bookshelf

February books

NOTABLE NEW RELEASES

compiled by Sally Brewster

The Christie Affair, by Nina de Gramont

The Christie Affair is riveting reimagining of actual events in the life of Agatha Christie on her mysterious, 11-day disappearance in December 1926, shortly after Christie’s husband revealed he was having an affair and wanted a divorce. The story is narrated by Nan O’Dea, the ‘other woman.’ She disappears around the same time as Christie, and the two end up becoming friends of a sort. Christie eventually returns home, but her life — and Nan’s — have changed dramatically.

The Nineties: A Book, by Chuck Klosterman

It was long ago, but not as long as it seems: The Berlin Wall fell and the Twin Towers collapsed. In between, one presidential election was allegedly decided by Ross Perot while another was plausibly decided by Ralph Nader. In the beginning, almost every name and address was listed in a phone book, and everyone answered their landlines because you didn’t know who it was. By the end, exposing someone’s address was an act of emotional violence, and nobody picked up their cell phone if they didn’t know who was calling. The ’90s brought about a revolution in the human condition we’re still groping to understand. Chuck Klosterman makes a home in all of it: the film, the music, the sports, the TV, the politics, the changes regarding race and class and sexuality, the yin yang of Oprah and Alan Greenspan.

Mercy Street, by Jennifer Haigh

For almost a decade, Claudia has counseled patients at Mercy Street, a clinic in the heart of the city. The work is consuming — the unending dramas of women in crisis. For its patients, Mercy Street offers more than health care. For many, it is a second chance, but outside the clinic, the reality is different. Anonymous threats are frequent. A small, determined group of anti-abortion demonstrators appears each morning at its door. As the protests intensify, fear creeps into Claudia’s days, a humming anxiety she manages with frequent visits to Timmy, an affable pot dealer who is dealing with his own existential crisis. At Timmy’s, she encounters a random assortment of customers, including Anthony, a lost soul who spends most of his life online, chatting with the mysterious Excelsior11 — the screenname of Victor Prine, an anti-abortion crusader who has set his sights on Mercy Street and is ready to risk it all for his beliefs.

Don’t Cry For Me, by Daniel Black

As Jacob lies dying, he begins to write a letter to his only son, Isaac. They have not met or spoken in many years, and there are things that Isaac must know: Stories about his ancestral legacy in rural Arkansas that extend back to slavery. Secrets from Jacob’s tumultuous relationship with Isaac’s mother and the shame he carries from the dissolution of their family. Tragedies that informed Jacob’s role as a father and his reaction to Isaac’s being gay. But most of all, Jacob must share with Isaac the unspoken truths that reside in his heart. He must give voice to the trauma that Isaac has inherited. And he must create a space for the two to find peace. SP

Sally Brewster is the proprietor of Park Road Books at 4139 Park Rd. parkroadbooks.com

In the spirit of this month’s romantic holiday, we asked some Queen City couples to share their love stories: How did they meet? Was there a “wow” moment or special gesture that stands out? You get the idea. Reading their love stories made us smile, even laugh out loud, in some cases. In all, there’s a common thread of mutual admiration and respect. What’s not to love about that?

storiesLove

by Sharon Smith

photographs by Richard Israel

It started with a campfire conversation

Miracle & James Yoder

Miracle: It was a Friday afternoon on 4/20. I was in overalls, and James had bleach blond hair. We were both camping out on the beach at Hunting Island State Park in South Carolina with siblings and friends. It was a beautiful night, and we started talking around a campfire. The conversation got deep (as it would with an Aquarius and a Gemini). I still remember him leaning up against a tree with the fire embers floating around us. We talked a lot and exchanged emails and phone numbers, and said we would keep in touch. We did. That summer I came up to Charlotte for a concert over the Fourth of July weekend, Uncle Sam’s Jam with Third Eye Blind and Billy Idol. James and I went together. Interestingly enough, it was held in the parking lot where, 10 years later, our 7th Street uptown location would be born. I don’t know that there were any particular “aha” moments, but I do know we have chosen each other over and over the past 20 years. Three kids and six-plus locations later, we are still choosing each other. That is the best way to keep love alive.

“It was love at first Samsonite.”

Page & Jake Fehling

Jake: OK, I’ll go first… In 2005, I moved to Hoboken, N.J., knowing only a few people. One of those people was Lindsay Shookus. After we connected in March of that year, Lindsay was convinced I was perfect for her roommate, Page. We were all UNC grads, so a couple of weeks later, Lindsay arranged for me and Page to meet at an alumni event in Manhattan. At the event, Page and I faintly recognized each other — I thought, “Isn’t that the girl that always wore baggy sweatsuits in J-21?”

Page: OK, my turn… and I thought, “Isn’t that the goofy kid that always puts Sun-In in his hair?” We said hello and then immediately connected over… Dumb and Dumber movie quotes. It was love at first Samsonite. About an hour into the event, my girl Lindsay walked up, surprised to see us chatting away. “I see the two of you have already met!” We looked at each other — not realizing that we were already hitting it off with the person we were being set up with.

Jake: OK, I’ll bring us home... Nine months later, we were engaged, and six months after that, on a blustery Labor Day weekend in 2006, we were married.

Page: Lloyd Christmas would have been proud.

Jake: You had to get the last word, didn’t you?

Page is a speaker and professional development facilitator. Jake is vice president of marketing at Movement Mortgage. Page and Jake also co-host the “Date Night with Jake and Page” podcast and co-authored a book, Holy Crap, We’re Pregnant.

Starting out as study partners

Drs. Joya and Drew Lyons

Joya: We met circa-2004 at an enrichment program for students who were interested in dentistry. Out of the hundreds of students that attended the program, we were somehow put into the same group of three to practice our interview skills. Other than first-name introductions and sneaking stares of admiration toward one another, nothing more came from that day.

Drew: The “wow” moment that stuck with me was that she’s the only person I can remember everything about from the first time we met. Everything from what Joya was wearing, to how her hair was that day and her overall presence. We both thought we would likely never cross paths again. To our surprise, we did meet again two years later during our first day of dental school at Meharry Medical College. We quickly recognized each other and became immediate friends, study partners — then the rest is history.

Joya and Drew own Smile Savvy Cosmetic Dentistry.

Designing life together

Regina & Robin Reaves

Robin: Regina and I met working in a home design store when we were in college. I remember leaving my department every morning to find her and have a quick conversation before the store opened. She had a quiet confidence about her that was very attractive and made me want to learn more about her.

Regina: Robin was the “new guy” on the team, and it was pretty obvious that he liked me. We randomly ran into each other at the apartments we stayed in and played a quick pickup basketball game, one-on-one. I beat him — he won a date!

Robin: We always enjoyed spending time together and often joked about starting our own business. It’s surreal to see that we have been married for 13 years, have two amazing daughters and are owners of a thriving interior-design business. Our marriage and business relationship intertwines often. I think that’s part of the secret sauce that makes us successful. To be able to do what you love, with the person you love, is a blessing.

Regina and Robin are the owners of R&R Interior Design 365.

“My family got it wrong…”

Becky & Tony Santoro

Becky: “People first. Coffee Always” is Enderly Coffee’s motto, and for us it’s a love letter to each other, our family and community, too. In 2004 at Michigan State University we met over coffee and haven’t stopped drinking it together ever since. But not everyone agreed that we were destined to be a couple. In fact, when I first introduced Tony to my parents and sisters they sat me down afterward and said, “Great guy, but I don’t think he’s into you.” Two weeks later, over coffee of course, Tony asked me on our first official date, and in the summer of 2006 we were married. Soon after that, we moved from Michigan to the west side of Charlotte. We still reside in Enderly Park and have four children ages 10, 8, 6 and 4. We’ve been brewing up a great cup of coffee together every single day for over 15 years, so it’s safe to say that my family got it wrong on that one!

Becky and Tony own Enderly Coffee Co. Becky is also the co-founder and director of programs and development for Foster Village Charlotte.

They matched on the first date

Wendy & Jay Bilas

Wendy: You could say our love tipped off on the floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Jay was a Duke basketball player and I was a cheerleader. We exchanged some flirty glances freshman season, but we didn’t have our first date until March 1983 at a campus formal. I borrowed my roommate’s pink dress, and he showed up in a pink dress shirt. We knew that night we were a perfect match. Thirty-nine years later, we still are, and my heart still skips a beat every time I look at him. He was, is, and always will be my whole world, and I cannot believe I got lucky enough to call him mine.

Jay: I first saw Wendy’s picture in a magazine. She was so beautiful. When it hit me that we went to the same school, I was determined to meet her. On our first date, I was hooked. I knew I was supposed to play it cool following our date, but I couldn’t help myself. I called her the very next day, and asked her out the next night. From there, she was the one for me. I soon learned she was not only stunningly beautiful, but she was the kindest, sweetest, most thoughtful person I had ever met. Since we’ve been married, I have found her to be even more. She is fiercely loyal to and protective of family, and completely immersed in and totally aware of her environment and community. Nobody I know is more comfortable in her own skin than Wendy. She has always been the one. Now, more than ever. I’m lucky I thumbed through that magazine.

Jay is an ESPN basketball analyst and lawyer. Wendy is an artist.

Writing their own story

Sarah Blake Morgan & Nick Ochsner

Nick: We first met working at rival TV stations in Lubbock, Texas, and hated each other. Naturally, we ended up married. The initial spark was lit while we covered the trial of a now-convicted terrorist who was a student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. The trial was out of town in Amarillo, and we were the only two local reporters sent up the road to cover the entire case. That’s when we each discovered the other wasn’t half bad. A friendship turned into a relationship and, as the old saying goes, when you know, you know.

To the surprise of many, especially Sarah Blake’s mom, we got engaged just six months after we started dating; I popped the question on my birthday, while we sat on the lawn of a John Mayer concert. Reporting jobs at WBTV eventually brought us to Charlotte, where we’ve lived since 2014 with our two dogs, Murrow (adopted in Lubbock), and Zara (brought to the U.S. from an animal rescue in Afghanistan).

Sarah Blake is a journalist at the Associated Press and an officer candidate in the U.S. Army Reserve. Nick is chief investigative reporter at WBTV.

Chasing different dreams, together

Jen Hill & Vince Giancarlo

Jen: In 2008, Vince came to Charlotte to attend Johnson & Wales University. I moved to Charlotte in 2011 to escape corporate life in Raleigh. We first met in 2012 through mutual friends. In 2015, our paths crossed once again and our relationship began. We had each met our match when it came to passion in our careers. At that time, Vince was running prominent kitchens, and I had just begun to make strides in my art career. With our entrepreneurial energies, we were able to motivate and encourage each other to chase our dreams. We had an opportunity to spend six months in Los Angeles while each of us worked alongside our creative role models.

When we returned to Charlotte, our dreams fell into place. I started doing my art full time and Vince opened his own restaurant. Then the pandemic came. Our plans were halted, but God had a mysterious way, or maybe a sense of humor, when lining things up. We found out we were pregnant one week before the world shut down. The adversity and our pregnancy brought us closer together while I grew bigger, then Hendrix Hill Giancarlo arrived on Dec. 6, 2020, closing out the year with a bang.

Vince is an executive chef. Jen is an artist.

Beyond the honeymoon

Kelly & Thomas Davis

Kelly: Thomas and I have been married 14 years this March. We have four kids, and we thought the honeymoon phase would last forever — boy, were we wrong! From diapers to choosing colleges and from living the crazy NFL Life to being newly retired, it became tough to find or even want time to dedicate to us. One thing that remained the same is how Thomas manages to still show me love in my love languages by the help he gives me with the kids and family. When I’ve had a long day, no matter how tired or sore he feels, he still manages to give me personal foot and back massages! These simple things show me he cares, appreciates and loves me.

Thomas: What I love about Kelly is she is so dedicated, determined, driven and loving. When I am at my worst, I know that she is still going to love me. Even when I don’t show it, I love how she is always trying to help me. Not being on the field anymore makes you need a lot of support, and Kelly loves me through that which has made our relationship even stronger.

Kelly is a licensed mediator, co-owner of Skye Salon Suites and executive director of the Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation. Thomas is a retired NFL player, retired player coordinator for NFL Legends and founder of the Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation.

College sweethearts doing life together

Dominique & Coty Sensabaugh

Dominique: Our love story is simple. Two stubborn kids, madly in love, determined and committed to fighting through life’s most challenging battles together. My husband Coty and I met at Clemson University in 2008. I was a freshman, and I vividly remember the day this confident and handsome guy walked up to me, flashing a beautiful smile. From the moment we met, I felt a spark, a powerful connection, and still to this day, we love each other deeply.

We have done life together for 14 years, and as college sweethearts, we grew up together. Now, we have the honor of raising three beautiful children, Jamaar (4), Journei (2) and Justice (1), to be prolific leaders and kind human beings. Throughout Coty’s career in the NFL, we have seen insurmountable highs and devastating lows, but God has allowed us to serve as a landing pad for each other throughout our journey. Now that he is retired from the league, we genuinely enjoy the simple treasures of life — spending quality time with each other and our children.

Relationships can be complicated, and even if you love someone, no union is immune from experiencing hardship. Throughout our marriage, we have encountered sadness, stress, frustration, anger and loneliness. However, within this powerful union, with my soulmate, we have come to know forgiveness, joy, triumph, peace and a love so deep it suffocates yet simultaneously gives life. Every day, my perfectly imperfect marriage pours true love into my heart, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Coty is a retired NFL player, philanthropist and real estate investor. Dominique is a philanthropist and chief curator of Dominique Sensabaugh Lifestyle Brand.

Opposites attract

Dr. Katie Passaretti and Ryan Sullivan

A Match made in… well…. Match.

We met online, as many professionals do these days, and we’re convinced our paths would never have crossed otherwise — unless Ryan wound up in the hospital with an infectious disease. (Match was far preferable.) We were both hesitant about online dating and exchanged a lot of emails getting to know each other before we met in person. Despite completely different jobs and interests, we hit it off right away. On our first date, we closed a restaurant and then a bar, which sounds impressive, until you learn both places closed at 10 p.m.

Fast forward nine years full of laughter, love and (adorable) shared furballs, and we are still going strong. A few standout memories include recording our annual “Sullaretti” holiday videos, where we mangle seasonal favorite songs on our guitars, an amazing marriage proposal on a private sunset cruise in Aruba, a Valentine’s Day reenactment of the Love Actually “To me, you are perfect” poster board scene recorded on our Ring video doorbell, and surviving our first — and hopefully last — pandemic together. More important are all the ways we seek to make each other laugh and to show one another love and respect every day.

Katie is vice president, enterprise chief epidemiologist at Atrium Health. Ryan is managing director, applied insights at Hartford Funds.

Date night with Mr. Death

Gavin Edwards & Jen Sudul Edwards

When we agreed to go out on an official first date, we were both so excited that we weren’t thinking straight — that’s how we decided that we would go see the movie Mr. Death. We were both fans of the director, Errol Morris, but we didn’t consider how the subject matter of this documentary (a man who specialized in designing execution machines for American prisons and then became a Holocaust denier) might not be so romantic.

Not only was the subject matter dark, but the audience had a weird vibe, especially the guy one row behind us who talked back to the screen about what life was really like in prison. You could say that the fact that we enjoyed it anyway showed we were a good match — but honestly, we were so crazy for each other, it didn’t matter what movie we saw.

When we got married, our wedding announcement in The New York Times mentioned this unusual first date. A few weeks later, we got a package from Errol Morris: It contained an autographed DVD of Mr. Death and a note saying how glad he was that his movie brought us together.

Jen is chief curator and curator of contemporary art at The Mint Museum. Gavin is a public speaker and a New York Times bestselling author.

Unexpected happiness

Liz Hilliard & Lee Kennelly

Liz: You might be surprised where you find love. For us, it was right in front of our eyes, but we were friends, women, heterosexual — oh, and employer and employee! Wait, one more thing: I’m 26 years older than Lee. So that sounds reasonable, right? Initially, I went on a rampage of denial, citing all the very solid facts about why this relationship should not, would not go forward. But Lee was persistent, yes Lee! Sweet, rule-following, sorority-president, never-got-in-trouble-with-anyone Lee. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but instead, our relationship has become the recipe for a happiness that I never knew existed. Every day is a new “wow” moment for me. I have so much respect for the both of us for finding the courage to act on something that seemed so far out of reach. Letting go of any preconceived notions about what love should be or should look like allowed us to finally find ourselves and the joy and happiness we never expected.

Liz is the creator and owner of Hilliard Studio Method. Lee is director of training at HSM.

Artist Abel Jackson painted the mural between the Mecklenburg Investment Co. building and Grace church in 2019.

Uptown collisions

HISTORY, COMMERCE AND CULTURE CONVERGE AT UPTOWN’S BROOKLYN COLLECTIVE.

by Michael J. Solender

photographs by Justin Driscoll

When Charlotte entrepreneur and consultant Jason Wolf began his search for a commercial real estate investment several years ago, he didn’t set out to create a hotbed for creative collaboration, neighborhood development and economic mobility. Yet nearly eight years later, Wolf’s development foray is blossoming into the nonprofit Brooklyn Collective, an entrepreneurial, artistic and cultural hub spawning a creative rebirth in the heart of uptown’s Second Ward.

Wolf closed on his purchase of three contiguous Second Ward properties in 2014, including the historic Grace A.M.E. Zion Church built in 1902 and the Mecklenburg Investment Company building (M.I.C.) built in 1922, along with the more contemporary 229 South Brevard building.

“I didn’t know the backstory of the properties or the neighborhood,” Wolf says. “I was drawn to the architecture and the sense that this corner of uptown had great potential as a [catalyst] for growth. When I learned what was accomplished here, I became energized at the prospect of taking a part of Charlotte and leveraging it intentionally for purposes to promote inclusivity and entrepreneurial activity.”

Today, the space includes an art gallery, a performing-arts venue and an entrepreneurial hub housing more than a dozen small businesses. But to understand the philosophy behind Brooklyn Collective, it’s important to understand the area’s history.

Poet and writer Boris “Bluz” Rogers, director of creative engagement at Blumenthal Performing Arts, came up with the idea of using the former Grace church sanctuary as a performance space for acoustic concerts.

Pedigreed space

The properties stand at what was, a century ago, the core of Charlotte’s thriving Black community known as Brooklyn. Several blocks here were home to thousands of Black residents, including some of the city’s most influential Black leaders.

“The Brooklyn name began to come into popular use around the turn of the 20th century,” says Willie Griffin, staff historian at the Levine Museum of the New South. “Most of the African Americans who came to Charlotte after slavery found refuge in what was then called ‘log town’ — low-lying, undesirable land where they began to build log homes. Many African American communities throughout the South began to name themselves after Brooklyn, New York, which had a long history of free African Americans living there and looked to become recognized as a borough of New York City.” Also contributing to the Brooklyn moniker, Griffin says,

Monique and Kevin Douglas own CBK Branding and Consulting, which operates out of Studio 229 on Brevard. Monique is the Brooklyn Collective’s director of community engagement.

Entrepreneur Jason Wolf, right, with Justin Ellis, an artist resident at Brooklyn Collective.

“There’s an unwritten story of what brings us all to this place. That is the idea to set aside personal agendas to create impact together.” — Lindsey Braciale, founder and CEO of Advocations

was the relocation of the A.M.E Zion headquarters from Brooklyn to Charlotte in the late 19th century.

The area was mostly razed in the 1960s, and nearly 1,500 buildings were demolished. A 17-acre redevelopment is planned nearby, including residential, office, retail and green space.

While Wolf admits he’s not a commercial real estate developer, he says he’s looking at the “long game” vision of how the nonprofit collective can contribute to the city and help build community. “From day one I’ve envisioned the collective as a place where people come in and have collisions — where conversation, idea exchange, collaboration and inspiration happen.”

To that end, he has transformed the M.I.C. building into a hub for entrepreneurs, artists and makers. M.I.C.’s main-floor art gallery, coffee and cocktail bar offer natural convening space. Studio 229, a photography and videography studio, bar, and event space, has become a magnet for local creatives. Grace A.M.E. Zion Church has been made over into a boutique performance space managed by community partner Blumenthal Performing Arts. Hosted events with artists and other community partners such as the Levine Museum of the New South and SOZO Gallery make for vibrant collisions throughout the Collective’s space.

Monique Douglas and her husband, Kevin, own CBK Branding & Consulting, which operates out of Studio 229 on Brevard. Monique serves on the Brooklyn Collective’s board and is the non-

profit’s director of community engagement.

“The Brooklyn Collective is a group of like-minded individuals who have come together from diverse backgrounds and situations with the mission of inclusivity, culture and collaboration,” says Douglas, who notes somewhat ironically the pandemic played a large role in activating the space and extending the collective’s outreach. “What unfolded early on in the pandemic was that many venues where people gathered for live music were closing,” Douglas says. “Local musicians expressed concern regarding the lack of opportunities to play. We opened our doors and had musicians live stream virtual concerts, including singer-songwriter Gena Chambers, musician El Lambert and others.”

“We opened at no charge for creatives to shoot [photography-videography] using our infinity wall to help them get their projects done,” Douglas says. The resulting buzz and goodwill surrounding Studio 229 and the Brooklyn Collective inspired local artists and enthusiasts to further explore the destination as lockdown requirements eased.

“From the beginning, I saw art and creatives playing a huge role in what we are looking to achieve here,” says Wolf, who holds new art installations in the gallery space quarterly. Last fall, Wolf teamed with Dear Frontline, a national group of artists creating work to honor and recognize essential workers during the pandemic, hosting a special exhibition and series of receptions for Charlotte frontline workers. Teams from different medical facilities were toasted with champagne receptions in their honor. “I underestimated the impact and joy it brought people,” Wolf says. “It was an opportunity for them to exhale and simply relax.”

A key supporter of the Brooklyn Collective’s visual arts programming is SOZO Gallery’s Hannah Blanton. In 2017, About Face CLT, a nonprofit founded by Blanton and artist Scott Gardner, brought the massive Wall of Compassion, an art installation made from 2,500 Blessing Boxes symbolizing over 100,000 acts of kindness by the community, to Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, helping activate the space for the Brooklyn Collective. SOZO also curated the Collective’s inaugural gallery show in spring 2020. “SOZO is and has always been about connection and inspiring others,” says Blanton, the gallery’s owner and director. “We’ve always focused on relationships, community and art. Art can facilitate thoughtful conversation and help people get to know one another.”

Brooklyn Grace

Architecturally, the historic Grace A.M.E. Zion Church is the Brooklyn Collective’s crown jewel. The Grace, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008, is showcased by a front facade with crenellated towers and matching Gothic arched entrances. Stunning stained glass windows bathe the former sanctuary, now one of the city’s most unique performance spaces, in kaleidoscopic multicolored hues. The windows depict the likeness and names of many of Charlotte’s early Black leaders.

“Many of us realize we need to find better ways to acknowledge the heritage of this neighborhood,” says Tom Gabbard, president and CEO of Blumenthal Performing Arts. “What the Brooklyn Collective is doing to continue to tell that story is important.” Upon an initial site visit to the Collective, Gabbard immediately saw how BPA could help with its mission. “We saw a genuine opportunity to activate the space. We leaned into this and said, ‘How can we help you succeed here by bringing activity.’ Even during the pandemic when we had gathering limitations of 25 people, we began doing concerts. Poet and writer Boris ‘Bluz’ Rogers, BPA’s director of creative engagement, came up with a programming concept called Acoustic Grace and began doing acoustic concerts there, along with writer workshops and other performances.”

BPA has helped bring facilities expertise and has supported the Collective with donated time and programming costs, Gabbard says. “With Spirit Square closing down [due to a long-scheduled remodel], we knew there would be quite a few groups needing to find alternative space,” Gabbard says. “For some groups we’ve seen, the Grace is a good alternative, and many demonstrate interest in the heritage of what the site represents.”

Beyond transactional relationships

Lindsey Braciale, founder and CEO of Advocations, a Charlottebased organization that helps companies hire people with disabilities, was the first tenant Wolf brought into the Collective under its present structure in 2018. She serves on the Collective’s board of directors and is excited by the relationships that are beyond transactional and encourage collaboration between groups that might not otherwise have opportunities to work together.

“I met Jason and learned about his vision for the space and realized how it aligned with what our values represent,” Braciale says. “It seemed right to be here. There’s an unwritten story of what brings us all to this place. That is the idea to set aside personal agendas to create impact together.” Having people with disabilities as part of the discussion is affirming, she says. “We often stop [engaging] at the superficial when dealing with others. Being around people [with differences] every day in a way that is more than just a wave and a nod, where we get to know each other on a personal level, allows us to grow individually and professionally outside of the space itself.” SP

Centennial celebration

To honor the 100-year anniversary of the M.I.C. building in 2022, owner Jason Wolf has a yearlong celebration planned. A special exhibition curated by Charles Edward Williams, a contemporary artist from Georgetown, S.C., is scheduled for this spring. Wolf commissioned Williams to create the Collective’s history exhibit, a mixed-media installation in the lobby of the M.I.C. building that shares the backstory of the space, its founders and the Brooklyn neighborhood. “Charles is working with several artists and having them create original art that showcases the history here and what Brooklyn represents,” Wolf says. “We’ll also be activating all the space here throughout 2022 in celebration and look to include special performances at the Grace to give people a taste of the power of community found here.”

Light & aerie

A COUPLE TRADES THEIR LONGTIME FAMILY HOME IN SOUTHPARK FOR A MAINTENANCE-FREE APARTMENT WITH SWEEPING VIEWS.

by Cathy Martin • photos by Dustin Peck

When Harold Mull retired last year after a 54-year career in the textile industry, he and his wife, Joy, knew they’d be spending more time at their family’s mountain house near Blowing Rock. After living in Morrocroft Estates for 28 years, the couple, who have two older children, also were ready to downsize.

“It was a bigger house than we needed,” Harold says of the couple’s 6,000-square-foot Morrocroft home, which they started building in 1991. Still, the empty nesters weren’t quite ready to say goodbye to Charlotte and the SouthPark neighborhood where they’d been rooted for so long. And since they’d be spending less time in Charlotte and more time in the mountains, the couple wanted a home with minimal upkeep. The search ended when they found a two-bedroom, 10th-floor apartment at Element SouthPark with panoramic views of the city and a clean, modern aesthetic.

Since the design of the Element is streamlined and contemporary, the Mulls wanted the decor to match. To accomplish this, they turned to Lisa Britt and Hadley Quisenberry, the mother-daughter design duo at West Trade Interiors.

“Our Morrocroft house was very traditional,” Harold says. “We had traveled a lot over the years and had collected antiques from France and England.” After purchasing their mountain cottage in 2016, they had begun moving keepsakes and antique pieces there, allowing the designers to start with a blank slate.

“When they were ready to move, they really wanted a different look,” Britt says. And with floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of the city and treeline, the designers had a magnificent backdrop around which to work.

“It was important to the client that none of the décor take away from the sweeping views, so we did minimize artwork and window coverings as well as our typical use of color to achieve that,” Quisenberry says.

One exception is the antique mirror Joy wanted to keep as a focal point in the entry hall, where it hangs above a demi-lune cabinet by Century from A. Hoke Ltd. “Everything else is new or repurposed,” Quisenberry says.

The living room is centered around a handcrafted banana-bark console from Made Goods that brings warmth and needed storage in the space.

The other elements in the room — including a custom sofa by Charles Stewart, acrylic chairs from Isabella and a Stark rug — are lighter and monochromatic, in a style Quisenberry calls “transitional with a slight bend toward contemporary.”

Since the apartment is a rental, many of the finishes — flooring, countertops and hardware — couldn’t be changed. But the designers were able to install new lighting, including the kitchen island pendants and dining room chandelier from Circa Lighting.

An added perk of leasing the corner-unit apartment is a spacious outdoor living area, which the designers furnished with all-weather lounge chairs and a sofa from Summer Classics.

The Mulls also enjoy other perks at the amenity-rich complex, which include a saltwater pool, lounge area with TVs and pool table, private conference rooms and a TopGolf simulator.

And while the Mulls’ two-bedroom unit lacks space to accommodate overnight visitors, the

The Mulls chose a corner unit on the 10th floor at Element SouthPark, where they can enjoy the panoramic views of the city above the treeline. The furniture on the terrace is from Summer Classics.

Element offers a guest suite that can be reserved for out-of-town guests. Guests and family members have also enjoyed staying at the nearby Hyatt Centric and Canopy hotels, Harold says.

The Mulls say their favorite things about living in their new apartment include the low maintenance, the increasing walkability of the SouthPark area and those stunning 10thfloor views.

“We were really edited and intentional with our selections to let the view speak for itself and allow them to just enjoy their surroundings.” Quisenberry says. SP

The antique mirror in the hall is one of the few pieces the Mulls brought from their previous home. The Century demi-lune cabinet is from A. Hoke Ltd. and the marble lamp is by Arteriors.

David & Kristi Smith

Building a home you will love coming home to

David and Kristi Smith know what it’s like to build your own home. Just four years ago, they did that. And so much more. They got married. Kristi adjusted to a new career in residential real estate. David founded his own company, luxury home builder Barringer Homes. Now, throw in several years of tremendous growth for the company, a baby girl named Campbell, a golden doodle named Connolly (the Uptown spot where the Smiths met), and a chaotic industry hampered by astronomical prices for home-building supplies and monumental material delays, and you get a feeling there’s nothing the couple can’t juggle. “People choose us because of our story,” says Kristi, now Barringer marketing and sales director. “We have gone through what our clients are undertaking,” she says. “We’re a family business that’s with our clients every step of the way, from myself who handles sales in the beginning to David who focuses on the concepts, architecture and vision to the end.” Barringer Homes specializes in luxury homes ranging from $1 million to $3 million in neighborhoods about 10 miles from Charlotte’s center, such as Myers Park, Dilworth and Barclay Downs. They recently built Cambridge Square, a 19-home gated community in Cornelius with only a few left to sell. David’s passion for real estate began long ago, playing Legos as a child and designing home plans with scraps of paper and tape. His experience with flipping homes and lessons learned in land development and funding for builders led him to create Barringer Homes. His talent and expertise, along with Kristi’s industry knowledge and thoughtful approach to planning, ensure clients have a home that makes sense for their lifestyle. “In the past, we used to wonder why builders made certain decisions when designing homes,” David says. “Now we create beautiful ones ourselves that make sense and fit the families we work for.”

Tim & Suzanne Severs

Proven real estate experts dedicated to client success

For Tim and Suzanne Severs – native Charlotteans and high school sweethearts – relationships are the heart of their successful real estate business. Raising their three children here, the husband-wife team has built a business that includes clients from several generations. It’s that loyal clientele, along with referrals, that makes finding the right home for each person so special. “A house is one of the largest investments someone can make,” Suzanne says, “but we believe it’s much more personal than that. The house you select should be about where you want to spend your time and what is reflective of your lifestyle. That is what makes it a home, and we’re in the business of finding you a home.” Matching clients’ lifestyles to the right home and neighborhood is one of Team Severs’ greatest strengths. Tim and Suzanne first worked together at her father’s company during summers home from college. Suzanne became an agent shortly after, with Tim joining her in 2000. Throughout, they’ve had a front-row seat to the many changes and booming growth of the Charlotte region, weathering the inevitable ups and downs of the industry. It’s this experience and knowledge that translates into confident clients whose needs are met. Service is a priority for Team Severs, who offers expertise for any home purchase or sale in the Carolinas. Along with Patty Smith, a licensed agent with the team for more than 20 years, Tim and Suzanne are able to respond quickly to the ever-changing, unique market that so often relies on technology and time. “Each one of us brings individual strengths and talents to our transactions,” Tim says. “But we are all involved in every aspect of the process. We are committed to our clients’ success and satisfaction while always keeping their best interests in mind.”

Taking flight

JUST NORTH OF CHARLOTTE IN STATESVILLE, ADVENTURE-SEEKERS ENJOY THE THRILL OF HOT-AIR BALLOONING.

by Jennings Cool • photographs by Jennings Cool and Seth Roddey

At sunrise and sunset, drivers of trailers hitched to SUVs and pickups with large beds sit and wait for their pilot’s signal while hot-air balloons paint the sky in Iredell County. Pilots use wind navigation and expertise to find a safe landing, steering clear of trees, power lines and roadways, all while communicating where they are headed to their chase crew. A flat, empty patch of grass in a resident’s backyard will work fine.

It’s not an unusual sight in Statesville, which has developed a reputation as the hot-air balloon capital of the East.

Modern hot-air ballooning in the U.S. started in the early 1960s when Ed Yost, a South Dakota manufacturer, fastened a couple of propane tanks to a chair that was attached to a 40-foot-wide balloon. He took his first flight in 1960, eventually earning recognition as the “father of modern hot-air ballooning.” By 1965, hot-air balloons were standardized for Federal Aviation Administration certification, marking a monumental step in recreational ballooning.

Ballooning pioneer and legend Tracy Barnes moved to Charlotte in the late 1960s and founded a manufacturing business called The Balloon Works. In the early 1970s, Barnes moved the operation, now FireFly Balloons, to Iredell County. Barnes hired Statesville native and expert balloonist Bill Meadows as his national sales manager. Meadows had founded a business in December 1969 in Statesville that taught balloon piloting.

In 1974, Meadows founded the National Balloon Rally in Statesville as a reunion for the pilots he trained over the years. That rally, now called the Carolina BalloonFest, has been a highly anticipated event in Iredell County for more than 45 years. It is the secondlongest consecutive hot-air balloon festival in the country, organizers say. (The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico is the longest-running.) About 40,000 people attend the three-day event in October, depending on weather conditions, according to Bud Welch, the festival’s executive director. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit local nonprofits. But ballooning isn’t just a once-a-year event in Statesville.

Floating above the tree line is arguably part of the town’s culture. Residents wear hats, shirts, sweatshirts and other apparel with balloons stitched on them. Pickups with balloon baskets in the beds are frequent sights.

“The ballooning family we fly with most often is really tight. We all take care of each other and support each other,” says Kristie Darling, co-owner of Big Oh! Balloons, which was established in 1981. Darling and her husband, Charles Page, first attended the Statesville balloon rally about 40 years ago. “People would roll out their pickup trucks and put their balloons up in the misty morning. It was magical.” The couple lives in Page’s childhood home, which doubles as their balloon launch pad for Big Oh! Balloons.

Darling counts about 14 active balloon pilots in the region. One is Marc Klinger, who has been flying balloons for 32 years, he says. He and his wife, Ursula, learned to fly in south Florida and started Airtime Balloon Co., offering trips in the Charlotte region year-round. While Ursula doesn’t fly as much anymore, Marc and his crew fly just about every weekend, weather permitting.

Stateville’s year-round temperate climate allows balloonists to fly throughout the year. County roads that connect agricultural, rural areas to towns also make it easy for the pilots’ crews to access them once landed.

Big Oh! Balloons hosted about 75 balloon flights from April to November last year, which tops its average of about 50 per year. Flights range from about $300 to $325 per person, providing what Darling calls a priceless adventure.

“It is beautiful here,” Darling says. “On a really clear day, you can see the skyline of Charlotte and Winston-Salem. You can see Pilot Mountain. You can see the Brushy Mountains. And if you fly just south of Statesville, you can see Lake Norman.” SP

OUT AND ABOUT IN STATESVILLE

Statesville is about a 45-minute drive from Charlotte — it’s a straight shot up Interstate 77 North. While the area is well-known for ballooning, here are a few other local attractions to check out while you’re in the area.

Stay at the Yellow Bow Tie Bed & Breakfast, a circa-1881 Victorian charmer where innkeepers Kevin and Cindy Drako have created a cozy but elegant atmosphere that’s a short walk to downtown shops and cafes.

Sample Southern Distilling Co.’s award-winning bourbons at their modern craft distillery.

Visit local downtown shops including Roots Outdoor NC, which stocks clothing and gear for outdoor adventures.

Enjoy coffee, tea, wine and beer at Lake Mountain Coffee, a two-story coffeehouse and craft-beverage cafe in downtown.

Grab a bite to eat at Broad Street Burger Co.— don’t miss the cheese curds, a local favorite, and the onion rings with their signature wildfire sauce. Other local hangouts include The 220 Cafe (salads, wraps, small plates and more), The Bristol Cafe (brunch benedicts and omelettes, burgers and sandwiches), Davesté Vineyards (in nearby Troutman) and

Red Buffalo Brewing Co.

For more information on Statesville, including a list of companies offering balloon tours, go to visitstatesville.com/outdoors-adventure.

Located in the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center, one of Charlotte’s hidden gems, ROCKSALT Charlotte offers a revolutionary dining experience in the Queen City. The restaurant features a wood-fired grill and an oyster bar, serving up oysters and clams from the Rappahannock Oyster Company and features daily fresh fish and chef’s cut specials.

ROCKSALT seeks out produce, seafood, meats, and other artisanal products from small farmers within close proximity to Charlotte. Sustainable food is the central focus of ROCKSALT’s menu along with a curated selection of local beers, ciders, wines, and spirits, as well as seasonal craft cocktails. Dishes evolve throughout the year to reflect the best of the local market and our innovative chefs. Come experience the mouthwatering flavors of local artisanal farms for yourself.

Tuesday - Friday .................. 4pm – 10pm Saturday ............................ 12pm – 10pm Sunday .............................. 12pm – 9pm

512 Brandywine Rd, Ste 500 Charlotte, NC 28209 704.503.9945 | rocksaltcharlotte.com