Category: Lifestyle

story by Kelly Parker

    In 1985, a group of dedicated citizens from all around Dillon County came together to form the Dillon County Theatre Board. Their mission was to raise the capital necessary to restore the former movie theatre as a venue to hold performances for the community and to have a building that could be rented by other organizations or individuals for the same purpose. The theatre, built in 1917, is one of the few remaining examples of pure Spanish Colonial architecture in South Carolina and is on the National Register of Historic Places. On January 26-28, 1990 the Dillon County Theatre was opened with a weekend filled with entertainment and activities. The Theatre has been thriving since.

    Most recently, Dillon County and the surrounding community have been chosen by SC Humanities through a competitive application process to host Crossroads: Change in Rural America as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. Crossroads: Change in Rural America is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. The exhibition will tour six communities in South Carolina from September 2018 through June 2019.

    Crossroads offers small towns a chance to envision their futures and engage in discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns creatively continue to find new opportunities for growth and development. Many wonderful activities will be held in conjunction with the exhibit, including a writing workshop entitled Communal Pen: A Writing Workshop Celebrating Memories, Stories, and Traditions of Place to be held on June 8 at the Dillon Library.

For more information visit our website www.DillonCountyTheatre.com.

Southside Early Childhood Center 5K Teacher

story by Jordan Pupa | photography provided to Vip

    On May 12th many of us will celebrate Mother’s Day, a special day each year where we can honor and celebrate our mothers, as well as other influential mother-like figures in our lives, for the strong and wonderful people that they are. It is true that mother figures come in all forms, and we should celebrate the many fantastic roles all women out there have on this particular day. Hillary Griggs, a single mother of a three-year-old, also cares for her twenty-three 5k students at Southside Early Childhood Center in Hartsville every day as her own. “Educate” means “lead forth,” and Ms. Griggs does just that.

    Hillary knew she wanted to be a teacher her whole life. She will be completing her seventh year teaching this year, but also goes the extra mile outside of the classroom too. In addition to her primary role as a 5k teacher, Hillary is part of the Academic Leadership Team and is over the Parent Team at SECC, which is the PTO. While caring for her son and full-time job responsibilities may seem time-consuming enough, Hillary is also enrolled in a master’s program in Educational Administration through the University of South Carolina in which she will complete in August. “My goal is to one day become a principal to have a larger impact on a larger number of students,” Hillary shares. “Many times, I will have my laptop on the counter cooking dinner or giving my son a bath while still participating in class. There is a large workload along with this, but because the subject is something I have so much passion for it doesn’t seem like as much work as it is. Balancing work, my son, the house, planning events, sleep, and my personal life has become a little more challenging, but it is all worth it.”

    Family and love are qualities that Hillary strives to focus her classroom around. The emotional aspect of playing “double duty” as both a teacher and mother can sometimes be challenging. Hillary explains how many students face personal situations at home. “Being a teacher, I do get very invested in my students, inside and outside of school. I hug each one of them every morning. I tell them I love them every day.” She explains how many days she comes home emotionally exhausted from putting out emotional fires, but she is only exhausted because of how much she cares. “I lay in bed each night thinking of other people’s children,” says Hillary. “I honestly love it though. I love that my students feel safe enough to tell me anything or to let go of some of the emotions they might be carrying around. I love being their safe harbor and I feel so blessed to be able to be in a career that allows be that opportunity. I also do have an amazing assistant teacher, Easter Arthur, whom I could not be half the teacher I am without.”

    Getting to know students at different levels, not only academically, but personally and socially as well, is important. Hillary builds long-term relationships with students and their families even after they have moved on from her class. A parent of a former student who is now having certain issues in his second-grade classroom recently contacted Hillary for help. Without hesitation, Hillary has picked him up several times since to enjoy some fun quality time, but to also discuss his situation so she can understand and help him to be successful. She has even helped raise funds to help with rent for a parent and collected Christmas gifts for her and her children. Hillary believes that parents are the key to student success, and she has an open-door policy and uses a communication app to constantly keep parents in the loop.

    Hillary implements many important and unique lessons throughout the school year. While she welcomes and encourages students, she also works to guide and push them. Hillary shares, “I love teaching Black History Month lessons. Not just because it is such a very important part of our history, but it also teaches my students about racism, bias, the importance of kindness, and most importantly, that no matter who they are, they can make a huge impact on others.” Hillary uses two eggs during this lesson to teach the value of character and what is in the inside; that the color of our skin does not define us. She uses a white egg and a brown egg in which they crack open to find that the yolk is the same. “I know that in this world we live in it is an unfortunate truth that my students may be judged or discounted because of their outer appearance, but I try to teach them to rise above and to know their importance. We talk about ways they can change their world right now, just by simply playing with a student alone on the playground or being kind to others.”

    Play is also an important aspect in Hillary’s 5k classroom. The classroom consists of six dramatic play centers including a Veterinarian Clinic, Grocery Store, a Diner, Post Office, Construction Site, and Dino Dig. All while playing in the centers, students learn reading, writing, and math skills, as well as social, language and real-life skills. “I am doing a large push to bring play-based learning back into kindergarten,” says Hillary. “We do units on each center before we open them, so the students have the knowledge to be able to correctly interact in the centers. They each sign up for a job whether it be paleontologist, receptionist, clerk, construction worker, architect, or vet. They know the jobs of each role and they thoroughly enjoy learning this way.” The district and the state department have come and observed Ms. Griggs’ students as they interact within their centers. She was also recently contacted by another school within the area asking if they could come observe the centers to implement within their own classrooms.

    It is true that “It takes a village to raise a child.” It is clear that a strong teacher-student relationship helps shape the way children think and act in school and beyond. Teachers that care can make the most impact. Take a moment to thank an influential mother-like figure in your life this month. On Mother’s Day, we have the opportunity to thank our entire village!

Significant Improvements to Its Historic Downtown

story by T.D. Rykard | photography provided by Visit Lake City, SC

    Ongoing downtown building renovations and façade repairs spearheaded by the Greater Lake City Community Development Office, plus the creation and continued cultivation of multiple downtown “floral scapes” by Moore Farms Botanical Garden have positively transformed downtown Lake City’s once dated appearance. In Lake City, “revitalization” means more than physical improvements to downtown. With the birth of exciting events such as ArtFields, Fiesta Fridays, Hometown Holidays, and the upcoming inaugural Rhythm & Q’s BBQ and Live Music Competition, residents and visitors alike appreciate that revitalization is also about a cultural shift from the agricultural prosperity of the past to a vibrant, arts-centered downtown atmosphere.

    The successes surrounding Lake City’s revitalization are not going unnoticed. Seth Kines, Visit Lake City SC’s Executive Director, says that he feels that “Lake City has arrived on not only the national stage but the international stage as well!” Coming on the heels of being named the “Best Small Town Cultural Scene” by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice in 2018, Lake City has recently been named one of the best places to visit in May by Travel + Leisure magazine! Mentioned along with notable international locations like Botswana, Monaco, London, and Stockholm, Kines says “It’s thrilling to see Lake City gain international recognition as a recommended travel destination. This clearly demonstrates the power of small-town revitalization to create powerful positive change, both economically and culturally.” Another indicator that Lake City has hit the international radar came with early April’s new transatlantic flights between Charleston and London. Kines lured a group of a dozen members of the British Guild of Travel Writers to Lake City for a tour of historic downtown, and a traditional southern BBQ lunch at Piggyback’s BBQ and Catfish. This fun, enthusiastic group of travel writers couldn’t resist posing in front of the latest public mural in downtown Lake City’s ever-growing collection, an untitled creation by artist Donald Walker. Kines also offered an update on some of the most recent developments with Lake City’s continuing progress.  

    Sauls Street, which runs parallel to East Main Street, has become a target for downtown revitalization with last year’s opening of TRAX Visual Art Center. This “Sauls Street Renaissance” popped into high gear with the February 2019 opening of downtown Lake City’s newest restaurant, Piggyback’s BBQ and Catfish, located at 116 Sauls Street. Piggyback’s was the winner of the first annual Lake City Launchpad business competition, with a grand prize of $55,000 towards opening a business in an identified building in downtown Lake City. After years of serving as vendors on the local festival and event circuit, Piggyback’s owners Mitchell and Shannon Sims decided to enter the inaugural Lake City Launchpad to make their dream of owning a “brick and mortar” restaurant become a reality. They are currently serving plenty of happy customers in their new location. Another recent addition to Sauls Street is A’bloom Florals and Events, Inc. A’bloom’s services include event planning, event rentals, and floral design. Downtown Lake City is well-known for its historic venues, and now owner Merry Floyd and the A’bloom staff make throwing a successful local event that much easier! Finally, opening in April 2019, just in time for the 7th annual ArtFields, Lake City’s 9-day art competition and festival, will be a brand new restaurant that sports the whimsical moniker, Snax. Snax will offer ice cream, frozen yogurt, and hot dogs for fun family dining. Located at the corner of Sauls and North Acline Streets, Snax is sure to be a hot spot with penny candy days, “Kids Eat Free Tuesdays,” and Saturday Night Shagging. ArtFields Marketing Manager Roberta Burns might be on to something when she said that Sauls Street is soon to be famous for “Snax, TRAX, and Piggyback’s!”  

    Downtown Lake City’s historic venues have also seen needed improvements during ongoing revitalization efforts. The Stables at The Inn at the Crossroads has been renovated to include new flooring throughout the 8,000 square foot venue that was once the McClam Livery Stables, a dance floor, and a full audio-visual system. The Inn and its in-house restaurant, Crossroads on Main, have recently reopened after a full-scale renovation that included all guest rooms, and expansion and redesign of the restaurant and bar so more customers may be comfortably served. Crossroads on Main’s “facelift” is particularly impressive. The restaurant and bar have a stylish, modern appearance, and folding glass doors in the bar area now open to the outdoor Courtyard at The Inn, which features outdoor dining and several sofas and chairs available for guests to sit and enjoy cocktails and conversation under the stars! To accommodate future growth and continued improvements, unoccupied buildings adjacent to The Stables have been acquired to expand the meeting and event rental opportunities available at The Inn at the Crossroads, located at 128 West Main Street. Approximately 80 parking spaces will be added as well. Downtown’s largest venue, the 22,000 square foot Ragsdale Old Building (affectionately known as The ROB) will sport a brand new parking lot that, in addition to over 250 parking spaces, will include 35 RV parking spots that will soon be available for rental. The ROB is the go-to event venue for all large-scale events in Lake City, whether that be a private function to include weddings, receptions, and reunions, or public events like trade shows, art exhibitions, and the upcoming Rhythm & Q’s BBQ and Live Music Competition scheduled for October 18 and 19, 2019.      

    The old Lake City Plaza on West Main is being transformed into The Continuum, a 46,000 square foot facility that will serve as a regional center for education and training in innovative, technical skills and workforce development. The Continuum is a collaborative effort from Francis Marion University, Florence-Darlington Technical College, and the Darla Moore Foundation. Jeanette Altman, former Principal of J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts and Science Magnet School in Lake City, has been named Executive Director of The Continuum. Courses offered will lead to two- and four-year degrees, and classes are slated to begin in fall of 2019.

    Finally, the staff at ArtFields has moved out of their space on Main Street, and are settling in at their new office space located on Sauls Street next to TRAX Visual Art Center, one of two art galleries currently located in downtown Lake City. This has opened up the opportunity for a brand new Visitors Center to move into the old ArtFields space at 110 East Main Street. This May, visitors to Lake City will have a place to inquire about area attractions and enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee! Hours for the Visitors Center are Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Executive Director Seth Kines and the Visitors Center staff cordially invite you to visit Lake City to see what all the buzz is about!

Contact the Visitors Center at 843-374-0534 with questions about your stay in Lake City, or for assistance in crafting a travel itinerary. Stay informed about attractions, events, and festivals in Lake City at visitlakecitysc.com.    

British Travel Writers with Lake City Creative Alliance staff members, photo by Colleen Troy

story by Zach Hughes

    Anytime I take a day trip to Columbia from Florence, it is always by habit that I enter downtown via 277. My favorite reason for taking this route is that it lands you right on Bull Street, which leads you into the middle of Downtown Columbia. The sights and sounds of Columbia have always been mesmerizing to me. Though it never quite seemed as busy as Charlotte, the buzz of Columbia was always a little bit faster than Florence. Even though I have never lived there, it has always felt like a place I could see myself living.

    The first turn I make when entering Columbia it to take a right on Gervais Street on my way towards The Vista. As you drive through the bustling downtown traffic, it is hard to ignore the majestic granite building that overlooks Gervais. Surrounded by trees on both sides, it surprises you as it peaks through the trees. You get a glimpse of a broad-shouldered building lined with windows, monolithic columns, and a copper dome that pierces the sky. However, it isn’t until you get up close and personal with the building that its true beauty reveals itself to you.

    If you take the time to explore the grounds that surround the capital building, you will find a variety of plant life along with multiple historic statues and markers. What I remember most about the building was how it appeared from the front. The stairs that present themselves in front of the building, edged with street lights always seemed so iconic to me. Another feature of the exterior that is hard to forget would be the stars that litter the outside walls. Each of these stars symbolizes a cannonball that hit the outside of the building as Sharman passed through the south. Interestingly enough, this all took place while the building was still under construction. There are so many stories that the exterior has to tell, but what I recommend most to tie everything together, is to take a tour of the interior of the building.

    The first thing you notice as you enter the building is the roman styling within the marble floor and monolithic columns. Each pillar then leads to a pristine white arched ceiling. All of which feels like its some sort of labyrinth. At the end of the first floor, you will find two sets of iron staircases on either side of you. I remember the tour guide telling us the story of how the building burned during the burning of Columbia, and I will never forget the way I imagined the building looking from the inside. As soon as you step into the center of the second floor and look up, you can see the center of the dome that stands above the state building. Then it’s not hard for your eyes to be drawn to the immaculate trim work that lines the ceiling of the lobby.

    One of the most striking features from the second floor would be the iron staircases that lead to a balcony that lines the outside of the main lobby. Edged with intricate iron and woodwork, the path overlooks the center of the building. I love how the whole room is lined with beautifully crafted wooden trim and historic paintings.

    On either side of the second floor, you will make your way to either the House of Representatives or the Senate Chamber. Here you will find where all of the Legislative decisions are made in South Carolina. If you are fortunate enough to take your tour in between January and May, you will be able to see the House and the Senate convene. I have only been in the state house when the two branches of government were not in assembly. Even with an empty room, you can feel the grandeur of what takes place in these seats, each having their own ceremonies.

    As your tour comes to a close, make sure to remember the history and significance of this building. It has been years since I have stepped foot inside the walls of the State Capitol Building, but I can tell you that it left a lasting impression on me. The way I describe it to you will never do justice to how exploring it yourself can compare. So take a day to go explore our state capitol and let its walls tell you a story.

Zach Hughes resides in Florence with his wife Alexis and their newborn son Christopher. Zach is a local entrepreneur and has spent most of his time working around the automotive industry. In his spare time, Zach enjoys discovering South Carolina and dabbling in journalism

story by Bill Curtis

    There are few things more heartwarming than a kind greeting from an old friend. Sadly, true friends are hard to find these days. Our busy and mobile lifestyles often stand in the way of developing lasting friendships. As a result, we usually settle for becoming excellent acquaintances with the people around us. It’s not very satisfying, but it’s certainly more convenient.

    Then, there are our true friends. You know the ones I’m talking about—the ones who know you best and love you anyway; the ones who always seem to remember the special moments and events in your life; the ones who would move heaven and earth to help you if you got in a bind. These are the friends of a lifetime. Usually, these are the friends we’ve known the longest—perhaps since childhood. We made these friends in the simple days of our lives, before kids and jobs and technology forced people to the margins of our busy lifestyles.

    The interesting thing about these old friends is that time and circumstance cannot steal them away from us. They may live in different towns or states, and as a result, we may only be able to connect with them through social media. Yet the friendship remains just as strong, because we are bound together by something bigger than mere presence; we are bound together by a shared life. That’s why the moment we have a chance to be together, it’s as if we’ve never been apart. Our friendship simply resumes—without work, effort, or awkward moments. Those greetings are the most memorable and enjoyable. “Hello, friend,” we often hear as we gather one another into an embrace. Suddenly, the years fade away and life just feels right. It’s that perfect moment when the echoes of true life ring in the back of our minds—somehow we know that we were created to love like this. Such is the power of a simple greeting from an old friend.

    Greetings like this have the power to move our hearts and fill our spirits with hope. I suppose that is why I love the traditional Christian greeting of Easter. It goes like this:

   “Christ is risen!”

   “He is risen indeed!”

    This Easter greeting has been used in the Christian church for centuries. Its simple affirmation is rooted in the great truth, the gospel—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The words themselves have their roots in scripture: “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon (Luke 24:34)!” Following Jesus’ death on the cross, his followers had scattered in sorrow and misery. But then came the first day of the week. Appearing first to Mary Magdalene and then to the disciples, Jesus revealed that God had raised him from the dead in order to reconcile us to God as our Savior. Suddenly, his followers were filled with joy and peace. Jesus had bridged the gap between God and man, and it would never exist again.

    Can you imagine the greeting that the disciples and followers of Jesus received from him on that first Easter Sunday? They, too, would have experienced the echoes of true life ringing in their minds and hearts. I sense that same feeling when I greet my Christian friends in this way on Easter. It reminds me that I am loved, I am forgiven, and I have peace because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. I also have hope. I have the confident assurance that one day, because of Jesus, I will enjoy God’s companionship, and that of my friends, forever. And there, removed from the stress and chaos of this broken world, our “Hellos” will never have a “Good-bye!”

   “Christ is risen!”

   “He is risen indeed!”

Pastor Bill Curtis

www.exit137.org

story by Heather Page | photos by Jonathan Boatwright

   If driving down Second Loop Road in Florence is somewhere you travel often, it’s easy to catch yourself gazing at the large brick building and Crepe Myrtle decorated landscape that makes up WebsterRogers. The expansive size and neat facade leave an impression in your memory. While we are aware that WebsterRogers (WR) deals in tax, and financial advisory services, what most don’t know is the creative and community inspired personalities that are considered the bones of the second largest accounting firm in the state. Over the next few months, Vip Magazine will visit WR to find out what keeps their company ahead of competitors and their employees building a career and climbing the ladder of success within the firm. In addition to their tax and financial advisory services, the firm also audits and provides consulting for their clients.  This month we sat down with Amy Fisher Urquhart, President and Chief Executive Officer, local Florentine, mother of two, and wife of an equally driven spouse.

   As one could imagine, being the CEO of a historically 35-year-old male dominant company would certainly have its challenges. These challenges are something Amy has learned to thoughtfully process and execute superior solutions for in order to be named CEO in January of this year. For nearly 15 years, Amy has worked heavily in areas related to Personal Tax Compliance and Consulting. She has served numerous roles at WR. Being a CPA and CFP® helps as she specializes in high net worth clients. Her expertise in financial planning and investments is critical as she also carries the role of Managing Member of WRFA (WebsterRogers Financial Advisors). Over the years she has served on the Executive Committee and most recently as Managing Partner – a resumé that directly represents how WR is committed to the growth of its employees.

   With the numerous responsibilities Amy holds at WR, her commitment to family is what keeps her balanced. “My children and family always come first,” she says. “Work takes a lot of time, energy and commitment, but my priorities don’t change. I decided long ago that it would be better for my children to see me work long hours and return from work happy, rather than work fewer hours and be unhappy for not accomplishing or achieving personal goals, or making a difference in our organization and client’s lives.” One of Amy’s favorite quotes comes from Emily Dickinson, “That it will never come again is what makes life sweet.” Amy incorporates this quote into balancing life’s commitments. “When you know what is truly important, decisions about where and when to be somewhere are easier. Family milestones, support in times of turmoil, celebrating important achievements – those are moments that define relationships and you make them a priority,” she says. Her parents, owners of Fisher Jewelers & Silversmiths of Florence, and husband Derick, despite his demanding career, are particularly beneficial in helping maintain these priorities.

   This spring Amy’s family celebrates an important milestone as Cate, her nine-year-old daughter, is named Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champions Ambassador of McLeod Hospital. Despite setbacks at birth, Cate’s spirit and strength have far outweighed her disadvantages of being born six weeks premature. “Cate has found her niche in life through riding her horse MerryLegs and spending any extra time with her family on the water,” says Amy.

   Chasing her active two-year-old little boy Fisher also keeps Amy busy. While her husband Derick, also a Florence native, serves as a Physician Liaison at McLeod Health, Head Coach of Florence’s American Legion baseball team, and is the Assistant Coach for Trinity Byrnes, he is instrumental in keeping the household balance. He is in his 16th season with American Legion and counts multiple state championships to his team’s credit. Not only is he an accomplished coach, Derick still holds uncontested records as a USC standout player. The pair have become conditioned in splitting their priorities between work and home life. Amy credits their partnership and support for each other for enabling them to be at their best. Fisher spends his mornings getting one on one time with his mom and weekends at the baseball field with his dad preparing for the upcoming season.

   When asked how she does it all, Amy simply says, “It’s all about blocking time and setting boundaries so my time aligns with my personal priorities and corporate expectations.” Amy gives much credit to her extremely talented management team and leaders at WR that have set the resources in place to make meaningful impacts for their associates, clients, and community. “It’s an exciting time for WebsterRogers,” she says. “We have added new technology and embraced different roles as we continue to invest and grow in an increasingly competitive marketplace. We are focused on initiatives designed to develop our associates and new ways to continue to add value to our clients.”

   So, if you are in need of a company who will share in the success of your future, whether through employment or as a client, consider visiting the solid structured, family and business friendly corporation, WebsterRogers. A company founded on the principles of quality, integrity, and dedication to their people and their clients.

   Serving our community since 1984, WebsterRogers knows the value of hard work and a long term vision. We are excited to see Amy take the reins and look forward to seeing the firm under her leadership!

As you might imagine, WR is working at full capacity now in the heat of tax season. Given the new tax laws, they have been planning with many of their clients since late last year as there is a myriad of changes impacting individuals and businesses. Taxpayers are impacted in different ways. Fortunately, WR has the expertise and experience to navigate the most complex issues.

www.websterrogers.com

story by Jordan Pupa

(Brandy Stellingworth of Retrofit Sip-n-Seat pictured. Photo credit: Bryan Edward Creative.)

If you check out the hashtag #brunch on Instagram, your feed will likely include a wide array of visually appealing, mouthwatering plates of food. Brunch, which combines breakfast and lunch, has become a driving innovation mostly due to its popularity amongst millennials who desire social experiences and efficiency. Sleeping in late, but still making the most of the weekend is important! While classic brunch menu items such as Belgian Waffles and Eggs Benedict remain, edgier and creative dishes such as Chicken and Waffles, Cannoli Cream French Toast, and Bacon Deviled Eggs contribute to the excitement of the overall meal experience. Of course, don’t forget the now commonplace bottomless Mimosa or Bloody Mary’s! While the meal is popular today, many of us have no idea how it came to be!

British author Guy Beringer first used the word “brunch” back in 1895 in Hunter’s Weekly. He made the case that post-church Sunday meals should not be lengthy, multi-course meals of heavy meats and cheeses, but rather lighter fare served late in the morning. He described brunch as being, “cheerful, sociable, and inciting.” Guy Beringer may have used the word first, but he did not come up with the meal himself.

Food historians believe that the meal came to be from either of the South’s favorite pastimes—hunting or church-going. Some historians think brunch started thanks to the pre-hunt breakfasts, which were common in England, and were traditionally lavish meals. They included a feast of meats hunted that day along with classic “brunch staples” such as eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit. On the other hand, some believe Sunday brunch started thanks to Catholics who would fast before mass and then eat a large lunch after church. 

It is said that brunch in the United States got its start in Chicago around the 1930s when Hollywood stars making their way across the country on trains would stop in Chicago to enjoy a late morning meal. Thanks to its celebrity boosters, brunch became a hit and began to spread and eventually gained popularity in other major cities.

With that being said, no matter where you live, brunch shows no signs of slowing down or going away! The sweet and savory mix of the foods, the drinks, and the social gatherings of friends and family make it a weekend “must do” activity!

The Midnight Rooster | Saturdays 8am-2pm

136 E Carolina Ave, Hartsville

Retrofit Sip-n-Seat | Saturdays 10am-3pm

152 Mantissa Row, Hartsville

Victors | Saturdays & Sundays 9am-3pm

126 W Evans St, Florence

Local Motive Brewing Company | Sundays 11am-until

123 North Dargan Street, Florence

story by Jordan Pupa

Have you ever noticed the purple app icon on your iPhone? Perhaps you’ve never accessed it or even noticed it. The Apple Podcasts app allows you to stream over 550,000 shows with over 18.5 million episodes. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, the Dictionary definition of a podcast is “a digital audio or video file or recording, usually part of a themed series, that can be downloaded from a website to a media player or computer.” Today most podcasts are audio-only, though some are video, and can be accessed through a range of devices, including mobile. Overall, podcasts provide us with entertainment and story-telling on a variety of topics, but also inspire and educate us. No matter what you’re into, you will likely find a show that suits you!

    There are a few reasons why podcasts are so widely popular today. The first reason has to do with making the most of the time we have. Today, people value time more than almost anything and podcasts can be used in the background during our everyday activities. Instead of sitting down and reading the latest news in sports, we can be at the gym, running on the treadmill while consuming the latest sports news. Audio content is great for listening while you mow the lawn, travel in the car, or go for a walk. It is easy to multi-task with podcasts, and they provide us with bite-size chunks of entertainment right at our fingertips.

    Secondly, in a tech-savvy world, we spend so much time in front of screens that sometimes it becomes exhausting. Podcasts are a great alternative. Shiva Bhaskar states, “To me, one of the great things about podcasts is the lack of visuals — which requires us to imagine. I develop a comprehensive, moving picture of what is happening. No one is giving it to me.” Podcasts allow us to really dive in.

    Lastly, a variety of podcast topics and episode lengths are available for all listener preferences. Looking for a certain topic? You’ll find a podcast dedicated to it. Have limited time and only 20 minutes? You’ll likely find a podcast that you can listen to in that time frame. Prefer stories, news, nonfiction, science, or politics? You’ll find a podcast that fits. As a listener, you can go from a student to a sports analyst to an attorney to a crime detective to a friend, and everything in between!

    A podcast can set you up for continued learning, enjoyment, and even a good laugh. They allow us to take in powerful stories and discussions in which we can connect while stimulating our imagination. It’s time to jump on the podcast bandwagon!

Top 5 Podcast Chart Listings

(Chart updated frequently.)

1. Skimm This (News & Politics)

In today’s world, context is clarity. “Skimm This” breaks down the most important stories of the day and explains why they matter. All in 10 minutes. Every Monday-Friday.

2. Over My Dead Body (Society & Culture)

In “Tally,” the first season of OVER MY DEAD BODY, Dan and Wendi are two good-looking attorneys whose wedding is featured in the New York Times. But when this “perfect” couple falls apart, it leads to a bad breakup, a worse divorce, and a murder case involving a menagerie of high-priced lawyers and unexpected co-conspirators.

3. The Joe Rogan Experience (Comedy, Society & Culture)

The podcast of Comedian Joe Rogan.

4. The Dropout – ABC News (News & Politics)

Money. Romance. Tragedy. Deception. The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos is an unbelievable tale of ambition and fame gone terribly wrong. How did the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire lose it all in the blink of an eye? How did the woman once heralded as “the next Steve Jobs” find herself facing criminal charges — to which she pleaded not guilty — and up to 20 years in jail?

5. Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia-TNT/Cadence 13 (Society & Culture)

When Elizabeth Short, also known as The Black Dahlia, was brutally killed in 1947, it gripped the entire country. More than 70 years later, it remains America’s most infamous unsolved murder. Now, through never-before-heard archival audio and first-time interviews, the Hodel family opens up to reveal their shocking story.

story by Bryan Holt

    Helping a person pair an amazing dinner with the perfect bottle of wine is something anyone in the wine industry loves to do. There is a certain sense of pride and fulfillment of the ego that comes with the territory. Planning for a couple of people or even a supper club is a pretty easy task if you know a little bit about wine. Planning for about 300 people is a different animal in its own right. It can be a very overwhelming task, dealing with twelve different chefs/cooks who want to showcase their talents, but are not necessarily worried about the wines can make it a little daunting.

    This is Micky Finn’s second year of being a sponsor for the Sip and Stroll that’s held downtown Florence in April. One of our responsibilities is helping the board come up with the wine pairings with each dish provided at each stop. Typically when pairing a wine with a food dish you can always go with the standard, red meat with red wine and white meat with white wine. The last few decades have seen wine experts deviating from this philosophy and beginning to pair white meats with red wine and red meats with white wines. Think of BBQ chicken with a Rioja (Spanish red wine) and ribeye steak with a Bandol or Tavel (both French rosés). Or you can always do what my parents have done since forever…Riesling goes with anything since that’s all they really drink.

     I’m always looking forward to the day when I get the first email with the menu for that night. I know it’s going to be a risk. Are they going to use something that is a standard menu item? Are they going to go with something new that no one has ever tried? Is it going to be something that I’ve had before? This year was actually not that difficult. A few dishes had me stumped and a few others were questionable, but after a few phone calls and some Hail Mary’s, I think that I have it planned pretty well. I won’t break down every table that will be out there, but I would like to describe a few of them and discuss how I came up with the pairings.  Hopefully, it’ll show you that not everything is simply red and red and white and white.

    The awesome staff at Bird’s Nest are making Hamburger sliders featured at the Hyatt Place. I wanted to showcase some new wines we will be carrying soon at Micky Finn’s, Gehricke Wines. They have an awesome Cabernet Sauvignon from the Knight’s Valley, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Sonoma County, California, which will pair nicely with these sliders. Also, we will have their Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This will be the only station that has three wines, so you don’t want to miss this one.

    Over at O’Harra Mellette Interiors, we will have some pulled pork BBQ sliders prepared by Wholly Smokin’ Downtown. The two wines I love to pair with pulled pork BBQ are St Cosme Cote du Rhone red and Chateau Trinquevedel Rosé (I know right). Typically, Syrah and pork go great together. The Syrah doesn’t have too high of an alcohol content to make the spice stand out and you can never go wrong with a Rosé for a BBQ or,  in general, any outside gathering. Rosé, like Champagne, is a versatile wine and can handle basically any food you throw at it.

    At Mainstream Boutique we will have Victor’s She Crab shooters served with fresh shrimp. This one wasn’t extremely difficult. I just had to find a good white to hold up with the body of a She Crab soup. The white I chose is Willm Pinot Gris. This wine came down to two basic thoughts. First, this is an amazing wine that has so much balance to hold up to the heartiness the soup brings. Second, I didn’t have any Pinot Grigio for the whole event. So…it wins by default. The red is an amazing Italian red wine called Amicone Rosso Venento. This wine is made from the same grapes they use for Amarone, Corvina. The result is an easy drinking, full-bodied red that has lots of rich soft, smooth texture.

    So, here are just three of the twelve tables that will be showcased Downtown Florence on April 12th, 2019. I hope that you enjoy the pairings and I hope to see you all out there.

Bryan and Walter Bressia, one of the pioneers of wine in Argentina.

Micky Finns

550 Pamplico Hwy • Florence • 843.413.1183

194 S Cashua Dr • Florence • 843.317.9463