Midtown Magazine

THE ESSENTIAL

GUIDE SPRING

STYLE 2013 PG. 72

IT’S HERE!

MARCH

MADNESS PG. 40

MA R CH / A PR I L

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>TASTE

SWEET SPOTS CHOCOLATE FLOWS IN THE CAPITAL CITY If there’s one group that could keep a secret, it was 1500s-era Spanish royalty. At least that’s the story history tells. After the Aztecs introduced Spanish explorers to a beverage made from cocoa (or cacao) beans, mum was the word among Spain’s elite for nearly 100 years. Eventually, however, word of the beloved drink spread throughout Europe.

And the truth set us all free.

Today chocolate is no secret. And, thank goodness, it comes in more forms than liquid. Think chocolate bars, truffles and squares. The average American consumes 12 pounds of it per year.

Luckily, Raleigh offers some fantastic choices when it comes to yielding royally to chocolate temptation. The Spaniards would be proud. Here are four of the city’s sweet spots, and just in time to fill Easter baskets.

Escazu Artisan Chocolates You know it’s good when there’s an actual customer licking the lid of her hot chocolate cup. Talk about decadent to the last drop. That was the case when Midtown stopped by Escazu one February afternoon.

This Raleigh workshop and retail store opened in 2008 with a “handcrafted from the bean” process.

Behind a glass case there are treats such as a dark chocolate ganache squares and a striking red chocolate called N.C. strawberries and balsamic. Chalkboard menus tempt customers into push-up ice cream in flavors like chocolate, vanilla chocolate chip and coconut chocolate chip. escazuchocolates.com

by Kate Turgeon

Hereghty What’s not to love about a menu that has chocolate and a wine list? This Glenwood Village café is known for its coffee and European-inspired pastries from fruit tarts to cakes.

But when holidays approach Hereghty patrons may find chocolate truffles in flavors such as hazelnut, cacao, Bailey’s Irish Cream and pistachio. And with Easter on the way, it’s only fair to hope for a few chocolate bunnies, right? hereghty.com

Videri Chocolate Factory There’s much to take in at Videri. Yes, incredibly delicious chocolate is part of it. Think pink peppercorn, sea salt and dark milk. But vintage styling and an on-site factory make this downtown chocolate shop an experience. Where else can you learn how chocolate is made, see it happen, smell its sugary aroma, sample the heavenly product and feel comfortable asking about the best way to savor it? (In case you’re wondering, chew the piece of chocolate into small pieces and let them melt in your mouth.) viderichocolatefactory.com

Red Light Chocolates Red Light put on a sweet show at the 2013 North Carolina Governor’s Inaugural Ball with its custom-made chocolates. But one doesn’t have to don a ball gown to enjoy the delectable treats.

In Raleigh, Red Light chocolates may be found at spots such as NOFO at the Pig and Kindred Raleigh Boutique. Ever-popular confections include artisan bark bars (made with dark Belgian chocolate), peanut butter balls, sea salt caramel and almond pistachio. redlightchocolates.com

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>TECH

by Dan Bain

AFTERSHOKZ Running season is gearing up, so it’s time for runners and drivers alike to watch out for each other – not to mention listening out. There’s nothing like an MP3 player or other personal listening device to help develop a rhythm for a good run, but headphones also act as a safety impediment – a runner needs to be able to hear traffic and other potential threats.

Enter AfterShokz, a collection of “open ear” headphones that allow a user to listen to music while hearing other sounds from the environment.

They achieve this via bone-conduction technology, originally developed for military forces who must hear remote communication without blocking ambient noise.

AfterShokz headphones rest in front of the ear, transmitting sound through the listener’s cheekbones instead. Sound bypasses the eardrum and passes directly to the inner ear, allowing a listener to enjoy music, etc. while monitoring their surroundings for oncoming vehicles, car horns, sirens, and other sounds. The listening experience is said to be more comfortable and safer than it would be with conventional headphones covering the ear or earbuds seated in the ear canal. It’s also healthier, eliminating those devices’ risk of eardrum damage and resulting hearing loss.

Consumers can choose from wired headphones, Bluetooth wireless headphones, and headphones with an in-line microphone that automatically interrupts music and activates for conversation. More information is available at www.aftershokz.com.

Happy listening!

PHOTOGRAPHY © AFTERSHOKZ.COM

AFTERSHOKZ HEADPHONES MAKE LISTENING EAR-FREE

AFTERSHOKZ HEADPHONES ALLOW A USER TO ENJOY MUSIC, GAMING OR PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT BLOCKING OUT AMBIENT SOUNDS.

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>STYLE

by Elie Rossetti-Serraino

THE SUIT Every season I eagerly scan all the designer’s runway fashion shows, international blogs and brand look-books to see what I’m going to like (or dislike) in six months.

Is it going to be skinny pants? Are we really going to finally (re)like oversized jackets? What total color look will it be? Black or white? What about if I’m really convinced that wearing black slims me down and bell bottom pants need to be sported with high heels only?

This spring I‘ve found one trend that I spotted across many of the designers’ proposals, and I will definitely stick to it; the summer suit!

PHOTOGRAPHY © GABRIEL NELSON

THE TRENDY BEST-KEPT SECRET FOR SPRING

Here’s the reason: On this season’s runways, it was shown with every possible style element; to mention just a few, Tommy Hilfiger has a masculine long jacket with very feminine, high-waist pants. Max Mara in their Resort look book has a futuristic, very formfitting jacket paired with cropped and cuffed pants. Hugo Boss has a super classic 70s look.

So many fits and styles to choose from, it means I can possibly shop in my own closet or get one that suits (no pun intended) my body type and lifestyle.

If you wear it at work it makes you look executive and like you know what you are doing. Wear it on a first date with a top with ruffles and it will say, I’m self confident outside and very feminine and romantic at heart. And here’s the bonus...the monochromatic look (bottom and top) and high heels makes me (5'3") look taller.

I will make sure I have one in black cotton poplin, and also a white linen one paired with pants or skirts, I am not sure yet. I will wear the white suit with a canvas and natural leather oversized bag and a natural straw hat, and pretend to be Meryl Streep in the movie Out of Africa, sipping tea al fresco.

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>ARTS

by Christa Gala

MCRAY IS KNOWN FOR HIS COLLAGES, BELOW, AND HIS JAZZ-THEMED PAINTINGS, LEFT.

ERIC MCRAY FINDING A STORY IN ART Eric McRay says he’s neither a starving artist nor a profiteering commercial artist. He’s just an ordinary guy who figured out how to make a living doing what he loves.

“My mother always told me that anyone who’s good at anything can make money,” says McRay, who grew up in Washington, DC and went to college in Maryland on a fine arts scholarship.

But before McRay became a full-time artist, he worked as a computer salesman. “I think many people pursue money. We all need money to function; that’s just a reality.

But when people neglect their true passion, it affects the quality of their life.”

So in 1999, McRay quit his day job. He compares his foray into the art world with bungee-jumping. “I took this massive leap and dropped really low and bounced back up really high,” he laughs. “In a relatively short period of time, I was making as much income as I did when I was selling computers.”

McRay specializes in acrylic paints and collages made from different materials, including fabric, foil, old photographs and even cut-up reproductions of his own work, which is displayed throughout the Triangle – at SAS, the American Tobacco Campus, NCSU and Duke University Medical Center, among others. He has also sold to private collectors, including Bret Hedican and Kristi Yamaguchi.

In addition to creating and selling in his Artspace studio, McRay also teaches and accepts speaking engagements.

What has surprised McRay the most is how people respond to his work.

“A lot of times people find their story in my art,” says McRay. “It’s not necessarily just me trying to communicate an idea to someone else. Owning art is about finding your story in the vision of another person.”

That’s exactly what happened to Roberta Buckley, who was one of McRay’s first clients. In the early nineties, the two of them worked together – he as a security guard and she in human resources. They became friends and as she worked late one night, he brought in a few of his paintings, a series of doves, and propped them against her door.

“I literally gasped in amazement,” Buckley remembers.

“I stopped working and just sat and stared with tears in my eyes. The dove painting spoke to me, to my heart. I had an immediate understanding that my priorities were all mixed up, and that I should have been home with my family. I had to have that painting, and I bought it on the spot.”

Discovering what other people see in his work is one of the best parts of the job. “That’s something I’ve learned; I was making something for myself and never realized how much connection it had with other people.”

More than 20 years later, the dove painting still hangs in Buckley’s home. “It’s as spectacular now as it was then,” she says.

To learn more about Eric McRay and his work, visit www.mcraystudios.com.

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ON THE[SCENE] >>>SPORTS

by Dave Droschak

AN HISTORIC RACE FIRST IRONMAN COMING TO TRIANGLE IN JUNE Mike Beaman’s reaction to news that the inaugural IRONMAN® 70.3 Raleigh triathlon would be staged this June was shared by many here in a growing sport where athletes tax their bodies in the endurance disciplines of swimming, biking and running.

“Why did it take so long?” said Beaman, an area athlete who has been competing in triathlons since 1987. “We have such a huge triathlon community here. But having a race like the 70.3 brings everybody together. Everybody wants to compete in the big races. This sure makes a statement.”

The June 2nd competition marks the first time the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) will stage one of its trademark IRONMAN® races in the Carolinas.

The race will begin with a one-loop, 1.2-mile swim at Jordan Lake. Athletes will then bike through eastern Chatham County, southwestern Wake County and the town of Holly Springs before ending the 56-mile ride at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. Competitors

will finish the race with a 13.1-mile, out-and-back run that highlights some of the city’s famous landmarks, including the State Capitol.

“This is another step in the growth of the sport in our area,” said Cid Cardoso Jr., who owns Inside-Out Sports in Cary, a store that outfits triathletes. “The WTC has had its eye on North Carolina for a few years. It has been a hotbed of triathlon sports, but they didn’t have the right circumstances to put one of the events here until now.

They looked at our market and said it can sustain a race like this.”

The Half IRONMAN competition is scheduled to return to the Triangle in 2014 and 2015.

“We’ve got the territory that any race venue wants to have; we’ve got beautiful courses, beautiful country, clean lakes, and we’ve got the support, so it’s perfect timing,” Beaman said. “I would not be surprised at all if you saw a full Ironman pop up here shortly after this race.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY © Jeff ReY A. CAmARATi/UNC ATHle TiC COmmUNiCATiONs

bain’s beat

March Sadness What is it about winning that makes fans think they can get away with anything?

A few nights ago I dropped my son off for an overnight event, and on my way home, traffic came to a stop in the highway just outside a coliseum where the teams in a well-known college basketball rivalry had just finished a game.

One of them had won, apparently.

Even though the game had just let out, the traffic jam didn’t seem to be due to traffic leaving the parking lot and entering the highway. This felt more like an accident – a suspicion that was confirmed when a police car sped by on the shoulder.

Normally I don’t text while driving, but technically, I wasn’t driving – I was parked on a road where I should have been driving. So I broke out the phone and texted my wife, asking if she could look up the location of the accident and text it back to me, so I could decide whether I needed to take an upcoming exit. Soon she texted back that she couldn’t find any information, and suggested that maybe there wasn’t an accident, that maybe the traffic was due to all those ______ students celebrating their team’s victory. I took the next exit and figured she was right.

That intro not only serves to get 200 words out of the way when I don’t have a lot to write on a topic but still need to get paid for writing a lot, it also illustrates the point I hope to eventually make – that when your team wins a big game, you can pretty much get away with doing whatever you want.

At the very least, people believe that. Kim thought it possible that fans of

the winning team had shut down a highway in celebration, and let’s be honest – it’s not out of the realm of possibilities. Ever been on Franklin Street after Carolina wins the big one? Wait, forget I asked – let’s stick with situations that happen more frequently.

It’s also worth noting that a team doesn’t even have to win to rationalize crazed behavior. I’m writing this on the eve of the Superbowl, and I can guarantee you three things about tomorrow: 1) fans in the winning city will do something destructive in exuberance; 2) fans in the losing city will do something destructive in frustration; and 3) utility employees in both cities have spent the past week hoping their water systems can handle the frenzy of halftime flushes.

But this is pro football, right? Surely college basketball fans have a little more decorum? Tell that to the Cameron Crazies. Sure, any game is going to have its share of catcalls against the opposing team, but come on – those fans aren’t crazy, they’re just mean. Their chants go beyond showing support for their team, to verbally attacking their opponents over issues that have nothing to do with the game.

For a group who will undoubtedly remind the rest of us that their education is far superior to ours, they sure seem to forget some of the basic good sportsmanship lessons that are typically taught in kindergarten.

How else can you describe a group who would chant, “How’s your grandma?” to an opposing player whose grandmother just passed away? Or would make light of an athlete’s sexual abuse allegations? Yep, nothing funnier than rape, is there, you crazy kids? I guess money can buy an education, but it can’t buy any class.

It’s also interesting that, for a group of dedicated fans, we hear nothing from them during football season. Why aren’t there any Wade Wackies to go along with the Cameron Crazies? Because despite their faults, at least they live by a code – the team has to have a winning season before the fans can start acting like jerks.

And as long as I’m feeling magnanimous, I might as well acknowledge one other small positive point about the Crazies – at least they don’t break anything more than the boundaries of good taste.

Some fans overturn cars, burn public property, and/ or maim animals in celebration. The worst the Crazies do after winning the big game is go back to their lab and maybe break an Erlenmeyer flask, or toss a 20-sided die out the window. As for the rowdier fans, they justify it by saying it’s all in the name of supporting a winning team, so that must make it okay.

I know I’m taking things too seriously – after all, you’re reading someone who thinks it’s cheating when the fans behind the backboard try to distract whoever’s trying to shoot a free throw.

Hey, it’s interfering with the players. Just like Jeff Maier in Game 1 of the 1996 American League

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© carolina hurricanes

the standingO

Breaking the Ice Ronnie Franchise Breaks the Ice in North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

R

By Dave Droschak

on Francis made a living passing the puck, setting up teammates for highlight reel goals. He trails only Wayne Gretzky on the National Hockey League’s all-time assist list.

So I guess it’s only natural for the guy hockey fans in the Triangle affectionately call Ronnie Franchise to deflect a lion’s share of the credit for his upcoming induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame to others in the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization.

After 15 years in the market following the team’s move from Hartford, Connecticut, Francis will become the first hockey player elected to our state’s sports hall.

“I’m the first one to benefit from all the hard work of owner Peter Karmanos and general manager Jim Rutherford, from players like Rod Brind’Amour and Eric Staal, and so

many more people in our organization,” Francis said. “I will go in to the Hall on behalf of those guys. I don’t think it will be very long before the next one or two guys come marching in behind me.”

In 1998, Rutherford targeted Francis as the free agent hockey star he wanted to bring to a warm weather market that was more accustomed to golf, college basketball and NASCAR than high-sticking or hip checks to help the franchise win and carry the torch for hockey across the state.

Francis accomplished both, leading the Canes to their first-ever Stanley Cup finals in 2002. Meanwhile he was working with such organizations as the Special Olympics in a Triangle community he immediately embraced – and after his playing days decided to make his permanent home.

Sure, Francis played in 1,186 games for the organization;

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How Does Your

G arden G row?

By Illyse Lane

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Avenue Orchid & Garden

Not all gardens are rooted in the ground.

Colorful container gardens can create a welcoming feel to any home.

answer a few questions that can determine the fate of your garden even before you dig the first hole.

How Much Time Do I Want to Spend in My Garden? “Decide how into it

you are. Do you want to putter in the garden, listening to the birds, and keeping track of all the green, growing things or would you like an attractive, low-maintenance landscape that complements the house but doesn’t take several hours a week?” says Mast. “One doesn’t necessarily preclude the other, but you will definitely base your plant purchasing decisions on your preferences.

How Much Yard Do I Want to Work With? Quite simply, the more areas

I

f you happen to be like me, you may be wishing for your black thumb to turn just a bit greener. You may be longing for your own vibrant garden, filled with colorful flowers and plush green shrubs. And you may be hoping that this spring, you can finally get something to grow in that yard of yours.

Fortunately, if you’re in need of help, it’s time to give thanks. Local experts Maggie Terry of Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden and Tina Mast of Homewood

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you want to improve, the more time it may take. “For many people it is best to focus on a certain piece of the yard so it is not overwhelming. Most people just need a layout and backdrop to get the development process started,” says Terry.

Nursery & Garden Center have come to the rescue, giving us the scoop on how to get our gardens growing. With their tips, we’re convinced that even the most challenged among us will have a garden to be proud of this spring.

I. What’s Your Plan?

It’s tempting to wake up one beautiful spring morning and decide it’s planting day. But before you start shopping for flowers, it’s best to take some time to

What’s My Budget? If your budget is limited, focus on key areas such as the foundation of the house, the mailbox area, or high visibility spots.

What Do I Like? “Take pictures of the

areas that you would like to renew, and take photos from different angles and at different times of day,” says Terry. Then, consider what colors and what size plants you like and rule out those that you dislike.

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When planting a garden, plan for at least two to four layers, with plants going from the tallest to the shortest.

The View: One motivation for creating a garden is to be able to

enjoy the view, so give some thought to the various ways your plants will be seen. “You can lay out beds so that the garden seems to offer an invitation for guests to enter the property. Beds that flank the driveway, surround the mailbox, and lead up to the main entrance of the house help add coveted curb appeal,” says Mast. “But also consider the views from the house. This may be one of the primary ways you enjoy the garden.”

This is also a good time to consider if you are going to need to create privacy between you and your neighbors. A solid wall of plants between your home and a neighbor’s home may make you feel boxed in. For a more out-of- the box option, Mast suggests creating an effective screen with a vine trained over an espalier or a small tree planted right in front of the view to where you sit and eat outside.

II. Consider the Conditions You may love a particular plant, but it has to be able to work in your yard. And the only way you will know if the plant you choose will grow is to consider the site conditions. “Site conditions are the first thing to consider, because the wrong plant in the wrong spot is going to disappoint,” says Mast. “Knowing this can save you time and money in the long run.”

Before you buy a plant, make sure you know: >> How

much sun does the yard get, and is it afternoon or morning sun? There’s a difference. >> Does your soil drain well? Will it need to be amended? The answer is probably yes, and you have to be willing to do it correctly. >> Does the area stay dry? If so, how will you provide moisture?

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III. Choosing Your Plants Once you know your site conditions, you will be able to choose plants with confidence. Since there are endless options available, it’s a good idea to get help from one of the professionals at your local nursery. While you shop, remember that trees, shrubs and groundcovers are considered the bones of the garden, with perennials and annuals providing that pop of color. Looking for a few recommendations?

Some of our experts’ favorites are: Blooming shrubs:

Long blooming perennials (that are also deer resistant):

Lantana

autumn sage

lenten roses

High performance flowering annuals: angelonia, petunias, impatiens, vinca (not the vine), begonias, salvia, snapdragons and marigolds.

Ground covers: ivy, pachysandra and vinca as well as low

growing shrubs such as Flirt Nandinas, Crimson Fire Loropetulum and Emerald Spreader yews.

AZALEAS Encore and Bloom-a-Thon

Roses Knock Out series

Hydrangeas Forever & Ever series

IV. Planting Strategy You’ve chosen your plants and now, it’s time to put them in the ground. Both Mast and Terry recommend the following strategy: 1.

Dig a wide, shallow hole three to four times the size of the rootball.

2. In our area, clay soil is the norm. So plan on

amending the soil to get the best results. Dig out

the soil and place it in a large wheelbarrow. Either

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Trend Alert:

Popular Gardens • Lower maintenance gardens with longer blooming plants that offer increased disease and pest resistance • Square foot gardening • Herb and vegetable gardens • Container gardening: Potted plants create instant focal points, whether it’s a spot in your garden where a plant has died or as an accent for a patio or porch. How do you create a beautiful container? “A container garden will most likely have an evergreen shrub in the middle, with a flower or ground cover that can be switched out seasonally around the bottom,” says Terry. “It is also a popular idea to force bloom bulbs in pots such as hyacinth, daffodils and tulips, and then later, plant them in the yard.”

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

make a backfill mixture that is 50 percent native soil, 40 percent soil conditioner, and ten percent aged compost or use a pre-made mix such as Daddy Pete’s Planting Mix .

Place the plant in the hole, making sure that the root is slightly above the surrounding soil. If the roots of the plant are compacted, score them with a shovel or spade.

Fill the hole with your backfill mix and gently pat it down to eliminate air pockets.

Hill up the soil around the planting area to create a catch basin for water.

Apply 2'' of mulch over the area.

Applying root stimulator or a starter fertilizer such as Bio-tone will help plants establish faster. Most trees, shrubs and perennials can be fertilized in April with a slow-release, organic fertilizer.

Watering will depend on sun, shade and plant size, but a good guideline is twice a week while getting established.

Frost Alert: “Keep in mind that April 15th is our frost date, and any annual flowers that bloom prior to that would have to be safely covered up or brought in until the date has past,” says Terry. Perennial flowers that bloom early spring that would not be hurt by the frost include phlox, candytuft and dianthus.

V. The Value of Working With a Professional: With so much to consider, it may be smart to enlist the help of a professional. “When you don’t have the time or interest to do the job yourself, or feel completely overwhelmed by the prospect, then it is time to call in a professional,” says Mast. Whether you want help evaluating your yard’s conditions, coming up with a plan or choosing plants, your local nurseries will have experts on hand to assist you with as much or as little as you need, ranging from design to installation to maintenance. To make sure you invest in the right person, ask for referrals. midtownmag.com| 61

calendar ofevents

March/April 2013

18 MONTHS – 5 YEARS PROSPECTIVE PARENTS March 1, 22 & April 26 | 9-10:30am March 12 & April 16 | 1-2:30pm The Raleigh School RSVP at 919.546.0788 ext. 117 Fashion Show & Date Auction March 2 | 6:30pm | Theatre in the Park 107 Pullen Road | Raleigh www.crapemyrtlefest.org Weight Loss Surgery Information Seminars March 2, 5, 9, 16, 19, 23, 30 April 2, 6, 13, 16, 27, 30 Duke Raleigh Hospital www.dukeraleighhospital.org L*Space Swimwear Event March 6 | 5-8pm | Whalebone Urban Surf 4209-102 North Hills | Lassiter Mill Road Raleigh | www.whaleboneurbansurf.com Spring Sprint April 6 | St. Timothy’s School | Raleigh www.sttimothys.org

Loren Hope’S Spring 2013 line March 7 | Monkee’s of Raleigh www.monkeesofraleigh.com St. David’s presents “Suessical” March 7 & 8 | 7pm | March 9 | 2pm & 7pm St. David’s Performing Arts Center | 3400 White Oak Road | Raleigh | www.sdsw.org Premier Jewelry Spring Jewelry Trunk Show March 8 | 5-7pm | Clothes Hound 8111 Creedmoor Rd. #149 | Raleigh www.shopclotheshound.com Spring Open House March 8-10 | Shops of Baileywick 9650 Strickland Road | Raleigh www.theshopsofbaileywick.com Run for the Oaks 5K March 9 | 8:30am | Moore Square | Raleigh www.secondempireseries.com Chalk paint class March 9 | 10am-12pm | Savvy Salvage at Shops of Baileywick | 9650 Strickland Road Raleigh | www.theshopsofbaileywick.com the downtown dish – A taste of eschelon hospItality March 10 | 5pm – VIP Reception 6pm – Main Event | Zinda New Asian 301-120 Fayetteville Street | Raleigh www.tinyurl.com/downtowndish Rex Bloodmobile blood drive March 11 | 12-4pm | St. David’s School 3400 White Oak Road | Raleigh | www.sdsw.org Celebrity bartender event series March 13 & April 10 | 5-9pm | Zinda New Asian | 301-120 Fayetteville Street | Raleigh

makeovers & martinis March 16 | Eco Friendly Beauty Bar | 8801 Lead Mine Road | Raleigh www.ecofriendlybeautybar.net

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Rebecca Minkoff Personal Appearance March 13 | 5-7pm | Saks Fifth Avenue 7700 Old Wake Forest Road | Raleigh 919.792.9100 ext. 5355 St. Patrick’s Day Irish Festival March 16 | 12-5pm | Lafayette Village 8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com St. Timothy’s School 6th grade artwork on display March 18 | Zoe’s Kitchen at North Hills www.sttimothys.org Cancer Prevention Study – 3 (CPS-3) March 19 | 9am-1:30pm American Cancer Society | 1.888.604.5888 Skin Care Needs in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and Beyond March 21 | 6pm | Park Centre Spa 8300 Health Park | Raleigh www.parkcentrespa.com Healthy Focus Seminars March 21 | Duke Raleigh Hospital www.dukeraleighhospital.org Tom and Linda Platt Trunk Show March 21-22 | 10am-4pm | Saks Fifth Avenue 7700 Old Wake Forest Road | Raleigh 919.792.9100 ext. 5374 Kindergarten – 5TH PROSPECTIVE PARENTS March 21 | 9:15-11am | The Raleigh School RSVP at 919.546.0788 ext. 117 www.raleighschool.org Donald J Pliner Personal Appearance March 21 | 10am-4pm | Main & Taylor 4421 Six Forks Road, Suite 114 Raleigh | www.mainandtaylorshoes.com

Spring has Sprung March 13 | The English Garden 6308 Angus Drive, Suite A | Raleigh www.englishgardenraleigh.com

Susana Monaco March 21 | Monkee’s of Raleigh www.monkeesofraleigh.com

Wine dinner March 13 & April 23 | 6:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine | 919.862.2770 www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com

Preschool Easter Egg Hunt March 23 | 10am | Trinity Baptist Church 4815 Six Forks Road | Raleigh www.tbcraleigh.com

Roberto Coin Trunk Show March 23 | 12-5pm | Saks Fifth Avenue 7700 Old Wake Forest Road | Raleigh 919.792.9100 ext. 5318

Contemporary week April 4-7 | 10am-7pm | Saks Fifth Avenue 7700 Old Wake Forest Road | Raleigh 919.792.9100 ext. 5381

Simply Crepes’ Maple Madness Event March 23 | Lafayette Village 8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com

To Kill A Mockingbird April 12-28 | 107 Pullen Road | Raleigh www.theatreinthepark.com

Easter Cantata March 24 | 8:45am & 10:55am Trinity Baptist Church | 4815 Six Forks Road Raleigh | www.tbcraleigh.com Second Empire 5K Classic March 24 | 2pm | 330 Hillsborough Street Raleigh | www.secondempireseries.com Cooking class March 26 & April 17 | 4:30pm Saint-Jacques French Cuisine | 919.862.2770 www.saintjacquesfrenchcuisine.com Jack Rogers Trunk Show March 28 | Monkee’s of Raleigh www.monkeesofraleigh.com Alice & Trixie for Easter outfits March 28 | Monkee’s of Raleigh www.monkeesofraleigh.com Maundy Thursday Service & Living Last Supper March 28 | 7pm | Trinity Baptist Church 4815 Six Forks Road | Raleigh www.tbcraleigh.com The Chocolate Boutique Family Easter Egg Hunt March 30 | 3-5pm | Lafayette Village 8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com Easter Worship Service March 31 | 7am, 8:45am & 10:55am Trinity Baptist Church | 4815 Six Forks Road Raleigh | www.tbcraleigh.com Armani Collezioni Men’s Trunk Show April 4 | 10am-4pm | Saks Fifth Avenue 7700 Old Wake Forest Road | Raleigh 919.792.9100, ext. 5381

annual Spring Designer Trunk Show April 12-14 | Diamonds Direct Crabtree www.Diamonds-Direct.com 4th Annual Spring Soiree April 13 | 7-10pm | Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) Raleigh | 409 W Martin Street www.amfsoiree.org spring open house April 13 | Atlantic Avenue Orchid & Garden 5217 Atlantic Avenue | Raleigh www.atlanticavenuegarden.com

St. Baldrick’s event April 20 | 2-6pm | North Hills Commons www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com Annual Spring Open House April 21 | 3-5pm | St. Timothy’s School Raleigh | www.sttimothys.org Purple Rain April 24 | The English Garden 6308 Angus Drive, Suite A | Raleigh www.englishgardenraleigh.com Annual Rug Event April 24-28 | Ten Thousand Villages Raleigh | 919.821.1100

Alzheimer’s North Carolina Fundraiser with Simply Crepes April 13 | Lafayette Village 8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com

Beach Music Series presents The Craig Woolard Band April 25 | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com

Midtown Farmers’ Market opening daY April 13 | Every Saturday through October 26 www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com

Run for Our Heroes 5K April 27 | 8:30am | Nash Square | Raleigh www.secondempireseries.com

RunRaleigh Half Marathon April 14 | 7:30am | Cameron Village | Raleigh www.secondempireseries.com

St. George’s Day British Festival April 27 | 12-5pm | Lafayette Village 8450 Honeycutt Road | Raleigh www.lafayettevillageraleigh.com

spring concert April 18 | 6pm | St. David’s School new gymnasium | 3400 White Oak Road | Raleigh www.sdsw.org

INteract benefit Concert 2013 April 27 | 1-6pm | www.nclocalmusic.com

Beach Music Series presents The Embers April 18 | www.NorthHillsRaleigh.com

Spring Choral Concert April 29 | 7pm | St. David’s School St. David’s Performing Arts Center 3400 White Oak Road | Raleigh | www.sdsw.org

Stuart Weitzman Trunk Show April 18-20 | Main & Taylor 4421 Six Forks Road, Suite 114 Raleigh | www.mainandtaylorshoes.com

Wake Tech Culinary Arts Showcase April 30 | 4-7pm | Raleigh Convention Center www.culinaryartsshowcase.waketech.edu

20th Anniversary Angels among us 5k race and family fun walk April 20 | 7am-12pm | Duke Medical Center Durham | Supporting the Duke Brain Tumor Center | www.angelsamongus.org

Have an important event? We would love to hear about it. Please send the details of your calendar events to: julie@midtownmag.com. midtownmag.com | 71

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ooking for essentials for your spring wardrobe? Midtown shows you what our local boutiques have to offer. Pants are still skinny and cropped, but we are starting to see them a bit looser and longer. Feeling daring?

Polka dots are in, and try mixing and matching stripes. Black and white, all white, mint, pinks and mineral greens all work this season.

The hottest shoes are pointy, two-tone and “architectural” looking. Buttons, buckles and bows are all the rage…and you can’t go wrong with a shiny gold heel!

And men, we haven’t forgotten you!

Checkered cloth shirts, skinny cropped colored jeans and white suits are just a few hot items for you this spring. Happy shopping!

SPRING S T Y L E

Photography

Gabriel Nelson Fashion Director and Photo Stylist

Elie Rossetti-Serraino

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askelie

Elie

For all your answers on things fashion, style and trends

Costumista & Wardrobe Style arbiter

Q

Though I am just 5'3" tall, I have a fairly long torso (and extra short legs). I have a very difficult time finding jeans with a long enough rise and feel I am constantly tugging on them in an effort to pull them up in front. If I buy jeans for a taller person, will the rise also be longer or just the leg? I would be interested in any other jean-buying tips for short-legged girls you might have, such as pocket tips for making my rear look higher and thus my legs look longer.

P.S. I lost ten pounds over the last 6 weeks! I’m wearing jeans again!

Woo-hoo! Ten or twenty more to go!

Alicia, Raleigh, NC

The best part of the quest toward your goal weight is buying a wardrobe that shows off the hard work and makes you feel awesome. Keep in mind that a jeans purchase is one of the most difficult, especially after weight loss. The body/fit perception that you have of your own figure is still adjusting to the new weight and how you really feel about your look. So expect to make several trips to the stores and try on different brands, as each has an unique fit. I also feel that being 5'3", I’m in-between a petite size and regular for the rise and each time I end up buying the regular. I have to have the hem altered or rolled up. Lately, my solution is to buy a “cropped fit” in a regular size, which gives me a right rise fit and the inseam/length is just perfect (being cropped for taller people).

The fashion etiquette topic that I have been considering lately is the appropriateness of men wearing dress shirts without a tie and with the sleeves cuffed up in the office, rather than sleeves buttoned and tie worn.

I am a supervisor, but not a manager.

I attend many meetings with people above and below my rank. I definitely prefer to not wear a tie, and to cuff up my sleeves a bit. Acceptable attire when not working with people outside my company, or advancement suicide?

Anonymous, San Diego, CA As the trend at the office is to go more casual, hard working guys with their eyes on the corner office ask me all the time “do you really sacrifice comfort just to look as an executive?”

Many successful CEOs and corporate gurus suggest that if you aspire to one day be in the same position of the boss of your boss, then be your own “aspirational brand”.

It is a marketing term that we use in advertising and especially when deciding wardrobe styling for a specific commercial testimonial/actor: just

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dress as you wish, regardless of your rank or coworker’s opinions.

So take notes on how your direct supervisors and their principals dress and take their cue. Do they wear a jacket with tie? Or just the tie?

If they do wear a tie and that is not optimal for you, maybe wear it only during major meetings and certain occasions, and the rest of the time wear a modern vest with a button-down shirt. It gives you a pulled-together look without being old fashion corporate.

Alternatively you can find a very nice crisp, white shirt with a spread collar. Make sure it has “modern fit” (skip the “classic fit”, it’s too Grandpa). And a bonus – some of them are iron-free.

FollowElie Submit your question elie@eliephotostylist.com Follow me on the web eliephotostylist.com arbitereliegantiarum.typepad.com/blog/ /ArbiterElieGantiarum

I would absolutely LOVE to have a pair of tall leather riding boots, but because I am short and have some muscle, I can never find any that I can zip past my calf. Any suggestions on brands for those of us with short legs and muscles?

Deborah, Columbus, OH For a comfortable fit, a boot should be just right around the calf – not too tight. But boots that are too big look cheap and off the rack. Not all of us can have custom made boots, and you could go for the elastic shaft style. Make sure that the boot shaft circumference matches your calf measurement: you don’t want the boots to stretch too much and be uncomfortable.

I like the half elastic/half leather shaft boots. Opt for black to minimize the difference in materials, making them look more like a classic equestrian boot.

Piperlime carries some good brands that are usually on sale. Just use the keywords “elastic shaft” when you search.

I

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In Ireland, when St. Patrick’s Day dawns most Irish go to church to celebrate the death of their country’s patron saint who died in the fifth century. Afterward, they celebrate by feasting, waiving the standard requirements of Lent to dance, eat, drink and be in good cheer.

Martin Mahon opened his own Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day in 2008, hoping to carry on a thousand-year old tradition of celebrating life and feasting with friends. Tráli, in Brier Creek, hasn’t disappointed.

“It’s a good place for meetings and conversation,” says Mahon, who is Irish. “One of the great pleasures of the business is meeting some very interesting people with great stories to tell. This is somehow befitting of an Irish place, such is the place of storytelling in Irish culture.”

Raleigh is lucky to have an admirable collection of Irish pubs; join us as we explore a few local faves.

Hibernian Pub

A

8021 Falls of Neuse Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27615

lthough a recent fire destroyed Hibernian’s downtown location, a brand-new location at 8021 Falls (919) 803-0290 of Neuse Road in North Raleigh is now hibernianpub.com open. But the new location won’t replace the old.

“They are definitely planning on rebuilding but are still going through the process of insurance; it’s in the works,” says employee Gabe Perrotta.

The Cary and North Raleigh locations are ready for the St. Paddy’s day crowds. “We’ll have live music both Saturday and Sunday, traditional Irish music as well as other local bands,” says Perrotta. We’ll have a limited traditional Irish menu with Shepherd’s Pie and Fish & Chips, and we’ll be serving beers all day long.”

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my morning

COFFEE The Perks of Downtown Raleigh

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Staying in the Swing Duke Raleigh Hospital orthopaedic surgeons offer tips on keeping in shape for your best possible golf game

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By Page Leggett

ark Twain is said to have called golf “a good walk spoiled.” John Feinstein made the witticism even more famous when he used it as the title of his book that went on to become a best seller. But nothing spoils a good walk – or the game of golf – like muscle pain.

And golfers can do a lot themselves to prevent and control pain … and possibly improve their game in the process.

Kevin Speer, MD, a Duke Raleigh orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder and sports medicine surgery and who is the medical director of orthopaedics at Duke Raleigh Hospital, says that in golf, as in so many things, prevention is the best treatment.

The wisdom of warming up Don’t take to the links without first taking time to warm up. And taking a few practice swings doesn’t count, warns Dr. Speer. “Practice swings can be part of a warm-up,”

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he says. “But they do not constitute an entire warm-up.”

A real warm-up will involve at least 10 to 15 minutes of stretching and involves multiple areas of the body. It doesn’t have to include a trip to the gym or be anything elaborate. It can be just enough to prepare your muscles for a workout. Even using the golf club like a cane to help you stretch will benefit you, according to Dr. Speer.

Grant Garrigues, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in shoulder surgery at Duke University Medical Center, is a golfer himself. (“You can’t live in such a golf paradise and not golf at least some of the time,” he says.)

He’s sympathetic to golfers who are afraid they’ll make all their good shots before it counts.

“When I play, it seems like I ‘use up’ all the good shots on the range,” he laughs. “However, skipping the warmup is a bad idea. The pros warm up, and so should you.

At the range, spend a few minutes stretching. I focus on

healthy you

Resveratrol T h e F o u n ta i n o f Y o u t h i n a P i l l ?

E

arly last Saturday morning, my seven-year old asked me to take his picture with his Dad’s iPad 3. I held it up to focus the shot and let out a huge GASP! I had inadvertently pressed the reverse camera button and was staring at my 42-year-old face in high definition at 8am. No one deserves that type of reality check on the first morning of a weekend. I am now doubling up on my “fountain of youth” in a pill: RESVERATROL.

Resveratrol is part of a group of antioxidants called polyphenols found in Japanese knotweed, grapes and red wine, as well as in peanuts and blueberries. It has become one of the most studied supplements over the last five years, reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties (namely with respect to prostate, colorectal and breast cancers), as well as helping with weight loss, type 2 diabetes, reducing “bad” cholesterol, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, COPD, asthma and arthritis.

Resveratrol made headlines in 2006 when researchers from Harvard and France demonstrated that it kept overfed mice from gaining weight, turned them into the equivalent of Olympic marathoners, and seemed to slow down their aging process. Few medical discoveries have generated so much instant buzz, as up until now, caloric restriction has been the only dietary path that’s been

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