Autumn Entertaining on Daniel Island

With the holidays rapidly approaching, we reached out to a few island businesses and entertaining “gurus” for their suggestions on creating the perfect Lowcountry holiday get-together.

Holiday Decor

Owner Lisa Passarini and her staff at A Floral Affair in downtown Daniel Island were kind enough to give us a few pointers on creating the perfect Thanksgiving table decor. Whether you prefer a traditional or more contemporary look, A Floral Affair can help you achieve your desired fall style.

• Fall colors are one of the most essential elements to your arrangement – golden yellow, orange and red hues will capture the essence of fall outside your window and carry it into your home.
• For a more contemporary arrangement, use traditional fall colors accented with a burst of vibrant color, like a bright purple or deep pink.
• Use natural elements that you can find ourdoors. Gourds, pine cones, sticks, leaves or sweetgrass will give your arrangement a wonderful woodsy feeling.
• Make sure your arrangement is an appropriate height. No matter how beautiful it may be, your guests still want  to see each others faces!
• Add flowers and blossoms to all aspects of your table decor. Wrap votive candle holders with raffia and then pin a flower blossom to it. Go a step further and have A Floral Affair create napkin rings with flowers to match your table decor. (Running out of time? Napkin rings can be purchased for $12-$15)

Wine & Beer

The folks at Laura Albert’s Tasteful Options gave us a glimpse of their top picks for those who enjoy a good seasonal beer or tasty glass of wine with their meal. Owner Karen Elsey browsed the Daniel Island shop with us.

For white wines, Karen recommends thinking outside of the box and going with Zolo Torrontes, which was The New York Times’ featured white wine for Thanksgiving. This Argentinian wine is crisp, delicate and affordable. Another great white option is a Reisling. The sweetness of this variety will compliment the rich flavors of Thanksgiving perfectly.

A Pinot Noir is the perfect pairing for those who prefer the deep, rich flavors of red wine. And there are Pinots at a variety of prices, so everyone can find one that suits them. Karen recommends the Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir from Oregon. For those having a number of guests and needing a lower-priced wine, she recommends the Heron Pinot Noir, which has well-balanced, neat flavor for an affordable price.

Laura Alberts’ “beertender,” James Wager, stocks the shop’s ever-expanding craft beer section. With so many breweries and varieties of beer to choose from these days, it was difficult for James to recommend just one! Keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, we started with the pumpkin-flavored beers.  Ichabod Brewery actually has its own pumpkin patch for the pumpkin juice used in the beer. Other pumpkin brews include The Hoppin’ Frog Double Pumpkin, the Pumking and the Weyerbacker Imperial Pumpkin Ale — all of which have received an “A” rating from Beer Advocate.

If you’re not in the mood for a flavored beer, Stone Levitation Ale, Bells Amber, Oberon Ale and Geary’s Autumn Maple are good choices. And for a good turkey pairing, try a Belgian Ale like Ommegang Hennepin or Saison Dupont.

Food

Last, but certainly not least, Chef Tyler Dudley at the Daniel Island Club generously sent us a few of his favorite holiday recipes. Whether you are cooking Thanksgiving for the entire family or having friends over for dinner to celebrate the season, Chef Tyler’s grilled turkey with apple sage glaze or roasted pork tenderloin is sure to be a hit. (See below for the full recipes)

‘Tis the season to be merry – it’s time to start celebrating!

Recipes

Grilled Turkey with apple sage glaze and slow roasted apples

1 tablespoon canola oil (plus more for brushing on the turkey)
1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
3 cups apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
plus 2 peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 whole (20 pound) turkey

Preheat the grill to medium-high. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan on the grates of the grill or on a burner. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Then add the vinegar and sugar and cook until the sugar has melted. Next, stir in the chopped apples and cook until the apples are soft and the mixture is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove apple mixture from the heat and let cool slightly. Place the apple mixture in a food processor and add the sage. Pulse until smooth. Then season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Let cool to room temperature.

Place a large drip pan filled with a little water positioned under where the turkey will be placed on the grill. Brush the entire turkey with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the turkey on all sides until golden brown. Reduce the heat of the grill to medium to maintain a constant temperature of 350 degrees F. Cook the turkey until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 170 to 175 degrees F. Begin brushing the entire turkey with the apple glaze during the last 15 minutes of cooking. Remove the turkey from the grill and brush with more of the glaze. Let rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Lastly, grill the sliced apples for 2-3 minutes on each side and serve with the turkey.

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sun-Dried Cranberry Stuffing and Roasted Root Vegetables

Cranberry Stuffing & Tenderloin Preparation:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the cranberries then remove from the heat and let rest 1 hour. Drain the cranberries, reserving the soaking liquid and place in the bowl of a food processor. Add the pine nuts, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, cascabel powder and a few tablespoons of the soaking liquid. Pulse mixture with the food processor until ingredients are coarsely chopped then remove to a bowl.

Place the butter-flied tenderloin on a work surface and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread a thin layer of the stuffing down the center the fold each side over the filling and tie with butcher’s twine. Next, dredge tenderloin lightly in the flour. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in an ovenproof sauté pan until smoking. Next, sauté the tenderloin on all sides until it is golden brown. Place the tenderloin in the preheated oven and roast until it’s almost cooked through – about 10 minutes. Remove and let rest 10 minutes. Slice into 1-inch pieces.

Roasted Root Vegetables Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the vegetables and garlic in a large baking dish then add the oil and toss to coat. Add the thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes, remove foil and continue baking for 20 minutes or until just cooked through, stirring the vegetables occasionally. Remove from the oven and fold in the parsley.

Daniel Island Move Sparks Big Dreams

Kim Goides is a proud mom, devoted wife and owner of Karsen’s Kloset, a recycled couture and upscale décor consignment shop and party venue for little girls, teens and ladies located at the Publix shopping center on Daniel Island. Here, she shares her story of how she came to Daniel Island, and how her move led her to fulfill her lifelong dream of owning her own business.

I moved to Charleston two and a half years ago due to my husband’s job. I could barely see through my tears as we pulled out of the driveway of our home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. To say I really did not want to move is putting it mildly. I kept thinking, “I can’t do it. I can’t possibly move away from my home.”

Once we arrived I dried my tears and the world didn’t come to an end. I delved back in to what I knew best: Spending my time being the best mom and wife I could be.

We found Daniel Island thanks to a friend I met in our hometown just prior to learning about our relocation to Charleston. She had just moved from Charleston and talked with great emotion about her love of the city and the Lowcountry. Later, when I talked with her about our move to Charleston, she told us to be sure to take I-526 to Daniel Island when we arrived to experience Charleston’s “Island Town.” I remember that first drive through town on a Sunday morning. Church bells were ringing, people were out laughing and walking, the sun was shining bright and everything looked so wonderful. We immediately knew that we had found our new home, and now, two and half years later, I love Charleston and Daniel Island and would cry my eyes out if we had to move.

But life is funny, and sometimes, just when we have everything we want, we feel compelled to reach out for more. That’s what happened to me.

My mother tells me I have always talked about owning my own business. And I have always been drawn to consignment stores – the love of the hunt seems to be in my blood. But I never could quite figure out how to turn that passion into a business. The move to Charleston must have been my wake up call: One day I just woke up and told myself “do it.”  This wonderful island town, the compassionate people, the grand idea of having a business with the added bonus of it being within walking distance from my home was just to good to pass up.

Friends, family and business people were quick to share their opinions on opening a new business in 2009. I was scared and fear almost stopped me, but for some reason, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous phrase, “The only thing to fear is fear itself,” kept running through my head until one day I marched into a bank, asked for a loan, and promptly fell on the floor when they said yes. I lost eight pounds from the stress of it all. And although I gained it all back, I also gained something else: A belief that I can do it. I can move away from the only home I have known and build a new and surprising life in a town filled with amazing people and great opportunities

I am so thankful that we live in this beautiful and gracious town that has helped me to dare to dream big and follow through.  I can’t be sure where this story will go but I feel braver and able to slay a dragon or two of my own as my family and I continue to build our new life together on Daniel Island.

Some photos from Karsen’s Kloset:

Karsen’s Kloset is a proud Business Partner of the Daniel Island School PTA and currently involved in a fund raiser for the Education Outreach Program. Please stop by the store for details or contact Kim Goides at (843) 408-8010 or karsens@homesc.com.

Will You be in Charleston this Holiday Season?

Planning to be in Charleston during the holidays? With “the Holy City” recently recognized for the seventeenth consecutive year as a “Top 10” travel destination by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, and as a 2010 “Top City To Visit” by Lonely Planet (we were the only American city on the list!), chances are you’ll be in good company. Fortunately, there are plenty of festive holiday events, tours and attractions – not to mention great shopping – to satisfy a wide range of interests this holiday season.

While we’re not likely to have snow here, the season will come alive as downtown Charleston’s historic homes get dressed up for the holidays, and festivals, parades, concerts and more bring holiday cheer to all. Here are some highlights:

2009 Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park
Through January 3
This magical attraction draws visitors from around the region. The journey begins with a three-mile drive along wooded roads aglow with more than 600 displays of light-sculptured art, and ends at Santa’s Village and Winter Wonderland, complete with hot chocolate, a holiday train ride and Santa himself! Visit ccprc.com for hours and other details.

Daniel Island Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Festivities
December 5
Each year, the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island is transformed into a holiday shopping wonderland with a vast assortment of unique gifts for all ages. More than 120 of Charleston’s finest vendors and retailers will be offering gift selections in every category, Santa and Mrs. Clause will be on site for photos, and live entertainment will continue through 8 pm. Visit danielislandholidayfestival.com for the complete line up of events.
28th Annual Charleston Harbor Parade of Boats
December 5
Get on board with a Lowcountry holiday tradition! This display of festive lighted boats in Charleston Harbor begins along the Mt. Pleasant side of the harbor at 5 pm, with viewing from the peninsula beginning around 6:30. A fireworks display over the harbor will begin at approximately 6:45. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront or decorate your own boat and join the parade!

2009 Classic Holiday Performances
Through December 20
Collectively, the Charleston Ballet Theatre, Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Charleston Stage have scheduled dozens of performances of holiday classics this season, including The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Holiday Pops, Handel’s “Messiah” and more. CharlestonPremierArts.com features a complete listing of these essential holiday performances.

Plantation Events
Step back in time and celebrate the season at two of Charleston’s most popular antebellum plantations. Enjoy live gospel music inside historic Drayton Hall Plantation at one of three candlelit performances (Dec. 5 & 6), or visit Middleton Place for a Family Yuletide (Dec. 12) complete with holiday crafts, refreshments, storytelling and caroling around a warm fire.

There’s much, much more to see and do in Charleston this holiday season. For a comprehensive listing of holiday events, visit www.charlestoncvb.com/xmas.

Daniel Island Soccer Academy Gets Roasting!

This Saturday, the Daniel Island Soccer Academy (DISA) will host its annual Oyster Roast and Silent Auction at the Pierce Park Pavilion on Daniel Island. And everyone is invited to join the fun and get shuckin’!

Ed Khouri, the head soccer coach at Bishop England High School on Daniel Island, started DISA a few years back in an effort to give Lowcountry youth soccer players the skills and experience they will need for competitive soccer. Ed gathered together the most experienced and successful coaching staff in the Lowcountry, including former MLS and NCAA players, to create this grass roots, community-managed organization.

Now, DISA has 120 players, boys and girls ranging between 8 to 18 years old, with 14 teams that practice on Daniel Island. They compete in fall and spring soccer leagues both locally and throughout the region.

And on Saturday, DISA coaches, players, parents and the entire Charleston community are invited to an Oyster Roast & Silent Auction at the Pierce Park Pavilion. Tickets purchased prior to Saturday are $20 for adults and $10 for kids and $25/$15 at the door the day of the event. Money from the ticket sales, as well as the Silent Auction, will help DISA raise money for a new irrigation system on their soccer fields.

To purchase tickets, call (843) 608-9071. Or for more information about the Daniel Island Soccer Academy, visit their website.

Honoring Civil War Veteran Pvt. David Sparkman

In honor of next week’s Veteran’s Day, this Saturday, Nov. 7, one of Daniel Island’s unsung heroes will finally receive the memorial he deserved long ago.

Private David Sparkman was an African American soldier who fought during the Civil War. He was a member of the 33rd United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.), a unit that guarded the coast and land between Savannah, GA and Charleston. In 1864, he was among the forces that attacked and captured Battery Gregg on James Island. The 33rd U.S.C.T. next joined forces with another African American regiment for the battle at Honey Hill, which ended in defeat for Union troops.

When news reached Charleston that the war had ended, Pvt. Sparkman was a part of group that searched for Confederate soldiers in hiding and shared the news. When residents on Daniel Island heard, they banged pots, sang out and rejoiced in the celebration! After the war, Pvt. Sparkman retired from the military and moved to Daniel Island, where he lived until his death in 1909.

On Saturday, his descendants and family will join the Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, the Berkeley County Historical Society and veterans to unveil a new tombstone to place on his grave in Simmons Cemetery on Daniel Island. His great-great grandson, the Reverend David Reilly, will help lead the memorial along with re-enactors from the 54th Massachusetts United States Colored Troops. Rev. Reilly has been a friend to Daniel Island for a long time and has cared for the island’s three African American cemeteries through the years.

The event will begin at 10:00 am at the Howe Hall Cemetery, where organizers and guests will honor Pvt. George Williams, another African American Civil War veteran. The event will then continue at Simmons Cemetery at 101 River Landing Drive on Daniel Island. Pvt. Sparkman’s memorial is expected to begin around 11:30 am. The event is open to the public, especially all Veterans.

For more information, contact Rev. David Reilly at (843) 364-2310.

Simmons Cemetery on Daniel Island

* Partial information in this article found in Michael Dahlman’s Daniel Island, 2006.

Happy Halloween, Daniel Island!

Hundreds of island residents came out to Barfield Park on Saturday, October 24 for an island tradition that seems to grow bigger each year. The wooded paths of Barfield Park were transformed into an illuminated Halloween trail with hundreds of jack-o-lanterns and luminaries at the annual Pumpkin Walk and Drum Circle. In the background, the sounds of a steady beat were generated at the drum circle, an interactive musical session for all ages.

This annual event, organized by the Daniel Island Property Owners Association and Daniel Island School PTA (the event’s beneficiary), started with a pumpkin carving “marathon” at Pierce Park, which took place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the day before. Check out the following video of this festive event:

Nationwide Tour Championship Draws Praise for Daniel Island

“What is the quickest way to paradise from Interstate 526 around Charleston, South Carolina? Take Exit 24 to Daniel Island and proceed to the Daniel Island Club.”

That’s a quote from golf writer Andy Reistetter, who visited Daniel Island for the first time from Jacksonville, Florida, to cover October’s Nationwide Tour Championship. He was among the many athletes, spectators and golf fans that came to the island October 22-25 for this prestigious season-ending event for the PGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour. And he wasn’t the only one who had good things to say about the island and the facilities at the Daniel Island Club.

According to Bob Gillespie, Golf Writer for The State newspaper, Australia’s Michael Sim, the Nationwide Tour’s most dominating player of 2009, dubbed the greens “perfect,” the Daniel Island clubhouse “phenomenal,” and the Rees Jones-designed layout “challenging.”

“This is as good as I’ve played,” said Kevin Johnson, a former Clemson All-American who finished 13th on the money list.

The top 60 money winners from the season competed on Rees Jones’ Ralston Creek course for the Championship title and their chance to earn one of 25 PGA Tour cards for 2010. Former University of Florida All-American Matt Every outlasted Michael Sim to win the title and his share of the one million dollar purse. And when it was all over, the season’s top 25 money winners were presented with their PGA Tour cards for 2010 in an emotional ceremony in the Club’s ballroom.

By all accounts, the event was an outstanding success. Daniel Island’s breathtaking Lowcountry setting was showcased to spectators who came for the action and those who watched the live coverage on the Golf Channel. Sunny skies and warm fall temperatures helped ensure everyone had a great time.

“The club is fabulous,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “We’ve had a great experience (at Daniel Island). It’s very upscale, absolutely gorgeous.”

The Nationwide Tour Championship will return to Daniel Island in 2010 and 2011. To view the PGA Tour’s video overview of this year’s Championship, click here.

Come "Light The Night" on Daniel Island

The light will shine brightly on Daniel Island on the evening of Thursday, November 5, even after the sun sets, as the S.C. Chapter of the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society hosts its annual Charleston “Light the Night Walk“.

The “Light The Night Walk” is an international event that pays tribute and brings hope to those battling cancer. Throughout the United States and Canada, hundreds of communities come together as thousands of participants carry illuminated balloons throughout the streets. The color of the balloons is symbolic: White for survivors, red for supporters, and gold in memory of loved ones lost to cancer.

“The breathtaking parade of red, gold and white balloons against the evening sky is such a beautiful sight,” says event coordinator Laura Tregner. “It is a memorable experience for everyone involved.” Together, the balloons, as well as the men, women and children carrying them, will light up the night in honor of all those affected by cancer and to raise funding for lifesaving research.

In Charleston, this year’s “Light The Night Walk” will take place at Freedom Park on Daniel Island on Thursday, November 5. Registration starts at 6:00 pm and the walk will start at 7:00 pm. To learn more or to get involved, visit www.lightthenight.org/sc.

Check out the video below, featuring Tina Fey, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s national spokesperson, talking about why it’s so important to get involved and “walk the talk”!

Watch the Action Live this Weekend at the Nationwide Tour Championship!

The stakes are high and the pressure is intense, but fans coming out for the Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island are having a great time and enjoying the action at the Daniel Island Club. And the players have good things to say about the Ralston Creek course – check out this article in today’s Post & Courier!

A lot is riding on the results this weekend – only 25 players will earn their PGA Tour cards for next year when it’s all over on Sunday. And it’s a goal they’ve been working towards all season.

“To some extent, it is a different strategy this week,” said D.J. Brigman of Albuquerque, N.M., who currently is in the top ten this week. “This Tour is all about being aggressive for the most part. This week you don’t have to be quite as aggressive. You have to pick and choose your holes.”

Be sure to catch the action live today through Sunday from 2-4:30 p.m. on the Golf Channel. And if you can get out to watch in person, just visit NationwideTourChampionship.com for ticket information. It’s just $10 per day, which includes access to the “19th Hole,” offering food, cold beverages and live music.

Island Resident Helps Bring Professional Golf to Charleston's Island Town

This weekend’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island is a world-class event that is bringing professional golf to the island. But for resident Denis Gallagher, the event is all about raising money for his company’s charitable foundation, the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation. Without his involvement, the tournament would not have made its way to the island.

“Since we moved to Daniel Island from Wall, N.J. nearly three years ago, I had been searching for a way to get involved in trying to bring a high-level event or some special recognition to the island,” says Denis. “It’s such a unique place.”

He was still searching when fellow resident and Vice President of Operations for the Daniel Island Club, Greg Keating, approached him about becoming the Host Organization for the season-ending event of the Nationwide Tour. Tour officials had been in discussions with the Club about bringing this highly-visible event to Daniel Island, but a non-profit partner was needed to make it work.

“It was the perfect opportunity for me to help showcase this community that I have grown to love and, even more importantly, it created an opportunity for me to bring my company’s Foundation here to Charleston,” Denis explains.

Denis is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Student Transportation of America, the third largest provider of school bus transportation services in North America. The STA Education Foundation is an approved 501 c3 organization that raises money to award college scholarships to students who demonstrate academic achievement, community service and leadership. Established in 2003, the Foundation has already provided over $100,000 to students trying to get to college.

“Education is the backbone of our society,” Denis says. “It’s so important that we give time and money to help those who want to attend college but might struggle financially. For my company, this mission is a good fit. And I really saw this golf tournament as a way to bring my business, this community and our Foundation together to help make a difference.”

Denis’ “relationship” with Daniel Island began on a plane one weekend in 2006 when he and his wife, Mary, were headed to Charleston for a short weekend trip. He was reading the New York Times on the plane and saw an article about Daniel Island.

“We had never heard of it before, and our curiosity got the best of us. When we got to Charleston this was our first stop. We met Rick Vale of Daniel Island Real Estate and – I almost hate to say this – we bought the first house he showed us.”

The Gallaghers settled into their Daniel Island Park home that same year and quickly became immersed in the community, particularly enjoying its recreational and social offerings. But beyond the championship golf courses, spectacular scenery, beautiful weather and active lifestyle, Denis says by far the best thing about this community are the people who live here.

“Previously, we lived in the same neighborhood for thirty years and barely knew the people next door,” he says. “Here, it’s totally different. Everyone we have met has made us feel like life-long friends. You can’t get that in many places that I know.”

It’s that spirit of community that Denis is counting on as the first of three Nationwide Tour Championships at Daniel Island begins (the event is scheduled to take place here through 2011).

“Although this is an international event in the eyes of the golf world, when it comes right down to it, we could not pull this off without the support of the local community,” says Denis. “The operations of the tournament are being handled by a team of residents and island employees at the Daniel Island Club and Family Circle Cup, and dozens of area businesses have stepped up as sponsors to help make this a success. It’s going to be a great week!”

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