Midtown Magazine

NIGHT MUSEUM AT THE

THE NEW NIGHTLIFE

INSANE MALE BONDING WORKING OUT AND STAYING FIT WITH FRIENDS

FASHION BOLD & COLORFUL SPRING IS HERE!

2012

M A R CH /A P R I L

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2 1 0 2 AL

NNU A H T R

FOU

D N O M DIA WARDS A BEST PLACE TO GET YOUR SMILE O N

BAKER COSM ETIC DENTISTRY VOTED ON BY TH

E READERS OF

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MIDTOWN MA

GAZINE

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a note FROM the publisher

Gina

Gina Pearce Stephens Publisher/Partner

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Midtown Magazine.

Please email gstephens@midtownmag.com with your comments

Creative Director Travis Aptt Graphic Design Heath Hilliker | Jennifer Casey Contributing Writers Christa Gala | Kate Turgeon | Dan Bain Illyse Lane | Jenni Hart | Page Leggett Darcy Brennan-Huante | Fiquet Bailey Swain Carter & Laura Dalton | Elie Rossetti-Serraino Martha Grove Hipskind | Dr. Jason Galdwell Photography Jennifer Robertson Photography

Midtown Magazine is published six times annually.

Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher.

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.

Diamond

AWARDS 2012

FooD KS tRuC with the

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STEPPING OUTSIDE

YouR CoMFoRt ZoNe

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s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r

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must-have fall looks

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guiDe to VALeNtiNe’S DAY J A N U A RY / f e b R U A RY

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PLUS

Adding ContemporAry touChes to your trAditionAl home

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GRILLING, SK YDIVING, BEER, APPS, MUSIC, MOVIES & MORE!

music& movies

THE springPOOLS MODERN MIDTOWN ice cream

WHO IS

ST YLE

spring

hot dogs

MAN?

laughter

SUMMER 2011 denim J U LY / A U G U S T

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guide

M AY / J U N E

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We’re hoping you’ll find a tempting treatment or spa to try yourself.

And if fashion is your big-city interest, you’ll love our 20-page look at Spring Fashion (p.28). The look this season is bold and colorful, and we’ll show you where to find it. We’ll also explore some of the world’s most fashionable labels right here in Midtown (p.50).

And finally, it’s hard to believe but Midtown Magazine is about to celebrate its 5th birthday! We want to know what you think of the development of Midtown? How does Midtown’s “live, work and play” footprint work in your life? What’s one new thing you would like added to our community in the next five years?

Tell us! And we’ll pass it on; your comments and opinions will be included in our May/June 2012 issue.

Adver tising Sales Gina Stephens | Myra Gammon | Jill Futch

UT -O NG LL DI PU ED DE W UI G

I love living in Raleigh! I am one of those very fortunate people who have lived in a few really great cities, including Atlanta, Phoenix and Cincinnati, to name a few.

I liked not only the urban “vibe,” but also that there was never a shortage of things to do – world-class museums, fabulous theatres and professional sports. But these perks often came with a price: big-city problems.

Which brings me back to why I love Raleigh so much; we have so many of the same opportunities without any of the pesky big-city problems, and in this issue we explore a good number of them. If you haven’t explored Raleigh’s cultural nightlife, you’re in for a surprise. In “Night at the Museum” (p.22), we show you how our museums are more than just a daytime trip. Check out five museums that truly come to life at night.

If theater is more your thing, read “Season Ticket. Golden Ticket.” (p.64), which looks at the perks of being a season ticket holder at local theaters.

In “Let’s Face It” (p.100), we send ten Midtown readers to the spa for a little facial TLC and pampering.

Publisher/Par tner Gina Stephens

M A R C H / A P R I L

P.

Here’s to a BIG BOLD COLORFUL Spring!

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Subscriptions 6 print issues (1 year) only $20 Available online via paypal ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4818 Six Forks Road, Suite 204 Raleigh, NC 27609 Phone 919.782.4710, Fax 919.782.4763 www.midtownmag.com

Printed on 100% Recycled Paper

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G LENWOOD A VE .

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contents m arch/ april

2012

features 22 night at the museum

Conversation meets preservation.

59 what’s app with that?

It’s a growing industry in an economy full of declining industries.

But here’s the million dollar question: Can anyone make an app?

64 season ticket. golden ticket

Why season subscriptions matter to you and your local theater.

69 insane male bonding

Three days a week, in a small room at an undisclosed location, the blinds are closed and the door shut. Just what are they up to?

78 Signs of Life

Confidence spurs triangle home sales.

88 Getting the Right Yellow

96 No boys allowed!

What does a single-gender education really mean?

100

let’s face it

Ten willing women help us face the facts about our skin.

New Driver in the Family 112

Proceed with caution!

118 Personalized and Pretty

Monogramming is still here, far surpassing “trend” status. In fact, here in the South, we’re downright Vanna White about our letters.

Why is that?

128

breathe easy

Duke Raleigh’s Dr. Jennifer Garst says new lung cancer treatments give patients cause for hope...

Sunny, cheerful and energetic.

Yellow can be a tricky color or an overpowering one if used without consideration.

28

bold & colorful

The spring looks are here and we’ve got 20+ pages to prove it!

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contents m arch/ april

2012

departments 54 midtown reviews 76 calendar 86 bain’s beat 93 end tables 132 healthy you

123

139 midtown raleigh life 143 midtown mingles

chef mario

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phoTography Š jay mangum

NIGHT

AT THE

MUSEUM

Conversation meets Preservation

BY KATE TURGEON

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The “Terror of the South” dome glows in downtown Raleigh. Adults can enjoy the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at special First Friday Events held at the museum and monthly Science Cafes, which are hosted by the museum and local Sigma Xi chapters and held at local coffee shops and restaurants.

Cafes feature topical discussions led by leaders in the science and technology fields.

N ew Yorkers have chamber music at The Met. Chicagoans have the sprawling Field Museum, where patrons can spend an evening engrossed in film. And in Washington, DC, visitors to the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum can unwind from a day’s work while listening to jazz inside a building affectionately called “the nation’s attic.”

Oh...to live in a big city, where the joys of cocktails, relevant conversation and live music seem to multiply when set against a backdrop of gallery-worthy art and exhibits.

Midtown’s mid-size gem of a city isn’t going to let the big guys have all the fun, however. Raleigh is home to many big-city perks, including a prominent nightlife in its museums.

Think science conversations, artsy films and specialty martinis. Join Midtown for a look at what’s happening. If you haven’t enjoyed your own night at the museum yet, get ready to experience Raleigh’s museums in a new, fresh way.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Science Cafes, First Fridays Informal settings meet intelligent conversation: the NC Museum of Natural Sciences created this opportunity with its science cafes, which are held monthly at local coffee shops, bars and restaurants. On March 20th look for Dr. Lindsay Zanno, the new head of the Nature Research Center’s paleontology lab, to discuss dinosaurs. And on April 17th Dr. Meg Lowman, director of the new Nature Research Center, will discuss tree canopies.

The museum also holds monthly First Friday events from 5-9pm. Visitors may enjoy light fare and beverages from the Acro Café, as well as tour the nature art gallery while listening to live music. At 7pm the museum shows a free cult classic at its Natural Horror Picture Show.

What organizers want you to know: Visit www.naturalsciences.org for more information about the locations of Science Cafes and schedules for First Fridays.

North Carolina Museum of Art Art in the Evening There’s a glorious instant when a workweek finally gives way to a weekend. Musicians casually brush strings in preparation for a show and bartenders arrange empty wine glasses top down on a white tablecloth in preparation for visitors. It’s a loosen-the-necktie kind of moment.

Friday plays by its own rules. And inside the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) Fridays mean Art in the Evening, an event that turns the museum into a gathering place.

Held in the new west wing building, the weekly happening features live music, wine, beer, nonalcoholic drinks and small-plate appetizers. Think cheeses with fig bread, and crab cakes with carrot scallion slaw and roasted red pepper remoulade.

While some visit the museum just for Art in the Evening, others attend the event and stay for dinner at Iris (the museum’s restaurant), a tour of the gallery (which is

Inside the NC Museum of Art, Fridays mean Art in the Evening. After drinks and appetizers, patrons can venture to the lush outdoor sculpture gardens (pictured at top) to experience Rodin. Art in the Evening may also be a stop before having dinner at Iris (pictured second from top) or seeing a film. In addition to small plates and specialty cocktails, live music is a mainstay.

open until 9pm on Friday) or the museum’s “Mad about Mad Men” Friday film series, which runs through May. (Summer brings the 16th season of Arts in the Museum Park, an outdoor film series.)

For Art in the Evening in March, look for music from the David Dyer Trio, Invisible (experimental music), Ed Stephenson with Inos Flamenca (Latin), The Hey Brothers (bluegrass) and Peter Lamb and the Wolves (jazz). midtownmag.com| 23

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“[Art in the Evening] can provide a fresh starting ground … having art to discuss or simply as a background can help you steer your conversations away from day-to-day topics like work, kids, plans … and open them up to broader themes. You don’t have to know art to enjoy it at the NCMA.”

“

~ Natalie Braswell, North Carolina Museum of Art

What organizers want you to know: Art in the Evening is free to attend and is held from 5:308pm. Food and drink are available for purchase. Art in the Evening accepts meet-up groups and small business parties with no facility reservation fee. Groups may schedule in advance to pair the Art in the Evening event with a free, docent-led tour.

MarBles KiDs MuseuM aND iMaX Martinis to the Max In September Marbles introduced Martinis to the Max, an event designed to catch the after-work crowd and promote awareness of the IMAX Theatre, which is located at the museum. xx | midtownmag.com

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It’s the second Thursday of the month, And what’s better than a documentary on a super IMAX screen? A fun, themed gathering with eats and drinks, right? It’s a winning trio for Marbles Kids Museum organizers, who say attendance at the downtown event has tripled since it began in September. Ticket holders can expect specialty martinis (as well as non-alcoholic drinks), appetizers and plenty of time for mingling before the film.

Held on the second Thursday of the month, the event starts with light appetizers (Irregardless Café catered the night Midtown stopped by), themed martinis (cosmos were served before Hubble 3-D) and mingling. Think ladies’ night, guys’ night and date night. After happy hour, attendees file into the IMAX Theatre to watch a movie on the 70-foot wide giant screen.

In March look for Michael Jackson’s This Is It, a film that chronicles the performer’s preparations for sold-out concerts in London’s 02 Arena. (We know. The ideas for themed martinis are endless. Dirty Diana, anyone?) And April brings love and romance with Titanic 3-D. (We know. Tissues.)

What organizers want you to know: All events start at 5:30pm and a $20 ticket includes a movie ticket, your first drink (choice of martini, beer, wine or soda) and light appetizers. Cash bar is available. Purchase advance tickets online at www.imaxraleigh.org or at the door. (Show times may sell out.) midtownmag.com| xx

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Consider it a field trip that’s all grown up and doesn’t require a brown-bag lunch. The NC Museum of History has an evening lecture series featuring current topics such as female voters and the political campaigns of 2012.

North Carolina Museum of History Evening lecture series History buffs, rejoice. While the NC Museum of History doesn’t have regular evening programs for adults, it does offer an interesting lineup of lectures for spring. Turn it into a true night out with dinner at a nearby downtown restaurant, many of which are within walking distance of the museum.

The museum celebrates women’s history month on Tuesday, March 27th at 6:30pm with a free lecture on the importance of women, who compose more than half of the US electorate, in the 2012 political campaigns. In May look for the opening of an exhibit showcasing the work of Jose Galvez, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who documents the lives of Latinos in North Carolina. Scheduled for Friday, May 4th from 6-8pm, it’s a history lover’s way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

What organizers want you to know: Admission to these two events is free, however the March 27th event requires registration. Call the museum for more information or to book group tours.

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Situated downtown on West Martin Street, the Contemporary Art Museum hosts First Friday and Third Friday evening events. Think hands-on creation stations, performances by local theaters, such as Burning Coal, and music in the street gallery.

Contemporary Art Museum First and Third Fridays Known as CAM Raleigh, this downtown art museum offers two nights a month when adults can explore and experience what the museum calls “what’s happening now.” On the first and third Fridays of the month, CAM is open late and welcomes guests for hands-on activities, artist talks, performances (such as ballet and opera) and DJ entertainment. (A cash bar is also available.)

What organizers want you to know: First Friday activities are free with

$5 museum admission. The museum is open until 9pm on first and third Fridays. Artist talks begin at 7pm.

As you can see, a little digging turned up plenty of ways to enjoy Raleigh’s museum scene. (No serious excavation required.) From science talks for curious minds to mingling inside the unique ambiance only an art museum can provide, there’s something for everyone. Face it.

Your calendar just might be begging for a night at the museum.

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Pants, Shirt, Jacket – Varsity Men’s Wear Belt, Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch, Ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Bracelet – Hamilton Hill

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Dress, Necklace, Bracelets (RH) – Charlotte’s Earrings – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Bracelets (LH) – Anna & Alice Rings – Hamilton Hill iPhone purse – Main & Taylor Shoes Luggage tags – Comfortable Soles midtownmag.com| 31

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Dress – Love in Bloom Wrap – Fleur Necklace, Earrings – Charlotte’s Bracelets (LH) – Goldmine Jewelry Shoppe 32 xx | midtownmag.com

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Jumpsuit, Ring (LH), Bracelets (RH), Shoes, Tote – Monkee’s of Raleigh Earrings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Necklace – Charlotte’s Purse – Saks Fifth Avenue midtownmag.com| 33 xx

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Dress – Kristen’s Place Necklaces – Goldmine Jewelry Shoppe Bracelets – Monkee’s of Raleigh Earrings, Rings (RH) – Elaine Miller Collection Rings (LH) – Hamilton Hill Purses – Main & Taylor Shoes

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Dress – Hayley’s Boutique Pearl necklace, Pearl ring, Monogram ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Earrings, Tote – Vermillion Chain necklaces – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Bracelet (LH) – Charlotte’s Shoes – Main & Taylor Shoes

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Jacket, Shirts, Scarf, Sweater, Pants – CoolSweats Bracelets, Rings (RH), Earrings, Short necklace – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Pendant necklace, Ring (LH) – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Shoes – Comfortable Soles

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Dress – Anna & Alice Earrings – Elaine Miller Collection Short necklace – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Long necklace – Hayley’s Boutique Ring, Watch – Charlotte’s Purse – C.T. Weekends xx | midtownmag.com 38

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Dress – Fleur Silver necklace, Earrings, Bracelets (RH) – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Bracelets (LH) – Monkee’s of Raleigh Ring – Anna & Alice Beaded necklaces – Goldmine Jewelry Shoppe Purse – Main & Taylor Shoes Shoes – Kristen’s Shoe Boutique xx midtownmag.com| 39

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Dress – Clothes Hound Earrings, Necklace – Elaine Miller Collection Bracelet (LH) – Charlotte’s Rings, Bracelet (RH) – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Tote – Vermillion

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Dress, Sweater – Saks Fifth Avenue Necklace, Bracelets, Rings (LH, RH) – Elaine Miller Collection Earrings, Brown ring (LH) – Goldmine Jewelry Shoppe Shoes – Comfortable Soles

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Shirt, Pants, Sweaters, Tie – Dapper Style House Belt – Saks Fifth Avenue Watch – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Bracelet – Hamilton Hill Ring – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Glasses – Village Optique

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Swimsuit, Board – Whalebone Urban Surf Necklace – Elaine Miller Collection Watch – Charlotte’s Earrings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree

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Dress – Gigi’s Boutique Necklace, Earrings, Rings (RH) – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Ring (LH), Bracelets (LH) – Elaine Miller Collection Bracelet (RH) – Charlotte’s Purse – Le Feme Chateau

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Dress – Dapper Style House Necklace – Elaine Miller Collection Glasses – Village Optique Earrings, Pearl ring – Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Purse – Comfortable Soles Bracelet (LH) – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Shoes – Main & Taylor Shoes

btree

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AT NIGHT THE MUSEUM THE NEW NIGHTLIFE

INSANE MALE BONDING WORKING OUT AND STAYING FIT WITH FRIENDS

Dress – gena chandler Earrings, Rings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Bracelet (LH), Necklaces – Charlotte’s Shoes, Purse – Main & Taylor Shoes

FASHION BOLD & COLORFUL SPRING IS HERE!

2012

MARCH/APRI L

2012

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Featured on the cover Dress – Vermillion Necklace – Fleur Earrings – Hamilton Hill Bracelets – Anna & Alice Rings (2) – Charlotte’s Light Pink Purse – Le Feme Chateau Purse, Tote – Vermillion

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THANKS

SPECIAL Photography Gabriel nelson gabrielnelson.com

Set Building John Ferrell John@thepropguy.com

Fashion Stylist, Trend Analyst & Photo Styling Elie Rossetti-Serraino eliephotostylist.com

Makeup Artist Fiquet Bailey Swain liveloveluxe.com

Wardrobe Supervisor Susann Hodges

Hair Styling Bethany Wish luxsalonspa.net Ashley Powell vonkekel.com

Photography Assistant nick Herman gabenelson_ma.pdf

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our retailers Anna & Alice Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Charlotte’s Clothes Hound Comfortable Soles CoolSweats C.T. Weekends Dapper Style House Diamonds Direct Crabtree Elaine Miller Collection Fleur gena chandler Gigi’s Boutique

Hamilton Hill Hayley’s Boutique Kristen’s Place Kristen’s Shoe Boutique Le Feme Chateau Love in Bloom Main & Taylor Shoes Monkee’s of Raleigh Saks Fifth Avenue Varsity Men’s Wear Vermillion Village Optique Whalebone Urban Surf

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kids

!

O O T

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THANKS

SPECIAL

Photography Gabriel nelson gabrielnelson.com

Fashion Director Elie Rossetti-Serraino eliephotostylist.com

Hair Styling Robbie Forrest

Kids Styling Kim Konsler

Clothing, Lunch bag, Doll, Monkey backpack, Boots – Saks Fifth Avenue Glasses – Village Optique Headbands, Hair accessories, Doodle book, Backpack, Jewelry – Charlotte’s xx midtownmag.com| 49

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STYLE

BY ILLYSE LANE

SPOTLIGHT

New York has Madison Avenue. Los Angeles claims Rodeo Drive. And here in Midtown, we’ve got our local boutiques, which have become quite the destination for iconic fashion designers who know that when they come to showcase their latest and greatest, we’ll embrace them with open arms.

Yes, it’s true. Each and every season, a flurry of in-demand designers (think Babette, Rachel Pally, theory, The Frye Company, Lela Rose, Alice & Olivia and J Brand, just to name-drop a few) visit our Midtown boutiques where they hold court to a captivated, fashion motivated audience, making the need for us to leave town to find the next chic trend a thing of the past. Instead, these sought-after designers leave us with clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories that should be coveted by any sensibly-minded, fashion crazed individual. And we have our local boutique owners to thank for landing those hard-to-find, desirable lines that make us swoon, giving Midtown the well-earned reputation as a shopping destination for those interested in keeping up with the most stylish trends. So what’s taking center stage now?

DONALD

j

pline r

per sonal appear anc e at main & Taylor

For nearly 25 years, Donald J Pliner has been a force to be reckoned with in the luxury shoe world. And while we’ll never quite know how many feet have slid into his exceptionally designed stilettos and sandals, many of us in Midtown head straight to Main & Taylor’s Donald J Pliner shop-in-shop when craving a pair of fashion-forward shoes that blends both a fun and sexy style with guaranteed comfort.

So it doesn’t get much better than having the shoe legend himself make a personal appearance to present his Spring 2012 collection. On April 28th, Donald and Lisa Pliner will also show shoes from his men’s line and his wife’s collection of Lisa shoes while taking time to give his perspective on what’s hot for spring.

So whether you’re looking for a twist on traditional loafer, a cork wedge or a stiletto sandal, Main & Taylor has you covered.

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“

When the feet are uncomfortable, so is the mind, so is the body, so is the soul.

”

In fact, Pliner still designs every pair of shoes himself, carefully screening each new design to ensure perfect fit and function.

stuar t

W eit z m an

tru nk show at Main & Taylor

Main & Taylor has also got you covered April 12th-14th, when the Stuart Weitzman trunk show comes to town. With over 30 years of experience, this shoe icon is known for giving women exactly what they want in a shoe – one that makes them feel beautiful while being absolutely comfortable to wear.

Stuart Weitzman is recognized as such a classic that Main & Taylor features a shop-in-shop at their North Hills store. midtownmag.com| xx

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céline

ex c lusively at v erm illion

Nothing says Parisian fashion like Céline. This 67-year-old fashion house is known for its smashing, high-end clothing, sought-after handbags and fantastic accessories that capture the essence of the modern, stylish woman. And Vermillion is only one of two stores in North Carolina where you can find Céline in person, including the beautifully crafted, colorful bags used in this issue’s fashion shoot. Go now!

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didier

pa r a k ian

ex c lusiv ely at c. t. weekends

If you’re looking to bring a touch of Europe into your wardrobe, its time to take in the colorful prints and free-flowing shape of Didier Parakian.

A blend of sensuality and sophistication makes his luxury designs more than desirable and the perfect addition to your spring and summer trousseau, as featured in this issue’s fashion shoot. And the only place you’ll find it on this side of the Atlantic is at C.T. Weekends.

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MOVIES

MIDTOWN

REVIEWS

movies

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

American Reunion

Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito Rated: PG Opens: 3/2/2012 Plot: A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Starring: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Seann William Scott Rated: R Opens: 4/6/2012 Plot: Jim, Michelle, Stifler, Finch and their former classmates from East Great Falls learn what has and has not changed when they gather for their highly-anticipated highschool reunion.

Mirror Mirror

The Lucky One

Starring: Julia Roberts, Lily Collins, Armie Hammer Rated: PG Opens: 3/16/2012 Plot: When Snow White wins the heart of the prince, the Queen banishes her to the forest, where a man-eating beast hungrily awaits. Snow White then enlists the help of seven resourceful rebels to win back her birthright.

Starring: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner Rated: PG-13 Opens: 4/20/2012 Plot: From the Nicholas Sparks novel, a Marine travels to North Carolina after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.

The Hunger Games Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworthk Rated: PG-13 Opens: 3/23/2012 Plot: In what was once North America, the Capitol of Panem maintains its hold on its 12 districts by forcing them each to select a boy and a girl, called Tributes, to compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the youths fight to the death until only one remains.

District 12 Tribute Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) has little to rely on other than her hunting skills and sharp instincts in an arena where she must weigh survival against humanity. Based on the best-selling young-adult novel by author Suzanne Collins.

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MIDTOWN

REVIEWS

MUSIC

music

Wrecking Ball (Bruce Springsteen) Release Date: 3/6/2012 Bruce Springsteen’s new album has been set for a March 6th release, marking his 17th studio album. Wrecking Ball features 11 new Springsteen songs and a special edition of will also be available and include two bonus tracks and exclusive artwork and photography.

Fortune (Chris Brown) Release Date: 3/16/2012 If Brown’s new release, Fortune, is anything like his latest single, “Turn Up The Music”, then fans are in for a treat. The recent Grammy award winner plans on taking R&B’s current love for the dance floor and turning the volume up a couple more notches.

MDNA (Madonna) Release Date: 3/26/2012 MDNA will be Madonna’s 12th album. The single “Luvin” will be the first release off the album. It is a bouncy dance-pop track reminiscent of Madonna’s Grammy-winning “Beautiful Stranger.” Driven by glittery synths, marching band drums and claps, the song features guest raps from Minaj and M.I.A.

Tresspassing (Adam Lambert) Release Date: 3/20/2012 Hardcore Adam Lambert fans will LOVE it, but we think it’s going to bring in a flurry of brand new fans, especially if you’re into pop. The single he will bring out first, “Better Than I Know Myself”, will show you just how much his sound has evolved since 2009.

Boys & Girls (Alabama Shakes) Release Date: 4/10/2012 Athens, Alabama blues rock quintet Alabama Shakes has built a monstrous buzz since self-releasing its self-titled debut EP in September through Bandcamp. Paste magazine recently named the band its best new artist of 2011. Check it out!

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MIDTOWN

REVIEWS

STONE LEVITATION ALE

LIEFMANS CUVÉE-BRUT

MOTHER EARTH DARK CLOUD

 LIGHTEST TO DARKEST

PAULANER SALVATOR



BY DAVID WRENN, Product Manager – World of Beer

FOUNDER’S CENTENNIAL IPA

BEER beer

4.3% abv

6% abv

5.1% abv

7.9% abv

Grand Rapids, Michigan Named for its use of Centennial hops, this ale provides amazing floral aromas and citrus notes throughout.

Sweet, malty undertones balance the bitter hop character for a complex and flavorful ale.

Escondido, California Deep amber in color, this ale has rich and roasty malt flavors with subtle citrus overtones provided by the brewer’s choice of hops and special yeast strain.

Oudenaarde, Belgium A different method than traditional Kriek Lambics, it starts with an Oud Bruin (old brown) beer which is macerated with fresh whole cherries in oak tanks. After a year of aging it’s blended with older and younger beers to make a balanced sour and sweet Kriek.

Kinston, North Carolina This Munich Style Dunkel (Dark) Lager is based on a style hundreds of years old. The use of dark malts helps give caramel and nutty flavors, with a clean finish coming from an extended lagering (storing) time.

Munich, Germany Originally brewed by the Paulaner Monastery Monks as a food replacement during Lent, this style is often referred to as “Liquid Bread”. It’s almost the same recipe used

by Brother Barnabas when first brewed in 1773, using only the finest hops and dark barley malt.

$14/bottle

$5/bottle

$4.50/bottle

BEST SERVED IN:

7.2% abv

$5/bottle

$5.50/bottle

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MIDTOWN

REVIEWS

BY DAVID SENDALL, Assistant Manager – Total Wine & More

DEBEAUNE LA MADONE FLEURIE

WINE wine

CROSSINGS SAUVIGNON BLANC

RIVATA BRACHETTO PIEMONTE

BEST SERVED IN:

Int’l Wine Cellar

Wine Advocate

$17.99/bottle

NOBILIS VINHO VERDE

90

90

Beaujolais, France The Debeaune 2009 Fleurie La Madone boasts rich, juicy peach and dark cherry with invigorating fruit skin tartness in a buoyant, lip-smacking finish. Hints of cherry pit and iodine add interest to the Fleurie of real verve and persistence.

CASTANO YECLA SOLANERA

Malborough, New Zealand Lively lime and grapefruit flavors, preceded by a bouquet of kiwi and melon, are enhanced by nuances of mineral and spice on the refreshingly long finish. Made from grapes grown in the Awatere Valley. Pairs great with seafood.

$14.99/bottle

Piedmont, Italy Ripe red fruit aromas with floral undertones give this wine a fragrant bouquet that leads to a sweet and delicate balance on the palate. Perfect as an aperitif or after dinner drink, this Brachetto is perfect for easy drinking.

Yecla, Spain Saturated purple.

Smoky raspberry and cherry on the nose, with a sexy mocha quality adding complexity.

Fleshy, round dark fruit liqueur flavors caress rather then pummel the palate.

Gentle tannins arrive late to add structure but this is all about silky, juicy fruit.

Vinho Verde, Portugal A soft, light and refreshing Vinho Verde that goes well with life. Blended from traditional varieties, Nobilis is aromatic and engaging, with a slight fizz that enhances its bouquet, flavors and freshness. Ideal with salads, light fish dishes or as an aperitif.

$12.99/bottle

$14.99/bottle

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MIDTOWN

REVIEWS KAYAK MOBILE • Free

APPS

apps

The Kayak travel app does the job of many. Compare hundreds of travel sites at once, right on your phone. Compare flight, hotel and car rental deals; track your flight status; view and manage your trip itinerary; look up baggage fees; access airline numbers and airport info. And, you can book your hotel right in the app – just choose KAYAK as your booking option.

ALLRECIPES.COM DINNER SPINNER PRO • $2.99

The Dinner Spinner Pro can do everything: search All Recipe’s extensive database of top recipes by ingredient or nutrition information, email recipes you find, see selected ratings and reviews and view recipe photos.

Hesitant to pay $2.99? Try the free version first!

ONAVO • Free

Onavo’s app connects your iPhone to our cloud-based technology, dubbed the “magical shrinking machine”. It’s totally seamless – once you install it you can go back to using your phone as before. In the background, your data usage from all apps is compressed so that you get more bang for your buck, doubling and even tripling your data plan.

RESTAURANT.COM • Free

Find the best restaurant deals nearest you! Travel with the perfect dining app, and search for restaurant deals by zip code or city. Purchase discounted gift certificates on the go! Redeeming is easy too – just show wait staff the digital certificate on your iPhone and voilà!

INSTAGRAM • Free

Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects or tilt-shift blur to breathe a new life into your mobile photos.

Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.

AWESOME NOTE • $3.99

TRANSLOC TRANSIT VISUALIZATION • Free

See the real-time location and arrival information of your bus while on the go with the TransLoc app. Enjoy less time waiting at the stop and more time in the comfort of your apartment, dorm, computer lab, or coffee shop.

Up-to-the-minute announcements about situations that impact the buses can also be viewed, meaning fewer unwanted surprises when catching the bus.

SPOTIFY • Free

Access to 15 million tracks from thousands of albums and artists on your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad. If you haven’t tried Spotify before, you can try it on your mobile phone for 48-hours, completely free. You don’t even have to enter credit card details. Simply download this app, register for a free account on the Spotify website and log-in.

Keep a unique note of your own.

Memos, diary, important info, check lists, friends’ birthdays, shopping lists, travel itineraries and some to-dos that you must keep in mind. These are all capable of being managed at once with Awesome Note.

DICE WITH BUDDIES • $1.99*

Dice Mania is now a full-blown epidemic! Find out for yourself why everyone’s getting hooked on this addictive dice game. Similar to Hasbro, Inc.’s YAHTZEE® dice game, you can play with friends, family, or random opponents – whether they’re sitting next to you or thousands of miles away! *Free version also available with ads.

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Regardless of how you feel about smart phones, video games or apps, the numbers don’t lie. In the past year, consumers downloaded more than 17 billion apps to their mobile phones and computer tablets, and that number is only expected to increase.

It’s a growing industry in an economy full of declining industries.

But here’s the million dollar question: Can anyone make an app? Midtown decided to find out.

BY CHRISTA GALA

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FIRST

THINGS FIRST...

WHAT IS AN APP?

“App” stands for “application” and basically works a lot like user-installed software does on your computer, but an app is for a smart phone like an iPhone or Droid. Many apps are games; others provide information, like recipes, or where to find the cheapest gas in your area or the closest restaurant or bank. Some are free and some cost a small amount.

Nick Landry, 13, an eighth grader at Cary Academy, created a gaming app, Answer iBall. At 99 cents a download, it’s earned him about $2,000 to date. He’s learning lessons in economics and marketing as well, thanks to his dad. Not a bad return on what started as an interest in video gaming.

Answer iBall is similar to the Magic 8 Ball. In Nick’s highinterior harmony_ma.pdf 1 1/16/12 PM screen of your tech version, you ask the iBall (dancing 3:59 on the

NICK LANDRY, 13, CREATED THE ANSWER IBALL APP, A HIGH-TECH VERSION OF THE MAGIC 8 BALL.

phone) a yes-or-no question, shake it, and it answers.

“It’s one of those things that you think of when you’re going through ideas,” Nick says. “I don’t remember exactly how I came up with it, but I stuck to it and it turned out really well.”

Nick built the app with help from his dad, computer programmer Ken Landry.

“He was playing a lot of Xbox, and he would build these little worlds and his friends would come and play,” says Landry, who then introduced Nick to Dark BASIC computer programming, a beginner’s guide to learning code and building games. “He loved it; he would spend hours programming it. He built a zombie game and it just 1 2/14/12 3:51 PM went gena fromchandler_ma.pdf there.”

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CAN ANYONE MAKE AN APP?

So, is making an app like blogging? Can anyone do it?

Technically, yes, but it’s not like blogging where you can sit down and have a finished product in an hour.

“With the advent of these smart phones and apps, it’s the perfect world for anyone with the expertise to do it,” says Landry. “It’s not so complex that he (Nick) can’t put it out there without a full testing team. It’s small enough to be able to do on your own.” In fact, Nick’s formed his own company, TechNick.

That said, it’s easy to get bogged down in some of the code, not to mention maneuvering around the smart phone company’s development and legal guidelines. Our sources say a Droid app is easier to design and launch than an iPhone app.

If you’re a complete beginner, Landry suggests learning either through books, courses or development environments designed to help beginners. “The development environments are limited, but they are out there. They allow people who are creative but don’t know the language to put together at a high level how they want an app to work without writing any code, but it’s limited and hard to do. You almost have to have some form of programming.”

NICK LANDRY HAS MADE $2,000 FROM HIS ANSWER But it could be worth teaching yourself.

IBALL APP AND NOW HAS HIS “With Nicky, when it came to iPhone OWN COMPANY, TECHNICK. programming, I got him a couple of books and a lot of them are step-by-step that take you through and let you build three or four apps along the way,” Landry continues. “They were really good for him.

He could sit down, walk through it, do it on the computer, and the end result was an app that he’d built.”

APPS IN

David Maydew and Ian Henry are two more examples of kids who turned their hobby of playing video games into cash – PROGRESS to the tune of $8,000. Henry’s got a 1988 Toyota Supra to show for it. Maydew put his portion in the bank.

Maydew, 16, and Henry, 17, are both juniors at Cary Academy and last fall launched a popular Droid app, Black Ops Intel. The 99cent app is designed to teach gamers how to enhance their skills in the popular video game Call of Duty.

“We were avid Call of Duty players ourselves,” says Henry. “There were other similar apps on the market, but we thought we could make a better one.”

Henry wrote most of the code, and Maydew does the graphic design for Black Ops Intel, as well as other apps the two are working on. One is an app for a game called Battlefield 3; another will feature gaming trivia questions. Yet another will allow gamers to submit strategy videos. “We’ve got social networking pages – Twitter and Facebook – hooked up to our company and people will submit their videos so they’re showcased on these apps,” says Maydew.

Maydew and Henry have formed their own companies as well: Idealistic Technologies and 50 Caliber. “I feel like this is what I’m going to do when I grow up, become a businessman,” says Maydew. “I’ve just started the college search process. Out of this I’ve learned computer science, but also the idea of running a business.”

Henry and Maydew have had to figure out what people are willing to pay for, since many gaming apps are free. “Its lots of hours talking on the phone to each other,” Maydew says.

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Henry’s had to learn how to take criticism. “The reviews are very interesting,” he says. “I think that’s really the most interesting part of the entire process – learning to deal with complaints and being able to accept criticism. Since I wrote the program, I take insults to the program very seriously and very personally. It was interesting to resolve issues with people I’ve never met before, sometimes even from different countries.”

Henry hopes to make a career of writing code and plans to study computer science when he graduate.

DAVID MAYDEW AND IAN HENRY HAVE MADE ABOUT $8,000 WITH THEIR DROID APP, BLACK OPS INTEL.

GOOD ADVICE

MAYDEW AND HENRY ARE CREATING MORE APPS UNDER THEIR COMPANIES, IDEALISTIC TECHNOLOGIES AND 50 CALIBER.

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Maydew and Henry have some parting advice for teens – or anyone – who wants to experiment with making a mobile phone application.

“I would say make sure the program is something you’re really interested in. That’s the difference between making it a homework assignment for school and being a passion you’re willing to stay up late at night for,” says Maydew.

And be willing to invest a lot of time, says Henry, noting he and Maydew have spent months improving Black Ops Intel, which took many months before that to design. “Since version 1.0, we’ve probably put tenfold that amount of time into improving it,” adds Henry. “We’re always adding features; we’ve found out you’re really never done.” mikels jones_ma.pdf

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. t e k c i t n o s a e s GOL

D TIC K

Why subscriptions matter to patrons and local theaters.

BY KATE TURGEON

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L DEN C KET. R Remember Grandpa Joe? You know, grandson Charlie. Famous (albeit fictional) chocolate factory?

One minute Joe is decrepit, sharing a bed with his elderly wife and in-laws.

The next minute he’s dancing and singing about the golden sun in his sky and the golden twinkle in his eye.

To quote the old fellow, he’s “slap in the lap of luxury.” A golden ticket can cause that kind of dramatic stir...

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“

“

We value the one-on-one feedback we get from our season members.

Their strong sense of ‘ownership’ means a great deal to us. ~ Brent Simpson, Theatre in the Park

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A

Almost one year after North Carolina was hit by deadly tornadoes that killed 22 and injured 130 across our state, most people have rebuilt their homes and businesses. Most have tried to forget that terrifying and tragic Saturday afternoon.

And that’s a good thing, but there’s a local organization that supported many of us during that hard time that now needs your help…The American Red Cross (ARC).

More than 3,500 local ARC volunteers provide services in our area each year. In April last year the ARC provided 581 families with a place to stay and immediate financial support at the cost of almost $1.3 million dollars. For many families, the ARC was their lifeline.

The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and our local chapter depends solely on the generous financial support of our community members. Now wear_ma.pdf 2/22/12 9:14 AM they varsity need mens us to be their 1lifeline.

DID YOU KNOW? The local ARC provides emergency travel for two immediate family members to an injured soldier’s bedside anywhere in the world. $2,000 sponsors 40 military kits The local ARC provides shelter, food and care for local disaster victims: $2,000 sponsors a food truck (200 meals) The local ARC supplies nearly half the nation’s blood: $1,000 sponsors blankets/movies for 200 The local ARC provides health & safety services by teaching lifesaving skills: $1,000 sponsors swim lessons for 100 children HELP THEM CONTINUE TO BE A LIFELINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY… Join them for their 21st Annual Southern Lights & Seaside Nights, April 21st at North Ridge Country Club. This great night will feature music by The Embers! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit triangleredcross.org/ball. village optique_ma.pdf 1 2/27/12 10:26 AM

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bain’s beat

Yearning l

to FL Y

ast summer, my team completed a major project at work, so our executive director took us on an indoor skydiving expedition.

I think it was supposed to be a reward.

To be fair, he offered an alternative for the fainter of heart – a spa visit. But I’m no sissy. Besides, that spa didn’t have my preferred color of toenail polish.

So I opted for something that sounds like it ought to be an event in the X Games.

Honestly, it’s not that extreme – although there are elements that sound cool to brag about. I figured I was ready for a semi-extreme sport; I drank a Mountain Dew once.

The first thing that hit me about indoor skydiving – other than the floor, I mean – is the misnomer. You don’t dive; it’s supposed to be more like flying, or at least floating. You’re not even supposed to fall, which is what you’d do if you were really skydiving. Falling is also what I do best, but I wouldn’t be able to use that particular skill on this expedition.

The event took place in a three-story, vertical wind tunnel, capable of generating winds up to 160mph – the same as a Category 5 hurricane. The “divers” started off in a sealed antechamber around the wind tunnel’s en-

trance, then took turns leaning into the tunnel to ostensibly let the wind lift them like birds. In my case, it was more like letting the wind buffet and careen me before bouncing me off the walls like a ping-pong ball.

We had two instructors. I’ll call one Champ, for his heroic attitude toward helping us. I’ll call the other Chimp, because he preferred to run around the wind tunnel and climb the walls like an annoying monkey.

They started our training with a video that showed professionals flying in the tunnel, which of course made it look easy. Those guys can do incredible stunts and gymnastics in there, forming their bodies into a perfect airfoil, then controlling its direction, speed and/or rotation by slightly moving a leg or an arm. My problem is that such control requires more than just practice – it requires rhythm. I don’t have rhythm – if I did, I could dance. If I could dance, I could fly. As it turns out, I can’t do either.

I was dismayed to have to memorize four hand signals to be used inside the tunnel: Chin up, Bend your legs, Straighten your legs, and Relax. One of the instructors then demonstrated the proper flying position on a tabletop

– on his belly with his arms out and bent in a sort of half-baked “touchdown” signal, his legs spread apart, and his chin up to keep him looking straight along a parallel plane. This is a surprisingly uncomfortable position for a renowned slouching introvert like me.

Next, we donned the proper gear – helmet, goggles, earplugs, and a giant, nylon onesie that looked like the snowsuits I used to wear as a kid. We dressed and entered the antechamber, then stared at each other as we waited for someone to take the seat closest to the wind tunnel entrance. That honor went to our director, who had experience and therefore looked so competent in the tunnel that I found myself anticipating being next.

I leaned forward past the doorway, and the wind grabbed me like a napkin at a drivein. Fortunately, Chimp was there to stamp out littering, holding me aloft with the loop on the back of my snowsuit while using his other hand to signal that I should lift my Chin up, Bend my legs, and for God’s sake, Relax. He flashed that sign repeatedly, but I’ve never relaxed in my life – and I wasn’t about to start while being violently tossed around inside a plexiglass tube, with my jowls wrapped around

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the back of my head.

I started to fly, but hit the wall and the floor in rapid succession. Next thing I knew, some wiseacre had turned the whole chamber upside down. I found myself on my back, but the only way to float on your back is to be in water. When I remembered I was supposed to be on my stomach, I panicked like a turtle.

The floor of the wind tunnel is sort of a springy, chain-link-type surface, which makes it easy to grab onto in terror. At the top of the tunnel is a set of large, metal vents that resemble blades, and as I stared up at them, I remember a certain unpleasant scene involving a horse in the movie, The Cell. I was certain that I was going to be blown into those multiple guillotines, so I clutched the floor even harder until Chimp came over to pry me up and flip me over.

I floated again for a moment, but only about an inch or two off the floor, and really just felt like the loser fish in the aquarium. Chimp eventually had to carry me to the door like a duffel bag, at which point I got to watch my teammates go in one at a time, and was gratified to see one of them very nearly do a faceplant on the wall right in front of my seat.

On my second go-round, Chimp really scolded me – he kept signaling, Chin up – so I tried to smile. Then he not only signaled Relax; he screamed it at me, which makes it very hard to do.

Next, he imitated me, showing me everything I was doing wrong. When I wound up on my back and grabbed the floor again, he showed me little hook hands trying to grab at something and shook his head. I felt like a properly chastised pet.

By the time I got in for my third round, Champ was helping me. This allowed Chimp to literally walk the walls – sideways, upside-down, what-have-you – and mock me. He would come running up, pretending like he was about to kick me, then let himself get blown away before his foot could connect. Very amusing.

But Champ helped me catch some air. He effectively posed me like a Gumby, putting my parts where they needed to be for me to fly for more than a second or two – which I did!

For everybody’s fourth and final turn, Chimp took us up for a spin – literally. He grabbed each of us by the loop, started spinning around like he was going to throw them, then suddenly burst three stories upward. That part was exhilarating, if not a little dizzying, and made for a positive ending to the day.

We left the chamber in our now-gamey snowsuits, changed out, thanked our director, and made our separate way home on solid ground.

That night, I told the boys I had flown like Superman – and they believed me.

It felt pretty cool, but if we do it again, maybe I should go to the spa. I just hope I can relax to Dan Bain, their satisfaction.

Ex-Gamer mail@danbain.net

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yellow

getting the right

Sunny, cheerful and energetic. Yellow can be a tricky color, or an overpowering one if used without consideration.

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starting tip...

Yellow will looker darker on the walls than on a paint chip, so consider going for a shade lighter than your first choice. Yellow needs a strong partner color for balance. Sunny yellow is ideal for a room used in the morning or a room that gets little or no direct sunlight...

I like...

“Yellow Ground” by Farrow & Ball Paint Company. It emanates warmth and light. I find it’s a perfect backdrop for art, black and white photography or classic architectural prints.

I also use it to highlight dark stained furniture.

I recommend pairing it with “Revere Pewter” by Benjamin Moore. This color is the perfect complement to yellow.

It can look “Parisian” chic, or “countrified”, depending on the furniture used in your design!

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~ Rodolfo Gonzales Rodolfo Gonzales Interiors

I like...

“Windham Cream” by Benjamin Moore. Do not let “cream” throw you, this paint color goes on and changes through the day from sunlight to candlelight.

There is no color you will have trouble pairing with Windham Cream. I use it with grey, greens and whites for a neutral, calming effect, and it’s also played up the strongest cobalt blue you can imagine. And of course the ceiling is Windham Cream to keep the sunlight shimmering by day and the candlelight glowing by night. ~ Sandy Maccioli Awesome Abode at Shops of Baileywick

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I like...

“Jonquil” by Sherwin Williams. It is a warm, sunny color to use in a living room or even a kitchen. It is a color that is always cheerful and inviting.

A nice color for a hallway nearby in Sherwin Williams “Banana Cream”. ~ Dianne Thomson Affordable Chic

tip

Scrape excess paint or drips from windows, tile, or glass with straight razor blades. The drips won’t smear, and the surface will be perfectly clean.

I like...

“Reed Yellow” by Pratt & Lambert. It is a great mid-tone yellow that complements both wood tones and metallic finishes on furniture. Pair with Pratt & Lambert’s “China White” for graceful trim color or accented with “Parakeet Feather” for an soothing splash of green that works great for sunrooms and kitchens. matrix_jf.pdf 12/7/11 4:07:26 PM

saint ~ Abbott Tompkins Hunt & Gather, Glenwood Avenue

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I like...

“Hawthorn Yellow” by Benjamin Moore.

It’s a yellow with a happy, easy-going personality. In a sunroom it’s permanent sunshine, even on rainy days; on the walls of a long, dark hallway, it delivers warm light. Pair it with a deep gray-brown like BM’s “Equestrian Gray” for a chic, modern feel, or with french blue accents like BM’s “Lazy Sunday” for a classic, traditional feel.

This yellow is perfect for the exterior of a traditional brick home or a cozy bungalow. ~ Van Fletcher, Broker/Realtor – Oaks at Fallon Park/Allen Tate Company

I like...

“Convivial Yellow” by Sherwin Williams.

Cocoas or creamy browns pair nicely with it. ~ Ryan Critoria, Matrix Painting

I like...

“Funky Yellow” by Sherwin Williams.

It works great with greens and bronze. ~ Luisa Gomez, Dream Home Design

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If you’re on the hunt for a new end or side table, you know the possibilities are endless; short, tall, square or round. We asked our favorite store owners and interior designers to share one of their favorites.

Shops of Baileywick (Wander with Wonder), $1,115

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Rodolfo Gonzales Interior Design, $3,135

Hunt & Gather (Bernard St.), $795

Hunt & Gather (Glenwood Ave.), $135

Revival Antiques & Accessories, $72 94 | midtownmag.com

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Recommended by Sarah Stauffer, Interior Harmony, $179

Affordable Chic, $298

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Saint Mary’S StudEnt population – 245 StudEntS – rEprESEntS 12 StatES and SiX forEign countriES.

T

Theo Wilkes Coonrod, Head of School at Saint Mary’s School, gets that question a lot. “I think people really are curious as to why boys and girls need to be in separate classrooms, anyway,” she says.

Saint Mary’s is both a boarding and day school for girls in grades nine through 12. It’s the fourth oldest girls’ school in the US, and today its student population – 245 students – represents 12 states and six foreign countries.

Even with a proven track record – 170 years educating girls – Coonrod occasionally hears concerns from prospective students’ parents. Especially from the dads.

“They want their daughters to be competitive in the world,” Coonrod says. “And of course we do too; we just know at this developmental stage they have to have the confidence and the skills to compete.”

That confidence comes from opportunities and challenges. With boys out of the classroom, says Coonrod, girls tend to come into their own a lot faster.

“You have a chance to flex all of your muscles – all of them – you don’t have to run it through that filter of what will he think about me,” says Coonrod. “Look at the media; what are the messages the media is telling girls? How they have to act, what they have to eat, how big they have to be, what they have to look like. The pressures are poisonous.

“We offer a place for girls to be exactly who they are,” Coonrod continues. “A girl has space to be herself without being reminded of her gender. You are who you are.”

Opponents and Proponents The Wake County School Board in October approved the academies, the Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy and the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy. The now-co-ed William Peace University in Raleigh will host the schools, which are slated to open in Fall 2012. At capacity, each school will serve roughly 400 sixth through 12th graders. midtownmag.com| xx

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Proponents of the single-gender academies think they will be a good choice for families; students can also earn college credit. The academies will be modeled on a college preparatory single-gender system in Guilford County with a 100 percent graduation rate of high school students.

There’s also evidence that in single gender academies, both sexes are more likely to take courses that go against stereotype. A University of Virginia study found boys from single-sex schools were more likely to take art and foreign languages when compared with boys in co-educational schools. And girls were more likely to take physics and excel in math and physical activities compared with girls in co-educational schools.

Opponents of the single-gender academies want the funds to be spent on expanding alternative programs for struggling students. They also oppose the suggestion that students from both academies attend a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (JROTC) program in the ninth grade.

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Discipline and confidence Wake County’s not the only school system considering offering single-gender schooling options. The number of public single-sex classrooms rose from 11 in 2002 to 540 in 2009, according to the National Association for Single Sex Public Education.

Many think the discipline at single-gender schools is tighter and the academic curriculum more rigorous without the distractions of the opposite sex.

At Saint Mary’s, Coonrod demands a lot of her students and starts early. “You put challenges in front of them and then give them the support to succeed,” she says, adding Saint Mary’s has a public speaking requirement. “We want every student to be able to stand in front of a crowd of people she doesn’t know and advocate for a position she feels passionate about. We want our girls to be able to handle money; we want them to be able to earn it, save it, invest it.

“Our ninth graders are going out to North Carolina Outward Bound, every one of them,” Coonrod continues. “I want those girls to climb a mountain, be scared to death and do it anyway. They find that confidence. You’ve got to put challenges in front of them and help them overcome. And then they know they can, and then they do the next one. That’s how you build it.”

Saint Mary’s students are held accountable every day through the school’s My Achievement Program (MAP). Each student is assigned an advisor, with no more than six students in each advisory. Each morning the group meets and the advisor asks a variety of questions, ranging from personal responsibilities to what subjects they’d like to learn more about. The goal is to prepare them for the next step – life in college and, ultimately, life in the world.

“Our seniors go on weeklong internships out into the community in a career that they think they’re interested in,” says Coonrod. “How will they know until they get there? This is a great opportunity to see up close what that career might be like.”

The best education Although Coonrod fields questions from parents about the fact that Saint Mary’s is an all-girls’ school, for many parents it’s not an issue.

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Saint Mary’s, an Episcopal girls’ school, was founded in 1842.

Everything we are and everything we do is filtered through that lens of academic excellence and personal achievement and what’s good for girls.”

In fact, Saint Mary’s founder, the Rev. Aldert Smedes, an Episcopal priest, said something in the 1840s that still rings true today, although it was likely meant in a different context back then.

“He said that the ‘true mission of woman has not been generally felt and understood,’” says Coonrod.

“He was saying women deserved a fair shake in regard to educational opportunities because our nation needed a generation to carry on the needs and values of our country. We’re saying women deserve a fair shake in the marketplace. He said, ‘This is a school for discipline, for training, for good honest hard work.’ I’d say that’s still what we’re about.”

“Our parents are not necessarily looking for a girls’ school, they’re just looking for the best education they can find for their daughter,” says Coonrod. “It’s just a bonus that it’s a girls school and they may not even understand what, in fact, that’s going to do for her to be in a single-sex school.

“Our mission is exquisitely simple and clear,” Coonrod continues. “It’s to prepare girls for college and life in a community dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement.

Want to know more?

To learn more about Saint Mary’s School, visit www.sms.edu To learn more about Wake County’s upcoming single-gender leadership academies, visit www.wcpss.net.

Note: The deadline to apply for the 2012-1013 school year has passed.

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let’s

FACEit Ten willing women help us face the facts about our skin.

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what is it

w about m A e n?

sk us what we like about our face, and you’re likely to be met with silence.

Ask us to share what we dislike, well, get ready. A rapid fire list will follow, with it usually going something like this: large pores, fine lines, wrinkles, dull tone, uneven texture, acne and tired eyes. We’re so aware of the things that bother us, we can be quickly captivated by what promises to improve us.

Admit it. Please. Just so I feel better. Because I have been sucked into those infomercials that promise flawless, even coverage because of minerals and brushes.

I have wondered if that French dermatologist really did create a magical melon concoction for that supermodel that will also give us ordinary folks results.

I’ve read the articles touting promising new ingredients and glanced at displays wondering if the serum being marketed will really brighten. I’m such an expert at self-diagnosis that I have a medicine cabinet filled with product. Yet I’m never completely convinced I’ve got it all covered. Are you?

Well, the time has come to start feeling good. To understand which ingredients matter. The products that are worth it. The treatments that can make a difference in the way we feel and the way we look. And since we so often misdiagnosis when we self-diagnosis, we went straight to some of our local skincare experts.

We paired them with some very willing Midtown women who are frustrated by common skin concerns. But before we begin…

The Essential Element: Exfoliation

As you read about the various treatments provided by our local experts, you’ll notice that every treatment has exfoliation as part of the process. Why is this?

In case you’ve forgotten elementary school science class, let’s refresh your memory. The epidermis is a key component in our largest organ, the skin. And in its own miraculous, natural way, it routinely sheds dead skin cells to make room for newer, fresher cells – the ones that give our skin its natural radiance. Until we’re about thirty.

The ugly truth is that as we age, that miraculous, natural sloughing off of dead skin cells doesn’t happen so quickly. And when those dead cells continue to sit on our skin, they create a natural barrier. So, whether we’re using drug store cleansers, department store moisturizers, medical grade serums, or heavy-duty body cream, nothing’s getting through that top layer.

That’s when exfoliation, either through the help of a professional or through recommended home products, can swoop in to save the day – or at least your investment, making sure that the products you are using and treatments you are scheduling give you the best results. So read on and find out what may be best for you. midtownmag.com| xx

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HERE’S

THE CONCERN

What’s My Type?

For Dawn Kernagis, 34, Liza Coonse, 36, and Kris Ference, 39, skin care has been a bit of a mystery. All confess to becoming more aware of the fine lines, minor discoloration, pore size and occasional acne that seems to still be rearing its ugly head even though the teenage years are a thing of the past. They are also unsure as to what products and treatments would be most beneficial for their skin types, having never had a facial.

Add to it that Kernagis can’t figure out whether her skin is dry or oily, Coonse has celiac disease, so staying away from any facial products linked to gluten is imperative, and Ference’s extremely hayleys_ma.pdf 1/25/12 making 9:45 AM sensitive skin is prone1to breakouts, her apprehensive to try a facial. What should they do?

Dawn Kernagis Skin Sense A Day Spa: Calm Facial

by too much product build-up on the skin,” says Ward. A soothing mask to help reduce the redness in Kernagis’ skin and retexturing activator serum, full of hyaluronic acid, a well-known ingredient for adding moisture, are applied, followed by a neck and shoulder massage. Last steps? Cucumber eye gel, sunscreen and Jane Iredale mineral makeup.

“This balancing facial, consisting of exfoliation through an enzyme, an eye treatment and a mask to nourish the skin, will really help Dawn improve her texture, get rid of that dull feeling and add in hydration,” says Rachel Ward, esthetician.

Lessons Learned: Ward begins by examinKernagis’ combination skin is ing Kernagis’ skin while letting a more oily than dry, and using a few light steam blow, which will help products at home could help her soften the skin for extractions. see changes in texture and pore She cleanses her face with a gel size. Ward recommends a foaming cleanser, appropriate for more oily gel cleanser for washing and a clay skin and then begins the two-part mask to help with exfoliation, exfoliation, first using a mechanical, along with the retexturing activator grainy scrub and then a pineapple to help keep her skin from getting fruit enzyme for the face and a too dry or too oily. “Knowing what naseberry enzyme for the gentle kind of skin you have is important eye area. Ward then performs so you invest in the right treatextractions for blackheads and ments and products. What you do milia, those pesky bumps often at home has to mirror what you eatmans_ma.pdf 12:18 PM at the spa or your mistaken for whiteheads.

“Milia1are 2/23/12 are going to do very common, and can be caused skin won’t change,” says Ward.

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Liza Coonse Aesthetica Face & Body: Hydrating Facial

“Liza may be more sensitive than she realizes and there could be something she is using that is irritating. She has a lot of allergies and has to be very careful.

This facial will help balance her skin and point her in the right direction for getting the skin she wants,” says Michele Kindberg, owner and esthetician.

Kindberg decides on a double cleanse, first using a gentle organic cleanser and then using a cleanser containing a small percentage of glycolic and salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin, which may create a slight tingling sensation. Next, she applies an enzyme, consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid and kojic acid, all known for helping with oil and pigmentation. “This could be considered a very low-grade peel. It will take off the dead skin and allow the collagen to come to the surface,” says Kindberg. After she

Kris Ference Blue Water Spa: Peel-A-Bliss

Heather Hall, medical esthetician, recommends this customized treatment that blends a facial massage with a low-grade chemical exfoliation, guaranteed to be mild enough for Ference’s skin. “Peels can really help with uneven pigmentation due to sun damage by removing the top layer of skin cells to stimulate turnover,” says Hall. The peel will also help with any congestion and breakouts, bringing clarity to her skin.

Hall begins with a creamy precleanse to remove surface dirt, and then applies a light lactic cleanser, known to help with many of Ference’s concerns.

To ensure the product penetrates most effectively, she uses the Clarisonic skin cleansing system. “This is also perfect for home care,” says Hall. After a careful examination, Hall determines a 20 percent lactic acid peel packed with antioxidants would be ideal. Ference only feels a slight tingling when the peel is put on, accompanied by what she

performs extractions, she applies a clay mask mixed with vitamin C serum, a strong antioxidant that can help balance out any breakouts and calm down any irritations. Then, a décolleté, face and scalp massage that leaves Coonse to relax as her face soaks in the good stuff. She finishes with hyaluronic acid serum and sunscreen, with a touch of mineral makeup from glo•minerals.

Lessons Learned:

The days following the facial, Coonse’s skin feels calm and tight, as if its had a good workout. She’s most interested in going back to see what long-term changes she can accomplish, including what products may be best. “Like many women, Liza’s skin often feels oily, so she tends to dry herself out. But when we do that, we creates a vicious cycle, when our skin ends up producing even more oil,” says Kindberg. “Sometimes you have to rotate your products, to use certain ones when you feel more oily, but when you’ve corrected, you should take a break for a while.”

describes as a very clean feeling. After the peel sits, a neutralizer is used to maintain a proper balance of the skin’s pH. Mild extractions are performed (to Ference’s delight, her skin is more clear than she expected), followed by the application of toner, an emulsified hyaluronic acid for adding moisture back into the skin and an antioxidant mask.

A neck massage that ends with a warm, lemongrass towel adds to the ambiance.

A vitamin C serum (an essential product for protection against free radicals), an eye cream and physical sunblock round out the final steps.

Lessons Learned:

Ference feels clean, clear and bright well into the days following her treatment. She hopes that other women who have been afraid to have a facial because of sensitive skin can learn from her experience. “Investing in a home care regimen can help prolong the results you get from a treatment; make sure you choose products that contain ingredients that are going to be beneficial for your skin” says Hall.

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HERE’S

THE CONCERN

Help Find Lost Radiance For Kristine Mears, 42, Lisa Davidson, 46 and Andrea Pacyna, 51, good skin is not so much about having that lineless complexion. They recognize that a little hyperpigmentation and some fine lines are normal. Instead, these women are more interested in getting back some of that bright radiance, glow and tone to their skin and slowing down the signs of aging. Is that possible?

Kristine Mears Synergy Spa: Phyto-C Facial

“Kristine’s skin is very well hydrated, with some minor hyperpigmentation, congestion, and lines,” says Bridgette Newman, aesthetician. “A level one peel containing a brightening booster of vitamin C and kojic acid would be a very good entry point for her.”

The facial begins with a gentle cleanse that allows Newman to feel what’s going on with Mears’ skin.

Then, using the Clarisonic skin cleaning system, she washes Mears’ skin with a cleanser containing glycolic acid, known for its ability to restore texture. Once the skin is clean, she applies a prep solution to prepare the skin for the peel’s acids. As the peel sits on the skin, Newman performs an amazingly relaxing arm and hand treatment complete with a hydrator to nourish the skin. The peel is neutralized with a cool cloth, which feels very refreshing. After, Newman does extractions, and then puts a touch of azelaic lotion to make sure the area stays clean. “It’s very important that when you do extractions,

especially if you are tempted at home, not to touch and play with the area, because the bacteria can spread,” says Newman. She applies oxygen infused vitamin C, along with a hydrating and soothing mask that will also lift and firm, and then uses a microcurrent to help the ingredients penetrate more deeply into the skin. Once the mask is gently washed off, 20 percent Vitamin C serum, moisturizer and physical sunscreen are applied.

Lessons Learned:

Mears loved the experience, and only had a little dryness and flaking the days after the peel as dead skin began to slough off. So what should she do at home? “When it comes to the home regimen, Kristine should start slow. Serums are a great place to start because they actually penetrate the skin,” says Newman.

However, if you’re looking to invest in a few staple products that lay the foundation for a strong home regimen, Synergy Spa recommends: 1. A lactic or glycolic cleanser to brighten. 2. Hyaluronic acid for hydration. 3. A C serum for protection. 4. A retinol product for correction. 5. A physical sunscreen.

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Lisa Davidson Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa: Aveda Enbrightenment Treatment

Over the years, Davidson has had about ten facials, all with a more clinical approach. This time, she’s interested in minimizing the signs of aging, which includes returning the tone and texture to her skin in a more natural way. “This treatment contains botanicals that can help with hyperpigmentation, minor acne and removing dead skin,” says esthetician Vanessa Holt.

After examining Davidson’s skin, which she found to be well hydrated with very few fine lines, Holt performs an aromatherapy opening ritual focused on balancing movements and relaxation. Applying a cool hydrating mask and eye pads, she removes any makeup with a light oil, followed by a deep cleanse with the enbrightenment cleanser. A grainy exfoliation is used to ensure that the skin is ready to absorb all the products, a toner is applied to help balance the skin and heated cloths are placed on Davidson’s face. With all the good ingredients sinking in, Holt gives an extensive arm and hand massage while Davidson’s feet are wrapped in steamed towels infused with blue oil.

This is clearly more than a facial, as

Davidson’s entire mind and body are completely relaxed. Once the cloths are removed, the skin’s ready for extractions, done without the use of a tool. A mask geared to remove dead skin cells is applied to the face and neck. “This will dissolve into the skin, so it doesn’t disrupt or remove any live skin cells, which is very important,” says Holt. Toner is reapplied, along with a green science eye cream, an enbrightenment serum for the face and a cream for the neck. Before performing the closing ritual, which includes a neck and head massage, Holt applies a lip saver and sunscreen.

Lessons Learned:

Davidson thought the entire experience was fabulous, and saw a difference in her skin. In this age of chemicals and injections, it’s important to know that a facial using natural products can be results-oriented. “We can customize your facial to address what you are concerned about,” says Holt. It’s also important to not forget about sunscreen, a daytime essential, and also to add moisture back into your skin, especially at night.

SUNSCREEN...

THE ONE INGREDIENT YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT But there’s been a lot of talk about the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens. And all of the experts we spoke with recommend going with a physical one. So what’s the deal?

A physical sunscreen is also referred to as a sunblock. It contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which block the sun’s rays from penetrating the skin. A chemical sunscreen contains chemical ingredients that reduce the sun’s radiation. mm 100-111 spa guide.indd 6

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THE MEN FACTOR

Guess what? Women aren’t the only ones wondering what’s going on with their skin. “More and more men are coming in on their own for facials, either to treat acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, aging, or even ingrown hairs,” says Laura Brandon, medical esthetician at Blue Water Spa. “They do want to look good and take care of their skin.”

While facials can be relaxing, cleansing, and result-oriented, Brandon often recommends a series of microdermabrasions or peels as an effective way of treating many of the common problems men face. And, just as with women, men should be investing in a skin care regime to use at home. “Often times, men just use soap and water,” says Brandon. “A simple, cleanse-exfoliate-moisturize routine can make a difference.” She recommends: • Either a cleanser containing an exfoliant, or • A moisturizer with glycolic to help exfoliate, and • A physical sunscreen.

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Andrea Pacyna A Younger You: Jade Microcurrent Facial Sculpting

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“The Jade Technology Procedure uses radio waves to penetrate and massage deep within the cellular layers of the skin to help promote collagen and elastin, resulting in firming, tightening and lifting,” says Phyllis Smith, esthetician. “This can give Andrea the results she’s searching for.”

This procedure, often referred to as a non-surgical face-lift, is built around decades-old research that found cancer patients who had assistance in draining the toxins out of their lymphatic system have increased collagen and elastin in their skin. “Today, we can use this same radio wave technology to drain the lymphatic fluids trapped in the face and help direct those cells towards the drainage point,” says Smith.

The treatment consists of a series of steps, the first of which is using the Derma Ray high frequency device to gently exfoliate the top layer of the epidermis.

Then, a cream activator is applied to the face, and the Jade, another high frequency

device, is used to work on smoothing and tightening the facial muscles. Afterwards, the Derma Ray is used once again. During the process, Pacyna experiences a little tingling and tightening sensation as the esthetic devices send waves to penetrate her skin. Upon completing the Jade procedure, Smith applies nourishing De La Terre skin care products to Pacyna’s face, as well as a makeup application. “Using products that are good for your skin can maximize your results,” says Smith.

Lessons Learned:

“This natural, no downtime procedure reminds the skin to wake up and produce the collagen and elastin,” says Smith.

“For best results, it’s best to come in for a series of ten.” Pacyna noticed a difference after one treatment, and decided to go back for more. After a few, she feels like a new and improved version of herself, with her skin having a more pulled-back quality but in a very natural way.

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HERE’S

Can You THE Peel Away Sun Damage?

CONCERN

The answer is yes. And since one of the gold standards of getting rid of those pesky brown spots is a series of mid-level chemical peels, it should come as no surprise that the skin care professionals at two different medical practices – Davis Plastic Surgery and Lambeth Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics – recommended this option for both Peyton Hatfield, 48, and Laura Wyatt, 63 who, like most of us, grew up craving bronzed, sun-kissed skin.

But even though a mid-level peel is applied during a booked treatment session, it continues to do its work for the days that follow your appointment and is

not without a bit of expected, normal side effects that may make you want to postpone a romantic date night or big business meeting. After all, during a chemical peel, chemicals are used to penetrate deep into the layers of the skin, where they almost trick the skin into thinking there is a wound in order to produce collagen. The skin responds by generating those fresh, healthy cells. And while the end result can be a face full of refreshed, awake skin, each person will react differently based on skin type. In this case, Hatfield’s tends to be oilier and Wyatt’s is a little more dry. Read on for their experiences.

Peyton Hatfield Davis Plastic Surgery: Vitalize Peel

“While Peyton could see results by working with the Fraxel laser, she could also see results with a mid-level chemical peel, with a series being ideal,” says Jenna Fitzgerald, aesthetic nurse. A mid-level peel will also help balance the skin and improve Hatfield’s overall tone and texture.

To prep the skin for the peel, Fitzgerald uses an acetone and alcohol solution. This will strip the skin of any oil so the peel will be able to penetrate. To prevent the peel solution from irritating the eye, mouth and nose creases, a touch of Aquaphor is applied, followed by the first layer of the peel, which contains lactic and glycolic acid, both known for improving the tone and texture of sun damaged and thickened skin. After the first layer dries, she applies a second

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layer, followed by a retinoic acid boost to make the peel even more effective.

Hatfield’s skin feels a little warm to the touch, but she’s not experiencing any discomfort. As the last step, Fitzgerald applies sunscreen to help neutralize her skin, instructing her to use it every day. Upon leaving, Hatfield is advised not to wash her face until the evening and when she does, to use only gentle products, none containing acids or retinal. Fitzgerald also warns Hatfield that while she’ll really like the way her skin looks for the rest of the day, it will likely change as she begins to peel. “Peyton could also benefit by adding a lightening cream, a retinal and vitamin C serum to her routine, but she should finish the peel process before she invests in anything,” says Fitzgerald.

Lessons Learned:

Remember, it’s called a peel for a reason. As expected, Hatfield experiences the typical peel cycle, going from clear and bright the first day to being red and slightly irritated the second day. By the third day, Hatfield is a much brighter shade of red with some bumps and irritation. A quick call and photo sent to Fitzgerald indicates this is all a normal part of the process, but for first-timers, it can be a bit surprising. By the fourth day, the flaking and peeling begins and continues until day seven, when Hatfield notices that her skin has come even better than full circle, with it looking bright, and her brown spots appearing lighter.

“I would definitely do it again, especially if I had an event coming up,” says Hatfield. “You just need to be mindful of your schedule when you plan for a peel.”

Laura Wyatt Lambeth Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics: Vitalize Peel

“Laura has some congested pores and hyperpigmentation, both of which are very common. She could benefit from either a lighter peel with extractions, or we could do deeper peel which may give her more results,” says Diane Lambeth, licensed esthetician. The peel, made up of a blend of acids including lactic and salicylic acid, will jump-start the rejuvenation process, allowing her skin to work towards being more illuminated.

Before beginning, Lambeth explains the process, including what Wyatt should expect once she gets home, which includes the expectation of peeling from day three to day five.

After she’s sure that Wyatt is comfortable, Lambeth cleanses her skin, then follows with a degreaser with alcohol and acetone to make sure her skin is completely clean. Lambeth uses a small, slightly rougher 2x2 gauze to apply three passes of the peel, gently “roughing” up the areas where the hyperpigmentation is present. She will not be using any neutralizer for this peel, as it will continue to sit on her

skin when she leaves, sinking in to do its job.

Lessons Learned:

The day following the peel, Wyatt feels tight but doesn’t experience any redness.

But over the next two days, her skin turns a bit pink, followed by more red.

By the fourth day, the peeling kicks in, mostly in terms of flaking. A full week out, Wyatt’s skin feels and looks great.

While Wyatt’s skin looks improved after just one peel, the best way to work toward overall improvement is to invest in a series. And even after you see those results, it’s recommended to get on a maintenance program, consisting ideally of a combination of treatments and home care. “Sometimes, people may have the idea that if they just do this one thing, they won’t have to do anything else,” says Lambeth. “Everything is maintenance; I compare it to having to keep on exercising to maintain your weight.” For Wyatt, adding a toner, vitamin C and retinal product to her daily regimen could help her move toward the skin she wants.

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HERE’S

THE CONCERN

Beyond the Face With all this focus on the face, it can be easy to forget that our arms, legs, feet and all the rest of our skin can benefit from exfoliation. And with the added bonus that comes from body treatments – you know, the fact that just by walking through the door you begin to relax because of the soothing lounges, delicious smells, comfy robes, and access to other spa entities such as a whirlpool and sauna - what’s stopping you? For Nikki Castrilli, 40, and Julie McIntosh, 41, indulging in a body treatment is the best way to take a moment for themselves and pay attention to those neglected areas.

Nikki Castrilli Modern Enhancement Salon Day Spa: Sothys Orient Essence Body treatment

“This body treatment will give Nikki the benefit of a massage, which naturally clears out toxins and loosens muscles, with exfoliation,” says Sarah Smith, massage therapist and spa manager.

The treatment begins with the application of a heavenly smelling ginger exfoliating balm. “While the balm happens to be creamy instead of a rough, more abrasive scrub, it still has an exfoliating effect. It will dry up like a mask,” says Smith. While the mask sits and sets on the body, Smith gives Castrilli a head massage. Once the exfoliation is complete, Smith will take three hot stones wrapped in a cloth that has been soaking in a blend of massage oil and an oriental cocktail powder and give Castrilli a hot stone massage. “The heat will really allow her to relax and loosen

up her muscles,” says Smith. The treatment finishes with a full body massage, which will allows the oil to penetrate more fully into the skin.

Lessons Learned:

“This body treatment is the ultimate combination of relaxation and exfoliation, ideal for someone who wants to be pampered but also wants to work on improving their skin,” says Smith. In addition to the relaxation aspect of the treatment, Castrilli also learned why she may have some recurring neck pain and what other types of massage she may be a good candidate for to help alleviate that pain. “This was so relaxing, and the products smelled so good, that when it was over, I didn’t want to get up,” says Castrilli. “Days after, my skin continued to feel soft.”

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Julie McIntosh The Umstead Spa: Cherry Blossom Ritual

Julie McIntosh would like to eliminate dry skin patches so she feels more confident in shorts and skirts. “This 75-minute treatment, based on Japanese bathing rituals, blends exfoliation, massage and reflexology, which will help with her concerns,” says Angela Avellino, assistant spa director.

The treatment begins with an awakening prelude, where the body is rocked gently down though the back, to introduce touch to the body. Then the lead massage therapist applies a heated rice powder gommage, which is an enzyme with lemon and papaya, as well as a sorbitol complex known for brightening and boosting the skin tone.

While the mask penetrates the skin, McIntosh gets a foot massage with reflexology. “We are standing on our feet all day, and the massage and reflexology hit all those points that impact different organs; it’s very relaxing,” says Avellino.

Once the mask has had a chance to sit, an exfoliation mitt is used to gently scrub it away, followed by a full body massage with heated shea butter that

will sink into the skin, leaving it warm and moisturized. “One of the benefits to this treatment is that it does not have to be washed off; everything gets absorbed,” says Avellino.

Lessons Learned:

For McIntosh, this was an opportunity to relax and work out parts of her knotted body that she didn’t even realize were knotted. “Amazing is not a strong enough word to describe this experience. We’re so busy we forget about pampering ourselves once in a while,” she says. This fact is not lost on Avellino, who sees it all the time.

“It’s important to have a wellness type regimen where you take care of yourself,” says Avellino. Believe it or not, sometimes just knowing that you’ve scheduled time to relax can make you feel good. And if you can’t make it in for a body treatment and need to work on some of those problem areas, Avellino recommends trying an at-home exfoliation by mixing sea salt with your body wash.

formore

information A Younger You ayoungeryounc.com

Modern Enhancement Salon Day Spa modernenhancements.com

Aesthetica Face & Body aestheticafacebody.com

Skin Sense A Day Spa skinsense.com

Blue Water Spa bluewaterspa.com

Synergy Spa feelsynergy.com

Davis Plastic Surgery drgmdavis.com

The Umstead Spa theumstead.com

Lambeth Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics lambethplasticsurgery.com

Von Kekel AVEDA Lifestyle Salon Spa vonkekel.com

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NEW DRIVERIN THE FAMILY

D E E C PRO

WITH

N O I T U CA

BY JENNI HART

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AS A PARENT, YOU MAY FIND THESE STATISTICS SOBERING: In North Carolina, a teenage driver is involved in a crash every 15 minutes; and car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers in our state. Also troubling, speed-related crashes account for about half of all fatalities among 16- to 19-year olds.

These figures, from the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV), are just abstract numbers until they touch a family member, or the friend or classmate of one of your children. Every year in the Raleigh area, communities are wracked by the tragic loss of a teenager in a car crash. And in many cases, the events and choices leading up to the crash paint the same picture – that of a preventable death. Even with no loss of life, resulting injuries from a car crash can be devastating; and simple property damage can be expensive and at the least, inconvenient.

Before you hand over the keys to a newly-licensed teenager, you should consider the many ways you’ll continue to guide, influence and protect them as they enter this next stage of independence.

Patrick Schuette is a personal injury attorney in North Raleigh whose practice represents victims of automobile and motorcycle wrecks. Schuette finds that many clients who seek his advice are uninformed, and as a result, very vulnerable when it comes to their family’s wellbeing out on the roads. He says it’s important for families to acquaint themselves with the risks associated with young, inexperienced drivers, as well as the new driving laws in our state.

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After the Crash Despite careful training and preparation, your young driver may still be involved in a car crash. A lot is riding on the way they conduct themselves in the aftermath. The following advice applies to all drivers, regardless of age or experience.

1 2 3 4

Report the crash to the proper authorities as soon as safely possible, and cooperate with the police as they respond to the call.

Take pictures of your vehicle and the accident scene, and document your injuries. Write down the name, address and phone number of the other driver and any witnesses.

Take great care when talking to insurance company representatives.

Though they may be sincere about their concern for your situation, they are working for a business that is trying to limit its payout.

Finally, seek legal counsel. Information is your greatest asset as you navigate the trauma, confusion and aggravation that can follow a crash.

safetY first – tHe DRIVING TO LIVE contract Encouraging a new driver to adopt safe-driving practices is one of a parent’s greatest responsibilities. The Driving to Live Contract offered by the NCDMV gives families the opportunity to talk openly about the risks of speeding, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the use of cell phones while driving. Requiring consistent seatbelt use for the driver and all passengers, and even school attendance and performance are also addressed in the contract.

Schuette stresses the importance of backing up the contract with action, in the event any of the rules are broken. He points to the state law that went into effect December 1st, 2009 banning texting while driving. “Studies have shown it can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated,” says Schuette. Wake County is among the worst offenders in the state for texting while driving, a fact that won’t surprise anyone who has glanced around at surrounding drivers while waiting for the light to change.

When a teen driver breaks any of the contract rules, parents have to be prepared to enforce appropriate punishments, including the loss of driving privileges, loss of cell phone use, or requiring the teen to pay for any damages or fines that may result from their unsafe driving. neW L aWs affect GraDuateD LicensinG Effective January 1st, 2012, North Carolina adopted new requirements for teen drivers in an attempt to ensure adequate driving time behind the wheel with supervision from parents or guardians. trinity baptist_ma.pdf 1 1/16/12 2:31 PM A new driver will begin with a Level 1 Limited Learner Permit,

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which is kept for a full year. This is for a driver who has turned 15 (but no older than 18). During the Level 1 Permit period, a driver is now required to log 60 hours behind the wheel, including 10 hours at night.

A completed log, signed by the supervising parent or guardian, must be turned in to the DMV to apply for the Level 2 Limited Provisional Driver License. Then at Level 2, which is kept a minimum of 6 months, the driver must log at least an additional 12 hours of driving, 6 of which have to be at night. A completed, signed log must be turned in to apply for the Level 3 Full Provisional Driver License. Additional restrictions specific to each level can be found on the DMV website.

You May Have to Pay for Your Teen’s Mistake A common misconception is that a parent cannot be held liable for the cost of injuries or damages caused by their child as long as the car is titled in the teenager’s name. In his practice, Patrick Schuette has worked with clients who have had to learn nuances of the law the hard way. If the teen resides in the family home, and the car is being driven for some kind of family business, including running an errand, shopping, or even transporting the teenager to school or work, that falls under what’s known as the Family Purpose Doctrine. “If it can be proven that the parent gave express or implied permission for the teen to use the car, regardless of whose name is on the title, then the parent can be held liable if a crash occurs,” Schuette says.

Negligent Entrustment is another way a North Carolina parent can be held liable for the driving mistakes of their teen. This is when a parent knowingly allows a teenager to drive when they have demonstrated prior reckless driving, when they are known to be intoxicated, or even when the parent knows the teen lacks sufficient experience to operate the car.

Insurance Matters Because the potential for being found liable in the event of a crash can be so financially and emotionally devastating, families with a new driver should carefully consider their insurance plan. In North Carolina, all drivers are required to carry at least $30,000 liability coverage for any one person injured by that driver, or up to $60,000 to cover all the people injured in a single crash. Every driver is also required to carry a minimum of $25,000 to cover property damage. But Schuette believes this isn’t enough. “With the high cost of medical care, it doesn’t take long for a hospital bill to reach $30,000 if a serious accident has occurred, and then the family becomes responsible for the remaining costs,” he says. Schuette recommends at least $1 million in liability coverage and $50,000 in property damage coverage.

If a parent is out of work, or for some other reason a teenager does not have health insurance, parents can add a program called Medpay to their auto insurance policy to cover medical costs associated with a wreck. Also important is UM/UIM coverage, which pays for medical bills in case your teen is injured by a driver who is uninsured or under-insured. When parents consider the statistics associated with teenage drivers, and the soaring costs of medical care, insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable purchases they can make in order to protect their families and their assets.

Driving is serious business, and watching your 16-year old back out of the driveway for the first time may be a terrifying prospect, but there are strategies to help you keep your family safe and protected. For more information, go to www.ncdot.gov/dmv/ and for legal matters visit www.injurylawyersnc.com.

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Midtown’s Newest Hotel van fletcher_ma.pdf

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“We are thrilled to begin construction of another hotel at North Hills.

Working again as partners alongside with the Concord team, this Hyatt House allows us to complement the terrific successes of the Renaissance.

We believe the Hyatt brand will do incredibly well at North Hills.” ~ John Kane CEO/Chairman Kane Realty Corp

!

C

onstruction is underway on the Hyatt House, an upscale all-suites hotel located next to the CAPTRUST Tower on Six Forks Road. Hyatt merged their Summerfield Suites and Hotel Sierra to create Hyatt House, offering a home-like setting for long-term stays.

The opening of Hyatt House in Midtown will be the company’s fourth location in North Carolina, with two locations in Charlotte and one in Durham.

“Having an upscale all-suite hotel brand like Hyatt House is the right complement to the Renaissance North Hills Hotel.

The contemporary décor and its residentialstyle hotel will feature a strong focus on comfort, style and the next generation technology,” says Bill Gant, Vice President of Operations for Concord Hospitality.

Hyatt House will offer an alternative to typical hotel accommodations. Their suites offer separate spaces that allow residents to live like they might in their own home.

The studio and one and two bedroom suites offer full kitchens, living rooms, spacious bedrooms and stylish bathrooms.

They hope residents will no longer have to use the bed as a sofa.

The new hotel will offer a full breakfast, a 24-hour guest market and even grocery shopping services. And residents who miss firing up the grill can enjoy the communal outdoor barbecue grills. midtownmag.com| 117

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P

ersonalized & retty

By Christa Gala

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In my second-grade school photo, I’m proudly sporting my red monogrammed sweater and add-a-bead necklace.

That was 32 years ago, by the way. Add-a-bead necklaces are long gone (if you even know what one is), but monogramming is still here, far surpassing “trend” status. In fact, here in the South, we’re downright Vanna White about our letters. Why is that?

“It’s classic,” says Kristen Anderson, owner of Quintessentials in Midtown. “Southerners love simple, classic things. It’s a thoughtful thing to do – pick out a gift you think your friend will love and also put a special touch on it to make it their own.”

Items we love to initial

This past Christmas, Susanne Lury monogrammed a bowling ball bag and a strapless prom dress. The owner of Fun and Fabulous, a booth at the Shops of Baileywick in Raleigh, Lury says she can usually meet creative requests due, in part, to technology.

“The embroidery business has changed over the years due to the ability of embroiderers to do much more with modern equipment and computers,” says Lury. “I think embroidery and personalization of all kinds will continue to grow. People are looking for more and more unique items and gifts. The days of towels with only His and Hers are gone. Now we can put initials, monograms, pictures, logos and artwork on almost anything. And we all love something that has our name or initials on it.”

Charlotte’s Inc., in both Midtown and Cameron Village, has been monogramming since it opened twenty years ago, says manager and partner Stephanie Sneeden. Faves include iPhone cases, baby bumper pads and sheets, bathrobes, duvets, photo albums, pendants and rings.

Anderson, of Quintessentials, says three categories are most popular when it comes to monogramming: baby, graduation and debutante gifts. For men, customers will often purchase a beaker or barware to engrave. Tableware, too, is seeing its fair share of letters.

“More and more china companies are doing monogramming,” says Anderson. “We’ve always had one company that monograms in the traditional gold, but now more are broadening their horizons and doing hand-painted monograms. They’ll even do family crests or create a monogram for you. In the china realm, you can do just about anything if you want to pay for it. The more elaborate, the more the cost.” midtownmag.com| xx

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~ Stephanie Sneeden

“

“

We all enjoy seeing our very own monogram on many items we use daily, making them seem more personal and oftentimes, finer.

monogram pEndants, likE this onE at charlottE’s, arE popular gift itEms.

Anderson helps customers get creative with the costs. “A huge trend for us right now is mixing,” she says. “If somebody really wants that monogrammed plate, they get a dinner plate with their monogram on it and then mix it with a less expensive option to bring the place setting cost down.”

Backed by history

Could it be, too, that having our day-to-day items monogrammed makes us feel just a little, well, more important?

Definitely a possibility.

“The idea of personalization by monogramming or engraving dates back thousands of years when nobility wanted to see their name or initials on much of their personal belongings,” says Sneeden of Charlotte’s.

It’s true. The Romans and Greeks used monograms on coins to signify rulers; artisans in the Middle Ages used them to sign their work. Monograms haven’t gone out of fashion since. pErsonaliZation datEs back thousands of yEars; today,race this monogrammEd midtown series_ma.pdf 1 JEwElry casE is a big sEllEr at charlottE’s.

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Elaborate single letter monogramming, as shown on this photo album from Quintessentials.

“We all enjoy seeing our very own monogram on many items we use daily, making them seem more personal and oftentimes, finer,” says Sneeden. “For generations, families have passed down monogrammed or engraved items as heirlooms, and we still see that a lot in our business with grandparents. They want to give a wonderful piece of jewelry and have it hand-engraved with a sentiment or date on the inside of the item, like a ring or bracelet or on the back of a pendant. A 14kt gold family crest ring is a good example; we did several at Christmas.”

Trends in monogramming

Although monogramming itself is not a trend, there are types and styles of monograms that are more popular today.

Like the single letter. “The monogramming folks themselves now have really elaborate single letters that are just fantastic,” says Anderson, who gets a lot of requests for single letters. It’s also a wise choice if you’re unsure of the middle or last name.

The great thing about personalizing something is that you can do whatever you like,” says Lury, of The Shops at Baileywick. “With our ability today to have so many options, the sky’s the limit. The most popular font is still a traditional cursive for towels and sheets, and block fonts for men and ‘curlz’ (with hot pink letters) for girls.”

You’ll see more monograms on men, too – on cuffs, luggage, even gun cases. But keep in mind you can’t monogram everything.

“We can’t always fit an item on the machine or the material is not applicable or the item does not have an adequate place to put embroidery,” says Lury. “I would add one thing: embroidery, even with modern equipment, is an added embellishment and will have imperfections at times. This is part of the charm of something made especially for someone.”

Block fonts, shown on these linen napkins from Quintessentials, are popular for men and married couples.

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Rules to Monogram by (if you want to)

Nearly everyone we talked with said monogramming etiquette is very casual and loose these days. But sometimes tradition trumps folly. Below, a few tips and some common questions.

This trendy bag, from Fun and Fabulous at The Shops of Baileywick, features a casual monogram perfect for everyday use.

Here to stay

Whether hand-painted, embossed, embroidered or engraved, monograms are here to stay. Not sure it’s for you? Consider a doit-yourself monogram. Charlotte’s sells iron-on monogram patches you can experiment with.

All this talk is making me miss my old monogrammed red sweater – itself a piece of monogram history. Maybe I’ll get a new one. This time, I’m thinking pink.

Want to learn more?

Shops of Baileywick: theshopsofbaileywick.com shopquintessentials.com loveQuintessentials: in bloom_jf.pdf 1 1/16/12 2:10 PM Charlotte’s: charlottesinc.com

For married couples...

It’s a faux pas to separate the man’s first initial from his last name, says Anderson of Quintessentials. For example, a monogram for Mary and John Brown would have the “M” on the left, a big “B” in the middle, and “J” to the right. This may seem like it does, in fact, separate his first and last name, but if you read the monogram left to right, it reads “Mary and John Brown.”

For single soon-to-be marrieds...

Brides often encounter purchasing bridesmaids’ gifts for ladies who are engaged. So do you monogram their maiden name initials or the married name? Opt for the initials they’re using that day, says Anderson. In this case, the maiden name initials.

Four-letter monograms...

Let’s say you want to get a gift engraved for Mary Ann Virginia Smith.

Use four letters of equal size: MAVS. The same goes for married couples with hyphenated names, although the two letters in the middle representing their last names should be larger. So a gift for Kelly and Rick Brown-Templeton should be kBTr. Apostrophes...

If your name is O’Reilly, the first initial of your last name is considered to be “O,” not “R.” And if your name is McDonald, opt for “M”, not “D.”

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TEA FOR

two (or Two Hundred!)

The key to entertaining is to keep it simple enough that you can handle it, yet eye-popping enough to look like you have had nothing to do with your life other than devote every moment of your time to what is about to be laid out before your guests. That can’t be too hard, can it? Just keep your garnish vibrant, your platters abundant and keep the spirits freely flowing!

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

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Mango shrimp cocktail

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced 2 tsp ginger, minced ½ lb shrimp, diced ¼ cup lime juice 2 Tbsp sugar 1 cup red pepper, diced small 1 cup green pepper, diced small 2 Tbsp red onion, diced small 1 mango, diced 1 ripe avocado, diced ¼ cup cilantro, minced 1 tsp jalapeno, minced 3 Tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper

Directions

Sauté ginger and garlic in 1 Tbsp oil. Add shrimp and sauté for about 3 minutes or until shrimp are pink. Remove shrimp from pan, set aside to cool. Place sauté pan back on heat and add lime juice and sugar. Reduce until only about 2 Tbsp of liquid is left and it is thick. Dice peppers, mango, avocado, onion, cilantro and jalapeno then add olive oil, salt and pepper, folding gently until mixed. Spoon into martini glasses then garnish with cilantro, lime and fried wonton wrappers.

Enjoy!

SERVES 8

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cupcake Shoppe_ma.pdf

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Orange scones

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp and 2 tsp sugar 2 ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 1 tsp orange zest ½ cup butter or margarine, cut up ²/³ cup milk One large egg, separated

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, stir together flour, 2 Tbsp of sugar, baking powder, salt and zest. Use a pastry blender or two butter knives (used in scissor fashion) to cut butter into mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

In a small cup, using a fork, mix milk and egg yolk together. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in milk mixture, and stir just until combined.

Transfer dough onto ungreased large cookie sheet. With floured hands, shape into 7 ½ inch round. With a floured knife, cut round into eight wedges, but do not separate. Brush wedges with whipped egg white and sprinkle remaining 2 tsp of sugar on top.

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and just cooked through. Separate the scones and serve warm, or transfer to wire rack to cool.

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Lemon poppy seed spring rolls with chicken Ingredients

¼ cup lemon juice 1 tsp shallots, minced 1 tsp Dijon mustard ¹/³ cup olive oil 2 tsp poppy seeds (8) 1oz strips of chicken 2 cups mixed salad greens 1 cup mixed colored peppers, sliced julienne Cilantro for garnish (8) 12-inch rice paper wrappers

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Directions

Lemon poppy seed dressing In a bowl, add lemon juice, shallots and mustard. Mix well.

Slowly drizzle olive oil while whisking dressing. Add poppy seeds.

To prepare chicken Place chicken strips in a plastic bag. Add 3 Tbsp of lemon poppy seed dressing, and set aside remaining dressing. Refrigerate chicken for 1 to 2 hours. Remove chicken strips from marinade and place in a hot sauté pan. Sauté for 1 or 2 minutes until done, then set aside to cool. Prep your veggies and have ready.

To prepare rice paper wrapper In a large shallow pan, fill water enough to cover one rice paper wrapper. Soak one rice paper wrapper for 30 to 45 seconds, or until pliable. Take out of water and place on a moist paper towel.

To build Spring Roll Add a chicken strip, greens and peppers about 2 inches from the edge of wrapper. Fold in sides and roll tightly away from you.

Repeat soaking and stuffing procedures with remaining wrappers and filling. Slice completed spring rolls in half diagonally and place on a serving platter. Serve with remaining lemon poppy seed dressing.

SERVES 8

Get a bonus recipe for Truffled Tea Sandwiches online at:

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breathe easy By page leggett

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Duke Raleigh’s Dr. Jennifer Garst says new lung cancer treatments give patients cause for hope...

I

f there were a war on lung cancer, Dr. Jennifer Garst would be a four-star general.

Dr. Garst, a lung cancer specialist at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center, even uses military terminology when she speaks about the disease.

“Chemotherapy is a systemic approach to cancer,” she said. “It attacks everything. It’s like a cluster bomb. It kills cancer cells, but it also kills healthy tissue along with it. There is collateral damage.”

Cancer researchers and the military drew the same conclusion about cluster bombs. “A strategic approach works much better,” Dr. Garst said.

“The medical equivalent of a smart bomb gets into your bloodstream, finds the cancer and attacks it.” It leaves the rest of the body unscathed.

Precision bombing And, these new “smart bombs” take a lot less out of the patient. They come in pill form. Chemo, Dr. Garst points out, involves hours of being tethered to a machine. It involves the time and emotional energy of the friend or family member who may bring the patient to the chemo appointment and sit with him through the procedure.

The pills have more manageable side effects, too. “Someone may experience dry skin or loose stools, but it’s nothing like the bone marrow suppression, hair loss and other side effects chemotherapy can produce,” she said.

The targeted weapon-in-pill form is one of the most exciting advancements in lung cancer care in recent years, according to Dr. Garst. The news is even better if there are certain genetic mutations found on the lung tumor.

“It’s especially effective for tumors where the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, or EGFR, is present. And the EGFR is expressed in 75 percent of non-small cell lung cancer. If the receptor has a mutation, the pill Erlotinib works especially well.”

In fact, this pill is better than chemotherapy for patients who have the EGFR mutation.

The second gene mutation that may be present on a lung tumor is the ALK gene rearrangement. A “smart bomb” tablet called Crizotinib, that patients take twice daily, has proven dramatically effective in treating this type of tumor.

Testing, testing Dr. Garst said one of the most important messages she can convey is that everyone with a lung tumor should get testing for JENNIFER GARST, M.D., DUKE RALEIGH HOSPITAL

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the genetic mutation. “Every non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer needs to be tested, and it’s not happening routinely everywhere,” she said. “Knowing if the tumor has this mutation can impact your course of treatment, your quality of life during treatment and even your chances of survival.”

While this testing isn’t happening everywhere, it is a matter of course at Duke Raleigh. “We have a standard panel of experts reviewing each case,” said Dr. Garst.

“Plus, we have a pathology lab onsite. It makes getting results much faster.”

Doctors aren’t sure what causes these mutations. In some rare cases, there seems to be an inheritance pattern.

But, there’s something else that’s too often passed from one generation to the next – the propensity to smoke. Dr. Garst said, “What’s most often inherited is the number one risk factor for lung cancer – cigarette smoking.”

“Even people who grow up in a house where one or both parents smoke and never take it up themselves have a greater likelihood of developing lung cancer…because they inhaled second-hand smoke,” she said.

But, if you’re expecting Dr. Garst to give a harsh lecture on the dangers of

smoking, you’re wrong. While Dr. Garst comes across as a fighter, she’s not a hardened battle veteran. There’s empathy in her voice when she says, “I have great compassion for people who smoke. It’s an addiction. There should be no blame when a smoker is diagnosed with lung cancer, and there’s no shame in it. That’s not a healthy approach to treating people who are sick.”

She likens people’s views toward those with lung cancer to the views held by many in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Back then, there was a misperception that people who contracted AIDS somehow brought it on themselves. “Then, we saw how many people developed and died from the disease, and attitudes changed. Arthur Ashe got it from a blood transfusion…”

About 15 percent to 18 percent of Americans diagnosed with lung cancer never smoked. Dr. Garst said 220,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. Of those, 30,000 never smoked a cigarette. And 160,000 people will die from the disease.

Where there’s smoke …

She is stern, however, in advising patients who smoke not to do it around kids. “When children are young and their lungs are small,

they are particularly susceptible to secondhand smoke,” she said. “It can lead to asthma and can set children up to develop cancer later in life.”

She encourages anyone who smokes and wants to quit to get help. “Most family doctors can offer help,” she said. “But people have to be motivated for their efforts to be successful.”

“If patients are still smoking when they come to me, I will counsel them to quit.

Quitting will improve the quality of their lives and the outcome of their treatment,” she said.

Dr. Garst has a surprising anecdote about quitting smoking. She said studies have shown that when smokers are asked why they haven’t quit, most say their doctor never advised them to. She said, “After reading that, I now take it as my personal responsibility as a doctor to coach someone to quit smoking. I am going to be that doctor…”

More reasons to hope Lung cancer is a serious diagnosis. The fiveyear survival rate is just 16 percent. But, the news is getting better all the time. “Until recently, there was no screening test for lung cancer,” Dr. Garst said. “There wasn’t a

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mammogram or Pap smear you could get to help catch the disease early.” That’s changed. And, so has the outlook.

There is now what Dr. Garst describes as a “special, low-dose spiral CAT scan” that can reveal if there is, in Dr. Garst’s words, “a worrisome abnormality in the lungs.” In fact, she said a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute was halted early because the results were so “statistically significant.” The randomized study looked at people ages 55 to 75 who smoked more than a pack a day for 30 years. The study could pinpoint people likely to develop lung cancer, and it decreased their risk of dying from the disease by 20 percent.

“This is a huge breakthrough,” Dr. Garst said. Detection at an early stage should significantly impact the five-year survival rate.

The screening test is so significant because lung cancer had previously been so hard to detect. “The lungs are an internal organ and can absorb a lot of tumor internally before cancer is detected,” said Dr. Garst. “And lung cancer symptoms are so vague.” They can include a persistent cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and shortness of breath. Coughing up blood is another sign and one that should make you seek immediate medical attention, according to Dr. Garst.

Treating the whole patient If you get a diagnosis of lung cancer, Dr. Garst is the general you want leading you into battle. She‘s quick to say she’s part of a team that strategizes with each patient to customize a treatment plan. “Patients get multidisciplinary care here,” she said. “There are specialists in every field – radiation, surgery, oncology and pulmonology – all supportive of patients and all very passionate about the care we provide.”

She said they look at each patient as an individual when devising a treatment plan. “We take into account what else is going on in each patient’s life,” she said. “We ask questions like, ‘What kind of transportation options do they have?’ and design a plan that best fits them.”

“It’s a supportive, collaborative environment, and we offer patients access to the latest clinical research,” she said.

Dr. Garst is a stellar addition to the Duke Raleigh team. A lung cancer specialist and medical oncologist, she is also the Duke Raleigh Cancer Center’s first director of oncology clinical research.

She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed her residency in hematology and oncology at Duke Medical Center, where she has been a faculty member for many years. In an example of the kind of compassionate care she gives, she says her specialty is “the care of lung cancer patients and their families.” Dr. Garst understands that a diagnosis of cancer impacts an entire family, and she works to include families in the treatment and care of their loved one.

Duke Raleigh is a place of hope. Dr. Garst doesn’t quote statistics when talking to her patients. “Statistics apply to a group, and everyone is an individual,” she said. “Individuals defy statistics every single day.”

919.418.4865 Facelif ter1@yahoo.com • ayounger younc.com

SMOKESCREEN Duke offers a lung cancer screening clinic for those who meet the same criteria used in a recent national cancer study. If you are between 55 and 75 and have smoked a pack a day for more than 30 years, you may be able to get screened at Duke’s main campus. The test is $400 out-of-pocket. It’s so new that insurance isn’t covering it yet. Call 919.684.8411 to see if you qualify. Questions? Call nurse navigator Brenda Wilcox for information at 919.954.3877.

Want more information? Dr. Garst is chairperson of the N.C. Lung Cancer Partnership, an advocacy group and the state chapter of a national organization. Visit nclungcancerpartnership.org to learn more.

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QUERCETIN AND BROMELAIN:

The Answer to Your ( ( Prayers ALLERGY & SINUS

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any of us moved to Raleigh because of the benefit of a moderate climate, this winter being a prime example. No more scraping your car 20 times each winter, or bearing the 100 percent humidity for three-quarters of the year. As we know, however, every rose has its thorn. We, the proud residents of Raleigh, have been sneezing, wheezing, dripping, and sniffling through a city filled with trillions of airborne allergens since the new year began! There are lines at the pharmacy for antibiotics to help painful sinus infections.

(Which can present their own problems if you’ve not followed treatment with probiotics.) Over-the-counter anti-allergy drugs (anti histamines) tend to leave us either sleepy or over-stimulated. Fortunately, modern nutritional science offers what appears to be a highly effective, natural remedy for allergies: quercetin.

Quercetin is one of a thousand or so members of the bioflavonoid family. This is a group of coloring pigments that provide plants with antioxidant protection against environmental stresses. Natural diets high in vegetables, fruit, sprouts and whole grains typically provide a broad range of flavonoids, but again, how many of you are honestly getting your five to nine servings of fruits and veggies daily? the sCienCe Considered by many to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, quercetin keeps the lungs, nasal passages and eyes from swelling as they normally do when allergens like pollen come into contact with the body. For this reason, it has shown great promise in treating inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and asthma.

Second, quercetin is a potent anti histamine that prevents the release of itchy chemicals that make our nose run and our eyes water. Best of all, this natural one-two punch of allergy defense is achieved without the drowsiness or jitters that medication can cause. Unfortunately, quercetin is barely soluble in water, so poor dietary absorption may limit its efficacy.

Because of this it is suggested that quercetin be taken in combination with bromelain to improve its absorption.

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bromelain Bromelain is a natural, protein-digesting enzyme derived from pineapples that has been used to increase the absorption of compounds, including antibiotics. It also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that synergize with quercetin. Studies have found that bromelain is helpful in reducing nasal swelling and thinning mucus, making it easier for people to breathe. And it may be particularly useful when added to drug treatment for sinus infections. For controlling inflammation, take it on an EMPTy STOMACH. DosaGe Quercetin: anywhere from 600 mg all the way to 2000mg daily for severe allergy sufferers. Bromelain: 100mg-1000mg daily. These should be in divided doses and again, on an EMPTy stomach, if possible. (you could also aim to eat one and a half pineapples each day instead of supplementing, but then we’d have to talk about your blood sugar.) I have been taking 800mg quercetin + 200 bromelain twice daily for about three years, and have had one sinus infection versus the three per year I used to get. (If you suffer from aches and pains, many people will take a higher level of bromelain.) So before you reach for the Claritin D or Benadryl, why not give this duo a try and see if they do, in fact, provide the necessary punch you need to overcome the dreaded cold and allergy seasons.

Cautions: If you suffer from peptic ulcers, are on anticoagulants or are allergic to pineapple, you should avoid bromelain. always consult your physician before starting any supplement program.

By Carter & laUra Dalton, GnC aT nOrTh hIllS

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healthy you

Achieving Your Perfect Smile Might Be Surprisingly Simple Modern orthodontic i n n o vat i o n s d e l i v e r unprecedented comfort and precision

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W

ould you believe that the first signs of orthodontic treatment were found on Egyptian mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around individual teeth? How about that the first documented cases of teeth irregularities were recorded by Hippocrates and Celsus around the time of 400-25 BC?

Believe it or not, the desire for a gorgeous smile is not a modern idea – straight teeth have been on the minds of humans for over 3,000 years! Lucky for us, the primal orthodontic methods once used to achieve great smiles have changed dramatically since ancient man took interest…and some of the greatest advancements have come about in the last decade.

The most significant advancement in orthodontics is the ability to be proactive. In the past, most orthodontic treatment was performed on a reactive basis – taking what we had and making the best out of it. Now with x-rays, digital tools and a more modern way of thinking, we’re able to be more preventative and, in turn, treat more conservatively with shorter treatment periods, fewer extractions and an all-around more comfortable experience.

The latest digital impression systems use exciting new technology, designed to replace the uncomfortable and sometimes imprecise traditional method of impression-taking… trays and putty are finally a thing of the past! In February 2012, my office incorporated this system into our treatment to create impressions and molds for our Invisalign patients.

As a result, patients receive the most comfortable orthodontic imaging experience available, and in less time than the conventional impression method.

This digital impression system is powered by advanced dental imaging technology and enables us to take a digital scan of a patient’s teeth and bite, make any necessary adjustments in real-time, and then transmit the file over the Internet to a laboratory for further processing. There is no messy putty that may cause gagging and, therefore, no need to wait for the material to set – the average scan takes just three to five minutes. If for any reason a patient needs a break during the imaging process, it is easy to pause in the middle of the impression process.

In addition to increased comfort, patients will benefit from the superior precision that the digital impression system offers. Shortcomings such as voids, pulls and the general margin for error have remained inherent in conventional impression methods. This system equips us with unprecedented 360 degree visualization of the tooth preparation area, enabling quick and accurate correction or confirmation of the preparation design.

Orthodontic treatment certainly has come a long way since the time of Cleopatra and Hippocrates, and it’s only going to get better! Orthodontic advancements continue to evolve, creating a more comfortable patient experience and better results.

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Dr. Jason Gladwell is a Board Certified Specialist in orthodontics and an elite provider for Invisalign. To learn more about Dr. Gladwell and his staff, please visit gladwellorthodontics.com.

by Dr. Jason Gladwell, Gladwell Orthodontics

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New FDA

healthy you

Sunscreen Regulations

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or the first time in decades the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new regulations on sunscreen products. Beginning June 18th, 2012 the new regulations require sunscreens to be more beneficial in helping maintain healthy skin and to help consumers more easily identify a safe and effective product. The most protective sunscreens will be labeled SPF 15 or higher, broad spectrum, and water resistant (80 minutes).

Previously, the FDA mainly addressed UVB radiation using SPF values to indicate the amount of protection against sunburn (a major factor in skin cancer development). There is now sufficient research to support that UVA radiation is also a factor contributing to the development of skin cancer and skin aging. A new “broad spectrum� test can measure UVA protection. Broad spectrum on the label will indicate that a sunscreen with a higher SPF will also have proportionately higher UVA protection.

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There will also be a mandatory drug facts box on the back or side of all sunscreen products. Only a sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher and has the broad-spectrum label will be able to state that it reduces risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. If a product is SPF 2-14 or is not broad spectrum it will only be able to claim that the product prevents sunburn. In addition, the drug facts box will state that sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours to insure effectiveness.

The terms “sun block”, “water proof”, and “sweat proof” will be eliminated, as these claims are misleading. A product can advertise, “water resistance” (40 or 80 minutes) if the product passes testing. There is also a proposed regulation that sunscreens with greater than SPF 50 will be labeled 50+.

Lastly, the vehicle via which the sunscreen is delivered determines whether the product can be marketed without further special approval.

Oils, creams, lotions, gels, butters, pastes, ointments, sticks and sprays are eligible for inclusion. Wipes, towelettes, powders, body washes and shampoos will need special approval. There is also further study of sprays regarding safety and effectiveness.

As we prepare for spring, it’s time to think about how to maintain healthy skin while still having fun outdoors. Sunscreens are only one part of a complete sun safety program. Organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Academy of Dermatology and The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommend the use of sun protective clothing, seeking shade, and limiting exposure during the high sun intensity hours.

For further details on the new sunscreen regulations visit www.fda.gov/sunscreen.

For information regarding correct sunscreen application, expiration, vitamin D and other sunscreen issues, visit www.aad.org.

by Lisa Abernethy Christman, MD, FAAD, Abernethy Dermatology

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coming up in the next MIDTOWN’S WHO’S WHO

GRIL LING , SK YDIVI NG, BEER, APPS , MUSI C, MOV IES & MOR E!

THE spring ISSUE

ST Y LE

RetRo

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is back

/december november

ber cto e r / om emb s e p t living.co

2011

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WHO IS

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SIPPING & SHOPPING

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We look back 5 years to where Midtown has been and forward 5 years to where residents, community leaders and developers hope the next 5 years will take Midtown.

Some of the newest businesses in Midtown and beyond offer sipping and shopping for local brews.

NOT YOUR DAUGHTER’S PURPLE!

Great ideas on decorating with purple!

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glamo

Meet Midtown’s newest residents and business owners for insight into why they chose Midtown and how it has changed their business and personal lives.

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LOOKING COOL AND STAYING COOL

Summer is all about dresses, from fun and flirty to serious and sophisticated! We’ll show you the best dresses for all occasions.

MIDTOWN REVIEWS | BAIN’S BEAT | CALENDARadore_jf OF EVENTS | 11/21/11 HEALTHY YOU 1 2/18/12 3:53 PM midtown.pdf 10:51:52 AM MIDTOWN MINGLES | AND MUCH MORE!

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MIDTOWN RALEIGH

MIDTOWN BEACH MUSIC SERIES

LIFE

MaKe it a MIDTOWN sPrinG

ANNUAL 5K BUNN FUN RUN/WALK

NORTH HILLS KIDS

Spring Forward Midtown on the Move

If Midtown were a mood, it would be exuberant, or “joyously unrestrained and enthusiastic,” to quote Merriam Webster.

Judging from the crowd at the Midtown Raleigh Alliance Circle Up mixer in January, Midtown is more than ready to shake off the winter doldrums and meet up with friends old and new who share our passion for Midtown Raleigh.

MIDTOWN FARMERS' MARKET

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Inside you will find an exciting lineup of March and April events.

Come join us! Whether you live and work in Midtown, or just love to spend time here, it’s our community. So be a part of it all…

Make it a Midtown Spring!

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MIDTOWN RALEIGH

TOU

LIFE

MIDTOWN

LOVERS "

Our new Midtown CAC set an all-time high attendance record for the first meeting in January. If you are interested in staying informed and having a voice in the future of Midtown, come join us.

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MIDTOWN CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL (CAC) Linking Midtown Raleigh residents and City of Raleigh government thursday, March 8, 7:00 pm | trinity baptist church, 4815 six Forks rd Public Utilities Department presenting important update on Crabtree Creek Sewer Line rehabilitation project.

DINNER AND A SHOW FOR A GOOD CAUSE Hosted by St. Mark’s UMC Youth Group – Tickets $6 each or $20 for family of 4 saturday, March 17, 6:00 pm Dinner | 7:20 pm show st. Mark’s United Methodist church, Owen hall, 4801 six Forks road Proceeds benefit Youth ASP (Appalachia Service Project) Mission Trip

COMMUNITY EGG HUNTS A fun-filled morning for kids 10 and under A Preschool ages 1-Kindergarten Easter egg hunt at your local community center saturday, March 31, 10:00 am saturday, March 31, 10:00 am – noon trinity baptist church sertoma arts center | shelley lake 4815 six Forks road For more information, call 919.420.2329 For more information, call 919.787.3740

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Look for the primary colors on the Commons, where the colorful, soft block play area sets the stage for a morning of activities and complimentary programs.

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CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE VISION FOR MIDTOWN RALEIGH Breakfast with Mitchell Silver, AICP, President, American Planning Society and Director, Department of City Planning Wednesday, april 11, 7:30 – 9:00 am Free and open to the public | Registration Required Contact 919.233.8452 or hello@MidtownRaleighAlliance.org.

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NORTH HILLS KIDS Fun for kids – and their moms and dads – that’s as big as all outdoors Monday, april 2 – august 31 Weekdays except thursday 9 am – 1 pm | north hills commons North Hills Kids is a community where children come to learn together and engage in creative exercise in a fun, relaxed environment.

Midtown Raleigh is honored to host planning visionary Mitchell Silver, acclaimed across the country for his highly informative and thought-provoking presentations. Register today for an eye-opening look at national trends and what they mean for our local community.

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OUR LIFE

OF

EVENTS MIDTOWN BEACH MUSIC SERIES Voted Best Place for Live Music, Midtown Diamond Awards april 12 – august 9 thursday, 6:00 – 9:00 pm april 12 – the embers april 19 – the attractions april 26 – the catalinas north hills commons This year promises the best band line-up yet of the most famous beach bands around. Easy park and walk from the east side of Six Forks Road, or catch the GEM Electric Shuttlebug.

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Take your place on the cool green lawn as the Embers take the stage to kick off Season 5. Then get ready to dance the night away on North Carolina’s largest outdoor dance floor. See you there!

DANCE AT SERTOMA Practice your steps and learn some new ones with a live band and dance instructors tuesday, april 17, 7:30 – 9:30 pm sertoma arts center | shelley lake If you love to dance, call Sertoma for more information, 919.420.2329.

3RD ANNUAL 5K BUNN FUN RUN/WALK In loving memory of William Bunn and supporting Neuroblastoma Cancer research saturday, april 21, 2:00 pm | registration 1:00 pm Quail corners shopping center Pre-registration recommended WideOpenCF.com After party with Raffle/Silent Auction/Music and more!

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William Bunn made a mark on people wherever he went, including Raleigh police officers who made him one of their own, complete with uniform, at age 8. His legacy lives on as Midtown turns out to honor his memory in a fun-filled family day to support the serious work of cancer research.

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MIDTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET Presented by Duke Raleigh Hospital april 21 – november 17 saturday, 8am – noon april 21 – earth Day extravaganza Music by sourwood Mountain band april 28 – spring vendor cookoff Music by John harris north hills commons Support local North Carolina Farmers while enjoying the pick of the season, homemade goods, live music, and interactive programming.

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MIDTOWN RALEIGH

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Sweet as the just-picked berries and hand-cut roses, Saturday mornings at the Midtown Farmers’ Market are as much about community as they are food, fun, crafts, music and more.

SAVE THE DATE

CIRCLE UP WITH THE MIDTOWN RALEIGH ALLIANCE Midtown’s Premier After Hours Social Event tuesday, May 15, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Duke raleigh Gardens Our Circle is Growing…Join us as Members, Guests, and Friends of the Midtown Raleigh Alliance gather in the lush gardens at Duke Raleigh Hospital for our First Annual Open Air Celebration, in honor of Midtown Raleigh.

FOR MORE INFORMATION MIDTOWN EVENTS Midtown Magazine March & April Events Calendar Please See Page 74 Midtown Farmers' Market MidtownRaleighFarmersMarket.com north hills events NorthHillsRaleigh.com/Events north hills Kids Facebook.com/NorthHillsKids

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MIDTOWN First Citizens Bank’s landmark Midtown office

celebrates 10th anniversary First Citizens Bank’s Triangle Area Executive Chris Young (left) and Dr. Henry Zaytoun Jr. of Midtown’s Zaytoun Orthodontics

I

f you’ve ever driven through the heart of Midtown Raleigh, you’ve probably seen my office building. It’s unique. It’s recognizable. And it’s round.

Yes, my office is located in the landmark First Citizens Bank office (sometimes called the “round building”) at the intersection of Six Forks and Lassiter Mill roads. It’s hard to believe, but we just celebrated the building’s 10th anniversary in 2011. It officially opened in July 2001 and was one of the first major completed pieces in the redevelopment of Midtown.

Today, the round building is part of a larger First Citizens Bank corporate complex that encompasses part of two blocks.

Our national headquarters is located in the glass nine-story First Citizens Center next door. We also have several bank departments that work in a building across from Carroll Middle School on Rowan Street. I can truly say that First Citizens is very glad to be a charter member of the Midtown

Raleigh Alliance and a part of the Midtown community. It really is a great place to work and conduct business.

People ask me all the time about the round building: Why did you build it? As plans for the area’s redevelopment were being discussed in the early 2000s, First Citizens recognized the potential for growth and business. We felt the time was right to build a landmark building in this premiere location of the city.

Our bank has always been known for building warm, inviting offices that have an architectural impact. We also want them to be a source of pride for the people and businesses in our markets. Over the last decade, our round Six Forks office has really become a hub for serving local individuals and business clients throughout Midtown and all of Raleigh.

Who designed the building? The distinctive round structure was designed by renowned London architect Ptolemy Dean. According to Dean, the building’s circular form, its stucco finish and recessed windows help maximize the effects of light and shade. He says that two factors dictated the building’s circular form.

The first was the site itself, while the second was a desire to give the structure a presence on the corner – a punctuation mark in the architecture of North Raleigh.

Where’s the drive-through? Dean designed the drive-through lanes so that

they are neatly hidden beneath the unique walkway bridge at the corner of Six Forks and Lassiter Mill that connects the street level to the building.

What’s it like inside? In my opinion, it’s special, not like a standard bank building.

As you enter, there’s a four-story stucco atrium that gives you the impression of standing in a European courtyard. The circular skylight in the domed ceiling fills the lobby with natural light.

There’s a full-service branch on the first floor, including retail, mortgage, small business and investment services. First Citizens’ Triangle Area leadership and commercial team fill the top floors. And no, we don’t have pie-shaped offices – another question we get all the time.

So the next time you’re driving through Midtown, stop by and say hello.

You’ll be greeted by friendly faces and receive exceptional service. Our bank is known for the attention we give our clients.

First Citizens is extremely proud to have been a part of the growth and success of Midtown over the last decade. And we’re excited about continuing to provide our special brand of relationship-focused banking at our Six Forks location and at all of our branches in the Triangle.

Chris Young is Triangle Area Executive for First Citizens Bank, where she has full management responsibilities for a 33-branch network.

MidtownRaleighAlliance MidtownRal MidtownAlliance Midtown-Raleigh-Alliance

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MidtownRaleighAlliance.org/ Eye-on-Midtown Learn more and join online at:

MidtownRaleighAlliance.org

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midtown

mingles

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

On February 14th, Midtown Raleigh Alliance and Duke Raleigh Hospital worked together to host a Valentine’s Day blood drive. Donors rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life to someone they would never meet.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

On February 14th, Midtown Raleigh Alliance and Duke Raleigh Hospital worked together to host a Valentine’s Day blood drive. Donors rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life to someone they would never meet.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

On February 14th, Midtown Raleigh Alliance and Duke Raleigh Hospital worked together to host a Valentine’s Day blood drive. Donors rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life to someone they would never meet.

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DIAMOND

AWARDS

2012

On January 5th, Midtown Magazine hosted its fourth annual Diamond Awards party at Mura in North Hills. Almost 200 guests were on hand to find out who the big winners were for 2012. The celebration included fresh sushi rolls and dumplings, champagne and numerous drawings for spa packages, flowers and a fabulous diamond pendant from Diamonds Direct Crabtree. Each guest received a swag bag that included gifts from some of the winning businesses.

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