Cara Alford
📍Charleston, SC | Founder of Allegory Art Consulting
📝 Editor’s Note | Rob Belk
This weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. This place is arguably one of Charlotte’s (and maybe North Carolina’s) crown jewels.
It is massive: 1,500 acres and 50 miles of trails.
A millenial hipster’s paradise. A diservice, but the compound could be distilled into 1/3 nature preserve, 1/3 amusement park, and 1/3 concert venue. It is home to the largest and most complex recirculating artificial whitewater river anywhere.
And no, I did not wear my Panthers jersey there because most of you said I look like a dork (and because it was a Saturday).
Without further ado, this week’s profile…
Why Cara?
My cousin Rebecca strongly recommended Cara, who has an interesting background in art consulting and a passion for live music. Cara has me wanting to visit Charleston to eat at Chubby Fish and then go to a live show….
Follow Cara’s business on Instagram
Self-Description
I'm a laid back mom of twins who enjoys going out to delicious dinners, evening beach sessions, and checking out as much live music as humanly possible.
Cara’s 6 Recommendations
Written in her own words…
1. Chubby Fish
I'm so lucky to live in a town with such a great culinary scene, especially because one of my favorite activities is to wine and dine. If you're ever in need of food recommendations for an upcoming visit to Charleston, I'm your gal. The restaurants in this town are always evolving, new ones open weekly it seems but for high brow dining, I can't recommend Chubby Fish enough. It'll be guaranteed the best bite of your life, every bite. Low-brow dining, you simply cannot beat Chico Feo on Folly Beach for tacos under the palms, washed down with a Samurai Sling - the perfect end, or start, to any beach day.
2. Outsource Your Weaknesses
It's one of the most valuable things you can do to continue to grow your business. If you need help - find someone who can help lighten your load. If you're hitting road blocks, enlist in the pros. This is at the core of the work I do at Allegory Art Consulting; when artists are swamped with administrative work, I swoop in to relieve that burden and let them get back to what they do best - create.
3. Gift a Custom Peter Millar Shirt
I seriously crushed my 2nd anniversary gift this year. We stuck to the traditional "Cotton" gift theme and I bought my husband a 100% cotton Peter Millar (he lives in golf shirts) shirt and got our twin daughters initials embroidered on the breast pocket to slightly represent a country club logo. He's obsessed and it brings a smile to my face to see him rock it so proudly.
4. Heady Concert Reviews
I'm a big music gal, primarily the jam band/bluegrass/southern rock world, but I truly love all music. If you haven't seen Billy Strings yet - what in the world are you doing with your time? We've been keeping our eye on Mountain Grass Unit, a quad of young fellas out of Birmingham who have taken the jam-grass scene by storm. I'm also a die hard Widespread Panic fan and if you haven't seen them at the St. Augustine Amphitheater yet, make it a priority - they burn that swamp down. And if you're ever in Charleston looking to catch some fantastic local music, The Charleston Pour House is an absolute must.
Follow Cara’s account: @Headyconcertreviews (IG)
Cara’s Bullish Playlist (Make sure to hit save on Spotify):
5. Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island
One of the most special, under-the-radar places my husband and I have visited is the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island. The island, located just on the Georgia/Florida border, is only accessible by boat. The island is primarily undeveloped and is rich with history. Greyfield is the only public lodging on the island and is the perfect blend of luxurious and DIY. All the meals are 5 stars without being too pretentious. In an effort not to give away too much of the allure of Grefield and Cumberland, you can expect to see lots of wild horses, incredible mansion ruins, dirt roads lined with live oaks and deserted beaches.
6. Solid Wood Picture Frame
I have found a fantastic, high-quality, low-cost frame on Amazon that I love to recommend to my clients. It's made of solid wood and has these subtle, rounded corners. It comes in a few different wood finishes and immediately elevates any piece of 2D work.
Plug | Allegory Art Consulting
I started my business with two intentions in mind: to connect people to art and to help artists find people who connect with their work. It's been such a rewarding venture to do both. I find so much joy in helping collectors and artists navigate through the art world with confidence and helping build collections and grow creative businesses. If you're an artist who is feeling weighed down with the business side of your practice, hit me up. If you're into art and want to grow your collection with intention, holler at your girl.
Want to get in touch with Cara? Email her at cara@allegoryartconsulting.com or DM on Instagram @allegoryartconsulting
P.S. from Rambull — I am a trust your gut guy when it comes to making major decisions. I really liked what Alexa McKnight said several months back - take a magic eight ball, shake it, and how you react to the ‘answer’ highlights your gut instinct.
I found this mini $8 magic eight ball for my desk:
