Summerville's Flowertown Festival 2025

Summerville is at present shimmering in a sea of magnificent multitudinous masses of magenta. It is the annual azalea bloom putting on its best dress for the upcoming Flowertown Festival hosted in Summerville's Azalea Park. In the past few years due to pre-spring warm-ups, the grand show was long gone by the time the festival arrived.

The flowers are the official doorkeepers of spring greeting all to the celebration of warmer days. Drive anywhere on the streets in the town's historic district between Central Ave and S. Main Street and you will be convinced Summerville is rightfully crowned the "Flower Town in the Pines."

Rightfully called the "Flower Town in the Pines" because Summerville is also famous for its pine trees, but unfortunately, the pollen bloom that rains down from their branches when the weather warms is not enthusiastically embraced with happy celebration like the azaleas. With that being said, pine trees and azaleas are a perfect collaboration because azaleas grow well in their shadows.

The varieties of azaleas are as bounteous as its blooms thanks to hybridizing, or crossbreeding. They are native to North America, so it is likely they greeted our arriving ancestors in some form. All North American species are deciduous, meaning they drop their leaves. The evergreen varieties come from Japan, where they can be hundreds of years old.

The azaleas that helped make Summerville famous are most likely the non-native variety. The first hybrids were planted in Charleston, South Carolina. John Grimke Drayton imported the Azalea Indica from Philadelphia where they were grown only in greenhouses by a nurseryman who also had a branch nursery in Charleston and introduced them into the estate gardens of his rice plantation on the Ashley River. Marie Clinton Hastie wrote about the beginnings of her grandfather's garden, "it was somewhere in the mid 1840s that the Azalea Indica was introduced to Magnolia." His garden was the first in America to plant azaleas outdoors. An interesting fact of history: The plantation house was burned during the Civil War. In 1873, John Grimke Drayton had his small, pre-Revolution summer house in Summerville taken apart and moved by barge down the Ashley River, where it was rebuilt on the ruined house's foundation.

Azalea Park visitors in the early days

In 1932, Grange Cuthbert became the mayor of Summerville. He came up with the plan to take some of the land deeded to Summerville by the "Civic League" between Central Avenue and Magnolia Street and turn it into a mid-town paradise. George Segelken, a pioneer in azalea propagation, entered the picture. Thanks to his generosity Summerville became the place to see these prolific plants in all their abundant glory in 1935. People came from all over to view the lush beauty of the town's Azalea Park. Segelken named the salmon pink colored azalea "Pride of Summerville." The park is the predominant venue of the Flowertown Festival.

The Flowertown Festival ranks as one of the largest festivals in the Southeast with an origin that goes back to 1973. The three-day festival also carries the well-deserved distinction as one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, attracting over 200,000 attendees. One of the main features of this family-oriented festival centers on the promotion of arts and crafts. More than 200 craft artisans and vendors are given the opportunity to showcase their creative wares throughout Azalea Park.

The current festival was predated by a previous event in 1941, when Summerville celebrated the first Azalea Festival--a four-day event that included dances, concerts, a parade, and a formal ball. The festival promoted local business and celebrated the town's community pride, a pride as old as its trees. Summerville's rich history dates all the way back to the late 1600s.

Somes things about the Flowertown Festival seem to never change, such as the many familiar vendors you see every year. However, some things have changed. There was a time when a replica of the Hunley was featured as you entered S. Main Street next to the Townhall.

Also, the 2025 Farmer's Market will begin on Saturday April 5, hours 8am-1pm.

Well, that is Summerville—azaleas and the biggest festival in the Southeast. While visiting for the Flowertown Festival, when you see me walking around town be sure to say, "Hey." I am always interested in making new acquaintances.

Visit Summerville

All Roads in Summerville Lead You "Into the Woods"

I only saw brief portions of the movie called Into the Woods. However, anything with Johnny Depp in it is definitely going to have unmistakable weirdness weaved into the characters. So, going into the James F. Dean Theater to see Steven Sondheim's adaptation, I was totally unaware what to expect in the way of a storyline. The live stage production is loosely inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tales including Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Rapunzel with a witch thrown in to conjure up a little chaos for an unfortunate baker and his wife who want a child. They can undo their bad luck by collecting four objects in three days: the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold.

The Flowertown Player's presentation of Into the Woods was an empty your bladder and settle into your comfy seat for a three-hour giant rompem' stompem' whopper of a tall tale, including the short intermission. As the play's red-caped little vixen (Mackenzie Comer) skipped between the trees from scene to scene, I inexplicably thought of the lyrics of the song of the same name by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, and it was surely looking good. The performance was everything a big bad review could want. So, listen to me.

The stage was set. The props were in place. The production team was intensely focused. Director Nina Kahn had her well prepared cast of 24 ready to hit the lights and hit the heights to kick off their three weekend "bag of magic beans". The musical performers were harmonious as a whole from the opening prologue to the closing finale, when they symbolically blew the roof off the theater. If there were any glitches in prop placement as they moved from scene to scene, I didn't see it. If there were any hick-ups in the casts dialogue as they moved from musical number to musical number, I did not detect any. However, I respectfully have to mention one tiny thing. I sat in row L, which was more than halfway back in the theater. I had to strain a little to hear some of the dialogue due to the music being a tad to dominant when the vocals were in less dynamic ranges, or maybe my hearing isn't what it used to be. I'll leave it to you to decide.

It was not so hard to hear one of the most entertaining singing collaborations of the play between Jonathan Ford and Elisha Black as Cinderella's prince and Rapunzel's prince, when they belted out "Agony" in confidence and stunning harmony. Along the line of upper decibels, there was no escaping the ear popping screams of "hair as yellow as corn" Rapunzel played by Rachel Hiester-Myers.

Other notable renditions were "Witch's Lament" sang by Sarah Daniel, "Moments in the Woods" performed by Liz Perez (the Baker's wife), who also teamed up with Justin Robinson (the Baker) in "It takes Two", "On the Steps of the Palace" executed by Meredith Lane (Cinderella) and singing "I Know Things Now" was Mackenzie Comer (Little Red).

Other cast notables were Bryce Beasley as bad boy giant-killer Jack, beside herself Rachyl Kissling as Jack's Mom, the well-dressed ravenous Wolf played by Zachary Henderson, Vance White II as the Narrator, long-time Flowertown Player Jamie Young, who did double duty as Mysterious Man and Cinderella's Father, Holly Matthew's as Cinderella's Stepmother, Angela Pinkham as Florinda, Julia Sorenson as Lucinda, Krissi Hardy as Cinderella's mother, Graycen Szalwinski as The Steward, and Leighton Winters (Sleeping Beauty), Maddie McCall (Snow White), Zach Rettig (Granny), Susie Hallat (Voice of the Giant), Patti MooPone (Milky White).

Finally, I must give special props to Julie Crist for her adept handling of one of the play's more challenging characters, "the cow as white as milk"--Milky White Puppeteer.

This musical fairy tale is unlike anything you have ever seen before. There is no yellow brick road that takes you to an Emerald City, but the witch is witchier, and who honestly said of herself, "I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch." And cute, bratty Little Red noted of the baker and his vow breaking wife, "You seem to argue a lot." Cinderella's not so pure, self-adoring prince confessed, "I was raised to be charming, not sincere." I could go on and on, but I will leave the rest for you to see and hear for yourself. 

I encourage you to purchase a ticket, slip on your shoes, and make your way to the little theater on Hutchinson Square to see one of the funniest scenes of the play that has to do with guess what, footwear, and gold ones at that.

The cast skillfully delivers plenty of laughs along their way Into the Woods where you will discover family life isn't always little blue birds chirping happy bird songs, but it can also be downright morally and ethically jaded at times. Nevertheless, there is a happy ending in there somewhere.

Dates: March 7 - 23

Times: Evenings at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm

Tickets for Into the Woods

Photographs by Flowertown Players

Legendary Savannah's Forsyth Park, Mercer Williams House Museum, and Sorrel-Weed House Museum

General William Sherman's headquarters

Established in 1733, this southern gem was the grand design of General James Oglethorpe. Its formation was patterned after a Chinese city. Noted Architect, John Massengale, called this city's layout "the most intelligent grid in America, perhaps the world". Instead of burning it to the ground, General William Sherman presented it to President Lincoln as a Christmas gift. As a travel destination, it ranks number three in the United States according to the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2024 reader's survey.

Savannah, Georgia is dotted with picturesque miniature parks called squares, rightly named the "crown jewels" of the city. There is a total of 22 remaining today. Many are dominated by a monument featuring a famous dignitary who played an important part in its history and growth. Originally, they were used by the militia for practice and drills but now are gathering places for citizens and visitors. Each are shaded by huge live oak trees, beautifully landscaped, and surrounded by inns, shops, restaurants, museums, churches, and majestic estate homes available for you to tour.

On our way to Savannah, we made a stop at the Sheldon Church Ruins in Beaufort County, SC, which would turn out to be a fortuitous decision. From there, it was another hour drive to Savannah. Our accommodations for our two-night stay was in the Historic District at the Cambria Hotel on Montgomery Street. It turned out to be a good location because it put us within decent walking distance to the landmarks and points of interest we wanted to see. We were about a half a mile from East Bay Street and a little less than a half mile from the famous and stunning Forsyth Park, a must see when visiting the city.

Forsyth Park is a massive 30-acre park. It was the first landmark we targeted as we made our way down Whitaker Street past four of the city's picturesque squares, Palaskie Square, Madison Square, Chatham Square, and Monterey Square. It is three blocks wide, spanning from Whitaker Street to Drayton Street. Its vastness becomes obvious as you stand at its entrance on Gaston and Bull Streets--a tree-lined green space leading to an inspirational white fountain and extending beyond as far as you can see. The famous fountain was modeled after the fountains at the Place de la Concorde in Paris. The perfect place for family pictures, selfies, and contemplation, which we did.

Moving past the fountain, you come to a building called The Fort on Forsyth where there is a restaurant, children's playgrounds, and a huge domed stage for concerts. Continuing further, you come to a tall Civil War Monument, and beyond that, acres and acres of green grass for setting up picnics and playing sports. The sun was getting low in the sky, so we made our way back toward our hotel, walking past the nearby squares, picking out the estate homes we were interested in touring on our next day--the Mercer William House Museum and The Old Sorrel-Weed House Museum.

The Mercer Williams House Museum is one of the largest homes in Savannah, covering a full block. Even though the house bears the Williams name, no one from the Mercer Williams' family ever lived in the house. John R. Wilder bought it and completed its construction. The house and carriage house are both constructed with deep rose-colored bricks called 'Philadelphia Reds'. Its architectural design adds Renaissance Revival elements to a standard mix of Greek and Italianate. The house maintains its original moldings, windows, doorways, hand-railings, interior shutters, flooring and famous interior dome with stained glass fitted in 1868 when construction on the home was finished. Its 60-foot entrance hall retains its original ceramic tile made in England at Stoke-on-Trent.

The house was slated to be demolished. In 1969, James A. Williams, one of Savannah’s earliest and most dedicated private preservationists, bought the vacant property and began a two-year restoration of the house that would become his permanent residence. Thus, we have the famous Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I will not go into detail about the true murder story. You will have to read the book, watch the movie, or go to Savannah and do the tour to get the facts. However, I do enthusiastically suggest the tour. It is fascinating, and our guide was excellent. I have no pictures of the Mercer House gardens or interior. You are not permitted to take photographs once you leave the carriage house, where the tour begins. However, I will say, it was stunning. Interesting fact--James Williams had a cat named Sheldon, who came from the Sheldon Church in South Carolina, according to the guide. Tour cost--$13.50 per person.

The Sorrel-Weed House and Carriage House Museum was our next tour. We were encouraged to take as many photographs as we wanted to. This house is famous for its ghost stories and is considered the most haunted house in Savannah. However, we did not do the nighttime ghost tour, we did the history tour. The tour began in the gardens, moved to the carriage house, then to the ground level floor, and finally to the main floors. The tour guide told story after story of the three different owners and the people who served them as we moved from place to place, some historically fascinating, some diabolically gruesome. Wealthy French Hatian merchant Francis Sorrel, the original owner, hosted well known guests like Robert E. Lee and the Sorrel family's many famed parties. It was the first home in the State of Georgia to be designated a state landmark. Enjoy the photographs. Tour cost--$14 per person.

Savannah's history oozes with charm. Its architecture dates back more than 200 years. Many of the city's oldest houses and buildings have been transformed into museums over the years. You'll find that Savannah is legendary for its unique old-world antebellum architecture, her cobblestone streets, beautifully landscaped garden squares, and world-renowned parks. Small shops and fine eating establishments small and large are aplenty. One visit is not enough. Two visits are not enough. Three visits are not enough. I will go as far as to say, no number of visits is enough to take in all that is Savannah.

Biscuit Belly Opening in Downtown Summerville--Biscuits and A Lot More

The invitation on its cheery and colorful wall mural reads, "Sit a spell in Summerville." Summerville residents did exactly that on Saturday and Sunday at the soft opening of Biscuit Belly. It was all courtesy of the house as an introduction to their Southern menu filled with biscuits and a whole lot more.

Biscuit Belly is the inspiration of restauranteurs, Chad and Lauren Coulter, onetime pharmacists who met in college. Their first venture was growing a successful wine and tapas concept. However, one of their favorite pastimes was brunch. Thus, Biscuit Belly came into fruition. Everyone loves a good brunch menu, the perfect excuse to indulge in a Mimosa, which by the way, is on the menu. 

Of course, if you are going to open a restaurant, integral to its success is the chef. The Coulters enlisted the expertise of renowned Bluegrass executive chef, Tavis Rockwell. If you want to get to know more about Tavis, click on the following link, Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs. Tavis spent three months perfecting his famous biscuit recipe. He has one highly guarded secret, but he does reveal he uses cake flower in his mix, and the proof was in the biscuits served to Summerville residents on Saturday and Sunday.

For the Summerville soft opening, the Coulters were joined by the restaurant's manager, Cynthia Hesslewood, and Clint Umphrey, Vice President of Operations.  About the town, Clint said these nice words in an interview with Post and Courier, "We fell in love with Summerville's small-town Southern feel, which continues to draw more families every year." The Coulters believe "great food is a catalyst for community, giving people a chance to come together." It was good to see all the friends conversing and having fun.

If you are going to include Southern in your descriptions, hospitality is a must. The restaurant's motto is "expect a warm smile served with every order." Upon entering through Biscuit Belly's doors, I was greeted by the days maître d', Madelyn, who was very cordial and personable. She handed out menus and answered all questions with a smile. Upon arriving at the order counter, it was more smiles and a staff that was willing to answer any questions you had concerning the selections, which were abundant. Along with the menu, we were given a list of suggested insta-worthy dishes, from which I made my choices. You are given a number to put on your table, and a cup for your beverage, which you fill yourself at the beverage station. The staff is very conscientious about clearing what appears to be an abandoned table. If you get up from your table to converse with a friend, just be aware of that.

I chose Mamas Boy, which included spicy belly pickles, green fried tomatoes, buttermilk fried chicken breast, and roasted jalapeno pimento cheese sauce. I generally decline sauce, but this time I went with it. It was tasty and didn't overwhelm the other flavors it was paired with. The chicken was tender with a savory coating. For a side, I picked Home Fries. For a beverage, I went with the blood orange soda. What can you say about fries and drink? Well, a potato is potato, and a soda is a soda. However, fries, if not done right, can turn out to be somewhat soggy, but these fries were done perfectly. There was a lot of other tempting selections on the menu, which will require a return visit.

Biscuit Belly, when it comes to downtown Summerville, is at the ideal location--the corner of W Richardson and Short Central, next to the downtown parking garage. The restaurant's interior is cheerful, welcoming, and painted with bright colors. There is plenty of seating throughout. The back wall is covered with Biscuit Belly's very first blue shimmer wall with the town's name spread across from end to end and below, wall to wall comfort seating. The eatery is a great addition to Summerville's growing list of restaurants. Be sure to check it out when it opens February 4. I will be returning.

118 W Richardson Ave Suite 100

(843) 977-3008

Monday to Thursday, 7:30am-2pm

Friday and Saturday, 7:30am-3pm

2025 Dunleavy's Polar Bear Plunge on Sullivan's Island--A Real Cool Time

Every year on January 1, after a night of celebration, Lowcountry residents gather on the beaches of Charleston's barrier islands to take a plunge into the Atlantic's cooler waters. I say cooler waters because in the heat of the summer months the ocean around Charleston reaches a temperature of 83.5 degrees, which was the high temperature this past August 2024. The ocean temperature on Jan 1, 2025, was 57 degrees.

The two barrier islands who host a polar bear plunge are Folly Beach near its famous pier and Tides Hotel, and Sullivan's Islands at Station 22 1/2 and Dunleavy's Pub. Over the years I have attended both, but most of the time I have favored Folly Beach's Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Bear Plunge.

I had initially planned on going to Folly Beach this year. However, I inadvertently missed the exit for Folly on I26 and ended up on the Ravenel Bridge, where I decided not to turn around but to keep on going to Sullivan's Island, and I was glad I did. It was one of the largest crowds to attend Dunleavy's Polar Bear Plunge that I have seen.

Lowcountry residents came to have a good time, and they certainly did. Many participated in the traditional practice of wearing a costume, and there was an assortment of creative ones ranging from the unusually imaginative to the outrageously funny.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. It was a beautiful day on Charleston's historic Sullivan's Island, once the home of Edgar Allan Poe when he served in the military at Fort Moultrie and wrote his short story The Gold Bug. Thank you to Dunleavy's Pub for hosting their 30th charity event for the Special Olympics. Here's to everyone having a great 2025.

Napa Valley's Impressive Castle Winery Near Calistoga--Castello di Amorosa

Castles are fascinating structures of antiquity that have withstood the test of time. Their battery towers and massive walls were constructed from one of earth's more durable materials, stone. The landscape they dominated, was its kingdom. Due to these attributes, they became symbols of protection, wealth, and power. On the outskirts of Calistoga in Napa Valley, you are offered an opportunity to tour a modern-day castle patterned after a medieval-style Tuscan castle, which also happens to be a winery.

Castello di Amorosa is the realization of an all-consuming passion for fourth generation winemaker Dario Sattu. Dario's interest in medieval architecture inspired the blueprints for his visionary undertaking. He spent two decades searching for a dream property in the Napa Valley, and in 1993, he finally found an ideal parcel consisting of 171 acres near Calistoga. The parcel contained acres of beautiful forest and hills, a stream and a lake, and a great Victorian home. His vision to specialize in making small lots of primarily Italian-style wines and showcase them in an authentic, medieval castle setting where they would be sold directly to the public, not in stores or restaurants, was now ready to materialize.

Dario began work on his architectural masterpiece. It took more than 8,000 tons of hand-chiseled local stone and nearly one million antique bricks imported from Europe to complete the castle. More than 200 containers of old materials and furnishings were shipped over from Europe to decorate the interior. There are 2,000-pound hand-hewn doors. All ironwork including lamps, gates, and door hardware was hand-forged by Italian artisans. The construction took 15 years. Upon completion, Castello di Amorosa had all the elements of an authentic medieval castle: a moat, drawbridge, five towers, high defensive ramparts, courtyards and loggias, a chapel, stables, an armory, and even a torture chamber. It contains 107 rooms in total with 95 devoted to winemaking, no rooms alike.

The sprawling castle grounds have a genuine Tuscan feel, beautifully landscaped with views of its expansive vineyards. To enter the castle, you ascend a long run of stone stairs, where at the top you cross through an arched entry and immediately step back in time on the noble quest of finding the perfect wine. Its majestic courtyard is surrounded by walls of hand-squared stone and ancient brick, Tuscan-style breezeways and loggias, and table settings for wine tastings. The Great Hall is the highest-appointed and most sought-after room with hand-painted Italian-style frescoes and a 500-year-old Umbrian fireplace. The impressive Grand Barrel Room is 12,000 square feet of 40 ribbed, Roman cross-vaults all constructed from ancient brick shipped from Europe. Other notable rooms include the Chapel, Royal Apartment, Terrace, Wine Library, and Torture Chamber.

Castello di Amorosa offers five tastings and tours. We chose the Seated Tasting Experience for $60 per person featuring five highly acclaimed Reserve and Current-Release wines. We were free to explore the castle on our own with roaming access to the Courtyard, Truncated tower, Chapel, Great Hall, and Knights Hall Gift shop. Although not on the list, we did get to see the torture chamber. The wines were all very good. The list of Italian style-wines includes Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Pinot Bianco, Sangiovese, La Castellana, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Access to the castle, tours, and tastings are open to visitors with reservations only.

Castello di Amorosa means Castle of Love. Ascend the stone stairs, cross through the castle's arched entrance, and step back in time where you will be surrounded by the aura of the 14th century. Experience winemaking and wine tasting at its best while royally soaking in the opulence and mystery of castle life. You will love your visit to Dario Sattu's impressive Tuscan-style winery in Napa Valley near Calistoga.

4045 Saint Helena Hwy, Calistoga, CA

Sky’s The Limit for Charleston’s Latest Waterfront Brainstorm

While standing on the end of Waterfront Park’s long pier outfitted with picnic tables and wooden swings and looking north to the shoreline just a few hundred feet away, you will see rising six stories into Charleston’s steeple-dotted skyline the city’s latest mega-complex. It will be comparative to Charleston Place with one distinctive difference, it will be home to the only luxury hotel on the historic French Quarter waterfront.

Carnival ships, Ecstasy and Sunshine, dominated this view when they were in port. The scene is changing. December 30 will be the final cruise to set sail from Charleston for the Bahamas. Say goodbye to the Carnival Cruise line and say hello to the soon-to-open Cooper Hotel.

The historic district of Charleston was anything but historic before the 1980s, and King Street was a real estate of empty storefronts. Something needed to happen to rekindle the historical flame that once burned in this cosmopolitan coastal port city. Joe Riley began the construction of Charleston Place and set in motion the beginning of the city’s revival. Charleston was back on the map as a travel destination.

The Cooper complex is slated as “the first extraordinary step in the reimagining of Charleston’s storied waterfront.” Its diverse amenity offerings are world class, and like Charleston Place, will be open to residents, visitors, and world travelers wanting to experience the charm and hospitality of Charleston’s commercially and recreationally welcoming spirit.

The Cooper’s amenities will include a ground-floor retail space with boutique shops, a 12,000 square-foot full-service spa and fitness center, and a nearly 20,000 square-foot event space. Its four restaurants will consist of a waterfront diner, coffee shop, seafood restaurant, and a rooftop lounge with a dedicated public elevator with entrance from the park. The rooftop bar will be enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass doors and overlook both the Arthur Ravenel bridge to the left and the waterfront park’s pineapple fountain to the right.

The hotel will have a compliment of 191 accommodations with options to choose sun-bathed guest rooms and suites with waterfront views of the harbor. Room-paying guests will be able to lounge around or swim in the hotel’s jaw dropping outdoor infinity-edge pool, also overlooking the waterfront. It is proclaimed as one the best pool experiences in the Southeast, possibly rivaling anything on the East Coast. The pool will have its own bar.

The Cooper’s green space along the waterfront will be integrated with the Joe Riley Waterfront Park, extending the park’s pathway beginning at the north entrance on Concord Street over 400 feet to the Fleet Landing Restaurant and Bar at Cumberland Street. As part of the extension, there will be a new dock and marina facility, which will allow for boat dockage.

The Cooper Hotel will have three different boats available for its hotel guests including a yacht for dinners and events, as well as a water taxi service to Daniel Island. Guests in BHC-affiliated locations, like the Charleston Place, will also have access to the boats.

Uneventful and seldom traveled Concord Street between Cumberland and Vendue Range will soon be transformed into a mecca of five-star accommodations and world-class amenities with the opening of the Cooper Hotel complex in late 2025. It will exponentially change the French Quarter waterfront in an excellent way. I, for one, look forward to soaking in the waterfront views through the rooftop bar’s floor-to-ceiling glass doors sipping on one of its signature cocktails. Who knows, I just might book a room just to take a swim in its jaw dropping outdoor infinity-edge pool.