Denise K. James

By the time I left my home state in my late 30s, I’d lived in a few of its towns and cities, and I’d visited pretty much all of them on various road trips. Charleston was where I lived longest, with the Lowcountry’s fun-loving lifestyle drawing me in for years after graduate school ended. My writing and editing career was doing okay there, and Charleston was close to other points of interest, including other cool towns like Beaufort and Hilton Head, plus Pawleys Island, the locatio...

If you’re anything like me, you’ll joyfully make the drive to another coastal town just to check out what it offers to do, see, and eat. Johns Island, South Carolina, one of the Charleston metro’s most unspoiled portions, is about two hours by car from Hilton Head Island and well worth a foodie road trip this fall. I spoke to a few of my close friends in the area, who all moved to Johns Island in the last few years (it’s the new “cool” place to be), and they were kind enough to brief me on th...

You may have already decided to sell your rental property in a seller-friendly market or are weighing the possibility of it. However, if your property is occupied, you need to be aware of a tenant’s rights when a house is for sale as they pertain to your area, as well as the specific terms....

There’s no better sign that your relationship is going somewhere than meeting your boyfriend’s family — specifically his mother.
Whether you’re trying to make a great first impression or build a relationship with your boyfriend’s mom, a well-thought-out gift could be just the thing to make her your biggest fan — and get your new relationship off to a strong start.

Need to sell your home fast in San Jose, California? You’re in luck: Silicon Valley is one of the hottest real estate spots nationwide, with beautiful San Jose right at the center. As the third most expensive housing market in the U.S. — behind only San Francisco and Manhattan — the tech-focused San Jose boasts opulent property values thanks to its abundance of jobs and enviable Mediterranean climate.

Katelyn Brewer grew up in a small town—“fairly homogenous,” in her words. With her Irish-Catholic family and sheltered upbringing, the current CEO of Darkness to Light set her heart on a wider perspective and decided to major in French and international relations at Wheaton College in Boston.
There, she spent her junior year abroad, living in Paris and Dublin and working for two different nonprofits that dealt with develo...

My husband Daniel and I arrive at Litchfield Beach after an easy drive and are delighted to find thoughtful touches throughout our vacation rental—brochures with information about the area, chocolate truffles, and a friendly note from the owners welcoming us.

Mere months ago, one could venture to Harold’s Cabin for a drink and a bite on any given evening and the mood was likely to invoke a different time: namely, Charleston in the 1930s, when the original Harold’s Cabin was just as neighborly and welcoming. Owned by Harold Jacobs and his wife, Lillian Breen Jacobs, the original Harold’s was, in the words of current partner and operating manager John Schumacher, “Charleston’s first bodega, with meats, cheeses and other odds and ends, tucked away in a Jewish neighborhood.”

In a world where we’ve had to tweak a few of our summer plans, maybe wait a while for that island cruise or that flight to an exotic locale, it’s comforting to know that the warmer months still offer us plenty of things to look forward to—namely an abundance of local fruits and vegetables to brighten our kitchen tables. We’re fortunate to have plenty of produce grown right down the road, as well as friendly faces willing to set up a spot where we can fill our beach bags and baskets.

Jacksonville is an appealing hybrid of beach and city life, and its selection of cocktail bars, local breweries and watering holes attest to this truth. Both visitors and locals enjoy the diversity of places to pull up a bar stool and chat with friends. But with so many choices, how can a thirsty patron narrow down the list?
To take some of the research off your shoulders (and leave you with more time to sip libations), we’ve rounded up a few of the best spots in different corners of the city...

It’s a cloudy, cool February morning the day I visit the Beaches Organic Community Garden in Neptune Beach, unprepared for the bounty that will soon be placed in my arms — radishes, bundles of broccoli, bouquets of greens and more, all grown by enthusiastic locals, ranging in skill level from novice to seasoned.

It’s a gray morning in January as I write this. Today I woke up late, made a cup of coffee and scrolled through an excerpt about the well-known philosopher Albert Camus on Brain Pickings, one of my favorite websites.

I didn’t grow up in a “foodie” household. My mother claims she loves to eat – in fact, she’ll often moan audibly about how great a meal is while she’s eating – but I’ve recognized there’s an important distinction between loving to eat and loving food, and she’s certainly more the former than the latter. My grandmother, on the other hand, cherishes neither eating nor food – she “eats only to live” as my mom once quipped, probably while we were stuffing our faces at some restaurant.

In many ways, sharing an occasion with friends and family is an act of selflessness – after all, you could have decided to tie the knot in a Vegas drive-thru or turn 40 years old at home in bed. Orchestrating an event reminds us that milestones are more valuable when celebrated with others, and a professional point of view can make planning easier and more fun.

A good interview is a rare and memorable thing for any writer, and this was especially true when I sat down to speak with Tim Newborn, philanthropist, artist, war veteran and wellness advocate. Scheduled for early evening, our chatter carried well into the night, as we recounted all of the things we love about Charleston, being creative and working with others.