Vessel

OUR SUMMER 2026 ISSUE IS ALMOST HERE—number 11. For new readers, as well as those of you who’ve been with us since day one, I’d like to review what Vessel has become and where we are heading. When I launched Vessel in November 2022, Substack was the primary way we shared stories. In those early days, this platform allowed us to build the groundwork of a publication and an audience. We produced monthly digital issues, along with weekly dispatches, all while paving the way for a print launch.

Sponsored Edition WALKING INTO DZN STUDIO + HOME, founded in Greenville in 2019 by Ann Nager, is like entering the brick-exposed loft of your hip best friend. Clean lines complement cozy textures and comforting colors. This is all a result of a dedicated team obsessed with modern furniture and exceptional quality. Cozy modern is a term coined to describe DZN’s unique approach to style—a polished mix of Scandinavian, mid-century modern, and European furniture and décor.

By Kate White Little Photograph courtesy of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art THE NOTION THAT SERIOUS ART and entertainment only exists in New York and Los Angeles endured for decades, but today the South stands at the center of the modern cultural conversation and is shaping what comes next. Whether through visionary collections, bold architecture, or unconventional guest experiences and environments, here are the regional museums leading the charge.

THERE IS NO END to Charleston’s charms. Recently, I was in town for the Holy City’s annual Charleston Wine & Food Festival, celebrating its 20th year. Vessel participated in the festival’s Media Power Hour—an opportunity for industry pros to connect with regional and national publications.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD. Flavor is essential, but presentation is the icing. The eye eats (or drinks) first, and we are enthralled by culinary artistry of all forms. The layers of effort that undergird the food culture of the South are evident at these standout spots. Our region is alive in gustatory riches, from farm to table (and distillery, as you’ll see below).

IN 1956, WILLIAM FAULKNER TOLD THE PARIS REVIEW WHYHE HABITUALLY SET HIS NOVELS in his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi, and its surrounding countryside: “I discovered that my own little postage stamp of native soil was worth writing about and that I would never live long enough to exhaust it.” And he never did.

AFTER A SUMMER PAUSE, The Monthly has returned—just in time to showcase a few of the stories in our fall issue. We take pride in creating an exceptional visual package, but it’s highly important for our words to resonate.

I AM NOT ONLY A STARGAZER but a sky-gazer. My eyes invariably turn upward. I revel in the vastness of the sky and what I can absorb with my limited sight. Earlier this year, while curating our Summer 2025 issue, I had the idea to include full spreads bearing dark, star-drenched skies. I turned to contributor Jennifer Oladipo to pen a story about the disappearing darkness and Southeastern places to access pure night.

GRAFT WINE SHOP IS A VIBRANT, intimate wine destination on Charleston’s King Street. Founded in 2018 by sommeliers Femi Oyediran and Miles White, Graft offers sustainably produced Old and New World wines, along with vinyl records and a laid-back atmosphere. Thanks to its knowledgeable staff, tasty snacks (as well as its new pizza shop, Tutti, right next door), rotating playlists, and an ever‑changing, thoughtfully curated wine list, Graft makes wine approachable and fun.

WE TAKE PRIDE IN GREAT STORYTELLING. Excellent writing deserves an exceptional package, and that’s what we strive to deliver via our print magazine each quarter. It’s perhaps ironic to write about our print publication via this platform. But the truth is, memorable brands are multifaceted. We hope to cultivate community in ways that align with our values: authenticity, diversity, respectfulness, and a high degree of care and thought. We believe that Substack connects us to aligned readers.