South Magazine

11/08/2024

In the quiet, somber southern cities, the true history lurks within the shadows of old sometimes forgotten buildings. If you listen closely, you can hear the whispers of time itself, each structure a guardian of secrets long forgotten. The walls, the floors, even the roofs, all hold fragments of stories just waiting to be unearthed. Small clues hide in the fissures, but the most potent evidence is the chilling vibe that grips you as you step into these time capsules. It’s as if the past is breathing, ready to reveal its haunting tales to those who dare to listen.

11/05/2024

Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance 2024 Top Winners

The best of the best top Winners of the 2024 Hilton Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival were judged on Sunday. Top marks to the Concours

10/28/2024

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. Arbors …..

Growing up in Ontario, fall was my best-loved time of the year. Crisp temperatures in the mornings and evenings act as bookends for sunny warm afternoons. My favorite part of fall was the brilliant changing of colors of the tree foliage. My heart would leap with joy as I took spirited drives through backroads, mesmerized by tree leaves that seemingly exploded overnight with vibrant shades of amber, red, crimson and orange on each side of the road. I never got tired of watching in the rear-view mirror as the leaves, chaotically spinning and fluttering as if they were a tiny ballet, were caught up in the slipstream of my car. Now living in the US South, few leaves change color, but the grandeur of live-oak trees that canopy over roads, stately pine trees that reach for the sky, bald cypress trees with their bulging trunks where they meet swamp water, flowering dogwood and magnolias, and the omniscient variants of palm trees never fail to keep my interest. This morning’s M5T considers the grace, endurance, and timeless nature of trees as metaphors for our lives.

1. IMPORTANCE OF ROOTS. Roots are central to every tree. Theyprovide a solid foundation, that keep a tree upright. Roots are also a support system of family, core values, and faith. No matter what success you have had in life, roots make sure you never forget where you’ve came from keeping you grounded in both success and failure. Deep roots make you tough to knock over, with stability, growth, and connection. Trees with deep roots can survive almost anything. When a tree's roots are determined enough, they can even break through concrete to reach the soil. Your roots embody your resilience and adaptability in any situation, giving you the power to push through and find a way to keep growing, even in tough environments.

2. GROWTH, SHELTER & SHADE. Roots are a reminder that not all growth is visible. Often your most profound growth happens beneath that surface, before anyone fully realizes just how much change you’ve undergone. All the more reason to nurture your inner life to cultivate patience, wisdom, and trust that allows you to flourish. How amazing is that day when you look back and realize how much you’ve grown in your life and relationships? Trees can represent a sense of shelter, refuge and safety, while the shade of a tree can be a cooling solace, a place and moment of peace to unload burdens, much like the presence of someone who willingly shields you and provides a calming influence from life's struggles. As you grow in life, you realize that you can be a source of shelter and shade for others.

3. STRENGTH. Like a tree, a person’s strength is rooted in deep foundations, weathering storms and adversity while continuing to stand tall. You may bend in the wind, but you remain steadfast with a core of inner strength that allows you to adapt to life’s trials. When a storm hits, the trees that are not ridged but bend with the wind don’t crack. Sometimes life storms force you to let go of things that you’ve been holding too tight. Storms have a way of making room for change and can release deadwood that needs to be cleared away. A tree drops its dead branches, just like you should drop bad habits, toxic people, or other things that are holding back your growth. Strength will give you the awareness of what needs to be pruned and cleared in your life. Take a look at a live-oak and how its branches twist and bend, and yet growing and remaining strong for decades and centuries. As seasons change, so do you. Sometimes your life paths take unexpected turns, but your commitment to growth, strength, resilience, and endurance will define a fulfilled life.

4. IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT. Trees move towards sunlight because they need the light to grow. Similarly, you should actively follow your light and focus on what energizes you. Shing light on any situation provides clarity, hope, and guidance. Light fuels inspiration and positivity that cultivates growth and allows the human spirit to thrive. Light makes a tree's branches reach upward, just as you seek out clarity for your purpose and direction in life. It illuminates the path ahead, navigating through the unknown of darkness, providing transparency and understanding that will guide you through difficult decisions to be made. Light is necessity for survival and is a force that shapes and defines your journey toward higher aspirations and dreams.

5. BARK & BATTLE SCARS. The outer bark of a tree is tough, protecting what’s inside, but it also bears the marks of every storm it has lived through. It is a shield from harsh weather, disease, and external threats. Your bark, your scars, whether physical or emotional, tell the story of your toughness. Your bark represents protection, resilience, and outward expression. It symbolizes the defenses and boundaries you have developed to protect yourself from any number of life's challenges. Over time, bark thickens and bears scars, much like we carry the marks of our experiences, struggles, and growth. Bark is a reminder of our ability to endure and adapt, yet still allows for healthy growth beneath the surface. The patterns and textures of your bark reflect your life story, uniquely shaped by storms and clear skies, trials and tribulations, successes and failures, and the wisdom that can only be gained from age and experience.

Here’s to a week of the deep roots from trees that give you strength, shelter and shade, and to being just the right tree for others in your life.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He continues to enjoy spirited drives through backroads anytime of the year.

© 2024 D. Paul Graham.

M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here …..

My heart would leap with joy as I took spirited drives through backroads, mesmerized by tree leaves that seemingly exploded overnight with vibrant shades of amber, red, crimson and orange on each side of the road.

10/21/2024

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. Monday Duality …..

Well, it’s Monday morning. If my keyboard could sigh, that would be the sound effect on your speakers. I looked back over the past few M5T’s and thought that, after some intense weeks on all levels, we (read that as I) could use a little lighter start to the week by diving into the age-old paradox of the Monday morning. Monday is a rather curious animal, some might say beast, of equal parts humorous and profound. That being said, as a public service to help you ease into a new week, this morning’s M5T throws the covers off, jumps out of bed and depending on your morning poison of choice, pours a cup of coffee, steeps some tea, or cracks open a Red Bull to stare down the duality of Monday.

1. OF SNOOZE BUTTONS AND NEW BEGINNINGS. Who hasn’t waved their hands over the bedside table, knocking over any number of items, in an attempt to hit the snooze button? The button’s 7-to-9-minute grace period, (more if you are a repeat button basher) is a carefully calibrated yet temporary respite before the reality of Monday rudely crashes in. But quite profoundly, should you choose not to “button”, Monday is a gift, a promise of a new beginning. Your Monday is like, forgive me for the platitude, a blank canvas, just waiting for that first brush stroke. Your week ahead is full of possibilities. The question is, will the brush strokes of your week be as frantic and bizarre as Dali, or as colorful and fluid as Matisse?

2. OF RECALIBRATION AND SACRED RITUALS. With apologies to tea sippers and RB addicts, it is often referred to as brew, cuppa joe, dirt, brain juice, high octane, liquid energy, mud, go juice, rocket fuel, or your fix. If your first cup comes from what is akin to and as expensive as a legal heroine den that had its beginnings in Seattle, you might refer to it as a “venti 5-shot Americano with 3 pumps of mocha, macchiato, with almond milk and just a splash of half-steamed milk”. If you order one of those, I respectfully submit that you should be banned from Mondays and keep hitting the snooze button. No matter though, once you’ve moved out of the bedroom to the kitchen, is there a better smell than fresh brewed coffee on a Monday morning? Who hasn’t leaned up against the counter, plunked down on a chair, or sat on a deck to watch the sun rise, hands wrapped around a warm mug, and as you take that first careful sip of your morning-jolt, let out an expressive “ahhhhhh”? For many that first cup of coffee on Monday is a ritual, almost a sacred rite that is necessary to start the week. That first cup of the week is a brew that awakens your senses. It is a moment of meditation that gives you the time to gather your thoughts, take stock, and summon the courage to face the inbox beast.

3. OF COMPROMISE AND NOURISHMENT. I admit that for me on Mondays, breakfast is less of a meal and more of a negotiation. “I could make eggs and toast (if only I had the time) or I could just grab that pizza at the back of the fridge from Friday.” For the record, the pizza always wins. Somehow, I convince myself that pizza, coffee and/or Red Bull should count as a well-balanced meal. I realize there is something to starting the day with nourishment. It’s a reminder to take care of yourself, to feed not just your body but your spirit with intention, even if that intention is hastily spread peanut butter. Ok. I can do peanut butter. And I didn’t hit the snooze button.

4. OF THE ABYSS AND PRIORITIZATION. Perhaps one of the rudest ways to start a Monday morning is entering that abyss called your inbox. Especially if you have not looked at it over the weekend. It’s as if you are unlocking a veritable Pandora’s box of unread emails. Each SMTP envelop screams for your attention but be honest. Most of them are just spam, newsletters that you should have unsubscribed from years ago, memes and gifs that your friends and family found hilarious but that you fail to see the humor so early in the day, or an associate, relative, or lawyer from Nigeria that is holding a long-lost inheritance just for you. However, you read all of them before getting to email that really matters to your day. As daunting as your overflowing inbox may be, it’s a reminder of the importance of setting priorities. In a world of endless demands, the ability to discern what truly matters by separating the chaff from the gold, from refusing to listen to unnecessary noise, especially on a new Monday, presents a fresh chance to realign and prioritize your focus for the week.

5. OF STRUGGLE AND MOTIVATION. For many people, Monday motivation is a myth, that if it does exist, it’s hiding somewhere in the back of the fridge, behind last Friday’s leftover Chinese food or pizza. How often on a Monday morning have you stared blankly at your computer screen for a good 20 minutes or more, before you even start to think of anything remotely productive? Yet, despite the inertia, Monday’s demand resilience. If your prior week, or weeks, have been fraught with disappointment, unexpected detours, or out-right failures, it takes courage to begin again even when your motivation is limited. Every step forward on a Monday can be a small act of boldness as you consciously set out to engage with life. Even when this morning, your pillow never felt more comfortable, the sheets never felt warmer, or if you were tempted to hit the snooze button for the 10th time.

Here's to your Monday experience, whether it’s a blend of comical chaos or practiced profundity and to using your Mondays to set the tone for the rest of the week.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He firmly believes pizza should be part of the food groups.

© 2024 D. Paul Graham.

M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here …..

..... this morning’s M5T throws the covers off, jumps out of bed and depending on your morning poison of choice, pours a cup of coffee, steeps some tea, or cracks open a Red Bull to stare down the duality of Monday.

10/21/2024

It’s hard not to love Savannah Georgia and the creativity and hard work that has been put into this incredible city. Plant Riverside District for example is an ex*****on by a talented developer that has the ability to identify an idle location that may hold great historical significance and transition it into a functional masterpiece. Mr Richard Kessler’s vision has created and built these hotel/destinations throughout the South. Check out Kessler Collection to experience one for yourself.

Views from above: Plant Riverside District shining under Savannah’s beautiful sky.

[📸 ]

10/14/2024

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. Parkway Inspired …..

Looking at images of the destruction by Helene of the Blue Ridge Parkway took my breath away. The BRP is/was a most incredible and inspiring part of the earth. A number of photoshoots over the years brought me there. Each BRP drive enroute to the peak of 6,000 feet never failed to inspire. Inspired by breathing deeply, slowly, and deliberately, filling my lungs with the fresh scent of pine mixed with the cool mountain air. Inspired to tears as the rising sun illuminated soft-rolling valley fog between the majestic mountains. God revealing a palette of subtle colors of red, azure, and purple across the horizon, transitioning to a stratum of golden yellow and orange hues. Inspired by beautiful people I’ve met on the Parkway: A couple who had been married the day before, starting their first morning as husband and wife holding hands and praying in the mountains. A man meditating in a yoga pose on the roof of his car. Driving with 50 very cool pilotos of air-cooled Porches through the dappled light and shadows of the tree canopied isolated twists and turns of this most amazing ribbon of road. A mother and daughter who were taking their last trip together before Alzheimer’s completely plundered mom’s memory. A solitary man at the far end of an overview, who seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders, sipping from a bottle of beer as he stared silently out at the mountains. A large group of historic motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the country who gathered for a one-week multi-state drive, finishing on the BRP. Bird watchers who taught me more than I needed to know about Carolina Wren’s and Dark-Eyed Junco’s. Various kids who would run to the edge of the overlook squealing with delight as mom and dad, caught unexpectedly, yelled with panicked voices for them to be careful. And on multiple trips, college kids who were smoking the strangest smelling of ci******es who seemed inspired in a different way. Following Helene, I am inspired by the determination of the people of this part of North Carolina that are literally picking up the pieces of their lives and are starting all over again. And this morning, M5T takes pause to consider being inspired.

1. SLOW DOWN. The busyness of life has a way of extracting our emotions, energy, time and focus. Find inspiration by stopping. Count your blessings. Discover some space and clear the distractions of this week, even if just for a fleeting moment. Inspiration can be found by simply being quiet, by taking a breath, or by reflecting on the blessings you have in life.

2. BE OPEN. Start the day with a mindset that seeks inspiration. Look at the light. Look at what is revealed in the shadows, and what is hidden in the highlights. Run your fingertips over the finish of a wall that you walk by every day. Bathe your eyes and mind in the dominant design features, the façades, the lines, and the scale of buildings you rarely even notice any more. Whether man-made or divinely created everything around us has texture, shape, space, color and form. Allow yourself to feel. You can tap into that genesis of inspiration simply by being open to the moment.

3. BE PROACTIVE. Read biographies. Inspiration can be found by realizing the struggles and failures that others have experienced in their journey to fulfil their dreams Seek out those you admire. Find a mentor. Be a mentor. Listen, watch, question, study, and learn from them. Talk to people – those you know, those you’ve lost touch with, and those you haven’t yet met. Understand the power of asking ‘why’? Everyone has a story that goes far deeper than what they show the world every day. Reconnect. Connect. Travel to a place you’ve always wanted to go... near or far.

4. ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE MOVED. Fill a rut with inspiration. Write down your passions and inspirations that you have today. Write down what inspired you at the start of each decade of your life. What is different? What is the same? Seek out both. Sing any song that touches your heart at the top of your lungs... even if you don’t know the words. Laugh deeply and cry freely; until both hurt for different reasons. Revitalize your soul by embracing the unknown, by taking one step out in faith, and by pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone.

5. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. Change your thinking. Change your environment. Plan an adventure. Go to an art gallery. Take a different route. Be inspired by who you meet and by what you see, hear, smell and taste. Take more than selfies and food pictures with your phone. Widen the lens of not just your camera. Widen the lens of your eyes, your heart, your soul. Turn around, look up, look down; climb up and crouch down. Let the inspiration of a changed perspective renew the unapologetic curiosity you had as a child.

Here’s to a week of continued prayer for NC, Georgia, and Florida following Helene and Milton, and for your own inspired thoughts, words, and deeds.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He hopes to drive the BRP once again.

© 2024 D. Paul Graham.

M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here …..

Following Helene, I am inspired by the determination of the people of this part of North Carolina that are literally picking up the pieces of their lives and are starting all over again.

10/14/2024

Absolutely the best event to watch each year. Congratulations Plant Riverside District

10/12/2024

Sunday and Monday, October 13-14, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM Get ready to swing into the 10th annual Bob Masteller’s JAZZ FOR ALL AGES Music Festival on the beautiful Hilton Head Island! Join us at the breathtaking beachfront Sonesta Resort for an epic musical journey! Prepare to be dazzled by artists like John Pizzarelli, Catherine Russell, Emmet Cohen, Kurt Elling, April Varner, Mark Rapp, and many more! Don’t miss this sensational celebration of jazz that promises to resonate with all generations! Location: Sonesta Resort 130 Shipyard Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 United States

Purchase your tickets at jazzforallages.com/tickets

10/11/2024

The northern lights are visible in Southeast Georgia and the Lowcountry. Michael Locklear captured this on Tybee Island!

Make sure if you try to spot them to turn night mode or the exposure on your phone. The likely are only very faint to the naked eye, or maybe not visible at all.

Let me know if you spot them!

10/10/2024

.... Celebrating the birthday of one of the South's most amazing photographers. Hope you had a stellar day John Fulton Photography... South Mag misses the days of all-day shoots and an abundance of creativity that made the pages of South come alive. Thank you for hanging with South for the last 18 years. I hope ATL appreciates all the talent you brought.. if not Savannah is here with open arms. Hope the family is well - MB

10/10/2024

It’s in the air…. Already.

Look at this unbelievable Halloween charcuterie display!! Do you think you could duplicate this?💀🎃👀🍖🍇🧀

📸 South Magazine

10/07/2024

“Monday 5 Things”™ ….. 281 and 85 …..

It’s Q4 of 2024. With a modicum of disbelief, that means it’s been 281 days from a night of popping champagne corks and that we only have 85 days left in the year. That’s 85 days of potential, momentum, realignment, and quite possibly 85 days of scrambling to finish what we started this year, to which yours truly may be guilty as charged. This morning’s M5T considers what we can do to focus on making every day of the next 85 a formidable finish toward the end of 2024.

1. FINISH THE UNFINISHED. Endings are important. They can impact how we feel about ourselves. Close the loop on what you need to finish before year end. Finishing goes beyond wanting. Procrastination fosters a mindset of wanting. Wanting doesn’t change anything. Finishing comes down to what you are willing to do with the time you have. What you are willing to do will be driven by the decisions you make. Actions will be driven by what you are willing to do. Choose action over excuses. What are you procrastinating about? What’s unfinished in your life? What decisions will you make and what actions will you take for the next 85 days to finish your year strong?

2. STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS. Stay in the moment. put your phone down, stop multitasking, and give your full attention to whomever you are with. Listen. Actively and with focus. Show your love and gratitude. Communicate openly and lovingly, especially about the difficult things that come up in your relationships. Recognize the little things, the details, and efforts that others make to positively impact your life. Make time to reconnect with the important people in your life that you’ve lost touch with.

3. DECLUTTER. Decluttering parts of your life can enrich your calmness and productivity. Free up personal space by clearing up those items you don’t use or need. Let go of protracted worries and stresses that you have no ability to change or impact by focusing on the things you can change. Recognize the difference between the two. Detach yourself from toxic, negative people. Surround yourself with people who uplift and genuinely support you. Learn to say no to the demands of others on your time that aren’t aligned with your priorities and to what is most important to you. Create more emotional and physical bandwidth by streamlining your digital life. Declutter your browser and social media. Organize files, put your phone down more often, streamline accounts by deleting and unfollowing accounts that no longer inspire you. Check your email on your schedule not whenever the email bell chimes on your phone or computer. Learn to use your “do not disturb” setting on your devices. Decluttering will have positive impacts on the physical, financial, mental, and emotional bases of your life.

4. TAKE THE RISK. Taking risks, knowing that failure could happen, cultivates a mindset of growth. Risks allow you to embrace challenges, and lead to improving yourself. Risks allow you to acknowledge both success and failure, keeping you accountable to yourself, building confidence and momentum, and fosters honesty about your progress toward your goals. Accepting both success and failure keeps you grounded, encourages resilience, motivates you to keep pushing forward, and balances your perspective. And throughout the risks, for next 85 days, make sure to celebrate your wins and appreciate lessons learned from your failures, no matter how big or small both may be.

5. RECONNECT AND REALIGN. No matter what you’ve done (or haven’t done) for the past 281 days, use the next 85 to reconnect and realign with your values and with what fulfills you most. Reflect on your core beliefs, passions, and purpose in life. Take time to understand where you may be out of sync and adjust as necessary. Use the next 85 days to reignite your confidence, focus on your strongest capabilities, and take the necessary actions to unleash the hounds of momentum. Where were you and what was your mindset 281 days ago? What needs more attention? What have you ignored? What have you been afraid to finish? What excuses have clouded your decisions? What will you do with your time and energy for the next 85 days to finish 2024 solidly and position yourself for a strong start in 2025.

Here's to using your next 85 with clarity, focus, reflection, and discipline to stay connected and act on your goals, dreams, and values.

For over 12 years, D. Paul Graham has published “Monday 5 Things” ™, also known to readers as M5T™. He continues to focus on running the good race to the finish.

© 2024 D. Paul Graham.

M5T is now on South Magazine Digital ..… Read it here …..

It’s Q4 of 2024. With a modicum of disbelief, that means it’s been 281 days from a night of popping champagne corks and that we only have 85 days left in the year.

10/04/2024

DAD, IT’S TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN BY MAKING MOM HAPPY AND CREATING SOME EPIC MEMORIES WITH THE TRIBE THIS WEEKEND!

We know it’s tough to work hard all week and surprise the family with a Sunday excursion, but South has ya covered! Why not double down on fun and history at the ever-cool Davenport House Museum Fall Family Day this Sunday?

Your little ones can get their hands messy with candle making, face painting, and silhouettes while you soak in the charm of this historic spot with wifey-poo. And forget about the stodgy guided tours—the Davenport House gets it! Enjoy self-guided tours, so you stay in control and at your own pace. After all, who’s the chief?

Oh, and did we mention it fits into your budget? (How do we know that you say?... It's FREE!)

Afterward, you are crowned hero for the day! So wrap it up by enjoying some mouth-watering Savannah Square Pops, and finally, y'all can take those exhausted little pups home for a nap while you and mom can enjoy some quality time! �

So, while it's top-of-mind, wake up the mobile... "Hey, Siri (or Alexa) add Davenport House to my calendar for Sunday, October 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m."

And Dad… no worries.. we know your job’s hard, so this one is on us!🏛️✨ 🏛️✨ Davenport House Museum - a property of Historic Savannah Foundation