44 minute read
well + wise
from July SouthPark 2022
by SouthParkMag
No such thing as perfect
THE RISKS OF KEEPING FLAWLESS STANDARDS
by Juliet Lam Kuehnle
On the surface, perfectionism seems like a good thing. It’s motivating, allowing us to strive to be our best and give our all. What’s so bad about that? Perfectionistic approaches can easily turn negative when we continue to raise our standards for ourselves, making the bar harder to reach. This is simply because perfection is nonexistent, and constantly maintaining flawless standards is unrealistic. Attitudes of perfection fuel a belief that mistakes must not be made and that failure is unacceptable. This way of thinking implies that things are black and white, right or wrong, and that there is only one way. Applying this attitude to a world that is full of gray is a setup to be consistently disappointed, anxious and self-conscious or insecure.
We tend to think of perfectionism as: I must be perfect or I must do this perfectly. It is also driven by the assumption that if we don’t do something the one “right” way, we’ll fail. We assign the meaning of imperfection to be that we’re not good enough and, for many of us, that’s a really daunting, uncomfortable feeling. Because of that feeling, we allow unrealistic pressure to drive us. Perfectionism is so much about avoiding discomfort around the possibility of not being good enough. We must learn to sit with that discomfort and trust ourselves.
Local therapist Carrie Torn, who specializes in helping high achievers who struggle with anxiety and burnout, weighs in: “A piece of perfectionism that we tend to miss is the underlying fear of what other people think of us and a desire for approval. We strive for this impossible ideal of perfection to try and obtain a shield that we think will defend us against feeling judged, criticized or shamed. Our societal obsession with showing the world a ‘perfect’ version of ourselves, such as on social media, is driven by our human longing for connection and to be accepted, loved and praised by others.” Learning to accept ourselves as imperfect, Torn says, can allow us to let go of the weight of others’ opinions.
Meeting this discomfort with self-compassion can be done if we practice slowing down to make room for both logic and emotion. Here are some mantras that may help: • There is no such thing as perfect. • What would I tell a close friend in this situation? • My best is good enough. • I’m okay as I am. • I trust myself to move through this. Juliet spoke with Chayil Johnson, chef de cuisine and educator at Community Matters Cafe. Below are excerpts from their interview, lightly edited.
How did you get started in the culinary industry?
I’m one of six siblings, with two really loving parents. I’m from New Orleans. I played baseball but was a very timid and scared kid. I may have been one of the most talented, but I was terrified. I was playing to not make a mistake. I don’t think I ever [reached] my full potential because I was always afraid. I was a perfectionist and overthinker. I eventually stopped playing baseball and started cooking more
seriously. I started at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, in the cooking program funded by Emeril Lagasse, when I was 11. I randomly tried out for the culinary program and absolutely fell in love with it.
Perfectionism comes with so much anxiety. Cooking is also very creative and subjective, but it sounds like you were able to find permission to do it and feel okay in that process, unlike on the field where it felt like pressure.
I’ve thought a lot about why I didn’t stick with baseball. The biggest thing was that cooking was the first extracurricular thing I did where I was not afraid to fail. If I had a bad day in the kitchen, I would say, you know what, “there’s always tomorrow.” On the field, I would dwell on a bad day and sit in it with so much guilt, thinking I let people down.
As you were finding your confidence in that world, what was your mental health like?
I was a happy-go-lucky kid under 13, and then I started to take things more seriously and I had to be the best. I’m very competitive, primarily with myself. My attitude was if I’m not making myself better every day then what’s the point of me doing this? I was so serious. I look back and think, younger Chayil needs to chill out a bit.
I’m exhausted hearing your rigid schedule as a teen! Did you burn out?
No, I thrived in that discipline. I would agree that it’s rigid. When things start falling out of structure for me, the world feels like it’s falling apart, I feel out of balance.
For people who are wired as perfectionists, being out of control is really anxiety-provoking. What does 24-year-old Chayil want to say to 13-year-old Chayil?
Relax man, you’re doing good. When I was younger, I thought I was doing a lot worse than I was, so I thought I was getting behind everybody else and needed to catch up. I was my own worst critic. I looked at it so negatively when I was younger. I was so self-deprecating. You have to speak positivity and find room for spontaneity and mistakes. SP
Juliet Kuehnle is the owner and a therapist at Sun Counseling and Wellness. The full interview of Kuehnle’s “Who You Callin’ Crazy?!” interview featuring Chayil Johnson can be found on Instagram @ yepigototherapy or wherever you stream podcasts.
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It’s a d g’s life
DOGGIE DAY CARE IS BOOMING ACROSS CHARLOTTE: CHANGING TRENDS AND AN UPTICK IN PET OWNERSHIP HAVE MADE IT HARDER THAN EVER TO FIND A COVETED SPOT FOR YOUR PUP.
by Katie Toussaint Thurston
Once a week, I drive my 2-year-old — dog, that is — to day care at The Barker Lounge. It might seem absurd in an era when people are paying rent-like sums of money to enroll their human children in day care. But I’m not paying rentlike sums — doggie day care is about $30 to $35 per day, depending on the location and packages available.
I’m also not an outlier. To accommodate dog-parent demands, there are now more than 20 dog day-care establishments across Charlotte. Certain businesses are regularly at capacity with their day-care programs, from The Barker Lounge, with locations in MoRa and Montford, to Skiptown in South End, with its 150-dog limit. The doggie day-care business is booming.
A shift in pet parenting is contributing to the trend. A 2020 survey showed that 61% of American pet owners are willing to spend the same amount of money or more on their pets’ wellness compared to their own. It makes sense, considering 72% of Americans now consider pets to be family members, according to a 2018 study by EY-Parthenon.
Trends also show that people are having kids later in life and both partners in more than half of U.S. households are working.
“You have all of these market trends that have led to support getting a dog and treating that dog like your own blood child,” says Meggie Williams, founder and CEO of Skiptown, which also offers boarding and full-service grooming.
That’s what inspired her to get into the dog day-care business, starting with a dog-walking company, originally called Skipper. “Both my husband and I are working professionals. We work outside of the home, we have two dogs that we love as our children and we couldn’t find services that we felt could accommodate their needs,” she says. “We learned quickly that this was not just our
Cocktails at Skiptown
problem in Charlotte, but that it was a nationwide problem.”
Williams opened Skiptown in summer 2020 and designed it as a dog-focused playland. The space features indoor and outdoor play areas, an agility course and a splash pad. Depending on a dog’s needs, two-thirds of their time at Skiptown day care is spent in playtime, with a rotation of indoor play, outdoor play and rest. There’s also a bar with beer and cocktails for pet owners who bring their pups to play in the park area after work and on weekends.
Rather than leave their dogs cooped up inside (and perhaps destroying the house) during the workday, more and more dog parents want their fur babies to get human attention, to enjoy playtime with other pups and to get exercise.
I started taking Murray, my Great Pyrenees, to day care after my husband and I rescued him during Covid. Unlike our first dog, he was an anxious stray who tore up the house when we left him at home, no matter how much we tried to wear him out. A romp at day care exhausts him — and has helped make him a happier, calmer pup.
I’m not the only one who appreciates those effects. Allie Schwartz, a Skiptown dog parent, says, “I started taking Sully to day care because I thought it would be a good way for me to make sure he wasn’t cooped up in the house all day while I’m at work, and to help him become socialized and used to being taken care of by someone other than me. I love that after being at day care he’s tired and usually more relaxed, which allows me to get more done after work.”
Mitch Nodzak wanted to socialize his pup, Fern, in as many ways as possible, even though she was born during Covid. After she graduated from an enrichment-training class that was mixed with play, he and his wife started taking her to The Barker Lounge.
“I appreciated that most places test new dogs for temperament, so I could be assured that she would be safe,” Nodzak says. “Nowadays, she’s the — and I’m completely unbiased here — best pup in the world. She loves every person and dog she meets, and I credit the experiences she’s had at day care for helping with that.”
I like to remind Murray that he’s privileged. But it goes beyond pet-parent demand. Capacity limits also justify the opening of more dog day-care locations in Charlotte. Barker Lounge co-owner Caitlin Owens started as a customer before buying the business with her husband, Russ, in 2017. “I brought my dog to the
Skiptown opened in 2020 as a dogfocused playland.
The author, Katie Thurston, gets Murray leashed up and ready for a day at The Barker Lounge.
Montford location, and I could never get in,” she says. “Once we took over, the goal was really to open that second spot, to open the valve, to let our customers who can’t get in have another location.”
They opened The Barker Lounge on Monroe Road as a family-owned extension of the small franchise in 2018. As of summer 2022, both locations are regularly at capacity for day-care bookings, often days or weeks in advance. Safety is a core reason.
“The business model is not to get in as many dogs as you possibly can,” Owens says. “Our business model, the franchise business model, is all group play. So if a dog is coming here, then 90% of their time is spent playing with other dogs of similar size and temperament.”
By limiting capacity, the dogs are able to spend more time out of crates and kennels for play and enrichment — activities that challenge and exercise their bodies and brains. And trained staff is able to handle them as they rotate through indoor and outdoor yards with pools and group play equipment for climbing and romping, with most dogs taking a two-hour midday nap.
Covid accelerated the doggie day-care boom. But between pet-parenting shifts and capacity limits, dog day care in Charlotte was already becoming more marketable prepandemic. “The day-care boom was maybe expedited a little bit because so many people got dogs during Covid,” Skiptown’s Williams says. More than 23 million households in the U.S. adopted pets at some point during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 2020, 54% of U.S. households had at least one dog, up from 50% in 2018.
With day cares regularly hitting capacity in Charlotte, Owens says, “I do think it has directly correlated with people going back to work, or at least just trying to get out of their house, or needing their dogs to get socialized because they were Covid puppies.”
All of the exercise and socialization that dogs get during day care supports their sense of independence while helping reduce anxiety — for dogs and their parents, who want them to be content while they’re busy with work or other responsibilities.
“Some dogs do really well in a social environment, and day care is set up for that,” says Williams, who plans to expand Skiptown to other cities, opening three new locations next year. “Dogs that do our day-care program come home and then they sleep for days. It’s meant to really get their energy out, which is a lot of times what their parents are looking for.”
And for a lot of us in Charlotte, it’s worth every penny. SP
Beach retreat
CLEAN, COASTAL AND HAPPY: TRACI ZELLER INTERIORS DESIGNS A VACATION HOME THAT LIVES LARGE WITH DURABLE FINISHES AND CLASSIC APPEAL.
by Sharon Smith | photographs by Julia Lynn Photography | styling by Kate Malpeli
Zeller improved flow and functionality in the kitchen by replacing a peninsula with an island and relocating a window. The pale blue backsplash helps connect the coastal blue hues of the family room and breakfast room. Counter stools by Ballard Designs are upholstered in a performance Perennials fabric. Hanging light fixtures are from Visual Comfort.
When interior designer Traci Zeller teamed up with a Charlotte couple to design their vacation home in Wild Dunes near Charleston, she knew from the outset the project would need to evoke a strong “sense of place.”
“It’s at the beach. It’s relaxed, it’s fun, it’s casual,” Zeller says about the three-story Isle of Palms home overlooking the boardwalk. While Zeller had the benefit of a good rapport with the couple, having previously designed their primary home in southeast Charlotte, this was a very different project. For starters, the couple purchased the property during the early days of the pandemic. “Everything was harder during the pandemic because you had to deal with supply constraints and labor issues,” Zeller says. The project also evolved. What started out as a plan to give a rental property a facelift turned into a full-scale renovation to create a family retreat.
“The scope grew as we went into it, just because they saw the potential … and how they could enjoy it,” Zeller says.
A woven bed by Bernhardt adds texture and anchors the primary suite, while a striped drapery fabric by Thibaut adds color. Zeller chose a coordinating desk instead of a second nightstand so the husband could have a quiet remote working spot when the household gets busy with visiting family.
The homeowners had an idea of what they wanted: durable, cheerful and beachy — but not too beachy. They also needed to maximize space, with adults, older children and a young grandchild all under the same roof.
“Traci did a good job of listening and putting that into actual design,” says the homeowner, who appreciated Zeller’s flexibility as they changed course.
In the compact living room, Zeller chose a large sectional and swivel chair by Wesley Hall to maximize seating. Ottomans on either side of the entertainment console provide extra seating when needed. An indoor-outdoor rug by Annie Selke, a coffee table by Mainly Baskets and Hudson Valley wall sconces complete the room.
For the kitchen, the homeowners wanted a total overhaul to improve function and flow. Zeller says they reoriented the kitchen by removing a wall, relocating a window and switching out the peninsula to make room for a more useful island with a modern waterfall countertop.
To continue the coastal blue hues of the family room into the kitchen and breakfast room, Zeller worked with Charleston-based Ro Sham Beaux to create a custom blue-beaded chandelier, a favorite piece of the homeowners. “People would walk by on the boardwalk and I could hear them talking about that chandelier, so that was fun,” she adds.
A Four Hands table with a reclaimed wood top adds to the casual, welcoming vibe. The oval shape and pedestal design also makes it easier to fit more people, Zeller says.
The modern coastal vibe continues with a whimsical print of divers from Wendover Art above each bed and blue gingham X-benches from Serena & Lily.
In the powder room, Zeller chose a Savannah Hayes wallpaper with a modern, bright blue design. “It’s just a really fun way to add a lot of color and fun and personality in a space that doesn’t really have any.” New cabinetry, countertops and Visual Comfort sconces also update the room.
In the second-floor bedroom, Zeller chose a Katie Ridder drapery fabric with sailboats and bright red accents. “It’s so happy and manages to maintain a sense of sophistication while being fun and youthful.”
The homeowner says her favorite room is the primary suite on the third floor. “It just turned out so beautiful, just really calming,” she says. “That room, for me, felt like a private retreat in a busy house.”
Outside, the most popular feature “that everyone fights over in the morning” is the large porch swing made by a family member. “At night it’s also a fun place to hang out or people watch and chat with people walking by on the boardwalk,” the homeowner says.
As for Zeller, she says they hit the sweet spot in creating a classic beach retreat. “In respecting the homeowner’s taste, being true to the classic projects that we put together at Traci Zeller Interiors and also just honoring the coastal, casual, relaxed, youthful vibe of a beach home.”
It goes back to that sense of place Zeller believes is so important. “This feels very much like it belongs on the beach — it belongs in Wild Dunes.” SP
88 | SOUTHPARK SEA WORTHY Sister Jane Star dress, $175; Maiami striped cardigan, $560; and Tela belt, $165; all Five One Five. Party Harty earrings, $70, Monkee’s of Charlotte. Tibi ankle-tie sandals, stylist’s own. Sonia sunglasses, $425, Lesetta.com. Docked in front of the Beaufort Hotel, “The Rebel” is a privately-owned 50-foot restored classic power 1928 Elco Cruiser.
HISTORIC BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA, IS THE BACKDROP FOR A NAUTICAL-INSPIRED GETAWAY.
styling and production | Whitley Adkins
photography | Mira Adwell
hair and makeup | Marley Simmons, Directions USA
model | Bella Davison, Directions USA Special thanks to Beaufort Hotel, BeaufortHotelNC.com
Alix of Bohemia Milli Pasteque printed blouse, $390; Alix of Bohemia printed panel maxi skirt, $620; Cesta rainbow-check lunch pail, $495; all from Poole Shop. Eva hat, $400, Lesetta.com. Heather Khan essential stone layer necklace, $110; David Aubrey long blue necklace, $105, and long white necklace, $110; all from Sloan.
Hester Bly printed tie front top, $399; Hester Bly printed midi skirt, $1,000; Freya Sunrise hat, $230; all Poole Shop. Sheila Fajl earrings, $73, Monkee’s of Charlotte. Inez Sofia two-toned snake sandals, $248, stylist’s own.
The restored Old Apothecary Shop (circa 1859) is located on the Beaufort Restoration Grounds of the Beaufort Historic Site. Many original artifacts remain inside, and the shop looks very much as it did when Dr. George Davis was practicing there, filled with medicinal bottles, instruments and flasks — even an organ.
Alexis Alberta dress, $594, Sloan. Smith & Co. City Girl hoop earrings, $60; Holst + Lee bracelets, $105$130 each; all Monkee’s of Charlotte. Rachel Comey clogs, stylist’s own from JT Posh.
Cara Cara floral Lizzie crop top, $250, Poole Shop. Derek Lam 10 Crosby colorblock skirt, $450, Sloan. Lusana straw hat, $80, Five One Five. Holst + Lee bracelets, $105-$130 each, Monkee’s of Charlotte. Helene sunglasses, $375, Lesseta.com. Fearless triple fringe belt, $225, FOUND Collection. Greek lace-up sandals, stylist’s own, from JT Posh. Private home on Taylor’s Creek in Beaufort.
Alix of Bohemia Lila Rouge peplum top, $480, Poole Shop. Carolina K floral pants, $345, Five One Five. Cristina V. trade beads, $249, Monkee’s of Charlotte. Zaza sunglasses, $495, Lesseta.com. Tibi sandals, stylist’s own. Island Ferry Adventures Ferry Service with Captain Perry and Zach shuttles visitors to the barrier islands, including Carrot island and Sand Dollar Island.
St. Roche Anya top, $175; St. Roche Bird shorts, $175; White + Warren side-button sweater, $245; all from Monkee’s of Charlotte. Goorin Bros. Welfleet hat, $180, stylist’s own. Rue de Verneuil striped tote, $215, Poole Shop. Jennifer sunglasses, $495, Lesetta.com. Tibi sandals, stylist’s own.
Carolina K Marietta Rev one-piece swimsuit, $285, Monkee’s of Charlotte. Lovat & Green art deco scarf, $135, Lesetta.com.
Accessible only by boat, Shackleford Banks can be reached via a short ferry ride, where you might get a glimpse of bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and more. Part of the 56-mile Cape Lookout National Seashore, Shackleford Banks, with its undeveloped and pristine beaches, is perhaps best-known as an exceptional shelling destination. The island is home to the 120 “Banker Ponies,” whose ancestors are believed to be shipwrecked Spanish Mustangs from the late 1500s.
Alemais long-sleeve Burning Love midi dress, $955, Poole Shop. SP
COASTAL slowdown
A RELAXING VISIT TO BEAUFORT, A BEACHSIDE VILLAGE GEM ALONG NORTH CAROLINA’S SOUTHERN OUTER BANKS, REVEALS THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF A CRYSTAL COAST SLOW-CATION.
by Michael J. Solender
Clocks and calendars meet their nemesis in the oceanside hamlet of Beaufort, N.C. Salty sea breezes waft year round here, where every day feels like Saturday and timepieces run a bit slower. Get here fast, then take it slow is more than a suggestion from a Beach Boys song when visiting this storied town perched along the coast of North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks.
Here’s a slow-go primer:
From ballast stones to Blackbeard
Nods to Beaufort’s past abound and are best explored by making the Robert W. and Elva Faison Safrit Historical Center an early stop when visiting. Operated by the seasoned team of the Beaufort Historical Association, the center is a resource-packed starting point for exploration and spontaneous adventures. Here, newcomers learn that Beaufort, established as a fishing village in the early 1700s, is the third-oldest town in North Carolina.
The historical association offers a free walking guide for a self-guided tour and lists 30 unique sites on and surrounding Front Street, the town’s main retail promenade and front doorway to Taylor’s Creek. The inland waterway flows between Beaufort and Carrot Island, with a walk along the adjacent boardwalk likely to yield a view of the island’s fabled wild horses.
Aboard the Double-Decker Bus Tour, docents pack a fun-filled history lesson into a two-hour scenic whirl around town. Traverse the historic district dotted with distinctive zigzag fences and Queen Anne-style homes, many lovingly restored and bearing coveted historical plaques (more than 350) honoring their original owners. “Some of our historic structures show evidence of sailing ship’s masts used as beams to hold up porches,” says tour guide Sandy Treadway, “and notably many stone foundations here were constructed with
ballast stones from centuries-ago British sailing ships.”
Tourgoers learn about notorious pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard, who once used Beaufort as a port for caching his booty. At one of Beaufort’s most visited historic sites, the Old Burying Ground, weathered tombstones chronicle stories from townsfolk laid to rest in this hallowed ground as far back as the early 18th century. One captivating tale is that of a young girl from a British family that came to Beaufort in the early 1700s as an infant. Years later, she wished to accompany her father on a voyage to her homeland. Her mother acquiesced only after the father promised he would bring her back safely to Beaufort. The young girl perished on the return sailing, and the father was able to forgo a burial at sea only by preserving the girl’s body in a barrel of rum aboard the ship, purchased from the captain. Upon returning to port, having fulfilled his promise, the father laid the girl to rest in the Old Burying Ground, with the rum barrel serving as her casket.
“Visitors to her grave leave toys, flowers and cards,” Treadway says, noting the grave is the most-visited at the site. All the markers face east at the Old Burying Ground to illuminate the graves at sunrise on “Judgment Day.”
Seafaring fun
A ferry ride from nearby Harkers Island to Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout offers a splendid way to while away the better part of a day. It’s a great way to get out on the open water, spy more wild horses and maybe even a dolphin or two. At the Instagram-worthy Cape Lookout Lighthouse, visitors can tour the keeper’s quarters and learn about ships’ navigation and the historic role of this iconic landmark. A National Park, Cape Lookout allows for overnight camping, fishing and even offers UTV rental for self-paced navigation along the Cape’s wide beach fronts.
Visitors can easily spend an hour or two at the NC Maritime Museum, which delivers both historical reflection and artifacts as well as hands-on exhibits and workshops. More than 300 items from Blackbeard’s most notorious ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, that wrecked off Beaufort’s shores are on display at the museum and anchor a fascinating collection of other notable links to the region’s history. The Harvey B. Smith Watercraft Center, a sister museum and workshop located across Front Street, hosts classes and demonstrations in shipbuilding. It’s always free to come in and observe the time-honored tradition of wooden boatbuilding.
Fuel up
Slow-cationing can work up a thirst and an appetite. Beaufort has all the bases covered, starting with Fishtowne Brewhouse. Tip back some of the freshest craft-made porters, ales and lagers at their Turner Street taproom. The friendly crew behind the bar pulls drafts like the popular Munden Fog, a New England-style hazy IPA with pineapple, guava and pink grapefruit aromas, or a Black Cat stout, a creamy brew with hints of roasted coffee, chocolate and toffee.
At the nearby Beaufort Creamery, the refreshments are hand-dipped. It’s not unusual to see a line outside the door of this favored Front Street mainstay, but the people-watching is superb, and the line moves quickly. Made fresh every day, the ice cream is top notch with some unexpected flavors. S’mores, Chai tea, Blueberry Cheesecake and Key Lime Pie are some of the specialties. There are even gluten-free choices — and the scoops are ginormous.
There are more than 100 independent restaurants in Carteret County, and half of them specialize in local seafood. Most participate in the Carteret Catch program — a sustainability initiative to support the area’s fishing industry through buying direct and featuring the freshest catch on their menus.
The Beaufort Hotel’s 34˚ North surrounds guests in a stunning space with reclaimed wood floors and giant picture windows overlooking Taylor’s Creek and the Rachel Carson Reserve, a scenic collection of islands that’s home to countless species of seabirds and wild horses. Seafood is the top draw here. Fresh mahi-mahi is grilled Mediterranean-style with spicy harissa, coconut sticky rice and a strawberry pico. The Southern Cioppino is another standout, with grouper, shrimp, mussels, black-eyed peas, onions and peppers in a white wine broth. The Painkillers here are noteworthy — these tasty cocktails serve up a kick with Cruzan rum, Coco Lopez, pineapple and orange juice, floated with a shot of Sailor Jerry Rum.
Front Street Grill at Stillwater is a Beaufort classic. This casual eatery on the water offers a welcoming vibe, cold local beer and the day’s fresh catch. In season, get the soft shell crab, lightly battered and fried, or try the Day Boat Flounder, parmesan-crusted with herb beurre blanc, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and jasmine rice. Pro tip: Go with a crowd and share everything.
Certain vacation philosophies declare that at least one breakfast should be a special treat. At the Crystal Coast, many make that morning eye-opener The Banks Grill in nearby Morehead City. With Mission-style breakfast burritos, fluffy pancakes and yeasty cinnamon rolls the size of soccer balls, breakfast here promises to be the most important and delicious meal of the day.
Luxe-casual accommodations
Vacation rental homes and quaint bed-and-breakfasts dot the area. But those looking for a little more pampering find the Beaufort Hotel a favored base for their stay. Opened in 2019, the casual-yet-elegant property has 133 rooms and is staffed by locals who work to make each stay special. Golf-cart rentals, bicycles, a nearby boat ramp, marina and access to local guided experiences make for turnkey vacation fun. For guests looking for fun ways to explore — the staff will see to it, and even pack a picnic for you.
Beaufort is all about relaxing and being comfortable. Visitors to this corner of the Carolina coast can leave their Sunday best at home — flip-flops and shorts are the uniform of choice. And that’s just the way everyone likes it. SP
Island renewal
REBOOT YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS ROUTINES AT THIS LOW-COUNTRY WELLNESS RESORT.
by Cathy Martin
After a stressful season, the offer sounded appealing: morning beach walks, yoga, kayaking along the marsh, relaxation time at a nationally recognized spa. When I was invited earlier this year to Hilton Head Health for a self-care getaway, I learned the majority of H3’s guests come to get back on track with diet and exercise — for a healthy reset, which sounds a bit like a marketing buzzword. Curious to understand exactly what it meant, I decided to give it a whirl. Plus, maybe I’d find a little motivation to shed the extra few pounds I’d put on during Covid. ——
Though Hilton Head Health was started in the 1970s strictly as a weight-loss retreat, the resort has expanded over the years to include a range of wellness options, including the top-ranked Indigo Spa, which opened in 2015.
A year later, a stressed-out executive from Greensboro booked a stay after learning about H3 online. “Like many CEOs, I put the company ahead of my own health and well-being,” Kevin Carter told South Carolina Public Radio in December 2021. The former chief executive of an aircraft-services company, a Davidson College graduate, was so taken with the place he decided to buy it. Since Carter became principal owner of the resort in 2017, H3 continues to broaden its programming and facilities.
The small campus blends in among the villas and private homes in Hilton Head’s Shipyard community. After checking in, armed with a welcome packet full of schedules, an island map and more, I settled into my room at the resort’s Sweetgrass Inn. The on-site 30room hotel, with a soothing palette of blues and grays and tasteful low-country décor, opened in March 2021. Spacious rooms with plush king beds are comfortable enough for stays lasting from a few days to a few weeks, and common areas — a large porch with rockers, a sitting room stocked with books and board games — make you feel like you’re staying at someone’s beach house. Private villas provide an alternative lodging option for guests.
After a quick property tour and dinner at True, the resort’s onsite restaurant, I began plotting my itinerary from the expansive
list of fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, wellness seminars and spa treatments.
The next morning, after a 7 a.m. beach walk, a quick breakfast — accompanied by a 35-calorie cappuccino — and a 45-minute fitness class, I settled in for a presentation led by Bob Wright, director of lifestyle education. Wright has been a fixture at H3 for more than 40 years and is known for his insightful and inspiring quips, which the staff playfully refer to as “Bob-isms.”
Start the day with something positive — a walk, meditation, a healthy breakfast — and make it a ritual. Understand the power of tribes – find a group of people to walk or work out with. Whatever your fitness goals, slips will happen. Just get back on the plan.
After a satisfying lunch of French lentil and butternut-squash salad and a grilled shrimp flatbread (you will not go hungry here), I was off to H3’s demonstration kitchen to learn how to make a few healthy, simple-to-prepare dishes, many of which you can try at the resort’s restaurant. I ended the day with a “gentle yoga” class, a reward for myself after tackling the popular and intense TRX circuit class earlier in the day. ——
Given the resort’s size, the breadth of programming at H3 is remarkable. The fitness schedule ranges from yoga, mat Pilates and tai chi to Zumba, cardio boxing and aqua interval training. Participants in H3’s all-inclusive wellness programs can attend whichever and as many classes as they’d like. Add-ons include a Chef’s Table dining experience with wine pairings, a guided kayaking excursion, private yoga and Pilates instruction, fitness assessments, and personalized recovery sessions. The island’s network of walking and bike paths provide extra motivation to stay active, and an app with on-demand videos helps you maintain your regimen after you return home.
Fresh, creative dining options at Hilton Head Health are plentiful, and the menu changes three times a week. Guests can sign up for a cooking class to learn how to make healthy dishes at home, or a Chef’s Table experience with wine pairings.
Chef Thomas Carrig’s menu is fresh, creative and full of flavor. Choices are plentiful, and there is always an option to create your own custom “H3 Plate” — choose a protein, vegetables, starch and sauce. A sample of menu items during my stay included watermelon and avocado salad with lime juice, feta jalapenos and mint; a panko-crusted eggplant Parmesan stack with pesto, marinara, mozzarella and sauteed asparagus; and a sushi bowl with seared ahi tuna, brown sushi rice, edamame and cabbage with ginger-soy dressing, cucumber, avocado and carrots.
A bounty of healthy snacks — fruit, yogurt, hummus, nuts — is available from morning till night, and portions are labeled with calorie counts to help you keep on track.
To de-stress and recover from workouts, The Indigo Spa offers a complete menu of massages, facials and body treatments, many incorporating all-natural and organic luxury products including Red Flower, Eminence and Skin Authority. ——
Peaceful and relaxing, the resort isn’t really a see-and-be-seen type of place — though a certain Bravolebrity, Sonja Morgan, is a regular guest, frequently posting photos from H3 on Instagram. Nor is it a place to sip cocktails by the pool or flaunt your newest athleisure. The pool here is mainly used for fitness, and the dress is whatever makes you feel comfortable. Instead, it’s a place to focus on yourself and reboot your health and fitness routines, away from day-to-day distractions of home.
Guests range from groups of friends to mother-daughter duos to solo travelers. Spouses are welcome, and guests can take advantage of Hilton Head Island’s numerous golf and tennis facilities. The resort’s small atmosphere — capacity is capped at about 55 — makes it easy for staff and other guests to get to know you for a personalized experience.
After my mini-wellness vacation — four days of workouts, lots of long walks and bike rides, and clean, healthy eating — I left feeling refreshed and motivated, on an upward trajectory, and far more comfortable in my own skin. SP
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Aubrey & Brandon Grier
Dickens Mitchener
For Aubrey and Brandon Grier, “selling” real estate isn’t what they do. Instead, they view their roles as more adviser and educator – whether it’s for a client buying or selling a home or someone wanting to learn more about the industry.
As native Charlotteans – with eight family generations coming before them – the Griers provide an unmatched, comprehensive perspective of the city’s neighborhoods and growth as well as an extensive network of contacts and resources.
Recognized as a top producer every year since starting in 2001, Aubrey has spent her entire career at Dickens Mitchener. Brandon joined last year, bringing more than 20 years’ experience as a leading producer for some of the largest global asset managers. Working together allows the Griers to combine their strengths and expertise for the benefit of their clients.
Married for 20 years and parents to two high schoolers, the couple has renovated four homes and built one, giving them firsthand experience on how best to plan and execute a home’s design. Clients praise their strong negotiation skills, proven results and willingness to go the extra mile. They serve on numerous community boards, always giving back to their hometown. “We love Charlotte, and we live Charlotte,” Brandon says.
PHOTO: GAIL HEALEY
Aubrey & Brandon Grier
@agrier1 I aubreygrier.dickensmitchener.com 704.502.4612 (Aubrey) I 704.953.9178 (Brandon)
Knight Residential Group, Inc.
704.733.9566 | @knightresidentialgroup I krgbuilds.com family firstSOUTHPARK PARTNER
Knight Residential Group
Vernon Knight III, Founder JoEl Knight, COO
For Vernon Knight and his full-service residential construction company, the Charlotte roots and family ties run deep.
A native Charlottean, Knight still lives in the same SouthPark home he grew up in, now with wife JoEl and his 10-year-old twins, Charlie and Suzy. His brother-in-law, Art Watson, and Watson’s son and nephew, work for Knight Residential Group. JoEl helps with accounting and operations. The family connection – and the loyalty and trust that comes with it – is a driving force behind the company’s success.
Knight founded Knight Residential in 2012, with the principles of integrity, honesty and superior work as cornerstones. His team has a combined 165 years of construction expertise, focusing on high-end custom construction in Charlotte and Kiawah Island, S.C.
Navigating today’s environment of supply-chain delays and ever-changing schedules is challenging, but Knight Residential relies on a can-do attitude and impeccable attention to detail. “Our business is not always easy,” Knight says. “But we maintain friendships with our clients and often work with them again. Being fair, working hard and delivering beautiful results – no matter the size of the project – is what we do.”
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Artistic Interior Design
Amy Lee, Owner & Interior Designer Mark Coffino, COO
The way Amy Lee sees it, coming to work at her interior design firm feels like home. “We’re like a modern-day family,” she says of her nine-member staff, which includes best friend Mark Coffino. “I love the environment we’ve created here.”
Located in Lake Norman, Artistic Interior Design works with customers throughout the East Coast. Whether updating living spaces or working alongside architects and builders on a new home or remodel, Lee and her team offer a comprehensive, guided approach that ensures clients feel confident and heard.
“We listen to their goals and design spaces that reflect their tastes and work for their lifestyles,” Lee says. Her approachable, yet elevated aesthetic comes from over 20 years’ experience in custom home design and remodeling. It’s that expertise – along with her passion for seeing a project from start to finish – that proves invaluable to clients.
With so many moving parts in the design process, Lee relies on Coffino, praising his attention to detail, ability to problem solve and the strong connections he makes with clients.
The company has grown substantially the past three years. “The talents and experience of our team allows us to take on projects of all sizes and styles,” Lee says. “And we do beautiful work.”
PHOTO: JUSTIN DRISCOLL
Artistic Interior Design
@artisticinteriordesign I artisticinteriordesign.com 704.274.3606 | 19354 Watermark Dr., Suite 101, Cornelius, NC 28031
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Perry’s Diamonds & Estate Jewelry
Ernest & Priscilla Perry, Owners & Founders Hadley Perry, COO Brittany Holden, VP
When Ernest Perry started his jewelry store in 1977 on Independence Boulevard, he and wife Priscilla spent Saturdays at estate sales, hoping to bolster their inventory. When they filled up more than 50 coffee cans with jewelry, they knew they were in business.
Today, Perry’s Diamonds & Estate Jewelry is one of the nation’s top antique and estate jewelers and diamond brokers, offering on-site custom jewelry design and repair as well. The store has become a staple in SouthPark for more than 40 years.
Daughter Hadley joined the company in 2012, leaving a successful law career in the Northeast to come back home. Newly engaged, she made her mark on Perry’s new, expanded store, designing a welcoming showroom and adding a fresh, expanded focus on Perry’s bridal lines.
What sets Perry’s apart is its expert staff, its unique, distinctive selection and its longtime relationships. “We don’t want to be your jeweler for today,” Ernest says. “We want to be your jeweler for life.”
With 10 graduate gemologists and two fellows of the Gemmological Society of Great Britain, customers can be confident they’re choosing the highest quality, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Hadley appreciates the emotional connection jewelry represents, from buying an engagement ring to bringing in jewelry after a loved one has passed away. “It astounds me every day that we’re such an intricate part of people’s lives,” she says. “It’s an honor.”
PHOTO: ROBERT KISIAH
Clean Juice
Landon Eckles, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Kat Eckles, Co-Founder & Chief Branding Officer family firstSOUTHPARK PARTNER
In their quest to be the world’s most plentiful juice and food bar, Clean Juice founders Landon & Kat Eckles have an award-winning business model that’s led to more than 200 stores in 32 states in under seven years. But the recordsetting numbers don’t matter nearly as much as the people behind them.
For the Eckles, it’s finding franchise partners for the nation’s first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise that share an interest in the organic lifestyle, have a passion for people and a commitment to lead with kindness. The Clean Juice mission statement – a Bible verse wishing good health in body and strength in spirit (3 John 1:2) – is found on every bottle of their cold-pressed juices and in many other packaging elements. “We lead with love, and we hope our guests and franchise partners feel like family,” Kat says.
That big family started with the Eckles opening a store in Huntersville in 2015, tapping into Landon’s entrepreneurial drive and Kat’s passion for healthy, organic living. In addition to organic juices, Clean Juice offers smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, salads, soups and more. The goal is to bring Clean Juice to every community, giving people truly delicious, fresh, organic food on-the-go.
The Eckles personally meet every Clean Juice franchise partner and provide an expert home office support staff to ensure franchisees’ success. They are equally as passionate about their Quarters for Kids program, which helps better the lives of children in need across the country.
Clean Juice
@cleanjuice I cleanjuice.com
PHOTO: JOSHUA VASKO
Blackhawk Hardware
@blackhawkhardware I @blackhawkhardwareclt blackhawkhardware.com 704.525.2682 | 4225 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209 family firstSOUTHPARK PARTNER
Blackhawk Hardware
Jim & Barbara Wilkerson, Owners Andy Wilkerson, COO & Owner
Often referred to as “the world’s coolest hardware store,” Blackhawk Hardware is a local, family-owned business that’s been a shopping destination at Park Road Shopping Center for 45 years.
There’s a popcorn machine – serving over a million free bags to customers – and someone who greets you as you step in the store. There are dogs roaming around, fresh from the dog-washing station or shopping for treats, more than 5,000 knobs to choose from when considering cabinet hardware, and a mountain of greeting cards that will make you laugh out loud.
“It’s all about creating a fun and excellent shopping experience,” says Andy Wilkerson, who owns the store with his parents Jim and Barb. He credits the store’s 120 associates for its success in a market filled with big-box competitors. “We hire happy professionals who provide legendary customer service, take ownership and pride in what we do, and bring new ideas,” he says.
Many of those employees have been with Blackhawk for years, some marking the third generation to work at the store. At least eight couples have met and married while working there. When it comes to hiring, the Wilkersons value personality over experience. “We can teach you how to sell anything,” Andy says. “But we can’t teach you how to be a nice person.”
It’s a formula that’s worked well. Blackhawk served 46 customers its first day in 1977, making $141.95. Today, it’s sold more than $130 million worth of hardware and housewares to over 6 million customers.
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Queen City Audio Video & Appliances
Roddey Player, President & CEO Frances Player, Accounts Receivables Kate Player, Controller Roddey Player Jr., Warehouse Operations After 70 years in the industry, Queen City Audio Video & Appliances was more than prepared to meet the obstacles brought on by the pandemic, including those frustrating supply-chain setbacks. Early on, the local, family-owned and -operated business overstocked its inventory and expanded its warehouse operations, moving to a new 100,000-squarefoot space. “The most enjoyable part of my day is seeing the dramatic growth of our business,” says Roddey Player, Queen City president and CEO. “We have an inventory position second to none.” Founded in 1952 by Woody Player, Queen City has six stores and more than $20 million in local inventory. In addition to outstanding, expert customer service, the company offers same-day or next-day delivery for many products. Customers can choose from more than 70 top-rated brands of appliances, as well as TVs, mattresses and grills. The Queen City Home Store in Pineville also offers furniture and beautiful home accessories. Three generations of Players work at the company, each bringing unique skill sets that allow it to adapt and prosper. Player points to the 100-plus employees and the relationships they foster as the key to the company’s success and longevity. Queen City is dedicated to serving the community. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, it plans to pack 70,000 meals each for Carolinas charities and Ukrainian children and to support schools with needed back-to-school supplies.
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JT Posh
Jen & Tracy Auten, Owners
When sisters Jen and Tracy Auten opened JT Posh, they wanted their luxury consignment store to feel like shopping in an upscale boutique. A fashion merchandising major in college, Tracy knew from living in a sorority house how friends enjoyed borrowing clothes from each other’s closets.
The native Charlotteans found the perfect spot in Dilworth, and for 15 years, JT Posh has been providing high-end consignment clothing, an easy consigning process and a friendly, experienced team to help find the perfect outfit. The store offers a selection of regularly updated luxury brands and products, including designer handbags, women’s clothing, shoes and jewelry.
Jen – who lives next door to Tracy – enjoys the opportunity to work every day with family. “I get to own a business with my sister who’s also my best friend,” she says. “Our parents have always helped and been there as well. They’re the backbone of JT Posh.”
All merchandise is hand-selected by staff, and designer handbags and jewelry are authenticated before being put on the floor. With amazing brands arriving daily, both sisters find it hard to choose their favorite store purchase. But a mini Gucci bag – bought 11 years ago when Jen found out she was having a baby girl – is a special one.
PHOTO: JUSTIN DRISCOLL
JT Posh
@jtposh | jtposh.com | 704.375.1334 2400 Park Rd., 2A, Charlotte, NC 28203
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PHOTO: THE SCOUT GUIDE CHARLOTTE
Custom Security Inc.
315 Rensselaer Ave., Charlotte, NC 28203 704.375.4365 I customsecurityinc.com
Custom Security Inc.
Lanier Shull, Owner Rush Shull IV, Owner
Establishing and maintaining trust with customers is paramount when owning a security company. It’s a hefty responsibility owners Lanier and Rush Shull IV don’t take lightly.
Founded by J. Rush Shull III and Don Gordon in 1971, Custom Security specializes in residential security and fire detection systems with home automation integration, surveillance solutions, and commercial fire alarm, access control and surveillance system services.
As Charlotte has grown, so have the crime rates, making the need for security more important than ever. The company ensures it stays up to date with trends and developments in the ever-changing industry, working often with builders in high-end construction.
But it’s Custom’s systems, professional customer service and monitoring capabilities that differentiate it from competitors. Many of its employees have been with the company for years, allowing them to establish long-term, personable relationships with customers.
