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FROM THE EDITOR
CATHY MARTIN EDITOR editor@southparkmagazine.com
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As I write this, we’re enjoying the first magnificent stroke of fall. Not pretend fall — those brief teasers of cool, sun-dappled afternoons sandwiched between strings of humid, 80-plus-degree days. But actual flannel-and-Ugg, fire-in-thefirepit, soup-on-the-stove weather. And while holiday ads started popping up weeks ago, it’s finally starting to feel like the season is near, when college kids and family members we haven’t seen in months (or years even, given recent circumstances) will come home for the holidays. Fittingly, I suppose, this November issue is filled with quite a few stories about home. When we asked Chef Jonathan Shuler of Dilworth Tasting Room (which earlier this year opened a SouthPark location at Sharon Square) to tell us about a dish that reminded him of home, he shared not only a recipe for the classic Puerto Rican dish pernil with arroz con gandules but also warm memories of time spent in his grandmother’s kitchen. Learn how to make the Latin comfort-food dish on Page 33. Durham artist Damian Stamer, whose third solo exhibition at SOCO Gallery on Providence Road opens this month, was drawn back to his native North Carolina after years studying and working abroad and in New York City. “Coming home for the holidays, I started taking pictures of the weathered buildings around town,” Stamer told contributor Courtney Napier (Page 94). “The distance allowed him to see his home with more appreciative and curious eyes,” Napier writes. Stamer describes how he’s discovered an unexpected beauty in the mystery surrounding neglected structures in the rural countryside — inspiration for the paintings he creates in his studio connected to his childhood home. After several years living in New York and Atlanta, interior designer Hadley Quisenberry also came home to Charlotte, wanting her young children to be able to grow up alongside their cousins. Now Quisenberry, her brother and her mother all live within a block of each other — a sweet rarity in these modern times. Peek inside Quisenberry’s west Charlotte home on page 86. While holiday celebrations will be a bit muted again this year, here’s hoping we all get to experience the joy and comforts of home — whether through our favorite comfort-food dishes, familiar surroundings viewed with fresh eyes, or, most importantly, the closeness of friends and family. SP
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November BLVD.
25 | cocktails Stock up on bar essentials and learn to mix drinks like a pro at The Cocktailery.
25
29 | food + drink A guide to gourmet markets
33 | cuisine Tale of the plate: Chef Jon Shuler’s pernil with arroz con gandules
38 | entertaining A chic tailgate party to celebrate college football season
41 | artists Artist Frankie Zombie gives new life to everyday objects.
47 | interiors Develop a green thumb at one of these local plant shops.
51 | profile A retired police captain hikes the Appalachian Trail to raise money for nonprofits.
55 | givers Bitty & Beau’s opens its first Charlotte store.
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57 | around town Latest openings and events
60 | creators of N.C. STARworks creates art from the ground up.
65 | happenings November calendar of events
DEPARTMENTS 71 | simple life Time and remembrance
75 | bookshelf Notable new releases
78 | well + wise Learning to recognize what we can and cannot control
119 | swirl The city’s hottest parties and events
128 | gallery Four artists form a unique collaboration at Elder Gallery.
ABOUT THE COVER Fall cocktails at Supperland. Photograph by Justin Driscoll.
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FEATURES 82 | Spirits that sparkle by Cathy Martin • photographs by Justin Driscoll Colleen Hughes offers a next-level cocktail experience at Supperland’s new speakeasy.
86 | West side story by Cathy Martin • photographs by Erin Comerford Miller Interior designer Hadley Quisenberry blends old and new in her west Charlotte home.
94 | The beauty of change by Courtney Napier • photographs by Taylor McDonald Artist Damian Stamer combines realism and abstraction in his new show at SOCO Gallery.
100 | One love by Page Leggett • illustrations by Harry Blair Remembering the reggae festivals at Lakeview Country Club
TRAVEL 104 | Old-World wine by Finn Cohen • photographs by Mark Wagoner In North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, European-style grapes thrive.
110 | Pretty. Unexpected. by Taylor Wanbaugh Tallahassee, Fla., is more than just a college town.
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1230 West Morehead St., Suite 308 Charlotte, NC 28208 704-523-6987 southparkmagazine.com _______________ Ben Kinney Publisher publisher@southparkmagazine.com Cathy Martin Editor editor@southparkmagazine.com Andie Rose Art Director Lauren M. Coffey Graphic Designer Alyssa Rocherolle Graphic Designer Whitley Adkins Style Editor David Mildenberg Contributing Editor Contributing Writers Michelle Boudin, Wiley Cash, Finn Cohen, Jim Dodson, Allison Futterman, Vanessa Infanzon, Juliet Lam Kuehnle, Page Leggett, Ebony L. Morman, Courtney Napier, Michael J. Solender, Taylor Wanbaugh Contributing Photographers Mallory Cash, Daniel Coston, Justin Driscoll, Taylor McDonald, Erin Comerford Miller, Mark Wagoner Contributing Illustrator Harry Blair Amanda Lea Proofreader _______________ ADVERTISING Jane Rodewald Sales Manager 704-621-9198 jane@southparkmagazine.com Scott Leonard Account Executive/Audience Development Specialist 704-996-6426 scott@southparkmagazine.com Sharon Smith Marketing Specialist Brad Beard Graphic Designer _______________ Letters to the editorial staff: editor@southparkmagazine.com Instagram: southparkmagazine Facebook: facebook.com/southparkmagazine Twitter: twitter.com/SouthParkMag
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Published by Old North State Magazines LLC. ©Copyright 2021. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Volume 25, Issue 11
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blvd. people, places, things
MORE THAN MACARONS Amelie’s French Bakery & Café could soon be known for more than its beloved French macarons and salted caramel brownies: The Charlotte bakery is adding artisan breads to its lineup, from sourdough to herb focaccia to cranberry pecan. Amelie’s has opened a wholesale bread kitchen in its newly renovated Central Avenue spot, which was home to Nova’s Bakery for about 20 years (Nova’s closed last December). Led by baker Joseph Feliz, the kitchen will cater to hospitality and retail clients, with plans to offer bread for sale at all four of Amelie’s Charlottearea locations by year-end. ameliesfrenchbakery.com SP
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blvd. | cocktails
In the mix
Tamu Curtis tapped plenty of local talent in designing The Cocktailery, including Ariene Bethea of Dressing Room Interiors, Paul Boldt of Cotswold Home Inc., Studio Cultivate, and mural artists Amber King and Kelly Copely.
STOCK UP ON BAR ESSENTIALS AND LEARN TO MIX DRINKS LIKE A PRO AT THE COCKTAILERY. by Michelle Boudin
T
TOP PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN TWITTY
amu Curtis has never actually worked as a bartender, and she says that’s exactly why she’s the perfect person to open The Cocktailery, a new cocktail-supply and beverage shop that also offers hands-on mixology classes at Atherton Mill. “I wasn’t a bartender, and that’s why I relate so well to the customer — because I’m them. I’m someone who likes a great dinner and cocktail experience, but I was always so intimidated. I knew [what] tasted good, but I knew nothing about how to create a cocktail.” Curtis relocated from Los Angeles to Charlotte in 2012 to be near her family. She used her marketing background to help generate a buzz when she started offering cocktail-making classes in 2016 under the Liberate Your Palate moniker. She held the classes in private homes, at corporate events — basically anywhere she could find a space. “It’s all about teaching people the basic structure of a cocktail and empowering them to get creative. It doesn’t have to be super complicated to taste good.” Once Covid hit, Curtis started offering the workshops virtually, helping people raid their pantries to make a good mixed drink. “We want to teach people how to look at their pantry and their refrigerator and use
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blvd. | cocktails ingredients they have at home. Simple syrup can be honey or jam. You just need some sweetness, some citrus and your spirit to really make a balanced cocktail.” Curtis was shocked when her virtual workshops went gangbusters — interest from corporate clients surged — allowing her to finally open the storefront she’d always planned. “I had to put my business plan on hold because of Covid, but because of the virtual classes I was able to self-fund the store,” Curtis says. She opened The Cocktailery on Sept. 11. The new retail space is a one-stop shop for everything needed to concoct the perfect cocktail, from barware to bitters. “I thought retail was going to be the cherry on top of the classes, but it’s doing really well,” Curtis says. “It’s been quite a journey this past year. I’m just taking it day by day, trying to take advantage of every opportunity. I just feel so accomplished — to see my dream coming to fruition, my way, without having to make any compromises and to have people respond to it … it just feels great.” SP
PHOTOGRAPHS BY TONYA RUSS PRICE
The Cocktailery’s retail store is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Cocktail classes are held ThursdaySaturday evenings starting at 6:30 p.m. Private bookings are available for team-building events, bachelorette parties, birthdays and other occasions. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 430, thecocktailery.com
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blvd. | food +drink
Gourmet go-tos by Michelle Boudin
N
ot all of us are gourmet cooks — and that’s OK, thanks to some great specialty-food shops around town. Need a fancy meal that looks like it came straight from your oven? Sweet and savory bites for a cocktail party that will earn rave reviews? A well-rounded meal to feed your family that just requires re-heating? Or how about a hostess gift for the friend who has everything? Charlotte’s markets have what you need. Some are old staples, and others are new on the scene, but all are worth a visit.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY THE PLAID PENGUIN
Copain
Copain
This European-style market and bakery located behind Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen in SouthPark is one of the latest offerings from restaurateur Jim Noble. Copain opened in July 2020 and quickly became known for its fresh-baked bread. “We use ancient grains to make our signature Copain sourdough and rye breads, and we have gluten free brioche that is to die for,” says Creative Director Sarah Wrenn. The market offers weekly meal kits, with dishes like rosemary-brined pork loin with creamy grits, Swiss chard and cider jus; sliced flank steak; and falafel with preserved lemon yogurt and grain salad. 6601 Morrison Blvd.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 704-440-5050, copaingatherings.com
Mere’s
Meredith Mullins (friends call her Mere) decided at 40 she wanted to ditch medical-device sales and finally open the shop she’d dreamed about for years. So in 2018, Mere’s opened in Dilworth, offering a highly curated selection of wine and cheese — you won’t find any of the cheeses here in grocery stores, and you might not recognize most of the wine labels. The goal is to help customers expand their palates, so grab a seat at the counter where you can sample any of Mere’s cheeses. Mere’s also offers gift baskets, “Mongers” cheese and charcuterie boards, and wine and cheese club memberships. 2400 Park Rd., Suite H; open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. 704-472-5513, meresclt.com
southparkmagazine.com | 29
blvd. | food + drink
Reid's Fine Foods
This newcomer opened in Cotswold Village this summer after former private equity banker Andrew King decided to return to his passion. King grew up just four blocks from the shop and recalls walking to the former Cotswold Mall as a child. He previously owned High Cotton Catering, helped create The Community Table Bistro at Goodwill Industries and once worked as the executive chef at The Lodge on Lake Lure. This gourmet takeaway boutique has everything from casseroles to cakes, all made in-house (even the ice cream!). According to King, The Butler’s Pantry has everything you need for a cocktail party or a weeknight dinner with the kids. Don’t miss the Trailer Park Casserole (chicken, chiles, cheese and corn tortillas), Cold Oven Pound Cake (“a culinary walk down memory lane,” the website says) or cocktail ham biscuits. The store also offers indoor and outdoor seating if you want to grab a glass of wine and an appetizer. 274 S. Sharon Amity Rd.; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. cltbutlerspantry.com
Pasta & Provisions
Charlotte’s only fresh pasta shop has been around since Thanksgiving weekend 1992. Owner Tommy George worked for an Italian cheese and butcher shop in Boston before relocating to the Queen City with his wife, Debbie, and their three young sons nearly three decades ago. The couple’s middle son, Dylan, was just 2 years old at the time; he’s now the general manager and will take over the family-owned business someday. Pasta & Provisions offers more than 15 varieties of pasta, including its signature ravioli and pomodoro sauce, along with prepared meals, soups, spreads, dry goods and more at its three locations. Shop for take-home goods or dine in at 1600 S. Mint St. or 4700 Park Rd., where patio seating is available. The original location at 1528 Providence Rd. is take-home only. pastaprovisions.com
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Reid’s Fine Foods
The OG specialty-food shop in Charlotte, Arthur Reid opened the first Reid’s on Morehead Street in 1928. The second, more iconic location opened on Providence Road in 1931. New owners bought Reid’s in 2010 and expanded the brand to include five stores: Myers Park, SouthPark, two uptown locations, and downtown Greenville, S.C. In the beginning, the market was known for its expert butcher shop, gourmet foods and grocery delivery (in the early years, delivery was by bicycle). The stores now focus on fresh prepared meals, gift baskets and catering, with a wine bar and dine-in seating (menus vary according to location). Reid’s is packed with its own line of signature items, from chocolate-chip cookie jars to cheese straws, marinades to barbecue sauces, along with its well-known steak burgers — enjoy one at half price on Tuesdays. Hours vary by location. reids.com
The Loyalist Market
The Loyalist opened four years ago in downtown Matthews, offering more than 60 artisan cheeses and curated meats. The market calls itself a gourmet sandwich shop by day and a cheese bar at night — salads and shareable snacks are also on the dine-in menu. The Loyalist highlights Southern producers and works to keep everything as fresh as possible — cheese is cut to order. Board selections change daily, and workers here pride themselves on helping guests with flavor profiles and pairings. Don’t miss Mac & Cheese night every Tuesday, or their dine-in deal: $20 cheese and charcuterie boards every Tuesday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. A tornado took down their sign, so if you’re having trouble finding the shop, look for the colorful 31-foot mural by artist Osiris Rain on The Loyalist’s patio wall. 435 N. Trade St., Unit 102, Matthews; noon-9 p.m. TuesdaySaturday. theloyalistmarket.com SP
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY REID’S FINE FOODS
The Butler’s Pantry
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blvd. | cuisine
TA L E OF T H E PL AT E: PE R N I L W IT H A R ROZ CON GA N DU L ES
Chef Jonathan Shuler THE DILWORTH TASTING ROOM EXECUTIVE CHEF'S VARIATION OF THE TRADITIONAL PUERTO RICAN DISH IS AN HOMAGE TO FAMILY AND THE COMFORTS OF HOME.
T
by Michael J. Solender • photographs by Justin Driscoll
here’s no faster trip down childhood’s memory lane for Dilworth Tasting Room Executive Chef Jon Shuler than the homey and wildly popular Puerto Rican plate of slow roasted pork shoulder with rice and pigeon peas. Nearly every family on the Caribbean island has its own unique take on pernil with arroz con gandules, though it’s Shuler’s mother and grandmother’s highly seasoned, smoky version of the special comfort food he lovingly recalls growing up in the Bronx. Shuler’s iteration of the classic dish lies at the intersection of adobo-rubbed, garlicky, tender pork with crisp, crackling skin and the bright, sofrito-seasoned rice studded with starchy pigeon peas. “In a word,” says Shuler, describing his love for the dish, “It tastes like home — it’s soul food for me.” Born in New York, Shuler moved to Raleigh at age 8 and
relocated to Charlotte about three years ago. Both his parents and grandparents hail from Puerto Rico, and they brought the island’s culinary traditions to their respective kitchens in the Bronx — familial social and cultural hubs Shuler recalls with special warmth. “Home-cooked dinner was always waiting for my sister and me at my grandmother’s when we returned from school,” Shuler says. “It was important to her that we came straight home, and we were rewarded with every meal. It was definitely love on a plate.” Pernil with arroz con gandules, while simple and economical, is traditionally a special-occasion dish often served at large family gatherings or holidays, according to Shuler. “Rice and pigeon peas (similar to black-eyed peas) are served at almost every Puerto Rican meal and considered a staple,” he says. “Preparing and cooking roasted pork shoulder, particularly the size to feed a large gathering, southparkmagazine.com | 33
blvd. | cuisine is a time-consuming process, days in the making, and is typically reserved for special occasions.” First, a large pork shoulder (up to 15 pounds) is obtained from a butcher, then marinated using both a special adobo rub (a blend of chilis, peppers, garlic, annatto seed, herbs and spices) and sofrito (a condiment of aromatic vegetables and herbs such as peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes) overnight. Then the pork is roasted low and slow for six to eight hours. The result is skin so crisp and crackly, it’s fought over at the table. The tender, falling-off-the-bone meat is piled high on family plates and served in its roasting juices alongside bright, aromatic rice and pigeon peas spiced with a special sazon, cooked in rendered pork fat, and steamed until light and fluffy. The plate is completed with a leafy green salad and a ripe avocado, which serve as perfect foils alongside the savory main dish. “I love the simplicity and layered flavors involved in the preparation,” Shuler says. “It’s this technique and approach I look to incorporate in my style of cooking today.” While you won’t find pernil with arroz con gandules at DTR, Shuler and his team employ similar techniques in a popular item at the Dilworth
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blvd. | cuisine location: Paycers tamale is a deconstructed dish featuring adobo pulled pork, cotija grits, salsa ranchero, pickled red onions and peppers. At DTR SouthPark, the veal ossobuco ragu uses the low-and-slow roasting technique with veal knuckle to create the tender and flavorful sauce that’s served with house-made linguine. “This style of cooking makes me happy. And I know it makes others happy as well.” SP
Pernil with arroz con gandules
(Roasted pork shoulder with rice and pigeon peas)
In this version of the classic Puerto Rican dish, Chef Shuler suggests a preparation that can be made at home with pantry ingredients readily available at many supermarkets and specialty grocery stores. Pork ingredients : Adobo spice (Goya is preferred) 5 lb. pork shoulder (bone-in, skin-on preferred) Cilantro sofrito (Goya) Rice ingredients: 2 cups jasmine rice 3 cups vegetable stock 2 packets sazon (Goya) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon cilantro sofrito (Goya) 1 can gandules (Goya)
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Directions: • Generously rub the pork with adobo spice to fully coat, followed by the sofrito. • Allow to marinate overnight if time allows. • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. • On a tray, roast pork for 20 minutes in a 450-degree oven, then reduce the oven to 250 degrees and cook for six hours. • For the rice: heat olive oil in a four-quart pan with lid. • Add sofrito, gandules and rice to the pan to lightly toast and coat with oil. • Add salt and cold vegetable stock • Bring to a boil, mixing to ensure nothing sticks • Once boiling, reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes • After the first 15 minutes, fluff rice with a fork and remove from heat. • Cover with lid off heat and allow to sit for an additional 10 minutes • Serve with sliced avocado and a side salad.
Home for the Holidays
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blvd. | entertaining
Tailgate time
T
he Clemson Tigers fell short of a victory in their season opener vs. Georgia at Bank of America Stadium, but that didn’t stop some fans from going big to celebrate the start of college football season. College sweethearts Dominique Sensabaugh, a philanthropist, and her husband, former NFL cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, partnered with Clemson’s IPTAY nonprofit to host an “elevated tailgate” at Merchant & Trade in uptown Charlotte. From Clemson-themed cocktails like The Paw (a blackberry tequila fizz) to upscale tailgate fare — sliders, gourmet charcuterie and football-shaped blondies — and servers dressed as referees, no detail was overlooked. The event honored the Clemson P.A.W. Journey, a program that emphasizes personal growth and helps scholar-athletes develop life skills that transfer beyond the field. The Sensabaughs, both Clemson alumni, have lived in Charlotte for five years. Photographer: Brandon Grate Event planner: Ivy Robinson Venue and caterer: Merchant & Trade Flowers: CLUX Balloons: The Balloon Wrangler Lighting: Alpha-Lit Charlotte Signage: Elisabeth Rose
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“YOU MIGHT FIND YOUR HEART GROWING A FEW SIZES, TOO.” The Associated Press
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PHOTOGRAPH LEFT BY FRANKIE ZOMBIE, RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH BY ATOM BLK MODELED BY CHARENE DAVIS
blvd. | artists
Bold rebirth ARTIST FRANKIE ZOMBIE GIVES NEW LIFE TO EVERYDAY OBJECTS.
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by Vanessa Infanzon
hen visual artist Frankie Zombie was hounded by a longtime friend to paint a Yamaha piano, he resisted. He’d painted on jackets, shoes and other nontraditional canvases, but he wasn’t sure how a musical instrument — especially something as large as a piano — would work. Zombie was disillusioned with the music industry; he’d spent three years in Los Angeles playing piano and producing for John Legend and Pharrell Williams. He returned to his home in Spartanburg, S.C., depressed. His friend’s insistence got Zombie thinking about how visual art could reconnect him to music. “That piano started it,” remembers Zombie, 32, who currently lives in Charlotte. “Before painting [it], I started to play. I felt that happiness and calmness come back. I told myself, this is my rebirth and my reconnection — not to music, but to visual art.” Painting gives Zombie the purpose he’s been seeking. “I know how to speak to people through art,” he explains. “I couldn’t really speak to people through music.” Anything is a canvas, Zombie says. A self-taught artist, he’s made his career by painting ceilings and walls, guitars and vehicles. He wants to inspire youth to consider art and entrepreneurship. “Growing up, I was told not to paint on anything. I was told to keep everything neat,” he says. “My focus each and every day is to show youth that there are so many different things to consider as a canvas.”
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blvd. | artists
“Growing up, I was told not to paint on anything. I was told to keep everything neat,” Zombie says. “My focus each and every day is to show youth that there are so many different things to consider as a canvas.” 42
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LEFT PHOTO BY CREATED BY EYES, RIGHT PHOTO BY VICKI TAYLOR
Since last summer, when Zombie worked on the Black Lives Matter mural on uptown’s Tryon Street, he’s become integrated into Charlotte’s art scene. He had two pieces at the Mint Museum’s LOCAL/ STREET, a pop-up exhibition featuring more than 40 local artists. After painting golf shoes for Canadian singer Celine Dion last year, Zombie created a shoe painting class for the Charlotte community. In May and July, he taught youth and adult workshops at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. He spent time with each participant, empowering them to create their own style, says Afeni Grace, program director at the Gantt Center. “His love of art shined through,” Grace says. “That level of attentiveness and genuine caring is something the Gantt Center really values in our teaching artists.” People find Zombie by word of mouth and social media. He’s traveled all over the country painting household items passed down through generations or ones recently purchased for him to paint. Zombie gets to know his clients — he wants to understand their energy. Before Zombie paints a piano for a client, he plays it. He may stare at it for an hour to develop a plan, he says. “As they take me through their home, I pay attention to the plate on the table,” he says. “I pay attention to the details of the tiles on their floor, the backsplash in their kitchen. Things that people love in their home: I pay attention to every part of that.” Zombie was born Frankie Page in Long Island, New York. He grew up in the Bronx and moved to
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Spartanburg during high school. Though he started painting portraits in high school, he didn’t take it seriously. After high school, he returned to New York City to attend night classes at a local college while working for an elevator company during the day. A friend noticed he was up all hours and nicknamed him Zombie. It stuck. As a child, Zombie recalls staring at Fordham University, across the street from where he lived, in his mind layering colors on the people, buildings and train tracks. “When I walk into a room, my brain automatically starts to layer everything,” he says. “That part has always been with me.” The Jetsons, the animated television series Zombie watched as a kid, inspired him to use bold colors, monochromatic designs and pastels. He noticed people of color weren’t represented in the futuristic cartoon and spent many hours recreating it in his artwork with people who looked like him. He also gives credit to the music — hip-hop, jazz, pop, soul — his family introduced him to. “I just found a way to take all those things and simplify them into colors,” he says. Interior designer and owner of Charlotte-based Home Ec., Natalie Papier met Zombie last year when they connected through a local photographer. Since then, they’ve collaborated on several projects. Zombie painted a surfboard for a Home Ec. client in California and a guitar for Papier’s design vignette for Furnished, a fundraising event for the Charlotte nonprofit, Furnish for Good. Papier admires how Zombie brings joy to forgotten household items such as chairs, pianos and tables. She’s noticed how he asks questions to find out why the piece is meaningful to a client. “He really gets to know the people,” Papier says. “It’s not like he’s pumping out art. He’s very cautious about people’s feelings. He makes sure they are part of the project.” SP Learn more about Zombie at frankiezombie.com 44
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TOP PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANKIE ZOMBIE, BOTTOM PHOTOGRAPH BY NATALIE PAPIER
blvd. | artists
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blvd. | interiors
Green scene DEVELOP A GREEN THUMB AT ONE OF THESE LOCAL PLANT SHOPS. by Ebony L. Morman
P
eople are spending more time than ever at home, often leaving more time to explore new hobbies or return to former ones. During the past year and a half, home decorating and improvements have been at the top of to-do lists, leading to a renewed interest in houseplants. Bringing the outdoors inside has many benefits: It’s believed that houseplants not only help improve mental health by reducing stress, but their roots and soil can improve indoor-air quality. When shopping for plants, there are plenty of options besides big-box stores. These local plant shops have all you need to develop — or further explore — your green thumb.
TOP PHOTOGRAPH BY BAILEY RYAN
PLANTHOUSE
PlantHouse CEO and founder Bailey Ryan started a premium plant shop called PlantBar in Virginia Beach, Va., with her parents in 2018. Rebranded as PlantHouse, the third location opened in Dilworth last year. At PlantHouse, it’s all about the experience. Because plant shopping can be overwhelming, the team strives not only to make guests feel comfortable but to personalize each visit. PlantHouse collaborates with small growers in central and south Florida, which allows them to regularly source rare plants. Prices range from 4-inch plants starting at $10, 6-inch plants from $15, and larger floor plants for $35 to $100. The DIY and evening workshops are all-inclusive: For the terrarium workshop, guests pick a glass that includes plants, rocks, soil and decor, with the average cost about $38. Follow PlantHouse on Instagram @planthouseclt. 2452 Park Rd., Unit D, planthouse.us
TWIGS & FIGS
Co-owner Treena Chaudhuri and her father, Kausik Chaudhuri, opened Twigs & Figs in September with the goal of having a space for guests to socialize, meet new people and learn about plants. The Ballantyne shop specializes in houseplants, with a creative space
for build-your-own terrariums. Future plans include classes and workshops for beginners and experienced plant owners, such as yoga and paint-and-sips that will incorporate plants. Community is key for the shop, which plans to donate to local nonprofits that focus on LGBTQ youth. Prices range from $3 for a small air plant to $200. Twigs & Figs also sells pots, planters, home decor, books and other items that range from $5 to $200. In-store terrariums start at $35, and tiny terrarium gift boxes cost $25. Follow Twigs & Figs on Instagram @twigsandfigs. 15205 John J. Delaney Dr., #B, twigsandfigs.co
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blvd. | interiors Veronica Leon had a passion for plants and always wanted to own her own business. Leon wanted to share the benefits of owning plants with others, so she founded Verde Tribe in February 2019. Verde Tribe partners with other small business owners such as local potters to offer handmade planters. Other services include in-person and virtual consultations, repotting, shipping plants and pop-ups at local markets. Verde Tribe says its specialty is empowering and educating people to start or grow plant collections and develop a green thumb. Prices range from $10 to $70 depending on the plant type and size, and whether it comes with a planter. The average cost of a small plant with a planter is $35. Follow Verde Tribe on Instagram @verdetribe. Verde Tribe’s micro-retail shops are located at The Market at 7th Street and Charlotte Collective. verdetribe.com
SouthPark 6310 Fairview Road Charlotte, NC 28210
htbforbusiness.com 211013-873205859
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OAKDALE GREENHOUSES
Located in north Charlotte near the Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve, Oakdale Greenhouses has been around since 1980. Current owner and manager Bill Kay purchased the business in January 2007. With 20,000 square feet of heated greenhouses on more than 3 acres, Oakdale specializes in indoor tropical plants, outdoor landscaping plants, koi fish and plant containers. It also provides short-term rental plants for special events, including corporate functions, graduations, parties and more. Prices range from $2.95 to $189.95 for indoor tropical plants. Outdoor landscaping trees, shrubs and grasses range from $5.95 to $189.95, depending on pot size. Koi fish cost $15 to $25, and decorative pots are priced from $2.95 to $149.95. Follow Oakdale Greenhouses on Instagram @oakdalegreenhousesclt. 5626 Statesville Rd., oakdalegreenhouses.com SP
PHOTO LEFT BY VERONICA LEON, PHOTO RIGHT BY JEFF ALIBERTI
VERDE TRIBE
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live who you are Under Contract 8 ACRE ESTATE
OLD FOXCROFT
3503 Antioch Church Rd, Weddington
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Melanie Coyne 704.763.8003
$395,100 – Lovely 4BR/2.1BA Saussy Burbank home on cul-de-sac lot close to downtown Waxhaw. Wood flrs & high ceilings on main level.
SO UTHPARK | WAVE RLY | L A KE N OR MA N | 7 0 4 . 5 5 2 . 9 2 9 2 | H MP R OP E RT I ES . C OM ©2021 Corcoran Group LLC. All rights reserved. Corcoran® and the Corcoran Logo are registered service marks owned by Corcoran Group LLC. Corcoran Group LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each franchise is independently owned and operated.
blvd. | profile
Keeping in step RETIRED POLICE CAPT. MICHELLE HUMMEL HIKES THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL TO FUNDRAISE FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS. by Allison Futterman
F
or 30 years, retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Capt. Michelle Hummel served the community as first responder. Over the years, she worked on cases involving sexual assault, robbery, vice and narcotics, and street crimes, among others. But while Hummel loved being able to make a difference in the community, her time hasn’t been without challenges. She’s dealt with the loss of fellow officers due to murder and suicide. She’s fought breast cancer. Though she retired as a captain in 2019, it hasn’t meant the end of Hummel’s meaningful work. Earlier this year, she hiked nearly 1,300 miles of the Appalachian Trail, with the intention of finishing the remaining 900 miles in the future, to raise money for five charities. Her fundraising hike garnered more than $10,000 in donations. One of the recipients is COPS 4 the CURE, an organization that supports CMPD employees and family members affected by cancer. Hummel helped launch the nonprofit after her own experience with cancer. Not an experienced hiker when she embarked on this experience, Hummel persevered through bad weather, exhaustion and solitude, driven by the motivation of helping others. Comments were edited for length and clarity. Did you learn anything new about yourself on the trail? What I realized is that I know who I am. There’s a lot of solitude, and I’m someone who doesn’t relish being alone. I get my energy from interactions with people and from helping people. I’ve seen people in the midst of terrible circumstances, but I’ve also had many opportunities to help people — to better themselves, to connect them to services they need, to mentor.
Your own experience with cancer led you to help others with the creation of COPS 4 the CURE. I started it with other survivors and CMPD family members who had lost loved ones to cancer. We focus on a tailored response to anyone who is dealing with cancer or any life-threatening illness. We do whatever we can do to relieve some stress from the patient, so they can focus on healing. Do you see your continued passion for helping others as an extension of your work in law enforcement? Yes, I found great purpose and fulfillment in helping others as a police officer and [through] my work with the different charities that I have been involved with. I want to continue that in retirement. I also want to expand more into working with first responders dealing with mental health. Why mental health? We have to take away the stigma of getting services. It has to be easier, and we need to support each other. We have to watch for signs of stress and PTSD and potential suicide risks, because peers are often the first to see it. This job is a pressure cooker, and you have to let the pressure off and release the valve. What’s next for you? I’m still honing my purpose-finding. But it will be something related to continuing to help people in whatever capacity I am able. Learn more about Hummel at charlottesalutetoheroes.com. SP
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blvd. | givers
Coffee for a cause BITTY & BEAU’S OPENS ITS FIRST CHARLOTTE STORE, PROVIDING JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. by Michelle Boudin
B
itty and Beau may not be old enough to work in the coffee shop named for them, but their mom Amy Wright says they definitely will be behind the counter when they finish school. “They’re already such a part of it. They know every employee’s name at every shop, and they’re a big part of every grand opening.” Bitty, 12, and Beau, 17, were on hand for the latest Bitty & Beau’s opening in Charlotte’s South End. Their parents opened the first coffee shop five-and-a-half years ago in Wilmington. Each shop is staffed primarily by people with disabilities. “They do everything from take orders to make the drinks. It’s just a very positive place to be. People love interacting with all of our employees,” Wright says. Bitty and Beau are the youngest of Wright’s four children, and both have Down syndrome. It’s highly unusual to give birth to two babies with the disorder, so Wright says she and her husband, Ben, felt like they were called to do something special because of it. “When Bitty was born, we felt like our calling in life came into focus — there’s something greater we’re supposed to be doing for people with disabilities.” She heard a worrisome statistic that 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed — and that got her thinking. Her oldest daughter was also recently diagnosed with autism, so she says the idea behind the coffee shops is to create a way not only to make sure her own kids could find work, but also for people who have never been around someone with autism or Down syndrome to experience that in a no-pressure atmosphere. “We had always been advocates for our kids in different ways, but we could never really capture the attention of people who didn’t have a family member with a disability. And I was thinking, ‘How can you reach people who have never spent time with someone with
a disability?’ And a coffee shop popped in my head, because it’s a comfortable place where people come together. If you want to sit down at the counter and have a face-to-face conversation with someone with Down syndrome you can, or you can just get a great cup of coffee.” The first shop opened in 2016, and a year later Amy was named the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year, receiving a $100,000 award to expand her cause. “We wanted to create a place in the community where people could see what we already saw in our kids — the value they bring to our lives — and we thought maybe we could shift the culture a little bit. We realized the experience we could provide for a guest who had never spent time with people with disabilities and hoped maybe they would leave with a different perspective. You don’t care about what you don’t see in the world, and for so long people with disabilities have not been seen.” The Wrights didn’t set out to become a franchise, but they received so many calls from people interested in being a part of Bitty & Beau’s that last year they started offering the option. They now have 19 shops in the works across the country. Amy says Charlotte was always high on the list. Wright is proud to say it’s not just about the people and the mission. “Our coffee is really good too!” she says. Bitty & Beau’s is the official coffee for the Rachael Ray Show, and the company has several big corporate clients as well. “Our coffee shops are a place for good coffee and a place filled with warmth where people with disabilities can really shine.” SP Bitty and Beau’s is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Design Center of the Carolinas, 1930 Camden Road, Ste. 236. bittyandbeauscoffee.com southparkmagazine.com | 55
A NOV EL PL ACE
CH A P TER 12
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blvd. | around town A rare Chinese Imperial vase from the collection of Sarah Belk Gambrell fetched a whopping $2.45 million at auction — a figure far higher than its pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$300,000. At just under 5 inches tall, the rare falangcai vase adorned with a garden scene featuring two women and a child is a product of the Qianlong Emperor’s imperial workshop. Gambrell, the Belk department-store heiress and esteemed philanthropist who died last year at 102, was an avid collector of European and Asian porcelain. The auction was conducted by New York City-based Doyle.
The Ballantyne Hotel was named No. 2 Hotel in the South by Conde Nast Traveler’s 2021 Reader’s Choice awards. The 208-room hotel — the only Charlotte property on the list — earned high marks for its service, spa and dining options. “If you took a gentleman’s library and married it with a little Hollywood Regency glamour, you’d have the rooms and suites at The Ballantyne,” the report says. The Brown Hotel in Louisville, Ky., earned the top spot on the list of 25.
food + drink
Hi-Wire Brewing plans to open a brew-
ery and taproom at 330 W. Tremont Ave. in South End in spring 2022, its ninth location. The space will include two separate bars and a beer garden, with seating for 300 people. Hi-Wire was founded in Asheville in 2013 — other taprooms are in Durham, Wilmington, Knoxville, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky. u The Batch House has reopened at 901 Berryhill Rd. in west Charlotte. The popular bakeshop was forced to close last year after its Wesley Heights location flooded. u The owners of Kindred in Davidson plan to open Milkbread, a counter-service cafe, at the former Dairy Queen spot in Plaza Midwood. Expect crispy chicken sandwiches, bowls and salads, and milkbread doughnuts, along with coffee, wine and beer.
retail
Betty by Moxie Mercantile, a children’s and women’s apparel store, opened last month at 1219 Thomas Ave. in Plaza Midwood. The store name is inspired by Betty Ziegler Mims, the former owner of Bride’s House of Originals, which was housed in Moxie’s Commonwealth Avenue location and closed in 2014 after 50 years. u Menswear brand Psycho Bunny and apparel retailer Scotch & Soda are opening soon at SouthPark Mall.
Moxie Mercantile owner Michelle Castelloe, left, and Betty Riegler Mims
southparkmagazine.com | 57
blvd. | around town USA Field Hockey chose the Queens University of Charlotte Sports Complex at Marion Diehl Park as the new temporary training facility for the U.S. women’s national team. The team is currently training for the 2022 Pan American Cup, which will take place in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 20-30.
A bigger, better Blackhawk
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by Michael J. Solender
early two years in the making, Blackhawk Hardware’s store expansion and reimagination is formally complete. The transformation of the longtime Park Road Shopping Center stalwart increases in-store space by nearly a third, adding a 12,000-square-foot lower level to boost the total footprint to more than 42,000 square feet. The expansion also added a rear customer entrance by the garden center in the shopping center’s back lot. “We cut a giant hole through the floor of an operational store in the middle of a pandemic,” says Blackhawk owner Andy Wilkerson, describing the expansion of the store that opened in 1977 and is part of the national ACE Hardware store network. Now, a wide stairway and glass elevator lead from the main floor to the lower level. New flooring; wide, well-marked aisles; and lower-profile shelving provide a light, open feel where customers can easily navigate the vast merchandise displays. Almost every department grew — Wilkerson says the store now carries around 100,000 different items for sale — with outdoor grills and barbecue supplies leading the way. “Grilling is our top selling category,” says Wilkerson, who notes Blackhawk is one the largest dealers in the nation of both Big Green Egg and Weber grills. A new toy department — think puzzles, blocks, wagons, Schleich figurines, and battery-free diversions that don’t blink, buzz or babble — will keep the kids engaged. There are also expanded pet offerings, including a self-serve dog wash. Wilkerson, whose pooches Nacho and Scout are often on hand to welcome customers, says the sudsy spa sees about 100 canine customers a week. Wilkerson estimates the expansion, which began in fall 2019, cost nearly $2 million. “We sell time,” Wilkerson says, noting Blackhawk’s culture of engaging customer service offers an advantage over big-box stores. “People know they’re going to get answers to their questions, have access to expertise and not spend precious time searching for what they need when they come in. We don’t waste people’s time.” SP
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2245 Carmel Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
Charlotte, NC 28226
LD
SO
Offered at $1,230,000
Offered at $950,000
Old Foxcroft Amy Peterson 704-533-2090
Wilton Wood Lauren Campbell 704-579-8333
2409 Kenmore Avenue
124 Amrita Court
Charlotte, NC 28204
Charlotte, NC 28211
Offered at $945,000
Offered at $725,000
Elizabeth Gay Dillashaw 704-564-9393
Cotswold Lauren Campbell 704-579-8333
7430 Newmans Ridge Court
2410 Brantford Drive
Charlotte, NC 28270
Charlotte, NC 28210
Offered at $649,900
Offered at $620,000
Summerlin Missy Banks 704-968-0547
Quail Hollow Estates Tony Nicastro 704-615-5553
ALLEN TATE SOUTHPARK
2027 Ferncliff Road
blvd. | creators of n.c.
Rising STARworks ART FROM THE GROUND UP by Wiley Cash • photographs by Mallory Cash
T
he town of Star is the artistic center of North Carolina. I mean that literally, in that Star is the geographic center of the state. And I also mean it figuratively, as the town is home to STARworks, where artists from the around the world have been working in fire arts like glass blowing and ceramics since 2005. “We love to set stuff on fire around here,” says STARworks Executive Director Nancy Gottovi, who, in a single decade, led the transformation of an abandoned hosiery mill into a destination for artists from around the globe. In 1993, a nonprofit called Central Park NC formed when leaders from six central Carolina rural counties came together with a common vision of creating a sustainable economy. The group formed an initiative to focus on art as a way to capitalize on the natural and cultural assets of the rural spaces located between the urban centers of Charlotte and the Research Triangle. That was when Gottovi began asking herself questions about what a working artist truly requires. “They need to have a really good space to work with good equip 60
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ment,” Gottovi says. “They also need a community of other artists to feed off of. And they need a way to make a living.” In 2005, Gottovi and Central Park NC found a space — nearly 200,000 square feet of space, to be exact — when they accepted the donation of a former hosiery mill in Star that had been abandoned in 2001, leaving more than 1,000 local residents unemployed. Enter STARworks Center for Creative Enterprise. In the early days, the organization was grossly understaffed and overwhelmed by the nearly 4 acres of aging factory it had inherited, but Gottovi soon realized that in order for the fledgling organization to survive, the building itself had to start generating income. “Our biggest asset is this amazing space,” she says. “We needed to get the best artists we could find and then set them loose in the building.” The artists Gottovi invited set about creating glass pumpkins as one of the first ventures to raise capital to sustain the organization. Suffice it to say that it worked, and that Gottovi proudly witnessed the former factory evolve into an artistic and cultural center where
artists gathered and forged both creations and community. Now, over a decade later, glass blowers at STARworks regularly create and sell as many as 3,000 glass pumpkins each fall. And each holiday season, they make and sell thousands of Christmas ornaments. The economic model at STARworks could be described as self-sustaining. The organization offers paid internships to glass artists, who earn hundreds of hours of experience in a field that is often cost-prohibitive to those just starting out and who might not be able to afford their own studios and equipment. In turn, the interns work to create the pumpkins and ornaments that are sold each year while also having the time, space and materials to pursue their own projects. The interns also gain valuable experience as mentees while working side-by-side with professional artists from around the world who come to STARworks as residency recipients and visiting artists. An onsite gallery provides space to showcase and sell individual artists’ works. While interns and established artists come from around the world, visitors are just as likely to discover a group of local students dabbling in glass blowing and ceramics, what Gottovi refers to as the fire arts. Some of the students who continually benefit from their experiences at STARworks are the young men from nearby Eckerd Connects, a juvenile justice program for youth ages 13–17. Gottovi continually finds the young men from Eckerd to be the most interesting and curious young people she has encountered in her years at STARworks. According to Gottovi, working with fire and glass is a little dangerous, but these young people are comfortable navigating a certain amount of pressure in their lives, and glass blowing in particular teaches them how
Nancy Gottovi, executive director of STARworks
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to work in a team and rely on other people to create a piece of art. It is an affecting experience for many of the young men, born out by the fact that several returned to STARworks as formal apprentices. STARworks is not just creating space for artists. It is also sourcing the medium from which art is made. Recognizing the region’s long history of both brick-making in central North Carolina and pottery in nearby areas such as Seagrove, Gottovi saw an opportunity to take advantage of the organic materials surrounding them. While spending time in Japan after graduate school, Gottovi met a Japanese potter who had a degree in ceramic material engineering, and years later she invited him to come to Star to start a clay business. He took her up on the invitation, and now STARworks is one of the only manufacturers creating potter’s clay from indigenous sources. The program is both a financial and educational boon. While selling clay to potters and sculptors all around the world, interns at STARworks have the opportunity to learn about the process of finding, dig 62
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ging and making quality clay, which Gottovi compares to “eating artisan baked bread if you’ve only ever eaten white.” One of the most consistent challenges that STARworks has faced is where to house its artists. “Housing is the biggest challenge in a small community of only 800 people,” Gottovi says. But, just as she has done since the early days in the abandoned mill, Gottovi is finding solutions. The organization takes out yearlong leases for artists in rental homes in the area, and an old boiler building on the property is being considered for future renovation for onsite housing. One cannot help but think about Gottovi’s early consideration of what artists need: space, community, support. Whether in the studio, in the community or in the Earth itself, all the ingredients are here, and STARworks is right in the middle of it all. SP Wiley Cash is the Alumni Author-in-Residence at UNC Asheville. His new novel, When Ghosts Come Home, is available wherever books are sold.
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blvd. | calendar
November
Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi — A Marvellous Entanglement
Museums + galleries Fall works at TFA Gallery through Nov. 15: View new works by gallery artists Jiha Moon, Geraldine Neuwirth, Radcliffe Bailey, Robert Mars and others. 2325 Crescent Ave., tfa-advisory.com Container/Contained: Phil Freelon - Design Strategies for Telling African-American Stories at Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture through Jan. 17: Honor the works of North Carolina architect Phil Freelon (1953-2019) and delve into the narrative of African American culture within the spaces he designed. Freelon’s work includes the Gantt Center, as well as leading the design team for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. 551 S. Tryon St.; ganttcenter.org Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi — A Marvellous Entanglement at Bechtler Museum of Modern Art through Feb. 27: This nine-screen film installation by artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien reflects on legendary Italian-Brazilian architect Lina Bo Bardi and her Brazilian projects from the 1960s to the 1980s. 420 South Tryon St.; bechtler.org
HAPPENINGS
The World of Anna Sui at Mint Museum Randolph Nov. 20-May 1: A tribute to the designer’s timeless yet contemporary looks, this exhibit offers a unique look into the creative influences and processes that make Anna Sui a true style icon. 2730 Randolph Rd.; mintmuseum.org
Events + activities
Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery Drop Dead 5K Nov. 6: Not only does it have a killer name, but it also supports the historic cemetery’s restoration and preservation. The race route winds along beautiful grounds that are the final resting place for some of Charlotte’s beloved luminaries. Registration costs vary by signup option. raceroster.com/events/2021/51423/ historic-cemetery-drop-dead-5k
Verse & Vino Nov. 4: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation’s signature annual fundraiser celebrates the joy of reading in this virtual event featuring a community of readers and New York Times best-selling authors. Enjoy from the comfort of your own home, or join the viewing party at Town Brewing Co. Ticket costs vary. foundation.cmlibrary.org/ verse-vino
Muddy River Fest at Muddy River Distillery Nov. 6: Enjoy a variety of libations, riverfront views and live music at this family-friendly festival. Proceeds benefit Catawba Riverkeepers, which helps keep the waterways clean and safe. Free to attend; drink tickets and food available for purchase. 1500 River Dr., Belmont, muddyriverdistillery.com/ muddyriverfest
42nd Annual Springmaid Trail Race at Anne Springs Close Greenway Nov. 6: Hit the trails and breathe in the crisp fall air as you run your choice of a 5K, 10K or half marathon. Or bring your fourlegged pal for the Dog Jog and explore the 12-acre dog park. Either way, be sure to stay for the cider and snacks. Registration costs vary by signup option. ascgreenway.org
Charlotte Symphony Pops Series: Kings of Soul at Knight Theater Nov. 12-13: Enjoy the soulful serenades and smooth melodies in this tribute that would make legends like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Al Green proud. Tickets start at $10. charlottesymphony.org Southern Christmas Show Nov. 11-21: Get in the spirit with crafters,
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blvd. | calendar artisans, live performances and more as the annual event returns to The Park Expo and Conference Center with 440 vendors. Tickets are $15 at the door or $13 when purchased online; children 5 and under are free and ages 6-12 are $5. A special preview on Nov. 10 from 5-9 p.m. costs $24. southernchristmasshow.com
Pajama Walk at Freedom Park Nov. 14: Dreams can come true in this community walk benefiting Friendship Circle and ZABS Place, local nonprofits that offer training and employment opportunities for individuals with special needs and talents. Registration costs vary by signup option. pajamawalk.com
Novant Health Charlotte Marathon Nov. 13: Sign up for one of Charlotte’s biggest races of the year. Participation options include an in-person or virtual marathon, half marathon, 5K, and marathon relay events. Registration costs vary by signup option. thecharlottemarathon.com
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! at Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Nov. 16-21: Welcome the holiday season with a visit to the whimsical world of Whoville. This heartwarming musical features songs from the original animated series and is sure to entertain and delight the whole family. Tickets start at $25. blumenthalarts.org
Friends! The Musical Parody at Knight Theater Nov. 21: Re-create your favorite group of friends navigating life in 1990s Manhattan — but make it a parody! From “Smelly Cat” to “Central Perk,” this uncensored, fast-paced musical wryly celebrates the cult classic. Tickets start at $28.50. blumenthalarts.org
A Conversation with Stacey Abrams at Ovens Auditorium Nov. 17: Join political leader, voting rights activist, entrepreneur and author Stacey Abrams for a candid conversation on politics, leadership, social justice and more. Tickets start at $32.50; blumenthalarts.org
Charlotte Christmas Village Nov. 26-Dec. 23: The annual holiday market returns to Truist Field in uptown for a second year, featuring Light the Knights, shopping and European fare from schnitzels and strudels to cider and Gluhwein. Ticket prices vary. cltchristmasvillage.com
Long Creek Adventure Race at the Whitewater Center Nov. 13: Put your riding, running and paddling skills to the test as you navigate the course using UTM coordinates in this 4- or 8-hour quest. Registration costs vary by signup option. whitewater.org
Charlotte Auto Show at the Charlotte Convention Center Nov. 18-21: Whether you’re in the market for a new ride or just want to check out the latest cars, you can explore more than 300 new vehicles by more than 30 manufacturers under one roof. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and under are free. charlotteautoshow.com
— compiled by Amanda Lea
Texture and light A century before you introduced your college roommates to French Impressionism via those ubiquitous Monet “Water Lilies” posters (a dorm-room staple in the ’90s and beyond!), John Leslie Breck was among the first Americans introducing the bold new art movement in the U.S. Breck (1860-99) spent three years in Giverny, the village in Normandy, France, where Claude Monet lived and worked for more than 40 years. Now, in the first museum exhibition dedicated to Breck’s work since his death in 1899, more than 70 of his paintings are on view at Mint Museum Uptown. The show ranges from Breck’s early work in Giverny to his American landscapes depicting scenes from Massachusetts, Maine and California, painted using techniques he learned in France. While other landscape painters focused on prominent features such as a harbor or a lighthouse, Breck was more interested in capturing “out-of-the-way spots — just finding beauty in the littlest bits of nature that no one really notices,” says Jonathan Stuhlman, senior curator of American art at the Mint Museum. “He wasn’t out there painting the big, popular John Leslie Breck (American, 1860-99). View of Ipswich Bay, 1898, oil on canvas, scenes,” Stuhlman says, preferring instead to capture 18 x 22 inches. Private collection. Courtesy of Peter L. Villa Fine Art. the play of light on water, mist rising from the rivers, late afternoon shadows, and the different textures of flora in John Leslie Breck: American Impressionist is on view at Mint the landscape. Museum Uptown through Jan. 2. On Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m., join Local artist Tim Parati created sketch-like backdrops for many of American Impressionism expert Erica Hirschler for a discussion on the works on view, basing his designs on period photos of locales Breck’s work. On Nov. 17 and Dec. 15, join senior curator Jonathan where Breck worked. The exhibition also includes Breck’s Venetian Stuhlman for a guided tour of the exhibition at 2 p.m. (members series, the artist’s last major works inspired by a trip to Italy in 1897, only) or 6:30 p.m. Both events are free with museum admission. along with more than 10 related paintings by Breck’s colleagues. mintmuseum.org
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On view November 20 Mint Museum Randolph
The queen of romantic rock-n-roll fashion, designer Anna Sui is the subject of a new exhibition at The Mint Museum that’s more than an installation of clothing. It’s a look inside the creative process of one of fashion’s greats, who has mastered street-chic style from mod to punk, surfer to hippie.
THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI IS GENEROUSLY PRESENTED BY PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES. EXHIBITION ORGANIZED BY THE FASHION AND TEXTILE MUSEUM, LONDON. GENEROUS INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY DEIDRE AND CLAY GRUBB, WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE MINT MUSEUM AUXILIARY. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA SUI. PHOTOGRAPH ©JOSHUA JORDAN
|simple life
Time and remembrance AS THE HONEYBEE TAKES ITS FINAL DRINK, BITTERSWEET MEMORIES ARRIVE AND DEPART. by Jim Dodson
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’ve been thinking about time lately. How quickly it comes. How quickly it passes. Like this year, for example, rapidly drawing to close. November is a month of remembrance. We begin by celebrating Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints known and unknown. In the middle of the month, we’ll remember veterans for their sacrifice, and we’ll wind up November by giving thanks for the abundance of the Earth and ties that bind. The good news this holiday season is that families may finally be able to gather in person to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, though collective reflection upon the millions worldwide who are no longer with us this year reminds us of life’s precious brevity. Speaking of such, the other afternoon, cheered by the sudden arrival of autumn light and a breath of welcome coolness, I noticed a small honeybee having a drink of water from an old bird bath I’ve kept filled on account of our lingering summer. Recently, I placed a circle of small stones at the water’s edge to prevent thirsty bees from falling in and drowning. Until my wife informed me that drowning is a genuine threat to the invaluable life of bees, I never gave passing thought to how a simple drink of water could be so perilous. In ancient times, bees were considered symbols of order and immortality. The wax they produce found its way into candles used in religious ceremonies, and their honey sweetened and preserved food. Coins from the fifth century featured images of bees, held to be among nature’s most magical creatures. Modern science, in fact, confirms what ancient observers
believed about bees — that they have a mysterious yet highly refined way of communicating with each other that enables them to find the hidden nectar of flowers and construct honeycombs from thousands of symmetrically perfect hexagons, mathematical structures reminiscent of the six-pointed stars that form the Flower of Life. “Because bees feed on the nectar of flowers,” writes symbologist Adele Nozedar, “and fundamentally on sunlight, they are agents of transmutation, making something from nothing, mystical creatures that are able to foresee the future.” This belief, she adds, may explain why beekeepers since the late Middle Ages have followed the tradition of speaking to their honeybee hives, conveying news of the household, particularly of births and deaths, and the broader life of the community. Between us, I lost track of time watching this lone honeybee pause to refresh. Either five minutes or the better part of an hour drifted by. The bee was in no hurry, and neither was I, both taking our own sweet time as the clock of another year winds down — though his days are 10,000 times shorter than mine, a bittersweet reminder to get on with things that need to be done. As I watched him hop from stone to stone, I wondered where he might be headed and how much time he has left to fulfill his purpose. A male honeybee lives anywhere from one month to seven weeks, on average, and suddenly it was autumn. I felt a stab of sadness for my thirsty friend, but he rose into the air, hovered for a moment, then flew away. My impression was that he knew exactly where he was headed and why he is here. Isn’t that the southparkmagazine.com | 71
|simple life
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greatest lesson of being alive? Remembrance often comes with bittersweet memory. Still sitting where the honeybee left me, I randomly opened an old leather journal — ironically embossed with the Celtic Flower of Life, purchased years ago in a Dublin book shop — where I keep a record of travels, eccentric thoughts, favorite quotes, overheard comments, mildly blue jokes and notes on my garden, only to be stopped by a line I wrote two days before Thanksgiving last year. For the first time ever, due to Covid distancing, none of our grown children could make it home for the holiday. That was disappointing enough — a moment we expected to eventually come in time as their busy lives expanded — but the unexpected loss of our sweet and lovable golden retriever, Ajax, a gift to my wife for our 10th anniversary, was a devastating blow. Due to a swift malady that came out of nowhere and left us no choice but to humanely put him down, a kind veterinarian came to the house to administer relief as he lay calmly on his favorite couch, gazing out the window at the yard where he loved to romp with the kids. He was such a big kid himself, I called him “Junior.” The passage read: After I carried Junior’s body out to the doctor’s car, I sat at the top of my office steps by the garage and watched the beautiful light of a perfect autumn afternoon leave the world as peacefully as my friend Ajax had just done. The mighty white oaks around us had shed most of their leaves by then, though a few last ones filtered to earth in the golden light. I heard children’s voices just yards away, playing tag, squeals of terrified delight. Junior would have loved that. I looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk cruising over the treetops, tilting to the west as if turning toward home. I wondered what he saw from 200 feet closer to heaven. Perhaps an old dude sitting at the top of his steps, grieving for his friend who brought such joy into the world. It’s probably about time I let my grief for Junior go. The light in the eye grown dim, wrote Walt Whitman, shall duly flame again. Though I doubt that will happen just yet. SP
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November books
|bookshelf
NOTABLE NEW RELEASES compiled by Sally Brewster
The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III, by Andrew Roberts Most Americans dismiss George III as a buffoon — a heartless and terrible monarch with few, if any, redeeming qualities. The best-known modern interpretation of him is Jonathan Groff’s preening, spitting and pompous take in Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway masterpiece. But this deeply unflattering characterization is rooted in the prejudiced and brilliantly persuasive opinions of 18th-century revolutionaries like Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, who needed to make the king appear evil to achieve their own political aims. After combing through hundreds of thousands of pages of never-before-published correspondence, award-winning historian Andrew Roberts has uncovered that George III was in fact a wise, humane and even enlightened monarch who was beset by talented enemies, debilitating mental illness, incompetent ministers and disastrous luck. In The Last King of America, Roberts paints a deft and nuanced portrait of the much-maligned monarch and outlines his accomplishments, which have been almost universally forgotten. The Sentence, by Louise Erdrich In this very brave, unusual and forceful novel, Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award–winning author Louise Erdrich creates a wickedly funny ghost story — a tale of passion, of a complex marriage and of a woman’s relentless error. A small independent bookstore in Minneapolis is haunted from November 2019 to November 2020 by the store’s most annoying customer. Flora dies on All Souls Day, but she simply won’t leave the store. Tookie, who has landed a job selling books after years of incarceration, must solve the mystery of this haunting while at the same time trying to understand all that occurs in Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation and furious reckoning. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, by Diana Gabaldon It’s been seven long years since Diane penned her last novel, but at last here is the ninth entry in the wildly popular “Outlander” series. Reunited 20 years after having been sundered by the Jacobite Rising in 1746, Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall now live in Revolutionary War-era North Carolina with their daughter Brianna and her family. The backcountry seems remote, but Jamie and Claire know they can’t
avoid the war forever, and Brianna and her husband Roger begin to wonder whether returning to the past to escape the dangers of the 20th century was the wisest plan. Meanwhile, Jamie’s son, William Ransom, must come to terms with his paternity. Oh joy! Never, by Ken Follett “Every catastrophe begins with a little problem that doesn’t get fixed.” So says Pauline Green, president of the United States, in Follett’s nerve-racking drama of international tension. A shrinking oasis in the Sahara Desert; a stolen U.S. Army drone; an uninhabited Japanese island; and one country’s secret stash of deadly chemical poisons: All these play roles in a relentlessly escalating crisis. Struggling to prevent the outbreak of a world war are a young woman intelligence officer, a spy working undercover with jihadists, a brilliant Chinese spymaster and Green herself, beleaguered by a populist rival for the next presidential election. Never is an extraordinary novel, full of heroines and villains, false prophets and elite warriors, jaded politicians and opportunistic revolutionaries. It brims with cautionary wisdom for our times. Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss, by David Magee The last time David Magee saw his son alive, William told him to write their family’s story in the hopes of helping others. Days later, Magee found William dead from an accidental drug overdose. Now, in a memoir suggestive of Augusten Burroughs meets Glennon Doyle, the award-winning columnist and author answers his son’s wish with a compelling, heartbreaking and impossible-to-put-down book that speaks to every individual and family. Magee shares his family’s intergenerational struggle with substance abuse and mental health issues, as well as his own reckoning with family secrets, confronting the dark truth about the adoptive parents who raised him and a decades-long search for identity. He wrestles with personal substance misuse that began at a young age and, as a father, he sees destructive patterns repeat and develop within his own children. While striving to find a truly authentic voice as a writer despite authoring nearly a dozen previous books, Magee ultimately understands that William had been right, and their own family’s history is the story he needs to tell. SP Sally Brewster is the proprietor of Park Road Books at 4139 Park Road. parkroadbooks.com southparkmagazine.com | 75
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|well + wise
Radical acceptance LEARNING TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT CONTROL by Juliet Lam Kuehnle
Kuehnle spoke with Sam Diminich, personal chef (including that of Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey) and owner of Your Farms Your Table gourmet meal delivery service. Below are excerpts from their interview, lightly edited. Talk to us a little bit about your mental health journey. I was taught to numb. I had so many things going on as a young person, with no skill set and no one to go to to say, “I’m
PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL HRIZUK
I
t is what it is. I have always hated that phrase because it often feels dismissive and passive. What I do appreciate, though, is the sentiment. In psychology, we refer to this attitude as radical acceptance. This is an active skill and a practice of receiving reality without fighting it. This mindset of acceptance is seeing the present moment for what it is, from an objective lens. It requires us to remove emotionality and stop yearning for something to be different. We don’t have to approve of or want an experience; we can learn what is in our control so we can relinquish that which is not. Take the pandemic, for example. We could remain stuck in a mental space of anger that we’re still navigating mask discussions, quarantining and significant illness. This can cause us to ruminate on negativity and can drive apathy or irritability. Alternatively, we can acknowledge the frustration of this reality and our desire for things to be different and home in on what we can control. This might include taking our own precautionary measures, practicing self-care or finding ways to connect with people. Coupling this with a “letting go” of the greater angst can help us feel more hopeful and present. There’s a lot of freedom in surrendering in this way. It can take the pressure and judgement off our own actions. It doesn’t mean we give up, but quite the opposite. Myque Harris, an integrative psychotherapist at Myqueology, shares how this philosophy encourages mindful living. “Paying attention, without judgment, to what we genuinely feel moment to moment and having acceptance of those feelings without pushing them away, especially if they are negative, can be challenging,” she says. “Yet, research shows that mindfulness positively enhances our quality of life. Radical acceptance gives us the opportunity to truly tap into our feelings so that we can embrace both positive and negative aspects of an experience enough to make intentional decisions for our lives in the present moment.” Harris cites Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual teacher and author, who discusses how radical acceptance eliminates duality — the tendency to view things as good or bad, positive or negative, this or that. “We must embrace both as we cannot have one without the other. Sometimes we must experience pain and suffering to know happiness and joy.”
scared and hurt.” I didn’t know what to do. I bundled it up and ran with it for decades. When you were in it, were you aware that what you were doing was numbing and avoiding? I just knew I was different. I felt othered and less than. I would pretend like I could solve the problem until I eventually realized I couldn’t outrun it. ... It requires humility to admit the truth. It finally came down to whether or not I could do the work from the inside out.
‘Tis the Season to Sparkle!
There’s nothing more vulnerable than surrender. Getting to that point can be terrifying. It requires absolute surrender and saying. “I’m going to get out of the way.” The fear is the unknown: What if I do have to change? What will that look like? Dysfunction is all I knew, so for a long time, it was much safer to marinate in that than to take a chance on something that was a healthy alternative.
“There is nothing wrong with seeking excellence, but when perfection is part of your vocabulary, it can be very dangerous. There’s such a lesson in falling apart and putting things back together.” Can you imagine yourself in your 20s having these insights? No, I spoke in a completely different language back then. Now, I recognize that I have set an example for my kids that it’s OK to fail and make mistakes. There is nothing wrong with seeking excellence, but when perfection is part of your vocabulary, it can be very dangerous. There’s such a lesson in falling apart and putting things back together. What do you do to keep your mind right? We tend to make mountains out of molehills with the issues between our ears. I try to get out of “self” and into service. When I’m invested in someone else’s life — in their ups or downs — I have an opportunity for perspective, and it helps me look internally and right-size the issues I may have going on at the time. Also, you never know when you’re going to hear exactly what you need to hear. I have tangible evidence in my life to back that up. SP Juliet Kuehnle is the owner and a therapist at Sun Counseling and Wellness. The full version of Kuehnle’s “Who You Callin’ Crazy?!” interview featuring Sam Diminich can be found on Instagram @yepigototherapy or wherever you stream podcasts.
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Spirits that
sparkle
THE NEW SPEAKEASY AT SUPPERLAND PROVIDES SPACE FOR HEAD MIXOLOGIST COLLEEN HUGHES TO PUSH THE COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE TO A NEW LEVEL. by Cathy Martin • photographs by Justin Driscoll
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t takes about six man hours a day just to open the bar at Supperland, according to head mixologist Colleen Hughes, and even longer on weekends. Hughes, the 2021 North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Mixologist of the Year, is known for original, inventive cocktails made with complex, housemade ingredients you won’t find at ABC stores or local markets. But Hughes wanted somewhere she and her staff could create a more intimate, immersive experience, with cocktails too technically difficult to serve in volume. Bars with cocktail tasting menus are a rarity outside of large metros such as New York, Los Angeles and London, Hughes says. “So, I had the boss build me this space to do something that nobody does in minor markets.” Already one of the hottest reservations in town, Supperland debuted its exclusive speakeasy in late September. The reservation-only, prepaid and prix-
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Reservations for the speakeasy at Supperland are limited to 10 people, with seatings at 6 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Follow @sppr.lnd on Instagram for announcements about ticket releases, then go online to reserve a spot at supper.land.
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fixe “spirit experience” is available Thursday-Saturday, but you have to move fast to snag a spot once reservations open up for each seating — the tiny basement bar beneath the cocktail bar at Supperland seats only 10. For $115 (about $150 including tax and tip), guests will be treated to four cocktails accompanied by four small plates from Supperland Chef Chris Rogienski, along with detailed explanations from Hughes, who sounds as much like a chemist as a bartender as she describes the elaborate recipes and the science behind the complex libations she creates. Take for example, the Science is for Girls dessert cocktail, currently on the speakeasy menu (though Hughes says it could make its way to the bar upstairs in the near future). To make the clarified milk punch, Hughes and her team employ a sous vide method to create a chocolate milk with cinnamon and freshly ground nutmeg. The punch is made with the Colleen Hughesbranded single-barrel Maker’s Mark (Hughes and Bar Manager Rhea Buck recently blended their own barrels for sale in North Carolina ABC stores), “which is a chocolate-toffee bomb in and of itself,” she says, and a toasted hazelnut orgeat. “You need to have acid to break a milk punch, but I didn’t want to add lemon or lime because I didn’t want to add a bunch of astringency. So I made fresh squeezed orange juice, and I acidified that to the same acidity as lemon juice.” The ice cube is a cold brew coffee “lightly sweetened to control the melt point” with a hint of gold glitter for a little sparkle. At press time, the speakeasy experience was centered around bourbons, including a few limited releases no longer available in stores. Later this month, Hughes says the speakeasy will pivot to a holiday-themed experience. SP
All That Glitters is a clarified milk punch combining absinthe, passion fruit and lime, with a hint of tangerine glitter. The paper butterflies adorning cocktails at Supperland are handmade by a local artisan. “We wanted to have a real commitment to not having any single-use plastic in any of our drinks,” Hughes says. “I really wanted to make sure that anything we used as a single-use garnish was something that the Earth reasonably knew what to do with — so paper and wood, and all our straws are reusable.”
Almost too pretty to drink, Science is for Girls, currently on Supperland’s speakeasy menu, is a dessert cocktail with notes of chocolate, coffee and hazelnut.
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You don’t need a reservation at the speakeasy to sample these classic and seasonal sips at Supperland’s main cocktail bar.
The Golden Onion is Supperland’s take on the Gibson, made with Sipsmith London Dry Gin, Dolin dry vermouth and amontillado sherry. “I wanted to [offer] a lot of steakhouse classics, but done differently,” Hughes says. The sherry gives the drink “a little richness, a little yeastiness, but a really nice mouth feel and a little bit more complexity.” Cocktail onions are cured in-house with saffron and other herbs and spices.
“Why make a three-ingredient cocktail when you can make it five?” Hughes says. The Midwood Manhattan exemplifies Hughes’ “more is more” philosophy: “Where a Manhattan is typically a combination of sweet vermouth and rye whiskey, this one is actually a split base — half rye whiskey, half bourbon whiskey.” The vermouth is a three-part house-made blend of Carpano Antica, Dolin rouge and Cocchi di Torino (a “very punchy” Italian vermouth).
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West side story INTERIOR DESIGNER HADLEY QUISENBERRY BLENDS OLD AND NEW — WITH A FEW BOLD SURPRISES — IN HER WEST CHARLOTTE HOME.
by Cathy Martin • photographs by Erin Comerford Miller • styling by Kendra Surface
The homeowners added cabinets on either side of the fireplace for convenient toy storage in the family room, where an eclectic mix of furnishings includes Mr. Brown club chairs and a vintage cowhide-upholstered coffee table.
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Quisenberry commissioned Virginia artist Liz Lindstrom to paint oil portraits of her children that are a little “rougher and bolder” than traditional portraits. The dining table and chairs are vintage.
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adley Quisenberry has fond memories of growing up in south Charlotte. But after five years living in New York City, when she and her husband, Bryan, decided to move back to the Queen City, the couple craved a more eclectic, urban environment. When the Quisenberrys returned in 2014, they zeroed in on Biddleville, a historic community in west Charlotte near Johnson C. Smith University where Hadley already had another family connection. “I grew up in south Charlotte, but I wanted to raise my kids near my brother’s kids. And since he was already here, we were looking for lots to build our family home in this area,” says Quisenberry, owner and principal designer at West Trade Interiors. But lots in the area were scarce, and existing homes for sale needed too many repairs. The couple were about to give up the search when their real-estate agent, Michael Doney with Five Points Realty, offered to show them his own home, an Arts and Crafts style house built in 2008 that was about to go on the market. The home was built by MBH Construction, the company led by Michael Hopkins specializing in period-correct homes that reflect the character of the historic neighborhoods in which they are built. “They were extremely thoughtful about building it to fit the [pre-WWII] period of other homes in the neighborhood,” Quisenberry says. “We loved the framework of the house. It checked 90% of our boxes for what we wanted,” she adds. “And we were really excited to find a place that felt like it had that eclectic culture of New York to raise our kids in.” In the family room, the only update the couple made was adding built-ins on either side of the fireplace, which are used for storing toys belonging to the couple’s two children, ages 6 and 8. The kitchen also fit the family’s needs, with little updating required. “We enjoyed it as is for several years,” Quisenberry says. “It has a great flow, and [the previous owners had installed] top-of-the-line appliances,” including a 48-inch Wolf range and Sub-Zero commercial refrigerator. Recently, to give the space a brighter, more open feel, Quisenberry had the upper cabinets painted white to match the trim, leaving the lower cabinets a dark wood stain. Café curtains with a vine-cutwork design add a soft, decorative touch, and vintage counter stools from Slate Interiors are covered in a durable, handwoven striped fabric from Schumacher. In the dining room, Quisenberry decided to go a little bolder. For the wall behind the built-in sideboard, she chose a classic Schumacher “Bird and Butterflies” design, which is repeated in the fabric for the roman shade. Next, she painted the dark-stained cabinet a bright shade of green that matched the wallpaper to “create a little drama.” “I love to mix old and new,” Quisenberry says, and in the dining room she was also able to incorporate a vintage chandelier from her childhood home.
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In the kitchen, Quisenberry added hammered nickel pendants from Currey & Co. and painted the upper cabinets white to brighten the space.
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Quisenberry says she often encourages her clients to make bolder design choices when it comes to the powder room. At home, the designer followed her own advice, covering the walls of her own powder room with a washable Pierre Frey wallpaper (“Arty”) in a bold, multicolored design. The vintage sink was installed by the original homeowners.
But the oldest piece in the home sits in the entry — a wooden bench that belonged to Quisenberry’s great-grandparents. The designer gave it an update by having the seat covered with a new cut velvet fabric. The Philip Jeffries grasscloth wallcovering captures the blue and green tones throughout the home, Quisenberry says. “It sets the tone walking in.” While West Trade Interiors’ typical style is transitional, Quisenberry, who spent several years working in the fashion industry before switching to interior design, says her personal style is a bit bolder. “I’m eclectic and a little more daring with color.” But the best part about her home has been living close to family. “It’s been this really sweet thing of cousin play,” she says, with the kids — her two and her brother’s three sons — constantly running back and forth between houses. About five years ago, Quisenberry’s mother and business partner, Lisa Britt, decided to leave her longtime home in south Charlotte and move to the neighborhood as well. “We’re all within a block,” Quisenberry says. “That doesn’t happen anymore.”
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“I think a lot of [design] is innate, in terms of seeing a space, being able to visualize, pattern and color mixing,” says Hadley Quisenberry, who worked in the fashion industry before joining her mother’s interior design firm. “It’s in mom’s blood, and she passed it on to me.” The two have worked together for eight years.
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“I love mixing high and low,” Quisenberry says, pointing to the high-end Phillip Jeffries grass cloth wallcovering and the Ballard Designs scalloped mirror in the entry. The small mirror hanging on the wall behind the bench belonged to her mother and business partner, Lisa Britt, who Quisenberry says loves to scour antique markets for vintage finds. The herringbone throw and double candle are from Isabella. SP
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The beauty of change PAINTER DAMIAN STAMER FINDS INSPIRATION IN FORGOTTEN SPACES. by Courtney Napier • photographs by Taylor McDonald
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amian Stamer was born and raised in northern Durham County, right near a century-old Italianate-style brick building that once contained a prison camp, then a sanitorium for tuberculosis patients, and finally a local television station. Now on the National Historic Registry, this complicated structure is just the sort of thing that bemuses Stamer — and led him to explore its meaning through his paintings. Stamer was introduced to the world of art in the 1990s as a student at Durham’s Riverside High School. Artist Helen Griffin, Riverside’s art teacher, taught with a contagious passion that transferred to Stamer. “It’s the first time I ever wanted to stay after school to work on projects,” he says. “The piece that I really remember impacting me was the famous Robert Rauschenberg piece with the JFK lithograph. A notion of realist ‘popular’ photographic imagery with his beautiful abstract marks was, to me, a poetic combination. I think I’ve been interested in that dynamic between abstraction and realism and combining them ever since.” Even as a teenager, he showed potential for being an artist professionally, according to his former teacher. “Early on, Damian understood the work commitment and risk taking required in art 94
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making,” Griffin says. “Some people do the bare minimum, but the minimum was never an option for him.” After graduating from the UNC School of the Arts high-school program in Winston-Salem in 2001, art became both a form of self-expression and a form of self-exploration for Stamer. He traveled to Germany for a study abroad program at the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design, then went on to study fine art in Arizona and Hungary before moving to New York City, where he split his time with North Carolina, working toward a master’s in fine arts at UNC Chapel Hill, before settling back here in 2018. It was in New York City, among the frenetic yet isolating energy of the city, that Stamer began to reflect deeply on his roots. “Coming home for the holidays, I started taking pictures of the weathered buildings around town,” he says. The distance allowed him to see his home with more appreciative and curious eyes. He began to imagine the stories within the walls and beneath the vines of decaying structures. When he returned to the city, he began painting pictures of the scenes he captured. This study of the magic of time upon environments and buildings became a common thread through Stamer’s work.
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“Damian’s ability as a painter is profound in multiple ways,” says Jen Sudul Edwards, chief curator and curator of contemporary art at The Mint Museum. “His skill with paint and his confounding treatment of the surface brings a complexity and curiosity to the works, and his haunting subject matter — these abandoned spaces, hovels where nature assumes and consumes spaces once attended to by humans — compounds that disruption, all the while luring you in deeper because they are such stunningly beautiful, complicated compositions.” In a 2016 profile on PBS NC’s “My Home, NC,” Stamer shares pieces from his Altered Land exhibition, a collection heavily influenced by his memories of the green and aging spaces in and around Hillsborough, near where he grew up. There’s a scene in which he and his twin brother, Dylan, drive to a nearby barn, which resembles a towering triangular bush with the overgrowth of vines that have swallowed the structure. “What’s so exciting about this place,” Stamer muses to his brother, “is that there is a whole unknown world inside. It’s like a treasure chest or a time capsule.” Stamer’s latest exhibition, and then it wasn’t, which will open at SOCO Gallery this month, is also a time capsule of sorts. Created over the course of the last year — against a background of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Movement for Black Lives following the 96
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murder of George Floyd and the pregnancy of his wife with their first child — the collection explores the destructive and transformative nature of time. “The big changes that happened in 2020 made me reflect on the Buddhist principle of impermanence and equanimity in change,” Stamer says. “There’s a fear of change, but there’s also a beauty and potentiality in it.” He explored the idea that sometimes the dismantling or degrading of old structures and realities can be good — even if it’s challenging and uncomfortable. “While I love his work for all of these art historical reasons, it has a particular poignancy in the South, where history remains present, a site to reckon and reconcile,” Sudul Edwards says. “Even if we didn’t build the original structure, it is ours to tend.” Stamer’s studio, which he completed in 2016, is connected to the home where he grew up, nestled in lush woodlands. Here, soaring windows along the north-facing wall erase any sense of containment and frame the tall oaks outside. The other three walls are filled with his pictures on hanging canvases, windows into his artistic world. Near the entrance, the door to a storage room is a collage of postcards and small prints by artists who inspired him, including Robert Rauschenberg, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Neo Rauch and Cy Twombly. For and then it wasn’t, Stamer pushed himself to a new level of
“There’s a fear of change, but there’s also a beauty and potentiality in it.”
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vulnerability through more abstract expression than ever before, offering paintings that are markedly more vibrant and nonrepresentational than his former works. “Horry County 25,” which Stamer started in 2018 and finished last year, shows what appears to be a darkly painted interior room in the center of the panel. Then, in a visceral shift, Stamer adds beautiful and bold markings with a panoply of rich warm hues, textures and shapes. The result is a powerful interplay of the fixed and the fluid. “I thought to myself, this is the time to just be bold,” Stamer says. “I’ve tightened up some of the realism, but I’ve focused on pushing myself to that anxious, uneasy place beyond normal.” That process consists of Stamer revisiting paintings over months and years with new mindsets and states of being and translating these fresh perspectives onto the canvas. In the end, the pieces are more like novels, showing layers of stories and emotional experiences that even Stamer will never fully understand. But he has surrendered to that mystery, which leaves space for the viewer to connect and seek out their own experiences and stories in his work. “Damian constantly amazes us for his ability to challenge himself and dive deeper into the manipulation of paint and form,” says Chandra Johnson, founder and owner of SOCO Gallery. “In his new exhibition, he’s pushing the boundaries of abstraction in his work even further. The paint and marks seem to explode from the canvas into the viewer’s physical space.” Amid all the global and personal change, Stamer maintains a grounded and content demeanor that, he says, is the product of his spiritual practice, therapy, a loving family and a supportive creative community. “I feel very lucky to have a wife who wants to go on this journey with me,” he shares. “She is able to go to places and talk about things in such an understanding way.” He also speaks of the “wonderful community of artists” that have encouraged him throughout his career, including celebrated Durham-based painter Beverly McIver and Larry Wheeler, the former director of the North Carolina Museum of Art. “When I was director of NCMA, Damian politely persisted that I come to see his paintings. When I finally did, it stopped me in my tracks,” Wheeler says. “Damian’s work, mature and beautifully articu 98
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lated, communicated an uncanny spiritually of place. I was moved to immediately call the curators at NCMA and insist that the museum buy what I considered the best one. And I continue to find joy in Damian’s growing success — and a broader appreciation of his work.” Stamer is a man full of gratitude — for his family and home — but also for his professional achievement, he says. “Success, in a way, is just being able to paint every day, make your work, put it out there and then try to let go.” SP and then it wasn’t, a solo exhibition of works by Damian Stamer, runs Nov. 10 – Dec. 22 at SOCO Gallery. An opening reception with the artist will take place Nov. 10 from 6-8 p.m. 421 Providence Rd., socogallery.com
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One love BEFORE THE PENINSULA, RIVER RUN AND TRUMP NATIONAL, THERE WAS LAKEVIEW COUNTRY CLUB. ALL WERE WELCOME. by Page Leggett • illustration by Harry Blair
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“There were people from all walks of life… It was a little bit of everything — everyone getting along and grooving, just having fun.”
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ake Norman wasn’t always populated by NASCAR drivers, waterfront mansions and the Trump National Golf Club. It used to be a decidedly unfancy weekend retreat. Lots of families who lived in 28207 and 28211 had getaways on the lake. Some of them were little more than trailers and a dock. Heck, some of them were actual trailers. In the 1980s and prior, there was nothing upscale about the man-made (by Duke Energy) lake. It was a getaway — a place you’d retreat for a shorts-and-T-shirt-and-flip-flops weekend. My parents had a lovable lakefront shack they shared with two other families. (True story: Through a series of unfortunate renovations that predated their acquisition of the home, the foyer was also a bathroom.) Driving up Interstate 77 to the lake, we’d stop at an independent video store attached to a gas station at Exit 33 and stock up on VHS tapes for the weekend. There wasn’t much else to do. There certainly weren’t any country clubs. Well … there was one. But it was a “country club” in name only. There wasn’t a vetting process to become a member. In fact, there wasn’t even a membership fee. Just a small cover charge when a reggae band — Awareness Art Ensemble, Burning Spear, Moja Nya or Rolly Gray and Sunfire — performed. Lakeview Country Club, accessed by car from Exit 28 off I-77, was a circa-1972 cinder-block building originally known as the Connor Family Recreation Center, or Connors’ Place. The building and the land were owned by the late John Connor, a prominent Black businessman in Cornelius. (John Connor Road, off Jetton Road near The Peninsula Yacht Club, is named for him.) The club became legendary — and not just around Lake Norman —
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because of the reggae concerts held there.
‘PEOPLE CAME FROM EVERYWHERE’ “It started with local bands like City Survivors,” recalls Carolyn Barber, owner of Reggae Central, which has been a Plaza Midwood mainstay for 25 years, and a concert promoter in the 1980s and ’90s. “And then, we started doing international reggae artists.” The oldest concert poster she still has dates to March 29, 1986. Bentley James, who owned the Caribbean Records store in Latta Arcade, got the whole thing started, Barber says. Barber took over as promoter after James returned to his native Jamaica in the 1990s. Svend Deal, a lawyer now living in Tuxedo in the North Carolina mountains, grew up as the youngest of five boys in Myers Park. His memories of Lakeview are a little hazy, given the passage of time and his beer consumption each time he made the trip up I-77 to where The Peninsula — an actual country club — now stands. But his memories from high-school days seem remarkably clear. “It looked like a typical VFW Post,” Deal says. “They always had jerk chicken or curried goat, rice and peas. It was served on a paper plate, and you ate it with a plastic fork. You could get a Red Stripe for maybe $1.50 — but you had to have cash money.” I ask Deal if it was a little like Belle Acres Golf & Country Club, the legendary South Boulevard spot famous for its french fries, putt-putt course and a waiting list that never ends. “Oh, this was nowhere near as nice as Belle Acres,” Deal says. Nevertheless, Deal and his crew would take his dad’s ski boat, a 1989 Malibu Euro F3, to the Lakeview cove, pull up on the beach (if there was room) and pay the nominal cover charge. In Deal’s mind — and maybe in actuality — there were sometimes hundreds of boats. Not everyone got to park on the beach. “Oh, there were so many boats,” Barber recalls. “When you got out of your boat, you might have to swim the rest of the way. We collected a lot of wet money.” The club was just beyond Hunters Chapel United Methodist Church — the Connors’ place of worship, Barber recalls — on what it is now John Connor Road. It’s so legendary that even Google Maps shows the area as “Reggae Cove” and lists it as a tourist attraction. (It’s not … anymore.) In addition to the music, there was reggae merch. “We had vendors set up,” Barber says. “You could sell whatever you made. And people came from everywhere. You wouldn’t believe. People came from D.C. People came from Virginia. People came from
nts left, was the emcee at most eve DJ Billy Dread, second from to Pho lls. reca ber Bar n Caroly at Lakeview Country Club, ber. Bar n roly Ca y rtes cou
Charleston. Everywhere.” By all accounts, the outdoor concerts could be massive, festival-style gatherings. No one can recall exactly how many people might turn out. “Five hundred,” Deal says. “That’s my drunk estimate, anyway.” There were the Connors and their friends. “[John Connor] used to drive his golf cart around while everything was going on,” Barber says. And there were the kids from East Mecklenburg, Myers Park and West Charlotte high schools, who came in droves.
‘THERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME’ “It was totally safe,” Deal recalls. “There were never any fights. No one gave us the stink eye. We were all there to have a good time, dance and listen to the music. It was always super chill.” Dave Rickard, now vice president at Carolina Made Inc., a wholesale sportswear distributor based in Indian Trail, was a student at East Mecklenburg High School in the mid-1980s when a friend’s older brother told him about Lakeview. He and Deal never met (not that they recall), but chances are, they visited the club at the same time. “Everybody got along,” Rickard says. His love for Bob Marley and Peter Tosh grew into a love of all reggae. The music at Lakeview was the draw, but even as a teenager, Rickard appreciated the club’s vibe. “There were people from all walks of life,” he continues. “You had white people, Black people, old people, young people, lots of people that were obviously into the whole reggae scene with dreadlocks and tie-dyes. But then there [were] also lots of yuppie kids there. It was a little bit of everything — everyone getting along and grooving, just having fun.” So how did Deal, Rickard and others get away with going to a
bar and concert venue when they were underage? “Some people would tell their parents they were going to a friend’s parents’ country club,” Rickard says. (It wasn’t a total lie.) “And the parents would think, ‘Oh, good. Junior’s finally getting some class.’” Rickard and his wife, Jodi, who was his best friend during their East Meck days, recall bringing their own coolers to the concerts. Deal remembers buying beer at the club. Maybe there was a little of both. People brought their own blankets and lawn chairs — there was a stage but no seating. “People would bring a tent and camp out all night long,” Barber recalls. “There was no fighting — there was just peace and love. That’s what it was all about.” SP southparkmagazine.com | 103
Old-World wine IN NORTH CAROLINA’S YADKIN VALLEY, EUROPEAN-STYLE GRAPES THRIVE. by Finn Cohen • photographs by Mark Wagoner
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Raffaldini Vineyards
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Elkin Creek Vineyard
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ou wouldn’t notice it from the highway, but less than two hours north of Charlotte, the soil is something special. And it’s not just the soil: It’s the slope of the land — lush, verdant hills at the foot of the Appalachians — and the quality of the air, still slightly humid but more temperate than most counties to the east. Even the way the sun hits is different. You’ve entered North Carolina’s wine country. The Yadkin Valley, which for oenophiles is centered around the town of Elkin, is one of 258 American Viticultural Areas in the United States (for context: California has 142 AVAs, and only 25 other states have them). The area’s status as an AVA — meaning that the climate and terrain have been certified by the U.S. government for their wine-making properties — became official in 2003. There are currently more than 50 wineries operating in the region. And they produce a much different grape than the super-sweet muscadines found in much of eastern North Carolina.
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“The Yadkin Valley is a direct analog of Old-World Europe, dropped right here into North Carolina,” says Louis Jeroslow, one of the owners and operators of Elkin Creek Vineyard. As he explains, the specific combination of latitude (on the same line as Monterey County in California), humidity (similar to Bordeaux, France), and red clay (akin to Tuscany, Italy) creates ideal conditions for European varieties of wine. “These vines don’t know they’re in North Carolina,” he says. “Their feet are in Italy, and they think they’re growing in France.” Jeroslow and his wife, Carrie, first laid eyes on their vineyard as guests: In 2008, their good friends Jennifer and Nick White got married at Elkin Creek. The two couples quickly became friends with the owner, Mark Greene. Louis had been dabbling in winemaking, so there was a mutual interest. A year later, Greene contacted them and wanted to sell; he knew they’d be interested since they’d all hit it off so well. The Whites and the Jeroslows didn’t have
a business background in wine — all four of them were working for the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas — but everyone was ready for a change. “We had been in the arts for a really long time, and we all wanted to come back east,” says Carrie, who had worked for Blue Man Group in New York City in the 1990s. “Our visions were very much based on this place — it had everything that we really loved.” There are 4 acres of grapes on the Elkin Creek property, and they produce about 1,200 cases a year. In their cozy tasting room, a high-ceilinged lodge directly above the fermentation area, they offer brick-oven pizzas every weekend to go with their wines. Highlights by the glass include the viognier, a light white crafted in the Rhone style, and their take on cabernet sauvignon, a rich nod to France. Their “Adequate Red” is a deceptively named blend of merlot and syrah, highly recommended by the bottle with a winter meal. Math and logistics prevent a Yadkin Valley wine from being widely available to consumers around the state, so it’s hard to get a taste of these grapes without making the trip yourself. Unlike craft beer — which uses ingredients that can be bought online, fermented relatively quickly, canned and shipped — wine-making is a laborious process that can be affected drastically by numerous factors during a growing season: hurricanes, late-spring frosts, pests and drought. Once the grapes are picked, crushed and put in a tank, they need ample time to be turned into wine. If there are only a few people involved in the process, then it’s a lot harder to drive around the state looking for distributors while also running a tasting room and a grape farm. “If you’ve bought a million dollars’ worth of stemmers and crushing pans and tanks and oak barrels and everything else, you’re going to maybe sell a guy like
Midnight Magdalena Vineyards
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me a few cases here and there, but you can’t afford a giant wholesale,” says Jeremy Stamps, the owner of The Wisdom Table, a wine bar located in an old Belk’s department store in downtown Elkin. “Most brewers are buying hops from Oregon and Washington, barley from the Dakotas — industrial-grade ingredients. They can produce beer on scale and send it to anybody and it’ll still be good.” “It’s a pretty steep learning curve,” says Jim Zimmer, who with his wife, Tauny, owns Midnight Magdalena Vineyards several miles outside of Elkin. They quit their jobs in the energy industry and moved from Atlanta after buying 40 acres of land in 2010, opening the vineyard in 2012. Today, they’ve got 6 acres of vines planted, producing jammy reds (the 2018 malbec is a standout) and crisp whites (try the riesling). When they landed in the area, it was still relatively under the radar, which allowed them to adjust to the rigor of the growing process. While Jim got his hands into the soil, Tauny learned her craft through the viticulture program at Surry Community College in nearby Dobson. “It gives you a lot of guidance of how you can start up a vineyard and start up the overall business, even to the point of teaching you the winemaking techniques that you would need, or the grapes that you’re growing,” Jim says. “She would come back from school, we would talk about it.” Stamps and his wife, Krystle, moved to Elkin in 2017 from Orlando, where they both worked at Disney World (there seems to be a bit of a theme with entertainment and wine here). They’d fallen in love with the area when they got married there, but on visit after visit they saw a need for a gathering spot since many wineries stop offering tastings at 5 or 6 p.m. Now, The Wisdom Table sells wines by the bottle — about half the shop’s stock is from North Carolina — and Jeremy serves as ambassador for the region, offering curated flights that combine Old-World, New-World, and Yadkinworld wines. Even when he’s pouring a glass of a deep red, he’s offering a story about it — like Grassy Creek’s 2017 “To the Max” blend, named for the winemaker’s late dog who saved his owner’s life by blocking him from going out in the vineyard one day before a lightning storm. Or McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks’ 2014 “Ring of Fire,” a dazzling Italian red that benefited from that year’s lack of hurricanes, rain and early frost. Or the Vermentino Superiore, a luscious white from Raffaldini Vineyards, one of the region’s most
scenic vineyards — there’s a Tuscan-style villa situated over rolling hills, where they grow the grapes that produce some of the region’s most powerful reds. (The Montepulciano Riserva, a deep, earthy red, would pass as an Italian import at a blind taste test.) The elephant in the room for winemakers around the world is climate change; as certain areas known for production get hotter and less accommodating for growing, regions less known for their grapes will inevitably get more attention. The Yadkin Valley stands to gain from this shift, which, according to Louis Jeroslow, would be a bit of a full circle for the whole state. “Somewhat lost in history is that the winemaking history of North Carolina goes all the way back to the colonies — North Carolina was the wine region of the United States before the western expansion, up until Prohibition. You have Old-World Europe dropped right here in the foothills of North Carolina, and we’re starting to finally, slowly, see more attention among the public, among the consumers,” Jeroslow says. “It feels very much like Sonoma in the 1960s, when the locals just didn’t get it, and people had not really heard about it: Why are you growing grapes, isn’t this where you guys grow almonds and citrus?” he says. “People could say the same thing here: Why are you growing grapes? Isn’t this where people grow corn and tobacco and soybeans?” But sitting on Midnight Magdalena’s porch looking into the Virginia mountains with a glass of malbec, or wandering through the sun-dappled vines at Raffaldini between sips of the Riserva, the answer is clear. SP
The Wisdom Table
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travel | college towns
Pretty. Unexpected. TAKING A UNIVERSITY TOUR WITH YOUR TEEN? TALLAHASSEE’S DIVERSE ARRAY OF RESTAURANTS, HISTORY AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES MAKE THE FLORIDA CAPITAL MUCH MORE THAN JUST A COLLEGE TOWN.
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riendly chatter and music fill the air as I take a sip of “The Charlie,” Charlie Park’s signature gin cocktail with fragrant notes of coconut, lavender and pineapple. Located on the eighth floor of the newly opened AC Hotel in Tallahassee, Fla., the open-air bar boasts sky-high views of the Cascades Park District, a renovated 24-acre tract filled with landscaped waterfalls, 2.3 miles of biking and walking trails, and an outdoor amphitheater. It’s the story of Tallahassee as a whole — a place where old meets new. The capital city, which has a population of nearly 198,000, is home to Florida State University, with enrollment topping 43,000, and 110
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Florida A&M University, one of the top-ranked public historically Black colleges in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. But, as locals note, the once sleepy Southern town, a 1.5-hour direct flight (or about an eight-hour drive) from Charlotte, is now an up-andcoming metropolis of activity, with a diverse offering of restaurants, shopping, history and outdoor activities.
FOOD & DRINK At the 150-room, four-suite AC Hotel Tallahassee, which opened in May, guests are treated to modern amenities with sleek decor and lots of natural light. A few steps from the front entrance of the hotel and
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID BARFIELD
by Taylor Wanbaugh
Charlie Park at AC Hotel Tallahassee
AC Hotel Tallahassee
Il Lusso
PHOTOGRAPH UPPER LEFT BY DAVE BARFIELD LONELY FOX
Cocktails at Charlie Park
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PHOTOGRAPH LEFT MIDDLE BY GLENN HASTINGS, PHOTOGRAPH TOP BY COLIN HACKLEY
down a brightly lit, wood-paneled hallway lies a separate entrance for Charlie Park, the AC’s rooftop cocktail bar named for local police officers’ codename for the area. It’s a lively and sophisticated meeting hub boasting unique fruity cocktails and small plates to share. It’s also an Instagram influencer’s dream, adorned with a funky live moss wall, velvet lounges and sofas, bright crystal chandeliers and plenty of indoor and balcony seating. The newcomer has already become a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, so be sure to call ahead to reserve a table. A short stroll from the hotel, Cascades Park offers a green scene tucked into an urban landscape, with ponds, fountains, gardens and plenty of trails. Its 3,500-seat Capital City Amphitheater has hosted a variety of acts, including blues artist JJ Grey & Mofro, with an upcoming show by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson. The Edison Restaurant, which overlooks the stage, still has remnants of its former life as a power plant, with high ceilings, industrial steel beams and exposed brick walls. A nod to its electrifying past, Edison bulbs serve as a theme in its decor. Order a lobster guacamole to share, and get a taste of the Gulf with the classic Panhandle Po Boy. If you’re looking for something more casual, Proof Brewing is a five-minute walk through the park. Founded in 2012, the craft brewery features a 20-barrel brew house, modern tasting room and outdoor beer garden, where you can usually find live music or catch a game on one of many big-screen TVs. The brewery offers a twist on bar bites — the pimento cheese fritters topped with a local jam glaze are heavenly — plus a long list of beers and a full bar. For a nonalcoholic option, Proof recently launched a line of low-calorie, CBD-infused seltzers called JoyFace Collective, available in flavors such as peach and lemon-lime. Close to campus, be sure to check out College Town, just steps from FSU’s Doak Campbell Stadium, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center and Dick Howser Baseball Stadium. Established in 2013, the entertainment district is home to dozens of restaurants, bars and shops. Stop by family-friendly eatery Madison Social and order the BLT dip and tangy Korean cauliflower to share, and sip on a lavender lemonade while cheering on the Seminoles. Fun fact: College Town is just minutes away from the FSU Flying High Circus, a 60-yearold student-run aerial and stage show with its own Big Top tent.
For an upscale option, make a dinner reservation at downtown’s Il Lusso. Known for steaks and Italian fare, it’s worth a visit. Start with the insalata burrata with arugula, heirloom tomatoes and white balsamic vinaigrette, and you can’t go wrong with any of the homemade pasta dishes — Il Lusso has an excellent seafood mezzaluna, with spiny lobster, crab, grouper, carrot butter, fennel and lobster espuma. Don’t skip out on dessert — the Italian Cream Cake Baked Alaska is to die for.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Tallahassee has a little bit of something for everyone, whether you are a thrill seeker or prefer something more laid-back. The 52-acre outdoor Tallahassee Museum is a great option for kids, boasting more than two dozen native animals such as red wolves, otters, bobcats and bald eagles. Step back in time with the museum’s historic buildings, including the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, the first regularly organized Black church in Florida established in 1851, and The Concord School, a late 1870s schoolhouse that served the children of formerly enslaved people. Authentic 1880s farm buildings house cows, sheep, goats, and a garden filled with corn, sweet potatoes and other crops. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the museum offers Tree-To-Tree Adventures, a high ropes/zipline course that allows you to see the exhibits from new heights. Tallahassee is also home to more than 700 miles of trails for biking, hiking, horseback riding and running. I rented a bike from The Great Bicycle Shop, which offers one-day rentals starting at
$30, and headed to the Munson Hills Trail with Jimmy Card, who is a member of the Tallahassee Mountain Biking Association. It’s a great trail for beginners and families and offers beautiful forest views. If you’re feeling ambitious, the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, the oldest rail trail in Florida, runs 16 miles from Tallahassee to the historic town of St. Marks, which is home to a wildlife refuge on the Gulf of Mexico. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park offers a quiet retreat from the bustling city, featuring a picturesque brick walkway framed by
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Specializing in Epilepsy and Sleep Disorder Care for Both Children and Adults
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willows draped with Spanish moss, lush gardens and beautiful water features. Bike, hike or kayak, take a garden tour, or plan ahead for special events such as yoga on the historic Maclay House lawn. If you’re willing to venture about 15 miles south, the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, home to the world’s largest and deepest freshwater spring, is a 6,000-acre sanctuary that boasts diverse wildlife such as manatees, alligators and dozens of bird species.
PHOTOGRAPH BY G. HASTINGS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT To experience a taste of Tallahassee’s eclectic arts scene, head over to the Railroad Square Art District. Centrally located near downtown, FSU and FAMU, the district is home to more than 70 shops, art galleries and small businesses, including several thrift, antique and vintage boutiques, a specialty kayak shop, a nonprofit theater, a pinball arcade and a cat cafe/bookshop. Chill out with a cool libation and live music at Railroad Square Craft House in the newly renovated Art Garden. If you want a local, authentic, hole-in-the-wall live music experience, head on over to Bradfordville Blues Club, a 50-year-old jazz joint about 30 minutes outside of downtown. Follow the bumpy dirt road, and you’ll know you’re in the right spot when you hear the instruments strumming and the lively crowd through the night air. The smell of deep-fried catfish made by Miss Ernestine greets visitors almost every night. Strings of Christmas lights illuminate painted portraits of musicians Pinetop Perkins, “Honeyboy” Edwards, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and others lining the walls of the one-room cinderblock club.
Historically, the juke joint served as a safe venue for Black performers during the days of segregation and is part of The Mississippi Blues Trail that runs from the Magnolia state to Florida. Now, much like the rest of Tallahassee, the crowd is a mix of young locals, longtime regulars who greet bartenders and guests alike with bright smiles and jovial hugs, and curious travelers led off the beaten path by the lure of good company, good music and a little bit of good old Southern hospitality. SP
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Thursday, December 2 Mint Museum Randolph $25 per ticket 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Join SouthPark for MINGLE AT THE MINT, an exclusive shopping event designed to connect our readers with unique local retailers and artisans. Enjoy complimentary libations and heavy hors d’oeuvres. For more information, please email Scott at scott@southparkmagazine.com or Jane at jane@southparkmagazine.com
1300 Baxter St, Ste 114 Charlotte, NC
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Specializing in Epilepsy and Sleep Disorder Care for Both Children and Adults
ONE-TIME, FREE EVENT A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CELEBRATION! Honor the history of the Main Library, say goodbye to the A ONCE LIFETIME current space IN andAwelcome the CELEBRATION! next chapter together. TOURS AVAILABLE WEEKEND DAYS — NOV. 6, 7, 13 & 14 VISIT FOUNDATION.CMLIBRARY.ORG FOR MORE!
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Dine & Shine Mint Museum Randolph August 20
Ann Marie Elwayan and Rush Coe
Kathleen Bambrick Meier, Zelleka Biermann and Mayor Vi Lyles
Teresa Hu and Munro Richardson
Lynsley Smith, K. B. and Mary Beth McIntyre
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Charles and Peggy Thies
Jennifer and Joe Clifford
Doug and Dana Demick
The CrossRoads Corporation hosted its inaugural gala in grand style on the lawn of Mint Museum Randolph. The nonprofit organization supports economic rejuvenation in the Grier Heights community.
Dot Scott and Eddie Lynn Finch
Diana Moser-Burg and Michelle Conner
Allison Hinshaw, Mary Beth McIntyre and Berkeley Gardner
B. E. Noel
Ervin Gourdine
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Carolina Panthers Kickoff Luncheon Sheraton Hotel Charlotte September 3
Brian Hubert and Stephanie Little
Nick Pagano and Glenn Wilga
Derek Noll and Tiffani Sheppard
Amy Howard and Hunter Latham
Noelle Colligan and Liz Graham
Terry Greenwood and Rod Smith
Find Your Perfect Bike Here
greatoutdoorprovision.com Photo Credit: GOPC Staff Kate Rice
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Park Road Shopping Center
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Stephen and Mark Cheetham
The Charlotte Touchdown Club welcomed the new season with a luncheon featuring a keynote speech by Carolina Panthers Head Coach Matt Rhule.
|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Charlotte Squawks Premiere Party Belk Theater August 18
After a year off, Charlotte Squawks returned to the stage to poke a little fun at the Queen City. The show celebrated its return with a reception sponsored by WFAE.
Emma Braisted and Sharon Sullivan
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Elizabeth and Mark Hindal
Richard & Solestine Lancaster
Martin Olsen and Mary C. Curtis
Amy, Lilly and Natalie Murphy
Enjoy The Ride greatoutdoorprovision.com Park Road Shopping Center
Joan Lorden, Laurence Mays and Suzanne Fetscher
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
New Works by Beverly Fishman SOCO Gallery September 1
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Keith Ferguson and David Butler
Pam Stowe and Hilary Burt
Michelle Kempf, Louisa Sartorius, Emily Reel and Julia Kim
Lisa Dargan and Mary Palmer Dargan
Susanne Bless and Anja Zimmerman
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Detroit-based artist Beverly Fishman debuted new works in her latest exhibition at SOCO Gallery.
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Miss May’s Roaring ’20s Tea Rural Hill August 15
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
The Roaring ’20s returned with a luncheon hosted by the Historic Rural Hill Auxiliary. The tea honored the late Miss May Davidson, benefactress of the Rural Hill Cultural Center.
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We are excited to share that Robin Smith-Salzman of Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has been selected as the first-ever Make-A-Wish Wish Ball Chair. The event will be held at the Westin in Charlotte on February 25, 2022. Help support the event by becoming a sponsor or donating auction items today! Tickets for the general public go on sale January 21. Robin Smith-Salzman Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
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FINDING JOY
hile the pandemic has been isolating for some, the unsettling events of the last year and a half have brought others together. In Joy, an exhibition currently on view at Elder Gallery of Contemporary Art, a group show by four local artists from different backgrounds who became friends over the last year represents a unique collaboration. “This exhibition offers a look at four forward-thinking local artists who embrace and embody joy, and how their individual and collective efforts offer powerful examples of the transformative effects of partnership and embrace of one another — as women, as artists and as friends,” says gallery owner Sonya Pfeiffer. The works by Carla Aaron-Lopez, Erin Comerford Miller, Lo’Vonia Parks and Windy O’Connor are on view through Dec. 4, along with Who Are Your People?, an exhibition of new works by Makayla Binter, a talented emerging artist who is a Davidson College graduate and UNC Charlotte graduate student, in her first show at the gallery. eldergallery.com SP
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ELDER GALLERY
Erin Comerford Miller, Lo’Vonia Parks: “Black Joy is Enough” (1/6), Digital print on 100% cotton rag fine art paper, 77 x 60 in
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