Midtown Magazine

spring

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2011

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S PR I NG DAWN S

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It’s the revival of the spirit through renewing spa treatments, flirty clothes, cool colors, vibrant accessories, hip decor, and dining al fresco at 121 shops and eateries.

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2010, 2011 –

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a note FROM THE

PUBLISHER

Check it off the list!

Ever since I saw Morgan Freeman’s movie “Bucket List” I’ve worked on my own bucket list – a list of things I want to accomplish before I die. If you are a regular reader of Midtown, you may remember that our first year we helped several Midtown residents mark something off their list. My list ranges from spending several weeks traveling through Italy to jumping out of a perfectly good airplane (as my Dad would say) to running a half-marathon. Until recently I would have told you that the first two would happen long before the halfmarathon, but I am proud to say that last November I checked that daunting event off my bucket list! But I didn’t do it on my own; good friends helped me accomplish it. Having a friendship with someone committed to running with me, encouraging me, and icing my leg really helped me stay the path. I learned then what lots of people already know: it’s easier to get fit or accomplish a goal if you have the support of friends. Check out “The Other Social Network” (p. 26); we introduce you to several people who’ve found friends and fitness together.

By the way, if running is your thing, mark your calendar and join me and my family for the St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint April 2nd. This 5k and Midtown Mile walk/run benefits WakeMed’s pediatric diabetes program; hope to see you there!

If fashion is more your style, you will love the looks for this spring. It’s all about color – bright, bold colors! Pull out our “Spring Style” 16-page pull-out guide (p. 83) and keep it with you; all of these looks are available at local shops.

Finally, we need your help. In celebration of Father’s Day, we will honor the “Men of Midtown.” We want to introduce our readers to special dads, grandfathers and even Midtown’s most eligible bachelors. Please take the time to write or email me and let me know why the man in your life should be featured as a special “Midtown Man.” What do you think of this issue of Midtown? We love hearing about what you enjoy and what you’d like to see more of in Midtown Magazine.

Gina Pearce Stephens

Publisher/Partner Midtown, Cary Living, Pinehurst & Southern Weddings gstephens@midtownmag.com

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march/april

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publisher/partner

gina stephens

advertising sales

gina stephens myra gammon regina alston

creative director graphic design

contributing writers

photography

travis aptt heath hilliker jennifer casey christa gala kate turgeon dan bain illyse lane jenni hart page leggett april maness kristy stevenson darcy brennan-huante fiquet bailey carter & laura dalton elie rossetti-serraino brad deaton russell b. stokes, m.d., f.a.c.a. j. steven baker, DDS mark w. galland, M.D. april maness photography jennifer robertson photography

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4818 Six Forks Road, Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone 919.782.4710, Fax 919.782.4763 www.midtownmag.com Midtown Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or art. Unsolicited material is welcome and is considered intended for publication. Such material will become the property of the magazine and will be subject to editing. Material will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Midtown Magazine will not knowingly accept any real estate advertising in violation of U.S. equal opportunity law.

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contents march/april

2011

features 26 The oTher SociaL NeTWorK lost your exercise mojo? wanting to get in shape? Step away from the keyboard and join the other social network.

72 camP KaNaTa

thanks for the memories. A family favorite since 1954.

78 SomeoNe’S iN The KiTcheN!

Showcase of kitchens celebrates its 5th anniversary.

34 cULTUraL LiTeracY

Not just a trivial pursuit.

40 GeT YoUr home SWeeT home it’s time to wake up and take action.

86 acroSS The STaTe: amaZiNG eaTerieS...

where the food is better than the ambience.

48 BeaUTifUL BaThroomS Creating the looks you love.

102 oN a miSSioN

54 oN STaGe, oN a ShoeSTriNG local theatre can be an affordable luxury for the mind and spirit.

Duke Raleigh hospital staff is changing lives in Raleigh and around the world.

62 SaViNG face: The Bare facTS we found out what’s really going on with our skin and best of all, what you can do to save your face.

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SPriNG STYLe

16-page pull-out guide

Special thanks to Christobal Perez of Azul Photography for our cover photo and stylist elie Serraino.

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contents march/april

2011

departments 44 midtown reviews 60 calendar 70 bain’s beat 68 calendar 82 beauty 84 caring for your clothes 92 talk of the town Midtown meets Downtown 94 turn it green 96 make a date with the future 98

the contemporary art museum: now’s the time

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save the date

100 trees across raleigh keep public areas green 106 healthy you 119 midtown mingles

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chef mario

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the other

social network Forget the days of ying solo. Whether you are training for a race, checking something off your bucket list or just getting in your daily workout, there’s an entirely different social network waiting to be discovered. One that has nothing to do with sitting at your computer or tweeting from your smart phone.

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Susanna Coffey, 45, is sneaking out into the darkness of early morning. She joins a group of women at a local park and for the next hour, she pushes herself beyond her physical limits, with squats, lunges and sprints. At the same time, a few miles up the road, Penny Ashley-Lawrence, 39, is heading out, ready to log long miles through the quiet streets of Downtown Raleigh with her running group. Across town, Alan Diaz, 26, is getting ready to meet up with friends for a group ride.

Have they discovered something we should know about? poWer In nuMbers Yes. We have long known that exercise is good for us. It’s scientifically proven that it keeps us exible. It gives us lean muscle and boosts our energy level. It strengthens our cardio vascular system and helps our bones stay strong. It helps fight off disease, depression and stress.

But the benefits can be even more tremendous when done as part of a group. Experts agree that group exercise can provide support, accountability and structure. A person who exercises with a group is more likely to stay on track. midtownmag.com midtownmag.com| | xx 25

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Additionally, committing to physical fitness goals through a group can help push us past our limitations, create competition and connect us socially.

This doesn’t come as a surprise to Shanna Kane, director of marketing for 02 Fitness. “Group classes at the gym have had a long following,” says Kane. “The participants develop friendships and they expect to see each other there.” What is more recent is the growing trend of conversations that occur before class begins, as banter between gym members and instructors build excitement for the workout.

“The entire experience is much more social and inspiring,” says Kane.

Inspiration Meets Accountability For Coffey, that inspiration is what keeps her going back to boot camp morning after morning, year after year. “I was never an athlete. During my first class I thought I’d never survive,” she says. “It felt like such an accomplishment to push myself.” These days, a combination of pride, friendly competition and visible results motivate her to keep going. And, of course, the fact that the rest of her boot camp crew is counting on her to show up.

The Downtown Raleigh Women’s Running Group kicks back and relaxes after a long run.

“If someone is going to meet you at 5am, you will do anything for that person. It doesn’t matter if she is a Democrat or Republican, what religion she is, or anything. That person is now your friend and you have her back,” says Ashley-Lawrence, founder of the three-year-old Downtown Raleigh Women’s Running Group. “When you realize that people are counting on you and not judging you, you connect. You feel better, you get better and you realize you share many of the same goals,” she says.

Jason Biggs and Marc Primanti, two of the three founders of FS Series, an event production and timing company, and members of what can be described as the endurance sports sub-culture, are quite familiar with the embracing feeling that comes from groups that train and race together. “If you are a one-man army and you’re not feeling it, it’s easy to back off and skip a run. But if there’s a group in your ear, texting you, emailing you, you are going to show up,” says Primanti.

Reaching That Personal Goal The endurance sports community’s welcoming demeanor is partly responsible for the significant uptick in the number of “ordinary” folks jumping on board to participate in races such as half marathons and triathlons, as people motivated by the thought of training with a friend or earning bragging rights and the bumper sticker on the back of the car continue to register. “It used to be that the person with six percent body fat who could run a five-minute mile was the one doing the triathlons,” says Biggs. “Now, there are programs out there for a more regular type of person to come in and complete this type of event.” On any given race day, 90 percent of the people that show up are not there to win the awards, they just want to do it for the personal challenge.

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inspired him not only to set repeated goals for himself, but even turn down an opportunity to relocate back up North. “This inviting community made me want to stay,” says Diaz. And what about the goal of losing a few pounds? Since he started training and racing, Diaz has lost 45 pounds and has found a lifelong hobby.

Primanti points out that this type of response is not unusual for those who set out with the goal of finishing just one race. “Everyone wants to be fit, but not everyone is an elite athlete. Most of the people are the exact opposite, using races as training to get in shape.

But after one, they come back for more,” he says.

Alan Diaz shows off a slimmed-down physique that’s come as a result of participating in FS Series events.

Kim Reynolds, owner of Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern and founder of the Second Empire Grand Prix Series, a series of races that awards runner points for participation, often gets feedback from less experienced runners who are very appreciative of how the structure of the Series is motivating for those running strictly for personal goals. “It’s brought in another wave of runners, people who may be competing with each other but don’t have to win,” she says.

“They may not be the fastest, they may even be slow, but they have completed a certain number of races and that is uplifting.”

Take Diaz, for example. After relocating from New York and settling into his job, he noticed he was slowly gaining weight. Wanting to get moving, he joined an aquatic center. After a few open water swim events, he decided to give endurance sports a try. He became instantaneously hooked, as the support and developing friendships

Take The First Step While it can feel intimidating as an outsider looking in to take that first step to join an exercise class or training group, keep in mind that everyone has a first time. And the group is well aware that making the effort to show up for that first class or meet-up can be scary.

“At 02, we intentionally change the music and the routines every three months, so newcomers can join in without apprehension.

Everyone starts over every three months,” says Kane.

And once you take that step, you may never look back. “I have heard from women that this group has changed their life,” says Ashley-Lawrence. “When they joined, they didn’t think they could run a 5K, or they’d ever even want to do anything longer. Now they’ve run two marathons.” Most importantly, they’ve tapped into an entirely different social network. One where they end up in each other’s weddings and celebrate holidays together. One where they may help watch each other’s kids and enjoy going out to dinner.

One that connects them through common goals and priorities.

So what are you waiting for?

Now Open!

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have fun, get fit Maybe an every-morning running group is not for you. And maybe you don’t have the desire to put a TRI sticker on the back of your car. But maybe you are motivated to get moving and have a little fun.

Whether it’s softball, kickball, rugby, ice hockey, basketball, dodge ball or soccer, there are tons of opportunities throughout Midtown to get involved in recreational sports as an adult. Take a page from some of our readers:

Who say sports are for kids? Stuart Lamm and his adult rec hockey team show off their first-place trophy.

Three years ago, while watching one of his son’s hockey games, Stuart Lamm, 44, decided it was time to give an adult hockey league a try. He drafted his brother and soon enough, they put together a team. In addition to the physical benefits that Lamm has gained from playing late nights twice a week, such as increased endurance and stronger hockey skills, he’s most excited about the amount of time he gets to spend with his brother and the friendships he has formed with his teammates. “This almost lets you go back in time, making you feel like you used to when you could hang out with the guys,” says Lamm.

“And best of all, it doesn’t interfere with any family time.”

When Matt Szymanksi, 30, and the residents of his Downtown Raleigh condo building wanted to do something as a group, playing kickball through World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA), seemed like the perfect fit. “There’s a large social aspect, because we’ll go to our home bar after the games to drink, eat and all that good stuff, but there’s that physical fitness part of it,” says Szymanksi. “It’s taken very seriously, but we’re also playing a game that you played when you were ten years old, so it’s a lot of fun.” And socially, it’s connected Szymanksi to people he wouldn’t have normally gotten to know.

Motivated? Here are just a few listings to get you started: FS Series: www.fsseries.com Second Empire Grand-Prix Series: www.secondempireseries.com O2 Fitness: www.o2fitnessclubs.com City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation: www.parks.raleighnc.gov Premier Co-ed Sports: www.premiercoedsports.com Tri Sports Social Club: www.trissc.com Ice Hockey: www.iceplex.com Kickball: www.kickball.com Soccer: www.tasl.us Rugby: www.raleighrugby.org midtownmag.com| 31

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madness

munchies Hunker down to cheer on your favorite team and score some fantastic eats!

RECIPES BY CHEF MARIO COPY BY DARCY BRENNAN-HUANTE PHOTOGRAPHY BY APRIL MANESS PHOTOGRAPHY

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BUFFALO CHICKEN SKEWERS Serves 6-8

Ingredients 2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into strips 1 cup Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, divided 1/3 cup melted butter 12 wooden skewers Carrot and celery slices for crudité and garnishing Blue cheese dressing and/or ranch dressing Directions Place chicken strips in a plastic bag and add 1/2 cup hot sauce. Marinate chicken for 2-6 hours.

Remove from marinade. Lay chicken strips on foil-lined sheet pan and bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees or until done. Cool. Skewer a slice of carrot and celery on a wooden skewer. Whisk together 1/2 cup hot sauce and 1/3 cup melted butter. Dip each skewer into butter mixture. Platter atop kale or greens and serve with blue cheese and/or ranch dressing.

LOGON TO www.midtownmag.com

for the blue cheese and ranch dressing recipe!

BACON WRAPPED STEAK WITH BOURBON VANILLA SAUCE Serves 6-8

Ingredients 3/4 cup bourbon 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 lb sirloin steak cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks 15 scallion (green onion) pieces, about 3 inches long 10 oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained 8 strips thin-sliced bacon, cut in half 1/2 tsp vanilla Toothpicks Directions Whisk bourbon, sugar and vinegar together in a bowl. Set aside. Season the steak with salt and pepper and wrap each chunk in a piece of bacon along with a piece of scallion and a slice of water chestnut. Secure with a toothpick. Place a sauté pan over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Brown bacon-wrapped steak on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer steak bundles to a plate, pour off excess oil then deglaze pan with bourbon mixture. Simmer and reduce for about 2-3 minutes (should be syrupy).

Take off the heat and add vanilla. Add back the steak and toss to coat.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN TOSTADAS Serves 6-8

Ingredients 3 flour tortillas 1 cup avocado pulp 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup tomato, chopped 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice 2 tsp garlic cloves, minced 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

3/4 cup ketchup 3 Tbsp brown sugar 2 Tbsp chipotles in adobo sauce puree 2 Tbsp soy sauce 2 Tbsp cider vinegar 1 Tbsp chili powder 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded

For Garnish A dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro and lime zest Directions Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat both sides of tortilla with nonstick spray. Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges. Push each wedge into a standard sized muffin pan cup and bake for 6-8 minutes or until golden. Mix together avocado, sour cream, tomato, lime juice, garlic and cilantro, and season with salt to taste, then chill. In a sauce pan mix together ketchup, sugar, chipotle, soy sauce, vinegar and chili power. Bring to simmer and cook for 8 minutes. Top each tostada shell with 1 tablespoon avocado mixture then 2 tablespoons chicken mixture. Garnish with sour cream, cilantro and lime zest.

WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING Serves 6-8

Ingredients One kielbasa sausage, 12 to 16 oz 1 lb dough (pizza roll dough is great!)

Directions Cut kielbasa into 1 1/2 inch chunks. Cut dough into nickel-sized chunks. Using your hands, roll dough ball into a long bread. Wrap each kielbasa chunk in dough so it looks like a mummy. Place on a foil-lined sheet pan and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes so the dough proofs (expands) a bit.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, checking after 5 minutes. Turn pan around at the halfway point to ensure even baking and bake until golden. Serve with marmalade mustard.

MARMALADE MUSTARD Ingredients 1/4 cup whole grain mustard 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/2 cup orange marmalade Directions Mix well. midtownmag.com| 33

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CULTURAL LITERACY

BY JENNI HART

Who Did What, Where, When...and Why Should We Care?

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If you know with all certainty that Plato did not invent non-toxic modeling clay for preschoolers, and that a ban on drilling will not hamper the livelihood of America’s dentists, then you may have a leg up on some of the nation’s young people when it comes to cultural literacy.

If you’ve ever cringed at The Tonight Show’s Jaywalking segment, you know there’s a never-ending supply of anecdotal knee-slappers out there that seem to show just how plagued we are by our own ignorance. For teachers and administrators in the education community, this isn’t funny; it’s deeply troubling. Many believe the decline in cultural and historical awareness is a grave threat to our democracy and even our way of life. One recent poll of young people showed that while close to 100 percent of them knew that Snooki’s real name is Nicole, a paltry 50 percent identifi ed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

Raleigh residents Fran and Paul Hoch, both recently retired, worked for years in the trenches of academia in various capacities, both having taught at the college level at some point in their respective careers. Fran now volunteers as a docent at the North Carolina Museum of History, and sees fi rsthand the wide spectrum of historical knowledge and awareness among the museum’s visitors.

She recently led a group of students through the George Washington exhibit, where, while standing in front of a battle scene, she was asked by one child whether the scene was from World War II. “There was simply no foundation for this boy, no grounding in history,” Fran recalls. “There’s the obvious fact that this was a George Washington exhibit; but also, if you’ve ever seen even one photograph from World War II, the uniforms, the types of weapons, these are iconic images that would point you toward a different assumption than that.”

In the late 1980s, English professor E.D. Hirsch, Jr. coined the term “cultural literacy” to describe what he viewed as a core body of knowledge that all Americans need in order to be suffi ciently educated. In his bestselling Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch attempted to catalog this body of knowledge, with more than 6,000 entries divided among 23 sections, including world history, science and medicine, business “Without a common and economics, philosophy knowledge bank from and fi ne arts, among others.

In the myths and which we can all draw, folklore section of Hirsch’s the concern is that the book, we learn that Styx quality of our political wasn’t just a schmaltzy ballad band from the 70s and and social discourse is 80s. According to Greek bound to degrade.” legend, Styx was one of the rivers of Hades and served as the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. The souls of the dead were ferried across the river Styx, which was believed to have magical powers. Gives new meaning to the song “Come Sail Away”, doesn’t it? In the section on English literature, one can learn that Big Brother isn’t just a CBS reality TV hit, but the term Big Brother has its origins in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and has come to refer to any government that invades the privacy of its citizens. midtownmag.com| xx

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These are just a few examples of what Hirsch says are the “people, places, ideas, and events that shape our cultural conversation”.

Without a common knowledge bank from which we can all draw, the concern is that the quality of our political and social discourse is bound to degrade. Our understanding of current events, our appreciation of music and the visual and performing arts – all are made richer by the undergirding of our shared knowledge.

While lauded by many in the field of education, Hirsch’s assertions regarding the idea of core knowledge are not without controversy. Detractors believe his tenets of cultural literacy are cumbersome, arbitrary, even irrelevant. Some see the concept as favoring certain racial and socio-economic groups to the exclusion of others. So, as is the case with other arguments in the field of education, curriculum trends come in and out of favor, and the debate continues.

I asked Paul, who taught college history for many years, whether he thought today’s young people are less culturally savvy than those of previous generations. He believes they are, and he points to a multitude of possible reasons for the shift. “For one thing, you can’t go anywhere without seeing this generation hooked up to some kind of device. They’re always looking at a screen, constantly entertained, and there’s no appreciation for actually committing things to long-term memory,” he says. “When you can look things up on the internet and get instant answers, the sheer value of the information is lost. They just don’t assimilate it and put it into any sort of meaningful context.”

The Hochs also talk about a shift in values and priorities. “In the 1960s you had these big social movements, civil rights and women’s rights,” Paul says, “and then with the draft, anyone could be called up to serve in Vietnam. As a young person coming into adulthood during these times, you were naturally more engaged, because these issues affected you or someone you knew in a very personal way.”

Whatever the reason, the evidence clearly indicates that Americans could benefit from less screen time and more time reading meaningful content and conversing with one another. Why is cultural literacy important? The Hochs point to the fact that young people today will be setting policies and voting for leaders in the near future, and they’ll be competing for jobs in an increasingly global marketplace.

Understanding cultural differences and political and social influences is crucial for Americans to maintain economic and political stability.

Besides reading and staying tuned in to current events, many educators consider travel an indispensable teaching tool. The Hochs have traveled the world together and believe there’s no better way to enhance your understanding of other cultures than to experience them firsthand. “I think the word that comes to mind is ‘aspirational’,” says Fran. “I’d love to see young people with dreams that push them a little past their comfort level; whether it’s a vacation destination that’s a bit more exotic, or exploring a college or university that they may not have considered, there’s a whole world out there just waiting to be explored.”

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TEST YOUR CULTURAL LITERACY 1.Who is this person? a. Adolf Hitler b. Charlie Chaplin c. Harry Houdini 2. What is the Sphinx? a. The small opening between the stomach and the small intestine b. The name of Disney’s newest cruise ship c. A sculpture near the Egyptian pyramids 3. Who was Leif Ericson? a. A Norwegian explorer b. The inventor of the first cell phone c. A teen idol from the 1970s 4. Who were the KGB? a. The first top-40 band from Korea b. The secret police of the former Soviet Union c. Members of the Kansas School Board that fought against racial integration in the 1950s

5. Who is this person? a. The grandfather of singer Usher b. Nobel Peace Prize winning, South African leader Nelson Mandela c. American film actor and producer Samuel Jackson 6. What are Trinidad and Tobago? a. The twin cousins of the Kardashian sisters b. Brothers from Roman mythology who flew too close to the sun c. Two islands that form an independent republic in the West Indies 7. What is carbon dating? a. Going out with two or more people at the same time b. The collection of DNA from a crime scene c. Process to determine an object’s age by measuring the amount of radioactive material it contains

8. Which “date will live in infamy”? a. November 22, 1963 b. December 7, 1941 c. The first time Jon and Kate went out 9. Who wrote Leaves of Grass? a. Bob Marley b. Walt Whitman c. Willie Nelson 10. What is a quorum? a. An argument among family members b. A restrictive woman’s undergarment from the Victorian era c. A minimum number of members to conduct business or to have a legitimate vote

How’d you do?

8-10: Congratulations! You’ve been paying attention, and it shows.

4-7: Put down the remote and pick up a book. Time’s a-wasting!

0-3: Jeopardy may be out of the question, but you, too, could be a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Answers: 1) b 2) c 3) a 4) b 5) B 6) c 7) c 8) b 9) b 10) c midtownmag.com| 37

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Get Your Home

SWEET HOME Does your house feel like a home? Or do you find yourself driving around certain neighborhoods, daydreaming about that particular home on that specific street with the inviting porch and perfect yard? If so, it’s time to wake up and take action.

By illyse lane

“Opportunity is out there,” says Amy Butler, managing broker at Fonville Morisey. “For buyers, it is the chance to get more home for the dollar, based upon price, inventory and exceptional interest rates. For sellers, home prices appear to have stabilized, making now the time to put their current home on the market and move forward with buying the home they’ve been thinking about.”

The Time is Right While opportunity may be knocking, it makes sense to be a bit hesitant. The struggles of the past few years aren’t close to being a distant memory. Yet despite all the doom and gloom that has prevailed, there have been some bright spots.

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(left and top) A blending of home styles and a neighborhood feel make The Oaks at Fallon Park a top choice for homeowners wanting an in-town location.

Here at home, average sales for 2010 were three percent higher than for the previous year. The Housing Affordability Index has increased, meaning that more typical families can qualify for a mortgage loan on a typical home. And perhaps most importantly, the jobless rate is slowly improving, with unemployment measuring 7.8% as of late 2010, a one percent decrease from the same period in 2009. “Even small positive trends give hope that the real estate downturn may come to an end later this year,” says Runyon Tyler III, broker with Prudential York Simpson Underwood.

With these signs of life also come the realization that even if it’s a buyer’s market, full of high inventory and low interest rates, the days of buying a home for the sole purpose of getting that guaranteed, generous appreciation are no more. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, this realization gives you the opportunity to embrace the home buying process for what can be: not getting into a new house, but getting into a new home.

The New Return on Investment “It’s time to change our thinking,” says Van Fletcher Broker/Realtor® with Allen Tate Company and exclusive listing agent for The Oaks at Fallon Park. “We need to shake and move beyond the ‘I deserve to make money on my house’ investment mentality that pervaded our thinking for many of the past few years. This market has proved that no longer exists.”

Instead, we need to think about buying a home in terms of factors such as lifestyle, community, proximity to friends and family, affordability and convenience. “These are the reasons to move, making the glass half full for the buyer searching for the right home and for the seller with a good house to list. The return on investment is now happiness,” says Fletcher.

Whether your search for happiness involves a traditional two story, a contemporary ranch, a renovated bungalow or new construction, you are in a desirable position. Choices are plentiful right now, and buyers can afford to be discriminating. “Prices are well below the “bubble” levels of the past, creating one of the strongest buying markets that home buyers have ever experienced,” says Tyler.

What Buyers Want New construction has always been valued. But new construction located in close proximity to established neighborhoods that provide homeowners with easy access to entertainment and shopping, such as The Oaks at Fallon Park, Oberlin Ridge and Ramblewood at North Hills, is considered a prize, as buyers know they’re getting a move-in condition home that will not require any additional funds. midtownmag.com| xx

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New developments such as Ramblewood at North Hills, with both single family homes and stacked flats, are attractive to homeowners desiring a central address located in close proximity to shopping, entertainment and other amenities.

“In spite of the market challenges and extensive incentives by other builders in other areas, sales in Ramblewood have managed to not only increase, but double,” says Pat Mills, vice president and senior sales manager for Coldwell Banker Howard Perry & Walston. “This is due to the value and desirability of the homes.”

She also credits the developers in being savvy enough to respond to this type of market, without sacrificing the integrity of the community or current homeowners’ values.

For buyers, it’s easy to embrace these newer communities.

“Especially coming out of recent times, this type of new construction is a source of comfort, excitement and relief. The value is easily saleable based on what long-time residents already believe

in,” says Dennis Fitzgerald, owner of DJF Builders Inc. “This is why whenever a new project begins in an areas such as Midtown or inside-the-beltline, a buzz is created. “ And what about those sellers in existing homes in the established neighborhoods? Is it possible for these homes to compete with new construction? Absolutely. “The Midtown and inside-thebeltline areas have historically enjoyed strong growth, and even though right now location has been trumped by price, location will eventually prevail as demand catches up to supply,” says Tyler.

“Even in this market, it’s not uncommon for us to have multiple offers on a good home.” says Butler. As a matter of fact, the most in-demand homes are those in established neighborhoods that have that special mix of character, updates and a sense of place.

Sellers just have to be both open-minded and knowledgeable about what it may take for their home to be the one with that sold sign sitting in the yard.

Sellers: How To Stand Out The reality is that in this type of market, sellers are going to have to do a little more up-front work to get their home noticed. Knowing that buyers are searching for that fresh, clean house that requires the least amount of work – the one that seems to say “this feels like home” – sellers should consider investing in their home to make it stand out from the rest of the pack.

The amount that is invested to get a home ready to be successfully listed is going to have a direct correlation on sellers getting as close to the asking price as possible. “The key is to determine the fair asking price based on a combination of market factors, including the

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New construction in established neighborhoods, such as this home planned for Rothgeb Drive by DJF Builders, reinforces the value that the long time residents already believe in.

location and the condition of your home, as well as considering what kind of updates will bring you the biggest return,” says Butler. “Your real estate professional can give you that information.”

In certain situations, investing in a small, decorative update, such as putting $1,000 back into the home in terms of paint and décor, can produce a better outcome than merely reducing the asking price. There are times, however, that a home may need a bit more to be competitive. “In some cases, a seller should part with about three percent of the desired asking price right off the bat to get the house ready to list,” explains Fletcher.

If you’re gasping for air at the mere thought of this, consider that correctly priced homes – homes where the final list price and the original list price – are the same – continue to sell for over 97 percent of the list price, in an average of 49 days compared to those that have had a price adjustment, making the case that a compelling price should be every seller’s goal.

Upgrade And Stay Many homeowners are deciding to update with the intent to enjoy the benefits now but be ready to sell at a later date. “The current market has influenced homeowners to take a closer look at their investments and make choices that will benefit them well into the future,” says Fitzgerald.

“Homeowners are choosing to do updates that will increase the value of their home while making it more comfortable for them to live in until they are ready, if ever, to make a move.”

And while your home’s layout, your lifestyle, budget and home value will all have an impact on the types of projects you decide to undertake, there are a few tried and true home upgrades that add value. Kitchen upgrades, bathroom upgrades and finishing third floors or basements to add more living space continue to bring a return on investment, as well as adding hardwoods or ceramic tile floors and master suites.

Make Your House Your Home Even with the real estate market struggles of the past years, the Triangle continues to win accolades as one of the best places to live. And there is always a market for a good home, with buyers appreciating a renovated, fixed-up home that a seller has taken the time to invest in. These are the homes that buyers want. These are the homes that sellers won’t have a problem moving. So if you’ve been unsure about taking the real estate plunge, drive around your favorite neighborhood. Dare to walk into that open house. You may be surprised to find that good home.

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midtown

reviews

Tasting notes: Crisp, citrusy, pear, mediumbodied

Style: Pinot Grigio

5

IT’S SPRING-TIME let’s liGhten up

KUPELWIESER ALT ADIGE Vintage: 2009

wine

Price: $13.99/bottle

Spring is filled with the flavors of green. With so many favas and asparagus spears on the table, wines must play along. Which makes it perhaps the best time of year for white wines. We asked David Sendall of Total Wine & More to choose five whites to lighten up the table for spring.

BY DAVID SENDALL, Assistant Manager – Total Wine & More

HUGUES BEAUVIGNAC PICPOUL JAVILLIER BOURGOGNE DES FORGETS

Best paired with: Seafood

Vintage: 2008

Tasting notes: Elegant, pear, mineral, medium bodied

Style: Chardonnay

Vintage: 2009 Best paired with: Seafood and salads

Price: $21.99/bottle

It takes about 2 ½ pounds of grapes to make a bottle of wine.

Vintage: 2009 3 644*"/ 3 *7&3 7 "--&:

Style: Chardonnay

Price: $9.99/bottle

FIRE ROAD

did You Know?

ANGELINE RUSSIAN RIVER

Tasting notes: Crisp, citrus, light-bodied

Best paired with: Roasted chicken or pasta Tasting notes: Oak, tropical, medium-bodied Price: $12.99/bottle

Vintage: 2010 Style: Sauvignon Blanc Best paired with: Seafood, pasta, white meats and summer salads Tasting notes: Crisp, gooseberry, passion fruit, light-bodied Price: $9.99/bottle

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midtown

reviews

apps

Apps, Apps, Apps…

Almost anything you can imagine, from training your brain to finding your favorite dish! Here are some of our favorites.

IntoNow • Free

Just tap the green button when your favorite show is on and IntoNow will identify the show and episode; provide all data and links associated with it; and help you share on Facebook and Twitter. IntoNow also helps you see which shows you have in common with your friends – including whether they’ve seen the latest episode.

Foodspotting • Free

paintingWalls · lite • Free

Foodspotting is a visual guide to good food and where to find it.

Instead of reviewing restaurants, you can find and share where to find your favorite dishes using photos. See the nearest, latest and best foods around you, find a particular food that you’re craving, look up restaurants and more!

Allows you to quickly paint walls in your photos with different colors.

Imagine that you are still undecided about what color to paint your bedroom. PaintingWalls will help you paint a photo of your bedroom and swap between the colors you like to see which one better fits the decoration.

Brain Trainer • Free

Camera+ • $1.99

Lumosity Brain Trainer includes seven brain games designed to enhance your cognitive abilities, including memory, processing speed, attention, flexibility and problem solving.

Playing the brain games a few minutes every day will help you achieve your best results. Users have reported improved memory, enhanced mood, better problem solving skills, and ability to think more quickly.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who’s barely touched a camera, Camera+ will make you love taking photos. Camera+ will help bring the creativity out in you, all with a fun, innovative and beautiful design.

CNET Reviews • Free

A great companion for shoppers who want to take advantage of CNET’s expert tech buying advice while they are in their local stores, or researching tech products on the go. This app features CNET’s entire collection of editorial reviews, user ratings, price comparisons, product review videos, and product photos.

Lose it • Free

Succeed at weight loss with Lose It! Set goals and establish a daily calorie budget that enables you to meet them. Stay on track each day by recording your food and exercise and staying within your budget. The average active Lose It! user has lost more than 12 pounds and more than 85% of active users have lost weight.

wunderlist Task Manager • Free

The wunderlist mobile app for your iPhone and iPod Touch will boost your productivity. Organize your to-do lists on the go and synchronize it with your free wunderlist desktop app for Windows and Mac. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide use wunderlist every day.

Words With Friends • Free

Highly addictive “Scrabble-like” gameplay that you know and love. It features turn-based design that lets you play up to 20 games simultaneously. Stay in touch with friends and family with in-game chat messaging. Push notifications tell you when it’s your turn. Go at your own pace!

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midtown

reviews

movies

push the limits...

If you are a movie junkie, get ready! This spring, the new releases offer something for everyone, from the family comedy to action, drama and even horror. Enjoy!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules Starring: Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick Rated: PG Opens: 3/25/2011 Plot: In this sequel to 2010’s surprise hit, the kid who made “wimpy” cool is back in an all-new family comedy based on the best-selling followup novel by Jeff Kinney.

Hanna Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett Rated: PG-13 Opens: 4/8/2011 Plot: A 16-year-old who was raised by her father to be the perfect assassin is dispatched on a mission across Europe, tracked by a ruthless intelligence agent and her operatives.

Scream 4 Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette Rated: R Opens: 4/15/2011 Plot: Sidney Prescott, now the author of a selfhelp book, returns home on the last stop of her book tour. Unfortunately, Sidney’s appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface.

Fast Five Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson Rated: Not yet rated Opens: 4/29/2011 Plot: Dominic and his crew find themselves on the wrong side of the law once again as they try to switch lanes between a ruthless drug lord and a relentless federal agent.

This is the fifth movie in this series.

Limitless Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Abbie Cornish Rated: Not yet rated Opens: 3/18/2011 Plot: An aspiring author’s (Cooper) life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to a new pharmaceutical that allows him to use 100 percent of his mind. He can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets – as long as he keeps taking the untested drug. What will happen when his life is put in jeopardy and the drug’s brutal side effects begin to grind him down?

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midtown

reviews

music

she’s back!

Some of the biggest names are set to release new music this spring - from REM to the return of Britney Spears, there is something for everyone in our five favorites. Make sure you check it out!

Collapse Into Now (R.E.M.) Release Date: 3/8/2011 This is R.E.M.’s 15th studio album and follow-up to 2008’s Accelerate. Patti Smith, Peaches, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder and guitarist Lenny Kaye will appear as guests on Collapse Into Now.

Awesome as F**k (Green Day) Release Date: 3/22/2011 Awesome As F**k marks the second live release for Green Day, after 2005’s Bullet in a Bible sold over 1 million copies. The March 22nd release will also come with an accompanying bonus DVD.

Femme Fatale (Britney Spears) Release Date: 3/29/2011 Britney Spears’ highly anticipated seventh studio album Femme Fatale is set to drop on March 29th. If the album, as a whole, is anything like the first single, “Hold It Against Me” (which has already set oneday release records), fans are sure to be in for a treat from their favorite pop star.

So Beautiful or So What (Paul Simon) Release Date: 4/12/2011 Simon’s newest album will have bluegrass influence. It was also being reported that Simon was attempting to have Bob Dylan guest on the album. He claims, “It’s the best work I’ve done in 20 years.

Time of my Life (3 Doors Down) Release Date: 4/12/2011 It’s been two years since 3 Doors Down released their widely acclaimed self-titled album. After finishing, frontman Brad Arnold stated that he “cannot wait for people to hear this record”. midtownmag.com| 47

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beautiful

BATHROOMS

BY KRISTY STEVENSON

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Want to transform your busy bathroom into something that remains functional – but perhaps more elegant and sophisticated, jaunty and fun, or timeless and classic? Whether you need to open and gussy up a small space, or just freshen a dated look, we’ve got remodeling and décor tips for overhauling the loo on any budget.

From the master bath to a guest lavatory, kids bath or powder room, local designers weigh in with expertise on how to create the bathroom of your dreams.

KITCHEN AND BATH GALLERIES OF NORTH HILLS Designer: Sara Moore

These homeowners wanted a classic look that blended seamlessly with the rest of their traditional home. “We were able to achieve this style by selecting timeless fi xtures and fi nishes and maintaining simple, clean lines with the architectural accents,” says designer Sara Moore. The end result is a space that is not only beautiful, but will also withstand the test of time and never go out of style.

• Before the remodel, the bathroom seemed rather long and narrow, so the architectural details of the wainscot panels on the walls and the tub surround help to give interest to an otherwise blank space.

• The cabinetry itself is a white painted fi nish and has clean lines, but there is a small beaded edge on the inside frame to add some detail.

• Although they are from a semi-custom manufacturer, the door style resembles the custom wainscot panels, thereby giving the effect that everything was custom millwork.

• Plumbing fi xtures and all related components are of polished nickel, resembling polished chrome, but slightly warmer.

• All of the faucets (lavatory and tub) have classic lines – they aren’t too straight or curvy. There are also knurling details in the fi xtures that remind you of antique jewelry.

• Light fi xtures echo similar details and maintain classic shapes, yet they have a little bit of glamour due to the addition of crystal on both the sconces and the chandelier.

• The crystal is repeated in the cabinet and door hardware.

• The frame around the mirrors and the added arched niche also help to accomplish more architectural detail. midtownmag.com| xx

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• A transom window was added in the shower in order to allow natural light and repeat the transom detail from the framed mirrors.

• The matching white marble countertop coupled with the floor and shower tile complete the classically-styled bathroom. There is a “rug” inlay of a white marble basket weave set in front of the vanity and hexagon mosaic on the shower floor. Although both of these elements are the same color as the rest of the tile, they add texture and interest without being overwhelming to the eye.

BROOKE & BIRDIE INTERIOR DESIGN

Designers: Margo B. Froehlich & Kristen B. McGhee In personalizing your room’s look, you can create something unexpected through unique elements. “One of the easiest ways to transform a bathroom is to add wallpaper,” says designer Kristen McGhee. “The restroom is a small area, so it’s not expensive, but it provides color, texture and a softness.” Dressing up a standard bathroom can be as simple as adding a few custom details, or just disguising fundamentals to make them more visually appealing.

• Decorate a standard fiberglass insert tub with a custom-made shower curtain. This one has a waterproof liner behind it, and it stretches almost up to the ceiling and then all the way to the floor.

• A lovely framed mirror replaces everyday plate glass.

• Installation of sconces on either side of the mirror provide better lighting, are softer on the face and make it easier to apply makeup as lighting is at face level.

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• Consider something out of the ordinary – like a garden stool, pictured here – as a place to put magazines.

• Live in your bathroom, but accessorize by transferring ordinary mouthwash to a glass decanter, for example.

• A silver serving tray, often seen holding perfume bottles on dressers, is also a lovely addition to your counter display in housing the decanter, cotton swabs, and other essentials.

• To disguise countertop makeup and accessories, house them in a decorative jewelry box.

• A mint julep cup doubles nicely to hold makeup brushes.

• An étagère provides extra storage for towels and other decorative elements.

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RODOLFO GONZALES INTERIOR DESIGN Designer: Rodolfo Gonzales

Some homeowners want a spa-like retreat for their master bath – a place to prepare for the day ahead or relax after the day is done.

“In their travels, many have experienced a resort spa and are looking to re-create all or a portion of that experience in their private residence,” says designer Rodolfo Gonzales. Creation of this environment may involve touches like steam showers with free-standing or built-in benches, rainforest showers, Swedish massage sprays, floating tubs, built-in fireplaces, radiant floor heating, natural earth tone materials and unique decorative plumbing hardware.

• A see-through gas fireplace was built into the wall separating the bathroom from the master suite.

• The oval tub was floated in the room to allow relaxation and enjoyment of the fire.

• A steam system was installed in the shower with built-in tile seating and an easily accessible control panel.

• Recessed, waterproof halogen lighting within the steam shower was installed on a dimmer to allow the creation of different moods through ambient lighting.

• Custom designed roman shades cover the high windows but allow plenty of sunlight at the homeowner’s discretion.

• The floor and wall stones were chosen for an earthy feel and comfort on the feet.

• Decorative plumbing hardware capped the spa design and was chosen for both functionality and the beauty of fine finishes.

• A custom sculptured area rug was installed to fit the various contours of the room while enhancing comfort to the feet.

Antique customization From furniture to finish...

If you’d like to add interest and character to a bathroom, try repurposing a unique piece of furniture and transforming it into a fabulous new vanity.

Traditional dressers and buffets are popular choices. “They have the wonderful feel of an antique, and provide useful storage even after being adapted for a sink,” say Jodie and Joe Hinge, owners of Revival Antiques and Accessories.

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• Translucent drapery panels were designed for the two entryways (between the bath and bedroom) to add privacy and soft edges while allowing light to pass through between both rooms.

is no longer functional after the alteration, but the remaining drawers still provide great storage. Many older dressers have attached or complimentary wall hung mirrors which add another layer of historic charm to a renovation. In master bathrooms – where a larger vanity or one with two sinks may be needed – a traditional buffet works great. These are typically between 5’ and 6’ long, with both doors and drawers.

If you are the adventurous type who thinks “outside the box,” you could even transform a small one-drawer writing desk into a vanity with a vessel sink that would fit beautifully in a small powder room. “One customer chose a large old workbench with a real industrial feel,” says Hinge.

“This piece blended seamlessly with a contemporary master bath and had space to accommodate a double bowl sink.”

Sinks can be either a traditional drop-in, or one of the more unique vessel styles that sit atop the vanity. The original furniture top is removed and used as a pattern to copy existing lines and edges in granite or marble – creating a fun blend of old and new. midtownmag.com| xx

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ON STAGE, ON A SHOESTRING Treat yourself to a budget-friendly live performance

BY JENNI HART

Seeing a movie with family or friends can be great entertainment, and 3-D viewing enhances the experience even more. But nothing comes close to the electricity that sizzles in the audience as you wait for the curtain to rise on a live stage production. At Midtown, we’ve scouted out some irresistible deals offered by local theatres.

Raleigh boasts a rich and varied array of theatrical venues, each with its own distinct flavor and focus. With prices like these and lineups that entice, inspire and captivate - live theatre just may become your preferred form of entertainment. While the 2010-2011 season is well under way, it isn’t too late to see some exceptional shows.

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© Curtis Brown Photography

With roots that dip back to the early 1980s, North Carolina Theatre’s specialty is producing professional Broadway musicals; they’ve earned the reputation of doing so with peerless execution. Aligning with its vision to provide broad access to the arts, and to entertain diverse audiences, NCT offers a number of affordable options that appeal not Sally Struthers stars as Jeanette in NC Theatre’s The Full Monty only to families, but to young adults as well. The Target Student Preview Night program was designed to give students and educators the opportunity to see a Broadway musical for just $15, or $50 for the entire season. Lisa Grele Barrie, President and CEO, shared with us that on the Friday night before each show opens to the public, students and educators are invited to attend a 7pm showing at the reduced price. Adults who accompany the students pay full price based on the applicable seating. “As an added bonus, they’re brought up front after the show for a talkback session with the cast and crew,” Barrie adds. “The audience can ask any questions they like, and it can be a real treat for them to get to see the actors up close.”

Student Preview Nights, for the remainder of the 2011 season, will take place on the following Fridays:

Hello Dolly! May 6th Hairspray July 22nd Evita October 21st Another option for young professionals, ages 21 to 30, is NCT’s HipTix offering, which is a season subscription that results in a 50 percent savings off single ticket prices. The HipTix season subscription is like a goodie bag for anyone who enjoys great food, mixing and mingling with other young professionals, and of course, the unrivaled entertainment of Broadway musical theatre. Along with your ticket, you can enjoy drink and appetizer specials prior to each show at one of the designated Empire Eats restaurants, in partnership with NCT. In addition, you can take advantage of the Empire Eats employee discount (30 percent off) for yourself and a guest, at one of their restaurants during the run of each show. This is a once-only offer during the duration of that show, but this great deal and the reduced ticket price combine for a fun and very affordable night out on the town.

“This is a great opportunity for our audience members who may have aged out of the Student Preview Nights,” says Barrie, “and it helps fulfill part of our mission, which is to cultivate an interest in musical theatre. We realize that this generation is woefully addicted to screens, and to be able to motivate them to transition from a two-dimensional experience to the three-dimensional spectacle that is musical theatre is something we take very seriously.” HipTix showings take place on Wednesday nights.

For more information on these and other entertainment and educational opportunities at NCT, visit www.nctheatre.com. midtownmag.com| xx

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© Stuart Wagner Photography

A scene from RLT’s 2010 production of The Piano Lesson.

Raleigh Little Theatre, now celebrating its 75th year, is a non-profit community theatre that boasts the largest subscription base of any community theatre in the area and produces 11 shows each season. With a professional staff of 16 and an impressive volunteer base of more than 500 community members, RLT’s unique productions can be enjoyed by even the most frugal theatre fan. With four shows remaining in the 2011 season, check out these tempting deals: From the Sutton Series, performed in the Cantey V. Sutton Main Stage Theatre:

The Last Night of Ballyhoo* April 8th-24th Adult Ticket - $20 • Student/Senior Ticket - $16

The Threepenny Opera* June 3rd-19th Adult Ticket - $22 • Student/Senior Ticket $18

*Contains strong language; may not be suitable for younger audiences From the Youth Series, performed in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre:

Really Rosie (musical) March 11th-27th Teen/Adult Ticket - $13 • Children 12 and under - $9

Sideways Stories from Wayside School May 6th-22nd Teen/Adult Ticket - $13 • Children 12 and under - $9

For more information on the shows, or to learn more about the rich history RLT, one of the oldest continuously running theatres of its kind in the country, visit their website at www.raleighlittletheatre.org.

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Young thespians delighted audiences in NRACT’s Robin Hood.

Nestled in the corner of Greystone Village Shopping Center, at the corner of Lead Mine and Sawmill Roads, North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre (NRACT) is The Little Engine That Could of community theatre. In the nine years since its founding, NRACT has managed to entertain as well as educate the North Raleigh community and beyond – and is beloved by those who have poured their hearts into its many productions and classes over the years. Sylvia Mallory, Operations Manager, and Beth Brody, passionate volunteer and parent of an NRACT alum, shared with Midtown what sets live theatre apart from other forms of entertainment. “At NRACT, we see our shows as so much more than entertainment,” Mallory says. “Live theatre offers a human connection. You feed off the energy that comes from the actors and the technicians; and the audience is part of that equation. It becomes more gratifying than anything on a screen can offer. It’s that energy, and that element of surprise and unpredictability that sets live theatre apart.”

“I think another thing that makes NRACT so unique,” Brody adds, “is that for many children, this is their first-ever experience attending a live performance. When the actors are so close that you feel you can reach out and touch them, it’s a very intimate connection that’s made.” Brody says for her son, Leo, that connection goes both ways. As a cast member in the 2009 production of Aladdin and His Wonderful Magical Lamp, Leo turned a wardrobe malfunction into an audience highlight. “When his glued-on facial hair started flapping around on his face, he really played it up and worked it into the scene,” Brody recalls. “The audience, especially the younger kids, latched onto that unscripted moment and laughed for what seemed like forever. Well, that just made his night.”

For all the magic that happens at NRACT, you won’t break the bank to get in on the act. Adult tickets are $15, students and seniors attend for $12, and all matinees are $10. Remaining in the 2010-2011 season are Brighton Beach Memoirs, running March 11th-27th; and a charming musical version of E.B. White’s classic, Stuart Little, which runs May 6th-22nd. For more information, go to www.nract.org.

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Prada 2003 Fairview Road (Five Points) Raleigh, NC 27608 919.828.3737 Mon-Fri: 11am-5pm Sat: 11am-4pm

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© Right Image Photography, Inc.

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Christian Louboutin Ferragamo and more!

Roger Rathburn as Atticus Finch and Whitney Madren as Mayella Ewell in the Burning Coal Theatre Company production of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Readers familiar with the venerable history of the Murphey School, located on Polk Street, would have to agree that few spaces are more hallowed in Raleigh’s historic narrative. First built in 1908, flanking Raleigh’s historic Oakwood district, the Murphey School was a public elementary school for many decades. The Raleigh School Board, while meeting in the school’s auditorium in 1961, made the landmark vote to end racial segregation; and the first African-American child to integrate the city’s schools did so with his attendance at the school shortly thereafter. This rich history is part of the tapestry of Burning Coal Theatre, with performances taking place in what is now the renovated auditorium, completed in 2008.

“Our first performance in Raleigh took place in 1997, so this is our 14th season,” says founder Jerome Davis, who says he believes

Perhaps best known for its rollicking, riotous, and perennially popular A Christmas Carol adaptation, Raleigh’s Theatre In The Park is by no means a one-trick pony. Founded by the legendary Ira David Wood III, Theatre In The Park delivers season after season of wildly entertaining, often original productions. Two shows, both comedies, remain in the 2010-2011 lineup. These ticket prices are palatable, even to a pre-enlightened Scrooge!

Devon Does Denmark April 1st-17th world premiere, written and directed by Ira David Wood III

Noises Off! June 10th-26th

by Michael Frayn, directed by Ira David Wood III Ticket prices for both productions: Adults $22 • Students, Seniors and Military $16

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theatre should be electrifying, even visceral. “I’m not interested in form over content, so I don’t pick a play simply because it pushes the envelope or anything like that. What I am interested in is what the play is about. If it’s something that I, or my neighbors, might find interesting, then I consider that a play worth doing,” he adds. An audience member who attends Burning Coal productions regularly once shared with Davis that she always leaves the theatre having learned something. “And another woman once told me that there’s always a moment in one of our plays when the hair stands up on the back of her neck,” Davis says. “We’re trying to do what Aristotle told us 4,000 years ago, which is that art should educate while entertaining.”

Still in queue for the 2011 season are the following productions, with more information available at www.burningcoal.org.

To Kill a Mockingbird March 10th-20th All Tickets – $20

The Shape of the Table April 7th-24th Regular Tickets – $20 • Student/Senior and Active Military – $15 Special Thursday pricing of $10

Pornography* April 28th-May 8th All Tickets – $10

My name is Rachel Corrie May 19th-22nd All Tickets – $10

© Theatre In The Park

*While not about pornography, Davis believes the subject matter, the 2005 London subway bombings, to be most appropriate for mature audiences.

Theatre In The Park actors Andy Hayworth, Jesse Gephart and Jason Sharp in The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged).

assured that neither April showers – nor June ones – will sabotage your entertainment here. Theatre In The Park is thus named for its (dry and comfy) indoor locale in scenic Pullen Park, adjacent to the NC State campus.

For more information visit www.theatreinthepark.com. midtownmag.com| 59

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calendar

&

march april 2011 recZone learn to skate March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 5:30-6:30pm | 919.754.0441 “mardi Gras” wine dinner March 8 | 6:30pm | www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com First Friday at marbles March 4 | Museum open until 8pm | www.marbleskidsmuseum.com

mars needs mom: an imaX 3d eXperience pet vet Grand openinG celebration March 11 | www.marbleskidsmuseum.com March 19 | 9am-5pm | www.marblekidsmuseum.com art source Fine art eXhibition – artists reception “sprinG into sprinG piG pickinG” March 11 | 7-9pm | 919.787.9533 beneFittinG autism www.artsource-raleigh.com March 19 | 4pm | ds Parada Color Salon | 919.790.1707 scout & molly’s Grand cookinG class re-openinG cocktail party March 23 | 4:30pm | March 12 | 7pm | www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com www.scoutandmollys.com

diG-in community Garden summit with advocates For health in action “black & white/color liGht” March 5 | 8:30am-1pm | lee hansley Gallery www.surveymonkey.com/s/DigIn2011Registration March 13-April 30 | 2-5pm | 919.828.7557

Family Fit series March 25 | 2-4pm www.marbleskidsmuseum.com

recZone learn to skate March 5, 12, 19, 26 | 1:15-2:15pm | 919.754.0441

tarheel tale tellers March 26 | 11am, 2pm | www.marbleskidsmuseum.com

33rd annual north carolina artists eXhibition March 6-May 2 | Progress Energy Center | 919.787.9629 tadashi shoJi sell day at saks FiFth avenue March 10 | 10am-4pm | 919.792.9100

“naviGatinG the leGal, Financial, and emotional aspects oF separation and divorce” March 15 | 6:30-8:15pm | 919.250.2157 www.smithdebnamlaw.com

national students oF amF’s second annual sprinG soiree armani stock show at saks FiFth avenue March 26 | The Stockroom March 16 | 10-6pm | 919.792.9100, ext. 5390 www.amfsoiree.org st. patrick’s day March 17

“colores de primavera” March 26 | All day until 9pm | 919.398.8537 www.sededesuperacionpersonal.com/id68.html GadGets & GiZmos March 27 | 1-3pm www.marbleskidsmuseum.com “sinG For the cure” kick-oFF Fundraiser March 31 | The Mint | 6-8pm | 919.881.2108 lela rose trunk show March 31, April 1 | 919.787.9780 www.vermillionstyle.com

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Gallery A – aditya shringarpure March 31 | 7-9pm | 919.546.9011 www.gallerya-nc.com April Fool’s Day April 1 Ideal Home Show April 1-3 | Friday 12-9pm; Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday 11-5pm | www.southernidealhomeshow.com.

SPCA of Wake County K9 3K Dog Walk April 16 | 10am-2pm | Moore Square, Downtown Raleigh | www.spcawake.org/walk2011

Devon Does Denmark April 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16 I 7:30pm | 919.831.6058 | www.theatreinthepark.com

Cooking Class April 19th | 4:30pm | www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com

midtown beach music series – the embers April 28 | 6-9pm | On the commons | www.northhillsevents.com

Devon Does Denmark April 3, 10, 17 | 3pm | 919.831.6058 www.theatreinthepark.com

Midtown farmer’s market April 23 | 8am-12pm | Every Saturday until November 19 | www.northhillsevents.com

2nd Annual All Dolled Up I The Mint April 30 | 1-5pm | www.otherwomannc.com

Wine Dinner April 5th | 6:30pm | www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com

Easter April 24

Midtown farmer’s market April 30 | 8am-12pm | Every Saturday until November 19 | www.northhillsevents.com

Bertolucci Trunk Show – Saks Fifth Avenue April 28 | 10-5pm | 919.792.9100

Have an important event? We would love to hear about it. Please send the details of your calendar events to: gstephens@midtownmag.com.

Appetite 4 Art April 8 | 8-11pm | Marbles Kids Museum | www.app4art.org Kay Unger Personal Appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue April 9 | 10am-4pm | 919.792.9100 world beer festival April 9 | Afternoon Session: 12-4pm, Evening Session: 6-10pm | Moore Square, Downtown Raleigh | www.allaboutbeer.com “Navigating the Legal, Financial, and Emotional Aspects of Separation and Divorce” April 12 | 6:30-8:15pm | 919.250.2157 www.smithdebnamlaw.com Midtown farmer’s market April 16 | 8am-12pm | Every Saturday until November 19 | www.northhillsevents.com

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the bare facts

Saving Face: By illyse lane photography by april maness

Ever look in the bathroom mirror and wonder what’s going on?

Ever ask yourself when those fine lines and wrinkles, that acne and dryness, the dark spots, redness, puffiness and even the random hairs decided to show up? Well, stop cringing and read on. We found out what’s really going on with our skin and best of all, what you can do to save your face...

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I

I admit it. I’m a skincare junkie.

I enjoy reading about antioxidants. I get excited googling the latest serums. I occasionally wonder if my family would be disappointed if, instead of coming home with groceries, I gave in and purchased that peptide-filled eye cream. And yes, I confess that sometimes I gaze in the mirror pondering injectables, lasers, deep cleansing and peels.

Apparently, I’m not alone. It was far too easy to find seven women who were interested in improving the look, tone and texture of their skin.

Women of various ages and stages who aren’t searching for the fountain of youth, but are interested in doing the best job with what they’ve got.

So what could be more perfect than having the experts from some of the incredible, top-notch spas offer to jump in and help? These professionals opened their doors, happily agreeing to assist these ladies with their complexion challenges. They explained why their skin is changing and what treatments would be most effective at meeting their different needs.

I was there through it all, soaking in every bit of information.

Pinch me. I think this is my dream assignment. midtownmag.com| xx

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the 30s THIRTIES Ah, the thirties. Careers take off, marriages happen and kids arrive. It’s also the time when our skin begins to lose collagen and fat, resulting in our first case of fine lines, usually around the eyes. Adding insult to injury, those days of playing in the sun catch up to us, resulting in the emergence of dark spots, while pregnancy and hormones can bring its own slew of challenges. Did we mention that sometimes, we’re just tired and don’t have time to put ourselves together the way we used to. What to do?

Meet: Amy Hall, 32. Frustrated by uneven pigmentation due to sun damage and pregnancy and the emergence of fine lines around the eyes.

The Expert: Amanda Gallagher, Nurse Practitioner, Glo de Vie Med Spa The Recommendation: Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Skin Rejuvenation How it works: Intense light travels over the skin, penetrating through the layers to break down the unwanted cells and promote new cell growth. IPL will allow the skin pigment to rises up to the surface and gently come off. IPL will also help with the texture, pore size, smoothness, firmness and overall glow of her skin. Hall will feel a slight discomfort, similar to the light snapping of an elastic band, during the procedure, which takes about 20 minutes. Immediately following, she may look as though she’s been in the sun, but within two to five days, results will begin to show. While there will be visible results with just one treatment, getting a series of three, with one every four weeks, will give you completely uniform color.

The Results: Initially, Hall’s freckles looked a little darker, but within a few days of treatment, the darker pigment was indeed raised, and took on a coffee-grind like feel, eventually sloughing off. Her skin tone was more even and she was a believer.

Glo de Vie Take-Away Tip: “This is the ideal time to talk to your professional about what you can do to make your overall complexion better,” recommends Gallagher. “It’s like exercising and eating well. Treat your skin well and get in the habit of a regime.” Gallagher also stresses the importance of sunscreen every day. “If you are using the right product, you should never feel oily,” she explains. She also reminds us that while injectables can help with the emergence of those crow’s feet, remember that if you are thinking about getting pregnant or nursing, you are not a candidate.

Where to Begin?

While our local Midtown experts shared tons of valuable information, here are the tips our spa ladies valued the most:

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• An at-home regime with high quality products is beneficial, and doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. It will also supplement any investment you make in treatments, helping to prolong and maximize the effects.

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Meet: Betsy Zarzour, 32.

As many young working moms, she tends to feel tired. She’d love to find out how to pull herself together and begin good skincare habits.

The Expert: Rebecca O’Carroll, aesthetician, Skin Sense Day Spa The Recommendation: Four Layered Facial with Mineral Make-Up Application How it Works: Designed to improve circulation, eliminate toxins, add moisture and soften lines. To begin, a deep cleansing is performed, followed by antioxidants, vitamin C, seaweed, and minerals being added to the skin through a layering technique. The final step – the heat mask – allows the beneficial ingredients to be infused, leaving Zarzour’s skin full of the good stuff and glowing. Before she walked out the door, O’Carroll applied mineral makeup.

The Results: Zarzour’s skin was radiant following the facial, with a dewy, youthful glow. She also found the treatment to be extremely relaxing and would recommend it to anyone who’s in need of a little TLC. Zarzour also discovered that makeup doesn’t have to be overwhelming or over the top. O’Carroll taught her the simple steps that could give her a put-together, natural look that she could achieve on her own.

Skin Sense Take-Away Tip: “If your skin is in good shape and you are using an in-home regime that you like, a seasonal facial can help give your face a boost,” says O’Carroll. “However, if you are having oily congestion in the t-zone, it may be a good idea to invest in a monthly facial, which can help you reduce pore size and help maintain elasticity.” O’Carroll also recommends making vitamin C, vitamin A and sunscreen a part of your skincare routine.

• Vitamin C, vitamin A and sunscreen are essentials. Vitamin A will help exfoliate and strengthen the skin, which becomes especially important as we age. Vitamin C helps prevent free radicals such as the sun from attacking our collagen. And sunscreen is the only guaranteed protection against skin cancer.

• And last but certainly not least, patience is a virtue when it comes to corrective skincare. If you are willing to invest your time, you will see results.

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the 40s FORTIES This is a transition decade, as we shift gears from preventative to corrective care.

But that doesn’t happen without confusion. We know we’re getting older, but still find ourselves shopping a popular teenage acne line for breakouts, while we simultaneously search for an eye cream and schedule an appointment for an injectable.

Our collagen loss continues and our lines become more static, especially as the decade progresses. It’s also not uncommon to have vascular patches, as our capillaries become more visible. Throw in some peri-menopausal symptoms and the sneaking up of genetics; we are left wondering what is going on.

Meet: Michele Schneider, 42. Schneider’s concerns are very common, as she struggles to appropriately address a few fine lines, some minor hyperpigmentation and occasional breakouts.

The Expert: Marisa Kahn, aesthetician, Synergy Spa The Recommendation: Hydra-Facial Level I with Oxygen Infusion and LED Therapy.

How it Works: This customized facial targets both the inner and outer layers of the skin by eliminating the appearance of damaged skin while stimulating collagen production. After a gentle cleansing, an antioxidant peel booster is applied, followed by antioxidant serums delivered through an oxygen infusion. A brightening serum was used to address the uneven pigmentation, followed by a hydrating and soothing mask. To finish up, Kahn used LED, a photo-rejuvenation treatment that stimulates the production of collagen that also works to improves discolored areas. All this along with the standard arm treatment, upper body and facial massage, a touch of eye cream and appropriate sun protection.

The Results: For Schneider, it was the ideal treatment, blending a touch of relaxation with clinical, result-focused elements. Upon leaving, she immediately noticed her skin’s renewed clarity and improved texture. Schneider also learned that good anti-aging products – ones that contain ingredients such as vitamin A – help the skin exfoliate, which helps with pore congestion and breakouts, ending her confusion about what products are best.

Synergy Spa Take-Away Tip: “While it’s great to get into the habit of visiting your spa for treatments once a month or once a quarter, you cannot expect to have improvements if you are not supplementing at home,” explains Kahn.

“Pharmaceutical grade products offer the right PH balance and most effective ingredients, being the perfect complement to any treatment regime.” Products should ideally include a blend of vitamin A, vitamin C and of course, sunscreen should be staple. And don’t forget to moisturize, even if you are oily. If you don’t, those sebaceous glands can overproduce, leading to more breakouts. xx | midtownmag.com

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Meet: Linda Brechbiel, 48. Frustrated by under-the-eye puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles, minor acne scars.

Expert: Jennifer Doolittle, licensed medical aesthetician, Blue Water Spa The Recommendation: Peel-A-Bliss How it Works: This targeted facial is the first step in getting Brechbiels’s skin in tip-top shape. Doolittle began by cleansing Brechbiel’s face with a Clarisonic brush, a hand-held device that uses sonic waves to clean pores while prepping the skin so products can work effectively. Next step? A mild peel containing enzymes and lactic acid to reduce red spots, add hydration and soften the skin, followed by a facial massage, which included both a lymphatic drainage massage to help with under-eye puffiness and extractions to remove millia – a common problem for women as we age due to lack of exfoliation. While the extractions were not always comfortable, it was necessary to get on the right path for positive results. Finally, a hydrating mask was applied, followed by and a few minutes of LED to stimulate collagen production.

The Results: Brechbiel’s skin felt clean and refreshed with a visibly soft, dewy glow, even with the mild extractions. While she found every aspect of the facial relaxing and beneficial, she found the lymphatic drainage massage to be highly effective in reducing her under eye puffiness. Five days later, she still noticed a visible difference in the texture of her skin and wants to go back soon.

Blue Water Spa Take-Away Tip: Brechbiel is the perfect example of how getting your skin in good shape takes time. “Often times when you go for treatment, you’ll be encouraged to invest in a series,” says Doolittle. “There’s a reason for this.” She explains that our skin renews itself about every 30 days. To continue to promote collagen growth, it’s essential to treat before the total renewal takes place. Over time, the span between treatments will increase. “To really change things, you have to be willing to be patient,” she says. Doolittle also recommends making sure you talk with a professional before purchasing products, for what is good for your friend may not be the best choice for you.

Meet: Rita Krosner, 48. Interested in reducing redness and improving her overall complexion.

The Expert: Elizabeth Paner, owner and licensed aesthetician, Midtown Medi-Spa, located in Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center.

The Recommendation: Customized Peel Package How it Works: At the foundation of Paner’s business are customized peels, with other treatments designed to work in tandem to maximize the peel’s effectiveness. Paner began with a deep cleansing using a milky cleanser, followed by dermaplaning, a highly effective, gentle exfoliating treatment that removes midtownmag.com| xx

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the top layer of the skin and facial hair, revealing smooth and supple skin. Next, a lactic acid peel, designed to brighten and lighten the skin yet gentle enough to be used on her visible vascular areas, was applied along with a firming mask. To finish the experience, Paner tinted Krosner’s light blond lashes, making her bright blue eyes pop and then, taught her how to use mineral makeup.

The Results: Rita was overwhelmed, taking one look in the mirror and proclaiming that her skin had never looked like this. Her skin felt more awake and finished, with the redness toned down. She was so pleased she committed to come back before she left.

Midtown Medi-Spa Take-Away Tip: Paner stresses the importance of approaching skincare as a total package. “It’s finding the right combination of treatments that can work together to accomplish your goals,” says Paner. “It is also essential to work with a professional who’s willing to customize a solution each time you visit.” Additionally, if you choose to invest in pharmaceutical-grade skincare products, consider the same investment for your make-up. “Often times, we spend a lot of time investing in treatments; high-quality makeup can also be very good for your skin and help with your results,” says Paner.

the 50s FIFTIES

The best way to describe the fifties? It’s personal. Across the board statements about skin no longer apply, as thanks to genetics and lifestyle, our face is the way it is. Our wrinkles become more static and sun damage can be very apparent. Loss of volume continues. And don’t be surprised if you glance in the mirror only to have your mother staring back at you.

This is also the time that, thanks to our womanhood, our skin may be drier as hormones are fluctuating.

Meet: Ofelia Sherrill, 57. Bothered mostly by fine lines around her eyes, along with some dryness and skin texture.

The Expert: Kathryn Ruliffson P.A.-C, Davis Plastic Surgery The Recommendation: The injectable Botox® How it Works: Injectables work by paralyzing the muscle, making it unable to contract. Once this muscle stops contracting, the skin around the muscle can no longer “smush” together, allowing it to smooth and decrease the wrinkle, making for a more refreshed look. While there are different injectables available, Ruliffson decided that Botox® would be best suited to meet Sherrill’s needs. In order to target the correct areas around Sherrill’s eyes and achieve the most natural look, Ruliffson asked her to smile big and then relax. Sherrill felt a slight pinch, but no discomfort during the injection. Botox® will last from four to six months. With continued use, the area injected will continue to improve. Within a few days, Sherrill should see noticeable results.

Results: Forget a few days…within 36 hours, Sherrill noticed results, as the deeper grooves around the corner of her eyes as well as some of the wrinkling underneath her eyes had been subdued. Her results continued to come through as the days went on. She feels more youthful and vibrant and can’t believe it was that simple.

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Davis Plastic Surgery Take-Away Tip: “When doing an injectable or filler, it’s important to do it with a professional that you trust,” says Ruliffson. “You want a look that doesn’t change your face, but just makes you look better.”

And while an injectable or filler is going to be highly effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines, to maximize results, these treatments should be a part of a customized plan, which should include a combination of clinical treatments and an at-home regime. “It can be frustrating because there is so much out there. You can find something that’s easy to use, affordable and compliments what you do in a clinic,” says Ruliffson. Two good staples? A good eye cream and sunscreen.

Meet: Patricia DeBoer, 57 years old.

Dislikes deep creasing around the mouth and jaw line.

The Expert: Phyllis Smith, A Younger You The Recommendation: Jade Non-Surgical Face Lifting and Correction Technology How it Works: A holistic approach developed by a physician, this microcurrent facial sculpting procedure is a non-surgical lifting method designed to wake up the skin and remind it to start producing collagen and elastin through deep tissue stimulation. Designed to improve texture and tone as well as reduce wrinkles, this procedure focuses on opening the lymphatic system through the use of radio, sound and light waves, drawing out toxins while penetrating deep into the cellular level. It is also highly effective for treating skin disorders, such as scarring. While DeBoer will see results with just one treatment, a series of 10 are ideal.

The Results: DeBoer was completely relaxed during the procedure and did see immediate lifting results – a whole half inch. In addition to liking the tone and texture of her skin, she is a fan of this natural approach to bringing corrective repair to her face, so much so that she committed to a series.

A Younger You’s Take-Away Tip: “I can offer a natural, no-risk, no-downtime, no-pain procedure that allows your skin to repair itself and do what it should be doing,” says Smith. “It may take a few months to get to where you need to be, but you can get there.” Smith also reminds us to take advantage of natural products made with ingredients that are good for your skin. They can give you fantastic results, especially when working in conjunction with her procedure.

SO HOW DO YOU SAVE YOUR FACE? Seven women, seven customized treatments and seven refreshed faces. Yes, all of our willing volunteers felt they left the spa not only with glowing skin and a relaxing aura, but armed with the knowledge to save their own face. As a matter of fact, nearly all have planned for a follow-up appointment. Do I dare say they’ve been bitten by the same skincare bug as I have?

Perhaps so. It’s easy to see why. Thumb through any magazine. Walk through any drug store or big box skincare store. Catch an early morning infomercial. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to skin care. But meeting with our Midtown experts took the guesswork out of the equation. And that can be inspiring.

After all, we only have one face. Why not put our best one forward? midtownmag.com| xx

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bain’s beat

The Lack of the Irish

BY DAN BAIN

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n December 2007, I was walking through the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot, checking out the displays on various American holidays. I noticed a lull in traffic at the Kwanzaa booth, where a woman was purporting to explain the roots of that holiday to an empty patch of pavement.

Feeling sorry for her, I strolled over to listen for a moment and immediately understood why no one else was bothering to stop – she seemed to be making things up: “Kwanzaa is a holiday for African Americans to celebrate their heritage, just like Saint Patrick’s Day is a holiday for Irish Americans to celebrate their heritage and Columbus Day is a holiday for Italian Americans to celebrate their heritage!”

Sorry, but I’m not buyin’ it. Kwanzaa may be about heritage, but the other two she mentioned are about individuals. We honor Columbus not for his heritage, but for his actions. He allegedly discovered the New World, thereby enabling us Europeans to become the first of many illegal immigrants

to these parts. Not to mention, he was working for Spain at the time. He might have been born in Genoa, but Italians shouldn’t claim Columbus as part of their heritage when he refused to claim Italy as part of his.

And Saint Patrick’s Day has more to do with religion than heritage. As far as heritage goes, Irish Americans ought to be offended by the way other people celebrate it. It’s a day when everyone else claims an affinity with our heritage by going out and getting blind, stumbling drunk. How proud should we be, knowing we’re regarded as a bunch of souses? That’s not exactly the kind of reputation that would make Erin go brag....

Well, kiss my Blarney Stone, ye drunken revelers, because I refuse to let my ancestry be stereotyped that way. This holiday has nothing to do with alcohol. In fact, pubs in Ireland used to stay closed on Saint Patrick’s Day – it was mandated by law for the religious holiday. So if you really want to be “Irish for the Day,” maybe you should sober up and pray.

I defy anyone to name another cultural holiday when it’s acceptable to perpetuate a negative stereotype of that culture. Can you imagine what would happen if white rednecks “celebrated” Kwanzaa by publicly acting out their misperceptions of African Americans? Al Sharpton’s head would explode before you could spell A-C-L-U.

Ditto on another culture pretty much stealing somebody else’s holiday. Why do non-Irish people claim to be Irish, just because it’s St. Patrick’s Day? You wouldn’t see Catholics wearing “Kiss Me, I’m Jewish” buttons on Yom Kippur. And yet, “Everybody’s Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day.” Sure. I bet most of the people sporting shamrocks on March 17th couldn’t even find Ireland on a map of the British Isles.

Here’s some trivia to file under “Irony” – all of the non-Irish people out there who say “Happy Saint Paddy’s Day” are actually mocking themselves. It’s true. People think “Saint Paddy” is just a nickname for “Saint Patrick,” but it’s actually a slur. It comes

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from the term “Plastic Paddy” – a nasty little swipe at non-Irish folks who claim to be Irish.

There’s plenty of other interesting Saint Patrick’s Day trivia to be found out there, if people would only put down their green beers long enough to do the research. To wit: 1) Saint Patrick did NOT banish snakes from Ireland. That was a metaphor for pagans. It’s true there are no snakes in Ireland today, but it’s not because of Saint Patrick – it’s because there never were. Here’s another clue – it’s an island, folks. Snakes don’t migrate across water.

They never left Ireland, because they never got there to begin with.

Maybe I’ll start a rumor that I chased all of the wild hyenas off the North American continent. Don’t believe me? Look around – do you see any wild hyenas? You’re welcome!

2) The patron saint of Ireland wasn’t even Irish; he was Welsh. Yep. Patrick was born in Roman Britain, in what is now known as Wales. He was kidnapped by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland. So instead of wearing green for the Emerald Isle, maybe we should all wear … whatever color is associated with Wales. What color is that, anyway?

I’ve heard of blue Wales, but I’m not sure that’s the same thing....

3) The tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green started as a municipal exercise in pollution control. In the 1960s, city workers used the dye to trace illegal sewage discharges (sort of like the infamous “purple water” scare tactic used to keep kids from peeing in pools). This makes me suspicious – if the dye reveals a sewage discharge as a small green stream, what exactly are they dumping into the river to turn the whole thing green? I’ll tell you one thing – you don’t want to be stuck up that river without a paddle....

4) Celtic music has a notorious past. When the Irish were conquered by the English, they were forbidden to speak their own language, so they played their music to remember their heritage. But it tended to galvanize the downtrodden, so Queen Elizabeth I decreed that artists and pipers be arrested and summarily hanged. (If you’ve ever heard bagpipes up close, you’ll probably find this policy fair.)

5) Corned beef and cabbage has long thought to be a traditional Irish dish, but you’d have to lose the corned beef to be accurate; bacon is more likely to appear with cabbage on the Emerald Isle. Another common dish is colcannon, made from potatoes and cabbage. The English call this meal “bubble and squeak,” which is more apt as a description of what happens after you eat it.

6) New York’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade started out as a military march in the pre-Revolution days. Back then, the British were the bad guys; nevertheless, the parade has become beloved in the US and has grown to become the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in the world. It features more than 150,000 marchers, including prominent New York politicians.

Former Mayor Ed Koch participates every year, having once proclaimed himself “Ed O’Koch.” In 2007, then-governor Eliot Spitzer marched in the parade, but I suspect that was merely an excuse to look for a date whenever he passed a street corner.

So call me an Irish Scrooge if you must, but “Bah! Humbug!” and “Faith and Begorrah!” to the people falsely claiming to celebrate this particular holiday. I’m not willing to demean my ancestry; there are far too many other people out there doing so for me.

They think wearing green and getting drunk make them Irish and for that they get their own holiday – it occurs 15 days later....

Dan Bain, Gaelic Grouch mail@danbain.net

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“Programs get expanded, facilities get updated, but the same activities bond families over the generations.� ~ Forrest Perry, Executive Director, Camp Kanata

r a e d

and

BY JENNI HART

mom dad,

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thanks for the memories...

As you read this issue of Midtown, residential summer camps across the country are processing applications and gearing up to welcome an estimated 10 million eager campers for the 2011 summer season. Camp Kanata, the only YMCA overnight camp within a hundred miles of the Triangle, is no exception. For more than 50 years, a stay at Kanata has been the highlight of the summer for thousands of campers from North Carolina and beyond. This is the place where many of them spent their first night away from home, where they stretched their wings and tried new things, where they met lifelong friends and some, even future spouses.

Forrest Perry has Camp Kanata in his DNA. In 1989, Perry was a first-time camper; he has since worked as a staff trainee, a counselor, and as part of the administrative staff. Now in his second year as Executive Director, Perry has seen family connections made and strengthened through the experience of summer camp.

What is it about Camp Kanata that inspires past campers to return, decades later, with their own children? “Parents enjoy the rich history and tradition that they’re passing on to their children,” says Perry. “When you came to camp years ago, we had archery, we had canoeing, we swam down at the lake. We’re still doing all of those things, so there’s a consistency that bridges the gap between the parents’ experience and what their children will experience.

Programs get expanded, facilities get updated, but those same activities bond families over the generations.”

Perry relays the story of one former counselor, Ken, whose children, Hannah and Ethan, now attend Kanata. This year, Hannah will be entering her second year as a staff trainee. “So one of the neat things I get to see,” Perry says, “is on family drop-off day, when former campers and counselors are walking around the camp sharing stories with their kids about the things they did when they were here.”

Nowhere is that nostalgia more evident than on the walls of the arts and crafts hut, which is one of the original buildings that dates back to the 1950s when the camp was first built. “We have this tradition that at the end of each summer, the staff members go in and paint their names on the walls and ceiling of the hut,” says Perry. “It’s great to be with families when they share that moment, seeing that visual reminder of their time here, knowing that their son or daughter may want to come back and work as a counselor and continue that tradition.”

Camp Kanata sits on a sprawling 150 acres, with hiking trails, athletic fields, two lakes, and cozy cabins – in a setting that’s a brushstroke away from Norman Rockwell Americana. Located midtownmag.com| xx

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(top) Water lovers slide, dive and are catapulted off “The Blob” into the lake at Camp Kanata. (right) Kanata counselors aim to make every activity safe and fun.

just outside of Wake Forest, Kanata feels like a world away – yet its proximity is especially appealing to families in the Triangle who enjoy knowing their children are actually not too far from home.

With all that Camp Kanata has to offer, Perry echoes the sentiments of many residential camp advocates who believe every child should have the privilege of attending camp. “Sadly, one of the statistics that I point people to from the American Camping Association,” says Perry, “shows that only about 10 percent of the eligible youth population attend residential (overnight) summer camp.” Perry says that for the uninitiated, one of his greatest challenges is convincing them of the merits of camp.

“If you never went to summer camp yourself, you don’t even know what you missed – or what your children are missing.”

Fun! These are just some of Kanata campers’ favorite activities: • Swimming • Water Slides • Canoeing • Kayaking • Fishing • Archery

• Sports • Arts and Crafts • Dance • Drama • Cheerleading • Low Ropes

Ask a Kanata veteran about these special attractions (or watch the video on their website): • The Alpine Tower • The Blob • The Iceberg • The Tarzan Swing Friendship “What you find at camp is a different community than anything a child will experience in any other setting; it’s sort of like a mini-society,” says Perry. “So it’s a good way to learn how to live in cooperation with others, to learn to communicate outside of the comfort of the home or school environment. Campers learn to negotiate and work together, and that, in turn, develops their sense of self-worth and self-esteem.” Perry says the bonds of friendship are forged through the close interactions and shared experiences of camp.

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Personal Growth “We like to tell parents that one of our goals is to return to them an even better child than the one they dropped off,” says Perry. “That goal includes keeping them safe of course, but it also means that we seek to help each camper develop lifelong skills, greater independence, and more effective communication and social skills.” Perry goes on to explain that a majority of staff at Camp Kanata were themselves campers at some point, and that’s one reason camp can offer such a nurturing environment for a child. “When you’ve been a camper and you’ve worked your way up through the ranks as a staff trainee and then a counselor, you know how much it means to that child; you want to give them the very best experience they can have. You want their years at camp to be just as much fun and just as fulfilling as yours were.”

And while meeting a future mate isn’t something most campers or counselors even think about, Perry says it does happen. The first year Perry came to Kanata as a camper, his counselor, Alan, met a fellow counselor, Ashley.

They began dating, and here they are, years later, married with their own two children. “Their son, Jack, will be six, and old enough to attend camp this summer,” Perry says, “so even though they now live in Connecticut, they’re making the drive to come back down and visit with family while Jack attends his first year at Kanata.”

You’ve heard the saying about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts? If you’ve been to summer camp, you’ve probably taken part in an exhaustive array of activities, and spent ample time outdoors enjoying nature.

And then there are the friendships that blossom over campfires and day-long canoe trips. But there’s something intangible that happens when a child goes to camp; something that words seem unable to capture. As generations of Kanata campers could tell you, you’ll find that special something here.

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速

Comes to Life The second annual BrickMagic is for LEGO fans of all ages.

By illyse lane

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In the world of childhood toys, many come and go. Yet LEGO has withstood the test of time, with over 50 years of history. So what is it about these classic, addictive pieces that make them appealing to both children and adults?

“LEGO speaks to someone of any age in any place. It’s just a little plastic brick, but when you hand it to someone, he instinctively knows what to do with it,” says John Morrow, co-owner of TwoMorrows, the Raleigh-based publisher of BrickJournal, a magazine for LEGO enthusiasts.

Morrow’s own enthusiasm is the force behind the second annual BrickMagic, a festival for LEGO fans of all ages, featuring exhibitors from around the country who gather to showcase their custom creations. Whether it’s an entire cityscape, brought into town on trucks with parts attached to 4x8 chunks of plywood to be precisely assembled before the show opens to the public, or a LEGO Skittles dispenser that comes to life, actually giving you the tiny colorful candy to enjoy, there is no limit to the creative genius you’ll see at BrickMagic. “These builders take it to the next level and blow away all your preconceived notions of what you can do with those bricks,” says Morrow.

This year, the event, which had an estimated 8,000 people come through the door last year, promises to be even more exciting and enticing. In addition to guest of honor Sean Kenney, the highly acclaimed certified professional LEGO Builder, the venue space is larger, allowing for even more displays and a new free build room for children inspired to create their own visions. Special guests will also include David Pagano, a stop-motion LEGO animation expert and Jared K. Burks, the creator of numerous mini-figures over the last 13 years.

Festivities will also include a Cool Car Building Contest, the LEGO Stomp Car Derby, and the availability of hard-to-find LEGO parts and sets, including the limited edition LEGO Tulip Kit, the ideal Mother’s Day gift for all the special women in your life.

Here’s what you should know if you decide to go: • Mother’s Day Weekend, May 7th- 8th at the Hilton North Raleigh, located at 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh.

• Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

• Single day tickets: Adults (ages 17 & up): $12 Kids (ages 4-16) and Seniors: $8 Age 3 and under: Free *Mother’s Day Special! Moms get in half price on Mother’s Day with a paying child or spouse.

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Someone’s in the Showcase of Kitchens Celebrates Its 5th Anniversary By kate turgeon Photography tour kitchens By Lauren Mann

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that’s not enough for some Midtownarea residents.

It’s better to see things up close and personal, right? For some, it’s all about walking into a picture-perfect kitchen to see how it feels and functions. That’s the idea behind the Junior League of Raleigh’s annual Showcase of Kitchens, a fundraiser where participants may tour eight Raleigh kitchens for ideas, inspiration and (in some cases) delectable, freshly prepared eats from a local chef. From elaborate to minimalist and traditional to contemporary, there’s a kitchen for every taste.

During last year’s event, Raleigh’s Tina Jones visited a kitchen-and-sunroom area that she could really see herself in. “The size and scale were relatable,” says Jones.

“I saw more lavish homes, but this was the one that spoke to me…the flow from room to room…the trees in the back… the counter with chairs for breakfast.”

The beauty of the tour is its mixture of kitchen styles, price points and sizes, says Jones, who serves as an organizer for this year’s event. And finding all these kitchens in close proximity to one another is a bonus. (This year all the tour kitchens are located inside Raleigh’s beltline.)

Another bonus for many fans of the event is the kickoff party. “We never miss the Toast to the Tour,” says Lisa Marie Ferrell, the league’s president-elect.

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he Kitchen!

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“It’s Raleigh’s best opening night party, with great entertainment and amazing food.”

To learn more about the Showcase of Kitchens, join Midtown Magazine for all the delicious details. And learn about the event’s newest addition – Kids Cooking in the Kitchen.

The Showcase Recipe – What’s it all about?

Who presents the event?

The Junior League of Raleigh (JLR), a group of more than 1,800 women, presents the Showcase of Kitchens event as a fundraiser for the league’s Center for Community Leadership.

Who may attend?

Anyone with a fondness for kitchens may attend the tour or the Toast to the Tour party. (For ticket information, visit www.jlraleigh.org.)

What’s the idea behind the Kids Cooking in the Kitchen Event?

“There’s a lot of discussion underway in this country about helping children make wise choices and showing them that just because they’re eating healthy food, that doesn’t mean that the food tastes bad,” says Jones.

She says that the driving force for the event is recognition that health problems are stemming, in large part, from making the wrong food choices. “Our ‘rush-rush’ mentality is leading us down the path to fast food, which creates problems with obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” says Jones.

Jones adds that the league is excited to incorporate Kids in the Kitchen (a program that’s supported by the Association of Junior Leagues International) with a local Raleigh event to benefit Step Up Ministry, a community program that focuses on helping families achieve self-sufficiency. (This healthy-eating course is by invitation only.)

What’s The Toast to the Tour?

Clink! The Toast to the Tour is a kickoff party with live music from Band of Oz, a silent auction and – of course – fabulous eats. This party will be held at Ferguson Enterprises, where

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guests are invited to see what’s new in kitchens inside Ferguson’s showrooms. The Toast to the Tour party will be held Thursday, March 31st.

How were the kitchens selected?

Kitchens were nominated (often by builders and designers) and then considered by the event’s organizers. But why do homeowners agree to participate? According to Jones, common reasons include flattery over a nomination, pride in their kitchen and a desire to be a part of a fundraiser for a good cause.

the kitchen’s story, including why the homeowners made certain choices and how they use their space. To help create the chronicle, homeowners dish on their favorite features, fondest kitchen memories and favorite types of

food. “For so many people, the kitchen is the center of their home…we weave personal information into the narrative,” explains Jones.

The tour will be held Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd from 10am-4pm.

What’s the Showcase?

The eight-home, self-guided tour includes various kitchens from contemporary to traditional. There’s even an outdoor kitchen for those who are interested in cooking al fresco!

Participants receive a colorful tour book filled with professional photographs and details about the appliances, colors, cabinets, countertops, lighting and more. People on the tour will have access to the kitchens’ specifications, right down to the name and style of the refrigerator, which is good news if the tour leaves them green with kitchen envy and ready to remodel.

Also, organizers take special care to note

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GETTHATLOOK Beauty tips courtesy of Fiquet Bailey, Luxe beauty boutique Check out Fiquet’s blog at: thebeautyofitall.net

This spring is all about pretty pastels with attitude. When applied in modern ways, pastels defy their typical “bridal” feel and instead impart a futuristic feel. Invest in pink lipstick and color wash eyes in monochromatic pastel shadows to instantly update your look.

Follow my guide below to create this look at home. Remember that you can vary the intensity of color to suit your needs from conservative all the way to high drama. If bold lipstick is too much for your taste, try a sheer pink gloss instead.

Cheeks Using a synthetic bristled cream blush or foundation brush, apply Paula Dorf Playmate Cheek Color Cream ($21) to apples of cheeks and blend up towards the temple.

Available at Luxe Beauty Boutique.

Lips Apply Revlon Colorburst Lipstick ($8.99) in Carnation to lips.

Available at Kerr Drug.

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skin Don’t have time for professional airbrushing? Try applying liquid foundation with a beauty blender for an airbrushed look. Airbrush makeup (starting at $50) & beauty blender ($20) available at Luxe Beauty Boutique.

eyes • Neutralize lids with Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion ($18). Available at urbandecay.com.

• Using a large shadow brush, apply Mac Pink Freeze shadow from lash line up to brow bone.

• Using the same shadow, brush tap a bit of Mac Kitschmas Loose Pigment ($19.50) along upper lash line to crease.

Available at Mac Counters.

• Apply Mac Plum Dressing eye shadow ($14.50) along crease with a sheer crease brush. Try using a back-and-forth windshield wiper-like motion to blend shadow into crease. Available at Mac Counters.

• Sweep Mac Plum Dressing shadow along lower lash line with a small smudge brush.

• Line the upper lash line of eyes with L’oréal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Liner in Carbon Black.

• Line the entire eye by applying Black Revlon ColorStay Eye Liner ($7.49) along the inner rim of upper and lower lash lines. Available at Walgreens.

• Curl lashes and apply a generous coat of L’oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara ($7.99) in Blackest Black.

Available at Target.

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G N I R CAR YOUR CLOTHES FO

By Kristy Stevenson

Tried and True Expert Techniques for Proper Care & Maintenance

Any professional will tell you: the most important thing to do before attempting to clean a garment is to read the care label.While most labels are accurate, some fabrics can be inherently problematic, so always test an inconspicuous area such as an inside seam before proceeding with any cleaning technique.

Lisa Hilker, Vice President of FRSTeam by Hilker’s Cleaners, offers the following tips: Types of Stains Milk, food, and body fluids produce protein stains that are often water-soluble. For resistant blemishes, however, you can try a drop or two of hydrogen peroxide to further eliminate the spot. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.

Tannin or organic substances, such as wine and grass, create stains that are solvent removable. Try a diluted mixture of water and laundry detergent, rinse well, and air dry.

Launder immediately afterwards in the hottest water safe for your fabric.

Oily tinges require pre-treatment with a stain remover or detergent

booster. Apply and let sit for up to an hour before laundering.

Cream-based stains are best soaked in cold water, then cleaned with the same solution. Launder in warm water. Repeat laundering in all cases where necessary.

Ink stains, also solvent removable, can be treated by using lighter fluid and working with a gentle brush. If this doesn’t do the trick, you can also try the tannin mixture.

Most underarm stains are caused by perspiration and salt from the body, or from antiperspirants.

Silks are especially sensitive. Stains should be removed promptly for

best results, regardless of fabric type.

When To Dry Clean Consider a fresh cleaning after dining out, as colas and teas tend to dry clear on most fabrics – reappearing in your closet after a short time. Commonly called an ‘invisible stain,’ the effect is similar to a cut apple turning brown. If left for long periods of time, the sugars begin to deteriorate garment fibers and dyes. Perspiration can have a similar effect.

Hand Washing Over the counter soaps do well

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with fine washables. Roll your garment in a towel instead of wringing to rid excess water, then use a drying rack. Some fabrics may feel rough to the touch afterwards; a light steaming will often help to soften things up again.

Home Remedies Many have heard that club soda and hairspray are two successful ingredients in spot removal. Use caution as lacquers and sugars can sometimes cause damage. Even H20 can cause problems, as tap water may have a high chlorine concentration and lead to a bleaching effect.

Your best bet is to use cold or room temperature purified water and a white cloth. Blot gently, and do not rub. You may need to apply more water to further dilute the stain and place a dry cloth underneath for absorption.

If you use store-bought chemicals, then end up taking the garment to a dry cleaner for assistance, remember to tell the service about your attempts before professional cleaning begins.

Emergency Treatments If you are at a restaurant and have an accidental spill, you should again use the purified water and white cloth. Avoid colored napkins as the dye may easily transfer to your garment. Harsh rubbing can also contribute to fiber damage or loss of color.

When at home, if the stain is on a washable garment, mix a very small amount of liquid laundry detergent and water. Apply directly to the stained area, let it sit for 20 minutes, and wash as normal. If the garment is not washable, however, take it to your dry cleaner as soon as possible so that PH neutralization can be done before actual cleaning.

Storing Garments Store your garments only after they have been cleaned. Long-term or even seasonal storage can cause old stains to reappear.

To wrap an item, use a muslin bag or 100% cotton sheeting, cloth or bag. Do not store clothing in a damp environment that can instigate mold or mildew.

For hanging articles, it’s best not to use plastic bags which contain acidity and do not allow the fibers of a garment to breathe. This can result in yellowing of many fabrics. A simple paper shoulder cover will adequately keep dust from collecting on clothing tops. midtownmag.com | 85

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around the state

Amazing Eateries...

Where the food is better than the ambience Some might refer to these as “hole-in-the-wall restaurants,” be we prefer to say they’re gems off the beaten path. Some are nicer than others.

The best part? Come as you are; there are NO DRESS CODES HERE.

BY CHRISTA GALA

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From burgers to seafood and everything in between, we’ve found some fantastic, authentic food that won’t rob your wallet. Are you with us? We thought so.

Let’s get started.

On or near the coast: Red Barn Grill (Carteret County): This seafood shack is tough to find. It’s located right off the water in the coastal town of Hubert (near Emerald Isle) and, strangely enough, nestled in a trailer park. However, when you do find it, order a steaming seafood platter (fried or broiled) loaded with everything from shrimp, fish and clams to soft shell crab and scallops – fresh every day from the NC sound. If you own a boat, find it on the water and tie off at the dock.

Each plate comes with fries, slaw and hushpuppies. Platter prices range from $8.95 to $19.95.

Trolley Stop (Brunswick County): Located in Southport (near Wilmington), the Trolley Stop is known for its hot dogs (even a vegetarian version!), sandwiches, ice cream and fast, no-fuss service. Walk across the street and enjoy your meal at a table in the waterfront park. Two words: Cheap and good. Lots of selections for under five bucks.

Britt’s Donuts (New Hanover County): Sometimes referred to as the “Holy Grail of Donuts,” Britt’s is located on the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach.

There’s no website or parking lot and this shop, founded in 1939, doesn’t need either. Park at the boardwalk parking lot and follow the crowd. Plunk down three quarters and enjoy a piping hot donut, freshly fried and perfectly misshapen.

“The flavor reminded me of funnel cake, but the density is so airy and the sugar has just a slight crisp before giving way to the dough,” says one loyal Britt-er.

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B’s Barbecue (Pitt County): Don’t try calling; there’s no phone. Anyone in Greenville can give you directions; then do a drive-by to see if B’s is open. Once the restaurant runs out of their in-demand barbecue, cooked over an open charcoal pit, the doors are closed for the day. The sauce is served in tabletop whiskey decanters. You don’t need much because the seasoning is already near perfect.

Ole Time Barbecue (Wake County): Jerry Hart started Ole Time on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh in 1993 after learning the secrets of cooking “down east” barbecue (vinegar-based) from his granddad. Today folks park on the side of the road and stand in line for the lunch special: barbecue sandwich, side and drink for $6.75.

Also try the banana pudding and chicken pastry. By-the-pound barbecue is also available for takeout only.

In the piedmont Pik N Pig (Moore County): Don’t let the low-ceilinged hodgepodge of buildings that make up this restaurant fool you; the Pik N Pig serves up hickory-smoked pulled pork, cooked all night over a wood-burning fire. Located in Carthage (near Pinehurst) at Gilliam-McConnell Airfield, you have the added bonus of being able to watch small private planes take off and land. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available. Other yummies: Brunswick stew, homemade potato salad and chocolate chess pie. cafe tiramisu_ma.pdf 2/9/11 4:18:33 PM

B E S T W A I T S TA F F

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The Roast Grill/Hot Wieners (Wake County): Just four blocks west of the Capitol, The Roast Grill, circa 1940, is serious about its hot dogs. It serves ONLY hot dogs, glass-bottle Cokes (and beers) and authentic Greek desserts. So don’t ask for ketchup, relish, French fries or any of that other nonsense.

And don’t be surprised if you bump into your congressman or senator, either.

Bali Hai Chinese Mongolian Grill (Wake County): Your first decision: one bowl or two. As you move down the cook line, you’ll pick your authentic sauce, then veggies, meat and any add-ons (lamb, tofu or calamari, anyone?). Your order is cooked fresh on the grill while you wait. A fixture in Raleigh for more than 20 years, prices for Bali Hai lunch and dinner bowls range from $6 to $9.

Johnson’s Drive-in Hamburgers (Chatham County): Belly up to the bar for one of Johnson’s never-ever frozen burgers.

Each day, beef is freshly ground and when it runs out, Johnson, your burger chef, closes up shop. This kitschy restaurant in Siler City also serves cole slaw and chili. Word is spreading. One customer drove from Greensboro: “I was anticipating a good burger – it wasn’t. It was breathtaking. It’s like a jump to light speed in burger taste.”

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Lupie’s Cafe (Mecklenburg County): Ready for some good homemade chili?

Take your pick from Texas, Cincinnati and Vegetarian, all served with a cake-like cornbread. Customers also love Lupie’s comfort food – including mac-n-cheese and nachos. Chili bowls start at just $5.25.

In the Mountains

Side Street Pizza and Pasta (Polk County): Located in Tryon, this family-friendly eatery has quite a crowd on weekend nights.

But build-your-own subs, homemade soups and custom-made pizzas (choose your crust, sauce and toppings) are worth the wait.

For starters, try the fried pickles. A 17-inch plain cheese pie will cost you just $10.95.

The Purple Onion (Henderson County): Located in the mountain town of Saluda, The Purple Onion is almost too nice to be considered a hole in the wall, but it’s small and quaint so we relented. The restaurant features live entertainment most nights and a Mediterranean-inspired menu ripe with local foods, including fresh veggies and trout. Don’t go on a Wednesday or Sunday as you’ll find the doors locked.

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My Father’s Pizza (Buncombe County): Opened in Black Mountain in 1990 as a take-out and delivery joint, My Father’s Pizza grew its fan base by using sauces and dough made in-house daily. Also try the salads, pastas and hot subs.

Customers describe the crust as perfect – not too thick or too thin. But then, you can always ask if you want something specific. Says one customer: “The pizza is fantastic, right down to the crust. Ask for the extra crispy.”

12 Bones Smokehouse (Buncombe County): Located in an old brick building in the River Arts District of Asheville, 12 Bones is a favorite hangout for many UNC-Asheville students. But be forewarned, the restaurant serves lunch only from Monday through Friday from 11am4pm Menu offerings include ribs and pulled pork sandwich (smoked slowly), collard greens, mashed sweet taters, cole slaw and corn pudding.

Berliner Kindl German Restaurant (Buncombe County): Beer and brats, anyone? Find it at the Berliner Kindl, a traditional German delicatessen in Black Mountain with a charming old-world atmosphere. Fans love the potato salad, Reuben sandwiches, beers, sausages, breads, chocolates and cookies.

The tour stops here

What are you waiting for? Regardless of where you’re going – or where you’re coming from – in our fair state, get out there and try some of these spots. Whether you go for a hand-fried donut or pan-seared mountain trout, your mouth will thank you. These local gems are as varied as they are delicious. midtownmag.com| 91

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TALK TOWN OF THE

NEW SHOE SALON COMES TO NORTH HILLS Main and Taylor Shoe Salon of Cameron Village is moving to the Lassiter at North Hills in May 2011. The new store will feature a Stuart Weitzman and Donald J. Pliner shop-in-shop offering a wider assortment of styles from both designers. In addition to their many shoe lines, they are also adding a new focus on comfort footwear.

SCOUT & MOLLY’S OPENS NEW LOCATION! The new store in Cameron Village is at 435 Daniels Street next to C.T. Weekends. Join the celebration at the grand re-opening cocktail party March 12th at 7pm!

VALENTINE’S DAY AT ST. TIMOTHY’S Every year on February 14th each student receives ten red and white balloons along with cards from their friends! The campus was a sea of red and white with over 5,000 balloons.

FREE CONCERT

NEW HEAD OF RALEIGH SCHOOL The Raleigh School Board of Trustees has selected Bud Lichtenstein to succeed Harriet Lasher as the next Head of School, following Harriet’s retirement in June 2011. A search committee comprised of trustees, administrators, faculty and parents selected Bud Lichtenstein after a year-long, national search guided by leading independent school search firm Carney Sandoe & Associates.

Scott-Free scholarship recipients Wyatt and Carter Coleman will perform a free concert along with quartet members Anders Janson and Grace Hartman to benefit the children of Scott-Free. The event will be held in Carswell Auditorium at Meredith College at 6pm on Sunday, March 13th.

Reception following.

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coming up in the next

Outdoor Entertaining

Great recipes and table settings for spring entertaining.

The A, R and V’s of Furniture…

What’s the difference in Antique, Reproduction & Vintage? When is a piece worth saving or too precious to paint? We talk to local shops about everything from buying, restoring and trashing furniture.

Across the State

From the Piedmont to the coast, BBQ means something different! We’ll take you across the state to sample the best BBQ North Carolina has to offer.

Day to Night Looks!

Boutiques show us how to take a great day outfit and make it a great look for night!

The Midtown Man

We honor the men of Midtown! Meet some of the area’s most interesting dads, grandfathers and Midtown’s most eligible bachelors.

Plus tips on everything from sports and fitness to relationships and looking good. Whether you are a man or just love one, don’t miss our 2011 “Midtown Man” section.

Plus…

Midtown’s Wedding Guide

Everything you need to know to plan a wedding in 2011. From small and intimate to over the top, we’ll show you all the amazing options available in Midtown and beyond!

Plus lots more…

Wine Review | Chef Mario Bain’s Beat | Calendar of Events Talk of the Town | Healthy You Midtown Mingles | and much more!

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Turn it Green Raleigh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Enlivens Downtown By kate turgeon Photography by T. Payne

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or someone so well known, St. Patrick is surrounded by mystery. Did he banish all snakes from Ireland? (Historians say no.)

Was he actually born in Britain? (Historians say yes.) And, did he come from a particularly religious family? (Historians say there’s no evidence of that.)

But one thing that is evident is Raleigh’s increasing affection for celebrating Ireland’s patron saint. While historians may not be weighing in on the matter, consider this: in 1983 about a dozen Irish Americans paraded on Wilmington Street to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Fast forward more than 25 years and festivities have expanded to include marching bands, dancing and nearly 150 parade units, such as floats and cars. And organizers estimate that recent parades have drawn as many as 35,000 spectators.

For Alison Harding, 34, it’s a must-see event. “We go back every year because we always have so much fun. It’s a great time,” says Harding, who has attended eight parades. Her family and friends have a tried-and-true pattern: breakfast at Big Ed’s restaurant, setting up seats near Tir Na Nog pub for parade viewing

and, later, attending the festival for entertainment and a pint of Guinness.

“If you have seen the cute little man who wears the tall Guinness hat, you’ve seen my dad,” laughs the Raleigh resident who says her group grows each year as the parade continues to expand. “The timing of the parade is better…vendors are better and more diverse, and the festival afterward has become much more fun.”

That’s music to the ears of Dianne Enright, public relations chair for the 2011 Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival. Enright says organizers know it’s an opportunity for Triangle residents and visitors to experience a familyfriendly event.

“The purpose of the parade is to celebrate the great, dear St. Patrick,” she says. “It’s also an opportunity to promote and celebrate Irish or Celtic culture. During both the parade and festival, traditional Celtic music and dance are highlights of the event.”

Another highlight is the parade’s grand

By Christa marshal. Past grand marshalsGala have included members of local media, city mayors and Raleigh police chiefs. This year’s grand marshal,

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LUCKY TO KNOW! The 2011 Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival: Saturday, March 12th.

The Wearin’ ‘O the Green Festival takes place downtown in Moore Square.

For more information, visit www.raleighstpats.org.

Ed Cody, is best know for his strong ties to the Irish community and his humanitarian efforts. “the parade committee is a civic-minded group…we feel it’s important to give back to our community. Not only has Mr. Cody been a great example of someone who gives back, he is also active in the Irish community,” says Enright. a retired transportation manager, Cody is a member of the Friends of Ireland, ancient order of hibernians and knights of Columbus. he has volunteered for various organizations, including the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, United Way and Literacy Council of Wake County. as a rotarian, he traveled to guatemala, where he and a friend delivered books to impoverished students. and if that’s not impressive enough, look at the size of his family: Cody and his wife Patricia have nine children and 21 grandchildren.

When he was asked to be grand marshal, Cody says he looked around to see to whom organizers were speaking. “I was incredulous,” he remembers. “Surely, it wasn’t me.” he accepted the honor and went home to his wife, who promptly told him that organizers must have scraped the bottom of the barrel. he says jokingly that his children share their mother’s opinion. this good-natured Irish american says he’ll do his best to contain his emotions during the parade. “But I’m afraid it will be quite difficult…I’ll be very proud of my heritage…returning in my thoughts to the thousand shades of green that is Ireland,” says Cody. and when he looks out onto the many shades of green in downtown raleigh, one thing’s for sure: he’ll see thousands of spectators, including harding. “Every year we say we’re going to build a float and enter the parade the next year…still hasn’t happened,” she says. “the sidelines are just too much fun.” midtownmag.com| 95

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Make a Date with the Future

After a decade of planning the Nature Research Center is already kindling imaginations as it begins to take shape at the corner of Salisbury Street and Jones Street.

Nature Research Center to Open in Early 2012 By jenni hart

T “The building of a museum is a never-ending work. A finished museum is a dead museum...”

he words of Herbert Hutchinson Brimley, who with his brother, Clement Samuel Brimley, helped guide the early days of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (then called the North Carolina State Museum), seem to foretell the grandeur of exhibits and the significance of the research that was to come. But Brimley, who served as the museum’s first curator, and later its first director, couldn’t possibly have fathomed the advent of the Museum’s Nature Research Center some 130 years later.

Dr. Betsy Bennett, Director of the Museum for over two decades, describes the new center as the only one of its kind in the country. “The intent of the Museum has always been to make science accessible to the everyday person. What we’re able to do with the cutting-edge technology in the NRC is open up the world of science to students, educators, research scientists and every visitor to the Museum; to engage them in

scientific study that affects their daily lives,” Bennett says.

With interactive exhibits, observation labs, and connectivity to schools, colleges and universities, libraries and other audiences, the NRC will encourage exploration into current scientific issues and their impacts on society. The Nature Research Center is an 80,000-square-foot wing that will be connected to the existing Museum by the Betsy M. Bennett Bridge to Discovery.

Read on for a sneak peek into a world that once resided in the realm of science fiction; this will be very real, and the countdown has begun.

The Daily Planet At the heart of the NRC is the three-story multimedia Daily Planet, the site of live presentations on scientific research and breaking news. Scientists

By Christa Gala will use the Daily Planet’s 40-foot, high-definition screen to supplement their programs, and visitors will be able to ask questions of particular concern

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© Art Howard

Visitors to the NRC can run their own experiments in hands-on Investigate Labs.

to them. There will be Global Town Hall meetings held, with eminent research scientists and young people taking on emerging issues. On each of the Daily Planet’s three floors, there will be interactive exhibits; and on the first floor, at the corner of Jones Street and McDowell Street, will be a Science Cafe.

Meet the Scientist The NRC will feature four research labs, where actual research will be conducted while visitors observe behind glass. Opportunities to meet the scientists and ask questions will take place from time to time out on the floor. The Exploratory Gallery, located on the first floor, will highlight research in the fields of Engineering, Health and Modeling. Among the featured scientists is chemical engineer Dr. Joseph DeSimone, whose work with nanotechnology, and its potential for cancer treatment, is considered revolutionary.

Saint Raphael Catholic School

Investigate Labs Roll up your sleeves and don your thinking cap – it’s time to get down to the business of science. Designed and led by museum educators and scientists, the activities taking place in the investigate labs, located on the second and third floors, rely on your active participation.

Visitors will contribute their own questions and research skills to the process of discovery; possible activities include the study of biodiversity in soil samples, modeling hurricane events, or using special tools to examine soft tissue in dinosaur bones.

Faith in Every Child Advanced Math Courses Technology and Science Labs Spanish Classes K-8

Citizen Science Center NRC visitors will have the opportunity to take part in ongoing projects by collecting and sorting data at the Museum or in the field at the 40-acre Prairie Ridge Ecostation. Research projects include butterfly, bird and frog studies, water quality studies, sustainable green technology and ozone biomonitoring, among others.

Science Immersion Theatre Located on the second floor of the NRC, this 3-D projection theatre will offer a 360-degree presentation of live satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA, using four computer-synchronized projectors with wall-toceiling coverage of natural phenomena.

This is just a sampling of what the Nature Research Center will offer to its expected 200,000 visitors annually. Overseeing its many initiatives will be Dr. Meg Lowman, who was named Director of the NRC in July of 2010.

For more information, and to sign up for email updates, visit www.naturesearch.org. To read more about the remarkable Dr. Lowman, see her website at www.canopymeg.com.

Art, Music and Physical Education Competitive Sports Program Science and Drama Clubs Before and After School Care

Academic Excellence in the Jesuit Tradition Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges

SRCS

865-5750 5815 FALLS OF NEUSE RD., RALEIGH WWW.SAINTRAPHAELSCHOOL.ORG

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The Contemporary Art Museum: Now’s The Time Its home may be brand new, but the path leading to the Contemporary Art Museum’s front door has been a work in progress for nearly three decades.

By illyse lane

F

or years, Raleigh has been slowly but surely putting itself on the map as a city with an emerging, vibrant downtown. When April 30th arrives, it’ll add another feather to its cap as the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) opens its doors in the historic warehouse district.

With its light-filled, technologically savvy new home located in a renovated, early 20th century warehouse, this non-collecting museum will offer three rotating exhibits, including a space completely devoted to emerging artists. And if you’re not sure you’re a fan of contemporary art, Rosemary Wyche, Director of Development, helps us understand what to expect. “Often, the words contemporary and modern are used

Even More Movie Magic Just when you thought going to the movies couldn’t get any better!

By illyse lane

interchangeably, but contemporary actually means now and in the present,” she explains.

So what does this mean in terms of what you’ll see? CAM will focus on art and design that is current and fresh, spanning many different styles. Because of the revolving nature of the exhibits, it’s also highly likely that you’ll be able to experience actual installations, making CAM an interactive experience.

“We don’t just want to you to come and look, we want you to be a part of what’s going on. We want you to think about the process of creating and have this be a center for creative thought,” says Frank Thompson, former board chair. “It will be as if you’re visiting a restaurant with an open kitchen.” The museum will also

W

e already knew that Downtown Raleigh’s very own Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles had earned bragging rights as North Carolina’s only giant screen, measuring a tremendous 70 feet wide and 50 feet tall. But when the upgraded theatre reopened in early February with fresh carpet, more comfortable seating, enhanced audio and a new, state-of-theart, 3-D IMAX projection system, it added another notch in its movie belt, making it one of the first institutions in the world to upgrade to the new 3-D IMAX technology.

“More and more movies are being digitally remastered for IMAX theatres. With our previous projection system, we did not have access to

offer this interactive experience to the younger art appreciating audience through educational programs and camps.

Thompson, who has been involved with CAM since 1986, and Wyche are both quick to credit the hard work and dedication of numerous volunteers, board members, individual families and local businesses, including the North Carolina Museum of Art and Mayor Meeker, as well as the museum’s successful collaboration with NC State University’s College of Design with helping to make CAM a reality. “The opening is the completion of a vision and the beginning of a new path for contemporary art, for the warehouse district, and for the city,” says Wyche.

a number of those films,” explains Katy Hipp Burgwyn, Director of Marketing and Communications. “By upgrading to the newest IMAX 3-D technology, the Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles will have access to even more films.”

You can count on the Wachovia Imax Theatre to feature both entertaining and educational films throughout the year. Here’s what’s coming: March 11: Disney’s Mars Needs Moms, An IMAX 3-D Experience April 8: Born to Be Wild 3-D June 24: Cars 2, An IMAX 3-D Experience

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SAVE THE DATE

Get running and discover the fun with the 2011 Second Empire Grand Prix Series Spring Race Lineup.

By illyse lane

O

k folks. It’s time to pull out your calendars and use that finger to tap in a new event. The 2011 Second Empire Grand Prix Series is in full swing, making it easier than ever to commit to an active, healthy lifestyle.

And to help you get motivated, we’re giving you the race details.

Keep in mind while the actual race start times are listed below, race day

registration and packet pickup typically begin a few hours earlier. So allow yourself plenty of time before the gunshot goes off.

Additionally, there may be other race day events available for you to enjoy, such as a Kid’s Fun Run or 1 Miler. For more information or to register ahead of time (this usually guarantees you the coveted race t-shirt) visit www.sportoften.com or www.secondempireseries.com.

Remember, there’s no better time to take advantage of the slowly arriving warmer weather and meet your fitness goals by registering for one of these spring races.

Saturday March 5 WakeMed Cary Distance Festival 10K Benefiting the Cary Rotary Club Location: BB&T Bank, East Chatham Street, Cary 10K Race Start Time: 9am

Saturday April 2 St. Timothy’s School Spring Sprint 5K Benefiting WakeMed Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Program Location: St. Timothy’s School, Six Forks and East Rowan Street, Raleigh 5K Race Start Time: 9:30am

Saturday March 12 Run for the Oaks 5K Benefiting the City of Raleigh NeighborWoods Program Location: Moore Square at City Market, Downtown Raleigh 5K Race Start Time: 8:30am

Saturday April 17 Second Empire 5K Classic Benefiting Operation Kids Location: Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern, Hillsborough Street, Downtown Raleigh 5K Race Start Time: 2pm

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Trees Across Raleigh Keeps Public Areas Green R

By Dan Bain photography By Simon Griffiths

aleigh is going to become a little greener this spring. In fact, it’s been getting greener twice a year since 1996, thanks to the efforts of Trees Across Raleigh, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees in the City’s public rights-of-way, parks and medians. The group schedules mass plantings every fall and spring; their next one will take place Saturday, March 26th from 9am-12pm at the Walnut Creek Wetland Center, in partnership with the City’s Neighborwoods program and Parks and Recreation Department.

During the March 26th event, Trees Across Raleigh plans to plant about 150 trees at the Wetland Center, while the Neighborwoods program will plant single trees in the yards of surrounding residential areas (in the portions of the yards that are within the City’s rights-of-way). The trees will be indigenous – most likely oaks, maples and possibly some pecan or other nut trees – and will be planted in alignment with the corporate goal of Trees

Across Raleigh, “to improve the City of Raleigh’s appearance, foster greater community pride, and promote economic development.”

Cindy Rice, landscape architect and board member of Trees Across Raleigh, says that goal hasn’t changed since the group’s inception 15 years ago. “When we started Trees Across Raleigh, the city was in a similar budget crisis as it is now. Money for tree-planting had been severely reduced,” she remembers.

“Following the simple concept, ‘Look around, see what’s needed, and do that’, Christine Odom started Trees Across Raleigh following a model based on her experience in her home town of Griffith, Georgia.”

Since then, says Trees Across Raleigh President Gwinn Moss, the group has planted close to 8500 trees in 45 different sites around the city, with the understanding that city personnel will take care of them. “The City agrees to maintain any trees that we put in; we provide the funds and the manpower

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(far left): Volunteers at a recent Trees Across Raleigh planting at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh. (left): Cindy Rice of Trees Across Raleigh helps 1st graders at Joyner Elementary School plant trees as part of TAR’s trial educational program. (right): Students from NC State’s Service Raleigh program help out at a recent Trees Across Raleigh planting and cleanup at Fletcher Park in Raleigh.

and they do the follow-up work,” she explains.

“Counting trees and labor, we’ve saved the city more than $1million on projects that they would have had to do eventually. We do it with 100 percent volunteers, no paid staff. We’re as grassroots as it comes.”

Those volunteers have so far numbered a total of about 5000, Moss says. The group often works with volunteers from North Carolina State University’s Service Raleigh program and from the Raleigh Boys & Girls Clubs, who Moss says have attended every planting for the past decade. Supplies are funded through grants and donations; Moss says Trees Across Raleigh’s biggest supporters are REI and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “REI loves that we help

the environment and that we teach the next generation to be good stewards,” she says of the NC State volunteers as well as the attentive listeners at a recent program that her group has undertaken. “We work with first-graders at Joyner elementary, teaching them about our native trees and how to plant them and telling them why we do what we do. In about six weeks, each class will be able to plant their own, then watch it and measure it as it grows.”

Trees Across Raleigh can always use additional volunteers and ideas; Moss invites all interested parties to check out their website at http://www.treesacrossraleigh.org. You won’t regret it because, as Rice points out: “I believe planting a tree allows you the rare opportunity to see the future.”

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Mission

On a

D u k e R a l e i g h H o s p i ta l s ta f f i s c h a n g i n g lives in Raleigh and around the world

D

By page leggett

octors and nurses are in the business of saving lives. What seems extraordinary to the rest of us is all in a day’s work for them.

But, the life-saving mission work some of the medical staff at Duke Raleigh is involved in can take even them by surprise.

Take Pam Borden, for instance. She’s a nurse in the neurosurgery department at Duke Raleigh. She’s accompanied Dr. Michael Haglund and other medical professionals to Uganda three times. (At press time, she was preparing for her fourth mission trip – this time to Rwanda.)

Going above and beyond As part of the Duke Neurosurgery Training Team, Borden was in Uganda to train other neurosurgical nurses. But, having been an OB nurse, she noticed what she termed a “dire need” at the Ugandan hospital for neonatal resuscitation training.

She mentioned her concern to an obstetrician at Mulago Hospital, and together they prepared and submitted a proposal to mandate neonatal resuscitation. Because of their efforts, a new training course was born. So, a nurse whose original mission was training other nurses involved in cranial and spinal cord surgeries

ends up helping save newborn lives.

Borden is quick to share credit. “This is a total team effort,” she said. “I just helped set the wheels in motion.”

Those wheels led to 102 Ugandan nurse-midwives being certified in neonatal resuscitation. And, that’s just the first graduating class. The curriculum is firmly in place, and the course is ongoing.

“These nurses didn’t know how to recognize when a newborn was in distress. They hadn’t had the training,” Borden said.

“Now, they understand the basics. They know what to look for.

And, they’re able to begin the initial steps – to stimulate first breaths and keep the baby warm. Their early intervention is helping keep compromised newborns from requiring more intense resuscitative measures.”

Borden also saw that the staff at Mulago Hospital was using the cuffs of their Latex gloves to tie newborns’ umbilical cords.

American hospitals use cord clamps – a product the Ugandan medical staff had never seen, said Borden. “Latex gets wet and slippery. Occasionally after a birth, the little rubber knot would slip off, and the baby would bleed out.” After becoming aware of the issue, the Duke Raleigh staff collected and donated proper equipment to Mulago Hospital. The staff was elated to receive these life-saving supplies, Borden said.

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The Duke Neurosurgery Training Team is building a lasting partnership with the staff at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

The doctors and nurses on these missions aren’t just dropping in, operating and flying home. They are developing long-term relationships with the hospital staff. They are not just donating equipment (although that is part of their mission); they are teaching people how to safely use and properly maintain it.

“We come back repeatedly. We teach, and then we reinforce what we teach,” said Borden. “It’s is a year-long effort just to get ready to go on one of these trips.”

And, it’s an effort supported by everyone at Duke Raleigh.

In some cases, the work is even led by someone at Duke Raleigh. Dr. Michael Haglund, professor of neurosurgery and neurobiology, is also the director of the Duke Neurosurgery Training Program. He has led teams ranging from 22 to 55 medical professionals to train the Ugandan neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and biomedical engineers.

Over the last four years, Dr. Haglund’s project has delivered more than $5 million worth of new and used medical equipment and performed more than 130 neurosurgical procedures. This delivery of technology and training has more than doubled the surgical capacity at Mulago Hospital.

Before Dr. Haglund’s involvement, there were five neurosurgeons available to treat 30 million Ugandans. His goal is to train Ugandan neurosurgeons in Uganda so that by 2020 there will be 14 neurosurgeons spread out across the country.

A broad definition of “community” “Community is one of our core values,” said Paige Humble, director of marketing and communications at Duke Raleigh. “When we think of our community, we think about those we serve locally as well as the impact we can have around the world.”

“Duke Raleigh encourages all team members to give back to their community,” Humble continued. “We have employees and medical staff involved in community outreach in a variety of ways from donating their time to Urban Ministries locally to these examples of international mission work. [All these stories] illustrate how our medical team members use their talents and resources to have an impact on the health of communities around the world.”

Dr. George Edwards, a hand surgeon, has been impacting the lives of people in Leon, Nicaragua for more than a decade. He’s been on a mission trip to Nicaragua’s second largest city each year since 2000. The missions began after Hurricane Mitch devastated an already impoverished country.

“Starting in 2003, Duke began sponsoring orthopaedic nurses and therapists to travel with our group,” Edwards said. “They have become an indispensable part of our work as our volume of patients continues to increase each year.”

Dr. Edwards began going to Nicaragua as part of Raleigh-based Cooperative Orthopedics between Nicaragua and America (COAN), midtownmag.com midtownmag.com| | xx 33

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a group that organizes three to four trips each year to the second poorest country – behind Haiti – in the western hemisphere. “Leon is a good base because of the opportunity to teach, a safe environment, good food and water and existence of a relatively large hospital.”

Just as with the mission work in Uganda, Dr. Edwards and the COAN team make training one of their primary jobs. “We have residents with us for every surgical case and on hospital rounds,” he said. “Although they save some of the more complicated cases for us, we make sure the residents participate and perform the more routine procedures.”

The doctors and nurses in these third-world countries have the same compassion as their American counterparts. But, they’re often hobbled by what they don’t have. Nurse Borden said of her experience in Uganda, “These people are working with almost no resources. A lot of their equipment is very antiquated and sometimes no longer functioning. But, they work with what they have.”

Disaster relief Perhaps nowhere in the world are doctors and nurses making do with less than in Haiti. Even under normal conditions, Haitian medical care is shockingly inadequate. After the earthquake in January 2010, the situation was dire. Doctors and nurses didn’t have the luxury of planning for a year for this trip.

Dr. Don Edmondson, an anesthesiologist, said he and other Raleigh doctors were hearing reports of how desperate the situation was. “We heard estimates of 300,000 to 400,000 crush injuries,” he said. “There were stories of amputations being performed with hack saws and without anesthesia.”

Dr. Haglund and his colleagues performing surgery in Uganda.

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He and 12 area doctors, nurses and physical therapists put together a medical mission trip in a couple of weeks’ time.

The stories they heard didn’t prepare them for what they saw. “We worked out of a small hospital north of Port-au-Prince in a little village called Milot. It was outside the damage area,” Dr. Edmondson said. “There were between 400 and 450 trauma victims in a 70-bed hospital. We performed more than 100 operations in a single week. That hospital normally does about 1,000 a year.”

That Milot hospital has just two operating rooms. Dr. Edmondson’s group converted three exam rooms into makeshift ORs to meet the demand.

“This was the worst orthopaedic disaster in the history of medicine,” he said. “Port-au-Prince is built mostly from cinderblocks. It’s very hilly, and there are no building codes. Homes weren’t built to withstand an earthquake. When it hit, it was as if a blender of cinderblocks landed on people. More than 250,000 people didn’t survive.”

But the scale of the relief effort matched the scale of the disaster. It was a multinational effort with the military of a number of different countries involved. Bonding with the other medical staff was nearly inevitable.

“Everyone slept outside under mosquito nets,” said Dr. Edmondson.

“There was a small kitchen in the mission compound. We’d come back from a day of performing surgeries, and the villagers would have set up pots, built fires and have a huge vat of Cajun rice waiting for us.”

“One of the most moving things about this for me was seeing how well the local people took care of us and the trauma patients,” he said.

Taking care of one another is a necessity in a country as poor as Haiti.

“Nursing is a very understaffed profession in Haiti,” Dr. Edmondson explains.

“When you’re in the hospital there, it’s expected that your family will provide basic care. They’ll bathe you, feed you and empty bed pans.”

But after the earthquake, many trauma victims were left without any family. And, the people being treated in Milot were from Port-au-Prince – a six- or seven-hour trip by car. The Milot villagers became their family. “They bathed and clothed these strangers,” Dr. Edmondson said. “Some local mothers breast-fed orphaned babies.”

The patients were being cared for in tents like those seen in the TV show M*A*S*H. Dr. Edmondson said the tents, housing 50 to 70 patients each, became their own small communities. They elected leaders who helped keep order in the midst of the chaos.

Dr. Edmondson feels such a bond with Haiti and its people that he returned this June. He said only about 50 patients – mostly paraplegics – remained at the hospital. “Haiti gets under your skin,” he said. “I’ll definitely go back again.”

A cultural exchange Obviously, these missions are about more than medicine. They turn into cultural missions, too.

The medical staff spends time outside the hospital. Borden says she and the team will visit orphanages and bring gifts they’ve collected for the children or made during the year. “We reach way into the community, far from the hospital campus,” she said.

But, some of the work that goes on inside the hospital has a cultural component, too. Borden reports, “Nurses in Uganda don’t do assessments on the same level as we do in the U.S. They don’t have stethoscopes or reflex hammers.

They’re not taught to interpret data. We show them what our responsibilities are in the U.S. and help broaden their skills.”

“We are changing the culture of the doctor/nurse relationship in Uganda,” she continues. “Of course, it’s up to their culture to ultimately define how that will work.

But, we have seen the Ugandan doctors slowly learn to accept this cultural shift.”

As Borden prepared for her latest mission trip – to a place she’s never seen – she anticipated the friendships yet to be formed and the lessons she’d teach … and learn. She was focused specifically on the training she’d be leading, but – perhaps recalling the neonatal resuscitation training that became a surprising P.S. to her neurosurgery mission – she said, “We’re there to train their neurosurgery department. But, if we see they need something [beyond that], we may just find a way to make it happen.” midtownmag.com| 115

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healthy you

HAIR LOSS preventing

naturally

by carter & laura dalton, GNC at North Hills

Back in December, I asked my kids what they thought their daddy would want for Christmas, and without skipping a beat, they both replied, “Hair!” Yes, my husband is a victim of alopecia, the medical term for hair loss. Thankfully, he has been blessed with fabulous skin, gorgeous eyes – and a beautifully shaped head. Oh, and now “Elvis hair”, courtesy of his children and the party store.

Before we began our life at GNC, he had, at one point, gone the Rogaine route. But when he was instructed not to touch his pregnant wife if he had any of the liquid left on his hands, I took pause. There had to be a better way to nourish his hair!

What, exactly, causes hair loss? My husband’s case was a combination of rapid weight loss and genetics, also known as telogen effluvium and androgenetic alopecia. Umm…is that English?

Telogen effluvium is a shedding/thinning form of hair loss triggered by a number of stressors. We’re talking anything from severe infection to iron or protein deficiency to thyroid disease.

Rapid weight loss, hormones, major surgery, STRESS and certain medications (antidepressants, blood pressure meds, birth control

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and cancer treatments, to name a few) can also cause telogen effluvium.

Often hair loss isn’t seen for several weeks or months, so people may be confused as to the cause. In many cases, when the trigger or medication is stopped, hair grows back, but some cases may cause permanent hair loss, or trigger male/female pattern hair loss.

Androgenetic alopecia – aka – your genes! Also called pattern hair loss or pattern baldness, this hereditary condition is the most common cause of hair loss in both men and women. Men with this condition may progress to baldness, often beginning with a receding hairline. In contrast, women with this inherited tendency develop thinning of the hair (especially on the top of their head) but usually do not become bald. It can start as early as the late teens, 20s or 30s but is often not noticed until midlife.

Over-styling – hair extensions, hairpieces, over-styling and pulling hair too tight (as can happen with ponytails, braids and cornrows), can damage hair roots and cause hair to break or fall out.

Natural Prevention and Treatment Biotin: Also called vitamin H or B7, biotin has been recommended by hairdressers for years, and can be useful for those who want their hair to grow faster. Some studies claim it can even reverse premature graying. It is difficult to overdose on biotin – supplements come in capsules ranging anywhere from 500mcg-6000mcg capsules and can be taken alone or in conjunction with other B vitamins. The latter may be a good idea if you lead a stressful lifestyle – B vitamins help to prevent stress, which is a cause of hair loss!

Iron: Anemia-related hair loss is very common. Iron supplements may help the condition; for maximum absorption, take it with vitamin C and avoid calcium-rich foods or supplements for a few hours. Ideally, anemia should be prevented by eating iron from red meats and organ meats. It can also be obtained from dried fruit, tofu, beans and lentils, and iron-fortified breads and cereals, though it is a bit more difficult for the body to absorb this way. Cooking in a cast-iron pot is another way to ensure iron levels stay high: trace amounts of iron enter the food as you cook.

Protein: Hair is made of keratin, a form of protein. Eating a protein-rich diet helps provide the building blocks to make hair, resulting in thicker and stronger locks. Protein in the form of red meat also helps prevent anemia, providing your hair with a two-for-one dose of goodness.

Stinging Nettle: Nettle has been used successfully in Europe to treat hair loss and thinning by inhibiting 5a-reductase. 5a-reductase is a key component in turning testosterone into DHT, the substance that causes the atrophy of hair follicles.

Saw Palmetto: Saw Palmetto berry extracts may reduce DHT uptake by follicles and receptors, thus reducing the effects of pattern balding.

Your Diet As I mentioned above, crash dieting can cost you your lustrous locks!

Your hair needs protein and iron to stay healthy, along with omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A (though too much vitamin A isn’t good, either). Very low-calorie diets are often lacking in these nutrients and can stunt hair growth. TAKE A MULTIVITAMIN if you are considering a weight loss plan. Good multivitamins provide calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin C and your Bs. READ THE LABEL!

Even if you’re not dieting, hair can reflect a person’s general state of health. Although topical hair treatments are very popular, people who maintain healthy diets are building strong and shiny hair from the inside out. Aside from the vitamins and foods mentioned above, add some spinach and carrots for vitamin A, brazil nuts for selenium, oysters and walnuts for zinc, and whole grains for B vitamins. And if you can still find a place to smoke in the country, here’s another reason to kick the habit.

Smoking can leave hair dry, limp and dull!

One final bonus – what’s good for your hair is also good for your skin, brain, bones and your HEART!

As always, consult your physician before beginning any new supplementation program. midtownmag.com| 107

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healthy you

The “Mommy Makeover”:

Is it

safe? by russell b. stokes, m.d., f.a.c.a. plastic and reconstructive surgery • pinehurst surgical

Over the last several years, there has been a great deal of interest in plastic surgery which results in an “extreme makeover” type of result.

It seems one can hardly turn on the television without seeing a show dedicated to how someone has transformed their appearance with plastic surgery. One of the questions that I am often asked as a practicing plastic surgeon is whether it is safe to combine multiple procedures at the same time. Specifically, I am often asked by women who have had multiple pregnancies whether it is safe to combine an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with breast surgery. While every patient must be considered individually, in general it has been well established that it is safe to perform an abdominoplasty with various types of breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction.) Not only is it safe to combine these types of procedures, new techniques in wound closure allow the procedures to be performed more quickly than in the past. These combined procedures can now be safely performed in an outpatient surgery center, and rarely require an overnight stay. In 2007, I authored a paper which looked at my last 92 consecutive abdominoplasties; 48 of these were abdominoplasties alone, and 44 had combined abdominoplasty and breast surgery. There was no statistical difference in the complication rates between the two groups, and all were performed in an outpatient surgery center and discharged home on the day of surgery.

Another question I am commonly asked in the context of the “mommy makeover” consultation is whether the current available silicone breast implants are safe and effective. The fact that the FDA approved the 118||midtownmag.com xx midtownmag.com

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use of these devices, once again, in late 2006 certainly supports their safety and effectiveness. This is especially true considering how highly scrutinized these devices have been, and how much consideration was given to them prior to the FDA making a final decision on their approval. As mentioned above, every patient has to be examined and considered individually, but I have found the new silicone breast implants to be extremely valuable in my practice. These implants are more natural feeling than saline implants, and they are less likely to show a fold or wrinkle, especially in thin patients. I have also found these implants to be exceptionally valuable in patients who are also having a breast lift with their breast implant. That is not to say that I do not use saline implants, because certain breast shapes do lend themselves to a saline implant being more appropriate...every breast is different!

While combining breast and body contouring procedures has become commonplace, it does add some length to the recovery and is certainly not appropriate for all patients. For this reason, there is no substitute for consultation with an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon. Just because something can be done, doesn’t always mean it should be done. midtownmag.com | 109

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healthy you

TIME i$ MONEY

C e r e c S a m e D ay C r o w n s

by J. Steven Baker, DDS, Cosmetic Dentistry of Raleigh Fellow at the Las Vegas Institute For Advanced Dental Studies

How many of you have had a tooth crowned (capped) in the past? Most likely those of us who grew up in the 1960s have had this experience. Traditionally, we “Baby Boomers” had large amalgam (silver) fillings placed by our dentists over the years. These old fillings expand and contract with the different temperatures in food and drink. A cold dessert followed by a cup of hot coffee wreaks havoc on our teeth.

The constant expansion and contraction of the old silver fillings weakens the tooth structure; consequently, biting on something hard can break the tooth and therefore require the placement of a crown. In the past this would involve two separate appointments at the dentist’s office. The first appointment generally involves taking an impression (gag) and fabricating a temporary crown. The second appointment is when the permanent crown is placed and cemented. And inevitably, there is an additional appointment between the two, when we eat something sticky or chewy and pull the temporary crown off, thus having to make the trip back to the dentist to have it re-cemented.

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Cerec technology eliminates the need for two visits and also provides the patient with a natural-looking and very effective restoration. This process uses digital scanning and an on-site milling unit to design and fabricate the porcelain crown. Cerec crowns are 100% porcelain and are bonded directly to the tooth, actually making the tooth very strong. Cerec crowns are very natural in appearance and because there is no metal in the crown, you will never see that telltale dark line around the gum as you may have seen on conventional crowns. With Cerec crowns, there are no more impressions, no more temporaries, and no second appointments.

after NEW CEREC CROWN

i

i

before NEW CEREC CROWN

All of this is done while the tooth is still numb. Now you can come into the office and have a crown placed in one appointment. This saves an enormous amount of time for the patient and the dentist, and in this economy, the old adage “time is money� is now more true than ever. Cerec has changed the entire way we think about crowns.

Because of the single-visit Cerec technology, some of the anxiety and dread of visiting the dentist has been alleviated, providing an easier and overall better experience for the patient. It will soon replace the conventional approach to crowning teeth, and in doing so open up a multitude of possibilities for restoring teeth.

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healthy you

this is not

YOUR FATHER’S knee

replacement

by Mark W. Galland, M.D., Orthopaedic Specialists of NC

Many of us remember the late 1980s ad campaign by GM, “This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” Although it was ultimately unsuccessful in encouraging a younger generation to purchase Oldsmobiles (and the brand was eventually discontinued) the phrase itself has become a staple of our culture, indicating something old and mainstream has transformed to something new and hip.

The same could be applied to recent advances in knee replacement.

Perhaps one of the most exciting is the recognition that not all arthritic knees are the same. Even though the basic biochemical and biomechanical processes of degenerative arthritis are similar in all knees, the pattern of wear differs according to predictable, well-recognized patterns. This awareness allows for recent advances in surgical techniques that have improved surgical results for patients suffering the ravages of knee osteoarthritis.

Many patients with knee arthritis who fail conservative treatment (weight loss, walking program, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid shots, “joint jelly” shots, braces, etc.) have a new option to traditional total knee replacement. These patients may benefit from a partial knee replacement. A partial, or UNI, only replaces the part of the knee joint that is worn, or bone on bone, leaving untouched those parts of the knee that are still in good shape and unaffected by arthritis – removing 75% less bone than a total knee replacement. xx | midtownmag.com

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Think of the knee as having three compartments: an inside, outside, and a front compartment for the kneecap. Most frequently, it is the inside compartment that becomes arthritic. As compared to traditional total knee replacement, in partial knee replacement, the incision is much smaller, the hospital stay much shorter, and the recovery much quicker. Many patients only spend a single night in the hospital after surgery some even return home the same day.

There are many different types of UNI knee replacement prostheses, but the type that has been most extensively used is also (not surprisingly) the one most ingeniously designed – the Oxford. It has the ability to mimic the natural motion of the knee. It is comprised of three parts. A highly-polished cobalt chrome stainless tibial tray (for the shin bone side of the knee), a highly-polished cobalt chrome stainless femoral shell (for the thigh bone side of the knee), and polyethylene (plastic) liner which slides back and forth and toggles side to side between the two metal components as the knee flexes and extends. This may seem simple enough, but this is the only UNI knee component that accurately allows this normal motion and it is required decades of extensive research and implementation to develop. The ability to restore the normal movement of the knee causes many patients to remark post-operatively “It feels like MY knee.” Not something one hears from many patients who have had a total knee replacement (so far engineers, designers and surgeons have been unable to successfully duplicate the restoration of normal knee mechanics in total knee replacement).

The free floating nature of the device also improves durability of the implant. Ninetyfive percent of UNIs implanted are still working well 15 years later.

Not all patients with arthritic knees are candidates for a partial. While it is appropriate for patients with symptoms on the lateral (outside part of knee) or the medial (inside part of knee), it is not for those with symptoms on both sides or for those with symptoms “all over the knee,” where a traditional total knee replacement may be more appropriate. Others who are not candidates for a partial are patients with rheumatoid arthritis or severely deformed knees.

If your knees are aching and you can’t sleep, if you can no longer enjoy your favorite activities, or if you are just tired of being able to predict the weather better than the weather man, consult your favorite orthopaedic surgeon to discuss your treatment options. midtownmag.com| xx

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Sprinting to Help It’s been six years. There have been three beneficiaries. But the motivation remains the same for the St. Timothy’s School Spring Sprint.

By illyse lane

Six years ago, Sharon Keen, the director of marketing for St. Timothy’s School, was looking for a way to expand the school’s reach within the community, when the parent of a then third grade student popped into her office to talk about the status of her son’s kidney transplant. At that moment, an idea was born.

“Having a run, open to the community and hosted by the school, with all race proceeds being donated, seemed like the perfect way to encourage our students and families to get involved and bring the community together,” says Keen.

That first year, 300 people registered for the inaugural St. Timothy’s Spring Sprint, a 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Fun Run, with over $15,000 being donated to the National Transplant Assistance Fund. Since that time, the race has joined the Second Empire Grand Prix Series, making it a staple on the spring running calendar. Registration has climbed to over 1,000, with a mix of families, children, runners, walkers and cause supporters coming out to participate. And, most importantly, the annual event has raised over $100,000, with additional beneficiaries including Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and WakeMed Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Program.

This year, the sixth annual St. Timothy’s School Spring Sprint will be sponsored and organized by The Rotary Club of the Capital City, with proceeds once again benefiting the WakeMed Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Program. “St. Timothy’s School is so thrilled to continue our great tradition of giving back to the community by aligning with The Rotary Club of the Capital City, such a wonderful organization with its own rich tradition of giving back,” says Keen. “We are also thrilled to help in the battle against pediatric diabetes by working with WakeMed.” This year’s race is set for Saturday, April 2nd. For more information, please visit www.sportoften.com.

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midtown

mingles

Triangle Wine Experience

The Triangle Wine Experience is a weekend of world class wine charity events held each February in Raleigh. Over its 17 year history, the Triangle Wine Experience has become one of the most well-attended and successful events and raised thousands for the Frankie Lemmon School.

2010 Second Empire Grand Prix Fall Series

The 8th Anuual Second Empire Grand Prix Awards Luncheon was held on Saturday, January 29th at noon at Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern. Guests enjoyed a fabulous lunch prior to receiving their awards.

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Savory Spice Shop grand opening

Savory Spice Shop held their grand opening celebration on January 23rd. Guests observed cooking demonstrations as they enjoyed tastings and live music!

Saks holds launch event

On February 17th, Saks Fifth Avenue held a Jimmy Choo Fragrance Launch Event. Guests viewed the latest designs in Jimmy Choo shoes while celebrating the launch of the new fragrance. Anyone who purchased Jimmy Choo shoes at the event received a deluxe sample of the new fragrance.

Cupcakes and champagne were served!

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3rd annual Midtown Diamond Awards

On January 6th, we honored our Midtown Magazine Diamond Award winners at a cocktail party at Mura. Harry Pollock, owner of Varsity Men’s Wear, was the luckiest guest of the night, winning a one-carat diamond from Diamonds Direct Crabtree. Another lucky winner walked away with a beautiful pair of earrings from The Elaine Miller Collection. Over 50 Triangle businesses received awards for being our readers’ favorites.

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spring

ST YLE

COLORFUL CLASSICS: Total look in white, unusual color combinations like pink with red, golden mustard with pale pink, electric blue or mango and pink in the same outfit.

Nautical stripes are more modern now in different colors and sizes. The new neutrals for the summer are pale pink, grey and beige.

COLOR SPLURGE: Dark blue is the new black: go with indigo and midnight outfits.

Be daring with orange: total look or just an accessory, such as a belt.

Dress – Dapper Style House Sapphire and diamond necklace and ring; Aquamarine ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Diamond stud earrings; Envelope purse – The Elaine Miller Collection Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Scarf – gena chandler Silver bamboo bracelet; Navy and silver bangle bracelet – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Orange ring; Coral ring - Charlotte’s

CLASSIC STYLES: Full skirts like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler. Wide pants like Jason Wu and Tommy Hilfiger. Long skirts like Alberta Ferretti, Rag and Bone and Lanvin and plisse’ skirts.

TIMELESS JEWELRY: Big bangles. Go super minimalist with just an important cocktail ring and nothing else or pile up heavy jewelry, mixing fashion and real. Flower and animal-themed brooches.

JEWELRY SPLURGE: Playful, colorful jewelry like MiuMiu.

Featured on the cover: Dress; Travel bag – C.T. Weekends Belt – Tyler House Double strand of pearls with pendant; Ring; Silver bamboo and red bangle bracelets – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Triple strand of pearls – Jolly’s Jewelers Scarf – gena chandler Sunglasses – Monkee’s of Raleigh Lucite earrings and bangle bracelets – The Elaine Miller Collection Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique

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If you have been a frugalista the past three or four seasons and your wardrobe is well balanced with timeless tops and bottoms in classic colors like beige, black and blue, this spring is the perfect time to be the trendy fashionista and add some daring cutting-edge items.

– ELIE ROSSETTI-SERRAINO

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Tank top; Capri pant; Sweater – Certain Things Triple strand of pearls; Pearl earrings – Jolly’s Jewelers Multi-color pearl necklace; White watch; Flower pin; Rings – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Pink stretch bracelet – Charlotte’s Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique

Handbags – Le Faux Chateau

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Pants; Top; Tank; Jacket – CoolSweats Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Turquoise ring; Earrings; Necklace – Charlotte’s Turquoise, red and navy bangle bracelets; Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Purse – Monkee’s of Raleigh

Dress; Jacket – Tyler House Purse – Vermillion Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Necklace – Scout & Molly’s Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Gold Charm Bracelet – The Elaine Miller Collection Bamboo gold and silver bangle bracelets – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Pearl Earrings – Jolly’s Jewelers White coral ring – Charlotte’s Diamond ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree

Dress – Love in Bloom Maternity Shoes – Monkee’s of Raleigh Necklace and earrings – Jolly’s Jewelers Blue Aquamarine ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Bracelet – Vermillion Watch – Charlotte’s

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Dress; White and gold ring; Shoes; Handbag – Monkee’s of Raleigh Pearls and pendants – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Diamond Earrings; Diamond flower necklace – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Green and diamond ring – The Elaine Miller Collection

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Dress – Saks Fifth Avenue Triple strand pearls; Pearl earrings – Jolly’s Jewelers White watch; Lucite bangle bracelets – The Elaine Miller Collection Diamond ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Small white ring – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Large white ring – Monkee’s of Raleigh Flower envelope purse – Tyler House

Dress – gena chandler Light pink necklace; Pink pin – The Elaine Miller Collection Rhinestone ball earrings; Pink bracelet – Charlotte’s Diamond wedding ring; Two diamond wedding bands – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Silver bamboo bracelet – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

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Dress – Anna & Alice Necklace; Handbag - C.T. Weekends Smoky quartz ring – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Two diamond flower bracelets; Diamond ring - Diamonds Direct Crabtree Red bangle bracelet and earrings – The Elaine Miller Collection Red bamboo bangle bracelet; Shoes – Charlotte’s

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btree

Dress; Sweater – Scout & Molly’s Gold necklace; Earrings; Gold bamboo bracelet – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Pearl and gold necklace – Jolly’s Jewelers Gold charm bracelet; Gold link bracelet – The Elaine Miller Collection Gold and rhinestone ring; Gold and white coral ring – Charlotte’s Silver beaded sandals – gena chandler Purse – Monkee’s of Raleigh

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T

trousers, – bright white, soft blues, or pink shirts,

he sport coat will emerge as the new hoodie for spring 2011. From the office to the clubhouse, workweek to weekend, the blazer is perhaps the single most significant piece of clothing in a man’s wardrobe, not to mention one of the most versatile. It is perfectly suited to our ever-fluctuating dress code. The navy blazer is your little black dress. Just don’t accessorize with heels.

In theory, the blazer is a rather uncomplicated piece of clothing. That said, it can be remarkably different. Whether wool, cotton or linen, don’t forget the importance of tailoring. Loose layering will require a roomier, more relaxed jacket. If you want a crisper, more formal look, opt for slimmer tailoring.

Start with basic blazers – blue or multicolor check will give you a lot of options. When you have two or three of those, start indulging with detail.

For stylish sophistication, make sure to pair the classic navy or linen blazer with contrasting

MEN’S style SPRING 2011

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Jacket; Shirt; Bowtie; Pants; Belt; Shoes; Sunglasses; Bracelets; Cufflinks; iPad cover – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch – Diamonds Direct Crabtree

– BRAD DEATON

trousers, – bright white, soft blues, or pink shirts, and remember a necktie always signals that you care about your clothes and how they look.

Quite simply, any variation of a blazer, sport coat or suit jacket will always make you look like you put in more effort than you actually did.

For stylish sophistication, make sure to pair the classic navy or linen blazer with contrasting

Navy suit; Tie; Pocket square – Varsity Men’s Wear White shirt – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch – Jolly’s Jewelers

Jeans; T-shirt; Sweater; Vest; Messenger Bag; Sunglasses – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch – Diamonds Direct Crabtree

Navy pant; Sport coat; Tie; Pocket square – Varsity Men’s Wear White shirt – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch – Charlotte’s

Jeans; Shirt; Sweater; Tie – Dapper Style House Watch – Jolly’s Jewelers

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Dress; Cuff bracelet; Necklace; Shoes; Purse – Vermillion Stretch pink bracelets – Charlotte’s Flower earrings – Jolly’s Jewelers Flower pin – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

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Dress – Hayley’s Boutique Green stretch bracelet – Charlotte’s Two green rings – Jolly’s Jewelers Diamond ring; Gold charm bracelet; Green flower earrings – The Elaine Miller Collection Shoes – Monkee’s of Raleigh

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Bow ties – Varsity Men’s Wear (top), Saks Fifth Avenue (bottom)

Leather iPad covers – Monkee’s of Raleigh

(left to right): Jimmy Choo – Saks Fifth Avenue; Loeffler Randall – Vermillion; Valentino – Saks Fifth Avenue

The Elaine Miller Collection Jolly’s Jewelers

Tory Burch wallets – Monkee’s of Raleigh Bailey’s Fine Jewelry

Diamonds Direct Crabtree

The Elaine Miller Collection

Orange and red wallets – C.T. Weekends

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special Von Kekel thanks lifestyle salon spa

Christobal Perez Azul Photography www.azulphotography.com Elie Rossetti-Serraino Fashion Stylist, Trends Analyst & Photo Styling www.eliephotostylist.com Jill Davis Wardrobe Assistant Fiquet Bailey Makeup Styling, Luxe Beauty Boutique www.luxeapothecary.com Von Kekel Aveda Salon Spa Rodney Robledo & Lisa Chan Video filmed and edited by Crawford Winstead www.crawfordwinstead.com for more information

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the triangle’s best retailers Anna & Alice Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Certain Things Charlotte’s CoolSweats C.T. Weekends Dapper Style House Diamonds Direct Crabtree The Elaine Miller Collection gena chandler

Hayley’s Boutique Jolly’s Jewelers Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Le Faux Chateau Monkee’s of Raleigh Saks Fifth Avenue Scout & Molly’s Tyler House Varsity Men’s Wear Vermillion

Special thanks to Kim & Michael Hayden for allowing us to use their home in Oaks at Fallon Park as the backdrop for our fashion shoot. The Hayden’s chose Rodolfo Gonzales Interior Design at North Hills to create contemporary design for comfortable living while incorporating pieces from their travels around the world.

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