The gift of a Woodhouse gift card is just the thing to make their spirits bright this season
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RALPH
TAYLOR
VERONICA BEARD
Traditions make the holidays special
Traditions are what make the holidays so special. Looking back on my childhood, one of my favorite traditions was the Mother-Daughter Christmas Tea we hosted each year at our home. My oldest friends still talk about the lime sherbet punch my mom served in a silver bowl and the holiday tunes we sang around the piano. My daughter Lily and I carry on this tradition in our own way. Every December we invite our closest friends to gather at the Ballantyne Hotel, enjoy holiday tea and visit Gingerbread Lane. Speaking of gingerbread, my son, Lee, wouldn’t let the season pass without us making our homemade recipe—another favorite tradition we enjoy together and share with family, friends, neighbors and teachers.
In our December issue, we want to help you celebrate your favorite holiday traditions—or start new ones— with tips for holiday home decor, suggestions on what to do around town and ideas to make your shopping easy. We are also proud to pay tribute to Gay Porter, an iconic figure in the Charlotte arts scene, who has been teaching ballet to Charlotteans for more than 50 years. You won’t want to miss her Charlotte Youth Ballet’s 44th production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 6-8 at the Halton Theater at CPCC.
We wish you and your families the joy of the holiday season.
LIZ BROWN, PUBLISHER @QUEENCITYMAG
December 2024
PUBLISHER
Liz Brown | liz.brown@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Carroll Walton | carroll.walton@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Cate Stern
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Katherine Bode | katherine.bode@citylifestyle.com
INTERN
Sally Sozzi
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Carroll Walton, Catherine Ruth Kelly
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Dustin Peck, Olly Yung
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
Gay Porter, founder of Charlotte School of Ballet, is still sharing her passion
Gay Porter, founder of The Charlotte School of Ballet, featured with dancers from the
Prima Ballerina
Whether reconfiguring existing spaces, adding new rooms, or changing floor plans, our design and build process elevates your remodeling experience while transforming your house into a place you lovingly call home.
city scene
1: Laura Judd and President-Elect Katie Hallaway 2: Interior Designer Jonathan Savage signing books 3: Speaker Jonathan Savage, author of The Savage Style 4: Lindsay Schall, Raven Watt, and Meredith Chapman 5: Katie Priester, Jessica Burke, Past President Anna Glass 6: Stephanie Fountaine, Renata Gasparian, Georgine Jeffries 7: Jonathan Savage and President Amy Moore
Photography of Charlotte Symphony Gala by George Lainis of Catch Light Studio
8: Sphinx Virtuosi performs with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra 9: Rob and Lindsey Ferguson, Caio Lima and Renata Gasparian, Lindsay and Frank Schall, Sarah and Gaurav Bharti 10: David Fisk and Grace Nystrum 11: Paul Pope, William Carson and Timothy Lee 12: Bill Farthing, Jessie Knight, Joye Blount and Valerie Kinloch 13: Bert and Ylida Scott, Yele Aluko, Shirley Houston-Aluko, Frank and Lisa Emory 14: Cocktail Hour
15: Evelyn Way 16: William and Merrill Mills, Rebecca and David Callis 17: Vivi Smith, Angie Persson, Kristine Wahr 18: Sarah Bourgeois, Ashley Shaw, Rad von Werssowetz, Lindsay Carter 19: Harris and Kate Morrison 20: Leslie and Paul Perlik, Kendra and Addison May 21: Anna and Chris Stallman
Photography of Wing Haven Fall Dinner by Daniel Coston
Phillips Place Holiday Celebration & Shopping Stroll
Phillips Place invites you to celebrate the magic of the holidays on Thursday, Dec. 5th. Snap complimentary photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus, enjoy face painting and balloon art, listen to carolers and other musical performances and more! Plus, get exclusive offers, in-store experiences, and seasonal treats and beverages from retailers. Store hours are extended until 7 p.m. Shop great gift items from a curated lineup of local artisan vendors at the holiday market.
Photography courtesy of Phillips Place
Holidays at the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Prepare to be mesmerized by the twinkle of a thousand lights, the shimmer of dancing fountains, and the festive holiday spirit that blankets every corner. Gather your loved ones and bask in the cozy glow of an outdoor fire, where the joy of making s’mores becomes a timeless tradition for the young and young at heart. Your winter wonderland adventure awaits at the Garden! Open Tuesdays through Sundays beginning on Friday, Nov. 29 through Sun. Dec. 29 from 5-10 p.m.
SouthPark Holiday Hop
The SouthPark Holiday Hop is a neighborhood-wide effort to create memorable experiences and encourage guests to discover all SouthPark has to offer. This year’s Holiday Hop runs from Black Friday through New Year’s Eve. It offers free rides around the district on the SouthPark Skipper, art installations, programming, activations and exclusive deals.
Celebrate the season with amazing deals from Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology! Whether you’re treating yourself or gifting loved ones, these offers are too good to miss.
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Buy 2 syringes of Juvederm, get 50 units of Botox FREE
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Dec 13:
Buy $300 gift card, get a PPSD created stocking stuffer $100 value
Dec 16:
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Dec 17: 15% off single microneedling, 30% off microneedling packages
Dec 18:
Buy 1 syringe of filler, get the second one 50% off (excl. Skinvive, Sculptra, Kybella)
Dec 19:
Buy 6 laser hair removal treatments, get 2 FREE + a PPSD created stocking stuffers $100 value
Dec 20: 20% off 3 or more products (excl. Nutrafol)
PRIMA BA LLERINA
ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLLY YUNG
GAY PORTER, FOUNDER OF CHARLOTTE SCHOOL OF BALLET, IS STILL SHARING HER PASSION
“It’s like polishing silver. You’ve got to get it right.”
Gay Porter’s voice still commands a room, even as she approaches her 90th birthday. She sits now to teach classes at her Charlotte School of Ballet, dictating dancers’ movements from a perch in the corner.
“Arms in second,” she says, as four adult dancers follow suit one recent Friday afternoon. “Pivot to face the fifth corner. Arms go to arabesque, step to the right, facing sixth.”
Porter keeps one eye on her syllabus and one on the dancers. Katherine Nobles, who teaches children other days, is dancing in pointe shoes. She puts choreography to Porter’s words when needed, but there’s no doubt who’s in charge.
The room is quiet between Porter’s commentary, soft taps on the floor, and the occasional quip from one of the ladies. A dancer sneaks a peek at the
clock on the back wall, which said 25 minutes past 1 p.m., the scheduled conclusion of class.
“You’re not in a hurry, are you?” Porter says, with traces of her English accent coming through.
She restarts the music, without really waiting for an answer.
“Once more,” Porter says.
The ladies continue on dutifully, knowing if Porter can, they can too.
Ms. Porter is an iconic figure in Charlotte arts. She has been teaching here for 56 years. Her Charlotte Youth Ballet company puts on its 44th production of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 6-8, at CPCC’s Halton Theater.
Ms. Porter is the reason women come back to take dance. It’s why their daughters and granddaughters come. It’s why Porter’s granddaughter, Remy Young,
“You can teach technique, but she instills something much deeper in all of her students.”
at age 2, dressed in a leotard from the lost-and-found, so “Gay Gay” would let her take her first class. Now, at 27, she is dancing at the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in New York.
“I definitely owe it all to my grandmother,” Young said. “I got the gene. I got the bug.”
Gay Porter fell in love with ballet at age 9, growing up outside of London. After watching her best friend perform in a talent show in a tutu, she asked to take ballet.
Four years later, she was riding a train 26 miles to a prestigious ballet school. By 15, she was touring with a troupe through Great Britain. She met her husband, an American serviceman, touring in Germany.
She moved to the United States, making stops in Fort Hood, Texas and San Diego, Calif., before settling in North Carolina to start a family. First they lived in Hendersonville, her husband’s hometown, and later Charlotte.
She flourished here as a teacher, sharing not only her technical knowledge but first-hand experience. One of her favorite stories is about auditioning for “The King and I” at London’s Theatre Royal. Porter says she was one of nearly 1,000 dancers to audition and just missed the final cut.
“They said, ‘I’m sorry. You’re too tall for these three, and you’re too short for this group,’” Porter said. “Everybody else left. I just stood there in the theater, but I couldn’t leave.”
Her friend, who was chosen, told her dancers were asked to come back the next day to sign contracts. Porter came back too.
“I figured I had nothing to lose,” she said.
One of the dancers didn’t show. Porter got a part.
She’s still showing up 70 years later. Not until Porter broke multiple ribs after a recent fall has she missed significant time from the studio. She was back teaching soon after her hospital stay.
“She is such a force,” Young said. “Until a few years ago, she was still putting her leg on the bar…You can feel her passion through her teaching and that instills in us a passion. You can teach technique, how to do something, but I think she instills something much deeper in all of her students.”
Porter likes to quiz students on French terminology. She doesn’t tolerate slouching on the bar or talking in class. She insists on classic leotards and tights. She corrects dancers individually, sometimes repeatedly, during classes.
“It’s like polishing silver,” she says. “You’ve got to get it right.”
Porter’s students number in the hundreds, maybe thousands. Some have their own companies now. Many of their stories are documented in framed pictures, programs and articles in the hallway. In the studio, behind where Porter sits, is a framed photograph of a teenaged Young in arabesque, arms up, leg extended.
Like her grandmother, Young knew she wanted to pursue ballet at 9. “Gay Gay” took her to see Swan Lake at ABT, where ballerina Jillian Murphy performed Odette-Odile, the swan queen.
“That was the moment I decided I wanted to go for it,” Young said. “I didn’t even have pointe shoes yet.”
How Gay Porter’s students say she is unique:
“There is the element of discipline and being detail-oriented, but her having the love and the drive is what everyone immediately recognizes and admires in her. That also makes people work.”
— Remy Young, 27
“She treats classes as if it’s a private lesson, even if you have everyone else in the room. That’s really helped make all of us much better dancers.”
Two years ago, Young danced alongside Murphy in “Swan Lake” at the Metropolitan Opera House with Porter watching. She worked her way up from apprentice to the “corps de ballet” using the technical foundation her grandmother instilled and her advice on artistry too.
“She would always say, ‘dance with your eyes,’” Young said. “I am a thinker. It’s easy for me to get in my head and get in my body and think so much about the details that I forget about the thing that makes it fun, which is the using your eyes, connecting with the audience, connecting with the people you’re dancing with.”
— Emerson Engle, 17
“She’s very strict but that helps you when you’re dancing because it’s good for her to be very technical. She makes sure you get all the good things you need to pass the exam.”
— Scarlett Lluberas, 9
Remy Young in Ballerina Project by Dane Shitagi
Home for the Holidays
After losing nearly everything in a house fire, a Charlotte family is grateful to rebuild
ARTICLE BY CATHERINE RUTH KELLY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUSTIN PECK
The original Tudor window bathes the living room in natural light. A pair of Coley Home chairs are upholstered in Bastideaux’s Arles fabric.
Brantley and Ryan Templeton were wrapping up a family lake vacation in Alabama over Labor Day Weekend in 2022 when they received a devastating phone call: there had been a fire at their Eastover home. A dehumidifier in the basement had caught fire. The heat caused a water pipe to burst, which extinguished the flames, but the smoke and flood damage were pervasive.
A mélange of colors and prints creates a stunning setting. Wallpaper is Les Oiseaux by Schumacher and chair fabric is Wood by Brunschwig & Fils.
The Templetons had completed an extensive house renovation almost exactly one year earlier. They felt like they were still settling into the dream home they had created for their family of six. Now they had to return to Charlotte to face the harsh reality that their lives had been completely upended. Fortunately, Brantley Templeton’s parents live around the corner, so she, Ryan and their four young sons moved with what few remaining possessions they had into her parents’ house. They were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support not only from her family but from friends and neighbors, too.
An oversized ottoman upholstered in Peter Dunham’s Zanzibar fabric anchors the den. Sherwin Williams’ Mediterranean paint adds a pop of blue on the mantle.
In a son’s bedroom, a small painting of lambs adorns the wall. The artwork, painted by Bradley Templeton’s aunt, was salvaged from the fire.
“People really rallied around us and were dropping off lunch boxes, baseball cleats, clothes, food—things we didn’t even realize we needed,” says Brantley Templeton. “It was such an unsettling experience but amazing to be so supported; I cried tears for so many different emotions.”
The Templetons’ options were either to tear down and build a new home on the lot or renovate yet again. Since the facade of the charming Tudor home, built in 1935, was intact, they opted for the latter.
“We went back and forth and considered tearing down, but the thought of scrapping it and starting over was really overwhelming,” Templeton says. “We love our house and just wanted our house back, so we decided to completely gut it, rehab it and bring it back to what it was.”
The Templetons engaged local interior designer and friend Anne Pearson Hammett of Anne Pearson Design to guide them through the rebuilding process. Hammett worked with them to create new plans and reconfigure some of the spaces to better meet the needs of their family’s lifestyle.
“Anne completely carried us through the process; she was like our therapist,” says Templeton. “She’s so calm and competent and kept us moving forward while we were dealing with the chaos in our own lives.”
Joyce Builders began construction about four months after the fire, and Hammett and Templeton shifted their focus to decor.
“Brantley wanted bold, bright colors with a lot of blue, green and coral, so she selected a few favorite fabrics that we based the design scheme on,” Hammett explains. “We kept in mind that we were designing this home around four young boys and a dog, so we chose a lot of performance fabrics.”
“We love our house and just wanted our house back, so we decided to completely gut it, rehab it and bring it back to what it was.”
In the center of the house, what used to be the kitchen is now a breakfast nook and bar. Given that it’s a high traffic space, Hammett selected a vinyl grasscloth for the walls and vinyl fabric for the banquette cushions around the dining table. She had the cushion fabric laminated for extra protection.
“I had my eye on a different wallpaper for that area, but it all came down to kids and dogs and greasy fingers,” Templeton says with a laugh. “So we used one of my favorite fabrics as a roman shade over the sink in the bar, completely out of reach from little hands.”
Just beyond the breakfast nook and bar is the new kitchen area. During construction, they extended that part of the house out by four feet, which allowed for a larger kitchen. Hammett kept a softer, less dramatic color scheme in this area.
“It’s important to have moments of reprieve as you move from bolder spaces,” Hammett says. “Brantley loves color and pattern, so we interspersed rooms with muted tones to create a break for your eye.”
The family room on the back of the house has an entire wall of built-in cabinetry painted a vibrant grassy green. Hammett designed the cabinets to provide storage for games, toys and sports equipment, as well as a hidden desk area for Brantley.
“No one will ever frown on having extra storage,” says Hammett. “I always advise adding doors to any sort of storage to conceal it so you don’t have to worry about keeping it tidy.”
In the center of the house, the striking blue and green pattern of the dining room wallpaper offers a vivid feast for the eyes.
The painting over the breakfast nook was restored and reframed after it survived the fire. The banquette is upholstered in Kravet vinyl.
Benjamin Moore’s Fort Pierce Green lacquers the bar. Brass hardware is by Rejuvenation, and the dark blue tile backsplash is from Art of Stone.
“Brantley fell in love with this wallpaper immediately, and these colors are definitely the anchor for their design scheme,” Hammett says. “All of the downstairs rooms are connected, so the colors needed to flow well.”
The dining room table, sideboard, mirror and rug — all family heirlooms — survived the fire, which thrilled the family. Luckily, there were other pieces of furniture and paintings that were recovered and could be
CONTINUED >
Bright blue counter stools by Mainly Baskets line the kitchen island. Roman shade fabric is Jangali by Bastideaux.
carefully restored. These personal belongings offered comfort and a sense of place to the Templetons when they returned to their reconstructed home. They moved back in at the end of 2023, about 16 months after the fire.
“When we moved back in, it felt like home,” says Templeton. “And I felt like I finally could breathe again.”
The Templetons look forward to spending the holidays in their home with a renewed sense of gratitude and multiple reasons to celebrate.
“We lost so much in the fire, but we still had our health and our family,” Templeton says. “And now we have our home again.”
“We were designing this home around four young boys and a dog, so we chose a lot of performance fabrics.”
Benjamin Moore’s Sweet Basil makes a bold statement on the family room cabinet. The sofa’s lush velvet upholstery is a performance fabric Materialworks.
The painting in the powder room, which the Templetons salvaged from the fire, was purchased by the couple as newlyweds when they lived in Washington, D.C.
PUBLISHER LIZ BROWN SHARES FAMILY FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPE ADAPTED FROM THE NEELYS OF FOOD NETWORK
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
I’m happy to share one of my favorite crowd-pleasing recipes for the holidays: Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie. This special dessert is the perfect way to end a holiday meal with loved ones. Adding the flavors of
INGREDIENTS
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 eggs, beaten
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup dark corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons bourbon liquor
• 1 ½ cups pecan halves
• ½ cup milk chocolate morsels
• One 9-inch unbaked pie shell
chocolate and bourbon to what is already a holiday favorite in so many households makes this treat all the more memorable. Pro tip: be sure to add a few more chocolate morsels than the recipe calls for—and enjoy!
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a small saucepan. While butter is melting, add beaten eggs to a medium-sized bowl. Stir in brown sugar, flour, vanilla extract, corn syrup and bourbon until combined. Add butter when just melted.
3. Mix in the pecans and chocolate morsels. Mix all together. Pour mixture into pie shell.
4. Place on a sheet tray and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.
5. When ready to serve top with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.
“This special dessert is the perfect way to end a holiday meal with loved ones.”
November 23, 2024-August 10, 2025 mINt museum
A powerful, poignant, and revealing photographic journey documenting contemporary life and centuries-long practices that span the Americas by internationally renowned photographers Graciela Iturbide and Maya Goded.
Las Mujeres de Tierra y Humo: Las Fotographías de Graciela Iturbide + Maya Goded (Women of Land and Smoke: Photographs by Graciela Iturbide and Maya Goded) is generously presented by Bank of America with additional support from the Mint Museum Auxiliary and Campania Fine Moulding. Individual support is kindly provided by Allen Blevins and Armando Aispuro, and Betsy Rosen and Liam Stokes. The Mint Museum is supported, in part, by the City of Charlotte and the North Carolina Arts Council. TOP: Maya Goded (1967-, Mexico City). Sanación: cuerpo y tierra Los Altos, Chiapas, 2019, digital print. Courtesy of Maya Goded.
Festive Florals for the Home
TIPS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES
Ready to spruce up your home for a holiday party or family gathering but without a lot of fuss? We turn to two Charlotte gardening and design experts for tips on ways to beautify your home for the holidays, both inside and out.
Melanie Bowden of A Perfect Pot offers suggestions for potted arrangements to use outdoors, while Laura Tenzer of Blomst Charlotte shares how to pick the perfect flowers for your holiday table.
Melanie Bowden of A Perfect Pot on outdoor potted plants and decor:
Beautiful exterior flowers are not exclusive to the warmer months here in the Southeast. Our climate in Charlotte allows for a wide variety of beautiful and flowering plants that are cold-hardy and able to thrive in our winter temperatures. Here are seven suggestions for how to go about bringing beautiful florals to your doorways, porches or yards this December.
1. MAKE NOTE OF AVAILABLE SUNLIGHT
When choosing a flower, be sure to consider whether your planters will be in full sun or shade. It’s also important to think about whether the plants will be exposed to the elements or sheltered under a porch or overhang.
2. USE COLORFUL FLOWERS
Camellias are a wonderful choice this time of year because they bloom all winter, they are evergreen yearround, and they thrive in both planters and in the ground. They come in a wide variety of colors, and some have a lovely scent. Other flowering staples for the winter months
ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLLY YUNG
are violas and pansies. These beautiful delicate-looking flowers are actually hard-working, cold-loving, and come in a rainbow of colors. You can ensure they will bloom through the spring by removing spent blooms.
3. ADD COLORFUL LEAVES TOO
Check specialty nurseries for more exotic color offerings. A great nonflowering, cold-hardy choice is ornamental kale, which comes in red, purple, green, and variegated. These leather-leafed wonders deliver a huge impact in planters with their whimsical cabbage-like appearance.
4. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Herbs like rosemary and mustard are hard-working, cold weather lovers. And for your spillers, ivy is a true winter work horse. Another great choice is Asiatic Jasmine, which comes in variegated leaves of pink or yellow.
5.USE FROST-PROOF PLANTERS
Frost-resistant ceramic planters are a great way to keep plants comfortable in the coldest climates. The planters themselves can add a lovely design element too.
6. DON’T FORGET TO WATER
In Charlotte’s cooler months, watering should not be as aggressive as in other seasons here, but plants still need to be kept moist. They should also be protected with a sheet in the event of extreme conditions to avoid frostburn.
7. MAKE IT HOLIDAY
Adding cut evergreen or decorative branches in and around your home is a great alternative to using live plants, or they can be used to complement live plants by adding a little extra height or depth.
“Frost-resistant ceramic planters are a great way to keep plants comfortable in the coldest climates.”
“A great place to start is mixing in holiday greens like boxwood, magnolia, and any pine or spruce. Look to your yard as your first source.”
Gold ceramic square with magnolia greens, kale and green coxcomb to set off pink garden roses and astilbe, purple calla lilies, red ranunculus, and hot pink gomphrena with more red and green hanging amaranthus.
The most festive Christmas garden roses, red with green centers, along with red anemones, plus pink garden roses, pink astilbe and hot pink gomphrena, with red and green bicolor hanging amaranthus. Magnolia greens and boxwood for seasonal greenery.
Laura
Tenzer of Blomst Designs on holiday interior arrangements:
Everything looks more festive with flowers—so says the florist— especially at holiday time. Flowers can bring a festive flair to just about any space in your home, and you don’t necessarily have to invest in fresh cut flowers and vases to pull it off.
A great place to start is mixing in holiday greens like boxwood, magnolia, and any pine or spruce. Look to your yard as your first source. You can explore non-traditional vessels that may already be in your home or pantry. Silver or gold finishes will dress up any collection of flowers, just make sure they are waterproof. A beautiful arrangement can even stand alone to decorate an area if you have run out of time or other decorations.
If your to-do list is already too long, and you’d rather outsource, Charlotte has a host of design professionals who will visit your home and curate a floral selection that ties together your personal style and holiday goals—with a bow.
Enjoy your holiday season!
Floral arrangements by Laura Tenzer are displayed at the home of Cassidy Montgomery of Home on the Web. You can find Laurie Tenzer at @blomst.clt. Also, you can find Melanie Bowden at @a_perfect_pot or www.aperfectpot.com.
Holiday compote centerpiece with garden
roses, anemones, ranunculus and calla lilies in seasonal colors plus bright green coxcomb for texture, kale and magnolia greens
PRIMARY CARE THAT MAKES YOU PRIMARY
DR. CARMEN TEAGUE offers a different approach to primary care in Charlotte. She sees fewer patients so she can offer same- and next-day appointments that start on time and last as long as needed. Plus, patients can reach her after hours for urgent matters, and she has more time to answer your questions.
Dr. Teague also focuses on prevention, offering advanced screenings and diagnostic tests designed to identify risk markers before they become health problems.
Visit mdvip.com/CarmenTeagueMD or call 980.486.0832 to learn more about her innovative practice and her approach to preventive care
CARMEN TEAGUE, MD, MC 6842 Carnegie Boulevard Suite 202
Making Spirits
JOIN OUR MISSION TO SPREAD WARMTH AND COMPASSION BY NOMINATING SOMEONE WHO DESERVES A CHRISTMAS BLESSING
“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way.”
As the Christmas season approaches, we’re reminded of the power of community and kindness. This year, through City Lifestyle’s nonprofit, The Kingdom Building Foundation, we will help people who may be struggling quietly without the support they need. But we need your help to find them.
Over the past three years, this campaign has grown into something truly beautiful, touching the lives of more than 150 families nationwide last year alone. Each year, we’ve seen firsthand how generosity can bring relief, hope, and a renewed sense of faith in others.
One person we had the opportunity to help was an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare eye cancer. After he had to undergo chemotherapy and surgery to remove his eye, his doctors recommended a prosthetic one, but insurance wouldn’t cover the cost, calling it “cosmetic.” When we heard his story, we knew we had to help. Because of this campaign, he got his prosthetic eye and a piece of his childhood back with it.
Another was a wife and mother of two who fought a yearlong health battle and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Just days before Christmas, she underwent surgery but passed away due to complications. Before her surgery, she received one of our cards and, in tears, told us this gift gave her some peace, knowing her family would have help in the difficult times ahead. It wasn’t just about the financial support but knowing that someone cared.
These stories remind us why this campaign is so meaningful. It’s not just
about writing checks; it’s about telling people they aren’t forgotten and that someone is there to lend a hand. It’s about giving families a moment of relief when the world feels unbearable.
“We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”
Together with Matthew Perry, President, Steven adds that the gratitude from recipients was overwhelming, affirming this tradition’s importance. “We believe God has blessed our company with success,” Matthew adds, “so we want to be a blessing to others.”
We know many more people could use a little help this Christmas, and that’s where you come in. Do you know someone who could use a blessing? We want to hear about them.
To nominate someone, scan the QR code or follow @CityLifestyle on Instagram, where you’ll find the form in our bio. Nominations are open from November 27 to December 10, 2024. Let’s bring hope to those who need it most.
The City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized. All entries will be read, and selections and the amount given to each recipient will be based on the severity of the need. For more information, visit KingdomBuildingFoundation.com
Making a List
LOCALLY-SOURCED STOCKING STUFFERS AND HOLIDAY HAPPIES
ARTICLE BY LIZ BROWN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLLY YUNG
For the outdoor enthusiast in your life head to Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Park Road Shopping Center. The store carries emergency preparedness items like a BioLite Charge 20 PD Power Bank. They have a wide selection of stylish goodr sunglasses. Other items include a KAVU wallet, Dr. Squatch Fireside Bourbon cologne and Wood Barrel Bourbon natural deodorant (smells amazing). Consider a Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack, binoculars, women’s wool gloves or lightweight faux fur lined leggings.
For dads and men stop by Paper Skyscraper in Dilworth.
Just a few of our favorite selections include Piedmont Pennies, toffee, The Very Embarrassing Book of Dad Jokes, Midwood Smokehouse barbecue rub, Arnold Palmer’s “A Life Well Played”, Bittermilk non-alcoholic cocktail mixer, and a standing vegan leather triangular weighted eyeglass holder.
For kids and tweens, visit Toys and Sweets in Park Road Shopping Center for candy, scented slime and gifts for all ages. Swifties will enjoy a Who is Taylor Swift? book along with other pop star-inspired items. The store offers a Super Pretzel baking kit along with a Pretzel Maker.
Check out Ruxton Mercantile in Eastover for the favorite lady on your list. For pickleball fanatics, purchase a chic Tangerine paddle, “Pickleball is Life” book or Clutch Towel. Other fun items include notecards by local artist Mary Benson, The Good Patch B12 Awake patches for afternoon slumps or Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.
Coaching is action-minded, it is about the now and forward and it is goal-oriented. Do you know your daughter can reach higher in athletics and in academics yet she holds herself back or induces barriers along the way?
Coaching brings awareness, perspective and a partnership to break down her barriers, realize her gifts and immense potential and go after those goals!
Let’s
KATIE KICKERTZ
D.D.S., M.S., BOARD-CERTIFIED
ENDODONTIST
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ARTICLE BY CARROLL WALTON
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE BALLANTYNE HOTEL
TEA TIME
Make holiday memories at The Ballantyne Hotel
Savor the season at a holiday-themed afternoon tea at the Ballantyne Hotel. Take a stroll along “Gingerbread Lane,” where visitors vote on their favorite gingerbread creations.
The hotel offers the elegant English tradition all year long, but in December it comes with seasonal petit fours, tea sandwiches and live holiday music. Tea is served every Thursday through Sunday in December from 1 to 4 p.m. All ages are welcome. Reservations are recommended.
The Gingerbread Lane competition is open to all, with categories for kids, amateurs, and professionals. Proceeds benefit Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital. It’s open Dec. 14 -22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Ballantyne Hotel partners with Mecklenburg County Police to host its annual Toy Drive. Donations of new toys for children ages 14 and under will be welcomed until Dec. 15.
events
DECEMBER 1ST, 6TH – 8TH, 12TH – 23RD
The Polar Express Train Ride
The North Carolina Transportation Museum, Spencer, N.C.
Inspired by The Polar Express book and movie, this holiday favorite comes to life at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Music from the film’s soundtrack plays as passengers are served hot chocolate and cookies on board. Families are encouraged to wear pajamas for the ride as children of all ages remember what it’s like to hear the bell and believe.
DECEMBER 1ST – JANUARY 5TH
Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health
Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
The 15th season of the Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health features five million lights on a four-mile course that includes the legendary oval, pit road and infield road course. The show is open 6-10 p.m. rain or shine with synchronized lights-to-music on 101.3 FM plus drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night until Christmas.
DECEMBER 2ND – 23RD
Christmas
at the Library
Billy Graham Library, Charlotte
One of the highlights of Christmas at the Billy Graham Library is the live nativity scene, complete with animals. Other activities include horse-drawn carriage rides around the library grounds, Christmas carolers, a children’s story time and more.
DECEMBER 6TH – 8TH
“The
Nutcracker” produced by Charlotte Youth Ballet
CPCC Halton Theater, 1206 Elizabeth Ave.
Featuring more than 100 student dancers from studios across Charlotte who partner with a blend of international and regional professional dancers, this Nutcracker production showcases the classic Tchaikovsky performance with unique twists in choreography by the iconic artist directors, Gay Porter and Bridget Porter-Young. At a family-friendly price, this timeless holiday classic will delight and astound audiences of all ages.
DECEMBER 6TH – 22ND
Charlotte Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Be transported into a winter wonderland, making a delightful stop in the Land of Sweets with Nutcracker and Clara on their mystical adventure. Rat King returns to antagonize Clara, but in the face of mischief, one can only dream that magic will save the day. With choreography by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music, this generational tradition keeps getting better.
DECEMBER 20TH – JANUARY 4TH
‘Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil
Ovens Auditorium
Cirque du Soleil’s first Christmas show is based on the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore. Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of Christmas. Twas the Night Before features thrilling acrobatics, lovable characters, and a soundtrack with Christmas favorites re-invented by Cirque du Soleil.
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