Lifestyle UNION
Clowns, magician have jobs making fun. $13,700 vacation – and no showers! Life lesson: A silver platter for you. Who are your ‘ideal’ dinner guests? August / September 2013 www.UnionLifestyle.com
Calling all kickball fanatics! Adult Kickball Tournament Bring your “A” game and show that big red ball who’s boss! (Plus raise funds for the American Red Cross)
The Fine Print Teams of 9-15 players at least 16 years old. l Each team must have at least two women. l $200 per team or $25 per individual. l Register by Sept. 11 l Prizes for the winning team and most creative team uniform. l
Saturday, Sept. 21 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Check in at 8 a.m.) Parks Williams Athletic Complex 2011 Ashton Avenue in Monroe
Don’t play kickball? No worries! Come enjoy the fun and cheer on your local teams.
To register, call (704) 283-7402.
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Lifestyle UNION
Contents Union Lifestyle August / September 2013
August / September 2013 Vol. 2, No. 5
Editor Nancy E. Stephen
Deb Coates Bledsoe Jessie Lindberg Luanne Williams
5
14
Salvage Shop – a
Entrepreneur keeps
treasure trove
memorabilia to
Photographers
for the crafty.
remember his roots.
Deb Coates Bledsoe Michele Curel Nancy E. Stephen Danny Sernick Ellen Vilas
6
18
A $13,700
New? Or not?
European trip –
We shopped
and no showers!
consignment.
Contributing Writers
Union Lifestyle A publication of Cameo Communications, LLC PO Box 1064 Monroe, NC 28111-1064 (704) 753-9288 www.UnionLifestyle.com Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/UnionLifestyle
On the cover Amber Norquist, AKA Gumdrop, paints a child’s face at Latham’s Nursery.
8
20
Mother and
Life Lessons:
daughter just
God gives silver
clownin’ around.
platters for a reason.
9
22
Rubber face
If you could choose
serves local
dinner guests, who
magician well.
would you choose?
12
24
Monroe mom a
The Derby:
world-known
New decor, same
lighting designer.
yummy food.
Nancy Stephen photo
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 3
Does your appearance really matter? Freshen your look – it doesn't have to cost a fortune.
‘I look younger and less stressed . . . but I still look like me.’
Waldman Dermatology Certified by the American Board of Dermatology 1423 E. Franklin St. Monroe, NC 28112 (704) 289-9448
10512 Park Rd., Suite 113 Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 542-8018
Thanks, I’ll keep my day job!
L
ots of jobs look glamorous and easy – from a distance. More than once I’ve exclaimed “I could do that” only to discover that I really couldn’t. For this edition, several women shopped Union County’s consignment and secondhand shops, just to satisfy our curiosity of “hmm, wonder what’s out there?” Many people shop secondhand shops to save money, but I’d heard that good “designer” buys also were available. Were they? Friends quickly joined in the hunt, but I needed a model for adult clothes. Hey, I can do that! I momentarily forgot my body is nothing like off-the-rack sizes. But the shopping was fun. I perused multiple stores and found items in each that I’d be happy to wear – and will, now that the clothes are in my closet. Friend and photographer Deb Bledsoe offered to “shoot” me in my fashions. Before it was all over – and our shoot only took 20 minutes, clothes changes included – I really wanted to be shot. Modeling is not my forte, for certain. Deb was encouraging and kind, to say the least. “Move a little to the left . . . put your arm down. Not that arm, the other one. Look at me. That looks awkward. Head up, shoulders down. Looks really good,” she said glibly and continuously. She’s a good friend. Did I mention that our outdoor photo shoot took place during July’s rainy season and that the humidity was about 90 percent – when it wasn’t raining. The clothes were stuck to my back; my hair became plastered to my neck. “Now smile,” Deb continued. Yeah, right! The modeling challenge reminded of another “I can do that” situation several years ago. As a newspaper editor, I participated in live election night coverage on Wingate University’s TV station. I studied hard and took lots of notes on candidates and ramifications of bond issues, should they pass or not. I dressed in my most professional suit, coiffed my hair a la “news anchor ” and troweled extra makeup on my pale skin to accommodate the lights. Nothing, however, would prepare me for the marathon on-camera time. This was back in the day when (a) voting was not totally electronic and (b) the electronic systems that did exist did not work! On air at 7 p.m.; off air after midnight. I must confess – one time, I took a bathroom break and never went back on air. The job of a broadcaster is more difficult that it appears. I could do the local analysis and provide background information, but keeping a pleasant expression on my face was nearly impossible. And I apparently roll my eyes skyward when I’m thinking, which makes me appear to be more than a little ditsy. Eventually, I responded to the election night requests with something like “I’m so sorry, I’ll be cleaning outhouses in eastern Egypt that night.” Truly, I need to stick to my “real” job.
www.garywaldman.com Editor@UnionLifestyle.com
Salvage Shop – Treasure trove for the crafty From left are Donnie Watkins (back), Laura Jordan, Julie Watkins and Brittany Jordan with store mascot, Angel.
By Deb Coates Bledsoe
I
f you’ve lived in Union County for long, you know that the Salvage Shop in Monroe is not only unique, but also a hidden gem. If you want fabric for a dress, you go there. For cloth to cover tables, you go there. For virtually anything related to sewing, you go there. You can find dress patterns, buttons, ribbon, trim, thread, upholstery supplies, decorator fabric, quilt materials and piping cord and much more. “We’ll sell about anything,” jokes Donnie Watkins, who owns the business with his wife, Julie. “If we can make a dollar off it, we’re going to sell it.” If you think he’s kidding, check out the “hair-on cowhides” near the entrance. They sell about six cowhides a month for use as rugs, headboards, pocketbooks, ottomans and wall hangings. While most fabric purchases are for curtains or quilts, folks have made some unique purchases through the years. One resident wanted several thousand yards of heavy outdoor fabric to make into fan covers for chicken houses. Another bought polar fleece to cover a small plane at the airport. But there also are normal purchases, frequently for quilters. “We sell to crafters,” Donnie says, “but not many people make clothes any more.” The majority of their business is upholstery material and foam rubber. Julie and Donnie are second-generation shop owners. Her father, Walter Moser, opened a cloth store in 1977 in a building that has since been torn down. When he opened the doors,
Deb Bledsoe photo
Walter employed his then 18-year-old daughter, Julie. She and her cousin “ran the store while he went out and bought the fabric,” Julie said. “We were thrilled to death the first time we sold $100 worth. We thought we had really done something.” Donnie started working at the cloth store in 1981 helping Walter purchase material from surrounding cotton mills. The two spent each day on buying trips as far away as Georgia, Julie says. In 1986, Julie and Donnie constructed their 9,000-square feet building on Morgan Mill Road. After 36 years, it’s not surprising that the Watkins don’t advertise. “They don’t need to,” says longtime customer Janice Edwards from Wingate. “Everyone knows the Salvage Shop.” “When I sew, the Salvage Shop is the first place I go,” Janice adds. “My mother came here; my sister came here. It’s just a family tradition. You can’t beat the prices here, you really can’t.” The Watkins credit their low prices to one fact – they sell fabric by the pound, not the yard. It’s a tradition that Julie’s father started the day he opened his store. “A lot of people think that’s strange,” she says, but to her, it’s not. “We buy it by the pound and sell it by the pound,” Donnie explains. It’s not as easy to keep the store stocked with cloth these days, since most local mills are gone. “Now I have certain distributors I buy from,” Donnie says, “but it’s harder to find stuff. Ninety percent of everything is imported; it’s hard to find anything American-made any more.” The Salvage Shop is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located at 424 Morgan Mill in Monroe. For more information, call (704) 289-4640.w Deb Coates Bledsoe, a former newspaper editor, is a freelance writer and photographer Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 5
Reykjavikorbust. NewSalemwomenraisesthou$and$ fortheopportunitytoruncrosscountry for7days,withoutshowering. By Nancy E. Stephen
J
aime McDonald is making her first trip abroad in 15 years this summer, but her trip is anything but normal. It’s not like Chevy Chase’s movie “European Vacation” or even the old “If This Is Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium.” There will be no visits to the Eiffel Tower, no serenading gondoliers in Venice and no museum visits.
Jaime McDonald runs along side a competitor at a recent race. Danny Sernick photo
And there’s no shower for seven days. And she’s paying $3,700 for the opportunity. And she had to raise an additional $10,000! The 35-year-old New Salem resident is running 250 kilometers/ 155 miles across rough Icelandic terrain over seven days as part of this year’s Racing the Planet expedition. “They provide tent and water; everything else, including food, is in your backpack,” she explains. Racing The Planet is a privately held company that offers diehard runners worldwide endurance run opportunities while supporting medical and education charities. Jaime is one of seven runners on the Runwell team, which is raising additional funds for drug and alcohol treatment facilities, a charitable endeavor near and dear to her heart. Jaime is a recovering alcoholic, which she calmly tells you upfront, without drama or excuses. Like many alcoholics, Jaime hid her drinking well; her parents never knew their daughter had a problem. But a “critical life point” thrust her into excessive drinking, she explains. A former boyfriend broke into her house and then committed suicide, which Jaime just couldn’t handle emotionally. “At that point, I struggled with drinking . . . and struggled with it . . . and struggled with it. It just snowballed from there. 6 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
“Every night, I’d black out, get up the next day and go get more alcohol. I don’t know how I survived.
After mastering the half marathon, she set her sights on the Chicago marathon. She was in the midst of training when Runwell approached her about being on its Iceland team for Racing The Planet.
“One night, when it was the darkest of the dark, there was a moment of clarity. I cried myself to sleep, then went to my parents.” And then she stopped drinking – cold turkey – and turned her life around.
Since Chicago, Jaime has run a marathon or 50K (31 miles) every month. Her running coach lives in Colorado, but because of her dedication, the distance doesn’t matter. Her coach sends a weekly running program, and they video and phone chat.
“Addiction is such a taboo subject,” she says. “People don’t want to talk about it.” That’s something she knows personally. Jaime has experienced negativity when she speaks about her recovery efforts, which she discusses openly. “We’ve got to talk about it more and get more people involved.” She attempted to start running while still drinking, seeing a friend who had lost 60 pounds. “I thought ‘I’d like to do that.’ I’ve battled my weight since I was 14 and tried all sorts of diets.” But she soon realized that sobriety was the priority. “I ran three 5K races before I gave up alcohol, though.” One month into sobriety, she ran another 5K, and then another and another. “That first 5K, when I crossed the finish line, I knew I’d finally accomplished something. I went out there and did it; it was 100 percent me. When I started the race, I started crying; when I finished, I was crying. “I decided to run a half marathon and joined a training program in Charlotte. After it, I continued running, but focused on training, not races.” But that didn’t last long. “It’s overwhelming when the race starts. When I start out, my legs feel like cinderblocks. When I get into a groove, I get euphoric. “When you cross the finish line and you’ve done it, everyone is there cheering you. You cross the finish line, they announce your name and put a medal over your head. It’s amazing.” “I’m not built like a normal runner and I’m not the fastest runner out there, but I still get my medal,” she says. Completing a race “is a sense of accomplishment. There are so many emotions.”
Running and exercise are Jaime’s life. She cross-trains and runs seven days a week, typically about 45 miles. Last year, she accumulated close to 2,000 miles and is shooting for 2,500 miles this year. “The rest of the time, I’m trying to recoup.” When she’s not running, she’s a private running coach and oversees trainings for Charlotte Running Company, providing multi-week training programs addressing form, stretching and nutrition. She meets with clients once a week for 12 weeks, when they should be ready to run a half marathon, she explains. She’s also an ambassador for Great Race Nutrition, Swirlgear and Runwell.
Racing The Planet in Iceland Approximately 300 runners from 40 countries will start in Reykjavik. The first four days of the seven-day trek will be about 25 miles each day, but not necessarily on level ground or even paved road. Then it’s 50 miles in 30 hours, followed by “just” seven miles on the last day. Jaime calls it a run/walk experience and will be using trekking poles to help her navigate water and terrain so steep you can’t run up it. “It could be a lot of power walking.” Jaime has planned her backpack to the nth degree. “You want your pack to be as light as it can be, but at the same time you don’t want to starve while you’re out there.” Her gear weighs about eight pounds, without the food. She wants the total weight to be less than 25 pounds and is taking dehydrated meals and protein powder for meals, plus peanut or almond butter, peanuts and beef jerky. The route follows the outside edge of Iceland, where Jaime expects to see gorgeous vistas each day, including geysers, volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers and fjords. She also plans to blog when possible at www.4deserts.com/beyond/iceland/ Taking just one pair of shoes, she’ll remove the insoles at night to air out. She’s also taking just two sets of clothes, airing one out each night while she sleeps in the other. “Water is for food purposes only, not for washing,” she explains, adding, “By day three, everyone will be smelling so bad, you won’t know if it’s you.” Temperatures on the course are expected to be between 54°F and 71°F during the day and 32°F at night. “There will be about 20 hours of daylight at that time. Northern lights should be visible; that should be great to see when it gets dark.”
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 7
Mother and daughter just clownin’ around By Luanne Williams
Y
ou may have seen them at a carnival, admired their bright pink hair or stepped on one of their oversized feet. Perhaps the mother-daughter duo brought a smile to your face, either with their variety of colorful paints or their silly clown antics.
Local clowns Glitterbugg and Gumdrop, also known as Kristen Warden and Amber Norquist. They are Glitterbugg and Gumdrop, also known as Kristen Warden and Amber Norquist, and they’re a familiar sight at area parties, festivals and grand openings. But as much fun as they now inspire, Kristen's decision to pursue clowning a dozen years ago was anything but lighthearted. Born in Alaska, Kristen, 47, grew up in Charlotte and moved with her husband to Monroe. Each year when she took their children to Festival in the Park at Charlotte's Freedom Park, she would find herself mesmerized by the clown acts. “I was fascinated by their antics, the way they moved, their facial expressions, the face makeup, their shoes. I loved everything about these clowns,” she says. A television ad for Shriner's Clown Camp further piqued her curiosity, and soon she found herself absorbing every aspect of the art form at the two-day convention in Charlotte, where she bought an outfit and a horn, took a few classes and had a veteran clown create her Glitterbugg face. 8 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
FU
“I was overwhelmed with everything. Mind you, I had never considered being a clown in the past,” Kristen says. “My husband had no idea.” In fact, she was so overwrought with her decision to become a clown and a face painter that she almost didn't make it home from the event. “I left the convention that night late with my clown face on and my regular clothes on at around midnight,’ she says. “I had to stop at a convenience store and call an ambulance as I was having a panic attack!” Over the next month, Kristen read everything she could about clowning, practiced painting on faces (despite having not one “artful bone” in her body, she says) and booked her first party. “I was a nervous wreck, but you know if it is something you want bad enough, the strength comes from somewhere deep inside,” she says. “I was not going to let anything or anyone, not even my own insecurities, stop me from making this happen. I did it, and it was an awesome rush!” Although Kristen took a year-long hiatus from clowning when her husband was injured and became a paraplegic, she couldn't give up her Glitterbugg personality and was back at it by 2005, improving her skills, getting great feedback and finding herself overbooked. “Amber was just starting college and needed money, and I had an extra clown gig. But Amber was having no part of being a clown,” she remembers. Alas, the need for a paycheck and the promise of expert face painting instruction from her mom — not to mention a brand new costume that Kristen sewed for her — won her over, and Gumdrop was born. “I had bought a lot of face paint and read everything on face painting, so I taught Amber through necessity, and she began to love it,” Kristen says. Her husband, Tracy, and son, John, attended a clown convention in Kentucky with Kristen, and John became Gumball, specializing in balloon art. Though the clowning was not a longterm venture for him, it has become a way of life for Kristen and Amber, who split the engagements they contract. “We rarely work together, but we do practice together,” Kristen says.
JO
Please see Clowns on Page 11
UN
Magician connects with kids of all ages By Luanne Williams
W
hen Jason Frame got his first magic set at age 6, he didn't realize his first tricks were the beginning of a career. Nearly three decades later, he’s found the true magic lies in inspiring children. A motivational speaker, balloon artist and manager of several companies, including Fun Filled Entertainment, Hocus Jokus, eTrickShop, etc., Jason finds himself most at home when he's interacting with children and families at birthday parties, festivals, churches or as a table-side attraction at area restaurants. “I prefer medium size crowds or the more intimate settings because what I like to get across to kids is that ‘magic is possible; this is fun; we're going to have a good time’,” says Jason, 34, of Monroe. He’s been hooked since his parents gave him a Harry Blackstone magician’s kit. “I started putting on shows for my friends and family and charging them a quarter or a dime. Then when I saved up money, the first thing I did was to buy another trick,” he says. He was further inspired at age 11 when his dad took him to see David Copperfield. By the end of high school, he was doing hundreds of shows per year — charging more than a quarter — and finding himself increasingly in demand at birthday parties, NASCAR events and alongside radio personalities at remote broadcasts. He also found people eager to buy the paraphernalia he was using and began selling magic supplies at a flea market booth and then online. He started Fun Filled Entertainment in 1999 and later opened Abra Magic Shop, now located at 2330 Concord Highway. Known to some as “The Real Balloon Guy,” Jason doesn't wear a cape or create a mysterious persona when he performs his illusions. The self-taught performer sees himself as “just a normal guy” entertaining with comedy and sleight of hand and helping kids and their parents retain or recapture a childlike sense of wonder.
BS
“I love kids, and I've seen over the years, they just seem to have less self-esteem. Compared to 10 or 15 years ago, it seems like there is less ‘kid’ in kids today,” he says. “Seems like they are withdrawing into themselves or playing their (video) games.” Jason says he knows many children are growing up without family stability or in peer settings where they feel pressured to conform. He uses magic to counteract those stressors. “I see 9- and 10-year-old girls wearing makeup,” he laments. “I tell kids, ‘you don't have to dress like everybody else, you don’t need to do drugs’.” His magic gives him a connection with youngsters and an avenue to encourage them. In June, he performed at Lake Lure's Camp CARE (Cancer Ain't Really the End) for a few hundred children and had an 8-year-old blind girl help him make a rabbit appear. He says she was overjoyed as her caregiver explained what was happening.
Please see Magician on Page 10
Jason Frame uses his “rubber face” to bolster the excitement during his magic shows. Nancy Stephen photo Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 9
Pregnant bellies and bald heads bring new ‘care
A
really like this fun art form,” Kristen says of belly painting. From floral designs to frogs, basketballs to jack-o-lanterns, she's created a variety of scenes and says moms often tell her the process of having their bellies painted is as relaxing as a massage. Flowers and butterflies are her most requested designs. Kristen says the most difficult scene to paint was the N.C. State Wolfpack coming out of a basketball.
fter years of face painting, Kristen Warden, also known as Glitterbugg, decided she wanted a bigger canvas. Enter pregnant bellies. “I started researching and found people
Magician
Magician and balloon artist Jason Frame creates a balloon hat for Emma Boyer, 8, of Indian Trail. Nancy Stephen photo
What makes the magic work, Jason says, is his ability to tailor his performance to the crowd, whether it's a camp performance or a hospital visit. “You can’t just do a scripted act; you've got to be able to read your audience and see what they are responding to,” he says. “When I go to an event, I bring two or three different shows, and I'm flexible enough to switch.” He says a typical Saturday may find him at four to six parties doing magic and balloons, and each will turn out a little different. He incorporates new tricks amongst crowd favorites until they're fully mastered, and then drops some of older illusions. Some tricks, however, he can’t seem to discard because his fans won’t let him. “There's one trick where I take a little ball that I ‘eat’ during the show, and then all these balls come back out followed by
10 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
Once, “this lady was coming over to get painted, and she kept changing the date for me to paint. When she finally showed up and I started doing her belly, I could see remnants of permanent marker,” Kristen says. “She said her husband had thought he could paint with markers — that didn't work out too well.” Pregnant bellies aren't the only shapes
streamers. And then I sneeze a giant sneeze, and this seven-inch ball comes out of my head,” he says. “I took it out of the show and some people got mad, so I had to put it back in. I've been doing that trick for 15 years.” Jason doesn't tire of the same tricks because the audience makes each experience unique. As for goals beyond growing his businesses, he jokes that when he gets married, he would like a wife “who would fit nicely into a box and not mind if I chop her into pieces and put her back together.” Meanwhile, he'll keep fine-tuning his dexterity and eye-to-hand coordination, and keep reminding kids of the fun of magic and the joy of childhood. To see the Jason in action, go to Stars Burgers in Indian Trail any second or fourth Wednesday or to Showmars in Monroe any Tuesday during the dinner hour (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) or log on to www.FunFilledEntertainment.com and click on appearances.
Clowns
before,” she says. “When you are sitting there with a child in front of you — this child, a couple sponges, a few brushes and a table full of paint — what else could be better?”
“Sometimes we bump heads over who gets which job or how to create a certain design, but it all works out.”
eer’ to clown that Kristen has transformed. She once got a request to paint the heads of 11 bald men. “When the guy called I thought he was pulling my leg. I had a blast. So funny to see older men get excited about a picture painted on their head.”
“I love seeing the kids’ eyes light up when you hand them that mirror and they see the creation come alive on their face,” she adds. “I get excited just thinking about it.”
Now 27 and a student at Central Piedmont Community College, Amber says she’ll probably always be involved in clowning and face painting, no matter where her culinary studies take her. The mother of a 4-year-old son, she says she enjoys painting girly designs best, but tries to stay abreast of popular kid movie characters or other themes that little ones may request.
Glitterbugg tailors her own persona to fit the situation, toning her costume down to a silly hat and colorful socks at times to avoid frightening little ones who may be afraid of characters, or going all out when the occasion warrants.
“We've done several jobs where I paint adults before they go out for the night,” she says. “We've had a lot of guys who want it done. When it's adults, we get to be a little more elaborate and take a little more time than the three minutes we have with kids.” She's painted football helmets on bald men (left), masquerade faces for nights on the town or St. Patrick's Day parties. As her hobby grew into a family business, Kristen never lost the enthusiasm that led her into clowning and face painting. “I was very happy to be able to make a few extra dollars and still enjoy my passion for the creative side of me that I didn't even know existed a few years
Noisy parties don't break her concentration. “I just tune everyone out and just focus on the little one in front of me,” she says. “It is so calming. I get a feeling of almost tunnel vision — me, my paint, an idea and a beautiful canvas of unique faces to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art.” In addition to Amber, Kristen has also taught clowning and face painting to her sister-in-law, Denice Reynolds of Lincolnton, who is now Daisy Doo. All of the clowns can be reached on their Web site, www.FaceArtAndMore.com.
Luanne Williams is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor. t
If you haven’t visited in awhile, you haven’t seen The “New” Derby!
Daily food and drink specials
1012 Skyway Drive in Monroe l www.TheDerbyOnline.com l 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 11
By Nancy E. Stephen
I
f you’ve heard the comment about small-town business professionals – if we were good, we’d live in a big city – you haven’t met Dusti Helms Wiggins. Dusti, a 42-year-old mother of two, has “been there, done that.” She still “does that,” but is happy to work from her hometown of Monroe. As an internationally-renown lighting designer, she has designed lighting for venues ranging from Chanel Cosmetics counters to the Walt Disney concert hall in Los Angeles and the Kiasma contemporary art museum in Helsinki. She describes her entrance into the world of international lighting design this way. “I met a (New York) lighting designer when I was in interior design school in UNCGreensboro. During a two-week honors studio, something really connected. I always struggled to finish a project in design school, but in this studio, it clicked.”
Max Center in Bilbao, Spain c. photo by Michele Curel
But she was hooked on lighting design. After graduation, she took an internship in Philadelphia at a firm that created master plans for cities such as Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore and whole college campus lighting. “I was supposed to stay for a summer and stayed 3 1/2 years.” From there, her rise to international acclaim was quick. “I went to a small firm in New York City and did some of the most prestigious projects in the world,” she says quietly and matter-of-factly. “I did the Mercer Hotel in New York and a new entry to Disneyland in Los Angeles.” In between, she lighted the Sony Center in Berlin with its 3 million square footage, then the largest project in Europe.
Dusti laughs as she recalls the lighting studio and what might be considered as her ego. “I had taken one lighting class and did very well in that class. I thought I was the queen of lighting.”
“I worked about 120 hours a week, but I loved it.” While designing on her own, Dusti also became the studio director of the lighting firm, managing all the designers.
The first day in the studio, she learned quite the opposite. “I realized I knew nothing about lighting technically. You have to bring together the aesthetic and technical.”
But after years of jetting around the world – focusing lights in Helsinki, as well as to trips to Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles – “I was getting a little burned out.” Not surprising, since she had also started a catering company. “I needed a little mental break.”
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12 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
She found a niche in upscale residential lighting for clients with high-end art collections. “My clients have spent millions of dollars on art for their home and need a professional lighting designer. One collection was valued at more than $100 million, so for him to spend $150,000 on lighting, it was nothing.” The artwork “has to look like it’s supposed to look, but you also have to consider the sensitivity to light and to take care of them. We could set a light level for normal days to care for the paintings and program a brighter setting for parties.
Monroe mom an internationally-acclaimed lighting designer Private residence in Naples, Fla. read, and he’s going to need this light.” The homeowners “show up when the home is finished. The house is staged; the lights are set; the refrigerator is stocked and Band-aids are in the cabinet.” Dusti decided to move back to Monroe in 2007 after a family visit. “I got reconnected with my family and knew I just wanted to be here. I had been struggling with living in New York and where my career was.” She didn’t know if she could keep her career going from Union County, “but thought I’d give it a try. And it has worked; I have all the work I can do right now.
Bombay Talkie, an Indian restaurant in New York City “I love the scale and the interaction with the residential client. You have to walk them through everything.” Before Dusti begins lighting a home art gallery or art spread throughout the house, she knows exactly where each piece of art will go and the size of it. “The artwork that I get to light is amazing! I get to go focus each light on each painting. “Homeowners sometimes buy their art at auction, but they’ve never seen it properly lighted until we’re finished. It’s very exciting. “It’s interesting to look at how to light art in a home versus a museum. In a museum, it’s always about going from piece to piece to see it. When it’s in a dining room, it’s not all about the art. It’s more about mood. Some pieces might not be lighted during dinner or be more dimly lighted for coffee or after dinner drinks.”
“At first, I thought I’d work with people in Charlotte, but realized with the Internet, it doesn’t matter. I still work with some of the same people,” including retail chain Brunello Cucinelli, an Italian cashmere line, where she lights four to five locations a year and with Chanel. “Their executive director is someone I worked with 15 years ago. She called me out of the blue after searching my website.” Another benefit to moving back was her reconnection with her now husband, John Wiggins. They knew each other casually many years ago, but John moved to Germany for a few years before moving back home to Union County, too. The couple now has two children, Zac, 2, and Amanda, 1. “I like to do smaller scale residential and retail so that I can focus on the entire project while my kids are napping.”
High-end residential has a few perks. “The high end client doesn’t micromanage. You feel the freedom to do your work. They’re just so gracious, but you have to know your boundaries.” Dusti has created whole house lighting control systems for expensive homes across the country. And they can be complex. “You could push a button and set the lighting for the entire day or push another to set the lighting for a party. “You have to think like this. The client is going to sit here and
Restoring Historic Downtown Monroe . . . one building at a time. Office and retail space available John Wiggins, 704.242.4393 www.UrbanMonroe.com
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 13
Entrepreneur keeps nostalgic decor at hand to By Nancy E. Stephen
D
ennis Moser knows he’s living a good life and is very thankful for it. The 48-year-old has worked long and hard to build his life from a childhood in Monroe when his mother worked three jobs to support the family and he trapped rabbits for meals. But Dennis will quickly tell you that his success isn’t due to him alone. His employees have given their hearts to The Moser Group, he says, but God has guided his life all the way. Dennis, his two sisters and mom originally lived in the Camp Sutton area of Monroe. “I grew up so poor,” Dennis remembers. “Those were very difficult times.” But Dennis didn’t know his life was tough; it was just what he knew. “I thought I had the world licked. I didn’t realize that Mom was always so tired because she struggled with three jobs. When she
The Moser Group office features multiple scenes of nostalgia, which give clients a warm, cozy feeling when they visit. Nancy Stephen photos
14 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
had a good week, she’d always buy Brunswick BBQ sandwiches as a special treat. And she made the best sweet tea. “I always remember a day in 1976, sitting on the end of the foldout couch in the living room (which his mother Barbara slept on), watching the Olympics on a black and white TV with foil on the antenna. She had heated up a sandwich and I had the tea, and I thought ‘life can’t get any better than this.’ That was the greatest day.” With a drive atypical for most teens, Dennis started his first business – lawn care – at the age of 10. Later he and friend Grant Hall started Horizon Enterprises, while both were in college. “We worked odd jobs to help pay our way through school. We planned to stop working two weeks before going back to college, buy a VW bus and head across country to Montana. But we stayed so busy and had so much work that we worked through and never made the trip.” With no family backing him, Dennis’ college career at Appalachian State was funded through his hard work, a Pell grant, a scholarship for leadership and loans. He knew early on that his career would be in real estate. It’s a field that he wanted to be in since the ninth grade. “I worked on a construction crew building duplexes. I started asking the contractor what it cost to build, asked the owner about the rent and looked at the financials. It excited me; I knew then that I wanted to be in the real estate business.” Dennis’ primary business, The Moser Group, currently is listed as eighth in the region for commercial real estate sales. While Dennis was in college, a banker advised him to build up his credit and loaned the student $500 unsecured, which he quickly paid back. The next loans were for $1,000, then $5,000 that he also paid back promptly. “That’s how I started building up my credit.”
o remind him of his roots
By his senior year in college, he was ready for the real estate development business. He bought a corner lot in Wingate for $12,500, intending to build a car wash, but never did. Instead of developing the land, he sold it, financing a 30-year loan personally. “I sold it for a lot more than I paid for it,” he says. “That was a good decision.” His next foray into real estate was the building of a duplex, where he lived in one side and rented the other. “That made my payments; we ended up living there for nine years.”
By “we,” he includes his wife Patti, who he met in college and married in 1990. He gives Patti credit in the success of The Moser Group. “Without her, I wouldn’t have achieved in the world’s eyes the success that we’ve achieved. She handled the books and worked behind the scenes in the early days.” The couple has two daughters – MacKenzie, 19, who is studying commercial real estate in college, and Lexie, 15. The Mosers eventually moved into a house at Lake Providence, but even then, Dennis didn’t buy a home the typical way.
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 15
“We saved money to buy the lot and paid for half the cost of the house immediately. The rest, we paid in just a few years.” Dennis built The Moser Group “one project at a time, making sure that each stood on a good foundation, that each had a good cash flow.” In May 2000, he wanted to go debt free personally and acquired business partners. “My goal was to stop guaranteeing the notes personally. Fortunately, I’ve since had great partners who we’ve been able to make money for. It’s allowed me to have less risk, so it’s worked good both ways.”
The Moser Group wasn’t immune to the financial downturn that started in 2008. “When a depression hits the industry, you give it all back, paying employees, paying real estate taxes. “We’ve been blessed and fortunate to make it because we’ve had low debt, because we had a cash flow and because we did a study in 2009 to find out what industries were thriving in the nation. “We found that two areas heating up were movie industry and apartments. Those are two things we tried to focus on; that’s what is in demand.”
Sun Valley Commons
The beginning of D’Moes
“Sun Valley Commons will be a good project. We started a $60 million project when others thought we were crazy.”
The office of The Moser Group is unremarkable from the outside, but it’s a gem inside. Dennis has rebuilt a 1940s Texaco service station inside, with original 1948 pumps and a ’47 Dodge pickup and drink machines from the ’40s and ’50s.
Dennis and his partners developed the 53-acre complex home to Sun Valley 14 theater, multiple restaurants, offices and more. The theater is expected to draw more than 500,000 people each year. He hopes the development eventually will be a focal point of shopping in Union County. “Our goal was to stop the tax dollars from leaving Union County and to create an area to keep the shopping and folks here. This benefits our county, schools and residents.” Having achieved the first step of creating a destination location and restaurants, the development now looks to attract stores for shoes, clothing, jewelry and sporting goods, as examples, as well as medical offices. Already, a dance studio and dentist have committed to a new building facing Old Charlotte Highway. The Moser Group has ridden the growth of Indian Trail well, but it wasn’t quick. “When we started in Indian Trail in 1989, there were 2,600 residents; now there are 34,000. We’ve been involved in a lot of (U.S.) 74 development and industrial projects. A lot of the restaurants and retail, we’ve been involved with. We did Lowe’s and are working to develop an apartment complex with 384 units. There’s a great demand in Indian Trail.” His plan has always been to buy the best corners at stoplights and locations with the highest traffic arteries. “Our focus is on Providence Road, Old Monroe, US 74 and Idlewild, the main arteries from I-485.”
16 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
“It’s about memories,” he explains. “The concrete floors intentionally have cracks and flaws just to remind us of the simple times.” A functioning, but unneeded decorative screen door to his office closes with a squeak followed by a bang, invoking additional memories, and visitors are offered a Nehi peach or grape drink and a Moon Pie. “If you keep it simple, it’s comfortable and relaxing for people who come in.” Dennis took his love of nostalgia to the development of D’Moes, a hotdog restaurant in Indian Trail. When the real estate business slowed down, Dennis and his partners sought new opportunities, which inspired Dennis to dream of creating his own restaurant. The restaurant’s name is takeoff on his name and a high school nickname. “I always wanted it to be a simple concept, and hotdogs are the simplest thing you can put together. I found out there is a great demand for this concept and look. It’s about consumer demand; folks are very passionate about hotdogs, just like BBQ. They like it THEIR way; it’s got to be a certain way.” The Indian Trail restaurant is a test of the concept and menu, and the company is exploring numerous franchise opportunities.
‘How do you keep it together?’
And in the future?
A stressed friend once asked, “How do you keep it together?” Dennis wasn’t certain. “So I looked at our finances to see how we lived and discovered how we lived was a key to our peace.”
Full retirement is not in Dennis Moser’s game plan. “I hope to stay involved in the brokerage/sales side of the real estate business. I’ll likely back off of the development side, slow down eventually.”
From the beginning, Dennis gave away 10 percent of his time and money, saved 15 percent, invested 50 percent back in the company and lived on 25 percent. That’s why he drove a 1979 pickup with the back end rusted out for many years, then a Honda with 180,000 miles. “We lived that ‘delayed gratification lifestyle,’ but we didn’t know it at the time. We were buying land, investing in car washes and real estate instead of houses, cars and personal vacations. That financial dedication then allows me to now choose how I spend my time.” Dennis has turned his personal financial model into a ministry, speaking at the Free Enterprise Leadership Camp at Wingate University, schools and churches. “I feel a responsibility to teach the next generation about financial planning. They want it now, but I’m trying to teach them that if they live (my delayed gratification) lifestyle for seven to 10 years, they can be free financially. If you don’t have your finances in order, work will always be No. 1. “You need to invest in what you’re passionate about, do what you love. I did. I’ve never had a day when I had to go to work. Instead, I had the opportunity to go to work.”
But, he adds, “I’d like to work as long as I’m able. It’s a lot of fun to me, a challenge. It excites me. “I like creating jobs for folks in our county, like creating the good places to live, work and shop.” Has he fulfilled his life dream? “I wanted to be a good husband, dad and friend. Businesswise, I never dreamed of it going to this level and having the opportunities I have had. “One of my goals is to build a YMCA in Indian Trail and partner with one of the hospitals to have a dementia wing to offer a medical side to care for dementia patients and another side where they can work out their minds and bodies. I would like to be a part of a team to create that.” His mother suffered from dementia for many years prior to her death, and Dennis participated in her care. “I want people to remember that I cared – that I loved Union County and that I made a difference in quality of life for the future generations. Not for my business successes, but for my heart and contributions to others.”
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In his spare time Dennis has a passion for the outdoors; he loves to golf, fish and hunt. He’s hunted predators around the world and is one of 10 pros featured on the Bass Pro Shops' AWA Whitetail Pro Series on the Outdoor Channel. “For me, it's the passion of the pursuit, not the kill,” he says, which makes the Pro Series ideal. In this competition, hunters don't actually kill the deer, but track it the same as any other hunt. Instead of bullets, the hunters shoot blanks and the shotgun’s digital scope has a memory card that keeps track of his accuracy. The 10-second video clips are used to determine the most skillful hunter. He’ll film in November for the 2014 season.
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Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 17
New?(Or Not?) Look what we found!
Most women (and a few men) love to shop for bargains. When complimented on our attire, we’re quick to say “Thanks,” then confess (or brag) that we paid $7.98 for our dress. It’s a badge of honor to find really inexpensive things – whether they are clothing or household goods.
We wondered what inexpensive items we could find in the county’s consignment and secondhand shops that could fit into our lifestyle. Here’s what Jennifer Lawrence, Ellen Vilas, Sheila Crunkleton and I found in just a few hours of shopping in some of Union County’s many shops. - Editor Nancy Stephen
Nancy Stephen photos Top left, Amelia Lawrence, 6, wears a Lilly Pulitzer wrap skirt ($10.50), while Benton, 4, sports a yellow Gymboree shirt and Circo shorts ($2.80.) All from Butterflies & Bullfrogs. Above, Amelia wears a Fresh Produce dress ($5.50) and new green hair clip ($6) and Benton has a Mini Boden motorcycle shirt ($5.50). All from Butterflies & Bullfrogs. Left, Amelia styles in a pink Lilly Pulitzer dress ($6.99) while her brother wears Gymboree plaid shorts ($3.49) and a Basic Editions blue polo shirt ($3.49). All from Kids Korner.
18 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
Left, Nancy Stephen wears a gown by Cache (retail value $150), just $24.99 at Designer Consigner. Above, new Kim Rogers shorts ($6, Upscale Resale), a new sample knit shirt ($15.99, Designer Consigner), and new Aigner sandals ($10, Second Chance Boutique.) Right, shorts by Bamboo Traders ($6, Upscale Resale), with a generic white Tshirt ($4.95, Sister Chix), Susan Graver red jacket ($14.39, Designer Consigner) and new Ann Marin sandals ($7, Upscale Resale.) Deb Coates Bledsoe photos Our mantel holds a blue pottery plate ($10.36, Southern MarketPlace), small blue Seagrove vase ($7.95 at the MarketPlace), clear round vase with flowers ($15, Second Chance Boutique) and a small picture in frame ($3, Second Chance). Our bed tray (not purchased) holds the Seagrove vase, an English china cup and saucer ($5, Hidden Treasure), a book ($.99 at The Thrift Store), and a small plate ready for toast ($4, Southern Whimsy). Ellen Vilas photos
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 19
God gave me – and you – a silver platter for a reason By Jessie Lindberg
genetic abnormality that has never been seen before – by anyone, anywhere. We were told that his future was unknown and we would just have to wait to see how he progressed. Brody is now 5 and although he does a lot of babbling, his diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech means he doesn’t say any words. He has severe developmental delays and is years behind kids his age. Will he ever get a job, get married, move out on his own? All of those are unknowns to us for now. The only way I can describe how it feels to have a child with special needs, while all your friends are having perfectly, healthy, “normal” children, is that it feels like you are on a deserted island screaming for help and no one can hear you. No one, no matter how close they are to you or how much they want to support you, can understand what it’s like to watch each age that a milestone should occur pass, and you don’t see it. Other kids are running, talking, learning and your little guy is standing by watching it all happen. It’s heartbreaking, and you cry and you ask why and wish things could just be normal. And I did all that, until one day, I looked into Brody’s eyes and saw the most genuine, pure form of happiness a human could possibly possess, and I realized how wasteful that sadness was. My son struggles with things that come so easily to other children, and yet there is nothing about those struggles that dampens the pure joy he gets out of the smallest things in life.
W
hen I was young and scribbling my future children’s names in the back of my diary, I remember saying numerous times, “When I have a baby…” and planning exactly what I would do and what my life would be like. I remember wanting four children, a wonderful husband and all those things that girls dream of. And my life is every bit as fulfilling and wonderful as my 17-year old mind had planned on it being. But it certainly is not what I had planned. I got my fairy tale when I married my sweet husband Tregg in April 2005. We were a fun-loving, social couple who never stayed home. We both worked in the corporate world and were truly living a dream. Soon our friends started having children, all healthy and happy. And on June 7, 2008, our precious son Brody was born. When Brody was about 36 hours old, we were told by doctors that he needed genetic testing because they suspected that he had a chromosomal abnormality. It turns out that our little boy has a
Shhh!
SPEAKEASY
Don your 1920s glad rags for a swingin’ good time!
Saturday, Sept. 7 s 7 p.m.
Live music by Union Jazz and Southern Fried Jazz
Coca-Cola Event Center in Monroe (704) 283-2525 s UnionSymphony.org for tickets $50 each
Food and drink Dancing Gaming tables Silent movies Vintage shop Photo booth .
This project is supported by the Union County Community Arts Council and the Grassroots program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.
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e f i l ns o s s le
It’s incredible that a 5-year old can unintentionally see the bigger picture and put things into a perspective that I now realize that only a young child can. It was at that moment that I knew that there was, in fact, a bigger picture. And it was my life and my opportunity to take the cards that I know I was purposefully dealt, and embrace them. I started to feel honored. This child was not given to me by accident. God knew that I would do right by him and give him all opportunities he deserves, while never letting a day go by without him knowing how special he was. It was also no accident that I walked into the office of The Arc of Union County two years ago to get some guidance on how to best provide for my son, and they were hiring. Wow. My life had come full circle, and my purpose in life was handed to me on a silver platter. I wear several hats at The Arc, and each of them gives me the opportunity to help parents like me, and to let them know that they’ve been given a gift, and I’m here to help them navigate through their journey. This experience has made me a better mom, a better advocate for my own son and, most importantly, it has helped me gain a level of perspective that makes every day a richer, happier one. Don’t mistake an opportunity for an unlucky hand. Your life has been hand-selected for you. In everything, try to find your silver platter. Jessie Lindberg is resource/development coordinator at The Arc of Union County.
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The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In the 2013-14 academic year, South Piedmont will offer 52 associate degree programs, 16 diploma programs, 40 certificate programs.
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 21
frAnklin grAhAm I have watched him grow from a rebel into one of the greatest workers for humanity and world disasters. I love the way he gets his organization, Samaritan's Purse, into action while others are waiting days or weeks for orders to see what's next. I would love to hear his stories!
condoleezzA rice I have always admired and respected her in her career. She has proven time and again how very intelligent and positive she always appears. We share the same birthday, so I would make it a celebration! Lynda Keziah, 2000
williAm henry belk (1862 – 1952) He was an entrepreneur who worked and thought “outside the box” when he opened his first store in Monroe. His enterprise provided quality merchandise as well as jobs. His legacy still provides many jobs and support for the community.
J. rAy shute (1904-1988) He also thought and operated “outside the box.” His forward thinking resulted in the
building of Monroe’s first airport. He was instrumental in Camp Sutton locating in the county during WWII and its hospitals being used as polio hospitals in the 1948-49 epidemic. His visionary thinking in the development of Camp Sutton, after it was decommissioned, into a business park has created many jobs and wealth in the county. Johnny Pigg, 2012
who wou your t
frAmers
of the constitution I never cease to be amazed that 30 plus men were able to sit down, talk about what this country would need to guide it through all of the growing that it would experience and come up with a document that still has relevance to us almost 300 years later. It still protects our rights and gives us a solution to what to do about issues that might arise that have not been addressed. Isn't that foresight amazing? Carol Tyson, 2003
Arnold pAlmer He and I are the same age, and I have followed his spectacular career since his Wake Forest days. He single handedly brought golf to the masses, making it an
Union Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center
If you could invite any two people, alive or deceased, to have dinner with you, who would you ask? And why? We posed these questions to some Men and Women A combined
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pArty with four guests
Ed and I laughed when we discovered we both wanted to invite the Obamas and the Clintons. But that would be four guests and we were each “allowed” only two individuals. Fortunately, we theorized, we could combine our two individuals each thus allowing us to collectively have both couples for a dinner party! There are interesting similarities between them and yet each is very unique. Neither of us would be asking pointed or
uld sit at table?
enormously popular TV experience. His life has been clean and void of any scandal.
billy grAhAm I was mesmerized when I first heard him in Charlotte in 1957. And, although his live preaching days are over, I still take every opportunity to hear him on television. He has preached the Gospel to more people that the Apostle Paul! What a life. Charles Norwood, 1975
my greAt, greAt grAndmother, mAry ruffin pAtterson. During the Civil War, she endured major hardship and was brave and strong. When she refused to tell Northern soldiers where her Southern soldier husband was, they penned her in a chicken coop, saying they would kill her the next day if she didn’t tell. Fortunately, slaves released her during the night and hid her in the forest.
Jesus It would be incredibly interesting to listen
of the Year for Union County. These are their answers. The names are followed by the year the individual was Man or Woman of the Year.
Registration fee only
to him and to discuss all the mysteries of the universe – all the “whys and hows” of his creations. As a Martha, to be able to sit at his feet and truly listen would be to learn the lesson from the Biblical Martha. It would be an opportunity to redeem my name and follow his admonishment. Martha Allen, 2012
elizAbeth i
of englAnd (1533-1603) Henry VIII's daughter who never married, but reigned masterfully for half a century.
elizAbeth lewis (1790-1882) She was my third great grandmother and traveled from Wales to begin a new life in America amidst Indian and Civil war.
my mother, pAuline elizAbeth edwArds (1917-2004) She was born before women could vote yet bravely home-delivered five babies on a farm during WWII. She died living a feminist's dream life of freedom of choice. Dot Greene, 1989
%RQLWD·V
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REGISTER O 704-289-5733 www.balletuni
– the obAmAs And clintons challenging questions but rather just soaking in the conversation that these four might have. We’d like to experience the flow of thoughts and stories that come from such bright, articulate and humorous people who have shared history in a way none of us could imagine. Should be a lively, entertaining and educational evening! Ed, 2007, and Angela Bower, 2005 Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 23
The Derby: New decor but same yummy meals
T
with the kids. Adults tucked into scrambled eggs and omelets with a variety of meats.
he Derby’s new ads have it correct. If you haven’t been there in awhile, you haven’t seen the “new” Derby. The Monroe landmark on Skyway Drive sports a new name (formerly The Brown Derby), new signage and bathrooms and a new intimate bar area, but the owners wisely kept its traditional offerings, otherwise known as comfort food.
Eating in Union
The lunch and dinner menus scream “comfort,” thanks to a 26-item list of vegetables, plus homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta fish, steaks and more. And it isn’t Burger King, but you can certainly have breakfast “your way” at The Derby.
Bacon, eggs and grits we added the pepper!
Eggs any way, pancakes, waffles, French toast, biscuits and gravy, omelets plus almost any meat you can think of, including livermush, smoked sausage, steaks and pork chops.
We took a party of five adults and two children to enjoy breakfast at The Derby, but we have to admit, it’s one of our favorite breakfast restaurants.. The pancakes were fluffy, not doughy, and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, they made a hit
Ambiance: Recent renovations have taken the ambiance to the next level. The wood that surrounds the bar suggests an old Irish pub. Multiple big screen televisions dot the walls, but the sound is turned down so they’re not intrusive. The Derby also has a private dining room to accommodate 35. (4.25 stars)
Menu: The Derby has great depth of menu, especially if you like Southern food. The restaurant also features Greek
If omelets are your thing, then The Derby will not disappoint. Be ready to share, though; the portions are large. We’re particularly fond of the Greek omelet with feta cheese, tomatoes and onions, but we’ve been known to combine the Greek omelet with the vegetable omelet, which adds peppers and mushrooms to the mix. Out
But with all good breakfast menus, you can create your own omelet, adding ham, sausage, bacon, livermush, peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese (American, cheddar, mozzarella or feta.)
Omelets and other egg specials are served with hash browns or grits and biscuits or toast. The Derby’s bacon is consistently good – very Ribeye steak crispy and never greasy. But beware of the with sweet potato country ham – you’ll get enough for three people or four biscuits. It is delicious, though – never tough. One of our diners is addicted to the oatmeal, calling it “by far, the best oatmeal I’ve had in years. It’s creamy, not gummy,” she says. The grits are also very tasty, and you won’t need to add a thing when they arrive at your table. Hash browns also are nicely cooked, crispy brown outside and soft inside. The most expensive breakfast items are, understandably, an 8-ounce ribeye steak or two pork chops with two eggs, both
and Italian meals and has plenty of lowcalorie and vegetarian options. (4.75 stars)
Quality: No matter the meal, the fried
Value: You really can’t beat the value here. Good food and good prices! (4.75 stars)
food isn’t greasy; salads are always fresh, and food is always hot, seasoned, but not overly seasoned. (4.75 stars)
Overall: Will we return? Absolutely – good food, reasonable prices and you always run into old friends! (4.5 stars)
Service: Wait staff is always friendly and
The Derby 1012 Skyway Drive, Monroe (704) 283-6411 Monday - Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. TheDerbyOnline.com
responsive, and meals are delivered as a group, even when you have a crowd. A little bartending training is needed, though. (4.25 stars)
24 l Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
$9.95. Otherwise, pancakes, waffle, French toast or biscuits and gravy specials, all served with two eggs and meat, are just $4.95 to $5.95. Omelets range from $3.95 to $6.95, and breakfast sandwiches top out at $3.95 for country ham or smoked sausage and egg. On repeated trips, we’ve found the coffee to be consistently Fried founder, shrimp and okra excellent, which you might not think is extraordinary, but we’ve been to far too many restaurants where the coffee is just too darn weak. A second party of five adults visited The Derby one evening, trying everything from beef liver to a Calabash shrimp and flounder plate to a ribeye, hamburger steak and vegetable platters. The hamburger steak from the senior menu ($7.75) was cooked to “medium” as ordered and came with two sides from the long list of old favorites. Mashed potatoes and gravy are always good, and the lightly battered fried squash had a nice flavor. Several different cuts and sizes of steak are featured. The 10ounce ribeye ($19.95) was grilled perfectly to “medium rare” and was juicy and tender. It also came with two sides.
them wonderful and amazingly low-priced. The Key lime pie ($4.25) was light and refreshing, but the lemon meringue pie ($3.95) and chocolate and vanilla tuxedo cake ($4.75) were special. The tuxedo cake features a creamy vanilla cheesecake layer between the darker chocolate cake bottom and the lighter chocolate mousse top layer. The lemon meringue pie also featured three layers with three textures and tastes. Outstanding taste for all, but not low calorie. Our one disappointment was the bartender being off the night we visited. Our waitress couldn't make a traditional martini and didn’t go to find someone who could. We knew that Jimmy, the owner, was on site and could make a martini, if it had been important. But a switch was made to wine.
The Derby offers daily bar specials and wine by the glass or bottle.
One diner suggested you can’t go wrong with fried fish ($10.95), then changed his mind, remembering heavily breaded and greasy fish sometimes found at other restaurants. The Derby’s fish, however, has a light breading and is fried to a light golden brown with no excess oil. The biggest issue with the vegetable plate ($7.25) is choosing just four from the list of 26. Of course, you can always order more. While some turned up their noses at the prospect of ordering beef liver out, one diner called it “scrumptious.” Topped with onions and gravy, it is served with two sides, as are all dinner entrees, and your choice of cornbread or roll – or both!
Vegetable plate: corn, limas, fried okra and baked potato
We can also recommend the vegetable soup, having enjoyed it on many occasions. The bowl ($4.50) is like your mother used to make – chock full of mixed vegetables that didn’t come out of a can. The Derby’s desserts are not made on site, but the Charlotte bakery’s treats are outstanding, so it’s forgiveable. The Derby keeps a visual display of the sweet treats, just to whet your appetite. Our party of five sampled three different desserts and decreed
Lemon meringue pie, tuxedo cake and Key lime pie
Fossil mining Paddle boats & pony rides Animal barn Grain bin slide 1800s train car Kid's play area Horseshoes, corn hole General store Hayrides StartingSept13. Corn maze Pumpkin patch Bonfires Haunted trail Spooky stories & s’mores
From the deep ocean floor to Aw Shucks!
Summerhours byappointment.
Kids can mine fossils the old-fashioned way – with screens and sluice.
Fallpublichours startSept.13.
Classify your fossils and keep all that you find!
$8Admission AwShucksFarms.com for discounts & hours.
3718Plyler MillRd. Monroe (704)709-7000
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 25
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things to do in Sweet Union
26 July
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Aug.
Jammin’ by the Tracks Music by The Horsefly Band (Blues/Classic Rock) 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l Free l Main Street, Waxhaw Bring your lawn chairs! (704) 843-2195
Jammin’ by the Tracks Music by Lauren Light (Pop/Rock/Pop-Punk) 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l Free l Main Street, Waxhaw Bring your lawn chairs! (704) 843-2195
17
Aug.
Music by Yellow Brick Road (Elton John tribute) 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l Free l Main Street, Waxhaw Bring your lawn chairs! (704) 843-2195
Antique and Muscle Car Cruise In Featuring Model A Fords 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. l Free l Main St., Downtown Monroe www.historicdowntownmonroe.org
Southern Style Home & Garden Inspirations 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. l $45 Museum of the Waxhaws www.museumofthewaxhaws.org
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Jammin' by the Tracks
Trial by Fire (Journey Tribute) 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. l Free Main Street, Monroe
Street dance with Hipshack Aug. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l Free Main Street, Waxhaw Get your dancing shoes on for a great night! (704) 843-2195
Southern Hometown Music Festival & Car/Truck Show
Bring your chairs, towel, blanket, coolers and rock the day away with some awesome bands. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. l Aw Shucks Farm l 3718 Plyler Mill Rd., Monroe Featuring: Nine bands, country girl contest General Admission: $12 in advance & $15 at the gate. https://www.facebook.com/events/177122209118259/
forthearea’s
BEST GOLF DEAL!
2
Labor Day Concert
7
Speakeasy - A jazz celebration
Sept. Annualmemberships aslowas$800! Front 9 designed by Donald Ross Champion Bermuda greens Driving range Pro shop
CITY OF
Union Symphony Youth Orchestra 2 p.m. l Free l Marvin Ridge High School (704) 283-2525 or unionsymphony.org
7:30 p.m. l $50 l Coca-Cola Event Center in Monroe drink, dancing, gaming, silent moves, vintage shop. Sept. Food, Music by Southern Fried Jazz Band and Union Jazz (704) 283-2525 or unionsymphony.org to purchase tickets
7
COUNTRY CLUB
Band to be determined 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. l Free l Main Street, Waxhaw Bring your lawn chairs! (704) 843-2195
Aug.
MonroeCountryClub
MONROE
Jammin’ by the Tracks
Music on Main
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Swing by
7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. l Rolling Hills Country Club $35 until July 31; $45 after. Benefits Hometown Heroes and the Union County Community Arts Council
22
Aug.
Jammin’ by the Tracks
Shaggin’ for Dollars - “Hooray for Hollywood”
Sept.
MONROE
Movie Night Movie to be determined Bounce houses, facepainting and games Crossing Paths Park, Indian Trail
a heritage of progress
U.S.601S,Monroen (704)282-4661 MonroeCountryClubGolf.com 26 l Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013
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Sept.
Antique and Muscle Car Cruise In Featuring trucks 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. l Free l Main St., Downtown Monroe www.historicdowntownmonroe.org
21
Kickball Tournament
21
Stallings Fest
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. l Free to watch Parks Williams Athletic Complex 2011 Ashton Ave., Monroe $200 team registration l (704) 283-7402 to register. Benefits American Red Cross
Sept.
Noon - 7:30 p.m. Stallings Municipal Park Free rides, local bands, giveaways and food vendors. Local crafts, artists and businesses!
Sept.
21
2013 Boll Weevil Jamboree
25
Music on Main
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The Gibson Brothers
Downtown Marshville l Free day enjoying vendors, Sept. Spend the music, amusement rides, food and games, then hit the evening street dance. Sponsored by Marshville Chamber of Commerce (704) 624-3183
Monday, Sept. 2 Labor Day Concert Union Symphony Youth Orchestra 2 p.m. at Marvin Ridge High School; free
Friday, Dec. 6 Believe
Union Symphony Youth Orchestra and Union County Youth Ballet 7:30 p.m. at Monroe Crossing; free With Union Jazz, Marvin Ridge Advanced Chorus and Jazz Bonita Simpson, ballet director
Music by Darrell Harwood 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. l Free Main Street, Monroe www.historicdowntownmonroe.org
Sept.
7:30 pm. l $25 Sept. IBMA Entertainer of the Year, Gospel Recorded Event of Year Batte Center at Wingate University www.battecenter.org
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Boots and Bow Ties
Ole Fashioned Country Fair County Community Shelter Sept. Union 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. l $50 Twin Oaks Farm, Wingate Benefits Union County Community Shelter www.unionshelter.org
Got an event the public would enjoy? Submit your activity with all the details: who, what, when, where and cost – to Editor@UnionLifestyle.com for inclusion in the magazine and/or online.
Saturday, Oct. 5 Jazz in Stride Union Symphony Orchestra 7:30 p.m. at The Batte Center; $15-$25
Sunday, Oct. 27 Classical Masterworks Union Symphony Youth Orchestra 4 p.m. at Marvin Ridge High School; $12
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 8-9 Wingate University Opera with Union Symphony Orchestra 7:30 p.m. at The Batte Center; $15 Dr. Jessie Wright Martin, music director
Sunday, Dec. 8
Sunday, March 30 Spring Concert
Union Symphony Youth Orchestra 4 p.m. at Marvin Ridge High School; $12
Sunday, April 27 Full Symphony Relache Union Symphony Orchestra 4 p.m. at The Batte Center; $15-$25
Sunday, May 18 Pops on the Plaza Adult and youth orchestras 4 p.m. in Downtown Monroe, free Sponsored by City of Monroe
A Christmas Concert Union Symphony Orchestra with Central United Methodist Church Festival Choir James O’Dell, music director 5 p.m. at the Monroe church; free
Union Symphony is proud to have Richard Rosenberg as artistic director of Union Symphony Orchestra and Tom LaJoie as music director of the Youth Orchestra.
Call now for the season’s best seating! Season subscriptions available at (704) 283-2525. Section A - $75 t Section B - $55 t Senior Citizen (B) - $45 t Student - $45 www.UnionSymphony.org This project is supported by the Union County Community Arts Council and the Grassroots program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.
Union Lifestyle l August / September 2013 27
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