May 2024
Artful ImpactAstonishment—I recall my reaction to seeing artist Mary Whyte’s portrait of revered Charleston blacksmith Philip Simmons (1912-2009). It was the fall of 2000, and I had been invited to Whyte’s then-gallery in Ansonborough for the unveiling of Iron Man, her absolutely astonishing likeness of the local icon that now resides at the Gibbes Museum of Art. Mr. Simmons was there, humbly delighted by his portrait, and I was taken aback, not only by the depth of her skill—in watercolor, no less—but that she had seemed to capture his very being.
April 2024
Garden VarietyOn a recent Sunday, my husband, Wally, and I attended the Charleston Parks Conservancy’s oyster-focused “Shucked & Sauced” fundraiser at Hampton Park—a fantastic event, by the way (see page 158)—and I was taken by how much the Rose Pavilion area had changed. How long had it been since I visited this jewel of the city’s park system?
March 2024
Walking the Walk“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up.” I couldn’t agree more with Serena Williams on the importance and power of women working together and uplifting each other. With March being Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day being celebrated on March 8, it’s a reminder to be thankful for all of the women who have blazed trails and uplifted others on their journeys—and to do our best, in turn.
February 2024
Top ShelfWhen I moved here from Santa Barbara more than two decades ago, a kind friend from the East Coast warned me that Charleston’s a drinking town and I had better know about “brown liquor.” Huh? I was just turning 30 and couldn’t tell you the difference between bourbon and Scotch. At the time, it was rather intimidating, but that bit of advice makes me laugh to this day.
January 2024
Keeping TabsThe tick of the clock on New Year’s Eve ushers in 2024, and a reminder that I’m nearing a quarter century living in our fair city. It’s astounding to reflect on how much Charleston has changed in those almost 24 years. Back in 2000, I lived in Wagener Terrace, and my commute home took me up Morrison Drive well before the area received the unfortunate moniker “NoMo.” I often wondered why that stretch, so close to the Cooper River, remained rather blighted and industrial. Of course, I was fresh from the West Coast and just getting to know the lay of the land.