TECH
Shipt
The ultimate convenience. As consumers, we have grown accustomed to ordering almost everything online. Now, Shipt offers same day grocery delivery from Bi-Lo, Kroger, Lidl, Publix and Target. Here’s how it works.
1. Scroll through the aisles.
2. Order fresh produce, meat and more. Sit back and let personal shoppers work their magic.
3. Connect with your shopper.
4. Send texts to make adjustments and get live updates from the aisles.
5. Tada! Your groceries arrive.
Schedule a delivery in as soon as one hour. Shipt will even unpack your order into the cabinets or fridge. Shoppers inspect every single item and learn your preferences to make sure everything is just the way you like.
www.shipt.com
Hot Off the Press
Georgia-born chef and author, Virginia Willis knows the South and has written half a dozen cookbooks on her ancestral cuisine. She has cooked for Southerners as notable as the late Aretha Franklin and former President Bill Clinton.
While writing her newest book, Secrets of the Southern Table, Willis began to look outward. Wanting to share the fullness and richness of Southern food, she spent nearly a year traveling through 11 states, seeking out stories and dishes from the Latinx communities of Appalachia, the black-owned urban farms of Southwest Atlanta, the women-owned heirloom cideries of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In Secrets, Willis takes readers on a tour of today’s South and includes recipes like pimento cheese tomato herb pie and “cathead” biscuits, catfish tacos with avocado crema, Mississippi-style char siu pork tenderloin and Greek okra and tomatoes. In addition to the recipes, Virginia profiles some of the diverse chefs, farmers and other culinary influencers who are shaping contemporary Southern cuisine. Together, these stories and the delicious recipes that accompany them celebrate the rich and ever-evolving heritage of Southern cooking.
www.virginiawillis.com
A Southern Sojourn
Sand Hills Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of America, presents “A Southern Sojourn” on October 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Morris Museum of Art, One Tenth Street. Admission is free.
Setting standards of artistic and horticultural excellence, Sand Hills Garden Club works to broaden knowledge of horticulture, floral design, conservation, photography and to share the beauty of a flower show with fellow club members and to the public.
GETAWAYS:
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore – or “Bawlmer” to locals – is a working-class city anchored by its nautical past. In recent years, the city has earned acclaim for impressive new boutique hotels, edgy exhibits at world-class museums and seemingly forgotten neighborhoods bustling with trendy food courts and farm-to-table restaurants. For traditionalists, there’s also local culture and hometown sports that have always remained part of its appeal.
What to Do
For travelers, a visit to B’more (another nickname) should include a trip to the waterfront at Disney-fied Inner Harbor, the cobblestoned streets of portside Fells Point and the shores of Fort McHenry, birthplace of America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Where to Stay
Sagamore Pendry Baltimore is perched on Recreation Pier and the centerpiece of the vibrant Fell’s Point waterfront community. Enjoy Rec Pier Chop House, a signature restaurant by Chef Andrew Carmellini, The Cannon Room – featuring curated whiskey, rye and bourbon cocktails — or take an excursion on the water taxi and tour Baltimore’s waterways.
Where to Eat
Jimmy’s Famous Seafood
Crab cakes and football! But, there’s so much more that merits mentioning. Maryland’s largest city is an underrated food town, one with accessible traditions and strong chefs. Jimmy’s has been in the seafood business since 1974. Now known citywide and beyond, especially by Orioles and Ravens fans, this spot remains a reliable go-to for authentic Maryland-style steamed blue crabs. Crowds also pack the place for the crab cakes, Chicken Chesapeake, stuffed oysters and even steaks and burgers.
The Chasseur
Level three of The Chasseur might be the most unique and open air restaurant space in the city with interior seating, split between stools, high-tops and communal tables. The Chasseur is framed by garage doors that open fully, providing sweet crosswinds on nice nights, plus lofty views of lovely Canton.
As you’ll discover, there’s an intense, sincere friendliness in Baltimore, which is why it lives up to its final, most accurate nickname- “Charm City.”
FACES:
Lauren Muns
Rustic Elm, Riverstone Realty
Lauren Muns is a wife and a mother of four children ranging from ages 4 to 14 and says “that in itself is crazy busy.” Her father Andy Mathis owns Mathis Realty in North Augusta and she has been in real estate for 18 years. She started RiverStone Realty nine years ago and recently completed a major renovation at her real estate office on West Avenue.
Her husband Gregory Muns owns BlackRock Construction and they also recently completed a major renovation. While the couple was busy flipping houses they “realized there was a need for unique quality furniture.” So after much thought she started Rustic Elm.
Although the furniture has not begun, in April of this year, Rustic Elm started a collection of women’s apparel, shoes and handbags. Muns says, “I have been running a boutique out of my home and it has truly taken off. It’s been so rewarding to offer a classic, comfortable and trendy collection that is suited for moms on the go with work, children and life.” According to Muns, women have really responded with positive feedback.
Rustic Elm has also teamed up with Luke Bryan’s tour manager in finding him land for the Farm Tour that is coming October 5.”
Andy Mathis worked with Luke Bryan’s tour manager in finding the perfect tract of land to bring the Farm Tour to North Augusta. “That has brought a lot of great attention to Rustic Elm and we have tickets available at our boutique. We are now in the stages of planning on building a cottage for Rustic Elm in downtown North Augusta. Rustic Elm has had the privilege of working with some awesome brands, with one of my personal favorites being BedStu. I also have Alice Bruce who lives in North Augusta and she has started her a line of handmade jewelry that will be exclusive to Rustic Elm and called Addison Wren.
RiverStone Realty is licensed in South Carolina and Georgia. Visit www.rusticelm.net and Facebook @therusticelm.
Literature Events
In an effort to promote literacy, Augusta University will host an annual Sand Hills Writers event featuring Vievee Francis and Holly Goddard Jones on Oct 15th at 2:00 p.m.
Literary Events for 2018
AU Creative Writing Events for Fall 2018.
Oct. 4. Poet Chris Mattingly (Scuffletown, Typecast, Citizenplain, Alla Testa)
Thursday, 4:00 PM, JSAC Coffeehouse.
Oct. 15. Sand Hills Writers Series. Vievee Francis and Holly Goddard Jones.
Poet Vievee Francis (Forest Primeval, Northwestern UP, Horse in the Dark,
Northwestern UP and Blue-Tail Fly, Wayne State UP).
Fiction Writer Holly Goddard Jones (The Salt Line, Putnam, The Next Time You See Me, Touchstone, Girl Trouble, HarperCollins).
Monday, 2:00 PM, JSAC Coffeehouse.
Article appears in the October 2018 issue of Augusta Magazine.
