Monkee’s Co-Owner Says “I Do” at the Daniel Island Club

When Ashley Jenkins, co-owner of high-end boutique Monkee’s on Daniel Island, started looking at locations for her November 2009 wedding, she hadn’t planned on taking a tour of the Daniel Island Club. Originally from North Carolina, Ashley was planning to marry her fiancé Stephen in her hometown. But as planning got underway, she realized the difficulties she would face by organizing a wedding so far from where she lived.

“I didn’t want to have to plan a weekend trip and make all of my decisions in one day,” she said. It wasn’t until a friend mentioned the Daniel Island Club that she decided to schedule an appointment. “I actually hadn’t seen it before, even though I work on Daniel Island. But I knew the minute I drove up for the first time that I had found the right spot,” recalled Ashley. “And then I met the staff and I realized that not only could I plan my wedding from literally one-mile away from where I work on Seven Farms Drive, but that they would also be a huge resource for me.”

Ashley and Stephen were married on the outside lawn at the Daniel Island Club on Saturday, November 21, 2009. It was a perfect Lowcountry fall day – sunny but with a slight chill in the air. As Ashley and Stephen were saying their vows, the sun shined brightly on the couple.

“Everything was perfect. From the weather to the food to the flowers and our photographers, Joey + Jessica,” said Ashley. “It may sound cheesy but it felt like it was all in God’s hands. It all happened exactly as it was meant to.”

Expressions Art Welcomes Renowned Artist Susan Mayfield

Charleston native and well-known artist Susan Mayfield will be visiting Daniel Island this upcoming weekend to provide a two-day “Drawing in Color” workshop at Expressions Art in the Publix Shopping Center. Susan is an award winning artist known for her use of color and light in her pastel landscapes. She now divides her time between the Lowcountry and Colorado with her husband, finding inspiration in the natural beauty of both environments.

The two-day “Drawing in Color” workshop will be an introductory class using various drawing media including charcoal and soft pastel. Geared towards beginners, this class is for both those who want a refresher course and students interested in exploring pastels for the first time.

The workshop will take place Friday and Saturday, January 22-23, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm both days. On Friday, students will learn about shading, tone and creating three-dimensional still life images, first with charcoal, and then with pastel. On Saturday, students will be working on the basics of landscape, in charcoal and pastel.

Only a few spots remain available for this weekend’s workshop, but Susan will be coming back to South Carolina this spring and fall to teach more classes and workshops.

To register for the workshop, which costs $195 and includes all supplies, call Dena at Expressions Art at (843) 884-1310, or stop by the store at 162 Seven Farms Drive (next to the Publix).

For more information about Susan, visit her blog www.susanmayfield.blogspot.com.

Island Resident Serves Up the Perfect Pie

Not long ago, Daniel Island resident David Orlando was happily living – and cooking – in Italy, when his brother called him with an offer that ultimately brought him back to the states. “He had seen an ad for a business that was for sale on Daniel Island, and he thought it would be a great opportunity to add something that the Daniel Island community was lacking – great pizza,” David explains. “He wanted me to come open it with him.”

Although leaving Italy was difficult, David seized the opportunity, packed his bags and moved to Charleston. Seven years later, Orlando’s Brick Oven Pizza is now one of the most popular dining spots on the island.

That’s not to say that it’s been easy. “It took me two years to perfect the crust, says David, who is originally from New Jersey. “I learned to make pizza in Italy, but there are so many factors that are involved in coming up with a recipe that works – the oven, the climate, the ingredients that are available to you – it takes a while to bring it all together and create the right formula.”

And then there are the usual challenges of owning and operating your own business: Long hours, staff turnover, changing food costs and more are just some of the components that David has learned to manage. But he’s managed the challenges well. His loyal customers are a snapshot of Daniel Island itself – young families looking for a kid-friendly place to dine, professionals who work on the island and want an affordable spot for lunch, students at nearby Bishop England High School. Basically, if you live or work on Daniel Island, chances are you eat at Orlando’s on a regular basis.

The Orlando’s menu is a classic selection of traditional pizzas, salads, signature pastas and two sandwiches – a meatball sub, and the latest addition to the menu, an authentic Philadelphia Cheese Steak. No matter what you order, you can’t go wrong – everything is delicious.

As for David, he’s found a way to balance his long hours as a business owner by moving to Daniel Island to reduce his commute time. “Two years ago I took advantage of a great deal on a condo on the island,” he says. “Now I can come and go throughout the day, and I don’t worry so much when I take a day off. If something goes wrong, I’m literally three minutes away.”

You can visit Orlando’s at 295 Seven Farms Drive in downtown Daniel Island, or call for take-out at (843) 884-6292.