Florida, boutiques, restaurants, bed-and-breakfasts, and special events. VIE’s distribution has branched out to the following airports: Baltimore/Washington International, Houston Hobby, Memphis International, Nashville International, Orlando International, and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International. In addition to these high-profile locations, VIE is also being added to the shelves of some of the country’s top-selling bookstores, newsstands, and supermarkets, giving our advertisers potential access to millions of people.
VIE is a registered trademark. All contents herein are Copyright © 2008–2014 Cornerstone Marketing and Advertising, Incorporated (The Publisher). All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from The Publisher. VIE is a lifestyle magazine and is published at least five times annually on a bimonthly schedule. The opinions herein are not necessarily those of The Publisher. The Publisher and its advertisers will not be held responsible for any errors found in this publication. The Publisher is not liable for the accuracy of statements made by its advertisers. Ads that appear in this publication are not intended as offers where prohibited by state law. The Publisher is not responsible for photography or artwork submitted by freelance or outside contributors. The Publisher reserves the right to publish any letter addressed to the editor or The Publisher. VIE is a paid publication. Subscription rates: Digital magazine (iPad only) – One-year $11.99; Two-year $17.99 / Printed magazine – One-year $23.95; Two-year $34.95 (U.S. Only – price includes free access to digital magazine versions for iPad). Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.VIEZINE.com.
On the Cover:
VIE Creative Team: Lisa Burwell Publisher lisa@viezine.com
Gerald Burwell Editor-in-Chief gerald@viezine.com
Bob Brown VP of Creative Services bob@viezine.com
Tim Dutrow Videographer tim@viezine.com
Jordan Staggs Assistant Editor jordan@viezine.com
Mary Jane Kirby Account Executive maryjane@viezine.com
Tracey Thomas Art Director tracey@viezine.com
Scott Sajowitz Account Executive scott@viezine.com
Troy Ruprecht Graphic Designer troy@viezine.com
Julie Dorr Account Executive julie@viezine.com
Devan Allegri Watkins Graphic Designer devan@viezine.com
Margaret Stevenson Copy Editor
Bill Weckel Web/Project Manager bill@viezine.com
Shannon Quinlan Distribution Coordinator
Robert Wagner Video Producer robertw@viezine.com
VIE Contributors: This issue’s cover features an orchid belonging to the Phalaenopsis genus. This and several other species of orchids thrive in the conservatory at Bellingrath Gardens located on the Fowl River just south of Mobile, Alabama, where the controlled temperature and humidity are enjoyed by colorful hibiscus, bromeliads, and a variety of other exotic tropical species. Troy Ruprecht captured the exotic beauty of this bloom during a weekend trip to the gardens, and we found it made an eye-catching cover for the Home and Garden issue!
Published by:
Contributing Writers: Sallie W. Boyles Robert Davis Kim Duke-Layden Annie Foley Madra McDonald Kimberly Moskowitz, MD, MS Lynn Nesmith Tori Phelps Sandra K. Woodward
Contributing Photographers:
850.231.3087
114 Logan Lane, Suite 4 | Grayton Beach, FL 32459 w w w.t h e i de a b o u t iqu e
.com
Contact us at info@theideaboutique.com
Brandon Babineaux Kim Duke-Layden Walter Elliott Emily Followill Jack Gardner Sheila Goode John Layden Fantasia McDaniel Rich Meade Romona Robbins Lori Leath Smith Modus Photography
Stephen Stinson Photography Steven Brooke Studios
V IE Z INE .C OM | 15
Publisher’s Note:
OUR TOWN COMES OF AGE A Walk Down Memory Lane
Photo by Gerald Burwell
Twenty-one years ago this past March, I moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Florida to take a position as marketing director of Seaside Merchants Association. In those days, the mandate was to tout the town’s unique shops and restaurants and welcome the patronage of everyone—even those who were not living or vacationing in Seaside. At times, I felt like I had landed on Mars—it was such a foreign way of life for a city girl like me. But, it was a nice life, and after all these years, several of those merchants have become a huge part of the town’s distinct personality.
In 1994, there wasn’t much along the eighteen-mile scenic corridor of Highway 30-A. Driving from one end to the other, you could count the cars you passed on your fingers and toes. Other than Seaside, there were the old residential townships (Dune Allen Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seabreeze, and Seacrest Beach) with their few small shops and cafés; the famed Criolla’s (now Grayton Bar and Grill) had been around for a few years, and the Red Bar had just opened its doors. I didn’t think I would make it past my two-year contract with the Seaside merchants, but once the beach owns your heart, it’s hard to believe that there could be a better place to live. My mind has been busy reminiscing during these early summer days—looking back and seeing that so much has changed yet still remains the same. We’ve all grown up. A lot of us who chose to forge new lives in this area are still here, having persevered through thick and thin. And that feels really good. During the thirty-year anniversary celebration of Perspicasity Open-Air Market on May 10 that VIE sponsored (see “People + Places: Perspicasity’s Thirtieth Anniversary Celebration”), I saw many familiar faces: Bob and Linda White, founding proprietors of Sundog Books; Charlie Modica of Modica Market fame; Dave Rauschkolb, owner of Bud & Alley’s; Daryl and Robert Davis, Seaside’s visionaries and developers, as well as owners of Perspicasity; and so many more. We are honored to have Robert Davis as a contributing writer in this issue: he shares the vision that he and town planners DPZ (Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk) had even before it was aptly coined New Urbanism. To diligently follow an idea like Seaside through to the end with such passion and excellence is beyond commendable. Robert writes that one of the goals he and Daryl shared was to create a place where people could be happy. Thinking of all the people who
have been made happy and whose lives have been bettered because of that vision shows the scope of their success. I remember Robert frequently saying that the town would look better and seem more authentic after it had time to mature and develop its patina. And just as age can perfect a fine red wine, time is ripening the vision of Seaside and its thirtythree-year-old traditions. Seaside was the first New Urbanism community of its kind; it made its mark on our beloved 30-A and paved the way for so many more to follow. Trailblazers, visionaries, artists, architects, developers, and all who can appreciate quality have found their way to our little piece of paradise. It’s this collective effort and appreciation for creating things of beauty, longevity, substance, and value that have made the lives of so many that much richer. Scenic Highway 30-A has bragging rights to beautiful beaches, rare coastal dune lakes, a bike and running path, and three New Urbanism communities within a ten-mile radius—Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach. DPZ masterfully built upon lessons learned at Seaside as they created the new communities of both Rosemary Beach, which is approaching its twenty-year anniversary next year, and Alys Beach, which just celebrated its tenth anniversary last year. We cannot exclude the masterful land planning achievements of The St. Joe Company and its creation of two outstanding traditional neighborhood developments—WaterColor and WaterSound. In this issue, we feature a beautiful WaterSound Gulffront home that began life as the Southern Accents Idea House in 2004 and now has experienced a rebirth (see “The Legacy Home—A Show House Revival”).
Bricks and Mortar After a nearly seven-year lull in building activity, once again we hear the pounding of hammers, the buzzing of power saws, and the noise of large equipment excavating foundations. The sights and sounds that go along with erecting bricks and mortar are indeed welcome, although I do somewhat miss the peace and quiet. After waiting out the Great Recession, we are seeing growth and feeling a sense of renewal. It seems that as fast as the proverbial and collective economic clock stopped in 2007, it woke up just as quickly this year. Now we’re all scurrying about to make up for lost time—a rebuilding and restoration have begun to take hold. In this issue, VIE is proud to present select homes from along Highway 30A, as well as some local gardens. We also have a special feature on Bellingrath Gardens, a gorgeous public display garden located in Theodore, Alabama, just outside Mobile. There are pivotal crossroads in everyone’s life, and one of mine was moving to an area that I am blessed to call home. To Life! —Lisa V IE Z INE .C OM | 17
years
ss
f
b r at i
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o
20
le
n
ce
速
busine
CREATING BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
DESTIN
9705 Highway 98 Miramar Beach, Florida 32550 850.654.8009
WWW.JMILLERSFURNITURE.COM
G U L F B RE E Z E
1149 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, Florida 32560 850.934.6200
In Loving Memory
January 17, 1964 – June 6, 2014
n June 6, 2014, Sabine Mireille Laguna passed away from complications following a vigorous and courageous two-year battle against brain cancer. She is survived by and shines brightly on in her loving husband, Rob Babcock, and their two beautiful daughters, Zoë and Sofie, who have exhibited grace and maturity through an ordeal that children should never have to endure.
at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, she and Rob moved to Pensacola Beach, where they started their own business venture, a hospitality management company at Portofino Island Resort. In 2012, Sabine graced the cover of the resort’s in-room magazine, Portofino Life, in which an entire fashion shoot was dedicated to her channeling of Jacqueline Kennedy’s style, which she so elegantly brought to life.
Sabine exuded life, hope, beauty, cheerfulness, style, charm, intelligence—and most of all—love! She was confident, spoke several languages, and was loved by many in our community and beyond. Sabine had an innate fashion sense that was most likely rooted in her upbringing in France and Venezuela. After years of working
This humble tribute does not do justice to Sabine, a woman who was an inspiration to many. It is our great honor to be able to share her legacy, and as we bid adieu to this lovely person, she enters rest in Heaven. We ask that the Babcock family be remembered in your hearts and prayers.
Sabine’s memorial service was held at the Seaside Chapel at five o’clock on the warm, sunny evening of June 11. A celebration of life gathering immediately followed at The Bay restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. V IE Z INE .C OM | 19
s a F DONNA KARAN NEW YORK
n o i h s first
MERCE NEW YORK
D
WEEK FAL N O I H S A F ES-BENZ DES-BENZ
ERCE TESY OF M TOS COUR
L 2014
FASHION
PHO FOLEY •
able , but to be g in o g l ir g is e will get th n lo a y hion! So, no s it C fa k in r o r e Y e r w a e yc A trip to N e icing on m th s a ice storms w g k n e e li p W ip n r c io h o s n to attend Fa g snow, and in k a e r pack: my b to d r t o a c h e r w o y n , actl polar vortex s, I knew ex e ogh Y ( . y a w a us y Lainey Ke b p e ts e a k o c to e g th d were goin n print hat an d r a p o le nding Fashio y e c tt a a e r f T o n ip il io nit s vintage Ph ad a premo h e v a h fashion god t e s u th m , d I n e — e e s th and Strenes ht these!) In g u o b I n e h w ut delays. o o g h a it s w e d d a n c a e fely Week d e arrived sa w d n a s r e oth overruled all
BY ANNIE
V IE Z INE .C OM | 23
Nowhere else does time vanish as quickly as it does in New York City. The moment we arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport we were whisked off as if by a jet stream! I was joined by vivacious Fashion Week veteran Jordan Staggs of VIE and fashion designer Nicole Rockhill of the Nicole Paloma label and boutique. Charged up on the electricity that is NYC, we powered along. If the streets are arteries, then the heart of the city is Lincoln Center, where all traffic circulates during Fashion Week. Camera shutters swished, swirled open, and closed as their handlers mobbed fashion show attendees showing off their finest. Trends were documented and broadcast straight from Lincoln Center and the streets outside it. Nothing is ever over the top and everything is celebrated for the fabulousness that it is—originality is just the coolest in my book!
Fashion Overload? Yes, Please!
The menu for day one offered delectable delights of the zero-calorie kind, and who were we to resist any of it? We nibbled a bit and became ravenous for more. Are we doomed to a life well beyond our means? Perhaps. “It’s better to live beyond your means than beneath your standards,” according to the ever-fashionable Miss Piggy. We are officially fashion junkies. We staged our days according to the shows and, between the three of us, attended a total of twenty in three days, sharing the venue with such attendees as Anna Wintour, Glenda Bailey, Joe Zee, Grace Coddington, Suzy Menkes, Lynn Yaeger, Hal Rubenstein, Linda Fargo, Emmy Rossum, Sofia Coppola, and Dita Von Teese. Then there were the models—Coco Rocha and Karlie Kloss—and the 2013 pageant beauties Erin Brady, Gabriela Isler, and Cassidy Wolf. The shows we viewed were Carolina Herrera, Dennis Basso, Badgley Mischka, Anna Sui, Betsey Johnson, Milly, Kaufmanfranco, Naeem Khan, CZAR by Cesar Galindo, Mathieu Mirano, Noon by Noor, Angel Sanchez, Nanette Lepore, Ricardo Seco (men’s), Libertine, Bibhu Mohapatra, Skingraft, Lie Sang Bong, and—the finale to our memorable trip—Zang Toi.
ABOVE L–R: NANETTE LEPORE, NAEEM KHAN RIGHT: DENNIS BASSO 24 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
Designers such as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors chose independent venues elsewhere in the city, keeping Fashion Week an exclusive industry party; only invitees had the privilege of viewing the collections of dreamy clothes over which these designers and their teams had labored for months. We sat front row on the catwalk a few times (there are three different venues at Lincoln Center) and were on our best behavior. Bravo to the gorgeous models, both the neophytes and the perennials! They presented the brands beautifully: gracefully balanced on four- and five-inch heels, surrounded by music, lights, cameras, and a zillion pairs of eyes—and all while keeping it fun and fabulous. I watched in wonderment and disbelief (Pinch me— am I really here?). The hair and makeup teams did a sublime job backstage, as did the stylists and the dressers. What a tremendous group effort! The preparation and coordination of every show went beyond efficiency. Fashion Week seems as well organized as any live theater show on Broadway. The brilliant work by the photographers and videographers was available instantaneously as shows went live for the online masses worldwide. The massive Instagram board in the waiting area for the venues entertained us by broadcasting continuous snaps and videos from attendees as we waited in between shows. As New Yorkers fought subfreezing temperatures on the sidewalk runways of Manhattan, we were inside viewing fantastic fall fashions and secretly wishing we had packed furs. Indeed, designers had answered the call for fur with every conceivable silhouette,
nd o y e b e v i l o t “It’s better th a e n e b n a h t your means s.” rd a d n a t s r u o y —Miss Piggy LEFT: CAROLINA HERRERA
V IE Z INE .C OM | 25
color, and texture. Whether the look is ladylike or saucy, rock ’n’ roll glam or boho luxe—or out-andout lavish—fur these days is much more than just granny chic. Furs and pelts such as mink, Mongolian lamb, lynx, and sable are soaring to great heights of popularity along with laser-cut, perforated, and quilted leathers, and designers are creating modern yet feminine silhouettes to feed the frantic appetites of their customers.
Masters of Style
Some of the more memorable highlights for me were a form-fitting, laser-cut leather dress from CZAR by Cesar Galindo; the furs and the “brushstroke” dresses from Dennis Basso; and at Bibhu Mohapatra, the black matelassé tuxedo dress shown with a reversible coat of lichen-green suede and long hair mink, the frost swakara coat over an icy satin strapless gown with wool lace detail, and a strapless ball gown done in a print evocative of a landscape at dusk. Carolina Herrera stunners included a short jacket with fur cuffs and hem, a fur top with a full-length silk skirt, and the final look, presented by Karlie Kloss—a red gown embroidered with geometric embellishments. Badgley Mischka summed it all up with their gowns, some of which were inspired by Austrian artist Gustav
ABOVE: ZANG TOI RIGHT: BIBHU MOHAPATRA 26 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
Klimt, while the opulence and drama at Zang Toi included to-die-for fox stoles to dress society gals of all ages. From the gorgeous garments to the dramatic presentation, the show was splendidly beautiful. Bravo to the master showman, Zang Toi! The show that blew me away, however, with impeccably cut clothing, perfectly presented, choreographed, and styled with hair and makeup—in short, the whole package—would have to be Kaufmanfranco. They had me from the first look, a minimalistic white wrap dress. I loved all of their offerings: the black, the white, the large herringbone patterns, the glacial blue leather, and the gowns in liquid silver and in black.
On-Trend
The color red took center stage at many presentations, as did grays, jewel tones, and the usual black. Metallics, such as gold and silver, made a few appearances, and so did bright white, mustard yellow, lilac, jade green (a longtime favorite at Zang Toi), and modern digital prints that could brighten any gloomy winter day. Neoprene was shown at Lie Sang Bong and Noon by Noor in very sporty pieces including sweatshirts, tops, and coats with puffed-out sleeves—ultramodern and youthful! Other frequent looks were capes, culottes, pants—full, skinny, cigarettes, and leggings—parkas and jackets of all lengths, oversized cardigans, little black dresses, gowns, and faux and genuine fur coats. Why would anyone battle the brutal New York winter to view shows that probably last about fifteen minutes each? Because people will support who and what they love. It is a chance to come together and celebrate our common passion and livelihood—fashion. So cheers! Time is fleeting, and these moments will forever be highlights of my career.
LEFT: REEM ACRA ABOVE L–R: ANGEL SANCHEZ, CESAR GALINDO V IE Z INE .C OM | 27
ABOVE: KAUFMANFRANCO RIGHT: LIE SANG BONG
I cannot imagine my life withou t fashion: it is all-inspiring and so necessary for my soul. 28 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
ABOVE: MICHAEL KORS
Fashion thrives when you, the consumer, are excited and inspired to make that oh-so-important purchase. Designers are vying for the number-one spot in your hearts and closets, after all. Fashion supporters should remain united. I cannot imagine my life without fashion: it is all-inspiring and so necessary for my soul. There are countless times when it has come through for me. It has helped me secure a career, a husband, lots of friends, and—most important—my joie de vivre. Images of the four days spent together with Jordan and Nicole at Fashion Week will forever replay in my mind and instantly put a smile on my face: trekking in subzero temperatures in that brutal, lashing wind from our apartment to Lincoln Center, all the while chitchatting and laughing (mostly at ourselves); swapping wardrobes (Thanks, Nicole, for the borrowed 411 fireman’s badge necklace from Adorn by Samouce!); practicing our poses for impromptu photo ops; more laughing at and about ourselves; taking excursions to Bergdorf Goodman, to the East Village to attend a men’s show by Ricardo Seco in a historical church with strikingly colorful stained-glass windows, and almost to SoHo as we were beaten by the weather and wind chill and had to retreat to the famous Katz’s Deli. I almost made it to the Guggenheim and MoMA, but thanks to the crippling weather, I had to escape the city a day early. I’ll take a rain check. Long live American ready-to-wear! Peace, Love, and Fashion, —Annie
V IE Z INE .C OM | 29
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Il Castello di Sabbia I l C a s t ePlalr aod i sd i Sabbia e by the Sea Paradise by the Sea
A
BBOOHHEEMMEED EDSEI SGING N
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“I call architecture frozen music...” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “I call architecture frozen music...” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Container
GARDENING BY JORDAN STAGGS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY TROY RUPRECHT
The gardening and gift specialists at Clay Gardens and Gifts have quickly become South Walton’s go-to landscape and plant experts. From working with homeowners and businesses on their outdoor spaces—start to finish—to helping customers choose their favorite greenery and accessories, the garden gurus at Clay can help turn a vision into reality. Clay Gardens and Gifts owner Anna Lisa Daniel shares with VIE some insights and tips on container gardening, a trend among Clay’s recent clients, such as the Seaside Institute and Barbara Richards of the WaterColor community.
V IE Z INE .C OM | 33
Opening page, this page, and opposite page (top): The Seaside Institute Opposite page (bottom) Richards Private Residence 34 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
VIE: What is container gardening? Anna Lisa: Container gardening is using containers of any sort for plantings that reflect a customer’s creative expression or interests. Containers might range from traditional terra-cotta and glazed pottery to wooden planters, galvanized metal and copper vessels, antiques, and recycled items such as tires and washtubs.
CONTAINERS CAN LAST A LIFETIME IF TAKEN CARE OF; THEREFORE, MAKE SURE TO SELECT ONES THAT YOU LOVE.
Why is it a good alternative or addition to planting in the ground? It gives great flexibility for the customer to move around for a change or with the seasons. In our area along the coast, there are many planned developments with careful guidelines that do not allow certain flora to be planted, keeping the landscape mostly native. Containers are usually exempt from these guidelines, allowing our customers to select plants and flowers with lots of color and fragrance without violating these rules. Container gardening is also ideal for porches, courtyards, balconies, or any area where traditional plantings cannot be achieved. A good example would be an herb pot outside a kitchen door. What do these types of projects have that make them special to Clay? We love working on container gardening projects— and all of our projects—because we get to work with the customer from start to finish. It is nice to be able to see the transformation our gardens can make on a residence or commercial ground. V IE Z INE .C OM | 35
B A S M AT I ’ S
What are your favorite things to plant? Anything with lots of color. We also love “spillers,” such as bacopa and scaevola, which drape over the pot and create contrast against the container but also soften the arrangement. How is maintaining a container garden different from other types of gardening? Are there any challenges? Regulating water and fertilization is the biggest challenge. Next would be that plants must be watched for maturity; they can become too “leggy,” with roots outgrowing the container, or they might need to be changed out because of the seasons. Regular pruning and deadheading are advised. Plants that are installed in a landscape usually do not have to be nurtured as much.
850.267.3028
3295 W Count y Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
The possibilities are endless
What would you recommend to someone starting out with this type of garden? Pick out the location that you would like to enhance with container gardening. Notice the amount of sun exposure it will receive, and keep in mind the amount of time you have to nurture the container garden—some plants need less attention than others. Containers can last a lifetime if taken care of; therefore, make sure to select ones that you love. One of the most common mistakes we see is in the sizing of the containers; the tendency is to go much smaller than is proportionate to the space. Finally, select the types of flowers and plants that you want, keeping in mind the sun and water needs of each one. What are some of your favorite projects? We love taking smaller, whimsical containers and planting sedums and succulents in them. We have many customers who will bring us containers that they already have and ask us to make centerpieces for parties and special occasions. We also love making water features for customers from containers. Most waterproof containers can be transformed into a fountain or water feature. How does Clay get involved with locals to create these projects? Clay gets new clients mainly by word of mouth and referrals from happy customers. We get many customers who happen upon us while shopping on 30-A or on a bike ride, as well.
Catherine Ryland, Broker Associate | Kitty Taylor, Broker, GRI, CRS, CIPS 850.231.2886 | 850.585.5334
133 Defuniak Street, Grayton Beach, FL 32459 | www.graytoncoastproperties.com 36 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
Interested customers can visit Clay Gardens and Gifts at 4808 Scenic Highway 30-A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, visit Clay30a.com, or call (850) 231-2150.
A REDISCOVERY OF
AMERICA
BY ROBERT DAVIS // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY THE SEASIDE INSTITUTE
When Daryl and I first dreamed of creating a town, we imagined experiences such as those we cherished from my childhood summers on the beach with my family, and Daryl’s summers on streets filled with children and adults sitting on front stoops. We wanted Seaside to be a place where families could leave behind their workday lives, slow down, and play together. We all love watching children laugh and play. It reminds us of what it is to be human—and what is important. Seaside has always been a magical place for children because they have a level of freedom here that is hard to find in many places in the world these days.
Iconic rooftops of Seaside and the Gulf of Mexico beyond • Photo by Jack Gardner 40 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
V IE Z INE .C OM | 41
I
n Visions of Seaside, I wrote that liberating children from car seats—and their parents from chauffeur duty—might be Seaside’s most fully realized goal. We consciously designed Seaside’s streets and footpaths, not just in plan, but also in cross section, and we imagined them from the perspective of someone who is about three feet tall. So, Seaside is very comfortable for everyone on foot, but particularly for children, who can easily navigate the town and take delight in the secret paths and gardens to be discovered along the way.
We were aware that we were making a statement about how American small town urbanism could and should be revived, and that Seaside, as a pilot project for the revival of traditional urbanism, was a critique of the soul-sapping sprawl that had covered over so many fields and forests by 1981. But it wasn’t until several years later that Seaside became the birthplace for a movement. The movement started with small gatherings of people who were struggling to rediscover and revive
Alfresco dining alongside Airstream Row—Seaside’s stationary food trailers • Photo by Jack Gardner
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the techniques of traditional urbanism. The first few efforts, which started in the mid-1980s, were sponsored by the Seaside Institute. They were held in Seaside on Columbus Day weekend and were called “A Rediscovery of America.” A few years later, in 1993, a hundred people attended the first Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) held in Alexandria; only a few years after that, when I was chair of the CNU, Housing and Urban Development secretary Henry Cisneros joined almost a thousand people in signing the Charter of the New Urbanism. The
Top left, Quintessential Seaside • Photo by Lori Leath Smith Top right, Great places to browse: Sundog Books and Central Square Records • Photo courtesy of the Seaside Community Development Corp. Bottom, Truman’s house from The Truman Show, the 1998 film featuring Jim Carrey • Photo by Steven Brooke Studios
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I am proud that, in the 1980s, Seaside demonstrated that compact, pedestrian-scaled towns could still be built.
CNU has continued to grow but, equally important, the principles in its charter have been adopted by many of the organizations that were previously responsible for the existing sprawl. The charter’s tenets have begun to be reflected in public policy and practice. I am proud that, in the 1980s, Seaside demonstrated that compact, pedestrian-scaled towns could still be built. The following describes some of the fundamental principles and techniques that were pioneered in our small town: • Walkable neighborhoods, towns, and cities require that houses be close enough to town centers that children and older adults who do not drive can walk to work, school, shopping, dining, and community gathering places. • Life’s daily necessities, and many of its pleasures, should be within a 5- to 10-minute walk for most residents. This distance generally corresponds to a quarter-mile radius, fortuitously the distance from the edge of Seaside to its center. • Narrow, tree-shaded streets encourage people to park and become pedestrians. Streets and squares should feel like well-proportioned outdoor rooms, lined with houses, fences, and trees to provide a sense of spatial
Photo by Jack Gardner
Robert Davis, visionary planner and cofounder of Seaside • Photo by Jack Gardner
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Concert in Central Square—a great venue for music • Photo by Jack Gardner; inset, urban layout plan for Seaside from 1983
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As a holiday town, it has a head start on making people happy.
Left, Sidewalk in front of Ruskin Place shops and galleries • Photo by Jack Gardner Top right: Dhiru A. Thadani, architect and author of Visions of Seaside, a comprehensive history of Seaside • Photo by Jack Gardner Bottom right: Daryl Davis, Robert’s wife and cofounder of Seaside, is the owner of the Seaside Style, a group of retail shops that epitomize the essence of Seaside. • Photo by Fantasia McDaniel
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New Urbanism makes its mark. • Photo by Jack Gardner
enclosure that makes the street comfortable and inviting. In Seaside, driving is inconvenient enough that most motorists park and become pedestrians. • Successful towns and cities have strong centers and clear edges. They may have ceremonial or symbolic gateways that announce your arrival, but they are open and welcoming to visitors. Streets within a neighborhood or town connect to each other and extend into the neighboring landscape or connect to adjacent neighborhoods. • Buildings should line streets and squares in ways that create harmonious streetscapes. This does not require them to be the same style, but it does imply that most buildings should be modest and understated. Architecture (with a capital A) should be reserved for public buildings. • Public buildings, parks, and community gardens should not be concentrated in one “civic center,” but rather should be distributed so that they enliven the neighborhoods surrounding them. • A broad range of housing types can bring people of diverse ages and incomes into daily interaction, strengthening the bonds of community.
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Robert Davis awarding the 2014 Seaside Prize to architect and urban designer Rob Krier • Photo by Brandon Babineaux
For me, Seaside is a living and continually changing laboratory for making places that add to human happiness. As a holiday town, it has a head start on making people happy. They come here, prepared to relax and let their hair down, to play with their kids and become more childlike themselves. The other towns that I know well—including Rome, Italy, and San Francisco, California—have the ability to make people happy through the conviviality of urban life, the opportunity to share great cuisine with friends and family, and the beauty of their architecture and urban spaces. Daryl and I have sought to learn from great cities and towns and incorporate our knowledge into making Seaside a place that combines beauty, fun, and funkiness in equal measure. Though it has become chic and fashionable, like any successful holiday town from Nantucket to Portofino, it is inclusive and accessible to almost everyone who wants to visit for a few hours or a few days.
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Visions of Seaside: Foundation/Evolution/Imagination. Built and Unbuilt Architecture by Dhiru A. Thadani can be purchased at Sundog Books in Seaside.
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Legacy Home THE
A S H O W H O U S E R E V I VA L
By Lynn Nesmith • Photography by Jack Gardner
Coastal sensibilities and a sophisticated ambience distinguish this most recent incarnation of a storied house nestled amid the dunes overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in WaterSound Beach, Florida. The provenance of a house can often be a reflection of the history of the place. The old saying “If these walls could talk” usually implies hidden confidences that occurred within. However, it is the story of how this home in WaterSound Beach, Florida, so accurately mirrors the dramatic ups and downs—and ups again—of the volatile real estate market along Scenic Highway 30-A that is noteworthy. The house was original built in 2004 by The St. Joe Company as a show house for Southern Accents magazine and as a benchmark for the aesthetics of the budding community of WaterSound Beach. Designed by New York architect John Kirk of Cooper, Robertson and Partners, the house drew inspiration from the grand waterfront homes of the Shingle style, without forsaking the charm of more modest seaside cottages. The original interiors were the handiwork of Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler. The design readily nods to the architecture of the northeast Atlantic coast. An animated profile, graceful proportions, and engaging materials of the classic Shingle style instill its distinctive character, yet the house is clearly rooted in the practicalities of the Southern vernacular traditions in the Florida Panhandle. The widow’s walk, upper balconies, bay windows, and gables allude to romantic illusions of historic seaside resorts of New England, while deep wraparound porches, sheltering overhangs, and breezeways are a direct response to the Gulf Coast climate.
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During the summer of 2004, the house was open to the public for tours, introducing thousands of tourists and locals to WaterSound Beach. An eager speculator quickly bought the house at the top of the market. Fast-forward to 2013. No need to recount the ensuing years, which were not the happiest chapters for our area. But by July 2013, the tide was turning. “A client was looking for properties as an investment,” recalls real estate agent Erin Oden of Coastal Luxury Group. “He immediately saw the potential and made the decision to buy the house in less than thirty minutes.” The exterior of the house hadn’t lost its luster, but cosmetic interior renovations were in order. Soon, designer Erika McPherson Powell of Urban Grace Interiors was on board to return it to its former glory. “From the beginning, our objective was to freshen up the house and make it marketable,” explains Erika. “Unlike a magazine show house that’s all about eyecatching details and current trends that look good in photography, our goal was a subtle and sophisticated look that would appeal to everyone.”
“A client was looking for properties as an investment. He immediately saw the potential and made the decision to buy the house in less than thirty minutes.”
First and foremost, it was to remain a beach house with a welcoming connection to its setting. The outdoor spaces boast a distinctive personality, fostering a year-round relationship with nature. Deep front porches embrace the start of day, and an octagonal second-floor veranda takes in views of the dunes and the Gulf, while a generous widow’s walk seizes the glory of the setting sun.
ERIN ODEN, COASTAL LUXURY GROUP
PHOTO BY SHEILA GOODE
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“Unlike a magazine show house that’s all about eyecatching details and current trends that look good in photography, our goal was a subtle and sophisticated look that would appeal to everyone.” ERIKA MCPHERSON POWELL, URBAN GRACE INTERIORS
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None of the rooms is grand in scale. The glamour comes from fine craftsmanship, muted colors, and relaxed furnishings that are high end but chosen with comfort and durability in mind.
Erika made changes where necessary but retained the original detailing when appropriate. The rooms are filled with soothing and subtle furnishings and fabrics that enhance the original architecture and suggest a certain way of living—one that is appropriate for this place by the water—a relaxed, coastal sophistication. The recurring theme adopts an easy and effortless transition from interior rooms to intimate porches and generous outdoor living rooms and, ultimately, to the sand and water beyond. Rather than a formal front door, oversized double doors open from the porch into a foyer that also functions as the dining room. “A round table encourages an easy flow through the space and is better for conversation,” says Erika. The interior spaces are arranged in a contemporary response with rooms flowing from one to another. With a sense of ease and intimacy, subtle details and corresponding colors define the various spaces. None of the rooms is grand in scale. The glamour comes from fine craftsmanship, muted colors, and relaxed furnishings that are high end but chosen with comfort and durability in mind. 58 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
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Furniture and fabrics reflect a welcoming exchange between indoors and outdoors, with a gentle palette of clear, cool colors inspired by the sand and the sea.
Furniture and fabrics reflect a welcoming exchange between indoors and outdoors, with a gentle palette of clear, cool colors inspired by the sand and the sea. Shades of pale blues, aqua, and creamy whites abound. The original oak floors with their whitewashed effect remain the perfect complement to the furnishings and accessories—appropriately casual yet utterly sophisticated. The spirit of the house converges in the kitchen and sunny breakfast nook, where Erika made a few changes intended to deliver the biggest impact, such as adding clear-glass cabinet doors and a Calcutta marble mosaic tile backsplash in a classic plaid pattern. The island was painted gray, and the cabinets were coated with a fresh shade of white. Double doors open onto the porch, which is outfitted with a table for alfresco dining. Upstairs, the palette of soft colors and air of casual elegance continue. V IE Z INE .C OM | 61
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TABLEWARE COURTESY OF PIZITZ HOME AND GARDEN
The spirit of the house converges in the kitchen and sunny breakfast nook, where Erika made a few changes intended to deliver the biggest impact.
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All genuinely good buildings draw you back time and again.
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All genuinely good buildings draw you back time and again. The renovations were completed on schedule, and the house was back on the market by Memorial Day 2014 as planned. Coming full circle again, the house sold in less than a week and for nearly the same price as it did in 2004. This time, however, the new owners were looking for a beach home for their own enjoyment, as opposed to an investment property. Blessed with a commanding setting that overlooks rolling white dunes and endless emerald waters, this house is basking in the immeasurable possibilities of an excited new family looking to set down roots in WaterSound Beach. It’s certainly a happy ending for a house with a colorful past.
A Culinary Masterpiece for the Senses Florida Trend Magazine’s Golden Spoon Award Winner Four Years in a Row Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for Six Years Running (2008-2013) Honored on Urbanspoon’s list of “America’s Top 250 High-End Restaurants”
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Opening spread: Photo by Troy Ruprecht Photos this and opposite page by Bill Weckel
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Fascination with the orchid spans continents and millennia, and many cultures have imbued the orchid with great meaning and symbolism. Universally, the orchid represents beauty and perfection. In China, the flower represents spring and appears in paintings dating to the Liao dynasty. The Neofinetia falcata species was highly prized by Japanese samurai. Ancient Greeks associated the orchid with virility, believing that by eating the plant, expectant parents could influence the gender of their unborn child. In the Victorian era, the orchid came to symbolize elegance and luxury. This issue’s cover model is an orchid belonging to the Phalaenopsis genus. This and several other species of orchids thrive in the conservatory at Bellingrath Gardens, where the controlled temperature and humidity are enjoyed by colorful hibiscus, bromeliads, and a variety of other exotic tropical species. Bellingrath Gardens and Home, located on the Fowl River just south of Mobile, Alabama, is a magnificent sixty-five-acre estate containing numerous gardens, lakes, fountains, and a 10,500-square-foot
“English Renaissance” mansion showcasing an exquisite collection of original furnishings, china, silver, and crystal. In 1917, Walter Bellingrath, the president of the local Coca-Cola bottling plant, was diagnosed a “workaholic.” At the urging of his doctor, he purchased a fish camp on the Fowl River in order to “learn how to play.” Running out of space at their family home in Mobile, his wife, Bessie, a devoted gardener, turned her attention to the many acres of land available at Walter’s camp. A tour of Europe in 1927 provided the inspiration for what became their new home and expansive gardens, and upon returning, the couple commissioned a prominent architect to turn their vision into reality. The English influence can be seen clearly throughout the estate, particularly near the mansion, which was constructed using old paving stones that arrived in Mobile in the form of ship’s ballast. Although inspired by the gardens of Europe, the estate features a wide variety of iconic Southern foliage such as live oaks,
This and above photo by Troy Ruprecht Opposite photo by Bill Weckel
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Photo by Bill Weckel Opposite photo by Troy Ruprecht
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magnolias, and azaleas. A secluded Asian garden complete with tall stands of bamboo, koi ponds, bonsai trees, and Chinese arched gates occupies a substantial area of the estate, as well. Open to the public year-round, Bellingrath Gardens is certainly the jewel of the Alabama Gulf Coast and a not-to-be-missed escape for locals and visitors alike.
Plan your visit today at www.bellingrath.org.
Summertime Where the Livin’ Is Easy By Lisa Burwell • Photography by Rich Meade
Summer’s effervescent smile, her love for life, and her eagerness to set the world on fire are truly magical to witness.
S
ome people just know what they want to do at a young age and they begin following their dreams early on in life. Panama City Beach resident Summer Leach discovered she wanted to have a career as a model at the ripe old age of ten. At the time, her mother, Jayna Leach, was working at the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau and cast Summer in a photo shoot for them. Summer describes how intrigued she was watching the photographer create his magic as he directed her on how to pose on an inner tube. “I enjoyed the experience so much and realized that day I wanted to be a model.” Fast-forward just seven years later and she is attaining her dream; she was recently signed by Click Models of Atlanta. Summer lives by one of her favorite sayings: “Live like there’s no midnight”—a quote attributed to Cinderella, no less.
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Summer’s effervescent smile, her love for life, and her eagerness to set the world on fire are truly magical to witness. She is entering her senior year at Arnold High School in Panama City Beach where she is a cheerleader and active in the Collegiate Studies Program; she was also recently crowned Miss Arnold High School. “I have been so blessed to grow up in this wonderful beach community, and I love giving back and paying it forward. I enjoy volunteering for the Bay County Humane Society, the American Cancer Society, and the annual Girls Inc. Princess Ball—where I got to play Cinderella.” Another goal for Summer is to attend Florida State University and major in communications: she hopes to become a motivational speaker.
In this fun fashion spread, Summer looks fresh and sweet while frolicking on the white sands in Panama City Beach, Florida!
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How
Greenville Got Its Gr oove Back S O U T H C A R O L I N A ’ S N E W H OT S P OT
S TO R Y B Y K I M D U K E - L AY D E N
nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains halfway between Charlotte, north Carolina, and Atlanta, GeorGia, a once-blighted And boarded-up Greenville, South Carolina, hAs riSen like a phoenix and emerged as one of the hotteSt and fastest Growing smAll cities in America. Besides its reMarkaBle uRban Renewal, this sizzling city is also beinG applauded as An outdoor adventure meccA and a thRivinG destination for food, fAshion, nightlife, and the artS.
South Carolina’s unofficial Upcountry capital could have wallowed in a state of permanent despair after suffering various economic blows: by the 1960s, downtown merchants were losing business to outlying retail centers and the once-thriving textile mills were nearly all defunct. After two agonizing decades, though, the city pulled itself up by its bootstraps and embarked on a thirty-year redevelopment program. Their determined efforts paid off, and in 2011, Forbes magazine ranked Greenville as one of America’s ten best revitalized downtowns.
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Greenville emits a youthful, hip atmosphere with a vibrant downtown scene, and the city’s industry has also cranked back up, thanks to megaplayers such as BMW and Michelin, which have opened factories there. Greenville has truly grown greener in both its economy and its conservation efforts, which extend well beyond trash recycling. Greenville’s bike-sharing program gives downtown commuters an alternative to driving by providing
The Reedy River flows between Greenville’s revitalized downtown and its West End neighborhood.
convenient rental-and-return bicycle racks throughout the city. Downtown’s abandoned warehouses have also been reimagined: reclaimed bricks from one were used to build Fluor Field—a baseball park for the Greenville Drive, the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox; another was converted into West End Market, a $4.2 million multiuse complex of retail stores and offices that helped Greenville earn a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Mild-weathered Greenville continues to garner national attention for its abundant lakes and rivers that are perfect for paddling, boating, fishing, and swimming— not to mention its foothills and ridges that draw climbers, campers, and bicyclists from around the country. “Greenville is fabulous for cycling,” says champion cyclist George Hincapie, who became so smitten with the area that he relocated his family there so he can train year-round on what he calls the “Tour de Greenville.”
In recent years, this Southern jewel with a population of around 60,000 has racked up a slew of accolades, earning spots on lists put out by numerous periodicals: the Best Small Cities for Cycling – Bicycling (2012); America’s Greatest Main Streets – Travel + Leisure (2012); Best Places to Live: Top 18 Coolest Towns in America – Men’s Journal (2011); Top 5 Best Places to Live and Ride – Bike Magazine; Falls Park rated among Best City Parks – US Airways magazine (2011); and the top five cities for living (2010) and retiring (2011) according to RelocateAmerica.com. Last Labor Day Weekend, my husband, John, and I celebrated our wedding anniversary with an action-packed getaway to “G-Vegas,” which the locals affectionately call Greenville because for a small city, it offers a lot. We are now among the growing throng of fans shouting the city’s latest catchphrase: “Yeah, that Greenville!”
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The Westin Poinsett hotel • Photo by John Layden
downTown is the main attraction Early on Friday afternoon, John and I arrived in downtown Greenville. Thankfully, the downpour that we drove through in Clemson, about thirty miles east, had already moved through, leaving sunny skies above. As we turned south on Main Street, we were amazed to see the number of people strolling along its charming tree-lined sidewalks with blocks and blocks of lively cafés, enticing stores, and quaint watering holes. Greenville’s building facades run the gamut from turn-of-the-century classics to bold, contemporary designs, yet they all seem to fit together like a patchwork quilt. Had we suddenly detoured to a charming European city? But downtown Greenville hasn’t always been this quaint and vibrant. During the late 1970s, while still recovering from its imploded industry, the city launched a thirty-year revitalization plan for the downtown district.
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Earlier this year, Taryn Foster moved from Greenville to Santa Rosa Beach to be near her parents, Earl and Carol Foster. The first time she lived in Greenville was from 1996 to 2000 while she attended college at nearby Furman University. “Back then, there was absolutely nothing in downtown Greenville. For nightlife we went to parties on campus,” says Foster, who couldn’t wait to graduate and flee the sleepy town. Upon graduation, she did just that and moved on to greener pastures—or at least that’s what she thought at the time. Meanwhile, banks nationwide began doling out development dollars for eager takers, and Greenville was primed to bust a move; its reconstruction efforts soon accelerated. In 2006, a change of events led Foster back to Greenville, and what she found astounded her. “The difference was amazing; so much had changed in such a short time—so many great new restaurants and bars and shops!” she exclaims. This time, Foster moved into the heart of downtown, where development continued at a frenzied pace. “At one point I hadn’t walked downtown for a few
The Westin Poinsett makes a great home base for e x p l o r i n g G r e e n v i l le ’s d ow n t ow n a n d n e a r by historic neighborhoods. A smoked pork chop from Soby’s New South Cuisine • Photo by Stephen Stinson Photography
Soby’s brick patio with the Westin Poinsett in the background • Photo courtesy of Table 301
weeks, and when I did, I couldn’t believe all the new stores that had popped up from the Hyatt (on mid-Main) to the West End.” Even when development projects across the country came to a screeching halt during the darkest days of the recent recession, highly revered Mayor Knox White, who has led the city’s renewal charge for more than fifteen years, miraculously kept Greenville’s construction cranes humming.
sold to Jack Tar Hotels in 1959. Still losing money, the hotel changed hands many times over the decades. The last incarnation, a retirement home, closed in 1987, and the building sat vacant for nearly eleven years. Like Greenville, however, the Poinsett was destined to trump the odds. In 1997, the hotel was purchased by two developers and completely restored; in 2000, it reopened just in time to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of its debut.
John booked us a room at the historic Westin Poinsett, Greenville’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. The guest rooms are contemporary, but the exterior of the building, the sunken lobby, and the piano bar exude mid-1920s opulence reminiscent of the roaring era when the hotel opened. In its heyday, the Poinsett was known as “Carolina’s Finest” and hosted many famous guests, including Amelia Earhart, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Bobby Kennedy, and Liberace. Sadly, like many luxury hotels in downtown areas, the Poinsett couldn’t compete with motels that started to spring up close to major highways in the fifties, and it was
Situated on the southern end of Main Street, the Westin Poinsett makes a great home base for exploring Greenville’s downtown and nearby historic neighborhoods. Among downtown’s bounty of eclectic mom-and-pop boutiques and national chain stores is Mast General Store, a favorite landmark since 1883. This vintage emporium is chock-full of great travel and adventure wear, old-fashioned novelties, and a huge selection of nostalgic candies (think wax bottles and Bit-O-Honey). Another noteworthy shop is Poppington’s Gourmet Popcorn, which is, according to the owner, downtown’s fourth-most
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Downtown is an endless buffet of ethnic eateries anD trendy fine dining restaurantS, not to mention umpteen craft ale houseS, wine bars and eclectic live muSic venueS. Organic peppers and squash at the TD Saturday Market
Rental bikes at one of downtown’s B-cycle bike-share stations • Photo by Kim Duke-Layden
popular attraction. Nibble on tasty, fluffy kernels in unique flavors that taste even better when combined—my creative trio: Bloody Mary, cheddar, and bacon-maple. Mmmmmm.
roasted beets, feta cheese, and a sorghum vinaigrette, followed by the most delectable roast rabbit and risotto that I’ve ever tasted. John’s locally brewed Thomas Creek Appalachian Amber Ale wasn’t too shabby, either.
Downtown is an endless buffet of ethnic eateries and trendy fine dining restaurants, not to mention umpteen craft alehouses, wine bars, and eclectic live music venues. Friday night’s street party on Main showcases downtown at its liveliest, as both sides of the street are buzzing with packed sidewalk cafés, shoppers dashing in and out of stores, families strolling, and musicians performing.
Soby’s owner, Carl Sobocinski, graduated from Clemson University in 1990 and moved to downtown Greenville, where he witnessed firsthand the fervor surrounding the city’s imminent renaissance. “There was tremendous energy and enthusiasm from business leaders and elected officials to revitalize our downtown into a place that all would want to enjoy. I was in my midtwenties and an entrepreneur, and I wanted to be a part of this development and revitalization project,” says Sobocinski, who jumped on downtown Greenville’s renewal bandwagon, opening Soby’s in 1997 and six additional downtown restaurants over the next sixteen years under his Table 301 restaurant group umbrella.
During our visit, we stopped off at the newly opened SIP, an edgy wine tasting room with a sexy rooftop lounge that has burning candles atop wine casks and white lights strung overhead. The inviting setting is perfect for enjoying tapas and a few glasses of Malbec under the stars. Afterward, we veered a block off Main and headed to the Cazbah, a dark and intimate late-night wine and tapas bar that rocked our taste buds with small plates of citrus-teriyaki tuna on soba noodles, fried goat cheese salad, and hot-and-spicy roast duck. On another night, we dined on scrumptious farm-to-fork cuisine at Soby’s New South Cuisine, located across the street from our hotel. From our patio table, we watched horse-drawn carriages clip-clop by and savored arugula salad with
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Sobocinski was also instrumental in Greenville’s restaurant scene by successfully leading a grassroots effort in 2000 to petition that alcohol be allowed to be served on Sundays with a meal. He also helped to found Euphoria, the city’s premier food, wine, and music festival held each September. Main Street’s TD Saturday Market, held May through October, has been supporting and promoting area farms and their purveyors since its inception in 2000. Not surprisingly, Sobocinski also helped kick start this popular event. When John and I explored
Cascading fountains sandwiched between RiverPlace’s shops, galleries, and eateries
the market, the stalls were filled with colorful organic fruits and vegetables: green-and-yellow summer squashes, softball-sized peaches, and seventy-two kinds of peppers. The morning’s showstopper, however, was Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper, which, despite its deceptive resemblance to a miniature red bell pepper, has officially been named the world’s hottest habanero by Guinness World Records.
West Side Story Main Street continues south past the Westin Poinsett and then crosses over the Reedy River into Greenville’s historic West End District, which has also experienced an astounding transformation. It was formerly plagued by some of the city’s highest crime, lowest-income housing, and poorest infrastructure. In the mid-1990s, Greenville secured millions of dollars in federal aid and converted this former eyesore into a vibrant offshoot of downtown, brimming with its own watering holes, shops, and attractions. Among Taryn Foster’s favorite West End haunts are Rick Erwin’s West End Grille, a deli by day and an intimate fine dining restaurant at night; the Velo Fellow, a nostalgic British-style public ale house with a Southern flair; and Smiley’s Acoustic Café, with delicious homemade food and free live entertainment. The Lazy Goat’s terrace overlooking the Reedy • Photo courtesy of Table 301 V IE Z INE .C OM | 99
At tHe park’s epicenter Are tHe 28-foot high Reedy River Falls and suspended above is the one-oF-a-kind libeRty Bridge, whose 355-feet oF suspended cables aFford pedestrians wiTh a Bird’s eye view oF the cascAding riveR.
The Liberty Bridge at Falls Park • Photo by John Layden
RiverPlace is one of several mixed-use retail complexes in the West End. Besides great views of the Reedy, RiverPlace contains a Hampton Hotel, Michelin on Main with an array of maps and books, High Cotton Maverick Bar and Grill, a dozen art galleries, and another Sobocinski gem, the Lazy Goat, where we relaxed on the delightful terrace over a couple of Lazy Goat Amber Ales and lunched on flavorful Mediterranean-inspired fare. Perched across the river is Larkin’s Restaurant, particularly popular among concertgoers at the adjacent Peace Center for the Performing Arts. On Saturday night, while much of the city huddled in pubs and sports bars up and down Main to watch the much-anticipated preseason showdown between Clemson University and the University of Georgia, John and I celebrated our anniversary on the romantic covered patio at Larkin’s, complete with a serendipitous serenade, thanks to a wedding reception that was under way in a nearby brick warehouse–turned–event venue.
Falling for Greenville Falls Park on the Reedy is Greenville’s beloved version of Central Park—it is the city’s heart and soul. Located smack-dab between downtown and the West End, this serene twenty-acre urban oasis is where locals and visitors alike come to exercise, commune with nature, attend special events, gather with friends, and seek solitude. According to Mayor White, Falls Park, which opened in 2004, was initially a tough sell, but in hindsight it appears to be the game changer that
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The Liberty Bridge illuminated at night
Swamp Rabbit Trail marker in Falls Park • Photo by Kim Duke-Layden
cinched the West End’s remarkable transformation. White has been quoted as saying, “The park cost $13 million. Within two years, over $100 million in private investment was created around the park—hotels, restaurants, condominiums, apartments; and the entire, what we call the West End of our downtown, just blossomed.” At the park’s epicenter are the twenty-eight-foot-high Reedy River Falls, and above is the one-of-a-kind Liberty Bridge, whose three hundred and fifty-five feet of suspended cables afford pedestrians a bird’s-eye view of the cascading river.
Hitting tHe Trails Falls Park contains miles of pet-friendly, paved paths that continually skirt and crisscross the Reedy and are interwoven with Greenville’s popular seventeen-anda-half-mile GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail. A stone’s throw to the south is Cleveland Park, which has tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, and the Greenville Zoo. In a few more miles, the path unfurls at Lake Conestee Nature Park, home to numerous bird species and ten miles of woodland trails and boardwalks. John and I hopped on the Swamp Rabbit Trail near our hotel and cycled north, wending through Greenville’s backstreets until we reached the city’s outskirts, where the smooth, paved greenway has replaced the abandoned railbed of the former Carolina, Knoxville and Western Railway. The line’s “Swamp Rabbit”
Furman University’s iconic lakeside bell tower
nickname dates back to the late 1800s, when Greenville locals would hitch a ride on the freight cars to picnic in the mountains north of the city. The scenic trail has several notable pit stops, but by far the best was just outside the city at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery, which attracts a steady stream of bikers, joggers, and walkers who clamor for melt-in-your-mouth sandwiches and fresh baked goods. At the trail’s northern end is the quaint hamlet of Travelers Rest with its own unique attractions. The Cafe at Williams Hardware is a trendy hardware store, café, and gift shop where bikers drink sweet iced tea and eat ice cream on the back porch. Newcomer Copperhead Mountain Distillery pays legal homage to the area’s many moonshine stills that decades ago were hidden like Easter eggs in the surrounding Upcountry hills. Free “white lighting” samples are available in the tasting room. We tried the hundred-proof Snake Bite and the sweeter, tamer Passionate Peach, which had half the bite at fifty proof but was still strong enough to make you feel fuzzy. The highlight of our nine-mile return to Greenville was a delightful detour around Furman University’s gorgeous campus with rolling lacrosse fields, stately halls, and a picturesque bell tower overlooking the lake. Greenville nuzzles South Carolina’s rugged Upcountry, home to the Blue Ridge Mountains and a dozen state parks—pure heaven for mountain bikers and hikers. On Sunday, John and I managed to squeeze in two great hikes. Our warm-up was
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Rainbow Falls at Jones Gap State Park Photo by Kim Duke-Layden
at scenic Paris Mountain State Park, which is located on the outskirts of the city; the shade of the trees here gave us a cool respite from the sun. Afterward, we drove thirty minutes north of Greenville to Jones Gap State Park for a more challenging trek. We tramped along the well-marked woodland trail that skirted rock-strewn tributaries of the Middle Saluda River, then zigzagged up the craggy Blue Ridge Escarpment, where our reward awaited us—a hundred-foot rock face waterfall, Rainbow Falls. Greenville hosts about three hundred special events and festivals a year, any one of which could put the cherry on the top of your trip. From the Greenville Scottish Games to the Upstate Shakespeare Festival, there is always something going on in “G-Vegas.” And as Foster says, “Like Vegas, everyone should go at least once!”
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An American Masterpiece
Acclaimed artist Barbara Ernst Prey puts down her paintbrush to discuss White House requests, the Williams Mafia, and German princes By Tori Phelps
“Oh yeah, I went to Harvard for grad school.” Only with a résumé like Barbara Ernst Prey’s does Harvard become an afterthought. Then again, this is the artist who is regularly named among the most important painters of our time. An artist who, at age seventeen, counted then-Governor of New York Hugh Carey as one of her first buyers. So maybe Harvard has some competition when it comes to life-defining moments. One of the best-known modern American watercolorists, Prey is mentioned alongside legendary watercolorists like Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent. Ironically, the medium with which she’s so closely associated was initially attractive to her simply because it was not what her mother, a talented oil painter, favored. While trying to avoid comparisons, Prey ultimately discovered she loved the fluidity of watercolor and the intensity of color she could achieve. It also suited her personality. “You can’t be rigid to paint watercolor,” she says. “Things happen, and you have to be very flexible to get to the finished painting. It’s a journey.”
Her mother can also be credited with Prey’s enduring interest in landscapes. From childhood, she would tag along on her naturalist mom’s alfresco painting excursions, and even today she prefers to paint outside as much as possible. “The landscape is an incredible inspiration for me—the architecture of the country, as well as the stories of its people and places,” she says. Clearly, Prey’s upbringing provided an ideal springboard for artistic success. Not only a painter but also head of the design department at renowned art mecca Pratt Institute, her mother incorporated art into every nuance of family life. New York City museums were her daughter’s playgrounds, art books her entertainment, paintings her wallpaper, and still-life sessions within their in-home art studio her typical Saturday morning. “At the time, I thought that was everyone’s experience,” she says wryly. Prey won a scholarship to the San Francisco Art Institute in the tenth grade, sold an oil painting to the governor of New York a year later, and then settled in at Williams College to learn from the architects of the Williams Mafia. Led by the “holy The Collection (Watercolor; 22” x 30”)
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trinity” of Whitney S. Stoddard, William H. Pierson Jr., and S. Lane Faison Jr.—one of the real-life Monuments Men portrayed in the 2014 movie— the Williams art history department churned out staggering numbers of successful artists and major museum heads, a phenomenon that came to be known as the Williams Mafia. Barbara Ernst Prey soon joined their ranks, landing an internship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before earning a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to continue her painting and studies in Germany. While there, she took a job as personal assistant to a German prince, an experience she calls “wonderful” in and of itself, but one which also introduced Prey’s work to influential members of the glitterati, who began snapping it up. “I had a number of shows there, and a lot of the European nobility collected my paintings,” she recalls. Her bottom line wasn’t the only thing in bloom during that time. Prey traveled throughout the Continent, visiting many of its illustrious museums and internalizing the images in a way that would later influence her art.
her status as one of the most highly regarded artists of her generation. Amazingly, nothing about her career has been calculated—even its origin. “I didn’t really think about it,” she admits. “People started to collect my work, and I didn’t look back.” With the benefit of time, she appreciates the rare convergence of events that helped launch her career— starting with the fact that her early supporters had names like Luce, Mellon, and Rockefeller. Now, it’s easier to name illustrious people and venues that don’t possess one of her paintings. Prey’s works are in presidential libraries; among the collections of senators, congressmen, ambassadors, and museums like the Smithsonian; and in celebrities’ homes. She’s particularly tickled that Tom Hanks has one of her pieces in his bedroom. “That’s pretty cool,” she says. Cool? Yes. Surprising? No. After all, her entire career has consisted of a series of jaw-dropping highlights. Among the most recent was her 2008 appointment by the President of the United States
Back in the U.S., she worked in the modern painting department at Sotheby’s and started doing illustration work for The New Yorker, which led to more illustration gigs for publications like the New York Times and Good Housekeeping. Then came another international opportunity, this time from the Henry Luce Foundation, which sent her to Taiwan for a year. She lectured at universities, studied with a master Chinese painter, sought out museums all over Asia, and brought home a new facet to her artistic repertoire: large-scale paintings. Oh yeah, and a master’s degree from Harvard was in there somewhere. With a remarkable national and international education under her belt at a still-tender age, Prey settled outside of New York, where, simply by indulging her love of painting, she has cemented
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Wayfarers (Watercolor and drybrush; 22” x 30”)
to the National Council on the Arts, the advisory board of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). She’s the only visual artist of the fourteenmember board, and the fact that she was nominated from New York—home to a staggering number of talented artists—speaks volumes. The six-year term entails advising the NEA on grants for arts programs in the U.S. Reading every word of stacks and stacks of grants may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Prey is thrilled to put in the time. “There are so many gifted, extraordinary people out there that we support,” she explains. “I’m so impressed with the breadth and depth of the arts in this country, whether it’s basket weaving in Maine or fiddling in Kentucky. I’m overwhelmed by the creativity.” Her appointment to the National Council on the Arts wasn’t her first brush with a presidential assignment. Prey was the artist behind the White House Christmas card in 2003, a rare honor that led to an even bigger honor: the inclusion of her art in
Starfish and Geraniums (Watercolor and drybrush; 30” x 22”)
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Meeting House (Watercolor; 21” x 29”)
the White House permanent collection. “The only way to be part of that—without dying first—is to do a Christmas card,” she reveals. She’s also made her mark on the international political scene as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies Program. Her work has been exhibited in embassies in Paris, Madrid, Oslo, Prague, Seoul, Mexico City, and many more. At last count, more than a hundred of Prey’s prints have held places of honor in U.S. consulates and embassies. She takes her role as an ambassador for American art seriously. Even when she’s partnering with a quintessential American institution like NASA, her intention is that the images resonate with viewers
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from all backgrounds. They must. She’s received an impressive four commissions from NASA, including a painting of the International Space Station and the emotionally fraught tribute painting of the space shuttle Columbia. Prey was given complete freedom with the Columbia design, and she settled on a depiction of the ill-fated shuttle during takeoff. “I consider it to be a very optimistic moment,” she explains of the decision. “It was the moment when all of the astronauts were realizing their dreams.” The image belongs to the nation, but more important, according to Prey, it belongs to the families left behind. In a ceremony at Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the astronauts’ families received a print of the
tribute painting, and many conveyed their appreciation to Prey. Not surprisingly, her work was included in the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum exhibition NASA/Art: 50 Years of Exploration. Still seemingly in disbelief about her inclusion, she says, “It was Normal Rockwell, Andy Warhol—and me.” Prey may still struggle with the notion that she’s one of the brightest stars of the art world, but the art world has no such reservations. Her works now hang beside artists she studied in school, and she’s included on lists with Eleanor Roosevelt and Harriet Tubman, fellow recipients of the New York State Senate Women of Distinction Award.
Columbia Tribute, NASA Commission, Collection NASA, Kennedy Space Center (Watercolor; 30” x 22”)
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Meeting House II (Watercolor; 18” x 28”)
She hasn’t forgotten where she came from, however. She maintains strong ties with Williams College, helping to inspire new members of the Williams Mafia and serving as an adjunct instructor at the school, where her daughter recently graduated as well. She also opened an eponymous gallery in Williamstown. The gallery is one of the only places where the public can view and, perhaps, buy a Prey original. “My work is hard to come by,” she says. “I don’t do many shows, and there aren’t a lot of my paintings out there to purchase, so the gallery provides a good opportunity for people who are interested.”
The Simple Life (Watercolor; 28” x 39”)
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It also serves as a training ground for aspirants to the art world, thanks to her commitment to employing student interns. Inspired by her parents, both of whom were professors, she’s passionate about using her gallery as a learning environment for the next generation, from college interns to the underserved children she welcomes for tours.
God and Country (Watercolor; 28” x 21”)
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Twilight (Watercolor; 22” x 30”)
In addition to teaching and mentoring, Prey gives back through her support of environmental causes, which includes raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations that support land trusts and open spaces. As she points out, “I’m a landscape painter, so open spaces are pretty important.” Lobbying for conservation helps preserve the things that inspire her, but she doesn’t presume that the feelings she’s moved to convey on canvas come across the same way to others. “My experience has been that everyone views paintings through their own lens,” she says. She’s constantly surprised by those lenses. A good example was the series of paintings Prey completed after 9/11. On a visit to Maine, she created one with a “God and Country” theme—a church and
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a flag—that the ambassador to France chose for the entry to the French embassy. Why? Because the ambassador saw the colors of both the French and American flags, which represented a spirit of camaraderie fitting for the venue. “You just never know what people are going to take away,” she comments. Prey has no desire to force her own perspective. Rather, her wish is that audiences simply connect with a painting, let it inspire them, educate them, and perhaps motivate them to do something. Mostly, she wants to communicate that we’re all part of a bigger picture. And given her background, she’s in a unique position to do just that. Her international studies gave her techniques like Chinese brush painting and an eye
that was informed by visits to nearly every European museum. Still, her work is distinctly American. More precisely, it’s distinctly American from a female perspective. “The fact that I’m a female landscape painter is unusual. When you think of artists in that category, it’s Hopper and Homer,” she says. “But I’m creating a contemporary voice as a woman living in 2014.” Her trailblazing has resulted in a portfolio so impressive that she was honored with her own Paris retrospective several years ago. It was a homecoming of sorts, as a number of her first exhibitions as a young artist took place in Europe. The retrospective was a huge hit with the public, earning raves from the Wall Street Journal as their arts pick in Paris and drawing more than a hundred people daily, even during a transit strike. It was also satisfying
Mender’s Assistant (Watercolor; 15” x 11”)
personally, both because her work reached an audience largely unfamiliar with modern American watercolor and because she was able to see paintings she hadn’t laid eyes on in decades. On loan from embassies scattered across the globe, from prestigious museums, and from collections of the rich and famous, these Prey works were on display in a single space for the first time. “They were brought back together,” she says with palpable pleasure. “It was very exciting.” For many, a retrospective represents the twilight of a career, but Prey may just be warming up. Lately she’s been pushing herself in different directions—her watercolors have become larger, her colors stronger, her subjects more diverse— and she’s returning to oil paint, a medium she hasn’t worked with seriously since she was seventeen. Over the past year she’s painted a new collection of oil paintings, which the public will get to experience at her Williamstown gallery. She’s also prepping for a show in Maine this summer and doing a portrait of James Watson, one of the scientists who discovered DNA. If she frets about anything these days it’s the fact that she has too many ideas and not enough time to pull them off. It’s the exhilarating, exhausting life of an
injury clients may love him.
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Barbara Ernst Prey
artist. “I’ve had incredible opportunities,” she concedes, “but being an artist is both a blessing and a curse. The curse is that I’m always looking, always filtering my perceptions. So I’ll never retire.” On behalf of all art lovers: we’re okay with that.
Art within Arm’s Reach Want to see Barbara Ernst Prey’s works in person? Catch one of these exhibits this summer: Blue Water Fine Arts Port Clyde, Maine July 19–August 31: American Contemporary July 3–20: The Print Show August 2–15: The Art of Diplomacy Barbara Prey Gallery Williamstown, Massachusetts July 5–August 1: Color Fields August 2–September 1: The Art of Diplomacy September 2–30: 40 Years of Painting
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For more information, visit www.BarbaraPrey.com.
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Aspri Villa A Ta s t e o f t h e Me d i t e r ra n e a n i n A l y s B e a c h By Tori Phelps • Photography by Jack Gardner
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If you think there’s no such thing as the perfect house, you probably haven’t experienced Aspri Villa. Spread out over 11,157 gorgeous square feet in Alys Beach, it’s a one-of-a-kind sanctuary that truly redefines luxury. Sound like a cliché? Then you definitely haven’t experienced Aspri Villa.
The estate, which was commissioned by Charles Renfroe and designed by renowned Florida architect Tom Christ of Christ and Associates Architects and Planners, was remarkable before it was even built. It all started with a homesite—the largest in Alys Beach when it was purchased in 2010 and perhaps today as well. Acquiring a homesite so large in this ultimate Emerald Coast community is unusual, and Renfroe wanted to make the most of a find that consisted of a three-corner lot impossible to hem in by other construction. Architect and homeowner had collaborated on multiple homes before, so Renfroe knew he was getting an innovative designer. Still, he told Christ that he wanted Aspri Villa to be his most creative work yet. And that’s exactly what Christ delivered. Far from just another cookie-cutter luxury home, Aspri Villa offers unexpected treasures on the interior and a refreshingly unique design aesthetic on the exterior. The first thing people notice about the property is its tower, which rises over forty feet high and features an open staircase that conveys a light, airy feel. “It’s conical, so it tapers at the top,” Christ explains. “It was fun to design but tricky to build, though the contractors did an unbelievably accurate job.” Many of the elements were influenced by the architecture Renfroe enjoyed during travels to the Greek islands. “He loved the stark whiteness of Greek villages and how they used architecture to create these hilltop homes,” Christ recalls. “We tempered that with elements the town of Alys Beach wanted, which is more of a Bermuda-Moorish look. The house is a hybrid of those three styles.” Alys Beach’s design code involves elements like curved walls that are double the thickness of typical eight-inch block walls, Christ explains. He managed to satisfy municipal standards—delivering a fortified structure built to withstand hurricane-level winds— while also rendering an artistic masterpiece. His secret was creating layers of visual interest. Christ’s approach included softening the building by sculpting planters at the base of the curved walls and adding elaborate exterior fireplaces with built-in steps.
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The grand thirty-two-foot saltwater pool offers round-the-clock entertainment with underwater music features, a sheer descent waterfall, and a separate rooftop Jacuzzi. But by far the most exciting exterior feature doubles as an interior feature. The centerpiece of the entire property—and what transforms it from a home into a compound—is a courtyard with a magnificent pool around which everything else is positioned. The grand thirty-two-foot saltwater pool offers round-the-clock entertainment with underwater music features, a sheer descent waterfall, and a separate rooftop Jacuzzi. Colorful jets add a fun dimension to evening swims, while the outdoor fireplace, wet bar, gas grill, and dining loggia make romantic dinners or parties a breeze. The interior is equally impressive, boasting 6,880 square feet of living space that sleeps fourteen. The five bedrooms include two master suites with private porches, steam showers, and fireplaces; a four-bed bunkroom, complete with colorful decor and a media center just for kids; and a two-bedroom pool suite with separate fireplace, mini-kitchen, and two full baths. 124 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
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“The guest suite has its own fireplace sitting area with two adjacent bedrooms, so it’s perfect if you’re traveling with a nanny or grandparents who want a little more privacy
The separate living quarters by the pool epitomize the home’s luxurious but functional design, Renfroe says. “The guest suite has its own fireplace sitting area with two adjacent bedrooms, so it’s perfect if you’re traveling with a nanny or grandparents who want a little more privacy—or just two couples who might enjoy the option of coffee and breakfast in their own kitchen.”
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Not that the main house is such a bad place to be. In addition to opulent bedrooms, it’s furnished with a media room that includes a wood-burning fireplace and a massive wall-mounted fifty-two-inch HDTV, a formal living room, and an elegant dining room with seating for twelve, plus an expansive kitchen. A tangible feeling of space and comfort infuses every inch of Aspri Villa, which is exactly what Renfroe had in mind. “It flows so well,” he insists. “When you’re entertaining eight or ten couples, there are so many areas to enjoy that it feels spacious even with that many people.” Renfroe is one of seven owners of the home, with each owner granted a block of time throughout the year in which to enjoy the property. Aspri Villa has also been a wildly popular rental option for groups of friends, extended family vacations, or corporate retreats, in part because its generous proportions never leave guests feeling like they’re on top of each other. With six partners, Renfroe was able to build consummate quality, as well as blissful space, into the home. From the superior tile to the appliances, Christ was given free rein to incorporate details designed to awe: smooth Venetian plaster walls, stunning baseboards and crown moldings, carefully selected marble in the bathrooms and kitchen, and a master bedroom with a fireplace and a private porch overlooking the pool. Christa Renfroe Hurley was also an integral part of creating the luxe yet livable ambience of the home. No detail was overlooked.
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With a budget defined only as “first-class,” she was able to handpick luscious colors, fabrics, and art, as well as show off her artistic skills with the exquisite tile work she designed for the bathrooms and the pool area. Actually, every bedroom has private sitting areas and porches—the better to enjoy the compound’s courtyard. One of Renfroe’s mandates to Christ was a design in which all of the living areas had an interior focus, opening to the courtyard and pool rather than to the street. Christ then had to ensure the palm tree–lined courtyard was worthy of being a focal point. By all accounts, he succeeded. “People who stay there go to the beach one day and then discover they don’t want to leave the compound anymore,” Renfroe relates. “They just want to enjoy that house.” And why wouldn’t they? From the exceptional pool and unique dining loggias to the richly detailed interiors, there’s no place like this home. “I believed from the beginning that Aspri Villa would be one of the premier residences on the Scenic Highway 30-A corridor,” Renfroe says. “And I think we accomplished that.”
Make It Yours In the market for a five-star getaway unlike anything you’ve experienced before? Aspri Villa is the answer. The compound, located at 140 Charles Street in Alys Beach, is available for purchase through Alys Beach Properties, LLC. For more information, call Annie Mangrum or Robbie Roberts (850) 213-5500.
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FRESH SEAFOOD?
One of the first questions people ask when they visit our area is “How can we be sure we’re getting fresh seafood?” That’s an excellent question. There is a good chance that the seafood you will be offered traveled farther than you did. In the state of Florida, even though we are surrounded by water, more than 90% of the seafood sold this year will be imported from other countries. Throughout the United States, the huge majority of seafood is imported. Most of it is mislabeled. Frozen seafood is sold as “fresh” and imported seafood is sold as “local.” According to Oceana, 93% of fish sold as red snapper is actually some other species. 57% of tuna sold at sushi bars throughout the country is not tuna. Most of the tilapia served in this country comes from Viet Nam and Thailand and much of it is farmed in waters with sewage run-off and the source of feed is pig feces.
Harbor Docks has been selling fish through its wholesale market since 1981. We sell to markets across the United States and Canada. We also sell to select restaurants along the Gulf Coast. Harbor Docks contracts with over 100 commercial boats to insure that we have an adequate supply of fresh fish. We invite you to dine at our restaurants – Harbor Docks, in the heart of Destin, and Camille’s, overlooking the Gulf in Crystal Beach. But we’d also encourage you to try any of the wonderful, independent, local restaurants in our area that are committed to serving Florida seafood. We know who they are, because we sell them their fish.
check our website to find out which restaurants sell certified Gulf-to-Table fish from harbor Docks Seafood market. DES TIN , FL | 850. 837. 2506 | h a r b o r D o c k S .co m S E A F O O D & C O C K TA I L S
Snapper and Tuna stats: http://oceana.org/en/news-media/publications/reports/oceana-study-reveals-seafood-fraud-nationwide Imported seafood stat: http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm Tilapia/pig feces: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/asian-seafood-raised-on-pig-feces-approved-for-u-s-consumers.html
PEOPLE + PLACES
P E R •S P I •C A S •I T Y ’ S T H I R T I E T H A N N I V E R S A R Y C E L E B R AT I O N
Photos by Fantasia McDaniel • Tasiamade Photography
Many of Scenic Highway 30-A’s favorite businesses and locales are celebrating significant anniversaries this year, and VIE was thrilled to be part of Perspicasity Beachside Bazaar’s thirtieth anniversary bash as media sponsor on Saturday, May 10, in picturesque Seaside, Florida.
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Five years ago, we celebrated the outdoor market’s twenty-fifth birthday in VIE’s special Mother’s Day issue. We can’t believe they are already onto number thirty—time flies, but the iconic style of Perspicasity never goes out of fashion! The day consisted of a shopping extravaganza as Perspicasity offered discounts on all purchases, a special trunk show with Bent by Courtney jewelry, and the chance to win a $500 shopping spree by donating to the Walk Her Way charity event for Shelter House Domestic and Sexual Violence Center.
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1 Alex Weiner tries on a necklace from the Bent by Courtney jewelry trunk show. 2 Perspicasity founder and owner, Daryl Rose Davis 3 The open-air bazaar has been a Seaside, Florida, landmark for three decades! 4 A musical trio serenaded attendees at the event.
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5 Carol Rauschkolb, Shaye Smith, and Erica Pierce 6 Willie Mason and Makenzie Carter 7 Carter Johnson, Courtney Akers of Bent by Courtney jewelry, and Jordan Staggs 8 Carol Rauschkolb, Leah Stroble, Robert Davis, Willie Mason, and Lynn Nesmith 9 Lori Leath Smith and Lisa Burwell
8 TO SEE VIDEO OF THE STYLE SOIREE AND TO GET THE EXCLUSIVE CATHEAD VODKA “VIETINI” RECIPE, VISIT VIEZINE.COM/VIETV.
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Many fans, community leaders, and Perspicasity team members both past and present came out for the casually elegant private party from five to seven that evening. They mingled and swapped stories of good times by the sea while enjoying delicious hors d’ouevres provided by Bud & Alley’s, signature VIEtini cocktails made with Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, 30A Beach Blonde Ale by Grayton Beer Company, incredibly sweet and sassy custom cookies by Southern Dough, and a delightful steel drum band playing island-inspired hits.
10 Guests of honor included Seaside founder Robert Davis; his wife, the founder of Perspicasity, Daryl Davis; Seaside Associated Stores vice president Erica Pierce; owner and founder of Bud & Alley’s, Dave Rauschkolb, with his wife, Carol; and many more. Congratulations to Perspicasity on thirty breezy years by the beach, and thank you for inviting VIE to be a part of this momentous occasion!
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Cofounder of Seaside and New Urbanism expert, Robert Davis
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Cindy and Hayley Marie Spivey
PURE&Co uture Salon
Boutique
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FKAPHOTOGRAPHY.COM MAKEUP BY TANIA CRAWFORD HAIR AND WARDROBE BY WENDY GRIFFIN
PureAndCouture.com
•
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36150 Emerald Coast Pkwy. Suite 104, Destin FL 32541
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Sandestin 850.654.5649 cantinalaredo.com
PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
By Jordan Staggs Photography by Romona Robbins and Jack Gardner
Take a stroll north from Scenic Highway 30-A through the serene shopping plaza of Ruskin Place in picturesque Seaside, Florida. Your eyes will be drawn to an eclectic collection of shops, art galleries, and unique residences, all surrounding a charming grassy park highlighted by a newly erected iron gateway.
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THIS ROOFTOP ANOMALY PROVIDES ONE OF THE BEST VANTAGE POINTS IN SEASIDE.
ook up and to the left, and as you admire the classic modern lines of 302 Ruskin Place, you might notice something odd. Yes, this is the iconic “Stairway to Heaven”— not the one of Led Zeppelin fame, but the spiraling epitome of Seaside whimsy, reaching upward from the roof of the residence toward the sky as if to disappear into the clouds. This rooftop anomaly provides one of the best vistas in Seaside, overlooking the sparkling Gulf of Mexico, a sea of rooftops, and the green expanse of forest stretching north toward Highway 98. But the actual Stairway to Heaven is not the only thing making this residence so appealing. Designed by New York architect Alexander Gorlin and featured in Architectural Digest shortly after its construction in 1994, the home is rife with charm and midcentury modern appeal. The exterior features a monumental bluestone staircase and a sculptural exposed I-beam that greets guests as they ascend to the elegant second-floor living room. The open floor plan sweeps easily from dining area to kitchen to living space with abundant natural light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which extend the living space onto the balcony and offer views of the tree-lined park and shops of Ruskin Place.
PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
Quirky details such as the spiral staircase from the living room to the third-story master bedroom and bath keep visitors intrigued, while details such as white marble countertops in the kitchen and master bath and the pebbled walk-in shower with skylight bring luxury to the atmosphere of the home. V IE Z INE .C OM | 141
THE HOME IS RIFE WITH CHARM AND MIDCENTURY MODERN APPEAL.
PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
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PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
QUIRKY DETAILS SUCH AS THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE TO THE THIRD-STORY MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH KEEP VISITORS INTRIGUED.
PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
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PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
SLEEK LINES IN THE FURNISHINGS ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF LUXURY.
PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
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PHOTO BY JACK GARDNER
Chef Sandor at
- All of our pasta is Homemade Open daily Dinner 5:30–9:30 For Reservations, call 850.231.2139 www.sergioson30a.com 50 Uptown Grayton Circle, Grayton Beach, FL
The home decor, newly redone by Tammy Massey of T. Massey Architecture and Interior Design, truly brings the midcentury feel of Stairway to Heaven to life, with low-slung furnishings, sleek lines, whimsical flora in bright orange and yellow, shag carpets, and stunning artistic photography by Ruskin Place shopkeeper Michael Granberry of the Art of Simple. This three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home has the option of converting the street-level bedroom into a leasable retail or studio space. Open and airy, the room features a hand-painted wall mural by Grayton Beach–based artist Justin Lyons that captures the essence of this timeless yet modern home with the phrase “Change is Forward.”
To learn more or to inquire about purchasing Stairway to Heaven, visit SouthWaltonLuxuryHomes.com. PHOTO BY ROMONA ROBBINS
LOVE YOUR ST YLE 850.837.5565
Located Across from Destin Commons Next to Publix 2012
AWARD-WINNING
INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM AND ART GALLERY
Fine Furnishings & Accessories Showroom Full Service | New Construction | Remodeling 2013
850-837-5157
www.sugarbeachinteriors.com 11974 US Highway 98 West Miramar Beach, FL 32550 LIC#26000633
DUTCH INFLUENCED ST YLE
ROSEMARY BE ACH RESIDENCE 46 SPANISH TOWN LANE – $2,300,000 • 3 Bedroom, plus loft bunk room, 4.5 bath • Cozy elegant kitchen • Large open living room • Sleeping porch
• South Side of 30A • Close to Award Winning Town Center • A few short steps to the Gulf of Mexico
MLS #611155
Beach Group Properties, LLC 2563 S Scenic Hwy 395 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 beachgroupflorida.com • 850.231.9007
Jim Ryan 850.259.8956 jim@thebeachgroup.com
THE ARMORED FROG BY SALLIE W. BOYLES // PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED BY ARMORED FROG
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few years ago, when Joe Sinkovich and his wife, Alicia, decided to settle in Pensacola with their young son and daughter, they fell in love with a house built in 1918. The place needed work, but they were fully committed to restoring the fixer-upper. When the renovations began, Joe was a sales and marketing executive designing orthopedic equipment for an orthopedic implant manufacturer and he traveled extensively. Therefore, Jimmy and Dusty McGraw, a father-and-son team who specialized in historic preservation, were in charge. Considering that the structure was nearly a hundred years old, Joe anticipated some surprises along the way. When checking on the job’s progress one day, he encountered a twenty-foot-by-twenty-foot hole in the front wall. The sight of the hole was not remarkable, but the pile of rotten wood would ultimately send Joe on a journey—one that would totally reframe his world and quite a few others’. It all began when Jimmy revealed that the damaged boards were from a 1970s addition. “The home’s original heart pine and cypress,” Joe explains, “were beautiful and seemingly untouched.” Thus, Joe asked Jimmy to rebuild the section with hearty old woods that matched the rest of the house. The straightforward remedy, however, presented a challenge: Jimmy had no sources for procuring antique lumber.
Opening Image Media center: authentic antique heart pine; hand-painted and aged Opposite Page 72-inch round table: authentic antique heart pine with complex-miter base; finished with walnut stain and hand waxed 154 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
The old-growth heart pine and cypress that Joe desired comes from massive trees that stood for centuries. Maturing slowly beneath a thick forest canopy, the old giants developed intricate rings and extremely hard cores. Their high resin content further makes such woods resistant to damaging insects, which is why the end products—from barns to beds—have endured over time. For many reasons, Joe’s favorite wood is Southern heart pine. “Straight and strong, it’s incredibly versatile,” he says. “The most common tree used in ship masts during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the longleaf pine built the Southeast.” Many question his preference for pine because they are accustomed to the lumber currently harvested from eighteen-year-old trees grown on farms. However,
the young, soft wood, which easily warps when exposed to the elements, cannot be compared to four-hundred-year-old pine cut from the heart of the tree. Despite clear advantages, the ancient wood comes with a price. From the mid-1800s to the 1930s, logging companies throughout the South took the trees by clear-cutting ninety million acres of irreplaceable virgin forests. Preservation laws help protect what remains, so users must rely on previously harvested old wood. Since supplies are limited and often difficult to retrieve, the material can be expensive. Unaware of how much time and money he would invest to find and buy the preferred wood, Joe was undeterred. “I’m inquisitive and willing to make mistakes,” he says, indicating that in over twenty years of consulting with surgeons to meet their precise requirements, he has grown accustomed to researching and addressing complex matters. “If we’ve got a problem, my job is to find a solution fast,” Joe states. While still working full-time in medical sales, Joe says, “I started calling builders for leads. None of them had suggestions, so I contacted some of the local cabinet shops and then people who specialized in renovating old houses.” Two months later, he located the wood. “Twenty-five people in the Southeast buy old lumber,” Joe says. Much of it comes from old buildings—barns, houses, factories, etc.—as well as from riverbeds. Interestingly, the timbers recovered from Florida’s rivers are among an approximate 10 percent that loggers lost during the heydays. Every piece has a history; the logs are even branded, identifying the logging companies of yesteryear. “From the start, I wanted to understand the origins of the wood and my role in its preservation,” says Joe, who vividly recalls the first time he went to a retrieval site. “We removed flooring from a textile plant in Alabama. Covered in dirt, I walked outside and met a man standing there with his little boy. He said, ‘Son, if I could tell you the number of times I walked across these floors!’ He had worked in that factory forty-seven years, so the old floor meant something to him—it represented the place that was central to his life and town. It occurred to me then that we save a piece of history every time we reclaim a piece of wood.” Nostalgia comes with the job, but business is business. “Old wood doesn’t mean it is always good wood or workable wood,” Joe says. Citing factors like nails, paint, creosote, and even natural decay, he adds, “We’ll lose 30 percent of any log or reclaimed material.” The “we” he refers to is Armored Frog, the company Joe founded two years ago while becoming an old-wood specialist. Procuring the lumber for his house highlighted opportunities for processing boards and making distinctive furniture. “Few suppliers are equipped to process the material,” he says, “and the majority of high-end heart pine and cypress is used for flooring and paneling, not furniture.” Working initially from a shed, James, who went along with Joe, began building planter boxes and tables. Purposely choosing an esoteric name for
THE OLD-GROWTH HEART PINE AND CYPRESS THAT JOE DESIRED COMES FROM MASSIVE TREES THAT STOOD FOR CENTURIES.
THE COMPANY’S MOTTO, “NOTHING LEAVES THE SHOP UNLESS IT’S PERFECT,” STANDS WITHOUT QUESTION.
Above, Left Dining table: authentic select figured grain of river-recovered cypress; finished with a low-sheen varnish Above, Right Trestle table: authentic antique heart pine; finished in weathered grey, aged, and sealed with a proprietary varnish and wax process
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the company, Joe pays tribute to the durability of the planter, crafted to contain the dirt (as he describes, “like an armored box”) and protect the vegetation. Likewise, the insect-eating frog is acknowledged as a friend of the tree and a welcome garden dweller. Today, Armored Frog inhabits a 26,000-squarefoot warehouse that resides on more than five acres of land. Joe fulfills multiple functions within the company—designing, selling, and managing the company—and employs a professional team of designers, craftsmen, and artisans. Jimmy is the production manager and a senior craftsman. Accordingly, the company has an estimated year’s worth of raw inventory in stock to
meet a flourishing niche market’s demand for handcrafted old-wood tables, desks, and media centers. Styles range from rustic to modern. More than seeking a certain look, Joe’s discriminating customer wants authenticity. That kind of buyer doesn’t think twice about paying $3,000 to $5,000 for a custom table. Most, in fact, are working with designers who have led them to Armored Frog. Presently, approximately a hundred designers throughout the country refer their clients to Joe. Understandably, expectations run high, but Joe and his team are the most discerning of all. The company’s motto, “Nothing leaves the shop unless it’s perfect,” stands without question. About 90 percent of Armored Frog’s output is custom ordered, usually with a designer’s input. The average lead time is twelve weeks. “For the right price, we can stop everything to finish a piece in ten days,” says Joe, “but if it’s not perfect, I tell the designer to call the client and say it’s not ready. I’d rather return the money to an impatient buyer than have someone find a flaw, even if that happened a year or two later.”
Photo by Gerald Burwell
To avoid mistakes, Joe first creates a footprint template on butcher paper that the customer can position in the space intended for the furniture. “They give me dimensions, but 50 percent of the time they realize the piece would be too big,” he says. Various finishing options—paint, stain, oil rub—also require some thought. “They want to match the rest of the room,” Joe says, “so color is important.” To gain ideas or to purchase an item in stock, some customers, accompanied by their designers, visit the warehouse. “They often end up staying for hours,” says Joe. The equipment in action can be as mesmerizing as the array of finished furniture. Like the old wood, the machines are vintage and built to last. “Today’s standard saws are fine for cutting particleboard and veneers,” says Joe, “but not hardwood. My old saws are made of cast iron and weigh up to 4,500 pounds.” They also accomplish the job. Joe points to a 1973 Robinson resaw that can reduce a beam sixteen inches high by eighteen inches wide to furniture-grade boards within thirty minutes.
Exhibiting extensive knowledge after only two years in the business, Joe says, “You have to know where to find the right information with the right amount of time and money.” After visiting “every cabinet shop in Pensacola,” he turned to furniture manufacturers for guidance. Attending trade shows in Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and High Point, Joe claims that a handful of production managers in charge of highquality, solid wood furniture operations provided all the insights he needed. “I asked them questions like what kind of glue were they using,” he says.
Above Armored Frog owner and founder, Joe Sinkovich, with his cherished hardwoods stacked for optimum preservation
While willing to share their expertise and applauding Joe’s intentions to manufacture in the United States, they told him he’d never succeed by producing here. “The furniture plants in North Carolina, once the
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heart of furniture manufacturing, are shutting down and moving overseas,” says Joe. In addition to causing unemployment, that strategy, he believes, has left voids within the US high-end furniture market. Joe is happy to fill both gaps. “The one thing a successful person can do is to give others the opportunity to do well in life,” says Joe, an advocate for creating jobs. “My goal is to employ as many people as humanly possible. It’s so rewarding to train and develop people to make a living and to look back and say, ‘Look what we made.’ At the Armored Frog, it just so happens that we make furniture.” Armored Frog is a design, build, and finish studio. “We work closely with designers throughout the US to build one-of-a-kind pieces,” Joe adds. “Designers view us as a resource to help them deliver something special to their clients.”
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Consumers can view past Armored Frog custom pieces online at armoredfrog.com.
Decorative Fabrics, Hardware, Blinds, Shades, Shutters, Drapery, Valances, Bedding, Pillows, Motorization, and Wallpaper
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Thinking Outside of the Pill Box
Story by Kim Duke-Layden // Photography by Romona Robbins Hands down, the West leads the world in medical technology innovations and in early detection screenings, which unquestionably have saved countless lives. Yet, when it comes to America’s prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, more and more red flags are being raised regarding their ineffectiveness and dangerous side effects, fueling suspicions that the country’s pharmaceutical companies are in bed with the Food and Drug Administration and have as much clout on Capitol Hill as the tobacco industry had decades ago. If your or your loved one’s life depended on it, would you consider alternative medicine?
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hen I visited the Shanghai Museum last December, I discovered just how far back China’s civilization stretches: going back over four thousand years, it’s one of the world’s oldest. While the Western world certainly embraced ancient Chinese ingenuities such as paper and printing, the decimal system, and gunpowder, the same cannot be said about traditional Chinese medicine or medical treatments, like acupuncture, which have been practiced for thousands of years. Ironically speaking, aren’t the Chinese known for having a long life expectancy? Chinese medicine first piqued my interest during my trip to China, but the language barrier was a deterrent. It was when I flew home with a bad sinus cold that lingered for six weeks, unfazed by OTC remedies and antibiotics, that I decided to try traditional Chinese medicine. “Have you ever thought of trying acupuncture?” asked Wendy Morgan when I mentioned that I had a sinus infection that I just couldn’t shake. I recall thinking how odd it was that she was the second person during the previous few weeks who had suggested acupuncture—and for a sinus infection? Morgan said that she had visited Dr. Wu for a horrendous sinus flu and by the next morning, she was back in the gym. Meanwhile, her then-husband stuck with taking antibiotics and didn’t recover until two weeks later. Enough said; I made an appointment.
Destined for Healing
On the coffee table in the waiting room of Healing Art Acupuncture and Massage in Miramar Beach, Florida, are two albums filled with heartfelt cards and letters from patients profusely thanking Dr.
Wu for restoring their health and well-being. Several testimonials sounded nothing short of miraculous. These patients’ illnesses and afflictions were as diverse as Shanghai’s skyline: pneumonia, debilitating migraines, infertility, obesity, nicotine addiction, severe psoriasis, asthma, blindness, and even cancer. I couldn’t help but be amazed. During my consultation, Dr. Wu took my pulse, which is his window into the status of the hormone levels, and scrutinized the coloring of my eyes, skin, and tongue—all indicators of infection. After explaining my chronic sinus issues, he enthusiastically replied, “No problem, I will fix you right up. Sinuses are my specialty!” During our discussion, I mentioned the names of a dozen friends and colleagues, patients of his who had given him glowing reviews. “I have thousands of patients. It’s just crazy!” said Dr. Wu, who genuinely seemed as astonished as I was about the staggering number of people he has treated since opening his office in 2007. He added matter-of-factly, “It’s not me; it’s God. He gave me the gift of healing, and through Him and His inspiration, I help people. It’s my calling in life.” Dr. Wu definitely took a roundabout route to discover his life’s destiny. Born and raised in Taiwan, young Tzong Jiunn Wu graduated college and was pursuing a career in medical research; however, after converting to Christianity, he felt
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compelled to change his course and forge a new direction. He quit his job and moved halfway around the world to Austin, where he studied at the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, obtained a master’s degree in traditional Oriental medicine, and became board certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbology. Soon after, a job opportunity in Northwest Florida eventually led him to open Healing Art Acupuncture. Throughout his spiritual journey there were signs along the way that some, including Dr. Wu, believe were “Divine intervention” and had a hand in redirecting him from medical research, which required killing animals, to a life of helping and healing others. The most profound sign appeared in the form of a small bookmark that featured the name “Jason,” which was the English name that the martial arts–obsessed teen chose for himself, after a character in his favorite kung fu movie, No Retreat, No Surrender. The bookmark was a gift from his pastor and mentor, an American missionary living in Taiwan. Underneath “Jason” was the biblical meaning of the name: “Healer.” Dr. Wu’s grandfather was a doctor who practiced both Eastern and Western medicine, and his father, although a high government official, treated his family’s and close friends’ illnesses with reflexology, the science of healing through pressure points. Dr. Wu realized when he received the bookmark that not only was healing in his DNA, but it was also his destiny.
A Balancing Act
Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine are centered on the concept of a body’s universal energy, or qi (chee), and how it flows through invisible pathways that lie just beneath the skin. When a blockage occurs in your qi, your body retaliates in the form of aches, pains, infections, diseases, and other health problems. In theory, the blockage manifests itself in one or more of the body’s organs. By inserting acupuncture needles at pulse points that correlate to the organ or organs, the obstruction is eliminated, and the body feels immediate relief from pain and infection. Once the body’s yin and yang (or balance) have been restored, it can begin healing. Dr. Wu’s treatment rooms are so soothing that it feels more like you’re having a spa treatment than a medical procedure. Before starting my acupuncture, Dr. Wu explained, “Sinus problems stem from digestion problems, which cause gases to back up in the sinus cavities.” Judging by the gurgling sounds that my stomach often made, Dr. Wu was either psychic or right. I barely felt it when Dr. Wu gingerly inserted the tiny needles into my abdomen, above my brows, outside of my ears, under my wrists, and at the tops of my feet. I did feel energy coursing through my body—like on the board game Operation when you accidentally touch metal with the surgical tweezers. At the same time, it felt incredibly relaxing. Fifteen minutes or so later, I woke from my Zen-like state feeling quite rested as Dr. Wu painlessly removed the needles. Along with acupuncture, Dr. Wu frequently prescribes all-natural herbal supplements, which, unlike most acupuncturists, he personally formulates. At first, I didn’t comprehend that the herbal remedies play an integral role in the overall effectiveness of acupuncture. “The herbs accelerate the long-term nutrition that
your body needs to change the yin and yang status,” explained Dr. Wu. “Herbal medicine is like a key and illness is the lock. The herbs allow me to restore your body’s balance, so I can then focus on treating the illness, rather than the symptoms.” Dr. Wu estimated that roughly 85 to 90 percent of patients who visit him have been taking the wrong medications and were damaging their health. He refrained from naming any specific drugs for fear of possible retaliation from powerful pharmaceutical conglomerates, yet Dr. Wu stressed that natural ingredients are the absolute right way to go, rather than with toxic and dangerous synthetics. “I believe Western medicine has reached a crossroads and is now going in the wrong direction,” he said. “God put nature in medicine to get your body back to harmony.” Think about it. When is the last time you saw a prescription drug ad in a magazine or on television where the benefits actually outweighed the litany of potential side effects? The disclaimers are especially frightening—“including possible stroke, heart attack, and sometimes, death”—and have become as familiar as “Would you like fries with that?” Prescription drugs aren’t the only medications that can wreak havoc on your health; OTC preparations can also be harmful. For example, acetaminophen is the most common drug in America and is found in more than six hundred different OTC medications, especially cold, allergy, and sleep remedies. One of the reasons that I decided to visit Dr. Wu was that my blood test revealed slightly elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), enzymes which could possibly indicate liver damage. Since I’m a light drinker, I suspected that the acetaminophen in the OTC remedies that I frequently took was the culprit. When I swapped the acetaminophen-laced medicines for Dr. Wu’s herbal supplements and had several acupuncture treatments, my sinus infections ceased and my ALT and AST levels dropped to normal.
Food for Thought
According to Dr. Wu, a regimen of holistic foods is Chinese medicine’s first focus for getting your body’s qi in balance, followed by acupuncture and nutritious herbs. If the familiar adage we learned as kids had been a Chinese proverb, most likely it would have said, “An apple a day keeps the cardiologist away.” That’s because in accordance with traditional Chinese medicine, the philosophy of the five elements—fire, earth, metal, water, and wood—is interwoven into holistic
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nutrition principals and utilized as a tool for maintaining a healthy yin and yang state. For example, red fruits and vegetables are considered fire elements and eating them benefits the heart, blood vessels, and blood pressure. The following is a Western-friendly cheat sheet listing the organs that benefit from eating the different colors of fruits and vegetables, plus a few examples. Blue and black foods help the bladder and kidneys, so eat blueberries and eggplant; green is good for the gall bladder and liver, so gobble up spinach, kale, and pears; white foods, such as cauliflower and white mushrooms, aid the lungs and large intestine; and brown benefits the stomach and spleen, so kiwis and potatoes are a good bet. Among herbal flora, Dr. Wu holds mushrooms in particularly high regard, especially the lingzhi, which is also called reishi, the Antrodia camphorata, and the Siberian chaga. This triple crown of fungi has been used in indigenous medicines for over two millennia and contains remarkable antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and antiaging benefits. One mushroom, however, rules supreme. “The Siberian chaga mushroom is the king of all herbs,” revealed Dr. Wu. “It is superconcentrated and grows like a tumor on the outside of a tree, extracting all of its nutrients.” Additionally, chaga mushrooms reduce stress and fight inflammation, are a calming agent, help alleviate insomnia, boost energy naturally, and have effectively treated my attention deficit disorder. Amen!
From Desperation Comes Inspiration
In 2008, Penny English’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Danielle, was suddenly struck with excruciating migraines and partial blindness in one eye. Despite eight months of testing and experimental treatments, even a team of specialists from the Johns Hopkins Hospital couldn’t determine the cause of her symptoms. The blindness was also spreading to her other eye. Equally terrifying, her doctors were recommending more drug injections—and these could possibly cause a heart attack or stroke. A chance exchange with a friend, however, led English to Dr. Wu’s office. “I would have tried anything. By then I had exhausted all avenues and was desperate,” said English, who had never considered acupuncture for a serious illness. “After Danielle’s first treatment, she told me that it no longer hurt to breathe. My husband and I were thrilled and decided that Dr. Wu’s treatments were definitely worth continuing.”
By the third visit, Danielle’s headaches had completely stopped and her eyesight was returning, and within three weeks of beginning acupuncture treatments and herbal supplements, Danielle’s vision was totally restored, which her ophthalmologist confirmed. What was Dr. Wu’s theory on the cause of Danielle’s terrifying affliction—which, by the way, has never occurred again? According to English, “He thinks all the asthma medications and steroids that Danielle took as a child poisoned her body, causing her liver and kidneys not to function properly.” Dr. Wu understands desperation firsthand. When he was in college in Texas, he became deathly ill from mold poisoning. His teachers brought him herbs but his condition only worsened. In his darkest hours, he began to meditate and pray. Then an idea came to him to try mixing the herbs together. Amazingly, it worked. Over the years, he has perfected his original formula, which he uses in variations to treat flu, asthma, sinus problems, and other respiratory infections. Dr. Wu’s extensive knowledge of diseases from his medical research days and his expertise in Chinese herbs are behind his creations of other effective medicinal formulas, which have benefitted cancer survivors like Christine K.
—Penny English
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Eight years ago, Christine K. and Dr. Wu met by chance—or what she feels was a predestined crossing of paths—when they both wound up as speakers at a
—Christine K. networking event that neither planned to attend. At the time, Christine was reeling from a confusing consultation with her doctors: after expressing only slight concern over a small, slow-growing cervical tumor, they urged her to undergo a radical hysterectomy and a scary drug regimen. “It didn’t make any sense,” Christine said. “What they recommended drastically contradicted what they had just told me.” After Christine spoke with Dr. Wu about his holistic, chemical-free medical treatments and with several friends who were patients of Dr. Wu’s, she listened to her inner voice and sought an alternative approach to the knife. After only eight weeks of acupuncture and Dr. Wu’s cancer-fighting formulas, Christine had a PET scan to find out if her cancer was metastasizing. “Not only was it not metastasizing, there were absolutely no signs of cancer anywhere in my body,” she said. While the pathologist concurred that surgery was no longer needed, Christine’s surgeon still recommended it. Through the years, Dr. Wu has become a trusted friend and primary physician to Christine K. and her husband. In addition to curing her cancer, he has freed her from hyperthyroidism—and the harsh drugs she was taking for the condition. He has also balanced her hormones and mitigated her menopausal symptoms. “Dr. Wu is not just any acupuncturist,” she insisted. “Besides being extremely caring, I believe he is an instrument of God—a truly talented and gifted healer.”
High Hopes
While acupuncture and herbal treatments may not be for everyone or every medical situation, Christine encourages you to do your “homework” so you can make educated decisions when seeking treatment. Thanks to Dr. Wu and his patients who have shared their stories, I have gleaned a newfound understanding and respect for alternative medicine—not to mention a heightened awareness of Western medicine’s dirty little secrets. Hopefully, the day will come when America’s health insurance companies will recognize holistic, chemical-free alternatives as legitimate, approved treatments, and Dr. Wu’s dream of opening a hospital that specializes in stem cell research and provides free cancer treatments to everyone will come true. “Some patients are very poor and I want to show them that God loves them too,” Dr. Wu explained. “Everyone deserves to be treated equally.” In the meantime, I am heeding Dr. Wu’s wise advice and following my new mantra: “A chaga a day keeps the doctor away.”
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CUE THE BEATING THE SUMMER HEAT IN STYLE
BY JORDAN STAGGS • PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COX POOLS
“Swimming pools are like eye candy for your backyard,” says Richard L. Cox Jr., owner of Cox Pools in Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida. The company, founded by the late Richard Cox Sr. in 1958, is truly a family affair and its expert team has become a leading crafter of swimming pools and spas in the Southeast. Cox Pools specializes in the construction and renovation of all types of pool, spa, and fountain projects, and was selected as one of the top fifty pool builders in the country by Pool & Spa News in 2013. “Cox Pools always strives to build the best pools with the best equipment and specialized crews in the Southeast,” Cox says. “As a family-owned and operated company, we take a lot of pride in every pool we design and construct. Being named in the top fifty is something we are honored and proud to receive. It is a direct reflection of our hardworking staff and crews.” Drawing inspiration for their projects from past designs and interesting designs by others, and taking into account the needs and tastes of each customer, Cox Pools has created remarkable pools throughout Northwest Florida that make you just want to lounge in the shallows with a good book, have a relaxing seat in the whirlpool spa, or perhaps even yell “Cannonball!”
“We get to design beautiful projects where everyone is able to be involved in the process, and the final product is always spectacular to view,” Cox says, noting that the three main things his team focuses on in the building process are the overall design of the pool; the function of the hydraulics and other systems; and the aesthetics, such as the tiling, the water color, and the surrounding deck areas. These are essential for creating an exceptional pool, and Cox and his team continually deliver on their promise of excellence year after year. “If I wouldn’t want it at my house, I certainly wouldn’t deliver it to a client.” Cox and his team were the master crafters behind the stunning, mosaic-tiled outdoor pool at the Maison de VIE idea home built last year in WaterColor, Florida. The gorgeous backyard watering hole features a fountain, colored lights, and a sun shelf perfect for lounging. “My favorite part of any pool is just getting wet when it’s hot out,” Cox reveals. “And, of course, the sun island, like the one at Maison de VIE. You can put your chair up there, have your favorite drink while your feet are in the water, and have a conversation without getting too hot.” With the summer heating up the region, it may be time to think about creating a backyard oasis—at least in time for next year. These projects by Cox Pools are just the inspiration to get you started!
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01 This beautiful seventy-foot negative-edge pool overlooks the bay with a four-foot rock waterfall finish. The pool has a large connected built-in spa and a separate sun shelf with a sunken spa spilling over an eleven-foot rock waterfall, also with a negative or “infinity� edge. The pool is complemented by fiber-optic perimeter lighting and is finished with black pearl plaster, custom mosaic tiles, and a travertine deck.
02 This negative-edge pool on the beach has a swim-under bridge to get to the swim-up bar. The pool is finished in a beach-colored plaster with Mesa Pearl custom mosaic tiles and a travertine deck and is complemented with a large sun shelf and an all-tile spa.
03 Complementing a spectacular house on Grand Lagoon, this pool is
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customized with LED-lit laminar jets, wall-mounted sconces on the planter walls, and an elevated fountain bowl spillover. A large sun shelf and a deep-end bench are perfect for lounging. The distinct air of luxury for this oasis comes from the finishes—white-pearl plaster with a blend of travertine and custom mosaic tiles surrounded by a travertine deck.
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04 Considered one of the top projects constructed by Cox Pools, this pool features an elevated-rim overflow spa with a glass spillway that cascades down an eight-foot glass water wall. The pool is a 360-degree rim overflow complete with a swim lane, an eight-foot-deep well, a large sun shelf with bubblers, and a swim-up bar. The lighting package is second to none: four LED-lit laminars, an LED-lit glass water wall, and glass beads in the plaster that reflect all colors. The finishes include WetEdge glossy black plaster on the pool and kaleidoscope plaster on the spa. The Italian tile was a custom order and the rice-white deck really makes the pool “pop!�
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Laser Body Sculpting with Smartlipo TriPlex™ Losing Inches and Contouring Your Body by Design By Kimberly Moskowitz, MD, MS | Photography provided by Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center
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n today’s society, women and men live at a frenetic pace, having little time to take care of themselves. When we’ve maxed ourselves out with work, kids, diet, and exercise, many of us still look in the mirror and sigh, thinking, “If I could only get rid of my love handles, ab flab, sagging arms, neck waddle, thunder thighs—” Just fill in the blank with the body part that frustrates you most. I saw a forty-nine-year-old patient today for her bulging thighs, heavy waist, and baggy upper arms. She perfectly described what I hear every day: “I eat mostly organic, I watch my caloric intake, and I exercise three or four times per week. I just have to believe there’s a difference between growing old gracefully and ‘giving up’ on myself.” Smartlipo TriPlex™ was designed for this type of person—someone who works reasonably hard at being and staying healthy but is not willing to just “give up” on feeling good about herself (or himself ).
results are permanent because the fat cells are taken away and the body never regenerates them. Understanding how your body creates and distributes fat and cellulite is essential to understanding why Smartlipo TriPlex™ is today’s most amazing body-contouring miracle. Up until puberty, your body makes new fat cells that are genetically programmed to accumulate in certain areas. In some people, it distributes to the thighs; in others, it goes to the abdomen or neck. When you gain or lose weight, you notice it predominantly in those areas. At the end of puberty, that “fat making” machine shuts off and the number of fat cells (adipocytes)
People are genetically gifted with a body type that takes shape sometime around adolescence. In a woman’s case, the body morphs again after childbirth and continues to change with the inevitable downward pull of gravity and aging. For many, these BEFORE AFTER body dysmorphisms are subtle or have little impact on self-esteem and overall well-being. remains the same for the rest of your life. From then If you are one of these people, consider yourself blessed. on, fat cells don’t come and go: they just get bigger However, most women—and some men—have at or smaller. The distribution and proportion will never least one thing that keeps them uneasy in a bathing suit change unless you physically remove cells from that or from feeling content with their physique. Because of area. Laser liposuction is designed to redistribute fat this, cellulite and body contouring are hot topics, and and reshape the body with slimmer and more appealSmartlipo has become a fat-melting fantasy. ing curves. Downtime is minimal and most patients return to work in a few days with only mild bruising In an hour or two, under local anesthesia, and using and soreness, which last about a week. Volume reduca tiny laser fiber, Smartlipo destroys unwanted fat tion and contouring results are seen immediately, and cells while smoothing out cellulite and tightening skin tightening is seen in about two or three weeks. overlying skin. The liquefied excess is gently suctioned out of the area to create a new shape with soft What makes laser liposuction better than other “fat natural contours that redefine your waistline, your removal” devices? thighs, your arms, your jawline—and your life. The 178 | J U LY/A U GU S T 2 014
Traditional liposuction forcefully breaks up pockets of tough fat that are then sucked out through a large metal tube. Neither traditional liposuction nor fat-freezing devices address the structure of cellulite; thus, both can leave behind loose, saggy skin, making cellulite look even worse. The Smartlipo TriPlex™ and Cellulaze™ harness three specific laser wavelengths to safely liquefy fat deposits, seal blood vessels during the procedure, and stimulate collagen to tighten and lift overlying skin. Smartlipo TriPlex™ has an unmatched safety profile, and minimal swelling and bruising occur. Slow, gentle, and accurate movements are used to break up cellulite and permanently remove unwanted pockets of fat, resulting in firmer, tighter, and smoother skin not seen with other fat-reducing devices. If you gain or lose weight, you will continue to maintain this new ideal shape and proportion. It is important to know that choosing laser liposuction doesn’t mean “giving in,” and it doesn’t mean “giving up” a healthy diet and regular exercise. As we age, we tend to gain a little around the waistline, our thighs become a bit lumpier, and our knees and buttocks sag as we lose that bouncy elasticity that we once took for granted. We may find ourselves avoiding bathing suits, shorts, and sleeveless shirts. Aging gracefully doesn’t seem quite as easy as we once imagined. Just because your love handles and cellulite are resistant, that doesn’t mean you have to be. Most of life’s important answers come not from fighting one screaming truth, but rather from surrendering to the peace that comes with knowing how to create balance—an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain steady. We must realize that things do not always balance by themselves; after all, our bodies are imperfect. Sometimes we can create balance with strong will, diet, and exercise—and sometimes we need a laser fiber and Smartlipo TriPlex™ to help us maneuver the curves.
A good spot after a day of running with the bulls.
Š2014 The St. Joe Company. All rights reserved.
HAVANA BEACH BAR & GRILL AT THE PEARL HOTEL, ROSEMARY BEACH, FLORIDA Intrigued? See more of Havana Beach at thepearlrb.com You revel in the flavors of Gulf Coast Americana cuisine with Creole, Cajun and Cuban influences. With meats, fish and produce from family-owned, small-producers within 100 miles of your plate. Brunch and dinner daily from 6:30 am Bar open daily until midnight. Dinner and brunch reservations recommended.
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kimberly moskowitz, md, ms The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center W W W. S K I N A N D V E I N S . C O M 12238 Panama City Beach Pkwy. Telephone: (850) 233-0264
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SPECIALIZING IN: Va r ic o se & S pide r Veins E ndo ve no us La se r Treatment (EVLT) S ma r tlipo Tr iP le x ™ Cellulite R e mo va l & B o dy Sculpting Fr a xe l ™ S kin R e surfacing B o to x ® , Dyspo r t ® , Restylane ® Me dic a l & C o sme tic Dermatology P ho to re juve na tio n (IPL) Ve la S ha pe fo r C e llulite & B o dy C o nto uring P ho to dyna mic T herapy (PDT) La se r H a ir R e mo v al T he r ma g e S kin T ightening S tre tc h Ma r k R e moval A c ne , S kin C a nc ers, P re -c a nc e r s & Sun-damage
Medical: Georgetown University School of Medicine • Residency: Georgetown University Hospital Board Certified: Internal Medicine & Phlebology (Vein Disorders) Skin & Laser Medicine Specialist
PHOTO BY WALTER ELLIOTT FROM A TIME TO PLANT BY JAMES T. FARMER III, REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GIBBS SMITH
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t h g e To n i y rc r r h a of C
Southern Style by sandra k. woodward
While some people may claim that there are no thirty-yearold experts on any subject, a young man from Middle Georgia is proving that opinion to be emphatically irrelevant. Graduating from Auburn University in 2004 with a degree in landscape design, James Farmer took the bold step of starting his own landscape design business in his hometown of Kathleen, Georgia, where he had grown up in a family that ingrained in him both a love of the land and an appreciation for celebrating its bounty. These earth-based values, along with his innate creativity and a highly developed sense of aesthetics, positioned Farmer as a fresh, new entry to the Southern scene of gardening, entertaining, and gracious living. His early success in landscape design and his knack for event planning, which reflects his energy and style, created a buzz throughout the South, and his business quickly grew. With the publication of his first book, A Time to Plant, in 2011, it was instantly clear that Farmer possessed a special gift for sharing an abundance of knowledge about and a passion for what he considers
to be the seamless interplay between gardening, the preparation, presentation, and celebration of good food, and the sharing of such with one’s family and friends. (Non-Southerners take note: Farmer is unabashedly proud of his Georgia roots, but his guides for the good life apply regardless of where you live.) In short order, he followed with five additional books—Sip and Savor, Porch Living, and Wreaths for All Seasons in 2012, A Time to Cook in 2013, and Dinner on the Grounds this year. His seventh, A Time to Celebrate, is scheduled for publication in 2015. All continue his exploration and celebration of Southern grace and style, and only strengthen Farmer’s position as an authoritative voice. He also serves as an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine, which gives him a unique opportunity to be part of a long and honored tradition of Southern style while adding his own signature.
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That unique signature accounts for the speed with which Farmer’s star has risen in the already crowded field of Southern style leaders, particularly among those in his own age group. His books are informative, stylish, and, perhaps most important, accessible. Dinner on the Grounds, for example, reflects his strongly held conviction that entertaining should be fun. Primarily a cookbook, it focuses on the many events that bring people together in groups, from picnics to birthday celebrations and weddings. His casual yet sophisticated approach offers even the novice cook an opportunity to shine with recipes that range from playful childhood favorites such as “Ants on a Log” to simple but elegant flavors such as “Goat Cheese Zucchini Roll-Ups” that feature chopped dates and toasted pistachios.
“Entertaining should not create anxiety. It should be fun for everybody.”
“I don’t want people to be intimidated by what they see in my books,” he said recently from his office at James Farmer, Inc., in Perry, Georgia. “Entertaining should not create anxiety. It should be fun for everybody, including—maybe especially— the host or hostess. Whether it’s a casual picnic or a wedding reception, it should reflect your own likes, your own joy. I hope that’s what people find in my work.” The ability to connect with a young audience is key to Farmer’s success, but he values his connections to the past as well. “I enjoy people of all ages, and I am especially happy to meet people of my generation who are just as enthusiastic as I am about entertaining,” he said. “It’s really so much about sharing, not about impressing people. But for me the connection between the generations is priceless, and I sometimes forget that not everyone my age has been as fortunate as I have been to have had such a strong bond with earlier generations. I feel especially blessed to have had not only the influence of my mother and my grandmother, but my great-grandmother as well, and to have benefited from their wisdom. I am proud to share, in turn, what they so generously shared with me.”
His connections with and affection for the past are evident throughout his work. In addition to family recipes and tips from earlier times for both gardening and cooking, which he has updated for twenty-first-century living, Farmer weaves stories of his family into the narrative of his books. (A particularly charming story involves his mother and her love of “Carl.”) And among the “Farmer’s Dozen” questions he asks in the interviews he posts on his All Things Farmer blog on the website jamesfarmer.com, one is unique: “What do you call your grandmother?” His own answer to that question can be found in the dedication of Dinner on the Grounds.
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Recipes FROM JAMES FARMER’S LATEST BOOK, DINNER ON THE GROUNDS, PUBLISHED IN 2014 BY GIBBS SMITH
• 2 dozen okra pods, sliced lengthwise • 1/2 cup olive or pecan oil • Salt and pepper • 3/4 cup cornmeal, yellow or white • 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the sliced okra on a greased baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Roast for 10 minutes, or until pods start to brown. Mix the cornmeal and Parmesan together. Remove okra from oven and sprinkle generously with the cornmeal mixture. Return to the oven for further browning and roasting, about 3 to 5 minutes more.
FARMER’S NOTE: Alternatively, try this quick-fry method. Cut the okra into rounds and fry in a skillet with some oil. Once the okra begins to become tender and brown, mix in the cornmeal, salt, and pepper; stir and serve!
zesty sour cream
Makes about 1-3/4 cups
• 1 cup sour cream • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1 teaspoon lemon juice • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon paprika • 1/4 cup minced parsley or chervil • 1 tablespoon grated onion
cornmeal-crusted okra with zesty sour cream Serves 4–6
• 1 tablespoon minced chives • 1/4 teaspoon curry powder • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce • 1 clove garlic, minced
Okra is one of my absolute favorite summer crops. Fried, roasted, pickled, or stewed—I can lap up a mess of okra anytime it is served. This version of “fried” okra takes the fear of frying out of the equation and lessens the calories, too. An oven “fry,” in this case, still gives a nice flavor that is enhanced with the caramelization caused by this gentle roasting. Anything fried or roasted and served with a dipping sauce is a winner to me!
• 1 tablespoon capers with a touch of liquid Combine all ingredients well. Stores for up to a week in the refrigerator. Yummy for sandwiches too!
THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY EMILY FOLLOWILL FROM DINNER ON THE GROUNDS BY JAMES T. FARMER III, REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GIBBS SMITH
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Recipes slice of zucchini on a clean work surface. Spread l teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture onto zucchini and then roll up securely. Transfer to a serving platter, standing up or seam side down (it will stay closed on its own, but a toothpick helps with serving.) Repeat with remaining zucchini and goat cheese mixture. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Do not chill for more than a couple of hours, as the roll-ups will become mushy.
FARMER’S NOTE: On occasion, I have unrolled leftover roll-ups and baked them—makes for a delicious summertime meal or side!
goat cheese-zucchini roll-ups Serves 8–10
• 6 medium-to-large zucchini (about 2 pounds), sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick • Olive oil cooking spray • 6 Medjool dates, chopped • 8 ounces goat cheese, softened • 1/2 cup shelled unsalted pistachios, toasted and roughly chopped • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint • Freshly ground black pepper Preheat a grill to medium. Working in batches, lightly mist both sides of zucchini slices with cooking spray and grill for about 3 minutes per side, until softened and lightly charred. Remove and let cool. In a medium bowl, stir together dates, goat cheese, pistachios, lemon juice, zest, and mint. Season to taste with pepper. Place one
dilly-creamed corn cornbread Serves 4–6
The Farmer’s Skillet Corn with Dill • 3 pieces thick-cut bacon • 1 Vidalia onion, diced • 4 cups whole-kernel Silver Queen corn (about 6 ears) cut from the cob • 1 cup sweet milk or cream* • Sea salt • Cracked black pepper • 3 sprigs dill, roughly chopped
THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY EMILY FOLLOWILL FROM DINNER ON THE GROUNDS BY JAMES T. FARMER III, REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF GIBBS SMITH
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On medium heat, render and brown the bacon in an iron skillet. Once bacon is browned, remove from drippings and allow to cool. Cook the onion in the bacon drippings until the onion becomes translucent and starts to show some brown around the edges. Add the corn. Stir continually for 5 minutes, tossing the corn with the onions and drippings. (Caution: Iron skillets get very hot, so you may have to reduce the heat during this step to avoid scorching the corn. The drippings help coat it and minimize scorching, but do mind the heat.) Corn should still be crisp and not mushy. Reduce heat to low and stir the milk or cream into the onion and corn mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then add the dill and stir. Allow cream to bubble and thicken a bit. Reserve until the cornbread batter is mixed. *Whole milk, heavy cream, buttermilk, or half-and-half all work just fine.
Big Pan o’ Cornbread • 2 cups self-rising white cornmeal*
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• 1 cup self-rising flour
MIRAMAR BEACH
• 2 eggs
MIRAMAR PLAZA (850) 654-8810
• 1-1/4 cups buttermilk, plus a bit more to thin the batter • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus 1 tablespoon for the pan • Pinch of sugar
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix above ingredients into a batter. Fold in the Farmer’s Skillet Corn with Dill and turn out into a hot, oiled iron skillet. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot with butter. Farmer’s note: Sugar added to cornbread is not typically a part of the Southern culinary repertoire; yet, I’ve found that a pinch takes the bite out of the buttermilk’s punch and levels out the dill, too. *Martha White or White Lily—we are in Dixie, after all.
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Geoff Chick & Associates Custom Residential Architecture & Design
Stengel Residence, WaterColor – Phase III
Construction by Daniel Cole
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Interiors by Charlotte Stengel
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Photos by Jack Gardner
www.geoffchick.com 850.622.0210 790 No r th Hi g h w ay 3 9 3 , Su it e 2 E , Sa n t a Ro s a B e a c h , F L 3 2 4 5 9
Not Too Shabby By Sallie W. Boyles / Photography provided by Not Too Shabby Boutique
O
ver thirty years ago, English designer Rachel Ashwell rather brilliantly coined the term “shabby chic” to describe a gentrified cottage look that features fine furnishings with sunwashed fabrics and distressed woods. Many design trends fade in and out of fashion, but shabby chic has sustained, spawning a mammoth industry with multiple subcategories—French country, English country, and beach cottage, to name a few.
Encouraged by a robust consumer demand for the aesthetic, furniture and accessories manufacturers have since churned out loads of new merchandise with a timeworn presence. Ironically, though, flooding the market with reproductions (many of which are poorly constructed and unlikely to withstand the test of time) defeats the premise of restoring and repurposing a tattered antique with good bones. In a world of copycats, however, Marisol and Tony Gullo, like the furniture and accessories they restore, are the real deal, and their Santa Rosa Beach coastal cottage–style boutique, Not Too Shabby, is a rare find, full of “refound, revived, and reloved” treasures.
Eager to explain the origins of the one-of-a-kind, handfinished console tables, dining tables, coffee tables, headboards and footboards, chairs, cabinets, benches, mirrors, artwork, and more that he and Marisol bring to life, Tony says, “Whether we build from the ground up with various architectural remnants or begin with a vintage piece of furniture, we use quality. We then spend a lot of time designing and applying different finishes with techniques we have personally perfected. People are always saying, ‘You must love antiques,’ but we are just out looking for real wood. We are not going to put our time and effort into particleboard.” Tony reveals that a flawless job on a single piece of furniture requires a week on average to complete. The Gullos also invest quite a bit of time traveling throughout the Southeast and elsewhere in search of their raw inventory. “We don’t have any secret
sources,” says Tony. “We go to estate sales, houses with a sign in the yard, old barns, and neglected houses—with permission—and leave no stone unturned.” In addition to furniture, they’re always on the lookout for architectural components like arches, balusters, doors, and siding. A headboard and footboard, then, might be reinvented as a bench; an antique door could become a headboard.
says Tony, who welcomes their novice attempts. As it turns out, the Gullos owned and operated Urban Solutions for seven years, once the largest residential paint contractor on the Gulf Coast. “We are master faux finishers,” says Tony. When the housing market crashed in 2009, however, the work abruptly ended. Thus, the couple started over, turning their shared personal hobby into a new business.
Much of the artistry, which Tony attributes to Marisol, appears in her signature finishes, including paints, textiles, papers, and glass. “People come from all over to see our finishes and try to duplicate them,”
“When we first got started doing our thing,” Tony recalls, “our passion was making French provincial furniture that looked as if it had come from an eighteenthcentury château. We now infuse coastal colors and V IE Z INE .C OM | 193
“I love the re ac tion on people’s faces when the y love s ome thing and know the y’ll be the only one on the pl ane t who will have it.”
“We’re no t focused on being the bigges t or the bes t—jus t the bes t that we can be.” concepts. We also like to keep up with color trends, but we are not overly concerned about the price of tea in China. In other words, we like to set trends, not follow them.” Blending colors to produce the desired palette, the Gullos hand mix all of their paints, and they’re quick to point out that their paints, stains, and varnishes are water solvent and nontoxic. “We consider ourselves environmentalists,” says Tony, “so we strive to leave as little of a footprint as possible.” Reviving and repurposing antiques certainly serves that commitment. Accordingly, the Gullos encourage prospective customers to bring in their handme-downs or castoffs for restoration. “People often have older furniture that no longer fits in, or a family piece that no one wants but no one wants to get rid of,” says Tony. “Instead of throwing it away, they bring it to us and end up with a piece they love for less money than something new and made of particleboard.” Indeed, a good portion of Not Too Shabby Boutique’s commissioned work entails refinishing pieces that customers already own. No matter what inspires a sale, Tony says, “I love the reaction on people’s faces when they love something and know they’ll be the only one on the planet who will have it.” All in all, Tony and Marisol feel quite fortunate that the Not Too Shabby Boutique enables them to make a living and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from succeeding as entrepreneurs. They are genuinely content. “Our plans for the future are to continue living in a place we love, doing what we absolutely love, and raising our son, Joshua. We’re not focused on being the biggest or the best—just the best that we can be.”
Not Too Shabby Boutique 3906 U.S. Hwy. 98 West, Suite 31 Santa Rosa Beach, FL (850) 419-3976
www.nottooshabbyboutique.net Not Too Shabby Boutique is also on Facebook. Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday V IE Z INE .C OM | 195
A Testimonial Ficarra Builders built our home on Holiday Isle in Destin, and we could not be more pleased with the finished product. This was our first time using Alan Ficarra as our builder, but it was the fourth home that we have built—so we have had some experience with homebuilders. We have never recommended any of the other builders we have used; however, Alan is an exception! He is in a category by himself when it comes to quality and customer satisfaction. He is the best builder that we have experienced, and he will be our builder of choice if we ever decide to build again. Sincerely, Jon and Jackie Hodges
Custom Residential / Commercial Additions / Renovations 228 Market St., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 | 850.267.2898 www.ficarra.com | CGC1515280
HANDCRAFTING NOSTALGIA
ONE BEACH CHAIR AT A TIME
BY MADRA MCDONALD • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MODUS PHOTOGRAPHY
Filmmaker Bruce Brown opens his legendary surf flick The Endless Summer with the famous line: “Summer means many different things to different people.” For those who have vacationed along Florida’s Gulf Coast or in any of the seaside resort towns in the South, seeing classic beach chairs dotting the shore brings to mind the feeling that summer has finally arrived. Providing comfort for lounging by the sea under the cool shade of a matching umbrella, the canvas-wrapped wooden beach chair has become symbolic of a beach vacation. Between the months of March and October, area beach service professionals are up at sunrise to set up the iconic chairs and umbrellas in neat rows along the shore. These chairs, rented by the day or by the week, were all of average quality and manufactured who knows where. That is, until local beach vendor Brad McDowell decided to improve upon the quality of the chairs by manufacturing them himself on the Gulf Coast. Since 2012, when Sunrise Chair Co. made its debut, McDowell’s chairs have become a source of pride on the white-sand beaches of Scenic Highway 30-A and beyond. A native of Tennessee, McDowell spent every summer as a child vacationing with his family along the beaches of Northwest Florida. His travels to the area while growing up helped to shape his perspective on what running a beach service entailed and to fuel his passion for customer service. “I come from a family where my father worked 90 percent of the year so we could enjoy the other 10 percent at the beach,” recalls
THE CANVAS-WRAPPED WOODEN BEACH CHAIR HAS BECOME SYMBOLIC OF A BEACH VACATION.
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McDowell. “When we left, my brother and sister would be crying because we didn’t want to leave. But the tears would stop, and we’d all start talking about when we were coming back next year.” In 2000, McDowell and his wife were longing for the laid-back vibe of the coast and decided to relocate from Tennessee to Miramar Beach, Florida, to experience the beach lifestyle full-time. Shortly after, McDowell opened Sunny Sands Beach Service. He and his staff have logged thousands of hours working from sunup to sundown to service the vacationing families who enthusiastically flock to the beach each year. That’s two hundred and forty-eight days a year for over a decade for him and his crew. The customer service philosophy at Sunny Sands Beach Service comes from McDowell’s days of working the beach by himself to ensure that every one of his customers had the best possible experience. “If we can make something happen for our customers, we’ll go above and beyond to get it done, no matter how small the request,” he says. “Their happiness is our number one priority.” This steadfast dedication to customer service eventually led McDowell to grow his beach service company in an ambitious direction. The industry was clearly overburdened by the problem of too much demand, which resulted in a less-than-desirable turnaround on supply, so McDowell determined it would be better to take matters into his own hands—literally—and manufacture his own chairs. He began researching ways not only to build beach chairs but also to make improvements over the ones he had been purchasing for years from a national manufacturer. “Anybody can order a thousand chairs from overseas and say they’re in the industry,” jokes McDowell. “I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy. When I was a kid, my imagination went into building forts, and later, as a licensed contractor, that same imagination transferred into building a couple’s dream home. So, I welcomed the challenge when
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I had to engineer my own tools to create these chairs. We hand dip each chair with marine-grade varnish. It wasn’t easy, but my love for the beach and my passion for attention to detail, combined with living the lifestyle year-round, became what Sunrise Chair Co. is today.” As a team, Brad and his wife, Jenny, who runs the day-to-day administrative operations of the business and performs the selfless job of corralling their two energetic sons, Ross and Reed, have managed to balance the high-speed pace of family life and two thriving businesses. With the addition of fellow beach service owner and Louisiana native Boo Freeman, McDowell is confident he’s got the perfect team around him. “Without them, I’m nothing. We’ve worked very hard to build a great team, and now we’re mass-producing high-quality chairs right here at the beach,” McDowell says with a big smile. “Boo has played an integral part in managing quality control and design, and he has a similar work ethic to mine. The energy he brings to the table is invaluable.” From the rustproof brass hardware to the white oak milled in the Southeast, Sunrise Chair Co. proudly sources only USA-based materials. Every detail of the chairs has been researched, analyzed, and inspected—and then analyzed some more. Being able to withstand the harsh elements of the outdoors meant no detail was too small to nitpick, right down to the hand-sewn binding on the Sunbrella fabric and the specially treated wood, which is dipped twice in a resilient marine-grade varnish. “When I found out that Brad was pursuing a vision of building his own brand of beach chairs, I was a complete fan,” said Destin Health and Fitness owner Vince Walker. “Having a background in beach chair rentals is one thing, but not many people know that Brad brings a general contractor license to the table as well. His knowledge of quality and craftsmanship with woodworking is one that is unparalleled in the business of beach chair construction.” Mike Ragsdale, founder of the beloved 30A.com lifestyle brand, was among the first to take advantage of Sunrise Chair Co.’s custom embroidery option. A turquoise chair marked with the classic 30A logo is available for purchase on 30A’s online retail hub, 30AGear. com. Ragsdale says, “We love supporting local businesses, and it makes it so easy when that business produces the highest-quality product in their industry. We are so proud to see our famous 30A logo on Sunrise Chair Co.’s chairs.”
EVERY DETAIL OF THE CHAIR HAS BEEN RESEARCHED, ANALYZED, INSPECTED, AND ANALYZED SOME MORE.
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With the chairs handcrafted locally in Santa Rosa Beach, now everyone (everywhere) has a quality go-to source for scooping up a classic beach chair lounger for the backyard, the deck, or the next beach outing—and word is spreading beyond the beach, as online orders are starting to flood in from as far away as Alaska and Belgium. “People just love being reminded of their time on the Gulf,” McDowell says. “At the end of the day, we are beach guys making beach chairs. We understand that the products we make are tied to the memories that families make during their time here. If we can provide something that fosters that connection to the beach wherever they are, then we’ve done our job.”
Visit sunrisechairco.com to learn more.
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