Midtown Magazine by Midtown, 5 West, Triangle Family

L L A F S ARRET VIEW P

FALL FASHION

Raleigh's hottest trends and styles for the season

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2015 educationguide

a note FROM the publisher Publisher/Editor Sioux Watson Advertising Sales Sioux Watson | Charis Painter | Ashley Carter Kathleen Moran | Michelle Palladino Creative Director Travis Aptt Graphic Design Jennifer Heinser | Lori Lay

Sioux watson Publisher/Editor

Your opinions matter to us. Let us know what you think of this issue of Midtown Magazine. Please email sioux@midtownmag.com with your comments.

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Distribution Manager Joe Lizana 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 US equal opportunity law.

10 top

for the summer of

2010

the most spectacular

AT NIGHT THE MUSEUM

Fall

THE NEW NIGHTLIFE

INSANE

FASHIONS

MALE BONDING

PAcking

WORKING OUT AND STAYING FIT WITH FRIENDS

the

perfect lunch

FASHION

it’s that time of year

BOLD & COLORFUL SPRING IS HERE!

Football

2012

J U LY / A U G U S T

M A R C H / A P R I L

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tailgating tips • apps • recipes

september/october

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

Diamond

YouR CoMFoRt ZoNe

FooD KS tRuC with the what’s new craze?

MENS’

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

PLUS

Adding ContemporAry touChes to your trAditionAl home

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THE spring MODERN MIDTOWN ST YLE MAN? FASHION WHO IS

iphone VERSUS droid S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R

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M AY / J U N E

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AWARDS 2012 STEPPING OUTSIDE

Sioux

Photography Davies Photography Jennifer Robertson Photography Sean Junqueira Photography

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

Patch who lives with a debilitating health issue yet joyously thrives and has a more than full lifestyle. Whether you are new in town, a new parent or exploring new options for educating your offspring, we’ve got an education guide to read and save for future planning. Get on the phone and schedule a tour with some of Wake County’s finest schools to find out more. I’m pleased to share ways to keep it local in your off hours with music, theater, art, culture, and festivals; David Fellerath provides a valuable look at ways to witness the best of what’s on in our September/ October Fall Arts Preview. Previous International Bluegrass Music Festival (IBMF) winner and A Prairie Home Companion regular guest Joe Newberry writes about this years Raleigh based IBMF from a insiders point of view. As always, we’ve got hyper-local Raleigh stories featuring regular Raleigh people to read about in this and every issue of Midtown Magazine, if you know about someone that deserves to be covered in our pages please give me a shout. I’m always available at sioux@ midtownmag.com. Cheers!

FALL

ur magazine staff triples in size the day we do our semi-annual fashion photo shoot, when we add to our base group a fashion director, photo stylists, a wardrobe coordinator, photographers, photographer’s assistants, makeup artists, hair stylists, jewelry representatives, and models (and model’s parents for the littlest ones!). Occasionally a couple of advertisers even join in the fun to witness the artistry unfolding. A big thank you to all of participating advertisers for making the 2015 fashion shoot such a success. We lucked out big time finding a fun spot to do the shoot this go round, smack downtown on the 23rd floor rooftop of Skyhouse Raleigh. The spectacular views are 360 degrees – there is even a wow view from the ladies room looking north (seated or standing)! Even if you’ve been lucky enough to see the views from Skyhouse yourself, I know you’ll enjoy the fashion-spread views in our pages this issue. Women face a slightly different set of health risks than men; we take a multifaceted look at four aspects of keeping a healthy mind and body as a woman in today’s world. Ready to add some flavor and excitement to your tepid gym workout? We’ve got some offbeat ideas for those willing to try something new. Check out our interviews with three top female doctors in the specialty fields of cardiology, neurology, and oncology; and be inspired by Raleigh resident Karen

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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

contents s eptem ber/ october

features 76 girls just want to have fun

With so many offbeat fitness trends popping up, finding a fun workout has never been easier.

80 doctors talk about women’s health

Three women doctors get real about to-dos, to-don’ts, and things we should know but probably don’t!

84 living well with lupus

Karen Patch is one of the most positive people you could ever hope to meet. She has also been living with lupus ever since she was 14 years old.

80 vitamins and supplements for optimal health

A Q&A with Joye Willcox, Ph.D., RD, LD, helps us untangle some of the facts about nutritional supplements.

2015 fall arts preview 104

At first glance, every festival may look the same. We’ll help you narrow down the list of can’t-misess this fall.

pick your paddle 120

Getting on the water without running out of money.

124 2015 education guide

Welcome to Wake County, home of the largest school system in North Carolina. We’ll show you some of the best schools that might be right for your child!

fall fashion

The hottest looks and styles from the best boutiques in the area.

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2015

contents s eptem ber/ october

20 15

departments 26 on the scene 36 Midtown reviews 44 ask elie 46 bainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beat 50 beauty style 52 beer & barrel 54 close to home 58 financial focus 60 giving back 62 pack your bags 64 raising the bar 66 sunday supper 70 young makers 73 COMPLETE THE ROOM 88 Calendar of events 134 midtown downtown 140 healthy you 144 midtown mingles 146 everyday places

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special thanks to sean junqueria Photography for our beautiful cover photo

The scene

Taste

You Say Tomato...Pie NC tomatoes make this late-summer comfort food By Kate Turgeon Watson / Photography By Sean Junqueira It’s been a few years since Sheila Duncan shared her restaurant’s tomato pie recipe with the public. If she was worried it would hurt business, she needn’t have. It’s still Pie Bird’s top-selling savory pie. People could make it at home, but why? Chef Rodger Berg has perfected the workintensive pie, which starts with a French crust made with butter, ice water, pie flour and salt. The pie offers a layer of each: red onion, fresh basil and tomatoes. Next is the filling, which features goat and cream cheeses, and another layer of tomatoes. It’s topped with gruyere and parmesan cheeses, as well as fresh basil. 26 | midtownmag.com

Taste carefully and you may pick up the hint of Tabasco flavor. And check the plate for a balsamic reduction. While the pie is available all year, Duncan and Berg say it’s best from late summer through October because of the abundance of fresh, local tomatoes. It takes about four medium-sized tomatoes to make one pie. Duncan enjoys her tomato pie with a white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc. And for a side, she says salads are popular, but not the only choice. “If you really want to go decadent, you could get French fries,” she laughs. “Tomato pie is certainly not light fare, but it’s good fare.”

The scene

Real World Interaction Osmo Uses Physical Space as Digital Game Board By Dan Bain Want to see your kids play with real toys instead of digital games for a change? How about a system that combines both? Last year, Osmo released an ingenius game system for the iPad 2 or beyond (including iPad mini) that relies on real props in the physical space in front of the tablet, to interact with the games on the tablet. Its tagline is “Play beyond the screen™” and so far, more than 2,000 schools and 100,000 parents have bought it in an effort to get their children to do just that. The system comes with a stand, a reflector unit, and a set of real-world playing pieces. To use it, simply insert your tablet into the stand, place the reflector’s angled mirror over the tablet’s front-facing camera, and launch one of (so far) four apps: Tangram, Newton, Words, or Masterpiece. In Tangram, players arrange wooden puzzle pieces (provided) in front of the tablet to match the shapes on the display. Newton challenges players to draw lines on paper or manipulate real-world objects to guide onscreen falling balls toward their targets. Words is a Hangman-style game where players compete with player-specific letter tiles (provided) to guess the words on the screen. And Masterpiece is a drawing app in which the user can choose an image to draw from the camera, a gallery or the web; Osmo transforms the image into easy-to-draw lines on the display, and the user draws in front of the tablet while observing their pen, pencil, etc. in motion on the display. 28 | midtownmag.com

Osmo retails for $79.99 and includes the stand, reflector, puzzle pieces and letter tiles. A “Creative Kit” is available for $39.99, meant for Masterpiece and Newton only (it doesn’t include the Tangram or Words accessories). Each game requires a separate download of a free app, and is appropriate for anyone aged six and up, including adults. Check out more information at www.playosmo.com, and prepare to get real again!

photography © osmo

TECH

The scene

style

Modern flares come in a range of bell widths, ranging from micro to mega. City Market’s Dogwood Collective has a range of dark-wash and classic blue jean styles for fall, ready to pair with boots, clogs and heels.

Flares with Flair Ground Fall’s Boho Trend with a Vintage Silhouette

By Karlie Justus Marlowe / Photography By Davies Photography Is it truly fall without a crisp new pair of denim? For those who never outgrow back-to-school shopping once the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, jeans are the ultimate throwback threads. This year, the must-have cut for females is the bell-bottomed flare. “It’s one of the big denim trends for fall, perfect for a seventiesinspired look,” said Kaitlyn Herold, owner of downtown Raleigh boutique Dogwood Collective. The City Market shop celebrated its one year anniversary in May, curating a mix of dresses, separates and accessories it showcases daily on Instagram. Herold notes that at Dogwood Collective all bells aren’t created equal, highlighting the range of openings it carries to suit a variety of body types. 30 | midtownmag.com

“We have larger bells from Level 99 coming in this fall, and Hudson micro-flares in store now,” she said. “I recommend the bigger flares for women 5’ 7” or taller, while the micro-flare is perfect for those who are petite or just looking to dip their toes into the trend.” Madewell, J.Crew’s hip younger sister, offers a spinoff of its popular “high riser” style called the Flea Market Flare in zip-up and button-up versions. 7 For All Mankind, carried at Uniquities’ Cameron Village and North Hills outposts, introduced the Charlize Star Shadow flare in a dark denim, a popular wash for the flared style that helps to balance out the trend’s sometimes larger-than-life openings. “I like the classic-look denim for bigger bells, as well as raw denim in a deep indigo,” said Herold, who suggests a mid- or high-rise waist in place of the hip-hugger flared styles from the early 2000s. “You can also go with the really blue vintage look for a real seventies blue jean baby look.” At Dogwood Collective, the silhouette is paired with similarly bohemian tops and finishing pieces that highlight the cut’s higher waist and contrast the true blue color. “Pair with a flowy crop top that’s tucked in or a top that’s tied up,” said Herold. “For accessories, pair with lots of gold, especially rose gold, and the popular satchel cross-body bags for that boho look.”

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The scene

arts

Loud and Close

Big, Bent Ears’ listening sessions are inspired by the kissa tradition in Japan.

Big, Bent Ears at CAM Raleigh

By David Fellerath / Photograph courtesy of Ivan Weiss At CAM Raleigh, a vintage Japanese cultural practice is the inspiration for documentary producer Sam Stephenson and video artist Ivan Weiss’ “Big, Bent Ears,” a twice-weekly happening modeled on a music-listening event called the “kissa.” “It began in the 1960s, in very small bars and coffee shops,” Stephenson says of the kissa (pronounced “kee-sa”). “The owners had very extensive record collections, and they would play them at loud volumes. It was mostly American jazz – Sonny Clark was very popular in the 1960s and ‘70s.” Stephenson and Weiss, who first collaborated on Bull City Summer, a season-long documentary project about the Durham Bulls, came to this project via two inspirations. First, Stephenson noted the revival of the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, an acclaimed weekend of live experimental music that places a premium on close listening. After making a trip to document it, the two impresarios noted similarities with another shared enthusiasm: the journalist Joseph Mitchell, a North Carolina native who became famous for his New Yorker columns. It was Mitchell who described his reporting style in a book title, his 1938 collection My Ears Are Bent. Thus “Big, Bent Ears” was born. Stephenson and Weiss recruited Ben Barwick of Kings Barcade and Dave Wilson of 32 | midtownmag.com

Chatham County Line to help with the technical issues and programming. The resulting twist on the kissa takes place downstairs at CAM Raleigh, usually on Monday and Thursday nights. Many local musical luminaries and taste-makers have taken a turn as record-spinner. The guest curators are encouraged to indulge very specific tastes. Mac McCaughan of Merge Records, for example, played nothing but music from New Zealand. Veteran Raleigh musicians Skillet Gilmore and Caitlin Cary opted for a different challenge: Despite happening to own 20 or 30 Bob Dylan records, they weren’t fans. Calling their evening “Ambivalent Dylan,” they brought in those albums and asked for listener recommendations that would turn them into Bob-o-philes. While listeners sip complimentary beverages (donations are accepted), they also examine images and video projections on the wall. The videos, Weiss says, offer viewers a chance to share an immersive listening experience with the videographer. In traditional music documentaries, “the music itself is kind of lost,” Weiss says. “CAM is such a beautiful space to show a lot more, you can just let people be with the footage.” “Big, Bent Ears” will continue through December 3rd. There’s a big name coming November 19th: jazz star and Durham resident Branford Marsalis. Visit camraleigh.org for more information.

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The scene

sports

New Digs NC State Opens $14 Million Indoor Practice Facility By David Droschak / Photography by David Droschak It’s not lost on many North Carolina State fans that the opening of the program’s new $14 million indoor practice facility coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Murphy Center, which houses the day-to-day operations of the football team. The Wolfpack seemingly had been playing a decadelong game of “catch-up” with the rest of the Atlantic Coast Conference when it comes to football facilities – one of the main cogs of the recruiting process. No longer. NC State officially got the keys to the privately-funded Close-King Indoor Practice Facility on July 1st as the 2015 football season approached. The main benefits of the new building center on practice schedule routines and player safety. “We have two grass practice fields outside and a synthetic turf field, which gave us some flexibility, but not for lightning,” said Michael Lipitz, NC State deputy athletic director for internal operations. “This gives us the opportunity not to change practice schedules, to be safe and to still get our work in. That’s why you see these types of facilities at programs around the country, because for student-athletes their schedules are so tight, and the practice window is so tight; they have classes, they have study table, they have training table, and when you have to start shifting practice blocks around it really plays havoc with everyone’s schedule.” 34 | midtownmag.com

The state-of-the-art practice facility was in the planning stages for one year and it took another 12 months to erect. It is centered between the Murphy Center and outdoor practice fields off Trinity Road, making it easy walking distance to all of the football facilities – which was key. “One of the reasons we were able to build this for $14 million, which is relatively inexpensive as far as these facilities go, is that Murphy Center has everything the team needs day-to-day – it has the weight room, the locker room, the training room – and it’s right here – so we didn’t need to replicate all of those in this building,” Lipitz said. “The full $14 million went into the structure.” The roof – at 65 feet high – even allows for punting. “One of the unique things is there aren’t many of these facilities that have the barrel vault roof – a lot of them are A-frame – but it gives you the ceiling height and the clearance needed for special teams work,” Lipitz said. “The shape is a little more unique than others, but we felt it was worth going that direction for what it delivered. “We now have an amazing facility footprint, and the indoor practice facility is really the final piece of the puzzle from a football standpoint,” added Lipitz. The new indoor practice facility will also be used by baseball, softball, track and field teams and others when the football team is not center stage.

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reviews

black mass

everest

pan

Goosebumps

Starring: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch Rated: R Opens: 9/18/2015 Plot: The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.

The Martian Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels Rated: Not Yet Rated Opens: 10/2/2015 Plot: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Meanwhile, the astronauts he left behind realize the severity of his plight and join forces with an international coalition of scientists to launch a rescue mission in defiance of NASA protocol. *Opening dates and ratings are subject to change.

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Starring: Hugh Jackman, Levi Miller, Jimmy Vee Rated: Not Yet Rated Opens: 10/9/2015 Plot: The story of an orphan who is spirited away to the magical Neverland. There, he finds both fun and dangers (battling the fearsome pirate Blackbeard) and ultimately discovers his destiny – to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley Rated: PG-13 Opens: 9/25/2015 Plot: Inspired by the true events, Everest documents the aweinspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind.

Starring: Jack Black, Halston Sage Rated: PG Opens: 10/16/2015 Plot: A young New York City boy reluctantly moves to the quiet town of Greendale, MD. He soon realizes that his new neighbor, R.L. Stine, harbors a deep, dark, dangerous secret. Now, it’s up to the young boy and the author’s niece to save the day.

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reviews

Stories (Avicii) Release Date: 9/25/2015 In July, Avicii told Rolling Stone that he had worked on 70 songs for his next album, which will include collaborations with Jon Bon Jovi, Billie Joe Armstrong, Chris Martin, Wyclef Jean, Serj Tankian and Matisyahu. Describing the album, Avicii said,“It’s going to be a lot more songoriented.” On August 13th, Avicii confirmed in an interview that Stories will have only 16 of those tracks, and because he couldn’t fit all the best tracks on the album, he’ll be releasing another follow-up album if Stories does well. Stories will be the second studio album by the Swedish DJ.

So There (Ben Folds) Release Date: 9/11/2015 Singer/songwriter Ben Folds doesn’t recall ever being quite so excited about an album. “I’ll let you decide if that’s a good thing or not. It’s just that we don’t often get to make a record that we’ve never heard before. The arrangements you will hear on this record are straight up rock – not ornamentation. It’s a pop record, if that’s what you call what I write.”

Digital Vein (David Cook) Release Date: 9/18/2015 American Idol season 7 winner David Cook will release his long-awaited third studio album on September 18th and it will feature seven brand new tracks, including seven studio versions of unpublished songs and Laying Me Low, which he released as a single. Also included on the album is his version of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game.

See What You Started by Continuing (Collective Soul) Release Date: 10/2/2015 See What You Started by Continuing will be the ninth studio album by Collective Soul and first since 2009. Reports are that Collective Soul is finally going back to the raw rock sound, filled with riffs that can only make you smile. The album’s lead single, This, made its premiere in July, and was made available as a free download on their website. *Release dates are subject to change.

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Revival (Selena Gomez) Release Date: 10/9/2015 Revival, which the singer has teased will show “the rebirth of Selena,” will be released on October 9th. In an interview with Ryan Seacrest in June, the singer said “there’s hints of” her highly publicized breakup with Justin Bieber on the record, but for the most part, it’s about her newfound confidence. “I’m becoming a young woman and I’m comfortable with my sensuality. It’s just kind of not try-hard. It’s just perfect. I think to me that was exactly what I want people to see for the next chapter for me,” she said, later adding, “I’m very confident in this record”.

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reviews

BY michael gallo, CSW, Wine Manager â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Total Wine & More

Chateau Bois Redon Bordeaux Superieur

Gouguenheim Valle Escondido Malbec

JV Fleury GSM

Domaine Loubejac Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux, France

Mendoza, Argentina

Vin de Pays, South of France, France

Willamette Valley, Oregon

best served in:

Ropiteau Hautes Cotes de Beaune

Hautes-Cotes de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Tasty, superb value, Pinot Noir from a region just outside the boundaries of the famous Cote de Beaune. Strawberry, cherry, spice and floral aromas and flavors mingle nicely with vanilla and light mineral notes. Ready to enjoy tonight.

$19.99/bottle

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This easy-drinking, chateau-bottled wine has cherry and currant notes on the bouquet and a soft, elegant finish. It is a blend of 75% Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Great with grilled loin lamb chops with herbs. Elegant, Cherry, Medium-bodied

$10.99/bottle

Dark red color, rich and strong. Aromas include scents of plums, black cherry, black currant, chocolates and violets. Round and supple with a long finish. Fresh, Plum, Black Currant, Mediumbodied

$9.99/bottle

A relaxed, bistro-style quaffer, this Rhonestyle blend offers crowd-pleasing notes of raspberry, red cherries and spice carried along by fresh aromas of red fruits and summer flowers. A delicious aperitif when lightly chilled, or perfect with pork.

Reminiscent of a French wine, this Pinot Noir has aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, sweet herbs and rose petals with a finish that is lively and vibrant. Pairs well with salmon, lamb, pork or filet mignon.

Fresh, Cherry, Floral

Herb, Black Cherry

$12.99/bottle

$14.99/bottle

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reviews

prune • $3.99

Prune is a love letter to trees. A game about the beauty and joy of cultivation. With a swipe of a finger, grow and shape your tree into the sunlight while avoiding the dangers of a hostile world. Bring life to a forgotten landscape, and uncover a story hidden deep beneath the soil. And you can sync your progress across all your devices using iCloud! Quizlet • Free

Wildcard • Free

Join millions of students using Quizlet to study! Quizlet makes simple tools that let you study anything, anywhere. Study on the go, play games that make learning fun, create your own flashcards (or search millions created by others), improve your study habits and study with images and audio, great for all learning styles.

Wildcard is a news and entertainment experience like no other. It’s everything that’s happening in the world that’s interesting, broken down into easy, understandable experiences perfect for your phone. Whether you have a spare minute or a long commute, there’s always something fresh and interesting waiting for you in Wildcard. Fast, effortless and visually stunning – what more could you possibly ask for?

Trackd • Free

Trackd is the tool songwriters, musicians and creators have been waiting for. Record songs and demos with ease, and get your bandmates, friends and co-creators collaborating within seconds to build brilliant jams. Put the voicenotes away for good and get creating with Trackd. You’ll never let a song idea get away, or be without your bandmates and co-writers ever again!

Etch Keyboard • Free

Etch is a first ever gesturebased multi-tasking keyboard that allows users to quickly communicate and access services by drawing simple shapes on a grid. Without switching between apps, you can look for a restaurant on Yelp, search gifs on Giphy, or share a video from Youtube.

Shape Gurus • $1.99

Focus [+] Unique Camera • Free

Your child will love the challenge of solving this series of fun puzzles with shapes and colours as they make their way through an interactive story. Designed for 2-5 year olds, this game teaches preschoolers the math skills of matching, sorting and classifying by shapes and colours. These are key skills preschoolers need to acquire based on the American Core Knowledge Preschool sequence.

Designed for people who love their real cameras. This app offers users manual control of focus, zoom and exposure. You can zoom in automatically when focusing and there is impressive smooth zooming control during video recording.

*Prices are subject to change.

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Feeln • Free (subscription required)

Watch exclusive Hallmark Hall of Fame films and hundreds of movies you love. Feeln is the only streaming service to offer the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection of over 70 films, with more movies and shows being added each month. Content subject to change.

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askelie photograph by SEAN JUNQUEIRA

Elie

For all your answers on things fashion, style and trends

Costumista & Wardrobe Style arbiter

~Mom of a Middle School Student When a teenage girl develops into the adult woman form, a different approach to shopping is required. Usually their favorite stores carry only kids’ sizes up to 14/16. They may now require wardrobe in adult sizes, but their taste is still in the glittery “tween” zone or the fit is not quite all adult (the top and the bottoms are different sizes). It is such dreadful and emotional shopping that it is not unusual that friends with girls in that age range ask me to bring their daughters to the mall for peacekeeping. It is also a time when they do not want their mother telling them they dress too provocatively or adult-like. What I learned in these shopping experiences is that in times of transitional body spurts, girls and their moms love the jegging. Girls find them stretchy and comfortable, and the cut resembles skinny jeans (the minus being that without pockets they can’t carry their phone, but they do not have the uncomfortable movement restriction of tight jeans). Moms can also suggest wearing an on-trend tunic, cloth shirt or sweater that covers the hips if they feel they are too revealing without start a family war. The fit is very forgiving on the curves and it is still in the appropriate age length. I would suggest trying

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on kids’ sizes first at Justice and comparing the fit at American Eagle Outfitters, where they have adult sizes in x-small and small. I’ve traveled extensively this past summer in Europe and one common trend among men was long trousers with a very short hem (the shortest I’ve ever seen in men without thinking they are wearing Capri pants). Do you think we will see that trend start in the US too? How short can I wear them without looking exaggerated? ~Robert, 36, Raleigh

FollowElie Instagram.com/EliePhotoStylist Facebook.com/ArbiterElieGantiarum Twitter.com/EliePhotoStyle Vine: Elie Rossetti Serraino Blog: ArbiterEliegantiarum.typepad.com Submit your question info@eliephotostylist.com

I’ve just returned from Italy and noticed the trend as well. On previous trips I would spot one here and there in downtown Milan and thought they might be male fashion insiders just off some designer showroom. This time I noticed that it was not uncommon to spot the “Pinocchio” look (what they call it in Italian) in the subway or at the train station on individuals of average age and professions. The pants are at least an inch shorter than their ankles, and I’m not surprised the socks industry has been booming in the last three years. Personally I think they are way too short, and even if the pant length is shortening on average here in the US too, it will never be like it is in Europe. But because my skin crawls every time I see the bunching of the fabric around the ankles for pants that are too long, I strongly suggest wearing a shorter version of the average American fit. For me, the ideal length is a bit below the ankles, just showing the socks. Rolling jeans up to the perfect length is perfectly okay too!

photography © american eagle outfitters

My 12-year-old daughter is looking to buy new jeans. She had a growth spurt during the summer and outgrew her old favorites. She now wears a small adult top (up from a size 10/12 in kids last year) and I think she is a size 14/16 in bottoms now, but they are too tight on the waist and hips. Also, most adult jean sizes do not fit her in the inseam. Can you suggest a brand or store?

bain’s beat

Fashion in Cycling There Are More Trends Than Trails

I by Dan bain, Greenway Model, danbain07@gmail.com

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n 1996, my wife and I bought a couple of mountain bikes as a young, naïve couple. I started using mine in 2009. It happened after a memorable physical where my bloodwork indicated that I was pre-diabetic. I was fairly certain this was wrong – it was probably more indicative of the bagel and cherry danish I’d just eaten for breakfast – but I wasn’t willing to take that chance. So I dragged my bike out of the mothballs and started hitting the trails. A year later, I’d lost 25 pounds. My doctor said my bloodwork was fine again, but that I was still overweight. I stopped going to that doctor, but I’ve been biking semi-regularly ever since. It’s been more “semi” than “regular” in recent years, and my weight has creeped up again, so I’ve started riding with a new resolve lately. I typically hit the trails of our city’s vaunted greenway system, and during the six years that have passed since I first hit it, most of its 100+ miles of pathways have been paved – so they’re much smoother now, and I can ride confident in the knowledge that I won’t fall off my bike after hitting something like a root, a rock, or a dead body. Trouble is, I’m just not feeling it like I used to. In search of new motivation, I decided

maybe this hobby is all about the attitude – and many cyclists’ attitudes seem to be reflected in what they wear. I’ve always dressed like a schlub on the saddle, preferring the affordably cheap sweats and tees available at lower-end retail stores to what real cyclists are wearing. But thanks to Jared Harber, co-owner of Oak City Cycling Project, I’m about to change my clothes. A colleague recommended Oak City, but I knew as soon as I pulled in that it was the right cycling shop for me to learn a little something. The narrow spaces and angled lines of its parking lot make it perfect for any vehicle with fewer than three wheels. A large, concrete ramp leads down from the sidewalk to the garage door-sized opening of the basement-level shop, which feels more like an open-air warehouse than a store. Bikes and parts hang from the high ceiling and little adorns the concrete floor other than a towel for one of the other owners’ new dog, who was sleeping soundly despite the music and chatter coming from the gaggle of cyclists socializing on the ramp just outside. They were all jerseys, caps and goatees as they prepared their bikes for an apparent group ride, and they played right into the hipster feel of the shop.

Yes, this was the right place for an old man to learn about cycling style. Speaking of get-off-my-lawn types, there’s a man named Grant Petersen who founded Rivendell Bicycle Works in California, and who takes a stodgy view toward style. “The whole mantra with that scene is streamlined – not fussing about what to wear or how to wear it, but bringing it back to a very childlike way of riding, which is to just hop on a bike and ride,” Jared confided in me, but don’t worry – “For most people, there’s definitely riding wear.” Jared told me first about casual riding wear, the favorite among commuting cyclists. Being that my day job is in Morrisville, and I can’t get to it without going on I-40 or I-540, there’s no way you’d ever catch me alive attempting to commute on a bike. So I didn’t listen much to that part. But for recreational road-biking, he said, performance wear is popular. “Nine times out of ten, it would be Lycra; it’s a tight-fitting fabric that allows you to move, but eliminates the irritation of bunching up, or flapping in the wind. It has an aerodynamic aspect, and it discourages chafing.” Regarding that last bit, I’ve been there, and trust me – chafing should be discouraged at all costs. As should sweating, but that’s almost an impossibility with me. I sweat buckets. Jared said moisture-wicking is a commonly desired trait in bike jerseys, but the only thing that’s going to draw the sweat away from me is a Shop-Vac. Still, one thing I liked about the jerseys I saw is, they zip all the way up the front. They fit snugly like a tee-shirt, but can be unzipped for easy removal. If you’d ever seen me struggling to pull a wet athletic shirt off my body after a particularly warm ride,

(above left) Nutcase has a full line of expressive helmets, but this one reminds me too much of a possible consequence of riding. (above right) The pizza-print jersey, on the other hand, is a great reminder of why I need to ride.

you’d understand why this is important to me. Plus, jerseys are fun. This is where the style comes in. Part of it is visibility, part of it is identity, but they tend to be loudly colorful. I saw one with a pink-frosted donut print; if it had been available in my size, I would have walked out of there with it. I might have to settle for the Cookie Monster print I found on Amazon. Or the one that shows a stick figure rider flying over the handlebars of a stick figure bike, and says, “I do my own stunts.” Equally raucous are the socks. Widely available in every print and color imaginable, they called to me from across the store. I’ve been in other stores to confirm, and they did the midtownmag.com | 47

same thing there. These things beckon to anyone around. They’re typically about six inches high, although there are some three-inch socks available. Even Jared wasn’t sure why, but taller socks seem to be the trend. Perhaps it’s pointless to wear attention-grabbing socks if they aren’t tall enough to actually grab someone’s attention. Because really, that’s what the socks are for. There’s no practical reason for them. “Something I’ve noticed is performance clothing has become more popular even when not doing performance activities,” Jared explained to me. “In the cycling industry lately, socks have become popular as kind of a stamp of who you are. A lot of people will wear them when they go out somewhere. They’re bright, with lots of colors, and people like to wear them as almost a calling card.” I have a theory that the trendier a look is among road- and greenwaycyclers, the more ridiculous it is to behold. Jared said mountain bikers might wear more casual, but durable, clothing to withstand the obstacles they encounter off-road. Not so with us pavement jockeys. Even though I ride a mountain bike, I need to get in line with the odd looks of the road-bikers – and I’m secretly delighted. Loud jersey; tall, colorful socks; and tight-fitting shorts. Toss in a liberal amount of sunlight, and guess what? We’re going to look even more ridiculous out of uniform. “Ride a lot in the summer, and you will develop very defined tan lines – that’s kind of a cycling fashion statement in its own way,” Jared told me. “We thought it looked silly growing up, but in cycling circles, a sharp, defined line is kind of a badge of honor.” Roger that. I’ve picked out some obnoxious socks and jerseys for my birthday list, and we’ll see what the coming weeks bring. Of course I’ll wear a helmet and gloves, which can also tend toward the showy side, but I favor the conservative look for those. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll pick up a colorful cap to stick under the helmet, soaking up sweat and loudly announcing its presence through the air vents. I’m going to pick up some Lycra shorts soon (with a chamois to prevent chafing, but only if worn commando-style). Toss in some calf-highs with a big, colorful skull or some shooting flames or jelly beans, and I’ll have the whole look in place – just in time for cool weather to force me to mothball the bike until next year, when undoubtedly all of the styles will have changed again. 48 | midtownmag.com

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beautystyle by anna churchill, Synergy Spa, Aesthetics & Wellness, >> feelsynergy.com

Defy the Decades with Beautiful Skin Good skin is not exclusive to those with good genes – it’s about how you handle the challenges of your skin as you age. Taking proper care of your skin throughout your life will keep you looking healthy and youthful. With so many factors to consider in age-appropriate skin care, it may feel a bit overwhelming. Skin care should be both responsive and preventative, so if you begin with one essential element good habits will follow. Here are my top recommendations for rolling back the decades:

30s

In your 30s your cell turnover processes start to slow down, as well as the production of healthy collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping your skin firm and tight. Retinol is clinically proven to help regulate your skin function in both of these areas, while simultaneously reducing fine lines and wrinkles that typically begin to appear in your 30s. I recommend using RétrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream by Avéne ($69, retail).

20s

You absolutely must start wearing a daily broad spectrum SPF! I personally love the UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40 by EltaMD ($28, retail). It’s lightly tinted and sheer, keeping your skin looking dewy and youthful. 50 | midtownmag.com

40s

50s (and up)

Keep your skin nourished and moisturized. You will start to experience transepidermal water loss in your 50s, much like a sponge drying out. Look for moisturizers that are in a serum base, and with main ingredients containing hyaluronic acid and peptides – both known for their hydrating and moisture-binding properties. I recommend the Polypeptide Gel from Synergy Skin Care ($98, retail) as a drink of water for your skin.

This is when you should start seeking more professional treatments for your skin to see maximum effects, such as laser resurfacing. Forever Young BBL technology is scientifically proven to turn on the RNA receptors that speak to your DNA, helping to turn back the skin clock. Peer-reviewed studies determined BBL-treated patients appeared younger than their actual age. Forever Young BBL treatments range from $100-$400, depending on the area of treatment.

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beer& barrel

A Taste of England Cask-Conditioned Ales By julie johnson

“

Warm and flat” is the cliché that Americans attach to classic English ales – not realizing that they are neither. Cask-conditioned ales, a staple of the English pub, are cool, softly carbonated, and, to their supporters, represent beer at its freshest and most flavorful. That is certainly the opinion of Stuart Arnold, the transplanted Englishman who opened Fortnight Brewing Company two years ago in Cary (1006 SW Maynard Road). Missing the traditional ales of his Yorkshire home, Arnold committed Fortnight to producing unadorned English beer styles, some always available from the cask. Cask ale – also called “real ale” – is not a beer style, but a method of both maturing and serving beer. Fresh, unpasteurized beer is placed in a metal cask where the live yeast continues the fermentation process, creating natural CO2. After two weeks of aging, the finished beer is smooth, aromatic and lightly carbonated. The cask is moved to the site where it will be served and allowed to settle for two days: this living beer demands protection from further movement,

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gentle care and time to breathe. Once the cask is tapped, the beer is served via a handpump or “beer engine,” without the added CO2 that is usual in conventional tapping systems. Fortnight’s welcoming taproom has four handpumps serving a selection of the brewery’s seven year-round beers. For the perfect tutorial on cask ale, Arnold encourages visitors to taste a beer from the cask line-up side-by-side with the same beer matured and served conventionally. “I always tell them, this is night and day. You might

Two traditional beer engines are used to dispense cask ale in the Back bar at Top of the Hill in chapel hill.

Alie Hemperly pulls a pint of cask ale at Fortnight Brewing Company, using the traditional handpump, which literally uses the arm strength of the bartender, and not added CO2, to draw the beer into the glass – hence “pulling” a pint.

not like it because you’re not used to it, but I can guarantee it’s a really good beer. The funny thing is, a lot of them come back and say ‘You’re right, it’s much more flavorful!’ and I see them going back and buying pints of the cask ale, which is nice.” A number of venues and festivals across the state promise caskconditioned beer, but few will satisfy the purists, as most American brewers can’t resist the temptation to cram all manner of botanicals and other flavorings into the cask – sometimes with interesting results, but a clear breach of tradition. Along with Fortnight, another reliable source in the Triangle for the “100% traditional English ale” that Arnold cherishes is Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill. Their cask program, said to be the first in the South, was established by TOPO’s original brewer, also an Englishman, and is being faithfully maintained by his successors. Two beers are served on cask in the Back Bar, around the corner of the building at 100 East Franklin Street. While some beers stray very slightly from the orthodox – at the time if writing, the robust porter on cask is flavored with coffee and vanilla – the second beer on draft is Top of the Hill’s always spot-on IPA. In their quest to educate American beer drinkers in the subtleties of real ale, the two breweries are planning a collaboration brew, to be served at their two establishments. Drop by to see how delicious “warm and flat” can be.

SANDLIN FAMILY LAW GROUP

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close tohome

Plug It In

North Hills To Celebrate Electric Vehicles Mid-September By dan bain TH

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ow’s your gas mileage? Could you stand to reduce your gasoline cost by $100 or more per month? If you drive 12,000 miles a year, you could save about $1300 a year by switching to an electric vehicle – and they’re becoming easier to buy. If you’d like to learn more, consider coming to North Hills Commons from 12-2pm on Wednesday, September 16th. That’s when the North Carolina Plug-in Electric Vehicle Taskforce is holding Raleigh’s Annual National Drive Electric Week Celebration. Who and/or what are those, you ask? The task force – which provided the stats above – is the result of an initiative led by the NC Department of Commerce and Advanced Energy, a Raleigh nonprofit specializing in energy efficiency. They formed the task force with the help of our state’s electric utilities in 2011, with the goal of establishing our state as a leader in electric transportation. That goal made the task force a perfect fit for National Drive Electric Week™, a celebration and promotion of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) planned and sponsored each September by Plug In America, Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association. Attendance at nationwide events has grown over the past four years, more than doubling from 35,000 in 2013

RTM DA

Look for the official “spokesvehicle” again at this year’s event.

to 90,000 last year, and it’s expected to grow more during the September 12th-20th campaign this year. Which brings us back to Raleigh’s celebration. “The goal of the event is to increase awareness of electric vehicles, to have people come out and talk about them and test-drive them, and to make people aware that they’re a new vehicle option,” says Kristi Brodd, outreach coordinator for Advanced Energy. During the September 16th event, the Commons will be closed off to general parking, instead hosting numerous electric vehicles on display by dealers and owners alike. Experts will be available to discuss electric vehicle technology and answer questions, and attendees are eligible to take the dealer models for test drives around North Hills and its adjacent neighborhoods. Expected models include the Nissan LEAF (the top-selling electric car, in the $30k range), Ford Focus Electric, BMW i3, Chevrolet Volt, Ford C-Max Energi, Tesla Model S, and Toyota RAV4 EV. Additionally, PEV owners are encouraged to register to bring their vehicles for display, with prizes going to the oldest, the newest, and the best-decorated. More than 4000 PEVs are currently registered in North Carolina, says Brodd. “Electric vehicles are a great option for most people,” she says. “The skeptics want to learn what they’re getting out of it. They mainly question the range and need reassurance that these cars can work for their commutes.” They can, she assures, estimating the average range to be 80-100 miles per full charge. Some are due out in the next year with an expected range of 150-200 miles per charge, and the Tesla already gets 250-300. PEVs come with range estimators, Brodd says, and give warnings when the remaining charge drops below a certain range. There are also multiple options for charging, and with more than 600 public charging stations available across the state, and businesses trending toward providing them in employee parking lots, those options are becoming more OU

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This DC Fast Charger, just south of the North Hills Exxon, can charge a PEV’s battery to 80 percent in 30 minutes.

prevalent. AC Level 1 charging uses a standard 120-volt outlet with a special extension cord, and results in three to five miles per hour of charging. It’s easy to accomplish at home, and requires no additional special equipment. AC Level 2 charging is faster and results in greater potential range – 10-20 miles per hour of charging – but it requires a charging station to be installed on a 240-volt circuit. These can be installed at home, at a cost of $700$1500 per installation, depending on whether additional wiring and electrical system upgrades are necessary. But at potential annual gas savings of $1300 or more – not to mention savings on oil changes and other maintenance – the investment quickly pays for itself. DC Fast Charging can bring a PEV’s battery to 80 percent capacity in 30 minutes, but isn’t as feasible to set up at home; look for those in public locations. North Hills has one DC Fast Charger and five AC Level 2 charging stations available for shoppers. September 16th would be the perfect time to stop by and see how they’re used, and to learn about the difference they and PEVs have made in some consumers’ lives. “People love the technology; the cars are cool and extremely fun to drive,” says Brodd. “They’re the vehicles of the future, and the best part is that they’re available now.” 56 | midtownmag.com

financial focus

Time to Dip and Tap What’s All The Fuss About Chip-Enabled Credit Cards? by christie s. burris, Senior Director of Communications, NC Retail Merchants Association

o you remember cassette tapes, or better yet 8-track tapes? Depending on your age you may or may not have any idea of what these are. The same technology that was used in these very dated methods of delivering music is the same technology that is contained in the magnetic stripe on the back of the credit cards you use today. So while the music industry moved to much newer technology, the payments industry has been trapped in the 1970s and early 80s as far as the technology on credit cards goes. The mag stripe, the black stripe on the back of credit cards, stores customers’ unique data related to the account tied to the credit card. Unfortunately, almost anyone with a little knowledge can copy the data off the mag stripe and make their own version of someone else’s card. This is done by hacking a company computer system or through the installation of a device called a skimmer. (A recent audit of gas station pay-at-the-pump systems found in one state alone that nearly two percent of the pumps had skimmers installed.) Beginning October 1st of this year, there will be a liability shift happening in the United States and it has to do with the credit cards you use to purchase goods and services. The shift is not mandated by law, but the time is right for

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change and retailers have pushed for this transition for some time. It is a decision made by the major credit card issuing companies (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa) in their contracts with merchants to shift liability for credit/debit card fraud from the card issuers to retailers IF those businesses have not adopted payment terminals that accept EMV cards. (EMV is a technical standard for smart payment cards and for payment terminals and automated teller machines which can accept them, i.e. chip and pin or chip and signature.) In simple terms, we’re talking about the computer chip you see on the new credits cards being issued by banks and card-issuing institutions to customers. For merchants and financial institutions, the switch to EMV (chip-enabled) means adding new in-store technology and internal processing systems, and complying with new liability rules. For consumers, it means activating new cards and learning new payment processes. What You Need to Know EMV cards are more secure. Mag-stripe data – the card number, expiration date, etc. is static. When a hacker gets into a system and steals this data he/she can then hold onto

it for an indefinite amount of time, essentially holding onto the data until ready to strike. With EMV chip and pin transactions, the data becomes stale in a few hours and would be obsolete when the hacker decided to use it for a fraudulent transaction. How? The EMV technology enhances transaction security by attaching a dynamic cryptogram to each authorization and clearing transaction. This offers some protection against tampering of the card and POS data during transaction processing. You can think of this as a unique password for the card that is only good for a single use. Instead of the three-or four-digit CVV that current credit cards have on the back, the embedded EMV chip cards create a 50-digit code that is always changing. Instead of swiping your card, you should “dip” it into the reader. When an EMV card is dipped, the data flows between the chip on the card to the financial institution to verify the card’s legitimacy. This requires more time than the swipe that we have all become accustomed to in the marketplace. You may also need to tap. And, no, this isn’t a dance. Some EMV cards support contactless card reading, which is also known as near field communication and it doesn’t require “contact” with the payment terminal. However, the vast majority of new cards issued in the US currently are contact cards. This is an ongoing process. When October 1st rolls around, don’t expect every merchant with whom you do business to have a chip-enabled payment system. Because it is not mandated by law, many small business are still trying to decide if the investment for the new technology is a valid business expense for them. Many machines can cost up to $500, so if a store has multiple check-out stations or more than one store location the costs add up. This is why the vast majority of cards being issued right now are equipped with both the mag stripe and the chip. One industry group estimates that by the end of 2015, approximately 70 percent of credit cards and 40 percent of debit cards in the US will support the chipenabled technology. October 1st will be here before we know it. When you shop this holiday season, be mindful of the payments process and choose to dip or tap your way to a purchase if given the opportunity. It’s a step worth taking. midtownmag.com| 59

giving back

Easing Childhood Hunger One Backpack At A Time By carol wills

o you know where your next meal is coming from? Are there any fruits and vegetables in your kitchen to feed your family through the coming weekend? Do you feel reasonably confident that you can purchase enough food to sustain your family until your next payday? If you do, you’re luckier than the more than 275,000 people in the seven-county area served by the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Food insecurity is a huge problem, made worse by unemployment and low wages. According to the Food Shuttle’s website, one in four children in North Carolina are at risk of hunger, and nearly 121,000 low-income children applied to receive free and reduced-price lunch through our public schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Eighty percent of the children receiving free or reduced lunches have at least one employed parent. To address this problem, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle started a program called Backpack Buddies. Kyle Abrams, Childhood Hunger Programs Manager, described an incident from two years ago that explains his dedication to his job. He says that he was at A.B. Combs Elementary School helping

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to fill some bags of food for young school children to take home when he felt a tug at his shirt from a little girl who simply said, “Thank you!” before dashing away. “We serve around 2,000 kids on weekends over the school year at 64 sites in our service area,” says Abrams. “The need is a big issue. We work through school guidance counselors, principals and supervisors of various after-school programs to identify the more than 121,000 children who qualify for the Backpack Buddies program.” Niti Wade, a School Social Worker at Laurel Park Elementary in Apex, expresses joy at being a part of the Backpack Buddies program. “I often work with students from food-insecure homes,” she says. “At Laurel Park Elementary we distribute the Backpack Buddies bags of food every Friday. I often hear the children participating in the program asking throughout the week, ‘Is today the day I get my food?’” However, as much as it warms Wade’s heart to know that the children look forward to receiving their food and that they know they have a place that will provide assistance to them,

she knows that the need for regular, wholesome food is greater than what Backpack Buddies is able to offer. “Generally speaking, the program has enabled the school to build stronger trusting relationships with our students and their families,” says Wade. “I am extremely grateful for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and the wonderful programs they offer to the community.” Kyle Abrams has been with the program for about five years now and is the coordinator for the Backpack Buddies program. These days, he isn’t filling bags and boxes so much as working on developing the program even further, writing grants and establishing partnerships with different groups such as civic groups, churches and small businesses. He says that the need has actually increased over the last year, after dropping off a couple of years before. “It’s a cycle,” says Abrams. “It’s the poverty issue. People who have benefited from government services have worked hard enough to get off the services, and then they have to spend their money to replace what they were getting for free.” Although Abrams himself is more involved with development these days than hands-on volunteering, he keeps an eye on what is going into those bags and backpacks. He describes a typical weekend backpack content as follows: • Two meat items: canned chicken or tuna, or soups containing meat • Two vegetable items: green beans, peas, corn • One canned fruit, such as peaches or pears • Two 100% fruit juice boxes • Three shelf-stable boxed milk drinks • Two noodle items: macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles • Two breakfast items: instant grits or oatmeal, cereal bars • Two snack items, such as granola bars or raisins Many volunteers are showing up to donate to the Backpack Buddies program or to help sort the foods donated and pack them up for the children to take home. Quite a few of them are retirees who give their time every week to make this happen. Corporate groups, civic groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and church groups join in this effort to erase childhood hunger in our state. Backpack Buddies has a sponsorship program available to people who would like to contribute to this effort with a one-time pledge of $350 to supply 38 weekends’ worth of food for one child for one full year, and to pay for associated costs such as gas for deliveries, administration costs, and bags for the food. This may be a one-time gift or a sustainer gift of $35 per month. Check the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle website for more information about all the levels of sponsorship available. If you feel moved to volunteer, contact Kyle Abrams at www.foodshuttle.org. And thank you! midtownmag.com | 61

pack yourbags

Float Your Boat Over And Over Again

n the world of cruising, the most popular destination for Americans by far is the Caribbean, which features an incredible variety of islands to visit from multiple ports. On a typical seven-day cruise you may stop at up to four different islands, more if you depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The second most popular Americas destination is Alaska, where the cruise experience is simply the best way to experience the grandeur of the glacial wonderland. Coming up quickly in popularity, in part because of the unique opportunity cruising provides, is the great Panama Canal. On a Panama Canal cruise you can experience watching the sun rise over one ocean and set into another. You are sailing along one of mankindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest accomplishments, and one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. The

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Panama Canal spans 50 miles and connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean via the Caribbean Sea. On your Panama Canal cruise, experience first-hand how ships enter the canal and are raised from sea level to more than 85 feet by a series of gravity-powered locks. Once raised, the ships sail through Gatun Lake and are lowered once again by a series of locks at the other end of the canal. Just certain sized cruise ships can make it through the locks, some having less than one foot of clearance on either side! The Panama Canal spans three main bodies of water, is historically and economically significant, and you can visit the best ports of call in two continents. Whether visiting Aruba, the Grand Caymans, Georgetown, Half Moon Cay, Costa Rica or any of the other ports of call possible along the way, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in for a real treat. Each

port of call in a Panama Canal cruise presents something unique and exciting, and guarantees a fresh new adventure. Aruba offers travelers everything from alabaster beaches to a bustling nightlife, with sidewalk cafes, casinos, fine dining, and diversity of cultures, cuisines and festivals. Known for its beautiful sandy beaches, it also happens to be a shopper’s paradise. Besides the pristine beaches and the luxury of Georgetown, you can also experience world-renown shopping in Grand Cayman. The possibilities are endless on a Panama Canal cruise, a journey through different ports of call to the center of exciting cities and exquisite coastlines. You’ll find yourself astonished at the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal locks, and transformed, mesmerized and renewed. A typical cruise is 10-14 days, can be as little as seven or over a month. The ideal time to sail is between October and April, with departures available from a number of destinations including several in Florida and California. Apart from length of sailing, you’ll need to decide between a full traditional trans-canal experience or a partial crossing. We recommend taking the full crossing to get the richest experience. Cruise ships travel in both directions, but the Pacific to Atlantic route is faster, taking just a day. Most of the major lines and some smaller ones offer Panama Canal sailings each season. Princess designed two ships, the Island Princess and Coral Princess, specifically to sail the canal; each offering more than 700 balcony staterooms. The Panama Canal is truly oneof-a-kind and the experience of sailing this monumental canal will leave you wondering why you didn’t explore it sooner. Besides the feat of making your way through the locks, Panama offers an abundance of natural beauty and rich marine life. Activities include horseback riding on beaches, underwater diving, surfing pristine waters, swimming with dolphins, feeding stingrays and exploring pirate ships in the Bahamas!

by Paul M. Stone, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, cruiseshipcenters.com/northraleigh

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raising thebar

ask You

ANSWER

I work 40 hours each week, work overtime only occasionally, and get paid every two weeks. Should my overtime pay be calculated based on a 40-hour work week or on an 80hour pay period? Christian, Raleigh Assuming that you are not an exempt worker, your overtime pay must be based on how many hours you work each workweek, and each workweek

stands on its own regardless of the length of the pay period. Any hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek have to be paid at time and one-half your regular rate of pay. ~ Paul Derrick If someone else is driving my car, will my insurance still cover it if they get in a wreck? Latonya S., Raleigh Yes, assuming the person driving has your express or implied permission to drive your car or is in “lawful possession” of your car. If so, the North Carolina Safety and Financial Responsibility Act mandates that your insurance policy provide at least the statutory minimum amount of liability coverage for the person driving, which is $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. Any amount of coverage above that will be governed by the terms of your insurance policy.

Have a question? Let us hear it: raisingthebar@midtownmag.com

How much will my family lawsuit cost if I hire an attorney? Stacey M., Cary

~ Emily Goodman

That is the number one question on most people’s minds when going through a divorce, separation, custody, or other family law matter. The truth is that while some family law matters (e.g. absolute divorce, name change, separation agreements) are relatively simple and may cost a flat-fee price, other family law matters, specifically contested matters, can be completely unpredictable as far as cost goes. In many situations, you may be asked to fund a retainer of a certain amount from the beginning, and your attorney will bill against this amount as he or she completes work. When that fund depletes itself, you may be asked to continually refill the retainer. However,

MeettheCounsel

the ultimate amount a party will spend is likely dependent on how vigorously you and the opposing party want to litigate the issues at hand.

What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI? I hear people around here referring to both. Ashley M., Raleigh A DWI and a DUI are the same thing; one stands for ‘driving while impaired’ and the other ‘driving under the influence’. North Carolina law has categorized this offense as DWI. In other states, DUI is used. In a small number of states, OUI, operating under the influence’ is used. They all refer to the same nature of offense. ~ Steven Saad

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP | www.cshlaw.com

~ Jennifer Welch Steven Saad

Criminal Defense

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Paul Derrick

Employment Law

Emily Goodman Family Law

Jennifer Welch

Insurance Law & Coverage

This content has been prepared for general information purposes only. This information is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation. The information provided cannot replace the advice of competent legal counsel by a licensed attorney in your state.

sundaysupper

Beyond Pierogi Perfection J. Betski’s Chef/Owner, John Korzekwinski, And His Central European Soul Food By paul savery photography by davies Photography

ohn Korzekwinski is the ownerchef of J. Betski’s restaurant located in the Seaboard district in Raleigh. As you walk into the restaurant you are struck by the simple, elegant and timeless décor – an intentional effort to capture the ageless ambience of many old European restaurants the owner has visited. Nine years ago John had a bold vision to open a restaurant which served one of the less trendy cuisines: Central European. His commitment was to introduce to the American public simple and enduring pleasures of the Central European table, and he maintains these original values of humility and simplicity in the kitchen. (Simple food is sometimes the hardest food to prepare. You have to start with really fresh, high quality ingredients, and you can’t cover your mistakes with rich sauces.) 66 | midtownmag.com

John grew up eating Polish and German food, so naturally it’s a comfort food for him. Simplicity is at the heart of both of these cuisines, and he refers to it as “Central European Soul Food.” At J. Betski’s he respects the culinary traditions, but is also willing to be adventurous and modernize them. Despite the reputation of German and Polish food for being plain and stodgy, John states that “many dishes we serve at the restaurant are a pleasant surprise to our guests, as the dishes are lighter than they were expecting, yet they contain those essential soul-satisfying flavors” J. Betski’s attracts German and Polish expatriates and has a fairly steady stream of German executives from Siemens, the German multinational which has offices located in nearby Research Triangle Park.

On the menu J. Betski’s features classic dishes like pierogis – a stuffed dumpling he compares to a large tortellini. One of the most popular dishes is the famous Schnitzel; he reveals the secret is good quality pork pounded thinly with a thin panko breading and pan-fried. The menu also offers in-house smoked trout, salmon, sausage and other meats. One of my favorite desserts, a delicate strudel, is on the menu. John says “you need time and space to make a good strudel, so it is rarely available on menus.” J. Betski’s offers a superb wine list containing a large selection of German and Austrian wines. John mentions a favorite, one of the more underappreciated varietals in the US – Riesling. His wine list features various styles of Riesling as he finds them refreshing and versatile, but mentions a greater challenge in finding good German and Austrian reds. Ultimately, John favors the Pinot Noirs produced by these countries, and also recommends the red St. Laurent by Sattler from Burgenland, Austria. The last name Korzekwinski betrays his genealogical roots, and the chef declares he is “split down the middle” ethnically. Both grandfathers were Polish and both grandmothers German, and family endowed a strong culinary influence on him, with gifted cooks and at least one uncle/butcher whose kielbasa recipe he adapted. Like many chefs John began working in kitchens in his teenage years, and worked his way up, recognizing great fortune as having encountered many talented (and patient) mentors along the way. His advice to aspiring chefs is: “Do the job because you love what you do. Running a kitchen is very hard work with long hours. You will sacrifice lots of family time and holidays, so it is important to realize that before making the career choice.” He also suggests working in a “serious” kitchen for a good period of time to get a feel for what you need to do to be successful. He points out that if you are not highly motivated, it will not be a good career for you. “You shouldn’t always expect a gold star for doing what you’re supposed to, which is to give your best on a daily basis.” He counsels to learn all aspects of the restaurant business. “It is very important to have a good knowledge of front of the house, as it helps you to realize you are in business to make it a special experience for the guests filling those seats! Always maintain a healthy dose of humility. No one likes an arrogant idiot.” However, John is quick to point out the positives, which is the job always has a new set of challenges on a daily basis, making it very exciting. He loves cooking at J. Betski’s. “I love the satisfaction of trying to meet the challenge of putting out dishes of the highest quality on a busy night. We have a great crew in our kitchen, and it’s great to work alongside them and see the pride they take in making and plating beautiful food. I am proud of the higher level of consistency we have been able to achieve year over year. I love being in the kitchen here, as this is what I have always wanted to do. It’s a second midtownmag.com | 67

home. It’s where I’m most comfortable.” John is very proud he opened J. Betski’s and has kept it growing for almost nine years. He is also proud that he has maintained an environment that has been conducive to keeping very gifted, long-term employees, a significant factor in maintaining a high level of consistency of food and service in a restaurant. John cooks “relaxed, casual” on Sundays for his wife, son and daughter. While at home he also likes to keep his cooking simple, routinely grilling out on hardwood coals unless the weather is very bad. His children enjoy helping to light the fire and throwing something on the hot grill (under close supervision). He likes to make beer can chicken. “One of the most delicious and satisfying meals!” He also likes to grill steak and corn on the cob, all meals popular with his children. A summer favorite is BLTs with tomatoes from his father-in-law’s garden, from which he eats a lot of seasonal fresh vegetables throughout the year. He doesn’t really have a home “go-to” cookery book, instead referring to an old German cookbook, The Cuisines of Germany: Regional Specialities and Traditional Home Cooking by Horst Scharfenberg, published in 1989. Containing hundreds of Germany’s traditional and regional specialties, each recipe is prefaced with notes on the origin, cultural and culinary background of the dish. John particularly enjoys some of the hearty soup and stew recipes. Adjacent find the recipe for one of John’s family suppers: 68 | midtownmag.com

Honey and Rosemary Glazed Beets

with Goat Cheese, Toasted Hazelnuts Ingredients 3 lbs oven roasted beets, peeled, cut into wedges ½ red onion, small to medium sized, julienned 4 rosemary springs ¾ cup raspberry vinegar ½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts or walnuts ¼ cup honey 8oz goat cheese (Chevre, from Goat Lady Dairy, works well) juice of one lemon salt to taste Method 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Wash beetroot thoroughly. 3. Place beetroot in roasting pan; cover with foil and roast 4560 minutes, or until done (skin will peel off beet easily when scraped with fingernail). When beets are ready, let cool 10 minutes and peel (you can scrape off the skin quickly under a faucet of some cool running water if you wish). 4. Cut beetroot into wedges of desired thickness.

5. Place red onion, beetroot, rosemary, raspberry vinegar, lemon juice and honey in saucepan. Season with salt (you can

ell)

add a drop or two of pomegranate molasses for a little extra flavor complexity, if you wish). 6. Place on medium-high heat; bring liquid to a boil, turn down to medium. Stir or toss periodically, taking care to watch that the liquid thickens to coat the beets thoroughly, but does not begin to burn. 7. Place beets onto serving platter and serve warm, or transfer to refrigerator to cool completely. Top with crumbled Chevre and toasted hazelnut or walnut pieces. Makes a great light lunch or side dish. 8. You can also serve with roasted fennel and oranges, add the beets to salads, or serve topped with shaved speck, prosciutto, or cured meat of choice.

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young makers

A Wood Tie Affair Local Woodworker Johnny Mack And His Unlikely Bow Ties by CORBIE HILL

t’s early Thursday evening and there’s a party at a studio on Dupont Circle, just off Boylan Avenue. Now artists and creative types mill around, sampling hors d’oeuvres and drinking beer; later there will be a raffle for hip-looking designer chairs. It’s a modernist homes party, where the cement floors and grit of an artist’s studio meets the excitement and buzz of an upscale cocktail hour. Johnny Mack is here – real name John McDonald – and we sit down and chat behind the studio, among the trees. It seems quiet at first, but then an Amtrak train rolls by not 50 feet away. It’s Raleigh, after all, and something’s always happening, something’s always moving. Johnny Mack seems just fine with that. “I truly am inspired by the people that I have met and that I continue to meet in Raleigh,” he says. “This city is worth celebrating, as we’re in a Renaissance phase right

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now.” A cabinet-maker by day, Mack contributes by carving wooden bowties. He wears them, he sells them, and today – like most days – he has a pocketful of them. One is destined for celebrated drummer and producer Questlove – if he can figure out a way to get it to him, he admits – while the others he pushes into my hands. Wear them around, he implores. They’re great conversation starters. Mack’s a North Carolina native who grew up all over the state, he says, before going to Lenoir-Rhyne college and then moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was “poverty with a view,” he says – a beautiful place where he had excellent adventures, but where the living was expensive. He returned to North Carolina, moving to Raleigh in 1998. By 2008, and after a stint as a brick salesman, he found himself working for Xylem Custom Woodworks. And this was when and where he got the idea to carve

(left, above) Wearable woodwork: Johnny Mack sports his creations.

his own bowties, though it didn’t come to him all at once. “We had all this wood around all the time, but we’re throwing it away or, at best, making a fire out of it,” Mack says of the spare chunks left over after the cabinets are all made. “We can’t keep all this stuff around.” Some of this scrap wood was nice wood – mahogany and the like – so he started making cubist art out of it. By 2010, when Kings opened in its new location downtown, he’d graduated to making modernist Christmas trees. In an act of guerrilla art, he would simply leave these places – Capital Club 16, in particular. He soon met owners Jake and Shannon Wolf, who impressed him: with new spots like these opening, he was energized. His own moment was coming. “I had previously gotten a rental tuxedo from the fairgrounds, where you can go and buy one for $75,” Mack says. He wanted to wear it to Kings’ Christmas party, but he didn’t have a bowtie and he had a hard time finding one he was willing to wear: the best option, he discovered, cost more than the tux itself. And then his employer, Xylem founder Jamie Smith, said, “Dude, why don’t you just carve one out of wood?” He was joking, but Mack went for it. For his template, he found a picture of George Clooney. “You look at 2010, and that’s the bowtie that George Clooney wore to the Oscars,” he says with a laugh. “So thanks, George Clooney.” Before long, Mack was making ties for family and friends; soon he realized the tie shape was similar to a butterfly shape, and then he was carving those as well. Often, he has several on his person – a bowtie on his neck, a butterfly on his lapel, and several ties in his pocket, in case someone buys the one he’s wearing. Today his butterflies adorn a sculpture in Capital Club 16. Though he’s never named the piece, he says as we sit behind the modernist homes party, a train passing nearby, he likes the name “They is We.” “When I first moved to Raleigh, it was like, ‘they need to do this downtown, they need to do that,’” he says, explaining the name. “But then you kind of get around, and you realize that ‘they’ is us. We need to do these kinds of things.” midtownmag.com | 71

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Room complete the >>

BONUS ROOM

>> What

is a bonus room, you ask? Largely a US term, it was first used in the early nineties to describe a finished room over a garage in which to dispose of noisy teenagers. Today’s bonus room is a large room used as a multipurpose area, such as a family room, sewing or hobby room, game room, home cinema, office or den. We offer up these exceptional ideas for your personal bonus room.

Aroma Accent Table

A great accent table that can go anywhere you need it to. Shown in ‘anthracite’, but there are a variety of powder coated finishes available. >> BeyondBlue Interiors, $190

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Einstein Quote Wall Plaque

From Fun and Fabulous, this sign adds fun and personality to your bonus room with words to motivate and inspire. This famous quote from Einstein reminds us of what’s important. >> The Galleria Raleigh, $39.50

Rustic Wood and Metal Bar Stools

Functional and stylish, this rustic style bar stool adds a unique flair and a touch of elegance and class to your existing home décor. >> Revival Antiques, $195/each (six available)

Natural Labradorite Book End Set Accentuate any décor in your bonus room with these stunning iridescent Labradorite book ends. Their colorful play of light will complement any bonus room reading material. >> Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers, $275

Tripod Floor Lamp

Give your home décor a unique twist with this clever floor lamp design. The tripod floor lamp base is inspired by the basic surveyor’s three-leg stand. A handsome look ideal for your den, study or bonus room. >> Revival Antiques, $295

Pocket Watch Style Large Wall Clock

Add a dash of charm and grace to the interiors of your bonus room with this pocket watch style wall clock. Inspired by the classic time piece pocket watch, the wall clock is designed for functionality and practicality. >> Affordable Chic Shops, $225

Lumino Eggplant Silver Gilded Coaster Set

From Rablabs New York, these natural agate coasters are edged in sterling silver and will be the perfect accompaniment to any bonus room beverage. >> Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers, $125

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Deco Tray and Dominoes Set

Hand printed art deco aesthetic on FSC certified Baltic birch. Handmade in California. >> BeyondBlue Interiors, $128

Inspired Home Pillow

North Carolina Home pillow is a delightful keepsake for remembering the hometown you grew up in or commemorating your favorite vacation spot. The perfect complement to your couch, it will make you the envy of the neighborhood. >> Affordable Chic Shops, $39.95

Reclaimed Wood Nesting Tables

These rustic nesting tables are durable and versatile, perfect for a bonus room.Â Store them together to look great and save space or use them separately for those special snacks and good times. >> The Galleria Raleigh, $235

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s l r i G

just wa nt

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With so many offbeat fitness trends popping up, finding a fun workout has never been easier. And according to psychologist Michelle Segar in her new book No Sweat, women are far more likely to stick with a fun workout than with one that feels like a chore. So if you want to get fit but running bores you to tears, check out the workouts below and find out how more women are using fun, fantasy, and a sense of community to make their exercise goals a reality. By Heather Mallory

e v a

h to

FUN

Three Workouts Guara nteed to Shake Things Up! midtownmag.com | 77

Fencing

Kristen, a 30-something web designer who’s been pole dancing for about three years, explains, “It’s really all in good fun. The nature of pole dancing is to be proud of your body no matter what your body shape. We all support each other and cheer each other on. It’s not competitive.” Kristen, who confesses that she’s “never been a terribly athletic person”, lost about 20 pounds during her first year and has a newfound love for the muscles she’s developed, “I think strong is the new skinny.”

Fencing is an aerobic and anaerobic sport with explosive starts and stops followed by recovery time in between, which keeps the heart and lungs working. Fencing engages the entire body, but is a particularly good workout for the legs, glutes and core. Physically, fencers develop flexibility, balance, agility, coordination, quickness and timing. Mentally, fencers must learn to strategize, maintain focus, and rapidly analyze and react to a dynamic opponent. It has been called Physical Chess at the Speed of Light. Women of all ages and fitness levels can take up fencing. In fact, fencing coach Jennifer Oldham says, “The best time to start fencing is now.” One woman who took up fencing in her 40s is North Carolina-based romance novelist and history professor Katharine Ashe. She has only been fencing a few months but is completely hooked: “I love it. I just love it. It’s incredibly good exercise, and hard!” Ashe, who started fencing as research for one of her books, says “Most of the challenges I’ve given myself during the past 20 years or so have been intellectual and professional. Taking up a new sport that requires the marriage of the body and the intellect is a challenge, and it’s a really fun challenge.”

Pole Dancing

Pole dancing is both exactly and not at all what you think. Yes, pole dancing refers to the activity popularized by strippers and exotic dancers. No, pole dancing classes do not involve men, lap dances or tips. Picture instead a girls’ night out that melts away the pounds and teaches impressive acrobatic skills. Pole dancing, or pole fitness, as it is sometimes called, is a great way to get both isometric and cardiovascular exercise. It is truly a full-body workout, and its proponents list strength, flexibility, stamina, weight loss, decreased joint pain, lower levels of stress and increased confidence among its benefits. Classes are usually for women only, but some studios are now offering men’s classes or weekly coed classes. Asked what type of woman does pole dancing, Dakota Fox, owner of one of the first pole dancing studios in North Carolina, says, “Honestly our typical student is everybody. We have college students to grandmothers in our classes; we have working moms and career women. The women in the class are the women you see in the grocery store.” 78 | midtownmag.com

CrossFit

(top) A fencer advances; (middle) Dakota Fox of Aradia Fitness on the pole; (bottom) Kelly McAulliffe at CrossFit Wake Forest.

CrossFit defies easy description. According to its website, CrossFit is a both a workout that “optimizes fitness” and “the community that spontaneously arises when people do these workouts together.” With its emphasis on community and coaching as well as on diet and lifestyle changes, some say it’s more a way of life than a workout. CrossFit builds strength and metabolic conditioning using high-intensity workouts that, according to CrossFit gym co-owner and coach Jeannie Barrow, “span many different modalities ranging from running to weight lifting, throwing, jumping, body weight and movement.” At the heart of CrossFit is the coaching relationship. Coaches typically program your workout, select your weight, and oversee your technique, so it’s perfect for women who don’t really know what to do and feel like their workouts aren’t getting results. Similarly, it’s appropriate for women of all ages and fitness levels, because workouts are intended to be scalable, which means coaches can adjust the load and intensity of the workout for each individual. Barrow says women stick with CrossFit because of the community and because they get results: they can run faster; they can lift more; their bodies are leaner. But most important, she says, “They’re better at life.” Kelly McAuliffe is a girlie girl. Before CrossFit, she spent most of her life with perfect nails and never broke a sweat. The closest she came to weight lifting was blowdrying her hair. She was never overweight, but decided that she needed to exercise to stay healthy. “There’s this illusion that if you do CrossFit, you’re going to look like a man,” she says. “I weigh 107lbs, I’m small-boned, I wear a double-zero, and I’m 5’3”, but I can deadlift 175lbs.” Kelly says that since she started CrossFit, she really is better at life. “I used to want to be thin; now, I want to be fit.”

Dr. Rama G. Garimella Cardiologist, Cary Cardiology

Three women doctors get real about to-dos, to-don’ts, and things we should know but probably don’t! By Heather Mallory September is healthy aging month, so if you’ve indulged in a little too much summer fun, the fall is a great time to put health back at the top of your priority list. Women and men face different health challenges and often even experience different symptoms for similar conditions. Thankfully, there is more information than ever about health and wellness targeted specifically toward women. Three of the top health risks facing women are heart disease, stroke and cancer. Below, three women specialists – a cardiologist, a neurologist and an oncologist – weigh in on what women need to know and do to optimize their chances for healthy aging. 80 | midtownmag.com

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one out of every three deaths. Unfortunately, women often underestimate the threat cardiovascular disease poses to their health. “Women are more concerned about breast cancer than heart attacks,” says Dr. Rama Garimella, but heart disease, she points out, kills approximately seven times as many women as breast cancer. Women are also less likely to seek life-saving emergency treatment for a heart attack than men. One reason may be that they simply don’t realize they are having a heart attack. Women don’t necessarily have chest pain during a heart attack, says Garimella. For women, symptoms might be epigastric pain (upper abdominal pain), jaw pain, neck pain, or unexplained shortness of breath, sweating, weakness, fatigue, or dizziness. Diabetics, in particular, may have very mild symptoms. Garimella recommends that any woman who feels she is having active symptoms should go straight to the emergency room. Do not wait for an appointment to see your doctor. The four major risk factors that Garimella highlighted are (1) diabetes, (2) hypertension (high blood pressure), (3) high cholesterol, and (4) smoking. Garimella warns women against relying on generic target numbers for cholesterol or blood pressure because secondary factors like family history, birth control use, or conditions like hypothyroidism and obesity will affect how your physician determines your target numbers and your overall risk. The good news is that despite the prevalence of heart disease, there is a great deal women can do to prevent it. Dr. Garimella’s Women’s Health Checklist: • Stop smoking: Smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States. • Clean up your diet: The AHA recently found that the Southernstyle diet (fried or fatty foods, processed meats such as bacon and ham, sugary drinks, and so on) is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Garimella recommends replacing red meats with chicken, turkey or fish; replacing processed grains with whole and multi-grain options; and favoring green veggies over starchy ones. • Exercise: Garimella recommends an activity that elevates your heart rate for 30 to 45 minutes every single day. • Know your family history. • Screen for the four risk factors and get them under control.

Dr. Rhonda W. Gabr Neurologist, Raleigh Neurology The National Stroke Association reports that strokes kill twice as many women as breast cancer and that more women die annually of strokes than men. Despite these statistics, women rarely focus on stroke as a primary health risk. “We tend to hear more about breast cancer than stroke,” says Dr. Rhonda Gabr. “People aren’t really aware that stroke carries a fairly high mortality rate.” Perhaps more surprising is that misperceptions about women and their stroke risk factors also persist among primary care physicians, affecting the way stroke risks are treated in women versus men. According to Gabr, there is a “lack of aggressiveness in managing stroke risk factors in women.” “If a woman has high cholesterol,” Gabr says, “I might find that her doctor is willing to let her try to control it with diet, or that type of thing, more than a male patient because of the conception that women’s overall vascular risk isn’t higher, and that’s just not true.” Fortunately, Gabr isn’t alone in noticing the need for gender-specific stroke management. In February 2014 the AHA/American Stroke Association announced that, for the first time, guidelines had been developed to specifically address preventing strokes in women. Though certain primary stroke risk factors are the same for both women and men – hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history of stroke – a woman’s risk of stroke can be dramatically affected by risk factors that are unique to women: oral contraceptive use, history of classic migraines with aura, pregnancy, preeclampsia, hormone replacement therapy and atrial fibrillation, especially in women over 75. For many, the Pill is the symbol midtownmag.com | 81

of women’s liberation, but neurologists take a different view: “I’m something of a crusader against birth control pills,” says Gabr. “We have 18 neurologists in the practice, and we all see strokes in young women in the hospital on a regular basis.” Despite the warnings on the packages, Gabr says that young women are “clearly surprised if you say, your stroke was due to oral contraceptive use.” Because estrogen is likely the ingredient that increases stroke risk, Gabr says that neurologists are also inclined to discourage the use of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. Getting treatment fast is essential to positive outcomes for stroke. Women experiencing stroke symptoms should call 911 or get to a hospital immediately. Gabr explains that stroke symptoms are “sudden and maximal at onset.” It is the suddenness and the intensity of the symptoms that is key.

Symptoms of stroke – Call 911 • Sudden blurriness or change in vision • Sudden numbness in face or body • Sudden weakness • Sudden inability to walk • Sudden difficulty or inability to speak or swallow • Sudden acute headache

Dr. Gabr’s Women’s Health Checklist • Stop smoking! • Avoid oral contraception and hormone replacement therapy. • Monitor and reduce your stroke risks. Gabr says women need to find a well-versed primary care physician who won’t treat their stroke risks with laxity. “You want a doctor who isn’t happy with high blood pressure readings, for example, who wants you to keep a log, who wants you to come in frequently, who makes sure that those numbers are under good control.” • Be familiar with your family history of stroke and discuss it with your physician. 82 | midtownmag.com

Dr. Ellen Willard Oncologist, Pinehurst Medical Clinic, FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center “Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women,” says Dr. Ellen Willard. “It is not, however, the most common cause of cancer death.” That distinction belongs to lung cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the three most commonly diagnosed cancers in women are (1) breast, (2) lung, (3) colon; the cancers with the highest mortality rates in women are (1) lung, (2) breast, (3) colon. Willard attributes breast cancer’s lower death rate despite a higher rate of incidence (relative to lung) to earlier diagnosis of breast cancer and to the availability of more treatment options. Lung cancer, on the other hand, is often diagnosed later, and the treatment success is simply not as good. Furthermore, although many women think they don’t have to worry about lung cancer because they’ve never smoked, Willard confirms that, recently, she’s “starting to see lung cancer in women who are nonsmokers.” While there are certainly risk factors with cancer, as with heart disease and stroke, they are not cut-and-dried. The role of family history, for instance, is often misunderstood. Willard frequently hears patients say, “I didn’t think anything about the thing in my breast because nobody in my family had cancer.” However, although it’s true that family history can influence your risk of certain cancers, Willard notes that “the vast majority of cancers are sporadic, which means they aren’t inherited.” Willard also stresses that cancer is not one disease. Different types of cancer – even the same types of cancer – behave differently. How one cancer present gets diagnosed, or is treated might be quite different from another cancer, which is why it’s so difficult to define a set list of symptoms or risk factors. The upside is that improved cancer screening, like mammograms and colonoscopies can lead to earlier diagnosis, which can lead to better outcome. Colonoscopy can even be considered preventive, because the removal of premalignant tissue can prevent cancer. New screening guidelines for chest CTs have been put in place, which may be able to help with earlier detection of lung cancers. Genetic testing may also be advisable, but Willard says, “No genetic testing should be done without pretest counseling and assessment of family history.” Dr. Willard’s Women’s Health Checklist • Don’t smoke! • Limit your sun exposure: Wear sunscreen and avoid tanning beds. The incidence of melanoma is increasing. • Lose weight: Obesity is a risk factor for certain cancers. • Talk to family members. Try to get the full details of your family history, such as exactly what type of cancer a family member had, age of onset, or time to recurrence. • Stay up-to-date with screenings: Talk to your doctor about family history and other health conditions to determine when to start cancer screening and what the frequency should be. • Don’t put off going to the doctor. Delays in treatment lead to greater costs – to your wallet and your health. midtownmag.com | 83

Living Well With Lupus By Carol Wills Photography By Jennifer Robertson Photography

Karen Patch’s eyes sparkle when she talks. Her conversation is punctuated by smiles. She is one of the most positive people you could ever hope to meet. She has also been living with lupus ever since she was 14 years old. Born in Salisbury, Karen spent most of her childhood in a home built by her parents on Lake Norman the year she turned 11. She was an outdoors sort of kid, enjoying frequent rides on her little sailboat and water-skiing on the lake. She was an avid sailor and spent summers racing and teaching at her local sailing club. The diagnosis that put a stop to her sailing came just as she was entering high school. But you couldn’t stop Karen, or even slow her down. She learned to play the oboe and was chosen to play in the North Carolina Youth Symphony. She volunteered at the Nature Museum, played on her high school tennis team, and spent two and a half months in Germany as an exchange student. “My mom said I was a very independent girl. I got my first real job at a gift shop when I was 16. I just came home one day and told my parents I had a job,” she remembers. These days Karen works at SAS as a technical manager in the Education Practice, finding ways to utilize SAS technology to help people understand more about education and how we can support organizations in creating new educational opportunities. She lives with her husband, Jay Spain, who is a documentary filmmaker from Raleigh, her two daughters, Ariana and Lia, and a merry household of four adorable dogs, three of them “rescues” and one, a sweet puppy who just wandered into their yard and made himself at home. Karen says her greatest daily challenge is managing stress, which is particularly acute for lupus patients. 84 | midtownmag.com

Karen approaches life as an obstacle course, approaching each of these challenges, not with fear, but asking herself, “How are we going to get around this or through this?” She says there are two kinds of stress: manageable and unmanageable. There are the un-manageable stresses such as side effects from the eight medicines that she takes regularly, that she just finds a way to live with, and there are environmental factors such as the sun and cold. And then there are the more manageable stresses of work and family life, which she has found numerous ways to deal with. She utilizes biofeedback, meditation, exercise, walking, going to the gym and finding quiet time somewhere during the day to help keep these stresses under control. Managing stress can help lessen the incidence of flares, which for Karen are times when the blood vessels in her body get inflamed and press on nerves, causing either numbness or pain. When she’s experiencing symptoms of Raynaud’s Disease (which is when arteries in her fingers or toes go into vasospasm, narrowing her blood vessels and temporarily limiting her blood supply) she has found it helps to utilize biofeedback, which might be as simple as imagining herself sitting on the warm sand of a beach. For the lupus, she has also undergone chemotherapy over three different times for periods as long as six months. For her, sometimes chemotherapy or high doses of prednisone are the medications that help her most. Of course all medical treatment includes vulnerability to side effects. Prednisone can weaken bones and she has had a few broken ones over the past few years. Karen also has scleroderma, another autoimmune disease which for her has led to esophageal issues, pulmonary complications and broken blood vessels on her face. Throughout it all, Karen’s positive attitude has never wavered. She approaches life as an obstacle course, approaching each of these challenges, not with fear, but asking herself, “How are we going to get around this or through this?” Karen’s doctor once told her, “If you put 10 people with lupus in a room, they would all have different symptoms.” This means that there is no one approach to healing that would work all the time for all people with

lupus. Karen has a community of friends who are also living with lupus. Each year, she and her family and friends help raise money for the North Carolina chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. She has participated in several support groups, trying to continually surround herself with people whose attitudes are as positive as hers. “What you put out there, you get back,” is one of her favorite sayings. She checks in often with friends who have lupus and they check on her, as well. Not surprisingly, one of her staunchest supporters (besides her husband and children) is her dog TJ, a rescue animal who has become a beloved member of the household. He has boxer blood, but is marked like a Dalmatian with spots of black and white. Only three years old, he is one of the most empathetic animals Karen has ever had the pleasure of working with. She thinks he’d make a terrific therapy dog. TJ seems to know when Karen isn’t feeling well, and he makes a point of comforting her by lying on her bed. And when she’s feeling okay, TJ is a warm-hearted and enthusiastic companion for walks around the neighborhood. Recently, Karen’s 21-year-old daughter, Ariana, who is a senior at Appalachian State University, spent a summer session studying abroad in Italy. Ever since she was an exchange student, Karen has wanted to travel abroad with her children and she decided to fulfill that dream by touring Europe with Ariana. She came back with a suitcase containing French chocolates and gifts for family and friends. No one who knows Karen would expect any less. And she’s all ready to go back in a few years with her other daughter, Lia, only proving that living with lupus can also mean living well.

Karen’s dog, TJ, shares her zest for life.

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When it comes to vitamins, minerals and supplements, do women have different needs than men?

For most nutrients, needs are not gender-specific. However, when a registered dietitian or nutritionist provides medical nutrition therapy, a few are addressed differently. This may vary depending on age. With calcium, for example, from age 19 to 50, men and women require 1000 mg each day. After age 70, 1200 mg is recommended for both. But from age 51 to 70, women should increase calcium intake to 1200 mg to combat osteoporosis that can develop after menopause. Here are the vitamins and minerals that are of special concern to women:

Vitamins and

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Folic Acid (Folate) – Adequate intake prevents some birth defects, so women capable of becoming pregnant should get 400 mcg through supplementation or fortified foods in addition to what is already present in their diet. During pregnancy, this increases to 600 mcg.

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Calcium and Vitamin D – Adequate intake can prevent osteoporosis, which is more common in women than men due to differences in bone density.

Supplements for O ptim um H e a lt h Q A •

Iron – Especially important to maintain adequate intake during childbearing years due to the monthly loss of blood.

By Jenni Hart

More than half of American adults report indulging in the vitamin habit, so it’s no surprise the vitamin, mineral and supplement industry boasts $10 billion in annual sales. Many doctors and nutritionists, however, say a balanced diet is sufficient to meet most nutritional requirements. But how many of us can say for certain our diets are always balanced? Joye Willcox, Ph.D., RD, LD, helps us untangle some of the facts about nutritional supplements.

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“A supplement should do just that – supplement, rather than replace, a healthy diet. Food should be first because there are hundreds of nutrients and other compounds found in food that work synergistically to promote health.” ~Joye Willcox, Ph.D., RD, LD, Healthy Diets, Inc.

For women whose diets are less than ideal, can taking daily vitamins, minerals or supplements help?

In the past, I recommended a multivitamin and mineral supplement for everyone – and took one myself – as a sort of nutrition insurance. However, several large-scale studies have shown no real health benefit to this practice. So, aside from the specific exceptions listed earlier, I recommend a supplement only when daily calorie intake is lower than 1600. Below this level, it becomes more difficult, though not impossible, to get all the recommended nutrients. Women are more likely than men to be in the lower calorie range, especially if they are trying to reduce to a healthier weight. And for anyone following a strict vegan diet, I recommend supplements unless we can document adequate intake of iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin B-12.

Is there harm in taking unnecessary supplements?

If a nutrient need is being met through the diet, getting more of that nutrient through supplementation will not help and may actually hurt. I strongly warn against high doses of individual nutrient supplements unless they are specifically recommended or cleared by your physician or registered dietitian. It is best to choose supplements that provide no more than 100 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance.

Should you test first to detect a deficiency?

It depends on the nutrient. Iron and vitamin D deficiencies are commonly diagnosed with a routine blood test during a medical exam. Unfortunately, a calcium deficiency is not so easily measured. The test is usually an abnormal bone density scan. Severe calcium deficiency can cause muscle cramping, numbness, and tingling in the fingers.

Do you recommend any herbal or “natural” remedies or supplements?

Federal law requirements for safety and efficacy don’t apply to dietary supplements, so I only recommend one when the label states clearly what is in the product and in what quantity. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, “natural” and “herbal” do not always mean safe. An herbal supplement can contain other compounds, and all of its ingredients may not even be known. I recommend a search on the National Institutes of Health website to learn all you can about a product before taking it. Research-based results can be found at www.nccih.nih.gov.

Are there any other tips you can share?

I recommend clients keep a webbased food journal such as www. myfitnesspal.com to help them determine the adequacy of their diet in meeting their nutritional needs. midtownmag.com | 87

calendar ofevents

September/October 2015

Mary Ruth Dana & Janie Johnson: ”Prodigal Pigments” September 4 | 6-9pm Local Color Gallery 311 W. Martin Street | Raleigh 919.819.5995 | localcoloraleigh.com 70s Disco Funk: Sleeping Booty September 4 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com Farmhouse Jams September 10 | 5:30-8:30pm Wendell Falls 320 Vintage Point Lane | Wendell 888.794.0402 CRUISE EVENT AND BOTTLEMIXX TASTING September 11 | 5:30pm Brennan Station | Raleigh Space is limited, RSVP: 919.827 0190 cruiseshipcenters.com/NorthRaleigh Taoist Tai Chi Society Open House September 12 | 2-3pm Taoist Tai Chi Society 5218 Hollyridge Drive | Raleigh 919.787.9600 | northcarolina@taoist.org Raleigh Greek Festival 2015 September 11 | 5-10pm September 12 | 11am-10pm September 13 | 11am-6pm Jim Graham Building at State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh greekfestivalraleigh.com North Hills 5k September 12 Trinity Baptist Church Recreation Center 4815 Six Forks Road | Raleigh northhills5k.com Paperhand Puppet Intervention September 11-13 | 6:20pm NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org Acoustic event featuring Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and Richard Linklater’s film Slacker September 14 | 8pm North Carolina Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh 919.664.6795 | ncartmuseum.org

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Coldplay Tribute: 42 September 18 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com

Oktoberfest September 19 | 12-4pm Lafayette Village 8480 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh lafayettevillageraleigh.com

Chisel and Forge: Works by Peter Oakley and Elizabeth Brim Exhibit opens September 22 NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

Wiener Dog Races September 19 | 12-2pm Lafayette Village 8480 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh lafayettevillageraleigh.com

13th Annual Sport Horse National Show September 15-20 Gov. James B. Hunt Horse Complex NC State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh Mikayla.Boge@arabianhorses.org 303.696.4500 ext 569 Breathing Life into a Dying Art: Bookbinding in the Age of the Kindle and Shutterfly September 17 | 7pm Joel Lane Museum House 160 South Saint Mary’s Street | Raleigh 919.833.3431 | joellane.org Triangle Literacy Council Fundraiser September 18 | 12-4pm California Pizza Kitchen Triangle Town Center 5959 Triangle Town Road | Raleigh Print the flyer at triangleliteracy.org Present the flyer at purchase to donate 20%.

Durham Centerfest Arts Festival September 19 | 10am-6pm September 20 | 11am-5pm Downtown Durham 919.560.2787 | centerfest.durhamarts.org 4th Annual Blessing of the Animals and fundraiser for Second Chance Pet Adoptions September 20 | 4:30pm Millbrook Baptist Church 1519 E. Millbrook Road | Raleigh 919.876.1519 | millbrookbaptistchurch.org Wine Dinner September 23 | 6:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine 6112 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com 919.862.2770 Midtown Raleigh Alliance Networking Open House September 23 | 5-6:30pm Kings Bowl | North Hills midtownraleighalliance.org for more information or email eholton@ midtownraleighalliance.org to register introducing Dawes design September 25 | 5-9pm September 26 | All Day (Trunk Show) Brightleaf Square | Downtown Durham 919.683.1474 | HamiltonHillJewelry.com British Invasion Tribute September 25 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com An Evening with Dawes September 25 | 8pm NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

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Southern Ideal Home Show: Fall Edition September 25-27 NC State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh southernshows.com/hfr The Energy of Youth: Depicting Childhood in the NCMA’s Photography Collection Exhibit opens September 26 NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org Elizabeth Locke Trunk Show September 26 | 10am-5pm Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Cameron Village Shopping Center 415 Daniels Street | Raleigh 919.829.7337 | baileybox.com Robin Rhode Video Installations Exhibit opens September 26 NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

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80s Tribute: The Breakfast Club October 2 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com 14th annual Pay It Forward fundraising event hosted by Caring Community Foundation October 3 Raleigh Marriott City Center 500 Fayetteville Street | Raleigh caringcommunityfoundation.org 11th Annual Salute to Freedom Gala October 3 | 6pm Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center 4700 Emperor Blvd | Durham 919.840.2945 Cooking Class October 7 | 4:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine 6112 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com 919.862.2770

M. C. Escher Retrospective and a Rare Manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit opens in October NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncartmuseum.org

Film: Earl Ijames’ Colored Confederates and U.S. Colored Troops October 8 | 7pm Joel Lane Museum House 160 South Saint Mary’s Street | Raleigh 919.833.3431 | joellane.org

Ditto: Adrien Montoya & Lizzie Bailey October 2 | 6-9pm Local Color Gallery 311 W. Martin Street | Raleigh localcoloraleigh.com

beers and gears October 9 | 5:30-9pm 201 E Hargett Street | Downtown Raleigh 21+ and older | Tickets Required marbleskidsmuseum.org/21marbles

north carolina state fair October 15-25 NC State Fairgrounds 1025 Blue Ridge Road | Raleigh ncstatefair.org/2015 Midtown Raleigh Alliance Transportation Update & Social September 23 | 5:30-7pm MURA | North Hills midtownraleighalliance.org for more information or email eholton@ midtownraleighalliance.org to register U2 Tribute: 2U October 16 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com Open the Door Charity Event October 18 | 6pm The Glenwood Club 3300 Womans Club Road | Raleigh $75 per person, hors d’oeuvres, cash bar Catered by Irregardless cafe adoorwaytohope.org/events.html

90s Tribute: Here’s to the Night October 9 | 7-9pm Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh visitnorthhills.com

Wine Dinner October 20 | 6:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine 6112 Falls of Neuse Road | Raleigh saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com 919.862.2770

Read to Succeed BBQ Feed Triangle Literacy Council Fundraiser October 10 | 4-7pm Lake Wheeler Park 6404 Lake Wheeler Road | Raleigh

Scott-Free Fundraising Gala October 24 | 7-11pm Sponsored by Neuse River Brewing Company 518 Pershing Road | Raleigh saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com Scott-free.org

PITCHIN’ FOR WISHES CHARITY CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT October 10 Midtown Park North Hills | Raleigh RaleighPitchinForWishes.com

Have an important event? We would love to hear about it. Please send the details of your calendar events to: travis@midtownmag.com. midtownmag.com | 89

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Jumper, Sweater – Palm Avenue Necklace – Bailey's Fine Jewelry Rings – Hamilton Hill Watch – Reliable Jewelry Bracelet, Earrings – Fink's Jewelers Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue

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Outfit, Shoes – BeYOUtiful Butterfly Rings – Hamilton Hill Jewelry Bracelet (LH) – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Bracelet (RH) – Fink's Jewelers

Shirt, Coat, Hat – GreenPea Baby & Child

Dresses – GreenPea Baby & Child Stuffed Animals – Hertzberg Furs

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Fur Coat, Fur Hat – Hertzberg Furs Pants – C.T. Weekends Boots – Saks Fifth Avenue

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Shirt, Pants, Jacket, Scarf – Cameron Clothing Co. Necklaces – Fink's Jewelry Ring (index finger), Watch, Earrings – Bailey's Fine Jewelry Ring (ring finger) – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Purse – Le Feme Chateau Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue

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Dress, Coat – At Ease Necklace, Rings – Reliable Jewelry Earrings – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Purse – Le Feme Chateau Boots – Saks Fifth Avenue midtownmag.com | 95

Shirt, Sweater, Jacket, Pants, Belt – Kannon's Clothing Watch – Fink's Jewelry Bracelet – Bailey's Fine Jewelry

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Pants, Shirt, Schawl – England’s Elite 3 at The Galleria Raleigh Ring (LH, index) – Hamilton Hill Ring (LH, ring), Earrings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Rings (RH), Bracelet – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Purse – Le Feme Chateau Shoes – Rangoni Firenze Shoes

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his Shirt, Sweater, Jacket, Pants, Shoes – Kannon's Clothing Watch – Bailey's Fine Jewelry hers Dress – Lori + Lulu Rings (LH) – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Ring (RH) – Hamilton Hill Bracelets – Reliable Jewelry Earrings – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Purse – Le Feme Chateau Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue 98 | midtownmag.com

Pants, Top – Kannon's Clothing Necklaces – Diamonds Direct Crabtree Ring – Hamilton Hill Watch – Reliable Jewelry Bracelet (left) – Reliable Jewelry Bracelets (middle, right), Earrings – Fink's Jewelry Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue

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Shirt, Pants, Jacket – C.T. Weekends Necklaces (short) – Hamilton Hill Necklace (long), Bracelets – Fink's Jewelry Ring (LH), Earrings – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Ring (RH) – Bailey's Fine Jewelry Shoes – Rangoni Firenze Shoes

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Pants, Top, Headband – BeYOUtiful Butterfly Necklace (round beads) – Bailey's Fine Jewelry Necklace (center stone), Ring (LH) – Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Earrings – Fink's Jewelry Shoes – Saks Fifth Avenue

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special thanks Photography Sean Junqueira > seanjunqueira.com

Photography Assistants Stuart Jones Jake Fatheree

Fashion Director and Photo Stylist Elie Rossetti-Serraino > eliephotostylist.com

Wardrobe Coordinator Elizabeth Iaquinta Makeup Artists Shea Vogel Shannon Tovar > feelsynergy.com

Hair Styling Ashley Collins Robyn Murphy > plumhairatelier.com Models and Agencies Ashlyn Meeks Will Haywood > LOCKE Management

our retailers At Ease Bailey’s Fine Jewelry BeYOUtiful Butterfly Cameron Clothing Co. C.T. Weekends Diamonds Direct Crabtree Fink’s Jewelers

England's Elite 3 at The Galleria Raleigh GreenPea Baby & Child Hamilton Hill Hertzberg Furs Kannon's Clothing Le Feme Chateau

SkyHouse Raleigh

Lori + Lulu Ora Designers and Fine Jewelers Palm Avenue Rangoni Firenze Shoes Reliable Jewelry Saks Fifth Avenue

A very special thank you to SkyHouse® Raleigh for hosting our fall fashion shoot. SkyHouse® Raleigh combines world-class amenities and comfort with the convenience of downtown living. Located within steps of some of Raleigh’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations, as well as beautiful green space, SkyHouse® Raleigh offers residents a full-spectrum metropolitan lifestyle. skyhouseraleigh.com

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Atfirstglance, everyfestivalmay

lookthesame: It’s perhaps a measure of the differing demographics of Raleigh and the communities to the west and south that festivals are so broadly different in purpose. The Raleigh festivals tend to focus on music, beer and urban creative juices, while key festivals in Cary have a more ethnic or narrow cultural focus. By David Fellerath

Two enticing events in Cary, both at Koka Booth Ampitheater, celebrate the extraordinary vitality of East and South Asian culture in Wake County. The older of the two is Cary Diwali (October 10th), which, in its 15th year, has firmly established itself as a premier family event. Sponsored by Sum Hub, a nonprofit founded by six South Asian families back when Cary had yet to be known for curries and Bollywood cinemas, today the festival still has free admission (and parking only costs $5). According to board member Mamta Bisarya, Sum Hub (“all of us”) was founded to “educate the community at large about Indian culture.” Working with an all-volunteer staff, these educational efforts have yielded twice-yearly festivals: an indoor one in the fall that is devoted to classical Indian dance and music, and the ever-more popular fall Diwali fest, which adds food, crafts and Bollywood music and dance to the mix. The first Diwali festival drew 2,500 people to the Herb Young Community Center. Due to the overwhelming response, the festival moved to Koka Booth the following year and again drew 2,500 visitors. In 2014, Bisarya says, more than 14,000 people turned up. midtownmag.com| 105

(left) Bollywood and classical singer Kavita Krishnamurti headlines Cary Diwali. (above and right) Scenes from last year’s inaugural Dragon Boat Festival at Symphony Lake in Cary.

This year’s festival is called “Mahotsav: A Grand Celebration.” After a day of festivity, the keynote attraction will be a mainstage performance by Bollywood star playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti. Although it’s free, seating is limited and people have been turned away in the past – so stake out your spot early. After the performance, which runs 6-8pm, a fireworks display will close out the evening. humsub.net/our-event/cary-diwali A smaller but equally intriguing event will be returning September 19th after a highly successful inaugural outing last year. The Dragon Boat Festival is a day of boat racing on Symphony Lake at Koka Booth. Upward of 20 teams of 12 rowers each will man the narrow boats – each festooned with a dragon’s head on the prow. Last year’s event drew more than 3,000 people, says Lily Chan, president of Asian Focus, the Cary-based nonprofit that is sponsoring the event. This nautical festival represents a departure for Asian Focus, says Chan. The group delivers social services primarily (but not exclusively) to the Asian community. Formed in the wake of the 2008 economic crisis, Asian Focus serves as a “platform” to match services with the needs of the Asian community, whether it’s job training or acclimation assistance to recent arrivals. But once the decision was made to partner with Tampabased Pan Am Dragon Boat, Asian Focus threw itself into the party business with gusto. Chan and her board located major 106 | midtownmag.com

sponsorships from Lenovo and Intel, and landed more than a dozen additional partnerships with a score of other businesses ranging from Merck to Grand Asia Market. Last year, more than a dozen public officials turned up the for the event, a testament to the ever increasing importance of Asians in the community. dragonboatnc.wix.com/festival Another festival in southern Wake returns for its second year, but it’s one that is more characteristic of events to be found in Raleigh. The name Beericana says it all, and it happens in Holly Springs on September 12th at Sugg Farm Park. According to co-founder Adam Eshbaugh, there will be 70 craft brewers in attendance, along with an assortment of food trucks and musical acts. Eshbaugh and co-founder Wayne Holt work in sales and contracting, respectively, but began Beericana as a venture which would bring the state’s exploding craft beer scene to a fast growing region of Wake County – and indeed, where both live. When asked why craft beer is all the rage, Eshbaugh cites two major developments: The passage of the “pop the cap” law in 2008, which allowed for the raising of the limit on alcoholic content, as well as changes to rules governing the selling of small batches of beer. The two developments dramatically expanded the repertoire and markets of Tar Heel brewer-entrepreneurs. beericana.com Residents of southern and western Wake who miss this drinking opportunity will have another place to bring their pretzel necklaces: The second annual Triangle Oktoberfest at Koka Booth, which runs October 3rd-4th. triangleoktoberfest.org

photograph by dan hacker

In Raleigh, the festivities are less ethnocentric and more about the joys of food, music and Raleigh’s ambitions for itself. This fall, one of the most prescient of these festivals, SPARKcon, will celebrate – almost unbelievably – its 10th anniversary. It began as an idea hatched by people associated with DesignBox in the Warehouse District as an open-source festival whereby Raleigh’s downtown creative class could hash out their vision of the city. Today, the festival continues in its original spirit, although it’s now headquartered at the Visual Art Exchange. Some things have emerged as hugely popular annual events: fashionSPARK, which should be on Saturday night. SPARKcon representative Laken Geiger says two other things to look for this year: mayor Nancy McFarlane performing comedy, and, in partnership with NC State, Bandaloop (see below) will perform on the Aloft building. The festival will run throughout downtown Raleigh from September 17th-20th. sparkcon.com

Hopscotch returns September 10th-12th. As usual, the programming features three packed nights of club shows punctuated with big-name acts in the open air of City Plaza. The clubs cover the genres, from electronic and experimental to hip-hop, metal and folk-pop. The band names run from Drippy Inputs to Shitty Boots, from Wymyns Prysyn to River Whyless, from X to Zs. X? That’s right, Gen X punk heroes X, evidently with the original lineup, will support Dwight Yoakam at City Plaza on the festival’s final night in a meeting of LA roots punk and LA hip country. TV on the Radio and Godspeed You! Black Emperor headline the other two City Plaza shows. Tickets and wristbands are available at a variety of price points: hopscotchmusicfest.com Although the programming of the American Roots Music & Arts Festival is less adventurous, it promises big names for those who want to fork out the ducats and head out to Walnut Creek October 17th-18th. Headliners – heck, they’re all headliners – include Willie Nelson, The Roots, Tedeschi Trucks, Warren Haynes, Sheryl Crow, Modest Mouse and, on both nights, the rugged country star and North Carolina native Eric Church. blackbirdmusicgroup.com/american-roots-music-arts-festival But for quality, quantity and sheer value, the music festival of the season is the International Bluegrass Music Association’s nowannual takeover of downtown Raleigh. Wide Open Bluegrass 2015 runs October 2nd-3rd and features a free street fest with five music stages and more dancin’ and fiddlin’ than you can shake a chicken wing at. Oh, there will be barbecue, too: The North Carolina 108 | midtownmag.com

photograph by michael hyatt

(above) X, seen in their 1980s heyday, join Dwight Yoakam for Hopscotch’s final night. (right) Sheryl Crow is among the performers scheduled for the American Roots Music & Arts Festival.

Street art is a popular feature of SPARKcon, which returns September 17th-20th.

Whole Hog Barbecue State Championship will be held somewhere – and you’ll surely smell it everywhere. Lots going on, including the awards ceremony in Memorial Auditorium and ticketed headline acts at Red Hat Amphitheater, capped off by Alison Krauss & Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas. wideopenbluegrass.com.

Saving ye oldie-but-goodie for last: the North Carolina State Fair. Although there’s no reason to change the formula of artery-destroying “food” and heart-stopping amusement rides, there’s a big change on a different front: the music programming. After years of criticism for its lackluster mix of semi-famous country acts and reality show performers, the fair has shifted to a strategy of emphasizing Tar Heel musicians. On the Dorton Arena mainstage, local acts like Orquesta GarDel and the Love Language will join a schedule that will also feature the legendary Tar Heel fiddler Charlie Daniels. During the day, the smaller Waterfall stage will feature a more adventurous roster of up-and-comers playing in genres ranging from post-metal to acoustic jazz to Celtic. The fair runs October 15th-25th. ncstatefair.org/2015/Attractions/Music.htm More concerts and music series In Cary, you don’t have to wait for IBMA and Wide Open Bluegrass to get your fiddlin’ fixin’s. The Pickin’ in the Pines series runs four Wednesdays in September beginning September 9th and features the likes of Johnson County’s Amanda Daughtry and Wilmington’s Ryan Cavanaugh (“the most versatile banjo player in the world whose name isn’t Fleck,” according to the publicity materials). boothamphitheatre.com/events Catch one of NCMA’s last outdoor concerts of the season on September 25th, when the California folk-rock neoEagles outfit Dawes comes to town. The band is fresh off collaborations with Marcus Mumford and Rhiannon Giddens, so expect peaceful easy feelings at the turn of the autumnal equinox. ncartmuseum.org midtownmag.com| 109

Over on the NC State campus, the live performances series, formerly known as Center Stage, has been re-branded as NC State LIVE. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re intrigued by the October 29th performance by the Tunisian singer-songwriter Emel Mathlouthi at Stewart Theatre. Mathlouthiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs are well-known in North Africa as she has contributed to the soundtrack of youthful democratic dissent in both Tunisia and Egypt. ncsu.edu/centerstage

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photograph by Andrew Eccles

The great diva Renée Fleming appears October 11th at Meymandi Concert Hall.

Downtown, the North Carolina Symphony seems to be making some of its biggest pops gambits to date. To be sure, the fall schedule contains such traditional classical highlights as the September 25th-26th Gershwin show featuring Jean YvesThibaudet, along with the world premiere of “Hiraeth,” by Sarah Kirkland Snider, which draws inspiration from the composer’s ties to Salisbury, NC. On October 11th, superstar soprano Renée Fleming appears at a special gala fundraiser. But the Symphony will offer two Harry Potter-themed concerts in Meymandi Concert Hall on October 30th-31st, titled Halloween at Hogwarts: The Music of Harry Potter. ncsymphony.org On September 18th-19th, NC Symphony will be the hired orchestra for a presentation of The Lord of the Rings in Concert: The Fellowship of the Ring. Performing at Red Hat Amphitheater alongside the North Carolina Master Chorale and the Raleigh Boychoir, the Symphony will provide live accompaniment to the first installment of Peter Jackson’s monster swords-and-sorcery trilogy. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/event/lord-of-the-rings-6326 The same weekend, October 30th and November 1st, elsewhere in the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts, North Carolina Opera will fully stage Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. ncopera.org/performances/madama-butterfly

(clockwise from top) Highlights at NC State this fall include Emel Mathlouthi; Bandaloop; and Kenny Barron Trio.

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photograph by ivan weiss

Visual Art MC Escher is a curiosity in the art world. His architecturally impossible constructions are instantly recognizable and endlessly diverting, yet he doesn’t command the respect of other, lesser artists. To many people, Escher is a youthful enthusiasm, a gateway into more serious things, in the manner of Pachelbel’s Canon, perhaps, or Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker novels. Why should this be so? Perhaps Escher’s work is too approachable, too ready to become a dorm-room poster, and perhaps it’s the fact that his work seemingly has no connection to the real world going on outside the artist’s studio – that world being the Europe that saw wars and modernism and ideological upheavals of all kinds. Through the tumult, Escher plugged away at his lithographs of impossible worlds that were often inspired by his studies of early Italian Renaissance paintings with their studied perspectives, and his interest 112 | midtownmag.com

in mathematics, logic and the imagination. The North Carolina Museum of Art has pulled together more than 130 prints from around the world for this retrospective that opens October 17th and runs for three months. Among the pieces on view will be such sublime efforts as his cerebral dual selfportrait “Bond of Union” (1956) and the famed “Drawing Hands” (1948). Given the educational and professional demographics of Wake County, we’re betting this show will be a hit. And well it should be, for the Dutch visionary deserves nothing less. ncartmuseum.org CAM Raleigh: Be sure to drop in

on Big, Bent Ears: A multimedia installation about listening, which has been taking place mostly on Mondays and Thursdays since the summer and will continue through December. The brainchild of the everindustrious impresario Sam Stephenson (The Jazz Loft Project, Bull City Summer), and Ivan Weiss, Big, Bent Ears, takes its inspiration from the Japanese kissas, which are free-form music listening sessions. Stephenson and Weiss have recruited prominent area musicians and

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(far left) M. C. Escher, Hand with Reflecting Sphere (Self-Portrait in Spherical Mirror), 1935, lithograph, 12 1/2 x 8 3/8 in., Collection of Rock J. Walker, New York, © 2015 The M. C. Escher Company, The Netherlands. (right) M. C. Escher, Drawing Hands, 1948, lithograph, 11 1/8 x 13 1/8 in., Private collection, Texas, © 2015 The M. C. Escher Company, The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com

Don’t miss Bandaloop flying into Raleigh on September 17th-18th.

A kissa listening session at CAM Raleigh.

tastemakers (Laura Ballence, Mac McCaughan, Ben Barwick, Caitlin Cary, Skillet Gilmore, Grayson Haver Currin, et al.) to bring their music collections and play them against a background of still and moving images by the likes of Weiss, Kate Joyce, Alex Boerner and more. It’s a rolling, ad hoc schedule, so check the website frequently. camraleigh.org/big-bent-ears At Cary Gallery of Artists, the art space will spend September celebrating its 10th anniversary. Each Saturday from 11am-2pm there will be live art demonstrations, beginning September 5th with a watercolor demonstration by Barbara Rohde. carygalleryofartists.org

Dance We can dance where we want to, and that includes vertically and aerially in Stewart Theatre, when the Oakland, California-based vertical performance troupe Bandaloop comes to the NC State campus September 17th-18th. ncsu.edu/centerstage The Carolina Ballet has two back-to-back productions beginning late September. For a new choreographing of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, the troupe will hold forth in Memorial Auditorium for four performances only, September 24th27th. Then, from October 8th-25th, the company will unveil a world premiere of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique: Un Bal in Fletcher Opera Theater. carolinaballet.com On September 25th in Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre, Indian dance will be on display in the form of Dholi Taro Bhangra: Dancing Under the Stars. boothamphitheatre.com/events/dholi-tarobhangra-dancing-under-the-stars midtownmag.com | 113

9:18 AM

photograph by by Matthew Murphy

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919-669-2959 www.OutdoorExpeditionsUSA.com 114 | midtownmag.com

Film Has it really been 50 years since the camera alighted on Julie Andrews playing a proto-hippie nun singing on an Alpine meadow? Why, yes it has, and that’s all the prompting the NC Museum of Art needs to show the one and only The Sound of Music outdoors on September 19th. Show begins at 8pm. ncartmuseum.org Theater The film industry may be fleeing North Carolina, but they’ll never take Dirty Dancing away from us. Especially now that Broadway Series South and NC Theatre are co-producing this stage version, Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage at Memorial Auditorium, from September 8th-13th. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/event/dirty-dancing-5757 For $60, you, too, can attend the Billionaires Club Annual Masquerade, mingle with the swells over cocktails, and witness a murder. Yes, you can, at Murder at the Masquerade, presented for two nights only, September 11th-12th, at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. boothamphitheatre.com/events/murder-at-the-masquerade

(above) Christopher Tierney (Johnny) and Gillian Abbott (Baby) in DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE September 8th-13th, courtesy of Broadway Series South and NC Theatre. (left and below) The latest creations of Paperhand Puppet Intervention come to NC Museum of Art on September 11th-13th.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention – For a 16th season, Saxapahaw’s singular eco-anarchist collective of puppeteers and musicians will present an original work of musical theater at the NC Museum of Art. September 11th-13th. ncartmuseum.org The late Wendy Wasserstein is best known for The Heidi Chronicles, but Cary Players is opting for one of her earlier efforts, a relationship comedy called Isn’t It Romantic. Two women, one Jewish and one Gentile, navigate the social world of the 1970s. Post-Sex and the City, post-Girls, it will be interesting to see if the script is more than a period piece. The show runs at the Cary Arts Center from September 18th through October 4th. caryplayers.org

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photograph by Curtis Brown Photography

(left) Monty Python’s SPAMALOT! plays at Raleigh Little Theatre through September 20th. (above) NC Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods from October 20th-25th.

C.S. Lewis was famed for the relatively subtle Christian allegory of his Narnia chronicles, but in Screwtape Letters, he gave the devil his due. Broadway Series South brings in a touring one-man show for four performances October 2nd-4th, which will include talkbacks with Max McLean, who adapted Lewis’ work for this production. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/event/screwtape-letters-6057 Several years ago, Burning Coal Theatre co-produced a cirque-aerial rendering of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Now aerial theater is back, and with it is the return to area theater of Kendall Rileigh, a Duke grad who relocated to New York a decade ago. Now with Brooklyn-based Only Child Aerial Theatre, Rileigh’s story about a 1970s psychiatric facility forms the basis of Asylum. Featuring original songs by Sophie B. Hawkins, this production runs October 15th-November 1st. burningcoal.org/mainstage 116 | midtownmag.com

Raleigh Little Theatre eases into autumn with Monty Python’s SPAMALOT!, which runs until September 13th. In October, however, they put on their powdered wigs and overstuffed corsets for a little costume comedy. The Rivals, an 18th-century satire by the then-young Irish playwright Richard Sheridan, is the title, and it runs October 2nd-18th. raleighlittletheatre.org Although the 2014 film version of Into the Woods was at best a qualified success, it hasn’t dimmed the appeal of Stephen Sondheim’s musical for the regional stage repertory. North Carolina Theatre will present it for one week only in Memorial Auditorium, October 20th-25th. nctheatre.com

IBMA this October, Raleigh is Home Sweet Home By Joe Newberry Photography by Barclay Williams

Since 2013, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has indeed drawn musicians from far and away to Raleigh for its World of Bluegrass. The event is a homecoming for traditional musicians from all around the world. Over five days, you can’t swing a banjo without running into a friend, or someone who wants to pick. More than just concerts, World of Bluegrass includes an annual business conference, an Awards show honoring achievements in the field, and a packed exhibit hall where you can buy just about anything musical related to bluegrass music. Add to that packed musical showcases in venues around downtown Raleigh, a street fair featuring local, regional and national musicians, and Wide Open Bluegrass, one of the best outdoor festivals to be found in any genre of music, and you have the makings of bluegrass heaven. Founded in 1985, IBMA’s first conferences were in Owensboro, Kentucky, later moving to Louisville, Kentucky, then Nashville, Tennessee, before coming to Raleigh in 2013. I am awfully glad they did, because I am a Raleigh-based musician and a member of IBMA. I feel fortunate to have won an IBMA Award in 2012, the last year the conference was held in Nashville, and another Award in 2013 after the move to Raleigh. After being held for a number of years in Nashville some folks wondered, “why Raleigh?” Aside from the state boasting some of the best pickers anywhere, not to mention a storied music history in North Carolina and its capital city, I understood “why Raleigh” one night after a blistering 118 | midtownmag.com

bluegrass jam session on the fifth floor of the Marriott Hotel. As I walked out of the lobby onto Fayetteville Street, I looked down the street toward Memorial Auditorium. When I saw the IBMA light logo in the middle of the building’s facade, I knew that Raleigh “got it” in a big way. As I travel the country playing music, when people find out that I am from Raleigh, they immediately start talking about how welcome they feel here when they come to IBMA. From business owners, to the North Carolina musicians, to city and state officials, to hotel employees, to the police officers on their beats, folks here understand the importance of hosting the World of Bluegrass. Laurie Okun, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Raleigh Convention Center, notes the impact of the conference, and is proud of her town’s welcoming attitude. “The City of Raleigh is enormously grateful for our partnership with IBMA,” she says. “Raleigh has built a world-class destination, or canvas, but not on infrastructure alone. New hotel rooms, Raleigh Convention Center, Red Hat Amphitheater, and a historic Auditorium – all necessary. But add to that Raleigh’s thoughtful culture through our citizenry... it raises kindness to an art. We all win with this combination!” William Lewis, Executive Director of PineCone and IBMA board member, agrees, adding that the Nashvilleheadquartered IBMA relies on its local partners for support in

preparation, production and promotion for World of Bluegrass. “PineCone is proud to work year-round – alongside our colleagues at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Raleigh Convention Center – to support IBMA, and to produce the Wide Open Bluegrass festival,” he says. “As proven in attendance numbers of more than 140,000 in 2013, and more than 180,000 in 2014, and a local economic impact of $10 million in 2013 and $10.8 million in 2014, the partnership model we’ve adopted in Raleigh is working.” “IBMA coming to Raleigh represents a significant positive change for the local bluegrass community and beyond,” says Raleigh banjo player Hank Smith, an IBMA member and part of the organization’s professional development class known as Leadership Bluegrass. “A deep well of talent already exists in North Carolina, and has for generations, but to invite the trade association that supports that talent into our locale, expands that pool significantly,” he says. “As a full-time banjoist, intent on a career in music, it’s important to participate in the business conference and network among peers and heroes alike.” With interest in bluegrass and acoustic roots music at an all-time high, the IBMA’s presence in the area has primed the pump for other opportunities to hear music in other parts of the city. In addition to growing audiences at Wide Open Bluegrass, PineCone has experienced a significant uptick in attendance at its year-round concerts, jams and summer camps.

”

The international bluegrass music association draws musicians from far and away to Raleigh for its World of Bluegrass. The event is a homecoming for traditional musicians from all around the world.

Wide Open Bluegrass (presented by PNC Bank) is the urban bluegrass music festival that closes out the IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week in beautiful downtown Raleigh! The 2015 festival is slated for October 2 and 3 in Raleigh’s amazing downtown Red Hat Amphitheater.

Midtown Park and amphitheater. The Midtown Bluegrass Series, presented in partnership with Midtown Events, Inc., is drawing large crowds and great talent.”

Oh the people would come from far and away To dance all night until the break of day

”

~ Bill Monroe, “Uncle Pen”

“Local bluegrass musicians tell us that bookings are on the rise,” Lewis says, adding that he receives dozens of inquiries each week from bands around the globe seeking performance opportunities in the Raleigh market. “To keep up with the demand, PineCone has expanded our annual programming to include two new summer concert series, including one in North Hills at the

IBMA is governed by a 19-member board from across the spectrum of bluegrass music from artists to agents, and is served by a professional staff of four. That staff includes new Executive Director Paul Schiminger, a banjo picker himself, who has been on the job since April. “I went to all of the conferences in Nashville and both of the Raleigh conferences, said

Schiminger. “So I have been on the other side as a fan, if you will. I was blown away at the contrast of what other cities would do and what Raleigh did. It was tremendous.” Schiminger shares some thoughts about the partnership, now entering the third year of a six-year commitment, and why it is so successful. “From our perspective, there is no other bluegrass event like it in the world. Raleigh rolled out the red carpet and put forth a lot of resources into making this a success,” he says. “We could see that they were going to get behind this and make it their signature event, and that is what has happened.” Coming full circle, the chorus to Mr. Monroe’s song Uncle Pen describes perfectly what musicians from all over the world now know about Raleigh… “Late in the evening about sundown. High on the hill and above the town. Uncle Pen would play the fiddle, Lord how it would ring. You could hear it talk. You could hear it sing.” midtownmag.com| 119

Pick your

paddle

Getting on the water without running out of money By Corbie Hill 120 | midtownmag.com

When I was a kid,

I had a weathered old fiberglass canoe. To be clear, it was my mom’s, which she got secondhand from a Boy Scout camp sometime in the ‘50s or ‘60s. She let me use it, and we stored it about a mile from our house, at my grandparents’ place. The boat itself had been patched and repaired countless times, but it held water just fine. As for my grandparents’ house, what appeared to be a ditch beside it was actually a tiny creek – one that soon opened up to Pierce Creek, just northeast of Oriental in rural Pamlico County. Here the Neuse River empties into the Pamlico Sound. It is miles wide at this point – a sailor’s paradise. It was quite nice in a canoe as well. I hugged the shoreline in my weathered little boat, exploring side channels that wended through sharp-bladed marsh grass. I saw birds of prey and wading herons, blue crabs and their fiddler crab cousins, snapping turtles and all kinds of snakes. I was on the water – what else mattered? Sometimes I miss it. I live in the middle of the state now, where the water is a lot smaller. Still, even this coastal native has to admit there are some nice rivers and lakes nearby: Jordan Lake and the Haw River aren’t far; the Neuse runs right through Raleigh, and Harris Lake is just south of Apex. The world looks different from the water, and there’s not much closer to the water you can get than a canoe or a kayak. I reached out to Ingrid Haddon, president of Carolina Kayak Club, for tips on getting into kayaking and canoeing without spending too much money. She gave me pointers on safety, used boats and local waterways. To find out more about her organization, visit carolinakayakclub.org. Are you a kayak or canoe person? Maybe you’re both, but let’s pick one to start off. First, figure out what kind of paddling you want to do – this can help narrow the field, as you’ll seek a different sort of boat for ocean kayaking, freshwater lake paddling, or whitewater runs. Research online what kinds of boats are out there and what their strengths and functions are – or ask someone at an outfitter. Kayaks are fast, single-person boats. They’re easier to portage and easier to lash to the top of the Subaru, but there’s not a ton of storage space in them. Canoes, with their open tops, are easier to pack; you can bring a cooler or a picnic, you can bring a pet or a child, but be sure everyone aboard has the proper flotation device (more on that under “Safety”). Canoes, though, are more prone to weather cocking – that is, more susceptible to being pushed around by the wind. Both boats can be solo boats. midtownmag.com | 121

Buying used So maybe you’ve found a canoe or a kayak at a yard sale, or perhaps you have a Craigslist or ebay habit. Good for you – nothing wrong with saving money – but be careful not to buy a lemon! First off, look for obvious damage – scratches, holes, and the like. There are ways to patch these, true, but let’s learn one skill set at a time, so no boats with holes in them for now. For kayaks, you should see how old the deck lines are – if they need replacing, that’s an extra expense. If it has hatches, check their flexibility. Have a seat in the boat to see if it’s a good fit. It’s good practice, too, to take it out for a test paddle. Finally, see if it floats. If it sinks, you probably shouldn’t buy it... Safety Even if you’re trying to save money, do not skimp on safety gear. Of boating fatality victims, the United States Coast Guard estimates more than 80% would have been saved by a life jacket. As such, its regulations require kayakers and canoeists to always wear an approved personal flotation device and have a whistle. Before you go out, Haddon says, know how to complete a self-rescue and an assisted rescue. Taking to the water means risking extremes of temperature, so understand ahead of time the symptoms of hypothermia (loss of body heat) and hyperthermia (overheating). If you’re paddling in cold water, wear proper clothing in case of submersion, understand the risks, and don’t go alone. Be sure to bring water and at least a snack, too. The American Canoe Association’s “Top 10 Safety Tips” go into excellent detail and can be found at AmericanCanoe. org/?page=Top_10. Go paddling... Google area paddle trails, Haddon recommends. Often you’ll end up with printable maps of area rivers or detailed information on said waterways. Rivers Paddle a little or a lot on the Neuse River, which runs from the Piedmont to the coast. There are leisurely spots in Raleigh and Clayton, sure, but also excellent vistas at Goldsboro’s Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. At New Bern 122 | midtownmag.com

and beyond, the waterway becomes positively huge. West of Wake County, the Haw River runs south through Burlington and the mill villages of Saxapahaw and Bynum. A put-in site at Bynum, easily reached by heading a few miles north out of Pittsboro on 15-501, allows paddlers to access the river just above and below a small dam. Saxapahaw, while more remote, is a popular paddlers’ destination. Lakes Nearby lakes Jordan, Harris and Falls all have their own distinctive draws. Falls Lake is just north of Raleigh, while Jordan Lake is quite close to Apex and Cary. While sometimes plagued by Jet Skis, Jordan Lake also boasts healthy bald eagle and osprey populations. Find a quiet spot and be rewarded. A little farther out If you’re looking to make a day or a weekend of it, Eastern North Carolina’s massive Lake Mattumuskeet is a reliable stopoff for migratory birds. The Catawba River in the foothills and western Piedmont features an extensive canoe trail, while the Roanoke River Partners maintain and rent out camping platforms up and down the river (rent these at roanokeriverpartners.org).

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Welcome to Wake County, home of the largest school system in North Carolina, and sixteenth largest in the US! Locally, families have some of the best selections of education options to choose from on the planet, and each spring and fall we round up schools ranging from preschool to 12th grade, and have them share their histories, unique programs, features and benefits for maximum student achievement. Modern educators realize children

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have different learning styles and some schools are a better fit than others for individual learners. Other considerations are the social and emotional needs of each child, which can mean a smaller school or simply a different school in some cases. When your child has the best match for optimal learning, the future is bright for a lifetime of learning and succeeding. Please read through these fine options and call for a tour of schools that might be right for your child!

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our lady of lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes School is excited to be entering our 61st year of providing excellence in education to Raleigh and the surrounding areas. Located in the heart of Raleigh, OLLS is a nationally recognized Kindergarten through 8th grade Catholic school. Our Lady of Lourdes School provides a strong curriculum and diverse enrichment courses in subjects such as art, music, computer science, media and Spanish. Our Lady of Lourdes School partners with parents to provide an affordable, quality education that focuses on the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social growth of our students. We invite you to come witness our rich past and be a part of our strong future. Come grow with us!

2710 Overbrook Drive Raleigh, NC 27608 919.861.4610 pmueller@olls.org olls.org

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RAVENSCROFT Lead From Here: Combines academic excellence with citizen leadership development, for children of all ages “I wish I had it earlier.” Business leaders who have worked with the Center for Creative Leadership* (CCL), a top five provider of executive education worldwide, consistently say they wish they had experienced the leadership training earlier. Now, it is possible. Ravenscroft partners with CCL to deliver Lead From Here. Lead From Here is a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking pre-kindergarten through grade 12 curriculum designed to teach the academic and leadership skills that hundreds of business, government, nonprofit and education leaders from the around the world have identified** as crucial – but frustratingly rare – in today’s workforce. Ravenscroft’s education model combines academic excellence and grounds students in 15 citizen leadership competencies that equip students to be growth-minded, resilient, visionary, collaborate and more. Everyone can Lead From Here to create positive change in the world. “CCL is greatly privileged to partner with Ravenscroft on this pioneering initiative that will contribute to a better world – our first Research and Innovation Incubator with a Pre-K through 12 school,” said John Ryan, CEO of CCL, after the organization formalized a 10-year agreement with Ravenscroft. The world is changing at an amazing speed, and we are facing increasingly complex times. The careers that lie ahead for our children may not even exist today. At Ravenscroft, we are confident that we are preparing them to succeed. We nurture the individual potential of each student from the inside out to help them become effective and enlightened citizen leaders that enjoy deeply fulfilled lives. * Ranked No. 4 overall in the 2015 Financial Times worldwide survey of executive education. ** From a survey of 462 leaders around the globe conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership.

7409 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, NC 27615 919.847.0900 admissions@ravenscroft.org ravenscroft.org/admissions midtownmag.com | 127

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Saint mary’s school Saint Mary’s School is an independent, Episcopal, college preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades 9-12. Dedicated to academic excellence and personal achievement since 1842, Saint Mary’s School believes in the greatness of girls. The school’s integrated, hands-on academic program challenges girls to embrace the habits of a lifelong learner and guides them in building a foundation for college and life. Leadership curriculum and real-life experiences empower girls to serve and shape their world with courage and purpose. Saint Mary’s rich Episcopal heritage informs values and inspires girls to act with honor and to respect the worth and dignity of every individual. Dozens of sports, clubs, music studies, volunteer and real-world experiences provide girls with opportunities to explore and discover new talents and passions. The school’s historic, 23-acre campus located in downtown Raleigh and within close proximity to the Research Triangle offers a uniquely vibrant 24/7 learning and living community. The Saint Mary’s School program includes honors and AP courses, three languages, 11 sports, a renowned arts program, college counseling, leadership education, boarding experience, service learning, travel opportunities and more. For almost 175 years, the school has prepared girls for the challenges and opportunities of their day. Saint Mary’s School wants every girl to find her courage – to believe in herself, to expand her boundaries and to grow as a young woman of intellect, integrity and purpose. Where will you find your courage? Day Student Shadow Days October 12 December 4 Admission Overnight and Visitation Days November 8-9 January 18-19 Please call the Admission Office at 919.424.4100 to register for these events or arrange for a campus visit.

900 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, NC 27603 919.424.4100 admission@sms.edu sms.edu 128 | midtownmag.com

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st. david’s school St. David’s School’s prestigious academic reputation is enhanced by the way it answers the question that Aristotle posed so many centuries ago: “Ought education to be directed more towards the intellect or towards the character of the soul?” Chairman of the Board Joe Knott answers that question by explaining that “St. David’s School is not an ‘either-or’ choice; it is a ‘both-and’ proposition.” St. David’s is a rigorous college preparatory school with a commitment to biblical integration and development of virtue. St. David’s students are accepted to and succeed in the most prestigious colleges in the country, and they do so as people of character who have been challenged in their faith, ready to engage the world in a significant way in the areas of faith, virtue and knowledge. Headmaster Kevin Lockerbie explains that St. David’s is a unique place that “combines a rigorous college preparatory program taught by Christian faculty members who intentionally integrate biblical truth in and out of the classroom.” St. David’s students leave as critical thinkers who embrace who they are as whole people. Students and their families do not have to check their faith at the door to engage academically, and conversely, they do not have to leave behind academic excellence to engage spiritually. Students are encouraged to think for themselves, to reason through difficult problems of all types, and to develop intellectually through wrestling with difficult challenges. The school’s world-class faculty members engage their students at the very highest level, and they do so as Christians. This preparation of the whole person equips students to succeed in college and life. St. David’s is an independent school in the Episcopal school tradition that prepares young men and women for college and life by challenging them to excel in the vital areas of faith, virtue and knowledge.

3400 White Oak Road Raleigh, NC 27609 919.782.3331 admissions@sdsw.org sdsw.org

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the raleigh school At The Raleigh School, we engage children’s hands, hearts and minds each and every day. Using an inquiry-based approach, our teachers help students develop critical and creative thinking skills that last a lifetime. Our students love to come to school. Each child is known and valued as an individual member within the school community. Our parents choose The Raleigh School because they appreciate our outstanding veteran faculty and value the many opportunities to be engaged in their own child’s education. Founded in 1952, The Raleigh School is a secular, independent school educating children from preschool through the 5th grade. The school is nestled on 14 beautiful wooded acres in West Raleigh near the PNC Arena. The Raleigh School has been a model of early childhood education excellence since our founding. We are passionate about nurturing children’s natural inclinations to wonder, explore and discover – all in a safe and creative environment. We invite you to explore The Raleigh School by scheduling an information morning where you will learn more about our academic program. A campus visit will allow you to see our mission in action: The Raleigh School is a cooperative community of children, parents and teachers that fosters a love of learning in an atmosphere of challenge, inquiry, and respect. Upcoming Elementary Tours: Tuesday, September 22 Friday, September 25 (tour of entire school) Thursday, October 1 Tuesday, October 13 Upcoming Preschool Tours: Friday, September 25 (tour of entire school) Friday, October 16 Tuesday, October 20 Friday, November 13 Upcoming Admissions Events: Wednesday, October 28, 9am – Diversity Admissions Morning (Elementary and Preschool) Thursday, November 5, 7pm – Prospective Parent Evening (Elementary) Please contact our Admissions Office at 919.546.0788 or admissions@ raleighschool.org to make an appointment and learn more about our wonderful school. All tours begin at 9am.

1141 Raleigh School Drive Raleigh, NC 27607 919.546.0788 (Elementary) • 919.828.5351 (Preschool) Accredited by NAEYC and SACS/AdvancedEd raleighschool.org 130 | midtownmag.com

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trinity academy Nestled within a wooded 38-acre campus, Trinity Academy is bustling with 376 students – spanning grades Transitional-Kindergarten through 12. Trinity integrates authentic Christianity with rigorous academics. Our highly skilled faculty is excellent in their craft but also truly invested in the lives of students. We focus on the classical arts and sciences and offer a full array of high-quality, competitive athletics and award-winning fine arts. Trinity rivals the best schools in the region, boasting 100% college acceptance and generous per-student college scholarship offers. At Trinity, we begin with the end in view, asking “what skills, what knowledge, what virtues, what experiences must our graduates possess?” We then craft a “top-down, 12 to TK” curriculum. You’ll find that although we are innovative , we don’t necessarily use the latest or most popular instructional materials and methods. We use methods and materials that have stood the test of time. Our approach to education doesn’t work because it is classical. It is classical because it works. Perhaps as important as our approach to academics is our approach to student spiritual formation. Alarming statistics indicate that the vast majority of young people leave the faith when they leave home for college. At Trinity, we believe this happens because students are not given the opportunity to wrestle, test and even doubt their faith in ways that ultimately prove their faith. It is hard to defend a faith that is not your own, but only borrowed from parents, pastors or a youth minister. College should not be the first time our students hear a salient challenge to their childhood beliefs. Therefore, we offer students a safe place to work through their questions, doubts and fears, while surrounded by godly mentors who care about them and their relationship with Christ. Our approach is this: “We don’t tell our students what to think. We teach them how to think.” We invite you to discover the Trinity difference: superior academics and authentic Christian faith during a personal or group tour.

10224 Baileywick Road Raleigh, NC 27613 919.786.0114 a d m i s s i o n s @ t r i n i t y a c a d e m y. c o m t r i n i t y a c a d e m y. c o m midtownmag.com | 131

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Cardinal Gibbons Cardinal Gibbons High School is a place of opportunity, a school community dedicated to outstanding Catholic education, where students are invited to lead, serve and grow. These opportunities exist daily in our exceptional academic, spiritual life, performing and visual art, and athletic programs. Collaboration flourishes on our campus, where you will find students creating, inventing and exploring in state-ofthe-art facilities, using current technology. Our devoted, caring faculty engage and encourage students to achieve, ensuring they are prepared for success in college. A family’s time at Cardinal Gibbons is a life-changing experience, enriched by our school’s unique energy, and we invite you to campus to discover your opportunity. Open House for Prospective Students Sunday, November 1, 2015, 1 - 4 p.m. cghsnc.org/openhouse

La Petite Academy What a great place to start. Our schools offer nurturing care and creative learning experiences. Exceptionally strong, sound social and educational foundations are formed here. At La Petite Academy®, your child will discover respect, collaboration, and the joy of learning. Our exclusive School Readiness Pathway charts each child’s unique course to elementary school, with specialized curriculum and developmentally appropriate programs for infants and beyond. Plus, our Grow Fit™ initiative ensures the complete well-being of your growing child through a focus on healthy living, nutritious eating and physical fitness.

Connect with us 877.861.5078 LaPetite.com 132 | midtownmag.com

1401 Edwards Mill Road Raleigh, NC 27606 919.834.1625 Established 1909 cghsnc.org t w i t t e r. c o m / n e w s _ c g h s n c

e d u c at i o n G U I D E SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2015

the hill center THE HILL CENTER TAKES THE STRUGGLE OUT OF LEARNING The Hill Center serves K through 12 students who are struggling academically – especially those with learning differences or attention issues – through our School Year, Summer and Tutoring programs. These programs are built upon research, personalized support and nearly 40 years of successful teaching techniques with the goal of helping students reach their full potential as confident, independent learners. Our School Year Program takes place in Durham and our Summer and Tutoring Programs take place at both our Durham and Raleigh locations. Learn more about our programs at www.hillcenter.org.

6500 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615 3200 Pickett Rd, Durham, NC 27705 919.489.7464 h i l l c e n t e r. o r g

1 Our Lady of Lourdes

2710 Overbrook Drive, Raleigh olls.org 919.861.4610 2 Ravenscroft

7409 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh ravenscroft.org/admissions 919.847.0900 3 Saint Mary’s School

900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh sms.edu 919.424.4100 4 St. David’s School

3400 White Oak Road, Raleigh sdsw.org 919.782.3331

6 Trinity Academy of Raleigh

10224 Baileywick Road, Raleigh trinityacademy.com 919.786.0114

7 Cardinal Gibbons High School

1401 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh cghsnc.org 919.834.1625

8 La Petite Academy

7601 Six Forks Road, Raleigh lapetite.com 877.861.5078 9 The Hill Center

6500 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh hillcenter.org 919.489.7464

7 5 3

5 The Raleigh School

1141 Raleigh School Drive, Raleigh raleighschool.org 919.546.0788 midtownmag.com | 133

midtowndowntown

Take It or

Leave It For Raleigh Communities, Little Free Libraries Offer More Than Just Books By Karlie Justus Marlowe Photography by Davies Photography

hen Mallory Britt and James Kelly moved to downtown Raleigh last year, the bookworms knew their 50-books-a-year habit would quickly stack up in their cozy South Bloodworth Street home. Rather than move their beloved hardbacks, collected from their on-and-off book clubs with James’ parents, into storage, Britt suggested they build a free library to serve their community’s mix of young professionals, families and students after spotting one on a trip to Charlotte. “It was a real community effort,” said Britt, who found an Etsy seller to create a structure that echoed their A-frame house. “Our friends even helped us raise the money to pay for it.” Britt and Kelly registered their library on the official Little Free Library website, becoming part of the nationwide network of DIY libraries. The organization started in 2009, when a Wisconsin man built a free library in tribute to his mother. It caught the eye of a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and together they created Little Free Library, a movement inspired by free coffee house and community center collections. Seven years later, an estimated 25,000 libraries have been built around the world. Tina Martin was at a Quail Ridge Books book club meeting when she first heard about Little Free Library. After a quick 134 | midtownmag.com

Mallory Britt and James Kelly took great lengths to match their Little Free Library’s style and paint colors to their home on South Bloodworth Street in downtown Raleigh.

search on Google, she set about placing one at her home on Hawthorne Road near Cameron Village. “I remember thinking, ‘what a good idea’,” said Martin, who built her library in August 2014. “It’s a global movement I can bring to my neighborhood.” After flirting with the idea of making her library a mini-replica of Louis Cherry’s much-debated modern home in Historic Oakwood, Martin settled on a dollhouse-sized version of her own home. Like Britt and Kelly, she dug out her home’s exterior paint colors from her basement to create an exact match to her bungalow, down to the door and window placement. Beyond aesthetics, the success of a free library often depends on its location. Britt and Kelly’s corner lot near a park, church, children’s nursery and student bus stop sees a mix of foot traffic. “We get a lot of comments – including ‘what’s that book house?’” Britt said with a laugh. “We even had a woman stop at the stoplight here on the corner, roll her window down and ask what it was. She said she’d come back later to check it out.”

photograph by Nancy Walters

Recommended

Reading Raleigh Girl Scout Troop 52 earned its carpentry and woodworking badges with the help of Raleigh builder Becky Shankle.

Despite the attention, Britt and Kelly haven’t seen any vandalization, noting that the library is right outside their kitchen window and that their dog Boris makes for a friendly face out in the yard. However, Little Free Libraries aren’t just restricted to front yards or single-family homes – just ask Raleigh Girl Scout group Troop 52. “As the girls get older we try to come up with more challenging projects that help them earn badges but also impact the community,” said troop leader Nancy Walters, who worked with the “big-hearted” Hedgehog Holdings to settle on a spot at the former Mary Elizabeth Hospital building at 1100 Wake Forest Road, where the troop helps with monthly repairs and cleaning. “We were selling cookies last spring when Becky Shankle, a builder and contractor in Raleigh, mentioned she’d like to help the troop build something. We said, ‘we’ll take you up on that right now!’” The troop, made up of cadets and seniors ages nine to 13 years old, completed a basic plan with Shankle’s guidance and power tools to earn carpentry and woodworking badges, but ran into the unexpected challenge of finding a spot to place the library that would be easy to maintain. “One reason we settled on our location is that it hits the sweet spot of busy and quiet,” said Walters, pointing to the nearby bus stop as a source of most of the library’s traffic. “People walk past with their dogs and wait for the bus.” With commuters and children often borrowing most of the books, it’s no surprise a mix of popular fiction from the best-sellers list, children’s books and magazines top the most-borrowed list. Britt and Kelly keep their library’s inventory fresh with trips to Nice Price Books, hoping to see their library’s books circulate throughout Raleigh. “We’re thinking about getting a stamp or sticker to put in the books to see where they end up or come back around,” said Britt. Walters has also seen poetry books and even academic literatures, although she concedes that the denser material doesn’t move quite as quickly. Martin has even seen books of the non-paper variety. “When we had some books on tape, a man from a contractor’s crew working in my neighborhood said he borrowed them for his commute into work,” she said. It’s that kind of reach and inclusion that makes her eager to answer the variety of questions she receives when working outside in her yard. “I’d love to see even more of them in Raleigh,” said Martin. “It’s such a sweet, simple, positive thing.”

Popular fiction is a staple of community libraries, and there’s no shortage of fast-paced and funny picks for the fall. Can’t find them in your neighborhood’s Little Free Library? Buy them for that last beach trip of the year, then drop them off for the neighbors to enjoy – just remember to dust the sand off. Primates of Park Avenue by Wednesday Martin Like the Real Housewives reality series, but with a sociology degree – Martin tackles the elite world of Manhattan’s uber-rich matriarchs with the anthropological eye of Jane Goodall. In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume In this summer’s ultimate #tbt, the well-loved author of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret returns with a novel set in the 1950s that touches on familiar themes of young love and friendship. To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris Digital impersonation leads to self-discovery in this dark comedy about a Manhattan dentist who finds himself under social media siege. Woman with a Secret by Sophie Hannah Finished summer’s hottest thrillers The Girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive? Hannah’s latest carries on the female protagonist with a secret trend popularized by Gone Girl, making it hard to put down.

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Little Free Libraries, like this one near Cameron Village, see a mix of popular fiction, children’s books and magazines.

Start your own Little Free Library

Want to start a free library of your own? Non-profit organization Little Free Library makes it easy with just a few steps.

Find a location with a good mix of foot traffic and safe access and double check with city zoning regulations that it’s a legal spot for a book exchange. Then appoint a person or group of people who will regularly maintain the library and its inventory.

2 Build it, so they will come. The Little Free Library has an online catalog of pre-made options that range from $250 up to $1,500, but Etsy and local carpenters often have cheaper options that can be tailor-made to match a specific house or neighborhood. Remember to make it water and weather-proof for all seasons. 3 Register the library to be included on the worldwide network and Little Free Library’s online map so people can find it. 4 Once the library is registered and filled, let the community know what it is and how they can use it. Little Free Library charters come with a plaque to signal its free use, but social media, community listservs and local press can help get the word out. Be prepared to answer neighbors’ questions after it’s built. 5

Keep the library stocked, rotating out books that haven’t moved and mixing in a variety of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and magazines to keep the selection fresh and people coming back. Source: littlefreelibrary.org/getinvolved

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midtowndowntown

Racking Up

Unique Bike Racks Pop Up Around Downtown to Serve Influx of Cyclists By Karlie Justus Marlowe / Photography by Davies Photography

osh Hamilton, general manager at Flying Saucer in downtown Raleigh, recognized the need for a rack three years ago as more customers were traveling to the bar and restaurant by bike. “We knew there was an established need for racks due to the number of people riding bikes downtown, but we didn’t want it to be an eyesore,” he said. “An idea came to the surface that we should make the rack in the shape of something, and someone said why not beer?” The rack is a four-part metal design tucked into the sidewalk near the Saucer’s West Morgan Street entrance. It spells out the word beer, each letter anchored into the ground and hinting at the taps inside. “The rack was made by Colton Winchester, a buddy of ours who comes in here and runs trivia for us and works with welding,” said Hamilton. “It’s definitely a focal point on social media and if we ever have staff photos we’ll take them out there.” The fitting design is just one of the many unique designs that have popped up around downtown Raleigh. Some are conversation starters, like the honeycomb pattern outside Busy Bee on Wilmington Street and the curly tailed pigs at Five

Points’ NOFO, while others favor function over fun. “The overall umbrella goal is to create a seamless and universal transportation system to facilitate growth of the city,” said Eric Lamb, the City of Raleigh Office of Transportation Planning manager who oversees street, bike, transit and sidewalk traffic. “We have two goals. We want to create safe places to ride, and add infrastructure to make cycling competitive to other fields of transportation, really level the playing field.” Lamb started with the city in 1999 as a transportation engineer, before he took over managing the group in 2004. He inherited a 1991 bike plan he set out to update. “We set out to do a really big bike plan effort in 2009, and that’s what led to the establishment of the full-time bicycle pedestrian coordinator position,” Lamb said. “I’ve worked downtown for more than 20 years and have seen a rise in the popularity of cycling, since it’s one of the easiest places in Raleigh to bike and for those that live near downtown it’s easier than parking a car.” Lamb cites the plan’s five “e’s,” education, engineering, enforcement, encouragement and evaluation, before adding on economic development as a sixth area of consideration. Each

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1 plays a role, he says, in how the city plans, executes and analyzes the success of the improvements it makes to cyclists’ safety and convenience around downtown. “Lately, we’ve focused on the ‘last mile experience,’ what we call bike parking, business perks for cyclists and bicycle benefits programs,” he said. Other updates include reapplying for Raleigh’s Bike Friendly Community status with the national League of American Bicyclists. Lamb hopes to upgrade the city’s current bronze level to silver, as well as increase connections to the city’s Capital Area Greenway Trail System. “Raleigh has one of the best greenways in the southeastern US,” said Lamb. Additionally, the city now requires new development to include both short-term and long-term bike parking in its plans. “Up until the unified development ordinance went into effect there were very little mandatory bicycle parking,” he said, citing the paper clip-shaped racks at Hillsborough Street’s new apartment building The Stanhope as a result of the mandates. “A short-term bike parking spot is something that’s more oriented toward a customer that would have the ability to park your bike out front, be close to the door, and then there’s the long-term piece like commuter parking. So if I’m working at a place, having covered parking or some kind of protected parking is now a requirement.” On the city’s side, grant funds from the NC Department Of Transportation will provide 70 new racks around the downtown area in the coming months, 138 | midtownmag.com

3 including U and V-shaped racks on Hillsborough Street and a new design featuring the city’s skyline. The design echoes a larger 2011 design contest hosted by the Raleigh chapter of Architecture for Humanity. Contest winners created the red North Carolina-shaped rack now sitting on Edenton and Wilmington Streets near the Capitol Building, the angular “BIKE” rack outside of Bad Daddy’s Burgers in Seaboard Station, the acorn in Moore Square and two others, paving the way for more creative posts like Trophy Brewing’s trophy-shaped rack and the keyboard at the entrance to Red Hat Amphitheater. But no matter the design, the racks must serve a functional purpose. “Racks should be a safe and convenient place to park bikes to protect

their investment and keep in near view and proximity to prevent theft,” said Lamb, outlining the two ways the city adds racks. “Private organizations can create their own,” he said. For privately maintained racks on public space like the eye-catching cow, chicken and fox trip outside Ashley Christensen’s restaurants on Wilmington Street – “Wilmington has become kind of the axis of cool as far as bike racks go,” said Lamb – the business pays liability insurance and the city ensures the racks are installed up to standard and the design serves utility as a bike rack. If racks fall onto private property, there are few city regulations outside of general sign restrictions. Liz Masnik, owner of The Borough on the corner of West Morgan Street and South Dawson Street, maintains a

6 7 While many are utilitarian, some downtown Raleigh bike racks double as public art. (opening page) The state-shaped rack on Edenton and Wilmington streets near the Capitol Building is a popular photo opportunity. (1) Bad Daddy’s Burgers in Seaboard Station boasts a three-sided rack. (2) Onstage pianos aren’t the only ivories at Red Hat Amphitheater. (3) A cow, chicken and fox echo Raleigh restaurateur Ashley Christensen’s Wilmington Street eateries. (4) The Flying Saucer sticks with what it knows, offering a four-part rack spelling out the word beer. (5) Trophy Brewing on Morgan Street created award-inspired racks. (6) The acorn rack in Moore Square echoes Raleigh’s Oak City moniker. (7) The swirly rack outside The Borough doubles as a memorial for an employee who passed away.

rack outside the restaurant’s door that sits on private property owned by The Dawson condo building, who allowed the installation. She saw a need for a bike rack outside the bar and grill after opening its doors more than nine years ago. “Since we opened, there are way more people on bikes,” she said, “Raleigh is a really bikeable city. I hope there are more bike lanes added, but as a smaller city it’s really easy to get around.” But it wasn’t until the sudden passing of a popular staff member seven years ago that inspiration struck. “She died suddenly in her early 20s,” said Masnik. “People donated money, but we didn’t know what it would go to. I collected the money, then we were talking with the staff members and someone suggested a bike rack. She loved to ride bikes.” Masnik reached out to local designers to create a fitting memorial, and ended up working with David Eichenberger to build a rack that resembles a piece of the staffer’s curly red hair. “Some people understand it’s a bike rack, and others think it’s art – which it is, it’s functional art,” she said. midtownmag.com| 139

healthy you

Should I Vaccinate my Children Against HPV? O

ne of the true miracles of science and medicine, improving both the quantity and quality of life, has been the development of vaccinations against common diseases. I am frequently asked my thoughts about the safety of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. HPV is thought to cause cancer and precancer of the female and male genital tract. It is also responsible for some oral-pharyngeal and anal cancers. In the United States alone, there are annually about 19,000 HPV-related cancers in women and 8,000 HPV-related cancers in men. Since HPV lives in skin cells, and these shed, it is possible to be exposed to HPV by bodily contact or by touching something on which someone else has shed their skin cells. The current thinking is proactive in nature. That is targeting our girls aged nine to 26 and boys aged nine to 15. In the United States, this strategy of vaccination against the HPV threat seems to be scarier than allowing our youth to suffer the consequences of HPV-related disease. Only about one in three of the target population is currently vaccinated. Since licensure for targeted females in 2006 and later for males in 2009, there have been many studies validating

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the safety and effectiveness of these vaccinations. Over 15 major studies on vaccine safety have been done. There are many ongoing efforts in research and development worldwide looking at HPV-related vaccine issues. Happily, for most of the 178 million dose recipients, the vaccine has proved very safe. Studies evaluating the incidence of serious medical conditions were not linked to vaccine exposure. The most common negative side effect was localized pain. As far as we can tell, these vaccines work very well against the strains of the HPV virus selected for the vaccine, approaching 100% protection in the vaccinated population. The future for HPV disease prevention rests in the development of new vaccines that protect against more HPV strains, which will result in vaccines that are more effective in HPV-related disease prevention. I urge you to consider the huge benefits of HPV vaccination for your children and to discuss the matter with your healthcare provider. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society are also great resources. I often sum up this discussion with a simple thought on a complex issue. Do I have enough confidence in the HPV vaccination to have my own three children immunized with it? Yes! Yes! Yes! by Ira L. Gaines, M.D., FACOG, Blue Ridge OB Gyn Associates

healthy you

Diagnosing the Mystery Illness Often those pesky symptoms stem from anxiety, but what’s causing that? BY Jennifer Huntington, Learning rx

t’s back to school time and ideally kids have adjusted to new routines, classes and teachers, regained knowledge lost over the summer and are ready to take on new learning. But unfortunately, for many families the struggles are just beginning because of a common problem: anxiety. For kids, anxiety is far more likely to cause problems during certain times: the start of full-time schooling, around the age of 10 or 11, and during transitions into middle or high school. Even if your student is in one of these tougher times, if they haven’t “settled in” to school yet this year, it may be a sign of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder refers to a range of mental disorders that impact day-to-day life. One common anxiety disorder is didaskaleinophobia, or school refusal, which affects an estimated two to five percent of children. Symptoms include:

• Refusal to go to school or elaborate plans to avoid school • Missing the bus • Illness and pain just before leaving • The quick disappearance of physical ailments if the child is allowed to stay home, followed by reoccurring symptoms the next morning • Frequent visits to the school nurse with headaches, stomachaches, nausea, diarrhea, sore throats, aches and other symptoms that can’t be attributed to a physical ailment It’s these physical symptoms that are often the most frustrating, because parents don’t always realize they can be signs of anxiety. They often spend months chasing the diagnosis with visits to pediatricians, chiropractors, allergists

and other specialists. Confounding the problem is the fact that many of these physical complaints are also symptoms of the five most common illnesses that keep kids out of school: colds, ear infections, sore throats, pink eye and stomach viruses. So how do you determine what’s causing these symptoms? 1. Talk to your child to eliminate obvious causes like bullying, few friends, learning difficulties or problems at home. 2. Make sure no underlying physical illnesses are causing the symptoms. 3. Get a comprehensive evaluation from a mental health professional. 4. Have your child’s cognitive skills tested at a certified brain training center. Cognitive skills are the mental tools we all need to think, reason, read, remember and pay attention. Anxiety is often a symptom of weak cognitive skills, especially if the problems are just emerging now, when the review is over, the work is harder and the expectations are greater. The student gets frustrated because he can no longer easily handle the workload, so he tries to avoid school, homework and other mental challenges. Often his self-esteem will suffer and he becomes more withdrawn or acts out irrationally. A cognitive skills assessment can pinpoint weak skills, and personal brain training can strengthen them. Addressing your child’s anxiety – and its cause – can make for a happier and more productive school year for everyone in your family. midtownmag.com| 141

healthy you

Every October by Gayle Ackerman DiLalla, MD, FACS Tolnitch Surgical Associates Clinical Associate, Division of Surgical Oncology Dept. of Surgery, Duke University Health System Member, Duke Cancer Institute

very October, the pink ribbons flourish from book clubs to the NFL. Breast cancer awareness receives center stage. Most women have at least some understanding of the role of self-breast exams, screening mammograms and routine visits to their primary care providers in maintaining breast health. But there are many breast health concerns that are less well understood and cause women of all ages unnecessary anxiety.

Myth: Cancer isn’t painful. Reality: While most breast cancers don’t hurt and are usually found by noticing a palpable mass or an abnormality on screening mammograms, some cancers are painful. The pain is typically localized to a specific spot and is persistent. The vast majority of the time, it will be due to benign conditions such as a cyst, but persistent, localized breast pain lasting longer than one month (the length of a typical menstrual cycle) should be brought to your healthcare provider’s attention, particularly if you are post-menopausal.

Myth: I don’t “know how” do a self-breast exam, so it’s okay to skip it Reality: Honestly, it doesn’t really matter how you do a self-exam. Sure, there are cards with directions and different “patterns”. Some people find it easier to do in the shower and many women are unsure of what they are feeling or feeling for. But the bottom line is to get familiar with your own breasts and check monthly so you notice if you feel something that’s new or different. If you are still having periods, you can wait one cycle – if it persists, it’s time to check in with your doctor. Myth: If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you don’t have to worry.

Myth: Breast implants will make detecting breast cancer more difficult.

Reality: The majority of women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease. While family history can add to your risk and women who carry a gene mutation can have an even greater risk, women with no family history should still pay attention to their breast health.

Reality: Breast augmentation is performed by placing implants behind the chest wall muscle or sometimes behind the breast tissue and doesn’t decrease the ability to feel masses or see abnormalities on mammograms, as additional specialized views are used.

The undue stress of these and other breast health misconceptions can paralyze women with fear. Make sure you ask questions and share your breast health concerns with your primary health care provider and seek specialized care from a breast care specialist.

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coming up in the next

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midtownmingles

Band Together and StepUp Ministry Partnership Raises $2 Million

On June 27th, Band Together, a Triangle-based organization that uses live music as a platform for social change, raised $2 million from the Michael Franti & Spearhead concert and StepUp Ministry partnership. Turbulent weather and rain could not dampen spirits for the concert as music fans and supporters of the two nonprofits danced the night away and celebrated the success.

Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue Dog Swim

Montague Lake was the location for an exhuberant dog swim on July 11th. Golden Retrievers were joined by many other breeds excited to be participating in fetching toys and tennis balls from the water. It was such a warm day that the humans soon joined their four-legged friends in the lake.

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midtownmingles

Synergy SPa celebrates team member appreciation week

Synergy Spa celebrated their Team Member Appreciation Week with a western-themed party for all 75 employees! The mechanical bull was a big hit, and the team also enjoyed country line dancing with a specialty DJ, cornhole, and fresh burgers and BBQ.

Summer Bridal Trunk Show

On July 17th-19th, Diamonds Direct Crabtree hosted their annual summer bridal trunk show and welcomed hundreds of local couples to their showroom. Over twelve of the nation’s top bridal designers attended – including Verragio and Christopher Designs. A cocktail reception was held on Friday and hosted by Sullivan’s Steakhouse.

Annual New Parent Social

On the evening of August 10th Our Lady of Lourdes School welcomed its newest parents at the Annual New Parent Social. With 85 guests in attendance, new parents were greeted by current parents, administrators and HASA board members. At the cocktail party guests mingled while enjoying assorted cheeses and desserts. It was a great evening to kick off an even greater new school year! midtownmag.com | 145

everydayplaces

ABOUT Everyday Places takes a close look at Raleigh’s urban fabric and its under-appreciated areas that are essential to a healthy city.

thirst Watercolor and Text by Frank Harmon, FAIA What’s happening to public drinking fountains these days? Are they going the way of the pay phone and the park bench? Public drinking fountains used to be a source of civic pride and a way to promote healthy lives. But sadly, they’re disappearing. Fewer municipalities build water fountains or repair broken ones. This fountain in Union Square at the North Carolina State Capitol, for example, is one of few remaining in downtown Raleigh. Has drinking water become

privatized? Do we trust Pepsi but not our government to give us clean drinking water? It seems so. Every year Americans consume 50 billion plastic bottles-worth of water. That’s about 37.5 billion bottles going to landfills. To drink eight glasses of water a day from a tap costs about 49 cents a year. To drink the same amount of water from plastic bottles costs $1400 per year. Part of our aversion to drinking fountains may be health fears, and part to the sad days of segregation. But drinking water

from public fountains is just as healthy as bottled water, experts say. Do we have a new kind of segregation, between those who can afford bottled water and those who go thirsty? How we behave in public says a lot about who we are. Providing decent water fountains, benches and covered bus stops, for example, says that we care about the least among us and that we can all enjoy the outdoors. What could be nicer than having a cool drink of water in a leafy park? Online: Visit the archive at NativePlaces.org

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