Established Magazine

Party over here … in West Africa!

 As the capitol of Ghana Accra is one of the older established cities in the region.  Famous for it’s cocoa and gold Ghana is one of the most stable and safe countries in West Africa. With its international airport servicing direct flights from Atlanta, DC, New York & London, Accra is quickly becoming a very cosmopolitan city by West African (and our) standards.

Getting off the plane, the first thing you notice is the heat - it is hot, AFRICA HOT!!! Upon exiting the airport like in most countries there are dozens of taxi drivers soliciting your business, as with most places its best to have someone pick you up because if you don’t know where your going the cabbie won’t know either – this time, we’re headed to the Lionheart Events Compound!

The Lionheart Events Compound is located in the quiet upscale neighborhood of East Cantonments, the same area of town that the massive US Embassy complex is located as well a many G8 countries embassies.

After getting settled and showering for the 3rd time that day we got dressed to go out and see what the scene is like - all day we’ve been hearing about a lounge call Twist that was not to far from the compound - so we throw on some jeans and fresh tees and drive off into the darkness of the sparsely lit streets. Driving about a half mile we see the typical sign of a party- cars parked in the street and lots of beautiful people; this looks like the spot although surprisingly different than what we’d expect. As we roll up on the scene we see nothing but luxury vehicles from Range Rover Sports to Audi coupes and Ducati motor bikes very similar to what you’d find in  S. Beach … except we’re in the jungle!

At the entrance is a great lawn with a small stage with small tables scattered on the lawn - across is the bamboo patio with an outdoor bar and 5 bamboo VIP booths - the entrance is guarded by 3  bouncers eager to put you in your place if your not a member or don’t look the part, as we quickly found out. The attendant asked if we were on the list and advised this is a members only club – of course we said no, and the bouncers began to salivate at the thought of throwing us Americans out on our faces. After a bit of name-dropping and letting them know that we were here to see our friend Tamara from Lionheart Events, they decided to go in and verify our claims. She came out with a gentleman behind her who positioned himself at the entrance and asked who we were. Ithan Payne, our ace travel editor, fortunately knew Tamara. The gentleman burst out with a big show of love and told the bouncers to back down and let us in … jeans and all, but don’t try that at home kids.

The guy was Eric Goka, the charismatic owner of Twist and as we would find out, also the fiancé of our host Tamara. Upon entering we could tell that this is definitely the place to be.

We got the run down on who’s was who - from Nana B, West Africa’s top video producer to Reggie Rockstone, pioneer of HIP LIFE, a cross between hip hop & high life music, to Leslie Amissah a top corporate event planner, to Nigerian music producers, actors and other tastemakers - Twist was truly South Beach in Accra, where the young elite go to play!

Boasting the highest Champagne sales of any venue in Accra, Twist offers a well educated bar staff that can make any cocktail found here or anywhere in the world including a creamy mint martini (Eric’s special recipe).  They also feature one of the best menus of any lounge in the city with everything from pizza (one of many delicacies in Ghana) to a sweet and sour Calamari. Fridays are the best nights to come but be advised you must know someone to get in. Tell them you know Ithan Payne with Established Mag, you never know! They are open from 10:30pm until the last person leaves - if you’re a soccer fan you can always find a crew of guys watching the game there usually hosted by Eric’s brother Raeed who will be more than happy to share the hookah with you.  There is never a cover and the drinks are very reasonably priced - the music is mostly American top 40 hits – And don’t be surprised when everyone goes crazy for Rihanna’s lyrics “Ooh nana, what’s your name…” as “Nana” is a special Ghanaian title for those born on Saturdays - so if you were born on a Saturday in Ghana, your name would be “Nana (your existing name here)”.

If and when you’re in Ghana you must check out Twist Lounge in Laboni, Accra GH a true first world vibe with African hospitality. And that’s just the warm up, Grand Papa’s is the after party… we’ll tell you about that one next time!

to be continued

by: Ithan Payne – Global Cowboy

Next stop: Greenville SC.  The Established StayCation

Spending three days in Greenville, South Carolina is like spending a weekend in Dallas, Manhattan and Napa. It’s true what they say- Greenville, South Carolina has something for everyone. And there is no better time than the fall to plan a getaway.

You can explore the outdoors, cycling through the Swamp Rabbit Trail and taking a zipline canopy tour of the Upstate; you can experience fine dining and discover chefs with talents that have been recognized by some of the country’s best food critics; you can drive the world’s ultimate luxury vehicle at speeds of more than 90 mph, and all of this in one long weekend, resting your head in the same place every night.

When we say we’ve got something for everyone- we’re not kidding.

Here’s how you can spend 3 days in Greenville, and wish you had 3 more days…

Day 1 (Friday)

9am: Arrive and check in at the Historic Westin Poinsett Hotel - the historic centerpiece of downtown Greenville.

10am: Take a ride on the Free trolley up and down Main Street to aquaint yourself with the hundreds of locally owned and operated boutique shops and restaurants

11am: Take a leisurely stroll through Falls Park - the 40 acre park that is in the center of Downtown Greenville. Cross over the Reedy River along the Liberty Bridge - a 355 foot suspension bridge over the waterfalls; the centerpiece of downtown.

12pm: Lunch at The Lazy Goat - where Chef Victoria Moore (one of John Mariani’s breakout chefs to watch) puts her spin on a Mediterranean-themed menu featuring global influences from Spain, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Africa and the Middle East. Known for a “made from scratch” approach to cooking- every item that is served is almost exclusively made by the culinary team. Be sure to try the local ale from Thomas Creek -the Upstate’s premiere microbrewery.

1pm: Check out the Michelin Retail Store - and no, we don’t mean to buy tires…. Michelin’s first trademark retail store in North America, located in Greenville is the only retail store of its kind featuring Michelin-inspired products along with multi-media presentations, unique displays and of course the popular Michelin man, Bibendum. You can find everything from coffee mugs to Christmas ornaments, stuffed toys to golf balls- all with the signature Michelin Man himself.

2pm: Head out to the BMW Performance Drive - the only place in the country where you can drive the latest models 90 miles an hour on a wet/dry track, slalom race course and more. The most exhilarating way to spend an afternoon. Or if driving cars isn’t your thing- maybe looking at them is- check out the BMW Zentrum Museum - where the past, present and future of BMW come together in a one-of-a-kind building. See the cars, the speed, the innovation–all for free in the only BMW museum in North America.

5pm: Head to Main Street Fridays at the Hyatt - a 28-week free music series running every Friday from March 18 through September 30. This tradition provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy downtown Greenville on our award-winning Main Street. Each week throughout the event series features a variety of musical genres and styles performed by local, regional and national talent.

7pm: Dinner at American Grocery where Chef Joe Clarke features products sourced from local and regional farms and from artisan producers from within the United States. The menu changes frequently- almost daily- based on the freshest products we can procure from our local purveyors and the bounty of the seasons. The “Grocery List” boasts all the local producers where Clarke sources his food from Happy Cow Creamery to Palmetto Pigeon Farm.

9pm: Take a carriage ride down Main Street and notice how the trees literally twinkle with excitement.

Saturday:

9am: Walk along Main Street through the Saturday Morning Market - what’s become not only a food movement but a social scene in downtown. More than 50 vendors make shopping local easy. The market opens at 8 a.m. every Saturday between May and October. And don’t worry – they’ve got coffee too (and be sure to try Great Harvest’s brownie bread)

11am: Pay tribute to one of America’s legends at the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library, located in the house in which Jackson lived and died. The museum displays artifacts, photographs, film, books and other items of interest associated with his life.

12:30pm: Stroll along Artists row and check out the talents of the local art scene. Greenville has become a destination for artists- thanks to its signature spring event “Artisphere”.

2pm: Culinary Tour of Greenville- the perfect blend of food and history- “At the Chef’s Table” Tour will take you to five destinations—each with the opportunity to meet other chefs and dine at their tables. The first stop will bring you to one of downtown Greenville’s most unique private dining/living/meeting spaces: The Loft at Soby’s. Here your own personal chef will create and serve the first culinary creation while you learn about the historic building and surroundings. A kitchen visit to Soby’s on the Side will bring you behind-the-scenes for the next tasting from the deli, bakery, and catering hub of the Table 301 restaurant group. A historic walking tour crossing Court Square and the Reedy River will fill you in on some of downtown’s rich past as well as modern monuments to its successful revitalization. Not only will we cross the city’s river, but we’ll cross the Big Pond on a culinary journey to the Mediterranean at The Lazy Goat where more special touches and fine food await. The next stop, Soby’s New South Cuisine, will bring you back to the roots of Greenville’s restaurant boom and will introduce its explorations of taste with Southern dishes with a fresh twist. Finally, a decadent dessert served in a special private dining room at Devereaux’s Restaurant will complete the tour after seeing the elegant spaces, meeting the chef, and hearing the stories of one of Greenville’s finest.

6pm: If sports is your thing, catch a Greenville Drive game - Complete with a Green Monster in left field, bet you thought you were in Boston! The Greenville Drive is a Minor League farm team of the Boston Red Sox. A family of 4 can enjoy the day for $20! Or check out the Peace Center- where every Saturday night they offer Downtown Films featuring independent films and cult favorites. It’s the only theatre in Greenville where you can have beer and wine. Or you might catch a Broadway show or concert.

8pm: Dinner at Stella’s Southern Bistro (if you can even think about food after the culinary tour!) Just outside of downtown, Stella’s offers cuisine inspired by the coastal Carolinas’ & the American South. Anyone visiting Greenville has to have shrimp and grits and this is just the place to enjoy the cuisine of Chef Jason Scholz who has received national attention.

Sunday:

9am: Also known as Bikeville, Greenville, has become a hub for avid cyclers. One of the most popular trails in the area is the Greenville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit Tram Trail, a 13.55 mile biking trail that runs along the Reedy River connecting Travelers Rest with the City of Greenville. Take an early morning ride to work off yesterday’s indulgence- bike rentals are available right at the start of the trail.

11am: Brunch at High Cotton- a Charleston staple made its way to Greenville sharing its take on Southern Cuisine from chef Anthony Grey.

12pm: Head out Poinsett Highway towards Scenic Highway 11- but be careful. If you blink- you might miss something spectacular. Lined with trails, waterfalls and hidden natural landscape treasures, this stretch of highway is simply spectacular.  Don’t miss Campbell’s Covered Bridge- South Carolina’s only remaining covered bridge, and the oldest bridge in South Carolina, the Poinsett Bridge.  Keep an eye out for the cardboard sign on the side of the road pointing to Burley Bill’s BBQ. This is a foodie’s dream (may we suggest the Carolina BBQ). They’re on the food truck trend- but by no means intentionally.

3pm: Stop off at Victoria Valley Vineyards for a quick Wine Tasting in the French “chateau” styled tasting room, overlooking the forty-seven acre site while sipping on your choice of their homegrown Vinitera Wines.

Sadly, it’s time to head home. Want more? please visit www.greenvillecvb.com

by: Taryn Scher