Wilmington Magazine March-April 2014

March/ april 2014

springn fashio p. 54

Decorating iDeas for

outDoor spaces Tips & Advice to Create a Backyard Oasis

Plus: sPring TrAvel to the MOunTAins

47 TiPs

for an AMeriCAn FOOdie

Wilmington’s Waterfront Specialist

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Landfall

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2020 Spanish Wells Drive

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This sprawling home is comfortably stretched out across two lots on the Pete Dye Golf Course (par 5 #7). $690,000

6130 Leeward Lane

Windward

This peaceful residence embraces its’ Hewlett Creek waterfront location with .88 acres. $949,000

913 Twisted Oak Place

Landfall

Sited atop one of Landfall’s highest waterfront bluffs, this California inspired residence overlooks the magical confluence of Howe Creek, the ICWW, Mason’s Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean. $1,685,000

2200 Masons Point Place

Wrightsville Beach Enjoy the top two floors of

Landfall

this 4 bedroom condo complete with a pier and boat slip in your own back yard. $1,350,000

3013 Sunnybranch Drive

Demarest Landing

Prepare to be pampered in this fine brick residence located at the end of a quiet culde-sac overlooking the Nicklaus Ocean course and Howe Creek. $1,050,000

Located on a high wooded bluff overlooking the calm waters of Howe Creek this south facing property will beckon you to this timeless coastal cottage and private pier. $1,395,000

7807 Masonboro Sound Road

6013 Wellesley Drive

2229 Masons Point Place

Landfall

4A Channel Avenue

Landfall

Located on Wilmington’s “Magnificent Mile”, this 5.2 acre parcel includes a 2,000 square foot cottage and a new pier with 4 boat slips. $1,695,000

White Hall

1 Oyster Catcher

Figure 8 Island “Twin Views” -

Glorious sunrises and spectacular sunsets abound from this unique residence with wrap around decks to enjoy incredible ocean, sound and inlet views. $1,595,000

403 Summer Rest Road

The scene for several movies and television series, features 4 ½ acres of manicured grounds with a main residence, lighted tennis court, salt water pool, pricate stocked pond and a 3 bedroom guest cottage. $1,995,000

Wrightsville Beach Absolutely stunning waterfront

home with private pier including 2 lifts and floating dock overlooking the shimmering Intracoastal Waterway and Wrightsville Beach. $2,695,000

Vance Young

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Enjoy watching the action from this bluff location overlooking Landfall’s par 3 #6 Nicklaus Ocean Course with Howe Creek and distant waterway views. $849,500

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March / April 2014

68

Living in the Great Outdoors With spring right around the corner, it’s time to turn your attention from indoor pursuits to the great outdoors.

By Lauren Frye

54 A Spring Tale

Girlie-girl style with an edge is this spring’s hottest trend.

By Kristin Wood

76 Spring Travel

to the Mountains

Sometimes you want to find a different direction, like having a mountain view from your room.

By Katie Osteen

94 Foodies Rejoice!

“We’ll always have Paris”

A nostalgic tour through the twists and turns of this culinary capital.

PHOTO COURTESY LEISURE WORLD

By Kim Byer

4 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

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Departments »

15 Buzz

March / Arpil 2014

47 Well Styled

83 Health

91 Food+Drink

15 Azaleas on Tour Gearing up for the garden tour

47 Elegant Ingénue Give your wardrobe a spring makeover

83 About Face Cosmetic surgeons new noninvasive procedures

91 Dining Review Hops Supply Co. American Gastropub

16 Calendar Our five musts from this issue’s calendar of events

48 Beauty Expert advice on changing your hairstyle and finding the right hair products

84 Cosmetic Surgery Plastic surgery is on the rise, and some say it will improve our country’s financial health

94 In The Kitchen A nostalgic culinary tour through the twists and turns of Paris

18 Events Your guide to planning your social calendar 22 Wine Women & Shoes The third annual event benefiting Make A Wish 24 Wilmington Wine Festival A three day culinary celebration

51 Home Unique home decor at Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors 54 Spring Fashion Shopping local for Spring’s hottest trends

89 Diet Once considered just Southern comfort food, we get the skinny about Southern greens

102 Restaurant Guide The best spots for eating and drinking in Wilmington

SPECIAL SECTION 63 Summer Camp Guide We have lots of camp options, from sports and science to academics and religion, to make your home very quiet this summer

62 Fashion Weekend The inaugural fashion event

26 Azalea Garden Tour A preview of three gardens on this year’s tour 30 Entertainment Reviews of new movies and music

Fundamentals

32 Art Seen The precision handcrafted jewelry of Mitzy Jonkheer

10 Reader Services 12 Publisher’s Letter 112 The Last Reflection

34 P rofile Noted author and historian Dr. William Ferris 36 Staff Picks New book titles for some good reading 38 Local Chatter The latest trends in window treatments 43 Southern Drawl Corning Inc.’s optical fiber plant in Wilmington 6 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Travel 109

109 We’re Going to Disney World It’s every child’s dream, but before you go, take advantage of expert advice to get the most out of the Magic Kingdom

March/ april 2014

spring fashion p. 54

Decorating iDeas for

outDoor spaces Tips & Advice to Create a Backyard Oasis

Plus: sPring TrAvel to the MOunTAins

47 TiPs

for an AMeriCAn FOOdie

ON THE COVER » Model Amy Kennison.

Photograph by LESLIE KOEHN

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Serving Southeastern N.C.’s Business Community for More Than 5 Decades Prompt, High Quality, Cost Effective Representation

CEO & Publisher Robert Sweeney ■■■ Associate Editors Julie Yow Susan O’Keefe ■■■

Joseph O. Taylor – Real Estate Transactions & Development

Frank B. Gibson, Jr. – Business & Tax – Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Estate Administration

Michael Murchison – Litigation – Health Care – Labor & Employment

Senior Account Executives Alex Hoggard Marilyn McConnell Account Executive Jamie Penn Art Director Shanna Thomson

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Fred B. Davenport, Jr. G. Stephen Diab – Life Sciences – Business & Tax – Mergers & Acquisitions – Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

– Business & Tax – Mergers & Acquisitions – Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Estate Administration

Graphic Designers Carl Turner Shanna Thomson Contributing Writers Cece Nunn, Courtney Webb, Denise James, Edna Cox, Jamie Penn, Jason Frye, Jennifer Glatt, Katherine Pettit, Katie McElveen, Katie Osteen, Kendall Fuqua, Kim Byer, Kim Henry, Kristin Wood, Lauren Frye, Liz Biro Photographers Brownie Harris, Horace Long, James Stefiuk, Jay Browne, Kelly Starbuck, Kim Byer, Leslie Koehn

James W. Latshaw

– Commercial & Banking Transactions – Mergers & Acquisitions – Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Estate Administration

Andrew K. McVey

– Labor & Employment – Litigation

Faison Gibson Sutton – Real Estate Transactions & Development

■■■ Distribution Coordinator Joy Brown ■■■ Customer Service Wilmington Office: Marilyn (910) 352-8102 Alex (910) 616-6717 Corporate Office: (843) 856-2532

Scott M. Holmes – Real Estate Transactions & Development

Frances Y. Trask – Real Estate Transactions & Development

Amanda K. Hannon – Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Estate Administration

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16 North Fifth Avenue Wilmington, NC 910-763-2426

Wilmington Magazine (Vol. 1, No. 6) is published 6 times per year by DueSouth Publishing, LLC, 3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466. The entire contents of this publication are fully protected and may not be reproduced, in whole or part, without written permission.

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happen around the table. But just in case you are looking for a little venture, we highlight some great places to visit that’s not too far from home but offer a different kind of view (see Spring Travel to the Mountains, page 76). And for our food lovers, we give you a great tour of some French recipes and her capital city, with 47 tips on being an American foodie in Paris (see Foodies Rejoice! “We’ll Always have Paris”, page 94).

And now is the time to start planning (and registering) for summer camps.

School will be out soon, and the best camps fill up fast. We rounded up some of the top camps in Wilmington, and a few that require a little further drive, but are well worth it (see Camps That Rock, page 63).

Let’s all get outside and celebrate the beauty around us—you’ll be glad you did.

March/ april 2014

springn fashio p. 54

Decorating iDeas for

outDoor spaces Tips & Advice to Create a Backyard Oasis

Plus: sPring TrAvel to the MOunTAins

47 TiPs

for an AMeriCAn FOOdie

Give the gift that lasts all year long... a subscription to

Just fill out the postcard in this issue, call 843.856.2532 or go to WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

12 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Springtime is Here Wilmington is beautiful in the springtime. The pink azaleas and fluffy white dogwoods adorn our city and brighten our spirits. After months of cold weather (and a couple of snow storms), warm air and chirping birds call us outside. We take our prompts from nature, and spring fever sets in.

We focus this issue on transformation, as we begin to spruce up our homes and wardrobes, looking forward to good times ahead. We assembled a talented group of outdoor living experts to share their advice on the latest trends in outdoor living products and turning your backyard into an inviting oasis (see Living in the Great Outdoors, page 68).

Spring also means it’s time to update the wardrobe and pack up all those bulky sweaters until next year. Our fashion pages are filled with the latest beauty tips and trends for this season, and we showcase the haute clothes to wear now (see A Spring Tale, page 54).

You no longer have to travel to big cities for great art or great food. World class restaurants and down-to-earth festivals are everywhere. Whether you’re dining out or eating at home, important things

Robert Sweeney robert@wilmingtonncmagazine.com

We welcome your comments. Please send us your feedback to “Letters to the Editor,” Wilmington magazine, 3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466 or you can email us at editor@wilmingtonncmagazine.com

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Cast your ballot Jan 1 - Apr 30. CAST YOUR VOTE NOW!

FOOD & BEVERAGE

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Bar

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January/February 2014 | 13

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Mail your ballot to: Wilmington Magazine Best Of 3853 Colonel Vanderhorst Circle Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466 Rules: For your ballot to be counted, you must complete a minimum of 20 categories and include your full name, address, phone number and email. This is for verification purposes only. Ballots submitted without contact information will not be counted. Only one entry per person. Votes for national chains will not be accepted. No photo-copies will be accepted. Ballots will be selected at random to be verified by phone.

Your Local Rundown on News and Culture

PHOTO COURTESY SCHOOLFIELD

Azaleas on Tour The Schoolfield’s garden (pictured) is one of 12 participants gearing up for this year’s Azalea Garden Tour.

See page 26.

March/April 2014 | 15

calendar

The Reveal: MARCH-APRIL

Our five musts from this issue’s calendar of events.

Selected as a Top 20 Event, the Festival is a celebration of Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes a parade, a 5k/10k fun walk, street fair, circus, concerts, and pageantry.

User friendly apps for festival goers to find event information from their mobile devices. Various locations. 910-794-4650. ncazaleafestival.org

Easter Egg Hunt Carnival April 18

Cole Brothers Big Top Circus April 10 - 13 The Cole Brothers Big Top Circus is a favorite event of the NC Azalea Festival.

This year's performance features a trio of 16 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Hippity Hoppity down the Battleship trail for a fun Spring event with continuous games and egg hunts, along with a bounce house and even more surprises this year.

Make sure to bring your camera and take pictures with Buddy the Battleship Bunny.

Egg hunts will run throughout the event so that kids are guaranteed a chance to find eggs and will be able to "hunt" as many times as they like. 10am-2pm. $5 per person, children 2 and under are free.

Battleship North Carolina, 910-251-5797. battleshipnc.com/events/eventcalendar

Carolina Cup April 23 - 27 The Cup kicks off the race season with four courses in beautiful Wrightsville Beach. This competition will be complete with a kid's race, the Harbor Island Recreational "fun" race, a Money Island open race and the dreaded Graveyard Elite Race. The competition is planned with a number of fun activities that will make this a true stand-up paddle destination event. Clinics by Danny Ching, Jimmy Terrell, Larry Cain, Jaime Mitchell and PaddleFit. Bring the whole family. 9am.

Blockade Runner Resort, 910-616-9675. wrightsvillebeachpaddleclub.com

PHOTO BROWNIE HARRIS

NC Azalea Festival April 9 - 13

talented elephants, fearless flyers, camels, clowns, motorcycle maniacs in the Globe of Death, acrobats, aerial gymnasts, the world's funniest horse, the White Tiger Act, a fast-paced dog act, a high wire troupe, and of course, The Human Cannonball. Families will enjoy chills, thrills, and laughter when they visit The World's Largest Circus under the Big Top. Wilmington International Airport, 910-794-4650. ncazaleafestival.org/events/ circus-2013

Wine, Women & Shoes April 3 This is a night that you don’t want to miss. Guests will have the chance to take a look at the season’s hottest fashions and newest trends, shop for their favorite fashions in the marketplace, and take part in an auction and raffle to benefit Make-AWish Foundation. All while being served drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and glimpses of silver trays laden with stunning shoes.

6:30-10:30pm. Tickets start at $85. UNC Wilmington’s Burney Center, 910-399-1375. winewomenandshoes.com/wilmington

910-552-9449. capefearwildlifeexpo.com The Celtic Tenors Mar 14 With a polished international reputation and just over a million album sales, The Celtic Tenors are winning fans with their truly unique style. The skill, range and ability of world-class tenors combined with the personality and appeal of genuine performers will leave you wishing for more.

The Celtic Tenors have broken new ground by stepping away from their classical roots, and adding a more contemporary edge so sit back and enjoy the originality. 8pm, prices vary. Thalian Hall, 910-632-2241. thalianhall.org

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival

Mar 15

Come join the music, dance and fun with Wilmington Police Pipes & Drums, The Blarney Broughs, The Molly Malones, The Walsh Kelley School of Irish Dance, Slainte UNCW Irish Dance Club and more! Parade starts at Red Cross and N. Front Street. Parade starts at 11am, festival at noon. Free admission. Downtown Wilmington/Riverfront Park, 910-686-5498. wilmingtonstpatricksdayfestival.com

Event Calendar Looking to fill your social calendar?

We’ve got the rundown on what to do this spring season.

Requiem in Glass: An Installation

by Harry Taylor Mar 1 - June 1 Mathew Brady is considered to be the father of photojournalism and was responsible for most of the photographic documentation of the American Civil War. Brady was forced to sell most of his glass plate negatives and they were recycled to build greenhouses, but as the years went by, the images were lost. Wilmington photographer Harry Taylor re-imagines these fabled greenhouses, inspired by how these structures may have appeared during Reconstruction. The greenhouse features 300 of Taylor’s glass plate images which invoke Brady’s Civil War photography and the history of the Cape Fear region. Tue-Sun 10-5pm, Thur 109pm. Cameron Art Museum, 910-395-5999. cameronartmuseum.org Bridal by Design Mar 8 A creative wedding event for a unique gift registry and exceptional designer and

18 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

custom jewelry. Enjoy a free bridal guide, sips and snacks and great prizes! Visit SpectrumBridal.com to pre-register for a goody bag, for event details and a list of prizes. Free. 10-6pm, Spectrum Art & Jewelry, 910-256-2323.

Cape Fear Wildlife Expo Mar 14 - 16 Selected as a Top 20 Event, outdoor enthusiasts will get the chance to enjoy three days of hunting and fishing exhibitors, wildlife art displays, decoys, boats and accessories, truck and ATV displays, Hunter Safety Certification Class, fly fishing demos, and fun for the entire family. Kids can participate in the “Kids Gone Wild” program as well which will have eight interactive stations that provide youth with handson experience. This program is free for youth to attend but seats are limited and advance registration is required. Prices vary. Wilmington Convention Center,

10th Annual Steve Haydu St. Patricks Lo-Tide Run Mar 15 This Flat PR course with USTAF Certification is in its 10th year and is a tribute to two truly amazing men whose paths crossed in the one and only, Carolina Beach. In honor of those men, the proceeds from the event will be given to one or more cancer patients and their family.

Participants can choose from the 10k run or the 5k run/walk followed by an award ceremony and after party at The Lazy Pirate at 11:00 am. 8 & 8:30am. Carolina Beach Boardwalk Gazebo, 910-368-9523. lotiderun.org Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon Mar 16 Experience marathon madness at the beach with the 5th Annual Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Marathon, a winner of the Southeast Tourism Top 20 events. This exciting event draws competitors from all over the country and “Runner’s World” ranked this competition as one of the top ten races that qualified runners for the Boston Marathon.

910-297-4973. wrightsvillebeachmarathon.com Admissions Open House Mar 19 Friends School of Wilmington invites you to an Open House. Come tour the Pine Grove or Peiffer campus, visit classrooms, and meet dedicated faculty, administrators and current parents.

Peiffer campus is 18 months-2nd grade, Pine Grove campus is 3rd-8th grade.

10-11:30am. 910-791-8221, fsow.org

Coastal Living Show Mar 22 - 23 Everything you could want or need for great Coastal Living is at this show featuring over 100 vendors selling their wares and demonstrating the latest trends in everything from physical fitness to scents.

Search for gifts, products and services for the home, garden, or office―perfect for seaside living. Sat 9-5pm, Sun 11-5pm.

Cape Fear C.C. Schwartz Center, 910251-5031. wilmingtonwomansclub.com Sun Coast Cruisers Back to the Beach Mar 28 - 29 Get back to the beach with classic cars!

Friday join the cruisein at Smithfield’s Chicken and BBQ on 17th Street from 3-6pm and a parade of classic cars at 7pm from Food Lion in Carolina Beach to the Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, complete with a social afterwards. On Saturday, the show will start at 9am and throughout the day patrons can enjoy live music by the Coco Loco Band, raffles & door prizes, craft vendors, food and much more. Fri 3-10pm, Sat 9-4pm. Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, 910-707-0060. backtothebeachcarshow.com Poplar Grove Herb & Garden Fair Mar 29 -30 Enjoy the area’s largest and longest running garden event. The Herb and Garden Fair offers everything you need to start having fun in your garden, from locally-grown plants and shrubs, to lawn furniture, herbal products, yard art, butterfly houses and one-of-a-kind garden whimsies that’ll make you smile. Fun, educational classes and an early morning bird hike are offered and don’t forget to seek advice from our Master Gardeners here to answer any of your questions.

Includes a Peanut 5K Fun Run Sunday morning. Sat 9-4pm, Sun 10-4pm. Free.

Poplar Grove Plantation, 910-686-9518. poplargrove.org/annual-events/herbgarden-fair Wilmington Jewish Film Festival Apr 3, 5, 6 The Wilmington Jewish Film Festival announces its first three-day cinema

festival, with screenings Thursday evening April 3rd at 7:30pm, Saturday evening at 8pm, and a double-feature on Sunday, April 6th, at 3:30pm and 7pm. Three dramas and one biographical documentary will offer unique perspectives on Jewish identity, Jewish rituals, Jewish history, and life in Israel. All films will be screened at Thalian Hall Main Stage. Dessert receptions follow the Thursday and Saturday screenings, with a full savory reception between the two Sunday screenings. Tickets may be purchased at Thalian Hall Box Office. facebook.com/ WilmingtonJewishFilmFestival Jazz at the CAM with Jerald Shynett & Friends Apr 3 The fourth season of the popular seven concert series offers a mixture of new and familiar musicians in a variety of combinations performing a range of jazz genres for your listening pleasure. His compositions and arrangements have been performed throughout the country.

6:30-8pm, prices vary. Weyerhaeuser Reception Hall, 910-395-5999. cameronartmuseum.com Thalian Association Children’s Theater Presents: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Apr 3 - 6 In a loving homage to the wonderful characters of Charles Schulz, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is presented as an ordinary day in the life of our favorite down-trodden hero, Charlie Brown.

Snoopy, Sally, Schroeder, Lucy & Linus all tag along on a delightful day full of fun in a way only the “Peanuts” can provide.

Thur-Sat 7pm, Sun 3pm. $12. Hannah Block Historic USO & Community Arts Center, 910-341-7860. thalian.org Cape Fear Garden Club’s Azalea Garden Tour Apr 11 - 13 An official event of the North Carolina Azalea Festival, the tour has been featured in Southern Living and is one

WILMINGTON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

An Exquisite Culinary Pairing!

May 2-4th Bellamy Mansion The Wilmington Wine & Food Festival will bring together top area chefs with notable wines and wine makers from around the world, while supporting local businesses and charitable organizations.

Sample over 100 different wines from around the world paired with food bites from twenty of our area's best locally owned restaurants including Aubriana's, Rx, Pembrooks, Manna, The Fortunate Glass, Nine, Basics, and many more.

Don’t miss this exciting event.

During the festival we will be counting your votes for the best dishes and wines with medals to be awarded to the winners.

Proceeds to benefit the Open Gate Domestic Violence Shelter and The Bellamy Mansion Museum.

WilmingtonWineandFood.com 910-202-4749

of the longest-running and most popular garden tours in the south. Private gardens feature a variety of styles from whimsical cottages to stately formal designs and contemporary landscapes, all with welcoming words from the famed Garden Club Azalea Belles. All days 106pm. Various locations. 910-620-6958. ncazaleafestival.org/events/cape-feargarden-club-azalea-garden-tour-2013 NC Azalea Festival Concert with Widespread Panic Apr 11 - 12 Every year the North Carolina Azalea Festival showcases national headliner concerts. This year, experience the highly acclaimed Southern Rock Band from Athens, Georgia, Widespread Panic.

They will take the stage two nights in a row, so you can be sure to catch a show like never before. Pleasing crowds since 1988, Widespread Panic has sold more than 3 million albums and has headlined almost every major U.S. festival. Now is your chance to let them share their music with you right on the beautiful Historic Downtown Riverfront. 8pm.

Cape Fear Community College Campus Lot, 910-794-4650. ncazaleafestival.org/ events/widespread-panic NC Azalea Festival Parade Apr 12 The NC Azalea Festival Parade is an annual event that is viewed by over 100,000 people. Join us for this year’s Parade and enjoy the floats, marching units and bands, clowns and horses, all highlighted by visiting celebrities, the Azalea Queen and her court, and the Azalea Princess. 9-12pm. Free.

Downtown Wilmington, 910-794-4650. ncazaleafestival.org/events/parade-2013 18th Annual Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-Off Apr 12 Chowder, live music, games for the kids and much more. Each year chefs from restaurants of Pleasure Island, Monkey Junction and Wilmington gather on Pleasure Island for the famous Chowder Cook-Off. In addition to serving up the area’s best chowder, this day-long event includes live music by The Mark Roberts Band and the Kidz Zone which will have

face painting and a 3 in 1 inflatable house. There will also be hotdogs, funnel cakes, soft drinks and beer and wine for sale. 11:30am. $5. Carolina Beach Lake Park, 910-458-8434. pleasureislandnc. org/chowder-cook-off Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity’s Upscale Resale Designer Challenge Apr 25 - 26 Join 20 local interior design teams as they reveal their 10 x 10 “room” designed entirely from furniture, lighting, accessories and artwork purchased from Wilmington’s Habitat ReStores. All furnishings and fixtures will be available for sale with proceeds benefiting Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity. Fri - VIP Preview Party and Design Awards, 6-9pm, Sat - show and merchandise sale, 10-5pm. Cape Fear Community College Schwartz Center. capefearhabitat.org Wilmington Earth Day Apr 26 This is a spectacular springtime activity, including free live music!

The Earth Day Alliance, founders and organizers for the Wilimington Earth Day annual celebration, are pleased to announce another year of festivities. If we all agree to cooperate and connect to each other, then we can better protect the world we live in. There will be food & beverages, Kids Eco Zone, live music with Shine, Possum Creek & JAH Creation. Noon-6pm. Hugh MacRae Park. wilmingtonearthday.com Waterman Ocean Festival and Longboard Pro-Am Apr 29 - May 4 Celebrate 50 years of Wrightsville Beach surfing with the inaugural Waterman’s Ocean Festival! Held in conjunction with the Surfalorous Film Festival, the Waterman’s Ocean Festival will feature the 50th anniversary screening of the Endless Summer by Bruce Brown. Enjoy five days of surfing with competitions, special guest stars and surf lessons for kids. On Saturday get ready to watch contestants race in the Longboard Classic Pro-Am heats and semi-finals and on Sunday enjoy the SUP Ocean Race and Longboard Finals.

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Wine, Women & Shoes

The third annual Wine, Women & Shoes party at the Burney Center Ballroom at UNCW

By JASON FRYE

22 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

» Photos by BROWNIE HARRIS

omen of Wilmington,

are you ready to spend the evening enjoying a glass of wine and some fine, upscale shopping? What if we added a couple-dozen of Wilmington’s most charming men to serve up shoes & accessories on a silver platter? What if we added in a fashion show and the chance to take home some of the haute couture yourself? And what if we topped it all off with the chance to help make the wishes and dreams of some area children come true? If this sounds good to you, then you need to block April 3 off on your calendar and get your ticket today.

“The Third-Annual Wine, Women and Shoes is a night that you don’t want to miss,” says Janis Netherland, Director of Philanthropy for the Wilmington Area’s Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina chapter. “It’s a fashion-focused event that combines glamour and fun, all while helping us raise funds to support our mission of granting wishes. These wishes are granted to children from Eastern North Carolina who, like Brieanna, Jazzmin, Solara and Baylee, have lifethreatening medical conditions.”

At Wine, Women & Shoes, guests will have the chance to take a look at the season’s hottest fashions and newest trends, sample wines from some of the top winemakers in the country, shop for their favorite fashions in the marketplace, and take part in an auction and raffle to benefit Make-A-Wish’s mission. All while being served drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and glimpses of silver trays laden with stunning shoes by the Shoe Guys, area men who’ve given their time, effort and charm to Make-A-Wish for the night to help ensure the guests get the most out of their evening.

“Why do we do it? We do it because when we look at the good that Make-A-Wish does for these kids, what else could we do but help? Not everyone can give money, but everyone can give some time. All of us in this room, we are all giving our time to help raise the money Make-A-Wish needs to grant more wishes,” says Chip Baker, owner of Middle Sound Landscaping and one of nearly two-dozen Shoe Guys at the

Third Annual Wine, Women & Shoes.

Ask any of the men and you’ll hear the same answer: I support their mission and I’ll show my support by helping with this event.

Tony Atkins, an Associate Professor of English at UNCW, says their role goes beyond simply showing up for the event and helping out there. “We’re all responsible for raising money to benefit Make-A-Wish. At the end of the night, they’ll announce the ‘King of Sole,’ the Shoe Guy who raised the most money.”

While the event is fun on the surface, the goal is quite serious. Make-A-Wish will use all of the proceeds from the night to help them grant wishes to kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Kids like three little girls from Brunswick County who are suffering from a pancreatic condition. Sisters Brieanna, Solara and Jazzmin will all have wishes granted by Make-A-Wish, and in March, the first of their trips – Brienna’s family getaway to Disney World – will take place; the other trips will follow soon after. Another young life touched by Make-A-Wish, Baylee, who is dealing with a brain tumor, went to Disney in 2013, and she and her mother Tracie were so appreciative of MakeA-Wish and the Shoe Guys, that at the photo shoot for this story, they were almost speechless.

As Brownie Harris shot the groups of Shoe Guys with the girls, Baylee, in her princess dress, fusses a little with her hair and wears a shy smile that only endears her to everyone in the room.

Between shots, someone runs in, fixes a curl and hairsprays it in place. “Why are you doing her hair, she’s already the prettiest one here,” quips one Shoe Guy.

Baylee blushes and everyone has a laugh.

And that’s what it’s like here, everyone – from the Shoe Guys to the photographer to the writer – feels both the gravity of the situation and the joy that comes with being able to do something to benefit a sick child.

Wine, Women & Shoes wouldn’t be possible without sponsors, chief among them Dr. Rosalyn George of Wilmington Dermatology Center. This magazine came onboard as a media partner, and the founder and publisher, Robert Sweeney, was happy to join the likes of PPD, Lanier Property Group, National Home Finance and Event Shuttle Services to pull the event together and spread the word. Netherland says that in addition to the great presenting, supporting and media partners, the event wouldn’t be possible without four other groups: the wine partners; the culinary partners, an army of fashionistas, boutiques and chic shops; the Shoe Guys; and all the women in attendance.

Perhaps Wendy McCoy, Shoe Guy and Loan Officer for Wells Fargo, says it best, “It’s a great evening supporting a great cause. Us Shoe Guys, we’ll have fun, because what’s better than being one of a handful of men in a room of beautiful women?” W Want to go?

Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina’s annual Wine,Women & Shoes wine tasting and fashion show Thursday, April 3, 2014 6:30-10:30p.m.

UNC Wilmington’s Burney Center Tickets: starting at $85 winewomenandshoes.com/wilmington 910-399-1375

Who’s Who Photo #1 - Cinderella photo 1. Sam Shelby – Organic Lifestyle Apparel 2. Henry Cherry – BB&T 3. Todd Rodzik – Bain & Rodzik 4. Adam Keen - Associate Director of Athletics for Major Gifts at UNC Wilmington 5. Russel Galvan – Edward Jones Financial Advisor 6. Mike Degenhart - Zoe’s Kitchen 7. Randall Heath - Carolina Farmin 8. Ben Long – CEO, Carolina Farmin 9. Daniel Seamans - WWAY 10. Johnathan Stump – Coldwell Banker Seacoast Advantage 11. David Lee – D.R. Horton Company 12. James Beatty – Carolina Farmin’ 13. Baylee Adkins – Wish Kid Photo #2 - Presenting Sponsor/Three Wish Kids photo 14. Wendy McCoy – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 15. Chip Baker – Middle Sound Landscaping 16. Anthony Atkins – Professor, UNC Wilmington 17. Presenting Sponsor – Dr. Rosalyn George, Wilmington Dermatology Center 18. Bobby Brandon – Intracoastal Realty 19. Damon Surratt - Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 20. J.D. Terry - Wells Fargo Home Mortgage 21. Stacy Wester – Hawk Commercial Properties 22. Brian Mitchell – Gateway Mortgage 23. Brieanna Lowery – Wish Kid 24.Jazzmin Olinger – Wish Kid 25. Solara Olinger – Wish Kid

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2nd Annual Wilmington Wine & Food Festival

A

fter a hugely successful inaugural year, Bacchus’ Brood is excited to host the 2nd Annual Wilmington Wine & Food Festival, bringing together top area chefs with notable wines and wine makers from around the world to celebrate and advance public appreciation for great wine and food. The festival will provide a diverse range of interactive epicurean experiences while showcasing the area’s unique and rich culture and history. This year’s event will be a three day culinary celebration held May 2-4 at the Historic Bellamy Mansion. Last year’s initial event rose over $3,000 for local charities and they hope to triple that number in 2014.

The selected beneficiaries for this year are the Open Gate Domestic Violence Shelter and The Bellamy Mansion Museum.

The evening of Friday, May 2nd will kick off the weekend with the Trey Herring Carolina Bourbon & BBQ Cocktail Party.

The night will be a Kentucky Derby themed soirée for sponsors, VIP’s, and upper level ticket holders complete with a BBQ sauce competition amongst local chefs and an emceed bartenders’ craft drink challenge.

Saturday, May 3rd will be the Cork & Forks Grand Tasting Event featuring twenty local owned and operated restaurants and hundreds of amazing wines. An industry panel will be awarding medals to the top wines of the festival. Seminars will be held in conjunction given by winemakers, chefs, and farmers. The festival will wrap up with Bubbles, Brews and Street Eats on Sunday, May 4th. This day will showcase the local brewery and food truck scene as well as sparkling wines and a craft mimosa bar.

Several area music talents will be singing and entertaining during the weekend.

To find out more information or to purchase tickets online visit wilmingtonwineandfood.com.

A preview of three gardens on this year’s tour and a little advice from The Transplanted Garden

By JAMIE PENN

M

arch in Wilmington vibrates with anticipation as April’s colorful palette prepares to spill across local landscapes. From the loud, purple-tinged, fuchsia blossoms of Formosas to the small, compact, flashy Coral Bells, azaleas bring the long-awaited burst of spring that residents pine for.

And every year, since 1953, the Cape Fear Garden Club has been prepared for the show.

The Azalea Garden Tour runs from April 11-13 from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the height of area gardens’ biggest show of the year.

“We’ve prepared quite a showcase,” said Rebecca Philpott, 2014 tour chair.

“Gardens range from charming to exotic.

There’s a lot to see this year, I highly recommend breaking it up into two days.”

Schoolfield’s Garden

26 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Schoolfield Garden Jim and Rhonda Schoolfield bought their home on Beagle Trail in 2004. The road was aptly named for the beagles kept in a pen behind the house by former owner Bud Rose and his wife Nancy. The Schoolfields, preservationists at heart, restored the beagle pen and use it now as a greenhouse for precious houseplants and exotic fruit trees that hang out poolside in the hot summer months.

“The trees sold us,” Rhonda said. Three masterful oaks tower over and sprawl above the front landscape. And one massive water oak in the back shades the beautiful screened in porch addition.

The existing beds of established azaleas, the mature dogwoods, and the fabulous camellias that have been around for decades also helped to seal the deal.

“We actually built the house around that camellia out front!” Rhonda said.

The Schoolfields renovated the home before moving in, adding nearly 1,400 square feet. Through restructuring the exterior, they transitioned the architectural style of the home from Dutch Colonial to Cape Cod. Mimicking this transition in the garden was an even bigger undertaking.

But, Rhonda says, it was so worth it.

“If I ever feel bad, I just walk out into my garden, and I feel better,” Rhonda said.

If the front is a lush, shady reprieve—full of aspidistra, aucuba, azaleas, camellias, ferns and fatsias, then the back is a sunny, whimsical oasis of color—full of vibrant perennials, grasses and palms.

“The pool is definitely my favorite feature,” says Jim. But, it’s not just any pool. The saline pool below the back garden has curves all its own, surrounded by intricate stonework decking. A hand laid stone-stacked water feature on the far side of the pool takes relaxation to another level. The deck is surrounded by garden beds and the privacy fence is made from woven copper wire covered in a mat of confederate jasmine.

“It’s like being in the garden of Eden when you’re back there,” Rhonda said.

Corbett’s Garden

Corbett Garden Melissa Corbett is not one to let the grass grow under her feet. Neither in life nor in the garden. She left Wilmington after high school and didn’t look back for a while, country-hopping from England, to Tokyo, France, and Australia.

But, in 1996, she came home to settle in for a while, bought a house, and almost instantly, she says, she became a gardener.

“It gives me a hobby,” Corbett said.

“Planting gives me peace!”

Her relatively small cottage garden is chocked full. Quaint little pocket gardens and lounge areas, like little rooms, are nice surprises around each bend.

“It’s been a lot of trial and error,” Corbett said. “I’ve literally transplanted some things three times!”

The yews in front along the sidewalk were her second choice, and they work well there, as do the notoriously temperamental dwarf variegated pits that line the walkway leading to the front stoop where neatly trimmed ficus has creeped up the surrounding brick exterior.

Traditional plants—azaleas, gardenias, and lots of mature camellias—are a consistent theme.

“I’ve finally come around to the Encores.

They really do just give a good show,” she said. Encore azaleas and other varieties serve as the understory for a magnificent live oak that instantly calls attention to itself. It’s the presence of such giants that both enhance the garden and create great challenges for the gardener.

“The holly tree is enormous!” She said.

The presence of the giant American holly just off the back porch is softened with an understory of dynamic greenery—

PHOTOS COURTESY HOMEOWNERS

Azalea Garden Tour

Of the 12 private gardens on the tour, there are three that well-represent the widerange of garden styles chosen this year.

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Maloy’s Garden

a quaint shed that could double as a doll house. A confederate jasmine frame gives it the cottage-feel it deserves.

Maloy Garden

aspidistra, variegated fatsia, mahonia and more. Luckily, Corbett has proved herself the master of softening such hard edges in her garden.

The view from the back porch, surrounded by Lady Banks rose, is enchanting. A canopy of Yoshino cherries drapes over a dining area where Corbett and her daughter enjoy summer meals.

And in the back corner of the garden sits

Just Ask Tom

Tom Ericson, co-owner of the Transplanted Garden on S. 16th Street, is a sought after man.

Especially now.

When interviewing local gardeners and Azalea Garden Tour participants, a common response was either, “So we asked Tom,” or “Tom told me try it, so I did.”

The Transplanted Garden is apparently not only known for its magnificent variety of sought after plants and its array of decorative and useful garden supplies, but it’s also known for…you guessed it, Tom. His enthusiasm alone can make anyone want to dig in the dirt.

WM: Do you advise homeowners and gardeners preparing for the Azalea Garden Tour?

Tom: We usually know which gardens are going to be on the tour in advance. If they are doing it themselves, we see a lot of them. We also give them a discount, as they are buying in volume. If they have help in the garden, we know their landscapers too.

We always try to make sure they get 28 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Tom and Jane Maloy have been around the block a few times. It’s their third time on the tour and it’s easy to see why.

Their English style home on Mimosa Place is complemented by a formal southern garden with a distinct English flare largely to do with their gardener, Laurie Walker, of The English Gardener.

Sprawling rosemary accompanied by perennials and annuals greets guests.

Mature Emerald Green arborvitae add formality and flavor when approaching the front entryway. And a large Chinese Elm lends a shady, summer reprieve to the side garden.

Perfectly pruned miniature English boxwoods pop up throughout the landscape.

Stunning iron gates lead to the back garden, where a feeling of timelessness pervades.

The stately, shaded dining patio looks out onto traditionally southern plants—

all the help they need to fill their garden and steer them in the direction of the sexy new stuff.

WM: What are your favorite azalea varieties?

Tom: Hardy Gardenia. It’s a white, hose-in-hose with a green center. It is a compact, low plant with small, dark-green leaves. Gorgeous! And it re-blooms very reliably each fall for an extended period.

Koromo Shikibu. Rather than the typical trumpet-shaped blooms, this one has long, thin separate petals in pale lavender.

And, Satsukis in general. They bloom in May after the standard varieties. Some blooms are bordered in white, some are more marbled with different shades of the same color. George Tabor. It does not get as large as Formosa, and the lavender pink blooms are very nice. It also has a light, but noticeable fragrance. And, deciduous varieties. Vardanoes ‘Phlox Pink’. The flowers come in clusters at the tips of the naked branches, just as the leaves begin to pop. They also have a nice fragrance and the hummingbirds love them!

camellias, azaleas, a lone kumquat. In the corner, the 14 year-old potting shed, looks as though it grew there.

“Tom’s the gardener,” Jane said. “He could spend hours out here potting and repotting.”

Maloy has never met a fig tree he didn’t make two or three more from.

“Why have one fig tree, when you can make more?” Maloy said with a grin.

As the lawn leads guests to pockets of trimmed, dignified beds and quaint features, one shouldn’t be surprised to find the occasional tomato plant in midsummer, lettuces everywhere they’ll grow, stalks heavy with peppers or slender vines laid over by endless sugar snaps.

“Where there’s sun, we plant vegetables” Jane said. “And our three grandchildren can’t get enough of them.”

As March thaws, dreams of lush, colorful gardens pervade. And in April, the Azalea Garden Tour will come to greet residents and visitors at garden gates, bringing them the very dreamiest of spring.

WM: Name a few plants that seem to be happiest here and perform the best.

Tom: Crape myrtle. You can’t kill them, but people sure try! If you want a smaller tree, plant a variety that will do so. Crape “murder” is completely unnecessary and does nothing but make the trees look like they have been butchered, because they have. Spread some Super Phosphate around them in late January or early February and they will cover themselves in blooms for the entire summer. Hydrangeas.

In the last several years, there has been a huge increase in the number of cultivars of these plants, be it’s Mopheads, Paniculatas or Oakleaf types. Loropetalum. It is a great plant, but a bit over-used and poorly at that. People want to take a plant that really wants to be a mid-sized tree and turn it into a 3-4’ tall hedge. I sell the Zhuzhou fuchsia in single-stemmed tree form. Put it out in the full sun and let it grow.

To find out more about good garden synergy or for Azalea Garden Tour tickets, just ask Tom. 910-763-7448, transplantedgarden.com W

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Reviews: Movies & Music DENISE K. JAMES ON NEW FILMS AND MUSIC

High Hopes

Bruce Springsteen

Unless you’re a die-hard fan of Springsteen, you may only know his radio hits–the ones that make you want to roll down all four windows and speed down back roads to the beach. Springsteen’s newest album strives for a more sophisticated sound. He gets it right in a few places, such as the slightly somber second track, Harry’s Place. Still other tracks, Just Like Fire Would, seem to be more of the artist’s traditional sound. For Springsteen fans, it’s a chance to experience the singer’s versatility as well as what you first loved about him.

3 Stars

Starring Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith and Tobey Maguire; Directed by Jason Reitman; PG-13 One common debate revolving around the practice of watching movies is whether a love story could interest both a woman and a man. Labor Day may just fit that bill.

And, when we say “love story,” we aren’t talking about a car blowing up that just happens to have a man and a woman inside — we’re talking a film in which the plot simply revolves around a man and woman’s intent to be together.

But what if the man was an escaped convict, and, every time someone so much as knocked at the door or passed by the kitchen window of the house, he backed into the shadows of the walls and dared his beloved and her young son to breathe?

Reitman’s direction of Joyce Maynard’s latest novel is at times slow and tedious, but the details of the story are so well thought out, it’s worth watching to see whether Adele, played by Kate Winslet, the single, agoraphobic mother, and her convict lover, Frank, played by Josh Brolin, escape to Canada as planned. Just a few things stand in the way, including Adele’s 13-year-old son, Henry (Gattlin Griffith), who isn’t sure he wants to leave his father or his new friendship with a girl who just moved to town.

Some viewers may grumble over the fact that Frank’s previous murder crime is not discussed overtly. Instead, we’re presented with a series of flashbacks and readers come to draw a conclusion.

Similarly, we are slowly led to trust Frank and believe that he cares for Adele and Henry moment by moment, just as the characters themselves come to trust each other. Perhaps the most significant scene of the movie is when Frank teaches Adele and Henry how to make a peach pie from scratch, and the three characters plunge their hands into the gooey mixture, a gesture of willing vulnerability.

I emerged from the theater at the end of this film with a furrowed brow, determined to stay awash in Labor Day’s intricate scenes, not jar myself back to reality with the night air and the Saturday night adolescent screeches. It’s the sort of story that lingers for a while, keeping its viewer pondering the subtleties of joy and suffering.

30 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

In This Life Elise Testone

If you’ve ever found yourself searching for the perfect music to accompany a small dinner party–not too stuffy but pleasing to a number of tastes–local artist Elise Testone’s first studio release might suit the search. Like a wellrounded perfume, her album includes notes of classical blues, country, and even alternative rock; parts are reminiscent of Fiona Apple, for example. Testone’s husky voice is emotional, yet relaxing–perfect for any situation.

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Local artist Mitzy Jonkheer has honed her skills making precision handcrafted jewelry from various metals

By KIM HENRY

T

hink hearts, wings, metal, nature, stones and wild and wonderful treasures, and you have the essence of Wilmington artist Mitzy Jonkheer. Surrounded in her studio/ gallery by her diverse array of creations, as well as work by an eclectic mix of local artists, Jonkheer is overflowing with ideas and energy.

Born in Wilmington and raised on the Cape Fear, Jonkheer studied metal design at East Carolina University School of Art and Design, after switching from an English major. “I had designed a ring for my mom and was looking for a metalsmith to make it for me. When I walked into her studio, I was inspired by her unique, handmade work—so different from a

Mitzy Jonkheer

32 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

“One of my main reasons for opening a retail space was to be able to meet the people who buy my work.”

“Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with design ideas racing through my mind,” says Jonkheer, who can be working on up to 100 pieces at any one time. “But my favorite thing to make is a customized piece of jewelry, like a wedding ring.” Working in synergy with her clients, she creates timeless personal pieces that are both beautiful and meaningful.

Over the years, Jonkheer has designed many pieces for the film industry. Her work has made its way into several movies and television shows, including Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, and the film Safe Haven. She designed a pendant that actress Sandra Bullock wore in the film, ‘The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ and a whale brooch worn by Dakota Fanning in the film version of ‘The Secret Life of Bees.’ The film’s producer

also commissioned her to create a bracelet for “Secret Life” author Sue Monk Kidd. In tribute to the book, Jonkheer engraved its final line on the bracelet’s silver, “They are the moons shining over me.”

Often recycling and up-cycling objects that she picks up at estate sales, such as antique silverware, Jonkheer goes out of her way to tread as lightly as possible on the earth. She does her best to ensure that all of her materials originate from responsible sources, recycles her own scrap metal, and incorporates natural elements, such as feathers, bark, and ‘found’ cicada and dragonfly wings into her work.

When she’s not creating original pieces in her studio, Jonkheer can be found teaching at DREAMS of Wilmington, a nonprofit serving youth in need through the arts. She’s currently working with

PHOTOS COURTESY MITZY JONKHEER

Metalsmith

traditional jeweler. I knew that I had found what I wanted to do,” she says.

She changed her major to study metalsmithing, along with pottery, painting, sculpture and woodwork. Jonkheer can still turn her hands to any of these media, although metalwork and jewelry design are her true passions.

Her work is infused with meaning and symbolism. From the healing properties of semi-precious stones and lines of poetry engraved in bracelets, to her oneof-a-kind, custom jewelry, Jonkheer specializes in the personal touch. On her right hand, she wears a piece that she designed herself: a ring featuring her own imprinted fingerprints and her ten year old son.

Various handmade metal pieces designed for necklaces, including a butterfly wing (opposite).

students in DREAMS’ Design Studio program, teaching them how to market their creations. “I tell them, make sure that you love what you do and we’ll work out how to sell it.”

Jonkheer also holds summer camps at her Wrightsville Avenue studio.

Mainly for children between the ages of 6-12, these camps offer a hands-on exploration of several artistic media. “I have an outline of what we’re going to do in the workshops, but I keep it flexible so that I can respond to the particular

group of children that I am working with,” she says.

Jonkheer shares her love of jewelry-making with her son. The two have collaborated to create their own line, ‘Frida Ruby.’ Named for their chocolate lab (who, in turn, was named for the revered artist Frida Kahlo), all of the ‘Frida Ruby’ pieces are made with sterling silver. “I wanted young girls to be able to wear real silver, responsibly sourced and made. My son works the tools and makes his own designs.

They are sold at Jonkheer Jewelry and at Learning Express.”

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, she recently held her third annual ‘Heart Art’ show, featuring wooden hearts decorated by Wilmington’s finest artists, DREAMS students, and friends.

“I think we’re all artists in our own way, and these hearts give all sorts of people a chance to see what they can create.”

Jonkheer feels a connection with every piece of her work and with the people who come into her studio. “One of my main reasons for opening a retail space was to be able to meet the people who buy my work,” she smiles. “I’m a painter in my dreams and a writer at stoplights. But in my daily life as a metalsmith, I feel very fortunate to be able to share my gift with others—and I get so much in return.” W

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Dr. William Ferris, the noted author and historian of the south and its stories and music, will be making an appearance to speak about his new book. Clyde Edgerton will be there to play Blues music.

By GINA MAHALEK

F

erris’s new book, The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists, is a collection of intimate interviews with writers, scholars, musicians, photographers, and painters and their personal stories. The volume also includes 45 of Ferris’s striking photographic portraits of the speakers and a CD and a DVD of original audio and films of the interviews.

“The Storied South: Voices of Writers and Artists is a collection of interviews I conducted over the past forty years,” Ferris said. “They feature a broad range of people–Southerners and nonsoutherners, men and women, black and white. ” “Together, they share a common interest in, a passion for, and an obsession with the American South that define how they write, compose, photograph, and paint.”

34 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY MARCIE COHEN FERRIS

Tales of Southern Culture

Ferris includes interviews of some of the most luminous artists and thinkers in the American cultural firmament such as Eudora Welty, Margaret Walker, Charles Seeger, Bobby Rush, William Eggleston, Sam Gilliam, and Rebecca Davenport.

“Their stories give us a unique lens through which we can explore the region,” he said. “Gathered together in this book, they remind us why the human voice is key to the Southern experience.”

Ferris, a renowned folklorist and leader in Southern studies, has been collecting these one-on-one interviews for four decades.

“I sought out these individuals because their work helps me understand my life as a Southerner,” he said. “They come from diverse backgrounds, and they constitute a chorus of voices, all of which are deeply connected to the region.”

“Each person reflects on how the South shaped his or her career as a writer, scholar, musician, photographer, or painter.

Together, they created a body of work that defined both their region and their nation in the twentieth century.”

The Storied South also delves into the controversial racial and socioeconomic history of the South. Ferris said the region is framed by anecdotes of the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement, and the New South, and that these stories affect both white and black Southerners in profound ways.

“To understand these stories, we must understand the contested memory of black and white Southerners who offer opposing views of the region’s history,” he said. “The perspective of white writers often contrasts with that of black writers, and together they offer a rich, diverse portrait of the region.”

Ferris said he drew upon various voices and artistic mediums to give a multidimensional representation of Southern culture.

“I focused my camera and microphone on those who explored the region through photography, poetry, fiction, and scholarship,” he said. “Each looked at the South carefully. They studied its worlds, as a potter examines the clay that slowly turns on the wheel before him or her.”

Though the interview subjects and their stories vary greatly, Ferris said they are all united in their love for the South and its

connection to the human experience.

“I discovered that each person uses the story to explain his or her attraction to the South,” he said. “The intellectual tools with which they work differ, but their love for the region and its stories is a bond they share.”

Ferris is the Joel R. Williams Eminent Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the senior associate director of its Center for the Study of the American South.

A former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Ferris is the author of Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues, among other books, and co-editor of the awardwinning Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

He was also the founding director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, where he taught for 18 years. He also taught at Yale University and Jackson State University.

He said he was grateful to have met such cultural icons, and that their stories helped him reconnect with the boy on the farm who listened to his grandfather tell stories and spin tall-tales.

“These stories shaped me and helped me understand my own life,” he said. “They led me back to the place where I was born, to people whom I deeply love.” W

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The Undeniable Dazzle of Downton Abbey

By Courtney Webb

F

or four seasons many of us have been captivated by the British drama Downton Abbey, the show has secured the minds and hearts of millions all over world with it’s

famed sweeping castle vistas, riveting plot and unforgettable characters. Sometimes waiting for the next installment can be quite tortuous so why wait to get your period drama fix?

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, and Lady Catherine, the Earl and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess Carnarvon Penned by the current Countess of Carnarvon who now resides at Highclere castle where Downton Abbey is filmed, these non-fiction companion books delve into the history that inspired much of the series. Lady Almina, wife of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon who is best known as the discoverer of King Tut’s tomb, is most notably recognized for her nursing of wounded officers in the aftermath of World War I when she chose to open her home as a hospital for recovering soldiers.

The American wife of the 6th Earl known as Lady Catherine in turn almost certainly launched the creation of Lady Cora who as we all know helped renew the fortunes of the family estate with her significant dowry at the time of her marriage. Diving into the family archives, records and photographs allows readers unique insight into the very real people who once inhabited the life, time and place that Downton now represents so well.

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax Take a dash of modern women, a spoonful of good southern charm and a generous helping of a very Mr. Carson-like British concierge and you have the new novel While We Were Watching Downton Abbey. The mix of female characters lovingly concocted

by Atlanta author Wendy Wax represents a tellingly true depiction of the wide range in audience that the beloved series has drawn as devoted followers and how this camaraderie has lead to many moments of bonding among both strangers and dear friends alike. Newbie watchers of the series beware however as the book does contain some major plot spoilers from the very first season.

Habits of the House Series by Fay Weldon Writer Fay Weldon known most notably as the award-winning writer of Upstairs, Downstairs has turned her immeasurable talent to another historical hit in this new trilogy. Set slightly before the Downton era towards the end of the London season in 1899, readers will once again be transported to a time and place far from their own. Devotees will enjoy reading along as the Earl of Dilberne finds himself in deep financial troubles that will threaten to upset the aristocratic family and its staff both upstairs and down at 17 Belgrave Square.

Additional Reading for the Devoted Downton Fan Mouseton Abbey: The Missing Diamond by Nick Page (Ages 3-7) Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid’s Tale Memoir that inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey by Margaret Powell Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown 36 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

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The Finishing Touch Fred Kumpel gives us the scoop on the latest trends in window treatments

By CECE NUNN

38 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Ultraglide blinds with retractable cord.

trying to accomplish,” said Fred Kumpel, owner of Strickland’s, “then you figure out what products fit those needs the best.”

In the 1940s, when former railroad worker James Strickland started Strickland Venetian Blind Works as a maker and seller of 2-inch wooden venetian blinds, those type of window coverings fit the bill. In the 1950s, Strickland introduced metal slats for blinds and later, plastic slats, before working on some of the first vertical blinds with metal louvers. Kumpel, who started working at Strickland’s Window Coverings when he was 17, bought the business from the Strickland family in 2008.

Having that kind of history, and the experience that comes with it, can be critical

when it comes to helping people choose the coverings they need from among so many options, Kumpel said.

“It’s important to get somebody who is trained and is knowledgeable because there are very specific products that serve that (specific) function and there are some products that really don’t serve that at all,” Kumpel said.

Solar shades are an example of one of the more current trends.

“Solar shades are the roller shades that you can see through so they’re real popular anywhere that has a view,” de Jong said. “It protects you from the sun but you don’t lose outward visibility. You can still see the golf course or the ocean. Those are real popular.”

PHOTOS COURTESY HUNTERDOUGLAS

I

n terms of both function and fashion, gone are the days when little mini-blinds were the most popular choice for window coverings.

As with every industry, tastes change with the times, and these days, the options for homeowners, designers and builders range from the simple yet still aesthetically pleasing to blinds that obey the commands of a remote control or iPhone.

With so many window covering choices available, it can be difficult to know where to start, but the experts at a longtime Wilmington business have some advice.

Function should be at the top of the list of what to consider for people in the market for new coverings, says Chris de Jong, sales manager for Strickland’s Window Coverings, a North 23rd Street business that traces its beginnings to 1942.

“Normally, people have a specific need, whether it’s privacy or sun or heat protection,” said de Jong, who has worked at Strickland’s for nearly 25 years, ever since he took a job as an installer when he was in college. “It doesn’t make much sense to put something up, for example, that’s pretty but not going to give you privacy in the bathroom.”

Thinking about what you need, whether it’s protection for the back of a couch or a painting that faces your windows, or to keep from having to look at your neighbor’s air conditioning unit every morning, is absolutely key.

“And once you figure out what you’re

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(clockwise from above) Roman shades with cordlock; Harmony designer roller shades; Easyrise pleated shades.

Motorized window coverings are in style as well, especially among buyers who enjoy the latest in technological innovations.

“They’re not cheap, but they’re clever and they’re pretty reliable, too,” de Jong said.

“You can sit on your sofa, hit a button and the shades go up.”

Among many other options, HunterDouglas, a window coverings company that Strickland’s relies on, makes shades powered by remote control, examples of which can be seen in the Strickland’s Window Coverings showroom. These shades, with product names like Silhouette, come in styles that customers find pleasing to the eye while also eliminating the need for operating cords that children and pets can get tangled up in.

“People are starting to realize that they can move away from the chunky window treatments that block out the sun with these new products,” said Danielle Boisse, an interior designer whose business, Manifest Design, works with Strickland’s Window Coverings. Boisse said the HunterDouglas 40 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Silhouette shades are becoming more popular because they let you keep the view but have a softer, lighter feel.

In addition to keeping function in mind, de Jong and Kumpel suggest that buyers visit the website Houzz.com for the buzz in home decor and photographs of options they find interesting.

“People sometimes have a hard time communicating what they want or what they need because they don’t always have the language, but if they have a picture, it makes it a lot easier,” de Jong said.

Products are available as well for those who want to keep the window coverings they have but bring them more up-to-date, including a sheer material made to snap over existing vertical blinds, Kumpel said.

You tuck the louvers into little pockets in the bottom, he explained, and the effect is

that of sheer drapery that closes but doesn’t look like a vertical blind.

Kumpel said Strickland’s on-site repair service also helps customers who want to keep the window coverings they already have.

“Say you have a room that has 12 windows and all the window coverings are in pretty good shape, but it’s in a color that’s been discontinued and one of them breaks,” Kumpel said. The homeowner might be thinking she has to replace all 12, but “we can fix the one and get you back in business with the whole thing. There is a lot of value in being able to repair.” 910-762-0944, stricklandswindowcoverings.com W

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CENTRAL CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE HAS A NEW SATELLITE CHURCH IN WILMINGTON. Join us for an exciting service to hear the truth of scripture, the power of the cross and the greatness of grace.

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Corning plant in Wilmington NC.

Connecting Continents and Cities From Wilmington to the world, Corning, Inc.’s optical fiber plant is the epicenter of telecommunications development

By JENNIFER GLATT

To be deemed “disruptive” is not usually complimentary, but Corning Incorporated couldn’t be more pleased. It’s a label well earned, and bodes well for the future of the Fortune 500 Company both corporately and locally here in Wilmington.

Pushing the Limits In 2013, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology named Corning to its list of 50 Disruptive Innovators for its creation of Corning WillowTM Glass. (Writers for the MIT Tech Review identified disruptive companies as those producing breakthrough products or technologies that change the path of an industry. Other groundbreaking companies on the list include Apple, Amazon, and Google). According to the Corning website (corning.com), “the 42 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

thinness, strength and flexibility of the glass has the potential to enable displays to be ‘wrapped’ around a device or structure.”

You read that correctly. Flexible glass.

“I know when people think of Corning, they think of Corning Ware,” says Craig Ball with a laugh. Corning’s North America Fiber Regional Manager and Wilmington Plant Manager acknowledges that the company helped bring technology into American kitchens by introducing PYREX in 1915 and Corning Ware in 1959. However, Corning has had a hand

in transformative technology since its early days, when it helped Thomas Edison by producing the first glass light bulbs in 1879, and a “ribbon machine” in 1926 to create the glass “envelope,” enabling mass production of light bulbs.

Consistently ranked as one of the world’s “most innovative industrial material companies” by the Patent Board, it’s no surprise that Corning is often poised in the right place at the right time to solve vexing issues at the crossroads of science and technology.

PHOTO KELLY STARBUCK and HORACE LONG, SALT STUDIO

Craig Ball

March/April 2014 | 43

“It is an honor to be recognized as ‘innovative’ and ‘disruptive’ because it is truly what we do at Corning,” said Dr. David L. Morse, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Corning Incorporated. “For more than 160 years, we have pushed the limits of what glass can do.”

And oh, the things it can do. Thanks to a significant scientific breakthrough in 1970, Corning has been the frontrunner in developing leading edge telecommunications technology, all due to glass and its myriad capabilities. And it’s happening right here in the Port City.

Revolutionizing the Telecommunications Industry 1970 was a landmark year for three Corning scientists, who discovered how to generate a pulse of light down a glass fiber without attenuation (loss of power). Just like that, fiber optics was born.

Corning opened the world’s first optical fiber manufacturing facility in Wilmington in 1979. Today, it is the world’s largest optical fiber manufacturing plant, though the company has other optical fiber plants in Concord, N.C. and Shanghai, China, which allows Corning to service the fiber market globally.

“Any new fiber technology that’s happening around the world, the ‘latest and greatest,’ is being developed right in Wilmington,” confirms Monica Monin, Corning’s Manager of Marketing Communications. Boasting over one million square feet of manufacturing space and total onsite acreage of approximately 66 acres, the Wilmington optical fiber plant is a formidable structure that sits alongside N. College Road.

The Wilmington plant is part of the telecommunications division, which

Corning’s innovations in fiber optics have helped make possible the high-speed communication technology that links neighborhoods, connects cities, and bridges continents.

“Optical fiber is about the size of a human hair,” says Ball, who has been with Corning for 18 years, first starting as an engineer at the Wilmington plant. In fact, he says, he’s been involved in “pretty much every engineering area and designed and developed a lot of the equipment and process here at the plant.” He has also been involved in development, working on products and processes, as well. Ball began his tenure as plant manager in 2012, also assuming responsibility for the Concord, N.C. sister plant.

Ultrapure glass is made through a synthetic process, which is unlike making glass out of sand. “The glass has to be ultrapure to carry the light down the core of the fiber,” Ball explains. Essentially, a light source sends light down the fiber, where it

“Any new fiber technology that’s happening around the world, is being developed right in Wilmington.” focuses on connectivity solutions and data transmission innovation. Other Corning divisions include environmental technologies, life sciences, display technologies, and specialty materials.

“Corning has a very diverse portfolio, says Joe Dunning, Supervisor, Media Relations, “but generally with glass and/or ceramics as the common thread.”

44 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

goes into a detector and transitions it back to an electrical signal that can be used for communications.

Optical fiber forms the backbone of the Internet—its integrity and composition determines speed, clarity and bandwidth.

A few fun facts: » Corning’s optical fiber is 30 times more transparent than the purest water, and

only about one percent less transmissive of light than air on a clear day. » A single optical fiber can carry as much information as a four-inch cable full of copper wires, which is what was previously used for electronic communication. » One copper cable can carry about 24 telephone conversations, whereas one optical fiber can carry 24,000. » Fiber optic cable carries 10 trillion bits of information per second over a kilometer through one fiber (enough to fill 250 DVDs every second). To transmit this same amount of information via electrical means, you would need almost 400,000 standard twisted copper wire pairs— almost 880 tons of copper. » End to end, the amount of optical fiber deployed around the world would equal three round trips around the sun. » Corning’s optical fiber is strength tested to 100,000 pounds per sq. inch. That translates to 216 elephants standing on 1 km of fiber without it breaking.

Corning employs about 30,000 employees worldwide, with the Wilmington plant employing approximately 1,000 people.

Ball details that Corning has about 2,000 scientists on staff and that the company practices “stages of innovation,” whereby off-site early-stage researchers pass on discoveries to development engineers. The

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Wilmington-based development engineers then take these ideas and discoveries from the scientists and turn them into products and processes that we can transfer into manufacturing to get to the customers, Ball explains. He adds that Corning is the only remaining U.S.-owned manufacturer of optical fiber. It counts giants AT&T and Verizon as customers.

“With many of the products that we develop and invent, we are not only developing or inventing the product, we are developing or inventing the manufacturing process to go along with it,” Dunning adds.

The Wilmington plant is unique in that it has the capabilities to maintain and manufacture the entire product portfolio for the optical fiber division, says Ball, from cable that can be placed on the ocean floor, connecting continents, to metro cable, connecting cities and beyond.

Local Connections Corning is leading the way in connectivity, to be sure. But they’re not just using innovation and technology to change the world; they’re changing Wilmington, as well.

Several new technologies have been instituted throughout the plant since the late 1970s, notes Ball, including state-of the art systems for environmental control.

He proudly highlights the fact that N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) named the Wilmington plant an Environmental Steward. “We take very seriously not only the safety

Corning produces several different kinds of fiber at the Wilmington facility. There are more than 1.8 billion kilometers of fiber installed around the globe, and Corning continues to lead the industry in product quality and innovation.

programs with UNCW for MBA programs, and have a partnership with Cape Fear Community College to support an apprenticeship program for a lot of our technical trades,” he says. To deepen their local involvement, numerous Corning employees serve on local leadership initiatives such as Wilmington Business Development and the Chamber of Commerce.

To deepen their local involvement, numerous Corning employees serve on local leadership initiatives such as Wilmington Business Development and the Chamber of Commerce. of our employees but also that of our community. We spend a lot of effort and a lot of money on our environmental control; we’ve invested a lot of capital and expertise in this area,” he explains.

The plant fuels the local economy, according to Ball, who notes that numerous employees possess advanced engineering and high technical degrees, which translates to significant salaries, taxes, and spending that happens in the community from Corning employees.

“We do a lot of recruiting for engineering, 46 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

“Part of our culture is to support citizenship,” says Dunning. “We have many employees who volunteer in schools, at non-profit organizations, and who donate resources, time and money to the local community.”

Through the Corning Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, it provides grants to help fund local community and cultural programs including the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Cape Fear Museum, Cape Fear Literacy Council, Domestic Violence Shelter, Elderhaus Inc.,

Greater Wilmington Chamber Foundation, United Way of the Cape Fear Area, YMCA of Wilmington, YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear, and others.

Looking ahead to future innovators and innovations, Corning, in partnership with Wilmington Business Development, created an award for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) teaching.

This yearly award recognizes middle and high school teachers in the community that are focused on STEM to develop future engineers and technologists.

“STEM is so important to Corning, to the high-tech sector and actually the country,” Dunning notes. “The core competencies of the emerging jobs in the market tend to deal with STEM, so to maintain a welleducated, competent workforce, STEM curriculum is critical for students to learn.

One of the things we like to do as a company is hire local people to work in our facilities.

To do that, the workforce has to be familiar with these technical competencies.”

As Corning exemplifies, technical competencies can become a company’s competitive advantage. This suits Ball just fine. “Our intent is to be around another 160 years.” W

beauty

home

fashion

fashion weekend

Bracelets, bangles & cuff, at Monkee’s.

Elegant Ingénue PHOTO LESLIE KOEHN

Give your wardrobe a spring makeover with bright new colors and bold shoes.

See page 54.

March/April 2014 | 47

New Hairstyles for Spring Expert advice on changing your hairstyle, and finding the right hair products to keep it looking good.

By KENDALL FUQUA

T

here always seems to be a variety of popular hairstyles no matter where you turn.

It makes no difference who you are, the time comes for all of us when refashioning your hairstyle with the latest look is priority. And yes, you can get the latest hairstyle if you know where to look and how to relate your request to the right stylist. Inspiration can come from the styles worn by celebrities as well as the fashion world. For most of us, our hair is the number one accessory that we own, either by growing it or by purchasing it. Hair means something, if not everything, and many lives have been changed by the look of a new hairstyle.

The question that always seems to be the most asked is how long should my hair be. Some women wear certain lengths based on their emotions and some based on time. The fashion industry

48 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

also has its thoughts on the subject. Short hair will always be considered to be the immaculate, fashion forward, stylish and extremely sexy look for many women. With short hairstyles, there

Stylish, Sophisticated Night Spot with a Twist.

PHOTOS COURTESY ABBA HAIR CARE

are endless possibilities that never get boring. When you look at any fashion magazine, you always encounter pictures of famous celebrities wearing short hairstyles. The question that I hear repeatedly is – would a short hairstyle look good on me. The answer I like is that a suitable, personalized short hairstyle would look great on anybody.

Medium length hairstyles on the other hand, will always offer the advantage of being able to experiment. The medium length is getting the most attention right now in fashion and Hollywood. Doesn’t everyone want a quality hairstyle that will get them noticed and will be easy to style? This is also an acceptable length with those wanting to make a change, because it can be easy to grow it back long again. It’s the “crawl before you walk” length when making that transition into a new shorter hairstyle.

Ok. We know that long hairstyles will always be in the spotlight for any season, and will remain the most popular for the majority of women. Why? It is usually because of the security that it seems to give, or because of the easy ponytail.

And don’t worry – stylists will always have a plan for the ladies that want to keep those lovely locks long, stylish, and healthy.

So What’s New This Spring?

Most of you may have heard about the Professional Smoothing “Keratin” Treatments being used by salons to tame unruly, frizzy hair, or to help control curls. But, did you know that most of these Treatments are unsafe to the person receiving the service or any person nearby? Some of these treatments have even been outlawed in some countries due to the toxicity. So, how do you and your stylist know who or what to trust? We have an answer and now you can ask for it by name.

Our latest discovery, The KeraSpa Collection has three ways to smooth hair physically and not chemically.

The KeraSpa Intense is rich in keratin proteins, polyquaternium and uses amino acids synergy cysteines to effectively smooth the hair. The KeraSpa

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The Inaugural Wilmington Magazine

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ma

gaz

ine

OF 4

r 201 inne w Here’s your chance to vote for

your favorite people, food, drinks and businesses.

CAST YOUR VOTE NOW!

Don’t miss your chance to vote for the Charleston’s best. Let us know who your favorites are by filling out the ballot (see Pages 13-14) or cast your vote online at WilmingtonNCMagazine.com.

Voting ends April 30.

Intense smoothing system reduces up to 90% of curls, and removes volume and frizz, leaving the hair with a stronger, naturally smooth and silky effect for 3 to 4 months.

The quick fix option in the KeraSpa Collection is the Kera Express. This is an excellent way to reconstitute the proteins in the hair, and increase its brightness and softness to the touch, all while removing frizz. It’s ideal to use as a short term smoothing treatment, protect the hair from heat and free radicals, as well as extending the longevity of KeraSpa Intense Smoothing Treatment. This Express treatment can last up to 3 to 4 weeks.

Another choice is the Kera Kontrol Total. A new generation smoothing system that controls the curl and frizz of your hair, by using lupine protein that stimulates the natural keratin of the hair. This technology uses amino acids and protein synergy that are bio compatible with the hair fibers.

This treatment improves the hair’s moisture, elasticity, and strength while removing the undesired bulkiness while leaving soft, shiny, beautiful curls. This service takes no more time to receive than coloring, and can be done the same day as a color service. Fabulous hair for 8 to 12 weeks!

This formaldehyde free system introduces innovative, high quality products, and takes advantage of authentic Brazilian fruit extracts and their natural benefits. The Treatment includes natural ingredients such as Carob Bean extract, Acai, Guarana fruit extracts, Argan oil, Babassu oil, Wheat Germ oil, Vitamin E and Glycerin. This new combination regenerates and restructures the hair restoring lost moisture, softness, brightness, elasticity, and vitality to the hair.

Every option in the KeraSpa Collection Smoothing System contains no Formaldehyde, and has been approved for use by Health Canada, the Canadian version of the United States FDA. Health Canada adheres to more strict guidelines on the use of Formaldehyde content allowed in consumer products than the United States. In fact, Canada does not allow most smoothing treatments that the FDA still allows for use in U.S. salons today.

So, does beautiful hair have to cost you your health?

Not anymore. W

Cozy Elegance Reaching out to customers with a warm and friendly approach and offering unique home decor spells success for Monika and Rich Williams

By CECE NUNN

Inside Nest Fine Gifts and Interiors, it’s easy to see how one might experience the urge to curl up on a couch in front of a fireplace and bask in an atmosphere of cozy elegance.

That’s one of the feelings owner Monika Williams hopes she inspires in customers at the business she started in April 2011.

“Our home is very warm and welcoming and comforting, and I think that was really the philosophy she went in with,” said Rich Williams, Monika’s husband and business partner. “Rather than it being like a big warehouse or large building with pretty furniture in it, you have a warm setting with welcoming and warm people to help out.”

Located in The Forum at 1125 Military Cutoff Road, the store is arranged in flowing sections that display the products available for people who are seeking gifts and/or design advice. A dining area showcases not only furniture, but everything else you would need

to create the right setting for sitting down to a meal with family or guests, from glassware to napkin rings. In another section of the store tailored to exude a masculine feel, ruggedly beautiful leather luggage rests beside leather chairs near a shelf highlighting a variety of gifts for sale.

Including a men’s section was a priority for Monika and Rich.

“I think men are always hard to buy for, and having one area of a place that people have in their minds when they have to get a man’s gift seemed like a smart thing to do,” Monika said, adding that they plan to expand the section in the future. “We try to have a little something for everybody.”

Rich added, “We do a lot with wedding

registries and because of that, there’s a need for bridesmaids gifts as well as groomsmen’s gifts. That’s an important piece of it.”

A full slate of design services is offered, with three interior designers employed to meet the customers’ needs: Renee RussoSmith, Susan Gsell and Lou Anne Liverman.

Russo-Smith has worked at Nest for a year and a half and has been a designer for 14 years.

“I love the quality of the furnishings and accessories. You don’t see them all over the place,” Russo-Smith said. “We have a lot of furniture stores here in Wilmington but you want to go someplace where you feel like you’re getting something unique for your clients.”

Russo-Smith said Monika does a good job of filling that need for furniture and gifts you

Photos by KELLY STARBUCK and HORACE LONG, SALT STUDIO

March/April 2014 | 51

Monika and Rich Williams

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can’t get elsewhere.

“It changes all the time,” Russo-Smith said of the store’s offerings.

Monika said she and Rich travel to four markets a year, two in High Point and two in Atlanta, to find the furniture, accessories, accent pieces, gifts and other items they sell. “I also listen to what people are wanting and try to do the best I can to get the things that people are asking for.”

The store’s layout is also a plus for Russo-Smith as she works with clients. “It helps to visualize the pieces in a residential environment,” she said.

One trend Russo-Smith has noted this year in the world of interior design is the use of large, bold patterns in upholstery or pillows, especially for accent pieces.

And a lot of customers lately, Monika said, have been looking for ways to refresh their interior designs.

“People who have a very traditional home for the past however many years are deciding that they want to update it just a little bit, and maybe replace some of the darker, very traditional pieces with some distressed furniture, lighter colors, lighter woods,” Monika said. “Our designers are very good at always trying to work with what they’ve got to the best of their ability.”

Along those lines, the designers can help keep the process from becoming overwhelming, Rich said.

“You don’t have to come in and throw everything away,” he said.

“You can gradually ease into a new look by blending pieces that you have currently with newer pieces.”

Also available is a line of paint, Amy Howard at Home, that customers can use to change a piece they currently have into something new or different. The company’s one-step paints allow customers to give a fresh look to a piece of furniture, such as a stained wood piece, without having to strip or sand off the old layers. The same is the case with the Amy Howard at Home furniture lacquer paints. “The lacquers can be used on virtually any type of surface,” Rich said. For example, the bright, bold color of a lacquer paint can turn an old brass lamp into a piece more in keeping with the boldness required by recent design trends.

In addition to furniture, lighting, cowhide rugs, candles and other home products, Nest sells fragrances, jewelry, purses and much more, with many other items listed on the store’s website. The business employs six people — a full-time store manager and two part-time employees in addition to its three interior designers. Monika and Rich spend a lot of time at the store, but with the help of their team, they are able to balance running a business with a busy family life. The Williams have four teenaged daughters, two in middle school and two in high school.

“Starting a business is a very challenging task and so that’s probably been the only way we can do it with four kids – working together and having a great staff of people we can depend on,” Rich said.

A strong staff combined with an emphasis on providing a comfortable, non-intimidating atmosphere has helped Nest keep regular customers as it attracts new ones.

“We work with a lot of really great customers and that certainly helps make it easier for us as business owners,” Rich said.

910-256-6378, nestfinegifts.com W

March/April 2014 | 53

A

Spring Tale

Girlie-girl style with an edge is this spring’s hottest trend.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Leslie Koehn FASHION STYLIST: Kristin Wood MODEL: D evan Claycomb HAIR: Amy Kennison Location: Shelton Herb Farm, Leland NC

Easy to wear lace with the classic Skinny jean For Love and Lemons “Lulu” top, $128, Mother Denim “Looker” skinny jeans, $196, Dannijo earrings, $392, Oliver; Stewart Weitzman “Jean” black patent wedges, $370, Torri Belle.

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Vintage wonders and hot days ahead 60’s Plaid Swimsuit, The Wonder Shop; Kopious “Ring and Tassel” bracelet and “Disk and Bone” earrings, Island Passage; Vintage Boots, Model’s own.

Weekend Boyfriend jeans take you from day to night Marlies Dekkers Gloria body suit, $169, Lillies and Lace; Koral jeans, $257, Oliver; Stuart Weitzman “Ratatat” black suede heals, $455, Torri Belle; Kenneth Jay Lane Brushed Gold bangle, $188, Monkee’s; Kopious “Klutch” handbag, $220, Oliver.

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Bohemian whimsies remain!

Free People “Pop Combo” dress, $132, Island Passage Lumina; Kopious “Ring and Tassel” Necklace and “Turquoise Pendant” necklace, Island Passage; Vintage Boots, Model’s own.

Anywhere anytime, fun Spring dresses are pretty in pink and rose Yoana Baraschi dress, $323, Loren Hope bracelets, Monkee’s .

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Rock a little contrast this Spring with year round faux leather and a feminine floral print Morning Warrior “Adieu” top, $40, 70’s Style Silk wrap skirt, $36, Liliana “Quincy” sandals, $45, The Wonder Shop; Dannijo earrings, $392, Oliver.

White—the only way to welcome warm weather Signature 8 “Ivory Interest” dress, $68, Aqua Fedora; Reborn Brass and Copper Feather lariat necklace, $50, Reborn “Over the Moon” brass necklace, $55, Hallelu Boutique; Harrison Murray Feather Leather cuff bracelet, $44, Kopious Brass and Bead hoops, $40, Aqua Fedora.

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Rain or Shine, the Basket Weave top is a HOT new trend for Spring and will excite your wardrobe throughout the year!

AS by DF “Sao Paolo” Tank, $366, AS by DF “Raquel” suede shorts in blue, $288, Loren Hope bracelets, bangles and cuff, Loren Hope Earrings, $68, Lola Cruz Gold and Rhinestone heals, $259, Hunter “Lipstick” Original Gloss Wellington boots in pink, $140, Monkee’s.

March/April 2014 | 61

S ponsored E vent

he Inaugural Wilmington Fashion Weekend will establish Wilmington NC as an important component of the fashion industry worldwide. The event starts on Thursday, April 3, 2014 and runs through Sunday, April 6, 2014. The four day celebration will feature 4 runway shows, a block party, an accessory trunk event, an Emerging Designers Competition, after parties and VIP press events throughout the city.

A series of special access events are also lined up including an opening night Cirque Du Soleil Social and a host of “Fashion Night Out” soirees sponsored, in part, by locally owned boutiques. We plan on attracting hundreds of visitors to Downtown Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, helping the industry grow and continue to develop.

The charitable partner is Dreams Center for Education. Dreams provides free-of-charge, quality classes in the creative, visual and performing arts to over 500 economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 8-17, who might not otherwise be afforded the opportunity to experience the benefits of an arts education.

Through artists-in-residence, youth entrepreneurship and public art opportunities, the Dreams Center transforms children in need into creative, committed citizens of our community.

At Wilmington Fashion Weekend, Dreams will be spotlighted to raise awareness of their efforts. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each ticket will be donated to Dreams Center for the Arts. Continuing with their creative efforts, the kids from Dreams will also be one of the featured retailers at the accessory trunk show, Gold, Beads & Bauble on Saturday at The River Room on Water Street.

Emerging Designers

Are you an emerging designer in Southeast NC? This show is all about showcasing your creativity and passion to residents, visitors, and local businesses. If interested in participating visit the website to register.

Want to Provide Hair & Makeup Services?

WFW is looking to partner with phenomenal, local hair stylists and makeup artists who want to showcase their skills to Wilmington’s fashion industry. All participating stylists and artists will have their names featured in the WFW guide that will be distributed throughout the event.

Casting Call for Models

Join Wilmington’s inaugural Fashion Weekend as a runway model! Models of all experience levels are welcome to apply.

Volunteers

Do you love fashion and want to find a way to get involved?

62 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

WFW is currently taking applications for volunteers. Show your support by getting involved.

Events Line-up

Thursday, April 3rd • Opening night VIP Cirque du Soleil Social, Brooklyn Arts Center Friday, April 4th • The Emerging Designers Show Curated by Edge of Urge at Battleship Park Saturday, April 5th • The Live Swimsuit Issue: Swim & Resort at Battleship Park • The Night Life Couture Show at Battleship park • Local Love, Downtown Wilmington • Block Party • The Accessory Trunk Show at the River Room Sunday, April 6th – Grand Finale • Spring /Summer 2014 live look book & awards ceremony For questions or further information email khalilah@aboxedevent.com or call 910-319-3272.

Visit wilmingtonfashionweekend.com for full details and registration forms.

PHOTO COURTESY WFW

T

The Inaugural Wilmington Fashion Weekend

Âť We have lots of camp options,

PHOTO ELAINE FLOYD

from sports and science to academics and religion, to make your home very quiet this summer.

March/April 2014 | 63

Summer Camp Guide Summer’s almost here, which means afternoons on the beach, weekend barbecues and the end of the school year is upon us. Fortunately, for folks around Wilmington, there are plenty of activities and camps for school-aged kids that will keep them occupied, engaged and enjoying themselves all summer long.

To make finding the perfect summer camp – whether it’s a day, a week or a month long – easier, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best in the area; we even included a few you may not have heard of. Take a look, circle your favorites and pack the kids’ bags, it’s camp time.

By JASON FRYE

» Marine Quest

UNCW’s Marine Quest slate of summer programs is guaranteed to keep the kids busy.

Whether you’re looking for a half-day program, one that’s a day long, or even an overnight camp, they’ve got you covered. Kids 5-8 can take advantage of half-day programs like the Sea Squirts where kids “discover some of the shelly, fishy, crusty, squishy and scummy critters” that inhabit our waters. Older kids can participate in activities ranging from Surf-n Science to O.C.E.A.N.S. (Ocean Career Exploration and Nautical Science), a program that shows

you what it takes to have an ocean-based career. There are even advanced camps where teens can receive their SCUBA certification. uncw.edu/marinequest/summercamps.html

» Young Writers Workshop

This camp for aspiring writers was founded in 2001 by UNCW’s Creative Writing Department MFA Program, and quickly grew from a threeday sleepover camp to a five-day extravaganza where student writers from around the country come together for writing workshops, classes taught by MFA candidates, professional writers and distinguished faculty members. YWW director and graduate student Nicola DerobertisTheye says, “Every year the kids develop a really great sense of community, starting from the very first night in the residence halls, sharing their writing with each other and talking about books.

Often they think that they’re the only one like themselves in their high school, but they know they have this other community now.” The 2014 Young Writers Workshop runs from June 17-21. uncw.edu/writers/youngwriters.html

» Engineering and Robotics Camps

If your kids are interested in robots, Legos, flying machines or just about anything else related to design, engineering or building, UNCW’s Engineering and Robotics Camps will

delight them. With half-day camps focused on gadget making, flight, a session where you try to knock down block buildings with a wrecking ball, and a Lego-centric camp, young kids will have their choice of fun, educational activities.

Older kids will enjoy inventing their own machines, building spring-powered rockets, and even VEX competition robotics. Their femaleonly camp encourages young women to explore science and engineering in a way that engages them. 910-962-2118, uncw.edu/youth/programs/ summerengineering.html

» Ashton Farm Summer Day Camp

Kids 5-12 can head out to a farm in the country (not really the country, just Burgaw) for a full day of farm life and outdoor fun. From horseback riding to hikes, archery and tennis to swimming and canoeing and more, the days are packed with activities. Friday means its time for a rodeo, Miss Sally Martin’s way of saying a day of events: chicken catching, bubble gum blowing, races, art contests and just about everything under the sun.

910-259-2412, ashtonfarmcamp.com

» No Sleeves Magic Camp

Learn sleight of hand, card tricks and other magic performance skills at No Sleeves Magic Camp. Kids (and grown ups too, there are camps and classes available for those of us beyond our

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Come have FUN with us this SUMMER! Now registering children ages 3 to 12 for our Summer Camp Program

SUMMER CAMPS

Every week, summer camp children will enjoy new activities, from a visit by reptilian pets to bubble science, from tide pool creatures to lessons on gardening. Children can also sign up for Art, Drama, Gardening, and Spanish themed camps led by our enthusiastic experts!

222 Winner Avenue • Carolina Beach 910-707-1200 • www.islandmontessorischool.com Island Montessori School is a nonprofit school that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any category protected by law, in its educational policies, employment practices and all other school administered procedures and programs.

Whether you're looking for the perfect summer quest for your little adventurer or a way for your child to perfect some seriously thrilling skills, The Little Gym Summer Camps have something for everyone! Plus, flexible scheduling options allow you to schedule several weeks, a single week or even just a day at a time!

Summer classes too! Book your free preview class!

The Little Gym of Wilmington www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com (910) 799-3771

teenage years), will benefit from the tutelage of a talented practicing magician who’s glad to show them the ropes and have them performing tricks in no time. Don’t worry though, sawing your assistant in half isn’t covered at beginner camps.

910-200-5300, nosleevesmagic.com

» Cheer Infinity Cheerleading Camp

For kids with a penchant for cheerleading, Cheer Infinity has the answer. Private and semi-private lessons are available from a skilled bunch of tumblers, gymnasts and cheer enthusiasts. From basic techniques like stretching and proper warm-ups to more advanced choreography and tumbling, developing cheerleaders will take away a lot from a camp session at Cheer Infinity.

910-792-6088, cheerinfinityallstars.com

» Island Montessori

For kids 1-7, Island Montessori School offers nine weeks of themed activities that will have your kids making merry with their friends, but also learning about themselves, their environment (and the crawling, slithering creatures in it) and the place they live. From June to August, these camps, for toddlers 1-2 and primary grade students 3-6 (7 year-old siblings welcome), offer playtime and positive learning experiences that your kids will rave about for days. Who knows, you may even learn a thing or two after they’ve

been away at camp all day. 910-795-4860, islandmontessorischool.com/summer-camp

» Juniors Tennis at Holly Tree Racquet and Swim Club

Joann Bristol has been playing tennis for more than 16 years, and her clinics, classes and camps are popular for young players. In 2013, her 8 and under team were state runners up, if that tells you anything about the caliber of tennis she teaches. Camps, classes and clinics run from beginners to experienced players looking to improve tournament results or go on to play high school tennis; so all levels of tennis experience are welcome. 910-620-1332, wilmingtontennis.blogspot.com

» Odysea Surf Camp

From weeklong camps that will have you riding your first wave in no time to kiteboarding lessons, Odysea Surf Camps are summer staples on the beach. Owner Kevin Murphy is just one of the highly skilled men and women who teaches lessons through Odysea, so rest assured that whoever leads your camp, you’re in good hands.

In addition to traditional surf camps, Odysea runs the Odysea/Ocean Cure Surf School, a nonprofit organization that takes at-risk youth and youth medical issues surfing. 910-458-7100, odyseasurf.com/surfing

» Halo Sports

Halo Sports, a faith-based organization tied to Impact Church in Wilmington, offers a host of camps and activities. Camps are designed for 4-6 year olds, first and second graders, third and fourth graders, and fifth and sixth graders.

At each camp, kids are divided by tracks, which include art, magic, drama, video games, and other creative activities, as well as basketball, soccer, kickball, disc golf, ultimate Frisbee, and badminton, to name a few. Each day, kids select their track and then have three activities in their chosen track, giving them the ability to make their own camp as they go along. 910-202-4595, impactwilmington.org/camphalo.aspx

» OASIS NC (Outstanding Autism

Support and Instructional Service) OASIS NC was designed to help support children who fall into the broad range of the Autism spectrum. Age and ability appropriate activities in areas like art, dance, science, recreation and games, social skills, and community are common in OASIS’ camps, as are visits to locations like the Fort Fisher Aquarium. 910-769-4586, oasisnc. org/programs/oasis-programs/summer-camp

ear t hsh inediscove ry.com | 82 8.86 2.4207 EXPERIENCE high-adventure, living history, and hands-on fun with your friends and family. GETAWAY to our one-of-a-kind mountain retreat and let our handcrafted programs help you create lasting memories with the people you love.

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E d u c a t i o n | Fa m i l i e s | Re t r e a t s

Summer Camp Guide » Carolina Gymnastics Academy

Summer campers will stay busy at Carolina Gymnastic Academy. There, they will find their days filled with activities in the Outdoor recreation area, indoor gym and afterschool building. Activities include a gymnastics circuit, bouncy house, gymnastics free play and field trips to the Splash Pad, Legion pool and more. A squadron of trained gymnasts teach proper techniques and ensure that campers are safe during their time here. 910-796-1896, carolinagymnasticsacademy.com/camps.php

» Brett Blizzard Summer Camps

Summer camps at Brett Blizzard’s come in three varieties: boys only, girls only, and co-ed. Here, kids will learn the fundamentals and even some advanced techniques as they drill, compete and play on the basketball courts with other kids their age and skill level. Camp instructors are former college basketball standouts and pros, including one coach who played at the same high school as Michael Jordan and scored more points than the legend in his time there. blizzardathletics.com/campsclinics

» Wilmington Christian Academy

Wilmington Christian Academy’s Summer Day Camp runs from June to August and is for 4 yearolds to rising 8th graders, and gives kids outlets in many areas including indoor and outdoor games, bowling, water activities, field trips as well as quiet time to read and rest. The facilities include several athletic fields, a nicely equipped gym, playgrounds, computer labs and a library, which makes this an ideal spot for other summer camps like sports skills camps and other enrichment programs.

Summer sports camps include volleyball, tennis, soccer, basketball and golf camps, and a cardio/fitness camp. Enrichment camps include weeks dedicated to guitar, model building, Lego Star Wars adventures, choir, woodworking, American Girl doll camp, crafts and even cooking.

910-791-4248 ext. 122, wilmingtonchristian.com

» Town of Wrightsville Beach

Summer Camps and Programs

The Town of Wrightsville Beach offers tons of summer programs for youth and adults.

From lacrosse camp (teaching fundamentals, sportsmanship and advanced techniques) to Basketball camp to the Wilmington Hammerheads Soccer Camp, there are all sorts of sports camps available. In addition, a series of art and jewelry camps, the Cape Fear Cotillion Manners Camp, a performance-centered camp and even a kids’ cooking summer camp are open. townofwrightsvillebeach.com

» Cape Fear Academy

The summer camps offered by Cape Fear Academy are some of the most interesting around. Harry Potter camp? Check. Minecraft, American Girl doll, Dr. Seuss and Reptile camps?

Check. How about a Superhero camp where kids

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will make capes, masks and other costumes while solving a mystery? Or the two-week Broadway camp that helps get young thespians ready for auditions? Other camps include themed camps for boys and girls, sports camps that teach fundamentals and sportsmanship, a DJ camp, and even a two –week Princeton Review SAT Prep camp. Camp sessions run through June and July, and are designed for kids from Pre-K to rising high school seniors. 910-791-0287, capefearacademy.org/summer-programs

» City of Wilmington

Recreation Programs

The City of Wilmington has a surprising array of camps and activities throughout the summer. At the Greenfield Grind Skatepark, kids can learn not only the fundamentals of skateboarding but also the finer points of beginner and intermediate tricks. Halyburton Park has a variety of half-day activities for kids and grown-ups alike. There are swim teams and a range of other athletic activities to keep even the most active kid busy.

910-341-7800, wilmingtonnc.gov/community_ services/recreation/programs

» UNCW Sports Camps

If UNCW has a team that plays it, they have a camp that lets kids learn the sport on the courts and fields and in the pools where UNCW’s athletes train and compete. There are soccer camps for boys and girls; baseball, tennis and volleyball camps, as well as girl’s and boy’s basketball camps, softball camps and even a swimming program. Contact the appropriate coach using the phone number or email address listed. uncwsports.com

» Wilmington Family YMCA

The Wilmington Family YMCA is practically a one-stop-shop for your summer camp needs.

Sports camps (think kickball, dodge ball, splash ball, basketball, soccer); cheerleading; surf camps; a camp focused on “real action heroes;” first responders; a movie making camp; a Star Wars themed camp; photography; art; crafts; animals; and more – and that’s just the day camps. There’s also a sleep away camp at Camp Kirkwood, where the activities include swimming, games like kickball (and capture the flag), camp fires and a bevy of other classic summer camp to-dos. 910-251-9622, ext. 255, wilmingtonfamilyymca.org/summercamp

» The Little Gym

When kids are at The Little Gym, they’re at their best – playing, giggling and having fun. In addition to their regular programs of gymnastics, dance, karate and early-childhood sports skills classes, The Little Gym hosts Parents Survival Nights (giving you a night out on the town while the little ones play to their hearts content) and has a top-notch summer camp program. At the summer camp, kids will get their fair share of physical activity in a fun, safe, supervised play

area, as well as time for arts, crafts and other special events. The Little Gym focuses on more than just physical activity, and each week of camp offers a different interactive learning theme, keeping campers sharp mentally and physically.

910-799-3771, tlgwilmingtonnc.com

» Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu

Looking for a camp with a kick? Look no further than Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu’s summer camp. This karate-focused camp will work kids through drills and katas, but the rest of the day is filled with dodge ball, Nerf games, Frisbee tag, foam sword fights, field trips and other activities like swimming and movies. 910-392-3703, capefearisshinryu.com/Summer_Camp.html

» Coastal Athletics

Coastal Athletics offers summer camps, as well as sports camps throughout the year to keep young athletes sharp. Camps here are focused primarily on baseball and softball, though other sports are offered throughout the year. All of the coaches at Coastal Athletics played college, semi-pro or pro ball, so the direction they give is first class.

910-452-5838, coastalathletics.net/page/ show/321427-upcoming-camps-and-clinics

» WB Surf Camp

WB Surf Camp is one of the most recognizable in the area for surfing education. From kids camps, camps for teens and even vacation surf camps (for adults and older teens), their instructors help novices drop in on their first wave and help experienced surfers develop the skills and techniques they need to elevate their next session.

910-256-7873, wbsurfcamp.com

» Brigade Boys & Girls Club

At the Brigade Boys & Girls Club, a number of camps designed to enrich the summer and afterschool time of Wilmington’s kids are available. From camps focused in the arts (think photography, creative writing, performance and visual arts) to sports camps (flag football, basketball, softball and the like) to a camp designed to teach habits kids need to become healthy adults to camps focused on building leadership skills and developing positive character traits, Brigade offers a lot to help keep kids active and growing in the right direction.

910-392-0747, brigadebgc.org/programs

» Sunshine Camp

Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter hosts Sunshine Camp, a day camp for young people coping with the death of a loved one. Join us to talk, play, create, eat, laugh and make friends. They are encouraged to share memories, express feelings, release anger, and learn from their life experiences. Deadline for application is June 11. After an application is received, a meeting will be scheduled with the child and youth grief counselor. Campers must attend this brief meeting prior to camp. 910-796-7991, www.lcfh.org

Earthshine Discovery Center Make your personal connection to nature

By KATHERINE PETTIT

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f you haven’t heard about Earthshine Discovery Center, you soon will. The property offers a wonderful opportunity for families (as well as school classes, scouts and businesses) to connect and learn something about themselves as well as the remarkable natural world of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Families of all ages will enjoy the perfect combination of recreation, outdoor activities and learning.

On Pioneer Mornings, all ages will learn to press apple cider, make hand-dipped candles, spin wool and take a turn at blacksmithing. Cherokee Morning offers opportunities to grind corn, make clay beads and throw tomahawks. Critter Hunts open up more than 80 acres of mountain land to inquisitive eyes.

The High Adventure activities offer quite the challenge for those

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ages 10 and up. Try out the seven-stage zip line course, including a 400-foot tandem run – not for the faint of heart. Equally nonwimpy is the high ropes course – an obstacle course that ends with the Leap of Faith.

Families build team spirit (and precious memories) with a multi-challenge low-ropes course designed for all ages. How does the Puzzle Platform of Doom sound? We thought so. There’s also the climbing wall, creek hikes, and in the midst of it all, killer views and up-close encounters with the creatures who live on the property year-round. (Goats are actually very nice, once you get to know them.)

Nature hikes, archery, treasure hunts, nighttime campfires (with s’mores, of course), and scavenger hunts round out the activities the whole family will enjoy.

Mealtimes offer hearty, tasty fare and the chefs know how to grill some perfect ribs, or fry a mountain trout to perfection.

Sounds like it’s a lot of fun – and it is! Just as important, there’s time to unwind and be with the family on an entirely different level from your everyday school and work routines. It’s the best of summer camps with the whole family.

Hint: Bring outdoor shoes, bathing suits and layers of clothes.

Earthshine is quite comfortable and the staff feels like visiting old friends. You will leave with great photos and long-lasting memories. As one family said, “Why would we ever go anywhere else?” 1600 Golden Road, Lake Toxaway, NC. 828-862-4207, earthshinediscovery.com

Living in the Great Outdoors We talked with four Wilmington-area outdoor living experts for helpful tips and advice on how to turn your backyard into an outdoor living space worthy of celebrating.

By LAUREN FRYE

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ith spring right around the corner, it’s time to turn your attention from indoor pursuits to the state of your great outdoors. If you’re like most people, you’re probably not wholly satisfied with your backyard. Maybe you’d like to upgrade your terrace, add a water or fire feature, or spruce up your landscaping, but it all seems so daunting.

Where can you turn for help, guidance or installation?

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Relax in Style: Leisure World Choices for outdoor furnishings have expanded tremendously over the past 5-10 years. No longer are hard, molded plastic or untreated aluminum your best (and only) options. Instead, exotic woods, hearty all-weather wicker and luxurious fabrics can make your outdoor living room as comfortable as your inside one.

“I tell my customers to think of their outdoor living space as another room in their home,” says Trey Folcher, owner of Leisure World Casual Furniture. “It’s an opportunity to extend the color story and style of your interior to the outdoors, or to create a unique personality to complement it.”

Leisure World, a family owned business, has been selling outdoor furnishings and accessories in Wilmington for 28 years. This long history in the business equates to a deep understanding of the materials that work best in the coastal climate as well as the most popular features and styles.

“Outdoor furniture has really evolved, and it’s important to do your research and understand your options before buying,” says Folcher.

All-weather wicker, made from polyethylene resin, has retained immense popularity due to its durability and ease of maintenance. Furniture made from this material is lightweight yet sturdy and easy to clean—simply rinse it with a hose. All-weather wicker, which comes in a variety of color options, is UV resistant, which means no fading over time even in a sunny climate like coastal North Carolina.

“Part of the beauty of all-weather wicker is that it’s long lasting and durable, and if you get tired of the look, you can easily switch it up by simply replacing cushions or adding new pillows,” says Folcher.

Outdoor fabrics also aren’t what they used to be. Today’s cushions and pillows feel and look like they could just as easily belong in your family room as your outdoor area. In fact, Folcher says many customers are starting to choose outdoor graded material for their interior furnishings because it’s so durable and easy to clean.

“Many of our cushions can be soaked in bleach and it won’t hurt them a bit,” he says. “They’re also UV resistant, so they stay looking as vibrant and beautiful as the day you bought them.”

Folcher stocks a variety of furnishings made from synthetic materials made to look natural. A coffee table made from a sturdy, resin-based material looks just like wood, while a lounge chair made from twisted vinyl appears to have been woven from a banana palm leaf. If all-natural is your thing, Folcher recommends hard woods like high quality teak and exotic ipe, which can stand up to the elements.

The showroom at Leisure World is stocked with such a variety that choosing can be difficult, and Folcher recommends envisioning what you want to be doing in your outdoor space.

“A lot of folks feel like they have to get a traditional table and four chairs for their patio space because that’s what they grew up with,” he says. “When in reality, they’d be more comfortable and relaxed sitting around a coffee table with some casual armchairs or a sofa.” 910-392-7748, leisureworldfurniture.net

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D.I.Y. Spaces, With a Little Help: Stone Garden If you’re a weekend warrior when it comes to home and outdoor projects, the Stone Garden, a shop featuring natural and cultured stone as well as fountains and garden ornaments, is a great resource for creating a gorgeous new backyard.

Nina Brown, proprietor of the Stone Garden, says she meets a lot of customers who want to make changes to their outdoor space but don’t have a clear idea about what they want to do or where they should start. “Folks come into the store staying, ‘I want do redo my backyard,’ but they don’t yet have the terminology to talk about exactly what that means,” she says.

That’s where Brown and her knowledgeable staff can help.

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“Our first job is to educate customers about their options, show them examples of what they can do and help them make decisions to start defining their project.”

Brown’s process begins with asking customers about their intended use for the space. “The way we start thinking about designing your outdoor room depends heavily on who you are and how you will be using it,” she says. “For instance, homeowners who entertain a lot might consider adding a built-in fireplace and designated bar area.”

She also recommends defining the size and shape of the base of your outdoor area early in the process. There are many ways to visually mark off the space, but Brown says the easiest, cheapest and most effective is to create an outline with a simple garden hose. It allows you to play with dimensions and shape before you commit, and helps with a visual reference for scale.

“Oftentimes, customers come in to the shop with dimensions in mind, but when they see it laid out with the hose they realize the space is too large to be cozy, or too small to contain all the elements they want to include,” she says.

When it comes to getting to work on building the space, the Stone Garden offers many DIY friendly services, which only makes sense as Brown reports that 75% of her customers are Do-It-Yourselfers.

“I think it’s important for customers to come and spend time browsing our inventory to get an idea of what their options are, and what kinds of materials they gravitate toward,” says Brown.

In addition to the large inventory found in the yard, Brown also keeps catalogs, samples and photos of past jobs in her “garden room,” where she encourages customers to sit and browse for as long as they like.

Novice and experienced do-it-yourselfers alike will love the Stone Garden’s free classes, which focus on how to complete popular DIY projects. Past classes have included patios, fireplaces and firepits, pathways, fountains and water gardens.

“Do-It-Yourselfers can come to our classes and go home with the knowledge and ability to complete an impressive project,” she says. But if DIY isn’t your thing, Brown has an extensive network of installers, masons, landscapers and water feature experts to help. 910-452-1619, stonegarden-nc.com

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Mark Batson, owner of Tongue and Groove Custom Builders, has worked on many high-end homes in Wilmington during his years as a builder. Over time he started noticing a trend emerging— instead of moving or building a new home from the ground up, many homeowners were enhancing the outdoor living component of their current homes.

“A great outdoor living space is very important to a high-end home,” says Batson. “I’ve seen a lot of pools and hot tubs that don’t meet the same high standards as the homes they were going in, so I decided to start AquaShapes. I wanted to be able to bring well made, luxury pools to the Wilmington market.”

Batson, who now runs both businesses, has never looked back.

“I love working on outdoor spaces because it’s fun, and my clients are excited to work on the project,” he says. “It’s more relaxed than the homebuilding process.”

Batson says his clients are well educated when it comes to the latest trends in luxury pools and water features, and they come to 72 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

him with lots of ideas. “They’re looking at magazines and traveling the world, so they understand how many incredible options they have. It’s our job to make their visions a reality,” he says.

The homeowners that Batson works with are also looking for something that expresses who they are and how they live.

“They don’t want the same old pool everyone else has,” he says.

AquaShapes prides themselves on their ability to find a solution for even the most challenging yard or exotic request, and have created some truly spectacular and one of a kind pools.

Installing a pool in an oceanfront home can be tricky, requiring piling to raise the pool above flood levels, but it’s worth it for the privacy and spectacular views offered. “We did an oceanfront pool with adjoining hot tub in Kure Beach that turned out spectacularly,” Batson says. “We’re not afraid of complicated jobs.”

Small or odd shaped lots require different problem solving skills, a challenge Batson welcomes. For long, slender lots that are popular in newer developments, he’s designed pools that wrap two sides of the home, giving more square footage with a sleeker profile.

PHOTOS JOSHUA CURRY

Build A True Outdoor Oasis: AquaShapes Pools

“We talk to a lot of clients who think their yard isn’t ideal for a pool,” he explains. “I love showing them how many options they have if we just think out of the box.”

AquaShapes is well versed in all the latest trends in pools and hot tubs, including beach entry pools, which don’t have stairs but instead feature a bottom that gently slopes into the water. Beach entry pools are great for families with kids and seniors because they provide easy access to the water and have a more natural look than traditional entry pools.

Infinity pools, also known as zero edge pools, produce a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to “infinity.” Infinity pools are particularly impressive when the edge matches up with a larger body of water, like the ocean, and therefore are also very popular in Wilmington.

Grottos, swim-up bars and waterfalls are also gaining a lot of attention lately, and Batson is very outspoken on how these new features can add flair to a high-end outdoor space.

“Waterfalls, grottos and swim-up bars give you that ‘resort’ feel at home, a luxury a lot of people are looking for today,” he says.

AquaShapes uses Zodiac pool equipment exclusively, because it’s at the forefront of new technology, is intuitive and user friendly. The best part of the system is the way you control it, from a wall mounted touch screen or mobile device. “They’re the best quality pools and they’re so easy to use and maintain,” says Batson. “Our clients love them.” 910-679-4610, aqua-shapes.com

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Experience Your Back Yard Anew: Elements Outdoor Living “There’s no such thing as a hopeless backyard,” says Blair Walton, owner and head designer of Elements Outdoor Living, a company specializing in designing and installing outdoor living and landscape elements. Walton believes a fabulous outdoor space is just waiting to be uncovered, defined and built in every back yard he’s ever seen.

“I believe all spaces have endless potential,” he says. “You just need to take a look at your space with a fresh eye, and get creative about how to make it inviting and functional.”

That’s where Elements comes in. Walton, who’s been working in the landscape industry since he was in college, has the depth of experience and creative vision to turn even the most mundane of patios into a posh space for entertaining, and barest of yards into an outdoor oasis.

Everyone’s needs differ when it comes to creating an outdoor living area, so Walton’s designs vary to reflect his clients’ lifestyles and aesthetics while sticking to their budget. But all of Elements’ projects strive to ensure a comfortable, inviting and easy to maintain space where homeowners can relax and enjoy Wilmington’s beautiful Southern climate.

To ensure that each of his outdoor spaces are custom fit to the client, Walton and his staff approach their design process from the standpoint of the user’s experience, asking questions like “how will the space be accessed” and “how often will it be used, and for what purposes?” Starting with the access point from the home to the yard, they move outwards, assessing each area as they go.

“We typically begin with the approach—what do you step onto when you walk out of the house? Do we need to create a path to access the outdoor area, or do you have direct access from the house?” For Walton, the journey is an important part of the experience. “We always look at how you will travel from one space to the next and integrate that into our design. Getting there is part of the experience, and it should feel that way.”

Next, Walton looks at the structural elements that might become an integrated part of the terrace or deck: built-in seating and planters, fireplace or grill area. “We’re looking at how the space becomes three dimensional. What can we do to make your living area more than a flat surface, and how can these elements add to your lifestyle?”

Walton and company always ask how the homeowner intends to use the space, so he can make the most of it through design.

“If you don’t entertain a lot, you don’t need a table that seats 10.

An intimate, cozy area might work better.”

When it comes to the hottest trends in outdoor living, Walton puts fireplaces and firepits at the top of the list. “Fire elements are great for Wilmington,” he says. “Because our winters are mild, they make spending time outside a viable option almost any time of year, especially if it’s located in the area where you tend to congregate, rather that out in the middle of your yard.”

Another trend on the rise is the outdoor kitchen. Built-in grills and designated areas for serving make it easy to entertain outside, and a selection of modular products help keep outdoor kitchens more budget-friendly. 910-297-3999. W

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March/April 2014 | 75

Springtime in the Mountains Sometimes you want to find a different direction, where you just need a mountain view from your room.

By Katie Osteen

Ah, the Appalachians. Oldest in the world, these mountains look and feel mysterious – and yet, somehow accessible. For generations, families all over the Carolinas hopped on trains and headed for those cool, blue-tinged hills. Boarding houses and ole-timey campgrounds attracted folks who wanted hills, dark shadows, a different feel. Guess what? It’s the same in 2014 as it was in 1914 – with a few more creature comforts.

Where do you want to go as the weather warms and the green foliage returns? Bumpy land lovers, the time is now to plan your springtime mountain getaway.

Asheville www.exploreasheville.com 800.257.1300 Asheville is surrounded by one million acres of forest – a springtime heaven on earth for outdoor aficionados. Gentle breezes, clear skies and gorgeous flowers are all hallmarks of springtime downtown and the nearby wilderness. Hikes, a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a spring festival, strolling through a farmer’s market – it’s all good. Be sure to catch the vibe that resonates here – an adventurous spirit with a strong commitment to the land and local food movement. »» Insider tips: Springtime is a great time to visit several of their 250 restaurants and sit outside. It’s as if every restaurant tries to outdo the next. What a delicious competition.

Take note: 18 breweries have great specialties and fun-filled tastings.

For another tasty ramble, consider the WNC Cheese Trail. It connects farms making delicious goat and cow’s milk cheeses.

Downtown Asheville

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Biltmore Estate: the gardens come alive in the spring and as everything greens up, the long drive to reach Biltmore House is cool and lovely. Shopping at the village is a must-do, as well.

Shopping is king. You will find quirky stores and boutiques and one-of-a-kind artist’s offerings in dozens of galleries and stores. Take your credit card and get a head start on holiday gifts.

Big Canoe, North Georgia www.bigcanoe.com 770.893.2733 Big Canoe’s park-like setting includes 8,000+ acres of pristine woodlands, meadows, lakes and streams, of which over 2,000 are accessible greenspace. With the added punch of resortstyle amenities like golf, tennis, swimming, state-of-the-art fitness center, over 22 miles of trails and more than 50 clubs and organizations, there is simply never a lack of things to do.

Amenities are available to overnight guests.

Some require fees. »» Insider tips: The Village Festival, just outside the gates, is held each Saturday from 9-12, starting April through October. More than 60 vendors participate each week.

There are many interesting towns nearby to visit such as Dahlonega with its wineries and Blue Ridge with all its great shops.

A 27-hole Championship golf course, with mountain peaks as backdrop, winds through valleys, rushing streams, clear lakes and cliffs where you can watch your drive soar off

View from Big Canoe

mountain tops. A beautiful Clubhouse at Lake Sconti has a restaurant and golf shop.

The Tennis Center includes eight outdoor courts (4 lighted) and 2 indoors.

A 16,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art fitness facility has top of the line equipment, court for racquetball/squash and a five-lane indoor pool.

Over 22 miles of hiking and biking trails connect to lush scenery, trout streams and various meadows.

Three lakes for swimming, fishing and boating. Fishing is one of the most popular amenities with 1,000 lbs. of Rainbow trout stocked in Lake Petit each month except in summer.

Three pools. Lake Disharoon is popular with its sandy beach, free form pool, picnic area, paddleboats, canoes and the famous rockslide.

Blowing Rock www.blowingrock.com 800.295.7851 The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right beside their beautiful village – how photogenic. Tweetsie Railroad – creating wonderful childhood

memories since 1957. Outdoor activities in abundance, including Ricky Knob Mountain Bike Park, with 185 acres of great mountain biking. »» Insider tips: Shopping in March and April in Blowing Rock is great. Shop owners have deep discounts on winter merchandise, plus feature their new spring inventories.

Westglow Spa – Spend the day at the #4 spa in the world according to Travel + Leisure 2013 World’s Best List – amazing!

Vx3 Trail Rides – small group guided horseback riding in and around the area; an entertaining guide who knows history and more.

Hiking. Try the trails at Moses Cone or the Glen Burney Trail.

Blowing Rock Ale House – their own brews accompanied by fabulous chef creations, casual but extraordinary. Lodging available if you are “overserved.”

Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival – April 10-13. Food, wine, craft beers and fun.

The beautiful, historic Hemlock Inn, set just off main street in downtown Blowing Rock, is within walking distance to many of the high country’s activities and attractions for all seasons. All the amenities, close to all the attractions in the area. A true mountain retreat, it’s in the middle of everything.

Boone, NC www.exploreboonearea.com 828.266.1345 There’s so much to see and do around Boone in all seasons. Although ski season has wound down, March Madness offers end of the season low rates for skiing at Ski Beech, Ski Sugar and Appalachian Ski Mountain. Hawksnest offers snow tubing and also features the longest zipline in the region, open year-round (weather permitting.)

Once Spring officially arrives, Tweetsie Railroad opens on April 11, giving the entire family a fun way to experience the wild, wild west. A springtime visit would have to include a trip to Grandfather Mountain, with its magnificent views and occasionally surprising weather. Bring a warm jacket and camera, just in case you spot black bears, deer, river otters, cougars, or perhaps, predatory birds. »» Insider tips: At Grandfather, you can take behind-the-scenes tours of animal habitats, as well as naturalist guided tours of trails and forest area. At 11am each day, members of the naturalist staff take weather and climate observations in front of the Fudge Shop (and enjoy a piece of chocolate heaven). For hikers, consider the tough, threemile hike up the mountain, or the 13-mile

BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT FUN FOR ALL SEASONS!

1007 Beech Mountain Parkway Beech Mountain, NC 1-800-438-2093 beechmountainresort.com

Experience the new Mountain Bike Park. Riders can rent downhill or cross country bikes, and trails cover all skill levels.

Step off the chairlift at the new 5506 Skybar, where you can enjoy food and drinks at the top of the mountain.Beautiful panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Tanawha Trail. Try entering from the parking area at popular Rough Ridge Overlook on the Parkway, (milepost 302).

Linville Caverns is a great attraction in any weather! It’s all underground.

An easier walk is the trail around Bass Lake, which also offers access to the Moses Cone Estate. (The trail also connects to the entire 26-miles of former carriage trails at the estate (for adventurers with more endurance).

During your stay, two restaurants to consider are the Gamekeeper, with a menu that offers unexpected delights, such as ostrich, bison, rabbit and mountain trout. Family-style, country cooking can be found at the famous Dan’l Boone Inn. Need accommodations?

Mast Farm Inn in Valle Crucis is famous for luxurious hospitality an gourmet dinners.

In Boone, consider the Lovill House Inn, a consistent AAA Four Diamond Award winner.

Beech Mountain Resort www.BeechMountainResort.com 800.438.2093 Beech Mountain Resort’s trails will cover a wide range of skill levels, challenging riders from novice to pro. The trails, scenic lift rides, the Beech Tree Bar and Grille, and the new Skybar “5506” will be open this summer every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from June through September. Scenic lift rides to the Skybar “5506” are also available to patrons.

The Skybar is the highest in the East. It’s a glass roundhouse named for Beech Mountain’s superlative elevation and offers food and beverage service in comfort. A new observation deck is ideal for relaxing with friends.

Beech Mountain Resort’s newly constructed disc golf course offers a challenging and unique design. Play nine holes with one lift ride, or play a full eighteen, requiring three lift rides.

The newest craft brewery in Western North Carolina has opened in the Alpine Village.

Beech Mountain Brewing Co. has the capacity to brew up to 100 gallons per day and will be open year round to serve skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers and other resort visitors.

The brewery features three distinct ales created on-site, with consulting from awardwinning brewer Will Young of Blind Squirrel in nearby Plumtree. Heading the list of beers is the 5506 Pale Ale, followed by the Cream and Scotch Ales available by the pint or the growler. Flight tastings are also available, along with brewery tours, which include a pint and a keepsake glass.

Beech Mountain Brewing Co. is open Thursday through Sunday. Visit BeechMountainResort.com 78 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

for more information and details.

Black Mountain www.blackmountain.org 800.669.2301 Take a walk through historic downtown and find unique gift shops, galleries, craft stores, and frequently, local craftsmen demonstrating iron works, dulcimer making, and throwing pottery.Forty restaurants range from upscale cuisine, to country cooking and BBQ. Visitors in the spring will enjoy dining al fresco, light sweater recommended. »» Insider tips: Enjoy a round of golf at Black Mountain’s famous 747 yard par 6 course (one of the longest in the world). Outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in hiking and biking along the area’s numerous scenic trails.

Don’t miss the Swannanoa Valley Museum and Black Mountain Center for the Arts.

Stroll around Lake Tomahawk. Drink in the ever-changing mountain views. Luxuriate in the peace and fresh air.

Visit during the 38th LEAF Festival, May 11-14, in downtown Black Mountain. Music, crafts, fun and food bring folks back to the twice yearly festival to enjoy a super fun, entertaining weekend. theleaf.org Discover more about their great arts festivals, including Blue to Black Art Weekend, Black Mountain Arts & Crafts show and Art in Bloom.

It’s an appealing town with lots to do, especially when spring weather hits and everyone enjoys the views, artistic talent, and great people.

Brevard and Transylvania County www.visitwaterfalls.com 800.648.4523 Spring is a superb time to get to know Transylvania County before summer summons campers and adventurers alike.

The usually mild temperatures make for great exploring. There’s almost always something going on around town. Check the calendar at visitwaterfalls.org for updates. Come experience the wonder of Appalachian Spring.

View from Skybar 5506

With more than 250 waterfalls to choose from, visitors can easily find a cascade to call their own. The intrepid can take the trip down Sliding Rock, where 11,000 gallons of water a minute flows over a smooth rock into a chilling pool. Check out their website for the skinny on their best waterfalls and swimming holes. »» Insider tips: Over 300 miles of outstanding singletrack in Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest have earned Transylvania County a reputation as a mountain biking mecca. In fact, Bike Magazine calls Transylvania County “America’s Best Kept Secret.” This is a great time of year to hit some singletrack and see the sights.

Fly fishing is tops, here. For anyone angling for a good time (and a rainbow trout), there are over 500 miles of fishable streams within a one hour drive of downtown Brevard. And the nearby Davidson River is ranked as one of the top fly fishing rivers in the U.S. The many wonderful galleries and restaurants in charming Downtown Brevard may lure even the more hardened outdoorsperson out of the woods and into a boutique. Of particular note are Drew Deane Gallery and Red Wolf Gallery, both in downtown Brevard. Mud Dabbers, in Cedar Mountain, is a great spot to find high quality, locally made pottery. You can even take a class and wheel-throw your own masterpiece.

Cheers! Brevard Brewing Company, in downtown Brevard, specializes in lagers.

Sample their flagship German-inspired lager at 63 E. Main. Just outside of downtown, beer fans can stop in at the Oskar Blues Brewery and the Tasty Weasel Taproom to sample the wares and hear live music almost every night of the week.

For live music, consider checking out the line-up at 185 King Street, a cool little venue that regularly hosts great local bands as well as surprise performances from music legends. The same goes for The Phoenix, a hip, comfy venue offering an eclectic mix of bands and solo acts.

Cashiers www.DestinationCashiers.com 828.743.5941 Enjoy the beauty and drama of the area’s many waterfalls, the Cashiers’ Area authenticity and village charm, world class recreation, plus seasonal festivals, art exhibits, outdoor concerts, dining and shopping. Western North Carolina’s Jackson County tourism opportunities range from “up-mountain” visits to the Cashiers area, to “down-mountain” stops in Sylva/Dillsboro, or Native American celebrations in Cherokee. Play On.

Come see what the fuss is all about...

So Many Places to Bike!

Ask for your FREE! Travel Guide today!

Carl Sandburg Home

al Historic own Downt

Flat Rock Playhouse

Check out

DuPont State Recreational Forest

Annual Events

Wineries & Breweries Tasting Tours

Garden Jubilee Memorial Day weekend NC Apple Festival Labor Day weekend Flat Rock Playhouse mid-April thru late-December North Carolina Mountain State Fair early September Music On Main Street June thru late-August, every Friday Street Dances July thru mid-August, every Monday Art On Main first Saturday & Sunday in October Farm City Day first Saturday in October

800.828.4244 historichendersonville.org

March/April 2014 | 79

each year, bookending the summer months.

»» Insider tips: May 3: Take the 22nd annual Tour de Cashiers Mountain cycling Experience. Century, Metric & ¼ Century bike rides across scenic, highelevation byways with more than 10,000 feet in altitude gains (TourdeCashiers.com) May 24-25: Mountain Arts & Crafts Show presented by the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley – a popular annual event featuring Appalachian region artisan demonstrations and displays ranging from quilting to woodwork, painting to jewelry, set among the flowering colors of the Village Green park at the Crossroads. Held twice

Hendersonville and Henderson County www.historicHenderonville.org 800.828.4244 Whether you’re looking for great entertainment, great adventure, or just a great view, Hendersonville and Henderson County, NC, just several short hours away, has something for everyone as warmer weather arrives. »» Insider tips: Take in a comedy, drama or fantastic musical at Flat Rock Playhouse, the official state theater of

Western North Carolina

Family First Class!

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first class!

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Child (ages 2-12) $54, Infant (under

North Carolina. For show information or tickets, visit their website at flatrockplayhouse.org.

If it’s the outdoors you crave, make a visit to The Carl Sandburg Home. Enjoy a guided tour, walk through the grounds, hike or greet the descendents of Mrs. Sandburg’s dairy goat herd.

Take in the downtown and enjoy some tunes at Rhythm & Brews, a music series scheduled for the third Thursday of May, June, July and August. A free event, the concert series brings an exciting line-up of bands to the district. The venue for the concert series is the Azalea Lot in Historic Downtown Hendersonville, which sits adjacent to King Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues in downtown.

Want to challenge your athletic abilities while having the time of your life? If so, Hendersonville offers two events you won’t want to miss: The Mad Mountain Mud Run is three miles of 30 + obstacles and muddy challenges with lots of music, food, and local craft beer for your post-race party. To sign up, visit their website at Madmountainmudrun.com. The Run will be held Saturday, May 31st.

Foxworth Advisor’s Gear Grinder in the Green River Valley is a 6 hour endurance mountain bike race that has something for the whole family. To register, visit pre-reg.com before April 23rd.

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Waynesville and Haywood County www.visitNCsmokies.com 800.334.9036 Waynesville and the surroundings areas offer fresh new ways to enjoy a springtime getaway. Haywood County offers year round activities and events centered around their five homegrown initiatives: Food, Heritage, Art, Music and the Outdoors. A 46-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway can be enjoyed in the county, too. Sounds pretty appealing to us. »» Insider tips: April is North Carolina Beer Month, and in Waynesville, that means celebrating at one of the town’s three craft microbreweries: BearWaters Brewing Company, Frog level Brewing and Tipping Point Brewery. Look for special offerings during April.

Spring Hiking on Purchase Knob provides easy access, an abundance of butterflies and wildflowers, amazing panoramas and historical significance. Naturalist Ken Czarnomski brought to life a unique illustrated free guide available exclusively in Haywood County.

Visit Wheels Through Time, the world’s premier All-American motorcycle museum which houses over 300 of America’s rarest and most historic classic motorcycles. Find it in Maggie Valley.

Quilting enthusiasts will enjoy the Haywood County Quilt Trails. These colorful wooden blocks are installed on barns and buildings and a drive through the county, following their map, will reveal almost 50 of them. Each has a story worth learning.

Spring birding is very popular here and with seven suggested areas in the county that boast an abundance of bird species, bird lovers will have a wonderful time adding to their life lists in such picturesque surroundings. ncbirdingtrail.org offers details.

Swain County www.greatsmokies.com 800.867.9246 With more than 40% of the Great Smoky

Mountains National Park located in Swain County, natural beauty is everywhere. And there are so many ways to enjoy the scenery. »» Insider tips: Take a scenic rail excursion aboard the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad which offers trips to the Nantahala River Gorge, as well as themed seasonal experiences.

Enjoy a waterfall walk in the woods of Deep Creek; located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park only minutes from downtown Bryson City.

Get a new perspective of the mountains as you zip along the treetops. Choose from two great zip-lining experiences, both located in the Nantahala River Gorge.

Spend your downtime downtown! Shop and dine your cares away in their picturesque downtown filled with boutique shops, art galleries, old-fashioned general stores, and dining sure to please any palate.

And don’t forget all the water – they’ve got fishing galore in their streams, rivers and Lake Fontana as well as whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River and creek tubing in Deep Creek.

When it’s time to dine, consider Bryson City Cork and Bean, and its fresh, farm to table menu with a downtown vibe.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad www.gsmr.com 800-872-4681 The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad offers scenic rail excursions taking riders from the historic depot in downtown Bryson City through the beautiful countryside of Western North Carolina.

There are various train excursions and special event trains, making it a perfect experience. You can even dine in a first class car with a private attendant. Or ride in an open air car.

There are special excursions as well as enduring favorites. Families enjoy time well spent and for the older generation, it’s a nostalgic return to days when train travel was the way to go. W

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Health cosmetic surgery

diet

About Face

PHOTO ©istock

Surgical procedures are on the rise, but cosmetic surgeons have new noninvasive procedures, cell-based products–even radio signals–in their tool box.

Health cosmetic surgery

Restore, Rejuvenate, Enhance, Improve If you’re not happy with your body, your nose has always bugged you or those wrinkles are making you sad, join the club.

By CECILE S. HOLMES

“It is often said that the rise of cosmetic surgery will reflect an improvement in our country’s financial health. If the recent increase in elective procedures is a good economic indicator, 84 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

that bodes well for our economy,” says Dr. W. Glenn Lyle, past President of the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons. People want to look younger and healthier. Many are finding that

their efforts in the gym and with dieting are not enough to improve their appearance and desire changes that only can be achieved with surgery.”

While men still fall behind women in

PHOTO ISTOCK

Plastic surgery is on the rise across the nation and in North Carolina. From tummy tucks to Botox to liposuction, even men and women are getting in line to achieve the face or body of their dreams.

Forever Young Laser;

© 2014 Wilmington Plastic Surgery, P.A.

Fleeting Introductory Prices. only at Spring is the time to be seen. Now is the time to see us.

World’s most advanced laser for: wrinkles • acne • scars • unwanted hair • age spots Call now for price breaks on this breakthrough treatment.

910.509.SKIN wilmingtonplasticsurgery.com KENNETH S. WHITE MD, FACS

CHARLES R. KAYS MD, DMD, FACS

JEFFREY S. CHURCH MD, DDS, FACS

MARK W. MORGAN MD, FACS

Health cosmetic surgery the number of cosmetic procedures and plastic surgeries performed nationwide, plastic or cosmetic surgery for men is much more common now than it was just a few years ago. Men may enter the plastic surgery arena at the encouragement of their significant others or while they are undergoing a difficult life transition such

it comes to rejuvenation. Physicians are seeking to help patients gain confidence and look younger and refreshed. Especially with men, plastic surgeons strive for subtlety and for keeping the results natural looking.

Once middle-aged men went to plastic surgeons seeking liposuction to get rid

Choose a surgeon you can trust.

Courtesy American Society of Plastic Surgeons

as a divorce.

Men are now requesting a variety of cosmetic procedures. In the U.S. in 2012, men numbered nine percent of all cosmetic procedures. That’s a 121 percent increase over 1997.

Topping the list in popularity of cosmetic procedures for men, according to one medical source, are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), eyelid surgery, gynecomastia (the removal of excess breast tissue) and ear reshaping.

“We are seeing an increase in older men who are trying to remain competitive in the job market,” says Dr. Lyle. “Many choose non-surgical means such as Botox and skin resurfacing, as well as surgical procedures such as eyelid surgery, liposuction and male breast reduction. I even see higher numbers of younger men seeking procedures as it seems the stigma of having plastic surgery is not what it used to be.”

In a sense, the goals are different when 86 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

The service took two years to develop.

Aesthetic surgeons created it to serve as the consumer face of the society for their patients. Smart Beauty Guide showcases basic medical information from plastic surgeons, in addition to tool kits, product giveaways, and well known bloggers offering their take on plastic surgery.

It also provides question-and-answer snippets on various procedures and details on new trends in plastic surgery.

“Our new Smart Beauty Guide demonstrates not only our commitment to providing consumers with a real and unbiased source of knowledge but also goes a long way to ensure that everyone has the information they need to make informed and safe decisions,” Dr. Jack Fisher, the society’s president, says on the group’s website (www.surgery.org).

“There have been several recent trends in plastic surgery in North Carolina,” explains Dr. Lyle. One is the “mommy makeover” for women whose bodies have suffered the natural consequences of

of the paunch or spare tire they’d put on over the years. Nowadays, however, young men come in for more high definition liposuction, the kind of body sculpting that lends itself to an abdominal six-pack.

As patients’ desires and demands change, plastic surgeons are keeping up.

Ragan Communications and PR Daily, producers of the ACE awards (Awarding Communication Excellence), has named The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) winner of the 2013 award for its effort in changing perceptions of the plastic surgery industry using social media. The ACE Award honors individuals, agencies and in-house teams who have used communication to overcome obstacles.

The society even created its own special guide for consumers looking for “accurate, unbiased information” on various aspects of plastic surgery. (The information is accessible by typing Smart Beauty Guide into a browser, tablet or smart phone.)

Plastic surgery involves many choices.

The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust.

Choosing an ASPS Member Surgeon ensures that you have selected a physician who:

» Has completed at least five years of surgical training with a minimum of two years in plastic surgery.

» I s

trained and experienced in all plastic surgery procedures, including breast, body, face and reconstruction.

» Operates only in accredited medical facilities » Adheres to a strict code of ethics. » Fulfills continuing medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in patient safety.

» I s board certified by The American

Board of Plastic Surgery or in Canada by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®.

Source American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Lovey’s Natural Foods and Café • Organic Produce & Groceries • Natural Beauty Products & Supplements

The Price of Beauty The following average prices are from the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. National average for physician/surgeon fees per procedure.

PROCEDURE Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)............................................................$5,419 Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery) ..........................................$3,205 Breast Augmentation, silicone-gel implants......................................$3,918 Breast Augmentation, saline implants...............................................$3,535 Breast Lift..............................................................................................$4280 Breast Reduction (women)...................................................................$5272 Buttock Lift............................................................................................$4,820 Chin Augmentation...............................................................................$2,480 Facelift....................................................................................................$6,607 Forehead Lift.........................................................................................$3,358 Lower-body Lift......................................................................................$8,085 Otoplasty (cosmetic ear surgery).........................................................$3,205 Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping)...............................................................$4,436 Thigh Lift...............................................................................................$4,933 Upper-arm Lift......................................................................................$4,055

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INJECTABLES Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox, Dysport).........................................$326 Calcium Hydroxylapatite (Radeisse)...................................................$634 Hyaluronic Acid (including Prevelle, Belotero,..................................$550 Juvederm, Perlane/Restylane, Elevess) Poly-L-Latic Acid (Sculptra).................................................................$941

SKIN REJUVENATION Chemical Peel........................................................................................$560 Dermabrasion........................................................................................$1,590 Fractional Resurfacing, ablative..........................................................$1,948 Fractional Resurfacing, nonablative...................................................$1,161 IPL/Photorejuvenation..........................................................................$381 Laser Skin Resurfacing, ablative.........................................................$2,349 Laser Skin Resurfacing, nonablative..................................................$1,357 Microdermabrasion...............................................................................$122 Nonsurgical Skin Tightening...............................................................$1,563 Other new products: Liposonix average starts at $1,103. LaViv is $2,250 for the cells to be taken and grown and then $1,000 for the injections (three times, bringing the cost of the injections to $3,000).

Soho Bakery & Café 431 Eastwood Road Wilmington, NC 28403 910-859-7714

F

rom the heart of the Big Apple to the Triangle Area to Wilmington – Soho Bakery and Café offers fresh baked goods from our bakery and New York style sandwiches from our deli. Guests are guaranteed an authentic taste of New York.

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Health cosmetic surgery

Courtesy American Society of Plastic Surgeons

pregnancies (sagging breasts and loose tummies), seek combined surgery to lift or enhance the breast while they undergo

abdominoplasty.

“It is a more extensive surgery, but can be done safely as an outpatient and you

just have one recovery period,” he said.

“Many feel that if they have to recover from one surgery–why not kill two birds with one stone.”

Another trend is the use of your own fat, harvested from liposuction to enhance other areas. The so-called “Brazilian Butt lift” involves liposuctioning the waist, thighs and abdomen and transferring the fat to the buttocks to improve its shape and volume. “This has been popular outside of the US and is now gaining momentum in our country,” he shared.

According to Dr. Lyle, the vast majority of Board Certified plastic surgeons also serve the community by performing reconstructive surgery such as skin cancer surgery, wound repair and particularly breast reconstruction. “To me, this is one of the most rewarding procedures.

To restore a woman’s breasts after the devastating loss due to cancer constantly reminds me of why I went into medicine– to help people.” W

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery urges patients ask themselves three questions before submitting to plastic surgery. (surgery.org) you’re being pushed into the decision to get a breast augmentation or tummy tuck by a significant other, family member or friend, it’s time to pump the brakes. Though you can certainly ask your loved ones for their input, the decision to go under the knife should be yours and yours alone.

Dr. Glenn Lyle, past President of the North Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Is this really what I want?

Unless you’re getting reconstructive or reparative plastic surgery, you’re likely considering a cosmetic procedure.

Thousands of people book aesthetic surgeries every year, but before you join their ranks, make sure you actually want the procedure. If you feel like

88 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Have I considered all of my options?

It’s not uncommon for patients to get their hearts set on a certain procedure, but sometimes, there may be plastic surgeries that you aren’t aware of that could better help you achieve your goals. For example, you may come to your cosmetic surgeon saying you want a tummy tuck to help you lose weight, not realizing that tummy tucks are actually about tightening skin, not shedding unwanted pounds (although liposuction may be a good alternative.)

Have I found a qualified plastic surgeon?

Imagine you’re on your way to the emergency room with a broken arm. As you get out of the ambulance, someone approaches you and says they can fix your broken arm for a much better price if you’ll go back to their office.

Most people would say, “No way!”

That’s exactly how you should react to individuals who try to offer you discount plastic surgery. Before you agree to go under the knife, you must have evidence of your cosmetic surgeon’s training and board certification. Don’t be afraid to ask about it during your consultation if your doctor is qualified, he or she will have no issue showing you proof. Should an aesthetic surgeon refuse to answer your inquiries, it’s time to move on to a more qualified individual.

Health

Southern Greens Once considered “just” Southern Comfort Food, now we know the truth.

They are so good for you.

By Edna Cox Rice RD, CSG, LD

V

egetables, in general, provide you with a lot of nutritional bang for your buck. If you want to improve your health, including these southern favorites – collards, kale, turnips, and cabbage – in your diet regularly may make the biggest impact on your overall health. Unfortunately produce doesn’t carry nutrition labels, but you may see benefits of specific items posted on their stand.

Green leafy vegetables are powerhouses, packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber that contain numerous healthful benefits. These nutritional winners may help protect you from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, as well as offer beauty benefits for healthy, glowing skin and hair.

Greens are low in calories, high in fiber, and have a negligible fat content. Because of the high fiber content, they are digested

bones from osteoporosis; protects against inflammatory diseases like arthritis; and may help to prevent diabetes.

And there’s more. These vibrant vegies also contain a high amount of minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and iron. One cup of greens provides 20-30 percent of your daily value of calcium.

Dark leafy greens are brimming with phytonutrients including lutein and zeaxanthin which protect cells from damage and protects eyes from age-related problems – cataracts and macular degeneration, among many other effects.

Deeper colors, as in spinach, Swiss chard and broccoli, offer greater nutrient benefits than their paler relatives such as Boston lettuce, Belgian endive, and iceberg lettuce. These lettuce varieties, though not devoid of nutrition, are mostly water and last on the list of health benefits. Even so, iceberg lettuce is the most popular leafy green in the United States. Annually, Americans eat 17 pounds of iceberg lettuce per person. Try using this as a salad starter, but combine with the darker green varieties to maximize the health benefits.

So Good For You Greens

©Istock.com/Gravicapa

» Kale: The current “it” food is popular to add to a smoothie, in

slowly and keep you feeling fuller longer. Almost carb free, greens are considered “freebies” on most diet plans. Depending on the green, a single serving, one half to one cup, will provide only 15 – 50 calories, making them an excellent choice for any weight loss plan.

Dark leafy greens are some of the best sources of both water soluble vitamins: B and C; and fat soluble vitamins: A and K. The B vitamin, folic acid, has been shown to decrease the risk for colon cancer. Kale, collards, and spinach are the leaders in folic acid content. Vitamin C has many important functions: it boosts the immune system; fights infections; promotes healthy skin.

Foods rich in vitamin C increase the absorption of iron. Greens are rich in the beta-carotene form of vitamin A which is known to maintain healthy vision, radiant skin and hair.

Recent research indicates that vitamin K may be even more important than once thought and many people do not get enough of it in their daily diets. Vitamin K regulates blood clotting; protects

salads, or baked as a chip. Just one cup provides only 33 calories and is an excellent source of Vitamins A, C, and K, folic acid, calcium, and potassium. Our bodies absorb the calcium in kale better than the calcium in spinach because of the lower oxalic acid content in kale. Oxalates bind with calcium, interfering with absorption. The heat during cooking reduces the oxalic acid content and releases more of the dietary calcium.

Curly kale, the most widely available, can be used as an alternative to cabbage in most dishes, including slaw. It’s wonderful in soups, salads, or sautéed with olive oil. The red, purple veined Red Russian variety is sweet enough to even eat raw. » Collards: This southern classic originated in the Mediterranean basin and was a favorite of the Greeks and Romans.

Nutritionally, collards are similar to kale, but have a heartier, chewier texture. The typical southern cook uses ham hocks to season these greens. To lighten up on the sodium and saturated fat, try fat free chicken stock for flavor. » Turnips: A staple of southern cooking, these are best from October to February. Turnips with the tops offer two vegetables – the greens and the root. Of all the greens, turnips are the most tender variety requiring less cooking, yet still have a sharp flavor.

This bitter flavor is linked to the high calcium content. Turnips, March/April 2014 | 89

Health

Any fresh produce must be properly washed and cleaned before cooking. Be sure to wash greens thoroughly. Fill a sink with water and swish the greens to loosen dirt and grit from the leaves. Drain the sink and repeat the rinse until free of all dirt. Even if greens are labeled “prewashed,” be sure to rinse thoroughly. Store washed greens in a plastic bag; these should stay fresh in the fridge for 3-5 days. It helps to wrap tender greens such as spinach and Swiss chard in paper towels, before placing in a plastic bag.

Greens are relatively easy to cook. Substantial nutrition is lost when greens are boiled, fried, or over cooked. Steaming greens, lightly sautéing, roasting, or stir fry preserve more of the nutritional value. These cooking methods allow you to appreciate the natural flavors of the veggies.

Green leafy vegetables are widely available in grocery stores making it easy to incorporate them into your daily diet. Collards, kale, cabbage, turnips, and mustards are grown locally, right here in the Carolinas. So take advantage of this local fare and enjoy those foods that are so good for you!

90 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Basic Greens with Garlic and Red Pepper

» Tip: one pound of greens cooks to 1–2 cups One pound greens – kale, collards, turnips, mustards, spinach are great choices for this recipe Olive oil Garlic, thinly sliced Crushed red pepper, a pinch Lemon juice, cider vinegar, wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar (optional) Salt & pepper to taste Cook greens stovetop for 5–10 minutes, drain. Press with back of spoon to release excess water. Heat olive oil and garlic in a skillet until garlic sizzles. Add red pepper, stir and cook until garlic is tender and a light golden color, 1-2 minutes. Add greens and toss to distribute the hot oil.

Splash lemon juice or vinegar and toss.

One half cup serving = 45 calories

Kale Slaw with Peanut Dressing 2 bunches kale (2 pounds), washed well and drained; stems and center ribs removed; leaves very thinly sliced crosswise 1 yellow, red or green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, halved crosswise and thinly sliced lengthwise 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced crosswise ½ cup roasted, unsalted peanuts ½ cup neutral-tasting oil (such as canola or sunflower) ¼ cup apple-cider vinegar 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar Coarse salt In a large bowl, toss together kale, bell pepper, and carrots.

Puree ¼ cup peanuts, oil, and vinegar with the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Coarsely chop the remaining peanuts. Pour dressing over vegetables.

Sprinkle peanuts on top and serve.

One half cup serving = 110 calories

©Istock.com/NiDerlander

like collards, are rich in Vitamins A, C and K, iron, folic acid, calcium and potassium. » Mustard Greens: Another southern favorite, they provide betacarotene, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin C. Mustards can have a sharp, peppery taste; adding lemon juice or vinegar at the end of cooking helps to decrease the spiciness. » Spinach: This versatile treasure routinely makes the top ten super foods’ list because it is loaded with vitamins A, C, folate, iron and calcium. It does contain oxalates which can combine with calcium and can be a concern for anyone who is prone to kidney stones. Cooking spinach decreases the oxalic acid content and provides more nutrition than raw. More calcium is released when it is cooked. So you benefit from adding spinach to soups and stews or stuffing lasagna and chicken with this green. » Swiss Chard: It’s a member of the beet family, and is most often identified with Mediterranean cooking such as bean soups and lasagna. The stalks come in shades of yellow, purple, orange, and red; the entire plant is edible. This veggie is a rich source of vitamins A, C, K, folic acid, and carotenoids. » Broccoli: It’s one of our more popular vegetables and is readily available in all grocery stores. Americans eat about 6 pounds a year.

Broccoli is steamed, added to stir fries, pureed for soups, or used for dipping. This super food is packed with vitamins A, C, K, calcium, folate and potassium. » Cabbage: An international vegetable, it’s grown statewide in the Carolinas. It is universally available in all countries and cultures and is a staple of cooking world-wide. Varieties include Savory, used in American dishes such as soups and stews; Red Cabbage commonly used as an accompaniment with German meats; Bok Choy, a favorite for stir fries; and Napa fermented for Korean kimchi. It is a great source of cancer-fighting compounds and vitamin C. W

dining review

in the kitchen

restaurant guide

PHOTO JAMES STEFIUK

Blackened Ribeye

with honey bourbon sauce, red wine butter, crispy onions, vegetables, and mashed potatoes at Hops Supply Co.

March/April 2014 | 91

Hops Supply Co.

By LIZ BIRO

» Photos by JAMES STEFIUK

5400 Oleander Drive 910-833-8867 hopssupplycompany.com

A

couple of London restaurateurs looking to elevate the dining experience at British drinking houses in 1991 combined the words gastronomy and pub. The rest is delicious history that eventually found its way to Wilmington.

That London pair coined the term “gastropub” to indicate a place that served food well above typical pub fare such as peanuts, chips, pickled eggs and steak pies. They enhanced the menu but maintained the reasonable prices and casual atmosphere that have kept pubs popular since the first ancient Roman taverns in Great Britain.

The gastropub idea took off quickly in America, as evidenced by a recent Sunday brunch crowd at Hops Supply Co. American Gastropub in Wilmington.

As a solo guitarist strums Americana music, couples, families, singles and friends laugh and converse all around the exposed-red-brick dining room.

Some gather at tables and comfy booths near window walls and shelves full of colorful wine bottles and growlers. Many sit at the horseshoe-shaped bar, illuminated by skylights above the ceiling’s exposed maze of redwood beams.

Beer lovers have a long list of decisions to ponder: wheat, lager, IPA, ESB, ale, amber, cider, stout. Should they choose a North Carolina beer, consider a flight of beer tastings or sample a beer cocktail.

And then there’s the wine, four whites and four reds – on tap, a system that protects wine from air and light, thereby assuring oenophiles that each glass will taste as it should – as well as many bottle choices.

Craft cocktails are yet another option, perhaps a barrel-aged Manhattan with Elijah Craig 12-year-old bourbon and brandy-soaked cherries or the drink named Daddy Issues, a blend of Catdaddy 92 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Pimento cheese deviled eggs topped with bacon and scallions.

Moonshine, amaretto and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Nearly every seat in the house has some view of the open kitchen, which exudes aromas that remind diners of more choices: French toast baked with local honey; tender fried chicken on a soft black pepper biscuit with smoked ham gravy; a BLT with cheddar, pesto aioli and a fried egg tucked between the bacon, lettuce and tomato – and that’s just the Sunday “brunch all day” menu.

The lunch and dinner menus, priced at $7 to $15 (brunch stands at $7 to $9), present more delicious selections, from pimento cheese and bacon deviled eggs to barbecue braised short rib nachos to

creamy macaroni and cheese full of shrimp and Andouille sausage.

“Craft beer, craft cocktails, superior wines, and a culinary experience that focused on fresh simple ingredients,” was the idea LM Restaurants owner and president Lou Moshakos had when he decided to develop Hops Supply Co. in 2012.

Hops’ 24 beers on tap emphasize N.C. suds such as impressive Mother Earth green brewery’s Dark Cloud, an oldfashioned Munich Dunkel-style lager made in Kinston and Huske Hardware Sledgehammer, an Imperial oat cream stout made in Fayetteville.

“I have the best job,” Hops beer manager Joe Bush said of duty that requires he

(top) Chef Tiffany Eslien. (above) Cajun mac & cheese with shrimp, andouille sausage, roasted tomatoes, topped with cheese & bread crumbs.

regularly select brews. One tap, the Rotator, changes weekly, monthly and sometimes more often. Can and bottle lovers get nods with classics like PBR and Rolling Rock or curious sharp and caramelly Green Flash Hop Head Red. Some of the beers season the comfortfood preparations that chef Tiffany Eslien favors. The Wisconsin native, who graduated from Johnson and Wales culinary school in Providence, R.I., might braise short ribs and pork belly in beer or incorporate beer into soups. Grilled Bistro Steak comes with a dark beer reduction sauce accompanied by asparagus, forest mushrooms and mashed potatoes.

The brew Eslien chooses depends on her imagination and the changing seasons

that constantly inspire menu ideas.

“We focus a lot on fresh and North Carolina ingredients,” Eslien said. “We like to do twists on a lot of our specials. We want to keep it simple but we think, ‘What can we do different?”

Eslien’s pasta is one for-instance. Smoked chicken, spinach, mushrooms and roasted tomatoes go into her alfredo. A Bologneseinspired pasta melds a large portion of cabernet-braised short ribs with asparagus, roasted tomatoes, roasted red pepper pesto and parmesan and jack cheeses.

cream crown.

Sunday brunch all day feels like a special event, but brunch is served 10:57 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, too. Lunch and dinner menus are served daily.

Out-of-the-ordinary occasions happen lots of times at Hops Supply Co. A recent bourbon dinner featured five pours.

The “porktastic” drink menu at a Bacon Bash dinner showcased creamy chocolate martinis made with bacon vodka. At one beer dinner, Eslien shared recipes.

Diners may learn about Hops events

Nearly every seat in the house has some view of the open kitchen, which exudes aromas that remind diners of more choices.

Sandwiches are especially popular, whether the house-smoked turkey on wheat, the brie-and-bacon-stuffed burger or the Chicken ’n Brie Orchard Sandwich stacking fresh apples, baby spinach, red onion, garlic aioli and sweet chili peppers on French bread.

The roasted beet salad with mixed greens, goat cheese and candied walnuts or the salmon salad with strawberries, green apples, walnuts, red onion, blue cheese and balsamic dressing give diners a license to check large cookie jars by the front door or order the brownie sundae.

The latter is garnished with dark beer fudge sauce, chopped pretzels and chopped Kit Kat candy bars, all under a Chantilly

online at www.hopssupplycompany.com or, while they’re at the website, by signing up to become part of the Hops Head Guild.

Members receive email alerts not just about special tastings and dinners, but they also receive exclusive invitations.

“It may be a dessert that only our Hops Head Guild members will know to order or an invitation to an after-hours beer cask party,” according to the Hops Supply Co. website.

The 279-seat restaurant, in mid-town Wilmington not far from Wrightsville Beach, includes a 75-seat space available for private events, anything from intimate baby showers to large meetings or rehearsal dinners. W March/April 2014 | 93

Foodies Rejoice!

“We’ll Always

have

Paris”

Text and photos by Kim Byer

If the city of lights is your home-away-from-home, you’ll enjoy a nostalgic tour through the twists and turns of this culinary capital. If you’re still planning that first visit, you’ll want to keep this issue in a very safe place.

I

n the sunshine of my thirteenth year, while the tips of our South Carolina pines toasted, and the lake thickened into a red clay soup, I spent my summer inside. Not moping or brooding, but instead, mesmerized by the towering woman on the cooking show. My infatuation grew and, for weeks on end, I looked across our kitchen counter and gave my best high-pitched French Chef impression to an imaginary camera. I brandished salad tongs and gestured authoritatively to an invisible audience while following recipes in my mother’s church cookbook. Not exactly Mastering the Art of French Cooking, nevertheless, you never forget your first French toast.

Ah, Julia, you inspired us all.

Years of French toast and French lessons later, I am in Paris, walking alone. The cold morning air is as blunt as a slap. While the city (along with my husband) is still sleeping, I descend into the Metro and travel across town to the 15th arrondissement. Crossing Rue de Vaugirard and turning right, then left, I spot a dozen people

standing in front of a modern, downright nondescript building.

Walking closer, I see their faces. They are star-struck. Quiet.

Nervous, no doubt. After all, this feels like the first day of school.

They are foodies and certainly Julia Child groupies, too, and we are a scattered clan, now collected.

Le Cordon Bleu Paris, founded in 1895, is the most revered academy of culinary arts. It houses the very halls where our heroine first honed her knife skills. Or… Not. Child did visit the current halls once; however, it was long after she mastered classes in the original school in central Paris.

When I compare this building before me with my imagined Le Cordon Bleu Paris or even the vision brought to us in flashbacks of Technicolor on the big screen via Julie & Julia – of a stone carved structure clutched by ivy, wound with marbled hallways where students glide over golden floors of waxed herringbone that all lead to a grand kitchen where ancient copper cauldrons hang from the rafters and the smell of simmering bouillon perfumes the air – I Continued top of page 96

94 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

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T ips for an American Foodie in Paris

1. Dust off your French dictionary.

Although many Parisians are bilingual, they appreciate your attempting French.

If you find yourself misunderstood -- or worse -- speechless, they will gladly finish your sentence, or thought, in English.

2. Make reservations well in advance.

Want to attend a class at Le Cordon Bleu Paris? Want to snag a table at Le Meurice, Le Chateaubriand, or Spring?

Most restaurants, classes and tours are accessible online, but the best may require reservations weeks in advance.

Don’t have a French dictionary or even a good fake accent? Contact the concierge at your hotel or try to book online.

3. Read the former Chez Panisse pastry chef and ex-pat David Leibovitz’s The Sweet Life in Paris and his blog, davidlebovitz.com.

4. Before deciding where to stay, research the various arrondissements (areas surrounding the center of Paris like a spiral) and decide which area appeals to you the most.

5. In Paris, Google’s street views are only as good as the day and hour they were shot. Parisian shops can have odd hours, so if shops were closed when the Google

mobile made its way down a street, you may not realize how bustling a street can be when the shop doors are lifted and the horns are honking.

6. Make a list of all of the sites, restaurants and markets that you want to see and plot them out on a paper or mobile map.

7. Shop for cookware at E. Dehillerin in the 1st arrondissement. 18 – 20 rue Coquillière 8. The New York Times is a great source for Paris restaurant reviews 9. Familiarize yourself with the VAT (European value added tax). It’s around 20% on goods you purchase and if you buy anything heavy, e.g., Le Creuset or Staub, March/April 2014 | 95

am a bit disappointed, but not discouraged.

For the next twenty minutes, I skip alongside my American, Canadian and Japanese classmates as we eagerly follow Chef Bruno Stril and his translator, Deborah, along sidewalks and across intersections to the Saint-Charles market twenty minutes away.

Shopping in any Paris market is a sensory feast, but when led by a Le Cordon Bleu Master Chef, the colors seem more vibrant, the smells and sounds, more intense. Our collective adrenaline could lift a food truck.

Whole fish are cataloged in icy rows of grays and pinks. Mounds of blood sausage curl across wooden planks like serpents. Small gray shrimp, antennae intact, are offered up for the tasting, and a lone stall of crimson horsemeat opens for business, shocking the occasional American tourist. Under the produce awning there are crates of thumb-sized radishes, miniature wild asparagus and a cache of sage-green ice lettuce that looks as though it were picked straight

out of the tundra. And all along the block, buckets of flowers stand in the morning sunshine as thick as a meadow. Watching Chef Stril operate, it’s clear that it will take bravado and our finest French accent to order, but the bounty is ours for the taking. However, it’s not ours for the picking or bagging. Vendors insist on selecting the plums that will be perfectly ripened at a specified future meal of our choosing.

Paris —the epicure’s epicenter—is a compulsory pilgrimage for cooks and foodies from all over the world. It’s where, in the 1800s, Escoffier created veal stock and in doing so, freed umami—our dormant fifth taste; it’s where Julia Child and Simone Beck wrote the book that started an American French cooking revolution; it’s where Saturday night dinners inside Gertrude Stein’s salon began with hashish fudge and ended with framboise at sunrise; and it’s where, in the bottomless belly of the now bygone Les Halles, farm-to-table food was bought and sold for over eight hundred years. When you

Mo e u q Cro

nsi eur

Makes two sandwiches

47

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk, heated ¼ teaspoon salt Pinch of nutmeg 1 cup Gruyère cheese, grated ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan 4 slices hearty, day-old white bread, crusts removed Dijon mustard 2 slices of ham 1 tomato, sliced (optional)

Directions

Æ Melt butter in a shallow saucepan. Æ Add the flour and stir for a minute then slowly add the hot milk, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened. Æ Off the heat, add salt, nutmeg, Parmesan cheese and one-third of the Gruyere cheese. Æ In a toaster or in the oven, toast the bread and then brush all four slices with Dijon mustard. Æ Next, pre-heat the broiler. On two slices of toast, top with ham and tomato slices and another one-third of the Gruyère. Add the second slices of toast and top with the cheese sauce. Æ Broil for a few minutes until the cheese turns golden brown.

tips you’ll likely incur extra baggage fees.

10. Vegetarians and vegans beware: Parisians love their meat. And rather than risking the wrath of a French chef, plotting a map of veg-friendly stops will make your trip much more pleasant. The Hungry Hungry Hippie blog has a good list, as does Trip Advisor.

11. Stroll along the Rue de Buci in the 6th arrondissement and gather a bouquet of flowers along with a basket of cheese, wine, bread, fruit and sausage.

12. Picnic beneath the Eiffel Tower.

96 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Gather your wine, cheese, pâté, etc., in each of your neighborhood’s specialty shops and lounge the day away on the lawn.

13. Take a tasting tour. Ruth Reichl enjoyed her tour with Meg at “Paris by Mouth.” And if it’s good enough for Ruth… it’s good enough for me.

14. Marvel at the macarons in the windows. Each vibrant hue or pale shade represents a delightful flavor or combination of flavors: ginger-tangerine, hibiscus, currents-violets, banana-coco,

rose petals, pomegranate and salted caramel. Ladurée, Pierre Hermé and Gérard Mulot are three of the finest macaron houses.

15. Read Clotilde Dusoulier’s Clotilde’s Edible Adventures in Paris and her blog, Chocolate and Zucchini.

16. Enjoy a champagne brunch at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots.

17. Buy a Poilâne loaf and a linen shopping bag at the flagship Poilâne store in SaintGermain-des-Prés.

18. Sign-up (early!) for a cooking class

walk the streets of Paris, you walk in the wake of culinary giants.

There’s no need for timidity. And no time. If it’s your first visit or your twentieth, Paris is a city best devoured by the impetuous and free-spirited, yet organized foodie. On your first few visits, there are the obligatory sites: the museums, the cathedrals, the parks, the shops, THE tower, etc. And every visit after that will have you returning to your favorites. For example, my husband and I never miss the Musee D’Orsay or a quick respite beneath its massive clock face in the Café Campana. And although the chandeliered and gilded dining room on the first floor, where the food is said to be as luxurious as the surroundings, has beckoned us for years, we’ve yet to break our sentimental tie to the café. Surely, the clock has us spellbound.

Over the years, we’ve accumulated dozens of sentimental treks: Les Deux Magots for Sunday brunch, the park pavilion at the foot of the Champs-Élysées for banana and hazelnut crepes, the Ile

with Patricia Wells.

19. Download Wells’ Food Lover’s Guide to Paris app for your iPhone. Billed as “the most authoritative guide to eating well in the City of Light,” the app guides you towards the best Parisian restaurants, markets and shops in your vicinity.

20. Buy a colorful set of Opinel or a treasured set of Laguiole knives at the knife shop on Ile Saint Louis.

21. Enjoy a pain au chocolat on a sidewalk café.

22. Speaking of chocolate, visit the Maison

Saint Louis for Berthillon gelato, the Jardin des Tuileries for croque madames and a bistro along the rue Saint-Benoit where meringues bob like snowballs in baths of crème anglaise.

However, our essential trek is to the French version of a neighborhood steak house— le Relais de l’Entrecote. This restaurant breaks two fundamental French taboos: one, it’s a chain, and two, it’s all-you-can-eat. Stay with me, though, because it’s also phenomenal.

And please don’t be put off by the long line of people waiting for a table. Despite the hunger-pang-inducing, often cold, but rarely long wait, inside, the atmosphere is warm and lively. Once you’re seated, your server will ask you two questions: “How do you like your steak,” and “What would you like to drink?”

Quickly. “Rare and red wine.” Or better yet, “Saignant et vin rouge.”

Instantaneously, (Yes!) a saucer heaped with delicate lettuce is placed before you. By now, you’re beyond hungry, and yet the pile

du Chocolate and indulge your sweet tooth.

23. For an elegant patisserie showcasing sumptuous, perfectly sculptured sweets, visit Dalloyau.

24. Enjoy a delicious dinner at Bistroy Les Papilles near the Luxembourg Gardens.

The food is grand but the prices aren’t.

Best of all, the staff seems to genuinely like Americans.

25. When in the park, eat the park food.

There is little more relaxing than an afternoon spent in a Paris park, drinking

cold beer and eating a croque monsieur.

This quintessential French treat is made using day-old white bakery bread, which is filled with ham and topped with a Mornay sauce and melted Gruyère or Emmentaler (Swiss) cheese. These superior Swiss cheeses have a nutty, sweet flavor and, when melted, taste like sinfully nutty butter. A croque madame adds an egg to the top of the sandwich. You can typically take a bite into this for less than 5€.

But don’t be mislead, a slightly more substantial lunch (with alcohol) at a park March/April 2014 | 97

of lettuce is surprisingly satisfying. It’s simply lettuce - no tomato wedge, no olive, and not a shred of cheese. Lettuce. Tossed with a light vinaigrette. And it’s delicious.

Next, dinner leaps from the magical simple salad into the mythic main course. The l’entrecote, a cut of beef similar to the flat iron, arrives, draped in a cloak of buttery herb sauce. The steak is supple and tasty, but it’s the sauce that would make Escoffier stir with pride. Your tongue tastes hints of anisette or perhaps whispers of tarragon and parsley or a soupçon of herbal heaven that you cannot — for love or espionage — deconstruct. Silver tongs appear and release stacks of long, thin, (ahem -- Authentic) French fries onto your plate. Finish these and more appear, along with more steak and more sauce, until you neither remember nor care where you ate the previous night.

sels s u M

Saf wi t h

Fortunately, there are kilometers of walking waiting for you after every meal, so burning off the butter isn’t a worry. While out wandering, one shopping destination you won’t want to miss is the venerable E. Dehillerin — the cookware mecca of Paris. Part of the pleasure of shopping anywhere in Paris is knowing that you’ll be able to coolly mention your shoes, scarf, copper saucier, etc., were picked up on your recent trip. Although I’ve never been able to be very cool about it. From my mouth, it’s more like a gush. I mean, really, a copper saucier from E. Dehillerin?! This line of provenance merits a gush.

After your shopping spree, you should be armed with enough copper and enamel to properly cook a wolf. And I hope you bought a pot rack, because if you’re renting an apartment in Paris, your kitchen is likely an Ikea-appointed galley with miniature appliances, but with

d Wh i t e Wi ne fron an

Serves 2 to 3

Ingredients

3 pounds of fresh mussels 1 pinch of saffron threads 1 cup (or more, if needed) good quality white wine 2 teaspoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 shallots, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 handful Italian parsley leaves, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Æ Scrub mussels to remove beards and grit. Discard any with open shells. Æ Steep saffron in wine for 5-10 minutes. Melt butter in a large stockpot. Add shallots, garlic and a pinch of salt. After you begin to smell the garlic cooking, pour in wine (with saffron). Æ Add tomatoes and half of the parsley and bring to a boil. Æ Add mussels and stir, adding more wine, if necessary. Cook until all are open, about 5 to 10 minutes. Æ Discard any mussels that don’t open. Add salt and pepper to taste. Æ Scoop mussels into low bowls, top with remaining parsley. Serve with chunks of buttery, toasted bread.

47

tips café can easily run up to $100 USD. 26. Berthillon, on the Ile Saint Louis serves wonderful gelato and sorbet.

Order a double cornet in a scrumptious moka dauphinois (mocha with chocolate, almond paste, rum, nougat, nuts) or pamplemousse rose (pink grapefruit sorbet).

27. Avoid Paris in August. The best chefs and wait staff are on vacation, along with every other Parisian. And despite the heat, even Berthillon is closed.

28. Eat a crêpe, made fresh-to-order, filled 98 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

with Nutella® and bananas.

29. Two words: duck confit.

30. Rent Julie & Julia or the original Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn.

31. Take the Paris Market Tour with lunch and a demonstration class at Le Cordon Bleu. Spend the morning in a Paris open-air market, eat a beautifully prepared lunch at the school and sit back while a master chef teaches you how to prepare a few exquisite French dishes.

145€ /~$195 USD 32. Read The Sharper your Knife, the Less

you Cry by Kathleen Flinn, an Americanborn graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

33. Latin Quarter wanderings call for falafel sandwiches. Yes, French falafel.

For sit-down meals, try Chez Marianne, or for a quick bite, try L’As du Falafel.

34. Get thee to a Fromagerie! France produces over 400 types of cheese. Try them all before you leave.

35. The best goat cheese on earth is found at a friendly farmer’s stall along the SaintCharles market. He’s been there every Tuesday and Friday for many years.

a scarcity of countertops and cupboards. In fact, excepting the price, most things concerning the Parisians and their homes (particularly rentals) are petite and, relative to we-who-hail-from-excess, sparse.

Coffee machines are single serve over-the-stove espresso makers.

On a shelf adjacent to the kitchen, you may find two espresso cups, two wine glasses and two champagne flutes. Overabundance is as rare as in-home entertaining. Parisians eat out. However, if you’re staying in Paris for an extended time, eating in will save you a few Euros (these will come in handy for the European VAT tax on your cookware) and will allow you to shop at markets and bring home bags overflowing with exotic fare.

Back in our Le Corden Bleu Paris classroom, Chef Stril answers technique questions while mincing mounds of perfect brunoise for a mirepoix. In the mirror above the range, his hands command our

attention. Dressed in his whites and quintessential toque blanche, he mans the grill, doesn’t use a timer, scoffs at measuring and, by three o’clock, plates our Tatin de Tomates Confites au Crabe -- layers of lump crab and sautéed vegetables, tucked between rounds of puff pastry. Fillets of John Dory Grenobloise over a potato puree strewn with lemon segments and capers follow. For dessert, he carefully spoons strawberries macerated with wine and blackcurrants over Arborio rice steeped in coconut milk and rum.

Despite the paper napkin and the plastic desks for chairs, the exquisite lunch lingers in my mind beyond the cement walls, beyond the Metro where I wave goodbye to my new friend, Louise, beyond dinner where I relay every detail to my husband, beyond the flight home, beyond Paris.

“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it….” —Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

36. When entering a store say, “bonjour;” when leaving, “au revoir.” Always.

37. Meet other foodies at Jim Haynes’ house. Every Sunday evening for over thirty years, Jim Haynes has invited strangers (upwards of 70) to dinner.

Although the experience is more the draw than the food, there is a nominal donation requested. See Jimhaynes.com for more information.

38. Attempt to decode the buttery herb sauce at le Relais de l’Entrecote.

39. Fresh marshmallows from Gérard

Mulot or Pain de Sucre. Cut into perfect cubes, these soft sweets come in an assortment of pretty pastels.

40. Skip the absinthe and sip on a pastis.

Mixed with a small amount of ice-cold water, pastis transforms before your eyes into a pale yellow cloud of licorice-laced liqueur.

41. Visit a local wine store where terrific regional wines are relatively inexpensive.

No need to stop at “vin blanc” or “vin rouge.” Tell the sommelier what you’re cooking for dinner and he’ll suggest

several bottles in your price range.

42. If you find yourself longing for the English language, drop into Fish: La Boisonnerie (a wine and seafood bar) on the rue de Seine in Saint-Germain-desPrés. The staff will happily speak English while pouring you the wine of your dreams.

43. Stow a culinary giant in your carry-on: M.F.K. Fischer’s How To Cook a Wolf, the A.J. Liebling collection Liebling Abroad, or Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.

44. Ina Garten, Dorie Greenspan, and Patricia Wells are superb cooks and Paris March/April 2014 | 99

lo t F s Île

tantes

Makes 4 large meringues

Caramel Sauce

1½ cups sugar ½ cup water ½ teaspoon good quality vanilla extract Æ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt caramel sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Don’t stir. When it becomes a clear toasted caramel color, add ½ cup of water and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Æ Bring up to 250 degrees (no higher!) on a candy thermometer.

This is the thread stage. Set aside.

Meringues

9 egg whites (large eggs) 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract Æ Lower the oven temperature to 250 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Æ Whisk egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until frothy. Add the cup of sugar and beat until the meringue forms glossy, stiff peaks.

Whisk in the vanilla extract. Æ With your largest soup ladle, gather a mound of meringue and form it into a huge ball with your hands. Make four of these and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Æ To serve the giant beauties, place a ladle of crème anglaise in a shallow bowl and float a meringue on top. Spoon over the caramel sauce, sprinkle with almond praline and serve

Almond Praline Crunch Topping

1 cup of sliced almonds Æ On a cookie sheet, coat a piece of parchment with half of the caramel sauce. Sprinkle almonds on top of the sauce. Æ Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes or until almonds are lightly browned. Cool praline, then break into pieces.

Crème Anglaise (Vanilla Sauce)

5 egg yolks (large eggs) ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon cornstarch 1¾ cups scalded milk 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract 1½ teaspoons cognac or brandy Æ Beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes, until very thick. Reduce to low speed and add the cornstarch. Æ Pour the hot milk into the eggs. Æ Next, cook this mixture in a saucepan and over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until thickened. Don’t cook it above 180 degrees or the eggs will begin to scramble. Æ Pour the sauce through a fine strainer and add the vanilla extract and cognac. Chill until you’ve made your meringues.

47

tips aficionados who wax poetically about their favorite haunts and foods. They’re also all (part-time) residents.

45. Want to hang where the bobos (bourgeois bohème) hang? Read the blog wwwparisbobo.com 46. Visit an open-air food market. You’ll 100 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

find a full list on www.parisianlocal.com 47. The perfect baguette should be flaky, fragrant and golden on the outside with a hollow sounding inside. If there are pointed ends, even better — it’s handmade. The crust will explode into slivers of buttery goodness. Eat one with

every meal. Eric Kayser makes some of the city’s best. When you return home you will realize that no matter where you live, there is sadly no equivalent to the baguettes of Paris.

ni O h nc e r F

on Tart

Serves 4 to 5

Tart Shell (or substitute pre-made pie crust) ½ cup cold, unsalted butter 1 cup flour ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons cold water

Filling

3 tablespoons olive, canola, or grapeseed oil 1 tablespoon butter 5 cups onions, sliced thin 1 teaspoon salt A pinch of sugar 2 eggs, beaten ¼ cup heavy cream, half-n-half or dairy of choice 2 tablespoons cognac or brandy (optional) Freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 cup Gruyère cheese, shredded 4 to 5 fresh thyme stems

For the Tart Shell

Æ Cut the butter into small squares. In a mixer (using an S-hook) or food processor, combine or pulse first three ingredients until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Æ Sprinkle in water and pulse again until clumps form. Remove and knead by hand. Cover with wax paper and place in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Æ Dust work surface with flour before rolling or place dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and roll dough until thin. Place dough into a 9 or 10-inch tart pan (pans with removable bases are easiest) and place inside the freezer for 15 more minutes. Æ Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake shell for 10 to 20 minutes until the bottom is dry, but not golden.

For the Filling:

Æ In a large Dutch oven, sauté onions in the oil and butter. Add sugar and salt and stir occasionally, until onions are caramelized and golden. This step can take up to 30 minutes. Æ Remove from heat. In a medium-sized bowl, add eggs, dairy, cognac, and a few grinds of pepper. When the onions have cooled, add them to the mixture. Æ Using a pastry brush, spread the Dijon mustard inside the tart shell. Æ Add the onion mixture and top with the cheese and thyme stems.

Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a green salad. W

March/April 2014 | 101

Jerry’s Food, Wine and Spirits 7220 Wrightsville Ave., 256-8847. Fine dining in a casual bistro atmosphere with an ever changing creative menu.

Nick’s Diner 127 N. Front St., 341-7655.

Their specialty is the Iron Skillet casseroles and great burgers, salads. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Oceanic 703 S. Lumina Ave., 256-5551.

Situated on the beach overlooking the pristine Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy wonderfully fresh seafood, exciting land lover dishes and breathtaking views. Outdoor seating is available at the adjacent Crystal Pier.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Ready to Eat?

Use our restaurant listings to find the best eating and drinking in Wilmington.

American Bluewater Waterfront Grill 4 Marina St., 256-8500. Offering spectacular panoramic views of Wrightsville Beach’s Intracoastal Waterway. Watch boats cruise past while enjoying the casual American menu. Dinner mainstays include fresh seafood, baby back ribs, char-grilled steaks, and delicious homemade desserts. Lunch and dinner daily.

Boca Bay 2025 Eastwood Rd., 256-1887.

Find dining near the beach, with sushi, raw bar, seafood, lamb and steak. Light and colorful, one of the best restaurant bars in town. Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch.

Cameo 1900 1900 Eastwood Rd., 509-2026.

A fun and stylish place with memorable dishes and drinks, for the perfect spot for a night out with friends or an intimate dinner. Menu includes flavorful, high-quality dishes served tapas style. Dinner Tue-Sat., Sunday brunch.

Catch 6623 Market St., 799-3847. Awardwinning local chef Keith Rhodes has been voted the city’s best chef for three consecutive years. A stickler for wild caught and sustainably raised seafood, his modern seafood cuisine comes through in every bite, 102 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

with dishes like NC sweet potato salad and seafood ceviche. Acclaimed wine list. Lunch Tue-Fri, and dinner Mon-Sat. Courts and Sports Bar & Grill 3625 Lancelot Ln., 228-5791. First class sports bar and grill, serving up burgers, and some vegetarian. The best outdoor volleyball, bocce and cornhole facility on the East Coast. Lunch and dinner daily.

Dixie Grill 116 Market St., 762-7280.

Casual dinette known for great breakfasts and brunch in the heart of downtown Wilmington.

Front Street Brewery 9 N. Front St., 251-1935. Wilmington’s only restaurant and brewery, offering great food and micro brews.

Menu has over 25 gourmet sandwiches and burgers, and over 35 entrees to choose from.

Steaks, seafood, or try their famous Scottish Ale Brew-B-Q Ribs. Lunch and dinner daily.

Henry’s 2508 Independence Blvd., 793-2929.

Considered a top local favorite, with locally sourced classic American fare in an inviting and casual environment. Live music nightly and outdoor dining available. Lunch and dinner daily.

Oceans 1706 N. Lumina Ave., 256-2231.

Located inside the Holiday Inn Resort, it offers the perfect locale for fresh seafood and steaks while enjoying the magnificent views of the ocean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Riverboat Landing 2 Market St. 763-7227. Historic building on the corner of Water and Market houses a cozy restaurant inside. But get there early to dine outside on one of the balconies on the second floor.

Southern fare with French, Mediterranean and Asian influence. Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch.

Rucker Johns 5511 Carolina Beach Rd., 452-1212. High quality food served up in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. Burgers, steak, chicken, and salads. Lunch and dinner daily.

Sweet & Savory Café 1611 Pavilion Pl., 256-0115. A full menu breakfast lunch and dinner restaurant with dishes made from scratch. Open daily, 7am-9pm.

The Pilot House 2 Ann St., 343-0200.

Overlooking the Cape Fear River with large outside deck. Menu ranges from down home cooking to Cajun, as well as fused traditional Southern fare with a contemporary twist.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Towne Tap & Grill 890 Town Center Dr., 256-6224. Situated next door to the Mayfaire Cinema is the place to be seen before or after the movie. Great American fare, with burgers, steaks, and cold beer.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Asian Bento Box 1121 Military Cutoff Rd., 509-0774. Asian street food, with a

March/April 2014 | 103

Wilmington’s Premier Sports Bar & Facility

culmination of Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai dishes. Sushi bar.

Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Mon-Sat.

‘round for sing-alongs and the local spot for much of the late night theatre crowd.

Nightly 7pm-2am.

Big Thai 1319 Military Cutoff Rd., 256-6588. Famous for authentic Thai.

Don’t miss the Coconut cake as a sweet and savory finale. Lunch and dinner daily.

Dirty Martini 1904 Eastwood Rd., 679-8050. A stylish, sophisticated night spot with a twist. Come relax or mix things up and make new friends with a lusty martini menu that will leave you shaken and stirred.

Blue Asia 341 S. College Rd., 799-0002. An Asian bistro offering a wide range of authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai cuisines using the freshest seafood, meats, and vegetables.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Double Happiness 4403 Wrightsville Ave., 313-1088. A great mix of traditional Chinese dishes and modern twists on favorites. Prepared fresh daily. Lunch and dinner daily.

Indochine 7 Wayne Dr., 251-9229.

Enjoy the finest Thai-Vietnamese cuisine in a beautifully decorated environment. Voted best Asian 10 years in a row. Lunch and dinner daily.

Szechuan 132 419 S. College Rd., 799-1426. Voted best Chinese restaurant 12 years in a row. Fine contemporary dining in a relaxed atmosphere, serving exceptional dishes like rosemary lamb and filet mignon. Lunch and dinner daily.

Tokyo 101 880 Town Center Dr., 399-3101. Traditional Japanese with fresh sushi, diverse noodle dishes, combination plates, and appetizers.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge 31 S. Front St., 763-3172. Lacquered walls and unique art surround guests as they dine on sushi and Pan/Asian fare.

Dinner nightly at 5pm.

Bars

VOLLEYBALL ● ● CORNHOLE ● ● BOCCE BALL ● ● TRIVIA ● ●

Open Daily until 2 a.m.

3525 Lancelot Lane • Wilmington, NC 910-228-5791 courts-sports.com 104 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Bottega Bar and Gallery 208 N. Front St., 763-3737. Friendly downtown wine bar with ever changing art exhibits.

Nibbles available while savoring a choice of wines by the glass. Mon dinner only, lunch and dinner Tue-Sun. Copper Penny 109 Chestnut St., 762-1373. More than a sports bar, offering an eclectic mix of appetizers, salads, and sandwiches along with an extensive selection of mixed drinks and beers. Lunch and dinner daily.

Costello’s 211 Princess St., 362-9666.

Tiny but sophisticated piano bar. Gather

Wilmington Wine 605 Castle St., 202-4749. Close to downtown, this is a wine shop worth visiting. By the glass or by the bottle, Chrissy knows her wines and offers frequent wine tastings peppered with local conversation. Opens daily at noon.

Cajun Bourbon Street 35 N. Front St., 762-4050. Experience authentic Cajun cuisine in a uniquely decorated setting that has the appeal of being in New Orleans.

Come sample their famous charbroiled oysters. Lunch and dinner daily.

Fine Dining Aubriana’s 115 S. Front St., 763-7773.

A quaint Italian bistro with a menu that is updated frequently with creative dishes and the freshest ingredients.

Trained wait staff assist with pairing an extensive wine list with your meal.

Dinner Tue-Sat. East Oceanfront Dining 275 Waynick Blvd., 256-2251. Award-winning cuisine accompanied by the sounds of breaking surf and a soothing coastal breeze. Enjoy fresh local seafood or grass fed beef while you dine under a canopied, oceanfront deck or inside. A great selection of wine, beer and spirits.

Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch.

Manna 123 Princess St., 763-5252.

A favorite among the film industry stars, serving American cuisine with European flare. Dinner Tue-Sun. Port City Chop House 1981 Eastwood Rd., 256-4955. Known for fresh seafood, steaks and chops prepared fresh using the highest quality ingredients. Lunch and dinner Mon-Fri, Sat dinner only.

Port Land Grill 1908 Eastwood Rd., 256-6056. Progressive American regional cuisine served in a casual yet elegant coastal setting. Dinner Tue-Sat. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 301 N. Water St., 343-1818. Nestled inside the

Hilton Wilmington Riverside, famously known for excellent steaks and service.

Come celebrate a romantic evening.

Dinner nightly.

Rx Restaurant & Bar 421 Castle St., 399-3080. Best Southern fried chicken.

Tickle your taste buds and experiment with local foods prepared with a uniquely Southern twist. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sun.

French Brasserie Du Soleil 1908 Eastwood Rd., 256-2226. French cafe with patio and inside dining. Pick your own salad ingredients from a wide selection of items. Lunch and dinner daily.

Caprice Bistro 10 Market St., 815-0810. Elegant dining downstairs with sofa bar upstairs and a great martini selection. Authentic French bistro. Dinner nightly.

Le Catalan French Café & Wine Bar 224 S. Water Street, 815-0200. Very European and romantic, outdoor dining overlooking the Cape Fear River. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sun. Our Crepes & More 3810 Oleander Dr., 395-0077. Family owned French Creperie.

Authentic homemade cuisine. Breakfast, brunch, and desserts, Tue-Sun. Perkeo Wine Bistro 114 Market St., 769-3338. Wide open spaces and bold turquoise walls with a lighted waterfall up front make this a chic and cozy dining spot. French and Vietnamese infused dishes. Extensive wine list from around the globe. Dinner Wed-Sun. The Little Dipper 138 S. Front St., 251-0433. Unique, nostalgic and fun fondue menu includes premium meats, seafood, vegetables, appetizers, desserts, and homemade sauces for dipping.

Enjoy a night out while you dip assorted breads into hot melted cheese prepared tableside by your server. Dinner nightly Memorial Day-Labor Day.

Italian Eddie Romanelli’s 503 Olde Waterford Way, 383-1885. A longtime local favorite serving up scratch-made Italian fare in a family-friendly atmosphere. A diverse menu including baked ziti, hand-made pizzas, steak, burgers, and salads.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Fat Tony’s Italian Pub 131 N. Front

St., 343-8881; 250 Racine Dr., 452-9000.

Great family-friendly restaurant offering fantastic views of the Cape Fear river.

Serving a mix of Italian and American fare, and a full bar, including 25 beers on tap. Lunch and dinner daily.

VOTED CITY’S BEST CHEF 3 YEARS IN A ROW!

Georgio’s 5226 S. College Rd., 790-9954.

From old world style dishes to modern day creations, menu showcases multiple flavors. Offering pasta, seafood, steaks, pork chops, soups, and salads. Dinner Mon, Lunch and dinner Tue-Sun. Kornerstone Bistro 8262 Market St., 686-2296. Traditional Mediterranean fare and wood-fired pizza oven. Homemade desserts. Lunch and dinner daily.

Nicola’s 5704 Oleander Dr., 798-2205.

An Italian eatery with made fresh daily pasta, sausage, baked breads and more.

Dinner Tue-Sun.

FRESH LOCAL AUTHENTIC

Osteria Cicchetti 1125 Military Cutoff Rd., 256-7476. Serving a variety of pasta dishes, pizza, salads, and antipasti.

Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner nightly.

Pizzetta’s Pizzeria 4107 Oleander Dr., 799-4300. (L) 1144 E. Cutler Crossing, 371-6001. Hottest spot for pizza by the slice, offering dozens of pizza choices with a New York flair. Lunch and dinner daily.

Serving local sourced seafood using sustainable fishing practices.

Roko Italian Cuisine 6801-105 Parker Farm Dr., 679-4783. Features authentic northern Italian cuisine. Reservations often necessary at this intimate spot in Mayfaire. Dinner nightly.

Sienna Trattoria 3315 Masonboro Loop Rd., 794-3002. Enjoy authentic Italian food in a warm, casual setting. Dine indoors or the outside courtyard. Perfect for the entire family, with delicious brick oven pizza, seafood, and pasta specials. Fully stocked bar and lounge.

Dinner nightly.

Soho Bakery & Cafe 431 Eastwood Rd., 859-7714. Offering fresh baked goods like bagels and sweets, and great pastas along with authentic Italian sandwiches from the deli. Guests are guaranteed to get a taste of New York. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

6623 Market Street • Wilmington 910-799-3847 catchwilmington.com

Visit our sister restaurant serving the best Vietnamese and Thai.

Organic Epic Food Co. 1113 Military Cutoff Rd., 679-4216. Choose from a menu of sandwiches, salads, and noodle and rice bowls, with organic and all-natural selections. Sauces and salsas are made from scratch. Vegan and gluten-free

215 Princess Street Downtown Wilmington 910-762-2841

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Free Friday Nig ht Wine Tasti ngs & Free Satu 5-8 p.m. rday C Beer Tastin raft gs 3-5 p.m.

dishes also offered. Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat. Lovey’s Market & Cafe 1319 Military Cutoff, 509-0331. A health food store with fresh, delicious, healthy organic food prepared daily.

Offers healthy choices whether its organic groceries, produce or supplements and beauty aids.

Includes a wonderful cafe that offers organic smoothies, fresh juice such as wheatgrass, orange juice, and juice blends from organic produce.

Freshly baked goods with gluten free options. Cafe menu has something for everyone, whether they are vegetarian, vegan or not. Cafe is open daily 11am-6pm.

Tidal Creek Co-op 5329 Oleander Dr., 799-2667. An organic grocery with inside cafe offering organic and vegan friendly options for casual dine-in or take out. Cafe open 11am-6pm daily.

Craft Beer • Giftware • Wine Classes • Event Planning • Craft Mixers • Local Delivery

605 Castle Street • 910.202.4749 • WilmingtonWineShop.com

Seafood Black Sea Grill 118 S. Front St., 254-9990. Mediterranean style eatery in a quaint downtown location. Lamb chops, seafood, vegetarian. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sat. Bridge Tender 1414 Airlie Rd., 256-4519. Featuring fresh seafood, certified Angus beef steaks, delicious appetizers, and mouthwatering desserts. Choose to dine on the outdoor patio overlooking the Intracoastal waterway or enjoy the cozy interior setting. Lunch Mon-Fri., dinner nightly.

Made and delivered fresh daily!

Orange BlossomÂŽ

with chocolate dipped strawberries and bananas

Dockside 1308 Airlie Rd., 256-2752.

The place to be for the best seafood on the Intracoastal Waterway, Dockside is synonymous with great food and a casual, atmosphere. Using only the freshest and highest quality local and regional ingredients whenever possible. Lunch and dinner daily.

- -

Landfall Center Military Cutoff Road Wilmington NC Â Â?

Cape Fear Seafood Company 5226 S. College Rd., 799-7077. Specializing in regional American seafood, hand cut fish, steaks, and chicken along with freshly made desserts all served in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere.

Lunch and dinner daily.

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Edible ArrangementsŽ, the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC. Š 2014 Edible Arrangements, LLC. All rights reserved.

1900 Eastwood Road, Lumina Station • Wilmington, NC • 910-509-2026 • www.1900lounge.com Open at 5:30pm Tuesday-Sunday • Lounge Open Late

Perkeo Wine Bistro

Excellent Wine, Delicious Food & Relaxing Atmosphere

Extensive Wine List Eclectic Menu • Daily Specials & Events

Open Wednesday – Sunday 114 Market Street • Wilmington 910-769-3338 • perkeowine.com

Dock Street Oyster Bar 12 Dock St., 762-2827. Voted best oyster bar 13 years in a row. Come enjoy some great Caribbean style fare in a chic atmosphere.

Serving an array of seafood, pasta, and chicken. Lunch and dinner daily.

Elijah’s 2 Ann St., 343-1448. Casual American grill and oyster bar overlooking the Cape Fear River. Seafood, steaks, chicken, salads. Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch.

Fish House Grill 1410 Airlie Rd., 256-3693. A landmark seafood restaurant for decades, offering a casual, fun place to eat fresh seafood while enjoying the outdoor waterfront overlooking the Intracoastal waterway. Made-from-scratch every day.

Lunch and dinner daily.

Hieronymus 5035 Market St., 392-6313.

Come enjoy locally sourced seafood and fresh vegetables in a casual atmosphere.

Voted best seafood in 2011, this is one of the local’s favorites for over 30 years. Lunch and dinner daily.

Phun Seafood Bar 215 Princess St., 762-2841. A fun 22-seat eatery serving

southeast Asian tapas food, Vietnamese and Thai style. Sample lemongrass pork wontons, country ham-green mango rolls, and hot noodle bowls. Beer and wine available. Lunch Mon-Fri, Dinner Wed-Sat. Shuckers Oyster Bar and Grill 6828 Market Rd, 859-8195. A favorite hang out, offering raw bar, seafood, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches. Lunch and dinner daily.

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar 6A N. Lake Park Blvd., 458-7380; 109 Market St., 8338622. Come watch your favorite sports team while enjoying some great oysters, shrimp, crab cakes, po-boys, and fresh salads.

Casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Lunch and dinner daily.

The George 128 S. Water St., 763-2052.

Enjoy waterfront dining on the RiverWalk, Menu offers southern coastal cuisine with a diverse selection of steak, pasta, salad and fresh seafood, including the best Shrimp ní Grits in town. Outdoor deck, full bar with extensive wine and martini lists. Dock your boat at the only dockínídine restaurant downtown. Lunch and dinner Tue-Sat, Sunday brunch.

Tapas Circa 1922 8 N. Front St., 762-1922. Great bar and ever changing small plates, serving the likes of maple glazed pork belly, grilled stuffed quail, and lamb shank.. Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch.

9 Restaurant 9 S. Front St., 523-5912.

Breakfast cafe during the day with homemade pastries, and a tapas bar and lounge at night. Jazz and blues music.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Opening in May 2013.

The Fortunate Glass 29 S. Front St., 3994292. A wine bar at heart, the focus is on wines from all regions, with 50 wines by the glass and about 350 wines by the bottle, plus over 30 craft beers. A small menu of fine cheeses, Italian cured meats, and decadent desserts served tapas style will compliment your wine selection. Dinner Tue-Sun. The Olive Café 1125-E Military Cutoff Rd., 679-4772. An Epicurean emporium for everything taste. Wines, bakery, and somewhat bigger than small plates.

Shopping, Dining, Theater, Museums, Tours, The Riverwalk: More options than you could ever dream . . .

WILMINGTON, NC PARK FREE THE FIRST HOUR IN CITY DECKS

We’re Going to Disney World It’s every child’s dream, but before you go, take advantage of expert advice to get the most out of the Magic Kingdom.

By Katie McElveen

March/April 2014 | 109

110 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com

Photos Courtesy The Walt Disney Company

L

ike most couples with school-aged children, K r i s t y a nd Jac k Ellenberg need to plan their vacations well ahead of time. But not always.

Case in point: their most recent trip to Disney World. “It was the weekend before fall break, and Jack and I decided, totally spur-ofthe-moment, to take the children to Disney,” laughs Kristy. Instead of getting online, though, and wading through the Disney website, Kristy made a phone call to her friend Margaret Bauer, who, along with her sister, Daisy Miller, owns and operates Forest Lake Travel. “I said, ‘Margaret, is it crazy to think about going to Disney in four days?’ She cracked up, but then she got really excited about it and started asking me what we wanted to do, how long we wanted to stay and how much we wanted to spend.

By the end of the conversation, we’d planned every day, including dinner reservations, tickets to the Not-So-Scary Halloween party and finding an easy place for us to meet up with Jack, who would be flying in from a meeting in Denver. All I had to do was pack.”

It may be every child’s dream to visit Disney World, but for many parents, planning that trip can be a logistical nightmare.

It’s easy to see why. The Disney World entertainment complex includes 35 hotels, six parks and four golf courses within its nearly 40 square miles. Add new attractions, vacation packages, endless food choices and ticketed special events to the mix, and suddenly even the savviest parents can feel like they’ve fallen down a rabbit hole. “We’ve been to Disney before, but this was the first time we had help,” says Kristy. “It made a huge difference.

Margaret knew what was new and was honest about what was worth our time. She also helped us fit things together logically so we weren’t running from one end of the park to the other. We were really able to focus on the fun and not the planning.” Kristy also appreciated that Margaret had noted on the family’s reservation that Larrabee would be celebrating her birthday during the trip.

“When we arrived they gave her a birthday button. Everywhere we went, cast members wished her a happy birthday,” says Kristy.

“She felt like a princess!”

For Margaret, those special moments are why she loves Disney.

“Not only do I adore Disney myself, but I think it’s a fabulous place for a family vacation.” She should know. For the past few years, Margaret, along with her coworker Shelley Bohlman, has worked as an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. “Years ago Disney was easy to navigate,” says Shelley. “Not any more. Since you can pre-register for almost everything, making all those decisions can get complicated very quickly. Since we know Disney, we can guide you from the time you leave your house until you get home. It’s a real time-saver there is no additional cost for Disney planning.”

As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, Forest Lake Travel has access to money-saving specials before they are offered to the general public. “Once I have your dates, I can call and find

Photographs (top right, bottom left), courtesy Daisy Miller

out what kinds of specials they have during that time,” explains Shelley. “And if a special comes up after you’ve made your reservation and it is available, we can usually rework it to include the new offers.”

To become author ized planners, Margaret and Shelley as well as several other advisors at Forest Lake Travel completed a series of courses through the College of Disney Knowledge that familiarized them with the parks, their offerings, lodging options, transportation and dining. Once they’d completed their training, they joined a cadre of planners around the world who are among the first to know about new programs, attractions and packages. Even better, taking regular Disney cruises and making visits to the parks mean they’re loaded with tips, tricks and advice that come either from on-the-ground experience or too many hours on the internet reading Disney vacation blogs. Take, for instance, dinner in Cinderella’s castle, one of the most popular events in the Magic Kingdom. “It’s a wonderful experience, but

it’s also very expensive and can be hard to reserve,” says Shelley. “I’ve sent a lot of clients instead to the Princess Dinner at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot. It’s more intimate and there are always several princesses around to talk to the children. They’ve got time for photos and autographs, too.” Daisy Miller, who recently took her daughter Madge to Akershus, agrees. “Madge’s eyes were huge when one of the characters leaned down to whisper a princess secret in her ear. She was absolutely thrilled.”

Shelley Dempsey discovered the benefits of working with Shelley Bohlman and Forest Lake Travel almost by accident. “I mentioned to Daisy one day how much Scott and I wanted to take the boys back to Disney, but that it was just too overwhelming to plan,” she recalls. “When she explained all they can do for us at no additional cost, I called Shelley Bohlman immediately.” One of the first things Shelley did was help the Dempseys make the most of the money they’d budgeted—so much so that they were able to extend their trip from four days to seven. “I thought we’d need a top dollar hotel,” says Shelley Dempsey. “But when we explained that we spend very little time in the room, Shelley suggested we book a less expensive hotel that had particularly boy-friendly amenities and use the money we saved elsewhere.”

Shelley Dempsey hadn’t considered purchasing Disney’s dining plan, but when Shelley Bohlman explained it to her, she was sold.

“She planned out each day to include dining and we never had to run from one end of the park to the other,” she says. “Everything was perfectly organized, down to which restaurants had the best breakfast, lunch or dinner and a note in our file alerting staff to my son’s food allergies. At every restaurant someone walked us through the menu or the buffet line and explained what he could or couldn’t have. The whole week was incredible and I’d go again tomorrow—but only after I’d called Shelley!” W

Disney tips and tricks »Considering a trip to Disney? Here are just a few tips.

If your children are young, you’ll probably only need to plan for half a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

“They’ve got a great preschool component, but the park is mostly geared toward older kids,” says Shelley.

If you’ve registered for a nighttime event at the park, be sure to pick up a special armband when you arrive that day. It will allow you to play in the park between the time that it closes to the public and the event begins.

Magic Bands are bracelets which store each guest’s room key, park tickets, meal plan and other information.

Wear one, and you don’t need to carry a wallet or keep track of your room key. They’re still in the testing phase, but Forest Lake Travel clients have access to this new technology before it’s available to the public.

For more help visit forestlaketravel.com

March/April 2014 | 111

PHOTO CECE BOYKIN

Oh, the Joys of Spring!

Orange Rhododendron.

These orange azaleas bear colorful flowers in spring, and some like to use these bushes as foundation plants.

112 | WilmingtonNCmagazine.com