Sophie nov dec 2016

November / December 2016

sophisticated. stylish. sassy.

ING R U T A E F

ALL

Get Creative Art Education in the River Arts District

Grayson Morris:

Not Afraid of Awkward

Project Handmade Elements of Nature

Local Gift Ideas SophieMagazine.com

2 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 3

November / December 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

16 Can We

Grayson Morris

Local puppeter, immersive theater director, and stand-up comedian talks to Meg Hale Brunton about “Not being afraid of awkward.”

6

Talk?

Lauren Griffin, M.A., LPC gives us tools to help untangle our holiday anxiety.

30

Urban Bride

Photographs by

Captured by photographer

Studio Misha Photography.

Jennifer Mesk.

32

9 Make It, Take It, Gift It

Betty Sharpless talks about

36 Betty’s Book Review

homemade holiday gifts.

Photographs

by Max Ganly Photography

10

All Wrapped Up

Beautiful holiday apparel from White House | Black Market.

“The Secret Ingredient of

Piano Bench

K imberly Cann shares her thoughts on piano education.

“Snowden” receives 7 out of 10 stars.

38 Things to Do

An expanded calendar of

River Arts District!

activities around WNC.

ophie Celebrates 24 42 SYou!

43 Concerning

Let’s Get Cooking

Debi Manfre shares her favorite “gifts in a jar” recipes.

27

Our Community

44 Real Men Read Sophie

eet the men at Meade’s REAL M Food Café.

COVER CREDITS: Photograph by Katy Cook • Model: Lauren Brigman • Clothing & accessories provided by White House | Black Market: Burgundy Lace Dress $220, Ombré Scarf $48, Gold Herringbone Earrings $30, Crystal Hinge Cuff $40 • Hair & makeup stylist:Viktoriya Degtyareva from Carmen! Carmen! at Belk • Photo shoot location: Grand Bohemian Hotel - Asheville • Cover design by Rachel Hoeft 4 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

CALENDAR EDITOR Carrie Harder CREATIVE SERVICES Carrie Harder Rachel Hoeft Randy Whittington CONTRIBUTORS Meg Hale Brunton Kimberly Cann Lauren Griffin, M.A., LPC Andy Hale Cynthia Mcabee Susan Reinhardt Betty Sharpless FASHION COORDINATOR Angela Ramsey PHOTOGRAPHERS Katy Cook Max Ganly Photography Jennifer Mesk Studio Misha Photography PROOFING DIVA Karen Shepard

CLASSIFIED SUPERVISOR Angela Frizzell

37 Meg’s Movie Review

et Creative with an art 14 Habitat Restore Reuse G education experience in the Bloomers

CREATIVE EDITOR Debi Manfre

SALES ASSISTANT Jayme Pressley

S usan Reinhardt tells us how she celebrates Thanksgiving.

B etty Sharpless is bringing back summmer, one jar at a time.

IT/PRODUCTION MANAGER Jeff Ruminski

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Pam Hensley Rick Jenkins Rose Lunsford Crystal Pressley

22 Musings From The

During A Turkey Marathon

20 Garden

Wishes” is a great weekend read. It even has it’s own Prince Charming!

20

12 Pacing Myself

Contest Winners

GENERAL MANAGER/PUBLISHER Patricia Martin Betts

Andy Hale gives us the recipe for the Victorian holiday drink

8 Women of WNC

Elements of Nature: Project Handmade

stylish. sophisticated. sassy

Bringing Back The Bishop

CIRCULATION MANAGER Sam Howell

SOPHIE MAGAZINE 31 College Place Asheville Office Park, Iwanna Bldg.

Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 274-8888 Share your ideas and inspirations.

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sophiemagazine.com Sophie-Magazine sophiemagavl Distributed throughout WNC, Sophie is a complimentary monthly magazine for today’s woman. Contributions are welcome and may be sent via e-mail. Include your name, address, and phone number, so we can contact you if we decide to print your submission. Sophie reserves the right to edit any editorial submissions. Sophie also reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or article that is deemed inappropriate for the publication. No portion of Sophie may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. None of the information herein is intended as medical or professional advice.

from the publisher It’s hard to believe the Holiday Season is upon us, however the moment we put on our favorite sweater, shawls, wraps and coats, we will no doubt start thinking about the magic to come. As a Mom I start thinking about Christmas gifts early for my loved ones, and try to imagine what it would be like to start acting on Christmas shopping early. What would it be like to have this time of year come and be totally prepared, totally ready, and be able to exclaim, to anyone bustling about, “I finished my shopping months ago?” I ask, because I will likely never know.

Truth be told, I actually like the Holiday preparing to happen when the weather reminds me, and my local retailers remind me, and my local artisans remind me, what is happening in the here and now.

As an example, how cool would it be to give or receive a hand made sweater that was locally knitted from the fleece from the artist’s own sheep? This month we feature Local Cloth’s project Handmade Elements of Nature Fashion show, which showcases the incredible local talent and resources to create beautiful, wearable fashions.

Another fun and local option is to sign up for the River Arts District art or craft experience, or give the gift of this experience to someone you love. Learn to make your own jewelry, pottery, or weave a chair to just name a few. Inside this issue you will see local gift ideas for the whole family, and I encourage you to tell them you saw them in Sophie.

We are very blessed to have such dedicated contributors like Susan Reinhardt to keep us laughing, Betty Sharpless with her great ideas. Also Lauren Griffin has tools to help us handle the holiday anxiety, and Meg Hale Brunton and Andy Hale to put the spotlight on interesting women and the cocktails we love.

This month we have a guest contributor, Kimberly Cann who among other things, is a dynamic and successful concert pianist who shares her thoughts on the topic of piano education in the 21st century.

In closing, I would like to give thanks to the wonderful staff at Sophie magazine, for making this and every issue, the very best it can be for our local readers and advertisers.

Cheers!

Patricia Martin Betts Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 5

PEOPLE

Grayson Morris: Not Afraid of Awkward

By Meg Hale Brunton

L

ocal puppeteer, immersive theater director, and stand-up comedian Grayson Morris has no trouble talking about the tough times in her life through her art.

As a teenager in Boone, she was lonely and loathed high school. After graduating, she spent a year with a host family in Venezuela. At first, Morris had a hard time fitting in. “I had so many awkward times in Venezuela, that I kind of blasted through my own awkwardness,” she says. By the end of her stay, Morris had made lifelong friends, learned how to speak Spanish and dance the Salsa.

At 20, Morris started at UNC Asheville, where she got her degree in Ethics and Social Institutions.

After college, Morris spent a year in Thailand, followed by a summer working on a farm in Washington. She returned to WNC so broke that she had to move back in with her parents. “I had no plan, no money, no resume. I was really, like, ‘What am I going to do?’” Morris refers to this time as “dark days,” since this was also when she found out she had skin cancer. She had been turned down for health insurance and had to wait over six months to confirm that she had cancer and get a biopsy.

“It made me be really thankful to be alive.” Morris says. “Those were not good years; I’m really glad to be here now.”

Morris’s father, a reading professor, had always wanted her to be a teacher. So, with no other direction in her life, she went back to school and got a job as an ESL Reading Teacher Assistant at Woodfin Elementary. She enjoyed working with children, but still wanted to try out stand-up comedy. Earlier that year, Morris gave a well-received performance at the Magnetic Field Theatre’s Synergy Story Slam, which gave her the courage to do her first open6 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

mic. “I was like ‘That’s it; I’m in’” she says, about getting laughs her first time out, “and I’ve kind of never looked back.”

In 2012, Morris’ Venezuelan host sister came to visit her. As Morris filled her host sister in about her life, her sister looked her in the eye and said, “You don’t want to be a teacher. You want to be an artist, but you’re afraid.” She was right. Morris admits that, at that moment, she felt like a coward and knew that she had to follow her dreams. So, she quit her job, dropped out of graduate school and moved to Los Angeles with no friends, no money, no job and no place to stay.

Morris found scattered work, catering and working in the art department for film shoots.

Taking improv and studying clowning, she found it very satisfying that L.A. is full of artists who are working hard for their art. Morris was, however, disappointed with the stand-up mics in L.A., in which budding comics have to put their names into a lottery for a three-minute spot. “It makes you not want to go out,” she says, “when you have to try out new stuff in front of an unfriendly audience of comedians who don’t listen to each other’s jokes.”

In 2015, Morris wrote a one-woman show about her life, called “Am I a Grown-Up Yet?”, which she took on a seven-city tour. She had been hoping to remount her tour for the East Coast, since she was hemorrhaging borrowed money in L.A., and missing her North Carolina friends. So, she returned to Asheville and got a job teaching at Odyssey Preschool, which she says is the best day job she has ever had. For her show, Morris says she interwove a bunch of her story-slam stories under an overarching narrative, and illustrated them with shadow puppets, cartoons and toy theater. “I remember I

was so scared the first time I did it,” Morris laughs.

“That was one of the scariest moments of my life: to talk for an hour, and was I going to remember what to say, and be vulnerable and sing? It was a huge deal… but I did it!”

“I feel like I’ve conquered my fear. Sometimes I feel like there’s nothing else to be scared about. I’ve done so many hard and scary things.” After thinking for a moment, Morris admits, “I was nervous when I opened for Louis C.K.” Morris was chosen as the opening act for Louis C.K. when he did an unscheduled performance at The Orange Peel in protest of North Carolina’s HB2 bill earlier this year.

“As soon as I walked through the curtains though, I was not nervous. I was just like, “I’m on.” Morris smiles, remembering. “It’s such a diva feeling!”

Morris says she couldn’t believe it when she first heard that she had been chosen to open for Louis C.K., but then, realized she was a good choice.

“I’m not nobody. I’m a little guy who can open for a big guy. So, I didn’t feel like I didn’t belong there,” Morris says. “Everyone was there and the audience was so hot; they were so ready to laugh.

And I just killed it. I did the best I could have done.

I didn’t falter. I was so proud of myself for delivering what it is that I had to offer.” Three thousand people saw Morris perform at that show, two of whom were her parents, who drove down from Boone when they heard that she had been chosen.

“It was fun to have them both see me succeed,” she says.

Morris performs comedy regularly in Asheville and, periodically, in other cities. Her performance at Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV will air in early 2017. She also teaches clowning and improv at the NYS3 Acting Studio, and will be performing her

debut mime piece for the Asheville Fringe Festival this January. This February, Morris will also be producing the fourth installment of her Art-House Project, “emersion”, which she does out of her North Asheville home. Morris inherited money to buy the house in 2013 and rented out the rooms to her friends. Now, for “emersion,” she creates a different performance art piece in every room in the house. “The house is such an important part of my life,” Morris says, adding later, “This is my life’s work.”

Morris has one ultimate goal in her art: to use her art to affect change in the world.

“I want to use my comedy to unite people,” she says. “I want to acknowledge the dark side but be uplifting at the end of the day.” She professes to be at a crossroads, deciding whether to stay in Asheville, or move to an ‘opportunity-town’ like New York or Chicago. “I really wonder if I can make it; and these are the years when that’s gonna get decided,” Morris says. “The decisions I make now are I was so proud going to affect the rest of my life. It’s of myself for a real turning point in my life and I don’t know which way to turn.” delivering what To learn more about Grayson it is that I had Morris, or to see her perform, visit her websites: GraysonMorrisComedy. to offer. com, GraysonMorrisPuppetry.com GraysonMorrisArt.com

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Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 7

PEOPLE

“I’m always trying to not interrupt people and be on time. It’s my lifelong struggle.

I’m making slow progress.”

wnc WOMEN of Photographed by Jennifer Mesk, HumansOfAsheville.net

“Moving around and having different experiences contributed to who I am now. I used to move to a different place every 4 years. I’ve been here in Asheville 4 and half years. I think I’m going to stay. Moving around so much my entire life made me outgoing and able to meet new people all the time.”

Do you have a philosophy you live by?

What do you think is your best trait?

“How you do anything is how you do everything. I did 500 days of yoga and handstands. When you study any one thing for 500 days, you realize that has a pattern. The littlest things that we do are the same behaviors in way we do the biggest things.”

“Kindness. I learned it for my mother. She is very compassionate, a healer, she guided me on my path to where I am now. My parents got divorced when I was 8. The first thing that my mother did was go on a soul journey. She brought me along with her. We went all around the world.”

8 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

HOME & GARDEN

Make It, Take It, Gift It

By Betty Sharpless

T

hese days when all of our homes are so full of “things� that many have to rent out storage units to hold it all, I always hope to give a gift that can be consumed or used and used up by the person receiving it.

Coming from a home where making a gift was the highest honor you could give to someone; I realize now what a gift my mother gave to me in this teaching.

A favorite gift of mine is a tasty homemade treat. Jams, soups, pestos, cookies or homemade salted nuts are a few of my favorites. I love feeding people, and folks love receiving something made just for them. By using brightly colored canning jar lids or holiday fabric to decorate the containers you can customize the gift for each person.

Another fun gift is to make holiday aprons for friends. No matter what holiday your special friends celebrate, there is a fabric at the store for it. Another option would be to make an apron in bright solid colors to celebrate the

winter season. A simple apron with a few pockets takes less than an hour to make. Holiday fabric also lends itself to making holiday pillowcases. One and a half yards of cloth makes a pair of one of a kind pillowcases in no time flat and everyone really enjoys them.

When I was a little girl, with no resources, we made coupon books of chores or gifts of time that we could give. This is still a great idea today. What young mother would not love a coupon for babysitting or a home cooked meal after a hectic day? The gift of your time is perhaps the most precious gift of all.

Betty Sharpless is a professional freelance gardener, writer and quilter who is looking forward to a few snow days this winter.

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 9

FASHION

Local Cloth’s

2016 contemporary garments with hand crafted details

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAX GANLY PHOTOGRAPHY A hand-knit Fair Isle sweater that started as fleece from the artist’s own sheep and a beaded, blanket-stitched dress made from recycled sari silk, nuno-felted with locally sourced wool, shared the award for Best Use of Local Materials and/or Resources at Local Cloth’s Project Handmade 2016 regional fashion show of wearable art Sept. 22 at the Folk Art Center. ​Martha Owen of Murphy, NC, knitted Fair Isle North Carolina Cardigan.

In addition to raising the sheep, she cleaned and dyed the fleece, blended the hand-dyed and natural colors by hand-carding, and then hand-spun the colored yarns. She mixed those with dyed-white mill-spun yarns, knitting in the Fair Isle style, characterized by stranded patterns created with shaded and solid yarns. Natural dyes included indigo, cochineal, marigolds, lichen and mushrooms. ​Sugar Hollow Fancy, the dress, was a collaborative effort of felt maker and textile artist Vicki Bennett and garment maker Molly Hamilton, both from Fairview, NC, and metalsmith Vicki Wilson, of St. Petersburg, FL, Bennett’s winter home. Wool used for nuno-felting was also processed locally at Echoview Fiber Mill in Weaverville, NC.

Winner: Fair Isle North Carolina Cardigan designed & knitted by Martha Owen. Eyeglasses provided by Optix Eyecare. Model: Sasha Renee Daniels 10 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

RED BLOOMS & LADYBUGS designed by Loretta Dian Phipps. Model: Jazz Thomas

PIKES PEAK COAT designed by Suzanne Wadsworth. Model: Deanna Tipton

FASHION ​The look included a neckpiece that echoed the patchwork theme with etched and shaped brass squares featuring animal and geometric designs and vintage pearls from the artist’s mother’s necklace. Earrings of brass, copper and silver, an elegant wired hair clasp and an earth-toned, handfelted shawl of silk and merino wool and naturally hand-dyed, nuno-felted silk completed the look. ​The two prize winners were among 42 juried looks that walked the Project Handmade 2016 runway, themed Elements of Nature, bringing the near capacity crowd inside the Folk Art Center’s auditorium to their feet for a standing ovation following the finale. Artists and their collaborators came from throughout the Local Cloth Fibershed, generally a 100-mile radius of Asheville, and included several event newcomers in addition to veterans from Local Cloth’s 2012 and 2014 fashion shows. ​Textiles used to construct this year’s juried looks were hand woven, knitted, felted, naturally dyed, shibori-dyed, eco-printed, quilted, repurposed, embroidered and/or beaded. All entries were required to include some locally sourced materials or creative resources, and collaboration was encouraged. ​Jurors for Project Handmade 2016 included Diane Ericson, from Ashland, OR, a long-time artist, garment designer and instructor who also creates unique pattern collections and original stencils (ReVisions) and contributes articles for Vogue Pattern Magazine; Kate Mathews, of Weaverville, NC, owner of Folkwear Patterns, founder and former editor of Fiberarts Magazine and the author/editor of several Lark Books; and Tricia Lindsay, of Asheville, NC, buyer and manager for Gallery of the Mountains.

Award winners were selected by a panel that included Leah Shapiro, JB Media, Patrick Fitzsimmons, executive director of Mountain Bizworks, and Patricia Betts, publisher of Sophie Magazine.

COLOR ILLUSIONS - FIT & FLARE designed

by Angela Kim, and handwoven fabric by Teena Tuenge. Model: Sara Fields

ANNE’S FROCK designed by Molly Hamilton and fabric dyed by Michael Smith. Model: Anne Hamilton

Winner: Sugar Hollow Fancy a collaboration by Molly Hamilton, Vicki Bennett & Vicki Wilson. Model: Samantha Singleton Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 11

ENTERTAINMENT

Pacing Myself During a Turkey Marathon

T

By Susan Reinhardt

he Savory Swine Flu is coming. Hold on. Not the kind causing fever, munching only rolls, corn and pie. As long as it wasn’t pumpkin. Kids our age chills and body aches. didn’t eat pumpkin pie.

What I’m anticipating is a massive digestive invasion, a Season of Looking back on my early childhood, I can’t recall Mama making a meal on Swinedom (not a word, I know) where everyone explodes during feasts, para Thursday, but all of us instead heading in the wagon to Ware Shoals, S.C., ties, family gatherings, office and other holiday dinners. Truly enough food in to dine with Granny, Mama Callie and Big Daddy as heads of table age-wise. one season to last a year and feed six countries.

Once the meal ended, the grownups talked or watched ballgames and my I do realize we should feel fortunate and blessed. That people are starving, sissy and I, in cahoots with the cousins, double-dared each other to eat my even in our own cities. So I’d like to reiterate how important it is to feed our grandmother’s own generic brown dog’s crunchy kibble. Sure beat a slice of hungry all year long. hairy coconut cake.

But this is about the upcoming Fast-forward this to this generamarathon of Gluttony and Altion – to my sister and me marrylocation. As in the allocation and ing and having our own families. divvying up the meals. How is Do the multiplication. This meant one to swallow and digest all this at least two to three Thanksgiving food splayed across such a short dinners. time span?

Now, throw in a divorce and Skipping all other Oinker Events remarriage for each sister. Do the leading into the New Year, I’m math. Now we’re up to four to six focusing here on Thanksgiving. rounds of turkey, dressing, trimI love this holiday for myriad mings with the added bonuses of reasons, one being no one extrying hard to NOT to act all paschanges material gifts during this sive aggressive with a rogue in-law day of true love, family harmony or two we’d rather pluck like the or gunfire (yeah, it happens). unfortunate turkey’s feathers.

It’s also the day(s) where my The key to eating this way is kids’ kin – baby-daddies, steps, in the timing. I try to start on the in-laws, and out-laws fire up Thanksgiving Day, around 1 p.m., the ovens, grease those Pyrexes, with dinner at my house or Waffle heat up the turkey frying oil and House, depending on my fatigue go all out, making sure there’s level. Waffle House at lunch is a enough wine to numb potential tradition my cray-cray younger disharmony. Lord forbid. sister, an overworked Chemistry Moods rise as the Chardonnay teacher, invented as a time-saving My son Niles & I enjoying our traditional Waffle House Thanksgiving. laps the lips of Waterford (or Solo hilarity. God, I love her.

Cup) goblets. Expectations and Next, we go to the Baby Daddy’s spirits take flight with the smells mom’s and eat, still full from of roasting bird, cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, and ah-hem…succulent waffles or exhausted and half-comatose from the Valium-like L-tryptophan tofu-Turk. shot into the bloodstream via turkey flesh.

Hardest hit amongst us are the blended families. Those with exes and new Friday is an exciting (surely I’m kidding!) day of leftovers. Then on Saturspouses and a passel of “gently worn” in-laws and extra step-people. day we drive to Greensboro for a fabulous feast hosted by my Martha StewartWhen my college-age kids were younger, they ate no fewer than half a like, childless sister-in-law, and all the other in-laws and steps, etc. dozen Thanksgiving lunches/dinners during the three days of feasting – Ah, it’s almost over right? Not yet. Sunday brunch means ham stuffed in Thursday lunch through Sunday brunch. biscuits, warmed-over pies, hot coffee and Mimosas. I figure the Mimosas As a child, my holidays were much simpler, having grown up in the postare added insurance no one pulls a weapon at this card family: A stay-home mother, a hard-working father, two children (two point. years apart), two cats and a generic brown dog named “Hobo.”

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all. Pace yourselves.

Those were the days before the mini-van and SUV fever, and square in the era of long station wagons of a certain avocado green with fake wood panelSusan Reinhardt is the author of the hilarious and ing. Perhaps a Ford Country Squire, circa 1967 with those super-cool rear-facquirky novel “Chimes from a Cracked Southern ing seats. Seats in which two young sisters could get into all sorts of trouble Belle,” along with “Not Tonight Honey, Wait ‘Til I’m a heading off to Granny’s to eat food we’d rather chunk.

Size 6,” “Don’t Sleep with a Bubba.” and “Dishing So odd to think how my cousins and I tossed the turkey and dressing, with the Kitchen Virgin.” susanreinhardt.com 12 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 13

HOME & GARDEN

HABITAT RESTORE 2016 REUSE CONTEST WINNERS

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A. BEST IN SHOW: Fay Cullen. This multi-room renovation is done in Steampunk style, utilizing 90%+ reused, local material.

Habitat ReStore recently held their annual ReUse Contest to showcase innovative projects constructed predominantly of used building materials. Entries were judged on quality of design and execution; replicability of concept; clarity of description; and quality of photos. The panel of five judges selected winners in four categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live/Work Space, and Best in Show. Online public voting determined the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

B

B. FURNITURE: Gayla Wiley.

The kitchen island is made from schoolhouse bleachers.

C. LIVE AND/OR WORK SPACE: Terry Ramsey.

This quaint storage shed is made from reclaimed wood, tin, windows, etc.

E E. PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Anita Funston. A threedimensional portrait made from recycled kitchenware that can also be used to display jewelry.

D. HOMESTEADING: Ferrin Cole. This two-time ReUse Contest winner built an easily replicable chicken house designed to not only house up to a dozen laying hens, but also to collect rain water and grow herbs.

14 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

C

D

HOME & GARDEN

GARDEN BLOOMERS

Bring Back Summer, One Jar At A Time….

R

By Betty Sharpless

emember all those sweaty hot summer nights you stayed up late canning, pickling and preserving summer in jars and freezer containers?

Remember wondering how you could possibly need so much pesto in the freezer? Well now, right now, is the time to reap the rewards of taking time to put summer in a time warp. ​How many tomatoes did you plant? How many did you can, dry or freeze?

There are so many ways to use up those vitamin filled jars of goodness beside pasta. Don’t get me wrong; I eat pasta at least twice a week. However some other ways to make a fun family meal are: Spanish rice (with or without meat), make your own pizza night, homemade veggie soup with leftover rotisserie chicken, chili, even cream of tomato soup…which will change how you feel about Campbell’s forever. ​Home alone with a book and a glass of wine? Slice a half baguette lengthwise, brush it with olive oil, Of course, smear it with homemade pesto, a little sauce and pickles are heavy on the parmesan cheese, please…three great in minutes in the broiler and you are in heaven. No dishes or silverware needed. sandwiches! ​Speaking of pesto, consider adding it to soups, green salads, spreading it on toasts with good cheeses, mixing it with butter to add to scrambled eggs…the possibilities are endless. Any time you want to add a little depth to your flavor, think of pesto. That is why I suggested you freeze it in small containers, one for every winter month. ​While jams are self explanatory, sometimes you need to remember that those pickles in the fridge that you whipped up in August need to come out to play. Of course, pickles are great in sandwiches! They also play very well with holiday turkeys and casseroles. Anytime you are serving a creamy or fatty main dish, a sharp pickle will really make it shine. Think turkey casserole or macaroni and cheese with bread and butter or dill homemade pickles…Mmmmm…. ​Back to jams…aside from toast, jams play well with Italian bread, sliced and toasted with goat cheese and jam. Got a pork tenderloin? Cook it half way then glaze it with peach jam! Happy pork awaits…again the savory and sweet flavors work together to boost the final taste heavenward. Jams also make a great glaze for desserts and fresh fruit. Adding a spoonful of jam will take your morning smoothie up a few notches. Christmas thumbprint cookies love any berry based jam. Jam on your winter oatmeal? Yummy! ​The trick is to use up your preserved summer before the beginning of June.

I have had to really pay attention to what I have already waiting in the freezer

and the pantry so that the sauces and preserves are delicious memories when the next season comes around. Putting food by does not help the bottom line if you don’t then use it up in a reasonable time. Winter is the time to really take advantage of your stored sunshine to take the chill off a blustery night.

Betty Sharpless is a professional gardener, writer and quilter, hoping to do some serious hand quilting this winter…on the summer quilt she started three years ago!

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 15

LIFE SKILLS

10

TOOLS To Untangle Your HOLIDAY ANXIETY

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enuine holiday happiness is less about the stuff of presents and perfect meals and more about how we connect, think and feel. In addition to the joys, the holidays can bring stress and anxiety about disappointing our loved ones. “Ho, ho, ho,” can quickly shift to “oh, oh, NO!” Let’s talk about ten tools to truly feel the holiday spirit.

1. Set an Intention

Set your personal intention for the holidays. Intending to be warm and open allows you to experience those moments more fully as they occur. Focusing on the intention and less on the tidiness of your home will change your interac-

By Lauren Griffin, M.A., LPC

tions with others. By setting your intention, your brain knows what deserves your focus rather than letting those moments slip by unnoticed.

2. Maintain Realistic Expectations

Understanding what can realistically be expected of a holiday event saves us from being disappointed when small details don’t turn out as planned. If your Aunt and Uncle have arrived an hour late for dinner every holiday since you can remember, it would be an unrealistic expectation to think that they will be on time. Accept their tardiness as part of who they are and welcome them when they join the dinner in progress. Many things are out of our control, especially other people’s behavior.

3. Pace Yourself

Remember to schedule breaks into your crushing holiday activities to-do list. Take a moment to enjoy a cup of tea or just stand up and move around.

Without realizing it, many of us hold our breath when stressed, breathe. Ask for help. Sharing tasks allows others to be included, feel good about their contribution and reduces your fatigue.

4. Connect with Others

Away from loved ones? Find opportunities in the community to share holiday experiences. Make plans to celebrate the holidays with friends or neighbors, or be in service to others. If your plans include a difficult family member, chances are they will not have changed since your last visit. Plan accordingly by focusing on people with whom you connect. If you feel sad during the holidays about those who have died, consider honoring them making a donation to a charity they supported, writing down fond memories and adding them to your holiday decorations or visiting a place they enjoyed with family or friends.

5. Engage in Self Care

It is challenging to maintain our normal self care routine during the holidays. Typically we eat and drink more than normal. Be mindful that certain foods affect mood, especially sugar and sweets. These tempting holiday treats can make you feel less energetic and more stressed as your body attempts to process the extra sugar. Holiday travel can take a toll on our mood as well.

Remember to stay hydrated and plan for appropriate sleep especially when moving between time zones.

6. Savor the Present Moment

When you notice warm, special times take a snapshot in your mind and savor how the moment feels in your body and mind for a few seconds by taking in the moment and feeling it deeply. The longer we savor the experience, the stronger our memory of that experience will be in our memory.

7. Practice Gratitude

Purposefully reflect on the blessings in your life every day. During the holidays, express your appreciation directly to loved ones and friends when you’re with them. You both will feel a more loving connection. As a gift to yourself, write down three good things that happen each day during the holidays. This activity increases your happiness, a great gift.

8. Practice Generosity

Do something that adds to the well-being of another person and let yourself 16 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

feel the joy of generosity. Engaging in generous acts affects the same pleasure centers in the brain as sex and food! For instance, listening to a friend or holding a door for someone. Gift giving and receiving can be a big part of the holidays for some of us. Many of us have plenty already and don’t need more stuff. Avoid adding clutter by giving the gift of an experience (movie or concert tickets) or a consumable to be enjoyed (a bottle of fine balsamic vinegar or some exotic fruit). Give yourself the gift of peace of mind by creating a reasonable spending plan that won’t leave you paying for your holiday purchases for years to come.

9. Play and Have Fun

Let yourself experience the joy and fun of being a child again during the holidays. Avoid isolation by seeking out opportunities to join in holiday festivities. Attend a public performance of a children’s choir or holiday pageant.

Tune into their delight and enthusiasm for the holidays.

10. Apply These Tools All Year Round

Happiness and joy can spread beyond ourselves. By being happy, we increase the chances that our friends and family are happy. Smiling at someone increases the chances that they too will smile at another person. Being connected to our own joy, reflects in others’ lives. We all benefit from the joy inside of each of us during the holidays and all year long.

Lauren Griffin, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in Asheville. Connect with her online at WNCcounseling.com or call for a complimentary phone consultation at (828) 782-3388.

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 17

FASHION

ALL

WRITTEN BY CYNTHIA MCABEE PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATY COOK

18 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

FASHION

A

utumn in Western North Carolina reveals colorful evening sunsets casting a warm glow over the mountains, welcoming the season of Thanksgiving.

Sweet aromas awaken nostalgic memories of pumpkin pie, hot apple cider and other delicious fare as together we remember the harvest of blessings over the past year.

Then all too soon, the leaves disappear--ushering in the onset of winter as orchestrated in our seasons, giving way to the first sparkling snow of winter like diamonds in the sun. We prepare for cozy nights with fire logs, woven afghan throws and comfortable quilts.

It is time to dig out the winter wraps and don apparel for the holidays!

Going out and about in stylish fashion during this “most wonderful time of the year� is one of the highlights of the season.

{

Braided Cold Shoulder Top $88 Pointe Slim Ankle $79 Olivia Fungi Pump $130 Taupe Stone Collar Necklace $66 Swarovski Chocolate Earrings $25 Chevron Fur Vest $180 Lace BoHo Blouse $98 Alpaca Skimmer Pant $89 Olivia Fungi Pump $130 Gold Taupe Earrings $30

} Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 19

FASHION

It is time to dig out the winter wraps and don apparel for the holidays!

Elegance begins with heart preparation and the spirit of gracious living and giving. A genuine smile is of more value than any type of expensive clothing and kindness is especially appreciated during the holidays as exuding the reason for the season!

Christmastime traditionally brings cards and letters, parties and presents, and the baking of homemade decorated cookies! Old and new Christmas trees are adorned with keepsake ornaments and colorful lights. Beautiful candles are displayed and a fresh pine wreath is hung on the front door, welcoming family and friends.

The most significant historical event is celebrated, as bells ring out in commemoration of Christ’s birth. In locations all over the world we can hear musical masterpieces performed as written by the world’s greatest composers, like George Frederic Handel’s creation of “Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come!” reminding us of the babe lying in a manger, all wrapped up in swaddling clothes, bringing good tidings of comfort and joy!

{ 20 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Sequin Fringe Sweater $110 Ponte Slim Ankle Pant $79 Olivia Burgundy Heel $130 Pave Hoop Earrings $30

FASHION FA S H I O N C R E D I TS : PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

828.442.0337 katycookphotography.com ALL CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES PROVIDED BY:

Biltmore Village 3 Kitchin Place • Asheville Complimentary personal styling available FASHION STYLING BY:

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HAIR & MAKEUP BY:

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Asheville Mall • 828.296.9463 FASHION COORDINATOR:

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Lauren Brigman SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PHOTO SHOOT LOCATION:

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Floral Print Lace Dress $150 Fungi Obi Belt $64 Colton Over the Knee Boots $298 Gold Taupe Earrings $30

} Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 21

PEOPLE

Musings from the Piano Bench:

What’s the Recipe for Success in Piano Lessons?

By Kimberly Cann

Kimberly Cann is a concert pianist, former professor, and Founding Director of Piano Lab Studios in Asheville & Mills River, NC. She shares her thoughts with us on the topic of piano education in the 21st century.

Fortunately for me, I had a wide variety of instructors throughout my life who shared their perspectives on musicianship. All in all, they emboldened me to continue beyond them and to form my own unique perspectives. As a concert pianist and educator, I would like to share a brief list of things that hen I was a little girl growing up in I have studied, experienced and Bermuda, I loved singing & dancing. Any learned about piano education chance I had, I was trying to play various in 20+ years of both teaching & instruments, and at one point, I even experimentperforming. ed to see if I could get the ants in my ant farm to 1. Piano is the best instrument march in time to my drum beats (I think they were on which to begin lessons. Why? Cassandra, Anna, Macy, and Kaitlyn in a group piano class. rhythmically challenged…and perhaps a bit trauBecause it is laid out logically, and matized). Anyway, fast-forward a few years into the student does not have to learn how to tune it enjoy games that make learning fundamentals formal piano lessons. Like most kids, I dabbled in in order to start playing. This is very important, truly fun and interactive. Family classes allow for a variety of activities, and I was grateful that my because beginners (especially younger ones) do a great bonding experience between generations. parents encouraged me in my swimming, gymnot have a lot of patience. Their enthusiasm needs Ensemble skills aid in creating better listeners, nastics, soccer & art in addition to music. And to be channeled immediately into playing and crecommunicators and confident team players for life. also like most kids, it would be quite a few years ating music. Also, it comes as a surprise to many 4. No student should have to conform to a people when they learn that piano lessons— piano lesson. The piano lesson should be molded more so than any other discipline, musical or to fit the student! All teachers should be passionotherwise—have been scientifically proven ate about finding the right style of learning for to drastically improve spatial temporal each student and creating the perfect blend of edureasoning, problem-solving & organizational cational resources to match. In truth, Piano Lab is skills, along with the well-known enhancethe result of imagining what lessons really could ments to coordination, motor skills, confibe—creating the musical environment that I wish dence in self-expression, etc. From improved I had been able to experience as a child! We strive test scores to therapy for dyslexia, autism, to make lessons fun, affordable, & much more and a variety of needs across the spectrum flexible for tricky family schedules. Our faculty of human experience, the list goes on and members work together closely, offering a wellcontinues to grow as more research is conrounded music education that honors the indiducted every year. This is exciting news for vidual while also fostering teamwork & ensemble parents, therapists & teachers worldwide! skills. We honor time-tested methods of piano 2. All students should be encouraged technique & education (passed down directly from Regan, Shean, and Sara learning about the music alphabet. to create music—not just to play someone Beethoven & others) while also constantly askPhoto by Jennifer Mesk else’s music and learn to read it, but actually ing ourselves how we can be on the cutting edge before I practiced piano without prompting (yes, create and record their own. Just like creative writof music technology & study. How can we create professional musicians were children once too!). ing, there are numerous benefits to this oft-ignored the ideal holistic experience for every student that Perhaps it was partially that my first teacher was element that translate into improving and speeding comes through our doors? my mother (sorry, Mom!), but suddenly, it didn’t up the process of learning other valuable skills.

Our mission is to pass this gift on to the next seem quite as fun anymore. I had to do music 3. Every student should have the opportunity generation—nay, to the next human being, regard“homework,” learn to actually read notes and to enjoy making music with others. Up until less of age or background! It is too valuable a gift rhythms (not just listen and try to copy them), recently, piano students were largely denied this to do otherwise, and we have barely scratched the and worst of all, there wasn’t anymore “free” time important privilege outside of major conservasurface of the true power of what it can do. For to mess around. Music was still something I loved, tories. Now, Piano Lab is on the cutting edge of me, there’s a challenge every day—the joy of conbut in retrospect, there were some creative elesharing an innovative Group Piano Class format tinuing to learn and to ask how we can best serve ments that were lost for a little while. that is great for all age groups. Young Beginners our families, our local communities & our planet.

W

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HOME & GARDEN

LET’S GET COOKING

BY DEBI MANFRE

gifts in a jar

Mason jar recipes are always a favorite! They’re really fun and easy to make, so pretty to give, and full of delicious possibilities for foods that can be whipped together at a moment’s notice. They’re an ideal solution for quickly conquering that looming gift list. You can make multiple jars by doubling or tripling the recipe. Tie up your “gifts in a jar” with some colorful ribbon; attach the simple directions for finishing each recipe, and you’ve got a really personal homemade gift!

CURRY LENTIL SOUP MIX

Mix will fit in a pint size Mason jar

INGREDIENTS: •3/4 cup green lentils •1 tablespoon curry powder* •3 tablespoons dried minced onion •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1 tablespoon dried parsley •1 teaspoon kosher salt •3/4 cup red lentils •2 tablespoons chopped dried apple slices DIRECTIONS: • Layer ingredients in canning jar. Screw on lid.

Decorate. Attach cooking instructions label.

*If curry is not to your liking, here a 2 alternate suggestions (omit the curry powder for both of these): • Italian style: 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 2 tablespoons chopped sundried tomatoes instead of the dried apples.

• Southwest style: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon dried cilantro instead of parsley. Omit dried apples.

GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES IN A JAR INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS: •1 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend • Combine the flour, salt, baking •1 teaspoon sea salt soda and nutmeg and layer in •3/4 teaspoon baking soda the bottom of your large jar. Top •1/4 teaspoon nutmeg with chocolate chips, brown •1 cup chocolate chips sugar then white sugar. Finish •1/2 cup pecan pieces with the pecan pieces.

•3/4 cup packed, brown sugar • Screw on lid. Decorate. Attach •1/2 cup sugar tag with recipe instructions.

Courtesy of glutenfreefrenzy.com

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SOUP MIX LABEL: Makes 4 servings. To make soup, combine mix and 7 cups of water into a large soup pot. Bring to boil.

Turn down heat and simmer 30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

Mix will fit in a quart size Mason jar

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS TO WRITE ON TAG: (Will make 2 dozen cookies) Preheat oven to 375°. Beat 1 egg, 3/4 cup softened butter and 1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract together. Add the jar ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto greased baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy warm with a cold glass of milk or eggnog.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX INGREDIENTS: •6 tablespoons powdered creamer •6 tablespoons powdered milk •6 tablespoons powdered sugar •3 tablespoons cocoa powder •2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips • 2 tablespoons candy canes, chopped into small pieces •1/2 cup mini marshmallows DIRECTIONS: • Layer the powdered creamer, powdered milk, powdered sugar and cocoa powder in the

Courtesy of definitelynotmartha.blogspot.ca

Mix will fit in a pint size Mason jar

bottom of a pint size wide-mouth mason jar. Then add the chocolate chips and candy canes and place the mini marshmallows on top to fill the rest of the jar.

• Screw on lid. Decorate. Add a recipe tag. * If you want to make a larger size, use a quart size wide-mouth Mason jar and simply double all the ingredients.

INSTRUCTIONS TO WRITE ON THE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX TAG: When ready to use, remove the marshmallows from the top of the jar and mix the remaining ingredients together. Add 1/2 cup of the mix to 1 cup of boiling water in a mug and stir until completely combined. Top with marshmallows and enjoy!

Courtesy of lovegrowswide.com

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Local Gift Ideas FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY For this Holiday Season, purchase gifts for your loved ones locally to give them something special and truly unique.

28 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 29

HOME & GARDEN

Bringing Back the Bishop:

A Victorian Holiday Drink that Dickens Loved

By Andy Hale

I

n Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge has a change of heart about the holiday season after being visited by <spoiler alert> several ghosts. He decides to become a better person and starts off by celebrating with his assistant, Bob Cratchit.

“I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon over a bowl of smoking bishop, Bob!” The Smoking Bishop is a sweet Victorian

Era English Christmas drink that was traditionally served out of a bowl that resembled a Bishop’s hat, hence the name. It has also been part of my family’s holiday traditions since my brother discovered it a number of years ago. It really just doesn’t seem like Christmas without the sweet, spicy and slightly tart flavor steaming in a mug as we sit by a warm fire.

It isn’t hard to make, but it can be time consuming. Fortunately, most of the steps can be made well before your guests come over.

Start off by taking 5 oranges and 1 lemon and studding them with about 20 or 30 whole cloves. Make sure they are washed and have any stickers removed from the rinds. Roast them at 300 degrees for about 60-90 minutes in order to caramelize the juices.

You will need a bottle of your favorite dry red wine and a bottle of Port.

Resist the urge to buy the cheapest thing in the store, you will be drinking this stuff after all! Get something that is good quality, but not expensive. I prefer Portuguese wines since they are so tasty and affordable now, although you can use a bottle of Zinfandel or Merlot if you like. I use the Flor de Maio Red at $9.99 or the Girofle Red at $16.99 depending on how fancy I want to be. For the Port, I use Noval’s Tawny. It is excellent and should set you back less than $20.

Pour the dry red wine into a large cooking pot and bring it to a boil. Add ¼ tsp each of Cinnamon, allspice, and mace as well as a thumb sized piece of peeled fresh ginger cut into small chunks. Add ½ cup of sugar then reduce the heat . Simmer 10 minutes then remove from heat.

Remove your oranges from the oven and juice them into the wine. Make sure to let them cool so you don’t burn your fingers! When cool, pour your mixture through a wire strainer to get all of the pulp and seeds out. All of this can be made in advance and kept refrigerated in a covered container for around 24 hours before serving if you like.

When you are ready to serve, add your bottle of Port and heat over medium until hot, but not boiling. You don’t want to boil the booze out of it! It should start to steam at this point, this is the “smoking” part of the “Bishop”. Taste and add more sugar if you like.

Once it is hot, serve into heat safe glasses or mugs. Top with grated Nutmeg and garnish with a lemon twist for a fancy looking drink. Even old Ebenezer wouldn’t say humbug to this holiday tradition!

Andy Hale is a Certified Specialist of Wine and cofounder of the Asheville School of Wine at Metro Wines and the Blind Tasting League of Asheville.

He was a Sommelier at The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island, SC and now teaches classes at Metro Wines. Follow him on Twitter @avlwinegeek

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Urban Bride Brides are often inspired by unique, daring and edgy ideas. However, when they think about the fact that they and their families are going to look back and relive their wedding days for many years to come, the idea of doing something more avant-garde does not seem as appealing.

This is what edgy, couture bridal dreams are made of! We hope this shoot inspires brides to go for it and push the artistic boundaries a little, if not at the actual wedding, then at their bridal portraits or engagement sessions!

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Photography - Studio Misha Photography Gowns, Styling and Concept - Wildflower Bridal (Ballgown & Crystal Bolero by Hayley Paige, Mermaid gown by Blush by Hayley Paige) Outdoor Venues - River Arts District Indoor Venue - Riverview Station, Companion Dog Training Center Hair and Makeup - Vanessa Soganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beauty FX Floral - Blossoms at Biltmore Park Sunglasses - Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Optique from Thom Browne and Culter & Gross lines Jewelry - Amber Hatchett Designs Models - Emily Gillis & Nichole Martinez Chair Rental - East West Vintage Rental

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 33

Real brides. Real love stories.

6

I Do!

Fall / Winter 201

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The Bridal Showcase

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Look for at these upcoming bridal show events: January 8

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Plan your

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January 22 & August 6 Cabarrus Arena

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If you would like your wedding to be featured in the

2017 Spring / Summer I Do!

please email us at writer@sophiemagazine.com

34 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Cover photo by Crystal Pafford

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 35

ENTERTAINMENT

BETTY’S BOOK REVIEW

“The Secret Ingredient of Wishes”

B

“

“The Secret Ingredient of Wishes,” by Susan Bishop Crispell

36 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

e careful what you wish for!” This a common theme throughout all story tellers’ bags of tricks. However if what you wish for is a book that will magically take you away on a wonderful flight of whimsy and insight into the nature of wishes and the people who make them, your wish has been granted. ​The Secret Ingredient of Wishes is a first novel by one of our own North Carolina writers, Susan Crispell. In this spell binding story the protagonist, Rachel, is born with the uncanny ability to see and grant people’s wishes. In fact, it comes so naturally to her that she has to work hard NOT to see them in order to avoid granting wishes that lead to an unexpected outcome. In order to start all over again, she decides to make a fresh start, packing all her belongings into her car and heading out on the highway. When she is stranded in front of an older woman’s house, her adventures really begin. Although Nowhere, North Carolina is far from her home in Tennessee, the strands of

her life start popping up to haunt her.

I won’t ruin the story by giving away the life lessons she picks up along the way, but I will warn you to set aside any less than delightful task for the weekend you pick up this lovely book. I have high hopes that the author will drive over from the piedmont to give a talk and sign books at Malaprops soon. This book would be an excellent gift to any female over the age of 15, it even has it’s own Prince Charming!

Betty Sharpless is a freelance gardener, writer and quilter who just loves to be swept away by a good book on a winter night.

MEG’S MOVIE REVIEW

T

he latest film from notoriously-politicallyoutspoken Director Oliver Stone is the biopic of government whistleblower Edward Snowden, aptly titled “Snowden.” Oliver Stone is responsible for some of the great films of our time about American patriotism, including “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July,” and “JFK.” As a filmmaker, he seems to love nothing more than pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a patriot, and encouraging citizens to question the motives of those that make the decisions for their country.

In the past decade, Stone has turned his interests more towards documentaries, like “Mi Amigo Hugo” and “Castro in Winter.” The movies he has directed recently, such as “World Trade Center,” “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”, and “W.” have been far less well-received by the critics than his earlier films, and were box-office disappointments.

So, with his newest work, is Stone showing that he still has it?

“I adore Gordon-Levitt, but it just didn’t feel like there was much he could do with the character.”

ENTERTAINMENT

“Snowden” Both the acting, as well as the writing by Stone and Kieran Fitzgerald (based on the books Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena, and The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man by Luke Harding), in the film is fine.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Inception”) portrays Snowden, the National Security Agency sub-contractor, turned American fugitive.

Snowden is a bright programmer, working with the NSA, who finds himself questioning the morals of the U.S. government when he finds out that they are using his programs to spy on American citizens. I adore Gordon-Levitt, but it just didn’t feel like there was much he could do with the character. I guess I will have to wait for another year to see him get that Oscar nod he has coming.

While mainly your basic biography, “Snowden” is also a love story. It tells the story of Snowden and his longtime girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, played

by Shailene Woodley (“Divergent”). Mills is content to move with Snowden to different countries for his work, and tolerates their different political viewpoints. His constant job-stress, however, as well as his inability to communicate with her about the classified work he is doing, proves challenging for their relationship.

“Snowden” features a gaggle of incredibly-gifted supported actors, including Zachary Quinto (“Star Trek:”), Rhys Ifans (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”), Melissa Leo (“The Fighter”), and Tom Wilkinson (“Michael Clayton”), who each give, at most, one emotional outburst to show off their full acting range throughout the entirety of the movie.

The film also includes a somewhat random performance from Nicolas Cage (“Raising Arizona”) as Snowden’s professor at the Central Intelligence Agency training academy.

I hate nothing more than watching a movie about a person’s life and finishing it with more unanswered questions than I started the film with. That was not the case with “Snowden.” It told the story very effectively. Even the technical aspects of the story were told with enough clarity that I was able to follow them. There was very little glitz, or pizzazz, I’ll admit. Honestly though,

with “Snowden” running two hours and fourteen minutes, anytime Stone did try to try to sensationalize it with special effects, or musical montages, I found myself wanting him to get back to the plot.

I couldn’t help feeling very ‘blah’ about “Snowden”. The story of the, now, 3-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee is an interesting one and I’m glad it is being told to moviegoers around the world. Every aspect of the filmmaking, though, seemed utterly unremarkable to me. It did, however, get the job done. I am sympathetic toward Edward Snowden and want for him to be allowed to return to his home country, which is what Stone was wanting me to feel. So, I guess I recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of Snowden’s crime, and wants to learn his story… but you can probably wait to see it when it comes on cable. Do people still have that? I am giving “Snowden” 7 out of my 10 stars.

Meg Hale Brunton reviews movies for Sophie every month. She has a Creative Writing degree from UNCA, loves fresh-made popcorn, and throws an annual Oscar party at her house.

Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016 | 37

delectable holiday food and NC wines. F riday-Sunday, November 18-20, WNC Ag Center. Fri & Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 11am-5pm. Adults $4, Children under 12 Free. For more information visit wncholidayfair.net

NOV HENDERSON COUNTY

Submit your events online: sophiemagazine.com/calendar or send events via email: calendar@sophiemagazine.com

HAVE EVENT? HAVEAN AN EVENT? NOV ASHEVILLE ON TAP

05

NOV HEART WORKS:

10

Sample over 150 brews from America’s best craft breweries, while enjoying live music and delicious food available for purchase... all in the heart of downtown Asheville.

SURVIVORS ARTS SHOW The annual arts show is a unique community event that features visual and performance art created by survivors of sexual assault.

S aturday, November 5, US Cellular

 Thursday, November 10, YMI Cultural

Center. 4pm. For tickets and more info visit americaontap.com

NOV ELIADA SIGNATURE

05

EVENT Eliada’s first annual Signature Event will feature hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a silent auction from 6:00-7:30pm, at which point the live auction and specialty seated dinner will begin. The theme will be “Going the Distance for Eliada Kids” with a focus on air & destination travel.

100% of proceeds go directly to the services and programs that assist and empower in the success of Eliada’s children.  Saturday, November 5, Signature Flight Support Hangar, 40 Lindbergh Lane, Fletcher. 6pm. eliada.org

NOV ANNUAL HOLIDAY

05

CRAFT FAIR All items have been handmade by members and friends. They include cloth books, knitted items, jewelry, placemat sets with napkins, wooden pieces, ornaments, bowl hotpads, bee’s wax, baked goods and scrubbies. A soup and cookie lunch will also be provided. S aturday, November 5, Etowah

United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. 9am-2pm. For info, call Barbara Ranges at 828-707-0329

38 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

Center. 5-9pm. ourvoicenc.org

NOV FALL STUDIO STROLL

12 13

The artists of Asheville’s River Arts District open their doors for a full weekend, welcoming the public to their studios and galleries. This year’s Fall Stroll will “feed the body and soul,” as the Artists have teamed up with Ingles and MANNA FoodBank in a food drive to collect nonperishable food items for our area’s needy families. There will be a dozen donation spots throughout the 22 participating buildings. S aturday

& Sunday, November 12 & 13, River Arts District.

10am-5pm. For info visit riverartsdistrict.com

and evolve to swing, improvisation and “the cool.” Reservations are $45/person, which includes New Orleans-inspired horsd’oeuvre, wine and cider at intermission. S unday, November 13,

Freeburg Pianos’ concert salon in Hendersonville.

4pm. acofhc.org

NOV TASTE OF

10

ASHEVILLE This highly anticipated annual fundraising event features food from 40 restaurants as well as wine tasting and beer tasting from local breweries. T hursday, November 17, The

Venue. 4pm. For tickets and more information visit airasheville.org

NOV TIS THE SEASON

18 20

HOLIDAY FAIR A festive shopping event featuring fabulous art, crafts, gifts, adornments for the home as well as

19

TOY RUN Bikers will raise toys and money to help make Christmas a truly joyous time for Henderson County abused and neglected children while enjoying a 24-mile parade route from Fletcher Park, to Fanning Bridge, down Hwy 280, onto Brickyard Rd., out to Hwy 64 o n t o Main Street to 3rd Avenue and ending at the new Courthouse. S aturday,

November 19. Contact Kimberly Carland at 828-6062989 or Tammi Dudas at 828-698-6866

NOV HOWL

19

FOR THE HOLIDAYS Come meet the wolfdogs of Full Moon Farm and hear their tales and howls! Learn about the breed and their unique obstacles.

Afterwards, do a little holiday shopping in the Gift Den, where you’ll find local hand crafted jewelry and other artwork. Please consider bringing blankets and bedding donations for the wolfdogs.

NOV “RAGTIME TO

COOL: A TRIP THROUGH AMERICAN JAZZ” BENEFIT CONCERT The Arts Council of Henderson County will celebrate jazz as an original American art form with a benefit concert.

The program will offer jazz styles beginning with the blues, ragtime, and stride,

13

ASHEVILLE HOLIDAY PARADE: LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS CELEBRATING 70 YEARS!

S aturday, November 19, 11am-1pm. ashevilledowntown.org

S aturday, November 19, Full Moon

Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary. 1-5pm. For info visit fullmoonfarm.org

NOV ASHEVILLE TOY EXPO

19

Join toy collectors of all types and buy, sell, or trade your vintage and collectible toys. This location is also a Pokemon gym!  Saturday, November 19, The Orange

Peel. 9am-3pm. $7, kids 10 and under are free. theorangepeel.net

NOV TELLABRATION!

20

A WORLDWIDE STORYTELLING EVENT The international celebration of storytelling, known as Tellabration!, serves to build grassroots community support for the age-old art of storytelling.

Since its beginning in 1988, the annual observance has grown into one of the most impressive collective events in the history of the modern storytelling revival.

Tellabration is sponsored by the Southern Highlands Craft Guild in partnership with Asheville Storytelling Circle and the National Storytelling Network.  Sunday, November 20, Folk Art Center

on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 3pm. For info visit ashevillestorycircle.org

NOV 5K TURKEY TROT

24

The City of Hendersonville’s Wellness Committee presents the annual 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. Open to all ages and fitness levels. $11 Entry fee. The event is held rain or shine, sleet or snow.  Thurs, November 24, Hendersonville

City Hall. 8:30am. For more info email lwelter@cityofhendersonville.org

DEC ANNUAL BILTMORE

02 03

VILLAGE DICKENS FESTIVAL A magical weekend of merriment, music and memories - all on the streets, shops, restaurants & galleries of Historic Biltmore Village. Friday night, over 1000 luminaries will line the streets of the Village to celebrate the lighting of our 25’ Christmas tree. The event will feature a

Christmas carol sing along, choirs and a special visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus. Saturday, there will be strolling carolers dressed in period costumes, musicians & other lively holiday entertainment.

The Montford Park players will be on hand to entertain. Free.  Friday & Saturday, December 2

& 3, Historic Biltmore Village. Fri: 6-9pm, Sat: 11am-4pm. For more visit historicbiltmorevillage.com

DEC A WINTER’S TAIL

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Join the holiday fun with crafts, garland creations, wildlife art, face painting, a holiday hay maze, animal encounters, educational programs, and of course, Santa will be there. S aturday, December 3, WNC Nature

Center. 10am-4pm. For info visit wncnaturecenter.com

DEC GUILD ARTISTS’

HOLIDAY SALE Individual members & & the organization sell over-runs, discontinued stock & studio seconds in a festive atmosphere during the holiday season. Choose from a variety of gift items including ceramics, jewelry, fiber, paper, glass & wood.

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S aturdays, December 3 & 10, Folk

DEC FIRESIDE SALE

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Stroll through the beautifully decorated Keith House and shop for holiday gifts made by local and regional artists. More treasures await in the Music Studio, and don’t miss the Craft Shop’s annual sale!

Free admission.  Sunday,

December 4, John C. Campbell Folk School. 10am-5pm. For info visit folkschool.org

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PRICED BABIES Improv Comedy of WNC and called into being by the Universal Mind to spread joy, odd noises and viral goofiness for the betterment of man.  Friday, Dec. 9, Altamont Theatre. 8pm. $10-15 thealtamonttheatre.com

DEC VIVALDI’S

WINTER • HOLIDAY POPS • CELTIC CAROLS Blue Ridge Orchestra revels with Jamie Laval in two performances at UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium & the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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S aturday

& Sunday, December 10 & 11, 3pm. blueridgeorchestra.org

DEC MOSCOW

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S unday, December 4, Thomas Wolfe

Auditorium. 1-5pm. $30.50 - $177.50.

For info uscellularcenterasheville.com

 Sunday, December 4, US Cellular Center.

12-6pm. thebigcrafty.com

DEC REASONABLY

Art Center. 10am-4pm. For info visit southernhighlandguild.org

BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER Moscow Ballet has been touring North America for over 20 years bringing classic Russian ballets to life.

The Great Russian Nutcracker debuted to rave reviews in 1993 & continues to this day. The company features award-winning & acclaimed principal dancers.

THE BIG CRAFTY: HAND TO HEART HOLIDAY

DEC

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THE NUTCRACKER A magically festive, full-length Nutcracker, f e a t u r i n g professional classical dancers and the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville’s celebrated pre-professional company.

Full production with impressive sets & costumes. T hurs & Fri, Dec 15 & 16,

Diana Wortham Theatre.

4:30pm & 7:30pm. $15$30. dwtheatre.com

DEC AMOLIA WILLOWSONG

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TRUNK SHOW Gallery of the Mountains hosts an artisan-made jewelry trunk show. Amolia Willowsong creates distinctive & elegant wearable art including one-of-akind neckpieces, bracelets and earrings. This exclusive trunk show will feature her new “Desert Magic” collection, inspired by her fond memories of the varied and exciting landscapes of Santa Fe.  Friday, December 16, Gallery of the

Mountains. 11am-5pm. For info visit grovewood.com

DEC A SWANNANOA

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SOLSTICE Enjoy an intimate concert of reflection & celebration in what has become an annual tradition now in its 14th year. A splendid selection of Celtic, Appalachian, Scots-Irish, and world-influenced holiday music on guitars, mandolins, Appalachian dulcimer, Celtic harp, bouzouki, piano & world percussion. S unday,

December 18, Diana Wortham Theatre. 2pm & 7pm. $20$45. For info visit dwtheatre.com

DEC NEW YEARS EVE KEG

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DROP Watch the lighted, golden keg descend at midnight.

Then, they will tap a fresh keg of Highland Brewing Cold Mountain Winter Ale. Free to attend. S aturday, December 31, Thirsty Monk

at Biltmore Park. monkpub.com

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ONGOING EVENTS HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE

November 4 - 20; Fri-Sun 7:30pm The awkward story of one rural Maryland girl’s coming-of-age as it relates to her relationship w i t h her middle-aged Uncle Peck. This play won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and just about every offBroadway award under the sun.  35 below, Asheville Community Theatre. For info visit atticsalt.org

BILTMORE CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVENINGS

November 4 - January 7; begins at 5:30pm Tour America’s largest home by candlelight & the glow of fireplaces, decorated for the holidays and music, by reservation only.  Biltmore. For reservations, call 800-4113812 or biltmore.com

SHADRACH’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND

November 23 - January 1 The world’s largest drive-through, fully computerized, LED light and music show of its kind!  WNC Ag Center. Cars or Family Vans: $20 Activity Van or Mini Bus: $40, Limo: $40, Tour/School Bus: $80 shadrackchristmas.com

into characters such as Caesar, Mark Antony and Brutus, as they will here.  Fri-Sun: 7:30pm. BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St, Asheville. For more info, visit montfordparkplayers.org

ALUMINUM CHRISTMAS TREE MUSEUM

November 12-December 22; various days Featured in the New York Times, NPC and the BBC among others, The Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum & Research Center (commonly known as ATOM) is on exhibit for the sixth time at its permanent home, the Transylvania Heritage Museum. Many vintage examples of the ultimate sustainable Christmas trees that were chic in the 1950s are included.  Transylvania Heritage Museum, 189 West Main St, Brevard. For hours & info, visit transylvaniaheritage.org

ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS

November 18 – January 1; 6-10pm nightly Walk through lighted garden exhibits that illuminate to the sounds of holiday favorites, tickets must be purchased in advance. 828-848-4866 ncwinterlights.com  NC Arboretum. For tickets & info, visit ncarboretum.org

NATIONAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION DISPLAY

November 27 - January 5 Smells of Gingerbread are in the air! The gingerbread display has become a true family holiday tradition.

From the very young to the very young at heart, the reaction to this magical experience is the same - one of wonder, awe and

DOWNTOWN ART WALK

Nov. 4, Dec. 2 (First Friday Every month April - December) Visit 25 galleries, museums, and jewelry studios within a half mile radius of downtown with exceptinoal art and activities. 5-8pm. Various galleries, downtown

delight.

Asheville. For more information, visit ashevilledowntowngalleries.org

 The Omni Grove Park Inn. $10 Parking

JULIUS CAESAR

THE FUTURE OF FIXING

November 4-20 Montford Park Players present an all-female cast of Julius Caesar to showcase so many of the woman who grace their stage year-afteryear, but rarely get to sink their teeth 40 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

fee. groveparkinn.com

Through January 7 An open source exhibition and program that promotes engagement with making and repair. Sixteen international and national design studios and artists whose work

addresses the concept of repair, either through fixing things, materials, process, systems, or attitudes.  The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design. craftcreativitydesign.org

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS ACTING TECHNIQUE FOR ADULTS

September 20-November 15 Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm Jeff Catanese takes a techniquebased approach to help you find your voice, get rid of bad acting habits and become a stronger and more dynamic actor. Find out what makes a good actor GREAT and what it takes to make the most of your natural talent. Perfect for novice actors, those who have been out of the game for a while, veteran actors with little or no technique training and those who just want experience with a different school of thought.  A sheville Community Theatre. $150. ashevilletheatre.org

SOULCOLLAGE

Saturday, November 12, 9am1pm SoulCollage is a creative collage process for selfdiscovery, self-acceptance & personal empowerment and embracing one’s intuition and unique creativity. You make your own deck of cards—each collage card representing one aspect of your personality or soul. During this workshop, you will be focusing on 1-3 cards, as time permits. No art experience is required. Be prepared for journaling, meditation, and glorious art-making in a safe and supportive space. M ountain Creative Arts Counseling, 307

N Main Street, Ste 10, Hendersonville.

For registration information, visit mountaincreativearts.com

THE VILLAGE POTTER A range of classes for adults designed to welcome the beginner, welcome back the prodigal potter, guide a new enthusiast to the next steps and offer mentorship for those wanting to explore their skills and learn from a generous community of artists.  The Village Potter, 191 Lyman Street, #180. For current class offerings and

to register call 828-253-2424 or visit thevillagepotters.com

WOMEN’S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CLASSES The Financial Empowerment Center at OnTrack WNC offers a full range of financial counseling & education services with a women-centered approach, responding to unique needs & perspectives, to help you reach your financial goals.  OnTrack WNC Offices, 50 French

Broad Ave. Most classes are free, pre-registration required. Call 828255-5166 to register. ontrackwnc.org

WILD ABUNDANCE CLASSES

A variety of classes offered March through November including: Essentials of Homesteading and Permaculture, Ancestral Foods Cooking Classes, Women’s Basic Carpentry Class & more!  F or complete class listings

and more information visit wildabundance.net or call 828-775-7052

ADULT BEGINNER BASIC BALLET

Introductory Ballet class for adults with little to NO prior experience. Starting on Barre with some dancing in Centre. There is no dress code, yoga pants are acceptable, hair should be pulled out of face. The first class is free to try. Monthly tuition: $80. Drop in: $24. Select Sundays feature free informative wellness right after class. S undays, 10am-11:30am, River Arts Ballet, Fletcher. For complete class listings and more information visit riverartsballet.com

CREATING MEMORABLE CHARACTERS & DIALOGUE WITH KAREN ACKERSON Saturday, December 3, 10am-4pm Fiction writers will learn how to create unforgettable characters with flaws, idiosyncrasies, and unique ways of speaking. Examine how a character’s strengths and weaknesses form the backbone of any good story, and how to write a character sketch in class. $75/$70 members.  The Writers Workshop of Asheville, 387 Beaucatcher Rd, Asheville. For more information, visit twwoa.org

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COMMUNITY

Sophie

Asheville yoga instructor, LILLAH S C H WA R T Z , w h o b e g a n teaching yoga here before its popularity spread, has just released her practical instruction book of poses for people with back issues: “Healing Our Backs with Yoga: An Essential Guide to Back Pain Relief”

Local writer DEANNA BLANCHARD has published her debut middle-grade novel, The Mirror of Doom, under the pen name Bailey Baxter. She’s often seen walking her dog Lucy, while dreaming up the plot of her next book.

Johnson Price Sprinkle PA is pleased to announce AMY E. SMITH has joined JPS as a Senior Manager in Taxation Services.

Amy has over twenty-two years experience in public accounting working with industries including healthcare, manufacturing, familyheld business, government contracts, and technology.

The recipient of the first Park Ridge Health DAISY Award is RITA ZBYLUT, R.N. She cares for patients in Park Ridge Health’s Outpatient Surgery department.

The DAISY Foundation honors nurses who go above and beyond their daily tasks to make extraordinary differences in the lives of our patients and their families.

Spellbound Children’s Bookshop celebrated their 12th anniversary o n O cto b e r 2 5 t h! O w n e r, LESLIE HAWKINS, is thrilled to continue her mission of creating lifelong readers who are curious, imaginative, independent thinkers.

PATSY TIPTON of Exit Realty Vistas of Arden, is proud to be announced as the Top Producer and Agent-of-the-Month for the month of August.

BEA MATTICE of Exit Realty Vistas of Arden, is proud to be announced as the Top Producer and Agent-of-the-Month for the month of August.

Send your accomplishments, achievements, recognitions, or business news to writer@sophiemagazine.com and we will publish you on this page!

Include your full color photograph, saved as high quality JPEG at 300 dpi. Please limit the number of words to 35. Sophie reserves the right to edit content.

42 | Sophie NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2016

CONCERNING OUR COMMUNITY 33rd Annual Festival of Lights & Luminaries in Dillsboro Thirty-three years ago, on the very first evening of Dillsboro’s Luminaries, it was a starry, starry night with twinkling lights set around all the businesses. No shops were open, and there were no electric lights...just the simple luminaries. The residents of the area drove through, some got out and walked along the streets.

It was beautiful with the moon Photo by Amy Ammons Garza and stars shining above, and the streets of Dillsboro all aglow. The next morning, Dillsboro was the talk of all the towns around!

And so on this, the 33rd Festival of Lights and Luminaries, “Follow The Lights” to the historic town of Dillsboro once more to experience the spirit of Christmas. On the first Friday and Saturday of December, 2 & 3, and the second Friday and Saturday, 9 & 10, from 5-9 p.m., there will be over 2,500 white lights adorning the historic buildings, and the flickering flames of luminaries softening the shadows of the streets. Excitement will abound as the merchants of Dillsboro open their doors and hearts to the community.

Each night shops will stay open way into the night providing free refreshments, musicians and singers performing in individual shops. The sound of hooves will echo through the night with old-fashioned horse and buggy rides.

Children can share their wishes with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Santa’s Workshop in Dillsboro’s Town Hall. The festival also provides a unique holiday shopping experience with retail shops offering a variety of quality arts and crafts, unique gifts, clothing, gourmet foods and wine, and specialty Christmas items.

Dillsboro is located in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina at the intersection of US Hwys. 19/74 and 441. For more information, call the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-962-1911 or visit mountainlovers.com.

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity Completion of West Asheville Neighborhood On Friday, October 14th, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity celebrated the completion of its 24-house subdivision Hudson Hills, by dedicating the final six recently completed houses. Construction on the first home in the subdivision began more than two years ago, and the final homeowner purchased her home from Habitat in October.

The houses dedicated were: • The Leal-Sitjes family’s house, made possible by Mortgage Payments from all Asheville Habitat Homeowners.

• The Trantham-Roper family’s house, sponsored by the W&S Foundation (proceeds from Warren Haynes Presents: The Christmas Jam).

• The Stanley family’s house, built in recognition of generous support from the North Carolina Housing and Finance Agency (NCHFA).

• The Haywood family’s home, a house built in honor of recently retired Asheville Area Habitat staffers Lew Kraus and Joan Cooper.

• The Harper family’s house, sponsored by an Anonymous Fund of the Foundation for the Carolinas and Publix Super Markets Charities.

• The Jabs family’s house, built in honor of generous support from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.

2016 Holiday Cookie Party Loving Food Resources hosts its annual Holiday Cookie Party on Friday, December 16th, at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall on Chiles Avenue from 6 to 8 p.m. Bring 4 dozen or more homemade cookies to help fill 200 cake boxes with cookies for the clients of Loving Food Resources and some to share. Coffee and milk will be provided. Cookies may also be dropped off at Ace Hardware North on December 16th for delivery to the church (before 4 p.m.). ​This is a great event for families and small children to get everyone in the spirit of the holidays and an easy way to teach kids that volunteering is fun. For more information, contact Betty Sharpless at (828) 273-2531 or bsharpl614@aol.com.

Loving Food Resources is an all volunteer, non-profit, food pantry providing food and personal care items to over 200 people living with HIV/AIDS or in Home Hospice regardless of diagnosis.

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REAL MEN READ SOPHIE at Medea’s REAL Food Café located at 200 Julian Lane in Arden

(pictured left to right)

Alex Thomson

• Moved to Asheville 5 months ago from Oneonta, New York

• Hobbies are playing guitar, hiking, and teaching about higher consciousness.

Brandon Little

• Has lived in Arden for 23 years.

• Favorite things to do in the area are hiking, climbing, biking, camping and visiting local waterfalls.

Matthew Marzolf • Single

• Favorite color: blue

• Moved here a year ago from Oakland, California

Dan Galligan • Co-owner of Medea’s REAL Food Cafe • Has 2 cats named Jackson and Bella

• Loves the diversity of people in the area

We know that men read Sophie!

Send a photo of your man reading Sophie to writer@sophiemagazine.com, and you may see your photo published in the magazine!

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