Planning for our September Luxury issue means focusing on the finer things in life. Lucky for me, there’s no dearth of grand homes, high-end clothing, alluring baubles, or gastronomic delicacies here in Charleston. And you’ll find prime examples of all of those delightful indulgences in this issue, including a 12-acre estate overlooking Bohicket Creek; our fall fashion feature; and a review of Marbled & Fin, downtown’s decadent new steak house, to name a few. But unlike other prosperous cities, I find Charleston to be, thankfully, a bit more subtle. Many times, the finer things are less about trappings and more about the intangibles—the sublime beauty of our natural environment, the authentic sense of place, and our rich cultural traditions.
While lining up this issue months ago, I got lucky again. My friend Madeleine McGee gave me a heads-up about the new cookbook her sister Evie McGee-Colbert and her husband, Stephen—yes, that Stephen Colbert of The Late Show fame—were releasing in September. Tabbing through the pages photographed in and around their home on Sullivan’s Island and filled with family recipes and lore, I realized it hits all of those intangibles: spending time with loved ones—cooking, fishing, laughing, and living in this singular place we call home. I thank them for giving us all a sneak peek at what is essentially their homage to the Lowcountry—plus a couple of receipts—and sharing their inspirations with editor-at-large Stephanie Hunt (“Recipe for Happiness,”).
As the luxury of living here comes with potential perils and with the 35th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo approaching, we also feature Bulls Island, which caught the brunt of the Category 4 storm’s fury. In “Taking Bulls Island by Storm,” we explore the undeveloped barrier island with scientists and naturalists and learn about its rebounding flora and fauna and the lessons it can teach in preparation for hurricanes to come.
The staff and I hope you enjoy this issue and take advantage of—and help protect—the amazing riches that surround us every day.
Darcy Shankland
Editor in chief