DI Families: Meet the Lyndrups/Karens

This week, we sat down with Daniel Island resident, Carrie Lyndrup of Center Park, her husband, Jay Karen, daughter Marley, a fifth grader at the Daniel Island School and son Jonah, a second grader at the Daniel Island School.

The family graciously invited us into their beautiful Pierce Street home and enthusiastically answered our questions about life on Daniel Island - despite having just returned from a memorable trip to San Francisco and California’s Napa Valley. Jay and Carrie quickly wave aside any concerns about jet lag; this is a family that travels often, for work as well as for fun.

As CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, Jay often travels to cities around the globe to talk about the business. Carrie also travels for work. As an independent college counselor and managing partner of Carnahan Lyndrup, a New Orleans-based college counseling firm, Carrie meets with her high school-aged clients across the nation, as well as taking every opportunity to visit college campuses.

Thankfully, this ultra-busy family will stay Daniel Island-side for the next few weeks so that Marley’s homemade chocolate chip cookie and cocoa stand can open for business. Watch for Marley, her brother Jonah and dad, Jay on Daniel Island Drive at Center Park during the coming weekend afternoons. And don’t forget to buy a cookie - not only are they the best chocolate chip cookies around (we promise!) - your quarters go to an important cause!

Where are you from originally?

Jay Karen (JK): I’m from Oyster Bay, NY. My family, including my three brothers, moved to a suburb of Atlanta, GA, when I was in second grade. I lived there until college.

Carrie Lyndrup (CL): I grew up in Harrisonburg, VA. My family moved here to Mt. Pleasant right before I went to high school. Jay and I met at Winthrop University when I was a freshman and Jay was a senior. We started dating when Jay was out of college and I was a junior.

JK: Then we got engaged when she was a senior. I was already working at the National Golf Course Owners Association, from 1997 through 2007. The Association headquarters was originally located on Ben Sawyer Blvd, but around 2002, we moved to Daniel Island, erecting one of the first buildings on Seven Farms Drive. You probably know the building we’re in - on the top floor. We lease space on the ground level to Daniel Island Animal Hospital and to a dentist, Dr. Bannister. In 2007, I decided I was ready for the next step. Carrie, Marley (then 18 months old) and I moved to Haddon Heights, NJ, where I ran the trade association for the Bed & Breakfast industry. We were there for four and one-half years. Carrie, who had previously held a position as the Director of Freshman Admissions for the College of Charleston, landed a job at Princeton reviewing college applications. Jonah came along, too, while we were in New Jersey. In 2011, I decided to move the B&B Association headquarters from New Jersey to Daniel Island. I recalled that Daniel Island had a small town feel much like Haddon Heights and other small New Jersey towns and how much I liked the island when I worked at NGCOA. However, soon after we moved back to Daniel Island, I took a new position at a company called Select Registry, essentially a marketing company dedicated to promoting about 350 high-end B&Bs across the country. Then, in the spring of 2015, I got a call to consider coming back to NGCOA as the CEO. And as of October 1, 2015, it’s been a full circle. I couldn’t be happier.

What do you like to do in your free time? Where do you like to hang out - on and off Daniel Island?

CL: We do a lot of travelling as a result of both of our jobs. For example, the speaking engagement Jay had in Amsterdam last year. Often Marley will come with me to New Orleans, where my home office is located. And, of course, the trip to California we just got back from. We got to see cousins, visit an artists’ colony -- and even get close to some of Neil Young’s cows! We try to take the kids with us as much as possible and use the time to take in new experiences, see new things that aren’t a part of life here in Charleston. Last year, we were in Paris, right after the attacks. There were a lot of police with guns at the ready. I guess it could have been scary, but we really felt safe with so much security around. It’s just a part of reality of the world right now. I think Marley and Jonah understand that. When we’re here on Daniel Island, we like to spend time with friends, ride bikes, or go to the parks.

Marley Karen (MK): I like Spinny Park.

Jonah Karen: I like Center Park.

CL: They also like to play golf at the club with their Dad. Marley was about three years old when she started spending time with Jay out on the course. Now she’s the youngest member of the Daniel Island School Golf Team. Of course, Jonah learned golf early too; he was about five when he started learning the game. Jonah: I also like playing with Legos...and eating cereal! MK: I like to play with my hamster, Jingles. And I like to cook sometimes, too CL: Marley likes working in the kitchen. She’s a great baker. She’s actually planning a cookie and hot cocoa stand this coming weekend. She gives most of the money she earns to March of Dimes.

MK: March of Dimes uses the money to help newborn babies with birth defects.

CL: We had friends with newborn twins that had serious medical issues. Marley did a walk with us to raise money for the organization one year and has been selling cookies to raise additional money ever since. Daniel Island resident Ben Tonon is one of Marley’s most loyal customers. In turn, we use his business, Daniel Island Shuttle, as often as possible.

Of all the places you’ve visited, what’s your favorite?

MK: I really like going to the top of Eiffel Tower!

Jonah: I liked the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam!

CL: For me, it was the free samples of Belgian chocolate in Brussels!

Do you take any day trips or short overnight trips?

JK: Kiawah. Sometimes I take “Daddy and me” trips with just Marley or Jonah to Myrtle Beach.

CL: Another favorite place for a short trip is Asheville, NC.

JK: And we are planning an overnight trip to Pawley’s Island with three other DI families for New Year’s weekend.

What are some of your favorite restaurants - on or off Daniel Island?

MK: I like the Steak and Shake (near Tanger Outlet in North Charleston).

CL: Jay is a pretty much a regular at Honeycomb. He’ll often take work to do there. And we go to Orlando’s a lot; Marley goes there a lot with her friends. We also go to Sermet’s when we can. We also love Edmund’s Oast and The Tattooed Moose downtown.

Do you prefer to eat out - or cook meals at home?

JK: We tend to eat out a lot since we travel so much.

When you do get a chance to make a meal at home, what kinds of things do you like to make?

CL: Today, Marley is going to make pancakes and bacon for brunch. For dinner, I’m going to make my special fried chicken - we’ve nicknamed it “Jicken” for Jay’s Chicken - along with asparagus or broccoli - and tater tots.

What sort of family traditions do you have?

CL: We try to have Family Movie Night every Friday and brunch with my parents just about every Sunday. We also like to dance in the kitchen to favorite music like Stevie Wonder songs.

What’s been your favorite movie so far?

Jonah: The new Ghostbusters movie!

What words would you use to describe your life on Daniel Island?

Jonah: Fun

CL: Pleasant

MK: Quiet

JK: Quaint