39 minute read
bookshelf
from June SouthPark 2022
by SouthParkMag
June books
NOTABLE NEW RELEASES
compiled by Sally Brewster
Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks, by Patrick Radden Keefe
From the prize-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Empire of Pain and Say Nothing — and one of the most decorated journalists of our time — comes 12 enthralling stories of skulduggery and intrigue. Keefe has garnered prizes ranging from the National Magazine Award to the Orwell Prize to the National Book Critics Circle Award for his meticulously reported, hypnotically engaging work on the many ways people behave badly. Rogues brings together a dozen of his most celebrated articles from The New Yorker. Keefe brilliantly explores the intricacies of forging $150,000 vintage wines, examines whether a whistleblower who dared to expose money laundering at a Swiss bank is a hero or a fabulist, spends time in Vietnam with Anthony Bourdain, chronicles the quest to bring down a cheerful international black-market arms merchant, and profiles a passionate death penalty attorney who represents the “worst of the worst,” among other bravura works of literary journalism.
Horse, by Geraldine Brooks
Kentucky, 1850: Jarrett, an enslaved groom, and a bay foal forge a bond of understanding that will carry the horse to record-setting victories across the South. As the nation erupts in civil war, an itinerant young artist who has made his name painting the racehorse takes up arms for the Union. On a perilous night, he reunites with the stallion and his groom, far from the glamour of any racetrack. New York City, 1954: Martha Jackson, a gallery owner celebrated for taking risks on edgy contemporary painters, becomes obsessed with a 19th-century equestrian oil painting of mysterious provenance. Washington, D.C., 2019: Jess, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia, and Theo, a Nigerian-American art historian, find themselves unexpectedly drawn to one another through their shared interest in the horse — one studying the stallion’s bones for clues to his power and endurance, the other uncovering the lost history of the unsung Black horsemen who were critical to his racing success. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred, Lexington, who became America’s greatest stud sire, Horse is a gripping, multilayered reckoning with the legacy of enslavement and racism in America.
The Bartender’s Cure, by Wesley Straton
Samantha Fisher definitely does not want to be a bartender. But after a breakup and breakdown in San Francisco, she decides to defer law school for a year to move to New York, crashing on her best friend’s couch. When she is offered a job at Joe’s Apothecary, a beloved neighborhood bar in Brooklyn, she tells herself it’s only temporary. As Sam learns more about bartending and gets to know the service industry lifers and loyal regulars at Joe’s, she is increasingly seduced by her new job. She finds acceptance in her tight-knit community and even begins a new relationship. But as the year draws to a close, Sam is increasingly pulled between the life she thought she wanted and the possibility of a different kind of future. When destructive cycles from her past threaten to consume her again, Sam must decide how much she’s willing to let go of to finally belong.
More Than You’ll Ever Know, by Katie Gutierrez
In 1985, Lore Rivera marries Andres Russo in Mexico City, even though she is already married to Fabian Rivera in Laredo, Texas, and they share twin sons. Through her career as an international banker, Lore splits her time between two countries and two families — until the truth is revealed and one husband is arrested for murdering the other. In 2017, while trawling the internet for the latest, most sensational news reports, struggling true-crime writer Cassie Bowman encounters an article detailing that tragic final act. Cassie is immediately enticed by what is not explored: Why would a woman — a mother — risk everything for a secret double marriage? Cassie sees an opportunity — she’ll track Lore down and capture the full picture, the choices, the deceptions that led to disaster. But the more time she spends with Lore, the more Cassie questions the facts surrounding the murder itself. Soon, her determination to uncover the truth could threaten to derail Lore’s now quiet life — and expose the many secrets both women are hiding. SP
Sally Brewster is the proprietor of Park Road Books. 4139 Park Rd., parkroadbooks.com.
Discover your dream home with Compass.
You deserve a home that matches your budget and lifestyle. Explore our exclusive inventory with Charlotte’s best-in-class agents guiding you home every step of the way.
Visit us at compass.com today.
1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28209 3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 264, Charlotte, NC 28277
35°13’37”N | 80°50’35”W
Compass is a licensed real estate broker under the name “Compass South Carolina, LLC” in South Carolina and under the name “Compass” in North Carolina and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein intended for informational purposes only.
Our Recent Sales
Thus far in 2022, the Andy Bovender Team has closed over $87M in sales, helping 200+ families find their place in the Carolinas. We have added four new team members, and are now fully servicing Charleston, SC! We’re thrilled to be growing and look forward to a wonderful second half of the year.
2519 Euclid Avenue Charlotte, NC 28203 5940 Copperleaf Commons Court Charlotte, NC 28277 4620 Piedmont Row Drive, Unit 610 Charlotte, NC 28210
O. 704.625.6127 info@bovenderteam.com bovenderteam.com
I highly recommend Tommy Williams. His knowledge of the area, responsiveness, and flexibility are only surpassed by his EXCELLENT customer service. He has a great industry reputation and works extremely hard for his clients. I have done four corporate relocations and Tommy is (by far) the best agent I have worked with over the years.
Experience. Expertise. Results.
Whether buying or selling, Tommy provides a steady hand and an extensive level of knowledge and experience to help you navigate the current real estate market - including a customized approach designed for your specific needs. Let Tommy’s 20+ years of experience and over $125M in sales guide you through one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make in a lifetime. When it comes time to make your next move, give Tommy a call.
Every year, I reflect back and record what I am grateful for and Lisa Emory is at the top of that list. I am grateful and thankful for her professionalism and hopefully her continued friendship. She is definitely one in a million.
In the words of my clients
“Selling and buying a home is an extremely stressful experience especially when you are relocating from another state in the midst of a pandemic. After my husband and I retired we decided to move from Minnesota to North Carolina, we had very limited information about the Queen City of Charlotte so needed direction and guidance.
We first rented a townhouse then began our house hunt. Lisa helped us secure the rental then helped us learn the city so we could find the perfect home. We were very specific about what we wanted (picky). We made offers on several houses before we landed the perfect one. Through it all Lisa was upbeat, positive, knowledgeable and professional. While we were somewhat discouraged when our first offers were rejected, in hind sight it was actually for the best. We got the perfect home for us at the price we wanted in a neighborhood that we love. Lisa went above and beyond by recommending service people all along the way, from movers to contractors, which have all been top notch and easy to work with.” - Pam and Al
Lisa Emory M. 704.724.3504 lisa.emory@compass.com
AT INDIGO HOME, HOUSES ARE OUR CRAFT.
Our Team has 30+ years experience representing buyers and sellers of luxury properties with an added focus on the design and sale of new construction. Our clients appreciate our collective expertise. With the fast paced changes in the real estate market and the challenges that come with them, we rise to meet the moment. We embody an entrepreneurial spirit and love for the Queen City. Let our reputation for outstanding representation work for you.
Jennifer Monroe M. 704.307.3369 jennifer@indigohomeclt.com Noah Spencer M. 704.524.4549 noah@indigohomeclt.com Amanda Kupchella M. 828.329.0996 amanda@indigohomeclt.com
Mike Stearns
Mike was just great. The house he sold for me had been on the market for months and he suggested staging the house which I think made a big difference. He was supportive and even met a couple of repairmen for me. He went the extra mile so when I decided to purchase another home (for rental purposes) I emailed Mike and he told me about a home across the street from where I live. He got me in first and I made an offer that day which was accepted; we will be closing on that one January 9th. He could not have been better to work with and I would highly recommend him to anyone. - Toni
Mike has been selling real estate in Charlotte and the surrounding areas for over 16 years. He’s known for his no-nonsense, client-centric approach to listing and buying property with his loyal clients. Mike is constantly learning to help keep his clients informed of current trends in the market. Why would you trust one of your largest financial transactions to just anyone? You need a seasoned professional to coach you to make the best decision possible for you today, and in the future.
Mike Stearns M. 704.441.2478 mike.stearns@compass.com
Henderson Ventures
Endless ties to the Carolinas and an extensive business network allow for constant access to new developments and off-market listings. With an elite group of 20 agents, the Henderson Ventures team is prepared to provide a luxury service in every transaction.
3525 Foxcroft Road
6 BD | 5.5 BA | 6,330 SF | $3,910,000
8402 Fairview Road
5 BD | 3+ BA | 9,500+ SF | $4,799,000
Henderson Ventures Inc. O. 980.333.3485 admin@hendersonventuresinc.com
The Cook Pizzo Team
Constant Support. All hands on deck. We have you covered. Now that’s a client-focused, luxury real estate experience! The Cook Pizzo team is ready to provide you access to all of our knowledge of the greater Charlotte market. Whether you are buying your first home or your forever home, we are here every step of the way! Now more than ever it is critical who you trust with your greatest investment. Reach out to start working together to achieve your real estate goals today!
1621 Rutledge Ave, Charlotte, NC 28211
5 BD | 4 FB | 1 HB | $1,750,000
Meticulously maintained home on quiet street very close to SouthPark, Cotswold and Uptown. Beautiful curb appeal and lot with mature landscaping, outdoor terrace and pool. Formal living room with wet bar. Generous open kitchen, breakfast area and den!
Tracey Cook & Ashley Pizzo
T. 704.236.11135 | A. 704.756.8654 tracey.cook@compass.com ashley.pizzo@compass.com
Abby Fitch & Stacie Fulton
A. 704.975.7465 | S. 704.907.7845 abby.fitch@compass.com stacie.fulton@compass.com
Blank canvas
HOUSE OF NOMAD COMBINES COASTAL HUES, ORIGINAL ART, INTERNATIONAL FINDS AND VINTAGE TREASURES IN A CALIFORNIA-CHIC FOXCROFT HOME.
by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by Laura Sumrak
When Sandra and Mike Schulte moved from Greensboro to Charlotte in 2019, they quickly realized they were going to need new furniture for their new home. A lot of new furniture.
“Our home in Greensboro was more traditional and had darker interiors, and this home is more modern and much lighter and brighter,” Sandra explains. “None of our old furniture worked, so we basically started with a clean slate.”
Recognizing the daunting task of decorating the nearly 8,000-square-foot Foxcroft home, the Schultes enlisted the help of Kelley Lentini and Berkeley Minkhorst of House of Nomad Design. Drawn to HON’s worldly, eclectic style, they essentially gave Lentini and Minkhorst free rein to create a chic-yet-comfortable home for their family of five.
“They were very trusting and gave us a lot of creative liberty,” Lentini says. “They envisioned a laidback, California-cool vibe with a neutral color palette, so we started with art for inspiration.”
An abstract painting by New Orleans artist Alexis
Walter was their first purchase and served as the impetus for the family room design. Soft creams and blues in the room’s decor accent the pastel colors within the work of art, which hangs over the mantel. The Schultes admire the painting so much, they bought four smaller pieces by Walter for the entry hall.
Lentini and Minkhorst discovered another abstract artist, Robert R. Landry, in Palm Springs, Calif., whose color palette was perfectly suited for the cool, coastal hues of the Schultes’ house. They brought one home with them for the living room and commissioned a second work for the dining room.
“The beautiful, soothing colors in the art really complement each other and set the tone for the entire house,” Sandra says. “It creates such a nice flow as you move from room to room.”
To add texture to the walls of the media room, Lentini and Minkhorst included a work by an artisan they met
in Queretaro, Mexico. The large-scale piece is made of woven cotton fibers recycled from a denim factory in the central Mexico town.
House of Nomad is known for sourcing furniture and accessories from around the globe for their clients, and the Schultes were no exception. Moroccan rugs, Balinese baskets and Turkish textiles season the home, creating a look that balances bohemian traveler with sophisticated collector.
“We get so inspired when we travel — it’s such a passion for us,” Minkhorst says. “Sometimes we find one amazing item that is the springboard for an entire project.”
Throughout the Schultes’ house, Lentini and Minkhorst masterfully integrate their international finds with vintage treasures, new acquisitions and custom creations to achieve a layered, livable setting with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic.
“This project falls into a different category for us because the use of color is more restrained,”
— homeowner Sandra Schulte
Lentini notes. “But it is very textural, which adds so much depth to a neutral color scheme.”
The casual, airy theme continues outside, where the designers assembled an eclectic mix of light, bright cotton fabrics and woven wood and rattan furniture throughout the al fresco gathering spaces.
The covered area next to the pool is a favorite hangout for the Schultes’ adult children when entertaining friends. A sitting area above is adjacent to the family room and has become an enjoyable spot for the Schultes to relax, read or watch TV. The pergola-covered dining area, kitchen and bar are ideal for poolside entertaining, and an outdoor fireside lounge is a cozy retreat when the weather is cooler.
Watching their new house come together during the slower pace of the pandemic made the Schultes appreciate the creative process even more. “We love how Kelley and Berkeley personalized each room to meet our needs,” Sandra says. “To start from scratch and create a space that we love was almost like therapy.” SP
Mixing vintage, consignment and secondhand luxury goods with contemporary, trendier items can help you create a closet that’s big on style without blowing the budget. Fashion stylist and SouthPark magazine Style Editor
Whitley Adkins demonstrates the one-of-akind approach she takes when shopping for herself or private clients seeking a inimitable look all their own.
Peter Pilotto sundress, $425, EDIT Charlotte (@edit_charlotte). Murphy multicolor earrings, $55,
Boem (shopboem.com). Inez Sofia twotone snake sandals, stylist’s own.
production, art direction and photography | Olly Yung
production, art direction and styling | Whitley Adkins
hair and makeup | Anna Grace
styling assistant | Charlotte Stewart
models | Erica Lynn Foulkes, Ursula Wiedmann Models Aaliyah Thompson, Directions USA
Yellow floral Carolina Herrera dress, $550, EDIT Charlotte. Billini Adele crossbody bag, $66, Boem. Tibi laceup sandals, stylist’s own, purchased on consignment. One-shoulder floral Acler dress, $225, EDIT Charlotte. Sunglasses, $10, Stash Pad (stashpadvintage.com). Black lace-up sandals, ASOS, model’s own.
1970s Tennisseur T-shirt, $58, Stash Pad. Marianna Senchina floral ruffle skirt, $149, JT Posh (jtposh.com). Proenza Schouler orange snakeskin bag, $450, EDIT Charlotte. Vintage gold belt and acrylic clamp bracelet, Etsy; Tabitha Simmons metallic sandals, JT Posh; Sojos retro vintage sunglasses, $15, Amazon; all stylist’s own.
Stine Goya turtleneck, $69; Ganni silver dress, $139; Coclico sandals, $59; all JT Posh. Sunglasses, $10, Stash Pad.
Gucci track jacket, $550, EDIT Charlotte. Vintage Betsey Johnson dress, $225, Stash Pad. Vintage Coach sandals, stylist’s own.
Handmade 1970s green dress with matching jacket, $150; sunglasses, $10; 1960s red patent leather belt worn as bracelet, $25; all Stash Pad. Daydreamer Rolling Stones T-shirt, $78, Boem. Nancy Gonzalez gold lizard clutch, $175, EDIT Charlotte. J. Crew turquoise pumps, stylist’s own.
RNWY Orchid maxi dress, $124; I-Sea green sunglasses, $28; multicolored rings $28; all from Boem. Tabitha Simmons metallic sandals, $89, JT Posh. Nancy Gonzalez purple alligator clutch, $325, EDIT Charlotte. Vintage clear acrylic bracelets from Etsy, stylist’s own.
Peter Pilotto one-shoulder dress, $425, EDIT Charlotte. Murphy multicolor earrings, $55, Boem.
For Love & Lemons Blaire mini dress, $250; bracelets, $20-24; gold hoop earrings, $28-45; all from Boem. Feather clutch, Amazon, and Marion Parke Imogen chunky block heel sandal, both stylist’s own. SP
Robert and John Balsley, photographed at Arthur’s Wine Shop in 2020.
wine Like fine
FOR 50 YEARS, ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT & WINE SHOP HAS BEEN A CHARLOTTE MAINSTAY FOR WINE CONNOISSEURS — AND SHOPPERS RECHARGING WITH A QUICK BITE.
by Kathleen Purvis | photographs by Michael Hrizuk
In 1973, when two young men announced a plan to move their small wine and food shop into the basement of an uptown department store, it was front-page news in The Charlotte Observer.
The young men were brothers Robert and John Balsley, the shop was Arthur’s, and the department store was Ivey’s — the Tryon Street stalwart owned by a family that was so Methodist, they didn’t allow wine glasses or card tables to be sold in the housewares department. Ivey’s didn’t even allow the color burgundy to be named in its advertisements because it took its name from a wine.
A shop in the basement that would sell beer and wine? Now, that was news. And not everyone thought it was good news: Mrs. George Ivey herself, the mother of store president George Ivey Jr. and the daughterin-law of founder J.B. Ivey, didn’t mince words with the newspaper.
“Well, you just know (J.B. Ivey) is out there plowing up his end of the cemetery over this,” she declared. “And I’d be doing the same if I were out there.”
George Jr. knew what he was doing with the Balsley brothers, though. The little wine and food shop they bought in 1972 marks its 50th anniversary this year, and it’s become a Charlotte stalwart itself, bouncing around from uptown to SouthPark, from Ivey’s to Belk, and selling the wine that fills every serious wine cellar in town.
But the Balsleys definitely had a rocky start in Charlotte. Robert, John, their younger brother Steve and their sister Jacquelyn were all from Philadelphia, where their father worked in factories. In 1969, when their father took a job at Westinghouse in Charlotte, they came down to see the new place their parents had settled. Robert, just 22 and fresh out of the military, wasn’t impressed.
“I hated it,” he declares now. “Not a single thing here you could eat.” He was a Philly boy — he wanted cheesesteaks and good pizza.
But Robert and his younger brother John both wanted to be entrepreneurs, and Robert had taken a correspondence course on wine while he was in the Army — even though the only wine he knew was Boone’s Farm. He reluctantly came to Charlotte, though, and took
a job at a cheese shop in Eastland Mall. That’s when he and John started looking at a little spot, Arthur’s Gourmet Shop, in the lobby of the old Clayton Hotel at Church and West Fifth streets.
The shop owner, Arthur Pressman, had decided to retire. The area had gotten a little seedy — The Observer noted that Pressman’s customers were mostly “winos who drank in the graveyard across the street and a few connoisseurs of international wines.”
Robert and John approached him and offered to buy the shop, inventory and all, for $6,000. Pressman agreed, and even let them keep his name. They knew so little about wine, they couldn’t even pronounce the names on the French bottles.
“Young and stupid,” John recalls.
“We broke every law,” Robert adds.
They spent $300 on tables and chairs from an unfinished furniture shop, and added a few sandwiches to the menu. At the time, most restaurants in uptown were small diners owned by Greek immigrants.
“They hated us,” John says. Louis Politis, son of Greek restaurateur Pete Politis, would be sent on spying expeditions, to see how many customers they had.
“The pie was finite. Charlotte was a small town still.”
In 1973, they found out their building was being torn down. Luckily, they had one big fan: George Ivey Jr. He co-signed their first business loan, and he thought a wine and food shop in his downtown department store was just the thing. While women shopped, their husbands could go downstairs and get lunch and a glass of wine or a beer while they waited.
“Without him,” John says, “we wouldn’t be here today,” Robert finishes.
As Ivey’s expanded to SouthPark and Eastland, Arthur’s Restaurant & Wine Shop went along, eventually opening seven locations in the Carolinas, including one in Overstreet Mall. They also opened East Boulevard Bar & Grill, modeled after the legendary Clyde’s in Washington, D.C. After they sold it, it became the White Horse Restaurant and then 300 East.
When Ivey’s was bought by Dillard’s in 1990, they moved across SouthPark to the lower floor of Belk. Tom Belk had always told them, “If you’re ever unhappy at Ivey’s ...”
Along the way, Robert, John and their siblings, Steve and Jacquelyn, all learned the wine and restaurant businesses. And Robert became the city’s personal wine steward. Whatever his well-heeled customers bought, they would share with him.
“The more they ordered, the more I learned,” he says.
Robert started teaching classes and supporting the growth of a wine world in Charlotte. He helped start three of Charlotte’s five crus, or wine clubs, and was a longtime board member for the Charlotte Wine & Food Festival. And they started taking customers on wine excursions, from Napa to Burgundy — the place, not the color — and beyond.
“Geography is my business,” Robert says. “I make sure they walk out of here learning something.”
Brothers Steve, Robert and John Balsley, with John’s son, Robert, second from right
Angie Packer, co-owner and executive vice president of Tryon Distributing, met Robert when she came to Charlotte in 1986, as one of the few women in the wine business here in those days. Until Arthur’s, “your choices were white, red and pink,” Packer says. The Balsleys changed the wine landscape in Charlotte.
“He was kind of the only game in town that wasn’t a chain store,” she says. She remembers the reaction when winery representatives would come to town and she would tell them she was taking them to an important wine store — at SouthPark.
“‘The mall? One of the best wine shops in North Carolina is in a mall?’” was a typical reaction.
On a recent Monday morning in the basement of Belk SouthPark, the action is in the back of Arthur’s, around a high table that’s usually used for wine classes. A half-dozen men, all representatives for different distributors, are wolfing down sandwiches from the Arthur’s café next door while they go over orders on their laptops. Robert, now 75, moves around the table constantly, checking what they have, what they’re charging — and what he wants to pay.
On Mondays, he says, “I hold court. They’re all trying to get my knickers.”
The Balsleys aren’t planning any special celebration to mark their 50th anniversary. They had a party once, for their 10th anniversary. They rolled back prices and had 300 or 400 people there.
Afterward, Robert and John agreed: “This is stupid. Everybody else had a good time but us.”
Anyway, both Robert and John say Arthur’s isn’t going anywhere. John’s son now works for the family business as well.
“I’m still having fun,” Robert says. “I still get to travel. I still get to drink great wine.” SP
Serving soldiers
A HOPEWAY PROGRAM LAUNCHED LAST YEAR HELPS VETERANS WITH PTSD AND OTHER MENTAL-HEALTH ISSUES.
by Vanessa Infanzon
U.S. Army veteran Tracy Owens understood she was spiraling out of control when she showed up at Veterans Affairs for a therapy appointment drunk and high. “In March 2021, I drank tequila and [smoked] weed before my session,” says Owens, 56. “My therapist said, ‘If I send you somewhere, will you go?’ And I told her that she needed to send me someplace before I go somewhere I don’t want to go, like the hospital or six feet under.”
Owens’ therapist referred her to HopeWay’s Veterans Program, a residential and day program for men and women who served in the military. HopeWay opened in 2016 as a nonprofit mental health treatment center on a 20-acre campus in south Charlotte.
Since launching in February 2021, 29 veterans have participated in HopeWay’s Veterans Program. About half of referrals to this new program are made by Veterans Affairs. Many are U.S. Army and U.S. Marines veterans, though there’s been representation from every branch of the military. The average age is 44, and several served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Seventy-eight percent are male, and most come from the Carolinas and Georgia, but the program is open to veterans from anywhere in the country. The typical stay is 30 days to six weeks.
TREATING TRAUMA
Owens, a Chapel Hill resident, joined the Veterans Program in July 2021 as a residential client. The first several days of her 32-day stay were spent detoxing from alcohol and marijuana.
Ross Cole, a therapist in the Veterans Program, saw Owens a few times a week for intensive individual therapy. Even now, she affectionately refers to him as, “the exorcist,” because he compelled her to do the work to get better. He asked difficult questions when exploring Owens’ troubles. “He said, ‘By the time you leave here, you’re going to be thinking differently,’” Owens says. “And I did.”
Many of Owens’ mental-health issues stem from trauma. Fleeing an abusive home, she entered the military seven days after graduating from high school in 1984. The evening she graduated from basic training, she says a sergeant assaulted her. She fought off the attacker and didn’t report it, for fear of ruining her career. Owens remained in the military for 14 years, working in supply and services and as a heavy engineer and parachute rigger. She finished as a staff sergeant.
Almost a year after treatment at HopeWay, Owens continues her sobriety. She’s in a relationship and has a steady job making medical vials for pharmaceutical companies. Triggers from her past
HopeWay’s treatment center in south Charlotte
still sometimes occur, but she’s relied on strategies she learned at HopeWay to stay calm and not react. “Twice, I’ve looked back at some of the things Ross and I talked about [and used it] to get my negative thinking out,” Owens says.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Dr. Justin Johnson, a North Carolina native, joined HopeWay in 2020 as the director of veteran services. His experience treating post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and military and veteran mental-health issues as a board-certified psychiatrist has been valuable in shaping the Veterans Program. Since 2015, Johnson has served in the U.S. Army Reserve, including active duty in the U.S. and a deployment to the Middle East. He’s currently the command psychiatrist for a unit at Fort Bragg, where he advises on mental health issues.
“The general idea was that [HopeWay] wanted to do more to help veterans,” Johnson says. “As many people are aware, veterans have higher suicide rates: About 20 veterans die a day by suicide.”
Veterans participate in group programs alongside HopeWay’s nonveteran clients. HopeWay’s Veterans Program is distinctive because it offers a residential option, includes intensive individual and group therapy, and welcomes all veterans with or without combat experience. VA Salisbury operates a PTSD-focused residential program providing group therapy for combat veterans only. Other nonresidential programs in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles have a similar approach to treatment as HopeWay.
Once a veteran is admitted into the program, Johnson develops a holistic plan that includes exercise, medication, medical treatment, nutrition, therapies and spiritual counseling. “We work with them to tailor the therapies to that person,” Johnson says. “We are flexible, especially with a person with PTSD. We have to make sure the person agrees with what they’re doing and is motivated to do it.”
A patient’s weekly schedule includes intensive individual therapies multiple times a week, daily group therapy sessions, and integrative therapies such as art, cooking, horticulture and music. Pet therapy and horsemanship programs provide a connection to an animal, Johnson says. “One of the things that help people struggling with mental health is mindfulness activities,” he says. “It’s just you focused on something. All the integrative therapies help with that. You lose yourself with the dog and forget about the struggles you have. You can redirect your thoughts.”
Veterans home on HopeWay’s campus
The gardens at HopeWay
The Veterans Program is built on evidence-based treatments backed by scientific research. For example, prolonged exposure therapy may be used with veterans who develop increased anxiety when they hear fireworks because it reminds them of explosions during combat. “Maybe they avoid going to firework events which leads to problems in their family,” Johnson explains. “Exposure therapy gradually exposes them to loud noises until they basically extinguish or get rid of that nervous response. Then they are more able to participate in family functions and live a full life as opposed to hiding at home.”
Veterans pay with private health insurance, if they have it, or VA covers up to six weeks. Donations through corporations and from individual donors provide financial assistance for patients.
EQUINE PARTNERSHIP
At least once a month, a staff member from HopeWay brings no more than five veterans to Healing Horse Therapy Center in Monroe for a 90-minute horsemanship and wellness program. (Other HopeWay clients participate in equine therapy as well.) Maurette Hanson, a certified therapeutic riding instructor and a certified equine specialist in mental health and learning, founded the nonprofit in 2011.
Hanson starts the group with herd observation: Participants meet the horses, called equine partners, and learn about each one. “Within that time period, [the veterans] are getting a sense of who they would like to match up with,” Hanson says. “Sometimes a horse comes to them and lets them know right away.”
It’s an unmounted program — veterans do not ride the horses — but instead, they learn grooming techniques to use with their equine partner. The focus is on being in nature, building a relationship and trust with a sentient being and discovering how to communicate with a horse, Hanson says.
“What I see over and over again is the confidence that [the veterans] get. They see they can do something they might have been a bit fearful of before.” SP
GREAT GIFTS FOR DADS
A great catch
A terrific value for beginners and experienced anglers alike, the Redington Path combo includes the smooth-casting Path rod and a Crosswater reel spooled with a Rio Mainstream weight-forward line, as well as a protective rod and reel case, $229.99. Great Outdoor Provision Co. Park Road Shopping Center 704-523-1089 greatoutdoorprovision.com
Keep it easy
The Electric EGGniter ignites lump charcoal or hardwood in just minutes without striking a match … using only super-heated air! Hearth & Patio 704-332-4139 thehearthandpatio.com
Serve up some love
Green Mountain Prime Grills just got even better with the same great Prime features plus a collapsible front shelf, interior grill light, rotisserie-enabled mounting and stronger reinforced grates, $879. The Grill Doctor • Mooresville 704-799-6429 thegrilldoctor.com
Here’s to good health
Franny’s Farmacy Hemp Oil Tincture is made with hemp flower from Franny’s Farm. Grown in the sun and soil of western North Carolina, you’re sure to get a clean, reliable product for wellness, from $35. Franny’s Farmacy • Charlotte SouthEnd 980-237-9738 frannysfarmacy.com
A gift with good taste
Big Green Egg Grill with Acacia Table Oasis Outdoor • Pineville 704-541-0892 oasisoutdoor.com
Relax the right way
Kennebunkport Outdoor Lounge Chair Oasis Outdoor • Pineville 704-541-0892 oasisoutdoor.com
Take a seat
Trex® Outdoor Furniture™ is incredibly low maintenance and made in the USA. The Cape Cod Adirondack Chair comes in 7+ colors. Kasby’s Furniture + Design • Charlotte 980-224-9868 kasbys.com
Set for style
John Hardy Men’s Classic Chain Woven Bracelet with Reticulated Clasp, $1,100. Fink’s Jewelers SouthPark Mall and Birkdale 704-366-3120 finks.com
Right on time
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Just peachy
ATLANTA, OUR SISTER CITY TO THE SOUTH, OFFERS BIG-CITY BENEFITS WITH PLENTY OF SOUTHERN CHARM.
by Cathy Martin
On a recent weekend at the Atlanta Botanical Garden — just as the roses and peonies were flaunting their blossoms — couples, tourists and families in their ried inside this peaceful slice of nature in the city that touts itself as the capital of the Southeast. The garden is just one of many discoveries I made upon return-
Sunday best stroll, sip wine at patio tables and laze about on benches, admiring the blooms. There’s a quiet buzz over in Storza
Woods, where a new Dale Chihuly sculpture, a stunning 30-foot glass and steel tower installed in December, has captured the crowd’s attention.
Across the park, in the outdoor kitchen near the edible garden, a sold-out class, “Cooking with Fresh Herbs,” is about to begin.
Throughout the spring and summer, chefs including acclaimed restaurateur Hugh Acheson and local 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist Craig Richards will host dinner events here.
In the Skyline Garden, notes from a band playing at the adjacent
Piedmont Park reverberate, with downtown’s gleaming towers as a backdrop. The bustle of the city is nearby — but no one seems huring to the city I’ve known since childhood. A four-hour drive from Charlotte, Atlanta’s museums, restaurants, entertainment venues and shops offer more than enough to fill a weekend. Even if you think you know Atlanta, chances are you’ll uncover something new on your next visit.
EXPLORE
Atlanta Botanical Garden encompasses more than 30 acres and includes an expansive children’s garden, canopy walk, orchid center and more. On view through Oct. 16, Origami in the Garden showcases 18 colorful metal installations by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, from whimsical birds and bunnies to pinwheels spinning in the breeze. The garden abuts the 200-acre
Piedmont Park (about twice the size of Freedom Park) and is a stone’s throw from Virginia Highland, the tree-lined neighborhood with cozy cafes should you want to stop for a bite before or after the day’s adventure.
With an eye-catching design by esteemed North Carolina architect Phil Freelon and immersive exhibits, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights highlights key moments in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s. The museum includes artifacts from Martin Luther King Jr., including handwritten notes and manuscripts, and an enlightening exhibit depicting the modern-day struggle for human rights around the world.
College football fans can while away an afternoon at the College Football Hall of Fame, a $68.5 million attraction that moved here from South Bend, Ind., in 2014. Upon arrival, link your pass with your alma mater (or any school of your choice) for a personalized experience. From displays spotlighting legendary coaches to interactive experiences like a touchdown simulator, there are more than 50 exhibits to explore across three levels.
Serious shoppers will want to allow plenty of time in Buckhead. With luxury brands galore, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square have anchored the upscale neighborhood for decades. Buckhead Village (previously The Shops Buckhead Atlanta) is a pristine open-air mixed-use center with high-end boutiques including Billy Reid, Veronica Beard, Jimmy Choo, Hermes, Etro and Dior. Chastain Park is a 260-acre green space in Buckhead with walking trails, a public golf course, a horse park and amphitheater. While you’re in the area, stop by The Chastain, a country store-turned-restaurant serving upscale comfort food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is home to Ponce City Market, a 2.1 millionsquare-foot former Sears distribution center that houses a sprawling food hall plus local and national retail shops. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Park is here, along with access to the Atlanta BeltLine, an urban network of parks and trails in development along a 22-mile rail corridor encircling the center city.
College Football Hall of Fame
The Atlanta BeltLine
STAY
Luxury options abound in Atlanta. A couple of new Buckhead hotels are shaking up the buttoned-up reputation of this tony neighborhood with a relaxed atmosphere and boutique amenities.
The Kimpton Sylvan is a 217-room hotel with a midcentury aesthetic and sprawling outdoor spaces, including a spacious outdoor pool and a trio of clever dining and drinking options. St. Julep is the Sylvan’s rooftop bar with a casual, upbeat vibe: Take in the skyline view of Buckhead while imbibing easy-sipping cocktails with cheeky names like Kicked by a Mule (Tito’s vodka, Pimm’s and ginger beer) and Smokey and the Bandit (Vida mezcal, Buffalo Trace bourbon, Chincina). Willow Bar is a spacious outdoor lobby bar in a garden-like setting. The Betty is a modern throwback to the glamourous supper-club era, with plush velvet booths, friendly and attentive service, and a menu of updated classics infused with bold flavors. Start with oysters on the half shell, wagyu steak tartare or tuna crudo — ginger wasabi mustard gives this dish a spicy kick. If your server asks if you’d like any bread, the answer is yes: The warm bakedto-order gougères, or cheese puffs, will melt in your mouth. Mains include mushroom lasagna, prime steak, Cornish rock chicken, and a zesty basil spaghetti with Calabrian chili and tomato confit.
Hotel Colee offers a playful and unpretentious vibe, with a rooftop pool, a comfortable lobby bar for drinks before heading out on the town and local artwork on display. Interior designer Andrew Alford was brought in to inject pops of color and modern Southern style into the 286-room hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. Whimsical decor like the colorful streamer art installation in the port cochere and the cheerful mix of pattern and color in the lobby exude fun.
St. Julep at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel
The Betty at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel
Hotel Colee lobby bar
EAT & DRINK
Start the day at Le Bon Nosh, a French-inspired counter-service cafe in Buckhead serving coffee, breakfast and house-made pastries in an elegant, airy setting. Or drop by for lunch (soups, salads, sandwiches and tartines are on the menu) and grab a seat on the patio, at one of the communal tables or at the elegant curved marble wine bar. A dinner menu features shareables like crudites and burrata serrano, along with heartier dishes like steak frites and grilled red snapper, with an all-French wine list.
Grab breakfast or lunch to go at Kinship, a butcher shop/market/coffee bar in Virginia Highland serving a small menu of breakfast and lunch sandwiches like the Poultrygeist: smoked Springer Mountain chicken salad with celery, spicy cucumbers and arugula on a pillowy brioche roll. There’s also a small but curated selection of dry goods, wine and flowers — all the necessary provisions for a picnic in nearby Piedmont Park.
Storico Fresco Alimentari is a lively classic Italian restaurant in a tuckedaway basement that’s also a pasta shop and market during the day. Stellar cocktails, knowledgeable service and a convivial atmosphere (along with a surprisingly good lemon-rosemary fried chicken) make this a Buckhead mainstay for lunch or dinner.
Little Rey’s is a Tex-Mex counter-service concept from Chef Ford Fry that’s an ideal choice for families or a casual meal. Nachos, tacos, salads, margaritas and soft serve are on the menu. Inside, expect the same vintage vibes as Ford’s Superica, or dine on the covered wraparound patio at this busy intersection in Piedmont Heights.
A spinoff of the Manhattan original, Le Colonial in Buckhead Village serves French-Vietnamese fare in an upscale setting and offers great Happy Hour specials weekdays, including $8 cocktails and bar bites.
Off the beaten path in Old Fourth Ward is Bully Boy, a seafood-focused restaurant serving an Asianinspired menu ranging from oysters to Australian wagyu, with an emphasis on sushi. Apps include crispy Brussels sprouts with a sweet chili glaze and Chinese broccoli with togarashi pepitas and a ginger mirin glaze. The Spirited Away roll — spicy snow crab topped with sesame-crusted tuna and cucumber — is a nod to the 2001 anime film by the same name. Finish your meal with colorful mochi — bite-sized portions of the Japanese rice-flour dessert filled with ice cream in seasonal flavors. SP
PRO TIP
The Atlanta CityPASS includes admission to five attractions at a discounted rate, including the Georgia Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta and World of Coca-Cola, plus your choice of two additional museums — Fernbank Museum of Natural History, College Football Hall of Fame or Center for Civil and Human Rights. Tickets are $86 for adults and $68 for children 3-12. Learn more at citypass.com/atlanta
Bully Boy
