Its December, so lets start with…

Food

The boiled peanut is the official state snack of South Carolina.  Ever wonder about its history?  Learn about “new crop” and find a recipe here:  (Columbia Metroplotian H/T GVL Today)

Elevated to icon status in 2006, when the boiled peanut was designated as the official state snack by the South Carolina Legislature, the peanut has a long history that spans both centuries and continents…
The first peanuts to arrive in what became the United States came from Africa in the 18th century on slave ships. Easy to propagate, peanuts soon flourished in plantation gardens throughout South Carolina. “Peanuts were commonly boiled in Africa, so the dish quickly became a staple for enslaved Americans,” says Dr. Dan Anco, a peanut specialist with Clemson University. “Legend has it that Civil War soldiers first boiled peanuts to keep from starving, but, in reality, peanuts were being boiled long before the Civil War, both in the United States and in Africa.”

An overview of Food Halls in the state.  (Columbia Business Monthly)

Chef Sean Brock (think Husk in Charleston and GVL) tries something new in Nashville. (CBS H/T GVL Today)

Business

Freightliner to add 193 jobs in Gaffney.  (UBJ)

SC ranks #16 in Forbes list of Best States for Business (Forbes, H/T Post & Courier)

Pelican announces the acquisition of GVL-based Confluence Outdoor. (UBJ)

Real Estate

Ever wonder where Campobello gets its name?(Greenville Journal)

Broad Margin is a private residence in GVL, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1951.  (Greenville Journal)

Tiny homes in the Upstate.  (GVL Business Magazine)

Entertainment

A GVL native makes it to the CMAs…“At 21 years old, Wilson is no more than a few years removed from his days attending Greenville High School, but his songwriting skills have already landed him a writing credit on the most streamed country album of all time in its debut week, with more than 33 million on-demand audio streams.” (Greenville Journal)

A retro toy convention was held in GVL.  This brings back some memories.  See photos here: (GVL Journal)

Parks & Rec

Hatcher Garden unveils recent improvements.  (Photos via GoUpstate)

Sustainability & Recycling

Milliken has joined the United Nations Global Compact – the world’s biggest sustainability initiative. (Milliken, H/T GVL Today)

Gun Metal Forge recrafts old guns into tools like hammers, knives, mallets and chisels. (GVL Journal)

“Two new solar farms in the Midlands will generate enough power for 30,000 homes in South Carolina and help fuel Google’s expanding data center campus in Berkeley County…”  (Post & Courier)

Like this newsletter?  Forward it along.  Want it delivered to your inbox once a month?  Sign up here.