QC Exclusive - No. 21 - Oct / Nov 2014

Sporting & Conservation Issue Catawba Land Conservancy

PAGE 88

QCEXCLUSIVE 28+ Charlotte’s Guide To The Good Life | QCExclusive.com

Vol. 3 • No. 7 • Oct/Nov 2014

12

Events

In the Queen City you cannot miss

Charlotte native Caroline Smith Irwin with a trophy redfish caught on the fly and happily released.

World It’s A Woman’s

In a predominantly male sporting world Charlotte women are bucking the trend and raising the bar.

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The Exclusives OCT/NOV 2014 FEATURES

The steward of our land, Tom Okel, of Catawba Land Conservancy stands in a field at Red Lair farm. Photo by Jamey Price

88

STEWARDS OF OUR LAND

96

THE SPIRIT OF DEFIANT

102

Tom Okel and Catawba Land Conservancy are working hard to preserve our lands, save our wildlife, and connect us to nature.

In Golden Valley, NC, a group of salvage divers turned whisky makers are distilling some of the finest single malt in the country.

THE SOUTHEAST’S BEST SPORTING DESTINATIONS From Brays Island to Primland to just up the road at The Fork, our region has the best luxury sporting destinations, bar none.

108

16 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD In the predominantly male sporting world these women buck the trend, pushing it farther and doing it better.

Contents O C T/ N OV 2 0 1 4

94

68

The Good Life

The Supper Club

41

Art Alex Loesser’s art captures the untapped depth of wild animals.

46

HANDMADE Eddie Hamrick and his son, James, create some of the finest wooden pieces in the world.

50

COLLECTOR New London Arms, Charlotte’s own purveyor of fine firearms.

54

STYLE Ben Ross and Jeff Plotner of Brackish Bow Ties craft beautiful turkey feather bows.

58

PHILANTHROPY The Patriot Gala at Quail Hollow raises important funds for our wounded veterans and their families.

41 18 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

63

68

72

CHEF Alyssa Gorelick’s Fun Classes RECIPE Clark Barlowe’s Fish Soup COCKTAIL The Carolina Trolley

75

DESIGNER Q&A Mr. Goodwill Hunting

84

RUSTIC Decor Tips For Your Home

108

Home & Design 80

TABLESCAPES Turkey Dave Table Settings

63

71 Hemingway and the lion illustration by Alex Loesser

Note True LUXURY W

hen we tell people that we dedicate an entire issue to sporting and conservation the reactions usually are black or white. Some truly understand the purpose of this issue and are very happy that we include it in our content. Others don’t see how it fits into a luxury magazine. Visions of “manly stuff” like big trucks, bass boats, camo (which we are quite fond of as well), and lots and lots of guns cloud their perspective. But to us, it isn’t about that at all.

It isn’t about huntin’, fishin’, and killin’ like so many think it is. It’s about something much deeper than that. Something that is rooted in our heritage. It’s about a rite of passage, a wealth of resources that should be preserved, a connection that is both ancient and innate. It’s about enjoying and protecting the most important luxury of all, the natural world that we live in and its bountiful opportunities.

There are millions of you that truly get this. To you sportsmen and women out there, I want to thank you personally. You are the grass roots of the conservation movement. You understand that if you don’t protect the land, water, and wildlife there will be nothing left to pass down to future generations. You have skin in the game: your money through licensing, donations, and retail purchases are the lifeblood of preservation, supporting the organizations and corporate entities that fight for nature. Without you, the world is a far different place altogether, one that has no wild spaces, one that is exploited, one that falls by the wayside. So, to you we are truly grateful.

With that said, this issue is dedicated to those people. In the following pages, you’ll read about our region’s best sporting destinations, luxury institutions that manage thousands and thousands of acres, reintroduce species, conserve, and protect. You will meet women like Caroline Smith Irwin, Amy Ritchie, Judy Carpenter, and sisters Sloan and Samantha Williams that are squashing the greatly exaggerated generality that sporting is just for men. You will get to know Tom Okel of Catawba Land Conservancy, get an intimate tour of one of their preserves - Red Lair - and learn about all the amazing ways they protect our local land and water. Along with all the above goodness, we’ll introduce you to the boys of Brackish Bow Ties, talk to Mr. Goodwill Hunting about his decor and design, distill some Defiant single malt, spotlight the upcoming Patriot Gala, feature fine firearms from New London Arms, taste Heirloom recipes, and learn about Chef Alyssa’s local, healthy, and sustainable food. It’s a jammed pack issue that we hope you enjoy. Till next time.

Sincerely, Jon-Paul Grice and Brett Barter, Publishers

20 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

Publishers Brett Barter and Jon-Paul Grice fly fishing for trout on Wilson’s Creek in Pisgah National Forest.

Cover Shot

Photo by Jason Stemple www.jasonstemple.com

Oct/Nov 2014 Vol. 3 | No. 7

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Oct/Nov 2014 Vol. 3 | No. 7

Credits

PUBLISHERS Brett Barter Jon-Paul Grice SALES Barbara Herd Fern Howerin CONTRIBUTORS Melissa Justice Kit Mackie Kasey Murray PHOTOGRAPHERS Jamey Price Lunahzon Photography Taken By Sarah Photography Thien La

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TRC L AY E RIN G T R A N S F O R M S W A R M T H F O R THE FALL INTO

IMPECCABLE STYLE FOR EVERY SEASON

PRINCIPLES OF STYLE

15

Oct/Nov 2014 Vol. 3 | No. 7

Contact Us EDITORIAL

Contact Jon-Paul Grice by phone at 828-773-4922 or by email at QCExclusive@gmail.com.

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Contributors

JAMEY PRICE

LAYNE OWENSBY

KIT MACKIE

Jamey Price is an award winning motorsport photojournalist based in Charlotte. His work has been published by Road and Track, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Southern Living, The Washington Post, and more. View his work at www.jameypricephoto.com.

Layne is a Charlotte based makeup artist specializing in bridal, print, and beauty.

Check out her blog for beauty tips, inspiration, and more. www.BlushCharlotte.com

As a food writer, Kit has an appetite for the written word. Having spent over ten years cooking in the industry, her passion for food and drink is only exceeded by her love for telling stories.

KASEY MURRAY

MELISSA JUSTICE

TAKEN BY SARAH

A College of Charleston graduate and massage therapist, Kasey loves to paint and travel. She specializes in pet portraits and commissions. View her work at artbykaseymurray.blogspot.com.

A displaced Yankee, Melissa has embraced the south. After teaching for over a decade, she now spends her time sitting on her porch, lazily reading, writing, and drinking ice tea.

Taken by Sarah Photography is a husband and wife team photographing weddings and editorials with a love for timeless, artful photography. We photograph in both film and digital to bring our vision to life..

28 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

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EVENTIST THE GOING ONS AROUND CHARLOTTE | OCT/NOV 2014

PHOTO BY MAXY M.

EDITOR’S CHOICE Cristina Toro: Casa en el Cielo - 11/6/14 - 12/19/14 - Step into the world of Cristina Toro. Taking inspiration from her native home in Puerto Rico, Toro makes intuitive paintings that explore our relationship to nature, inner worlds, and unknowable things. | • www.lacaprojects.com Rouge 10/17/14 - 10/18/14 - The Booth Playhouse on Tryon will host the two night spectacular. Cabaret-style dancing and mind-blowing aerial acts will captivate the audience.

• www.carolinecalouche.org

BBQ & Brews Festival 10/17/14 - 10/18/14 - The best competition chefs in the city and beyond will serve up mouth-watering swine in the hopes of taking home the bar-b-que championship. Enjoy chopped pork, ribs, brisket, and more, all the while washing it down with the best craft beer.

• www.charlottebbqfestival.com

Nabucco 10/18/14 - 10/26/14 - Opera Carolina presents, Nabucco, a story based on the Book of Daniel. Like every other loving father before him, the formidable Nabucco is rendered powerless in the presence of his own daughter. Heaven’s favor comes at an exalted price for the King of Babylon and namesake of Verdi’s masterwork. Opera lovers and novices alike, need not miss this performance.

• www.operacarolina.org

Kruger Brothers 10/24/14 - Some call it Jazz. Some call it Classical. Some call it Bluegrass. The music of The Kruger Brothers is all of

that and more. Experience what happens when these innovative and soulful world-class virtuosos put on a one-of-akind performance that audiences find breathtaking and unforgettable.

• www.blumenthalarts.org Spirits Of Rosedale 10/24/14 - Take a night tour through the plantation home’s first floor, kitchen, basement, and gardens. Let the spirits themselves transport you through the history of this mysterious place.

Rosedale’s living history team presents this family-friendly Halloween program perfect for ages six and up.

• www.historicrosedale.org

oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 31

EVENTIST

OCT/NOV 2014

grams within the Carolinas concerned with the immediate welfare, care and support of our wounded military and their families. The Patriot Gala is one of the premier events and most important causes in Charlotte.

• www.patriotcharities.org

EDITOR’S CHOICE Patriot Gala -11/1/14 - Held at Quail Hollow Club, the Patriot Gala is a fundraising event for the Patriot Charities whose goal is to raise funds to financially assist non-profit organizations and local programs within the Carolinas concerned with the immediate welfare, care and support of our wounded military and their families. The Patriot Gala is one of the premier events and most important causes in Charlotte.| • www.patriotcharities.org

South End Food Tour 10/24/14 - Experience the booming South End food scene with Feast Food Tours and enjoy the tasty bites and delicious drinks served in this up-andcoming Charlotte neighborhood.

• www.feastfoodtours.com

Halloween At The Haven 10/25/14 - You bring the tricksters, they’ll provide the treats! Wing Haven Gardens invites you to have a spooky Saturday in The Garden where guests will play games, hear ghost stories at their secret gathering spot in the woods, and make goblin-friendly cookies.

• www.winghavengardens.com “Homeland” Halloween Party 10/25/14 - You’re invited to a top secret briefing this Halloween at The Duke Mansion. Expect great food, live music, and a chance to blow your cover at the historic mansion known as Vice President William Walden’s home on the television series “Homeland”.

• www.dukemansion.com 32 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

Beyond Craft: Furniture 10/29/14 - The Mint Museum presents the Beyond Craft series. This particular event spotlights furniture and will feature 15 minute talks about specific artworks in the exhibition from 2 p.m to 6:30 p.m.

• www.mintmuseum.org Midnight In The Garden 10/31/14 - 11/1/14 - Hear the real tales and ghost stories of encounters and experiences at Rosedale Plantation from staff and volunteers. Contact will be attempted in the garden. Who will you hear this night? Who will tap you on the shoulder? What will you see? A fun and spooky way to spend your Halloween.

• www.historicrosedale.org Patriot Gala 11/1/14 - Held at Quail Hollow Club, the Patriot Gala is a fundraising event for the Patriot Charities whose goal is to raise funds to financially assist non-profit organizations and local pro-

Hoot-N-Howl 11/1/14 - Visit Carolina Raptor Center for a day full of Halloween fun for the whole family! This event is highlighted by hayrides, face painting, special visitors bringing cool reptiles and insects, wacky science experiments, Halloween crafts, a bake sale, games, costume and hooting contests, and of course lots of owls! It is the perfect Halloween event for kids of all ages.

• www.carolinaraptorcenter.org Cinderella 11/4/14 - 11/9/14 - The Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music delights audiences with its surprisingly contemporary take on the classic tale of Cinderella. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more—plus some surprising new twists!

• www.blumenthalarts.org From The Depths 11/5/14 - 11/8/14 - Moving Poets presents From the Depths, a production inspired by Oscar Wilde with two original, multidisciplinary works including dance, theater, live music and mixed media visual art.

• www.blumenthalarts.org

Cristina Toro: Casa en el Cielo 11/6/14 - 12/19/14 - Step into the world of Cristina Toro. Taking inspiration from her native home in Puerto

EVENTIST OCT/NOV 2014

Rico, Toro makes intuitive paintings that explore our relationship to nature, inner worlds, and unknowable things.

• www.lacaprojects.com

Jazz At The Bechtler 11/7/14 - It will be nothing short of a melodic melting pot when the Ziad Jazz Quartet explores the diverse blend of Cuban, Spanish and African sounds that make up the Latin jazz genre.

• www.bechtler.org Ansanm Ministries Gala 11/7/14 - Get introduced to the Ansanm team and celebrate this organization’s valuable charitable accomplishments. Net proceeds raised will support the people of Cange, Haiti.

Ansanm will use the proceeds to send containers of meals (in conjunction with Stop Hunger Now), financially assist students so they can continue their eduction, and help support their arts and artwork so they can support themselves and their families.

• www.joyandamber.com

Step Afrika!

11/7/14 - 11/8/14 - Experience Step Afrika!, the world’s first professional company dedicated to stepping, a unique art form born at African American fraternities and based in African traditions. The dancers use their bodies as instruments, and their intricate kicks, stomps and rhythms mixed with spoken word pound the floor and fill the air of the McColl Family Theater.

• www.ctcharlotte.org Culinary Tour: Uptown 11/8/14 - Charlotte’s culinary scene is finally getting the attention it deserves, and uptown is leading the way. Experience the best restaurants, chefs, and food right in the heart of Charlotte.

• www.tourdefood.net 34 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

EVENTIST OCT/NOV 2014

Buddy Guy 11/9/14 - The most exciting man in blues, Buddy Guy, has earned 6 Grammy Awards, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and a ranking in the top 30 of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” His legendary showmanship on stage, fueled by the passion and excitement of his music will be on display at the Knight Theater in early November.

• www.blumenthalarts.org

Dave Chappelle 11/10/14 - One of the greatest comedians of all time, Dave Chappelle, returns to Charlotte’s Ovens Auditorium to share his witty jokes and unmatched sense of humor with what we assume will be a packed house.

• www.ovensauditorium.com Taste Of The Mint 11/12/14 - Be among the first to see the Mint’s new exhibition, Connecting the World: The Panama Canal at 100 and enjoy small plate and beverage pairings at two restaurants inside Mint Museum Uptown: Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth and E2 Emeril’s Eatery.

• www.mintmuseum.org

Southern Christmas Show 11/13/14 - 11/23/14 - The best Christmas show in the South returns to The Park Expo And Conference Center. Over 500 hand-selected exhibitors will showcase a plethora of the best holiday gifts, crafts, toys, and more.

• www.southernshows.com THUNDER ROAD Half Marathon 11/15/14 - The Novant Health Thunder Road Half Marathon is a great challenge if you are working up to your first marathon. It also offers you a chance to push yourself beyond the Novant Health Thunder Road 5K Run/ 36 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

Spend some time here.

From retail fashion to gourmet delights, there are over twenty stores and restaurants to keep you outfitted, well-fed and entertained at Metropolitan.

Right on the greenway and just south of uptown, it’s an ideal location.

Meet some friends, stay a while, and see why Metropolitan is one of Charlotte’s favorite destinations. Learn more at MetropolitanCLT.com.

metropolitanCLT.com | : MetropolitanCharlotte

West Elm | Trader Joe’s | Vivace | Best Buy | Pisces Sushi | Lotus | Dressler’s | Silverfly | Zoës Kitchen Cherry Berry | Metropolitan Cleaners | Tropical Smoothie Café | SuperGreen Solutions | Xtend Barre | Lipp Boutique Marshall’s | Staples | Pizza Fusion | Hickory Tavern | Modern Salon & Spa | New Dominion Bank | Which Wich | La Paz

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Walk race barrier to the “next level” of distance running. Participate and run to benefit Ronald McDonald House Of Charlotte and the Novant Health Hemy Children’s Hospital.

• www.runcharlotte.com

Celtic Thunder 11/18/14 - Celtic Thunder: Christmas Voices Symphony Tour is the first ever Symphony Tour for Celtic Thunder, who will depart from their traditional and critically-acclaimed large set productions to perform songs from their 2013 chart-topping album “Christmas Voices” in a dynamic live music experience. Hosted at the Belk Theater, this is a holiday can’t miss event.

• www.blumenthalarts.org

Panama Canal At 100 11/19/14 - Connecting the World: The Panama Canal at 100 opens in fall 2014 on the centennial of the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, and brings together selected examples of the work of the three most important American artists to draw and paint the construction of the canal - printmaker Joseph Pennell and painters Alson Skinner Clark and Jonas Lie - for the first time. In conjunction with the exhibition the Mint has commissioned a new short story by the award-winning author Anthony Doerr and a new work of art by renowned contemporary artist Mel Chin.

• www.mintmuseum.org Mannheim Steamroller 11/23/14 - Due to its overwhelming popularity Mannheim Steamroller returns to Charlotte. This is your chance to see and hear the wonderful holiday work of composer and producer Chip Davis. This show will get you into the Christmas spirit for sure.

• www.blumenthalarts.org

38 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

because you deserve it Stepping into a new look you deserve means embracing life with the best version of you.

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Alex Loesser, in her home studio, working on the latest oil painting of a hyena feeding in the wild. [pictured next page].

Photos by Jamey Price

The

Art Of Alexandra Loesser Art doesn’t impact Alexandra Loesser’s life. It is her life; one that is dedicated to capturing the nuances of people and the untapped depth of wild animals.

By Kasey Murray

GOOD LIFE TABLE OF CONTENTS :: ART • p.41 | HANDMADE • p.46 | COLLECTOR • p.50 | STYLE • p.54 | PHILANTHROPY • p.58

e

Th

G OOD L IFE

ART

“Anything that haunts my mind becomes fuel for me to make something.”

Art doesn’t impact Alexandra Loesser’s life. It is her life; one that is dedicated to capturing the nuances of people and the untapped depth of wild animals.

I

t isn’t easy for anyone to be completely consumed with their profession, but for local artist, Alexandra Loesser, she welcomes it. Alexandra feels lucky to be able to turn what she loves into her full time

42 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

profession, but with every love comes struggles. Luckily for her, Alexandra embraces her struggles, which she believes are necessary to push herself.

“If I’m ever one hundred percent satisfied with my work, then I’m not pushing myself enough conceptually or techni-

cally. But in general, I’m just grateful to have made a career of something that both challenges and fulfills me.”

Loesser’s technical ability is beyond impressive which she attributes to her formal training at UNC Greensboro and her sixty plus hours of painting per week. Practice makes perfect and according to Alexandra, her time at UNCG challenged her as well as forced her to see things in a different way.

“I can hardly look at a thing without mixing its colors in my head, so art has not impacted my life so much as it has become my life.”

Though the contemporary nature of her work is indisputable, when asked to describe her work as a style she says, “Perceptional Naturalism”. Her goal is to not just replicate her subjects, but to have her work be rooted in the natural world and tweaked with her own unnatural perceptions. For example, when

e

Th

G OOD L IFE

ART

TOP: “Hyena and Hummingbirds”, an oil on canvas. BOTTOM: “Kings”, an oil on canvas measuring 48’ x 36”.

though her one wish for Charlotte is for the scene to expand. Her favorite is Gallery Twenty-Two in Plaza Midwood where she shows her work on a regular basis. Other galleries she enjoys are sprinkled throughout the city in other neighborhoods, many of which struggle to stay afloat.

“There are a lot of little gems in this city showing local art but people are still buying art at Target and Homegoods, it boggles my mind.”

As far as her personal artistic goals, Alexandra is always striving to learn more and better her craft. Constantly working to challenge herself and grow as an artist, Alexandra is focusing on showing her work out of state as well as exploring a more abstract approach to the human form.

To learn more about Alexandra Loesser, see her portfolio, or stay up to date about her upcoming events, you can visit her at www.AlexandraLoesser.com. You can also follow her at @alexlaserr on Instagram to see her current works in progress.

It is no secret that Alexandra exhibits true raw passion for her talent, which is why she welcomes conversation. “I love to discuss art and ideas and meet new people.

My studio doors are always open.”

“There are a lot of little gems in this city showing local art but people are still buying art at Target and Homegoods, it boggles my mind.” painting the human form she tries to capture an emotion or explore the nuances of the flesh tones as opposed to just duplicating a picture of that person. Most recently, she has been exploring animals as her subjects.

“I find animals very interesting because I think they have a real untapped depth to them and I want that to show in my paintings. Anything that haunts my mind becomes fuel for me to make something.”

Returning to Charlotte three years ago after college, Alexandra threw herself into the local art scene and has enjoyed watching it grow. She has much respect

44 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

for her fellow local artists and finds inspiration in their devotion to their individual crafts, which she concedes is not an easy career path.

“I would love to see the art scene thriving rather than just surviving and I do wish it wasn’t relegated to just one or two neighborhoods in the city.

Charlotte has a lot of talent and it deserves a larger audience.”

Alexandra believes the talent is here as well as the support within the galleries,

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The Masters Master craftsman Eddie Hamrick and his son, James, create some of the finest furniture and wooden art pieces in the world. photos by jamey price

Hamrick Woodwright is a father/son wood working team who bring “tradition and innovation” together. Using the finest materials available, they strive to create “one of a kind, works of art” that will last lifetimes. Handling wood in miraculous ways allows for each piece to come alive; whether it be in the form of “sculptured art, custom furniture, awards, musical instruments or more,” the Hamricks possess the knowledge and craft required to “shape [each] piece to [its] true potential.”

Eddie Hamrick was born in Newton, NC in 1954. Having started woodworking when he was six years old, Hamrick worked side-by-side with his father in the shop behind their home until his father died suddenly at age of 42. “I went to live with a friend in Williamsburg, VA,” says Hamrick “where the headmaster of the Hay Woodworking Shop recognized my carving ability and put me to work carving posts and parts of fine 17th and 18th century furniture.” Despite a childhood “plagued by hardship and poverty,” Hamrick returned to NC and with the support of his community, he was encouraged to apply for the first Emerg-

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HANDMADE

The woodwork is easy.

Communicating through wood is difficult.

ing Artist Grant through the Durham Arts Council, which he won!

With his artwork now funded by the grant, Hamrick’s talent as a craftsman became more visible, allowing him to enter state and national shows. His confidence grew so much that he entered the “National Crafts Show at Renwick Gallery of the American Art through the Smithsonian Institute.” It is here, after winning an award that his life changed. Hamrick was suddenly invited to lecture at colleges and universities, asked to appear on public television; he taught courses all over the country, and was sought out by “country and bluegrass greats” to handcraft musical instruments. Hamrick was given the title of “official craftsman of North Carolina,” and currently serves as ambassador in the preservation of North Carolina’s woodworking heritage.

His son, James has been a lifelong artist who was born in Hickory, NC and began working with wood as a toddler along side his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. “My greatest joy,” he says “is taking nothing but a cut tree and materializing

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HANDMADE

Eddie and James Hamrick have crafted pieces for notables including: George H. W. Bush, Donald Trump, Pat McCrory, Willie Nelson, Reggie Jackson, Ralph Lauren and more.

imagination. With a few blades, screws, glue, a little know how and a great deal of learned patience, I can create anything.” Living in Hickory, James was able to acquire woodworking experience in the cabinet industry, but his patience and ability to master his craft was predominantly due to the lessons his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather taught him. His determination and willingness to learn the craft has made him the artist he is today.

Over the years there have been many lessons learned, but “patience and attention-to-detail” are characteristics a woodworker must have in order to succeed. “Woodworking keeps growing and evolving, and you have to keep up with advances in design, technology, and 48 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

finishing techniques as new chemicals are developed.” To quote Hippocrates,” says James, “life’s so short, the craft so long to learn;” consequently, the learning process never ceases.

With knowledge of 18th century hand tools to common heavy woodworking equipment, such as chain saws, table saws, band saws, lathes, drill presses, planers, and jointers, the Hamricks use anything “similar to what can be found in Norm’s studio on the New Yankee Workshop.

There’s a tool for every job.” In order to specialize, one must know how to carve, how to wood-turn bowls, create fine art pieces, design and construct furniture, and do all types of restoration work. But the most challenging aspect of woodworking according to Eddie and his son is “bring-

ing a client’s dream to reality right before their eyes. Woodworking is easy, communicating through wood is difficult.”

Although Eddie’s childhood was hard and filled with sorrow, his life was truly blessed. His is a “rags to riches” story filled with challenges, successes, familial love, and a God-given gift he continues to pass on to his son, James. As they say in the South, Eddie and James Hamrick do North Carolina proud. Some of their notable pieces can be found from the White House to the State Capital, from Museums in NC to the Presidential Library of George H. W. Bush at Texas A&M, and even in the collections of the Smithsonian. For further information on Eddie and James and to see more of their work visit www.hamrickwoodwright.com.

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COLLECTOR

New London

Arms Co.

photos by jamey price

The Southeast’s only purveyor of fine firearms resides right here in Charlotte, offering the most unique and desirable heirloom pieces to gun collectors in the Carolinas and worldwide.

New London Arms, a fine firearms purveyor, came about because of an idea that former Navy aviator, Chuck Melman had after “years of discussions with shooting sportsman in and around the Carolinas.”

Melman’s background is varied. Originally from Michigan, he hunted and fished most of his young life. After graduating from Eastern Michigan University, Melman served in the US Navy as an aviator.

“Flying a variety of jets” and having “several hundred carrier landings,” he possessed first hand knowledge of the Navy Squadron mindset and the importance of loyalty among service members. This led him to form New London Arms, and by 2011, it was incorporated with the main purpose of “facilitating the acquisition and delivery of Commemorative pistols for service members deployed in Naval Aviation Squadrons.”

Because the squadrons encountered affordability problems, Melman took it

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upon himself to find a way for the Commemorative pistols to be made at a reasonable price. The “Commemorative pistols are developed by working directly with a squadron to design up to six laser engravings on a pistol slide, as well as laser engravings of the grips. Typically, the slides have images of the squadron emblem, call sign, aircraft, and dates of deployment.”

The actual cost of each pistol runs between the $800-$900 range with the company’s profits being little if any at all. According to Melman, even though New London Arms has expanded way beyond the Commemorative pistols, “they remain the cornerstone of the business philosophy of being able to provide full service at an affordable price.”

Following his stint in the Navy, Melman went to work for PricewaterhouseCoopers where he eventually retired as a partner (in 2010) after having worked for them close to thirty years. It wasn’t until 2012 that

Melman and his wife, Gina, decided to “kick start” the business, and the idea of the “Shop” was created. Fostering “extensive relationships with leading firearms manufacturers,” the two of them brought—what they call—the “boutique” to Charlotte.

“Charlotte and the Carolinas in particular have been under served from the standpoint of a boutique retailer of fine firearms.” Local retailers have fine guns, the focus being mostly “used or consignment guns” and “mass mar-

Top: Chuck Melman at New London Arms sharing details on one of his many fine firearms. Bottom: Self portrait of Melman, while serving in the US Navy, flying an F-18

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ket,” but the focus of New London Arms is the “boutique” atmosphere where you need an appointment to shop and see what the store has to offer. There are “new firearms for those participating in competitive shooting sports,” firearms for the hunter who is looking for a “superior shotgun or rifle” and “firearms for those who are looking to add to their collection.”

“Our goal,” says Melman is to become the “preeminent purveyor of fine firearms, not just in Charlotte and the Carolinas but also in the Southeast.” Cost depends on the type of firearm; however, prices start in the $4000 range and increase on up to $40,000.

Located just five minutes from the Charlotte Douglas Airport off of Billy Graham Parkway, the boutique offers some unique services. “They pick up travelers from the airport, bring them to the store, and get them back in time to catch [their] flight.”

With numerous brands sold, New London Arms is proud to be an authorized dealer for Blaser USA. They are also the only Beretta (Italian made) Premium Clay Target dealer

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COLLECTOR

in the Carolinas. Other brands featured at the boutique are the Italian made Fausti, the Spanish made, Grulla Armas, Perugini and Visini, FAMARS, and the German manufacturer, Merkel. Custom leather gun cases can be made to order by local craftsman while other shooting accessories include Negrini cases made in Italy. The shop also carries clothing. The boutique is the one-stop-shopping for the firearm connoisseur.

New London Arms has many goals but giving back to the community is of the utmost importance. This is “one of the traits we learned years ago,” says Melman, “whether in military service or in working as professionals,” [you must give back.] This year, New London Arms will be participating in the Patriot’s Gala.

Having a natural connection to those who served and their family members, the New London Arms has created a “one of a kind Commemorative 1911 Pistol (made in the USA by Remington) that will be auctioned off, the proceeds of which will go to help

Stewart McDowell of New London Arms.

veterans from North and South Carolinian who were injured during war. When not busy working at the boutique, Melman and his new partner Stewart McDowell are “members of numerous hunting and outdoor organizations and are active supporters of conservation and habitat preservation.”

Read about New London Arms’ For more information involvement in the Patriot Gala and to see their heirloom on pg. 60. firearms visit them at NewLondonArms.com.

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STYLE

Brackish

BOWS

Ben Ross of Columbia and Jeff Plotner of Charleston are Brackish Bow Ties - spectacular and original handcrafted bow ties made from turkey, pheasant, chukar, and peacock feathers.

Finding the perfect gift is something Ben Ross takes very seriously. He is a man who believes in letting others know how he feels. After receiving his fiancee’s approval, Ross designed a prototype bow tie to wear to their last engagement dinner.

Prototype you say. A bow tie is merely a piece of cotton tied into a bow; however, Ross’s design entails much, much more finesse. Having had a love affair with nature since Ross’s father first introduced him to the great outdoors, he gravitated toward feathers. Fletching arrows for archery and using all types of feathers for fly tying, Ross decided to use his expertise with feathers to design a bow

tie; the idea was an interesting one, but the how-to was another story.

The “ah ha” moment came when Ross was standing in his dining room, and just by chance a few turkey breast feathers were laying right next to a bow tie he planned on wearing. It was then that he realized the “tapering and natural conformation of the feathers on the tie were perfect.” Being the last of his friends to marry, Ross wanted something special for his groomsmen. Flasks and glasses were nice, but he was looking for something you couldn’t get in any store, and the bow tie, if it passed muster, was not only unique, it would

If it wasn’t for Jeff, I’d still be making bow ties one at a time.”

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BY MELISSA JUSTICE • PhotoS by Bette Walker

show how much he “valued each and everyone” of his groomsmen. Walking into dinner wearing this unusual bow tie, first impressions drew a lot of responses: “Wow, that is really neat; I’ve never seen anything like it; that’s beautiful; can I touch it, and you made this?” The “rave reviews” he received that evening solidified Ross’s idea of creating a signature piece for his groomsmen to wear at the wedding.

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There’s always something you can tweak to make better. Besides that, we have so much fun.”

STYLE

Things moved quickly after that. Jeff Plotner, one of the originals in the wedding party, first met Ross in 1997 when they were freshmen at Wofford College. “We were inseparable pretty prove worthy. “We don’t restrict ourselves to combinations of much in college and even to this day.” It made perfect sense for feather. And, all the bow ties have names that mean something.” them to become partners. “Jeff is one of those special friends Brackish uses turkey feathers, peacock, guinea, rooster plus oththat gave me the desire to create this gift. His belief, drive, and ers, but besides bow ties, they also design gorgeous lapel pins, determination in Brackish has brought us far beyond my dining hat pins, and cummerbunds. A cufflink line is almost ready to room table...If it wasn’t for him, I’d still be making bow ties launch using turkey feathers and casts of gator or shark teeth one-at-a-time.” made from beautiful alloys of aluminum or bronze. No Ross is a very passionate man. Family and friends actual tooth is used, only a metal casting. mean the world to him, so the company name had to Brackish “designs for it to look and feel right. We’re relate to the two of them. One night after midnight, never satisfied until it is just right. There’s always Ross phoned his partner, waking him from a dead sleep something you can tweak to make better. [Besides to say, “I’ve got it. The name is Brackish.” Since Ross that,] we have so much fun.” The packaging is unique is from Columbia, SC and Plotner is from St. Simons Bill Murray, too. Each bow tie is carefully wrapped in burlap Island, GA--one represents salt water while the other Jack Nicholson, and The Roots and placed in a wooden box with the name Brackish represents fresh water. When you mix the two together on The Tonight branded on the outside. The popularity of these items it becomes brackish.

Show with Jimmy Fallon is self-evident. Stepping out at the 2014 Oscars, Bill Plotner runs the day-to-day operations from Charlesamong others Murray was seen “sporting a Brackish,” and he wore ton, while Ross designs from home. “I design all the are wearing Brackish. the “original” bow tie to George Clooney’s and Amal time or just about and send the designs down there. One Alamuddin’s Italian wedding. day, I hope to transition over and move, but for now, I Brackish bow ties are making a splash in Southeast, and are in work at home. My day job is in facility management. I build and stores as far north as Vermont and as far west as San Francisco. develop office buildings for lawyers...[At Brackish,] we have In total they are in nearly 100 stores nationwide and in stores in a great team who work hard on my designs and are Artisans England. For more information visit www.brackishbowties.com. themselves.” The first thing that must be done after designing Brackish Bow Ties are available for purchase in Charlotte at Marc a bow tie is to do a compilation. Looking at size, color, match, Williams’ popular Selwyn Avenue shop, The Sporting Gent. taper, and flow of the feathers being used, the durability must

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PHILANTHROPY

The

On Saturday, November 1, 2014, Quail Hollow Club hosts the event of the year, The Patriot Gala, where we honor our heroes and raise important funds for our wounded military and their families.

By Melissa Justice

M

any in the military call the Carolinas home.

With some of the larger military installations in the United States, such as Ft. Bragg, Ft. Jackson, Cherry Point Naval Air Station, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and Charleston Air Force Base, those stationed in North and South Carolina often remain after leaving the military. The Patriot Charities, a local grassroots 501 C3 located in Charlotte, NC decided it was time to take care of those who selflessly gave so others could live free.

The truth is that for those who have dedicated their lives striving to make this world both safer and more secure, the road home can be difficult and frightening.

As a local organization, Patriot Charities recognizes the need our wounded men and women plus their families face. As a result, they established a base charity focusing on the “immediate welfare, care,

58 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

and support [for] our wounded military and their families.”

Since 2005, the Patriot Charities has provided financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and local programs concerned with those wounded in the military and their families. With a lengthy list of participant beneficiaries, some of which you may recognize--Purple Heart Homes, Wounded Warrior Project, USO of NC Charlotte Center, Operation Homefront, Rolling Thunder, and Manpower to Horsepower—the list tops out at 21 different organizations. These beneficiaries understand the needs facing our wounded men and women and their families, and can respond much quicker than the bureaucratic route which is often plagued by red tape, frustration, disappointment, and anger.

The truth is that the Carolinas have heart and chose to take care of their own. Year after year, on the first Saturday of November, the Patriot Charities holds an annual

black tie event called The Patriot Gala.

The gala is “in honor of our Heroes” and is the “signature annual fundraiser.” The 2014 Gala “marks its eighth year.” The black tie event features a four-course dinner, fine wine, a silent and live auction, plus a live band. Although a black tie event, the attire is a mix of formal and cocktail dresses for the ladies and tuxedos and suits for the men.

Held at the Quail Hollow Club, “the evening shines with honored military speakers and a tribute to our men and women from the Carolinas who have fallen in the line of duty during the past year, followed by the Firing of the Volleys and TAPS.” This year’s keynote speaker is “SGT Dale Beatty, a Purple Heart recipient and named CNN Heroes Top 10 in 2013. Speaking from “personal experience [and] about the sacrifices our men and women make in serving our country, [the speaker] puts a human face on statistics that we hear daily on how the war against terrorism is being fought.” The Gala is intense, an emotional event that “promotes patriotism,” and “inspires all in attendance to share some of themselves in support of our military.”

oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 59

PHILANTHROPY

The Charlotte community has been and continues to be a strong supporter of The Patriot Charities. “Approximately 70% of the people who attend our events have been doing so for over the past five years.” Although considered a young charity, both those in attendance and sponsors have been with The Patriot Charities since the beginning. From “building homes and awarding service dogs,” the organization focuses on improving the lives of those who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom.”

Besides the Patriot Gala, New London Arms, a proud donor to the Patriot Gala, has there is also a Patriot Festia great connection with the val: Go the Extra Mile 5K individuals and their families run, a bi-annual ladies lunwhich have been impacted cheon, and Bag Lady Lunfrom their military service.

Accordingly, they thought cheon which will be held that creating a one-of-a-kind this year at Trump National Commemorative 1911 Pistol Golf Club on April 28, 2015. (made in the USA by Remington) was fitting as an auction For further information on item and the proceeds of the Patriot Gala please call which could not go to a more 704.496.2794 or visit www. deserving group. patriotcharities.org.

For The Auction

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SupperClub THE QUEEN CITY ’S GUIDE TO FOOD & DRINK

First Class Charlotte’s renowned chef, Alyssa Gorelick, teaches healthy and sustainable cooking classes that are both educational and entertaining.

BY MELISSA JUSTICE photos by jamey price

SUPPER CLUB TABLE OF CONTENTS :: CHEF • p.63 | RECIPE• p.68 | COCKTAIL • p.72

SUPPER CLUB

CHEF

F

or centuries, Grandmothers have worked hard perfecting family recipes in hopes of passing them on to their daughters, who in turn would pass them on to their daughters. A pinch of this, a dollop of that; cooking can be daunting, especially if you never grew up around a working kitchen. My Grandmother on my Father’s side was Italian and loved to be in the kitchen. Grandma Jean made homemade ravioli every Sunday, baked fresh bread, and either had several fruit pies or the heaviest cheese cake you could imagine for dessert. Plus, there was homemade wine. But, I was young and didn’t understand the importance behind “the love” of cooking.

Surrounded by fast food, and restaurants that deliver, it’s easy to forget that you can prepare a nutritious meal--in no time at all-in your own kitchen while having fun too.

However, based on the amount of people who watch the food network, cooking is a skill many are attempting to perfect.

Who doesn’t hope to learn from chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, Ina Garten: the Barefoot Contessa, Emeril Lagasse--“the Bam Man”, and my all time favorite, Gordon Ramsey. These chefs inspire the least talented to strive for success in the kitchen, while those who are already wonderful cooks perfect their skills.

Here in Charlotte, we have our own great chefs; however, finding a place to learn how to cook is not as easy a task. That’s where Chef Alyssa Gorelick comes into play. A native of Charlotte, Gorelick first became interested in the culinary world as a 10 year old. “I started helping my mom when she would entertain, and I loved it.

When she invited people over, I’d jump at the opportunity to contribute. I loved how happy it made people when I cooked for them, and I was addicted.”

Her love of cooking continued throughout high school. After graduating, she attended culinary school at The Art Institute and returned to Charlotte where she was employed as Executive Chef of Fern, Fla64 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

“If more people ate this way, they would see the value of eating natural products and not taking the easy way and ordering food.”

vors from the Garden. Gorelick describes her style of cooking as “healthy and seasonal with strong influences from countries around the Mediterranean.” Fresh ginger, chile peppers, vinegars and lots of acids like grapefruit are some of her favorite ingredients. She also “loves adding smoke to dishes.”

Opening Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen was the

“brainchild” of her boyfriend, Andrew. After leaving Fern in September 2012, Gorelick realized she “wanted to do something of her own, something that combined her love of local foods and the Charlotte community.” It was then that Gorelick took the idea of cooking classes seriously. “It is a niche I could fill in Charlotte. So many people want to learn, to be better cooks

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SUPPER CLUB for themselves and their families, but they also want to learn where to buy the best products and about different ingredients.”

The kitchen is a place where guests can get excited and embrace the opportunity to experience a hands-on-cooking class.

“It’s a shared experience when they come with friends and family.” There are five different ability levels, and each class accommodates up to 22 students. Typically, there are five tables with four students to a table. It’s important that each group be of a similar level. The cuisine for each class differs. Some classes are based on Spanish, Italian, Thai, and Indian food, while others may be based on a specific diet, such as Vegetarian or Paleo. There are holiday events and even seasonal class menu changes. After the groups finish cooking, they sit and share their meal sipping beer or wine while enjoying great commentary.

The biggest challenge of Chef Alyssa’s

CHEF

Kitchen is to demonstrate the importance of eating healthy and locally. “If more people ate this way, they would see the value of eating natural products and not taking the easy way and ordering food.

Some people think eating healthy doesn’t taste good, and this is just not the case!”

Having partnered with farmers and vendors in the Atherton Market, plus Small City Farm, New Town Farms, and Lucky Fish, it’s been a lot of fun. “We have collaborated with other vendors and have even done a Cooking with Beer class with Triple C Brewery. We love working with like-minded brands to strengthen our message of good wholesome food.”

Gorelick loves Charlotte and is proud to have started a business in her hometown, a city with a “sense of community,” where the energy runs deep, and the people she meets bring a smile to her face. For a calendar of classes visit www.ChefAlyssasKitchen.com. You won’t regret it!

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“It’s a shared experience when they come with friends and family.”

S UPPER C LUB

RECIPE

Bermudian Fish Chowder Barlowe’s

PHOTOS BY JAMEY PRICE

Clark Barlowe’s culinary background is very impressive. He has worked at The French Laundry, a California restaurant known for being one of the best in the world, he has been featured on the television show “Chopped”, and served up curious cuisine all over the world including Bermuda. This issue Heirloom’s Chef Clark Barlowe shares his Traditional Bermudian Fish Chowder with San Marzano Crème Fraiche and Garlic Crostini.

Ingredients

• 1 Each Whole Grouper Body Filets Removed / Reserved (Free from most fish mongers) • 3 Gallons Water • 1 Head of Garlic • 5-6 Carrots • 2 Onions • 5-6 Red Potatoes • 2T Olive Oil

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Method

In a stainless steel bowl combine buttermilk and heavy cream covered and allow to sit at room temperature overnight. The next day check mixture for quality, should resemble sour cream in all aspects but will possibly be slightly watery in comparison, strain off excess liquid and puree with canned San Marzano tomatoes. In a large pot add grouper body and water and bring to a simmer for 1-2 hours. Strain grouper stock and pick meat off grouper body. If you would prefer purchase cod

• 1 32oz Can of Whole Tomatoes • 2T Fresh Thyme • 3T Queen’s Charlotte Rum • 3T Sherry Peppers (Recipe Follows) • 2T Tomato Powder • 1 Cup Heavy Cream • 1T Buttermilk Clark Barlowe Heirloom • 1 Baguette Restaurant • Salt and Pepper To Taste

Y

Y

IS

V

For YOUR HOLIDAY Gifting

SIT DAIL VI

IT DAIL

S UPPER C LUB

filets (1.5lbs.) and fish stock (4 Quarts) and skip grouper stock steps above. Dice potatoes (skin on), carrots, onion, and celery in a large dice and peel garlic. Roast vegetables in olive oil in a large pot to obtain browning. When potatoes are slightly brown add canned tomatoes and fresh thyme then grouper stock, grouper meat, and thyme.Simmer slowly for 1-2 hours, puree loosely with immersion blender, add sherry peppers, rum, and season with salt and pepper. Grill a slice of baguette and rub with garlic clove. Garnish soup with baguette, San Marzano crème fraiche, and sunflower shoots if available.

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RECIPE

Method

Sherry Peppers

Ingredients

• 1 Bottle Dry Sherry • 2 Habanero Peppers • 1 Aji Dulce Pepper • 1 Rooster Spur Pepper • 1 Fish Pepper • 1 Espelette Pepper

This spicy chowder has been served in Bermuda since the 17th century.

All of the peppers are available at local Charlotte farmer’s markets but if any variety is unavailable do not worry, just remember you’re looking to add heat and any hot peppers will do. If you do not like your food as spicy feel free to increase the amount of sweet peppers and decrease the number of hot ones. Combine all ingredients in your blender and puree until smooth. Remove the ingredients from the blender and pour the mixture through the coffee filter in order to remove the pulp. You can preserve liquid for use in all traditional Bermudian recipes or any dish that needs a dash of what ails you.

For more information on Chef Clark Barlowe, his restaurant Heirloom, and his philosophy; locally sourced globally inspired, visit them at www.heirloomrestaurantnc.com. Check back next issue for the full article on Heirloom.

SUPPER CLUB

COCKTAIL

Carolina Trolley One of the best mixologists in the Southeast, Stefan Huebner of Heist Brewery, has kindly shared one of his delicious cocktails with us: the Cruzan Carolina Trolley.

INGREDIENTS

INSPIRATION

• 1 1/2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum • 1/2 part DeKuyper® Blue Curaçao • 2 parts Fresh Sour Mix • 1 part Fresh Pineapple Juice • 1 part Ginger Beer

The Cruzan® Carolina Trolley cocktail is a twist on a Cable Car cocktail, however Heist Brewery’s Stefan Huebner has replaced the cable car with Charlotte’s very own uptown area trolley. When it comes to its taste, the Cruzan Rum gives this cocktail the oomph that is needed to stand up with the sweetness of the fruit juices and the Blue Curaçao.

The Blue Curaçao adds to the aesthetic of the drink, providing a touch of color that can range from a beautiful shade of Carolina blue to an electric blue similar

METHOD

Build all ingredients except Ginger Beer with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into an ice filled Collins glass. Top with Ginger Beer and garnish with Orange & Pineapple.

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Visit Heist Brewery in NoDa for more of Stefan Huebner’s delicious cocktails or for more information visit Heist online at www.

HeistBrewery.com.

to the hue seen on your beloved home team Panthers’ jerseys. The ginger beer adds a little punch, in both spice and sweetness, making for one hell of a tasty, cohesive, cocktail. Served over ice, this libation is the perfect drink to enjoy during the perfect days of early fall while reminiscing about the glorious dog days of the summer now behind us.

Home & Garden THE QUEEN CITY’S GUIDE TO DESIGN & DECOR

Mr.

Goodwill Hunting Rashon Carroway on home design and decor, thrift store finds, the magic of TV, and miracles on 34th Street.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMEY PRICE

Home & DESIGN TABLE OF CONTENTS :: DESIGNER Q&A • p.75 | TABLESCAPES • p.80 | RUSTIC • p.84

HOME&DESIGN

DESIGNER Q&A

“A lot of current items were in these stores just hidden among dated paint and hardware and I knew with just a little elbow grease these pieces would be amazing.”

What impact do the thrift items provide to a room?

Often times these pieces can be the focal point of the room. All that is needed is inspiration.

Does it impact the price of a design job significantly and if so by how much?

Rashon Carroway, aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting, on home design and decor, incorporating thrift store finds, the magic of TV, and miracles on 34th Street.

The price of the pieces honestly does not matter. My job as an interior stylist is to help my clients tell a story through furnishings. Often they know what they want to express, they just have a difficult time doing so.

Did you go to school for design and style or does this come naturally to you?

How did you get the idea to incorporate used items into your designs?

What is the process from start to finish with a client?

I did not go to school for design. All of this is from my heart to my head.

When I was much younger, I started shopping at thrift stores for clothing. One day I decided to venture into the home furnishings portion of the store and was blown away. A lot of current items were in these stores just hidden among dated paint and hardware and I knew with just a little elbow grease these pieces would be amazing.

I’ll give the short version because actual design is very involved. I normally start with a two hour consultation. I like to hear what is on my client’s mind. They hired me and I want to hear exactly why.

Then we move to budgeting. Regardless of how tacky it is to bring it up, great style costs. So it’s important to help steer expectations into reality. A home in SouthPark may not have the same budget as a home in Myers Park, so we need to see where we fall in that. Then, it’s off to pull everything together in the most timely manner as possible. Finally, it’s time to enjoy it.

Who are your major influeces in the design industry if any?

I think the industry is full of amazing people. I am really drawn to the monochromatic scheme of Atmosphere Design and of course the timeless style of Ralph Lauren Home.

How would you classify your aesthetic?

My design aesthetic is certainly southern with a nod to urban sophistication.

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Where do you source your items from?

All over really. Any thrift store, Target Home Goods, any place that has amazing pieces.

HOME&DESIGN Does sourcing used items make the process more difficult to execute when trying to reach a customer's desired look?

Are there any spaces in the home you prefer to redesign or are you open to any design challenge?

If the intent is to source everything second hand...yes. That can be near impossible with a client's specification. So I encourage them to blend second hand and retail together to have a balanced look and an achievable look.

I prefer the living room, dining room and bedroom, simply because these can be the quickest rooms to redo and these rooms are the ones that can give the client instant gratification.

How does it make you feel personally when the client’s design comes together flawlessly and they are happy?

Oh that’s like a miracle on 34th Street!

If a client gives me full range to design without boundaries then it’s possible. The reality is, it’s not. So, I must work to get to that moment with the rules that have been set in place.

For more information on Rashon Carraway’s design and decor visit Mr. Goodwill Hunting at www.rashoncarraway.com

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What is the biggest challenge of your design process?

Budget. Because I have been known to create beautiful spaces for next to nothing, potential clients expect me to do that for them. I have to talk with them and explain to them that the TV has magical powers.

What is the best moment for you during the design process?

The best moment for me is when the potential client turns into an actual client.

That lets me know they have confidence

DESIGNER Q&A

in me and believe that I will create a beautiful space for them.

Where can our readers see some of your featured creations?

Most of my work is featured right on my website, but I have also been featured in Southern Living, Creative Loafing, Ebony Magazine, Charlotte Style and countless online blogs and other sources.

Often times second hand pieces can be the focal point of a room. All that is needed is inspiration.”

HOME&DESIGN

TABLESCAPES

Plates & Servingware

We love white plates and servingware because they allow all the colorful features of your centerpiece and place settings to stand out. We also like white because of how clean they are before dinner is served and how they allow the colors of all the tasty holiday entrees and fixins’ to pop once dinner is served. Good alternatives to white plates and platters are silver. Remember that mixing and matching styles and shapes of your plating can add yet another eye-popping feature to your table.

Linens

Turkey Day Table Settings PHOTO BY SARSMIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Eight Thanksgiving tips to make your table look almost as delicious as the food served on it.

Centerpiece

A bountiful table is a must on Thanksgiving so don’t be afraid to go for broke with your centerpiece. Large colorful pieces that get your guests into the spirit of the holidays are more than appropriate. Items that you may want to include are seasonal flowers, gourds, pumpkins, brass, and wooden fixtures. The flowers and gourds evoke the colors of the season, adding a pop of hue, texture and sophistication.

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Silverware

Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to break out your heirloom pieces - the silver that has been passed down to you from your grandparents or great grandparents and show them off to your guests. It’s a symbolic feature that adds to the spirit of the holiday and the dynamicism of your table. If you don’t have enough pieces mix and match with stainless ware and wooden serving spoons and forks.

A white linen or cloth table cloth has its many benefits. It’s a classic look that is both simple and sophisticated and lets the rest of your table shine. If you want to diversify choose an autmn color or a simply patterned table cloth that represents the seasonal qualities of fall. Be careful though because if you don’t select wisely your table could look over themed. In regards to napkins, never use paper towels or paper napkins on Turkey Day, period.

You want your once-a-year celebration to impress your family and friends and cloth napkins with natural rings or accessories like leaves of chestnuts can really bring your setting together. Adding rustic elements like burlap, leather cordage, and hemp can really finish the look.

Menus

A printed menu at every setting is just one of the many small details that really adds that special touch to the overall guest experience. When your family and friends sit down at the table they instantly know what is being served and can start getting excited about the delicious dishes about to be offered. You can order most of them online a week or two before the holidays and use the various online templates to make the design sophisticated and easy.

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oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 81

HOME&DESIGN

Invitations

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to be with your family, but for some who live far from family and friends the holidays can be a little tough. If you know anyone that has these circumstances feel free to invite them to your feast. Invitations are easy to design and send online, can get you a head count for your turkey day celebration, and can make your guests feel welcome and at home.

Lighting

Turn down the overhead lights (not all the way off, of course) and add some extra illumination to your table in a more traditional way. Incorporating beautiful candles and candle holders that fit in with your theme can improve the overall ambiance of the dining experience and brighten up the aesthetic of your table.

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TABLESCAPES

Give Thanks

Decorate your table with the meaning of the holiday by sharing the things you, as the host, are grateful for. Leave a special note at each place sitting that lets each guest know how thankful you are for them in particular. You can also incorporate “Thankful” cards and have each of your guests write down what they are thankful for and share it with the group. When the dinner is over and your guests leave you can decorate your trees, wreaths, and other decor with the comment cards and keep the holiday spirit alive.

Side Bar

Turkey Day feasts are extravagant, so you may not have room on your table for everything. Use a side bar or buffett for extras from the appetizers and charcuteries to self service punches and cocktails.

HOME&DESIGN

RUSTIC

Rustic Barn doors If you want to add an extra dimension to an entryway in your home than there is no better option than a barn door. Barn doors are not as easy to come by as they used to be, nor as cheap, but you can find them at a variety of places, from antique consignment stores and places like Restoration Hardware to the source itself: country farms with barns. Whichever way you find yours, once you add it to your entryway with a classic sliding hardware kit, your room undergoes quite the dramatic change - an artistic quality no matter if the door is open or closed.

R &R

Achieve that rustic look with reclaimed and repurposed items made by the best artisans in the city or found everywhere from estate sales to old barns.

Vintage Crates & Trunks

If you are trying to achieve an authentic rustic feel your accessories and knick knacks should be displayed in a rustic way and there are no better containers than vintage milk crates, Coca-Cola crates, or tin and wire crates. You can also stack crates and create a unique bookshelf. For the items that you want to store away, like blankets and photo albums, antique trunks offer a great solution.

All of these options are available at places like The Sleepy Poet but you can also find them at yard and estate sales if you keep your eyes peeled. For those that want to purchase new crates that have a vintage touch (although they may not be nearly as well made) stores like HomeGoods offer quite the selection.

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Pallet Wood If you are a do-it-yourselfer, pallet wood is a cheap way to add a rustic feel to your space. Finding pallets is relatively easy as most people are willing to give them to you. You can craft all kinds of simple furniture pieces from end tables to coffee tables with them. You can also fix them to your wall and change a space entirely, adding a rugged, natural look to your room.

Rocking Chairs Nothing reminds you of the south more than someone reading a good book on the front porch, sweet tea in hand, soaking up the fall air, while rocking in a fine rocking chair. There is something nostalgic and enviable about that image. If you are interested in purchasing one of the finest rocking chairs we have ever seen, check out the detailed works of Shamrock Wood Studio. Michael McKee’s fine woodworking combines precision with amazing lines and surprising functionality and durability. Visit Shamrock Wood Studio online at www. shamrockwoodstudio.com.

Antique Cupboards Antique Cupboards bring an old-fashioned touch to today’s modern kitchen. They can be painted or refinished to match your space. Beautiful chabby chic styles have gotten very popular. Antique pie safes with punched tin accents make for a classic statement piece in any Southern home. There are several great places in Charlotte to locate a fine antique or chabby chic antique cupboard including Nadeau on South Boulevard.

WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS. Stickley designers will come to your home and provide design assistance at no charge.

We’ll help you tap into your personal style and together create your masterpiece.

Call or come in today!

7215 Smith Corners Blvd. (I-77 and Harris Blvd.), Charlotte 704.597.0718 STICKLEY, LEXINGTON, CENTURY, MARGE CARSON, HANCOCK & MOORE, HICKORY WHITE, BRADINGTON-YOUNG & MUCH MORE!

Located just off I-77 at Exit 18 in the Smith Corners Shopping Center at the corner of W.WT Harris Blvd & Statesville Road stickleyaudi.com

oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 85

OUTDOOR

Barnwood Tables The look of reclaimed wood when used on almost any furniture design adds an extra touch of character, but there is something extra special about the use of reclaimed wood when building a beautiful, large dining table. The imperfections and tones of the wood create a beautiful aesthetic and the strength and durability of the aged wood creates a functionality that is nearly unmatched. For some of the most beautiful reclaimed wood tables in Charlotte contact the folks at 2nd Story Wood Co. at 2ndstorywood.com.

Vintage Windows Old windows can be used for a variety of interesting DIY projects. Mounting antique window panes to the walls in front of family photos makes for a unique frame. Attaching window panes to a coffee table completely transforms your tabletop.

For more ideas for rustic decor visit www.qcexclusive.com

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THE FACE OF CONSERVATION We met Tom Okel, the Executive Director of the Catawba Lands Conservancy, at the expansive Red Lair farm and forest in Southern Piedmont for a walk about, and spent several hours among the Bigleaf magnolias and sunflower fields talking. As an avid outdoorsman, I was excited to have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;face of conservationâ&#x20AC;?, and the conversation that followed reinforced my excitement and hope for the cause. photos by jamey price

E

xploring the Gaston County property was peaceful and encouraging. Red Lair, totaling over 700 gorgeous acres and twelve separate conservation easements, is one of the richest ecological areas in the state. Red Lair is one of the major windfalls of the Catawba Lands Conservancy and features a natural diversity rarely found so close to a major metropolitan area. It’s pine and hardwood forests, blooming Schweinitz sunflowers, and expansive river frontage on the South Fork Catawba River make it a rare piece of property. Both Okel and I were happy to spend the afternoon there.

Okel was raised in a family that enjoyed nature. His father was an outdoorsman and his brother, an exceptional mountain climber. His love for outdoor sports like hiking, skiing, and kayaking has been with him since his youth. So, when he had the opportunity to transition back to nature after a 20-year career with Bank of America he jumped at the opportunity. His respect and reverence for the natural world, combined with the valuable experience gained as global head of Bank of America’s Syndicated Capital Markets division made him the perfect candidate to lead Catawba Lands Conservancy down its next path. And lead he has. Under his guidance, with the help of his industrious staff, The Catawba Lands Conservancy has come a long way.

The conservancy started as a school teacher’s dream. Mary McDaniel had one specific, but important aspiration: protect Mountain Island Lake. From this one noble goal, a grass roots movement began, and in 1991 the Catawba Lands Conservancy was born. For Mary and the rest involved, it became apparent that their impact could be felt on a much larger scale.

Now, Catawba Lands Conservancy protects and conserves land in a large 6-county region of the state including the counties of Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Union counties. Through various land trusts, the Catawba Lands Conservancy also works to protect other lands outside of that scope, including areas in Norwood, NC, near Baden Lake and Lake Tillery, in the foothills, the Blue Ridge mountains, and beyond.

Their mission is simple. They want to save land and con-

Currently, our region loses 133 acres of natural land every day, and natural land that is lost to development is lost forever.”

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nect lives to nature. Currently, the conservancy preserves, maintains, and monitors nearly 15,000 acres of land. This is a substantial amount of land that will forever stay natural; a huge windfall for everyone involved, from the conservancy to the public.

Catawba Lands Conservancy’s mission is one of major importance, and for so many reasons. As our city grows, less and less of the natural world is available for us to enjoy. Simply put, natural spaces are fleeting, but according to Okel, “Our goal is to save as much natural land with conservation value as possible and we have a sense of urgency because the Charlotte region is expected to lose at least 30% of its remaining green space over the next 15 years. Currently, our region loses 133 acres of natural land every day, and natural land that is lost to development is lost forever.”

A large donor base made up of caring individuals and corporate entities helps the conservancy accomplish their mission. Loyal members that have supported the organization for years, and will support the organization going forward, “are the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts.” Along with the donors, partnerships with county, state, and federal conservation programs like the The North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department, the conservancy is pushed to new heights.

STEWARDS oF OUR LAND Conservation groups in Charlotte and the Carolinas that protect and preserve our land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources.

Catawba Riverkeepers An education and protection program designed to sustain and safeguard the Catawba River. The Catawba River was listed as one of the nation’s most endangered rivers in 2000, 2008, and 2013.

The Riverkeepers are continually at the forefront in regards to the coal ash issue effecting our waters both regionally and nationally. To learn more about the organization please visit them at www. catawbariverkeeper.com .

Rocky River Trout Unlimited This local group has been around since 1959 with the hopes of conserving and protecting North Carolina’s coldwater resources. With educational programs starting at age 6 and monthly meetings to discuss initiatives, this organization has helped conserve the Rocky River for decades and many more to come. Visit www.rockyrivertu.org to learn more.

Charlotte Ducks Unlimited Founded by huntsman to protect and support the nations wetlands and

waterfowl population. Offering monthly dinners and outings in hopes of spreading the word of conservation for generations.

You can find a calendar of events and other info regarding the organization at www.charlottedu.org .

Sustain Charlotte This non-profit organization is designed to educate and inspire environmental sustainability.

With monthly meetings discussing topics from water consumption to transportation choices, they are trying to eliminate our carbon footprint for years to come. To show support or become a partner visit www.sustaincharlotte.org .

Sierra Club CentRAL Piedmont Founded by Conservationist John Muir in the 1890’s, Sierra Club has more than 2 million supporters, making it the nations largest environmental organization. Fighting for a more clean energy economy to endangered species, this group has 64 chapters nationwide fighting the good fight for a better environment. Our local group has members from Mecklenburg, Lin-

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“Spending time in nature is important.

The benefits of time outdoors are vast.”

Along with donors and partners, the landowners play an integral role in the conservation of lands. Without them, the organization truly couldn’t exist. As Okel explains, “Landowners are at the heart of what we do. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of willing landowners who recognize the value of preserving their lands for future generations.”

Catawba Lands Conservancy has the perfect plan to preserve important land for our future generations, which is summed up by the organization’s four pillars: Clean water, wildlife habitat, local farms, and connections to nature.

As the lifeblood of our region, “the continued growth and sustainability of our region depends upon our water supply.”

The conservancy’s strategy of protecting our water is precise.

Save the land around the water supply and you protect the water supply. “Protecting land around and near waterways, improves the natural filtration of pollutants and sediments, helps prevent flooding and erosion, and provides millions of people with cleaner streams and lakes and safe drinking water.”

Wildlife habitat is a major focal point of the organization.

Biodiversity is something that we take for granted but something that is so important to the world that we live in and something we all should value. As urban areas increase; habitats fall by the wayside; and when habitats go; so do the animals. By protecting our area’s wetlands, forests, and fields, wildlife thrives.

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STEWARDS OF OUR LAND coln, Catawba and Stanley counties meeting monthly and is one of the largest groups in North Carolina.

To join, visit www.charlottesierraclub.org.

regional businesses to use green solutions. To learn more about their vision and organization please visit them online at www. charlottegreenteam.com .

Charlotte Green Team

Charlotte Public Tree Fund

Founded in 2007, this coalition of hospitality and tourism professionals focuses on environmental sustainability and profitability. They look to use technologies to manage businesses and our carbon footprint and they are dedicated to moving

This not-for-profit organization, which was formed in 1991, was designed to replace public trees after the devastating Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Their current focus on fundraising and education projects has resulted in the planting of new trees through-

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Paying homage to our state’s farming history, Catawba Lands Conservancy strives to protect both the farmer and farmland. Emphatically, Okel points out that, “Agriculture is North Carolina’s chief industry and local farms have a significant impact on our regional economy. By conserving farmland, we support the rural economy, preserve our region’s agricultural heritage and help provide local food to our region.”

Their fourth pillar, connections to nature, could arguably be the most integral. In the age we live, in a society that is mostly urban, awed by technology, busy from working nineto-fives, the disconnect between man and nature has never been larger. The conservancy is changing this. “Spending time in nature is important. From leading happier lives to reductions in stress, the benefits of time outdoors are vast.

By conserving land that will host trails, greenways or blueways through the Carolina Thread Trail, we are providing communities with opportunities to interact with nature in a

thankful that our city has donors, partners, and institutions that work towards admirable goals set forth by organizations like Catawba Lands Conservancy. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mary McDaniel and her dream of conservation.

From one small grass root, a 15,000 acre forest has grown.

With Okel at the helm, and his diligent staff behind him, the Catawba Lands Conservancy is in good hands and that means our future and our lands are protected.

However, that doesn’t mean they don’t need your help. There are many ways you can get involved. The Catawba Lands Conservancy accepts donations online and offers membership opportunities to both support their efforts financially and learn more about their work. You can also volunteer to help maintain these serene properties for future generations to come. For us at QC Exclusive Magazine, this is truly one of the most important causes of all so we encourage you to help in whatever way you can. For more information visit www.catawbalands.org.

“Landowners are at the heart of what we do. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of willing landowners who recognize the value of preserving their lands for future generations.” variety of ways.” Getting both kids and adults out into nature so they can enjoy the canopies of the forest, experience the wide open spaces of the fields, and explore the miles of rivers and streams instills a desire to protect that resource.

All of these pillars come to life in Catawba Lands Conservancy’s work with The Carolina Thread Trail. As a major achievement for the organization, Okel and his staff have, “established the vision and made significant progress on what will become a lasting legacy to our region. Through the Thread Trail, we’ve been able to introduce people to some of our protected properties, which helps make conservation more tangible. It has enabled us to share the joys of nature with a larger audience.”

Without organizations like the Catawba Lands Conservancy our region would be completely different. The harsh impact of urban sprawl would be far more prevalent. According to Okel, “Most likely there would be 15,000 less acres of natural land. Many of the beautiful, unique properties we’ve conserved would have been destroyed, damaging water quality and fragile ecosystems. Industry or housing development would have taken the place of prime farmland and many popular trails and recreation areas would cease to exist.” Okel’s depressing description of what could’ve been sounds like no place any of us wants to call home. Instead what has happened is a source of pride for our city and a perfect reason to be excited about the future. We should all be

STEWARDS OF OUR LAND out Mecklenburg county.

To volunteer you may find info at www.charlottetreefund.org .

event visit www.charlestonwaterkeeper.org .

Charleston Waterkeeper

This group is dedicated to protecting the land, air, and water of Appalachia.

Founded in 1997, they look to reduce the use of coal in the area and take steps towards cleaner energy. With locations in D.C., Virginia, and Tennessee, they work together to minimize the pollutants and carbon footprint for future generations.

For more info visit them at www.appvoices.org .

Founded in 2008, the organization’s main focus is to protect and promote the quality of Charleston’s waterways. A collaborative effort of individuals and businesses whose desire to have “clean” water to drink, swim and play in, they protect the public’s right to have the same. To join, donate, or attend an

Appalachian Voices

“Our goal is to save as much natural land with conservation value as possible and we have a sense of urgency because the Charlotte region is expected to lose at least 30% of its remaining green space over the next 15 years.”

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we don’t walk down paths. never follow in footsteps. not sorry for following our own rules. that’s the way Defiant was born. and that’s how we live. we push boundaries. we cut our own trail. it’s about the experience. The taste.

t he spir it of

defiant In Golden Valley, North Carolina, a group of salvage divers turned whisky makers are distilling some of the finest single malt in the country and they’re doing it in a completely new and revolutionary way. photos by jamey price

This page: Tim Ferris, owner of Defiant Whisky. Opposite Clockwise From Top Right: Defiant’s two row premium barley. Matt Tackett, Defiant Whisky’s business manager.

Defiant Salvage’s ties to the whisky.

Special open spirals add surface area for quicker aging. Whisky coming out of their custom-made still.

“

D

People who have tasted Defiant are amazed by the taste. It’s like an old friend - so easy to start a conversation over.

Defiant Marine is owned and operated by Tim Ferris. He and Bob Wiehe have traveled the world over helping solve maritime problems. Both are experienced salvage divers who live by the code and believe that there are “effective and efficient solutions to any and all situations that may arise” as long as they are handled “with courage, integrity, and honor.” Their work takes them into dangerous situations. They’ve worked off the coast of Italy where they helped re-mediate a chemical and oil tanker—the Gelso M—that had run aground, to Argentina where they performed a re-float of the M.V. Aristeas P, to NYC where they helped pump flood waters from the subway systems after Hurricane Sandy hit, and just recently off the coast of West Africa where they helped salvage a downed helicopter. Ferris and Wiehe defy the odds in more ways than one. With bold resistance, the two defiantly chose to start a distillery as a side job.

After returning home from really big salvage dives both Ferris and Wiehe, who don’t drink while on the job, would buy fine scotch, kick back, and enjoy. With lots of down time between salvage dives and money not an issue; Ferris came up with an idea to distill whisky. To the Scots, whisky is “the water of life.” Similar words have probably been spoken by Ferris.

With Wiehe at his side, the two have made it their mission to “make the best [single malt] whisky known to man.” The Blue Ridge Distillery, where Defiant Whisky is made, is located on Ferris' family farm in Golden Valley, North Carolina, a town 98 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

whose history is heavily laden with gold and moonshine. Ferris is not an idle man; his hands and mind are always working.

This prompted his decision to have the water on the property tested. His findings were better than great. The water streaming down from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the aquifer on his property was the purest of waters. With no need for filters or additives, it's no wonder the moonshine made in those hills was so good. He hoped the same would be true for his whisky.

Ferris and Wiehe wanted to make Scotch, but because they aren't Scottish, the law-of-the-land says you can't. Instead, they decided to take the “best Scottish tradition” and “combine it with American ingenuity.” What they came up with is an amazing American single malt. Defiant Whisky uses premium American white oak--“toasted to perfection,” “specially cultured yeast”-turning the wort into a barley wine, “two-row premium brewer's barley-- cracked on a custom roller,” and pure mountain water.

The process is very detailed. “[Our suppliers] take barley and

once it sprouts, cut it off. At this point the plant thinks it’s still growing and needs to get bigger, so the plant produces extra sugar to do so.” Defiant then gets the grain once that malting process and drying process is complete. Once the kernels are ready, they go into a grinder and are toppled. Over a ton of toppled barley is mixed with hundreds of gallons of water. The mixture cooks for a few hours, the length of time needed for the sugar to be cooked out of the cereal. The liquid is separated from the grain through a lautering process. Once the sugar water cools, the fermenting process begins. Made in an artisan column-pot still hybrid, the vapors run through one of two pipes: one runs out, while the other runs in. Distillation is a four step process. Every Monday through Friday a new batch is made producing about 560-600 gallons a day.

Defiant Whisky has a high conversion process. The “still is efficient which cuts down on labor and makes for a very good product.” In the olden days everybody used barrels. “They found if liquor sits in barrels longer, it affects taste, smell, and color.

But this is a very inefficient system.” Barrels were used for aging and still are the most popular way to age. Defiant reduced their aging time to 60 days by using the spirals instead of barrels. Ferris came up with this far more efficient method and can have a drink-ready whisky in 90 days; a-typical to the average 7-12 year spirits produced elsewhere.

“

Our recipe comes from the best guys.

The crew is ‘mad scientist’ types who work together and socialize after hours.

The light is never off. oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 99

“Our recipe comes from the best guys.

The crew is 'mad scientist' types who work together and socialize after hours.

The light is never off.” By trade most of them are salvage divers, so it goes without saying that each possesses a similar attitude--drive, passion, and boundary pushing--needed to make the best damn single malt in America. It’s definitely a stand out whisky. Not only has Defiant Whisky been named Best New Whis-

“

ky of the Year 2013, but it has placed Bronze in Berlin, and Silver at the Craft Distilling in a California blind taste test where it was judged against 7-12 year spirits. A featured whisky at the Super Bowl VIP, it was also the drink at the Grammys, Oscars, and New York Fashion week. The “Big Guys” in the business are looking at us and wondering, what we are doing here in the backwards of North Carolina.”

We’re not a push button system, and it’s not easy making whisky.

You’ve got to have guts. Things work at Defiant Whisky because we have no reserve.

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Currently, Defiant is in 22 states, Canada, Singapore, and Malaysia. “Every week we have a new state trying to get a hold of our whiskey, but we're taking it slow. Defiant produces 2 ½ skids, about 1800-2000 bottles each week.

We have our production, facility, and recipe. We're figuring all that out, and think we can take it to the next level in a year. We plan on producing 5 times more than we do now with a new 5,000 liter still.” Expansion at Defiant would grow exponentially.

An important aspect of making whiskey is TLC. “We let the whiskey breath like a fine wine. We hand pour, and hand cork. Everything is hand done.” Tours are given at Blue Ridge Distillery where you can learn about the distilling process and Defiant Whisky, but you have to visit your local ABC store or private distributor to purchase it. People who have tasted Defiant are amazed by the taste. “It's like an old friend [and so] easy to start a conversation over,” says Wiehe.

Ferris and Wiehe are very picky when it comes to quality control and consistency of product. No two days are the same, so they keep a close eye on production due to weather changes. It's the south, wait five minutes and it’ll change. “There are nuances [to whiskey making,] explains Wiehe. “We're not a push button system, and it's not easy making whisky.

You've got to have guts.” Things work at Defiant Whisky because “we have no reserve.” Where “some choose a few defiant moments, others live a lifetime in the spirit.” The former is true of Ferris, Wiehe and his crew and the real reason why Defiant Whisky is fast becoming America's most renowned single malt.

For more information on Blue Ridge Distilling Co. and their award-winning product visit www.defiantwhisky.com.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Where some choose a few defiant moments, others live a lifetime in the spirit.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

This page: Bob Weihe, Creative Solutions Specialist.

Opposite Page Top Left: Joel Petrino, Head Distiller Bottom Left: Elisa Tatham, Distiller. Opposite Page Top Right: Eric Meech, Distiller

THE SOUTHEASTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

ULTIMATE S P O R T I N G D E S T I N AT I O N S Just hours from Charlotte these luxury destinations offer world-class amenities, lodging, and a wide variety of sporting activities including horseback riding, wing shooting, fly fishing, golfing, and more.

BRAYS ISLAND Bray’s Plantation is one of the best sporting destinations in the world, period. Builder Magazine recognizes it as being home to some of the finest homes in the South, and Sporting Classics magazine named Brays Island Plantation “the South’s most outstanding residential sporting community—the one by which all others are judged.” It is the essence of the Southern Sportsmen’s dream. Its 5,500 acres of land dedicated to the traditional sporting lifestyle, offers an unrivaled list of amenities and activities-3,500 acres of that land alone are an untouched wilderness of marshes, estuaries, fields, and woods where quail, deer, turkey, partridge, and duck abound. Also on site are a gun club; clay shooting facility offering skeet, trap, sporting clays, and classes; 20 miles of tidal estuaries offering both salt and freshwater fishing, fly fishing clinics and boating. Other activities at Bray’s include an 18 hole golf course, an equestrian center with 60 miles of trails and 100 miles of paddocks and riding arenas, fitness center with pools and HarTru tennis courts. If you’re interested in becoming part of this amazing sporting paradise, lots and homes are available starting at $200,000 up to $3,000,000. | • b raysisland.com

BRAYS ISLAND land through sustainable resources and growing practices. They provide a unique venue that caters to sportsmen and women, corporate retreats and events, and outdoor enthusiasts.

• luckyclaysfarm.com

Elk River Club Enjoy the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains and all their glory. This exquisite luxury community and member equity club offers the very best of the high country’s lifestyle, real estate, and amenities. It boasts a state of the art Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that is ranked in the top 10 in the state, one of the finest equestrian facilities in western North Carolina, a tennis, swim, and fitness club featuring HarTru courts, and a panoramic view of the awe inspiring vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, you also have access to the Elk River, a catch and release stream, chock full of native brook trout, wild rainbows and cunning brown trout.

• elkriverclub.com

W

hether you are an avid shooter, upland game hunter, or just an outdoor enthusiast, this year’s list of top sporting destinations - both near and far - represent all the things about the sporting lifestyle that we love here at QC Exclusive. If you love and appreciate Mother Nature and all she has to offer as much as we do, then these are the resorts and preserves that you have to visit and explore.

Primland’s luxe accomodations and beautiful observatory.

Webb Farm Top quail hunting at The Webb Farm is a never ending, year round endeavor where they combine sound biology, a passion for the sport that spans generations, and decades of quail management to bring you the great wingshooting you have come to expect in this legendary hunting area of the North Carolina Sandhills.

• thewebbfarm.com

Lucky Clays Farm Lucky Clays is a state of the art farm and sporting clays preserve whose mission is to conserve the natural beauty of the 104 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

PRIMLAND This 12,000 acre resort located along the Blue Ridge Parkway is the ultimate in refined dining, world class golf, and endless outdoor acitivities: ATV and horseback riding, clay and wingshooting, mountan biking and kayaking. Primland’s reverence for the beauty of it’s natural surroundings along the Blue Ridge Parkway is evidenced through its extensive efforts to minimize its impact on nature through their eco-conscious and thoughtful approach in developing this luxurious mountain sanctuary. The freshness of their food with the use of locally sourced sustainable ingredients is the perfect way to refuel after a long day of adventure and their spa will help to renew and refresh. | • Primland.com

The Queen City’s Best Outfitters Sporting Gent The Sporting Gent is one of Charlotte’s premier outdoor clothiers for gentlemen, offering a wide selection of casual to fine attire and accessories from brands like Duck Head, Southern Tide, Williams Knife Co., and Yeti Coolers.

• thesportinggent.com Ski Country Sports The place to go for all of you powder hounds carrying any and all gear, apparel and equipment for snowboarders and ski bums.

• skicountrysports.com Great Outdoor Provisions Co. This one stop shop for all of your outdoor needs offers everything from hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting gear to gadgets, tools, and other gear.

• greatoutdoorprovision.com Waxhaw Tack Exchange Located in Waxhaw horse country, this family owned gem sells new and used tack, clothing, and other equestrian equipment.

• waxhawtackexchange.com USNWC The USNWC is an outfitter and activity center specializing in rafting and kayaking supplies located by the waters edge at the National Whitewater Center • usnwc.org

King Fisher Until recently, this wildlife refuge and fishery was completely private and off limits to anyone outside of the family. For the last 125 years its vast expanse of waterways have gone virtually unharvested which means they’ve got some big fish swimming around. Today, it serves as a first class corporate retreat, lodge and event venue offering top quality fishing, hunting, guides and equipment, and optional fine dining, jazz and lodging for an experience and setting your clients or employees will not soon forget.

• kingfishersociety.com

Big Rock Creek Fishing Club This members only trophy trout stream located just a few hours from Charlotte is a 4 mile stretch of gin clear moun106 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

FORK FARM Located just over an hour outside of Charlotte in nearby Norwood, NC, The Fork Farm and Stable is located at the confluence of the Rocky and Peedee Rivers and got its namesake based on it’s location.

The historical significance of this land is rich and well documented as an important resource for both native Americans and later, European and American settlers, where it served as an important asset to travelers and soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Today, its 1,600 acres of woods, marshes, and fields offer a world class hunt preserve and equestrian center offering some of the best in sporting clays and upland game and duck hunting anywhere in the Southeast. The Fork’s staff of professional guides and instructors are second-to-none and will have you bearing down on a covey of bob whites in a hurry. This place is great for the recreational sportsmen, as well as corporate retreats and organized groups. | • forkstables.com

tain water that holds brown, rainbow and brook trout. The fish in this river are well managed and because of that have been known to grow in excess of 28 inches in length. Membership is limited so if you get the opportunity to join, jump at the chance.

• bigrockcreekclub.com

Nantahala River Lodge This cozy but luxurious riverfront cabin offers families, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts a picturesque setting with endless activities to enjoy. With 1,400 feet of frontage on the beautiful Nantahala River, trout fishing, hiking, whitewater rafting and

Photos of The Ordinary hunting lodge and a German Shorthaired Pointer flushing quail at The Fork Farm and Stables.

The stables at the Fork Farm in Norwood, NC

kayaking are right outside your back door.

• nantahalariverlodge.net

Pine Hill Plantation The 6,000 acre Georgia plantation offers luxury lodging and amenities along with some of the best quail hunting in the region.

Keeping with tradition, they offer hunting by horseback or mule-drawn wagons.

• pinehillplantation.com .

Blackberry Farm Located in the mountains of Tennessee, Blackberry Farms offers Orvis-endorsed

fly fishing to bike rides. Enjoy water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, and paddle-boarding or fly-fishing, shotgun sports, and archery. You’ll understand why this lodge and farm was endorsed by Orvis as Lodge of the Year.

• blackberryfarm.com

Andes Drifters Andes Drifters is the premier luxury hunting and fishing company abroad. With customization packages to fit specifically to your needs, you’ll experience the most personalized fishing around. You can experience some of the best trout fishing in the world with guided tours of the Alumine’, the Malleo, and the Chimehuin.

• andesdrifters.com oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 107

CAROLINE SMITH IRWIN FLY FISHING & INSTRUCTION PHOTO BY JASON STEMPLE | WWW.JASONSTEMPLE.COM

Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; s World Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A

A tribute to the women that are leading the charge in historically male dominated pursuits, professions, and endeavors and who often times do it better and push it farther than their male counterparts.

PHOTOS BY JASON STEMPLE AND JAMEY PRICE

Profile

SLOAN & SAMANTHA WILLIAMS Award Winning Dog Trainers

CAROLINE SMITH IRWIN

Charlotte native Caroline Smith Irwin has a passion for fly fishing for trophy redfish in the picturesque Spartina grass flats of the lowcountry.

As the instructor for the women’s fly fishing class at The Charleston Angler, she encourages people, especially women, to stop dreaming and just do it, whether it be fly fishing or any other pursuits.

N

ative to Charlotte, Caroline Smith grew up in a boat with a fishing rod.

Whether it was with her beloved grandfather, bluegrass legend Arthur Smith or her brother Scott, she was introduced at an early age to the spirituality of nature and angling. Her love for the outdoors of North Carolina brought her to Appalachian State University in Boone to pursue her college education.

Boone was where she was first introduced to flyfishing through friends of hers who shared her passion for nature and the sport. Caroline was interested in trying but was intimidated by the difficulty and chalked it up as a male sport.

“The cast and the rod itself are so beautiful, but always seemed so complex to learn.

It’s like playing the guitar, I would want to pick it up for the first time and play my favorite song. Let’s be real, that doesn’t happen.”

The intimidation of learning this complex sport didn’t hinder Caroline for very long.

After moving to Charleston, Caroline attended the annual Southeastern Wildlife Conference. There she had the chance to participate in a fly fishing demonstration taught by her future husband, John Irwin.

Interested in pursuing both the sport and Irwin, she took another step and attended a second class to learn the fundamentals with a group of other novice anglers. After that she took her confidence to the boat, where she hooked and caught her first sea trout.

After that moment, she too was hooked and her obsession planted.

It is easy to see how fly fishing can be-

“Fly fishing has allowed me to see wildlife and colors of nature I never knew existed.”

CONT. ON PAGE 112

World It’s A Woman’s

In the predominantly male sporting world these women buck the trend, pushing it farther and doing it better.

Judy Carpenter ••• Judy is a retired world class competition shooter whose enthusiasm for shooting and environmental conservation has been a long-lasting endeavor. She opened Lucky Clays Farm in 2008 as a testament to her commitment to the sport she loves, and to share her mission of land conservation. Lucky Clays serves as North Carolina’s largest residential model of sustainability and renewable energy eliminating 29,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.

Bernadette Cogdell ••• Bernadette is the driving force behind the annual Fork Farm Horse Trials, a

3 day equestrian triathalon event held at the Fork Farm and Stables in Norwood, NC that hosts over 350 world class competitors in the equine community from across the country and all over the world, and an event that draws thousands of spectators from near and far. Bernadette is a true ambassador of the equestrian lifestyle.

Jennifer Pharr Davis ••• Having set the unofficial record for fastest thru hike of the Appalachian trail in 2011, Jennifer shares her experiences through her two memoirs: Becoming Odessa and her account of her 2011 Appalachian trail hike in Called Again. Currently offering guided tours of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll understand why she was named one of National Geographic’s Adventurer’s of the Year in 2012.

River Girl ••• If you’re ever up in Todd, NC be sure to drop by this gem. Founded by biologist Kelly McCoy, their goal is to provide quality education and guidance when it comes to the natural resources, landscapes, and habitats of the high country. She is a true steward of the land and this “Rivergirl” provides her guests

Kelsey Briggs 3-Day Event Rider and Trainer with some of the best in fishing, boating, tubing and biking experiences found in the high country.

Sally Kay ••• Sally Kay is the publisher of the Waxhaw Equestrian Magazine and an authority on all things equine. She grew up in a family of avid horse lovers on a farm in South Carolina and has over

40 years of experience with show horses, fox hunting, and recreational riding. She has also judged numerous competitions and is a true promoter of the equestrian lifestyle. Through her efforts with the Waxhaw Equestrian Magazine, she has created a great platform for equestrian enthusiasts, competitors, and purveyors and promoted the industry as a whole in both North and South Carolina. oct/nov 2014 • @qcexclusive • 111

“All you need is a desire to learn and you can, no matter your age or athletic ability. If anything gets in your way, its yourself.”

CAROLINE SMITH IRWIN | CONTINUED FROM PG. 110

come addicting so quickly. It is a challenge. It is an art form that takes time, practice, and experience to master. Sight fishing a redfish is less like fishing and more like hunting. You need to know when they eat, what they eat, and tide patterns.

The cast itself needs to be perfectly in line with where the fish can see it, which leaves a very small margin for error. Even if you master all of it, that doesn’t mean the fish has to take it.

Landing a tailing redfish is a difficult accomplishment, one that took Caroline three months to attain.

“I love when we approach the flats in our skiff and see a fish feeding in the distance in that moment. As we pole the boat stealthily, I draw line from my reel, stand on the bow of the boat, and cast my fly into a position where the fish will see it. My heart races whether I land the fish or not.”

Fishing has a way of allowing the angler to experi-

JEANINE DEVANEY ••• A supporter and participant of Mecklenburg Hounds, Jeanine Devaney is Master Of The Hunt. She and the Charlotte organization work hard to keep the tradition of fox hunting alive in our region. The history and heritage of the sport is on display with rides throughout the fall and winter and fun is had by riders and spectators alike.

Elizabeth LAnier ••• Lanier’s love of shooting was born on an international pheasant hunting adventure with her husband. After that trip she began looking for other like minded women that loved shooting activities and the outdoors as much as she did. G.R.I.T.S. or Girls Really Into Shooting was born. Now with over 100 members, G.R.I.T.S. meets once a month to enjoy shooting together, encourage one another, and share their passion for the sport. Elizabeth Lanier is a Level III NSCA shooting instructor, champion for women in shooting sports and owner of Lanier Shooting Sports in Virginia.

112 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

ence things in nature that they have never experienced or see things from a perspective that they have never imagined. Caroline has had the opportunity to fish all over the world and she shows no sign of stopping, with her next adventure taking her to the Bahamas.

“I look at the wind differently. It makes casting more difficult as it howls. Fly fishing has allowed me to see wildlife and colors in nature I never knew existed.”

Now teaching fly classes at the Charleston Angler, Caroline encourages people, especially women, to stop dreaming about fly fishing and to simply start fishing.

“All you need is a desire to learn and you can, no matter your age or athletic ability. If anything gets in your way, it’s yourself.”

Sign up for a class with Caroline by visiting thecharlestonangler.com or schedule a guided trip at flyrightcharters.com.

Dirt Divas ••• Dirt Divas is a women’s mountain biking club located here in Charlotte created by women for women. Their mission is to organize group rides and events and help female riders find other compatible riders with similar skill levels who like to ride trails in and around Charlotte.

They also do their part to conserve the natural resources by organizing regular trail maintenance initiatives.

Kelsey Briggs ••• Kelsey Briggs is an event rider and horse trainer based in Charlotte. She has quickly established herself as one of the regions most promising up-andcoming eventists at the intermediate level (along with the help of her 9 year old gelding, The Gentleman Pirate).

She has garnered a great reputation as a trainer, teaching young riders, retraining off the track thoroughbreds, and rehabilitating “problem” horses.

Kelsey accepts horses in training at her beautiful South Charlotte farm and also offers lessons.

Amy RITchie ••• At the ripe old age of 27, it’s hard to believe that Amy Ritchie already has 13 years of professional taxidermy under her belt and a laundry list of awards and accolades that have come along the way. Amy specializes in custom mammal taxidermy, creating her unique artwork in a studio space in Statesville. What started off as a fascination and hobby of tanning hides, has now turned into a complex art form and Amy has become one of the most decorated and well respected taxidermists in the country.

Sloan & Samantha Williams ••• Sloan and Samantha of S&S Outdoors combined their love for hunting and the outdoors with their love for dogs. Based in Mooresville, S&S offers retriever and gun dog training, upland training, HRC training, obedience, boarding, puppy socialization as well as Labrador Retriever breeding. The award-winning sisters are some of the best dog trainers in the area and are eager to meet your pup and get them ready for the hunt.

AMY RITCHIE Taxidermist

JEANINE DEVANEY Master Of The Hunt

SPONSOR INDEX Please support our sponsors and let them know you saw them in this issue of QCExclusive Magazine.

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Ty bob Chapman crowley

114 • qcexclusive.com • oct/nov 2014

Pavillion ..................................................................60 Piedmont Row ...................................................71 Pink Hanger .........................................................38 Premier Sotheby’s ...............................................8 Premiere Home Theatre ...............................40 Providence Plastic Surgery ..........................14 Reid’s Fine Foods ..............................................69 ReMax Exclusive ..................................................4 ReSalon .................................................................34 Sally’s Optical......................................................83 Scarlett Boutique ..............................................38 Shain Gallery .......................................................43 Shock Top ..............................................................62 Stickley Audi & Co. ...........................................85 TaylorRichards&Conger..............................26 The Fork Farm .....................................................30 The Sporting Gent ...........................................51 The Virginian .......................................................12 Williams Knife Co. .............................................24 Windsor Jewelers ...........................................23 To advertise in QCExclusive contact qcexclusive@gmail. com or call 704.219.9088

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