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FROM THE EDITOR
W
CATHY MARTIN EDITOR
PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM SAYER
editor@southparkmagazine.com
hile making the final edits to this issue, I came across an article titled, “Are blankets the new going-out accessory?” What a great idea, I thought, and not just in 2020, when most socializing has been relegated to outdoor spaces. I’ve forever joked about bringing a blanket to work to keep at my desk for days when my co-workers — clearly not true Southerners, but transplants from the Midwest and the Northeast — blast the air conditioning to Antarctic levels in the middle of July. According to the article in WSJ. Magazine, restaurants in some cities relying on outdoor dining are providing blankets for guests to cover up during meals. Why not make it a year-round practice, I say? Then cold-natured diners like myself and others won’t have to remember to bring a sweater to lunch or dinner on 90-degree days. I’ve always thought ponchos, which are basically blankets that go over your head, are practical and stylish — an easy way to keep warm without being too constricted. They’re also perfect for concealing the “Quarantine 15” many of us have put on while being sequestered at home with pantries stocked with cheese and snacks and the internet telling us to bake, it's comforting, and we all need comfort right now. Keeping comfortable — physically, mentally and emotionally — takes on a new significance these days. And now that we’re spending more time at home, many of us have been reevaluating our living spaces. Interior designers I’ve spoken with over the last few months all tell me they are busier than ever. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own house or apartment, in this issue we feature three gorgeous, thoughtfully designed homes with styles ranging from traditional to neutral and airy to bright and eclectic. We also asked a few local home boutiques to share ideas for creating a warm, cozy aesthetic. “The ultimate luxury is being able to relax and enjoy your home,” New York interior designer Jeff Lincoln told House Beautiful magazine in 2017. Blankets and warm-scented candles might be a poor substitute for hugs and close gatherings with friends and family. But with the cooler months approaching, here’s hoping we all find a little comfort and calm in our personal spaces. SP
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The Mark of Distinction in World Class Home Building™ Charlotte (704) 889.1600 Charleston (843) 801.1600 www.kingswoodhomes.com
C H A R LO T T E C H A R L E S TO N World Class Living
November
30
DEPARTMENTS 23 | Blvd. Setting a superior fall table; cozy finds for the home; Jimmy Pearls serves a taste of the Tidewater; filmmaker Thomas Morgan’s latest project; camellias’ starring role in the garden.
53 | Simple life A country made of clouds.
59 | Bookshelf
32
This month's notable new releases.
61 | Talk it out Celebrating gratitude in a year steeped in disappointment and fear.
65 | Southpark stories Once lost in grief, a SouthPark couple finds a new mission.
114 | Swirl Galas, parties and gatherings in the Queen City.
120 | Snapshot The man behind the murals and events in Charlotte’s center city.
ABOUT THE COVER Photo of interior designer Natalie Papier's south Charlotte home by Chris Edwards. Model Liza Lavengood styled by Whitley Adkins, with hair and makeup by Elizabeth Tolley.
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additions renovations signature homes
Charlotte and Boone
andrewroby.com 704.334.5477
making it home since 1950
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FEATURES 70 | Something old, something bold by Cathy Martin | photographs by Chris Edwards | styling by Whitley Adkins
Designer Natalie Papier’s art-filled, vintage-inspired home is the backdrop for a stay-at-home fashion fantasy.
80 | Time for change by Blake Miller| photographs by Chris Edwards An Eastover couple downsizes and taps designer Charlotte Lucas to usher in a new aesthetic.
86 | Family flow by Catherine Ruth Kelly | photographs by Michael Blevins
A Quail Hollow family updates their ’80s Georgian home to reflect a modern lifestyle.
94 | Sweet spot by Ben Jarrell | photographs by Jonathan Cooper Before mentoring recovering addicts at Community Matters Cafe, pastry chef Ashley Anna Tuttle honed her baking skills as a sergeant in the U.S. Army. 102 | Set yourself free by Page Leggett
A day trip to the foothills offers a delicious, artsy, outdoorsy diversion.
106 | Lowcountry longing by Vanessa Infanzon History, natural beauty and small-town charm combine in Beaufort, South Carolina.
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AWAKE MINI FACE LIFTS
6817 Fairview Rd. Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 325-8062 CarolinaFacialPlastics.com
SouthPark WAVERLY LAKE NORMAN
HEATHER BONNER 704-756-1394
KATY BRADFIELD 704-965-5968
MAREN BRISSON-KUESTER 704-287-7072
BUSH | THOMAS TEAM 704-904-1212
MELANIE COYNE 704-763-8003
MICHAEL EMIG 704-999-9309
BRIDGET GRAVES 704-560-2311
SHERYL HALLOW 704-907-1144
PATTY HENDRIX 704-577-2066
CHRISTY HOWEY 704-996-0484
BETH LIVINGSTON 704-778-6831
ANNA MEDICA 704-620-2047
VALERIE MITCHENER 704-577-8200
RIVERS & CHIP MOON 704-619-9693
PEGGY PETERSON 704-904-6279
JUDY RAGHAVAN 704-807-9970
TIERNAN ROSE 561-706-5450
KIM SHEEHEY 704-612-3210
SANDRA SINGer 704-231-8575
ANNE SPENCER 704-264-9621
HELEN ST. ANGELO 704-839-1809
STACEY STOLAR 704-400-1539
MEG WILKINSON 704-906-5747
MARGARET WOOD 704-904-6022
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sparkle Add some
to your holiday season.
Actual Patient
Enhance your smile this fall with a custom-designed smile by Dr. Patrick Broome. Light up the room with a smile that’s designed exclusively for you — natural, beautiful, and confident. Your smile journey begins with your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Broome. Visit destinationsmile.com for our virtual options or call 704-364-4711 to arrange for an in-office consultation.
1230 West Morehead St., Suite 308 Charlotte, NC 28208 704-523-6987 southparkmagazine.com _______________ Ben Kinney Publisher publisher@southparkmagazine.com
Juliska • Simon Pearce • Herend • Jars Anna Weatherley • William Yeoward Mary Jurek • Vietri • Tamara Childs Beatriz Ball • Julia Knight • Annie Glass
704-334-5040 759 Providence road, charlotte located in the heart of Myers Park johndabbsltd.coM follow us:
Cathy Martin Editor editor@southparkmagazine.com Andie Rose Art Director Lauren M. Coffey Graphic Designer Alyssa Rocherolle Graphic Designer Whitley Adkins Style Editor Contributing Editors David Mildenberg, Taylor Wanbaugh Contributing Writers Gary Crunkleton, Jim Dodson Ken Garfield, Michelle Icard Vanessa Infanzon, Ben Jarrell Catherine Ruth Kelly, Page Leggett Blake Miller, Michael J. Solender Emiene Wright Contributing Photographers Michael Blevins, Jonathan Cooper Daniel Coston, Chris Edwards
T H E S A LT O N T E A M
N at i v e C h a r l o t t e a n s | T o p p r o d u c e r s s i n c e 1 9 9 5
Amanda Lea Proofreader _______________ ADVERTISING Jane Rodewald Account Executive 704-621-9198 jane@southparkmagazine.com Scott Leonard Audience Development Specialist/ Account Executive 704-996-6426 scott@southparkmagazine.com Brad Beard Graphic Designer Letters to the editorial staff: editor@southparkmagazine.com Instagram: southparkmagazine Facebook: facebook.com/southparkmagazine Twitter: twitter.com/SouthParkMag
Owners Jack Andrews, Frank Daniels Jr., Frank Daniels III, Lee Dirks, David Woronoff WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE!
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704-315-9515 | hmproperties.com
Published by Old North State Magazines LLC. ©Copyright 2020. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Volume 24, Issue 11
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A N T I Q U E S | L I G H T I N G | AC C E S S O R I E S 6 815 - A 3 p h i l l i p s p l a c e c t , ch a r l ot t e , n c 2 8 210 | 7 0 4 . 9 9 9 . 6 976 | m o n - s a t 10 a m - 5 p m
www.granville-charlotte.com
photo credit by Michael Blevins
SERV I N G OU R N E I G H B O R S S I N C E 1 98 3
CHRIS BLACK
LUCY BUTLER
AL DICKENS
HAMPTON+LONG TEAM
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LINDA HENLEY
CATHERINE HOUGHLAND
CHIP JETTON
SARAH KENNERLY
BRANDON LAWN
BECKY MCGRATH
HEATHER MONTGOMERY
LISA RUPP
TUCK TEAM
LISA WARREN
At Cottingham Chalk, we put our clients first. Whether that means answering a late-night phone call or walking you through your first home buying experience, we are here for you. For over 35 years, we’ve been helping our clients in the Charlotte and surrounding communities find the home that is right for them. And we hope to be doing it for 35 more.
704. 364 .170 0 | COT T I NG HAMCHALK.CO M
USA Today’s Best Beach in North Carolina
Congrats. You just found Emerald Isle. Now it’s time to BookTheCoast.com and visit North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks.
North Carolina’s
southern outer banks
blvd. People. Places. Things.
AMAZING GRAZING
When Tori Tippen wanted to get to know people after moving to Charlotte in 2017, she’d invite friends she’d met online to her house for “girl dates.” That’s where Tippen, a software engineer at Microsoft, first started showing off her custom cheese boards. “I think of it more like cheese art,” says Tippen, a native of Sebastian, Fla. After meeting SkillPop founder Haley Bohon through an event at Red Ventures, Tippen’s previous employer, she started teaching classes so others could learn her techniques. “I sold out of every single class,” Tippen says. Out of that success, CLT Cheese Chick was born, with the tagline “Embrace your inner Brieyoncé.” Through her website, customers can order traditional or seasonal-themed snack boxes and platters, with prices ranging from $25 to $150. Larger grazing tables run $250-$300. A brunch platter brimming with fresh fruit can be customized with bagels, doughnuts or waffles. Pickup is available at designated locations in Cotswold and near the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tippen sources almost all of the cheese from Orrman’s Cheese Shop, and most of the produce comes from local farmers markets. She also caters weddings and baby showers, with an option of cheese and charcuterie “cones” ideal for social distancing. Last month, she launched elevated “boho” picnics. Last year’s Thanksgiving season was so busy, Tippen plans to add staff this year in order to fill even more orders. cltcheesechick.com, IG: @cltcheesechick
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In the cards
fter everything we’ve been through in 2020, a simple message of gratitude can mean a lot. One way to show appreciation to others this holiday season is with these sweet note cards from Jen Gerena Design. Gerena, a graphic designer and “self-diagnosed paper-goods hoarder” moved to Charlotte from New York in March. The SouthPark resident started creating handmade cards for friends and family as a fun side project, then, as her business grew through word of mouth, she opened an Etsy shop last fall. The cards combine digital lettering with Gerena’s original watercolor designs and are printed on sturdy, high-quality cotton paper. The 5-by-7-inch “Give Thanks” cards, ideal for a hostess gift, are sold in packs of six for $18. Sets of 10 smaller place-setting cards are $10. With each purchase, Gerena makes a donation to onetreeplanted.org, which supports reforestation efforts. Gerena designs cards for all seasons, from summery popsicle prints to Christmas holiday themes. A few months ago, she introduced wrapping paper, including a playful “Oy! to the world” design for Hanukkah, a holiday tree design and a pastel rainbow option for birthdays and other occasions. “I love handwritten letters and cards,” says Gerena, who says she’s been flattered by support she’s received beyond her immediate circle of friends and family. “It’s so satisfying that others would appreciate [the products] and want to give it to someone else.” SP — Cathy Martin Jen Gerena’s products are sold online at jengerenadesign.com and at Ruby's Gift at 3204 N. Davidson St. in NoDa.
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Tabletop treasures
SET THE TABLE IN STYLE WITH FESTIVE FINDS FROM LOCAL BOUTIQUES.
Glass Lucy vases with brass detail, in white, seafoam or golden green, $68-$135 at Isabella. 115 Cherokee Rd., isabellastyle.com
L’Objet Fortuny Ashanti dessert plates, $285 for four at Circa Interiors. 721 Governor Morrison St., Ste. F-170, circainteriors.com
Estelle Colored Glass hand-blown stemware. Sold in sets of six at Circa Interiors, $160-$195. 721 Governor Morrison St., Ste. F-170, circainteriors.com
Marble candlestick in black or white, $55 each at House of Nomad. 1935 Brunswick Ave., shophouseofnomad. com
Handmade vetiver basket sourced from Madagascar, 20” diameter, $120 at House of Nomad. 1935 Brunswick Ave., shophouseofnomad.com
European-style tapers, $26.95 for six at Society Social. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 195, shopsocietysocial.com Porcelain leaf tealights, $66.95 for four at Society Social. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 195, shopsocietysocial.com 26
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Monogrammed napkins, $62 each; Richard Ginori Marchese gold glasses, two for $245; Laboratorio Paravicini dinner plates, $170 each; William Yeoward tortoise goblets, $80 each; L’Objet Haas Brothers salt & pepper shakers, $295; L’Objet Haas Brothers Fox salad bowl, $1,250; L’Objet Haas Brothers candlesticks, $495-550; twist candles, $22 each; all at Elizabeth Bruns. 6401 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 17A, elizabethbruns.com
Outstanding property at one of North Carolina’s most prestigious, private clubs, this golf course will be home for the 2021 US Amateur Championship. Pinehurst, long respected as the capital of golf, is the future home of the new USGA Headquarters
65 Southern Hills Place COUNTR Y CL U B OF NORT H CA ROL INA PIN E HU RS T , N.C. Stunning waterfront estate located on quiet cul de sac overlooking Lake Dornoch. Built in 1993, the French Country architectural design has 8500 square feet including 5BR, 6+Baths, guest house, 3 car garage, wine cellar and pool overlooking the lake. This perfect corporate retreat or family home is offered at $1,600,000.
PEGGY FLOYD BROKER - REALTOR 910.639.1197 peggyfloyd77@gmail.com
|blvd.
Chill chasers
LIGHT A FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE AND COZY UP YOUR SPACE WITH THESE IDEAS FROM LOCAL STORES.
Patrick Coard Kifu sculptural lighters in Parisian shagreen, pen shell and brass, starting at $425 at Circa Interiors. 721 Governor Morrison St., Ste. F-170, circainteriors.com Mud-cloth velvet silk pillow with down insert, made in Turkey, 25-by-25 inches. $195 at House of Nomad. 1935 Brunswick Ave., shophouseofnomad.com Maison de Vacances pillows in various textures, including Tibetan goat wool, starting at $165 at Circa Interiors. 721 Governor Morrison St., Ste. F-170, circainteriors.com Italian-made buffalo-check throws, $122.95 at Society Social. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 195, shopsocietysocial.com
Fireside 8 oz. handpoured soy candle with notes of saffron, clove, incense and sandalwood, $20 at Pretty Honest Candles, prettyhonestshop.com
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Belgian Linen handwoven wicker candle with notes of rose, sea foam, amber and musk, $38.95 at Society Social. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 195, shopsocietysocial.com
Meta Puzzle, made from 100% recycled, extra-thick stock. Completed 1,000-piece puzzle is 19.25-by-26.6 inches. $36 at Society Social. 2000 South Blvd., Suite 195, shopsocietysocial.com
Limited edition Boy Smells candle in rhubarb smoke, with notes of incense, rhubarb, violet leaves, black tea, birch, smoked papyrus and tanned leather, $34 at Isabella. 115 Cherokee Rd., isabellastyle.com
Falconetto multi velvet pillow in a zigzag design, 19.5-by-19.5 inches, $410 at Brock Moran. 4625 Piedmont Row Dr., Suite 125, brockmoran.com Cream pom throw in cotton, handmade and sourced from Marrakesh, Morocco, 59-by79 inches, $95 at House of Nomad. 1935 Brunswick Ave., shophouseofnomad.com
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Home is where the art is A NEW ART-FOCUSED APARTMENT COMMUNITY SHOWCASES A CREATIVE URBAN VIBE AND LOCAL ARTISTS. BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER
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Three public installations bring life to HUB’s exterior space. “South End Porch” by Laura Tate (above) and Sharon Dowell is situated alongside the main entrance. The mural captures HUB’s signature geometric tile design accented with lush green fig leaves. space mashup rarely found in multifamily rentals. Krenz recognized the deep well of creative talent in Charlotte and turned to Art House Charlotte founder Judith Zehmke to help curate an eclectic portfolio. “[Krenz] had such clarity about her vision of offering a different experience for HUB residents,” says Zehmke, an art dealer who typically works with individual clients in selecting original art for their homes. “The project provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase many of Charlotte’s talented artists.” The resulting 29 original artworks created by 17 local artists set a tone for the space that resonates with urban enthusiasts. HUB South End is taking its commitment to local artists a step further by establishing an artist-in-residence program. “We’re offering six month’s rent of a studio or one-bedroom apartment to our selected artist in residence,” says Krenz, who notes HUB has seen interest from visual and performing artists, photographers — even chefs. “We want to layer in a programming aspect where the artist educates the community on their craft. It’s important to recognize [that] individuals make great space. Creativity is embraced here.” SP
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY HUB SOUTH END
pon an initial visit to HUB South End, visitors might mistakenly think they’ve stumbled into a contemporary art-infused coworking lounge instead of a smart new residential complex. Sunlight floods the casual, airy space filled with soft couches, conversation pods and a long cement work counter that doubles as a coffee bar, encouraging guests to settle in for a while. A gallery wall with portraits, hand-painted oils and mixed-media textured works draws the eye across the Bauhaus-inspired space, engaging with its color balance and soothing calm. Thoughtfully selected original art fills just about every corner of the common areas, and that’s by design. “Our target resident is the urban dweller,” says Rachel Russell Krenz, director of development for Ram Realty Advisors, HUB’s developer. “Somebody who wants to walk out of their house, take the light rail to work, walk to places for shopping, restaurants. They want a comfortable place to retreat where they can work or unwind — an extension of their home. Original art makes space feel like a home versus a commercial lobby.” The 265-unit apartment community opened in January near the Blue Line’s East/West Blvd transit station. Eschewing catalog-based anonymous art, HUB instead turned to local artists in styling a comfortable home/third-
GET READY FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS SAVE EARLY WITH PRE-BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
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|blvd.
Tidewater tastes CHEFS DARRYL COOPER AND OSCAR JOHNSON BRING THE FLAVORS OF COASTAL VIRGINIA TO CHARLOTTE.
harlotte’s best-kept secret in seafood doesn’t have crab legs on the menu. At Jimmy Pearls Southern Eatery, a popular pop-up operating out of 7th Street Public Market on Fridays and Saturdays, that’s by design. Chefs Darryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson are on a mission to bring authentic Tidewater flavors to the Queen City. The Tidewater region stretches from southeastern Virginia to northeastern North Carolina, incorporating parts of Maryland facing the Chesapeake Bay. It includes Jamestown, the English settlement where enslaved Africans first set foot in the United States in 1619, bringing their many different skills as craftsmen, farmers and, yes, cooks. “Our ancestors came from Angola and settled there, and it’s only right to tell people the true story and history through food,” says Johnson, who grew up in Hampton, Va. “There’s nothing wrong with crab legs and steamed shrimp, but we want to give the true essence of Tidewater cuisine.” Cooper hails from Newport News, Va. “We’re channeling that energy they transmitted into the food and elevating it with our classical training,” he adds. Though the business partners grew up in communities just 10 miles apart, their paths didn’t cross until 10 years ago in the culinary program at 32
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Johnson and Wales University, where they formed an immediate, almost familial bond. “He’s Ray, I’m Claude,” Cooper says, referencing the 1999 comedy Life starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. “Oscar might come up with some wild idea, but we’ll try it. If it sucks, we don’t keep it, but if it pops, we run with it.” A big reason the duo work so well together is their complementary backgrounds. Johnson worked in the kitchen at
PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN COOPER
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BY EMIENE WRIGHT
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PHOTOGRAPH BY POETICAL PRODUCTIONS
The Tidewater area’s salty, smoky, spicy flavor profile can be attributed to three dietary essentials: crab, beer and Old Bay seasoning. Fragrant celery and spicy cayenne provide the flavor base for so many dishes that Johnson and Cooper created their own version. The Uncle Gene, pictured, is a fried fish sandwich topped with a field-pea slaw and served on a brioche bun.
Myers Park Country Club for almost four years under two master chefs that encouraged exploration. Cooper cut his teeth in institutional cooking, from his first job as a teen serving at Busch Gardens to working at retirement homes with dietary restrictions to his current 9-to-5 role as a cafeteria manager for an elementary school. “I learned the structure of food costs, waste and how to cook in bulk,” Cooper says. “Wild ideas don’t come into my brain the way they do for Oscar. I’m consistent, he’s creative. Together we’re trying to get Jimmy Pearls to blow up as consistently creative.” The two pay homage to their roots with the name and philosophy behind Jimmy Pearls. “The top species of seafood eaten in the Tidewater region are blue crab and oysters,” Cooper says. “Male blue crabs are called ‘Jimmy’ and females are called ‘Sally.’ And pearls, of course, come from oysters.” Beyond coastal seafood, the region is also known for a strong rural heritage, with rustic offerings such as boiled peanuts, field peas, apples and country ham. It’s a little bit of everything, and that diversity is reflected in Jimmy Pearls’ menu, where rice and peas are sourced locally from Nebedaye Farms. “We’re being thoughtful and intentional about what we create,” Cooper says. “Each dish has a history that comes with it, from our families or our culture.” Cooper worked for five years perfecting his chicken hotlink sausage, based on a family recipe. His version is a little spicy, a little sweet, with a nice snap when you bite into it. The sausage is served on a brioche bun with chow chow and mustard, and, though it’s made with chicken instead of pork, it’s incredibly juicy. Saltwater standbys like the Uncle Gene fish sandwich, inspired by Johnson’s late uncle, and Freako Misto, a fried seafood and vegetable platter, have become fan favorites. “Growing up we had Bay Days, a festival based on the Chesapeake Bay,” Johnson says. “Uncle Gene and the other
deacons from Queen Street Baptist Church would sell fried fish sandwiches. ... They were huge, the best in town. Nothing complicated, just whiting or catfish. Uncle Gene just put his all into everything he did.” The Uncle Gene has all the makings of a great fish sandwich: a seasoned and fried filet topped with a vinegary medley of peas, cabbage, kale, bell peppers and fish peppers — an heirloom variety dating to the 1800s — for a little kick. The Jimmy sauce is a sweet-potato tartar with chow chow, potato puree and a dab of mustard to cut the fried fat with a slice of acid. Sometimes, Cooper and Johnson add an item on the menu that’s so special it’s only available for a limited time. One such item is yock, a Chinese noodle dish that’s relatively unknown outside of the Tidewater region. Yock was created by the first Chinese immigrants in the area. Using a very straightforward recipe of wheat flour, water and salt, the hand-pulled noodles were accompanied by a tangy bath of ketchup, onions, soy sauce and seasonings, studded with either chicken or pork. (New Orleans has a different version of yock, influenced by its Vietnamese population.) “It’s struggle food, a big bowl of comfort. In essence, the first Chinese immigrants were making something out of nothing — a noodle soup,” says Johnson, who prefers his yock brothy, similar to ramen. The African American community, some of whom worked on the docks as longshoremen or visited Asia while serving in the Navy, adopted the dish and put their spin on it. These days, yock is made and sold at church fundraisers and latenight yock shacks. Recipes are fiercely guarded, with secret ingredients as far-ranging as quail eggs and Filipino banana sauce. Jimmy Pearls incorporates collard greens, garlic and a bit of nori, or Japanese seaweed, in its version. “We elevate that a bit, but it’s still a box of yock. Yock is automatically Tidewater. I feel like it’ll organically catch on in this melting pot of a city,” Johnson says. SP Jimmy Pearls is open Fridays and Saturdays from 4-7 p.m. in the 7th Street Public Market. Pre-ordering is available on their website at jimmypearls.square.site. Follow them on Instagram @_jimmypearls. southparkmagazine.com | 33
ALLEN TATE SOUTHPARK
2817 Manor Road
2669 Idlewood Circle
Charlotte, NC 28209
Charlotte, NC 28209
Offered at $1,989,000
Offered at $1,799,999
Myers Park Lauren Campbell 704-579-8333
Myers Park Amy Peterson 704-533-2090
2211 Sutton Springs Road
1729 Cavendish Court
Charlotte, NC 28226
Charlotte, NC 28211
CT
RA
R
DE
UN
T ON
C
Offered at $1,190,000
Offered at $875,000
Pellyn Grove Lauren Campbell 704-579-8333
Usher Estates Carrie Hatfield 704-618-3624
2634 Mary Butler Way
4516 Rosecliff Drive
Charlotte, NC 28226
Charlotte, NC 28277
T
AC
R NT
R
E ND
CO
U
Offered at $669,900
Offered at $649,900
Maison Kim Trouten 704-877-8719
Rosecliff Kaye Bender 704-904-3221
5638 Timber Lane
Charlotte, NC 28211
Charlotte, NC 28270
CT
ER
RA NT COOffered
at $399,900
D UN
Courtyards of Emerald Lake
Offered at $1,495,000
Offered at $1,450,000
Foxcroft
Mammoth Oaks Kim Ewert 704-491-2765
Gay Dillashaw 704-564-9393
Lauren Campbell 704-579-8333
3006 Fairview Villa Court
132 Eden Hollow
Charlotte, NC 28209
Weddington, NC 28104
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Highway run CHARLOTTE RUNNERS WILL POUND THE PAVEMENT DURING NEXT MONTH’S REIMAGINED AROUND THE CROWN 10K.
F
or most drivers, sitting in stopped traffic usually prompts frustration and annoyance. For husband and wife Brian and Chelsea Mister, a traffic jam on Interstate 277 sparked a business idea — a footrace on the highway. “We were joking about the idea four years ago while stuck in traffic,” Brian, 32, says. “We joked about how funny it would be to get out and walk or run. We started joking about it so much that we said, ‘What if we actually did that?’” Last year, the Misters launched Around the Crown, a 10K race with a course that takes participants on I-277 and through downtown Charlotte. The first race was held Labor Day weekend and attracted nearly 5,000 runners. The second annual Around the Crown 10K, originally scheduled for May 31, will look different this year due to Covid-19. ATC10K has partnered with Truist Bank for Truist Time Trials, an in-person race beginning and ending at Camp North End that will take place over six days in December. Instead of running on the uptown loop, the course will take runners along the streets and greenways of uptown, north end and west Charlotte. The Misters are both runners, and Brian’s marketing experience with Charlotte Marathon and the U.S. National 36
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Whitewater Center gave him the skills to build a company around racing and outdoor activity. Brian serves as the full-time race director, and Chelsea, a digital designer at Red Ventures, is a part-time creative director. Around the Crown’s business model reflects the Misters’ personal commitment to sustainability. They want to bring awareness to how a race can be run without paper cups and plastic bottles. Last year that commitment included the use of polyurethane reusable cups for the water stations. This year, runners are being asked to bring their own hydration to the Truist Time Trials as a safety protocol. Nonprofits RunningWorks, Carolina Farm Trust and Partners for Parks are the beneficiaries of this year’s race. “We, as a collective running community, are hungry for some competition to test ourselves and test ourselves against other people,” Mister says. SP Ready, Set ... Run
Around the Crown 10K will be held December 6-12 at Camp North End from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. December 9 will be a deep-cleaning day. Every half hour, 50 runners will start the course. A virtual option is also available. To learn more, register or volunteer for the race, visit aroundthecrown10K.com.
PHOTOGRAPH BY THE LITTLEFIELD CO.
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True classic BY GARY CRUNKLETON
“T
he first mention of a cocktail dates back to 1806 — spirit, sugar, bitters, water — from The Balance and Columbian Repository newspaper in Hudson, New York. Although the article did not claim this particular cocktail to be the Old-Fashioned, it did capture the style of the drink in a time when grogs and slings were enjoyed. Here is where I will use my discretion and claim the Old-Fashioned dates back prior to 1806, despite it first being mentioned by name as a drink in the 1830s. “This recipe is in its purest form, which is prior to the American experiment known as Prohibition. It calls for rye whiskey. During Prohibition, drinkers developed a penchant for sweeter spirits, given they were drinking rum from the Caribbean and Canadian whisky from the North — both are sweet, of course. After Prohibition, the ingredients for the Old-Fashioned changed to include sweeter things like oranges, cherries, brandy and bourbon. “No matter how you prefer your Old-Fashioned, have fun making it, and enjoy!”
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The Old-Fashioned 2 ounces bonded rye whiskey (Old Forester) 1/4 ounce simple syrup (2 parts sugar, one part water) 3 dashes Peychuad’s bitters orange peel for garnish Mix the first three ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes, stir and strain into a chilled Old-Fashioned glass that has been in the freezer. Garnishing is important, given that the oils from a swath of orange peel need to be extracted onto the top of the drink. Squeeze the outside of the peel while holding it above the glass. This should allow the oils to settle or float on top, adding complexity to the drink. Gentle place the swath into the drink without disturbing the oils. SP Spirit Forward features excerpts from conversations with Gary Crunkleton, owner of The Crunkleton in Chapel Hill and The Crunkleton Charlotte.
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Winter beauty THE COOLER MONTHS ARE CAMELLIAS’ TIME TO SHINE. BY PHILIP CARTER
T
he cooler nights here in Charlotte mean one thing: Aside from the fact that I won’t be melting anymore while speaking with clients, camellias will soon be in bloom across the South. I’m not exactly sure where my love of this elegant winter rose originated. My parents and grandparents had a few that I remember fondly, but it wasn’t until I moved to Charleston, S.C., that I became completely obsessed. There are specimens well over 100 years old planted by, in my imagination, sweet little ladies in large, brimmed hats who belong to the garden clubs and societies. Man, I can almost taste the lemonade. A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THE CAMELLIA Originally brought over after the Revolutionary War, Camellia japonica, one of the species most common to us today, was introduced at Middleton Place just outside of Charleston. From there, things really took off. Horticulturists and property owners alike wanted to plant them on their estates. Everyone wanted their own cultivar, or variety, to be displayed. And boy oh boy, breeders have not disappointed. One of the most hybridized plant species around, there is literally a camellia variety for everyone to like. The flowers have an almost limitless array of colors in a variety of combinations and patterns. Some are modest, with a subtle allure, while others aim to be the belle of the ball. TYPES AND SPECIES There are two species of camellia most common in the U.S. Camellia sasanqua are hardier plants that can take a bit more sun. They often have a smaller leaf size and come in an array of heights and colors. These varieties bloom early fall into winter. If you have a tough spot in need of privacy, a larger growing sasanqua variety could just be the answer. The Camellia japonica, on the other hand, tends to have a larger leaf and prefers a bit more shade. I also find their flower arrangements to be more unique and, in general, they have a more elegant presence in the garden. My personal favorite is a variety called Pearl Maxwell, with shell pink round blooms. Take it from me, go pick one up — I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. WHEN AND HOW TO ENJOY CAMELLIAS Depending on the variety, camellias put on their show sometime between the end of October and the end of March. You’ve likely run across these plants around town — at the doctor’s office, outside your kids’ school or in the Harris Teeter parking lot. For most of the year, they blend into the swaths of green. However, come the middle of October, their swollen buds are screaming to burst forth. 40
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BEACH HOLIDAYS HOW TO USE CAMELLIAS IN THE GARDEN Whatever your gardening needs, there is likely a camellia variety to fill it. Need a specimen piece in a corner? Boom, camellia! Need some low-growing, flowering shrubs across the front of the house? Again, camellia. Need something architectural for that container on your condo terrace? You guessed it camellia! These Southern beauties really don’t ask for much once established, and they’re super easy to take care of. As long as there’s shelter from the hottest afternoon sun and well-drained soil, they won’t need much attention. The main thing to remember when selecting a variety is to take note of how big they will eventually grow. I see plenty of butchered overgrown camellias around town. Those two seconds to look at the plant tag will save you a potential headache five years later.
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HOW TO USE CAMELLIAS INSIDE Camellias make wonderful cut flowers for the kitchen counter or beside the bed. Simply prune off as many buds as you need, making sure to leave the stems long enough to reach water. Pull off most of the leaves and arrange in a vase or container. Bonus tip: For a longer bloom time, be sure to pick several unopened flower buds. CAMELLIAS FOR THE HOLIDAYS Having a little winter party? Float opened camellia blooms in bowls or containers of water. This is super easy, and looks stunning to boot. Need something green for the mantel? Trim off some stems and mix with other greenery for a bit of natural holiday decor. I’ve probably shared more about this winter beauty than you expected to read when flipping through the pages today. Since you’ve made it this far, I’d like to say thanks for taking the time. I hope you give a little thought to getting one or two camellias for your garden space or patio. You will be more than happy you did. Enjoy the show that’s coming in these next few weeks. Hopefully, it will be something you too come to look forward to in the years to come. SP Compiled by Whitley Adkins. Philip Carter is the owner of Allium Fine Gardens, a boutique garden design firm serving Charlotte and Charleston, S.C.
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Underdogs unleashed GLOBETROTTING FILMMAKER THOMAS MORGAN’S LATEST PROJECT FINDS HIM CLOSE TO HOME, CAPTURING AN UNLIKELY TALE OF QUEENS UNIVERSITY HEROES. BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER
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PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL J. SOLENDER
I
award-winning documentary Waiting for Mamu chronicled n early April, Charlotte documentary filmmak2012 CNN Hero of the Year Pushpa Basnet’s struggle to er Thomas Morgan was on the road in Athens, educate and house orphaned children of imprisoned mothers. Tenn., filming at the home of Queens University of Susan Sarandon served as executive producer on both films. Charlotte’s men’s rugby player, Martin Pierce. Despite stay“I’m drawn to subjects that are often marginalized and at-home orders, he wasn’t too concerned about traveling people who don’t have an opportunity during a pandemic. for their voice to be heard,” Morgan “Having filmed in Beirut, Lebanon, during a war and in post-earthquake “I’m drawn to subjects that says. “I’m humbled they allow me into their space and always ask them, ‘What ravaged Nepal,” Morgan says, “I’m used to working in difficult situations.” are often marginalized and people do you hope we can accomplish?’ Invariably, the response is something to His film subjects often overcome who don’t have an opportunity serve others and not themselves.” long odds, and he loves to tell how they Morgan’s latest project is much use their adversity as motivation to for their voice to be heard.” closer to home. Scrum follows Frank achieve great things for others. His 2017 McKinney, the men’s rugby head coach film Soufra was a feature-length docuat Queens University of Charlotte. One mentary showcasing social entrepreneur of the only African American head rugby coaches in U.S. Mariam Shaar and her sisterhood of refugee women as they college athletics, McKinney led his team to the 2019 USA secured a food truck for their fledgling catering business Rugby Men’s Division II National Championship title. inside Beirut’s infamous Bourj el-Barajneh refugee camp. The “Frank was the first person I met when I moved to film was an official selection for Positive Cinema Week at Charlotte in 1994,” says Morgan, a former real-estate execthe Cannes Film Festival. Morgan’s critically acclaimed and
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H M P RO P E R T I ES .C O M 46
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Scrum follows Frank McKinney, the men's rugby head coach at Queens University of Charlotte. utive who gave up corporate life to follow his filmmaking passion. McKinney worked in financial services. “We knew each other then as corporate guys,” Morgan says. “I always felt it wasn’t him, he wasn’t enthusiastic about it. Yet when he came to Queens, I thought, ‘Finally, he’s found his passion. This is really going to take off for him.’” At the beginning of the 2019 season, Morgan began coming to practices to film his friend and capture his work with the team. “[The team was] good,” Morgan says. “Frank kept emphasizing how important he felt it was for these kids to ‘win at life,’ much more so than winning on the field. I saw his whole intention and how he was using rugby to change people’s lives in a similar way to the way I was using film to change people’s lives. It was like looking in a mirror. For some of these kids, they are the first generation of their family going to college. Sports are such a great metaphor for life, and this story allows for the unfolding of remarkable challenges and accomplishments.” The film follows the unlikely journey of 35 young men as they navigate twists and turns of financial aid, campus life, demanding academics and grueling practice sessions in their quest to achieve a national title. Scrum reveals how McKinney’s team accomplished the three goals he set for their season: A 3.0 GPA for the team, zero disciplinary issues on and off the field, and winning the championship. What began for Morgan as a “sizzle reel” capturing unscripted moments as a keepsake for a friend blossomed into a documentary film project Morgan hopes to package into a cable television miniseries. At press time, he was in conversations with several distributors. “Tom has a way of finding uplifting and motivating elements in stories of underdogs,” McKinney says. “He’s remarkable in assembling all these disparate puzzle pieces into a compelling and inspiring story. I’m humbled he’s sharing our journey.” SP
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|simple life
A country made of clouds AWAKENING THE DREAMER IS AS SIMPLE AS SLOWING DOWN AND LOOKING UP. BY JIM DODSON
N
ot long ago, an old friend named Macduff Everton sent me a gift that reminded me to look up and take heart. It was a stunning picture of clouds passing over a clubhouse at Smith Mountain Lake, Va., taken in late August of this year. Set against a dark, rainy sky, a line of bright white clouds that resembled the curling tops of ocean waves tumbled over the horizon, a remarkable cloud formation caused by shearing winds. Macduff happens to be one of the world’s most honored landscape photographers, an artist whose work hangs in numerous museums around the world. Art critics have compared him to Ansel Adams for his soulful eye and brilliant portraits of nature, landscape and people. Years ago, we traveled the world in each other’s company, photographing and writing about people and places from Ireland to New Zealand. Along with his wife, Mary, an internationally known artist in her own right, we once spent two weeks working in Cuba while Mary lectured at an art school in Havana. His photos from our fortnight on the forbidden island 25 years ago are some of the most soulful and revealing photos you’ve ever laid eyes on. The amazing photo of clouds at Smith Mountain Lake, a rare formation technically known as a Kelvin-Helmholtz fluctus cloud, however, wasn’t a Macduff Everton jewel. It was a simple photograph taken by Amy Hunter, member 50,322 of something called the Cloud Appreciation Society. Macduff knew I would find it fascinating, which explains why his email featured the Society’s “Cloud of the Day” photograph along with a link to the organization’s website.
I clicked on it and spent a dreamy hour looking at a spectacular array of photographs and paintings of clouds posted by the society’s tens of thousands of members across 100 nations around the world, people who find comfort and inspiration in looking up at clouds. I also watched a TED Talk by the society’s founder, Gavin Pretor-Pinney. His purpose in founding the Cloud Appreciation Society was to simply remind people of the value of looking up at the Earth’s most ephemeral live artwork. “Clouds are so commonplace, so beautiful, people don’t even notice them unless they get in the way of the sun,” Pretor-Pinney told his TED audience, adding that Aristophanes, the Greek playwright, described passing clouds as “the goddesses of idle fellows” and believed they were, on the contrary, a boon to human imagination. “Most people will admit to a nostalgic fondness for clouds that reminds them of their youth, finding shapes in the sky when we were masters of daydreams,” he said, pointing out that the digital world we live in today conspires to make us terminally too busy to pause and look up. The point of cloud-spotting, as he calls it, is simply to slow down life’s swirling pace and observe the ever-changing beauty that is right above you, the perfect everyday meditation. “I think if you live with your head in the clouds it will help you keep your feet on the ground,” he says. The society’s manifesto is a gem. WE BELIEVE that clouds are unjustly maligned and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them. We think that they are Nature’s poetry, and the most egalitarian southparkmagazine.com | 53
|simple life of her displays, since everyone can have a fantastic view of them. We pledge to fight “blue-sky thinking” wherever we find it. Life would be dull if we had to look up at cloudless monotony day after day. We seek to remind people that clouds are expressions of the atmosphere’s moods and can be read like those of a person’s countenance. We believe that clouds are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul. Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see in them will save money on psychoanalysis bills. And so we say to all who’ll listen: Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty, and always remember to live life with your head in the clouds!
A TrAdiTion of Knowledge And TrusT GAY DILLASHAW 704-564-9393 6700 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28210
gay.dillashaw@allentate.com
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In a year under assault by a killer pandemic, a world suffering from a collapsed economy and a death rate spiraling ever upward, not to mention a presidential election that will offer either a ray of hope or more hopeless chaos, looking up at clouds suddenly struck me a very sensible thing to do. I signed up right away and within days received my official Cloud Appreciation Society Certificate of Membership, newly minted member number 52,509, plus a nifty “Cloud Selector” designed to help a rookie cloud spotter identify the ephemeral art forever passing overhead. It felt like 1957 all over. That year, as a dreamy four-year-old who lived in a house directly across the street from the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi, I became obsessed with storm clouds over the ocean thanks to a man named Big Earl who ran the printing press at my father’s weekly newspaper in Gulfport. Big Earl informed me that we lived “smack dab in the middle of Hurricane Alley.” With a kind of ghoulish enthusiasm, he suggested that I keep a sharp eye on storm clouds over the Gulf because they would indicate when a major hurricane was headed our way. His warning prompted me to write off for an official Hurricane Preparation Kit offered, as I recall, by the National Geographic Society, just to be ready for
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the big blow. Every day I watched the clouds over the Gulf. But no hurricane ever came. Plenty of bone-rattling thunderstorms did, however, which caused the Gulf to cough up spectacular sea shells for my mom and me to collect on our evening walks. We often sat at the end of the dune boardwalk watching the changing skies over the water — a gorgeous light show of pleated pinks and purples — picking out shapes that looked like faces or animals in the sky. That autumn, we moved home to Carolina. By then, I was hooked on skywatching. On my first trip to England in 1977, arriving as dawn broke over the continent, my plane dropped through a thick soup of clouds that always seem to blanket the Blessed Isles when suddenly, just below, a magical green world of hedgerows and winding lanes appeared, a storybook village with a Norman church tower and a herd of sheep on the hill. I was utterly awestruck. Those clouds were a curtain to enchantment. From that point forward, whenever work duties placed me in the sky — which was often in those days — I loved flying through and above clouds, watching moving continents of white stretching away to eternity below the wings of the airplane, a visually majestic kingdom where light and weather forever danced together. I came to think of that peaceful, otherworldly place as a “country made of clouds.” Several years ago, in fact, I even began writing a novel with that notion in its title, a project that recently morphed into a screenplay about a troupe of pioneering female pilots after World War II that my daughter Maggie — the real writer in the family — is working on, with a little help from her cloud-loving old man. Here’s a key scene from my unfinished novel, A Country Made of Clouds, in which the protagonist, a famous aviatrix and women’s activist named Dodo Barnes, takes her young son up for his first ride in her old barnstorming biplane for a sunset flight over the Outer Banks. He’s a wispy little kid, not unlike I was in 1957. Dodo speaks into his ear as he perches on her lap, awestruck by the beauty of the shapes in clouds he sees below them. “You know, Hawk,” says Dodo, “I find such happiness up here. It’s like a beautiful country made of clouds, a place where there are no wars, no turmoil, no sadness of any kind, only endless light and peaceful clouds you could almost walk on to forever. I sometimes think this must be what the way to heaven looks like.” Somewhere during our many journeys together, I must have told my buddy Macduff Everton about this novel, describing a scene that was inspired by my mother’s own words as we sat on the dunes long ago watching clouds over the Gulf of Mexico. Or maybe he just sensed that I would find the Cloud Appreciation Society a timely reminder of my days as a master of daydreams, the perfect antidote to a world turned upside down. Whichever it is, society member 52,509 is thrilled to look up and put his head in the clouds. SP
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|bookshelf
November books NOTABLE NEW RELEASES.
COMPILED BY SALLY BREWSTER
All God’s Children, by Aaron Gwyn A novel about people living on the edge of freedom and slavery, All God’s Children brings to life the paradoxes of the American frontier — a place of liberty and bondage, wild equality, and cruel injustice. In 1827, Duncan Lammons, a disgraced young man from Kentucky, sets out to join the American army in the province of Texas. That same year, Cecelia, a young slave in Virginia, runs away for the first time. Soon infamous for her escape attempts, Cecelia drifts through the reality of slavery — until she encounters frontiersman Sam Fisk, who rescues her from a slave auction in New Orleans. Cecelia travels with Sam to Texas, where they begin an unlikely life together, unaware that their fates are intertwined with those of Sam’s former army mates, including Lammons and others who harbor dangerous dreams of their own. Gwyn, a professor of English at UNC Charlotte, has written a riveting work of historical fiction. The Best of Me, by David Sedaris For more than 25 years, David Sedaris has been carving out a unique literary space, virtually creating his own genre. A Sedaris story may seem confessional but is also highly attuned to the world outside. It opens our eyes to what is at once absurd and moving about our daily existence. And it is almost impossible to read without laughing. For the first time collected in one volume, the author brings us his funniest and most memorable work. But if all you expect to find in Sedaris’ work is the deft and sharply observed comedy for which he became renowned, you may be surprised to discover that his words bring more warmth than mockery, more fellow-feeling than derision. Together, the stories in The Best of Me reveal the wonder and delight Sedaris takes in the surprises life brings him. No experience, he sees, is quite as he expected — it’s often harder, more fraught and certainly weirder — but sometimes it is also much richer and more wonderful.
A Promised Land, by Barack Obama In the highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency — a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil. A Promised Land is intimate and introspective — the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day. The Greatest Beer Run Ever, by John “Chick” Donohue and J.T. Molloy One night in 1967, 26-year-old John Donohue, known as Chick, was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now, they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves. One neighborhood patriot came up with an inspired — some would call it insane — idea: Someone should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies, give them messages of support from back home, and share a few laughs over a can of beer. It would be the Greatest Beer Run Ever. But who’d be crazy enough to do it? One man was up for the challenge: a U. S. Marine Corps veteran-turned-merchant mariner — Chick. A day later, he was on a cargo ship headed to Vietnam, armed with Irish luck and a backpack full of alcohol. This is the story of that epic beer run, told in Chick’s own words and those of the men he visited in Vietnam. SP Sally Brewster is the proprietor of Park Road Books, located at 4139 Park Road. parkroadbooks.com. southparkmagazine.com | 59
24th Annual Holiday Benefit for children who have special developmental needs.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Festival of Trees will be a reserved admission event. Patrons MUST reserve the day and time slot of their visit. For complete details and to reserve your spot, visit www.FestivalofTrees.org.
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orhis, MD, r child: L to R: Kerry Van Vo you for ing car E NC RIE PE EX l Bean, MD With OVER 90 YEARS Andrew Shulstad, MD, Michae , MD ll, nne Sca sey Ka , MD Stephanie Richter, FA MI LIE S NO W AC CE PT IN G NE W Novant Health Pediatrics Symphony Park 704-384-9966 | 6010 Carnegie Blvd Charlotte, NC 28209 nhpediatricssymphonypark.org
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|talk it out
Digging deep to give thanks HOW WILL WE CELEBRATE GRATITUDE IN A YEAR SO STEEPED IN DISAPPOINTMENT, FEAR AND GRIEF? BY MICHELLE ICARD
T
his has been a uniquely horrible year. Many of us lost loved ones to illness, income to business closures, hope to political divisiveness and friendships to social media. We lost the little things we look forward to each year, like vacations, football games and birthday parties. And we lost some things we can never replace: being present at a birth or a funeral, millions of acres to wildfires, and innocent lives to incomprehensible violence. The loss list this year is broad. And seemingly endless. And depressing. Thanksgiving is asking an awful lot of us right now. How will we celebrate gratitude in a year so steeped in disappointment, fear and grief? The answer may reveal itself through the food on our Thanksgiving table. I don’t just mean eating an abundance of rich, salty, sweet, sleep-inducing food. (This is already firmly established as a reliable pandemic coping tool.) I’m thinking about the types of food we prepare for Thanksgiving, and it occurs to me they’re exceedingly difficult and uncooperative. We really have made it a tradition to make it hard on ourselves on this holiday. Take the pumpkin, for example. I know we make our pies from canned pumpkin now, but consider the origin. Imagine, for a moment, someone plunking an enormous orange gourd in front of you and asking you to turn it into dessert. After nearly severing your hand off trying to cut it open, you must weed through the slimy guts, carve out the meat, bake, and mash with sugar, cream and cinnamon. Then you roll out a crust, fill it, bake that … it’s exhausting. The pumpkin hides its potential well. In fact, most of our favorite Thanksgiving delicacies make you work hard to love
them: an enormous bird that requires brining, basting and baking all day long. Sacks of potatoes that need peeling, washing, boiling and whipping. Bitter Brussels sprouts, stale cubed bread and tart cranberries that we ply into unrecognizable versions of themselves with butter, salt, sugar and more butter. Every item on the menu is practically begging not to be considered for consumption by being so ridiculously hard to work with. Each ingredient gives us no choice but to wrestle it into something else. This feels like a pretty good metaphor for 2020 itself. Finding gratitude during the pandemic is like digging deep into that pumpkin or cooking a large meal over a hot stove. It’s not easy in the moment, but when we’ve pushed through this year, I hope we will be able to reflect on some of the positives. The good parts of this year may be tough to find, deeply buried under hardship or bitterness, but we can uncover things to be thankful for if we‘re willing to coax them out of unlikely places. Our celebrations this year won’t look like they usually do, but whether you’re traveling or staying home, keeping it small or moving the feast outside to socially distanced folding tables, cooking a turkey or ordering Chinese food, enjoy your day however it unfolds. If nothing else, we can be thankful for this: There’s only one more month until we roll over to 2021. SP
“The good parts of this year may be tough to find, deeply buried under hardship or bitterness, but we can uncover things to be thankful for if we‘re willing to coax them out of unlikely places.”
Michelle Icard is an author in Charlotte. Her latest book, Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen: The Essential Conversations You Need to Have With Your Kids Before They Start High School, is available for pre-order on Amazon. When not in a pandemic, Michelle travels around the country speaking to parents about raising tweens and teens. Learn more about her work at MichelleIcard.com. southparkmagazine.com | 61
MARK GUTHRIE contact: (704) 941-1563
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|southpark stories
‘It’s OK not to be OK’
TWO YEARS AGO, SEAN AND HEATHER BONNER WERE LOST IN GRIEF. TODAY, GRIEF STILL CONSUMES THEM, BUT THEY ARE NO LONGER LOST. ‘NOW,’ SEAN SAYS, ‘WE HAVE A MISSION.’ BY KEN GARFIELD
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ean and Heather Bonner live in the SouthPark area. He works in financial services. She’s a real-estate agent. Sean Jr. — his parents called him Seanie — was the middle of their three children. A star pitcher and captain of Charlotte Latin’s baseball team his junior and senior years, Sean won the Quiet Leadership Athlete of the Year award as a senior. He loved all kinds of music. He was known to quote lines by memory from goofy movies like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. “You couldn’t find one of us without the other,” says Mitchell Malak, 23, a senior industrial engineering major at Clemson University who was Sean’s best friend. Sean was super social, Malak says, especially around friends with whom he felt comfortable. But looking back, Malak remembers times when Sean would distance himself from the crowd. It was nothing dramatic, but it gave Malak pause, a sense that his friend had something on his mind he was holding back. “In our society, feelings are hard to talk about.” Before his senior year at Latin, Sean attended a baseball camp at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He loved the
idyllic campus set in a quaint Midwestern town. It was a good fit academically and athletically. When the coach offered him a spot on the team, Sean accepted. Going off to college, playing baseball. What could be better?
T
wo years later, on Nov. 7, 2018, Sean died by suicide. His body was found in the woods near the baseball field at Denison. He was 20 years old, a junior economics major. No one knows how long he had been contemplating it, or whether it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He left no note, but there had been signs. In November of his freshman year at college, Sean suffered an apparent concussion when he fell in his dorm room. It was never diagnosed. He never sought treatment. He told his parents he hurt himself lifting weights, and he was having headaches. They encouraged him to see a neurologist, but because Sean didn’t reveal the true cause of the injury, he wasn’t tested for a concussion. His parents now believe he kept it hidden for fear of losing his spot on the baseball team. In September of his junior year, Sean had surgery on his southparkmagazine.com | 65
|southpark stories
pitching arm. It was going to keep him from playing baseball his junior season. After the surgery, his parents knew something wasn’t right. They invited him to come home. Twice before he died, he saw a counselor. Still, they had no inkling of what was to come. Maybe Sean didn’t either, until the end. He told his parents he was getting a ride home for the holidays with a friend. He died 15 days before Thanksgiving. Malak was one of the few people who could tell his friend was suffering, though he had no idea to what degree. “He had this ability to put on that smile, that front,” Malak says. “It all boiled down to never wanting to be a burden to anyone else.” On Nov. 6, as Malak was driving back to Clemson, he called Sean twice to check on him. He got no answer. The next day, Sean was gone.
I
n the days that followed Sean’s suicide, the Bonners searched for answers. In speaking with Sean’s college friends, they learned he might have suffered other concussions that went undiagnosed and untreated. They think he was dealing with headaches and having a hard time sleeping, signs that took on much deeper meaning after the fact: Only then could they put two and two together. They’ve accepted that questions will linger. Are the unanswered questions more painful not knowing exactly why? The Bonners shrug at the question. How could it be more painful? By New Year’s, they came to understand that the world wasn’t going to stop for them. They have two other children who need them — Ryan, 19, a freshman at Clemson, and Alison, 24, a second-year medical student at UNC Chapel Hill. They couldn’t, as Heather says, crawl back into bed. Instead, like so many who suffer a tragedy, the Bonners went looking for something that might bring meaning to life after death. Something that might honor Sean by keeping others from heading down the same dark path. They found it in Mission 34.
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he idea for Mission 34 came from Peter Pittroff, an acquaintance of Sean’s from Charlotte and a friend and classmate at Denison. The Bonners founded the nonprofit last year to encourage people to share their burdens before it is too late. Pittroff, 22, saw it as a way to honor Sean, and a cause for his parents to embrace. Sean wore No. 34 on the Denison baseball team. Mission 34’s tagline, “A New Type of Tough,” articulates the goal of urging people to seek help rather than hide behind a false smile. Whatever torment you are dealing with, there is someone who will listen. “Everyone’s going through struggles,” Malak says. “It’s OK not to be OK. Asking for help’s not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.” A variety of initiatives spread the message: speaking to youth, an annual kickball game, participating in a virtual walk for suicide prevention, selling Mission 34 shirts and other gear with the hope that people will look at the logo and ask, “What’s Mission 34?” Two years ago, Sean and Heather Bonner barely knew where their next breath might come from. Now they know. “We tell the story,” Sean says, “so someone else doesn’t have to go through it. That’s the best we can do right now.” SP Freelance writer/editor Ken Garfield is a frequent contributor to SouthPark magazine. He also helps charitable causes tell their stories and writes obituaries. Reach him at garfieldken3129@ gmail.com.
A primer on suicide In 2018, there were 48,000 suicides in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another 10.7 million American adults seriously thought about taking their own lives, 3.3 million made a plan and 1.4 million attempted it. In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Americans ages 15 to 24. Unintentional injury was No. 1. Symptoms include excessive mood swings, changes in eating and sleeping habits, becoming withdrawn, showing despair or rage, increased use of alcohol and drugs, acting recklessly, talking about suicide, and saying goodbye in a way that seems final. If you suspect someone is planning a suicide, call 911. You can also call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. To learn about Mission 34, the nonprofit started by the Bonners in Sean’s memory, visit mission34.org.
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INTERIOR DESIGNER NATALIE PAPIER’S ART-FILLED, VINTAGE-INSPIRED HOME IS THE BACKDROP FOR A STAY-ATHOME FASHION FANTASY. PHOTOGRAPHY + DIRECTION: CHRIS EDWARDS STYLING + PRODUCTION: WHITLEY ADKINS WORDS: CATHY MARTIN HAIR + MAKEUP: ELIZABETH TOLLEY MODEL: LIZA LAVENGOOD REPRESENTED BY DIRECTIONS USA MODEL AND ARTIST MANAGEMENT FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS BY SHELLY ST. LAURENT, FOXGLOVE FINE FLOWERS
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atalie Papier’s passion for color is evident as soon as you cross the threshold of her SouthParkarea home. From the electric-blue credenza to the rainbow-patchwork piano by local artist Frankie Zombie to the large abstract painting by Chicago artist Michael Hedges, it’s clear she has a fondness for art, whimsy and vintage objects — and that’s just the foyer. “Curated chaos. Maybe that should be the name of my book,” Papier wrote in a recent post on Instagram (@home_ec_op) where the artist-turned-interior designer has a whopping 75,000 followers and counting. 70
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Papier, who generously opened her home to SouthPark for this daylong photo shoot, moved from the Chicago area earlier this year, and in the time it took the rest of us to binge Selling Sunset, learn to bake sourdough or grow a handful of tomatoes, she has utterly transformed the 90s-era house, which she playfully refers to on Instagram as #thecharlottechateau. Gone are any traces of the “all-beige-everything” home Papier, her husband and two children moved into back in March. With a background in art, the lifelong Midwesterner fell into design after she and her young family moved from downtown Chicago to a Victorian with “very traditional bones” in suburban Oak Park. “I just started really playing with that as my canvas, and it got noticed by some friends and other people that wanted help,” she says. “It just spiraled — it was very much word of mouth.” She teamed with a fellow vintage-loving friend to launch Home Ec., an interior-design business, in 2016. Papier moved Home Ec. to Charlotte when her family relocated here, and it didn’t take long for potential clients to seek her out; in fact, she’s been so busy she’s already had to turn business away. “I’m meeting people now that I’m finding are ready to stop doing all the boring and beige. We’re hip, and we’re
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PACO RABANNE CHAINMAIL MINI DRESS, $3,590, COPLON’S JENNIFER BEHR DANNER EARRINGS, $225, POOLE SHOP CYNTHIA ROWLEY X IMPALA ROLLER SKATES, STYLIST’S OWN CAMPBELL + CHARLOTTE EVOLVE COCKTAIL RING WITH TOURMALINE, $4,780, CAMPBELLANDCHARLOTTE.COM
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RODEBJER LONG-SLEEVE HIGH-NECK PRINTED BLOUSE, $360, AND PRINTED MIDI SKIRT, $375, POOLE SHOP CAMPBELL + CHARLOTTE FOUND EMERALD-CUT RING WITH MOONSTONE, $3,480, CAMPBELLANDCHARLOTTE.COM LIZZIE FORTUNATO BON VIVANT EARRINGS, $220, POOLE SHOP LOEFFLER RANDALL BOOTIES, $450, SHOPSHOWROOM.COM THEMOIRE BLACK LEATHER CLUTCH, $255, COPLON’S POPPY LISSIMAN SUNGLASSES, STYLIST’S OWN
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Interior designer Natalie Papier at home in south Charlotte. 78
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young, and we have kids, so why can’t our houses reflect that kind of fun attitude as well, and just have more life and color?” the designer says. Being stuck at home for much of the year also has inspired many homeowners to update their living areas. “I’m finding that people right now, they want just happier spaces,” says Papier, 41. “Unconventional” might be one way to describe Papier’s style, “but I try to do it in a way that’s still refined and not just messy. Because there is a balance, once you start getting, you know, a 6-foot fiberglass ostrich, in our house. How do you balance that to look refined?” Papier takes an art-forward approach to interior design, with a passion for supporting local and emerging artists. “Especially in interiors, I think people are so quick to just make the art not a priority. Then they buy art somewhere like HomeGoods, and there’s no soul in that, or story.” She also aims to debunk the common misconception that original art is only for the very wealthy. That goes for fine furniture, too. “I think what’s surprising is some people think it’s all high-end,” when they see her home, she says. “But it’s not. They’re all thrifted and found pieces, and it’s curated over time. You can find more interesting pieces that way and not break the bank.” Sourcing vintage finds locally has been a bit more challenging than in Chicago, which Papier describes as a “mecca” for estate sales, flea markets and antiques. Local favorites include Slate Interiors and Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, and she also continues to source many pieces online. Fortunately, the internet also has made it easier for Papier to connect with local artists and creators, especially during the pandemic. She and Zombie are collaborating on an upcoming design project for a client in Oklahoma. “There is a thriving art scene [in Charlotte], and it’s really cool. I love how every neighborhood has different pockets of cool artistic things happening, whether it’s the architecture in Myers Park or the murals in NoDa. ... I feel like there is that traditional Southerness, but it’s got this kind of urban, grittiness coming in, so it’s like two worlds melding. And for me, it’s unexpectedly fun to be a part of.” SP
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Time for change AN EASTOVER COUPLE DOWNSIZES AFTER 39 YEARS AND TAPS DESIGNER CHARLOTTE LUCAS TO USHER IN A NEW AESTHETIC. BY BLAKE MILLER • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS EDWARDS
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eorganna and James Moore were making a big transition. After living in their Charlotte home for nearly 40 years, they were ready to downsize. Not only was the couple eager to move to a smaller home, they also wanted to start the interior-design process from scratch, save for a handful of family heirlooms and antiques. “We truly just wanted something new and fresh and different from what we’d had for the last 39 years,” Georganna says. The couple’s new 3,400-square-foot condo in Eastover was the ideal blank canvas. And though the Moores had a vision for the interior of their new home, they also knew they needed a professional’s discerning eye. The Moores’ daughter had previously worked with interior designer Charlotte Lucas, and after seeing the results, the couple realized that they, too, wanted to enlist Lucas to design their own home. “[My design team] had worked closely with Georganna and James when we were working on their daughter’s home because she doesn’t live here full time,” Lucas explains. “They were our point of contact for much of the proj-
Left: The homeowners’ existing dining table is paired with Heritage Home dining chairs covered in a Romo fabric. The artwork above the black sideboard is “Tulip,” by Christopher T. Terry. Above: A custom banquette by Queen City Woodcrafting is covered in a grandkid-friendly fabric by Ernest Gaspard. The designer brightened the space with a custom Gracie wallpaper mural.
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An Hermes wallpaper adds a touch of whimsy to the grandkids’ room.
ect. And through that, we really developed a great friendship with them.” The Moores gave Lucas the reins to create a design scheme that was a departure from their home of nearly four decades. “They wanted it to be classic and put together enough for them to entertain but also comfortable and kid friendly for their grandkids,” Lucas says. “They felt like a lot of their old furniture was traditional and all brown. They’re so fun and youthful, so we wanted to capture that in the design of the home.” Lucas kept most of the walls a neutral white to keep things “light and airy” but incorporated pops of color and small doses of floral patterns throughout. In the keeping room, an Ainsworth-Noah curved sectional coupled with a pair of swivel chairs adds character and a touch of modern to the space. When paired with vintage pieces such as side tables and lamps sourced from luxury e-commerce site 1st Dibs, the overall aesthetic is elegant and sophisticated. In the kitchen, Lucas added a custom Gracie wallpaper mu 84
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ral to brighten the space. A custom banquette is upholstered in a grandkid-friendly navy vinyl fabric, while a gilded Niermann Weeks ceiling fixture completes the look. While incorporating a few of the Moores’ antiques and heirlooms such as the dining-room table and a vintage screen above the guest-room bed, Lucas also updated some rooms with wallpaper. The grandchildren’s bedroom, for example, features a playful Hermes wallcovering with yellow and green tones that’s complemented with sheets by Peacock Alley and bedding from Hendersonville-based Oriole Mill. “Charlotte just knew what we would like. There wasn’t much back and forth during the design process because Charlotte was so spot on with her choices,” Georganna says. “There’s a lot of trust that goes on between a designer and her clients,” Lucas says. “The Moores completely trusted me with their home, and I think it turned out exactly what they were looking for.” SP
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Family flow
A QUAIL HOLLOW COUPLE UPDATES THEIR 1980S GEORGIAN-STYLE HOME TO REFLECT A MODERN LIFESTYLE. BY CATHERINE RUTH KELLY • PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL BLEVINS • STYLING BY PATTI BORELLI
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fter living in their home for six years, this Quail Hollow family of four decided it was time for an update. “We didn’t need more space,” the homeowner says. “We just needed to reconfigure the existing space to modernize it and create a better flow.” The Georgian-style house was built in 1984 with a traditional layout of rooms that were connected but self-contained. The family had completed some minor renovations when they moved in, but they were now ready to open up the floor plan to create a more casual setting with plenty of comfortable gathering spaces for family and friends. They called interior designer Kelley Vieregg, architect Jim Phelps and homebuilder Alair Homes to begin the planning process. All three parties had previously worked together and
were familiar with each other’s work. “It’s ideal to have everyone at the table from the beginning so we can work together to define the best way to execute the project,” says Kareena Gray, a project manager with Alair Homes. The sweeping staircase and soaring ceiling of the two-story foyer were grand but a bit formal for the homeowners’ lifestyle. “Your foyer is the welcome to the home,” Vieregg says. “That space should be warm and inviting, reflecting the family who lives there.” Phelps designed a large sapele wood door on a pivot hinge, enlarging the entry to the house. The addition of applied molding on the walls creates interest without the need for artwork. A neutral-colored chandelier adds texture and fills the voluminous space. southparkmagazine.com | 87
Adjacent to the kitchen, the scullery, painted in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, provides additional storage and prep space. An oversized and underutilized living room became a smaller salon, while the rest of the space was absorbed by the kitchen and scullery. A sophisticated yet comfortable lounge area, the salon is a perfect spot for sipping cocktails or cozying up with a book. The channel-tufted wall and custom bench are both upholstered in a creamy white velvet and accented by pillows and draperies in a soothing blue Donghia fabric. The main priority for the renovation was increasing the size of the kitchen and creating better circulation in that part of the house. Phelps added coffered ceilings to give the illusion of more height than the 8-foot ceilings offer. The faux-leather wrapped island and quartzite waterfall countertop and backsplash foster a soft elegance. Paneled appliances are flush with the cabinets, contributing to the sleek, seamless design of the space. Adjacent to the kitchen, the scullery provides additional storage and prep space, along with a pantry, coffee area and double-drink drawer. “It’s a great place to conceal the clutter and keeps the kitchen counters clean,” says Vieregg of the handy nook. The kitchen flows naturally into the great room via a wide cased opening. Flanked by 8-foot ultrasuede doors with nailhead trim, a custom bar with fluted cabinetry greets guests as they enter the room. A step down into the sitting area emphasizes a dramatic domed ceiling. Designed by Phelps and installed by Mudwerk, the plaster ceiling is 88
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illuminated by a minimalist iron chandelier. In the powder room, the dark blues of a Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallpaper and custom lacquer paint invoke a swanky yet serene setting. Even the laundry room was thoughtfully designed to be both functional and beautiful: Honed black granite counters, cool gray cabinetry, flush-mount fixtures and a soft-hued Oushak rug elevate the style of the utilitarian room, which is adjacent to a new drop zone at the home’s side entry. “Design is not about how it looks, but about how it makes you feel,” Vieregg says. “It is important for my clients’ home to reflect their personality — I take my cues from them.” In this case, the design trio was right on cue, according to the homeowner. “Our house now suits the way we actually live,” he says. “We have enjoyed entertaining friends at home more because we love it so much.” SP Left: The domed plaster ceiling is illuminated by a Currey & Co. chandelier. The Verellen sectional and ash-based ottoman and Charles Stewart chairs are centered around a fireplace with a custom limestone mantle by Francois & Co. Above: Angular brass sconces by Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort and bold cabinet hardware by Addison Weeks and Myoh create a dramatic and elegant powder room.
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Sweet spot
BEFORE MENTORING RECOVERING ADDICTS AND LEADING OPERATIONS AT COMMUNITY MATTERS CAFE, PASTRY CHEF ASHLEY ANNA TUTTLE HONED HER BAKING SKILLS AS A SERGEANT IN THE U.S. ARMY. BY BEN JARRELL • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JONATHAN COOPER
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PHOTOGRAPH UPPER RIGHT PROVIDED BY ASHLEY ANNA TUTTLE
onfident and poised, she stood on the edge of the patio in front of Romare Bearden Park in pressed chef whites, bread and fancy butter in hand. Bread that, minutes earlier on this spring morning, my server told me was only available at dinner. Nevertheless, there it sat, delivered by the artist and maker herself who insisted on quelling my disappointment. Despite my slight embarrassment, I wasn’t going to protest. That was when I met Ashley Anna Tuttle for the first time. It was May 2018. I was visiting Haymaker restaurant in uptown Charlotte, having just read an article by esteemed food journalist Kathleen Purvis on the worth of this new restaurant’s six-dollar bread service. Tuttle is a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army for four years and earning the rank of sergeant. It was in this unlikely setting, during her service, when she learned to bake. But, as she had shown as one of only two women in a platoon of more than 30 men, she was unconcerned with the expectations of others. I, however, had arrived at Haymaker that day with expectations. And the bread delivered. The loaf was light and airy, the butter slightly tangy from the house culture, the textured sea salt adding pops of flavor with each crunch. Fresh cut chives added depth. After my early lunch, I left with a box of pastries that never stood a chance. Tuttle has since moved across uptown to Community Matters Cafe, in the shadow of Bank of America Stadium, where she provides on-the-job-training for a select cohort of Crisis Assistance Ministry’s Life Skills program. Crisis Assistance Ministry is a faith-based organization with roots in Charlotte going back to 1975 that provides residential drug and alcohol recovery programs. Graduates of the recovery program can apply for a spot in the 120-day Life Skills program at Community Matters Cafe, where they will receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Upon completion, many go on to work for local employers, from barber shops to restaurants. It’s a good gig, Tuttle says. “I was looking for a culture shift — different [from] the restaurant industry. And I always wanted to teach.”
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Her first career wasn’t so public. It was, in fact, top secret. Before graduating from Johnson & Wales University with degrees in baking and pastry and business, and before earning her MBA from Baker College in Michigan, Tuttle diffused bombs for the government. Her role as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician with the U.S. Army took her all over the world. One week she was at a state fair in Des Moines, ahead of the campaign trail for then-President Barack Obama. Another week found her working to “clear” the courtyard around the 98-foot Christ the Redeemer statue that stands over the busy streets and crowded favelas of Rio de Janeiro. But those jam-packed weeks weren’t necessarily in succession so, with the downtime that is inherent in military service, Tuttle baked — poorly, at first, she says. But she got better. Then she got a lot better. To bring a taste of home to the troops in her unit, she started taking requests. Cranberry orange cookies made Aaron feel like he was back home in Illinois. While training on the coast of Maryland, Chris from New York insisted on rainbow cookies reminiscent of the cheery glow of an Italian Christmas. With each tray of cookies, her skills improved. Maybe, she thought, she could make a career of it. Initially hired as executive pastry chef at Community Matters Cafe, she has since been promoted to cafe operations director, allowing her an opportunity to work with both customers and students. One of those ways is with her mom’s pumpkin rolls, a Thanksgiving tradition when Tuttle was growing up in Florida. “I love sharing the story with students,” Tuttle says. She and her brother continued the annual tradition after their mother passed away when Tuttle was 13, showing up at holiday gatherings to share the pumpkin roll with family. That custom conveyed to Tuttle’s time in the service. It’s been a recipe that’s followed her throughout her life. It has, however, evolved slightly. Tuttle only made one change to her mother’s recipe — and it was a big one.
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“My mom tried using whole pumpkins once,” laughs Tuttle. There was not a second time. Tuttle, however, does get her pumpkins fresh, a task she says is worth the effort. “They’re so much sweeter,” she says. It’s more work but, unlike her mother, who did all the prep herself for her famous pumpkin roll, Tuttle has help. Joanie, a graduate of the life-skills program, went on to work at Copain Gatherings before returning to Community Matters as cafe assistant manager. “[Tuttle] has such a beautiful way of teaching,” Joanie says. “But it wasn’t just the baking she taught me. She cared about my life. I started seeing my potential. So many of the qualities I wanted to build in me, I saw in her.” Tuttle has recently brought on another rock star in the kitchen. Miranda (Brown) Martin, formerly at The Asbury and 2018 winner of the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Pastry Chef of the Year award, now supports Tuttle as pastry chef at Community Matters. These days, a success in both the kitchen and the classroom, Tuttle looks very much at home in her chef’s coat. At 5 feet, 2 inches tall, it may be hard to imagine her in full tech gear, dismantling a long-forgotten bomb from World War II on a Maryland golf course. According to Tuttle, it’s her walk that informs people of her former military service. “It’s how I hold my shoulders — how I carry myself,” she says. It’s true. I noticed it the minute she delivered the six-dollar bread plate. But despite her confident stride, which might seem intimidating to some, Tuttle’s natural sense of hospitality puts people at ease. Instead of my fragile male ego feeling threatened, the Southern boy in me felt welcome. Tuttle brings that same sense of comfort and grace to cafegoers. Just like Joanie, the pumpkin roll has made a return. It’s available by the slice on the fall menu at the cafe, or customers can order an entire roll. A big hit last holiday season, Tuttle expects to make and sell more than six dozen this year. “It reminds me of my mom. One hundred percent,” Tuttle says. “It’s been a recipe, a piece of her I’ve been able to share.” SP
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Synergy at Midwood
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2,109 - 2,542 sq ft; 2 Beds; Flex Rooms 3-story townhomes; Large Owner’s Suites 9’ ceilings throughout Covered Terrace, attached 2-car Garage Open House Every Weekend Sat: 11 - 3; Sun: 1 - 3 2329 Central Ave. Charlotte, 28205
All townhomes include a security/smart home package. Sales conducted from our Shea Urban sales office 601 S. Kings Dr Suite EE Charlotte 28204 | Sun/Mon: 1 - 6: Tue - Sat: 11 - 6 sheaurban.com | 980.293.5886 Sales: Shea Group Services, LLC DBA Shea Realty (NC: C21630), (SC: 10424). Construction: Shea Builders, LLC, NC: 68875, SC: G116074. This is not an offer of real estate for sale, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Pricing does not include options, elevation, or lot premiums, effective date of publication and subject to change without notice. All square footages and measurements are approximate and subject to change without notice. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos depict virtually staged furniture and accessories not available from Seller, and designer features, optional items and other upgrades that may be available from Seller at additional cost.
|daytripper
Set yourself
free
A DAY TRIP TO THE FOOTHILLS OFFERS A DELICIOUS, ARTSY, OUTDOORSY DIVERSION. BY PAGE LEGGETT
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BREWERY PHOTOGRAHS BY MARK JUMP
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wanted to forget that my home had become my jail. So, imagine the shock of finding myself in the North Carolina foothills … in prison. Fortunately, it’s a former prison in Columbus that’s been converted into a brewpub. The Iron Key opened in August on a dead-end street in this small (population at last census: 999) Polk County town. The other reason for my shock was finding such unexpected trendiness in a town that feels a tad antiquated. If you choose to — and I do — you could view this prison-turned-brewpub opening as a sign of hope. Prefer grapes over barley and hops? Local wineries including Tryon’s Overmountain Vineyards, which also has a pick-your-own blueberry patch in summer, and Mill Springs’ Parker-Binns, complete with “Burger Barn” and occasional live music, are ready to welcome you. Reservations are a good idea, and some local venues require them. Columbus is surrounded by towns that have a lot to offer a Charlotte escapee. The area I’ve dubbed “The Quad Cities” — Tryon, Saluda and Columbus, North Carolina, and Landrum, South Carolina — have a laid-back vibe, mountain crafts, charming main streets and outdoor fun.
START IN SALUDA Begin your day trip at the westernmost of these towns. Saluda’s historic downtown — all two blocks of it, just across from the rail line — appears mostly unscathed by the economic downturn. Retailers have reduced their hours, and some are open only on southparkmagazine.com | 103
weekends, but they seem to be faring well. Heartwood Contemporary Crafts Gallery packs a lot into a compact space. Don’t expect what one of my friends calls “kountry-with-a-K krafts.” The work — ceramics, wood, jewelry, glass and fiber arts — at this 35-year-old gallery is wellmade and well-vetted. River Dog Run is filled with vintage and reclaimed furniture and home accessories. Every vignette in the shop is Pinterest-worthy. North Carolina’s oldest grocery store, historic Thompson’s Store/Ward’s Grill, has been serving customers since 1890. This Main Street location has been Thompson’s home since 1940. The store sells hand-cut meats, wine, craft beer and gourmet cheese and is open seven days a week; the grill, known for its cheeseburgers and milkshakes, is open Monday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. The locally famous Purple Onion can’t yet offer its regular lineup of live music, but the beloved restaurant is open. You’ll want to have a reservation, even for lunch. The aged gouda and local honey plate or the tabbouleh salad are nice for a snack; pizzas and sandwiches are heartier fare. Visit Pearson’s Falls for an easy quarter-mile hike to the area’s most famous waterfall. Masks and social distancing are required, and picnicking was prohibited at press time. The Green River Gorge offers plenty of opportunities for whitewater rafting, kayaking and tubing. For guided trips, waterfall rappelling and kayak instruction, check out Green River Adventures, based in a renovated gas station in downtown Saluda — you can’t miss the neon green and orange signs.
HORSING AROUND IN TRYON About 8 miles from Saluda is Tryon, a place that calls itself “The Friendliest Town in the South.” Notice the long stretches of kudzu along the highway. Once an eyesore, after being confined for so long, the trailing perennial vine now has an eccentric beauty. Savor the sight of split-rail fences, iron gates and stone walls you pass on this country drive along U.S. Route 176. See with new eyes the “Jesus Saves” crosses dotting the landscape. It’s 104
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good to be on the road again. Once in town, you can’t miss the horses. If you pass through a residential area, you’ll see them in the flesh. If you’re in the business district, look for life-size painted horses, including Morris, a larger-than-life replica of a wooden toy horse that has stood at the corner of Trade and Pacolet streets since 1928. When Tryon’s most famous attraction, the Tryon International Equestrian Center, reopens, its Legends Grille is the closest thing to fine dining in the area. But TIEC isn’t the only game in town. Pay tribute to Tryon’s most famous daughter at Nina Simone Plaza downtown. Blink, and you could miss it, so keep your eyes peeled for the statue of the iconic singer and civil-rights hero. Just across the street is Upstairs Artspace, a nonprofit contemporary art gallery that’s an unexpected find. (Did I expect horse art? Yes. A satirical exhibition on the cutthroat nature of corporate America? No.) If you didn’t have lunch in Saluda, Tryon’s family-owned Side Street Pizza & Pasta is the place to go. Choose from traditional, thin or Sicilian-style crust. Wings, pastas and subs are also on the menu. The owners call it “a hole in the wall,” and it is, but in the best way. Curbside pickup is available if you don’t want to dine in.
LANDRUM: VINTAGE CHARM
CLOSING TIME IN COLUMBUS
Seven minutes from Tryon is Landrum, S.C. The Hare & Hound Pub, a local institution housed in an old mercantile, has good bar food and more substantial selections at dinner, including a grilled ribeye and a crispy whole flounder. Stone Soup is a casual restaurant serving lunch and an early supper with an adjacent market offering cured meats, pimento cheese, frozen casseroles and baked goods made in-house daily. The nondescript exterior belies the culinary experience inside. Landrum’s pocket-sized downtown offers several antique stores, including Pee Ridge Vintiques (closed Sundays) and the Landrum Antique Mall. Inside the mall, The Millstone Gallery has a diverse selection, including leatherwork, wooden bowls, forged knives, ceramics and paintings.
End your day in the foothills with a cold beer at Iron Key Brewing Company. The owners didn’t miss a chance to capitalize on their location in an old prison. Choose from the malty “Lock-Up Lager,” the bitter-and-slightly-citrusy “Big House IPA,” the traditional German “Konjugal Kolsch” and more. Everything is on brand. Iron Key’s food is above average for a brewery. Burgers, brats, wings and buttery housemade pretzels are on the menu, as you might assume, along with pimento cheese potato skins, fried oysters, hand-cut fries and vegetarian options. When it’s time to head home — Columbus is just an hour and 25 minutes from uptown Charlotte — you might feel a little freer. You legit got away. You managed to break free from your Covid-era confines. It wasn’t the vacation you planned. But maybe it was the escape you needed. SP
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Lowcountry longing
HISTORY, NATURAL BEAUTY AND SMALL-TOWN CHARM COMBINE IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA. BY VANESSA INFANZON
LOCAL CHARMS Experience the tastes and smells of the city while you explore historic downtown Beaufort’s quaint local shops. Try Scout 106
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANCHORAGE 1770, BEAUFORT-PORT ROYAL CVB
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he small town of Beaufort has a hold on me. Situated on Port Royal Island, the riverfront city feels like a miniature Charleston but without the hustle and bustle. The attractions are simple: Stroll down a side street to find a locally-owned shop making homemade soaps, or a grocer selling cheese and crackers for an impromptu picnic at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Go to the beach — Hunting Island is within a half-hour drive — or fly a kite. There’s more to Beaufort, but that’s all I need. Spanish and French explorers discovered Port Royal, a nearby town, more than 500 years ago. The British founded Beaufort in 1711. Its long history is told in The Beaufort History Museum, housed in The Arsenal, its own architectural marvel on Craven Street. If you prefer a history lesson while you’re in motion, reserve a seat on a Sea Island Carriage Company tour or sign up for a walking tour with Grayline Beaufort.
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ANCHORAGE 1770, BEAUFORT-PORT ROYAL CVB
Southern Market’s trademarked Sweet Tea Float: Seasonal sorbets — mango, peach, strawberry, raspberry, blood orange or lemon — are topped with sweet tea for a refreshing treat before or after you peruse the shop’s array of gifts and home décor. Natalie Wohlwend, owner of Bathe on Scott Street, makes and sells handcrafted bath bombs, lip balms and scrubs in delicious flavors such as lemongrass, tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus. Immerse yourself in lavender bath salts, lotions and essential oils at The Island Lavender Company on Bay Street. Peer into the glass case filled with macarons in flavors like Earl Grey, ganache, lavender, lemon, salted caramel and strawberry. When it’s time to grab a bite to eat, several restaurants along Waterfront Park offer outdoor seating or views of the river. Q on Bay serves barbecue, burgers and sandwiches in a casual setting. Saltus River Grill’s menu includes a raw bar, sushi and various seafood dishes. For breakfast or a caffeine break, hit up Common Ground for baked goods, quiche and a full coffee menu with specialty drinks and seasonal lattes. Blackstone’s Café and Old Bull Tavern are off the beaten path and deserve a stop. A romantic dinner calls for a reservation at Anchorage 1770’s Ribaut Social Club. Dinner is served in the dining room or on the inn’s wide front porch overlooking the Beaufort River. The menu changes seasonally and features local ingredients. Extend your stay by reserving a luxury room in this pre-revolutionary home that’s now a seaside inn. Overnight guests have access to the second- and third-floor porches with stunning views of the lowcountry.
PAMPERED LODGINGS The Beaufort Inn is within walking distance of restaurants, shops and the waterfront. The downtown property features options for both couples and families. Most of the 48 rooms and suites are in historic cottages, renovated with king- and queen-sized beds, and many have private porches with rocking chairs
overlooking the gardens or Beaufort’s peaceful side streets. Brick pathways lead guests through gardens with open seating areas, perfect for sipping wine from Chapman’s Grocer or spirits (bourbon, moonshine and vodka) from Rotten Little Bastard Distillery. Roast marshmallows by one of four fire pits with a complimentary s’mores kit — they’re handed out to guests upon check-in during the fall and winter months. Bicycles are free for guests to ride — the Spanish Moss Trail begins close to the property. In January, come for a garden party affiliated with the inaugural Beaufort Oyster Festival, Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands.
NATURAL BEAUTY The beaches at Hunting Island State Park are an easy 30-minute drive through small towns and marshlands. Tall trees standing in a saltwater lagoon
welcome visitors to the park. The feeling is otherworldly. Stroll along 5 miles of wide sandy beaches, or climb the 167 steps to the lighthouse, decommissioned in 1933. It’s the only public lighthouse in the state. Tidal Tours and Beaufort Kayak Tours lead groups through the area’s rivers. Learn about the ecology of the marshlands and see wildlife up close. Bike, hike or stroll the Spanish Moss Trail, 10 miles of paved rails-to-trails greenway. SP IF YOU’RE GOING: Beaufort, S.C., is a 3.5-hour drive from Charlotte. Annual festivals include the Beaufort Shrimp Festival in fall, Beaufort Water Festival in summer and the International Film Festival in winter. More at beaufortsc. org. Pro tip: Be sure to pronounce Beaufort correctly: It’s BYOO-fert, not to be confused with its North Carolina namesake town.
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
All Things Possible Gala
Aug. 22, Diving Barrel Brewing Charlottean Tommy DeCarlo, singer for the legendary band Boston, headlined the All Things Possible gala, which raises money for medical equipment for those in need.
Lauren Celaya
David Scott and Will Holt
John and Dana Davis
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John and Dana Davis and Christian Sturt
Brandon and Sarah Hall
Christina Campbell and Todd Dewey
Dale Ludwick and Joe Bochicco
Christian Sturt, Joseph Gallo and Payton Velligan
John Dudak, Kurma Murrain and Terry Hudson
Ashanti Munir, Abraham Staton, Joseph Gallo and Lauren Celaya
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Melissa and Sam Fields
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|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
A Blumey Awards Reunion: Celebrating Past and Present Stars
Kimmi Curcio
Will Branner, Arella Flur and Justin Rivers
Justin Rivers
Isabel Kissel
Amina Faye
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Noel Friedline and Will Branner
Aug. 15-16, McGlohon Theater, Spirit Square While this year’s Blumey Awards fell victim to the pandemic, past and present Blumey participants returned to perform selections from the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s upcoming Broadway season. The Blumeys celebrate achievement in high-school performing arts.
2020 Up-andComing Charlotte Invitational
Sarah and John Kimison and Amanda Phillips
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Mia Miller and Hodges Miller
Sara Willis
Nancy Holmes
Lambeth Marshall and Bre Crowell
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Aug. 14, Shain Gallery Shain Gallery’s celebration of up-and-coming talent included works by 30 local artists.
|swirl A monthly guide to Charlotte’s parties and galas
Great Gatsby Gala
Ron and Debbie Hitsell
Ron and Debbie Hitsell
Meredith and Owen Zingraff
Charles and Catherine Melvin
Donnie Malpass
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Pam and Jason Bennett
benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Greater Carolinas Chapter Aug. 8, The Dunhill Hotel Some patrons celebrated at the Dunhill Hotel, while others watched online as the annual Great Gatsby Gala raised funds to support those affected by MS and for MS research.
Sabrina Frey exhibition
Bill Falcon and Damon Shelton
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Sabrina Frey
Steve Howardson, Sabrina Frey and Kelly Grey Elliott
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIEL COSTON
Aug. 7, Sage Salon & Studio Charlotte artist Sabrina Frey launched her new show at Sage Salon & Studio in the courtyard of the historic Latta Arcade.
ON VIEW NOW MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN Color is inescapable. Perception is everything. Steeped in vibrant hues, In Vivid Color: Pushing the Boundaries of Perception in Contemporary Art investigates the effect of color on perceived realities through sculpture and paintings, because life is not just black and white. MINT MUSEUM AUXILIARY In Vivid Color: Pushing the Boundaries of Perception in Contemporary Art is generously sponsored by Wells Fargo Private Bank and the Mint Museum Auxiliary. Additional generous individual support provided by Mary Anne (M.A.) Rogers, Ann and Michael Tarwater, and Mozelle DePass Griffith in loving memory of Edward Colville Griffith, Jr. IMAGE: Summer Wheat (American, 1977–). Foragers, 2020, colored vinyl on mylar, 805.5 x 738.5 inches. T0263.1a-qqqq. Photo credit: Chris Edwards
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Mural maker
ROBERT KRUMBINE IS THE MAN BEHIND THE MURALS AND EVENTS IN CENTER CITY AND SOUTH END. BY VANESSA INFANZON
Charlotte Center City Partners teamed with Lowe’s Home Improvement and ArtPop Street Gallery to commission Windows of Hope, a series of murals by 13 local artists on display in South End.
How does Charlotte Center City Partners determine which projects to work on? We do a lot of long-term strategic planning. We are nimble and very good at reacting to what is happening to the marketplace at the moment. We’re quick to action. We try to have our ear to the ground to collaborate with the people who can bring the next big thing Has anything good come out of the pandemic? The pandemic has actually opened up opportunities. It’s created a different thought process. It’s allowed us to slow down for a minute and think clearly about how we utilize our space as a community. It’s happening all over the world. It’s not something special to Charlotte. 120
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SOUTHPARK
How has the creation of the Black Lives Matter mural on South Tryon Street changed the way your organization views space in uptown? The Black Lives Matter mural has created a new dynamic for us to look at and consider how we could make streets more open for pedestrians, commerce and interactive activities that will get people out and about. We’re looking at opportunities to close more blocks for [shorter time periods], like weekends, and do more programming with art installations. It’s really all about trying to generate energy back into our urban core, which is right now sitting static and empty. What was behind the Windows of Hope project in South End? We needed something to promote hope for the future. We selected 13 local artists to produce pieces of art that were then printed on vinyl and installed in windows and storefronts of buildings that have not been leased yet. We worked with ArtPop Street Gallery, Lowe’s Home Improvement and several other local organizations. We also commissioned a mural artist, Georgie Nakima, to paint a mural on a building on the corner of Bland and Church streets. It’s called “Stronger Together.” Why are murals important? If we can tell stories, celebrate our community and bring messages of hope and peace and love and equity, maybe we can get people to think for a moment. ... There is beauty to it, but there’s deeper messaging in what you see. It’s truly art at its very best because it takes it out of the gallery and makes our community a giant gallery — and a place for all of us to come together and experience it. SP
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC HALILI, MAUREEN O’BOYLE
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obert Krumbine is on a mission to un-beige the city. Krumbine, chief creative officer and senior vice president of events for Charlotte Center City Partners since 2011, and his staff started the Art Connects Us Mural Program more than six years ago. He envisions murals and more light-and-sound art, interactive art, and three-dimensional functional art throughout uptown, engaging people and creating moments to get out of the mundane. Krumbine and his staff are also responsible for planning events and programs such as the 7th Street Public Market, Charlotte SHOUT! and the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 74th annual event will move to TV this year due to Covid-19 and will showcase “best of” segments from years past, along with other entertainment. The show will air on WBTV on Thanksgiving Day. Comments were edited for brevity and clarity.
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