QC Exclusive - No. 40 - 2017 Issue 4 - The Luxury Issue

T HE Q U IN T ESSEN T IAL CHARLOT T E MAG A ZINE

NO. 40 | J UNE 2017

THE LUXURY ISSUE RK Motors / Stephen Wilson / Lisa Sherry / Clark Barlowe Tryon Equestrian / Ivey’s / The Porter’s House / Rick Lazes

Raise your glasses.

Give the perfect toast with this gold-leaf-garnished Chakri Gin Fizz from The Cellar’s Ron Oleksa, one of the luxe libations featured on p.144.

The 2017 Wedding Guide 20 pages of gowns, cakes, rings, flowers, venues, and more.

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138 HISTORY MEETS LUXURY The Ivey’s Hotel is modern luxe in a classic Charlotte building

144 LUXE LIBATIONS 7 talented mixologists craft refined cocktails

152 P/1046 RK Motors rediscovers the car that won Le Mans for America

152 TIE THE KNOT Five stunning Charlotte couples on their biggest day

Brian Lorusso of Dogwood Southern Table and Bar shares his Millionare’s Manhattan, featuring aged Old Rip Van Winkle, with our writer Corey Miller. p.151

NOTE 22 | DETAILS 24 | EVENTIST 30 | WEDDING PLANNER 170 | INDEX 178

CON TE N TS

46 THE CULTURE FINE ART / PERFORMING ART / STYLE / WELLNESS

41

PURPOSE IN PAINT Amanda Moody’s transporting brush strokes changed her life

46

THREADED Stephen Wilson’s art is stitching Charlotte together

48

YEAR OF FASHION One of the Mint Museum’s most comprehensive fashion series

67

67

THE FORAGER On the hunt with Chef Clark Barlowe

74

CHOPHOUSE FOR THE NEW SOUTH Rare Roots’ new Porter’s House

80

SWEET SURRENDER Justin Burke-Samson’s tasty desserts

86

CARUSO’S CHOP A rack of lamb to try in Mooresville

88

88

HERITAGE’S SCALLOP Chef Verica creates a near-perfect bite

90

IMPERIAL’S OLD FASHIONED This new classic is full of fire and flavor

92

ARIA’S SPRING SPARKLER A refreshing cocktail from Aria

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41

60

8 THE SALON Rodger Azadganian and Amy Troutman’s South Park salon A DAY AT THE RITZ Writer Sunny Hubler gets to experience a day of pampering at Uptown’s Ritz-Carlton

52

RESTAURANTS / CHEFS / DISHES / COCKTAILS

GEMS & JEWELS A Q&A with talented jewlery designer Meredith Jackson

62

ART AT WORK Lazes is transforming Charlotte’s arts scene

THE SPREAD

56

CON TEN TS

126 THE FOLIO DESIGN / DECOR / SPACES / FEATURED HOMES

95

112

102

114

110

116

AESTHETIC OF OPPOSITES Explore Lisa Sherry’s signature casual-luxe look A LITLE INSIGHT Home technology with Esbith Andaya of Insight Automation DESIGNER CURATED Charlotte’s talented designers share their decor selections

A HEIGHTENED LEVEL Designer Barrie Benson mixes modern with traditional DINING IN STYLE Mary Miller tells a story with this stunning dining room LIVING IN EASE Charlotte Lucas brings the impact of color and pattern

95 THE EXPLORED RESORTS / TOWNS / DESTINATIONS / SPORTING / ADVENTURE

119

LODGE LAVISHLY Durham’s 21c and the Carolina luxury hotels you have to visit

124

PINNACLE OF PEACE This Boone, NC wellness center offers us lessons in the art of living well

126

HORSE COUNTRY Tryon Equestrian Center is a sprawling dedication to classic equestrian arts

130

NYC We taste the Big Apple and share our favorite food, drinks, and sights to help you plan your next trip to the city

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130

THE NOTE

QC Exclusive’s JP Grice and Brett Barter walk to their office at The Foundry.

THE LUXURY ISSUE Although this edition is entitled “The Luxury Issue,” I don’t want you to think that it’s all over-the-top extravagance and opulence. There aren’t any super yachts or private jets gracing the pages. Nope. Instead, this year’s issue is dedicated to life’s little luxuries, like a delicious steak or a wellmade cocktail, and to the essentials like the arts and design.

My favorite quote from this issue comes from one of Charlotte’s biggest advocates by way of the talented artist Rick Lazes, who said, “I think Hugh McColl said it best: ‘I used to think arts and entertainment were a luxury, but now I know to become a great city it’s a necessity.’”

Well, in retrospect we should’ve entitled this issue “The Necessity Issue” instead because the following pages are filled with things that our staff believes to be truly fundamental. For our city to reach its full potential we have to embrace the innovators in all genres—the Brian Lorussos of the world crafting fine cocktails, the Stephen Wilsons stitching our city together, the Rick Lazeses inspiring Broadway, the RK Motors making

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automobile history, the Ivey’s Hotels embracing the past, and the Clark Barlowes putting in the hours. This issue tries to pay homage to the people working so hard to make our city an amazing place to live and we think that’s one of the biggest luxuries we’ve all been afforded.

On the following pages you’ll read about Charlotte’s luxe libations, RK’s restoration of the car that won Le Mans for America, Amanda Moody’s unique abstract art pieces, Meredith Jackson’s jewelry, Barlowe’s foraging, Heritage’s scallops, The Porter’s House’s chophouse for the New South, Lisa Sherry’s design philosophy, Barrie Benson’s heightened level of design, and so much more. And don’t forget about our annual Wedding Guide, featuring twenty pages of gowns, cakes, rings, flowers, venues, and more. Until next time!

Best, Jon-Paul Grice, Editor Brett Barter, Publisher

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may/june 2017 editor’s pick

THE EV EN TIST

06/1/17 – 06/3/17 - Inspired Works, by Charlotte Ballet, will take place June 1 - 3. Join in for this special performance to celebrate 20 years of artistic leadership from beloved Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, who retires this June. Whether you’ve been attending performances for 20 years or are new to the ballet, Inspired Works will leave you feeling uplifted, energized and in awe. The evening’s lineup, handpicked by Bonnefoux, showcases some of his and the audience’s favorite works and choreographers, from George Balanchine’s Rubies to Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture. charlotteballet.org | photo by Peter Zay

32 | Taste of The Mint 34 | Vintage Market Days 36 | Neil Degrasse Tyson 38 | Tosco Music Beatles Tribute

CHARLOTTE BALLET PRESENTS INSPIRED WORKS

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May/June 2017

editor’s pick

5/24/17 | Taste of The Mint: State Of The Art | mintmuseum.org Nathalie Miebach, Retiring Bob. Photo by Edward C. Robison III courtesy of the Mint Museum.

FIDDLES AND BLUE JEANS

05/19/17 – The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra will be accompanied by Grammy award-winning violinist and fiddler Mark O’Connor. Original compositions will be performed by the orchestra and the O’Connor Band. blumenthalarts.org OLD-TIMEY SPRING PICNIC

05/20/17 - Kings Mountain Historical Museum will host a spring picnic event with free admission for museum members. They will have live music, a BBQ, historic games, storytelling, craft demonstrations by costumed interpreters, tours of the historic Barber & Cornwell homes, and more. It’s a family-friendly way to enjoy the season. kingsmountainmuseum.org TASTE OF THE MINT

05/24/17 - Visit in late May for Taste of the Mint where you’ll wine and dine on three small plates at one of Charlotte’s favorite restaurants, Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth and then head into the

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galleries for a curator-led tour of the special exhibition. mintmuseum.org LOCAL FLAVORS OF NODA FOOD TOUR

05/27/17- Treat yourself to Charlotte’s Art District with their vibrant night life, local craft beer, and live music entertainment. On this tour you will see behind the scenes in the chef’s kitchen and learn more about your favorite foods! feastfoodtours.com ALISON SAAR: THE NATURE OF US

Until 07/08/17 - Delve into the themes of motherhood, the role of women, and their embodiment as nature by viewing the works of artist Alison Saar. ganttcenter.org

MINT HILL MADNESS

05/26/17 - 05/28/17 - Come out for a family friendly festival complete with carnival rides, boardwalk style food, tons of arts and crafts booths, and live entertainment. The 34th annual festival will be held at the Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park. minthillmadnessfestival.org LOOKING AT APPALACHIA

05/28/17- View the images from the War on Poverty that soon became the visual definition of Appalachia. These images depict the poorest areas and show the support gained to support the cause. Designed to establish a visual counterpoint, this is a show you won’t want to miss. museumofthenewsouth.org

JORDAN CASTEEL: HARLEM NOTES

FIT FEST

Until 07/08/17 - This exhibition of paintings created by Harlem based artist, Jordan Casteel exudes details of intimacy as well as the immortalization of her subjects. ganttcenter.org

05/29/17 - Race your way to the Fit Fest in Fort Mill, SC for a day chock full of running, obstacle racing, mountain biking, food, and music. Runners can choose to participate in the 5K, 8K, or half marathon races. Bikers can join the Fit Fest

THE EV EN TIST

May/June 2017

editor’s pick

6/30/17 | Join in the fun with yoga at Sycamore Brewing Beer Garden | sycamorebrewing.com Photo by Jamey Price.

MTB Challenge in a four hour mountain bike race to the finish. After racing your heart out check out the delectable food trucks, and live music. racesonline.com BACK TO THE MOON FOR GOOD

Until 05/31/17 - Learn about the new era of lunar exploration. Information will be presented pertaining to the race back to the moon, the moon’s resources and what humanity’s future may be there. schielemuseum.org

George Balanchine’s Rubies to Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture. charlotteballet.org WALK TO CURE ARTHRITIS

06/03/17 - Walk to Cure Arthritis is the Arthritis Foundation’s nationwide signature event that rallies communities and raises funds to conquer arthritis once and for all. Join the fight and Walk to Cure Arthritis—register, fundraise, come together to support each other and walk. arthritis.org

INSPIRED WORKS

THE SWISS EFFECT

06/1/17 - 06/3/17 - Join in for this special performance to celebrate 20 years of artistic leadership from beloved Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, who retires this June. Whether you’ve been attending performances for 20 years or are new to the ballet, Inspired Works will leave you feeling uplifted, energized and in awe. The evening’s lineup, handpicked by Bonnefoux, showcases some of his and the audience’s favorite works and choreographers, from

06/05/17 - Switzerland is often overlooked as the home of a thriving avantgarde that impacts European developments. A companion exhibition to the Tinguely show, Swiss Effect will highlight other Swiss artists who have made a global impact, including Hans Gauber, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Cornélia Forster, Hansjürg Brunner, Jean Baier, Gianfredo Camesi, Eugen Früh, all with works drawn from the Bechtler collection. bechtler.org

34 • QCEXCLUSIVE.COM • MAY/JUNE 2017

WALTER BEASLEY & RONNIE LAWS

06/09/17 - Internationally acclaimed Ronnie Laws, Earth Wind & Fire’s original tenor and soprano saxophonist has performed with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, BB King, Stanley Jordan and more. He will play alongside Walter Beasley, the acclaimed saxophonist and vocalist. artandhealthawareness.org VINTAGE MARKET DAYS

06/09/17 - 06/11/17 - Vintage Market Days of Charlotte is an upscale vintageinspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home decor, outdoor furnishings, treats, seasonal plantings and a little more. Come enjoy spectacular shopping, live music, delicious food trucks, and more. facebook.com/vintagemarketdays JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

06/9/17 - 6/25/17 - Matthews Community Center presents the biblical story

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THE EV EN TIST

May/June 2017 of Joseph and his magical coat that changes colors. The play will be filled with jealousy, adventure, and humor for all ages to enjoy. matthewsplayhouse.com SCHOOL OF ROCK CONCERT

06/10/17 - The movie School of Rock comes to life at Mint Hill Town Hall.

Real kids will be performing all of the greatest rock hits in a family friendly event. Dance to the beat and see what these up-and-coming musicians have to offer. minthill.com DUELING PIANOS

06/10/17 - Jennifer Siebenaler will be a part of a unique competition for professional pianists. The request driven performance will be a sing-along, and dance-along fun filled night. shoreclubattegacay.com LISA WINGATE

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36 • QCEXCLUSIVE.COM • MAY/JUNE 2017

06/12/17 - Author Lisa Wingate will present the historical background for her groundbreaking novel, Before We Were Yours. The novel tells the story of children stolen, mistreated, manipulated, and sold through the Tennessee Children’s Home Society in the first half of the twentieth century. gastonlibrary.org NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

06/12/17 - Neil DeGrasse Tyson will finally be here in the QC on June 12 at the Belk Theater. Tyson’s professional research interests are broad, but include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. With his popular Podcast, and a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel, Tyson combines celebrity guest with informative and playful banter.

Even if you think you don’t like science, you will thoroughly enjoy this fun, educational evening. blumenthalarts.org VIN MASTER MEGA-TASTING

Until 6/15/17 - Every third Thursday of the month Vin Master Charlotte will

THE EV EN TIST

May/June 2017

have 125+ wines specially picked for you to try. Light bites will be provided while tasting the best wine around. No RSVP is needed for this monthly event so stop by Vin Master and find your next favorite wine. winmastercharlotte.com THE TINDER OPERA

06/15/17 - Come to Lenny Boy Brewing to watch two one-act operas be performed. Menotti’s The Telephone and Scott Joiner’s Connection Lost (The Tinder Opera). Connection Lost explores dating in the 21st Century and all the technological and romantic mishaps that it entails. Enjoy a locally brewed beer and watch one man’s quest for a relationship, with the help of a dating app, for yourself. operacarolina.org ROARING TWENTIES PROGRAM

06/17/17 - Experience the fashion, dancing, and music of the 1920s with a special performance, and even make your own flapper headband to take home. kingsmountainmuseum.org TOSCO MUSIC BEATLES TRIBUTE

06/17/17 - For a night filled with nothing but the Beatles check out Tosco Music’s Beatles Tribute at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. At least 15 acts will be performing the very best of the Beatles either in original form or with their own unique spin. toscomusic.org SYCAMORE BREWING YOGA

06/30/17 - Join in the yoga fun at Sycamore Brewing Beer Garden. The energetic vinyasa-flow class is great for all levels, and mats, blocks and straps will all be provided. Even better? You get a free 6oz glass of Sycamore Brew. sycamorebrew.com

715 Providence Rd., Ste. G4 | Charlotte, NC 28207 | 704-900-5667 www.tinyclt.com | @tiny4children

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38 • QCEXCLUSIVE.COM • MAY/JUNE 2017

Amanda Moody’s painting changed her life, one transporting stroke at a time. interview SUNNY HUBLER

photos JAMEY PRICE

46 | Marquee 48 | Iconic 52 | Collection 56 | Style 60 | Beauty 62 | Renewal 41 | Musings

T H E C U LT U R E

PURPOSE IN PAINT

THE CULTUR E

Musings

Amanda Moody is something of a rare gem here in the Queen City: She’s both a native Charlottean and a naturally talented career painter. Her painting started after a few stints in the corporate world that didn’t work: “I was such a square peg in a round hole,” she laughs.

“I’m a rebel at heart.” She threw herself into her painting at a time in her life when she needed beauty most. Unemployed, on the brink of divorce, and at a true spiritual crossroads, she knew it was time to devote herself to her craft. According to Amanda, art virtually saved her life. “It became cathartic, and for the first time in decades I began to feel alive, worthy and vulnerable again… Painting gave me a sense of purpose and gratification I hadn’t felt in years, if ever.”

How did your interest in art begin?

I have always been creative, ever since I was little, and I always said I wanted to be an artist for a profession. I grew up very poor, but it never stopped me from constantly making something out of nothing. I always painted, and I think even the most mundane object can be aesthetically pleasing. I didn’t start really painting again until about 4 years ago, at the beginning of the end of my marriage: It was a pivotal point at a very tenuous period in my life.

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“The organic colors, textures, and intricate patterns that appear in even the simplest of forms speak to the universe’s very complexity.”

Why painting?

The sheer range of possibility in color, movement, pattern, and texture appeals so much to me. I suppose many artists feel this way about their medium, but for me it’s the end-all-be-all in infinite possibility.

Describe your aesthetic.

I have been told on a few occasions that experiencing my art in person imparts a trance-like effect in the viewer. Much like cloud-watching or meditation, the observer’s eye sees different shapes and effects that I would like to think are

Craig Alan, Motivo, oil on canvas, 48” x 60”

@PictureHouseGallery @picture_house_gallery @PictureHouseGal

THE CULTUR E

Musings

“Much like cloudwatching or meditation, the observer’s eye sees different shapes and effects that I would like to think are brought forth from their subconscious to their conscious mind.”

brought forth from their subconscious to their conscious mind. It’s actually what happens to me while I am creating each one. Each of my paintings has layers upon transparent layers that each react with what lies underneath to create the varying depths that you see.

Who or what are your biggest inspirations?

Marc Chagall was my very first artistic love as a child and Gustav Klimt is another favorite because of the fine detail; you literally could look at one of his pieces for hours and not mentally absorb everything. Personally in my art, I am primarily inspired by the vividness and imagination of nature.

The organic colors, textures, and intricate patterns that appear in even the simplest of forms speak to the universe’s very complexity.

What’s next for you?

I am currently seeking ways to have my work licensed for wallpaper and fabrics. Plus, without giving too much away, I’m also working on some ideas for a series that would include illuminating my work from within. That’s all I will say for now on that! Some of my recent pieces are also featured at the gorgeous Acquisitions in South End. info bombshelves.com

44 • QCEXCLUSIVE.COM • MAY/JUNE 2017

THE CULTUR E

Marquee

Set List

Goings-on in performance art in the Queen City.

THREADED Stephen Wilson’s art is stitching the Queen City together. words ANNIE GIBBS photos courtesy STEPHEN WILSON The first time Stephen Wilson saw an embroidery machine, he was mesmerized. The New Jersey native’s career followed a winding path before planting him at the foot of his craft, but art has been threaded throughout. Blending inspiration from high fashion and contemporary artists, Wilson manipulates luxury fabrics, 3-D-printed sculptures, laser-engraved acrylics and highly-detailed embroidery pieces to produce his original art.

Tradition meets innovation to comprise Wilson’s lengthy creative process.

Each piece takes hundreds of combined hours to create, born from a simple sketch in Wilson’s idea notebook. Selftaught in the highly specialized skill of digitizing, Wilson codes each stitch into specialized software, electronically

46 • QCEXCLUSIVE.COM • MAY/JUNE 2017

painting with thread. Wilson’s state-ofthe-art embroidery machines are then put to use, placing up to 1,000 stitches a minute. The process is fluid, often changing as a piece takes shape.

“I feel like my team and I learn something new with every single piece,” says Wilson.

Wilson’s work is interweaving the cultural fabric of the city, recently threading together notable art institutions in the area at an installation co-sponsored

by Opera Carolina and Charlotte’s New Gallery of Modern Art. The April show hosted at The Foundry was a resounding success. If you would like to view pieces from his Americana series, visit NGMA. info stephenwilsonstudio.com operacarolina.org

Inspired Works, by Charlotte Ballet, will take place June 1 - 3. Come celebrate 20 years of artistic leadership from beloved Director JeanPierre Bonnefoux, who retires this June. You’ll leave feeling uplifted, energized, and in awe. charlotteballet.org Neil DeGrasse Tyson will finally be here in the QC on June 12 at the Belk Theater. Tyson’s professional research includes star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of our Milky Way. Even if you think you don’t like science, you will thoroughly enjoy this fun, educational evening. blumenthalarts.org Join in June 15 as Opera Carolina joins forces with Lenny Boy Brewing… you read that right. Visit Lenny Boy Brewing to watch two one-act operas be performed: Menotti’s The Telephone and Scott Joiner’s Connection Lost.

Enjoy a locally brewed beer and opera! operacarolina.org

THE CULTUR E

Iconic

“My role is to create energy: sometimes it’s art, sometimes it’s fashion, sometimes it’s music, sometimes it’s real estate.”

ART AT WORK Rick Lazes is helping transform Charlotte into the buzzing cultural scene he’s dreamed of. words SUNNY HUBLER It’s been said about him before, but it bears repeating: Richard Lazes is Charlotte’s very own Renaissance man.

Soft-spoken and polite with distinctive tousled sandy hair and a lean build, Lazes, as a man, is a bit of an anomaly: He’s a globe-trotting innovator, big-time producer, and cutting-edge artist with an unassuming nature and quick smile, living in the quiet lake town of Cornelius. His humility belies the looming force behind the quiet presence he brings.

In 2016, Lazes was very, very busy and 2017 doesn’t look any slower. Last fall, he headed to New Orleans for the unveiling of his newest large-scale art project, Paper Dolls, during the annual Art for Art’s Sake weekend. After New Orleans, Lazes jetted to Texas, New York, and then abroad to complete the Fashion Week Circuit in Paris, Milan, and Dubai, before finally returning stateside once more to work on his The McQueen Broadway show, also entitled Paper Dolls. Lazes has finished the final script and expects to start rehearsals in summer for a London opening. The Lennox Lewis movie he is producing this year, called “Love & Hurt”, is in

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photos courtesy RICK LAZES the final stages of interviews with Mike Tyson and Don King and will debut at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival in September.

As many plates as he seems to have spinning, for now, Lazes is undeniably laser-focused on his Paper Dolls and he is positively buzzing with that energy.

“The paper dolls tell a story about nostalgia, about fashion, about the child in every man or woman. I think that giving the viewer or the collector a chance to have a story behind the art is important.

The fusion of fashion with fine art strikes a chord we’re hoping will be supported by all walks of life— and we’re trying to entertain. The cross-pollination [of fashion and art] has always existed for creatives, so the project made sense from that perspective.”

The Dolls art project has expanded in the two years since its inception, an idea born from a spontaneous strike of inspiration that Lazes and his creative partner, Paul Veto, say was based on little more than a stray action figure doll in the studio and what then quickly became a preoccupation of Lazes’ with the tragic but glamorous arc of designer Alexander McQueen’s fast-paced life. Often with

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THE CULTUR E

Iconic

his art, Lazes laughs, a project begins with little rhyme or reason.

The thing is, all this busyness and sparking creativity is nothing new; in fact, it seems Rick Lazes has made a career out of keeping the plates spinning on as many ventures as possible.

In addition to his acclaimed three-dimensional artwork, he is also a producer who has done hundreds of live concerts and major music festivals. He’s an inventor—Lazes holds several patents across different countries for a technology dedicated to environmental preservation via the mitigating of offshore oil spills. And he is also a prominent real-estate developer, the visionary who recently put the finishing touches on the 37-

no telephone—until one day we got an 8-party line,” he recalls. He laughs a little as he remarks that he is still “amazed when I turn the tap and there’s running water.”

All that came next was through grit, determination, and a genuine love for the work he does.

“It’s nice to see the exposure of arts and entertainment and culture in Charlotte, and my work as an artist and at the music factory is all part of that – I’m trying to make a contribution to that,” he explains. It’s important for Charlotteans to be able to express their passion and not have to fit in a certain mold or point of view in terms of culture in general. I think Hugh McColl said it best: ‘I used to think arts and entertain-

“I think Hugh McColl said it best: ‘I used to think arts and entertainment were a luxury, but now I know to become a great city it’s a necessity.’” acre entertainment complex that is the NC Music Factory (now the AvidXchange Music Factory).

“A lot of people think that some of [my] vocations are so diverse that they’re incongruent,” Lazes admits. “But I’ve never felt that way. I think when you have a passion for a project and you plan it properly and build it on a good foundation and it makes good business sense, you can always expand. My role is to create energy: sometimes it’s art, sometimes it’s fashion, sometimes it’s music, sometimes it’s real estate.”

Part of what also makes Lazes so fascinating is that he truly epitomizes the ideal of the selfmade man. For all his success and the many impressive pursuits, his roots are humble.

Before he became the Lazes the Queen City knows, things were a little different. “I lived dirt poor in a little house in West Virginia with no running water, a pot belly stove for heat and

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ment were a luxury, but now I know to become a great city it’s a necessity.’ Art helps attract more people and jobs, and adds to the richness of the culture.”

One thing is for certain: Rick Lazes is doing the work and staying true to his passion—building stunning pieces from the ground up, be it art, music, film, or real-estate. For the man who seems to have a talent for everything, he clearly has not lost the spark. His excitement for bringing the Paper Dolls outside of North Carolina is palpable. As we end the interview, Lazes, in his black band tee and black pants nods a quick goodbye to us and turns back to the wooden table on which Veto, during the entire length of our visit, has been quietly and carefully coloring in one of the doll’s outfit. There is work yet to be done. info ricklazes.com

THE CULTUR E

Collection

YEAR OF FASHION The Mint Museum presents Charlotte with one of its most comprehensive fashion series ever. words SUNNY HUBLER

photos courtesy MINT MUSEUM

While Charlotte’s Mint Museum boasts an array of art exhibits, it’s long been renowned for a specific collection: The Mint holds one of the largest, most significant fashion displays in the Southeast. In an effort this year to push the art form even further and enhance fashion’s storage and study, the Mint unveiled their latest series of exhibits, “Year of Fashion.”

The Mint Museum announced plans for its “Year of Fashion” to 400 guests at its sold-out “Coveted Couture” gala on April 29 at Mint Museum Randolph. The museum’s annual fundraiser is permanently devoted to celebrating the Mint’s Fashion Collection. The “Year of Fashion,” running July 1 through June 30, 2018, has been carefully curated by the Mint’s staff and made

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possible in part by a major financial gift from Mint supporters Ann and Michael Tarwater. The Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion at the Mint, Annie Carlano, was a major force in making the exhibit happen. Carlano is a classically trained art historian who has worked with a host of American and international collections. She joined the Mint in 2008, where she has since helped reimagine the department.

Her dedication to fashion stems first from a love of art and design, and she worked tirelessly to help launch this newest addition to the Mint’s offerings.

“Fashion​ ​is​ ​accessible,” Carlano explains.

“Everyone wears​​ clothes​​ so they can identify​ themselves, and therefore​ ​they are ​less​ ​intimidated​ ​

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THE CULTUR E

Collection

Drawings this page and previous page: William Ivey Long costume sketches for Little Dancer, a play based on the work of Edgar Degas Contemporary pieces from The Mint Museum’s permanent fashion collection

by​ ​fashion. There’s​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​excitement [around this exhibit].​ It’s​ ​truly​ ​what happens when​ ​the​ ​universe​ conspires.​ ​From​ ​different angles,​ ​different​ ​parties,​ ​ things​ ​are​ ​falling​ ​in​ ​place​ ​to​ ​create​ ​the​ ​’Year​ ​of​ Fashion.’”

The “Year of Fashion” centers around three exhibitions: William Ivey Long, Charlotte Collects, and Oscar de la Renta. North Carolina native William Ivey Long is one of the most renowned theatrical costume designers working today and the exhibition will explore a number of his works from throughout the last decade. Charlotte Collects is an exhibition taking an intimate look at important designs in the collections of our community’s fashion leaders to present a wide range of 21st century fashion. The Oscar de la

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Renta exhibition, scheduled for spring 2018, was organized in close collaboration with the House of Oscar de la Renta and the designer’s family. It was also curated by André Leon Talley, former American editor-at-large for Vogue.

It’s an important moment for Charlotte and for the Mint, organizing an extensive display of some of the finest art and designs. The “Year of Fashion” is aimed at reminding the Queen City that fashion, like all art, has something important to share.

“Our relationship with fashion is both universal and personal,” Carlano says of the exhibition’s significance. “It reflects the times we live in and who we are.” info mintmuseum.org

THE CULTUR E

Style

GEMS & JEWELS

A Q&A with the talented Meredith Jackson about her beautiful jewelry boutique. interview ANNIE GIBBS Meredith Jackson has lived all over—from Louisiana to Oklahoma to California and London.

It was in Europe that her love of all things old and filled with history and character took hold. As she searched through junk to pull out little trinkets and treasure at the famous Portobello Market in Notting Hill, a deep curiosity with jewelry began.

Her first teacher was a Russian dealer who taught Meredith which stones and jewels were a good buy and which were not. And so Meredith Jackson Jewelry was born.

A decade ago, Meredith picked a place on a map and found herself in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“I knew I had to work for myself if I was going to make any money,” Meredith says. “It was going to be something creative, so I decided that jewelry had that most instant gratification and I would regret not giving it a try.”

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photos courtesy JAMEY PRICE What is it about jewelry that speaks to you?

To me jewelry should be timeless for many reasons. It should tell a story, finish an outfit, mark an occasion, become a family heirloom or just be downright fun to put on because it makes a girl feel pretty. I always ask customers, “what are your jewelry wardrobe holes?” This is important because women and men spend a lot of money on clothing which gets replaced. Jewelry can last forever. Stone and metals come from the earth and were here before we were and will be here long after we are gone. That’s what makes jewelry special.

Tell us about the boutique.

I opened the boutique in 2012. Nolan Joyce and I design and buy for the store together. We carry designers from all over the US and Canada, in

THE CULTUR E

Style

“Stone and metals come from the earth and were here before we were and will be here long after we are gone: That’s what makes jewelry special.”

addition to our own designs made in our working studio. We hand-knot everything, and use the highest quality materials at the most affordable prices which will appeal to a wide range of buyers—those buying for themselves or to give a piece of jewelry as a gift. We also offer natural stone-based jewelry, high quality metals such as gold-fill, sterling silver and vermeil, and we work hard to bring all price ranges into the store.

What should we know about wearing jewelry?

There are some important factors to keep in mind when a woman chooses a piece of jewelry. Scale is a big one. The jewelry has to fit your figure and lifestyle. Also, most women need their comfort zone pushed a bit, but the jewelry still has to be comfortable. Also, color is every woman’s friend. Neutrals have their time and place, and so does sparkle and amping it up a notch.

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What are your personal favorite pieces?

My personal favorites are ones I wear everyday and have collected over the years. A diamond watch from my Dad, a green garnet estate piece I call my “Power Ring,” and earrings! Any kind—I’m an earring girl.

What is unique about the custom pieces at Meredith Jackson Jewelry?

The services, like the custom bridal and wedding party jewelry wardrobing we offer. We look at everything from the rehearsal dinner to Sunday brunch. We want to know what everyone is wearing to pull it all together. We also commonly rework older jewelry for customers, the things that they have inherited and like but have been sitting in a drawer for years.

info meredithjackson.com

THE CULTUR E

Beauty

8 Owners Rodger Azadganian and Amy Troutman offer a unique blend of fashion and style at their South Park salon. words CARMEN WESTRA An exquisite balance of fashion and style, 8 the Salon is one of the premier luxury salons in the Southeast. Owner Rodger Azadganian left the west coast and his popular boutique salons in Seattle for the South to start 8 The Salon in 2011. Since its beginning, the venture has been a true family affair—a collaboration between Rodger Azadganian and wife Amy Troutman.

Having grown up in Charlotte, Amy saw the need for something new and different for salons here in the Queen City and 8 is just that. Originally located in a smaller space within the Village at SouthPark Mall, 8 The Salon has now expanded into a 6000-square-foot venue just a few doors down.

Acquiring professional experience for the past 25 years, Rodger has a vast background in the hair industry as a stylist, platform artist, and salon owner. 8 The Salon has been featured in Allure Instyle, Lucky, Elle, and W. “Amy puts it best, saying that I’m the brains and she’s the talent,” Rodger laughs. “We are both heavily involved in the week-

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photo JUSTIN DRISCOLL ly education for our staff as well as the day to day interaction with clients. I reign more in the back end operations, while she’s always at the front end—she’s the personality of our brand.”

Services provided at 8 are solely in the realm of hair care, ensuring the best care and quality for the accessory everyone rocks daily. Amy’s expertise in individualizing color for each person’s unique skin tone and eye color is one asset that sets the salon apart from the rest.

“Our approach is much like that of a tailor or fashion designer,” Rodger explains. “If you go to a designer to have a dress made—she would take your measurements before cutting the fabric to create the overall design and style that best suits you. In the same way, we will analyze your face shape and bone structure to come up with the best style for you.

We focus on one thing, which allows us to be the best at that one thing. info @8thesalon

THE CULTUR E

Renewal

A DAY AT THE RITZ QC Exclusive writer Sunny Hubler experiences the Ritz-Carlton’s signature luxury spa services

words SUNNY HUBLER It’s a cloudy Tuesday when I pull up to the Ritz-Carlton in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. My assignment? To try the luxurious Ritz-Carlton spa out for size, with full access to all the facilities and four hours worth of treatments unlike anything I’ve ever had before. Tough, right? I’m a bit unsure what to expect, but it takes only a moment to valet my car (complimentary as a spa guest) before I’m off to find the spa itself.

The Ritz-Carlton itself is everything you’d expect: upscale sophistication in hotel form with bars, a restaurant, and a swanky lobby. A short ride up the elevator gets you to the 17th floor, where your surroundings cease to look like a hotel and instead become a fully immersive retreat. It’s quiet and softly lit on the spa level, and people in white robes pad around speaking in hushed tones while looking thoroughly blissed out.

The penthouse Spa & Wellness Center spans two levels, so, as a guest, you can enjoy the pool, nail salon, fitness center, and couple’s suite in addition to the spa itself. The space is a full retreat, where you can easily spend the entire day.

The spa manager, Gillian Agre, who joined the Ritz team this year, is there and ready so within moments, I’m checked in and being escorted upstairs to see the low-lit, plushly-fur-

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photo courtesy RITZ-CARLTON nished relaxation room and the Aqua Lounge, where you can swim, lounge, dip in the hot tub, and order from the menu to have food and beverages delivered poolside.

Then, it’s back downstairs to the locker room. Once I have a plush robe and sandals on, I take a seat with a snack and cup of tea while waiting for my spa technician. Once she arrives, the relaxation process gets real.

In one of the four treatment rooms, my soft-spoken, attentive technician sets up one of the Ritz Charlotte’s signature services: The Honey and Chocolate Detox Ritual, using local chocolate and local honey (including, when it’s in season, honey from the Ritz’s own beehives). It’s a 110 minute process in which a honey mask is applied to exfoliate and soothe the skin before you get a rich chocolate body mask, to deeply nourish and hydrate. Once you rinse the honey off in the hot steam shower, the spa technician massages you with a deep moisturizer. The end effect leaves me in a bit of a relaxationdaze, with anything even resembling muscle soreness melted entirely away.

I’m led back to the locker room, where I have a glass of lemon water and try to compose myself before my esthetician arrives to give me another signature treatment. This one, an

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Renewal

organic facial using The Ritz’s new ESPA line, offers all natural and organic ingredients to tighten and brighten your face.

All of the Ritz-Carltons nationwide incorporated the ESPA over the past year; known as one of the premier luxury skincare lines worldwide, ESPA is the clear choice for the Ritz’s top-of-the-line service.

The first part of my facial I spend chatting with the esthetician as she gets to work: She’s knowledgeable and friendly, and explains each treatment and its benefits. She goes stepby-step with cleansers, detoxifiers, and masks. For at least a short time after that, I finally drift off (it almost happened once or twice during the body scrub)—the warmth of the bed and the calming music and dark room are just a bit too much.

When I wake from my light nap, the esthetician is just finishing her work. My face is noticeably brighter and softer from the treatment, and now, four hours later, I officially feel like I’ve had the full Ritz spa experience.

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They pull out all the stops—the service is spot-on, the treatments beyond luxurious, and the full experience is one that makes you forget entirely where you are. It genuinely feels like its own retreat space, where you could stay for hours on end and not even know it.

At the end, I return to the locker room once more to enjoy one of the large showers so I can rinse the mask out of my hair from my first treatment. The locker room has a full setup with hair styling tools and products, so I emerge looking presentable enough to return to work. Just like that, I’m back on the streets of Charlotte, feeling like a million bucks and like I’ve just discovered one of Charlotte’s best-kept secrets —although, of course, the Ritz spa, which is nearly always booked solid, is no secret at all. It’s the type of indulgence that you don’t forget. info ritzcarlton.com

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THE FORAGER

74 | Restaurant 80 | Tastemaker 86 | Plated 90 | Poured 67 | Artisanal

T H E S PR E A D

With Heirloom chef Clark Barlowe, a stroll through the woods is also a botany lesson.

words COREY MILLER

photos JAMEY PRICE

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Artisanal

It’s too early. Early enough, actually, that I can’t remember who insisted on the pre-dawn meeting time for our foraging trip—me, or Chef Clark Barlowe. The Heirloom Restaurant chef and locavore extraordinaire has come prepared: He’s wearing a Carhartt jacket and toting a good-sized woven basket. We’re not far from his Huntersville home, out in the woods on a morning colder than any spring morning has any right to be.

We pass some violet greens, and Clark describes how similar in taste they are to okra.

There’s still minimal light. We tiptoe carefully

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around some pretty white wildflowers called Bloodroot, a relatively rare flowering herb that can be used to treat various skin problems and throat conditions. Just as I’m realizing how little I actually notice the many thousands of plant species in the Carolina woods I’ve known all my life, Clark stops. He’s pointing at something I would’ve strolled right past.

“These are the first few fiddleheads of the season,” Clark says, kneeling excitedly by what I learn is a young bracken fern. Those could actually be the second batch of fiddleheads of the sea-

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THE SPR E A D

Artisanal

son. I happen to be standing on what might be the first, but I’m not going to tell Clark. I guess my forager’s eye still needs some training. I’m intrigued: How do we not see this stuff? Is a career in botany calling me? Even Clark’s no scientist, though.

“We just have to learn,” Clark says. “We study what’s edible and learn which things identify them. And then we study what tastes good.”

Clark Barlowe is famous around these parts for his obsessive habit of sourcing his food exclusively from North Carolina, but he’s also earned a reputation as Charlotte’s chef forager. Foraging—combing the wild for edibles for cooking and garnishing—isn’t just this chef’s kitschy hobby. For Clark Barlowe, it’s in the job description, and it may be in his Appalachianborn nature.

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“When I was a kid, I’d go with my grandfather all the time, but he never really called it foraging. We’d go fishing, and then we’d start walking in the woods. His thing was always ginseng— which is funny, because that stuff is a cautionary tale for foragers now. Because it was trendy, we foraged ginseng until it was gone. There’s almost no ginseng in Appalachia now.”

Trend, it seems, is a powerful thing. So today, we’re gathering a small percentage of what we find. I doubt it’d make too much of a difference, though. He gathers the abundant “easy stuff” every year—morels (abundant little black mushrooms that are extraordinarily easy to identify), ramps (wild leeks), and fiddleheads (the furled fronds of a young fern). But Clark doesn’t do anything to death, and his menu is constantly toying with new concepts. Recently, Clark’s

THE SPR E A D

Artisanal

“I don’t always come out of the woods with what I was looking for. That’s how foraging goes. You’re looking for something. That doesn’t mean you always find it.” been playing off and on with sycamore sap and dried leaves, testing what kinds of jellies and braisings the forest has to offer. And judging by the way he’s eyeing our take of moss (scalped from an unsuspecting rock moments ago), he’ll probably be doing something else unheard of by the end of the year.

We’ve reached the edge of the woods now, and we’ve found exactly what we were looking for: mostly nothing. Clark has found a few things that he wasn’t seeking, but we came out today to investigate whether it was too early in the season for mushrooms. And, well, it’s too early for mushrooms. I’m a little disappointed, but Clark isn’t.

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“I don’t always come out of the woods with what I was looking for,” Clark laughs. “And that’s fine. That’s how foraging goes. You’re looking for something. That doesn’t mean you always find it.”

We’re now in a small clearing where, in spite of the cold, greenery is taking over. Warmth is returning to our hands, empty though they may be. The sun is grinning through the trees, and the woods have what Clark calls “the look of a fairytale” about them. Who needs mushrooms?

Just two weeks later, Clark Barlowe found 16 pounds of morels near this location. info heirloomrestaurantnc.com

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Restaurant

A CHOPHOUSE FOR THE NEW SOUTH

words ANNIE GIBBS

The Porter’s House is serving up savory slices of chophouse heaven— namely, an impressive 36ounce Prime Porterhouse, craftily cut tableside to share. The newest restaurant to grow from the dedicated restaurateurs of Rare Roots Hospitality Group, this South Charlotte restaurant is joining Dressler’s Birkdale, Dressler’s Metropolitan, and Dogwood Southern Table & Bar, putting a modern spin on traditional chophouse fare.

From the initial meeting with the landlord, it took two and a half years of navigating construction and city obstacles for The Porter’s House to open, but owner Jon Dressler is well-versed in the art of running a restaurant...or four.

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photos JAMEY PRICE, KYO NAM, LUNAHZON

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Restaurant

Dressler and Executive Chef Eric Litaker each entered the restaurant scene washing dishes as young teens, and haven’t left since. A North Carolina native, Litaker has been in the industry for 30 years now, working at Providence Café, Carpe Diem, and Dogwood Southern Table before becoming the Executive Chef of The Porter’s House. He tactfully blends Asian, Southern, and classic chophouse flavors in each dish, made with as much in-season, locally-sourced product as possible.

“We believe that we are getting a better quality of product from our local farms,” Litaker says of the new restaurant’s menu. “We enjoy supporting the hard work they put in to produce all the vegetables and proteins we use at the restaurant.”

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BAR R I N GTON’ S ~

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Restaurant

The venue features dinner seven nights a week, Happy Hour from 4-6pm, and houses three private dining rooms, capable of hosting up to 100 people. The modern rustic interior reflects the restaurant’s tagline, “A Modern Chophouse for the New South,” breaking the generic steakhouse mold with its natural light and welcoming clean colors.

The restaurant namesake intentionally recalls the generous hospitality associated with porters of the past, as well as

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the paramount porterhouse steak. Paying homage to the hospitable legacy of traditional service porters, The Porter’s House offers both outstanding service and steak in exceptional abundance.

“Over time,” says Dressler, “I would want people to associate The Porter’s House with the quality and product and guest experience that all of our other restaurants provide.” info theportershouse.com

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THE SPR E A D

Tastemaker

SWEET words SUNNY HUBLER

SURRENDER photos JAMEY PRICE There are some careers to which we naturally want to ascribe certain personality traits. For better or for worse, the inspirational teacher, the caring nurse, the hard-driving lawyer… these have all become tropes. And when it comes to pastry chef Justin Burke-Samson, we know it might just sound reductive but it really is true: As soon as you meet him, you’re immediately struck by his warmth and sweetness.

Today, he bakes out of a homey kitchen in Huntersville and speaks candidly about the changes he underwent in life that brought him right here today. His

background in the industry is extensive: he is best known for the Party of Two pop-ups he did with fellow pastry chef Stephanie Cmar, his traveling pop-up series called Modern Gramma, and his time on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay where he faced off with the star chef.

The career Samson has assembled is based on a carefully honed skill that is, for him, 100-percent self-taught. You’d never guess that from looking at his desserts, though. His pastries and baked goods are these visually-striking, meticulouslycrafted confections full of color, detail, and intriguing ingredients. But even with

the artful desserts he dishes up, part of what makes Samson so charming is that he also bakes a mean classic chocolate chip cookie and has perfected a childhood favorite in his homemade pop-tarts.

His real signature as a pastry chef is to adapt traditional desserts by putting his own spin on them: bourbon peanut butter balls, pumpkin crème brûlée , butterscotch tartes, banana bread with molasses glaze. He calls his an “American comfort aesthetic.”

“I am constantly building recipes, menus, and bakery concepts in my own head,” he says.

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Tastemaker

Justin BurkeSamson sits in his home enjoying a delicious slice of chocolate pudding pie.

Burke-Samson’s classic chocolate chip cookies, lemon meringue pie, homemade pop tarts, and banana bread with a molasses butter scotch glaze.

“At Gramma’s house, dinner wasn’t dinner without a cake.”

The day we meet him, he presents us with, among other treats, a chocolate pudding pie. Sound like something your aunt can easily make in an hour or two on Thanksgiving?

Justin’s is next level: A richly decadent dessert with toasted coconut chantilly cream and a perfectly constructed macadamia nut crust ringing the pudding. And the secret ingredient?

Avocado, a healthy fat that Justin tells us he uses to add extra texture and flavor to the dessert.

From choosing his recipes to plating his desserts, he’s meticulous—this, he says, is what he loves about baking. There is science, process, and organization behind every cake and batch of cookies.

Samson, born in California, lived in Boston during his college career and for a few years after before moving to North Carolina in 2015. To put himself through school, he worked in restaurants, cafes and bakeries and found himself drawn to baking and pastries—but just, at that time, as a hobby only.

“I would go home, teach myself what my pastry chef was making and bring it back for him to try and that’s how I started teaching myself,” he explains. “I’m self-taught and restaurant trained.”

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Tastemaker

“I am constantly building recipes, menus, and bakery concepts in my own head.”

The love of baking was also partially rooted in nostalgia, ingrained from an early age by his Gramma Carole.

At her house, “dinner wasn’t dinner without a cake,” Samson says with a grin. When he lost her in 2015, he took the pages from his grandma’s recipe book and toured the country with the best nod to her he could think to give—the Modern Gramma pop-up series.

It was after that whirlwind of press and travel that he and his husband decided to leave Boston behind for the slower pace and comfort of the South. Now, with a little more space in his life for detail and creative reflection, Justin is working through his next endeavor. He is also the service manager at Kindred, a job that he loves. “At Kindred, they tap into your strengths and incorporate those into your role. We all have unique responsibilities based on our strengths­—it’s the best work environment I’ve ever worked in,” Samson says. info @justinbsamson

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Plated

CARUSO’S CHOP words COREY MILLER Pasquale Caruso picked up the paintbrush not too long ago as a hobby, but he’s always been cooking. It’s no surprise that his late-life hobby, which graces the walls of his cozy little Mooresville trattoria, has engendered an inspired series of oil paint masterworks: Caruso has no classical art education, but he’s been making art on plates for decades now. And this rack of savory heaven may be his magnum opus.

photo JAMEY PRICE Sautéed sweet heirloom peppers and asparagus form an eye-catching composition with mint pesto and balsamic glaze, all serving the focal point of this red meat study—the pistachioand-herb-crusted lamb. It’s some kind of godsend that, in this little gallery, you’re allowed to touch the art. info carusosfinedining.com

THE SPR E A D

Plated

HERITAGE’S SCALLOP words CORE Y MILLER Listen. Because I’m not exaggerating. Heritage’s seared scallop is one of the tastiest bivalve dishes I’ve ever eaten. It’s so good that I had to write this immediately after eating it, so life-changing (and life-affirming) that it necessitated a first-person appeal to your tastebuds.

But look, if this photo by the talented Jamey Price doesn’t sell you on this thing, I’m not sure I can. I can’t explain to you how precisionbrowned this little fella was, or how beautiful its plate was from all the other angles. I’m tragically unable to communicate the melodious juxtaposition of easy-to-eat fennel and

photo JAME Y PRICE apple purées with the deliciously onomatopoeic crunch of sunchoke chips. Even with my help, you’ll never properly know what it was like to cut into the perfect, pan-seared warmth of this lightly seasoned scallop, or the excitement I felt gathering up bits of the dainty bed of candied fennel and compressed apples. Of course, you could just head down to Heritage Food & Drink and try anything on Paul Verica’s brilliantly amorphous menu. Some food simply transcends our art; some dishes make words passé. info heritagefoodanddrink.com

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MAY/JUNE 2017 • @QCEXCLUSIVE • 89

THE SPR E A D

Poured

IMPERIAL’S OLD FASHIONED words COREY MILLER

Yes, the gentlemen behind The Imperial are really into flames. And no, they’re not pyromaniacs; they just have a lot of respect for the good work a little bit of fire and smoke can do. The Royal Apple Mule may be one of their flagship beverages (and the mule-lovers among us can’t get enough of it), but the real quintessential cocktail this lounge serves up is the Imperial Old Fashioned. The best Old Fashioned is a beverage that is at once simple but at turns startlingly complex. It’s a conservative drink that demands a liberal approach to mixing…and boy, do these Imperial barkeeps

photo JAMEY PRICE

take some worthwhile liberties with the formula. Bulliet rye unites with orange oil extract, agave simple syrup, and Angostura bitters over an ice sphere. And hickory chips are set aflame on top of the rocks glass because, well, every whiskey drink is better smoked. This Imperial scene-stealer is the proper fiery choice for whiskey lovers, and, as one of the most spirit-forward cocktails on the menu, its spicy rye burn earns its smoke. info imperialclt.com

full recipe qcexclusive.com

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THE SPR E A D

Poured

ARIA’S SPRING SPARKLER words COREY MILLER

photo JAMEY PRICE

If there’s one thing that makes a cocktail perfect for spring, it’s a clean, pretty garnish. And there’s nothing with a naturally cleaner aroma or taste than fresh lavender. It’s no surprise that an Uptown Italian mainstay like Aria Tuscan Grill has some fresh herbs on hand, and we couldn’t be happier for it. If you’re not feeling anything in the eatery’s massive wine cooler, opt for a refreshing concoction like the Spring Sparkler. This bubbly guy is made with lavender-infused vodka and strawberry rhubarb nectar, shaken and poured over ice, with prosecco and lavender sprigs to top, of course. It’s warm weather in a glass, really. info ariacharlotte.com full recipe qcexclusive.com

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MAY/JUNE 2017 • @QCEXCLUSIVE • 93

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AN AESTHETIC interview SUNNY HUBLER

photos PATRICK CLINE

Explore Lisa Sherry’s signature casual luxe look.

95 | Foundation 102 | Technology 110 | Decor 112 | Vignettes

T H E F OL IO

OF OPPOSITES

THE FOLIO

Foundation

Lisa Sherry, of the eponymous Lisa Sherry Interieurs design company, is based in the Piedmont and is known for her work in both High Point and Charlotte, but, along with her “creative and amazing” team, she travels all over the country installing residential projects that embody her detailed aesthetic.

She started her business here because, as she says, she found her true home in North Carolina.

Lisa Sherry Interieurs began in the mid 90’s, born completely and organically out of passion. “Interior design is my true calling, but my path was a bit round-about,” Lisa explains. “I love it and never looked back. I find inspiration everywhere. It’s not about keeping an eye on a designer or trend. It’s about having eyes open in everyday experience.”

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“I want clients to feel, ‘this space is me’; to feel beautifully, unmistakably at home.”

THE FOLIO

Foundation

“I find inspiration everywhere.

It’s not about keeping an eye on a designer or trend.

It’s about having eyes open in everyday experience.”

Describe your design aesthetic.

That’s a tough one because it’s always evolving. But at the core, my aesthetic combines two opposites: casual luxe. I think interiors should be relaxed and livable, without starch or pretense, and at the same time be luxurious and sensual.

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What do you like in a home?

I like a home that welcomes, surprises and reveals the essence of its inhabitants.

The walls should talk! I live in a very stately Georgian Home built in the 1930s.

I juxtaposed the gorgeous traditional bones with an eclectic mix of furniture against a neutral but highly textured

color and textile palette. It’s designed for beautiful everyday living.

How does Charlotte and the South in general influence your design?

What can I say, je suis Charlotte! Charlotte is steeped in tradition and history, but also has its arms wide open to new

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THE FOLIO

Foundation

thinking and new ideas—even in the world of design. My aesthetic of marrying opposites—traditional and modern, casual and luxe—really resonates here.

If you were to give tips that anyone can integrate, what would they be?

First, before springing into action, understand what you want to accomplish in the design project, large or small.

Second, consider what’s needed to make your plans real—is it a can of paint or a bulldozer?! Next, set yourself free cre-

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atively with magazine tearsheets and Pinterest boards. Dream. Finally, partner with a professional interior designer.

You’ll find a good designer will elevate your ideas, and you’ll likely avoid costly decorating missteps.

What’s your favorite part and what’s the biggest challenge?

I love coming to work every day. Creative challenges are my favorite. Mixing styles is a signature of my work. It can be challenging to balance that just-right eclec-

tic mix. What’s the right design mix, the right fabric, lamp, wood finish, silhouette? How do singularly great items work together? Is this interesting and new? Is the mix a perfect fit for the client? This is the creative process. Honestly, I also love the behind-the-scenes production process. It’s another creative balancing act, minding all the detail, ensuring everything is properly ordered, received and ready for installation day. info lisasherryinterieurs.com

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THE FOLIO

Technology

A LITTLE INSIGHT Esbith Andaya of Insight Automation thinks your home shouldn’t just be a place to live: It should help you live better. words COREY MILLER Your favorite radio station creeps into the bedroom. As you roll out of bed, stretching and yawning your way downstairs, the many window shades in the house go up, welcoming some life-bringing glow into your home. Your security system is disarmed right

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photos JOE PURVIS on schedule. The television in your kitchen wakes as you start breakfast, switching itself instantaneously to your preferred morning news channel.

No, this isn’t a science fiction daydream; it’s your home, automated.

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THE FOLIO

Technology

Insight Automation wants you to have this. Local entrepreneur and tech whiz Esbith Andaya founded his Charlotte home integration company with one idea in mind: Charlotteans’ lives should be easier. And these days, he says, an easier home life is more achievable.

“Home automation has been around since the 80s,” Andaya explains, “but back then, it was only affordable for the elite. Today, like cell phones and a lot of other technology, it’s available to everybody. I’m just here to let people know.”

Let’s say you’ve a beautifully stuccoed outdoor living space bounded by clean arches…but you also happen to live in the American South. Summer evenings here are like something out of a storybook, but the mosquitos aren’t. Esbith’s got you covered, literally. Automation can give you a porch that’s both screened-in…and not screened-in.

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THE FOLIO

Technology

Smart televisions are all the rage. Install one in a smart living room, though, and you may find that particular room exceedingly difficult to leave. Fully automated home theatre systems are Insight’s most common project installations for a reason.

Modern homes aren’t really modern without natural light. That means big windows, and lots of them. In a spacious enough home, covering upwards of 30 windows just before crawling into bed is laborious enough: Rolling out of bed and manually raising that many shades, pre-caffeination, is a good recipe for a bad day. Try a single touch of your personal tablet instead.

Like anyone else involved in creating homes, Esbith creates a lasting relationship with every client, and he insists on maintaining that relationship for years.

Insight works with new homeowners from the framing stage right through installation in the finished home, integrating a system of living into your living space.

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THE FOLIO

Technology

“Home automation has been around since the 80s, but back then, it was only affordable for the elite.

Today, like cell phones and a lot of other technology, it’s available to everybody.”

And everything Insight automates, from a morning alarm and lighting right down to a home’s security, can be scheduled around the homeowner’s routine. Basically, Esbith Andaya and his crew ensure that homeowners don’t have to do all the menial tasks that—let’s be honest—no homeowner ever wants to do anyway. The smart home curates your day for you, granting you less daily tasks, and more day. With a little help from Insight, the home of the future isn’t in the future anymore. info insight-auto.com

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THE FOLIO

Decor

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Barclay Butera outdoor collection recommended by Anne Buresh anneburesh.com

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Colka throw collection recommended by Isabella isabellastyle.com

Gray and white tables by Mr. Brown recommended by Lisa Sherry Interieurs lisasherryinterieurs.com

Lacefield Designs Triangle Indigo 22 inch square recommended by Anne Buresh anneburesh.com

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HIkat patterned pillow from Piper Collection recommended by Pheasant Hill Designs pheasanthilldesigns.com

Antique mirrored wastebasket recommended by Isabella isabellastyle.com

Blue coral watercolors recommended

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Vignettes

A HEIGHTENED LEVEL

THE FOLIO

words SUNNY HUBLER Barrie Benson is a Charlotte based interior designer best known for juxtaposing modern with traditional in the interiors she designs. Barrie is one of the most recognized commercial and residential designers in our region: Her designs are striking, colorful, and unexpected. She used her signature touch in this home to give the owners a brand-new aesthetic. Benson took the Charlotte ranch house’s traditional living room and threw a

photo CHRIS EDWARDS design curveball: The goal, Benson tells us, was to bring a heightened level of interest and sophistication to the room, while still remaining true to the life of the young family living there. Because they wanted to shake up the classic style, Benson added the luxe custom sofa and the intricate Florence Broadhurst wallpaper to the entry. The pops of color, from the pillows to the coffee table books, add even more layers to the detail-oriented space.

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DETAILS

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THE FOLIO

Vignettes

DINING IN STYLE words SUNNY HUBLER Mary Tobias Miller has an extensive interior design career that has culminated in her latest project: abode, the shop she opened in Dilworth, is both a retail showroom for transitional items, vintage home furnishings, and accessories, and the space for her full-service interior design studio. This dining room is just one of the many perfectly staged rooms that Miller is renowned for bringing together. The client, Miller tells us, loved having a traditional table and chairs but also wanted a way to update these heirlooms.

photo MICHAEL BLEVINS The dining room is the heart of this house, and through the mix of old and new, Miller was able to truly tell the story of this family. “We decided to add the chairs in a modern floral velvet,” she explains. “This fabric really nails down the palette for the entire home.” Miller also brought in the eye-catching brass and iron console you see in the window and added even more detail with a striking modern brass fixture. The finishing touch was the black cabinet with its chunky brass hardware.

info abodehomedesign.com

DETAILS

Host and hostess chairs by Lee Industries | Brass and Iron Console by Barry Dixon | Chandelier from Currey and Co

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THE FOLIO

Vignettes

LIVING IN EASE words SUNNY HUBLER Charlotte Lucas brings the impact of color, pattern, and detail to all her work. The interior designer started her own firm in 2012 and works now on projects all across the Southeast. This colorful living space is part of Charlotte’s own home in Eastover, a space she remodeled while still preserving the bones of the home. She wanted, she tells us, to preserve plenty of the original

photo MATTHEW WILLIAMS surroundings. Like many of her designs, she perfectly intertwined crisp lines with pops of color and texture. The oil painting serves as a visual tie for the room, and the thick throw rug, custom sconces and the pillows, custom designed by Charlotte herself, add little pops of details. The result is a comfortable, upscale living area that is visually pristine but also totally livable.

info charlottelucasdesign.com

DETAILS

Walls by Schumacher Aqua Grasscloth | Daybed Fabric by Bruchwig and Fils | Art is “Abstract Drip” by Cari Uraneck

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LODGE LAVISHLY Durham’s 21c and the Carolina luxury hotels you have to visit this summer.

Photos courtesy of hotels mentioned

124 | Retreat 126 | Sporting 130 | Departures 119 | Weekender

T H E E X PL OR E D

words ANNIE GIBBS

THE EXPLOR ED

Weekender

From hiking a peak with panoramic views in the Blue Ridge Mountains to curling your toes in the sands of the Outer Banks, and through all the vibrant cities in between, the Carolinas promise endless possibilities. Explore it all and lodge lavishly with a stay at some of our favorite luxury hotels.

21c Museum Hotel Located in the the historic Hill Building of downtown Durham, this hotel blends culture and luxury, creating a combination contemporary art museum and boutique hotel. With over 10,500 square feet of art-filled exhibition space, custom-furnished, high-ceilinged guest rooms, dinner and drinks via the Counting House restaurant, you may have a tough time finding a reason to leave the hotel.

Grand Bohemian Nestled within the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville matches the captivating spirit of the authentic city it inhabits. Explore the on-site art gallery, delight in a treatment at the Poseidon Spa, and discover fine dining at the Red Stag Grill before returning to one of this elegant hotel’s Tudorstyle resort rooms and suites.

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel Located in the historic R.J. Reynolds building of downtown Winston-Salem, The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel promises traditional Southern hospitality with a modern pinch of playfulness. Sip a sweet tea in the lavish social living room, or let loose in the adult Rec Room, decked out with a basketball court, bowling alley, ping-pong table, high-top tables and even a twisty slide. Yes, they have a twisty slide.

The Swag Country Inn This private mountaintop resort, located just outside Waynesville, North Carolina, features remarkable Smoky Mountain views, awardwinning eats, and charming rustic accommodations. A stay in one of The Swag’s exclusive 14 individually decorated rooms make for the perfect mountain getaway.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM The Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill, NC. The Swag, Waynesville, NC. Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, NC.

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The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte offers luxury lodgings directly in the center of the city. A penthouse-level Spa & Wellness Center, sweeping city views, and a total of four restaurants and bars all within the heart of Uptown make this hotel a must for Queen City visitors.

THE EXPLOR ED

Weekender

The Ballantyne Hotel Located in the popular Charlotte neighborhood, The Ballantyne features resort-style amenities including spa, salon, pool, tennis offerings, and even a PGA golf course. Seated within Ballantyne’s thriving shopping, dining, and retail community and only a short drive from Uptown and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, this hotel offers a stylish stay away from the hustle bustle.

The Dewberry Recently renovated and repurposed, the former L. Mendel Rivers Federal Building has been transformed into the ideal location to immerse yourself in Charleston charm. Perfectly placed in historic downtown, this timeless design offers a beautiful mix of past and present, wrapped up in luxurious hotel.

The Sanderling Resort Located in the quaint town of Duck, North Carolina, this resort is the epitome of luxury in the Outer Banks. From dazzling views, private beach access, exceptional spa services and locally-sourced coastal cuisine, The Sanderling is making a day at the beach that much better.

The Westin Poinsett Seated in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina, this hotel offers time-tested accommodations, enduring historical events such as the Great Depression and the 1950’s motel industry boom. The original 1925 menu of the hotel’s restaurant can still be viewed on the website, and although the fare has evolved over time, the Southern charm remains perfectly preserved.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Sanderling Resort, Duck NC. Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Asheville, NC. The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, Charlotte, NC.

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The Carolina Inn Located directly on the University of North Carolina’s campus, the Carolina Inn has been an iconic destination since 1924 for UNC alumni and visitors wanting to be near historic Franklin Street. All the bells and whistles have been added to the guestrooms, combining modern sophistication with traditional charm. info qcexclusive.com

THE EXPLOR ED

Retreat

PINNACLE OF PEACE This Boone, NC wellness center offers lessons in the art of living well. words ANNIE GIBBS photos courtesy ART OF LIVING CENTER The pinnacle of rest can be discovered perched atop the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. With a culmination of crisp air, sweeping views, and holistic services, The Art of Living Center combines the ancient art of Ayurveda medicine with contemporary wellness.

Founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, this center is a reflection of his vision for a peaceful, stressfree society. Regardless of what drives you here, the team at The Art of Living Center are prepared to design the right trip for each visitor, whether you’re on a group getaway or an individual retreat.

You can stay in one of the center’s vistas, with options looking over the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains or views that take in the quiet magic

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of the forest. ALC has you covered with the energizing eats from their vegetarian menu, crafted with the spoils of the center’s own garden, and influenced by flavors of Boone, Bombay, and the Caribbean. Choose from activities including yoga, meditation, philosophy workshops, and nature trails to rest, learn, and explore. Luxuriate in the treatments offered at the Shankara Ayurveda Spa, utilizing the centuries-old science to bring you balance.

This restful respite, and all it has to offer, is located only a short way from the endless adventure and charm in Boone, making it the perfect destination to rediscover yourself in nature. info artoflivingretreatcenter.org

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MAY/JUNE 2017 • @QCEXCLUSIVE • 125

THE EXPLOR ED

Sporting

HORSE COUNTRY Tryon Equestrian Center is a sprawling dedication to classic equestrian arts. words SUNNY HUBLER photos courtesy TRYON INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER When I first heard that there is now a massive equestrian compound in Tryon, North Carolina, my first reaction was something along the lines of “huh?”

Don’t get me wrong—though I’m originally a Yankee I do well know that plenty of the South is old horse country. But a place this size, with this much international influence, in the rural area that is Tryon? The town is home to a population of 1,646, and while it’s a charming place, it’s certainly the definition of quiet community.

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To actually see Tryon Equestrian Center is even more surprising—this is a 100 million dollar world-class venue that can only be described as “sprawling.” The 1600 acre property contains lodging, dining, shopping, farmer’s markets, and, of course, everything needed for derbys and steeplechases, show jumping and dressage, and the stabling and training of horses.

Opened in summer of 2014, Tryon Equestrian Center has quickly become a place of international prestige, where many of the world’s top

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MAY/JUNE 2017 • @QCEXCLUSIVE • 127

THE EXPLOR ED

Sporting athletes come to compete. This year, Tryon got its biggest opportunity yet: The chance to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

It’s the Olympics of horse-racing, held every four years and run by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.This is only the second time North America has been awarded the chance to host the games.

Carly Weilminster, who handles media and public relations at Tryon, couldn’t help but laugh when trying to explain just how crazy-busy they’ve been since the news of the 2018 games broke. Tryon hosts guests 365 days a year, and uses the land during the horses’ off-season for festivals and concerts. Now, they’re preparing for an inundation of international travelers, locals, and the media to all descend on the small town.

The Equestrian Center has created a space fully dedicated to one of the world’s oldest sports, now updated for modernity. It’s a proper nod to a classic pursuit, and a place where new spectators and the oldest fans can congregate. With its array of offerings, you can make a weekender out of the Center without even intending to catch a horse-related event. The beauty of the property itself is enough to warrant a trip, but the thrill of horseracing is like no other. info tryon.com

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THE EXPLOR ED

Departures

N Y C QC Exclusive’s Taste of The Big Apple words SUNNY HUBLER iPhone photos JP GRICE If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that whatever needs to be said about New York City has been said—and said well—before.

In the centuries since Manhattan was founded, some of the greatest poets, journalists, songwriters, and novelists have all spun the tale of the city that never sleeps. So, we won’t try to wax poetic and say it better, but what we can plainly point out is that as visitors to New York, we’re wow-ed every single time. It’s as an American a mecca as they come, and the thing we really love most is that each experience in the city can be wholly made your own. You are in a place millions of other people frequent, but you get to have your very own version of NYC. You’ll settle on your favorite borough, find a go-to bodega for hot coffee, and fall in love with a family-owned diner you can hole up in at 2 am. You can claim your favorite restaurant experience at a place with no sign outside and you’ll sneak into a bar crafted in a tiny slice of an old Manhattan basement with 7-foot tall ceilings. Those other NYC travelers might never happen across your most cherished spots even once.

And because you can never hope to see it all, we love hearing, and giving, a good recommendation for the Big Apple. Cheers to the food, drinks, sights, and scenery that have most shaped our love of the city. We hope you’ll plan a visit soon, too.

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The Manhattan skyline from Hoboken, New Jersey. A view of Lower Manhattan from the Empire State Building. Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge toward Brooklyn.

THE EXPLOR ED

Departures

THE FOOD

The National September 11 Museum and Memoral staff places a single white rose on the names of the victims on the parapet to commemorate their birthdays. One World Trade Center from the train station in Secaucus, New Jersey nine miles away. “Rendering the Unthinkable: Artists Respond to 9/11” is a collection of artwork by 13 artists and their reactions to terror attacks on display in the museum. The 1776’ tall One World Trade Center as seen from the ground floor.

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Jack’s Wife Freda, SoHo Jack’s Wife Freda is a beloved bistro for good reason: They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week and whip up familiar twists on everyday food. The husband-and-wife owners’ family histories have made this an inviting hangout. Brunch is one of the best we’ve had, and the Madame Freda, a pressed sandwich with duck prosciutto, cheddar béchamel, gruyere and a sunny side-up egg, is incredible.

Ellary’s Greens, West Village The last time we were here, we ducked in from a rainy, windy, cold spring night. Ellary’s made for the perfect haven before a night out—quick service, a healthy hot meal, and a space that is the definition of cozy. It’s a warm-toned little hotspot cafe

with a rustic-chic interior that serves up everything from fresh juices to cocktails, chickpea burgers to bacon mac & cheese.

We recommend the salmon, and as many fresh vegetable sides as you can eat.

Bar Pitti, Midtown Pitti is a local hotspot with some of the best people-watching and Tuscan Italian you can find. The handmade pasta will blow you away, and the antipasti offerings are a perfect pairing with your favorite vino.

THE DRINKS

The Empire Hotel, Upper West Side This brick cocktail bar has both a lunch taproom and a cozy parlor with small plates and vintage cocktails. It’s perfectly New York feeling, with some of the best cocktails we’ve had anywhere.

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THE EXPLOR ED

Departures

Death & Co., East Village A small, subtle wooden sign with the bar’s name hangs on the door of the East Village establishment. If you weren’t looking for it, you’d walk right by. A doorman stands at the entrance of Death & Co., flashlight in hand. Announce the size of your party and then follow him through the heavy wooden door and into the darkness. The small speakeasy-style space is so dim that it’s difficult to read the menu but then, when your eyes finally adjust, an undeniable ambience perfect for savoring world-class cocktails is revealed. Try the Hustle & Cuss, a Buffalo Trace bourbon, cacao, cinnamon, maple mixture that is to die for.

The amazing arches at the MET. The spiral exterior of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, the Guggenheim, finished in 1959. A visitor walks through the halls of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Titanosaur at Upper West Side’s American Museum of Natural History

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Manhattan Cricket Club, Upper West Side Walk into the Burke and Wills Australian restaurant on 79th Street in the Upper West Side and tell them you’re lost and that you’re trying to find the Manhattan Cricket Club. The hostess will tell you that in fact you’re at the right place. Then she’ll walk you towards a secret door disguised as a section of green leather tufted wall. Behind the wall, stairs lead guests into a gold-laden, Great-Gatsbyesque parlor. Historic cricket photos, iron equestrian statues, baroque wall paper, leather country club chairs, and a strict club etiquette pay homage to a by-gone

era. The comprehensive cocktail list and classic martini service round out the experience. If it’s clandestine on the rocks with a twist that you’re looking for, then you’ve found it, ol’ sport.

Little Branch, West Village The front entrance looks more like a janitor’s closet door than the entrance to an amazing speakeasy, but in NYC that seems to be a trend. The best spots are hidden and hard to find, but when you do find them, it’s more than worth the search. This basement bar under Seventh Avenue is a small, dark, low-ceilinged, slightly claustrophobic ode to the Prohibition Era. Bartenders in suspenders pour strong, classic, delicious cocktails while a band squeezed into the tiniest of corners plays world-class jazz.

THE SIGHTS

The MET, Upper East Side The MET is quintessential NYC. The largest art museum in the United States and one of the most visited in the world, this summer the MET will host several exciting exhibitions, including Chinese art from the Qin and Han dynasties, and photographer Irving Penn’s Centennial show. Be warned: There’s no way to see it all in a day, let alone in a few hours.

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THE EXPLOR ED

Departures

NY Public Library, 5th Avenue The New York Public Library holds nearly 53 million items, making it the second largest public library in the US, and fourth largest in the world. It’s equally stunning and a bit nostalgic every single time. Pop in to browse, study, or simply get a bit of refuge and quiet.

A woman appreciates a Jackson Pollack piece in MoMa. Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze’s painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at The MET. Albert Gleizes’ Woman with Animals and Constantin Brancusi’s sculpture entitled Maiastra at the Guggenheim. A man takes a photo of Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe on his iPhone at MoMa. Constantin Brancusi’s sculpture Muse at the Guggenheim. A visitor admires Winslow Homer’s powerful ocean paintings at The MET.

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National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Lower Manhattan This is one you have to see. We have a hard time rendering it into words, but the experience of standing on the ground was incredibly moving, and the recently completed tribute is large, elaborate, detailed, and simply beautiful.

THE SCENERY

Central Park When you find a slice of green space that you love in the city, you hold on to it. It’s a beautiful landscape with several different collections and displays.

The High Line, The West Side The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long New York City park that was built in Manhattan on an elevated section of what used to be the New York Central Railroad. By converting the High Line from an out-of-use railroad trestle to a public landscape, the project has brought beautiful greenery to what was one of the most industrial areas.

Coney Island, Brooklyn Experience sensory overload at the southernmost point of Brooklyn. The New York Aquarium should be your first stop. Here, ocean lovers can enjoy the kaleidoscopic offerings: colorful tropical fish, translucent jellyfish, barking sea lions, and toothy sharks. After the aquarium, walk the seemingly endless boardwalk, grab a delicious world famous Nathan’s hot dog (or four) and hit the amusement parks— that is, if you can stomach the madness of classic rides named Thunderbolt, The Tickler, Power Surge, and Sling Shot.

HISTORY MEETS LUXURY The Ivey’s, Charlotte’s newest addition to the Uptown hotel scene, blends history with modern luxe. words SUNNY HUBLER

photos courtesy IVEY’S HOTEL

What do you want out of a luxury hotel? It’s not really about the amenities—extensive though they will be—and it’s not really even about the location, important as it is to your choice of vacation destination. A luxury hotel is really about the feeling you get the moment you step inside, a sense that you’ve been transported somewhere where all your needs are taken care of. It’s real relaxation at its adult best—no responsibilities and pure comfort.

The Ivey’s Hotel, a new addition to Uptown Charlotte, is doing luxury travel right by offering some of the finest accommodations and service in the city. The new boutique destination is in one of the few remaining historic buildings in Uptown. The Ivey’s building was originally the home of the J.B. Ivey’s Department store, which opened its doors in Charlotte in 1924. With a nod to Charlotte’s past and an eye for modern needs, The Ivey’s was able to meet history with luxury.

With only 42 rooms, The Ivey’s Hotel is expected to be the only Five-Star luxury boutique hotel in Charlotte. The design mixes vintage Parisian glamour and unique antiques and artwork with some of the highest-end contemporary touches and necessities. Whether you’re going for pleasure or work, The Ivey’s will have all your needs covered between the extensive amenities offered and the easy access to all the Queen City has to offer. info theiveyshotel.com

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Plan Your Weekend A three-day guide to dining, cocktailing, and playing during your staycation at The Ivey’s Hotel.

CHECK IN ON FRIDAY, THEN head to The Cellar at Duckworth’s. Start the evening off right with a selection from their amazing craft beer list or a cocktail shaken or stirred by some of the most talented mixologists in Charlotte. The food at The Cellar is also fantastic. We recommend splurging on the Tomahawk Ribeye. It’s the perfect steak.

WAKE UP ON SATURDAY, THEN take a walk down to 7th

Street Public Market to browse the shops and grab a coffee from Not Just Coffee. Breakfast at Local Loaf, where they serve up freshly baked breads and pastries. The Croque Madame breakfast sandwich is a must. Pop into the Charlotte History Museum or the Discovery Place, both conveniently located near The Ivey’s. Saturday night, you can make reservations at Roosters for a wood-fired meal you won’t forget.

The short rib is next-level and the coconut cake is the type of dessert dreams are made of.

BEFORE YOU HEAD HOME ON SUNDAY cap off your

weekend with a leisurely brunch at The Asbury. Afterwards, walk it off with a stroll through Romare Bearden Park. Return to The Ivey’s for one of those in-room massages to end your stay there with one last bit of leisure.

LUXE LIBATIONS We asked several of the Queen City’s most daring mixologists to craft us something that reveals their strengths. What follows are some of the prettiest, wildest, and unlikeliest cocktails we’ve seen (and tasted). You can’t actually order many of them, but that’s the definition of luxury, isn’t it? Just read. And weep if you must. words COREY MILLER photos JUSTIN DRISCOLL, JAMEY PRICE, KYO H. NAM

Bob Peters’ Pecan-smoked Honey Fanciulli The Punch Room Smoke billows excitedly out of a little glass box with the telltale looks and smells of something you definitely should’ve ordered, while The Punch Room mixologist and local miracle worker Bob Peters slides an intimidating Nick and Nora glass across the bar.

(You’re sitting at the bar—not doing so in The Punch Room is like choosing to sit in the far back at a magician’s show. No one’s going to puzzle out the secrets back there.) Bob’s grinning from ear to ear like he does, because he knows the smoking box is a VIP secret-back-room kind of paraphernalia, and the drink that’s just come out of it is a cocktail whose origins are as dim as your world’s about to be.

The first thing you’ll notice about Bob’s Pecan-smoked Honey Fanciulli—after it has been removed from its prison of swirling smoke ghosts, that is—is the burned scent. It’s going to be smoky in the nose, and not mildly so. The second thing you’ll notice, partway through that first sip, is that this guy is every bit as spiritforward as every other bourbon-based Punch Room cocktail you’ve ever tried. Fernet Branca dances its beautifully complex bitterness briefly across your tongue, but shares your now-wellseasoned palate with the Krupnikas’ sweet and spicy notes. The touch of Vermouth greets last, just before the citrus finishes.

And then, of course, the burn hits again, poking fun at every part of your upper respiratory system. The smoke isn’t a fancy trick or an overdone garnish. It rules this drink. photo by Justin Driscoll

Colleen Hughes’ The Honey Bee and the Buzzing Monk Haberdish With house-made Saffron-infused honey syrup, Doc Porter’s Gin, and fresh lemon juice, the primary course is a play on the Prohibition-era classic simplicity of a Bee’s Knees. Its little side car, on the other hand, is something decidedly not so American.

The mildly sweet, herb-y flavor of yellow Chartreuse shares its ornate vessel with a bolt of floral electricity. It contains szechuan button, a flowering herb known colloquially (and with good reason) as toothache plant, buzz button, or electric daisy. If eaten whole, the flower greets your tongue with all the tenderness of a D-Volt battery. So Colleen Hughes, ever the enterprising apothecary, made a tincture from the herb.

“If you put this in your mouth,” Colleen grins, brandishing one of the little yellow flowers, “you’d lose the ability to taste for about an hour. I tinctured it so that I could have more control over the amount that it affects your palate.”

Colleen knows how to control a cocktail, it seems. This one needs a drug facts wrapper, because it has to be consumed in steps. First, taste the sweet springy gin, entertaining the saffron’s honeyed notes for a moment. Now, before trying again, sip on the most shot-y shot you’ve ever had. The rest is, well…something you have to experience. photo by Jamey Price

Jeff Keiser’s Latticed Manhattan The Porter’s House Coffee-themed cocktails are a cooling trend. So Jeff Keiser of The Porter’s House is starting a new, hotter one, using just the coffee maker—no grounds necessary. Meet the Latticed Manhattan, an all-tooclean-looking beverage that’s very much a beautiful mess to concoct. This late-night science-experimentturned-cocktail-sensation is “brewed” in a siphon coffee maker, which uses two chambers and the good work of vacuum and vapor pressure to infuse liquid (or liquor) with anything Jeff’s heart desires.

Lucky for us, his heart’s set on the classics—and the finer points of the bitters that made them such.

Master’s Collection Woodford Reserve boils up into a chamber full of gentian, rosebuds, blood orange, vanilla bean, ceylon cinnamon, Grains of Paradise, Spanish coupe saffron, Tellicherry peppercorn, cubeb berries, and blood orange tea. It’s the mother of all bourbon cocktails broken down and built back from the ground up. This Manhattan isn’t part-bitters. It’s all bitters-infused, and in its purity practically demands a hazard label: It may look like something you made in your secondary school chemistry class, but it’s far tastier, and—thankfully—far more hazardous. photo by Kyo H. Nam

Stefan Huebner’s Queen City Swizzle Dot Dot Dot Dot Dot Dot isn’t open yet, but it may as well be: Stefan Huebner is sure to be the beating heart of this reclusive speakeasy, and he’s showing no signs of slowing his outpouring of love for the quickly maturing cocktail scene he helped to rear. Dot Dot Dot will boast a menu of locally sourced classics done right—one that showcases all that Stefan has learned in the 25 years he’s spent honing his craft.

The Queen City Swizzle is a drink that’s sure to find its way onto Stefan’s new list, if only because he’d be hard-pressed to craft another Dragon Moonshine Silver Rum drink that’ll top this one. Swizzles aren’t done overmuch in Charlotte these days, but Stefan’s winning grin and flashy long pour should help it make a swift comeback.

This Queen’s-Park-style Swizzle rendering of the beverage practically screams warm weather with its breezy balance of fresh mint, tart citrus, and angostura. But it’s in the thoughtful sourcing that the Queen City Swizzle dodges convention: The Dot Dot Dot drink deftly uses the velvety mixture of Charlotte rum and South Carolina honey to bring this island drink inland. Stefan Huebner is invested in his home…and every sip says so. And how about that collins glass? It’s every bit as ancient as it looks. photo by Kyo H. Nam

Ron Oleksa’s Chakri Gin Fizz The Cellar at Duckworth’s Ron Oleksa’s cocktail menu is known for its lengthiness but remembered for its customization.

Every drink on The Cellar’s list is thoughtfully crafted— guests wait a few minutes for every mixture, but that’s because every mix is different from the last one required of the bar. A lineup of this ilk gives every order a Prohibition-era exclusivity, every drink a tailored feeling. Time is part of the experience, and no experience is more memorable than Ron’s Chakri Gin Fizz.

The drink takes its name from the Thai royal family, which is fitting: Aside from the Scottish Botanist Islay Dry Gin, the whole flavor profile is Thai-influenced. Possibly the most refreshingly light gin fizz ever concocted, this fluffy white beauty starts with the most fragrant dry muddle ever devised: kaffir lime leaves, ginger, and lemongrass. This assault on the senses unites with fresh Meyer lemon and kaffir lime juices, Bittermens’ grapefruit bitters, Regan’s orange bitters, orange blossom water, and quail egg white. The whole drink is rounded out with coconut milk in place of the typical gin fizz’s heavy cream. Ostensibly just adding to the frothy ivory of the whole thing, this touch actually creates a cooling lightness while tricking your palette into a tour of the Asian tropics. And then there are the garnishes: quail egg and kaffir lime leaves, gilded with real, oh-so-edible gold leaf.

It’s not available to order, and Ron has only served this drink a couple of times, to only the rarest of The Cellar’s denizens. It’s practically reserved for royalty—cocktails don’t get more exclusive. photo by Kyo H. Nam

Kel Minton’s Aviation Soul Gastrolounge The Aviation. It’s a cocktail that’s not quite obvious but not quite obscured—kind of like the gem-like garnish hidden in its depths. Even the most defiant of gin lovers seem polarized by the drink, despite its reputation as a classic. Maybe they’re split on the inclusion of the richness that is Crème de Violette. Maybe not. Either way, it’s a cocktail that snags for its bearer the attention of everyone in the bar: an ego-booster or a nightlife nightmare, depending on the kind of drinker you happen to be. It’s a good start to any evening at Soul Gastrolounge.

Kel Minton’s Aviation hits your nose with a botanical sweetness just before the Beefeater gin and Luxardo Maraschino brandish their own violet accents. It’s light and smooth on the tongue, with a refreshing citrus tart on its tail end. There’s something about the cool hues of this drink that fits right in at Plaza Midwood’s favorite upstairs den. Like any of our city’s excellent barkeeps, Kel Minton is one to experiment, but he does so judiciously. There are some things, this purple-y classic insists, that aren’t to be tampered with. photo by Jamey Price

Brian Lorusso’s Millionaire’s Manhattan Dogwood Southern Table and Bar The best Manhattan is one that places its bourbon on a pedestal, the kind of libation that allows all its bittering agents to complement, even praise, its liquor. The man behind Dogwood Southern Table and Bar knows this.

Brian Lorusso’s not-actually-for-sale Millionaire’s Manhattan is about as pure as it gets.

For his personal prized stash of aged Old Rip Van Winkle, something like flavor-filled Cocchi Barolo Chinato is the perfect lively congregation of quinine bark, rhubarb root, juniper, and a heaping of other herbs and spices. Oh, and the bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle used in this Manhattan is not only aged 10 years—it was already nearly a decade-old when he bought it. photo by Kyo H. Nam

P/1046 RK Motors Charlotte rediscovers the car that won Le Mans for America— the No. 2 Shelby-American Ford GT40 MK II-A—and with Rare Drive, takes home “Best in Class” at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. words COREY MILLER

photos of history and restoration courtesy of RK MOTORS

Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance photos bv JAMEY PRICE

On the fourth of July, 1963 Henry Ford II was about to make a deal. He wanted to put his cars on the European map.

Ford needed to enter the sports car race, and there was one easy way for the American automobile juggernaut to do that.

The auto tycoon was set to sign a ten-million dollar contract with Enzo Ferrari, giving Ford Motor Company a half share in the Italian sportscar maker’s booming business.

But the deal fell through, and an enraged Henry the Second commissioned Ford Total Performance, an initiative formed with one vendetta-fueled purpose: Creating an American vehicle that could outdrive Ferrari.

The GT40 was born. This compact powerhouse would make Ford the first American manufacturer to win at that most prestigious of European races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans— ending Ferrari’s five-year winning streak. The number 2 car became a legend, and Ford entered the international market in a big way.

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GOAL NO. 1 - DETHRONE FERRARI. They didn’t just dethrone them. Ford dominated, finishing 1-2-3 in the 1966 Le Mans.

It should come as little surprise that the car that crossed the finish line first that day, Chassis P/1046, couldn’t be quite the same car nearly five decades later. Like many vehicles of its ilk, 1046 has undergone plenty of touch-ups and tinkerings throughout the years, saddling the classic with a number of ancillary features and replacement parts. It was an altogether different vehicle, until classic car collector and trader Rob Kauffman got his hands on it, that is.

Kauffman’s Charlotte-based RK Motors is a car-buying juggernaut, and its founder’s worshipful obsession with classic American-made automobiles bleeds into every facet of the business. So naturally, when RK Motors acquired the vehicle that used to be the king of all Ford sports cars, the company’s higherups elected to do the only sane (and slightly crazy) thing they could: They tore it down.

With the help of the restoration experts at Rare Drive, RK Motors had the legendary vehicle disassembled. They reduced P/1046 to its bare chassis, with the entire drive train hanging

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During (BOTTOM) and after (TOP) the restoration at Rare Drive. Rare Drive is the only shop RK Motors Charlotte entrusted to restore such a car due to the shop’s acknowledged expertise with Shelby cars.

TOP: GT40 P/1046 at Le Mans, Circuit de la Sarthe in 2016.

Photo by Jamey Price BOTTOM: P/1046 approaching the finish at Le Mans in 1966.

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EXACLTY 50 YEARS AFTER P/1046 WON FORD WINS AGAIN AT LE MANS. from an engine crane. The two companies then began the arduous process of restoring an icon of such renown to its original state, beginning with sourcing authentic parts, right down to the proper bolts.

Such a task is actually more researching—and scouring the world for rare parts—than physical labor. Much of this restorative effort found its base in historical documents. The teams working on this legend “pulled thousands of period images” from every photographer who had anything to do with the car, amassing a collection of thousands of images from the 60s.

A grainy photo of Bruce McLaren buckling himself into the car revealed the precise kind of stitchings needed on the seat belt. A shot of the car with the front hood up showed that the paint applied for those now-legendary white stripes was allowed to drip down inside the front trunk jamb, leaving white paint dribbled along the underside of the hood. The Rare Drive team, of course, called upon a master pinstriper to painstakingly recreate those paint runs.

In the business of restoring automobiles, it seems, “authenticity” means “authenticity.” The result of RK Motors’ and

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Rare Drive’s efforts is, well, the car that decimated the competition in 1966, winning Le Mans for Ford, and for America.

P/1046’s legacy can’t be understated. The GT40 line would go on to win three more consecutive Le Mans races in the 60s. That’s right—Ford’s formidable supercar won Le Mans a whopping four times. Few other racecars have even come close to that. And for the first time last year, Ford returned to Le Mans with a new GT, a sleek powerhouse of modern automotive technology. It won in its class, exactly 50 years after the Mark II’s historic victory—but not before the original victor, in all its restored glory, was ceremoniously paraded up the track’s starting grid. The anniversary revving of that engine was another proud moment for Ford, to be sure, but an altogether euphoric moment for RK Motors Charlotte. Later that summer, RK’s restored P/1046 won Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, rounding out yet another historic year for this most classic of cars.

info rkmotorscharlotte.com

TOP: GT40 P/1046 leaving the stage after winning Best in Class at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Photo by Jamey Price.

BOTTOM: P/1046 crossing the finish line at Le Mans in 1966

1046 BY THE NOS. Weight 2,600 lbs.

Engine 7.0 L FE V8 Power 485 horsepower Power-to-Weight 0.180 hp/lb Top Speed 205 mph

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TIE THE KNOT words SUNNY HUBLER photos RICHARD ISRAEL . THIEN LA . ANNA BARZIN . TAKEN BY SARAH . LUNAHZON

With wedding season in full effect, we’re happy to share a little behind the scenes with you from five Charlotte couples’ weddings. They gave us a peek into some of the most beautiful venues, lush flowers, and luxe gowns, and provided inspiration for decadent cakes, talented photographers, and the most meaningful jewelry. They also gave us access into what is, surely, one of the most significant days in their shared lives. Whether you’re looking for a local wedding guide or just want to peruse some beautiful photos that we feel couldn’t better personify real life love, we’ve got you covered.

JAMEY & EMILY photography ANNA BARZIN The Price wedding, held on April 1, 2017, commenced on the shores of Lake Norman. With the beautiful water as a backdrop, Jamey and Emily—both professional photographers—toasted to their union surrounded by a host of family and friends. The bride’s statement dress was designed by Mori Lee, and the catering and cake were done by Trump National Golf Course.

THE CAKE Jamey and Emily’s beautiful (and tasty) cake was provided by Trump National Golf Course on Lake Norman. You can also get a beautiful wedding cake from local vendors Suarez Bakery, Sweet Affairs, and The Icing & The Cake.

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ANNIE & DANNY photography THIEN L A Annie and Danny tied the knot against a gorgeous backdrop in New Orleans, Lousiana at the sweeping Crystal Palace. With the bridesmaids decked out in slightly different variants of the dresses and the groomsmen sporting sharp black tuxedos, the couple solidified their union in The Big Easy. The hair and makeup was done by Cat Vo, Diem Le served as the wedding designer, and the flowers were arranged by Ever After.

THE DRESS Annie’s unique wedding gown is from Berta Bridal and Danny’s tux came from Fellow Suits. If you’re looking for wedding wear in Charlotte, try Hayden Olivia Bridal, Taylor Richards & Conger, Ladies of Lineage, and Bruce Julian Clothier.

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ALYSSA & ANDREW photography LUNAHZON Alyssa and Andrew Wilen married on the sweeping grounds of Laboratory Mill, formerly the Lincoln Cotton Factory from 1819 to 1863, in Lincolnton, NC. The duo make for a powerhouse couple: Together, they run Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen in South End, and work to manage the brand as it has continued to grow into a line of condiments and beyond. Their throwdown commenced on a gorgeous Carolina day with plenty of fun and food to celebrate the union. Hair and makeup was by Rebekah, flowers by Proper Flower, desserts by Pastry Chef Ashley Boyd, and food was provided by Passion 8.

THE JEWELRY The rings for the Wilen wedding came from Diamonds Direct and the watches from Etsy. Alyssa’s bracelet was given to her by her mother, and the earrings are from Bhldn. FInd more wedding jewelry options locally at Windsor Jewelers, Donald Haack, and David’s Ltd.

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LIZ & BILL photography TAKEN BY SARAH Liz and Bill Thomas married and celebrated at Alexander Homestead on a beautiful fall day in 2016. The two are the best of friends, and the style they put into their wedding reflected how easy-going and fun both of them are. The hair was by Glammed and Groomed with makeup from Jennifer Abercrombie Beauty. The wedding dress was JCrew and the bride’s shoes are Betsey Johnson. The groom’s outfit is from Charlotte’s Ole Mason Jar. THE FLOWERS The gorgeous, unqiue floral arrangements were done by Sarah Collier of Taken by Sarah Photography (who also did all the wedding photos). For more floral designs, check out Charlotte Wedding Flowers, CLUX Florals, and Lily Greenthumb’s Wedding & Event Design.

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KELSEY & JOE photography RICHARD ISRAEL Kelsey and Joe, who met in New York City, knew within three months that they were meant for each other. The couple decided to get married in South Carolina, where Kelsey is originally from. They tied the knot at the beautiful Hotel Domestique and worked directly with Chef Nick at Restaurant 17 to design their menu.

Kelsey’s father officiated the service and Joe designed the emerald engagement ring, in keeping with the rich green color palette, with Ken and Dana Design.

THE VENUE Hotel Domestique is tucked at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the countryside of South Carolina. It’s modern and old-world at the same time, making it a picturesque wedding escape. If you like this space, you can also check out The Graylyn Estate of Winston-Salem, Castle McCulloch of Jamestown NC, and Fearrington Inn in Pittsboro, NC.

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THE WEDDING PLANNER select photos by JAMEY PRICE & KYO H. NAM

With the summer months swiftly approaching, we all know to expect wedding bells. These experts are here to make your special day perfect in every way.

Featured in this section: The Umstead | Delectables by Holly | The Ballroom at Quail Hollow | Donald Haack The Ritz-Carlton | Gilded Bridal | Banner Elk Winery SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

THE UMSTEAD

Hotel and Spa

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6,000 Sq-Ft Wedding Lawn | 4,000 Sq-Ft Ballroom | 1,600 Sq-Ft Salon | Seating for up to 200 | On-Site Catering and Service Staff Luxuy Hotel and Spa

Wedding Venue

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ach wedding at The Umstead Hotel and Spa is as unique as the couple it celebrates.

Tucked into a serene woodland setting just a short drive from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, The Umstead caters to discerning couples who are drawn to the hotel’s sophisticated ambience, artistic spirit, and the natural beauty of its surroundings.

The property’s expansive and beautifully landscaped lawn is a natural choice for an elegant outdoor wedding, allowing couples to exchange vows against a spectacular and serene backdrop. Wide stone pavers create a dramatic aisle-like pathway leading to the hotel’s private lake, surrounded by woodlands and accentuated with a dramatic fountain.

The indoor ballroom features abundant natural light, streaming in through floorto-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. The room also showcases artwork from The Umstead’s extensive collection, and access to an expansive terrace with a gas fire pit and inspirational views.

Custom seasonal menus are created by the award-winning team that led Herons to national acclaim. Every aspect of the service is flawless, from passed hors d’oeuvres to tableside pouring of soup courses, to the absence of banquet trays—each course is instead delivered by hand. Every event is characterized by a keen focus on the couple’s tastes and an impeccable eye for detail, resulting in a seamless, customized event.

100 Woodland Pond Dr, Cary, NC

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1-919-447-4120

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theumstead.com

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SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

DELECTABLES BY HOLLY Wedding and Special Event Catering

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rom hors d’oeuvres passed on silver trays to the tuxedo-attired waitstaff circulating Champagne, the everyday elegance behind the work of local business owner Holly McLelland is clear. For 22 years, her signature service has been designing personalized custom menus for discerning clientele.

Delectables by Holly is a full-service boutique catering company for all occasions employing a talented team of administrative and culinary staff. Holly’s signature dishes include her Southern Shrimp and Swiss Cheese Grits topped with crisp applewood smoked bacon and Angel Biscuits with Smithfield Ham and brown sugar sauce. Executive Chef John Cutitta expertly executes delicious, authentic, regionally-inspired cuisine while seamlessly integrating clients’ personal tastes and dietary requests. Recently, Chef Cutitta had the honor of serving former President Bill Clinton a custom vegan meal of zucchini manicotti topped with locally sourced tomatoes and stuffed with cashew “ricotta.” Delectables by Holly also designs intimate dinner parties featuring a wide range of dishes from Spanish seafood paella to more classic steakhouse dishes like charcoal-grilled filet mignon with porcini mushroom and black truffle salt.

Holly McLelland welcomes bridal, social event, and corporate inquiries. She is as “Southern as sweet tea” and will win you over with her artful presentations and flawless service.

The catering destination for higher expectations | Corporate Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Social Events Wedding Receptions

Catering • 1224 Charlottetowne Ave, Charlotte, NC • 704-342-4800 • delectablesbyholly.com • events@delectablesbyholly.com

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SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

THE BALLROOM

AT QUAIL HOLLOW

Ballroom Dancing and Event Venue

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World Class Instruction Wedding Dance | Dance Parties Private and Group Classes Event Venue | 7 Days a Week

ince beginning their competitive career together in 2011, Kristie Simmonds and Andrea Zaramella have earned all kinds of notable titles and achievements in the dance world. The duo’s combined passion for the craft inspired them to found The Ballroom at Quail Hollow, where the longtime dreams of sharing their love of dance have come alive in a stunning venue.

The diverse team of talented instructors are eager to help you put your best foot forward by offering private and group instruction for every age, skill level, and a variety of dance styles. Also offering customized wedding dances for your all important “first dance”, the team will design a memorable and impressive routine to the music and dance style of your choosing to ensure you’re prepared for your unforgettable day.

The Ballroom’s two appointed rooms make it the ideal location for hosting everything from intimate parties to large-scale benefits, and even wedding receptions and fashion shows. Boasting a tastefully elegant twist of European accents and modern functionality, this venue’s alluring atmosphere features ambient sconce lighting, a state-of-the-art music system, and an antique French chandelier centerpiece.

Specialized Dance Lessons • 8514 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC • 980-228-7361 • theballroomqh.com • info@theballroomqh.com

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SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

DONALD HAACK DIAMONDS Fine Jeweler

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he 1950s found Donald and Jan Haack in the rich jungle of South America, mining diamonds in riverbeds. Years later, the pair settled down in Charlotte, carrying their passion for their craft with them. As a result, Donald Haack Diamonds was established in 1981, offering loose diamonds and simple, elegant jewelry.

Today the business has grown, featuring more color and unique fashion pieces, as well as extended services including appraisals, repair, and restoration. Since buying the business a decade ago, Julie Haack and her team have continued to uphold the same standard of excellence set by her parents, delivering personal attention to each client and a thoughtfully curated selection of fine jewelry.

The experts at Donald Haack are uniquely focused on offering individualized care for every customer, from his or her first step through their door, and even years after the purchase. Clients are able to keep shopping simple by creating a wishlist for future occasions, and Julie’s team even keeps certain customers in mind when buying pieces for their one-of-a-kind collection. From selecting the perfect cut, color, and design for every style and price point to continued care and servicing years down the road, the dependable team at Donald Haack will earn your business—and your adoration—with every single visit.

Engagement and Wedding Rings

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3900 Colony Rd, Charlotte, NC

Experienced and Knowledgable Experts Fully-Equipped Grading Laboratory Custom Design and Redesign Diamond and Jewelry Appraisal

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704-365-4400

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donaldhaack.com

SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

Photography by The Beautiful Mess

THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHARLOTTE

Wedding and Special Event Venue

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Three Distinct Venues | Seats 30-350 In-House Design Studio | Luxury Amenities Inclusive Planning Experience Spa & Wellness Center

uxury, style, and a dash of tradition are the ingredients for a world-class wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. A skylit ceremony takes place in the midst of Charlotte’s tallest buildings in the Urban Garden, while more intimate ceremonies are performed in the Great Room and Den. Beautiful table arrangements welcome divine meals prepared by Executive Sous Chef Juan Pablo de la Sota Riva, who invites couples to select from a menu of internationally-inspired dishes.

The hotel encourages couples to bring their wedding vision to life in the unique Design Studio. Savor artisan-crafted culinary delights in the Tasting Room, explore upscale cakes in the Cake Room, select a polished table arrangement in the Show Room, and detail your wedding’s ambiance in the Design Room.

Leading up to the ceremony, the wedding party may wish to indulge in the hotel’s firstclass amenities. For the bridesmaids, a spa day begins with manicures and ends with a poolside lunch in the Aqua Lounge. Groomsmen, on the other hand, can bond in the The Punch Room, a modern-day speakeasy pouring craft cocktails from award-winning mixologist Bob Peters. A Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte wedding is a matchless experience— the perfect combination of style, class, and luxury in the heart of Uptown.

Uptown Charlotte Wedding and Events Venue • 704-972-4452 • ritzcarlton.com/charlotte • kimberly.werner@ritzcarlton.com

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SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

GILDED BRIDAL Raleigh Bridal Shop

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stablished in the summer of 2016, Gilded Bridal has quickly earned a reputation as the destination for bridal gowns by independent designers in North Carolina.

Owner Susan Langford has a deep love of bridal couture, and identified a niche for Gilded Bridal when searching for her own wedding dress.

“To create a beautiful experience for brides, we focus on smaller, independent designers. Most of our dresses are made in the same studio where they are designed, assuring hand-crafted, ethically produced gowns,” explains Susan.

Gilded Bridal is the only boutique in North Carolina that carries Limor Rosen, Leanne Marshall, Alexandra Grecco, Anais Anette, Rebecca Schoneveld, Elizabeth Dye, and Claire LaFaye. They are also the exclusive Tara LaTour stockist for the entire East Coast, and their showroom includes many other designers as well. They pair independent designer gowns with a focus on providing excellent customer service and expertise.

“We are all about drinking champagne and playing dress up in gorgeous gowns– what’s not to love?” smiles Susan. “We give one-on-one attention to you and your crew in large, private dressing rooms, and make sure you have a fun and relaxed experience in our beautiful shop.”

Boutique Bridal Shop

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421 N. Boylan Ave, Raleigh, NC

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919-717-2674

Unique Wedding Dresses and Accessories Dresses from Independent Designers Relaxed, Contemporary Setting In the heart of Downtown Raleigh

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gildedbridal.com

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@gildedbridal

SPONSORED PARTNER SECTION

BANNER ELK

Winery and Villa

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Unique High Country Setting Multiple Distinct On-Site Venues Outdoor Cermony Seating for 200 Tented Receptions for 250

Banner Elk Winery & Villa

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estled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains is Banner Elk Winery and Villa, the High Country’s original winery. It’s the place in the mountains for luxury wine tasting, beautiful scenery, and warm hospitality with a view that will take your breath away.

From the chic-casual to the ultra-sophisticated, Banner Elk Winery & Villa provides many picturesque sites, like the tasting room and the Enchanted Barn, for hosting weddings, rehearsal dinners, and receptions. The best venue for the ceremony itself, though, is on a whole other level of picturesque. Couples seeking the right place to say their vows don’t have to look further than the lush upper vineyard at Banner Elk. You’re surrounded by the most gorgeous natural backdrops the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer, and years and years of awardwinning wine and hospitality.

Whether you’re interested in wine tasting, the art and science of winemaking, or just relaxing with a glass of wine, Banner Elk Winery & Villa is a blissful place to spend an afternoon. And as a wedding venue, it’s a mountain paradise. This mountain refuge is a community space dedicated to reflect the relaxed lifestyle and luxuries the scenic mountain town has to offer.

60 Deer Run Rd, Banner Elk, NC

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828-260-1790

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terri@bannerelkwinery.com

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IN DEX AGM Imports................................................ 75 Acquisitions ................................................128 Allen’s Jewelers ............................................36 Amina Rubinacci ...........................................24 Arcadia .........................................................45 Avocet Properties........................................121 Bedside Manor .............................................125 Blackhawk Hardware ...................................66 Blue Ridge Mountain Club .............................21 Bottega Stone ...............................................115 Bruce Julian ...................................................89 Cadenza Granite & Marble ............................83 Carolina Sculpsure ........................................65 Celedore .......................................................113 Cellars South ................................................117 Clark Hall Doors & Windows ......................109 Classic Attic .................................................84 Clean Catch ...................................................85 Cococo Home ...............................................107 Cosmetic Dentistry of the Carolinas............... 19 Cottingham Chalk Hayes ...............................55 Couture Knots ...............................................99 Craft Growler Shop .......................................85 David’s LTD ......................................................2 Diamond Springs ..........................................36 Diamonds Direct .........................................180 Donald Haack Diamonds ..............................33 DwellNova .....................................................10 Elite Design Group ........................................94 Elizabeth Bruns .............................................29 Engle & Volkers ..............................................59

Fahrenheit .....................................................12 Ferguson .....................................................105 Fiber Seal ......................................................117 Gerrard Builders ...........................................30 Global ...........................................................93 Good’s Home Furnishings .............................111 Grande Custom Homes ................................40 Grandfather Homes ......................................57 Hearth & Patio.............................................. 129 Infinity ...........................................................61 Insight Automation ........................................37 Isabella .........................................................95 Ivey’s Hotel ...................................................123 Jas Am ...........................................................53 KBN Interiors ...............................................125 Kingswood ....................................................35 Lake Norman Realty .......................................47 Land Rover Charlotte ...................................29 Lauren Nicole Designs .................................103 Le Meridien.....................................................8 9Majestic Bath .............................................118 McDevitt Agency ...........................................14 Meredith Jackson ..........................................65 Metrolina Auto Group .....................................6 Moffett Restaurant Group .............................77 Myron Greer .................................................117 Nestlewood Realty.................................. .......51 New Life Building ........................................133 NewOld ........................................................179 Noble Smoke .................................................73 Oasis Pools Plus ............................................137

Be our guest.

Plan your next getaway, and experience a fun-filled stay packed with amazing amenities, including complimentary access to the Charlotte Athletic Club, as well as fine dining and much more!

704-377-0400 • omnihotels.com/charlotte

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Omni Hotels & Resorts ................................178 Picture House Gallery ...................................43 Piedmont Town Center ...................................81 Pink Hanger ...................................................38 Pizzeria Omaggio .........................................93 Premier Sotheby’s ...........................................8 RK Motors .....................................................25 Rare Roots Hospitality ...................................87 Remax Exclusive .............................................4 Rhino Market .................................................91 Rug Culture ...................................................117 Sally’s Optical Secrets ................................131 Satin MedSpa ................................................26 Schiele Museum..........................................127 Sea Level ........................................................77 Shain Gallery ..................................................71 Shea Custom Homes ....................................135 Simonini .......................................................49 Smoke BBQ Grille .........................................91 Sporting Gent ...............................................69 Stark .............................................................27 Stickley Audi & Co. .......................................108 Taylor Richards & Conger ..............................28 The Shade Store ..........................................101 The Swag.....................................................127 Theory Design Stuido ...................................63 Tiny ...............................................................38 Toccare .........................................................63 Visit Greenville .............................................79 Walker Zanger ...............................................23 Windsor Jewelers ...........................................17