Luxury lives up to its reputation

As a resident of Charleston, I rarely if ever have a reason to visit Kiawah Island Golf Resort, except for a delicious special-occasion dinner at one of the restaurants. Still, the few times I have been there, I have been impressed. Kiawah is one of those places that lives up to its hype, and its hype is about service.

Yes, the place is beautiful, to be sure, but it is the people who work in this mini-city who impress me. People are nice, genuinely helpful and for the most part, seem to take pride in the high standards of service their employer requires.

My latest foray into the resort -- the spa. In this month's Go Magazine, I detail what sets this created oasis apart from so many other spas. I hope the Kiawah powers that be read this and invite me back for that lemon verbena treatment (yes, I should be ashamed at blatant begging, but ... lemon ... verbena ... ). Just ignore the fact that I have a crazy schedule -- I promise, Kiawah, I will be able to fit you in!

Amelia Island a green island getaway

Bob and I had the opportunity for a later-summer getaway last year to Amelia Island, and in this month's Go Magazine website, the article about the "green" resort is a web extra. Click here to access it and then cruise around the website for more travel tips.

My travel tip for Amelia Island, Fla.? Renting a golf cart is an option for the resort and perfect fun for tooling around this expansive place. There is much to see, it's easy to transport lots of stuff to beach or golf course or tennis court, and well, when you're driving a golf cart, you're having a good day!

My little voice in this big mess

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/may/07/many-americans-doing-what-they-can-in-oil-disaster/?print

The Music Keeps Playing

Thanks to the wonderful Charleston Scene, the music articles keep flowing. Here's the latest, my interview with Shawn Colvin, a great honor! She was an easy and very, very smart interview. Smart as a whip and with a twinkle in her eye to be exact, the kind of woman I like to know, the kind of woman that I like to listen to ...

I love this Song!!!

Ooh -- the heady past days, when I first discovered the minor chords of Andrew Bird's violin, meandering in the background of a Squirrel Nut Zippers song. They were great, he was great, and I just could not get enough of where that music took me.

It was all deep 1930s nights where the stars were low in a field riding back down a dirt road from town. The smoke that clung to clothes after stepping out of a basement jazz club in 20s France. Faded beadboard paneling, and the smell of this morning's fried eggs still lingering near lunch in the back of the house kitchen where the windows were often open. And always root magic.

I'd forgotten that feeling until last week when, in the process of researching an article about the new band Screen Door Porch, I heard "Zemurray," a cut from their debut record, and remembered. It was right back there.

The full article is in today's Charleston Scene . The song is in my iTunes library. Take a listen.

Zemurray - Screen Door Porch

I'm not krackin' on Uncle Kracker

To me, Uncle Kracker's music is about shopping, possibly at Kohl's or when I am in the grocery and find myself humming something I don't even know I know while trying to decide between quinoa or just the basmati rice blend. Just because I don't willingly listen to his music doesn't mean others don't (whoa, check out that quadruple negative, Mrs. Nelson), so I was happy to have the chance to interview him.

He was calling from Allentown, PA when we chatted, and he was pleasant and well-intended during our interview. He also honestly tried to answer my questions and did not sound bored, even if he was. I thank him for that.

Here's the interview in today's Charleston Scene, complete with details about his upcoming date in Charleston.

Click here if you can't remember what he sings ...

Uncle Kracker

Childress interview hit newsstands

It's been months since I interviewed NASCAR celeb Richard Childress, and what I most remember about the interview was how gracious he was and how "non-NASCAR" his office was. First, it was huge, at least 2/3 of the square footage of my current dwelling, and second, it was obvious he is a serious big-game hunter. There was the animal skin rug, various heads on the wall, large oversized furniture and the like. It was like a Hollywood movie, which is the way I think he likes it.

Read the non-hunting article here in the current issue of Triad Living, and find out his persuits closer to home.