Art can elevate the artist and the viewer alike. In his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art, Wassily Kandinsky wrote, “The spiritual life, to which art belongs and of which she is one of the...
Ashley Hahn: Elevating Us with Art
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The South
The Art of the Matter: Meet the Lowcountry locals who are keeping life colorful for the rest of us
Art is everywhere. And if you know where to find it, you will.
Are You Ready for Some Oysters?
As I write this, we are officially about 36 hours into the fall. You remember that day, don’t you? It had just rained for three days straight, and we got our first taste of something resembling cool...
Musicians in Bathrooms featuring Greg & Robin Ross
What’s your sign? Greg Ross: A peace sign, but then I was around in the ’70s. Robin Ross: “Detour Ahead” Most underrated song that, in your opinion, should be a classic? GR: “Vienna,” by Billy Joel...
Ready to Serve: Every table is a new adventure for the island’s most elite waiters and waitresses.
When you have a place like the Lowcountry, a place where hospitality is the driving force behind everything, your servers are everything. They will form a visitor’s first impression, setting the tone for an entire vacation and playing a key role in the decision to return. They were our frontline workers long before anyone had heard of COVID, and as we emerged into this uncertain new normal, they have become an even more vital part of our community. Which is why we, as a society, have started making sure we tip just a little bit more than we would have pre-pandemic (and if you’re not, you absolutely should). It’s also why we have chosen to celebrate some of the Lowcountry’s best and brightest servers here.
Tailgate Cocktails
Disclaimer: Other than being the proud owner of the “@ieatandrun” Instagram handle, I have no formal training in food or beverage, unless you count calories consumed and/or SEC tailgates attended. The latter, I have learned, does qualify you as a professional eater and drinker.
The Wealth Edit: A community where talking about finances is no longer taboo
Two months ago, I lost my job of 16 years. I had done the same thing for 195 months, and suddenly I was faced with the question of what’s next? Fortunately, my concerns were not related to how I would survive financially because I had a plan. But that wasn’t always the case.
C2 Fashion: Transitional Style at Wexford on the Green
Styled by Hunter Kostylo, Modeled by Caroline Molloy of Halo Talent Agency, Home courtesy of Dunes Real Estate and Cindy Creamer
Streaming the Truth
Since the beginning, FITSNews.com’s Mandy Matney has been knee-deep in the most explosive case to ever hit Beaufort County. Her new podcast digs deeper into the facts.
Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville
Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head celebrates 55-and-better active adult living with an island-inspired twist.
A Road Trip for Foodies: Johns Island restaurants worth the drive
If you’re anything like me, you’ll joyfully make the drive to another coastal town just to check out what it offers to do, see, and eat. Johns Island, South Carolina, one of the Charleston metro’s...
48 Hours
With an island destination as popular has Hilton Head Island is, inevitably you get people visiting it in a variety of ways. Most commonly are families, who load up their minivans somewhere significantly north of here and make their way down for a Saturday check in. Any number of restaurant owners can set their calendars by their arrivals. Oh, June 22? The Callahan family from Santa Claus, Indiana will be here for dinner. Party of five. Dad will have the prime rib. Count on it.
Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival: Celebrate island style
Foodies, connoisseurs, and philanthropists, mark your calendars! The Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival is coming to the island Sept. 14-18, 2021.
Six Chefs, Six Journeys to Living a Dream
They are the architects and maestros behind some of the most beloved eateries in the Lowcountry. They usually talk with their taste buds, but we got some of your favorite chefs to step out of the kitchen and tell the story of why they love what they do.
Brunch Spots You May Never Think About… But You Should
Ask almost anybody about brunch and they’ll rave about the Stuffed French Toast at Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café, the Signature Quiche and espresso at the French Bakery, and the Benedicts or Crepes at Skillets Café & Grill. Oh, and if pancakes are your jam, then Stacks is your go-to, while others in the brunch game can’t resist the True Country Breakfast at Plantation Café and Deli. Some locals and tourists prefer a morning drive over to Old Town Bluffton for the coffee and baked goods at The Corner Perk or the Hangover Cure or omelets at the Squat ’n’ Gobble.
A Summer Wind for All Seasons
Their new Beaufort enclave features more amenities than traditional neighboring waterfront homes: indoor hydrotherapy pool and hot tub; fully equipped fitness center; golf simulator, golf workshop and putting green; stylish state-of-the-art billiard room. And yes, even their own signature “Pelican Bar.” John and Lisa Cregan dreamed big when they decided to build in coastal South Carolina. It all began on the golf course.
Whisper Creek Spa: Your destination for the ultimate bliss
Nobody said life on Earth would be easy. Some days, it seems that the very air is charged with invisible stress ions that try our patience, tense our necks, wrinkle our faces and ravage our bodies. Have you ever wanted to stop the world and get off? Now you can at Whisper Creek Spa.
An Eternal Evolving Equation:Achieving work/life balance
Female entrepreneurs and women in the workplace impact the world in far-reaching ways. Many, too, are caring for our families or loved ones. Women constantly juggle personal and professional commitments and responsibilities, which makes finding balance difficult.
Side Hustles Are ‘The New Black’: What you need to know about putting your passion to work
Everyone knows someone (either in real life or online) who seems to have it all—and just a little bit more. In addition to holding down a day job, she spends weekends “researching” fabulous destinations, earning passive income while sitting on the beach, or posting about the lux PR pages she gets in the mail. How does she do it? A side hustle.
The New Dawg in Town: The family dining concept the island has been hungry for is unleashed at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
The biggest question any restaurateur faces is, “Will there be demand?” You can build the finest menu, the most welcoming experience and the most hospitable atmosphere, but ultimately success or failure comes down to the fickle tastes of the dining public.
C2 Women in Business Special Section
CH2/CB2 Magazine presents the 2021 Women in Business featuring over FIFTY Women in the Lowcountry.
Musicians in Bathrooms featuring Ben Jones and Ellie Lentz
What’s your sign?
Ben Jones: Libra
Ellie Lentz: Taurus
A Note from Mayor Sulka: August 2021
Support for Small Business. As the mayor of Bluffton along with our town council, we have always supported our local businesses in many ways. The Don Ryan Center for Innovation (DRCI) is one of the most visible ways we demonstrate this local business support.
Maggie + Jevon Doin’ Lowcountry Stuff: Bikes and Burgers
Biking around Hilton Head Island is top on the list of things to do for many of our visitors. With over 60 miles of leisure paths available for exploring, you will be hard-pressed to hit them all on your week’s vacation. But we suggest you veer off those paths and do a little beach biking for an even better time.
Tommy Prine Has Something to Say: The son of a singer-songwriter legend is kicking off his first-ever tour on Hilton Head Island.
This is a moment years in the making. It’s a lifestyle Tommy Prine was born into, but a spotlight he had to earn his own way.
Teach Them Well and Let Them Lead the Way: For the last 54 years, the Children’s Center has been quietly leading a revolution in early childhood development.
Ask any business owner you know, particularly anyone who owns a restaurant, and they’ll tell you in no uncertain terms: We are in the midst of a labor crisis on this island. Companies can’t find workers, because workers can’t find the support they need to work here. There are no easy answers, either, making this crisis one that may take years to solve. And while the debate rages over things like affordable housing and fair wages, one aspect of this crisis has been overlooked: the children.
Road Trippin’: On the Hunt for Something Interesting..
Modeled by Caroline Molloy, Styled by Kaila Jeffcoat, and Hair & Makeup by TrueBeauty by Joanna Marie
For this month’s fashion feature, we decided to hop in the car and head down the mostly untraveled roads of South Carolina in search of interesting backdrops. When was the last time you just got in the car and went on a drive for the pure joy of exploring small towns and places you’ve never been before?
A Flocking Good Time: The biggest event you probably haven’t heard of, Pledge the Pink, returns
There are some events that dominate the calendar here on Hilton Head Island. Sure, the usual run of things has been disrupted over the last year or so, but as we return to normal, we know exactly what to look forward to in any given month. You know exactly when your favorite food festivals are, when you’re going to get to check out some classic cars at the Concours and when your opportunity to get some PGA autographs will be.
Negotiating and Networking: Strategies to find your voice and be seen
Career success is increasingly defined not just by how many hours you spend at your computer, but also your ability to advocate for yourself and to connect to others. Respectfully pushing back, incorporating outside perspectives, and navigating groups are essential skills in today’s ultra-connected society. It’s up to you to connect the dots between self-worth, ideas, businesses, and people. If your goal is to have a seat at the table where your ideas can be heard, it’s not enough to simply be successful and sociable. Instead, you must be deliberate in your efforts to advocate for yourself and grow your sphere of influence.
Tough as Nails: Could a good pedicure cure a man of toxic masculinity?
I am calm. I am at peace. I am the still waters of a tranquil koi pond amid a bamboo forest. I am riding a wave of bliss emanating from the massage chair. I am ignoring the increasingly impatient woman currently grinding away at my toenails with a Dremel tool.
Gaurdians of the Shore: Meet the men and women who make sure every day at the beach is… well, a day at the beach.
NOT All heroes wear capes. Some wear SPF-40, sunglasses, and a smart-looking red swimsuit and carry a rescue can. And sadly,it can be easy to forget these heroes are even there. The biggest disaster we’ll usually ever face during a beach day is a sunburn or a punctured football. However, “usually” doesn’t mean “ever.”
Heather Price: The Community Connector
Heather Price isn’t running a typical business. For most of her life, she has been in the business of helping people and connecting folks both with each other and with resources to make their lives better.
Meet the Doctors: July 2021
A Spotlight on Local Medical Professionals.
Pretty Darn Gets “Casual”: Behind the scenes of a cinematic showcase of island talent
Were it not for the cameras, it could be mistaken for any other night on Hilton Head Island. While locals and tourists milled about the long dock at the end of Simmons Road, drinks from Up the Creek Pub in hand, the first tendrils of sunset streaked pink against the sky’s lustrous orange tint. Broad Creek sparkled in its brilliance. A heron warily eyed the outgoing tide, preying on the minnows that darted between waves.
A Note from Mayor McCann: July 2021
Gratitude, Respect and Fun I am so grateful and proud to be part of a community that has stood strong and rallied together through one of the most challenging times I’ve ever seen. The world is a...
The Perfect Finish: Sir Grout of the Lowcountry restores your home’s natural stone surfaces
Tyler Dykes, Scott Odom (co-owner), Barry Raduta (co-owner), Stephen McMann, Andrew Russell, and Jonathan Russell
SEALKIDS Lowcountry Boil: Fundraising event supports everyday kids living in extraordinary circumstances
SEALKIDS, the only nonprofit organization devoted solely to the educational support and success of children in the Navy SEAL community, and Jim and Connie Sewell, honorary event chairs, invite the public to join them on August 5 for a Lowcountry Boil at Coast Oceanfront Dining, 87 North Sea Pines Drive, on Hilton Head Island. A reception opening the fundraising event begins at 6:30 and dinner is served at 7:30.
How Robotic Surgery is Transforming Joint Replacement at Beaufort Memorial
Robotic-assisted surgery, first offered in the area 13 years ago by Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) for hysterectomies, is now being used for knee replacements—projected to become one of the most common elective procedures in the U.S. in coming years. That’s good news for aging Lowcountry baby boomers with advanced osteoarthritis looking to enhance their mobility and quality of life.
A Legacy Set in Stone: Prestige Stone and Tile carries on family tradition of quality craftsmanship
There are some callings that transcend generations. There are the family businesses, sure, but here we’re talking about those families who have made one singular driving passion an integral part of their traditions and their legacies. There are the doctors who come from a long line of doctors. The artists and writers who continue each generation to foster their creativity.
A New Program Giving Hope Through Exercise: Island fitness guru turns attention to battling debilitating disease
Fitness is personal. It’s the one thing above all that Heath Babb has learned in his three-decade journey in the fitness industry. There has to be a drive, an inner reason, and any program that truly achieves results tailors the plan specifically to a client’s needs and goals.
Harvesting Heritage : Take a tour of the biggest tourist attraction in Sea Pines you’ve never visited
Trends and plants are both perennial things. They blossom and mature, are harvested, and then lay dormant until the season returns.
Lowcountry Zen: Namaste Spa offers serenity, space, and specialized service
Since they opened in 2015, Hilton Head’s locally owned and operated Namaste Spa, located at Marriott’s Barony Beach Club, has always been considered a luxurious retreat, offering clients a certain level of well-appointed service. Recently, however, the spa has undergone a complete makeover, and as one would expect from a boutique spa housed inside one of the island’s most prestigious resorts, the transformation is a huge success. Now, more than ever, locals and visitors alike are enjoying Namaste’s upgraded serenity, space, and specialized service.
Upkeep Your Abode: A calendar for home maintenance
While most people are aware of the financial responsibility that homeownership requires, many don’t think much about the time and labor required to maintain a home. Regular home maintenance will ensure that your home stays healthy and happy and that you avoid frustration and wasted money.
Harbourfest 2021: The Return was Legendary
It is a three-decade-long-and-running tradition, the most popular multi-week summer event on Hilton Head Island. Named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeastern Tourism Society and a “Best of Southern Fests” by South Magazine, generations of families continue to plan vacations around it.
Driven by Entrepreneurial Spirit, GoKart Hilton Head Hits The Road
How does a Northern banker and CEO of a global communications company invest in a marina in the Lowcountry—and, almost 30 years later, launch a go-kart track on Hilton Head Island? It’s just an...
Editor’s Note: July 2021
Hunter and I ran into Lori Smith, a former CH2 Bachelorette nominee, at Target last week. After some quick chit-chat, our conversation turned to how liberated we all felt walking into Target without masks. I commented that perhaps tough things needed to happen every now and again to make everyone appreciate how fortunate we really are.
Bike Walk Hilton Head Island
Since Hilton Head Island Bicycle Advisory Committee’s (BAC) formation in 2011, the volunteer organization has focused on promoting cycling, improving the town’s bike-pedestrian infrastructure, and...
8 Faces of Summer Fun
Of course, you came to Hilton Head Island for the beach and maybe golf, tennis or pickleball. But what else is there to do? Plenty! Whether it’s tooling around town on a bike, flying through the trees on a zipline, racing a go-kart, reeling in your supper, dolphin watching, kayaking, paddle boarding, playing putt-putt golf, or riding a horse … beyond the beach, a colossal outdoor playground awaits.
Man Cave Mania: 10 tips for creating a guy’s getaway at home
Every guy deserves a dedicated space at home to be himself, relax, entertain his buddies with billiards or TV, or pursue some other passion. Plus, it seems that when it comes to stress recovery, men benefit from withdrawing a bit more than women do. A recent university study found that men’s cortisol levels dropped significantly when they had more solo leisure time in their own homes. Also, a poll conducted by houzz.com revealed that more than one-third of homes have a dedicated man cave, so it seems to be a sound investment of space and money.
Passing Along Financial Literacy Could be Your Most Valuable Legacy
I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of young investors, and it’s been exciting to see them learn the investing basics, and importantly, become successful savers and investors.