The Ultimate Lifestyle
Happy Mother’s Day to all the strong Queens who birthed great men and women from sea-to-sea. We salute and honor you on this day deemed for everyday Queens!
“Think like a queen … a queen is not afraid to fail! Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” — Oprah Winfrey
Coastal Living … it’s a shore thing!
If you are an avid coastal lover as myself, you definitely read the best coastal magazine on the planet, Coastal Living.
As a college student, I eagerly awaited my monthly copy of Coastal Living Magazine. Kicking off my shoes on a Saturday with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and perching on the couch to divulge the entire copy from cover-to-cover was a familiar scene for 21 years.
In 2018, the sad news that the presses of Coastal Living were coming to a screeching halt made me shed tears. Now, 21 years later, I am stalking the local bookstores for the newsstand-only quarterly edition.
But, when a publication has great bones, a few changes will make a monumental difference in how it resurfaces in a cemetery of buried magazines. And my friends, Coastal Living has done just that:)
It elated me to open the mailbox and find a letter from Meredith Corporation with a special rate for charter members to return as subscribers. Passionate members of the magazine all over the world are once again being drawn to the sea.
Welcome home Coastal Living!
LOTS of people make a big deal about New Year’s Resolutions…but not me! 2020 finds me taking a new perspective on an old habit. This year, I am posting my resolutions during the first week of February versus the first day of January.
Most people make resolutions they have no intention of sticking to because they make the wrong resolutions. Losing 50 pounds when you have no intention of working out, eating healthy or giving up alcohol is a bust from the start.
So, what’s the solution? Take baby steps and commit to one or two major changes to institute in your life.
Here are two of my favorite resolutions for this year: gratitude and forgiveness. Adopt a habit of being grateful for everything in your life. Express gratitude for the people, objects, and things in your life, and discover how blessed you truly are on this realm. Second, be the bigger person and forgive all the people that have truly disappointed you in the past. Phone or write that individual and let them know exactly how they disappointed you and release it back into the universe. You never know, some individuals may not have realized that they offended you and attempt to right the wrong. Now the ball is in your court. Do what you wish with it but release the pain and anger. If two resolutions are too much, just pick one! Neither way, as Nike’s tagline goes, “Just Do It!”
Now, write those resolutions in a letter to yourself and file it away. At the close of 2020, open it and see how much you have accomplished. I bet it will be further than those old resolutions for sure.
Be well!
Experience the joys of sipping a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon while creating your own masterpiece at Wine & Design at 1536 Fording Island Road, Suite 103, in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Wine & Design offers the novice artist an opportunity to hone their art skills with their fun painting classes. A local artist pre-traces the canvas and guides each patron through the entire process step-by-step.
The night I attended, owner Erin Christofoli led the class with popping music from the 80s and 90s. Christofoli said, she opened the studio after contemplating life after the military.
My class was part of a 30ish private birthday party. The 10 of us were having so much fun, our time ran over by an hour and nobody seemed to mind. Patrons provide their own beverage of choice along with snacks. Wine & Design provides artists, art materials, music, and fun.
Classes run for two hours from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday for adults (14 and up) and 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. for children ages 5-13. Christofoli offers private parties both in-and-out of the studio and Art Buzz Kid’s birthday parties. So, Wine & Design is more than just a paintbrush!
So, the next time you need something fun to do on date night or while vacationing on Hilton Head, give Erin and her staff a call head over to Wine & Design and reconnect through art. Patrons can reach the staff at (843) 633-9101 or bluffton@wineanddesign.com.
Story & Photography by Pavi Elle
Traveling is expensive. Throw in airfare, rental cars and hotels, and lavish eating becomes a challenge.
On the beachy coast of South Carolina sits the “#1 resort island in 2018,” Hilton Head, according to Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Prized by world-class golfing, 12 miles of white sandy beaches and a myriad of wild flavors by the sea; Hilton Head is a golfer’s, beach bum and culinarian’s paradise all wrapped in one pretty package.
Everyone knows golf is expensive, the beach is free, but how does one enjoy a little of the lavish eating this lovely island offers on a food budget of $50 a day? “I love culinary experiences but cannot afford to spend $1000 on eating out,” said a vacationer from Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Believe it or not, one can eat like a local on Hilton Head for $50 a day.
Get up before the sun rises and head over to the Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe at 86 Helmsman Way to partake in a scrumptious breakfast of two eggs, with your choice of bacon or sausage, hash browns or grits and toast for $5.99.
Want to eat with the locals? Visit Harold’s Diner across from Shelter Cove. Indulge in two eggs, corn beef hash, grits, toast and coffee for $10.
For lunch, head to Healthy Habits located in Park Plaza. “Healthy Habits serves farm-fresh chopped salads from locally sourced ingredients, including grass-fed beef and cage-free poultry for around $12,” said owner Kevin Yeung.
Bistro 17, a waterfront café at Shelter Cove dishes up a mouth-watering crab cake on a croissant served alongside French fries tossed in salt garlic and herbs for $16.
Before the sun sets, stroll to Poseidon in Shelter Cove for their $18 Surf & Turf which consists of a grilled petite filet medallion, shrimp, sweet potato, roasted vegetables and a drink.
Craving seafood? “The humble and unassuming Sea Shack off of Pope Avenue serve the best fried, grilled or blackened seafood for a fraction of the cost elsewhere. Try the fried Shark Attack which includes a crab cake, grouper, shrimp, scallops and oysters with two sides for $19,” said Kathy from Bluffton, S.C.
Embrace lavish eating at an array of quality restaurants on a budget.
At Michael Anthony’s in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Chef Trey Place combines visual storytelling and bold flavors to create beautiful dishes from regions around the world.
When he opened Michael Anthony’s in 2002, Anthony Fazzini did not anticipate that he would offer cooking demonstrations to affluent beachcombers. The era of laying on the beach all day is a thing of the past. If beachcombers add a daily outing and most vacationers do, they want an unforgettable odyssey.
The restaurant receives accolades for serving authentic Italian and Nouvelle style cuisine. “Vacationers and locals come to us for traditional dishes they enjoyed while vacationing in Europe, and our wide range of talented chefs helps them relive that experience,” said Chef Peter Frazzano. Someone once said the best meals are the ones you create yourself, and that is close to the truth at this restaurant, market and culinary center.
Place is the dean of the culinary center. “I graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York,” said Place. Classes take place in the restaurant’s state-of-the-art Italian inspired culinary center on New Orleans Avenue. Classes cost under $100 plus tax and gratuities.
Participants choose between hands-on experience alongside a chef or a demonstration which gives a close-up view of the chefs preparing a three-course meal, all while imbibing prosecco. Participants sit down to devour the scrumptious finale in a white tablecloth setting alongside other classmates. The center offers classes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
At a recent demonstration class, Place prepared shrimp creole along with Charleston shrimp and grits. Place suggested preparing the grits an hour prior to guest arrival because it takes time to reach a smooth consistency. Also, he suggested pre-cutting the vegetables for the shrimp creole, which allows the host time to engage with guests as the dinner comes together.
Elaine Hamilton of Northern Virginia loves shrimp, so she signed up for her first class. “On vacation, I want to experience the extraordinary versus the ordinary outings in a region,” said Hamilton. She joined a table of 10 classmates eagerly watching Place explain how to butterfly shrimp and prepare roux for the creole.
“I like that the chef shows each step and gives participants a souvenir leaflet filled with instructions on how to recreate the exact menu at home,” said Whitney Gadson, a local resident of Hilton Head.
Ready to experience authentic Italian style cuisine? Visit http://www.michael-anthonys.com/ to reserve a space.
The tiny Island of Martha’s Vineyard takes your breath away. The ‘Vineyard’ as it is cheerfully nicknamed by locals and seasonal residents evokes pleasant memories of a simplistic bygone era.
My affair with the Vineyard started 40 years ago. The island is known for catering to the rich and famous, but they are just locals when vacationing on this gem of an island. I have shared conversations with LeVar Burton, Spike Lee, Holly Peete Robinson and Carly Simon, and trust me they are just fun people sharing a tony island together. The Vineyard showcases some of the best seafood that makes your mouth salivate for more. Believe it or not, you can eat in Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown on a budget of $50 a day. Let’s run through a three-day stay covering three meals and snacks for $50 per day.
Day One starts in Oak Bluffs amongst the historic campgrounds which served as the first resort for elite African Americans. For a hearty breakfast, eat at Biscuits and partake in a scrumptious buttermilk biscuit, two slices of crispy bacon, two eggs anyway and a cup of coffee for $10. Now that’s good eating for less money. For lunch, stroll over to Giordano’s Clam Bar for a delicious haddock sandwich with fries for under $10.00. At sunset, stroll down the dock to The Shuck Shack and suck your teeth into a buttery lobster roll with fries for $15 or a steamed 1 ½ pound lobster in butter with fresh corn on the cob. After sunset, satisfy your sweet tooth with a tantalizing sugary donut from Back Door Donuts from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Beware lines are in the hundreds.
Day Two leads us to Vineyard Haven, a beautiful year-round port. Stop for breakfast at an organic spot dubbed Waterside Market for a traditional breakfast of two eggs, roasted potatoes, toast and choice of meat for $11.00. Pick up lunch at The Net Result for around $12. Run to Grace Episcopal Church at 4:30 p.m. for a delicious lobster roll, chips and drink for $17. If you miss the lobster roll, return to Waterside Market for their mouthwatering organic burger with homemade fries for $17. Remember, nothing says summer like a double dip of ice cream!
Day Three takes us to the elegant whaling town of Edgartown for breakfast at Espresso Love. Indulge in cappuccino with a sunrise English muffin of egg, bacon and cheese for $10. Lunch takes us to Amongst the Flowers Cafe for a grilled chicken sandwich with chips for $11. Dinner leads us to Backyard Taco for fish tacos with a drink for under $20.00.
As your time on this idyllic island winds down, make a dash to the Menemsha fishing village to catch the sunset. Stop at Lauren’s Fish Market for a steamed lobster, and don’t forget to bring a bottle of vino. That’s living Vineyard style! See you next time!
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