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Living Like a Local: How to Find Authentic Experiences in Any City
Living like a local means more than skipping tourist traps. It’s about slowing down, observing daily life, and joining in. Whether you’re in a small town or a busy capital, every city has its own rhythm. By stepping into that…
Lost in the Labyrinths of Kolkata’s Local Markets – Shopping Local in My City of JoyLiving Like a Local: How to Find Authentic Experiences in Any City
By Srijani Mitra Kolkata, a city nestled in the eastern part of India, is my hometown. Indubitably, it is called the City of Joy as it effortlessly blends the joyous elements of life. Coalescing tradition with the extravagance and chicness…
Gettin’ Gritty With Chef-Owner Frank Kline of Mt Pleasant’s Grace & Grit
By Tammie Hughes I was immersed in enjoying the last bites of the Fried Oyster Rockefeller appetizer and dipping hushpuppies into the decadent white wine, lemon, and herb broth of the Bull’s Bay Clams with Roasted Pork Belly when owner…
Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits with Tomato Gravy
By Tammie Hughes Real southern grits are amazing, with a coarser grain and heartier consistency, much like Italian polenta, when compared to the “quick-cooking or instant” white, bland varieties. I highly recommend the Heritage Stone Ground Yellow Grits from Palmetto…
Traditional Style with a Modern Twist: How Vicki Clark and Danielle Allison make Victoria’s Ragpatch a success story
By: Ashley Daniels Victoria’s Ragpatch just celebrated 48 years of business in the Calabash and Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina area, but the dynamic duo that runs the retail stores is already planning to celebrate in a big way on…
Taking Life for a Spin: All the world’s a stage for professional baton twirler Sarah Hawkinson
By: Ashley Daniels You could say Pawleys Island native Sarah Hawkinson plays with fire, but with a positive spin. She also juggles a few things in her day-to-day work life. The 28-year-old baton twirler, fire twirler, baton teacher, and fire…
Essential Travel Tips and Tricks
Travel, be it an international adventure or a hike in nature, opens your eyes to new people, places, and perspectives, and leaves a positive impact. Yet, a successful trip doesn’t depend only on the destination. It also depends on preparation.…
Cover Artist: Christine Vernon
Christine Vernon began her artistic journey at age three and sold her first painting at eight years old. She studied art throughout her school years in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. She has a lifelong passion for not only acrylic painting…
“Don’t Forget Him”
Thrive with Dr. Torri: Tips for a Healthier You | May 2025 This June, as we celebrate the men in our lives, it’s worth pausing to ask a simple question: When was the last time he had a check-up? Let’s…
June 2025 Book Review: Before Dorothy
Book by: Hazel GaynorReview by: Dr. Wendy Hooper-Meletes, Ed.D., owner of Litchfield Books The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s: Hazel finds it easy to allow her true feelings to embroider themselves among her words. The imagined…
2025 Men in Business
In honor of Father’s Day this month, we asked local male business owners to tell us about their businesses, why they started them, and to share important qualities or skills that have contributed to their success as business owners. We are…
Dr. Katie’s Bark and Brief: Dangers Among Us–Canine Parvo Virus
The coast of South Carolina is a beautiful and relaxing place to live. However, the warm humid weather can be a very dangerous environment to our canine friends for many reasons. One of the most dangerous dog viruses that we…
Get to Know Marvin Levine: Local Author
ABOUT THE BOOK Gold, murder, broken ships, and broken hearts. Hidden off the South Carolina coast for over three hundred years, a missing ship from a lost Spanish treasure fleet has been discovered by an unlikely source. But fishing boat…
Easy, Breezy, Summertime Entertaining
By Suzanne Fretwell During my years living in a small fishing village in coastal North Carolina, my favorite way to entertain summer visitors was, as the joke goes, to make reservations at one of the several great restaurants along the…
Camper Dreams, Teenage Screams: Our Mountain Misadventure
By Ellen Fannon Last week marked the beginning of summer break for our younger son, and for some inexplicable reason, we thought it would be an excellent time to really try out our new camper for more than a couple…
A Culinary Escape to Paradise—6 Restaurants to Visit on Hilton Head Island
By Tammie Hughes When you travel around Hilton Head Island, you’ll often see mentions of “paradise,” which becomes apparent after your first visit. There is something special about the island. HHI is approximately 12 miles long and 5 miles wide,…
Business by Design: Brooke Lucas Shares her Unique Entrepreneurial Journey
By: Ashley Daniels Brooke Lucas, owner of Nicole’s Resale and Design, was born to be a business owner. Her grandfather once ran a Magnavox store, and her father, Bebe Finklea, opened the first video rental store in her hometown of…
What’s in Your Closet and Is It Time to Let Go?
A well-organized closet saves time and helps you stay on top of your wardrobe needs. What’s in your closet might reveal items you haven’t worn in years or things that no longer serve a purpose. Keeping your wardrobe clutter-free is…
Mothers and Daughters in Business
In this issue, we’re celebrating the amazing mother-daughter teams behind some of our favorite local businesses. We asked them two questions: What does it mean to run a business together as mother and daughter? And what’s one lesson you’ve learned from each other…
Olé! We Tried 5 Store-Bought Salsa’s and There Is a CLEAR Winner!
By Tammie Hughes Five shelf-stable salsas, all medium heat, were chosen to review. They were judged based on appearance, texture, flavor, and heat profile. Our top two contestants played hardball, but overall, there was a definite winner! Mateo’s has a…