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AIKEN WELCOMES WINTER

As cooler days settle in and Aiken’s winter charm begins to shine, there’s no better time to enjoy the season’s peaceful beauty and festive spirit.

IN THIS ISSUE:

HOSTING, PIMENTO CHEESE, AND SOUTHERN
COOKING WITH REBECCA LANG

A ninth-generation southerner and prolific cookbook author, Rebecca Lang has spent her career telling the stories of iconic Southern foods. Her upcoming book, Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread, is no exception.

In it, she traces the history of pimento cheese from its roots in the North—then, a “mixture of pimentos and cream cheese”—to the rich, varied recipes that sprung up across the South. Crafted from locally made southern hoop cheese, pimento cheese historically tasted different depending on region, city, and—of course—family recipe. “Everybody in the South most often has an emotional connection to pimento cheese, just as with fried chicken,” Rebecca says. “And a lot of times you’re connected to that pimento cheese that you grew up with.”

As she began working on the recipes, she shares, more and more people would approach her with their pimento cheese stories: a cross between recipes and family memories. These stories pepper throughout her book, a tapestry that covers everything from the first pimento cheese at the Augusta National Golf Club, made in a small kitchen and driven to the club via pickup truck, to Easter Pimento Cheese, made with pineapple and only served on special occasions.

Her neighbor shared a story of her mother’s rendition of pimento cheese, a tangy spread called Cheese Pimento. She didn’t have a written recipe, but remembered exactly how it tasted from when she was young. Rebecca painstakingly recreated the recipe batch by batch, her neighbor driving down, spoon in hand, to taste each one until she got it exactly right. “There was a very fine line of the yellow mustard being just enough and not too much,” Rebecca says.

Pimento Cheese: The Southern Spread, coming in March from the University of Georgia Press, includes almost seventy recipes, plus incredible details about the personal and regional significance of the dish. Rebecca will be joining us this March for a cooking demonstration, and she looks forward to hearing pimento cheese stories of your own.

Watch the video to hear more about Rebecca’s thoughts on Southern food, cooking, and hosting. 

Call 803.648.1898 to reserve your seat for Rebecca’s cooking demonstration at The Willcox, March 27th from 4 to 5:30pm. $55 per person, not including tax and gratuity.

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LEGACY & CHARITY: THE STORY OF BRUCE’S FIELD

Barely a mile from the oak-shaded lanes of South Boundary, you’ll find the green fields, racetracks, and world-renowned equestrian facilities of the Aiken Horse Park. Bruce Duchossois, a local horseman known for his geniality and integrity, purchased the land twentyfive years ago with clear goals: to save the land from development and host two charity horse shows per year.

His vision harkened back to a time when equestrianism revolved around camaraderie and philanthropy, Tara Bostwick, CEO of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, shares. Bruce wanted the shows to celebrate everyone, from owners and riders to the staff and attendees, creating a true communal experience.

When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, Bruce set out to create the Aiken Horse Park Foundation: a legacy that would help the park continue hosting horse shows and partnering with incredible charities.

“With Bruce’s passing, we recognized that we really needed to do everything we could to fulfill his dream and find those horse show dates that we could put on in his honor,” Tara says. At the same time, it became clear to the foundation’s team just how much the equestrian landscape had shifted since the park first opened. In order to attract exceptional exhibitors, they needed to complete significant upgrades: state-of-the-art footing, new facilities, and arenas.

With seed money donated by Bruce’s family, followed by a successful capital campaign, the foundation undertook this expansive, multi-year project— turning the park into an Olympic-level eventing venue and bringing the world’s top equestrian athletes to Aiken.

Today, the Aiken Horse Park—lovingly known as Bruce’s Field—is home to eighteen barns, five competitive arenas, and five schooling arenas. While they’ve made Bruce’s Field one of the most sought-after venues in the region, Tara says Aiken itself has become a huge draw for the exhibitors as well. “The discerning competitor today is looking beyond just the facility,” she says. They are looking for the experience.” Located close by both Hitchcock Woods and downtown Aiken, Tara says it’s easy for horses and their riders to experience the very best of the city.

Staying true to Bruce’s original vision, the foundation has far exceeded their wildest expectations—hosting shows nearly all year round, including all three Olympic equestrian events: show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing. It all culminates in February with the Grand-Prix Eventing Showcase at Bruce’s Field, the park’s marquee event and the only ticketed showcase of the year.

Every single other event at Bruce’s Field is free, open to the public, and presented in partnership with charities like Danny & Ron’s Rescue, Equine Rescue of Aiken, and Mental Health America Aiken County. All are welcome to come and enjoy the festivities, eat lunch, shop from their row of vendors, and enjoy all the camaraderie and exceptional equestrianism at Bruce’s Field.

View next year’s calendar of events at
their website.

THE JOY OF MUSIC: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOYE IN AIKEN

Classical, jazz, bluegrass—for one week each year, the everlasting joy of music resounds throughout Aiken in the annual Joye in Aiken festival. Every March, our city plays host to musical artists across genres, who travel from around the world to perform and teach in Aiken.

Eric Boetsch, President of Joye in Aiken’s board of directors, was kind enough to share with us more information of the organization’s founding, a journey that began with the late Gregory White Smith and Dr. Sandra Field. First known as Julliard in Aiken, the movement was born from Greg and Dr. Field’s partnership with The Julliard School in New York City. Then, Juilliard graduates performed at Aiken’s Joye Cottage, the historic home of the Whitneys—before Dr. Field served as the “driving force” of a movement to bring culture and musical education to all of Aiken.

She and the rest of the Joye in Aiken team set out to create a comprehensive program, bringing artists to teach and participate in residencies in underserved schools and providing musical experiences to over 52,000 students.

This year’s Joye in Aiken festival livened Aiken’s streets with jazz, cabaret, and swing—and next year’s calendar proves to be just as vibrant. Attendees can expect a performance by Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs, symphony music with a “grunge rock twist,” and so much more. Eric even teased that a very special guest will appear at the Joye of Jazz event at The Willcox this year!

The entire festival this coming year is held in honor of Dr. Field, who Eric shares was a “guiding light” to Joye in Aiken and its mission.

Learn more about the festival at joyeinaiken.com.

Dr. Sandra Field, a fierce proponent of musical enrichment and cofounder of Joye in Aiken passed in August of this year. The 2026 Joye in Aiken festival will be held in her honor, memorializing her dedication to the arts in our city.

FRED ASTAIRE IN AIKEN

With his smooth tenor voice, signature tap shoes, and rhythmic, quick-moving steps, Fred Astaire is perhaps one of the most recognizable stars of Old Hollywood, remaining in the popular imagination long after his final movie. Astaire’s contributions to the film industry were so abundant that, upon his death, Gene Kelly remarked, “The history of dance on film begins with Astaire.” But did you know the same man who dazzled on the silver screen spent many of his winters in Aiken?

After his marriage to New York socialite Phyllis Livingston Potter, the two visited Aiken regularly with their children, Fred Jr. and Ava. Phyllis’s aunt and uncle owned a home on Easy Street, offering an opportunity for the glamorous young family to enjoy leisurely time free from the spotlight.

Once here, Astaire became an active participant in two of Aiken’s most iconic pastimes: golfing and horse racing, even bringing his award-winning horse Triplicate to train in the city. His presence cast a spotlight upon Aiken as well, with an image of Astaire at the old Rosemary Movie Theater making its way to the pages of Life magazine. In the spread, he can be seen dancing in the theater as his movies play behind him.

Through it all, Astaire remained a dancer first and foremost, with locals remembering a moment of serendipity: when a few teenagers knocked on his door to ask if the legend himself would dance with them, Astaire danced with them all down Easy Street.

His time in Aiken came to a close after the passing of his wife; he couldn’t bring himself to return to the city where they had so many cherished winters together.

Aiken’s memory of Astaire and the other Old Hollywood stars who graced our city lives on. Every December, we host Holidays in Old Hollywood—a musical storytelling experience led by award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Brooke Lundy and Willcox resident pianist John Vaughn. Join us next year to learn more about Aiken and Hollywood’s shared history.

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WINTER READS

The Overstory by Richard Powers
A sweeping, character-driven novel that interlaces human stories with the hidden life of trees, inspiring readers to see the natural world with renewed wonder.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
A powerful, immersive story set during World War II, following two sisters in occupied France, full of courage, sacrifice, and hope.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
A thought-provoking exploration of how humans evolved,shaped societies, and built the modern world.

Don’t Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know about American History But Never Learned
A reader-friendly, accessible survey of American history— helpful for reflection and perspective as the year winds down

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky
Fascinating and richly detailed, this book explores how something as ordinary as salt shaped economies, cultures, and human history.

COCKTAIL CORNER:
MERRY & BRIGHT

Just as the name suggests, this cocktail evokes the sunniest of winter days—a chilled, rich experience brightened by citrus and sweetened with agave. Mandarin vodka anchors the drink, with a splash of Grand Marnier deepening the flavor with bitter orange and vanilla. Enjoy sipping this winter delight fireside in The Willcox lobby, or make at home with the recipe below.

  • 2 oz Satsuma Cathead Vodka
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz agave
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1/4 oz grand marnier

Shake well with ice and serve in a rocks glass with a dehydrated orange.

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